ESBD_510555_1779208101766_Addendum 1_TRS000648 - Wireless-Cellular Telecommunication RFP.pdf

Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)

Addendum Number: 1

To

Request for Proposals (“RFP”) Solicitation Name: Wireless/Cellular Telecommunications Services

Solicitation Number: TRS000648

Purpose: This Addendum is issued to answer submitted questions and provide the following information and documents: Pre-proposal conference list attendees list, VETHUB Subcontracting Plan PowerPoint presentation and PAVES Overview, Registration and Activation PowerPoint presentation.

Issued By:

Carolyn Knowles, Contract Specialist May 19, 2026

NOTE: VENDORS ARE REQUESTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS ADDENDUM BY SIGNING

AND DATING BELOW AND INCLUDING WITH SUBMITTED RESPONSE. RESPONSE MAY BE

CONSIDERED NON-RESPONSIVE IF THIS COVER PAGE IS NOT SIGNED AND RETURNED.

Respondent Signature Date

Submitted Questions and TRS’ Response

Below is a list of questions submitted during the Question and Answer period and TRS’ response.

# Submitted Question TRS Response

1. Contract Preference. The RFP does not outline TRS's preferred contract vehicle. Is TRS open to two contracting options, first being a custom contract as described in the RFP and second utilizing the DIR Contract?

TRS will be using the draft contract document included in the RFP and PAVES. TRS will not be using a DIR contract for this procurement.

2. Equipment is not outlined in the RFP. Is TRS looking to refresh mobility equipment with the awarded vendor?

If so, does TRS wish to see device pricing for all available equipment options? Does TRS prefer Apple or Android smartphones?

No, TRS is not looking to refresh the mobility equipment. TRS prefers Apple smartphones.

3. Who is your current mobility provider for TRS issued devices?

The current mobility provider is T-Mobile

PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE ATTENDEES LIST

Names of TRS Staff and Vendor Representatives that attended the Pre-Proposal Conference.

TRS Panel Members Procurement & Contracts: Max Hernandez, Senior Contract Specialist

Carolyn Knowles, Contract Specialist Blender Hill, HUB Coordinator Spencer Cummings, Director of Purchasing Tiffanay Waller, Contract Specialist William Carrasco, Procurement Specialist

Legal and Compliance Leena Chaphekar, Assistant General Counsel

TRS Project Team Business Unit Trevor Goodman, IT Business Administration Business Unit Deron Shumaker, IT Service Management Business Unit Erika Smith, IT Business Administration Business Unit Mike Vasquez, IT Service & Endpoint Management Business Unit Joe Wiggs, Service & Endpoint Management Business Unit Jenna Townsend, IT Business Administration Business Unit Melinda Dade, ISO-Governance, Risk & Assurance Business Unit Megan Hunter, IT Business Administration

Vendor Participants

Paul Martin paulm@tscti.com Rujul Sharma rujuls@tscti.com Thomas Murphy thomas.murphy@tscti.com mailto:paulm@tscti.com mailto:rujuls@tscti.com mailto:thomas.murphy@tscti.com

Brendon Trent brendon.trent@teams.verizonpoc.com Kali Dawkins (Verizon)

Linda Lopez ll786n@att.com Chris Finch cf4979@att.com Michael, Huynh mh169q@att.com Emille Fulton ef8463@att.com Michael P McCanany mm560b@att.com mailto:brendon.trent@teams.verizonpoc.com mailto:ll786n@att.com mailto:cf4979@att.com mailto:mh169q@att.com mailto:ef8463@att.com mailto:mm560b@att.com

PAVES

ACCOUNT REGISTRATION AND

ACTIVATION

Overview

TRS External Website

1. Go to https://www.trs.texas.gov/Pages/Homepage.aspx

2. Click “PROCUREMENT” at the top of the page https://www.trs.texas.gov/Pages/Homepage.aspx

TRS External Website

• Click on ‘PAVES’ on the left side

New Supplier Registration

• Click ‘Open the Portal’ to create a supplier account or login if you already have a PAVES account.

• Instructions for navigating PAVES are under “Job Aids for Suppliers” section

Supplier Registration

To register, click on “New Supplier Registration”

Complete Company Information

1. Fill in your company information

2. Click ‘Register’

3. If you receive an email notifying you that your registration has been rejected, it is most likely because your company is already registered in PAVES and you just need to be added as a contact to your company account. If this happens, please reach out to PAVESHelp@trs.texas.gov for assistance. Copy your P&C rep on all emails to PAVES Help.

mailto:PAVESHelp@trs.texas.gov

Completing the Registration

After registering, your PAVES account may not be fully activated unless you are awarded the resulting contract. At that time, you will be sent an email notification asking you to complete your account set-up and complete the following documents:

• W-9 and Direct Deposit Information

• Additional documents required by the state to set up a vendor

How to locate the RFx if you received an email from PAVES notifying you of the Solicitation

• If logged into PAVES, you can locate the RFx by clicking the tile on the left-hand side, “RFP in Progress”

• Or, click the link in the email notification you received from PAVES to access the RFx

• Remember to follow the instructions found in the “How to Submit a Proposal” Job Aid https://www.trs.texas.gov/TRS%20Documents/PAVES-submit-proposal.pdf

How to locate the RFx if you did not receive an email from PAVES or you saw the posting online

After you are logged into PAVES:

• Click the Solicitation tab at the top

• Click on “Show public request for proposals”

• Remember to follow the instructions found in the “How to Submit a Proposal”

Job Aid https://www.trs.texas.gov/TRS%20Documents/PAVES-submit-proposal.pdf

• Click the pencil icon next to the name of the solicitation you wish to participate.

Note: most solicitations will have two Rounds, one will be the Initial Round and one will be the Question Round. To submit a question during the Q&A period, click the pencil icon next to the Round Name that includes ‘Question Round’ in the title. To submit a proposal to the solicitation, click the pencil icon next to the Round Name that includes ‘Initial Round’ in the title. After the due date for a Round passes, that Round will no longer be visible and you will not be able to submit questions (if the Q&A Round) or a proposal (if the Initial Round) to TRS. It is very important that you complete your response in PAVES and click the ‘Submit’ button before the due date and time. If you miss the PAVES deadline, TRS will not accept late proposals through email.

Participate in the RFx

• Once you are in the solicitation, you may be requested to confirm participation by clicking “Participate in RFx”

Acknowledge receipt

• You also may be asked to acknowledge receipt of the solicitation

Confirm intention to bid

• Click ‘WILL BID: our intent is to respond to this RFx’

• Click ‘Submit’

Developing your Proposal

• The Overview tab is where the solicitation documents are located

Developing your Proposal

• The Questionnaire tab is where the Proposal will be completed

• Click on the double arrows next to the Overview tab to expand and view the individual sections.

• Click ‘Access Questionnaire’ or click directly on the individual section to begin

• Follow instructions for each item/question

• When asked to upload a document, the attachment may be submitted in Word

(.docx), PDF, or Excel (.xlsx) formats; however, please note that Word docs in .doc extension are not allowed (convert to a .docx document to upload) and Excel docs in .xls extension are not allowed (convert to a .xlsx document to upload)

Question Round

• Open the Question Round to submit questions to TRS

• Click ‘Question Round’ from the left tab or click ‘Access Questionnaire’

Question Round

• Create a document with your list of questions. Include your company name and solicitation number in the Title of the attachment.

• Upload the document in the space provided under ‘Answer’

• To submit to TRS, click the green ‘Validate & Submit’ button at the top of the page

• Click ‘Submit’ when the message opens asking Do you really want to submit?

Post contract award The remaining slides are only applicable if you are selected for contract award. These slides show how you can manage your contracts, internal team, and deliverables in PAVES, as well as how to create an invoice.

PAVES Tasks This is what it will look like once the account has been activated.

1. There are tabs on the side and tabs at the top to see different items

2. Any action items will be listed under the “Validations” section

Manage Contracts

1. Click “Manage Contracts” under the Contracts tab at the top

2. Click the “pencil” icon to go into the contract record

Manage Contracts – General Information

This tab provides general information about your contract

Manage Contracts - Hierarchy

This tab shows the contract and contract amendments (if any)

Manage Contracts - Team

This tab shows your company contacts for that contract and their e-mail addresses.

Manage Contracts - Subcontractors

If subcontracting, this tab is where you will enter your subcontractors.

Manage Contracts - Deliverables

If your contract requires deliverables, the contract manager will list them here, with due dates associated with them. You and the contract manager will receive notifications when the deliverables are due.

Manage Contracts - Communication

You and the contract manager can communicate back and forth through this tab. This will provide a record of the communication and be used for audit purposes.

HUB Requirements

If subcontracting any portion of the work, the awarded contractor will be required to:

• Submit PAR forms through the system on a monthly basis

• This is required with or without an invoice

• Set up list of subcontractors in the contract module

Invoicing

• Every contract will have a PAVES PO record. There will be a separate PO record associated with each fiscal year (Sept – Aug).

• The PO record is used for invoicing.

• You will receive a notification when the PO record is created by

TRS

PO Record

1. Click “Create Invoice”

Create Invoice

• Fill in Invoice Number

• Include Remit-To Address

• Include Service End Date

• A legal pdf copy of the invoice is required to be uploaded under the ‘Legal Invoice’ section.

• Upload any additional necessary documents under the ‘Attached Files’ section.

Questions

Blender Hill, TRS VetHUB Coordinator Blender.Hill@TRS.Texas.Gov

How to complete a VetHUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP)

Overview

The State of Texas’ Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB)

Program is designed to facilitate the growth and development of service-disabled veteran owned businesses

The Texas VetHUB Program is governed by Texas Government Code

(TGC) 2161

TRS is required to follow TGC 2161 per

TGC 825.514

HUB requirements are for any contract that is $100,000 or more over the life of the contract

(which includes any renewal options) https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/ https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/

Guidance for HSP Completion

Who Completes an HSP?

Everyone

Even if you are not subcontracting

Even if you are a VetHUB

Subcontracting?

List all subcontractors on the HSP Form

Including VetHUB and Non-VetHUBs

When do you complete an

HSP?

Submit completed HSP Form with your proposal

If an HSP was not completed with the proposal because TRS determined there were no subcontracting opportunities but the vendor now has a need to subcontract

The anticipated amount was not believed to exceed $100k, but at renewal the contract value has now exceeded $100k.

VetHUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP) Form

HSP Form

HSP Form and Checklist

Section 2 Continuation Sheet

Attachment A

Attachment B

Helpful Links

CPA’s Purchasing Website

VetHUB Reports and Forms

Centralized Master Bidders List

Progress Assessment Report

Please note that the HSP form is located on the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts’ website at:

https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/forms.php https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/docs/hub-forms/hsp-allfms.pdf https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/docs/hub-forms/hsp-continuation-sheet.pdf https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/docs/hub-forms/hsp-gfe-achm-a.pdf https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/docs/hub-forms/hsp-gfe-achm-b.pdf https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/#skip-scroll https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/forms.php https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/tpasscmblsearch/tpasscmblsearch.do https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/docs/hub-forms/ProgressAssessmentReportForm.xls https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/forms.php https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/forms.php

To begin, ask yourself

Are you subcontracting?

No Document that you are self-performing in Section 3 of the HSP

Form – No Attachments

Yes

With VetHUBs

With VetHUBs and with non-VetHUBs https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/docs/hub-forms/hsp-allfms.pdf https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/docs/hub-forms/hsp-allfms.pdf

Attachment A: Texas Certified VetHUBs Performing Work

Complete Attachment A

You are subcontracting with Texas Certified VetHUBs

You are subcontracting with VetHUBs

Complete Attachment A by listing the VetHUBs along with the percentage of work they will be performing

Attach a copy of each VetHUB

CMBL profile to document that they are an active, Texas certified VetHUB https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/docs/hub-forms/hsp-gfe-achm-a.pdf https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/tpasscmblsearch/tpasscmblsearch.do

Attachment B: When subcontractors are Non-VetHUBs

• Only Non-VetHubs Subcontracting

With:

• Provide Solicitation Documentation

• Document that you solicited at least 3 VetHUBs

• Document that you contacted 2 Trade Organizations

• Small, Minority and Women Business Trade Organizations and Development Centers

Complete Attachment B https://www.comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/resources.php https://www.comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/resources.php

Attachment B - Solicitation Documentation

Copy of e-mail sent to vendors for each Scope of Work (SOW) Solicited

• By blind coping all the vendors, you can send one e-mail to multiple vendors for each solicited SOW

• Save e-mail so it shows the blind copy recipients

• E-mail should document that vendors had 7 working days to respond

Provide a list of who was solicited for each SOW

• You must solicit at least 3 VetHUB vendors for each SOW solicited

• Provide copy of the VetHUB CMBL profile for each VetHUB solicited

• Don’t forget to contact at least 2 trade organizations for each SOW solicited

Document who provided a proposal and who didn’t

• Document whether or not the vendors solicited provided a proposal for each

SOW solicited

Award • Provide justification of award for each SOW solicited https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/tpasscmblsearch/tpasscmblsearch.do

Completing the Form

Don’t Forget Complete Section 1 of the Form

Complete Section 4 of the Form

SIGN THE FORM

Reviewing Respondent’s HSP Before Proposal Submission

TRS will provide a cursory review of a respondent’s draft HSP and supporting documentation prior to proposal submission

Contact:

Blender Hill at blender.hill@trs.texas.gov mailto:blender.hill@trs.texas.gov

Continued Monitoring After Award of Contract

Progress Assessment Report (PAR) Form

• Complete a PAR Form and submit with each invoice

• Lists the subcontractors you are paying for that month on the

PAR form

• TRS will reconcile subcontractors listed on the PAR to the subcontractors listed on HSP

• Payment of the invoice will not be approved until the PAR form is reviewed and approved by the TRS VetHUB Department

• If you have a subcontractor that is listed on the PAR that in not on the HSP – TRS will stop payment until resolved

Continued Monitoring After Award of Contract

Changes to HSP

• Once the HSP is approved, you can only subcontract with those subcontractors listed on your HSP unless your HSP is amended

• However, the HSP can be amended at any time

• An HSP amendment must be approved by TRS prior to the subcontractor doing any work

• Same documentation is required for an HSP amendment as the original HSP for each new subcontractor

• If it is discovered that you are using a subcontractor that is not on your HSP, all payment stops until this is resolved