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<br />Public Notice
<br />Kittitas County, Ellensburg WA
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<br />REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
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<br />FOR DESIGN AND BUILD OF BROADBAND NETWORKS IN THE THORP AND EDGEMONT UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF KITTITAS COUNTY
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<br />All submittals received after 5:00 PM, local time, May 12th, 2023, will be discarded.
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<br />PURPOSE:
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<br />Through this Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Kittitas County seeks a qualified contractor to conduct a broadband network build to connect unserved and underserved addresses of residents
<br />and businesses in the Thorp and Edgemont project areas. Kittitas County has received $3.8 million in a grant from the Public Works Trust Fund Board to bring connectivity to a minimum
<br />of 459 households. Washington State has allocated Community Project Funding (CPF) to continue its work to expand broadband infrastructure across Kittitas County and bring broadband access
<br />to households and businesses that are currently unserved by an existing broadband network through competitive grant funding cycles.
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<br />Kittitas County is seeking qualified applicants to provide high-speed broadband connectivity (1Gbps symmetrical upload and download speeds):
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<br />• To the maximum number of unserved properties, residences, and businesses in the project areas of Thorp and Edgemont.
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<br />• At the least cost to the County.
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<br />• In compliance with all issued Capital Projects Fund guidance and requirements.
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<br />Kittitas County anticipates awarding this contract to a single responder.
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<br />As American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funds are utilized as grant match, the Grant Agreement issued will be a sub-award and Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) will be ensuring compliance
<br />with all federal guidance and requirements, including the applicable requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200 (Uniform Guidance) or 2 CFR 200.
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<br />The selected bidder will be awarded funding not to exceed $3.8 million to complete the high-speed broadband builds and supply service to the Thorp and Edgemont project areas.
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<br />The ongoing operation and maintenance of the project will be the sole responsibility of the selected bidder.
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<br />SCOPE OF PROJECT:
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<br />Kittitas County seeks to provide broadband connectivity to as many properties in the project areas at the least cost per premise. The scope of this project includes planning, construction,
<br />and installation of all necessary broadband infrastructure and equipment for providing access to broadband for unserved properties. Per Kittitas County’s Public Works Board grant application,
<br />the following conditions must be met:
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<br />• Project is designed to deliver upon completion, service that reliably meets or exceeds symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1 Gbps. To accomplish these speeds, the project will
<br />prefer fiber-optic technology.
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<br />• Project must provide broadband access to Unserved Properties in the project areas. Any costs incurred for properties that do not meet the definition of Unserved Property, as defined
<br />by Kittitas County (refer to footnote 1, page 1) are not eligible to be covered by Kittitas County under this SOQ.
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<br />• Projects must be completed as soon as possible but no later than December 31, 2026, including the submission and approval of all project closeout documentation to BEA. Any costs incurred
<br />by the Applicant after December 31, 2026, will not be eligible for invoicing to Kittitas County.
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<br />• Applicant must be a Washington State municipality or qualified Washington State broadband provider, or both, and must be able to support the internet service once it is built.
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<br />• The proposed technology must have demonstrable efficacy and broad consumer acceptance in the market.
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<br />• Applicants must participate in, or intend to before execution of the project contract, the Affordable Connectivity Program and are committed to participating in any future federal
<br />subsidy program, as applicable.
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<br />• Applicant must include at least one low-cost option offered at speeds that are sufficient for a household with multiple users to simultaneously telework and engage in remote learning.
<br />Any future, low-cost option mandated by the federal government would negate this requirement.
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<br />Ongoing operations and maintenance of the system for a term of twenty (20) years will be the sole responsibility of the selected responder. Upon term expiration, all network assets owned
<br />by Kittitas County may be transferred to the selected responder.
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<br />The selected responder is responsible for compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, codes, and regulations relative to the project and shall acquire all necessary
<br />permits, approvals, and agreements.
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<br />PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTAL:
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<br />If you wish to be considered for work under this Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), you must be a registered consultant on the Municipal Research and Service Center of Washington – Shared
<br />Small Works and Consultant Roster (www.mrscroster.org).
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<br />A mandatory pre-submittal meeting is required to submit a response to this solicitation. The meeting location and time may be obtained by contacting: Ms. Candie Leader, Administrative
<br />Supervisor, 509-962-7523 or at: candie.leader@co.kittitas.wa.us. Specific performance criteria will be provided to prospective bidders at this meeting. Failure to attend results in
<br />disqualification from submitting a bid.
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<br />If interested in responding to this solicitation providing broadband service to Kittitas County residents, submit a sealed envelope to Mark R. Cook, Kittitas County Public Works Director,
<br />at 411 N. Ruby St. Suite 1, Ellensburg WA 98926. Submittals shall include five (5) copies of your SOQ response utilizing provided County response forms.
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<br />For your records, the County will provide a confirmation email to the contacts provided in the submittal confirming receipt of your interest in the proposal. Submittals received after
<br />5:00 PM local time May 12th, 2023, will be disregarded. The County reserves the right to reject one or more submittals.
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<br />SELECTION PROCESS AND PROPOSED SCHEDULE:
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<br />Kittitas County selection will be based on the following criteria and completeness of response:
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<br />1. Pricing structure based on specifications provided at the mandatory pre-bid meeting (60 points).
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<br />2. Ability meeting supply chain project timelines (50 points).
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<br />3. Number of years providing telecommunication services (50 points).
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<br />4. Discuss Kittitas County customer service response policies (60 points).
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<br />An internal selection committee will review all submittals and select the provider for contracting. The committee may elect to conduct interviews with responders prior to selection.
<br /> If interviews are desired, selected interviewees will be notified in advance. Following selection, the selected provider is required to enter into a Kittitas County professional services
<br />agreement.
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<br />The selection process shall be in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby
<br />notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises and airport concession disadvantaged
<br />business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or
<br />national origin in consideration for an award.
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<br />Anticipated Dates and Tasks
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<br />5 PM local time May 12th, 2023 - Deadline for SOQ submittals
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<br />May 26, 2023 - Selection of Firms to Interview
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<br />June 16, 2023 - Interviews and Reference Checks
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<br />June 23, 2023 - Provider selection
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<br />July 5, 2023 - BOCC Contract Award
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<br />The above noted schedule is tentative and may be changed based on the number of proposals submitted. Proposals will be evaluated immediately with final selection targeted for late June
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<br />AGREEMENT OF SERVICES:
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<br />The selected consultant(s) will be expected to enter into a standard Kittitas County Professional Services Agreement. Insurance requirements appear in that agreement. The contract period
<br />shall be July 5, 2023, to December 31, 2026.
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<br />Persons with disabilities may request this information be prepared and supplied in alternate forms by calling collect (509-962-7523).
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<br />Kittitas County reserves the right to accept or reject one or more proposal(s) or any items or part thereof or to waive any information or irregularities in the proposals. Kittitas
<br />County shall have the sole discretion to determine the most responsible proposal.
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<br />ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
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<br />Responders are required to utilize provided County proposal forms.
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<br />INQUIRIES:
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<br />Direct all inquiries regarding this request for services to Candie Leader, Administrative Supervisor at (509) 962-7523, or via e-mail to candie.leader@co.kittitas.wa.us
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<br /> More information is online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/notices/. Clerk of the Board Publish:
<br />Daily Record: 04/20/2023; 04/27/2023; 05/04/2023; 05/11/2023
<br />Daily Journal of Commerce: 04/20/2023; 04/27/2023; 05/04/2023; 05/11/2023
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