SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is requesting proposals for a pilot project from Internet Service Providers (ISP) and Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISP), to expand broadband service in three selected areas within Juniata, Mifflin and Perry Counties. The purpose of this RFP is to provide a minimum of 25mb down and 3mb up service to the Reeds Gap area in Juniata County; the South River Road area, South of McVeytown, in Mifflin County; and the Horse Valley Road area in Perry County. The selected proposal will be eligible to apply for low interest loan (1%) up to the amount of $95,000 per site. Loan eligibility, terms, and requirements can be found in Section III.
There is also a potential opportunity to make additional funding available from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in the form of a reimbursable grant up to $47,000 that will be paired with the $95,000 loan, for a maximum loan/grant amount of $142,000 per County. The project ratio for the loan/grant option will be 67% (up to $95,000) in loans, and 33% (up to $47,000) in reimbursement grants.
Complete proposal details, including the required proposal format, may be obtained by contacting:
Scott Kramer
SEDA-COG
201 Furnace Road
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Proposals will be accepted until 2:00pm prevailing time, April 24th, 2020, at which time they will be publicly opened at the offices of SEDA-COG. Proposals shall be on the forms required, sealed and clearly marked on the outside, “RURAL BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT PROPOSAL,” and submitted to:
Scott Kramer
SEDA-COG
201 Furnace Road
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Proposals that are faxed or e-mailed to SEDA-COG cannot be accepted.
Questions
Q: Would you please send mapping that better establishes exactly where the Mifflin Co area is? Ideally, this would be KML or GIS Shapefiles. Or, at the very least a high definition PDF with 2 maps:
1. Overall map, showing the area relative to it’s region
2. A map clearly labeling roads in the target area.
The map provided does not clearly lay out exactly where the target area is.A: We are including a Zip file of the project areas covering all three counties in KMZ format. Download –Tri-County Project Areas
Q: Will the RFP submission date be extended due to the COVID19 pandemic?
A: We are extending the RFP submission deadline to 2PM, Friday, May 1st at which time they will be publicly opened at the offices of SEDA-COG.
Q: Will the offices of SEDA-COG be open for delivery on the RFP submission due date?
A: During the Governors “Stay at Home” order, the offices of SEDA-COG will be technically closed to the public, however mail and deliveries are still being collected daily and SEDA-COG will have personnel on site at 2PM, Friday, May 1st. Anyone who intends to be present for the opening , must adhere to the states social distancing guidelines.