HomeMy WebLinkAboutDS Grant Funded Canal Broadband Feasability Study Consulting Contract____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: April 17, 2023
Disposition: Authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional services
agreement in the amount not to exceed $182,120 with EntryPoint Networks, Inc. to perform the
services required to create the work products outlined in the contract and Digital Feasibility Study
Proposal previously submitted and approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
as a part of the City’s Local Agency Technical Assistance (LATA) grant application and award
Agenda Item: 4.b
Meeting Date: April 17, 2023
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Digital Service and Open Government
Prepared by: Vinh Pham,
Digital Infrastructure Manager
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: GRANT FUNDED CANAL BROADBAND FEASIBILITY STUDY CONSULTING
CONTRACT
SUBJECT: APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE
A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ENTRYPOINT NETWORKS, INC.
TO COORDINATE AND PERFORM THE SERVICES REQUIRED TO CREATE THE
WORK PRODUCTS OUTLINED IN THE LOCAL AGENCY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
(“LATA”) GRANT AWARD FROM THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES
COMMISSION (“CPUC”) FOR THE SAN RAFAEL CANAL QUALIFIED OPPORTUNITY
ZONE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $182,120
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a professional services agreement in the amount not to exceed $182,120 with
EntryPoint Networks, Inc. to perform the services required to create the work products outlined
in the contract and Digital Feasibility Study Proposal previously submitted and approved by the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as a part of the City’s Local Agency Technical
Assistance (LATA) grant application and award.
BACKGROUND:
In September 2022, the City of San Rafael, in partnership with the County of Marin, submitted a
Local Agency Technical Assistance (LATA) grant application to the California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) which was subsequently awarded. LATA grant funding was established to
reimburse pre-construction expenses in advance of broadband deployment to unserved and
underserved communities. The Canal neighborhood was identified as the underserved or
potentially unserved community in San Rafael. LATA resources were awarded to analyze
community needs, recommend capable models, prove feasibility, identify eligible funding
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
sources, and assist with preparing the documentation necessary to apply for and receive state
and/or federal funding assistance.
The reimbursable work products to be developed from this award include:
1. Data Collection: $78,380
2. Market Analysis: $33,800
3. High Level Design for Outside Plant and Interior Rental Units: $36,140
4. Strategic Plan Document and Presentations: $33,800
ANALYSIS:
The Canal neighborhood (including Census Tracts 1122.03 and 1122.04) in San Rafael has
significantly lower household incomes than surrounding neighborhoods and a lower rate of
broadband service subscription per household compared to average households in the City of
San Rafael. Despite federal and state broadband maps indicating that the Canal neighborhood
is “served” by incumbent providers Comcast and AT&T, a closer look at rates vs household
income and access to existing providers indicates the neighborhood could be better served by
increased access to infrastructure and internet services. The feasibility study that will be
provided by EntryPoint Networks Inc. will include data collection and reliability tests to determine
if it is recommended to pursue further state and federal grants to subsidize broadband
development in the neighborhood.
The ‘data collection’ work to be performed will include statistically relevant resident and property
owner surveys. Reliability and capacity tests for the area will be conducted and recorded by the
residents from inside their living units. This work will be inclusive and granular in nature,
providing a unique understanding around the challenges faced by tenants and institutional
landlords with a focus on developing sustainable solutions that meet the needs of both.
As a part of business modeling and feasibility analysis, outside plant designs will leverage the
State’s open access middle mile and include suggested property improvements and costs to
deliver reliable broadband to each living unit within the high-density housing area. Achieving
these outputs will be key to proving Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD)
Program eligibility into the living units.
As the final work product, the strategic plan document and presentations will catalogue and
frame findings in actionable recommended next steps leading to fundable, pragmatic solutions
for the area and beyond.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The contract amount of $182,120 will be reimbursed from the LATA award. There is no additional
fiscal impact associated with this action.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter:
1. Approve the EntryPoint Networks, Inc. contract and authorize the City Manager to
negotiate and execute the agreement.
2. Do not approve the contract.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a professional services agreement in the amount not to exceed $182,120 with
EntryPoint Networks, Inc. to perform the services required to create the work products outlined
in the contract and Digital Feasibility Study Proposal previously submitted and approved by the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as a part of the City’s Local Agency Technical
Assistance (LATA) grant application and award.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. EntryPoint Proposal
DIGITAL FEASIBILITY STUDY PROPOSAL
Submitted by
September 20, 2022
[Revised 02/28/2023]
EntryPoint, LLC City of San Rafael, California – Consulting Services Proposal Page | 2
SCOPE OF WORK
EntryPoint Networks Solution Services Group appreciates the opportunity to provide project leadership,
management, design, and strategic planning for the City of San Rafael, California. This work will include the
following work products for the San Rafael Canal Qualified Opportunity Zone:
1. Data collection and market analysis to include Geospatial files with data showing market data and other
datasets including availability, price, and performance metrics. Resident and property owner survey
development and execution to determine satisfaction, experience, affordability, to inform City actions or
solutions. This work will be extensive and performed by a third-party subcontractor under EntryPoint’s
oversight.
2. High level design with an accompanying Bill of Materials (BOM) for a fiber to the address solution to be
used for cost and feasibility analysis. Additional design work will be performed based on feedback
obtained from rental property owners to outline potential solutions capable of delivering 1 gigabit
connectivity to each rental living unit. The fiber to the address or MDU work will be performed by a
third-party subcontractor under EntryPoint’s oversight. The interior connectivity solutions will be
developed by EntryPoint and documented with high level cost estimates as a part of the larger plan
documentation.
3. Strategic recommendations will be developed and documented. Plan documentation shall include
identifying gaps, potential solutions, challenges, costs, and recommended steps and paths to creating
long term sustainable solutions, including suggestions to create natural incentives for stakeholders to
support a solution capable of achieving the City’s goals while at the same time managing these desired
changes for the benefit of all.
Expected steps to develop and deliver these three deliverables are expected to include the following activities:
Data Collection (A-C) and Market Analysis (D&E)
A. Data collection (statistically relevant)
a. Collect, catalogue, and correlate granular demographic data
b. Collect, catalogue, and correlate broadband market data for the area
B. Develop and conduct surveys of area residents and property owners
a. Includes marketing to increase survey participation
b. Includes survey mailing and input of hard copies
C. Map area to show potential funding sources based on data and program qualifications
D. Inform strategy and information outputs with mapping and graphical representations of
collected data
E. Summarize findings to inform final report
EntryPoint, LLC City of San Rafael, California – Consulting Services Proposal Page | 3
High Level Outside Plant and Inside Plant Network Design
A. Perform initial asset discovery to inform design
a. Obtain, review, and correct available data
b. Obtain, review, and approve public assets for use in design
B. Coordinate design with Statewide middle mile
C. Develop, review, document, and approve a 50+ year network architecture capable of supporting
public, private and internet services securely and reliably to be used for design
D. Perform high level design for outside fiber optic plant to the address es
a. Review initial design outputs, provide corrections or improvements
b. Approve initial design once desired level of design efficiency is achieved
E. Coordinate rental property owner input to develop in structure or building designs and strategies
a. Develop and document potential indoor architectures and designs
b. Analyze Pros and Cons for proposed solutions
F. Document findings including high level cost estimates
Document Findings and Outline Strategic Recommendations
A. Provide technical review of design inputs
a. Summarize findings in layman’s terms
b. Create proforma financials for viable solutions that include:
i. Capital Costs
ii. Operational Costs
iii. Service Costs
iv. Municipal costs and responsibilities
v. Service provider costs and responsibilities
vi. Property owner costs and responsibilities
vii. Consumer costs and responsibilities
c. Develop, organize, and document strategic recommendations
d. Provide technical details in an appendix
B. Document recommended infrastructure and network architecture and standards to assist with
institutionalizing standards and planning in municipal processes
a. Provide some immediate tactical suggestions
b. Suggest potential interdepartmental collaborations
c. Clearly document the various levels of ownership and investment required by the city to
implement solutions
C. Present the final report and findings to City Leadership
EntryPoint, LLC City of San Rafael, California – Consulting Services Proposal Page | 4
PROJECT TIMELINES AND COSTS
EntryPoint’s proposed consulting fees for the outlined activities are presented in the table below.
EntryPoint’s estimates assume that MERIT Networks will perform the data collection and inform the market
analysis metrics as a subcontractor, and that outside plant design work will be performed by either RUCON
Engineering and/or Biarri Networks as a subcontractor.
MERIT Network’s data collection and market analysis work is estimated as a not to exceed amount of
$78,380.
Outside plant and interior network design services is estimated as a not to exceed amount of $32,460.
EntryPoint’s professional services costs are presented in the table below. The table separates specific task
categories and the anticipated number of hours associated with each. EntryPoint’s Consulting Fees for these
projects are based on a $200.00 per hour rate, with a project cap of $67,600.
Based on the estimated hours and EntryPoint’s current workload, this work will take approximately 8 - 10
months to complete.
Proposed Activities Marketing Design Finance Admin Total
Data Collection and Market Analysis 14 2 4 10 30
Develop initial Scope of Work. 2
Develop, review, and approve surveys. 4
Coordinate collection and inform analysis. 4 2
Review and approve deliverables. 4 2 4 8
High Level Design 8 88 10 24 130
Coordinate design data collection. 4 2
Develop, review, and approve architecture and standards 16 2
Provide oversight for outside plant design iterations. 8 2
Perform landlord engagements to inform interior designs. 4 40 10
Develop, review, and approve interior design strategies . 4 20 10 8
Strategic Plan Document 72 36 40 30 178
Provide strategic analysis for recommended solutions. 12 12 12 4
Provide financial analysis for recommended solutions . 4 12 2
Provide high level messaging recommendations for solutions . 8 4
Provide recommended next steps including any immediate tactical
recommendations.
4 4 4 8
Provide supporting technical data as an appendix. 8 8 8 4
Provide presentations to assist with community engagement and
education.
40 8 4 8
TOTAL HOURS = 338
EntryPoint, LLC City of San Rafael, California – Consulting Services Proposal Page | 5
Total EntryPoint Hours = 338 @ $200 per hour = $67,600
Network Design Costs = 1300 Addresses, 2780 Living Units (OSP and in building) = $36,140
MERIT Network Data Collection Costs = 819 HHP / 2271 Living Units = $78,380
Total Cost = $182,120 (not to exceed total project cap)
PROJECT TEAM
EntryPoint’s Municipal Digital Access consulting services are led by Bruce Patterson. Below is a list of the
primary team members that would work with San Rafael Leaders, city staff, and community leaders on this
project.
Bruce Patterson – Project Lead, Network Planning, Network Implementation, Network Operations
Jeff Christensen – Strategic Analysis, Risk Analysis, Business Model Analysis
Devin Cox – Market Analysis, Community Outreach and Engagement Planning, Market Surveys
Brad Banyai – Financial Analysis, Financial Proforma, Cost Structure, Cash Flow Analysis
PROJECT TEAM QUALIFICATIONS
Bruce Patterson – EntryPoint Networks, Head of Operations
Bruce Patterson is the Director of EntryPoint Solution Services. Mr. Patterson is the recognized thought leader
behind the ‘Ammon Model’ which focuses on the separation of infrastructure from service both technically and
economically, thereby allowing the infrastructure to be treated as a true public utility while enabling private
competition for services. During his tenure at the City of Ammon, Bruce was responsible for the creation and
management of the Ammon Fiber Network. He managed everything from strategy and implementation
including legal, public process, financial, construction, and technical aspects. It is Bruce’s work that has led to
the Ammon Fiber Network being identified as the “Best Fiber Optic Network in America”
As Director of EntryPoint Solution Services, Mr. Patterson assist s municipalities with network planning,
feasibility analysis, network design, cost projections, construction oversight and network operations and
management. Mr. Patterson believes that municipal fiber networks can and should be used for applications
that go beyond “fast internet”.
Jeff Christensen – EntryPoint Networks, President – Strategic Analysis, Risk Analysis, Business Model Analysis
Jeff Christensen is the President of EntryPoint Networks. Mr. Christensen has an M.S. in Management from
Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management and a B.S. in Organizational Psychology from the University
of Utah. Prior to Mr. Christensen’s tenure at EntryPoint he served as Chief Operating Officer at FutureVision
Technologies and V.P. of Operations at Emdeon.
At EntryPoint, Mr. Christensen oversees ongoing research & development, manages strategic partnerships,
oversees manufacturing collaboration, client relationships and deployments, business development, customer
support, strategy development, and has been the Principal Investigator for a recently completed Department of
Energy grant: Edge Intelligence for Virtualization and Security in Open Networks.
EntryPoint, LLC City of San Rafael, California – Consulting Services Proposal Page | 6
Devin Cox – EntryPoint Networks, EVP Business Development – Community Engagement & Market Research
Devin Cox is the EVP of Business Development at EntryPoint Networks. Mr. Cox has a Bachelor of Science
degree in Business Communications from the University of Utah. Prior to Mr. Cox’s tenure at EntryPoint he
served as V.P. of Sales and Marketing at FutureVision Technologies and V.P. of Sales at Emdeon. At EntryPoint,
Mr. Cox oversees sales, marketing, and client relations.
When deploying a municipal Digital Access network, proactive and effective community engagement is critical
to both short-term and long-term success of the network. For this reason, Mr. Cox focuses a large part of his
time working with clients on strategies and programs designed to drive network subscriber take-rates.
Brad Banyai – EntryPoint Networks, CFO – Network Financials and Funding Analysis
Brad Banyai is the Chief Financial Officer for EntryPoint Networks and oversees accounting, accounts payable,
accounts receivable, RMA processing, and cash management. Prior to Mr. Banyai’s tenure at EntryPoint he
served as President of FutureVision Technologies and V.P. of Product Management at Emdeon. Mr. Banyai
produces the Proforma Financials for each of the Digital Access Master Plans we produce for the municipalities
we work with.
Julie Burkhart – EntryPoint Networks, Sr. Content Strategist & Writer
Ms. Burkhart has for-profit, non-profit, and higher education experience. She is currently a Sr. Content
Strategist & Writer for EntryPoint Networks.
Before joining EntryPoint, Ms. Burkhart was the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Execut ive
Director, Heartland Chapter. She collaborated with board members and advisors to produce world -class
programs and peer-to-peer exchanges for local directors. She also oversaw all chapter administration, board
relations, and sponsor engagement.
Prior to joining the NACD Heartland Chapter, Ms. Burkhart was the Director of Community Engagement at the
University of Kansas. Her primary role was to facilitate linkages between KU resources, expertise, and
capabilities with Kansas City area leaders to reduce w orkforce challenges, solve problems by utilizing
community-based research and service, and grow entrepreneurship and economic development in the region
and beyond.
Preceding KU, Ms. Burkhart spent 18 years at Sprint in program management, training, leade rship
development, knowledge management, and talent acquisition. She also served as Sprint's 2000 -member
Women’s Employee Resource Group president. Ms. Burkhart was Sprint’s 2013 Diversity Award recipient and
was selected for its High Performing Manager Pr ogram in 2010.
Ms. Burkhart graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in family life and human
development. She earned a master’s degree in business communication from Fort Hays State University.
EntryPoint, LLC City of San Rafael, California – Consulting Services Proposal Page | 7
ENTRYPOINT NETWORKS - COST PROPOSAL
EntryPoint’s proposed consulting fees for managing this process and preparing the work products as follows:
1. Data Collection: $78,380
2. Market Analysis: $33,800
3. High Level Design for Outside Plant and Interior Rental Units : $36,140
4. Strategic Plan Document and Presentations: $33,800
EntryPoint will invoice at net 30 terms upon the delivery and the city’s acceptance of each work product listed
above.
PROJECT TIMELINE
EntryPoint’s projected timeline for delivering these work products is estimated as follows:
D. Data Collection and Market Analysis: Weeks 1 - 24
E. High Level Design for Outside Plant and Interior Rental Units : Weeks 5 - 21
F. Strategic Plan Document and Presentations: Weeks 22 - 32
EntryPoint will invoice at net 30 terms upon delivery and the city’s acceptance of each work product listed
above.
ENTRYPOINT NETWORKS – PROPOSAL SIGNATORY
The preceding Proposal submitted to the City of San Rafael,CA is authorized by EntryPoint’s Managers.
___________________________
Bruce Patterson
Authorized Representative
Head of Operations
1949 West Printers Row
Salt Lake City, Utah 84119
208-360-1279
bpatterson@entpnt.com