Kern River Valley Fiber Project

Kern River Valley Fiber Project REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL February 2016 1. Statement of Purpose 1.1 This Request for Proposal (RFP) is generated out o...
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Kern River Valley Fiber Project

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL February 2016

1.

Statement of Purpose 1.1

This Request for Proposal (RFP) is generated out of a joint effort between the California Telehealth Network (CTN) and the public libraries in California’s Kern River Valley. This RFP solicits proposals from Vendors who can provide the required broadband services or network facilities and equipment and ongoing maintenance and network support to connect nine (9) health care providers and three (3) libraries in the Kern River Valley.

1.2

CTN is a non-profit organization established to create a robust broadband network dedicated to healthcare to support improved access to healthcare through the interconnection of hospitals, clinics, physicians, health departments, schools and others.

1.3

HealthConnect Networks (HCN) is an independent telecommunications consulting firm retained by CTN to manage the RFP process for the Kern River Valley Fiber Project. HCN will be the recipient and respondent of correspondence related to this RFP as described in Sections 3 and 4. HCN has and will provide consultative support to CTN throughout the RFP process, including network design, drafting RFP, reviewing Vendor responses and making recommendations related to the Cost Effectiveness Evaluation of responding bidders. CTN will make all final determinations related to scoring proposals and selecting winning bidders.

1.4

CTN and the public libraries anticipate that this project will be funded by the joint operation of two FCC programs: 1.4.1

CTN’s contribution to the project will be funded by itself and the FCC’s Healthcare Connect Fund.

1.4.2

The public libraries’ contribution to the project will be funded by themselves and the FCC’s E-Rate Universal Service program for schools and libraries.

1.5

Both CTN and CalREN (CENIC’s California Research and Education Network) leverage the AT&T MPLS network for connectivity. The scope of this project, therefore, will be to connect the health care providers and libraries in the Kern River Valley to an AT&T POP outside the Kern River Valley for connectivity to these networks.

1.6

CTN and anticipates numerous potential solutions for connecting the Kern River Valley Sites to points of presence outside the Kern River Valley, and invites Vendors to submit proposals that will meet the design requirements of this RFP in a cost effective manner.

1.7

CTN and expects proposals offering leased services, proposals offering leased facilities, proposals for construction of new “greenfield” networks, and some proposals for a hybrid of any or all of the preceding. The requirements for each of these scenarios are in sections 10, 11, and 12 herein.

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1.8

2.

In addition to the primary purpose of serving healthcare providers and libraries in the Kern River Valley, CTN anticipates that excess capacity in the network may be leveraged in the future to facilitate the provision of services under the FCC’s E-Rate Universal Service program to schools within the Kern River Valley area. See Section 16 for more information.

Project Background 2.1

The Kern River Valley (KRV) is comprised of unincorporated communities bordering the Lake Isabella Reservoir in the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains in Kern County, California. It is a mountainous area situated roughly halfway between the cities of Ridgecrest and Bakersfield (Figure 1). KRV includes the communities: Lake Isabella, Mountain Mesa, Squirrel Valley, Keyesville, Onyx, Weldon, South Lake, Kelso Valley, Kernville, Wofford Heights, and Alta Sierra. The valley is home to 16,485 residents. Figure 1: The Kern River Valley and Lake Isabella

2.2

1

The KRV has a rich history going back at least 3,500 years. It was once home to the Paiute Shoshone, Palagewan, and Bankalachi tribes who called the area “Hot Springs Valley.” Those tribes first encountered the Spanish missionary, Francisco Garces, in 1776 with further encroachments related to the Fremont and Walker expeditions of 1834 and 1843, respectively. The discovery of gold along Greenhorn Gulch in 1853 ended the peaceful life of the Native Americans living in the valley. However, in recent years, descendants of those early tribes have begun to return to their homelands. A resurrection of their culture and language is underway in the Kern River Valley.1

http://kern.audubon.org/cultural_resources.htm

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In 1953, the Lake Isabella Reservoir was created by the Army Corps of Engineers and since then, KRV has become well known for its recreational amenities (fishing, skiing, boating, wind surfing, and river rafting). Tourism is the prime economic generator for the area. In recent years, the economic conditions of KRV have deteriorated, largely due to a devastating shrinkage of the Lake Isabella Reservoir caused by a combination of drought and dam fortification issues.2 In addition, KRV suffers from the economic limitations imposed by a lack of ubiquitous broadband service to its residents, anchor institutions and businesses.

3.

2.3

The Kern River Valley and Lake Isabella are reached from either the East or the West via California State Route 178 (SR 178) that is one of two crossings over the Sierra Nevada mountains south of Yosemite National Park. Additionally, SR178 provides access to Death Valley National Park. It is the shortest route between Bakersfield and Ridgecrest. SR 178 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System that has adopted a scenic corridor protection program that limits development, outdoor advertising, and earthmoving.

2.4

The Eastern Sierra Connect Regional Broadband Consortium (ESCRBC) placed Kern River Valley on their priority list for broadband deployment, noting that KRV was omitted from the Digital 3953 project. “KRV has no land based fiber [emphasis in original] interconnect to the East/West Internet broadband highways running through Barstow or Reno,”4 ESCRBC stated. Despite the existence of some microwave-based services, the mountainous terrain makes it difficult for broadband providers to cover many residents. While some residents enjoy marginal residential broadband, many do not have access to broadband at all. For these reasons, the California Public Utilities Commission has determined that the Kern River Valley is substantially unserved as to broadband service.

Project Correspondence And Questions 3.1

All project correspondence and questions shall be by email to: Stephen W. Buza HealthConnect Networks 145 Exchange Street Bangor, ME 04401 Email: [email protected]

4.

Schedule 4.1

Responding Vendors should submit any questions, noted errors, discrepancies, ambiguities, exceptions, or deficiencies they have concerning this RFP by emailing such requests, with “Kern River Valley Fiber Project” in the subject line,

2

http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/IsabellaDam.aspx The Digital 395 Middle Mile project, funded by ARRA/NTIA, to build a new 583-mile, fiber network that mainly follows the U.S. Route 395 highway, a major transportation corridor between southern and northern California, passing through Nevada. 4 http://escrbconsortium.org/communities-in-need-of-broadband/ 3

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to Stephen Buza, Senior Network Engineer, HealthConnect Networks at [email protected] on or before the 30th day following the posting of this RFP. Questions and answers will be posted on www.caltelehealth.org.

5.

6.

4.2

An electronic copy (Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format) of the proposal shall be received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time on or before the 45th day following the posting of this RFP on the USAC website. Responses received after the stated deadline will not be accepted.

4.3

Proposals shall be submitted to Stephen Buza, Senior Network Engineer, HealthConnect Networks, by email at [email protected].

4.4

Please indicate “Kern River Valley Fiber Project” on the email subject line.

Instructions to Responding Vendors 5.1

Responding Vendors shall use the numbering convention in this RFP when formatting their response. The Responding Vendor’s response shall be explained in detail and shall indicate how the Responding Vendor proposes to satisfy each requirement where necessary. At the very least the Responding Vendor must indicate compliance, non-compliance, understood or exception for each line item.

5.2

Responding Vendors shall cite specific terms and conditions to which the Responding Vendor takes exception. The Responding Vendor shall state the exact requirement to which exception is taken. Any cost impact associated with an exception shall be identified and included in the proposal.

5.3

All proposals shall be signed by the Responding Vendor.

5.4

No contract will be awarded except to responsible vendors capable of performing the work requested. Responding Vendor's employees shall be trained and qualified to perform the work and operate all required equipment. Before the award of the Contract, any Responding Vendor may be required to show that they have the necessary facilities, experience, ability and financial resources to perform the work in a satisfactory and timely manner.

5.5

All proposals submitted shall be valid for one year, or until the contract is signed, whichever comes first.

5.6

Negligence on the part of the Responding Vendor in preparing the proposal confers no right of withdrawal after the time fixed for the receipt of the proposals.

5.7

All proposals shall provide a straightforward, concise delineation of the Responding Vendor’s capabilities to satisfy the requirements of this invitation. Emphasis should be on completeness and clarity of content.

5.8

CTN reserves the right to require Responding Vendors to demonstrate a proof of concept of their offering.

5.9

It is the responsibility of the Responding Vendors to review, evaluate and request clarification prior to submittal of a proposal.

Authorized Negotiator 6.1

The proposal shall be signed by the person authorized to legally bind the proposal. California Telehealth Network Kern River Valley Fiber Project

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7.

6.2

The proposal shall designate the Responding Vendor’s authorized negotiator who shall be empowered to make binding commitments.

6.3

Eric Brown, President and CEO of the California Telehealth Network, is the authorized negotiator for CTN.

Responding Vendors Responsibility for Proposal Costs 7.1

8.

9.

The Responding Vendor shall be fully responsible for all proposal development and submittal costs. CTN assumes no contractual or financial obligation as a result of issuance of this RFP.

Compliance with Laws, Permits, Rules 8.1

The Successful Vendor shall comply with all rules, regulations, ordinances, codes and laws relating to the work or the conduct thereof and shall secure and pay for any permits and licenses necessary for the execution of the work.

8.2

The Successful Vendor shall be subject to the safety department’s workplace rules at a given site.

Insurance 9.1

The Successful Vendor shall agree to maintain General Liability Insurance and Worker’s Compensation Insurance, where applicable, to cover all its personnel engaged in the performance of the services herein described as well as damages arising as a result of the performance of such services. Minimum insurance requirements are as follows: 9.1.1

General Liability Insurance (Contractual Liability Included) Minimum Limits: Each Occurrence: $5,000,000 Products/Completed Operations: $5,000,000 If the above insurance is written on a claims made form, it shall continue for three years following termination of this agreement. The insurance shall have a retroactive date of placement prior to or coinciding with the effective date of this agreement.

9.1.2 9.2

Workers' Compensation Insurance As required under California State law.

Successful Vendor, upon the execution of this agreement shall furnish CTN with Certificates of Insurance evidencing compliance with all requirements. Coverages referred to under section 9.1 shall include the Board of the CTN of California as an additional insured, but only with respect to the negligent acts or omissions of Successful Vendor, its officers, agents, employees, subcontractors or anyone directly or indirectly employed by them, or any other person or persons under its direction and control. The Certificates of Insurance shall obligate Successful Vendor's insurers to notify CTN at least thirty (30) days prior to cancellation of or change in any of said insurance.

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10.

Leased Services Option 10.1

Under this option, an existing Vendor will leverage existing facilities and/or provision new facilities solely owned by the Vendor to deliver services to each of the nine health care providers and three libraries listed in Section 18. The service offered should connect each health care provider and library with an MPLSequipped AT&T POP or Wire Center, chosen by the Vendor.

10.2

Services to be leased under this RFP must be Carrier Ethernet Services as defined by the Metro Ethernet Forum. Carrier Ethernet Services were chosen for several reasons, including cost-effectiveness, simplicity, scalability, and reduced space, power, and HVAC requirements. Carrier Ethernet Services provide for a reduced environmental cost compared to legacy TDM and SONET systems.

10.3

The network should be capable of supporting all eight (8) service types defined in MEF standards 5.1, 22.1, and 33, including E-LINE, E-LAN, and E-Access. The services to be ordered may vary by site, but will likely include point-to-point service (EPL, EVPL) between the health care provider or library and the AT&T MPLS network, and multipoint-to-multipoint service (ELAN, ETREE) between some or all health care providers listed in Section 18.

10.4

The network must be capable of supporting standardized Multi-COS in order to provide application-oriented Class of Service performance objectives. Specifically, the offering must include a minimum of three classes of services including a low latency queue.

10.5

The services must include an Ethernet network interface device (NID) and router capable of handling symmetrical traffic throughput for the bandwidth requested by each site.

10.6

The service must be scalable so that it can be provisioned at all bandwidths required in Section18.3 without requiring an equipment change at the customer premise and without requiring a re-termination of fiber at the service provider end.

10.7

The service must include a service level agreement with the following minimum guarantees, with appropriate penalties for non-performance:

10.8

10.7.1

A minimum packet delivery guarantee of 99.975% of all packets sent.

10.7.2

A maximum round-trip latency of 10ms between each health care provider or library and the AT&T POP selected by the Vendor.

10.7.3

A maximum jitter of 15ms between each health care provider or library and the AT&T POP selected by the Vendor.

At a minimum, the Vendor should provide postalized pricing (NRC and MRC) at bandwidths of 30 Megabits per Second (Mbps), 50 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps, 500 Mbps and 1 Gigabit per Second (Gbps) and 2 Gbps between each health care provider and library listed Section 18 and the AT&T Point of Presence (POP) selected by the Vendor. Vendors are invited to offer pricing for additional bandwidth levels.

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10.9

CTN anticipates the addition of other member sites in the Kern River Valley. Vendor should describe the pricing model for additional sites including any special construction charges that may be assessed.

10.10 Services quoted under this section must be delivered over single-mode fiber in the last mile segment of the service. 10.11 Leased services proposed must be installed, provisioned, and billed within 150 calendar days of the award.

11.

Leased Facilities Option 11.1

11.2

11.3

This project requires bringing 60+ miles of fiber (or equivalent) into the Kern River Valley for the first time; as well as connecting last-mile fiber (or equivalent) laterals to the health care providers and libraries. The scope of the project must include purchase, acquisition, installation and ongoing maintenance of both the fiber and the fiber termination nodes (or equivalent) and electronics discussed herein. The design theory is to provide Ethernet services over fiber, DWDM waves, or equivalent into the Kern River Valley between the AT&T MPLS network and each individual health care provider and library, passing through a Fiber Distribution Node (FDN) (or equivalent distribution Node) in Lake Isabella. Proposals for a leased facilities network should be offered in the form of a longterm indefeasible right of use (IRU). The IRU should be offered in five (5), ten (10), fifteen (15), and twenty (20) year increments, and should include costs for all of the following: 11.3.1

Interconnection Point. Acquisition, outfitting, management and maintenance of a collocation at a point of interconnection with AT&T. The Vendor will be the owner of the collocation space. While interconnection with AT&T can occur at any location selected by the Vendor, the two primary options for interconnection anticipated are: 11.3.1.1 AT&T wire center (BKFDCA12) located at 1918 M Street, Bakersfield, CA. 11.3.1.2 Digital 395 Fiber Node located at 1320 McLean St, Ridgecrest, CA.

11.3.2

Fiber Distribution Node (FDN). Acquisition, construction, management, and maintenance of a fiber distribution node (or equivalent) located in or near Lake Isabella and owned by the Vendor. This FDN will be the demarcation point between middlemile and last-mile segments of the network.

11.3.3

Middle Mile Transport. Construction or acquisition, management, and maintenance of middle mile fiber (or equivalent) between the Interconnection Point and Lake Isabella FDN. This middle mile transport may be offered as fiber strands or wavelengths as follows.

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11.3.3.1 If the middle mile transport is offered as individual fiber, a minimum of 42 strands (four per health care provider and two per library) between the Interconnection Point and FDN must be included. 11.3.3.2 If the middle mile transport is offered as wavelengths, a minimum of 21 wavelengths (two per health care provider and one per library) between the Interconnection Point and FDN must be included. These wavelengths should be distributed equally (to the extent possible) among at least four physical fiber strands. The Vendor shall certify that each wavelength is capable of scaling beyond the initial bandwidth requirements. 11.3.3.3 If the middle mile transport is offered over some equivalent media, it must be capable of providing the equivalent of 21 wavelengths capable of transporting 10 Gbps of traffic, each.

12.

11.3.4

Last Mile. Construction or acquisition, management, and maintenance of last-mile fiber laterals (or equivalent) between the Lake Isabella fiber distribution node (or equivalent node) and each health care provider and library listed in Section 18. Each lateral must include a minimum of four single mode fiber strands between the FDN and the health care provider it serves or two strands between the FDN and the library it serves. Where equivalent technology is quoted, it must be capable of supporting two distinct channels of transport per health care provider. Only one channel of transport is required for each library.

11.3.5

Electronics. The Vendor’s proposal should include electronics, fiber (or equivalent) distribution panels, and other equipment necessary at the Interconnection Point and Lake Isabella FDN to provision ELINE and ELAN services. In addition, optical fiber terminals or equivalent network interface devices required at each customer premise should be included in the proposal.

CTN Owned Facilities Option 12.1

This project requires bringing 60+ miles of fiber (or equivalent) into the Kern River Valley for the first time; as well as connecting last-mile fiber (or equivalent) laterals to the health care providers and libraries. The scope of the project must include purchase, acquisition, installation and ongoing maintenance of both the fiber and the fiber termination nodes (or equivalent) and electronics discussed herein.

12.2

The design theory is to provide Ethernet services over fiber (or equivalent) from the AT&T MPLS Network to the Lake Isabella FDN and thence on to each individual health care provider and library.

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12.3

CTN will consider proposals for a “greenfield” build of an entirely new network between an Interconnection Point and each of the health care providers and libraries listed in Section 18. At the end of project implementation, CTN or its designee would retain ownership of all facilities.

12.4

The new network should include components similar to those discussed in Section 11, and should include costs for all of the following, which will be owned by CTN or its designee at project completion. 12.4.1 Interconnection Point. Proposal should include acquisition, outfitting, management, and maintenance of the collocation on behalf of CTN. The Interconnection Point may be at any MPLS-equipped AT&T POP, but is expected to be at one of two locations: 12.4.1.1 AT&T wire center (BKFDCA12) located at 1918 M Street, Bakersfield, CA. 12.4.1.2 Digital 395 Fiber Node located at 1320 McLean St, Ridgecrest, CA. 12.4.2

Lake Isabella FDN. Proposal should include acquisition, rights of way as necessary, construction, management, and maintenance of the FDN (or equivalent) on behalf of CTN. This FDN will be the demarcation point between middle-mile and last-mile segments of the network.

12.4.3

Middle Mile Fiber. Proposal should include installation, maintenance, and management of middle mile fiber (or equivalent) between the Interconnection Point and the Lake Isabella FDN, on behalf of CTN. A minimum cable sheath containing forty-eight (48) fiber strands (or 24 equivalent channels) should be included.

12.4.4

Last Mile. Proposal should include construction or acquisition, management, and maintenance of last mile single mode fiber laterals (or equivalent) between the FDN and each health care provider and library listed in Section 18. Each lateral shall contain a minimum of four strands between the FDN and the health care provider or two strands between the FDN and the library. For equivalent technologies, a minimum of two channels between the FDN and each health care provider is required. Where fiber is quoted, CTN recognizes that minimum strand sizes may require fiber cables with more than four strands. CTN will own the fiber laterals including spare capacity that may exist by virtue of minimum strand sizes for outside plant cables. Electronics. Proposal should include electronics, fiber distribution panels (or equivalent), and other equipment necessary at the Interconnection Point and Lake Isabella FDN to provision ELINE and ELAN services. In addition, optical fiber terminals or equivalent network interface devices required at each customer premise should be included in the proposal.

12.4.5

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13.

14.

15.

Hybrid Option 13.1

CTN recognizes that there are numerous methods and theories for serving these nine health care providers and three libraries in the Kern River Valley and invites Vendors to make proposals that may include a hybrid of some of the methods discussed above.

13.2

CTN would consider fiber strand (or equivalent transport path) exchanges as a method of assigning ownership as part of a hybrid design. For instance, of an existing Vendor has some fiber in portions of the Kern River Valley, but lacks the middle mile fiber to reach the valley, CTN would consider a proposal under which the Vendor constructs the middle mile fiber and exchanges strands of their existing fiber plant for strands of the newly-constructed middle mile fiber, such that both the Vendor and CTN own fiber strands in both the middle mile and last mile segments of the network.

Management and Maintenance of the Network 14.1

In the network configurations Leased Facilities (Section 11), CTN Owned Facilities Option (Section 12), and Hybrid Option (Section 13), CTN desires third party network management and network maintenance.

14.2

CTN would consider standalone network management and network maintenance bids.

14.3

CTN would consider network management and network maintenance bids from vendors also bidding on sections 11, 12 or 13.

14.4

Network management and network maintenance shall include the Interconnection Point, the Lake Isabella FDN, the Middle Mile Fiber (or equivalent), the Last Mile Fiber (or equivalent) and the Electronics.

Continuity of Network Platform 15.1

16.

CTN’s goal is to develop a network platform that is consistent in terms of ownership and management of the underlying network facilities, is common in network topology and technologies, and is consistent in its use and quality of equipment used in the network. These factors contribute to the continuity of the network platform.

Excess Capacity – Future Use 16.1

In the event it proves more cost effective for CTN to own some or all of the installed network facilities, CTN anticipates that excess capacity is likely to exist and contemplates leasing excess capacity to serve other organizations in the Kern River Valley.

16.2

CTN anticipates leasing excess network capacity to Internet service providers who will be able to leverage that capacity to provide commercial and residential high-speed Internet services to businesses and residents in the Kern River Valley.

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17.

16.3

CTN anticipates leasing excess network capacity to other carriers to deliver additional or complementary network services.

16.4

CTN anticipates leasing excess network capacity to carriers for purposes of serving schools. 16.4.1

These schools would be connected to the California Research and Education Network (CalREN). Operated by the nonprofit Corporation for Education Initiatives in California (CENIC), CalREN currently connects over 20 million users in California, including the vast majority of K-20 students, educators, and researchers.

16.4.2

CTN anticipates that other funding mechanisms (including the FCC’s Universal Service E-Rate program) will be leveraged by CENIC to build lateral connections from the CTN network to some, or all, of the schools listed in Appendix A.

Potential Routes For a facilities-based proposal, this project requires a primary middle-mile fiber (or equivalent) route that is expected to take one of two paths (although other options may be available): 17.1

West Route (Figure 2): Beginning at the AT&T wire center (BKFDCA12) located at 1918 M Street, Bakersfield, extend fiber approximately forty-two (42) miles along SR 178 to Lake Isabella. Figure 2: West Route

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17.2

East Route (Figure 3): Beginning at a Digital 395 node located at 1320 McLean St, Ridgecrest, extend fiber approximately sixty-three (63) miles along SR 178 to Lake Isabella. Figure 3: East Route

18.

List of Sites 18.1

Health care providers to be served in the Kern River Valley include: 18.1.1

Kern Valley Healthcare District 6412 Laurel Ave Lake Isabella, CA 93240

18.1.2

Rural Health Clinic 4300 Birch St Lake Isabella, CA 93240

18.1.3

Mesa Clinical Pharmacy 12608 Mountain Mesa Rd Lake Isabella, CA 93240

18.1.4

Healthcare District Business Office 6500 Dogwood Ave Lake Isabella, CA 93240

18.1.5

Healthcare District HR/PR office 12308 Mountain Mesa Rd Suite B Lake Isabella, CA 93240

18.1.6

College Community Services 2731 Nugget Ave Lake Isabella, CA 93240

18.1.7

Kern County Lake Isabella Clinic 7046 Lake Isabella Boulevard Lake Isabella, CA 93240 California Telehealth Network Kern River Valley Fiber Project

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18.2

18.3

18.1.8

Clinica Sierra Vista KRHC 67 Evans Rd Wofford Heights, CA 93285

18.1.9

Clinica Sierra Vista KVMC 6310 Lake Isabella Blvd Lake Isabella, CA 93240

Libraries to be served in the Kern River Valley include: 18.2.1

Kern River Valley Library 7054 Lake Isabella Blvd Lake Isabella, CA 93240

18.2.2

Kernville Public Library 48 Tobias St Kernville, CA 93238

18.2.3

Wofford Heights Public Library 6400-B Wofford Boulevard Wofford Heights, CA 93285

Bandwidth Requirements: CTN’s research with the Health Care Providers and public libraries listed in this section indicates the following bandwidth requirements, per site: HCP Kern Valley Healthcare District Rural Health Clinic Mesa Clinical Pharmacy Healthcare District Business Office Healthcare District HR/PR Office College Community Services Kern County Lake Isabella Clinic Clinica Sierra Vista KRHC Clinica Sierra Vista KVMC Kern River Valley Library Kernville Public Library Wofford Heights Public Library

19.

Minimum 1 Gbps 100 Mbps 100 Mbps 100 Mbps 100 Mbps 100 Mbps 100 Mbps 30 Mbps 30 Mbps 50 Mbps 50 Mbps 50Mbps

Scale To 2 Gbps 1 Gbps 1 Gbps 1 Gbps 1 Gbps 1 Gbps 1 Gbps 100 Mbps 100 Mbps 100 Mbps 100 Mbps 100 Mbps

Site and Service Substitutions CTN and the public libraries recognize that healthcare and library needs will change over time. As such, responses to this RFP should include language, design, pricing, and cost mechanisms addressing the following potential needs: 19.1

New Sites: New health care providers, libraries, or schools may be added. This may require additional lateral fiber builds.

19.2

Closed Sites: Health care providers, libraries, or schools may close, requiring termination of services or facilities.

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20.

19.3

Moving Sites: Health care providers, libraries, or schools may move to new facilities. Vendor responses should contain a mechanism for moving services or facilities to new buildings.

19.4

Moving Bandwidth: Health care providers, libraries, or schools may choose to move or reorganize their bandwidth consumption. Where applicable, a mechanism for moving bandwidth between sites should be included.

19.5

Upgrading Bandwidth: Health care providers, libraries, or schools may choose to upgrade their bandwidth consumption. Where applicable, a mechanism for upgrading bandwidth at a site should be included.

General Requirements 20.1

Responding Vendor shall provide a written project management and implementation plan. The CTN desires that the network build out be completed within one year of receipt of the USAC funding commitment letter.

20.2

Based on the required interaction process with the FCC and USAC, it is not possible to determine a definitive project start date – as it is dependent on approvals and posting where CTN has limited control.

20.3

The Successful Vendor must name the project manager that will be assigned to the project along with a description of the project manager’s qualifications.

20.4

Responding Vendors are required to provide at least two professional references from similar projects, including: contact name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.

20.5

CTN reserves the right to seek clarification of each Proposal or to make an award without further discussion of the Proposals received. Therefore, it is important that each Proposal be organized and submitted in a clear and complete manner.

20.6

Each Responding Vendor must have a current FCC Registration Number (FRN). More information about obtaining an FRN can be found at https://apps.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do.

20.7

Each Responding Vendor must have a current USAC 498 ID (also known as a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN)). More information about obtaining the 498 ID can be found at http://www.usac.org/sp/about/obtainspin/default.aspx.

20.8

All materials submitted in response to the RFP become the property of CTN. If there is any concern about confidentiality, mark the appropriate pages of your response “Confidential.” CTN will attempt to honor all reasonable requests for vendor confidentiality.

20.9

The Responding Vendor shall comply with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations related to the performance of the contract to the extent that the same may be applicable.

20.10 A Proposal may be rejected in whole or in part if it limits or modifies any terms and conditions and/or specifications of this RFP.

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20.11 By responding, the Responding Vendor states that the Proposal is not made in connection with any competing Responding Vendor submitting a separate response to the RFP and is, in all aspects, fair and without collusion or fraud. 20.12 Any and all information provided to vendors by CTN or its sites, is considered to be proprietary information and must be used solely for the purpose of preparing the proposal and is not to be released outside the Responding Vendor organization without written permission from CTN or its sites. 20.13 No contract will be awarded except to responsible vendors capable of performing the work contemplated. Contractor's employees must be trained and qualified to perform the work and operate all required equipment. Before the award of the Contract, any Responding Vendor may be required to show that they have the necessary facilities, experience, ability and financial resources to perform the work in a satisfactory manner. 20.14 Performance and payment bonds will be required by CTN in the amount of 100% of the cost of the project prior to the start of work and the issuance of a purchase order. 20.15 Responding Vendor shall list their experience with the FCC Healthcare Connect Fund program and/or the FCC E-Rate Universal Service program for schools and libraries.

21.

Billing 21.1

Reimbursement for network services and network equipment must comply with Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) rules and the FCC E-Rate Universal Service program procedures, and the terms of payment must accommodate USAC billing and payment timeframes. Initial payments are contingent upon delivery of service.

21.2

Each Responding Vendor must clearly and specifically state their understanding of and adherence to the Federal Communications Commission’s USAC HCF and FCC E-Rate Universal Service payment procedures.

21.3

California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) and FCC High Cost Fund (HCF) Cofunding: Some participants in the CTN who are eligible for FCC HCF reimbursements may currently, or in the future, also participate in the California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) program of the California Public Utilities Commission. See CPUC’s Decision Nos. (D.) 96-10-066, D.08-06-020, and D. 15-07-007 and the following Web Site for additional information regarding the CTF: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/Telco/Public+Programs/CTF/. For CTF- eligible services, the Contractor shall assume the following responsibilities: 21.3.1

Invoice the California Public Utilities Commission for reimbursement for eligible expenses under the CTF Program, according to the requirements of that program as revised by D.15-07007. This includes ensuring the provided services provided meets the revised eligibility requirements set forth in the CPUC’s latest

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CTF decision, D.15-07-007, Appendix B, and follows the processes set forth therein.5

22.

Submit one invoice for all CTN participants for only CTF-eligible services integral to the CTN. Even if the CTN participant is also a CTF-approved participant, those services unrelated to CTN cannot be included in the invoice.

21.3.3

Invoice the CTF program for 50% of the balance for CTF-eligible telecommunications expenses, only after receipt of at least 65% payment from all other sources.

21.3.4

Respond in a timely manner to requests for information as to invoices or audits by the CPUC CTF program staff, its authorized verification service, and its auditors. Provider agrees to provide timely provide documentation of its CTF-eligible services to the CPUC and to maintain a website listing its services provided to the CTF program, consistent with CPUC CTF program rules as set forth in D.15-07-007, Appendix A.

21.3.5

Maintain for five years for auditing purposes all records underlying the invoices to the CTF program, including but not limited to the services used by the individual CTN participants and associated expenses.

Additional Sources of Funding: California Advanced Services Fund 22.1

23.

21.3.2

CTN recommends that Vendors consider as an additional source of funding the CPUC’s California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). The CASF program provides state grants for broadband infrastructure costs for areas of the state that are unserved or underserved by broadband service for residential households. Vendors should review this CPUC webpage to learn more: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/Telco/Information+for+providing+service/CASF/in dex.htm

Weighted Evaluation Criteria 23.1

20% - Cost/Pricing for the items described in Sections 10, 11, and/or 12.

23.2

20% - Demonstrated Vendor Experience building similar fiber projects in rural California. At a minimum, Vendors must meet the requirements described in Section 5.4.

23.3

20% - Technical Merits of Proposal

23.4

20% - Vendor Project Timeline including Milestones and Completion Dates, as required by Section 20.1.

23.5

10% - Continuity of Network Platform, as described in Section 15.

23.6

10% - Completeness of Proposal

5

CPUC Decision No. 15-07-007, in R.13-01-010, at Appendix A. Appendix B sets forth the eligible services for CTF.

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24.

Rejection/Negotiation Rights 24.1

CTN reserves the right to disqualify any proposals for substantial noncompliance with the terms of this RFP. CTN reserves the right to accept or negotiate the contractual terms of any proposal(s) in response to this RFP.

24.2

CTN reserves the right to select multiple service providers.

24.3

CTN reserves the right to select multiple equipment providers.

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Appendix A List of Schools and Libraries These schools are not participants in the California Telehealth Network and are not eligible for Healthcare Connect Fund subsidy. However, the Corporation for Education Initiatives in California (CENIC) has expressed interest in using excess capacity in CTN’s network to connect these underserved schools to the California Research and Education Network (CalREN).

Kernville Elementary School 13350 Sierra Way Kernville, CA 93238

Wallace Elementary School 3240 Erskine Creek Road Lake Isabella, CA 93240

Wallace Middle School 3240 Erskine Creek Road Lake Isabella, CA 93240

Family Resource Center 5109 Lake Isabella Blvd Lake Isabella, CA 93240

Rio Vista Community Day School 3240 Erskine Creek Road Lake Isabella, CA 93240

Kern Valley High School 3340 Erskine Creek Rd Lake Isabella, CA 93240

South Fork Elementary School 6401 Fay Ranch Road Weldon, CA 93283

South Fork Middle School 5225 Kelso Valley Rd Weldon, CA 93283

Tucpan Community Day School 6401 Fay Ranch Rd Weldon, CA 93283

Summit Continuation High School 2811 Pasadena Lane Lake Isabella, CA 93240

Johnsondale Elementary School Star Route 1, Box 104 Kernville, CA 93238

CTN: Kern River Valley Fiber Project Appendix A

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