Event_31701-13326_Long_Distance_AMD_One_QC.pdf

Event # 31701-13326 – Amendment One Page 1 of 4

STATE OF TENNESSEE

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

EVENT 31701-13326

AMENDMENT # ONE

FOR LONG DISTANCE / TOLL FREE SERVICES

DATE: 07/01/2024

Event #31701-13326 IS AMENDED AS FOLLOWS:

1. State responses to questions and comments in the table below amend and clarify this Event.

Any restatement of Event text in the Question/Comment column shall NOT be construed as a change in the actual wording of the Event document.

Question EVENT SECTION QUESTION / COMMENT STATE RESPONSE

1 Specification A.9.c ISDN and SIP Support for Long Distance. The Contractor shall provide support for ISDN Primary Rate Interface (PRI) T1’s and if offered by the Contractor, support for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). ISDN B channel bonding must be available on any PRI services offered. The ISDN B channel is defined as the bearer (B) channel which carries primary data or voice communications.

ISDN PRI is a service delivered over copper and is considered older technology. Would the State consider migrating this infrastructure to an IP based solution that would allow delivery end to end over IP/fiber? This could require upgrading user equipment to voice over IP.

No, not under this contract.

2 Specifications, A.

Scope, A.2

Can the State please provide the “vendor’s catalog of service offerings, Contract Attachment B” as mentioned in A.2?

See Item #2 below. The State has deleted any reference to Attachment B and catalog.

3 ITB Main Document, Section 1.4

Can the State please provide a date at which they will respond to all Q&A? At release date of amendment one.

4 ITB Main Document, Section 1.5

Will the State consider a two week extension to the due date to allow sufficient time for all to respond after Q&A has been completed?

The State will agree to extend the due date until July 16, 2024. See item #3 below.

5 Specifications, A.

Scope

Will the State require PRI handoff to State agency equipment? Yes, The only time there would not be a handoff is if the Contractor provided their own PRI or their own equipment.

6. Specifications, A.

Scope, A.14 – Audio and Web Conferencing

Is the “announce attendees” a required feature? Yes.

7. Specifications, A.

Scope, A.14 – Audio and Web Conferencing

Is the “Scheduled via Operator on-line” a required feature? No.

8. Specifications, A.

Scope, A.14 –

Please define further the “Scheduled via Operator on-line” feature? See Item #2 below. The State has removed this requirement.

Event # 31701-13326 – Amendment One Page 2 of 4

Audio and Web Conferencing

9. Specifications, A.

Scope, A.8 – Long Distance and Toll- Free Required Services/Features

For international calls, is it a requirement to terminate calls back into the US through a different toll-free number for each country or, can it be one toll free number for all countries?

Individual TF numbers for each country are not required. A limited set covering all authorized countries is acceptable.

10. Specifications, A.

Scope, A.8 – Long Distance and Toll- Free Required Services/Features

Does the State need dedicated toll free to support DNIS or is switched toll free sufficient? Switched toll free is sufficient.

11. Specifications, A.

Scope

What enhanced features would the State like to use for toll free calling? The State is not seeking any enhanced features.

12. ITB Main Document, Section 8.7 – Contractor Hosted Services Confidential Data, Audit and Other Requirements

Given the language of #2, does the State want a Federal-compliant solution? See Item #3 below as the State has revised its terms.

13. Event 31701- 11326 Telecom LD-TF Evaluation Model.xls

Would a tiered quantity approach for license and pricing be acceptable for the state?

Example: 1 agency buys 10 conferencing bridges/license versus another agency buys 300.

No, the State will not accept a tiered quantity approach.

14. Specifications, A.

Scope

Will the State be providing terminating equipment to provide PRI or analog handoff?

Or does the State prefer a fully managed solution?

The state will NOT provide terminal telecom switches at handoffs.

15. Specifications, A.

Scope

Please describe how the service is used today for both video and audio conferencing. What do the usage patterns look like?

The State only uses audio conferencing and currently there is no data usage patterns that can be provided.

Audio conferencing is used as is normal in the industry, for audio conferences, and when some participants cannot or do not access Microsoft Teams, the primary conferencing system for a majority of the state personnel.

16. Specifications, A.

Scope

Can the State share any traffic studies with vendors? Any additional information on usage and usage patterns will ensure the solution is designed to effectively meet or exceed the State’s needs.

The State currently has no traffic studies to share or usage patterns.

17.

ITB Main Document, Section 3.12 Exceptions or New Terms and Conditions

May Proposers submit exceptions to the RFP terms and conditions for the State’s consideration, or plan to negotiate final terms and conditions upon award, to align the final contract with the Proposer’s solution?

No. Refer to Term and Condition 3.12 Exceptions or New Terms and Conditions. Also, refer to bid factor question that reads “Confirm you understand the State will not accept any redlines to the State's terms or attachments. Refer to Term 3.12 Exceptions or New Terms or Conditions.”

18. Event 31701- 11326 Telecom LD-TF Evaluation Model.xls

Can vendors provide an additional pricing appendix for further information/options to supplement the requested pricing?

No, the State will only accept the Evaluation Model filled out with no exceptions or additions.

Event # 31701-13326 – Amendment One Page 3 of 4

19. Event 31701- 11326 Telecom LD-TF Evaluation Model.xls

Can the State provide expected quantities/user licenses for the contract? No, data is not available at this time.

20. Specifications, A.

Scope

As T1’s (DS1’s) are being phased out by most telecom providers as an access method, is it acceptable for a vendor to not bid these services and still be considered for award?

No, as we still have some in use, and may need support for a portion of this first year before we change over to newer services.

21. In the Terms pdf (and the Event Details online submission page) it notes a “Diversity Utilization Plan”.

Please complete the attached form, included with the Terms and Conditions document, and attach all pertinent documentation regarding your company's efforts to achieve diversity business participation. This information must be submitted with the bid document and monthly thereafter until a reasonable level of diversity business participation is achieved. Confirm below that you have completed this attached form by choosing, "Yes."

At this time our company does not plan on utilizing subcontractors. Is the Diversity Utilization Plan a requirement for this bid response? If yes, what is a reasonable level of diversity business participation?

The State does require you to fill out the Diversity section in the Terms and Conditions. If you will not utilize Diversity business, answer accordingly.

22. In the Specifications pdf, “A.19. Catalog Requirements”

It specifies items that don’t seem to match the RFP intent. Can we get some clarity on the intent of this requirement to insure we properly respond to this requirement? Additionally, if pricing is required with these catalog items, where does this pricing need to be entered in vendor responses?

See Item #2 below. The State has deleted any reference to Attachment B and catalog.

23. In the Specifications pdf

There are references to “Contract Attachment B”. Is this a separate document that the State of Tennessee will provide at a later date?

See Item #2 below. The State has deleted any reference to Attachment B and catalog.

24. How many phone numbers does the State of Tennessee anticipate porting? At this time, it could be anywhere from 1 to 13,000 numbers.

25. How many conference bridges are required for the State of Tennessee conferencing solution? Currently between 250 and 300 bridge lines in use.

26. Does each user require a dedicated bridge line, or do you share a set number of bridge lines among everyone?

No, bridge lines are shared.

27. Will the State of Tennessee consider a full featured unified solution for Audio/Video/Web conferencing, or is the State specifically looking for standalone solutions for Audio and Web conferencing?

No. The State uses a standard Audio/Video/Web Conferencing solution.

28. What Toll Free services are required? A telephone numbers with a distinct three-digit code that can be dialed with no charge to the party placing the call.

The person or company being called pays for the calling service. Toll-Free shall be a set price per minute used.

Toll-Free numbers will be assigned to the State as requested and then will be pointed to our local numbers.

29. Where do the toll free numbers terminate? Are they forward to numbers or will we route those to you?

Toll free numbers will point to or forward to telephone numbers.

Event # 31701-13326 – Amendment One Page 4 of 4

30. Total Toll Free/ LD minutes used? Inbound and Outbound The State has no set minutes, it varies from month to month.

2. Delete Event 31701-13356 Telecom LD-TF_Services_Specs in its entirety and replace with Event

31701-13356 Specs_AMD One.

3. Delete Event 31701-13326 Terms in its entirety and replace with 31701-13326 Terms AMD One.

4. The State is extending the due date until 2:00 pm Central, 7/16/2024.

5. Event Amendment Effective Date. The revisions set forth herein shall be effective upon release.

All other terms and conditions of this Event not expressly amended herein shall remain in full force and effect.