REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Dedicated Internet Access Service and ISDN-PRI Voice Services ASPIRUS HEALTH SYSTEM
NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Notice is hereby given that Request for Proposals (RFP) for Aspirus Health System will be received at the USF Consultants Office. The proposals shall be labeled Dedicated Internet Access and ISDN-PRI Services, delivered and addressed to: Michael O'Connor USF Consultants PO Box 6641 4409 Monona DR Monona, WI 53716 email michael@usfnow.com Three (3) hard copies of the proposal response must be submitted to the address above. Prospective respondents may request clarification to this RFP only by submitting a written request via email to the above mentioned contact. The deadline for the proposal is noted on the USAC web site. Any Vendor who wishes his proposal to be considered is responsible for making certain that his response is received by the deadline.
1.1 Purpose of the RFP. Aspirus Health System is seeking services from qualified Vendors experienced in providing dedicated Internet and voice services. Our objective is to meet Aspirus Health System telecommunication data and voice service needs in the most cost effective manner. Aspirus Health System requests detailed responses from all prospective Vendors, including pricing and service descriptions. Aspirus Health System will conduct a review of the responses received from this RFP. 1.2 Aspirus Health System. The Regional Health Care Center is located in Wausau at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital, 333 Pine Ridge Blvd Wausau WI 54401 and the Regional Data Center is located at 3000 Westhill Drive Wausau WI 54401. HCP 35596 and HCP 37443 respectively. 1.3 Services Required. ISDN-PRI lines including the cost of the local loop service, local free calling and Caller Name ID will be bundled, blocks of DID number may or may not be bundled. 4 (four) ISDN-PRI services are required at the Regional Health Care Center and 3 (three) ISDN-PRI services are required at the Regional Data Center. Dedicated Internet Service of 500M and/or 1G is required at the at the Regional Healthcare Center and/or Regional Data Center. 1.4 Vendors Requirement. Vendors shall provided adequate information to support their technical capabilities to support the Internet or ISDN-PRI Services. Vendor shall provide detailed information of past success with similar services for health care providers within the Great Lakes Region. Term 1 yr and or 3 yr and or 5 yr Cost for each service for each term Detailed description of service, implementation, testing and support Personnel Qualifications and Project Management Plan 1.5 Evaluation Committee. Evaluation of the proposals will be performed by the committee established for that purpose and will be based on the criteria set forth below. The contract resulting from this AHS will be awarded to the Vendor whose proposal is the most advantageous to AHS, considering price and technical factors set forth herein. The evaluation committee will make the final determination about the acceptability of proposals. 1.6 Evaluation Process. The committee will evaluate each technical proposal using the evaluation criteria set forth below. As part of this evaluation, the Committee may hold discussions with all qualified Vendors. Discussions may be conducted via teleconference or may take the form of questions to be answered by the Vendors and conducted by mail, E-mail or facsimile transmission at the discretion of AHS. During the evaluation process, the committee may request technical assistance from any source.
Following completion of the evaluation of all Vendors proposals, including any discussions, the committee will rank each qualified Vendor s proposal. The Evaluation Committee may reject in whole or in part any and all proposals, waive minor irregularities, and conduct discussions with all responsible Vendors in any manner deemed necessary to serve the best interest of AHS. Vendors may be asked to make an oral presentation. The oral presentation is a part of the technical evaluation. If it is determined to be in the best interest of AHS, AHS may invite Vendors to make final revisions to their technical and/or financial proposals through submission of a Best and Final Offer. The Committee will recommend the Vendor whose overall proposal provides the most advantageous offer to AHS considering both prices and technical factors. 1.7 Evaluation Criteria. The Evaluation committee will evaluate the technical proposals using the criteria below. The committee shall determine which proposals shall have the basic requirements of the RFP and shall have the authority to determine whether any deviation from the requirements of the RFP is substantial in nature. The committee may reject in whole or in part any and all proposals and waive minor irregularities. Total maximum score is 100 points. Award is to the highest scoring Vendor. AHS evaluates and weighs the following criteria when evaluating Vendor s responses. Evaluation Criteria Weight Cost effectiveness of service 50% Quality 20% Project Management Plan 15% Personnel Qualifications 15%
UNIVERSAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS To warrant consideration for an award of contract resulting from this Request for Proposal, Vendors must agree to participation in the Universal Service Support Mechanism as provided for and authorized under the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Reference 47 U.S.C. 254, Universal Services ). Vendors acknowledge that any contractual relationship resulting from this solicitation of proposals may be partially or entirely compliance with all applicable USF regulations, program mandates and auditing requirements, Vendors must comply with the following: KNOWLEDGE, PARTICIPATION AND DOCUMENTATION The project herein is 100% contingent upon the approval of funding from the Universal Service Fund. The successful bidder agrees to bill and receive a portion of the payment for the provisions of goods and services described herein directly from the Universal Service Administrative Company ( USAC ). Even after awarded contracts, AHS may or may not proceed with the project in whole or in part, even in the event funding is approved. Execution of the project, in part or in whole, is solely at the discretion of AHS. Vendors wishing to bid, do so solely at their own risk. AHS is not liable for responsible for any costs, loss, fees or expenses, of any kind, associated with bid and/or a decision not to proceed with the project, even after award of the contracts. By submitting a bid, each vendor agrees to bear all of its own costs, fees, expenses, and losses, of any and all kind, should AHS cancel the project. AHS expects bidders to make themselves thoroughly familiar with any rules or regulations regarding the Universal Service program. Bidders are responsible for providing a valid SPIN (Service Provider Identification Number). Bidders are responsible for providing evidence of FCC Green Light Status at the time the bid is submitted. Any potential bidder found to be in Red Light Status will be disqualified from participation in the bidding process and will be considered non-responsive.