WNY RBHN HCF RFP 40
** All proposals are due via email by 11:59:59 PM on 04/15/21 (the day prior to ACSD)
Go to:
https://rhc.usac.org/hcf/public/searchPosted.htm
Enter Fund Year 2021
Enter HCP Number 17268
Click on Details
Look under Request for Proposal for link to download the attached RFP
Look under Section 9 for circuit requests
Please note the Allowable Contract Sign Date (ACSD) is 04/16/21. No agreements should be signed prior to that date!
Important:
- Proposals must be emailed to RFP@r-ahec.org
- Bids must be received via email by 11:59:59 PM on 04/15/21 (the day prior to ACSD)
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 2021 Changes to RFP:
-
- 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 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).
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Do the 2 sites need professional services labor to configure the Palo and Cisco units? Will they need managed services post installation or will they maintain the gear on their own?
A: Do the 2 sites need professional services labor to configure the Palo and Cisco units? No
Will they need managed services post installation or will they maintain the gear on their own? We will maintain our own equipment.
5. I have firewalls at the following locations with their corresponding internet services:
Brooks Memorial, NY 100mbps DIA
Fredonia, NY 200mbps DIA
Rochester, NY 100mbps/500mbps/1Gbps BB
Warsaw, NY 20/5 Cable BB
Auburn, NY 400mbps DIA
A: Services should be bid for as the RFP lists them, if a firewall has not been requested there is no need to bid for it.
6. Medina, NY 50mbps BB? Not sure what is meant by Metro E, internet or a point to point?
Please confirm;
A: This would be an Ethernet connection connecting the site to the network.
7. At the Z locations for the point to points, do they have routers, or do you want the Cisco Nexus 93240 (or equivalent), with the required optics and patch cords with 3 years of support, spec’d out? This seems like overkill at the Z locations;
A: Services should be bid for as the RFP lists them, if a router has not been requested there is no need to bid for it. The Cisco Nexus 93240 (or equivalent) will not be used at the Z locations for the point to point requests. The Cisco Nexus 93240 (or equivalent) is for a separate circuit not listed on this RFP.
8. For the managed services request, can we have a quick call so that you can define the level of services you are looking for. If you need services other than alert monitoring, such as log reviews, change management, etc., we need to capture that and price it accordingly;
A: No call is necessary, please refer to the RFP document for the complete list of services being requested.
