FCDL Comment:
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 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:FCC Rules require applicants to carefully consider all bids submitted by service providers and to choose the most cost effective solution. Documentation provided demonstrates that the applicant did not consider all of the bids that were submitted. Specifically, a bid was provided from Lumen, which was not evaluated. Therefore, the applicant has violated the competitive bidding program rules.||DR3:The vendor selection documentation provided was created after the Contract Award Date listed on the FCC Form 471. The vendor evaluation process must be completed before awarding the contract. Specifically, in response to our Intent to Deny for not evaluating the Lumen bid, the applicant admitted this was missed during the evaluation and submitted a new evaluation. Since this new evaluation was created after the Contract Award Date, this FRN is denied.