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DOA Seeks Comment on Draft BadgerNet RFP
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | December 23, 2014
FROM DOA:
December 22, 2014
The Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Enterprise Technology, is preparing to send out a Request for Proposal (RFP) to replace the current BadgerNet Converged Network (BCN). The current contract for the BCN expires October 31, 2016.
Prior to releasing the RFP, the State is publishing a draft version of the document and its attachments to offer interested parties an opportunity to provide the State with input on the draft documents, and for potential vendors, an opportunity to determine their ability to respond to the final RFP.
A draft is now available on VendorNet here.
The goals of the new BCN are to provide a future-proofed network with more bandwidth, less cost, and enhanced security and reliability. The existing BCN is a dedicated high-reliability, low-latency network that has served the state well since 2005. The state is beginning the process of soliciting proposals for a replacement network to meet the stated goals and requirements for E-rate funding.
A customer survey was conducted in April 2014 and the results clearly indicated that customers almost universally desired more bandwidth at significantly lower prices. A second concern was lack of available options in rural areas of the state.
In order to reduce cost and increase availability, the desire is to procure service on an open network design using commercially available services and not expensive dedicated network resources. The RFP also attempts to structure service classes to allow more Internet service providers an opportunity to compete. It is our hope that by fostering competition, eliminating dedicated resources, using commercially available offerings, and attracting more providers, we can reduce prices and have more options for providing service to underserved areas.
We are also soliciting services across a broader spectrum to allow users to select the class of service that best fits their needs. Highly secure, low latency, proactively monitored services are available for those who have legal and mission-critical needs for that service. For those that need less rigid performance requirements, we are soliciting commercially available services using any technology that will provide an economical solution.
Any comments and input regarding the draft RFP should be submitted using the following timeframe, method and format:
· Responses to the requested information should be returned no later than Friday, January 9, 2015 at 2:00:00 p.m. CT.
· Comments must be returned electronically to andrea.welch@wisconsin.gov .
· Responses should be organized and presented in the order and by the numbers assigned in the draft RFP using the following format.
| Document Title | Section # | Section Title | Comment |
| (example) RFP | 1.11 | Calendar of Events | |
| (example) Attachment C | Worksheet | Fees & Surcharges |
Many thanks in advance for your time and effort in assisting the State of Wisconsin in putting together a clear and concise final RFP for BCN Managed Network Services. We look forward to receiving your input.
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