Mobile Video
Magazine
Free Subscription

Description

This book explains the typical objectives and processes that are involved in the creation and response to request for proposals (RFPs) for WIMAX systems and services. It covers the key objectives for the RFP process, which is involved in the creation and management of the RFP, and how vendors are invited, evaluated, and notified of the RFP vendor selection result.

You will learn what are RFPs and RFQs and why and when companies use and RFPs for IP Television Systems. Covered are the key objectives that RFP must satisfy along with the general creation processes used by most companies to create and manage the RFP process. Companies usually involve multiple departments in the creation of the RFP process to identify communication requirements for the entire company. You will discover who is involved in the Creation of an RFP and the typical steps performed during the creation of the RFP document.

Explained are the methods used to issue and manage RFPs including how and when companies typically communicate questions and how clarifications are sent to vendors when new options, objectives, or features are discovered in the RFP response process. Also included is sample outline of a typical RFP. Some of the most important topics featured in this book are:

• What are RFPs and RFQs
• Why use and RFP for WIMAX Systems
• What are the Key RFP Objectives and Processes
• How to Identify Company Communication Requirements
• Who is involved in the Creation of an RFP
• The Typical Steps in Creating an RFP Document
• How to Issue and Manage RFPs
• Evaluating RFP Responses
• RFP Communication between Issuer and Responder
• Outline Template for a typical RFP

Table of Contents

Introduction

Sourcing
Non-competitive sourcing
Competitive Sourcing
Pilot or Trial
Implementation, Operation, Refresh and End of Life

Request for Proposals
Request for Qualification (RFQ)
Request for Information (RFI)
System Solutions
Requirements Statements

Using RFPs
Key RFP Objectives
- Optimal Solutions
- Vendor Selection
- Successful Service Launch
Decision Criteria

The Need for WiMAX
Broadband Private Data Network
Broadband Public Networks and Internet Access
Digital Telephone and VoIP
Digital Television and Video

An Overview of WiMAX
Wireless
Broadband Wireless
Technology Standards
Certifications
Spectrum
Radio System
Radio and Data Communications
Networks and Information Technology
WiMAX Standards and Certification
WiMAX Network
- Fixed Service
- Nomadic and Portable Service
- Mobile Service
WiMAX Spectrum
- Spectrum Due-Diligence
- License Exempt Spectrum
- Spectrum Details for a particular region
- Spectrum Available for WiMAX
WiMax Certification
- WiMAX Profiles
- Profiles Related to WiFi
- Certification Not Wanted

WiMAX Requirements

WiMax Business Requirements
Applications, Services and Use Cases Requirements
Service Area & Coverage Requirements
Marketing and Selling Requirements
Finance and Accounting Requirements
Business to Technical Requirements

WiMAX Technical Requirements
Service and Coverage Requirements
- Extent of Coverage
- Range of Coverage
- Bandwidth and Throughput
- Types of Coverage Levels and Location Availability
- Cost of Coverage
- Outdoor Coverage
- Indoor Coverage
- Link Budget
- Site Surveys
Data Network Requirements
Internet Access Requirements
Voice and Telephony Requirements
Video and Television Requirements
Access Devices Requirements
- Premises Distribution Equipment
Distribution Network Requirements
- Network Architecture
- Protocols
- Data Capacity
- Criticality
- Scalability
- Servers
Testing Requirements
- Field Tools
- System Diagnostics
- Self-Diagnostics
- Acceptance Testing and Commissioning
Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA)
Conditional Access System (CAS)
System Administration
- Service Provisioning
- Remote Administration
Customer Care
Billing Systems
Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM)
Single Point of Failure, Redundancy, and Battery Backup
Disaster Recovery

The RFP Development Process
Qualifications
- Financial Qualifications
- Technical Qualifications
- Operating Information
- Licenses
- Certifications
Supporting Vendors
Existing System Evaluation
- Distribution Plant
- Access Systems
- Back Office Systems
Needs Assessment
- Advisory Committee
- Visioning Session
Issuing, Approval and Contract Authority
- Public Notice
- Contracting Authority
RFP Project Dates
- Conferences
- Clarification Requests
- Clarification Responses
- Pre-Response Conferences
- Site Review
- RFP Release Date
- Closing RFP Submission Date
- RFP Award Date
- Contract Negotiation Date
- Final Signing
Implementation Plan
- Initial Operational Capability (IOC) Date
- Alpha Testing Date
- Field Trial Date (Beta Testing)
- Full Operational Capability (FOC)
- System Cutover
- Acceptance Testing
RFP Response Procedure
RFP Issuance
Prospective Suppliers
RFP Response Requirements
RFP Approval Process
Pre-Proposal Review
Releasing RFPs

RFP Responses
RFP Response Review
Clarification Questions
Clarification Response Review
Issuing Clarification Updates

Response Evaluation
Evaluation Criteria
Decision Matrix
Criteria Weighting
Scoring
Winner Selection
Short-Listed Vendor Meetings
Notification of Award
Notifying of Rejection
Protest of Award

RFP Contents
RFP for a WiMAX Network Template
Summary of Needs and Purpose Statement
General Procedures
- RFP Submission Procedure
- RFP Transmittal Process
Issuing Company Information
- RFP Requirements Summary
- Company Background
- Existing Systems and Services
- RFP Objectives
- Scope of Work
- Instruction to Respondents
- RFP Distribution
- Bidders Conference
- RFPs Clarification
- Response Requirements
Respondent Information
- Respondent Company Information Request
WiMAX Network Requirements
- Business Requirement
- Technical Requirements
Implementation Schedule
- Testing Requirements
Training
Acceptance
Procurement Terms and Conditions
- Terms and Conditions of Proposal
- Change Orders
- Compliance
- Nonresponsive Proposal
- Performance Guarantees
- Proprietary Information
- Warranty and Guarantees
- Regulatory Compliance
- Liability
- Right to Reject
Pricing and Financing Options
- Pricing Options
- Elements in the Business Case
- Equipment Pricing
- Support Services
- Financing Terms
- Submission of Financial Information

Afterword

Appendix 1 - Acronyms

Appendix 2 - Glossary

Appendix 3 - Sample RFP

Appendix 4 - Additional Resources

Index

Sample Diagrams

There are 24 explanatory diagrams in this book

RFP Process

This figure shows the general process used for the initiation, development, and completion of the RFP process. This diagram shows that the process generally begins with the RFP issuer and the RFP responder does not become involved until they are invited to attend an RFP conference. The RFP issuer spends a substantial amount of time and effort in determining the requirements that will be defined in the RFP document. This process shows that the RFP creation process is typically interactive between the issuer and responder with questions, responses, and clarification of information being exchanged during the RFP process. This diagram shows the RFP process typically ends with an announcement of the vendor (or vendors) whom has been selected as a winner of the RFP..

RFP Document Creation Process

This figure shows that the creation of a request for proposal (RFP) document typically involves content and feedback from multiple departments within a company. Approval and formatting requirements come from the purchasing department, terms and conditions from the legal department, financing terms from the accounting department, company background information from the public relations (PR) department, and critical date requirements from the operations (Ops) department.

back to top

Anthony (Tony) Klinkert is an expert in radio and wireless network planning, modeling, design, deployment and operations research applied to wireless design. His experience includes international nationwide cellular system design, the planning and technology strategy for the nation’s largest business-class pre-WiMax broadband wireless network, technology strategy for the world’s largest advanced messaging network, and over 300 projects for wide area land-mobile and short-haul point-to-point systems. Mr. Klinkert has worked for or with leading corporations including IBM, MCI, GE, TI, Motorola, and others. He received his BSEE from the University of Texas at Austin, and both an MSEE, and an MS-Telecommunications from Southern Methodist University. His Doctor of Engineering in Engineering Management focuses on the application of advanced operations research mathematical programming techniques to the optimization of wireless design and deployment business models. Tony is currently assisting IBM Global Technology Services’ National Wireless and Mobility consulting practice.

back to top