The following will be considered minimal contents of the proposal:
1. Consultant must have experience conducting community broadband feasibility plans of similar size and scope to the project area and population. Consultant must demonstrate its capabilities providing these services to municipalities of similar size to Federal Way. The consultant should also describe its ability to work with elected officials, businesses, and residents.
2. All firms must have been in business providing community broadband planning services for a minimum of five years. Consultant and project team must have conducted broadband planning projects for at least three other municipalities.
3. Consultant must have direct experience working with public/private entities with focus on broadband and municipal broadband network planning.
4. Consultant firm and project team must have direct and demonstrable regulatory experience working with Washington State communities in regard to State statutes concerning municipal broadband providers or satisfactorily demonstrate alternative results.
5. Consultant must have extensive business and financial planning experience with municipal broadband networks.
6. Consultant must be able to demonstrate ability to complete quality work in a timely manner. Time is of the essence, and an emphasis will be given to those who can complete all aspects of the scope of work in its entirety at or before the deadline.
Cost Proposal (30 points)
• Competitiveness of consultant’s proposed cost.
• Demonstration of commitment to meet City’s project budget.
Firm Experience (20 points)
• General firm information and experience with telecommunications/broadband entities and municipal broadband planning.
• Quality of references.
• Similarity and quality of past, similar projects.
• Demonstration of knowledge of economic development principles and trends and their applications to municipal broadband.
Project Team Qualifications (15 points)
• Experience and qualifications of project manager and any additional consultants to be used on project.
• Staff with experience in municipal broadband feasibility planning are considered desirable.
Approach to Fulfilling Scope of Work (15 points)
• Quality and completeness of methodology for fulfilling every element of scope of work.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement Approach (10 points)
• Quality and completeness of community engagement and stakeholder outreach plan.
Timeline (10 points)
• Ability of consultant to complete the project in proposed timeline.
• Demonstration of commitment to meet City’s project timeline.
Each proposal will be independently evaluated on factors one through three.
City of Federal Way
33325 8th Ave S
Federal Way, WA 98003-6325
(253) 835-2547
Thomas.Fichtner@CityofFederalWay.com
The Contractor will provide strategic guidance for the implementation of a broadband project that can be implemented cost-effectively and quickly for the purposes of enabling economic development and citizen connectivity in Federal Way. As a part of this, the Contractor will work closely with identified stakeholders to develop a final Broadband Planning Study Report.
Introduction
The City of Federal Way is seeking written proposals from qualified professionals who are knowledgeable in research and development, planning, and data analysis for a city-wide Broadband Planning Study. The successful consultant will work closely with elected officials, stakeholders and city staff to identify existing assets and opportunities of service.
Proposals are solicited in accordance with the terms, conditions, and instructions as set forth in this Request for Proposal (“RFP”).
Background
The City of Federal Way (99,590 population [Washington OFW]), located in the Seattle/Tacoma metro area along Interstate 5, aims to bring high-speed internet to the entire city as an essential component of its economic and community development goals.
In February of 2020, the Mayor and City Council identified the goal of becoming a technology hub to diversify the city’s economy. Research conducted by city staff identified that fast and reliable Internet service through broadband infrastructure is transformative function in accomplishing this goal. Through the deployment of high-speed, reliable, and cost-competitive broadband, the City aims to attract, retain, and grow businesses, while providing accessible, high-speed internet to all Federal Way businesses and residents to enhance the “digital provide”.
Through the broadband planning study and the subsequent deployment of broadband, the City of Federal Way aims to accomplish the following goals:
- Access/Inclusivity – Provide the opportunity for high-speed broadband service to all residents, businesses, schools, local government, non-profit organizations, healthcare service providers, and multi-tenant properties within the City.
- High Speed – Requires at least 1 Gbps symmetrical broadband connection for residential and up to 10 Gbps symmetrical broadband connection for business or government organizations with the ability to grow the network.
- Reliable – The service must be dependable as it will have many uses requiring high availability by businesses and residents. A focus on redundancy should be a key element in the study to ensure reliability.
- Reasonable Cost – The monthly charges for such service should be reasonable and affordable. Concurrently, it should also provide for the ability to meet debt service obligations should construction of a network be a feasible option.