B. Questions submitted by potential Offerors regarding the solicitation and RRB responses are provided below:

Question 1: Can the RRB please provide a more detailed overview of the contemplated use case?

RRB Response: Cases are appeals from denials of applications for disability benefits.

Question 2: Are multiple daily hearings and/or simultaneous hearings anticipated?

RRB Response: On occasion more than one hearing will be held; appellants to the RRB in one or more cases may be using the same site, or may not. No simultaneous hearings can be held.

Question 3: Where will the RRB hearing officers be located during these hearings? Exclusively in the Chicago Headquarters or in additional RRB outposts?

RRB Response: Hearings officers are always located at the RRB headquarters in Chicago.

Question 4: The RRB has requested "many VTC locations throughout the 50 states to enable RRB claimants to travel a minimal distance to the vendor's sites." How many locations is the RRB seeking so as to sufficiently cover the entire country to allow for claimants to travel a minimal distance?

RRB Response: RRB cannot provide a definite number; claimants live throughout the country; sites are needed in many locations to keep the travel for claimants to the minimum possible (preferably 75 miles or less as stated in Section III.B.5).

Question 5: The RRB is looks (sic) strictly for locations and services - is the goal to contract with a vendor that has facilities with existing hardware in place? Does the RRB have a required hardware setup in mind or will any system that communicates with the RRB's Polycom HDX 7000 HD system using standard protocols suffice?

RRB Response: Yes, the vendor needs to have their own VTC hardware. The offeror needs to determine if their system will successfully connect with the RRB by means of a test call as stated in Section I.C.

Question 6: How does the RRB currently handle video/VTC sessions? Is the RRB using additional web conferencing platforms to handle the majority of its video conferencing and looking to use this network of locations as a supplemental option for those without computer access?

RRB Response: The current VTC contractor has access to numerous VTC facility sites. RRB Hearings Officer contacts the VTC contractor, provides the claimant's city/town/zip code, as well as the date/time desired. The VTC contractor then provides the RRB Hearings Officer with possible site locations; the Hearings Officer provides his/her selection and the contractor makes the arrangements, sending a confirmation to the RRB Hearings Officer.

Question 7: If the RRB uses an alternative platform or platforms, which one(s) are used?

RRB Response: No. The RRB Hearing Officers use the RRB's VTC system, cited at Section III.A.3, located at the Chicago HQ facility.

Question 8: How many hours of web-conferencing does the RRB handle annually?

RRB Response: Video hearings usually run a minimum of one hour to a maximum of three hours. Over the last 3 fiscal years, RRB has held approximately 60 hearings/fiscal year. The RRB is estimating (NOT Guaranteeing) 5 hours per month of VTC usage for the next 12 months.

Question 9: If the RRB does not utilize other systems, members of the public will be required to travel (at significant expense, time loss and inconvenience) when there are current solutions that allow them to securely connect to the existing RRB network from virtually any location. Please explain why other solutions that can eliminate such travel burdens are not being explored?

RRB Response: The RRB, as cited in this SOW, must acquire services that meets the privacy and security requirements as set forth in the solicitation. Also, while the RRB Hearings Officers can hold other types of hearings by telephone, the RRB Hearing Officer must hold disability hearings either by video teleconference or in person.

Question 10: Can the RRB please direct us to its existing video/VTC rules and procedures?

RRB Response: The RRB does not have any such rules or procedures.

Question 11: Has the RRB seen its contemplated solution in action?

RRB Response: The current contractor provides the RRB use of VTC facilities and services, as sought in this solicitation.

Question 12: Will the RRB allow computers with webcam and microphone as an option from the VTC location, as opposed to the use of a ‘home' computer?

RRB Response: The RRB does not currently use, nor allow under this solicitation and the resultant contract, vendors/contractors to use "webcam and microphone" or "‘home' computer" in the offered/contracted services solution.

C. Offerors having any other questions or conditions to their proposal after the issue of this amendment shall address such with a submission of a section within their proposal entitled "Assumptions, Conditions, or Exceptions".

D. All other terms and conditions remain the same.

***NOTE Offerors must attach one (1) signed copy of this amendment with their offer(s).