YAKIMA COUNTY

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

PROPOSAL TITLE: Tieton High-Speed Broadband Internet Service PROPOSAL DUE DATE: September 17, 2024

The County of Yakima, Washington (“County”) is soliciting Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from interested firms for the provision of high-speed broadband Internet services in the County. The County is requesting SOQs from capable Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other firms capable of providing high-speed broadband Internet service at the required service levels to the rural areas near the Town of Tieton. The County reserves the right to amend terms of this “Request for Qualification” (RFQ) to circulate various addenda, or to withdraw the RFQ at any time, regardless of how much time and effort consultants have spent on their responses.

Scope of Project

The work to be performed by the firm consists of designing, building, operating and maintaining the broadband Internet network to provide high-speed broadband Internet services to rural areas near the Town of Tieton for a designated period of time. Evidence of the firm’s capability to operate an Internet network shall be a condition of selection of an applicant by the County as detailed herein.

This project is funded, by federal award number CPFFN0145 awarded to Washington State Broad Band Office by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Submittal

Submittals shall include a one-page cover letter with the firm name and contact information. Submittals shall consist of four (4) copies of your Statement of Qualifications describing the firm’s or team’s ability to professionally provide the requested services. SOQs shall not exceed twenty (20) pages, single sided or ten (10) pages double sided and the font shall be 12-point in size, excluding the cover letter. Submittals shall be sent to: Brad Schilperoort, 128 N. 2nd Street, 4th Floor County Courthouse, Yakima, WA 98901, no later than 2:00 pm on September 17, 2024. Submittals will not be accepted after that time and date.

The County reserves the right to retain the services of the successful firm for any subsequent phases associated with this project.

Evaluation Criteria

Submittals will be evaluated and ranked based on the following criteria:

1. Statement of interest and qualifications. Each SOQ must include a statement of interest outlining why the applicant is interested in the project, the applicant’s technical and operation qualifications, and why the applicant should be selected for this project (10 points)

2. Description of firm. Each SOQ must include a description of the firm for whom the SOQ was prepared. The description should include the firm name, specific information regarding the firm ownership, primary contact information, primary office location, general qualifications, and a demonstration of technical expertise sufficient to complete the design, construction and operation of the proposed network. The firm description should also list each member of the firm that will work on the project along with a brief description of their relevant experience and the anticipated hierarchy of any such participants with respect to this project. All Contractors must be licensed in the State of Washington to conduct business (20 points).

3. Description of approach. Each SOQ must include a comprehensive description of the firm’s intended approach to the project. This description should identify, with specificity, how the applicant intends to provide service, how such service will be provided, and a general plan for the construction of the necessary facilities. The description should further detail the infrastructure and technology necessary to build out the applicant’s intended network. The description should detail the type of open access network that will be developed and how competitive companies can access the network. A description of what efforts or cooperation needed from the County to facilitate the efficient completion of the project, and the anticipated long-term operational needs and maintenance plan for the proposed high-speed broadband Internet network should be included (50 points).

4. Anticipated timeline. Each SOQ must include an estimated timeline for the project. The timeline should clearly state the timeframes in which the applicant expects to complete all necessary construction and the timeframe in which the applicant expects to begin providing service to the designated unserved and/or underserved broadband serviceable locations in the project area. If the project will be completed in phases or otherwise subdivided, the SOQ should clearly show each anticipated phase and the corresponding timeframe for completion (10 points).

5. Comparable projects. Each SOQ must include a description of at least three (3) similar projects, either in-progress or completed, by the applicant that demonstrate that the applicant has the technical and operational expertise necessary to complete the proposed project. Such descriptions should include the location of the project, a brief description of the project, the number of current subscribers, the type of technology used in the project, the size and scale of the geographic area covered by the project, and a project reference that the County may contact. Each reference should include the reference’s name, title, email address and phone number (20 points.)

6. Cost analysis. Each SOQ should include an estimated time and materials cost proposal detailing the total anticipated cost of each element of the project. The cost analysis should clearly detail the anticipated expenditures of the applicant. All work performed on this project will be subject to the higher of the prevailing state or federal wage rates. A five percent (5%) bid guarantee is required in form of a cashier’s check, money order, or surety bond. (50 points).

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information

The County in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), commits to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability, in all of its programs and activities. This material can be made available in an alternate format by emailing brad.schilperoort@co.yakima.wa.us or by calling 509.574.2300.

Title VI Statement

Yakima County in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

Consultants will also be held to ADA and Civil Rights language for the employing Agency. The County of Yakima is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Small, Minority- and Women-owned firms are encouraged to submit bids.

Inquiries

Direct all inquiries regarding the Statement of Qualifications to County Public Roads at (509) 576-2300 or via email: Brad Schilperoort brad.schilperoort@co.yakima.wa.us.

Dates of publication: Yakima Herald Republic – August 27, September 3, 2024

                                      Daily Journal of Commerce – August 27, September 3, 2024