Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, Western Joint Purchasing Initiative, P.O. Drawer P, Boulder, CO 80301-9752

70 -- INTERNET DIAL-UP ACCESS SUPPLIES AND SERVICES Due 043096. Contact Becky Duning, 303/541-0255. Contact Becky Duning, JPI Program Administrator, Western Joint Purchasing Initiative, a project of the Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications (partially funded by the US Department of Education) at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE); mailing address: 1540 30th Street, Room 375; post office box: P.O. Drawer P; city/state/zip: Boulder, Colorado 80303; Internet e-mail: stephkirby@wiche.edu; phone: (303)541-0255; fax: (303)541-0291. The Western Joint Purchasing Initiative (JPI) of WICHE plans to issue Requests for Proposals (RFP) to seek competitive sealed bid proposals for Internet Dial-Up Access services and supplies. Interested vendors can access the RFP as well as this notice on the World Wide Web at http://www.wiche.edu/jpi/home.htm on or about March 4, 1996. Anyone accessing this information should contact JPI with a name, address, phone and fax number, and e-mail address to be added to our mailing list. Vendors can also request a copy of the RFP on diskette provided at a nominal charge by contacting Stephanie Kirby, Administrative Secretary, by phone (303-541-0235) or Internet e-mail (stephkirby@wiche.edu) on or about March 4, 1996. The JPI began efforts for the planning, implementation, and management of a cooperative purchasing infrastructure among the WICHE/JPI states (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah, and Washington) which culminated in this RFP. The Program was initiated to help reduce costs and enhance the telecommunications systems of the postsecondary institutions in JPI states by obtaining master pricing agreements (``Master Agreements'') with preferred providers through which these institutions can acquire certain goods and services. Other states within the western region may join JPI and be eligible to participate in this program. The RFP will be issued on or about March 4, 1996, and responses are due by April 30, 1996. Vendors are encouraged to submit questions by mail or via e-mail by March 15, 1996 to the above listed address. Submitted questions with answers will be distributed electronically April 12, 1996. Intent to award will be announced on May 22, 1996. This acquisition is full and open competition. Contracts may be awarded to multiple vendors. Vendors must agree to abide by the provisions of Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 USC 2000e), which prohibit discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment, or any applicant or recipient of services, on the basis of race, religion, color, or national origin; and further agree to abide by Executive Order No. 11246, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; 45 CFR 90 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disabilities; and applicable state statutes and regulations. (025)

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