WNY RBHN HCF RFP 26
** All proposals are due by email 11:59:59 PM – 02/24/2020
Download the RFP and Network Plan by going to https://rhc.usac.org/hcf/public/searchPosted.htm and entering the following search criteria:
Fund Year: “2020”
HCP Number: “17268”
Find the posting date of 01/27/20 and click “Details”
Review the PDF under “Request for Proposals” to ensure you are looking at RFP 26.
Pricing Format:
Bidders must use our standard pricing format for broadband pricing (Section 9.2 equipment pricing may still be proposed in the bidder’s own format):
Follow the instructions at the top of the spreadsheet.
Include the finished spreadsheet as a separate file within the electronic bid proposal copy.
Questions about the RFP can be emailed to us here. Any incoming questions and corresponding answers will be posted on this page.
Reminder: Important 2020 Changes to RFP:
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- Proposals must be emailed to rfp@r-ahec.org
- Responses due by 11:59:59 PM on day preceding USAC Allowable Contract Sign Date.
Questions and Answers:
All questions must be submitted by email. Please thoroughly read the RFP before asking questions; your answer may be found within the RFP.
1. When I submit a bid on this RFP, are the prices I provide only given to the individual requestor, or is a general form with all the pricing sent to everyone on this list?
A: Vendors may submit bid pricing responses in any manner they choose. Please provide sufficient instruction so that correct pricing is forwarded to facilities. Please also remember to use the spreadsheet located at:
https://r-ahec.org/wp-content/uploads/Pricing-Format.xlsx to submit pricing responses.
2. Are any of these requests for new services? If so, will you please identify which ones?
A: Most of the requests are not for new services. Even so, many of the facilities with existing services would like to receive bid proposals from more than one vendor.
3. Are the bandwidth options you’re requesting all systematical?
A: With the exception HCP 53219 redundant circuit request, all circuits requests are for symmetrical connections.
4. Are any of these services out of contract? If so, please identify which ones?
A: Whenever possible, facilities sign contracts that align with the USAC funding term. Therefore, most of the time facilities on the RFP are nearing the end of their contracts with the current vendor.
5. When submitting the Pricing Proposal for the Equipment, do we follow the Proposal Format outlined in 3.3? Many of the bullet points do not seem applicable if we are only proposing hardware for one entity on the bid.
A: You need to follow the bullet points which are applicable, in the order shown in the RFP. If you are only responding to equipment, some of these bullet points will not be applicable and therefore you don’t need to follow them (for example, the Description of Proposed Broadband Solution and/or Public Internet Service).
6. How is the RFP actually scored? Who makes the final decision on awarding contracts?
A: The RFP scoring process is a multi-step procedure. First, R-AHEC reviews each bid in its entirety and scores each vendor based on the Scoring Criteria found at the end of the RFP. R-AHEC then creates a proposal summary for each individual organization from the RFP, and sends that summary along with the responses and internal scoring sheet to each respective organization. Each organization then has a chance to score the bidders on their own. R-AHEC then meets with each organization to discuss the bids and select winners based on the organization’s review and feedback. It is ultimately the organization’s decision which bidder is selected.
7. As a bidder can we respond only to portions of the RFP, or must we respond to all requests?
A: You can choose to respond only to certain portions of the RFP if you wish. However, you must follow all the guidelines of the RFP, so it is important to thoroughly read the entire RFP to ensure you are complying with all provisions.
8. Please advise if we can bid on select sites in this RFP?
A: Vendors may bid on all or part of the RFP.
Per 3.1 Proposal Overview: “Bidders are encouraged to make proposals on those parts of the project where they feel they can effectively provide a solution.” However, per 3.9.9: “WAN/equivalent bid proposals which exclude one or more endpoints from an organization’s full WAN/equivalent request, due to the bidder’s inability to provide services at such locations, are discouraged.
9. Can you describe the current St. John’s and the Jones circuits? Can we get a better idea of both sides of the circuits please?
A: The current topologies don’t have A to Z location topologies. Facilities will consider any topology.
