ALJP2010 FAQ Information

Can SDE confirm the start and end date of the bid?

Page 5 of the ALJP2010-001 Bid document provides this information.  Until an award is made there is no start date.

Please clarify what is meant by the following statement:  The SDE in conjuction with the Montgomery County School system reserves the right to amend at anytime.

In full context, this is an excerpt from page 10 item 18 of ITB ALJP2010-001. 

 

Invitation to Bid Amendments and cancellation
18. The SDE in conjunction with the Montgomery County School System reserves the right to amend this Invitation to Bid at any time.

This is standard language on all ALJP bids.  These ALJP bids are not based on STATE DEPARTMENT bid laws but are based on bid law in respect to Public Schools and School Systems.

Please clarify having availabilty to parts and products for at least two years after warranty expiration

This is generally a requirement with most Information Technology to allow schools and school systems the capability to extend the use of generally expensive information technology and stretch the technology funding they have.  If the warranty expires the they may need to purchase replacement parts such as batteries for cellular phones etc..

On Page 4, Para 4 What does the following Statement mean "The SDE will not be allowed to purchase from the resulting contract(s) unless approval is received from the Alabama Department of Finance"

 

Would would be the Approver in the Dept of Finance?

Please read the entire bid document and refer to Section 16-61E-2 item "(b)" of the Code of Alabama1975. (http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/CodeOfAlabama/1975/16-61E-2.htm)

In reference to page 9, item eleven (11), please clarify all documents that must be included in the digitized format (CD, etc) in order to be compliant?  Does the maps need to be included in the digitized format?

The SDE will use the digital files provided in your response submission for the evaluation process. If required files are missing from the digital submission then a complete evaluation may not be performed.

in the ITB, you make reference that there should not be any charge for equipment when a district should change from one carrier to another. This presents a sizeable challenge to all wireless carriers since the models and quantities are unknown.  Would it be acceptable to list the prices of equipment and would it be possible include a statement that indicates that dependent on the size and scope and need of the district that we may work with the district to offer additional discounts?

In the event that a school district decides to change from their current provider to a new provider this statement, the new provider should make all possible attempts to prevent the district from additional charges for handsets.  The new cellular provider should provide the district with phones that are equal in specifications or at the next step up in the event a particular specification is not available.  If the district does not want to be “made whole” as the result of the change and requests handsets that are beyond their current specifications then they must purchase the handset at the ALJP discounted pricing.

Can you clarify what the duration of this contract in terms of months or years?  Will it be for 1, 2, 3 years, etc?

See ITB

In reviewing the PDF, I noticed that there is a tab (Tab 6. Questions Response) missing from the spreadsheet they provided us.  This tab has several written responses requirements.

That tab (Tab6) is not a spreadsheet item.  Tab 6 of your paper and scanned response should be created on your own.  The worksheets within the spreadsheet do not coincide with the Tabs discussed in the  ITB. 

Apple understands that the title of the ITB reads “Apple Product Line”. In order to fully meet the expectations of our customers in providing comprehensive technology solutions, we request the ability to propose our full products and services offering as part of our bid response. Will the DOE take this bid response into consideration? If we are unable to offer this option as our main solution, are we able to propose our full products and services offering as an alternate proposal within our bid response, for consideration?

(1) The ALJP2010-006 is for the “Apple Product Line” only.  There are other ITBs in the ALJP program for other product lines and Apple is welcome to submit a separate response for each of these as identified. In the event there is a product line not listed within the ALJP Program LEAs must follow bid law to purchase these products outside the ALJP program. This same requirement applies to all ALJP product Line ITBs.

Pursuant to provisions of the ITB (e.g. Page 17 – Response Content – Tab 8. ALJP Agreement Acknowledgment), the DOE prohibits Apple from including clarifications/exceptions or additional provisions as part of our bid response. Additionally, there seems to be no contract negotiation period upon bid award. Apple requests that the DOE reconsider this for the benefit of both parties, and that (1) Apple have an opportunity to propose some exceptions/clarifications and additional provisions for DOE’s consideration, and (2) that both parties have an opportunity to negotiate mutually acceptable terms and conditions after bid award. This opportunity will benefit both parties. For instance, Apple would like to propose language that places the burden on LEA Agencies (and not DOE), to adhere to the terms and conditions of the resultant Agreement.

(1) The ALJP2010-006 is for the “Apple Product Line” only.  There are other ITBs in the ALJP program for other product lines and Apple is welcome to submit a separate response for each of these as identified. In the event there is a product line not listed within the ALJP Program LEAs must follow bid law to purchase these products outside the ALJP program. This same requirement applies to all ALJP product Line ITBs.
(2) The Agreement presented and discussed in Tab 8 is a required document without edits and changes.   In the event that Apple is awarded the contract based on their response to ALJP2010-006 and there is a separate agreement that Apple requires of the LEA Group Members  before purchasing Apple products from the awarded product line then  this document will be the responsibility of Apple and the individual LEA Group Member seeking Apple products not the ALJP Administrator.  This document will not be considered as a part of the ALJP program.  However, in the event that the outside agreement between an ALJP Contract Holder and the individual LEA Group Members contradicts the terms and conditions of the ALJP awarded contract and/or is found to be in violation of State Law with respect to our public schools and school system then the contract will be terminated.  If the Apple formulated agreement is required then the LEA Group members will be notified however it will be the sales staff of Apple that will be responsible for that procedure, if a contract is awarded to Apple.  You may include a document indicating this procedure and a copy of the separate agreement required by Apple  under Tab 9 for review by the evaluation team.
a. In regard to a “contract negotiation period upon bid award”, all responses are evaluated with the same criteria. In general there are no negotiations of a contract after an award of said contract is made. There are required specifications written in the ITB that must be met.  In the event these required specifications are not met then a response will not be considered for an award.  See Page 9 Item 26 also.