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Puerto Rico Broadband Program

In accordance with article 2(b) of Act No. 147-1980, as amended, known as the "Management and Budget Office Organic Act", Executive Order 2021-029 of April 27, 2021, the Circular Letter No. 013-2021 of the Office of Management and Budget (PROMB), Executive Order 2022-040 of July 11, 2022, and the Regulations and Manuals adopted by virtue of the creation of the Puerto Rico Broadband Program (Broadband Program or the Program), the PROMB and is issuing this Request for Quote(s) for Support Efforts (Digital Equity Asset Inventory, Stakeholder Engagement Support, and Digital Equity Survey) related to the Development of the State Digital Equity Planning Grant (SDEPG) and Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) Plans under federal funds.

The Broadband Program is committed in promoting fair and open competition while seeking a competitive and cost-effective option. Proposals will only be received electronically through the Broadband Program webpage, https://www.smartisland.pr.gov/. Proposers are cautioned that the PROMB will not require nor accept physical proposal submissions, whether they be by courier, FedEx, UPS, DHL, personal delivery, or similar physical means, or by email.

The deadline to submit informal quotes/proposals is Friday, March 31, 2023. Quotes may be submitted for all the required work or by service (See Scope/Description of Work 1.1-1.3).

The PROMB and the Broadband Program is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on sex, gender or sexual identity, race, age, national origin, religious creed, marital status, war veteran status, disability, or disability status.

Scope/Description of Work:

1.1 Digital Equity Asset Inventory

·  Compile a list of government agency and regional plans that overlap with aspects of the NTIA’s SDEPG and BEAD programs.

·  Provide analysis of relevant plans and key points of connection with PROMB’s efforts.

·  Develop a list of existing digital inclusion-related programs and resources in Puerto Rico, what services are provided and to whom, and their operations details.

·  Provide scheduled updates to the Program and PROMB on progress.

·  Coordinate with the Program to incorporate findings in planning, including sharing overlap components with stakeholders.

·  Create a final report of findings.

1.2 Stakeholder Engagement Support

·  Propose a targeted approach to interviews with individuals from organizations or agencies representing covered populations as defined by the Digital Equity Act, including:

• Individuals with disabilities, including organizations or agencies that represent children with disabilities.
• Individuals who are incarcerated, other than those in Federal correctional facilities.
• Individuals who are 60 years of age or older
• Individuals with language barriers, including individuals who are English learners or with low levels of literacy
• Individuals with low incomes
• Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group
• Individuals who live in rural areas
• Veterans
• Other communities as proposed

·  Develop a list of proposed organizations or agencies to be included in interview series.

·  Craft a series of interview questions informed by the Program.

·  Schedule and conduct interviews.

·  Draft a report of key findings, as well as transcripts of all interviews.

1.3 Digital Equity Survey

·  Propose a survey approach and implementation plan, including sampling that:

• Includes no less than 1,000 qualified respondents, at least one quarter of which should be an oversample of residents in Puerto Rico considered highly unserved by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

·  Draft a survey instrument in English and Spanish informed by previous work and IIJA guidelines, with advisement from the PROMB and its digital equity contractors.

·  Conduct interviews, data review, and analysis.

·  Provide the PROMB with full results from the administered survey, including survey weights, as well as a document that contains a set of weighted crosstab tables and a weighted topline document.

·  Provide the PROMB with a final analysis document outlining key takeaways from survey results.

Minimum Requirements:

• A general description of the Consultant firm’s approach to this project, including an explanation of the approach and methodology used.
• A proposed timeline.
• A “not-to-exceed cost” to perform the scope of services that includes the cost of developing administering, processing, and delivering survey data to the PROMB.

·      Knowledge of SDEPG and BEAD grants fund requirements.

·      Personnel must be fully bilingual – documents will be worked in both English and Spanish.

·      Proponents must abide by all applicable regulations, both federal and state, that cover the Works that will be provided, including but not limited to, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, Davis Bacon Act & Copeland "Anti-Kickback" Act (40 USC §§ 3141-3144 & 3146-3148; 40 USC § 3145), Equal Employment Opportunity (41 CFR Chapter 60), Safety Standards Act (40 USC §§ 3701-3708), among others.

·      Have the Certificación Única de Proveedores de Servicios Profesionales, issued by the Unique Registry of Professional Service Providers from the ASG.

·      If the entity is a legal person, a Certification with the names of all the owners, shareholders, and officers of the corporation.

·      Prior to the contract execution, the agency will search sam.gov data bases, using their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to ensure that the proponent is not disqualified and can receive federal funds. As such, proponents must have their UEI and be registered in the System for Award Management, at the moment the proposal/quote is submitted or immediately after. For additional information on SAM, visit https://www.sam.gov/SAM/. Contracts will be awarded only to an entity(ies) that is authorized and have not been deemed ineligible for the award of a contract due to a suspension, disabled, or limited denial of participation.

·      Any other requirement and/or document called for by applicable law for services of this nature.

Contract term: 3-4 months (April-June/July 2023), could be extended according to the Program’s needs and availability of funds.

Point of Contact:

Enrique Vólckers

info@smartisland.pr.gov

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