INTERNAL CONNECTIONS

DR1:The description for the products and services on the cited FCC Form 470 for all of the products and/or services in the FRN contains a particular manufacturer’s name, brand, products and/or services without also specifying “or equivalent”. This is a competitive bidding violation because there is no indication that FCC Form 470/RFP is also allowing a service provider to submit a bid for equivalent products and/or services. This undermines the competitive bidding process by eliminating the opportunity for the applicant to purchase an equivalent or better product that may be less expensive or to choose a less expensive service provider.||DR2:The vendor selection documentation created during the bid evaluation period did not clearly demonstrate that the price was the primary evaluation factor considered in selecting the winning service provider's proposal.||DR3:The Program rules require that a signed contract or a legally binding agreement with the service provider be in place at the time of the submission of the FCC Form 471 Certification. Documentation was not provided to demonstrate that a contract or a legally binding agreement was in place when the FCC Form 471 Certification was filed; therefore, your FRN is denied.