Tempe, Arizona has posted an addendum to their RFP (see original article). The deadline for responses is February 24, 2005 at 15:00 MST.
The addendum consists of questions from vendors and the answers given by the city:
1. In Paragraph 17 of the Special Terms and Conditions Section (Product Discontinuance), the City appears to want to exercise control over the hardware installed for this system. If that is so, do all five criteria have to be met before the vendor can change equipment?
Delete page 13, clause 17, Product Discontinuance.
2. Many of the paragraphs in the Special Terms and Conditions lead one to believe that the City intends to own the system. Is this a correct reading of the RFP? If so, please confirm whether the City of Tempe is prepared to contribute funding or support for funding for the captial required to deploy the system proposed in this RFP. For example, will the City of Tempe guarantee a loan, contributed a percentage of the cost of equipment and installation, pay subscriber fees, etc.?
The City does not intend to own the network. The City owns the light poles (with power accessible) and will lease the poles and power to the provider. The City will negotiate with the provider to trade subscriber fees in lieu of payment.
3. The City, in cooperation with ASU, has installed a wireless network in the downtown area. Will the vendor take over ownership of this network? If yes, under any circumstances is the vendor obliged to maintain the current equipment, does the vendor have to pay the City for any of the equipment, and can it be replaced by equipment of the vendor’s choice?
We would anticipate that the selected vendor would want to replace the existing downtown equipment with their own. ASU would like their equipment returned. The City does not own any of the equipment.
4. Many of the access points in that current downtown network are located on City property. If the vendor is to take over the ownership of those access points, will Rights of Way/Right of Entry be granted? Is there any cost associated with those grants?
The City may negotiate the use of any of its facilities where available. Cost will be similar in nature to leasing a light pole and may be traded for per the agreement.
5. In the Specifications Section of the RFP, you indicate that the vendor is to provide “limited” free access in the downtown area. You also refer to the term “limited” in Attachment A: Sample License Agreement. Please clarify/amplify the term “limited”.
Limited to ports 80, 443, and VPN. Also limited in terms of time spent on-line. The intent is for casual use while enjoying the downtown and Lake area, not as a free internet service for commercial use or in lieu of subscribing for residential use.
6. The Sample License Agreement refers to Attachment E as a Fee Schedule. Attachment E in the RFP is the map of Metricom installation sites, and there does not appear to be a fee schedule anywhere in the RFP. Please clarify.
Attachments to the RFP are labeled correctly as refered to in the RFP. The fee schedule is actually referred to as Exhibit E in the Sample License Agreement. The exhibits will be formally incorporated and made part of the agreement by reference.
7. Attachment E of the RFP displays the pole top radio locations of all of the now unused Ricochet access points. We have attempted to validate some of these locations, but were unable to do so. Is this map accurate? What is our recourse if, after contract award, this information turns out to be inaccurate.
Attachment E was a design template. Actual locations may vary. Use whatever poles you need to design your network. The photocell adapters can be moved. You have no recourse if information regarding locations is inaccurate. The City makes no guarantee to the accuracy of the locations.
8. In the Specification Section of the RFP, the RFP states that the City will provide access to “City-owned infrastructure (i.e., street lights, public buildings, fiber).” Are these subject to any fee structure? Please clarify what the City means by access to fiber.
All City-owned infrastructure is subject to a fee structure and will be incorporated into the negotiations for trading municipal and ASU use of the network in lieu of lease payments. There may be an opportunity to utilize a conduit or run of fiber from a Traffic light for wired backhaul. The City is open to negotiating the use of such conduit or fiber for this purpose.
9. Attachment B (How it Works) makes note in the first paragraph that the Ricochet system is comprised of Wired Access Points (WAPs) and a network backbone that interconnects the WAPs. Is this wired network in existence, and is it accessible to prospective bidders of this system?
No.
10. Paragraph 11 of the Special Terms and Conditions refers to a “2-year price adjustment.” Please clarify as to what the pricing the City is referring to.
Delete page 12, clause 11, 2-Year Price Adjustment.
11. In the evaluation criteria, the City proposes to score the bidder based on price to the subscriber. The Proposal Questionnaire does not request this information. Please clarify the structure of pricing that the City wishes to see for evaluation.
Question 18 on page 27, Proposal Questionnaire requests the vendor’s proposed fee structure.
12. I read that a prior install hardware was at one time on power poles or light poles. Is a City drawing available showing locations and power that is currently provided to each location. Also would current hardware be required to be taken down by winning bidder.
Yes. Please refer to the RFP attachments.
13. City maps of coverage area with GIS data showing building heights and topo of land would be helpful in designing this network.
Proposers are responsible for contacting the City’s Engineering Department to acquire maps if they desire to utilize them in their responses. www.tempe.gov
14. City employees: Would this be for working hours or city employees from home? How many employees?
For work purposes (24×7) 1,600 employees.
15. Will City police be using network? Police requirements add additional cost to the network design.
No additional network security is required for Police use.
16. ASU to City WIFI roaming. Please provide tech contact or what hardware gateway in use.
Currently nothing is in place. Refer to question 3 of this addendum.
17. Internet backhaul: City-provided or vendor provide? If vendor-provided please describe bandwidth requirements for the end user experience.
Vendor provides backhaul. Vendor determines bandwidth.
18. Can you tell me what other internet providers are there in Tempe?
All of the dial-ups (AOL, Netzero, etc.), Cox, Qwest, Dish.
19. The term “City-wide” is very broad; are there any parts of the City that you know to be unserviceable, or for any other reason that we should not concern ourselves with when determining the scope of our proposed network?
No.
20. Additionally, we may send some folks out from our company to perform a site survey. Who would be a good person to set up a short meeting with and answer some general questions?
We are unable to meet with prospective bidders at this time.
21. Can vendor expect to have the abiilty to provide other telecommunication services to the City of Tempe for a charge including law enforcement with the infrastructure built to support the WIFI initiative? For example, can vendor have ability to providing broadband to the Tempe EMS, Law Enforcement vehicles which would be at a cost to those departments?
EMS is private in Tempe and could be a potential customer. The City itself plans to trade or negotiate for its services.
22. Please confirm whether the City of Tempe is prepared to contribute any funding or support for funding for the capital required to deploy the system proposed in this RFP. For example, will the City of Tempe guarantee a loan, contributed a percentage of the cost of equipment and installation, etc?
Tempe does not plan to contribute funds for the installation of the system.
23. Will there be a Pre-Proposal Conference? If not, can we meet with the technical representatives from the City of Tempe?
No.
24. Does the City have desired timeline for implementation of the WIFI network?
Yes, 180 days after award.
25. Specifications page 20 and Attachment A 4.1
a. How many employees work for the City of Tempe or how many free account do you require?
There are 1,600 employees, but roughly 1,000 would need occasional access, and mostly during business hours (0600 to 1700), but some 24 x 7.
b. How many employees work for ASU or how many free accounts do you require for ASU?
8,000 employees, but roughly 1,500 would need occasional access.
c. Clarification that the free limited downtown Tempe area is approximately ½ mile x ¾ mile in area (2,500 ft x 4,000 ft.)
This is correct.
26. How do you want us to handle contract term redlines? We can note them in our response or provide a redline of Attachment A – License Agreement. Our preference is to note exceptions in a section of our Proposal.
Please note any exceptions with your proposal.
27. Attachment A 4.5. City facilities:
a. Please provide a map of light pole locations and any restrictions on use (like decorative poles, traffic lights, etc.) Also if there are any pictures or specifications of these light poles it would aid in evaluating mounting options.
Due to the density of the light poles this amount of detail is not being provided with the RFP. It would require a huge amount of data. It will be provided during the actual design phase.
b. Please provide a list of City-owned buildings suitable for installing small 802.11 x radios and microwave equipment (1-2 ft. antenna). Desired height is 3+ story buildings.
The City only has two 3-story buildings (located downtown). Most are 1 or 2 story.
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