|
<br />
<br />Public Notice
<br />Kittitas County, Ellensburg WA
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />All submittals received after 5:00 pm local time on July 18, 2024 will be discarded
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />PURPOSE:
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Kittitas County, Washington (hereinafter the “County”), is requesting Statements of Qualifications (“SOQs”) from interested firms for the provision of high-speed broadband Internet services in the County. The County is requesting SOQs from capable Internet Service Providers (“ISPs”) and other firms capable of providing high-speed broadband Internet service at the service levels and to the geographic areas detailed herein as Exhibit 1. The purpose of this RFQ is to identify firms with whom the County may collaborate to expand high-speed broadband Internet service availability to all County residents. This document is not a formal Request for Proposals, nor should it be treated as such by applicants.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />SCOPE OF PROJECT:
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />The firm(s) selected as part of this RFQ will be required to design, build, operate and maintain the broadband Internet network to provide high-speed broadband internet service to the identified areas for a defined period of time. Evidence of the firm’s capability to operate such a network shall be a condition of selection of an applicant by the County as detailed herein.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTAL:
<br />
<br />
<br />
<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 Small Works and Consultant Roster (www.mrscroster.org).
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />If interested in providing Broadband design, build, operate and maintain services to Kittitas County, submit a sealed envelope to, Kittitas County Department of Public Works, at 411 N. Ruby St. Suite 1, Ellensburg WA 98926. Submittals shall include a one-page cover letter with the firm name and contact information. Submittals shall also include four (4) copies of your Statement of Qualifications describing the firm’s or team’s ability to professionally provide the requested services. Responses shall not exceed twenty (20) pages, single sided or ten (10) pages double sided and the font shall be 12 point in size. – excluding a cover letter.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />For your records, the County will provide a confirmation email to the contacts provided in the submittal confirming receipt of your interest in this solicitation. Submittals received after 5:00 PM local time on July 18, 2024, will be disregarded. Kittitas County encourages disadvantaged, minority and women owned consultant firms to respond.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />The County reserves the right to retain the services of the successful firm for any subsequent phases associated with this project. The County reserves the right to reject any and all submittals.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />SELECTION PROCESS AND PROPOSED SCHEDULE:
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Kittitas County selection will be based upon:
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />1. Statement of interest and qualifications. Each SOQ must include a statement of interest outlining why the applicant is interested in the project, the applicant’s technical and operational qualifications, and why the applicant should be selected for this project (10 points).
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />2. Description of firm. Each SOQ must include a description of the firm for whom the SOQ was prepared. The description should include the firm name, specific information regarding the firm ownership, primary contact information, primary office location, general qualifications, and a demonstration of technical expertise sufficient to complete the construction and operation of the proposed network. The firm description should also list each member of the firm that will work on the project along with a brief description of their relevant experience and the anticipated hierarchy of any such participants with respect to this project (20 points).
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />3. Description of approach. Each SOQ must include a comprehensive description of the firm’s intended approach to the project. This description should identify with specificity as to how the applicant intends to provide service, the means by which such service will be provided, and a general plan for the construction of the necessary facilities. The description should further detail the infrastructure and technology necessary to build out the applicant’s intended network. The description should detail the type of open access network that will be developed and how competitive companies can access the network. A description of what efforts or cooperation needed from the County to facilitate the efficient completion of the project, the intended cost to consumers of the final service offering, the anticipated revenue share between the county and operator, and the anticipated long- term operational needs and maintenance plan for the proposed high-speed broadband Internet network (50 points).
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />4. Anticipated timeline. Each SOQ must include an estimated timeline for the project. The timeline should clearly state the timeframes in which the applicant expects to complete all necessary construction and the timeframe in which the applicant expects to begin providing service to the designated unserved and/or underserved broadband serviceable locations in the project area. If the project will be completed in phases or otherwise subdivided, the SOQ should clearly show each anticipated phase and the corresponding timeframe for completion. Schedule must show completion of work by June 2026 (10 points).
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />5. Comparable projects. Each SOQ must include a description of at least three (3) similar projects, either in-progress or completed, by the applicant that demonstrate that the applicant has the technical and operational expertise necessary to complete the proposed project. Such descriptions should include the location of the project, a brief description of the project, the number of current subscribers, the type of technology used in the project, the size and scale of the geographic area covered by the project, and a project reference that the County may contact. The references should each include the reference’s name, title, email address, and phone number (20 points).
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />6. Cost analysis. Each SOQ should include an estimated time and materials cost proposal detailing the total anticipated cost of each element of the project. The cost analysis should clearly detail the anticipated expenditures of the applicant. A statement affirming that the applicant will cooperate in full with the County in its efforts to obtain additional federal and/or state funding in the upcoming BEAD application process (50 points).
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Civil Rights:
<br />
<br />
<br />
<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 notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit statements in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Kittitas County in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) commits to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability, in all of its programs and activities. This material can be made available in an alternate format by electronically mailing Candie Leader at
<br />mailto:candie.leader@co.kittitas.wa.uscandie.leader@co.kittitas.wa.us or by calling collect 509-962-7523.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />SOQ Schedule:
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Below is a tentative schedule for the final selection.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anticipated Dates and Tasks
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />July 18, 2024 Deadline for SOQ Submittals
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />August 1, 2024 Selection of Firms to Interview
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />August 15, 2024 Selected firm(s) identified
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />September 3, 2024 BOCC Award of Contracts
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />The above noted schedule is tentative and may be changed based on the number of statements received. Statements will be evaluated immediately with final selection targeted for mid-August 2024.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />AGREEMENT OF SERVICES:
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />The selected consultant(s) will be expected to enter into a standard Kittitas County Professional Services Agreement. Insurance requirements are included in that agreement. The contract period shall be through 2026 as defined by the funding grant held by the county.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Persons with disabilities may request this information be prepared and supplied in alternate forms by calling collect (509-962-7523).
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Kittitas County reserves the right to accept or reject one or more statements or any items or part thereof or to waive any information or irregularities in the provided response. Kittitas County shall have the sole discretion to determine the most responsible responder.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />INQUIRIES:
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Direct all inquiries regarding this Statement of Qualifications to, Department of Public Works at (509) 962-7523, or via e-mail: Josh Fredrickson (
<br />mailto:josh.fredrickson@co.kittitas.wa.usjosh.fredrickson@co.kittitas.wa.us); 509-962-7523.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Dates of publication: Ellensburg Daily Record – June 20, June 27, July 3, 2024.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /> Daily Journal of Commerce – June 20, June 27, July 3, 2024.
<br />
<br />
<br /> Clerk of the Board Publish:
<br />Daily Record: 06/20/2024, 06/27/2024, 07/03/2024
<br />Daily Journal of Commerce: 06/20/2024, 06/27/2024, 07/03/2024
<br />
|