Berks County Regional Wide Area Network
E-Rate Purchasing Consortium
October 23, 2015
Pursuant to Section 1.5 of the Berks County Regional Wide Area Network Request for Proposals (E-Rate
470 #160001444) this Clarification #1 answers questions from service providers without making changes
to the Request for Proposals. Addenda and clarifications are posted on the procurement website
(www.berksiu.org/rwan) and the E-Rate portal.
Items addressed in this Clarification are as follows:
1. Q: Regarding Presentations and Best and Final Proposals, will all vendors be assured the
opportunity to present and provide a Best and Final Proposal.
A: No, refer to Section 1.5.5.
2. Q: Regarding oral presentations, will vendors be asked to provide presentation materials in
advance? Further, will vendors be required to identify the intended presenters and is there a
limit to the number of people who can attend from said vendor?
A: Presentations need not be submitted in advance. Service providers will receive an agenda and
instructions when they receive their invitation to present.
3. Q: If vendor is sub-contracting/partnering for some set of services, should this be outlined in
their proposal?
A: Yes. Refer to section 1.7.1.1 Subcontracting.
4. Q: Will we entertain a wireless solution as opposed to fiber?
A: We will maintain flexibility in considering all reasonable alternative solutions and therefore
have not specifically stated that we are requiring an all fiber network.
5. Q: Are vendors asked to estimate the cost of district-end equipment that may be required to
implement a proposed solution? (i.e. Layer 3 switches/routers required on either end of the
fiber connection)
A: Refer to the relevant sections of the RFP about networking equipment.
6. Q: Should the provider propose a solution that requires a significant equipment investment on
either end, are the costs for such equipment (i.e. layer 3 routers/switches) E-Rate eligible in
any way?
A: Review Section 1.7.3 about E-Rate. The buyers expect all services proposed to be Category
One E-Rate eligible.
7. Q: What are the full addresses for sites that need Internet with speeds per site?
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Berks County Regional Wide Area Network
E-Rate Purchasing Consortium
A: This information is provided in Attachment 1 – Tab C, which is provided on the USAC portal
with our form 470 application number 160001444, and also available for download at
www.berksiu.org/rwan
8. Q: What are the full addresses for sites that need Private WAN (Wide Area Network) with
speeds per site.
A: This information is provided in Attachment 1 – Tab A, which is provided on the USAC portal
with our form 470 application number 160001444, and also available for download at
www.berksiu.org/rwan
9. Q: Do you need the carrier to provide the router equipment?
A: Refer to the relevant sections of the RFP related to networking equipment. The service
provider must describe and identify all equipment and associated costs necessary to deliver the
proposed solution. Vendors should indicate if such equipment is owned by the vendor or must
be purchased by the school.
End of Clarification
Thank you for your interest in this important project for K-12 education in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Sincerely,
Cherie Zimmerman
Assistant Director
Office of Innovation & Technology
Berks County Intermediate Unit 14
1111 Commons Boulevard
P.O. Box 16050
Reading, PA 19612-6050
610.987.8567 (w)
RWAN@berksiu.org
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