FRANKLIN COUNTY

REQUEST FOR BID (RFB)

PROPOSALS FOR WIRELESS, NETWORK, AND MICROWAVE INFRASTRUCTURE

INSTALLATION

RFB #: 26-0908-1

RFB DATE: August 21, 2026

DUE DATE: September 8, 2026 AT 3:00 PM

PURCHASING DEPARTMENT

355 WEST MAIN ST.

SUITE 456

MALONE, NY 12953

INQUIRIES AND BIDS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO:

MARK FUENTES: mip3franklincounty@consertus.com mailto:mip3franklincounty@consertus.com

Franklin County MIP3 - Wireless Network Microwave Installation RFB.26-0908-1

1. ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

355 WEST MAIN ST.

MALONE, NEW YORK 12953

PH: (518) 481-1500

Notice to Bidders

Procurement ID:

Franklin County is issuing this Request for Bids (RFB) for a fixed-price contract to furnish and install the wireless, network, and microwave infrastructure required to place five (5) communications sites into service — four (4) Musco pole sites and one (1) existing tower site (the Fort Covington Water Tower).

The scope of work includes the installation, integration, turn-up, testing, and commissioning of all Tarana fixed-wireless, microwave, and network equipment and cabling, together with the utility conduit and power cable for the electric utility hookup and all grounding not included in the separate Musco Pole

(civil) contract. The Musco monopole, its foundation, and associated climbing and stacking hardware are furnished and installed by others under a separate contract and are not included in this RFB.

The Musco monopole and its foundation are furnished and installed by others under a separate contract. All network equipment listed in Exhibit 1 will be provided by the County. All other labor and materials shall be provided by the Contractor to complete the operational wireless, network, and microwave system. The

Contractor shall furnish all labor, equipment, and materials necessary for the installation, turn-up, and testing of the network systems in accordance with industry standards and project specifications.

Important Dates:

August 28,2026 by 3pm: Question Period Closes

No questions will be accepted after this date. Answers to questions will be provided as soon as possible, but no later than 3 days prior to the bid due date. Answers will be provided to all prospective bidders who have downloaded the bid package for this project from Franklin County’s website. An email notification will be sent that informs bidders that new information has been posted to Franklin County’s website and is available for review and download.

All questions must be submitted via email to mip3franklincounty@consertus.com and include the subject line

Franklin CO - MIP 3 – Musco Pole Solicitation, RFB # 26-0908-1 Questions.

September 8, 2026 at 3pm: Sealed Bids Due

Sealed Bids will be accepted at Franklin County, Purchasing Department, 355 West Main St, Suite 456, Malone, NY 12953 until 3pm on September 8, 2026 at which time they will be publicly opened and read.

Primary Point of Contact: Pursuant to the Procurement Lobbying Law, Franklin County has designated one person who may be contacted by Bidders regarding this procurement. All questions regarding this procurement opportunity should be emailed to:

mailto:mip3franklincounty@consertus.com

Donna Kissane

Franklin County Manager

Email: Donna.Kissane@franklincountyny.gov

Awards will be made to the lowest responsible bidder as will best promote the public interest, taking into consideration the reliability of the bidder, the quality of the materials, equipment, supplies or services to be furnished, conformity with specifications, all for the purpose for which they are required and the terms of delivery of the materials or services for the installation of the wireless, network, and microwave equipment, as this approach best promotes the public interest. Evaluation will consider the reliability and experience of the contractor, quality of workmanship, compliance with technical specifications, ability to meet project timelines, and overall approach to safety and restoration. The award may be made in whole or in part based on the information provided in the Bid. Bidders may submit Bids for the entire scope or for specific portions of the work. Complete details on the scope of the Musco pole and related wireless and network infrastructure, technical requirements, and other conditions can be downloaded from Franklin County’s website at https://www.franklincountyny.gov/business/purchasing_bids.php by clicking on the bid name.https://www.franklincountyny.gov/business/purchasing_bids.php

The Musco monopole and foundation are furnished and installed by others under a separate contract;

installation of the Musco communications structure is therefore not included in this RFB. The Contractor shall coordinate its schedule and field activities with the pole-installation contractor and the Construction

Manager.

This RFB will be advertised in The New York State Contract Reporter and posted on Franklin County’s website at https://www.franklincountyny.gov/business/purchasing_bids.php in accordance with Franklin

County Purchasing Policy Appendix C(b). A minimum of three (3) qualified vendors will also be solicited directly.

Franklin County reserves the right to reject any or all Bids received or to award partial Bids to more than one Bidder.

2. OVERVIEW

Franklin County was awarded a New York State Municipal Infrastructure Program (MIP) grant through the ConnectAll Office to construct a broadband network throughout Franklin County to serve unserved and underserved areas. This RFB pertains exclusively to MIP Phase 3, which consists of a hybrid fiber optic/fixed-wireless design to serve the northern portion of the County.

Franklin County is soliciting bids for the installation, turn-up, testing, and commissioning of the wireless, network, and microwave infrastructure at five (5) sites — four (4) Musco pole sites (Burns-Holden, Trout

River, Stebbins, and Little Briggs) and one (1) existing tower site (the Fort Covington Water Tower). The

Musco monopoles and foundations at the four pole sites are furnished and installed by others under a separate contract. The selected contractor will provide all labor, equipment, and materials necessary for an operational wireless and network system in accordance with industry standards, project specifications, and related construction drawings.

Bids must be submitted in hard copy format, delivered in a sealed envelope, and received by Franklin

County at the location and time specified in Section 1 (Advertisement for Bids). Submissions will be publicly opened and read at that time.

This Project is funded through the New York State ConnectAll Municipal Infrastructure Program https://www.franklincountyny.gov/business/purchasing_bids.php

Using Capital Projects Fund (CPF) monies administered by Empire State Development (ESD). All contractors and subcontractors shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and program-specific requirements, including 2 CFR Part 200 and the New York State WIRED Broadband Act. All awards are subject to approval and controls by ConnectAll and Empire State Development (ESD).

3. INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS

The following is important information relative to this RFB and is provided to assist you in the development of your Bid response:

3.1 BID SUBMISSION. Bids must be received at Franklin County, Purchasing

Department, 355 West Main St., Suite 456, Malone, NY 12953 no later than the date and time stated in Section 1 (Advertisement for Bids). Bids shall be submitted in a sealed envelope marked with

“FRANKLIN COUNTY NY MIP 3 Wireless Network Microwave Installation, RFB #26-0908-1 and the words “SEALED BID” written on the outside of the envelope. If delivered by mail or courier, such an envelope should be placed within the addressed envelope, which should be marked

“BID DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED”. Bids submitted by Fax or email will not be accepted.

3.2 BIDDER’S CHECKLIST. “Bidder’s Checklist” (included in Exhibit 6) is provided to assist the Bidder in submitting a complete Bid Package. The Bidder must submit “Bidder’s

Checklist” with their submittal. The Bidder must complete and sign all the documents included in the Appendices to this RFB. The Bidder must submit all required documents listed on the Bidder’s

Checklist. Failure to submit a complete Bid package may result in disqualification.

3.3 DELAYS. Bidders are responsible for timely delivery of their Bid to Franklin

County. All Bids not received at the location and time specified in Section 1 “Advertisement for

Bids” will not be considered and will be returned unopened. Delays in United States mail, FedEx, UPS or other carriers’ deliveries or any other means of transmittal of Bids, including, but not limited to, couriers or agents of the Bidder or otherwise shall not excuse a late Bid submission. For purposes of Bid openings, the term late Bid means a Bid not received in the location established in the

Procurement Documents at or before the date and time specified for the Bid to be received by

Franklin County.

3.4 BID CONTENTS. Bids must be complete, legible, signed and dated by the authorized representative of the Bidder, who must provide all the information required on all Forms attached hereto. All information required by the Procurement Documents must be supplied by the

Bidder on the forms or in the format specified. No alteration, erasure or addition is to be made to the Procurement Documents. Changes to any typed portions of the RFB or Appendices shall be ignored by Franklin County and may be grounds for rejection of the Bid. Changes, corrections and/or use of white-out in the Bid or Bidder’s response portion of the Procurement Document must be initialed by an authorized representative of the Bidder. Bidders are cautioned to verify their Bids before submission, as amendments to Bids or requests for withdrawal of Bids received by Franklin

County after the time specified for the Bid opening may not be considered. Please note that Franklin

County may access contract pricing available through New York State contracts. If some of your

Products included to be supplied in connection with the Services included in your Bid are offered through this source, please provide the applicable pricing and contract number. This does not preclude you from offering special pricing or from submitting a Bid.

3.5 BID LIFE. Franklin County reserves the right to make awards within Forty Five

(45) days after the date of Bid opening, during which period bids must remain firm and cannot be withdrawn. If an award is not made within the Forty Five (45) day period, bids shall remain firm until either a Contract is awarded or the Bidder delivers written notice of withdrawal to Franklin

County. Any Bid which states that acceptance must be made within a shorter time may, at the sole discretion of Franklin County, be accepted or rejected. Any Bid may be withdrawn prior to the scheduled deadline for receipt of Bids or any authorized postponement thereof. The winning Bidder shall keep its Bid open on a month-to-month basis for a period of twelve (12) months from award or December 31, 2026, whichever is greater. This Bid validity period applies solely to pricing and award timing and does not modify or extend the Contractor’s performance deadline established in

Section 3.1.

If, at any time during the term of this Contract, the successful Bidder also holds a State contract or any other contract legally available to the County, the County reserves the right to purchase from such contract(s), and the vendor agrees to supply goods in accordance with the applicable contract terms. The County also reserves the right to purchase materials under any New York State county contract available to the County.

3.6 TAXES. Purchases made by Franklin County are exempt from New York State and local sales taxes and, with certain exceptions, federal excise taxes. To satisfy the requirements of the New York State Sales tax exemption, either the Purchase Order issued by Franklin County or the invoice forwarded to authorize payment for such purchases will be sufficient evidence that the sale by the Contractor was made to Franklin County, an exempt organization under Section 1116

(a) (1) of the Tax Law. No person, firm or corporation is, however, exempt from paying the State

Truck Mileage and Unemployment Insurance or Federal Social Security taxes, which remain the sole responsibility of the Bidder.

The quoted prices in Exhibit 4 “Price Form” shall include all taxes applicable to the transaction.

3.7 BUILD AMERICA, BUY AMERICA COMPLIANCE (waiver). Because the MIP Projects are covered under a federal waiver of the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA), the requirements of

BABA shall not apply to materials, equipment, or goods procured or installed under this Contract.

Contractor shall, when feasible, utilize domestically produced materials; however, such preference shall not be interpreted as a mandatory compliance requirement, nor shall non-BABA materials be grounds for rejection of work or materials.

Contractor shall provide manufacturer data sheets for all materials proposed for use so the County may maintain appropriate documentation of material origin for federal audit purposes. Franklin County acknowledges a strong domestic procurement preference.

3.8 EQUIVALENCY. In submitting a Bid, the Bidder agrees to provide the Commodities, goods and services consistent with the Specifications. Where a brand name or equivalent specification is used in this

RFB, its use is to describe the standard of quality performance and characteristics desired and is not intended to limit or restrict competition. Where an equivalent item to that specified is proposed, the Bid must be accompanied by full specifications and a narrative description of the nature of the item proposed as an “equivalent”, setting forth how the item is equivalent to that specified by Franklin County. Any substitutions for equivalent part numbers require the written approval of Franklin County and may be accepted at the sole discretion of Franklin County. The Bidder must provide Samples for any substitutes at Franklin County's request. Requests for substitution must be included in the "Exceptions Deviations" in

Exhibit 4.

3.9 AWARD. The Bid will be awarded to the Lowest Responsible Bidder meeting the Specifications or providing acceptable deviation or equivalency (see item 3.9). Franklin County reserves the right to award this Bid in whole or in part to a single Bidder or to multiple Bidders if deemed to be in Franklin

County’s best interest. Franklin County reserves the right to reject any or all Bids deemed not to be in the best interest of Franklin County at the sole discretion of Franklin County. A Notice of Award will be issued by Franklin County to the successful Bidder. If two or more Bidders submit identical bids as to price, the decision of Franklin County to award a Contract to one of such Bidder shall be final. The

Contract awarded shall be deemed executory to the extent of the monies appropriated and available for the purpose of the Contract, and no liability on account thereof shall be incurred beyond the amount of such monies notwithstanding anything to the contrary. It is understood that neither this RFB nor any representation by any public employee, office or representative thereof creates any legal or moral obligation to request, appropriate or make available monies for the purpose of a Contract. The Notice of

Award, the Contract and any Purchase Orders thereunder shall be the agreement between Franklin County and the successful Bidder with respect to the matters dealt with herein, and such shall supersede all other oral and written Bids, representations, understandings, and agreements previously made or existing “with respect to” any such matter.

3.10 IRREGULARITIES. It shall be the responsibility of each Bidder to call to the attention of

Franklin County to any apparent discrepancy in the Specifications or any question of interpretation thereof. Failure to do so constitutes acceptance as written. The apparent silence of the Specification as to any details or the omission from it of a detailed description concerning any part shall be interpreted as meaning that only the best commercial practices are to prevail and that only materials and workmanship of first quality are to be used. Franklin County shall have the right to waive any technical defect, qualification, omission, informality, or irregularity in any Bid received if, in its judgment, the best interest of Franklin County shall thereby be served. Franklin County reserves the right to “Revise” or “Amend” the Specification prior to the Bid opening date by “Written Addenda.” Franklin County will email Written

Addenda to all potential Bidders who have downloaded the RFB from Franklin County’s website and will include such Addenda in the RFB located on Franklin County’s website.

3.11 EXPENSES PRIOR TO CONTRACT EXECUTION. Franklin County or its designees are not liable for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by a Bidder in the preparation and production of a Bid or for any work performed prior to, or outside the scope of, an executed Contract.

3.12 ADVERTISING BID RESULTS. A Bidder in submitting a Bid agrees not to use the results there from as a part of any commercial advertising without the prior written approval of Franklin County, in its sole discretion.

3.13 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. Provisions, requirements, and clauses required by Law to be inserted in this RFB, including but not limited to those set forth in Exhibit 8 (General Conditions) and Exhibit 9

(Federal Award Required Provisions), are hereby deemed incorporated and made a part of this RFB and shall be read and enforced as though they were expressly included herein. Exhibit 9 sets forth the contract provisions required by 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix II for federally-funded procurements, including without limitation Equal Employment Opportunity, Davis-Bacon Act and Copeland Anti-Kickback Act (where applicable), Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, Rights to Inventions, Clean Air Act and

Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Debarment and Suspension certification, Byrd Anti-Lobbying

Amendment, Procurement of Recovered Materials, and Domestic Preferences. The Contract shall incorporate and expressly include the Procurement Documents as if fully set forth therein. If through mistake or otherwise any such provision is not inserted, or is not correctly inserted, in any subsequent

Contract, the Contract shall be amended to make such insertion.

3.14 INDEMNIFICATION. The successful Bidder agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless

Franklin County its officers, agents, or employees for any and all claims arising from or relating to its performance of this Bid or any Contract. ESD shall be named as additional insureds for ongoing and completed operations under Commercial General Liability and Umbrella Insurance policies. Coverage afforded to these additional insureds will be primary and non-contributory with any other insurance available to such additional insureds, whether such insurance is on a primary, excess, umbrella, or contingent basis. Additional insured coverage for ongoing and completed operations and shall be provided on ISO endorsement forms CG 20 10 and CG 20 37. The recipient will provide additional insured coverage to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. This insurance shall contain an endorsement waiving all rights of subrogation against ESD.

3.15 VENUES AND DISPUTES. The exclusive means of disposing of any dispute arising under a contract with Authority, which is not disposed of by mutual agreement, shall be decided in a New York

State Court of competent jurisdiction located within Franklin County, New York, and the Laws of the

State of New York shall apply without regard to provisions governing conflicts of law to the extent such principles would result in the application of the Laws of any other jurisdiction.

3.16 SHIPPING. N/A.

3.17 TERM OF CONTRACT SERVICES. Unless otherwise specified in the Contract, all services requested in conjunction with this RFB shall be completed within 120 days of the Bidder receiving an approved Purchase Order from Franklin County, and the services will be deemed completed when they have been inspected and approved by Authority personnel.

3.18 ASSIGNMENT OF AGREEMENT. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 109 of the General

Municipal Law, no Bidder to whom a Contract is granted or awarded, shall assign, transfer, convey, subcontract, encumber or otherwise dispose of all or part of said Contract, or of the right, title, and interest therein, including the performance of the Contract or the right to receive monies due, or to become due, or of the power to execute the Contract without the prior written consent of Franklin County in its sole discretion.

3.19 AUDIT. Franklin County, or its duly authorized agent, shall have access to and copies of the

Bidder’s records, including any books, computer tapes, disks or programs, or material pertaining to Work performed under the Contract, at no cost to Franklin County, to determine and verify the compliance with all contractual conditions. Franklin County shall be granted access to such records at all reasonable times during the contract period and for three (3) years thereafter.

3.20 WARRANTY. In providing goods and/or services pursuant to this Contract, the Seller agrees to be bound by all warranties required by New York State law, including but not limited to the implied warranty of merchantability, which provides that a product is fit for its ordinary purpose and meets a minimum standard of quality when sold by a merchant.

In addition to any manufacturer warranties provided with the goods furnished under this RFB, the Seller shall warrant all materials, workmanship, and installation performed under this Contract for a period of one (1) year from the date of Final Acceptance by Franklin County. During this warranty period, the Seller shall, at no additional cost to the County, correct or replace any defective work, materials, or equipment found to be not in compliance with the Contract requirements or industry standards.

Bidders shall provide details of the manufacturer’s warranty for all goods included in their Bid, including duration, coverage, and any applicable conditions or exclusions.

AUDIT, INSPECTION, AND RECORD ACCESS

The Contractor and all subcontractors shall maintain complete, accurate, and auditable books, records, documents, payrolls, invoices, contracts, subcontracts, correspondence, certifications, and other materials

(collectively, “Records”) relating to the performance of the Work.

Such Records shall be made available at no cost and upon reasonable notice for inspection, examination, copying, and audit by:

(a) Franklin County;

(b) the New York State Department of Labor (“DOL”);

(c) Empire State Development d/b/a the New York State ConnectALL Office (“ESD”);

(d) the New York State Department of Economic Development;

(e) the New York State Office of the State Comptroller;

(f) the U.S. Department of the Treasury; and

(g) any other federal, state, or local agency having jurisdiction or audit authority over the Project or funding source.

PREVAILING WAGE AUDIT AND ENFORCEMENT

(PRC# 202611916

https://apps.labor.ny.gov/wpp/publicViewProject.do?method=showIt&id=1616832)

The prevailing wage class that should be used is Teledata, specifically rates that were in place prior to

July 1, 2025.

https://apps.labor.ny.gov/wpp/publicViewProject.do?method=showIt&id=1616832

The Contractor acknowledges that the Project is subject to New York State Labor Law prevailing wage requirements. The Contractor and all subcontractors shall maintain certified payroll records, wage schedules, fringe benefit documentation, and workforce utilization data as required by law.

The New York State Department of Labor shall have the right, at any time during the Work and thereafter, to audit, investigate, and examine payroll records and employment practices, including on-site interviews of workers.

Failure to produce required records or cooperate with a DOL audit shall constitute a material breach of the

Contract and may result in withholding of payments, termination for cause, assessment of penalties, and/or referral for enforcement.

3.21 VENDOR RESPONSIBILITY QUESTIONNAIRE. The Bidder shall complete a Vendor

Responsibility Questionnaire. The Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire can also be downloaded from

Franklin County’s website at https://www.franklincountyny.gov/business/purchasing_bids.php . The

Bidder shall also submit with its Bid a certification, signed by an authorized representative of the Bidder, that neither the Bidder nor any principal of the Bidder is presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any federal department or agency, in accordance with 2 CFR Part 180 and Executive Orders 12549 and 12689.

Franklin County will independently verify each Bidder’s status through SAM.gov prior to award. If so requested, the Bidder shall furnish Franklin County a sworn and notarized financial statement.

3.22 AUTHORIZATION. The Bidder hereby certifies that the undersigned has full and complete authority to execute this bid and agreement and bind the Bidder thereto and to the Contract if awarded.

3.23 DEBRIEFING. A debriefing is available to any Bidder that submitted a Bid in response to this

RFB. A Bidder will be accorded fair and equal treatment with respect to its opportunity for debriefing.

Debriefing shall be requested in writing by the unsuccessful Bidder within fifteen business days of

Franklin County notifying the unsuccessful Bidders that another vendor was selected. Unsuccessful

Bidder shall address all requests for a debriefing to the Primary Point of Contact listed in this RFB.

3.24 STANDARD TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND MANDATORY CLAUSES. The successful Bidder will be required to enter into a Contract with Franklin County that shall, among other things, include the

Standard Terms, Conditions and Mandatory Clauses as described in Exhibit 8, which is attached to this

RFB. A form of the Contract to be signed after the successful Bidder receives the Notice of Award is attached to this RFB as Exhibit 3, with such changes as required by Franklin County and/or its counsel

Franklin County will prepare the Contract in final form and will incorporate any necessary changes and additions before it shall be executed by the successful Bidder after a written Notice of Award and provided the insurance certificates are satisfactory to Franklin County and/or its counsel.

3.25 RECORD DISCLOSURE/ CONFIDENTIALITY OF BIDDERS PROPRIETARY RECORDS.

Bidders may preserve Proprietary rights as to their confidential or business process information only in accordance with procedures established under NYS Public Officers Law, § 89.

3.26 PRODUCT REFERENCES

a. “Or Equal”. In all Specifications the words “or equal” are understood to apply where a copyright brand name, trade name, catalog reference, or patented product is referenced.

References to such specific product are intended as descriptive, not restrictive, unless otherwise stated. Comparable product will be considered if proof of compatibility is provided, including appropriate catalog excerpts, descriptive literature, specifications and test data, etc. Franklin

County’s decision as to acceptance of the product as equal shall be final.

b. Discrepancies in References. In the event of a discrepancy between the model number referenced in the Specifications and the written description of the products therein which cannot be reconciled, with respect to such discrepancy, then the written description shall prevail.

3.27 RECYCLED OR RECOVERED MATERIALS. Upon the conditions specified in the

Specifications and in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York and the Contract Documents, Contractors are encouraged to use recycled or recovered materials in the manufacture of products and packaging to the maximum extent practicable without jeopardizing the performance or intended end use of the product or packaging unless such use is precluded due to health, welfare, safety requirements or in the Specifications. Where such use is not practical, suitable, or permitted by the Specifications or Contract

Documents, Contractor shall deliver new materials in accordance with the “Warranty"

Refurbished or remanufactured Products, components or items may only be accepted at the discretion of

Franklin County, or upon the conditions set forth in the Specifications or Contract Documents.

Items with recycled, recovered, refurbished or remanufactured content must be identified in the Bid or will be deemed new Product.

3.28 PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. Bids offering Products which are manufactured or produced in public institutions will be rejected.

3.29 PRICING.

a. Using the “Price Form” (See Exhibit 4), the Bidder shall enter the unit price for each site and item listed in the embedded worksheet titled “Unit Price Form.” The Bidder shall provide unit prices and extended totals in decimal format (up to four decimal places) for each item. In the event of a discrepancy between the unit price and the extended total, the unit price shall govern unless, in the sole judgment of Franklin County, the unit price is clearly erroneous.

b. Net Pricing Unless otherwise required by the Specifications, prices shall be net, including transportation, customs, tariff, delivery, and other charges fully prepaid by the Contractor to the destination(s) indicated in the Specifications, subject to the cash discount.

c. “No Charge” Bid When Bids are requested on a number of Commodities as a group or

Lot, a Bidder desiring to Bid “no charge” on a Commodity in the grouping or Lot must clearly indicate such. Otherwise, such Bid may be considered incomplete and be rejected, in whole or in part, at the discretion of Franklin County.

d. COPS or Third-Party Financing. If Commodity acquisitions are financed through

Certificates of Participation (COPS) or any other third-party financing, Contractor may be required as a condition of Contract award to agree to the terms and conditions of a “Consent &

Acknowledgment Agreement” in a form acceptable to Franklin County.

3.30 DRAWINGS.

Drawings Submitted With Bid. When the Specifications attached to this RFB as Exhibit 2 require the

Bidder to furnish drawings, plans, or specifications sheets, such drawings shall conform to the mandates of the Procurement Documents and shall, when approved by Franklin County, be considered a part of the

Bid and of any resulting Contract. All symbols and other representations appearing on the drawings shall be considered a part of the drawing.

3.31 SAMPLES.

a. Standard Samples. Specifications may indicate that the Commodity to be purchased in connection with the Work must be equal to a standard. Franklin County may require a sample to be provided.

b. Bidder Supplied Samples. Franklin County reserves the right to request from the Bidder a representative sample(s) of the Commodity offered at any time prior to or after award of a

Contract. Unless otherwise instructed, samples shall be furnished within the time specified in the request. Untimely submission of a sample may constitute grounds for rejection of Bid or cancellation of the Contract. Samples must be submitted free of charge and be accompanied by the Bidder’s name and address, any descriptive literature relating to the Commodity and a statement indicating how and where the sample is to be returned. Where applicable, samples must be properly labeled with the appropriate Bid or contract reference.

A sample may be held by Franklin County or its designee during the entire term of the Contract and for a reasonable period thereafter for comparison with deliveries. At the conclusion of the holding period the sample, where feasible, will be returned as instructed by the Bidder, at the Bidder’s expense and risk.

Where the Bidder has failed to fully instruct Franklin County as to the return of the sample (i.e. mode and place of return, etc.) or refuses to bear the cost of its return, the sample shall become the sole property of the receiving entity at the conclusion of the holding period.

c. Enhanced Samples. When an approved sample exceeds the minimum Specifications, all

Commodities delivered must be of the same enhanced quality and identity as the sample.

Thereafter, in the event of a Contractor’s default, Franklin County may procure a commodity substantially equal to the enhanced sample from other sources, charging the Contractor for any additional costs incurred.

d. Conformance with Sample(s). Submission of a sample (whether or not such sample is tested by, or for, Franklin County) and approval thereof shall not relieve the Contractor from full compliance with all conditions and terms, performance-related and otherwise specified in the

Procurement Documents. If in the judgment of Franklin County, the sample or product submitted is not in accordance with the Specifications or testing requirements prescribed in the Procurement

Documents, Franklin County may reject the Bid. If an award has been made, Franklin County may cancel the Contract at the expense of the Contractor.

e. Testing. All samples are subject to tests in the manner and place designated by Franklin

County, either prior to or after Contract award. Unless otherwise stated in the Specifications, Bidder Samples consumed or rendered useless by testing will not be returned to the Bidder.

3.32 PERMITS AND EASEMENTS. Franklin County will obtain all permanent easements required to place the Musco Poles and related pathway facilities. Franklin County will be the permit applicant of record for required governmental permits unless otherwise specified. The Contractor shall provide all technical support, drawings, and schedule information reasonably required for permit applications and shall comply with all permit conditions.

3.33 PERMIT FEES.

Unless otherwise specified, permit fees shall be reimbursable to the Contractor at cost without markup, where the Contractor is required to pay such fees on the County’s behalf and provides supporting documentation

4. SCOPE OF SERVICES

This Request for Bids (RFB) includes the installation, turn-up, testing, and commissioning of Microwave and Tarana Fixed Wireless network infrastructure at five (5) sites within Franklin County — four (4)

Musco pole sites and one (1) existing tower site (the Fort Covington Water Tower). The Musco

Communications-Structure System™ monopoles and their foundations are furnished and installed by others under a separate contract and are not included in this RFB.

PURPOSE OF REQUEST FOR BIDS

Franklin County is soliciting sealed bids from qualified contractors for the installation, turn-up, and testing of wireless, network, and microwave communications infrastructure, including:

• Microwave and fixed wireless equipment installation

• Network cabinets, rectifiers, batteries, and power systems

• Grounding systems not included in the Musco Pole (civil) contract, and electric utility readiness including the utility conduit and power cable for the electric utility hookup

• System testing, documentation, and QA readiness

Franklin County will furnish only those materials expressly identified as Owner-Furnished Materials in

Exhibit 1. The selected Contractor shall furnish all remaining labor, materials, tools, equipment, and services required to deliver a complete, installed, turned-up, tested, and QA-ready system.

PROJECT SITES AND RIGHT-OF-WAY CONDITIONS

Work shall be performed on or around the following locations (Exact coordinates are located in the construction documents):

A. Burns–Holden

476 Burns-Holden Road, Fort Covington, NY 12937

Municipality: Town of Fort Covington

B. Trout River

1227–1021 County Highway 20, Constable, NY 12926

Municipality: Town of Constable

C. Stebbins

26 Stebbins Road, Constable, NY 12926

Municipality: Town of Constable

D. Little Briggs

123 Little Briggs Street, Constable, NY 12926

Municipality: Town of Westville

E. Fort Covington Water Tower

50 Water Street Fort Covington, NY 12937 (Existing water tower — no Musco pole)

Municipality: Town of Fort Covington

The four (4) Musco pole sites are located within the Franklin County public right-of-way; the Fort

Covington Water Tower is an existing structure. The Contractor shall maintain safe vehicular and pedestrian passage at all times and comply with all roadway, public safety, and right-of-way requirements.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK – WIRELESS, NETWORK, AND MICROWAVE

INFRASTRUCTURE

At each site, the Contractor shall install:

• Cranes, lifts, hoisting systems, for antenna and cable installation

• Electric wire from Musco pole meter to utility pole, 20’ up with coil for power company to connect

• Equipment mounts, brackets, and mounting hardware for radios, antennas, and microwave dishes

• Radios, antennas, and microwave dishes

• Fiber and DC power cabling installed in the cable management

• All grounding not included in the separate Musco Pole (civil) contract, per the construction drawings

• Make all fiber and power connections to the equipment

• Install cabinets on a pedestal on each pole

• Align microwave dishes and radios

• Commission the Tarana and microwave equipment

Network installation, alignment, turn-up, and testing equipment Work shall be performed in accordance with the site-specific Construction Documents, manufacturer requirements, and applicable ANSI/TIA standards.

OWNER-FURNISHED MATERIALS

Franklin County shall furnish only those materials specifically identified in Exhibit 1 – Owner-Furnished

Materials. Owner-Furnished Materials (“OFM”) under this RFB consist of the County-furnished network equipment listed in Exhibit 1; the Musco monopole and its foundation are furnished to the pole-installation contractor under a separate contract.

The Contractor is responsible for unloading, handling, staging, protecting, assembling, and installing all

Owner-Furnished Materials.

The Contractor, before installation of any materials, shall examine the materials which are to be applied and shall notify the Construction Administrator in writing of all defects which would affect the quality and appearance of the Work applied in place.

CONTRACTOR PROVIDED MATERIALS

The Work included under this specification is considered to be turnkey in the sense that the Contractor shall furnish all labor, tools, equipment, and materials required to install the system, EXCEPT for those items specifically identified in Exhibit 1 as Owner-Furnished Materials. Owner-Furnished Materials shall not be included in Contractor pricing.

Franklin County’s interpretation of the specifications shall be final and binding upon the Contractor.

A. The main features of the work shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1. Provide labor, materials, equipment, and services as specified.

Franklin County will provide the network equipment listed in Exhibit 1, and the Contractor will pick up the County-furnished network equipment from the location below. The Contractor is responsible for having the appropriate equipment and personnel to unload and handle the County-furnished network equipment. The Musco monopoles are handled and installed by others. The County must be given at least

24 hours’ notice before picking up the equipment and materials.

Franklin County Highway 14981 State Rte. 30 North

Malone, NY 12953

Attention: Edward Adams

Highway Superintendent 518-483-1140

Edward.Adams@franklincountyny.gov

3. All equipment shall be new, and UL listed.

4. All materials furnished and all work performed shall comply with all State, County and Local Codes and Franklin County contract terms and conditions.

5. All equipment and work shall comply with FCC regulations.

6. Contractor is responsible for providing a warehouse, personnel, and equipment to complete the project.

FIXED WIRELESS, MICROWAVE, AND NETWORK EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION,

TURN-UP, AND TESTING

General Responsibility

The Contractor shall be fully responsible for the installation, integration, turn-up, and testing of all

Microwave, Tarana Fixed Wireless, and network equipment required to deliver a complete and functional system at each site.

All such work shall be performed under the supervision of Airosmith Development, the Construction

Manager, and subject to technical review by Hudson Valley Wireless (HVW), the County's designated

ISP. The Construction Manager shall provide on-site supervision as required and shall serve as the primary point of contact for field execution and contract compliance. Hudson Valley Wireless shall review technical performance aspects of the deployment, including but not limited to link alignment, commissioning results, and RF performance. Neither CM supervision nor HVW technical review relieves the Contractor of responsibility for execution, workmanship, completeness, performance, or compliance.

The Contractor may subcontract portions of the work to the awarded ISP or other Qualified

Subcontractors.

mailto:Edward.Adams@franklincountyny.gov

To deliver the complete functional system described above, Bidders may (i) contract with ISP directly for installation, integration, turn-up, programming, and testing services associated with the Microwave, Tarana Fixed Wireless, and network equipment, or (ii) self-perform such work, or (iii) subcontract any portion of such work to one or more other qualified contractors. The Bidder remains the prime Contractor and is fully responsible to Franklin County for the performance of all work, regardless of which entity performs it.

Each subcontractor must (a) be qualified — by training, licensure, experience, and (where applicable) manufacturer-approved-installer status — to perform the work assigned to it; (b) comply with all requirements of this RFB and the resulting Contract, including prevailing-wage, EEO, and federal flow-down obligations; and (c) maintain insurance in the types and amounts required by Section 6 of this

RFB and name Franklin County and New York State Empire State Development d/b/a the New York State

ConnectALL Office (“ESD”) as additional insureds on all coverages on which the prime Contractor is required to name them, with certificates of insurance and additional-insured endorsements delivered to

Franklin County prior to the subcontractor commencing any work on the Project.

Equipment Included

Scope includes, but is not limited to:

• Microwave backhaul radios and dishes

• Tarana Fixed Wireless access point radios

• Network cabinets (pole-mounted or ground-mounted)

• Rectifiers and DC power systems

• Battery backup systems

• All cabling, connectors, surge protection, mounting hardware, and accessories

Installation, Turn-Up, and Testing

The Contractor shall perform all activities required for system readiness, including:

• Physical installation and mounting of all equipment

• Cabling, grounding, labeling, and weatherproofing

• Power-up and operational verification

• Microwave alignment and link validation

• Fixed wireless radio alignment and performance verification

• Network testing required for ISP acceptance and QA readiness

• Troubleshooting and remediation as directed by Hudson Valley Wireless

Hudson Valley Wireless shall provide standards, requirements, and acceptance criteria; all execution shall be performed by the Contractor or approved subcontractors.

ELECTRICAL GROUNDING SYSTEM AND NATIONAL GRID CONDUIT STUB-OUT

Grounding System

The Contractor shall install all grounding not included in the separate Musco Pole (civil) contract, as delineated on the construction drawings, including:

• Bonding to the foundation grounding system provided under the Musco Pole (civil) contract

• Grounding of cabinets, rectifiers, network equipment, radios, and antennas

• Ground rods, conductors, lugs, and terminations per NEC, NESC, industry standards, and construction drawings

Power Cable

The Contractor shall provide and install:

• Code-compliant power cable/conductors sized for the National Grid electric utility service hookup

Franklin County shall retain responsibility for utility service applications, meters, and permanent power activation. The precast foundation grounding system and the code-compliant conduit stub-out at the pole for future National Grid service are installed under the separate Musco Pole (civil) contract; the

Contractor's conduit and power-cable work under this Contract begins at that stub-out and extends to the

National Grid point of connection shown in the utility design. National Grid designs for the four (4)

Musco pole sites are in process; final pole locations and points of connection will be provided to the awarded Contractor.

Please note: The contractor is responsible for a complete turnkey installation and will be required to turn up and test the network equipment after the permanent power activation. All work associated with the turnup, testing, and QA/QC testing shall be included in the base bid price.

TARANA AND MICROWAVE INSTALLATION — DETAILED SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall provide the complete turnkey installation, integration, and commissioning of the

Tarana base nodes and microwave radio systems at the five (5) sites identified below. The Tarana base nodes and Aviat microwave radios are Owner-Furnished and shall be delivered to the Franklin County

Department of Public Works yard in Malone, New York, where the Contractor is responsible for unloading and for transporting all materials to each designated site. The following quantities apply at each site. The County is procuring twelve (12) Tarana G2 Multiband Base Nodes and twelve (12) pole mounting kits; the eleven (11) Base Nodes shown below are installed under this Contract, and the remaining unit and mounting kit are retained by the County as spares.

Site Tarana 35-0200-001 Base

Nodes Aviat WTM 4800 Multi-Band

Radios

Burns-Holden Tower 2 2

Stebbins Tower 2 1

Trout River Tower 2 3

Little Briggs Tower 3 1

Fort Covington Water Tower 2 2

Total 11 9

Microwave Links

Trout River to Stebbins

Trout River to Burns-Holden

Trout River to Fort Covington

Fort Covington to Mohawk Tower [scope moved to Mohawk Antenna RFB]

Burns-Holden to Little Briggs

The five (5) paths listed above constitute the complete working microwave network for this

Project. Ten (10) Aviat WTM 4800 radios are installed as active terminals, each with a corresponding antenna — three (3) at Trout River, one (1) at Stebbins, two (2) at Burns-Holden, one (1) at Little Briggs, and two (2) at Fort Covington. One (1) Aviat WTM 4800 radio at the

Mohawk Tower is installed under a separate Mohawk RFB.

The County is separately procuring four (4) spare radios — one (1) 80 GHz/11 GHz high, one (1)

80 GHz/11 GHz low, one (1) 80 GHz/18 GHz high, and one (1) 80 GHz/18 GHz low — and two

(2) spare antennas, one (1) 80 GHz/11 GHz and one (1) 80 GHz/18 GHz. Spare radios and antennas remain in County storage and are not installed under this Contract.

Installation Responsibilities

Unload all Owner-Furnished equipment at the Franklin County Department of Public Works yard in Malone, New York, and transport and deliver it to each designated site.

The Contractor should endeavor to coordinate installation activities with the Musco pole contractor. Install and mount Tarana radios in accordance with project design drawings and manufacturer specifications.

Install and mount microwave radios and antennas as indicated in the approved construction documents.

Install one (1) 30RU NEMA-rated equipment cabinet on the platform located at the base of each structure.

Furnish and install one (1) Site Pro 8' x 8' ground platform, Part No. MEP88-8SH32SC1C, at the

Fort Covington Water Tower site.

Furnish and install an ice bridge from the NEMA cabinet to the tower leg at the Fort Covington

Water Tower.

Install hybrid fiber-optic and 8 AWG copper cabling from the base-mounted cabinet to the radio equipment (RAD) location.

Rack, secure, and organize all electronic equipment within the cabinets.

Install all required jumper cables and interconnections necessary to activate and commission the equipment.

Provide and install 2 AWG ground cable from the ground busbar at the RAD to the grounding system at the Fort Covington Water Tower site.

Ground all cabinets, equipment, and associated components in accordance with applicable NEC requirements and industry standards.

Adjust Tarana base nodes to the required azimuth and down-tilt settings as specified in the network design.

Align microwave links using industry-standard test equipment and verify proper operation and link performance.

Conduct and provide a drone flight video documenting all installed materials and equipment from ground level to above the radio equipment location.

Installation Deliverables

Fully installed and operational Tarana base node systems.

Fully installed and aligned microwave radio links.

Complete grounding and cabling installation.

Commissioned equipment ready for service.

Drone video documentation of each completed installation.

As-built documentation and test results confirming proper microwave link alignment and system performance.

Programming, Configuration, Testing, and Commissioning

Configure and program all Tarana base node equipment in accordance with the approved network design and manufacturer requirements.

Configure microwave radios, including IP addressing, VLANs, management settings, channel assignments, modulation profiles, transmit power, synchronization, and security parameters.

Load current manufacturer-approved firmware and software revisions on all equipment.

Verify connectivity between all network elements and the County's core network.

Perform system commissioning and acceptance testing for all installed equipment.

Verify proper operation of Tarana sectors, including synchronization, sector coverage, and subscriber connectivity.

Verify microwave link performance, including RSSI, modulation rate, throughput, latency, and availability.

Conduct end-to-end network testing and troubleshoot any deficiencies identified during commissioning.

Document all final equipment configurations, IP addressing schemes, and system settings.

Document all serialized equipment with placement locations, including photographs of the serial numbers.

Provide…