FCDL Comment:
MR1: A SPIN change from 143035606 to 143009008 was requested. This request appears to be an Operational SPIN change. Operational SPIN changes must be postmarked or received no earlier than the date of your FCDL. Under Program rules USAC is unable to process requests for pre-commitment Operational SPIN changes. <><><><><> DR1: Based on the documentation you provided during review, the FRN will be denied because you did not fairly evaluate bidders based on similar services. You provided an evaluation score sheet which includes four bidders: MetComm, MSI Net, CompTech, and Sharp School. You indicated you created one evaluation matrix and evaluated all bids in one evaluation, regardless of services offered by the bidders. You indicated that you compared the prices, the vendors responses, and their know-how to work with the specific needs of the school. Based on the comparison you then gave the vendor a grade level. Since the vendors provided bids for different services, this is not an apples-to-apples comparison. For example, Sharp School provided a bid for email/webhosting while Metcomm provided a bid which included Internet Access circuits, email services, VOiP services and BMIC services. Applicants must select the most cost-effective provider of the desired products or services eligible for support, with price of the eligible goods and services being the primary evaluating factor. Since you conducted an improper evaluation you have not demonstrated that you have met this requirement. Additionally the winning vendor was not selected in accordance with the process listed in the vendor selection documentation. An evaluation matrix was provided in which price was given the highest weighting. MSI Net is listed as receiving the highest score in the price category as well as the highest overall school. However, you selected Comptech International as the service provider for the FRN. You did not adhere to your own criteria in the vendor selection process.