RFP for Cellular phone and data services City of Wausau - Extended: Bid Due Date/Time - Noon on Friday Oct 19, 2018

The City of Wausau, in coordination with the City-County Information Technology Commission (CCITC), is soliciting a Request for Proposal (RFP) for comprehensive cellular phone and data services. The procurement seeks a vendor to provide services for approximately 32 non-smartphone devices, 49 smartphones (currently iPhone and Samsung models), 6 MiFi hotspots, and potential future Cradlepoint devices for municipal fleet vehicles. Evaluation criteria are weighted with 35% for price and data plans, 25% for product selection, 20% for coverage maps and service quality, 7% for provider financial strength, 3% for rollout plan, 5% for customer references, and 5% for device warranties. Key proposal deadlines include a vendor question deadline of noon CDT on October 3, 2018, with proposal responses due by 4:00 PM CDT on October 18, 2018. The contract term is two years with one optional two-year renewal, and device replacements are scheduled at the two-year mark. Critical requirements mandate that the successful vendor maintain a local Wausau office, issue local phone numbers, own towers and network infrastructure in the metro Wausau area, and provide comprehensive coverage throughout Marathon County and the United States.

The RFP does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent organization types. The current incumbent vendor is Cellcom, with the City also maintaining six AT&T cellular cards for water utility meter reading collectors, with plans to expand to twelve cards. The City currently maintains alternative providers for specific services and reserves the right to reject all proposals, negotiate with multiple vendors, and include a service quality guarantee allowing contract cancellation without penalty if unresolved issues persist for 15 days within the first 120 days of implementation. Pricing must be itemized by department and device, with detailed monthly Excel reporting required. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the procurement suggests a substantial contract value covering cellular services for multiple municipal departments and device types. The contract's flexibility and comprehensive requirements indicate a strategic approach to securing flexible, reliable cellular communication infrastructure for the City of Wausau's operational needs.