Questions and Answers

Questions about this RFP must be submitted in writing to the project team.  Vendors are strongly encouraged to review this RFP and any questions and answers posted below before submitting a question.  Questions may be submitted by e-mail at fcc@mphi.org or by mail to:

Michigan Public Health Institute
Attn:  FCC RHCPP Team
2436 Woodlake Circle, Suite 300
Okemos, MI 48864

Each question and answer will be posted below.  MPHI will do its best to respond in a timely manner, but an answer may require a response from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) or the FCC.  In no case will a failure of MPHI to answer a submitted question extend the proposal due date. MPHI will not identify the source of the question.  However, vendors are responsible for phrasing questions in a way that does not reveal their identity, if possible. Questions must be received before midnight on June 2, 2009.

Current Questions and Answers

1. What equipment will be placed on the tower?
2. Soil Samples.
3. When is the site visit?
4. TIA/EIA-222 Rev-F or Rev-G and related information.
5. Where on the tower will the equipment be placed?
6. What are the lighting (i.e., warning/marking lights) requirements? LED or Standard lamps?
7. Should the towers be painted?
8. Compound size?
9. How should the compound ground be covered?
10. Is there a preferred type of equipment shelter?  Can the shelter be a pre-manufactured concrete building?
11. Have any studies (FCC, FAA, NEPA etc.) been completed on tower sites?
12. Change in the RFP process dates.
13. Updates to the Exposure Factor and Topographic Categories.
14. Is all of the vendor insurance coverage that is listed in Section 3.4 of the RFP required?
15. Is this project to follow Davis-Bacon wages?  If so, do you have a wage schedule? (UPDATED 6/1/09)
16. Are the self support towers to be 190 feet above ground level or 195 feet?
17. How many and what type of feed lines will be attached to each tower?
18. How big will the HCP supplied Propane tank be for the generators?
19. Exposure of Harbor Beach Tower. (UPDATED 6/1/09)
20. Is there a domestic steel requirement?
21. Is a sound damping (a.k.a., acoustical) enclosure required for the generators?
22. Is a cable/waveguide ladder required on the towers?
23. Electrical details inside the equipment shelters.
24. Utilities.
25. Equipment shelter’s wire entrances. (UPDATED 6/3/09)
26. Do the equipment shelters require an internal cable ladder?
27. Do the equipment shelters need to be wired for a security alarm?
28. Do the towers need to have any future load capacity?
29. Why are a FCC ID and SPIN required?
30. Is there a concrete pad required for the LP tank?
31. Who will be responsible for providing and installing the gas line from the generator to the tank? 
32. Site access roads and other improvements.
33. Delays in receiving SPIN # form USAC.
34. - End Questions and Answers for RFP 00 -

Q 1: What equipment will be placed on the tower?
A 1: Equipment specifications have not been finalized, but a typical tower will have up to eight (8) 18” point-to-point wireless transmitters/receivers.  The transmitters/receivers weigh 12 to 20 pounds and have an approximant wind load of 130 lbs. at 125 MPH.

Q 2: Soil Samples.
A 2: Soil samples have not been done.  It is the responsibility of the selected vendor to conduct any required soil samples (see Section 2.1 in the RFP).  For the propose of the bid, vendors should assume normal soil conditions.  Once a vendor has been selected, that vendor will have to do the soil samples.  If any unusual soil conditions are found, foundation costs may be adjusted during final contract negotiations.  Vendors should include in their bid what they consider “normal soil conditions.”

Q 3: When is the site visit?
A 3: Vendors interested in attending the optional site visit of all five (5) tower locations can meet at Caro Hospital (401 N. Hooper St., Caro, Michigan 48723) at 9am on Thursday, May 28, 2009. The site visit will last approximately 6 hours. The project team will lead a driving tour of all the sites. Vendors are responsible for their own transportation. Any vendor who plans to attend should is asked to notify the project team by email (fcc@mphi.org) and indicate how many people are coming. (Section 3.2 of the RFP)

MBS International Airport (Midland, Bay City, and Saginaw) is the closest regional airport and is about 1.5 hours from Caro. Bishop International Airport in Flint is another nearby regional airport and is about 1.75 hours from Caro. Detroit Metro Airport is the closest large airport and is about 2.5 hours from Caro.

Q 4: TIA/EIA-222 Rev-F or Rev-G and related information.
A 4: The first two sub-bullet points under Tower in section 2.2.1 of the RFP stated (“All towers must be designed for at least 75 MPH basic wind in accordance with TIA/EIA-222-G.” and “All towers must be designed for 75 MPH wind with 0.050” ice.”) are contradictory and should be replaced with, “All towers must be designed in accordance with TIA/EIA-222-G (a.k.a. Revision G).” Additional information in regard to "Importance Factor," "Exposure Factor" and "Topographic Category" for each tower is follows.

Hospital Location	RFP Tower ID	Importance Factor	Exposure Factor	Topographic Categories	Tower Location Land Description
Caro Community Hospital	CH3	3	C	1	In the Village of Caro next to hospital
Harbor Beach Community Hospital	HB2	2	C D	1	Vacant Land
Meckenzie Memorial Hospital	MM5	3	C	1	In the City of Sandusky next to hospital
Scheurer Hospital	SH1	3	C	1	Vacant land in the village of Pigeon
Central Tower	CT4	2	C	1	Vacant Land

 

Q 5: Where on the tower will the equipment be placed?
A 5: All equipment will be placed within 10% the top of the overall usable tower height. See question 1 for more information on what equipment will be placed on the tower. Note, the RFP does not call for the vendor to install or mount any of the equipment. That is outside the scope of this RFP.

Q 6: What are the lighting (i.e., warning/marking lights) requirements? LED or Standard lamps?
A 6: Vendors are responsible for providing a proper lighting kit (see Section 2.2.1 of the RFP) as required by the FAA and other regulatory bodies.  Approximant tower locations are provided in Section 2.2.2 of the RFP.  These locations are based off of handheld GPS readings and, as such, are not accurate enough for final filings but can be used for preliminary location and related lighting requirements.

Vendors may propose light-emitting diode (LED) light kits as an optional upgrade but must also provide “standard” light kit pricing.

Q 7: Should the towers be painted?
A 7: Unless required by the FAA, towers should NOT to be painted.

Q 8: Compound size?
A 8: Compound size is dependent on the tower footprint that is being proposed.  The compound must enclose the tower base, equipment shelter and any related equipment and must have at least four (4) feet clearance from all items in the compound.  Vendors are encouraged, but not required to, attend the site visit; see http://fcc.mphi.org/RFP/RFP00.html#visit for more details.  Vendors should describe the proposed compound size in their bid

Q 9: How should the compound ground be covered?
A9: Per Section 2.2.1 of the RFP, the compound must have “appropriate surface treatment”. Three inches (3”) deep, ¾” crushed stone with weed barrier is the preferred treatment.

Q 10: Is there a preferred type of equipment shelter?  Can the shelter be a pre-manufactured concrete building?
A 10: Section 2.2.1 in the RFP describes the required equipment shelter.  Any proposed equipment shelter must meet or exceed these requirements.  A pre-manufactured concrete building that meets or exceeds these requirements would be acceptable. In some cases, a “pre-manufactured concrete building” may not require some of the items listed in Section 2.2.1, such as the rodent shield.  Vendors must list any items they feel are not required along with a short justification in their bid.

Q 11: Have any studies (FCC, FAA, NEPA etc.) been completed on tower sites? 
A11: No studies have been completed.  It is the responsibility of the vendor to conduct any required studies (see Section 2.1 in the RFP).

Q 12: Change in the RFP process dates.
A 12: Due to an administrative error in what USAC funding year RFP 00 was posted under, the allowable contact date (ACD) has changed. This has resulted in some changes in the RFP process dates. The table available at http://fcc.mphi.org/rfp/RFP00.html has the correct and final dates. Note, the date of the optional site visit has NOT changed.

Q 13: Updates to the Exposure Factor and Topographic Categories.
A 13: Several of the Exposure Factor and Topographic Categories have been updated (5/19/09). See the table in question 4 for the current items.  Vendors are encouraged to attend the site visit to see the locations first hand.

Q 14: Is all of the vendor insurance coverage that is listed in Section 3.4 of the RFP required?
A 14: Yes, but the vendor “may request a waiver, in their bid, of any of this items if they feel they are not required. However, MPHI may require the vendor to obtain any waived items before awarding of contract if in MPHI’s opinion the coverage is necessary.” (last paragraph of section 3.4)

Q 15: Is this project to follow Davis-Bacon wages?  If so, do you have a wage schedule?
A 15: This question has been sent to USAC and FCC for their response.  Once we receive their input, an answer will be posted. UPDATED (5/1/09) Davis-Bacon wages do NOT apply. There is no Prevailing Wage requirement.

Q 16: Are the self support towers to be 190 feet above ground level or 195 feet? (mismatch on pages 8 and 10 of the RFP)
A 165: The upper most usable point on the self support towers must be 190 feet above ground level, typically the tower extends higher than the upper most usable point.

Q 17: How many and what type of feed lines will be attached to each tower?
A 17: In addition to any cables that are required for warning/marking lights, there will be up to eight (8) outdoor (UV protection, gel-filled, direct burial capable) Cat5e cables running from the equipment shelter at the base of the tower to the equipment at or near the top of the tower (see  questions 1 and 5 for equipment information).  Mounting of the equipment (other the warning/marking lights) and related cables is outside the scope of this RFP.

Q 18: How big will the HCP supplied Propane tank be for the generators?
A 18: A 500 gallon aboveground propane tank is planed with the approximant dimensions of 38" Dia. by 120" long.

Q 19: Exposure of Harbor Beach Tower.
A 19: The GPS coordinates provided in the RFP for the Harbor Beach tower puts it inside of 3,000 feet of the shoreline thus making it Exposure D not C (as listed above).  We are investigating moving the tower slightly inland and outside of the 3,000 feet requirement of Exposure D.  Vendors are asked to provide a price for Exposure C and an upgrade price to Exposure D in their bids. UPDATED (5/1/09) The Harbor Beach tower is Exposure D and should be quoted as such. (per Addendum 1 of TIA/EIA-222-G)

Q 20: Is there a domestic steel requirement?
A 20: No.

Q 21: Is a sound damping (a.k.a., acoustical) enclosure required for the generators?
A 21: Yes, vendor should provide specs in proposal.

Q 22: Is a cable/waveguide ladder required on the towers?
A 22: Yes, a standard cable/waveguide ladder is required on the towers running from ice bridge from the equipment shelter to the highest useable point on the tower.

Q 23: Electrical details inside the equipment shelters.
A 23: The RFP calls for: "Each shelter must have a main electrical circuit breaker panel, in addition to the electrical requirements of the air conditioning unit” … "panel to have a minimum of ten 20 amp 110v circuits, only two 110v plugs per circuit and grounding bar installed. Grounding bar to be connected to tower.”  Additional details follow:

• Grounding bar to be at least 4 feet long located in the shelter and attached to the tower grounding system or code approved grounding system.
• Each of the ten 20 amp 110v circuits should have one (1) duplex (2 plugs) outlet.  These are to be equally disrupted along the two long walls of the shelter. 
• The tower’s warning/signal lights should be on dedicated circuit(s).

Q 24: Utilities.
A 24: TRHN and/or the HCP is responsible for providing (new service or extending existing) electrical and telecom services (including related fees) to the compound.  Vendors are responsible for an “h-frame” to attach electrical service to (with conduct running to the shelter) and all electrical work from that point on.  Vendors should also plan on a conduct running to the shelter from the service handoff (h-frame or HCP facility) for the telecom service.

Q 25: Equipment shelter’s wire entrances.
A 25: Each equipment shelter will need a wire entrance (place for wires to penetrate the shelter) at:

• One (1) at ice bridge from tower
• One (1) for incoming electrical service
• One (1) for incoming telecom service
• One (1) from the shelter to the HCP facility with attached 2” conduct running to HCP facility
• Note: the Central and Harbor Beach towers do not need this entrance UPDATED (6/3/09)

Q 26: Do the equipment shelters require an internal cable ladder?
A 26: No, the cable ladder on the tower (see question 22) and the ice bridge (see RFP section 2.2.1) are all that are required.

Q 27: Do the equipment shelters need to be wired for a security alarm?
A 27: No.

Q 28: Do the towers need to have any future load capacity?
A 28: Yes, plan on three (3) times the current load.

Q 29: Why are a FCC ID and SPIN required?
A 29: Per section 4.3 of the RFP, all bidders must have both a FCC RN and USAC SPIN.  This is a FCC requirement in order for the vendor to get paid from the Universal Service Fund.

Q 30: Is there a concrete pad required for the LP tank? If so, what size?
A 30: Yes, vendor is responsible for pad.  Pad to be located just outside compound fence.  Pad to be sized for a 500 gallon aboveground propane tank with the approximant dimensions of 38" Dia. by 120" long. 

Q 31: Who will be responsible for providing and installing the gas line from the generator to the tank? 
A 31: Vendor is responsible for providing and installing the gas line from the generator to the tank.  The tank will have a ¾” connector on it and the vendor must supply any required converter(s) to work with the vendor supplied generator. 

Q 32: Site access roads and other improvements.
A 32: Additional details on each site are below.
Caro = Access available from nearby parking lot.  No long-term access road required. Vendor responsible for any temporary improvements required for installation.  Note: the parking lot is planned to extend in front of the tower site in the very near future and expansion may be complete before tower construction.  Vendor is responsible for returning the site to how it was before construction (including, but not limited to, repairing any damage to the parking lot).  Vendor is responsible for removing the existing foundation from two (2) old satellite dishes (the HCP will remove the dishes).

Pigeon = Vendor is responsible for construction of access road from the end of Mildred Street to the tower location.  This access road is to remain. Tower must be set back from both the existing power lines (running east to west along the south end of the site) and the existing building (south east corner of site) by at least the height of the tower.

Harbor Beach = Vendor is responsible for construction of access road from the existing dirt road (off of Pierce Road) to the tower compound location.  Vendor is also responsible for any improvements to the existing dirt road that is required.

Central Tower = Property owner is responsible for clearing the land and providing the access road.

Sandusky = Tower site is currently accessible, no access road is needed.  The existing garage will be removed by the HCP but the vendor is responsible for removing the foundation. Vendor responsible for any temporary site improvements required for installation.  Vendor is responsible for returning the site to how it was before construction (including, but not limited to, repairing any damage to the parking lot). 

Q 33: Delays in receiving SPIN # form USAC.
A 33: Several vendors have expressed concerns that receiving SPIN# from USAC has been delayed and the vendor may not have the SPIN finalized before the bids are due.  Since this delay is outside the control of the vendor, vendors may submit bids without SPIN#s as long as the SPIN request is in progress with USAC.  Vendors who do not have SPIN #s before bids are due should include an explanation on the status of the SPIN request.  Any vendors who submit bids without SPIN must email the SPIN to fcc@mphi.org as soon as it is received from USAC.  MPHI reserves the right to confirm with USAC that a SPIN request is in progress.

- End Questions and Answers for RFP 00 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last updated on 06/10/2009 1:02 PM