Broadband Technical Assistance Support Services

AMENDMENT 2: PLEASE REPLACE the SOO attached to the ORIGINAL NOTICE 6421737 titled: "FINAL BROADBAND PROPOSAL PROCESSING SUPPORT SERVICES" with the AMENDMENT ONE attachment titled: "FINAL SOO BPP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR RD_RUS" NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT notice of INTEREST nor REGISTRATION REQUEST until you have had time to review the requirement and develop your informed questions in response as they directly relate to the synopsis/requirement/attachments to the notice. Thank you. Description of Requirement: A newly created Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Broadband Pilot Program (BPP) will utilize funding appropriated by congress to award competitive loans and grants for the accelerated implementation of broadband deployment in areas that are currently lacking adequate access. The BPP will allow opportunities for economic development in rural areas by providing funds to construct broadband facilities to the populations previously without sufficient access to broadband. BPP is designed to serve rural residents without sufficient access to broadband service. This procurement effort is to assist RUS to utilize the funding appropriated by congress to award competitive loans and grants to accelerate broadband deployment in areas that so not have sufficient access to broadband. Support will be required in the following areas: The resulting contract will include the following five (5) major requirements categories: Functional Area 1. Technical Assistance For the purposes of planning, the contractor shall plan on assisting applicants on a rolling basis throughout the base period and option years. 1. Creation of a technical assistance Management Plan that addresses all aspects of this SOO, including, but not limited to: assisting applicants prepare loan and grant applications, assist applicants in planning to construct and operate broadband systems and providing subject matter experts for any technical review questions that arise during the application process. 2. Development and maintenance of a Technical Assistance process. 3. Provide a scalable approach to the application assistance process based on knowledge of technical assistance alternatives. 4. Support in the development of a consistent application assistance process for the multiple rounds of funding, including a standardized approach based on the Agency on-line application input system. 5. Provide for Broadband availability findings in proposed service areas, visiting sites as required. 6. Assist in evaluating Public Notice Responses from incumbent service providers in areas where service is proposing to be deployed as well as evaluate the proposed service territories for any service providers that may not have responded. 7. Provide legal assistance, advice, and support on program issues. Functional Area 2. Communications and Outreach The Contractor shall support RD in the effective and efficient communications and outreach with the program's stakeholders. The contractor shall provide support in conducting communications and outreach activities with recipients. 1. Identification of mechanisms for ongoing applicant education using commercially available or existing RD resources such as webinars, listservs, e-newsletters, etc. 2. Convening pre-award regional workshops to educate and inform potential applicants, including meeting material preparation. These workshops will commence with the release of the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) announcing the program and will conclude with the closing of application windows under the NOFA. 3. It is initially estimated that four (4) pre-award regional workshops would be held for each NOFA. It is anticipated that there will be two NOFAs released. 4. Convening post-award national workshops. It is initially estimated that one (1) post-award national workshops would be held for each NOFA. Workshops will allow all awardees to understand all post-award processes and procedures (e.g., how to use our procedures and contracts, how to complete financial/compliance reports, etc.). Locations will be chosen around the time of submission of the NOFA. 5. Assist in the creation and reinforcement of National Broadband Initiative "brand" including a consistent "look and feel" in development of communications materials. 6. Creation, editing, proofreading and dissemination of the programs' documents and briefings. 7. Creation of fact sheets and frequently asked questions documents. 8. Maintain correspondence in response to inquiries of the program. 9. Assistance in the development of Web page content for USDA webpages. 10. Development of a comprehensive data analysis report reflecting program-specific information and performance metrics for publication. Functional Area 3. Pre/Post Award Monitoring The contractor shall provide Pre and Post Award Monitoring technical support for the entire application process as discussed herein. 1. Maintain central system repository for all correspondence and communication with the applicants utilizing RD and contractor approved tracking information collection process. 2. Performing grantee site visits to mitigate waste, fraud and abuse and ensure compliance with grant requirements and award conditions. This will include assisting RUS with performing a Management Analysis Profile (MAP) which is an operation review of the companies that receive awards. Contractor will be part of a team consisting of contractor staff and RUS staff. 3.Track metrics and conduct ongoing internal evaluation of performance in meeting program goals as it relates to proposal submissions. 4. Develop project monitoring guidance and policies. Functional Area 4. Reporting The contractor shall determine requirements for the development of reports to track applicant proposals. 1. Identify requirements for reports that show all necessary data to allow the program to visually highlight the impacts of technical assistance and pre-development efforts. 2. Develop specific reporting as required. Functional Area 5. Management and Administration The contractor shall designate a Program Manager (PM) to coordinate the day-to-day activities and to act as the interface with the COR. 1. Ensure the availability of staff with the requisite experience, skills, and knowledge needed in accordance with submitted Staffing Plan and Labor Mix submitted in the technical proposal. 2. Maintain a management/Staffing plan that includes a master schedule of the required tasks and personnel to support the requirements set forth. 3. Ensure that the functional requirements of this SOO, at a minimum, are satisfied throughout the life of the contract. 4. Develop and follow the QASP as submitted and approved by the Government. 5. Schedule, execute, document minutes, add follow up as required for the Award kick-off meeting. 6. Provide status reports. The reports shall reflect the accomplishments achieved monthly and projections for the next month. 7. Provide a Final Assessment Report detailing the overall implementation of the BPP, including best practices, lessons learned, and recommendations for future activities. 8. Provide a Final Report Presentation to present a final analysis and recommendations to RUS senior staff.