Buyer is announcing a category review for mobile telecommunications and related services encompassing all of our facilities in the U.S. Our expectations are that this effort will enable us to:

• Optimize service reliability

• Transition from our current state to the future state as quickly as possible. 

• Affect a significant savings in direct costs and administration costs; especially related to billing and auditing of the same.

• Have available a web based interface for account review that gathers all essential elements of information and can readily be downloaded in an Excel format or other mutually agreed to format of analysis, review and auditing.

 To facilitate this procurement program, the Buyer's divisional facilities expect to: 

·         Utilize a hosted Reverse-Auction process by Sorcity.com to allow suppliers to bid online.

·         Provide details on all relevant usages and information needed to establish a program design.  

·         Provide detail so that a supplier can determine the geographical coverage required and insure that the service level is available to all divisions and to points within a 100 mile radius of current company locations.

 From our suppliers we would expect: 

·         The most aggressive service/network availability levels 

·         Buyer to be provided “Most Favored Customer” status in terms of cost, quality, and service. In other words, if promotions are run in any geographic location that Buyer are in and the final price is lower than the supplier agreed upon price, that the price for all buyer purchases lowers to this new level. 

·        The reprogramming/replacement of phones as needed. 

·      1 Year warranty on all phones and SIM cards

 Key Points to address or consider for Buyer's Facilities RFP. 

1.      A solution that provides optimal use of traditional mobile communications and direct connectivity.   

2.      How we can most quickly transition from current programs to a new program, to include how to reprogram/replace hardware and buyout of any existing contracts. 

3.      Consider that the company will grow organically and thru acquisition, doubling in 36 months. 

4.      Billing:  All branches are a separate P&L and Parent-child billing is needed.  

5.      Real time performance, equipment, and usage reports provided on line via a web browser.  To include, if applicable, usage by department. 

6.      18 month term contract.   

7.      Detailed (level 8) billing in an electronic/EDI format is required. 

8.      Use of pooled corporate pooled minutes and "rollover" ability for minutes not used and/or flat rate unlimited usage, LD and roaming with and "rollover" ability for minutes not used.

9.      Within a 48 hour period; service and/or replacement of any damaged phones not under initial warrant and for phones lost or stolen; and distribution of the phones also.   

10. The Buyer's preference is the ability for the employees to walk into a local store and exchange phones, however, this is not a mandatory option.  

11.  Roaming and breakage/overage rates if applicable

PLANNED CORPORATE PURCHASES 

The following quantities of each product are expected to be minimum purchasing requirements during the next 18-24 months. The total requirement could exceed the anticipated volume for a number of reasons including; market conditions, corporate acquisitions, or employee purchases. These factors are difficult to anticipate. 

For that reason the pricing bids should be based only on the items specified below. However, BUYER would like to have a basic understanding of the pricing variance and program offered by supplier if the quantities shown are exceeded by 50% and 100%. The contract award will be based solely on the anticipated minimum ordering quantity. 

PORTABILITY OF PHONE NUMBERS 

While mandated Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to be effective November 2003, Buyer would like award business and commence the contract prior to this time period.  We would expect out service providers to facilitate this transition.   

Suppliers are to review the requirements and specifications, and make their bids on line at Sorcity.com.  While the line item worksheet is required within two hours after the close of the auction, with in 72 hours we want to see a written proposal explaining points below from the most competitive bidders:

• Written confirmation of your ability to meet or exceed the above listed expectations with explanation of how Buyers major concerns are to be met. (Key Points)

• A time line as to how quickly the program can be implemented by division and the steps required to begin the contract

• Soft Copy (electronic MS Word document) of Service level agreements.

• Impact of company growth and provisions that might trigger further reductions in contract pricing.

• However, an Employee purchase program might be added as part of this contract to make favorable pricing available to all Buyers employees.

• Makes, models and feature of any phones that are to be used for replacement and new purchase.  Additionally, please list upgrade opportunities and expected life cycle of all phones proposed.  

Geographic Regions are as follows:

NORTHEAST (ME, CT, MA, NH, NY, NJ, VT, RI, PA)

MID WEST (MI, OH, IL, IA, KY)

SOUTHEAST (MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, TN, FL)

SOUTH CENTRAL (KS, OK, AR, TX, LA)

SOUTHWEST (AZ, NV, NM, CA)

NORTHWEST (WA, OR, UT, BC, ID)

SPECIAL NOTES:

• The buyer has elected to receive bids in two methods: 1. National cell phone coverage as one comprehensive opportunity, and 2. Separate bids for each of Six Geographic cell phone regions. 
• The award for this opportunity may either be the Six Geographic events, OR, the one national coverage event, OR possibly a combination of the above, based on the final evaluation by the Buyer. Suppliers are encouraged to bid on all 7 events if capable, in order to increase the chance of gaining this award.
• The Sorcity fee is stated upon placing a bid.  A discounted fee is attached to the single National event.  Regional event fees have been divided proportionally according to usage.  If a combination award is made (i.e. National and Regional), then the fee will be split between awarded suppliers.
• All clarifying questions or exceptions should be entered above through the [Question] button. Answers will be posted shortly thereafter for all Suppliers to view
• If you need to speak directly to a representative, please contact Sorcity at CellPhone@sorcity.com  or at (972) 612-0003. Any direct contact with the Buyer is strictly prohibited and may result in immediate disqualification to participate in this bidding event.
• No bids will be accepted outside of this Reverse-Auction.  Bidding in any other manner will disqualify you for this opportunity.
• A worksheet will be provided upon request from Suppliers who are registered with Sorcity.com and are interested in bidding on this event.  The worksheet depicts actual usage over a specified period of time.  This was averaged to come up with the 18-month usage, even though there is a much greater opportunity anticipated with this award.    

The Process for Final Selection is Anticipated as Follows: