·       Before the listed deadlines, all Questions and Bids must be submitted using the on-line IFCB system. Bids submitted before the bid deadline outside of this system will be disqualified. If the system is down before the deadline, please email your bid to info@crwconsulting.com or fax it to 918.445.0049. Bids or questions submitted in this fashion will be disqualified if the on-line system is active at the time of submission. The applicant reserves the right to request and obtain bids outside of the website system if the bid deadline has passed and zero or one bid is received (the intent for this is to follow USAC guidance on obtaining cost-effective bids).

·      For all requested services and/or products listed on this IFCB: proposals that include generic/encyclopedic price lists will be considered non-responsive and will be disqualified. SPAM and/or robotic responses will not be considered valid bid responses and will be disqualified from consideration.

·       Bidder must agree to participate in USF Program (AKA “E-rate”) for the corresponding funding year.

·       Please include the correct Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) on your bid.

·       By submitting a bid, bidder certifies that the bidder does have a valid (non-red light status) SPIN for the E-rate program at the time of submission. Should the Applicant discover that the bidder is on red light status, or if the FCC classifies the bidder as on red-light status before work is performed and invoices are paid, the contract will be null and void and the applicant will have no payment obligations to the bidder.

·       Bidder is expected to provide the lowest corresponding price per E-rate rules.  See https://www.usac.org/e-rate/service-providers/step-2-responding-to-bids/lowest-corresponding-price/ for details.

·       Contracts must not prohibit SPIN changes.

·       Bidder must agree to provide the Applicant the choice of discount methods (SPI or BEAR).

·       Bidder will be automatically disqualified if the District determines that the bidding company has offered any employee of the District any individual gift of more than $20 or gifts totaling more than $50 within a 12 month period. This does not apply to the recent FCC exemptions of the Gift Rule for the COVID pandemic.

·       All contracts awarded will be contingent upon E-rate funding and final board approval.  The applicant may choose to do all or part of the project upon funding notification.

·       All applicable fees, surcharges, and taxes must be identified on the bid. E-rate rules require the applicants to evaluate the price of eligible goods and services that will be listed on the 471 application during the competitive bidding process. Fees and surcharges that apply but are not listed on the bid will be the responsibility of the bidding company, should their bid be awarded.

·       If there is a request for Internal Connections (Category Two) equipment, or Category One equipment listed on this IFCB the applicant will accept bids for functionally equivalent equipment.

·       LEASED WIDE AREA NETWORK CIRCUITS DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Any and all installation charges must be identified on your bid. If you submit a bid indicating that installation charges may apply without listing those charges, we will consider your bid incomplete and disqualify your bid.

·       LEASED WIDE AREA NETWORK CIRCUITS DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Bids submitted for services to incorrect addresses will be disqualified.

Leased Wide Area Network Circuits – 1  connection any delivery/technology type, the district will accept bids for any cost-effective topologies that meet our connectivity goals. Leased dark fiber bidders should bid 4 fiber strands per location. Lit leased fiber bidders should bid 40 GB per location.  Bids should be based on a 8 year term.

The service provider should indicate in their bid if they are using a 3rd party for operations and maintenance for the network (emergency repairs and splicing). Service providers should indicate in their bid if they fully own and maintain the entire run of the WAN circuits, including splice cases and pathways. Indicate on your bid what percentage of the dark fiber is buried underground vs. aerial. Bids should include service level agreements for repairs. Bids should include the location of the repair facility and distance in miles from Tomball West HS. Indicate on your bid if you own the entire circuit pathway and are not sharing the circuit with other service providers. Bids should include what percentage of the fiber is buried underground vs aerial.

Tomball West High School = 17803 Cypress Heights Dr. Cypress, TX 77433 connecting to the Tomball ISD Technology and Staff Development Center = 1302 Keefer Rd. Suite B Tomball, TX 77375.

LEASED WIDE AREA NETWORK CIRCUITS DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Any and all installation charges must be identified on your bid. If you submit a bid indicating that installation charges may apply without listing those charges, we will consider your bid incomplete and disqualify your bid.