Q&A for RFP - GIS Mapping and Hosting for e-NC Q: In responding to the RFPs, can bidders just use the first RFP as a "main document" and then include a detailed response to the other 4 RFP's as separate documents - thus reducing paper and time needed to prepare bids for all 5 RFP's? A: Each RFP is different; each response must address all specific/unique items within that individual document Q: Can you confirm the proper placement of the Signature (Execution) page in a vendor’s responses to these five RFPs? Section VII #2 indicates that “the Execution page...must be placed at the front of the proposal.” However, #4 indicates that the proposal should be organized and indexed in a certain matter and the “Completed and Signed Signature Page” appears as “section i,” which would be the last section of the proposal. A: Due to the conflicting directives, we will accept it in either place. Q: It is assumed that the geodatabase for the GIS application, MapViewer and mapping updates requested in this RFP is a separate database, different from the broadband data provider database described in the e-NC Database Development and Maintenance RFP. Can e-NC please indicate if this assumption is correct? A: Yes. That’s correct. Q: The RFP indicates that the “cost proposal shall be submitted together in one packet with rest of the RFP response.” Can e-NC please indicate whether the price proposal is required to be submitted under separate cover? A: All RFP response materials including any information related to cost or pricing should be submitted together in one packet. The e-NC Authority expects one total packet from each vendor. Q: The e-NC Mapping & Hosting RFP states that the GIS application "must utilize ESRI software." Would it be acceptable to develop the maps in another software package (ex. MapInfo) that can export ESRI compatible shape files? A: Please refer to page 6 of the RFP, Work Statement, Part 1. The e-NC Authority has access to ESRI software under a State Licensing Agreement. There is no such agreement with MapInfo. Q: The e-NC Authority was awarded two grants from NTIA. One was $434,799 for planning. The second was $1,589,077 for mapping. Which RFPs will be funded with the mapping grant? Which RFPs will be funded with the planning grant? A: Each RFPs is listed below with its corresponding funding source: Database Development and Maintenance for e-NC (funded under mapping) Web-Enabled Data Mining for Collection of Broadband Data for e-NC (funded under mapping) GIS Mapping/Hosting for e-NC (funded under mapping) Collecting Broadband Data at the Consumer Level (funded under mapping) Survey Analysis of Broadband Adoption and Strategic Gaps (funded under planning) Q: The e-NC Authority was awarded just over $2 million for broadband mapping and planning from NTIA. Five RFPs were issued to fulfill the objectives of the grant agreement. Can you provide the anticipated allocation (budget) for each individual RFP? A: No. We cannot provide budget information beyond what may be available in the individual RFPs. Q: The RFP calls for maintenance of a "database to database connection with e-NC’s service provider database" to allow "daily importation of data." Is the geodatabase to be developed under this contract expected to be restricted to a free-standing repository of the appropriate broadband data, storing data obtained from periodic imports, or is it expected to support interactive retrieval of data from external databases? A: The geodatabase is expected to support interactive retrieval of data from external databases. Q: The RFP calls for "development and maintenance of a GIS application" by the successful bidder. The features listed in the RFP are largely consistent with the existing viewer hosted at e-ncbroadband.org. Does e-NC seek to enhance (and rehost) the existing viewer or does the RFP call for re-implementation of the viewer with the desired enhancements? A: Either. The existing e-NC MapViewer could be enhanced – or if re-building of a MapViewer is somehow a better solution, that could be considered as well. Q: Is the enhanced MapViewer to provide the public with access to broadband data or will it be a generic state resource, available to authorized users, providing restricted access to additional data not publically available? A: The enhanced MapViewer will be for the public as is our current MapViewer (e-ncbroadband.org). Site Map info@e-NC.org 1-866-627-8725 Copyright © 2008, 2004 e-NC Authority, © 2001 North Carolina Rural Internet Access Authority The authority is housed with the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center design by ML Company