Question/Answers:

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  • Page 9, question 14: What is the date of contract execution?

The date of execution varies but will generally happen within 1 month of the award.  However there have been exceptions in the case of client who have very lengthily legal processes.  The actual turn up/install date will vary based on how long it takes the FCC to approve funding of the project.  Generally 1-2 months after the contract is signed.

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  • For site numbers 5, 6, 7, 8 and 13, would OHN consider 30Mbps Transport and 10Mbps Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) as an alternate option to 45Mbps Transport and 10Mbps DIA?  XXXXX would like to propose this as a cost-savings option to OHN.  For Type II DS3 circuits, overhead is required which allows for a total of 40Mbps versus the full 45Mbps.

No.  However if you wanted to provide slightly more bandwidth than requested that would be an option.  However your pricing will not be modified in any way and will be judged side by side with the pricing for the specified request.

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  • In the Services Requested column, where the transport link is requested to terminate at the Legacy Data Center, can you confirm this is the same address as the Legacy Data Center 2 address (1717 NW 21^st Ave, Portland, OR) as seen in row 20?

That is correct.  If you need further information as to the specifics of where the circuit will terminate in the facility, etc.  please contact Willy Clark as listed.

Specifically which device make and model? OHN Leaf Nodes are: Cisco 1721 Routers with Advanced Security IOS to support Cisco IP SLA and SSH version 2

Please provide network diagrams of the interconnections to narrow down the load on the network by continuous contact, so that tw telecom can separate normal traffic from telemetry to assist in troubleshooting and maintain performance SLAs? Bandwidth requirements for each leaf node are 375KB over 5 minutes (10Kbs).

What networking management protocols are required and what version? SSH Version 2, SNMP Version 2 (read only), NTP

What application/service is used to monitor the network, and is any of this proprietary? OHN NOC's Network Management System along with Cisco proprietary IP SLA feature.

What level of encryption is required and will tw telecom be required for any authentication of any traffic? OHN NOC's Leaf Nodes and traffic are meant to live autonomous to your network whenever possible. Leaf nodes generate artificial traffic directed at leaf node responders. The responders add telemetry data and return it to the leaf node.  The traffic is generated and returned using Cisco's “IP SLA” feature, therefore all encryption and decryption of telemetry data will be done so via the IP SLA Feature.
 
You can find this information and much more by visiting here

QUESTION:

OHN RFP #8 question page 19 #4, #7,8,9 GOBHI, The Dalles, OR

i understand the below wording to mean what it meant on rfp #6, which was 10 mbps of ethernet with 10 mbps of internet access.

now it's saying "and" or "plus" an additional 10 mbps of internet?

if that is the case, then an additional 10 mbps ethernet circuit would need to be provisioned for this additional 10 mbps of internet to ride on.

so is this current rfp saying that the customer wants (2) 10 mbps ethernet/internet circuits? (1) to the NWAX and (1) that just feeds their clinic?

Answer:

.  That would be a 10 mbps OHN circuit PLUS an ADDITIONAL 10 Mbps of DIA.  Both will (can) utilize layer 3 transport however the OHN transport will be to the NWAX meet-me room and all other OHN sites and the DIA will function as normal.

Addition Questions:

 Your response to our question below is important to clarify since there are 9 potential sites for us to bid on and they all have the same requirement of this additional internet access.

The transport which is ethernet in this case has to be equal to or greater than the amount of internet access required. So if the total amount of internet access that is required is 20 Mbps in this case, we would need to have 20 Mbps of ethernet in total at the customers site to accommodate and 20 Mbps of Internet access.

Answer: This would work.

Continued:

  For pricing purposes and cost effectiveness, that would be in the form of (1) 20 Mbps ethernet/internet connection that we split up with equipment and VLAN's into (2) separate 10 Mbps ethernet/internet connections. (1) to the NWAX and (1) dedicated to The Dalles, OR

location. Thereby meeting your requirments.

Is this what you and the clinic are requiring in the RFP notes? "10 Mbps network access connection and transport link to OHN at NWAX. And 10Mbps Direct Internet connectivity

Answer:

> This would be acceptable.  The second 10 mbps would be commodity internet and would follow whatever route your network dictates.

Question:

We’ve noted the changes to items #11 and #18 in this section and would like clarification on these items. 

Regarding #11:  As a CLEC, we are required to pay the USF charges to the FCC.  They are a pass through charge.  The law states we must bill the USF fees as a separate line item when passed through.  The only bills we do not charge USF are companies that can provide us Proof of Exemption.  Even public entities are still required to pay USF fees. (i.e. State of Oregon, US Government)  

Question:  Would you like us to state what we’re required to bill as an additional item within this section, or would you like us to re-word the section keeping the intent? 

Regarding #18:  Does not state which document shall govern should terms or information be inconsistent between the RFP or Contract.  We assert that the MSA, Service Order, related Appendices, and OHN Management agreement shall govern as they are the items with signatures from each party.

Question:  Would you like us to state this within the section, or would you like us to re-word the section keeping the intent?  

Answers:

#11:

Please state each additional item that you are required to bill by law.

#18:

Please re-word the section keeping the intent.

Question:

RFP 7 mentions the support of video on question 17.  What is reason for this requirement?  I have not seen any requirements on RFP 7.  Is this correct?

Are there any other changes to RFP 7 that were not in the previous RFPs?

Answer:

There are many changes to RFP 7 and 8 so please read it in its entirety to ensure your bid meets all the requirements/requests.  I mentioned this in the RFP announcement. 

As the OHN evolves we are beginning to get a better understanding of our clients' needs and future goals.  The mention of video does not preface any current requirement changes however since this is one of the primary applications that many of our future participants are interested in implementing we would like our potential vendors to keep this in mind while they create their proposals.  There will most certainly be the need for QoS implementation for H.323 video and other protocols at some point in the future and we want to be sure that there is mention of some of the various potential uses in the RFP.  This is present in RFP 7 and 8.