RFQ Supplemental Instructions - DHS-R076 Carbondale.docx

This is a Supplemental Instructions document for a Request for Quote (RFQ) issued by the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) for Metro Ethernet services at their Carbondale facility. The solicitation, identified as DHS-R076, seeks a fiber Metro Ethernet point-to-point transport service between the A end location at the Department of Human Services, 2471 W Main, Carbondale, IL 62901, and multiple Z end locations at any ICN Point of Presence (POP). The service must be delivered via fiber optic cable, with copper and wireless services explicitly prohibited. Vendors are responsible for delivering service inside buildings to DoIT-designated telecom rooms at both end locations, terminating service on vendor-provided switches. All submissions must be electronic and entered into BidBuy, with the site contact phone number listed as (618) 614-3891 and the QSITE ID as DHS-R076.

Award will be determined based on total cost of ownership, calculated by multiplying the monthly recurring charge by the service term and adding non-recurring installation costs per site location. Bidders must complete all optional line items for additional bandwidth tiers to be considered responsive; failure to do so will result in rejection. Optional line items will not factor into the award decision except in cases of tied bids but may be utilized during the service term at the agency's discretion. All pricing must be all-inclusive and final, with no additional taxes, fees, surcharges, or pass-through charges permitted after award, including regulatory recovery fees, universal service fees, gross receipts taxes, or telecommunications-related surcharges. If the bidder has executed a contract with the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) within the past twelve months for similar products or services, the negotiated terms and conditions from that existing contract will automatically apply to this solicitation without further negotiation.