D -- LOCAL TELEPHONE SERVICES FOR US COURTS AT BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Notice Date

June 8, 2001

Contracting Office

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, OIS-PMD, Suite 3-250, Washington, DC 20544

ZIP Code

20544

Solicitation Number

USC-01-11-01

Response Due

July 6, 2001

Point of Contact

Dan Nix (205) 278-1703

Description

DESCRIPTION -- (i)This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii) Solicitation No. USC 01-11-01 herein is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). (iii)The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-16. (iv) This RFQ is for full and open competition and the SIC Code is 4813. The U.S. Court intends to issue a Commercial Item, Firm Fixed-Price Delivery Order contract for providing local telecommunication services from a local exchange carrier (LEC) to Hugo L. Black Building/United States Courthouse in Birmingham, Alabama. The streets of 17th Street and 5th Avenue North in Birmingham, Alabama border the courthouse. (v) Clin 01 -- Initial Non Recurring Charges This is to include any ordering and/or one time installation charges per order and per circuit. Clin 02 -- Monthly Recurring Service Charge per circuit. Clin 03 -- Any additional monthly fixed charges per circuit. Clin 04 -Surcharges and fees based on either usage charges or fixed charges. Clin 05 -- State and Federal taxes applicable to the Courts. Discounts: If discounts are applicable because of multiple circuits, usage, promotional discounts, etc. provide complete clarification on the discounts and how they are applied. Please note that if discounts are applied because of multiple circuits, the multiple circuits may be billed separately to the two agencies The period of performance will be for one year with one option year. (vi) BACKGROUND: The Court requires local area dial tone services, which are currently being provided by E.Spire Communications. SCOPE OF WORK -- This request is to supply network access for local telephone service. It will include ISDN/PRI service, local Central Office Trunking, and Direct Inward Dialing trunking and service, and local business service lines. MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS -- All respondents shall be authorized by the State of Alabama to provide Competitive Local Access Services within the state of Alabama, and within the Birmingham, Alabama, area. Contractors shall be carriers who can provide facilities based service to the Courthouse. Contractors who are resellers of other carrier's services will not be considered as qualified. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS -- The Contractor shall provide ISDN/PRI local service to the District Courts and the United States Probation Office. These services will be terminated in the DXP Plus KSU that is in service in the building. The required business lines will not be terminated in the DXP KSU. All services will be terminated at the building demarcation. This Request for Quotation does not include any Centrex or other business services required by GSA, or any other lines required by contractors who may occupy space in the new courthouse and require telephone service. Local Services for the District Courts will include the District Court Offices, and the U.S. Probation Office. Primary service shall be ISDN/PRI with the call by call selection feature which allows all trunks to be used dynamically for outbound or inbound calling to the local service area. The service shall include DID access that shall be routed over the ISDN/PRI. The existing DID number range of 500 numbers (278-1700 thru 278-2199), must remain as DID numbers. The service shall be terminated at the building demarcation point in the communications room located on the lower level of the building. Circuit engineering shall be compatible with a DXP Plus KSU unit. The outbound and incoming DID service must be routed over the same circuits/trunk groups. The digital services included in this RFQ are for local outbound, and incoming DID calling only. The court's Primary Interexchange Carrier (PIC) for Inter-LATA, Intra-LATA, and international traffic shall be Sprint. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED FEATURES -- (1) ability to block the display of the calling party identification to the called party. If this blocking is not available through the network Central Office, the network must be able to accept calls when the calling number has been blocked by the KSU; (2) display of incoming caller ID for incoming DID calls routed over the ISDN/PRI service is required; (3) ability to redirect calls at the Central Office level to another destination in the event of power failure or disaster is desirable. Other line features commonly found on local services (i.e. call waiting, three way calling, etc.) are not required. IMPLEMENTATION -- The service establishment is assumed necessary to guarantee the DID number range. Circuit engineering requirements are to be made available and communicated directly to the KSU vendor (Black Box). The KSU vendor (Black Box) is to have direct access to appropriate carrier personnel involved with the installation of the service. The Court will provide a LOA for the KSU vendor (Black Box) in order to facilitate installation, cut-over, and testing. The selected carrier will be required to provide order documentation to the KSU vendor (Black Box) for all relevant activity. Additionally, the Court may require the selected carrier to provide copies of this documentation to court personnel or other authorized representatives of the Court. BILLING FOR SERVICES -- will be designated to the U.S District Court. SCHEDULE FOR IMPLEMENTATION -- The implementation schedule planned by the Court is: Carrier Selection Completed approximately 7/27/01; Complete services working at the courthouse 8/31/01. OFFEROR'S RESPONSE due 7/6/01. Carrier/Vendor responses are to provide all information needed for the Courts to make a decision. At this time the exact quantity of circuits is estimated based on current usage. Thirty (30) ISDN/PRI circuits are projected for the Courts. Circuits may be added or deleted after usage traffic patterns are developed. If a different cost structure will be applicable after initial installation, that price schedule should be included. Complete pricing and price breakdowns are required. This is to include any discounts available because of multiple quantities of circuits. Any applicable usage charges must be completely detailed. The initial establishment of the single DID line with associated DID numbers may be billed at the month-to-month rate. CALLING AREAS -- Provide complete information on the local calling area. This is to include mileage ranges and/or listings of NPA/NNX if applicable. If possible provide a schematic map illustrating the calling areas. Provide a sample of the billing format that will be used. PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS -- All LEC Contractor's technical personnel who will be assigned to this contract effort and will work on the premises of the courthouse may be required to have a background investigation completed prior to commencing work. The contractor shall provide the names, dates of birth, and social security numbers for all such personnel upon award of this contract to the COTR. This information will be provided to the U.S. Marshal's Service. There is no charge to the Contractor for this service. CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES -- The LEC Contractor shall be responsible for (1) ensuring that all areas in which work is performed are left broom clean and free of debris; (2) removing and replacing ceiling tiles associated with maintenance or installation of telecommunication services; (3) removing all debris and scrap wire generated in the performance of the contract; (4) repairing and returning to its original condition, at no cost to the Government, all surfaces (to include, but not limited to floors, walls, ceilings, doors and windows) which are damaged or marred by contractor personnel; and (5) ensuring that all moves, additions, or changes to the contractor-furnished and installed telecommunications services are approved by the Court designee. The Government will not be responsible for any changes made to LEC contractor furnished and/or installed services that are not approved by the government. COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS -- The Contractor shall provide services in accordance with the rates, terms and conditions set forth in the applicable tariffs of the contractor, as filed with, and approved by, the Alabama Public Service Commission and/or the Federal Communications Commission. Contractor services shall be in conformance with the following applicable accepted Industry standards, codes and regulations and Federal standards. In the event of a conflict between industry standards and this contract, the contract shall govern. Electronic Industries Association /Telecommunication Industries Association Standards, 42AAAA-1989. (viii) -- FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial applies to this acquisition; (ix) EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS -- FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items is hereby incorporated by reference. The government will award a commercial item purchase order using simplified acquisition procedures to the responsible offeror whose offer is most advantageous to the government. The quotes will be evaluated using the criteria listed below in order of importance from most important to least important. (1) Proven capability to deliver both digital and analog services within the local Lata and to the physical location of the building. Digital service will include ISDN/PRI services. (2) Ability to meet an implementation schedule satisfactory to the Courts. (3) Ability to assume responsibility for the existing number range (278-1700 thru 278-2199) within the implementation satisfactory to the Courts. (4) Cost of the service, including both initial non-recurring charges for installation, and recurring monthly service charges. (5) Proposed implementation, test, and acceptance plan. (6) Evidence of satisfactory past performance in providing similar services. (x) FAR 212-3, OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS apply to this acquisition. (xi) TERMS AND CONDITIONS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS -- Addenda to 52.212-4 include: (d) disputes. N/A; (g) invoice and (i) Payment. The Prompt Payment Act (31 U.S.C. 3903) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-125, Prompt Payment DOES NOT apply to the Judiciary; (n) Title.N/A; FAR 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (Mar 1989); FAR 52.232-19, Availability of Funds for the Next Fiscal Year (Apr 1984); FAR 52.222-37, VETS 100 Compliance Report (Jan 1999), and FAR 52.204-6, Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. The clauses may be viewed at http://www.arnet.gov/far. Judiciary has other clauses that may reviewed by contacting POC . (xii)FAR 52.212-5, CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS apply to this solicitation. Interested offerors are required to contact the point of contact (POC) for full text clauses; (xiii)N/A; (xiv) N/A; (xv) N/A; (xvi) PROPOSAL DUE DATE -- Proposals are to be received no later than COB 7/6/01. Offers are to be submitted to Perry D. Mathis, Clerk of Court, U.S. District Courts, 1729 5th Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203. For further information or clarification, contact Dan Nix at (205) 278-1703.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010612/DSOL005.HTM (W-159 SN50O480)