RBHN HCF RFP FY2024-01
** All proposals are due via email by 11:59:59 PM on 01/30/24 (the day prior to ACSD)
Go to:
https://opendata.usac.org/stories/s/RHC-Posted-Services-Tool/8wan-j4cu
Enter Funding Year 2024 in Filters
Enter HCP Number 17268 in Filters
Scroll to the right
Look under “RFP 1” for a link to download the attached RFP
Look under Section 9 of the RFP document for a link to circuit requests
Please note the Allowable Contract Sign Date (ACSD) is 01/31/24. 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 01/30/24 (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 on the first tab of the spreadsheet.
Include the finished spreadsheet as a separate file within the electronic bid proposal copy.
Questions about the RFP can be sent to pappleton@r-ahec.org. Any incoming questions and corresponding answers will be posted on this page.
Reminder:
- 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. I see you have UConnectCare instead of GCASA. Did they change their name?
A: Yes, GCASA changed their name to UConnectCare.
5. Is the bid correct for 1280 Main? Is Spectrum Health and Human Services trying to re-establish service?
A: Yes, the bid for 1280 Main is correct, the facility is looking at options for potentially reestablishing service around the beginning of 2025.
6. Please note that the request for service from 515 Main St, Olean, NY 14760 to 403 N 8th St, Olean, NY 14760 for a 1000Mbps WAN E-Line (or equivalent) has a demarcation point of 434 North 9th Street, Olean NY.
7. So it is requesting a E-Lan service which is a Multipoint to Multipoint on the spread sheet it has the A:Location 515 Main St Olean. There are no Z:Locations listed. Can the Z location be provided please.
A: The question is referring to the following three circuit requests listed on RFP FY2024-01.
HCP 23835 Brooks Memorial Hospital – 1000Mb Ethernet E-LAN
HCP 13772 Cuba Memorial Hospital – 1000Mb Ethernet E-LAN
HCP 11395 Olean General Hospital – 1000Mb Ethernet E-LAN
All three circuits listed above form a many to many connection and all three would be considered the Z location.
8. Regarding the site at 1 Exchange Blvd, Rochester, NY 14614. What floor is the facility on?
A: The facility is located on the 9th floor.
9. For the multi-site networks listed i.e.: MPLS VPN (or equivalent), E LAN Ethernet (or equivalent), and EP-LAN (or equivalent) which locations are to be included in each of the respective multi-site networks since no ‘Z’ locations are provided.
A: For the following sites under Rochester Regional Health the hub location is United Memorial Medical Center at 127 North St, Batavia, NY 14020.
A: For the following sites under Horizon Health all sites should be able to communicate to all others. The head end (Z) is 55 Dodge Rd and 3020 Bailey Ave where Internet Access is located.
A: For the following sites under Oak Orchard all sites should be able to communicate to all others.
10. Is it acceptable for me to propose an “alternative solution” on a bid? For example, with a point-to-point solution that requires an “a” and “z” location, in some cases I can only service one end of the circuit due to the other end being off network. In this case, could I propose a DIA solution so the customer can see what I can offer?
A: Yes, it would be acceptable to propose an alternative solution, we do list “or equivalent” with each circuit. I’ll call out several parts of the RFP for the rest of this answer.
In section 3.1 Proposal Overview we state, “The bidder is encouraged to make proposals on those parts of the project where they feel they can effectively provide a solution.” If there is something that you feel may be a good solution for a facility you are more than welcome to put that forward.
However, I do also want to point out section 3.9.9 where we state the following.
“3.9.9 Bidder’s ability to offer complete solutions for WAN/equivalent networks will be taken into consideration. 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.”
So, you are more than welcome to propose an effective solution, just keep the above statement in mind while doing so as it is something that is taken into consideration as well.
11. For Horizon, I see 55 Dodge listed twice for 500Mb Dedicated Internet Access (line 57 & 72). Do they need (2) 500Mb connections or is that a duplicate request?
A: Horizon needs (2) 500Mb connections, it is not a duplicate request.
