Revised Amendment #6 - FINAL - 5.3.23.pdf

Amendment #6

Project Title:

Local Telecommunica�ons Services

Solicita�on Number – 001B2600465

This Amendment # 5 is being issued to amend and clarify certain informa�on contained in the above referenced RFP. All informa�on contained herein is binding on all Offerors who respond to this RFP.

Specific parts of the RFP have been amended. The following changes/addi�ons are listed below; new language has been double underlined and marked in bold (i.e., word) and language deleted has been marked with a strikeout (i.e., word).

1. Amend RFP Sec�on 2.3 as follows:

2.3 ACCOUNT ACCESS

2.3.1 Account informa�on shall be available to authorized representa�ves of DGS, DoIT and the Reques�ng/Billed Agency for each account created or transi�oned under the resul�ng Contract (“Authorized Representa�ves” pursuant to the requirements of this sec�on).

A. DGS and DoIT shall have full access for all accounts created and/or transi�oned under the resultant Contract in addi�on to the Reques�ng/Billed Agency that manages each individual account.

BA. The Contractor shall provide account access to the appropriate Reques�ng/Billed Agency personnel Authorized Representa�ves for each account under the Contract in accordance with this sec�on.

1) Contractor provides consent for access to account informa�on by the Authorized Representa�ves.

Contractor agrees such informa�on may include Customer Proprietary Network Informa�on (“CPNI”), the disclosure of which is governed by 47 U.S.C. sec�on 222, and applicable regula�ons;

and

2) DGS and DoIT shall have the ability to access account informa�on from any account under the resul�ng Contract.

2.3.2 The Contractor shall enforce appropriate account access and permissions such that only the Authorized Representa�ves authorized personnel may modify or view account-level informa�on associated with that account.

2.3.3 Account access for the Authorized Representa�ves shall include the ability to:

a) Order, cancel, modify or obtain status on a service order (e.g., “change order”). See also Sec�on 2.8.

b) Open, cancel, modify or obtain status on a repair (e.g., “trouble �cket”). See also Sec�on 2.9.

c) View and update account billing informa�on. See also Sec�on 2.2.5.

d) View and update an account with which a phone number is associated.

2.3.4 Informa�on and/or access for the Authorized Representa�ves DGS, DoIT and the Reques�ng/Billed Agency to accounts and individual phone numbers shall be possible by any mechanism available, including, but not limited to: Telephone requests, email requests, web access (including web portals), and account reports.

2.3.5 The Contractor shall provide web-enabled billing management / account management tools.

2. Amend RFP Sec�on 2.4.3 subsec�on A as follows:

A. The grade of service (GOS) of blockage at any loca�on shall not exceed 3 percent for access, 3 percent for egress, and 1 percent for transport. The GOS shall be determined using the State loca�on’s average monthly business day busy hour traffic data. The Preston Street Complex Loca�on Group is just one example of a State loca�on which would require monthly sta�s�cs for GOS busy study for GOS upon request.

3. Amend RFP Sec�on 2.7.2 sub sec�on A. #5 as follows:

5. The Contractor shall only process service orders demonstra�ng DoIT DGS approval and which fall under the scope of this Contract. DoIT DGS approval is determined by the Contractor verifying a Purchase Order (PO) has been issued with the following informa�on visible on the PO: PO number, Contractor’s contract number, and a proper signature by the State.

4. Amend RFP Sec�on 2.8.2 as follows:

2.8.2 New Local Access Services Offerings throughout the life of this Contract can be effected only by contract modifica�on approved by DoIT DGS.

5. Amend RFP Sec�on 3.2.1 A and F as follows:

A. The Contractor shall invoice the appropriate agency by sending the and signed authoriza�on to invoice to the Contract Monitor and agency contact at their e-mail address. Paperless invoicing is permissible.

All invoices for services shall be verified by the Contractor as accurate at the �me of submission.

An invoice not sa�sfying the requirements of a Proper Invoice (as defined at COMAR 21.06.09.01 and .02) cannot be processed for payment. To be considered a Proper Invoice, invoices must include the following informa�on, without error:

1) Contractor name and address;

2) Remitance address;

3) Federal taxpayer iden�fica�on (FEIN) number, social security number, as appropriate;

4) Invoice period (i.e., �me period during which services covered by invoice were performed);

5) Invoice date;

6) Invoice number;

7) State assigned Contract number;

8) State assigned (Blanket) Purchase Order number(s);

9) Goods or services provided;

10) Amount due; and

11) Any addi�onal documenta�on required by regula�on or the Contract.

Local Telecommunica�ons Services

Solicita�on #: 001B2600465 RFP Document

RFP for Department of General Services Page 14 of 82

F. If a billing error is iden�fied that results in an increase to an invoice, the Contractor shall retroac�vely bill for the lesser of the past due amount from the actual date the billing error started, or three (3) months of the discrepancy amount. If a billing error is iden�fied that results in an increase to an invoice, the Contractor may retroac�vely bill undercharges to the extent permited by the Maryland Public Service Commission rules and regula�ons as set forth in Sec�on

20.45.04.01 of the Code of Maryland Regula�ons.

6. Amend RFP Sec�on 3.13 as follows:

A. Contractor shall pay an electronic transac�on fee to the State in the amount of one percent (1%) of the total contract sales. The electronic transac�on fee is calculated based on all sales transacted under the contract, minus any returns or credits. The electronic transac�on fee shall not be charged directly to the customer, e.g., as a separate line item, fee or surcharge, but shall be included in the contract’s unit prices. For the purpose of this RFP, the 1% fee does not apply to tariff services.

7. Amend RFP Sec�on 4.33 as follows:

4.33 Nonvisual Access

RFP Sec�ons 4.33.1-4.33.4 are deleted.

8. Amend RFP Sec�on 5.3.2 subsec�on G as follows:

G. Experience and Qualifica�ons of Proposed Staff (Submit under TAB F)

The Offeror shall iden�fy the qualifica�ons and types of staff proposed to be u�lized under the Contract including informa�on in support of the Key Personnel criteria in Sec�on 3.7.3. Specifically, the Offeror shall:

1) Describe in detail how the proposed staff’s experience and qualifica�ons relate to their specific responsibili�es, including any staff of proposed subcontractor(s), as detailed in the Work Plan.

2) Include individual resumes for Key Personnel, including Key Personnel for any proposed subcontractor(s), who are to be assigned to the project if the Offeror is awarded the Contract. Each resume should include the amount of experience the individual has had rela�ve to the Scope of Work set forth in this solicita�on.

Local Telecommunica�ons Services

Solicita�on #: 001B2600465 RFP Document

RFP for Department of General Services Page 39 of 82

3) Include leters of intended commitment to work on the project, including leters from any proposed subcontractor(s). Offerors should be aware of restric�ons on subs�tu�on of Key Personnel prior to RFP award (see Subs�tu�on Prior to and Within 30 Days A�er Contract Execu�on in Sec�on 3.8.5). This sec�on is reserved.

4) Provide an Organiza�onal Chart outlining Personnel and their related du�es. The Offeror shall include job �tles and the percentage of �me each individual will spend on his/her assigned tasks.

Offerors using job �tles other than those commonly used by industry standards must provide a crosswalk reference document.5) If proposing differing personnel work hours than iden�fied in the RFP, describe how and why it proposes differing personnel work hours.

5) If proposing differing personnel work hours than iden�fied in the RFP, describe how and why it proposes differing personnel work hours

9. Amend Paragraph 43 of RFP Atachment M, as follows:

This paragraph is not applicable to this Contract.

<<43.>> >1 The Contractor agrees to execute and comply with the enclosed Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) Hiring Agreement (Atachment O). The Hiring Agreement is to be executed by the Offeror and delivered to the Procurement Officer within ten (10) Business Days following receipt of no�ce by the Offeror that it is being recommended for Contract award. The Hiring Agreement will become effec�ve concurrently with the award of the Contract.

<<43.>>2 The Hiring Agreement provides that the Contractor and DHS will work coopera�vely to dividuals for job openings resul�ng from this procurement, in accordance with Md. Code Ann., State Finance and Procurement Ar�cle §13-224.

10. Amend Paragraph 44 of RFP Atachment M, as follows:

This paragraph is not applicable to this Contract.

The Contractor shall provide equal access to public services to individuals with limited English proficiency in compliance with Md. Code Ann., State Government Ar�cle, §§ 10-1101 et seq., and Policy Guidance issued by the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Health and Human Services, and MDH Policy 02.06.07.

11. Amend pricing form into one document with updates.