FCDL Comment:
MR1: The amount of the funding request was changed from $182,525.22 one-time charge to $172,016.68 one-time charge to remove: $3,595.85 one-time charge - ineligible 49% portion of CON-SNT-N9508B, $4,681.85 one-time charge - ineligible 44% portion of CON-SNTE-N9508B1 and $2,230.84 one-time charge -19% ineligible portion of CON-SNTP-N9508B1. <><><><><> DR1: The referenced RFP was not available for 28 days after the filing of the FCC Form 470. Program rules require applicants to wait at least 28 days after releasing an RFP before selecting a service provider, signing a contract or entering into a legally binding agreement, or submitting an FCC Form 471. Therefore, this FRN is denied. <><><><><> DR2: We have completed our review and determined this FRN will be denied because the RFP "B03563 Cisco Switch Equipment" that you have cited contains manufacturer specific make and model of products and/or services but did not include the words "or equivalent" to describe the requested products and services. Moreover, the language under the "Consideration of alternate products and equipment" section of your RFP states "we are only considering/accepting bids on brand name products shown in attachment 4." Such a description ("or equivalent") will prevent the FCC Form 470 / RFP from being construed as requiring only a specific product and service provider, which could undermine 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. This is a competitive bidding violation because it deters a service provider from submitting a bid for equivalent services which may be more cost effective and interferes with the fair and open competitive bidding process required by FCC rules. For additional information, please refer to the USAC website at: http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step03/describe-services-requested.aspx.