WAVELENGTH TRANSPORT PROVIDER(S) FOR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE INTERNET EXCHANGE POINT AT CORESITE DE1, 910 15TH STREET, DENVER, CO. AND 1623 FARNAM AND THEN WAVELENGTH OR DARK FIBER FROM 1623 FARNAM TO AN ICN SPLICE POINT NEAR IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA.

Agency:	The Iowa Communications Network
State:	Iowa
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541519 - Other Computer Related Services
Posted Date:	Aug 7, 2024
Due Date:	Sep 3, 2024
Solicitation No:	ITB 24-035
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

ITB 24-035

The State of Iowa, Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission, operating the Iowa Communications Network (collectively ICN) is seeking proposals for Vendors capable of providing transport services between ICN's location within Council Bluffs, IA and the Coresite DE1 carrier neutral internet exchange point.

Bid proposals for ITB 24-035 must be received by 3:00 p.m. CST Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

Associated Documents:
24-035 Transport - C.Bluffs - Farnam - Denver - FINAL
Exhibit A -Council Bluffs Connection Point Map

Attachment Preview

NOTICE TO VENDORS

INVITATION TO BID

The Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission operating

the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) will be receiving sealed bid

proposals until 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, September 3, 2024

for:

ITB 24-035

WAVELENGTH TRANSPORT PROVIDER(S)

FOR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE INTERNET EXCHANGE POINT

AT CORESITE DE1, 910 15TH STREET, DENVER, CO. AND 1623

FARNAM AND THEN WAVELENGTH OR DARK FIBER FROM 1623

FARNAM TO AN ICN SPLICE POINT NEAR IOWA WESTERN

COMMUNITY COLLEGE, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA.

Brian Clayton – Issuing Officer

Iowa Communications Network

400 East 14th Street

Grimes State Office Building

Des Moines, IA 50319

FAX 515-725-4774

Brian.clayton@iowa.gov

Vendors must comply with all affirmative action/equal employment

opportunity provisions of State and Federal laws.

THIS INVITATION TO BID CONSISTS OF FOUR CHAPTERS, THREE ATTACHMENTS

AND ONE EXHIBIT:

CHAPTER

Attachment 1

Attachment 2

Attachment 3

Exhibit A

TITLE

Administrative Issues

Contractual Terms

Technical Specifications For Transport Providers

Evaluation Criteria

Proposal Compliance Form

Terms and Conditions

Authorization To Release Information

Council Bluffs Connection Point Map

CHAPTER 1

ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

1.1 Purpose. The ICN is seeking bid proposals from Vendors capable of providing transport services

between ICN’s location within Council Bluffs, IA and the Coresite DE1 carrier neutral internet exchange

point. Vendors who meet the Chapter 3 requirements for Transport Vendors will have their bid evaluated.

1.2 Schedule and Submission of Proposal.

1.2.1 Questions and Answers. Vendors are invited to submit written questions and requests for

clarifications regarding the ITB. Vendors may also submit suggestions for changes to the

requirements of this ITB. Oral questions will not be accepted or responded to by the ICN. If the

questions, requests for clarifications, or suggestions pertain to a specific section of the ITB, the page

and section number(s) must be referenced.

1.2.2 The questions, requests for clarifications, or suggestions must be in writing and received by

the Issuing Officer before 4:00 p.m., central time, August 16, 2024. The ICN will post the responses

on the ICN web page, www.icn.iowa.gov by close of business August 20, 2024. The ICN’s written

responses will be considered part of the ITB. If the ICN decides to adopt a suggestion, the ICN will

issue an amendment to the ITB.

1.2.2.1 The ICN assumes no responsibility for verbal representations made by its officers or

employees unless such representations are confirmed in writing by the ICN and incorporated

into this ITB.

1.2.3 Changes and Amendments. The ICN reserves the right to amend the ITB at any time. If the

ICN amends the ITB, the ICN will post the amendment on its web site. It is suggested that all

Vendors check the ICN web page periodically, for updates, amendments, etc. Vendors’ bid

proposals must include acknowledgment of all amendments issued by ICN. If the ICN amends the

ITB after the closing date of receipt of proposals, the ICN may, in its sole discretion, allow Vendors to

amend their bid proposals in response to the ICN’s amendment.

1.2.4 Receipt of Bid Proposals. Bid Proposals must be received at ICN’s office no later than 3:00

p.m. central time September 3, 2024. This requirement is a mandatory requirement and is not a minor

deficiency subject to waiver by the ICN. No bid proposals will be accepted after the date and time

specified. A late bid proposal shall be returned unopened to the Vendor. Additionally, no bid proposal

will be accepted by telephone, electronic mail or facsimile. The bid proposals must be delivered to:

Brian Clayton – Issuing Officer

Iowa Communications Network

400 East 14th Street

Grimes State Office Building

Des Moines, IA 50319

1.2.4.1 If Vendor sends a Bid Proposal to the ICN, Vendor is requested to provide shipment

confirmation and tracking numbers to the Issuing Officer at brian.clayton@iowa.gov.

1.2.5 Bid Proposal Opening. The ICN will open bid proposals at 3:00 p.m. central time on September

3, 2024. Vendors may attend the bid opening if they wish, but no price information or any other

information contained in any bid will be made public at that time. The bid proposals and the

evaluation documents created by the ICN will remain confidential subject to Iowa Code Section 72.3

until the evaluation committee has evaluated all bid proposals submitted in response to this ITB and

the ICN has issued a notice of intent to award the contract. The bid proposals submitted and the

evaluation documents created by the ICN will be available for inspection subject to the exceptions

described in Iowa Code Chapter 22 or other applicable law only after the selection process is

complete.

1.2.5.1 Vendors must furnish all information necessary to evaluate the bid proposal. Bid

proposals that fail to meet the mandatory requirements of the ITB or that fail to provide all of the

information requested may be disqualified. Verbal information provided by the Vendor shall not

be considered part of the Vendor’s bid proposal.

1.2.5.2 All bid proposals shall be firm for a minimum period of sixty (60) days to allow the

evaluation committee to fully evaluate all bid proposals and make an award deemed to be in the

best interest of ICN and the State of Iowa. The ICN reserves the right to issue an award either

prior to, or beyond the 60 days after proposal deadline if it is in the best interests of ICN, in

ICN’s sole opinion, to do so. If the award is not issued within 60 days, Vendors that submitted

bid proposals will be given the opportunity to confirm that the price and other factors in the bid

proposal, are still valid.

1.2.5.3 By submitting a bid proposal the Vendor agrees to the terms and conditions

contained within this ITB.

1.3 Proposal Format.

1.3.1 Bid Proposals shall be printed on 8.5” x 11” paper. One original and One (1) copy must

accompany each submission. The original bid proposal and copies must be in a package very clearly

marked “ITB 24-035 Bid Proposal”. In addition, one (1) soft copy of the bid proposal shall be provided on

CD or USB drive using Microsoft Word, and Excel software if the proposal includes spreadsheets. If the

Vendor has identified portions of its bid proposal as confidential in accordance with section 1.9, the

Vendor must submit one copy of the bid proposal with the confidential material redacted as required by

section 1.9.4.

1.3.2 To achieve a uniform review process and the maximum degree of comparability, bid

proposals shall be organized in the following manner:

1.3.2.1 Completed Bid Proposal Compliance Form (Attachment 1). If an exception is

made by the Vendor, the Vendor must explain the exception and must describe the Vendor’s

proposed method for dealing with the exception. Exceptions that materially change the terms

of the requirements of the ITB may result in disqualification of the Vendor’s bid proposal.

1.3.2.2 Completed Authorization to Release Information Form (Attachment 3). The

Vendor must sign the Authorization to Release Information form included with this ITB as an

attachment. Failure to sign this Authorization will result in the bid proposal being rejected

outright.

1.3.2.3 Technical Specifications / Service Requirements. The Vendor must provide a

positive statement of compliance to each requirement to have its bid proposal considered.

The bid proposal must fully address each specification and or requirement of the Chapter it

is responding to and explain how the Vendor will accomplish or fulfill each specification and

or requirement. Proposals must identify any deviation from any specification / requirements

of this ITB that the Vendor cannot satisfy. Any deviations from the requirements of the ITB

or requirements the Vendor cannot satisfy may result in disqualification of the Vendor’s

proposal.

1.3.2.4 Vendor’s cost proposal which shall provide a clear description of all facets of the

price proposed for the Chapter of the ITB, Vendor is responding to.

1.4 Clarification of Bid Proposals and Obtaining Information. ICN reserves the right to contact a

Vendor after submission of bid proposals for the purpose of clarifying a bid proposal to ensure mutual

understanding. This contact may include written questions, interviews, site visits, a review of past

performance if the Vendor has provided goods or services to the ICN, or any other political subdivision

wherever located, or requests for corrective pages in the Vendor’s bid proposal. This information may be

used to evaluate the Vendor’s bid proposal. However, (except as provided for in section 5.1.2) the

information received from the Vendor shall not be considered in the evaluation of a Vendor’s bid proposal if the

information materially alters the content of the bid proposal, as determined by the ICN in its sole discretion.

ICN reserves the right to obtain information concerning any Vendor or any bid proposal from any source

and to consider such information in evaluating the Vendor’s bid proposal.

1.5 Cost of Bid Proposal. ICN is not responsible for any costs incurred by a Vendor which are related

to the preparation or delivery of the bid proposal, or any other activities carried out by the Vendor as it

relates to this ITB. The costs of preparation and delivery of the bid proposal are solely the responsibility of

the Vendor.

1.6 Bid Proposal Obligations. The contents of the bid proposal and any clarification thereto submitted by

the successful Vendor shall become part of the contractual obligation and incorporated by reference into the

resulting contract.

1.7 Bid Proposals Property of ICN. All bid proposals become the property of the ICN and the State of

Iowa and shall not be returned to the Vendor. At the conclusion of the selection process, the contents of

all bid proposals will be placed in the public domain and be opened to inspection by interested parties

subject to the exceptions provided in Iowa Code Chapter 22 or other applicable law.

1.8 Rejection of Bid Proposals. ICN reserves the right to reject any and all bid proposals, in whole and

in part, received in response to this ITB at any time prior to the execution of a written contract. Issuance of

this ITB in no way constitutes a commitment by ICN to award the contract. This ITB is designed to provide

Vendors with the information necessary for the preparation of competitive bid proposals. This ITB process

is for ICN’s benefit and is intended to provide ICN with competitive information to assist in the selection of

goods and services.

1.9 Disqualification. The ICN may reject outright and may not evaluate bid proposals for any one of

the following reasons:

1.9.1 The Vendor fails to deliver the bid proposal by the due date and time.

1.9.2 The Vendor states that a service requirement cannot be met.

1.9.3 The Vendor's response materially changes a service requirement.

1.9.4 The Vendor’s response limits the rights of the ICN.

1.9.5 The Vendor fails to include information necessary to substantiate that it will be able to

meet a service requirement.

1.9.6 The Vendor fails to respond to the ICN's request for information, documents, or

references.

1.9.7 Reserved.

1.9.8 The Vendor fails to include a completed, signed Authorization to Release Information Form

(Attachment #3).

1.9.9 The Vendor fails to include a completed, signed Bid Proposal Compliance Form

(Attachment #1).

1.9.10 The Vendor presents the information requested by this ITB in a format inconsistent with

the instructions of the ITB.

1.9.11 The Vendor initiates unauthorized contact regarding the ITB with state employees.

1.9.12 The Vendor’s exceptions to the contract terms and conditions in ITB Chapter 2 and

Attachment #2 materially change the terms and conditions of or the requirements of this ITB.

1.9.13 The Vendor provides misleading or inaccurate responses.

1.9.14 The Vendor’s proposal is materially unbalanced.

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

* Disclaimer: This website provides information about bids, requests for proposals (RFPs), or requests for qualifications (RFQs) for convenience only and does not serve as an official public notice. Individuals who wish to respond to or inquire about bids, RFPs, or RFQs should contact the relevant government department directly.

Sign-up for a Free Trial, Government Bid Alerts

With Free Trial, you can:

You will have a full access to bids, website, and receive daily bid report via email and web.

Try One Week FREE Now

WAVELENGTH TRANSPORT PROVIDER(S) FOR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE INTERNET EXCHANGE POINT AT CORESITE DE1, 910 15TH STREET, DENVER, CO. AND 1623 FARNAM AND THEN WAVELENGTH OR DARK FIBER FROM 1623 FARNAM TO AN ICN SPLICE POINT NEAR IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA.

Attachment Preview

Sign-up for a Free Trial, Government Bid Alerts

See Also