Request for Proposal to Supply Refurbished Laptop Computers to Wireless Philadelphia

Wireless Philadelphia (“WP”) is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based non-profit organization whose mission is to facilitate the deployment of a high-speed wireless internet infrastructure throughout the entire City of Philadelphia and advocate the accessibility of the network to low-income residents by providing the means to necessary hardware, software, training and education, and reduced rate internet access accounts through its Digital Inclusion program.  One of the core components of the Digital Inclusion program is the ability to provide a laptop computer to access the Internet. As such, WP is currently seeking a company to supply on demand, a minimum of 300 refurbished (or new) laptop computers to use in our Digital Inclusion program. These computers will eventually be distributed to various non-profits and their low-income clients.  At the discretion of Wireless Philadelphia, this contract to supply laptop computers will be subject to renewal with the chosen applicant on a yearly basis.  For a detailed scope of work and proposal requirements, please refer to the full RFP here.

All bid proposals will consist of:

1. One original proposal and 3 copies in a sealed envelope, submitted to:
   
   Laptop Computers RFP Committee
   Wireless Philadelphia
   121 South 13th Street, 4th Floor
   Philadelphia, PA 19107
   Attn: Thomas Kim 
   
   
2. Disclosure forms complying with Philadelphia City Code 17-1400. (you may download the forms here)

NOTICE OF CONTRACT AWARDS
In accordance with Chapter 17-1400 of the Philadelphia Code, notice is hereby published of the following contract awards:

Business Plan Development Services.

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors: 
Fairmount Ventures, Inc. 

Chosen Applicant:
Fairmount Ventures, Inc.

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable: 
Fairmount Ventures, Inc. has been selected to provide business plan development services for Wireless Philadelphia as per Chapter 17-1406 (1) and (8).

Board Development Services.

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
Legacy, Pathways, and Footprints.

Chosen Applicant:
Legacy, Pathways, and Footprints.

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
Legacy, Pathways, and Footprints has been selected to provide Board development and retreat services to Wireless Philadelphia by a review committee. The selection was based upon an in-person interview and the applicant’s past experiences and references.

Bulk Purchase of Refurbished Laptops for Digital Inclusion Program.

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
Per Scholas.

Chosen Applicant:
Per Scholas.

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
Per Scholas has been selected to supply computers for Wireless Philadelphia’s Digital Inclusion program as per Chapter 17-1406 (1) and (8).

Evaluation Services for Wireless Philadelphia.

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
Agapos and Associates, OMG Center for Collaborative Learning, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, Reed Group, Temple University School of Communications and Theater.

Chosen Applicant:
OMG Center for Collaborative Learning.

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
OMG Center for Collaborative Learning, has been selected by a selection committee to perform a two-year evaluative study of Wireless Philadelphia and its Digital Inclusion efforts. The selection is based upon OMG’s extensive experience with evaluative studies and their proposed methodology to evaluate Wireless Philadelphia. This organization was selected in accordance with Chapter 17-1406 (1) and (8).

Grant Writinig and Grant Management Services.

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
Fairmount Ventures Inc.

Chosen Applicant:
Fairmount Ventures Inc.

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
Fairmount Ventures, has been selected to continue their role as grant manager for Wireless Philadelphia.

Website Maintenance and Website Content Management System.

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
O3 World

Chosen Applicant:
O3 World

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
O3 World has been selected to continue their role in maintaining Wireless Philadelphia’s website and content management system.

Wireless Philadelphia and Campaign for Working Fmailies Marketing Campaign.

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
Brown Partners

Chosen Applicant: 
Brown Partners 

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable: 
Brown Partners has been selected to provide marketing services for this collaborative project with respect to 17-1406(1).

Program Design for a Pilot Collaboration Between Wireless Philadelphia, Campaign for Working Families, and Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley.

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
BCT Partners

Chosen Applicant:
BCT Partners

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
BCT Partners has been selected to design a pilot collaboration between Wireless Philadelphia, Campaign for Working Families, and Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley. They have been chosen with respect to the provisions set forth by 17-1406(1).

Independent Auditor for Wireless Philadelphia

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
Genesis CPAs, LLC./KMCPA

Chosen Applicant:
Genesis CPAs, LLC./KMCPA

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
Genesis CPAs, LLC, has been selected to continue their role as independent auditor for Wireless Philadelphia as per Chapter 17-1406 (1).

CPE Fulfillment Services for Wireless Philadelphia

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
EarthLink

Chosen Applicant:
EarthLink

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
WP and EarthLink will develop a plan to provide customer premises equipment certified by EarthLink for use with the Network (“CPE”) to EL-Assisted Wi-Fi Subscribers pursuant to the Network Agreement. EarthLink will manage the provisioning of CPE to Digital Inclusion Subscribers. Due to the unique nature of equipment fulfillment and provisioning requirements, this contract award is applicable to Chapter 17-1406, paragraph 2 of the Philadelphia City Code.

Independent Auditor for Wireless Philadelphia

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
Genesis CPAs, LLC./KMCPA; Renzi, Bernardi, Suarez & Co.; and Ridley Dorsey

Chosen Applicant:
Genesis CPAs, LLC./KMCPA

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
Genesis CPAs, LLC, which submitted a bid proposing to service WP through a joint venture agreement between Genesis CPA's LLC (Bonnie Johnson, CPA) and KMCPA (M. Khalil Meggett, CPA) was selected due to their favorable price in addition to strong and positive support from their references. KMCPA is a certified Minority Business through MBEC. Genesis CPA's MBEC application is currently under review.

Grant Writing and Grant Management Services

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
Fairmount Ventures, Joanna Carty, Randall Funding and Development, and LAE Consulting

Chosen Applicant:
Fairmount Ventures

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
This company’s submission was judged to be most in conjunction with the needs of the RFP. Fairmount Ventures has a strong local track record of successful fundraising for a variety of nonprofit organizations. Fairmount brings deep knowledge of local funding sources in the private and public sectors. Fairmount has a working knowledge of Wireless Philadelphia and will be most able to move ahead quickly in implementing WP’s fundraising strategy.

Counsel and Legal Services

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
Blank Rome LLP; Kleinbard, Bell and Brecker LLP/Smyler and Gentile

Chosen Applicant:
Kleinbard, Bell and Brecker LLP/Smyler and Gentile

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
This company was primarily selected due to:
1. Their knowledge of our organization and the associated initiative and
2. A one and a half year history of high quality legal services provided to Wireless Philadelphia, the organization and the initiative.

Website Design and Hosting

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
Triadigm Technology, W3 Portals, NPower, Warkulwiz Design Associates, BrownPartners, O3 World

Chosen Applicant:
O3 World

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
This company's submission was judged to be most in conjunction with the needs of the RFP. O3 World is a young Northern Liberties company focused almost exclusively on internet marketing and design. 03 handles all aspects of Website development and management in-house, compared to all other finalists whose submissions included two or more separate companies to handle certain aspects of WP’s website program. Their presentation was straightforward, comprehensive and professional, and their website designs were perceived to be exciting and innovative. 03’s proposal included a customized content management system that the committee found to be the best suited for WP’s needs. O3 also expressed willingness to bundle an updating of the brand into scope of work at no additional cost.

Wireless Philadelphia Community Websites

Name(s) of All Applicant Vendors:
Yikes, Inc., One Economy, River Rock Star/Community Spring, Ninth Wave Media

Chosen Applicant:
Ninth Wave Media

Basis for award and reason(s) for rejection of lower-cost proposals, if applicable:
This company’s submission was judged to be most in conjunction with the needs of the RFP. Ninth Wave Media is the company that has managed the Olney and Norris Square Pilot Portals during the pilot phase of WP. The proposal for six links—one each for Teens, Young Adults, Parents and Children, Seniors, Visitors, and Small Businesses--is based upon the experience gained by WP and Ninth Wave during the Pilot Phase. The company is known for creating dynamic web portals that feature locally-oriented and locally-generated content, alongside national and international content of universal interest. Their approach is based upon the most up-to-date research on web-based applications that promote education, employment, and community cohesion. This proposal includes specific plans for substantial revenue to be generated for WP’s mission through Digital Community Sponsors.