CSCU Answers to Proposer Questons.pdf
PDF 84 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 36042
- Issued by
- Hartford County, Connecticut
About this file
This document contains answers to vendor questions regarding Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) RFP #26-1371310 for Telecommunications Wiring and Cabling Services. The procurement seeks qualified vendors to provide telecommunications wiring and cabling services across CSCU campuses, with work divided equally between service-based and project-based activities. Typical project sizes range from $2,000 to $50,000, with an expected emergency response service level agreement of four hours. The proposal submission deadline is May 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM EDT, with the vendor question and answer period having closed on April 15, 2026. The initial contract term is five years with a maximum of five additional five-year extension options. Working hours vary by campus, and after-hours or phased work schedules are not typically required, though associated costs should be included in base pricing if needed.
Pricing must be submitted as a percentage discount off current manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) rather than cost-plus models, which are prohibited due to Uniform Guidance restrictions on federal grant funds. CSCU will standardize on specific manufacturers, and the company's Telecommunications Infrastructure Standards (Rev. 2016) remain in effect, with CSCU IT determining whether existing infrastructure meets current standards. Labor rates should be provided as standard rates only, with prevailing wage rates to be determined based on individual project size. A 1.5% administrative revenue share applies to all sales made under this agreement vehicle to non-CSCU entities, payable annually by August 1. No incumbent vendor information, set-asides, or estimated contract value has been disclosed in the available materials.
View the file
Other files
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
CSCU Answers to Proposer Questions
RFP 26-1371310 – Telecommunications Wiring and Cabling Services
Dated: 4/17/2026
Vendor #1:
1. What % of work is service vs project-based?
Answer: 50/50.
2. Typical project size range across campuses?
Answer: $2,000 to $50,000
3. Expected SLA for emergency response?
Answer: 4 hours
4. Will CSCU standardize on specific manufacturers?
Answer: Yes
5. How should vendors approach installations in specialized environments (e.g., labs, healthcare simulation spaces, AV-intensive rooms) where requirements may differ from baseline standards?
Answer: Non-standard project requirements will be defined.
6. Can CSCU confirm whether the Telecommunications Infrastructure Standards (Rev. 2016) are still fully in effect, or if any updates, amendments, or campus-specific standards supersede them?
Answer: Yes
7. In cases where CSCU standards differ from ANSI/TIA, BICSI, or NEC requirements, which standard takes precedence for bidding and execution?
Answer: Non-standard project requirements will be defined.
8. Who determines whether existing infrastructure meets current standards - CSCU IT, campus stakeholders, or the contractor?
Answer: CSCU IT.
9. What are the standard working hours and restrictions for performing work in occupied campus environments, including classrooms, labs, and administrative areas?
Answer: Standard working hours vary by campus.
10. Are after-hours or phased work schedules typically required, and should associated costs be included in base pricing?
Answer: No, after-hours or phased work schedules are not typically required. Yes, associated costs should be included in base pricing.
Vendor #2:
1. Page 3, section IV. Compensation: do you want standard labor rates and prevailing wage rates in this section or would the prevailing wage rates only be addressed if and when applicable as noted on page 4 “Special Use Provision”?
a. If you want prevailing wage rates in this section, what is the process to updates the prevailing wage rates each July 1st when the state publishes the next fiscal year’s prevailing wage rates?
Answer: We only need standard rates. Prevailing wage rates will be determined based on the project size.
b. The last item in this section is asking for pricing for additional services or resources:
Are you asking what other services or resources we can provide, or do you have specific services or resources that you are looking for us to provide?
Answer: List additional services you provide.
2. Page 4 “Telecommunications Components and Pricing” The telecommunications and electrical industry are for the most part a commodities-based industry (metals, copper, plastics and even fiber optic cabling) we buy through distribution channels and pricing changes daily. The following items impact our daily purchase price: individual commodity market price, fuel/oil, politics, tariffs, war and pandemics in addition the AI boom has created a supply and demand issues in the copper and fiber optic markets.
a. In lieu of discounts will you consider us providing best available pricing include our most competitive material markup based on the daily pricing provided through distribution channels?
Answer: Pricing should be percentage off current MSRP.
3. Page 5 “Revenue Share” Are all State and Municipality entities not listed on page 2 section II Background: considered all NON CSCU entities?
Answer: Yes.
a. What is the audit process for the revenue sharing program?
Answer: CSCU may request a list of all purchases under this agreement from the vendor no more than once per year.
4. Page 6 section VI
a. What is the term of the initial contract? Answer: 5 years
b. What is the maximum number of extensions to the base contract? Answer: 5 years
c. What is the duration of each extension? Answer: 5 years or parts thereof.
d. If this contract is extended past the initial term will there be the opportunity to adjust labor rates and or discounts? Answer: Yes.
Vendor #3:
a. Percentage off list price. There really is no list price our suppliers give us the lowest price possible and it varies on the product. Most contracts we have with other customers just put a cap on percentage of mark up on our already discounted material costs.
Answer: Pricing should be percentage off current MSRP. We cannot agree to a cost-plus model, as under Uniform Guidance (2 CFP Part 200) Federal Grant funds cannot be used in that compensation model.
2) Are we expected to be held to our material cost thru length of contract ? or is it minimum percentage discount off current list prices thru out the contract term ?
Answer: Pricing should be a percentage off the current MSRP during the initial term.
Adjustments may be considered for extension amendments.
3) We have many current customers that have been utilizing the current contract with us for years we are now to pay back 1.5% of those sales back to CSCU moving forward with the new contract ? we would be taking 1.5% loss on all those sales ?
Answer: For clarity, this agreement is being treated as a new contract rather than a continuation of prior arrangements. As such, the 1.5% administrative fee applies prospectively to non-CSCU sales made under the new contract vehicle. Consistent with the RFP, it may not be separately charged to or passed through to participating entities.
Vendor #4:
1. Regarding the Revenue Share provision, can you please clarify how this will work in practice and under what circumstances it applies?
Answer: If you use this contract to make sales to any non-CSCU institution, a 1.5% revenue share applies to those sales. This includes any transactions tied to the agreement, such as purchase orders or participation agreements.
Payments are made annually, in arrears, and are due each year by August 1.
Operationally, you should track any sales tied to this agreement with non-CSCU entities and calculate the total annually for reporting and payment.
Vendor #5:
1. Is the work is regular rate or prevailing rate, or does it vary by project?
Answer: We only need standard rates. Prevailing wage rates will be determined based on the project size.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .