Bidders’ Questions Abound on FCC Search For Converter Box Installers
Some would-be vendors vying for one of six regional FCC contracts to perform “basic in-home converter box installation services” want to know if they'll be required to serve an entire region or just a single state within that region. That’s according to the nine pages worth of questions, released Tuesday, that bidders posed on the commission’s request for quotes. The commission is using part of the $90 million set aside in the economic stimulus package for DTV “education and outreach” to pay for the contracts (CD March 30 p6).
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In the six requests, the commission is seeking proposals for “basic” in-home installation services comprising no more than installing a converter box, connecting it to an existing antenna, scanning the boxes for viewable DTV stations and “providing basic guidance to the consumer” on how to work their boxes. A separate set of RFQs seeks “expert” installers to work on more elaborate set-ups, such as linking a converter box to a VCR or troubleshooting an antenna problem.
In raising questions on the contract solicitation for basic installation services, one potential bidder said his or her firm currently provides such services in the state of Louisiana. “Are we required to be able to provide services to the whole Southeast Region or can we just do a single state?” the questioner asked. The FCC responded only that proposals “offering to provide services to an entire state within the region, or to the entire region, are permitted and will be considered.” However, it cited one clause in the solicitation that said the commission will give preference to proposals “that serve geographic areas that we have identified as high-risk and in need of greater assistance” with the June 12 full-power broadcaster analog cutoff. Each regional solicitation had a “hot spot” list of such high-risk areas, the commission said. Bidders should “make their proposals based upon the geographic areas they believe [they] are best able to serve,” it said.
One installer expressed concern that the solicitations have “no clarity on the potential geographic dispersion of the work within a state.” Could it propose “some level of variable pricing based on distance traveled to remote locations within a state?” the bidder asked. The FCC responded with a flat “no.” Factor in all “average travel costs” in your “firm-fixed” price proposal, it told the bidder. Another firm mentioned it has been selling converter boxes to consumers “as an option with our service and also offering to redeem their coupons. Will we still be able to offer this option under this contract?” No, the FCC again replied.
Under the RFQs, bidders must be capable of completing 250 “successful installations” within two weeks of winning the contracts, the FCC said. It defines success as giving a home the capability to receive DTV signals through a converter box where only analog TV existed before. One firm wanted to know what happens if an installer opts not to enter a home or area because he or she deems it unsafe. Does that “constitute an unsuccessful yet billable install?” the bidder asked. The commission responded that while it would never expect anyone “to engage in activity they consider unsafe,” it defines unsuccessful installations “as only those in which an installation was attempted but did not succeed because of defective/improper/inadequate consumer equipment.” If a vendor, after contract award, should identify an area or home as unsafe to enter, it should bring that to the attention of the contracting officer, the agency said.