TELCOMM SERVICES

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 properly consider all of the bids that were submitted and the FRN is denied. FRN 2479085 is a request for local and long distance phone service. During review you indicated you received five bids for the FRN. Three of the bids included both local and long distance phone service and two of the bids included long distance phone service only. Vendor evaluation documentation submitted indicates you did not evaluate the bidders offering long distance phone service only. The establishing Form 470 for the FRN does not include a requirement that bidders offer both local and long distance phone service in order to be considered. During review you stated, "Vendors were not notified that we were looking for both local and long and would not (be) accepting only one services (sic)...The factor of using only (one) vendor for both local and long distance was used in the evaluation process. " You further stated, "In our evaluation it was determined that it would be easier to deal with one vendor as compared to two. That was a factor in consideration of the bids." You did not make bidders aware of the requirement to offer both local and long distance phone service in order to be considered for evaluation. Since you did not make bidders aware of this requirement, you should have evaluated local phone service separate from long distance phone service and awarded the services accordingly. FRNs which rely on this contract/competitive bidding process in subsequent funding years will also be subject to denial.