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CalREN California Research and Education Network BRIEFING PACKAGE #3 October 6, 1993 Table of Contents I. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) - San Francisco Bay Area Briefing Session Synopsis II. Request For Proposals (RFP) Process III. RFP Status & Schedules IIIa. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) - San Francisco Bay Area IIIb. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) - Greater Los Angeles Area IIIc. Education IIId. Health Care IIIe. Community, Government, and Commercial Services IV. CalREN Contact Information APPENDIX A: ATM - San Francisco Bay Area Briefing Session Overheads APPENDIX B: ATM - San Francisco Bay Area Briefing Session Questions and Answers I. ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE (ATM) - SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA BRIEFING SESSION SYNOPSIS The CalREN Briefing Session for the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) RFP - San Francisco Bay Area was held on September 23, 1993 at the San Francisco Airport Hilton. Attendance at the session was optional, and not necessary to formulate a promising proposal. The session consisted of overviews of the CalREN program, the RFP process for ATM - San Francisco Bay Area, and an overview of the ATM service. All overheads used in the meeting are provided in Appendix A. The session concluded with a question and answer segment. All questions and answers generated in the session are provided in Appendix B. II. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) PROCESS The CalREN RFP process was explained in detail in Briefing Package No. 2. The RFP process section included a description of the five RFPs that will comprise the CalREN project solicitation process, a preliminary schedule, distribution procedures, response preparation resources, and the response evaluation process. If you need a copy of Briefing Package No. 2, contact the CalREN staff on 1-800-CalREN7. III. RFP STATUS & SCHEDULES The RFP schedules are subject to change. Changes will be communicated through subsequent CalREN briefings. IIIa. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) - San Francisco Bay Area Status: The ATM - San Francisco Bay Area RFP was issued on September 3, 1993, and the Briefing Session was held on September 23, 1993. The Briefing Session synopsis and question and answer record are included in this briefing package. Schedule: Issue Briefing Accept Approve RFP Session Responses Projects 9/3/93 9/23/93 11/1/93 to 11/2/93 to 12/15/93 2/15/94 IIIb. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) - Greater Los Angeles Area Status: The ATM - Greater Los Angeles Area RFP is attached to this briefing package. The Briefing Session is scheduled as follows: Date: November 18, 1993 Time: 10:00AM to 12:00PM Location: Pacific Bell 1010 Wilshire Blvd., Auditorium Los Angeles RSVP By: November 10, 1993 RSVP To: CalREN Information Line 1-800-CalREN7 Schedule: Issue Briefing Accept Approve RFP Session Responses Projects 10/15/93 11/18/93 2/15/94 3/31/94 IIIc. Education Status: We expect to issue the Education RFP on November 1, 1993. Two Briefing Sessions are planned, one in Northern California (San Francisco Bay Area) and one in Southern California (Los Angeles area). The times and locations for the Briefing Sessions will be provided at a later date. Schedule: Issue Briefing Accept Approve RFP Sessions Responses Projects 11/1/93 12/7/93 (North) 3/14/94 4/15/94 12/8/93 (South) IIId. Health Care Status: We expect to issue the Health Care RFP on November 1, 1993. Two Briefing Sessions are planned, one in Northern California (San Francisco Bay Area) and one in Southern California (Los Angeles area). The times and locations for the Briefing Sessions will be provided at a later date. Schedule: Issue Briefing Accept Approve RFP Sessions Responses Projects ____________________________________________________ 11/1/93 12/7/93 (North) 2/28/94 3/25/94 12/8/93 (South) IIIe. Community, Government, and Commercial Services We expect to issue the Community, Government, and Commercial Services RFP on November 1, 1993. Two Briefing Sessions are planned, one in Northern California (San Francisco Bay Area) and one in Southern California (Los Angeles area). The times and locations for the Briefing Sessions will be provided at a later date. Schedule: Issue Briefing Accept Approve RFP Sessions Responses Projects ____________________________________________________ 11/1/93 12/7/93 (North) 3/28/94 4/29/94 12/8/93 (South) IV. CalREN CONTACT INFORMATION CalREN Information Line: 1-800-CalREN7 (1-800-225-7367) FAX: (510) 277-0673 Mail: The CalREN Program c/o Pacific Bell 2600 Camino Ramon Rm. 3S306 San Ramon, CA 94583 E-Mail Internet Address: CALREN@PACBELL.COM To be placed on the CalREN Internet E-Mail distribution list, send the following message to "listserver@pacbell.com": subscribe calren <your name> The "subscribe" message must be the first part of the text of the E-Mail message. The subject field is ignored. Your Internet return address is used as the distribution list address. Once subscribed, you will then receive all CalREN broadcast notices. To remove your name, send a similar message using the command "unsubscribe". To obtain archived CalREN documents, send the following message: get calren <archive-name> The following CalREN-related documents are currently archived: atm-service-description [ATM Product Description] briefing-1 [Briefing Package #1] briefing-2 [Briefing Package #2] briefing-3 [Briefing Package #3] sf-atm-rfp [San Francisco Bay Area ATM Access] la-atm-rfp [Greater Los Angeles Area ATM Service] ************************Section Break****************************** Appendix B Questions & Answers On September 23, 1993, CalREN conducted a Briefing Session for the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) RFP for the San Francisco Bay Area. The following record of questions and answers was taken from a transcript of that session. Minor editorial changes have been made to some questions and answers to provide additonal clarity. Corrected answers and important added notes are shown in brackets. Q1: Is the CalREN proposal itself going to fund the actual personnel needed for applications development, making use of the service, or only the service itself? A: CalREN itself, that is the trust fund, can only fund the CalREN- sponsored data services [ ATM, Frame Relay, Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), and Switched Digital Services 56 (SDS-56) ]. In terms of personnel and other project components, project participants are expected to assemble/supply those requirements. The CalREN staff does maintain one resource for locating project components, the "Willing Participants" list. The "Willing Participants" list consists of companies who are interested in being CalREN project participants, but who are not necessarily interested in leading projects. If you need a search of the list, contact the CalREN staff on 1-800-CalREN7. Q2: Given CalREN's orientation towards trying to encourage collaboration, what role is the CalREN staff going to play as brokers in trying to get different projects and different participants to coordinate their efforts? A: CalREN will not be brokering projects, however, the "Willing Participants" list is one avenue to use in finding project partners. Q3: Could you give us specific types of gear and equipment we need to interface in our location, and do we need a DS3 service, an ATM service already installed? Will we have to pay for that installation, or will you provide that? A: [This answer has been changed since the session to provide additional clarity.] Your Pacific Bell Account Team is the best source for questions specific to your configuration. [The answer to the second part of this question, "Will we have to pay for that installation, or will you provide it?" was deferred in the session, it is now answered here.] The installation charges for the ATM service for approved projects will be covered by CalREN. Q4: You mentioned that the implementation of approved projects will be staggered. Will the finalization also be staggered so that projects will have a full 18-month period of time to run? A: [Corrected answer.] Yes, the time period for a specific project will not begin until the ATM service is implemented, and will continue for the full amount of time that is requested in the proposal, and subsequently approved through the proposal evaluation process. Q5: Do you have funding specific for Northern California that is separate from the funding allotted for Southern California? A: But, the funding is fluid. If there are certain resources in Southern California that aren't used, then that funding will shift to Northern California and vice versa. [Generally, we are targeting balanced funding North and South.] Q6: If there is a project that involves both Northern and Southern California, would the project managers be expected to submit to both RFPs? A: No, they should submit in response to the ATM - San Francisco Bay Area RFP and specify the Southern California requirements within that response. If the project is approved, all port requirements would be approved and allocated at that point. The implementation timeframes, however, may vary. Q7: If a project involves a blend of technologies, for example ATM and Frame Relay, which RFPs would the project need to submit to? A: All projects which require ATM technology must be submitted in in response to one of the ATM RFPs. If another technology is required in addition to ATM, it should be specified in that response, and if the project is approved, all technology approvals and allocations will take place at that time. The implementation timeframes, however, may vary. Q8: You mentioned paying for installation services and also the staggered implementation. If there were two projects of equal merit, but one was in a remote part of Contra Costa County or San Mateo County, obviously that's higher installation cost for you. Is that a consideration then in terms of funding those projects? A: In Section I.C.2 of the ATM - San Francisco Bay Area RFP we specify that, "where technical evaluations are essentially equal in merit, cost to CalREN will be considered in determining the successful offeror." This does not mean, however, that CalREN is discouraging remote locations, as they could easily be superior in merit. Q9: Once there are both LATA 1 and LATA 5 environments in place, is Pacific Bell going to interconnect the LATAs on your own to permit those of us with a project in both LATAs to further our research potential? A: Pacific Bell is prohibited by Modified Final Judgment (MFJ) restrictions from offering inter-LATA transport. Projects in this situation would need to involve an inter-exchange carrier. Q10: If you have an application proposal that is based on building anetwork for users, when does the funding window start, when the first one or two go on or when the fourteenth partner comes on? A: CalREN funding is targeted primarily for 1994 and 1995, so we would not want to wait for all fourteen to come on board. What we would do is start the clock individually for each partner at the time of their own implementation. Q11: How would the budget page be written since there is no money involved? A: The RFP is not requesting a budget section. As far as the bills for the funded CalREN services, those will be received and paid through the CalREN staff. Q12: Are we writing a grant application, or are we just writing an agreement or a proposal without any bottom line? A: What we are requesting is a response to a Request for Proposal. It bears a resemblance to a grant because you are requesting approval for funding of services. Q13: Would you be able to help us to determine our equipment requirements for our testbed? A: [Corrected answer.] This type of support is available from your Pacific Bell Account Team. Q14: Before approval, would we get some technical support saying what kind of switches we actually need and what kind of equipment we actually need? A: Yes, that type of support is available from your Pacific Bell Account Team. Q15: What happens if we are chosen, our project is running well at the end of December, 1995, and suddenly there is no more funding? That would mean we would have to come up with certain funds to continue the project. Is there any way you can make a projection as to what we would have to pay after the project is completed? A: Once we do establish our ATM prices, which should be within the next month or so, that should give you an indication of what you can expect if you elect to go forward with the tariffed service at the conclusion of CalREN funding. Q16: [Follow-up to Q15.] So, that information will be provided to us in the next Briefing Package? A: No, final pricing information will not be available until the Market Trial data has been filed with the CPUC. The Market Trial data should be filed in early November. Q17: [Follow-up to Q16.] So the pricing, when it is available, will be sent to those of us on the mailing list? A: Your Pacific Bell Account Team is your best source of information for pricing-related matters. Q18: As part of our justification for getting the funds/resources to even bid on CalREN, we need to tell our management what the value of the CalREN grant is to our company. Can you give us a handle on what the service that you would be providing is worth? A: [The answer to this question was deferred in the session, it is now answered here.] Based on industry averages, the value can be estimated at approximately $100,000.00 per year, per ATM port. This estimate is to satisfy this information request only, and may or may not be indicative of what the market trial or tariff price will be for the Pacific Bell ATM service. Q19: Are there any relationships that are being set up with Joint Venture/Silicon Valley or Smart Valley that will be reflected in CalREN? A: Definitely so. We are involved with many of the participants of Smart Valley, although we are not aware of project proposal plans that require ATM service. Q20: Given that there is going to be a substantial community of users of ATM and people who want to share their experiences, will you be setting up bulletin boards and other kinds of information sharing which don't require us to ask questions of a particular individual and wait for an answer, but allows us to share our experiences with the people at large who are part of the same venture? A: CalREN is just beginning to formulate plans for inter-project communication, and project participants will play a large role in shaping what those communication options/channels will be. We think that a bulletin board is a wonderful idea. [We will provide more information about inter-project communication plans in subsequent CalREN briefings.] Q21: How do we find potential project partners/project collaborators? A: The CalREN staff is maintaining the "Willing Participants" list as means of helping projects find missing elements. Contact the CalREN staff for a search. Q22: We need clarification about what happens when the project ends. For example, what happens with the installation, does it stay intact, or do we need to pay for the installation when the project ends? A: The installation charge is covered by CalREN funding. There would not be a new installation charge at the conclusion of the CalREN funding, but the other relevant charges would apply. Q23: Do you foresee any reduced fee structure for those of us who are involved in these pilot projects if we continue with the service at the conclusion of the pilot? A: No we don't; tariffs do not generally allow this type of flexibility. Q24: What is the timeline for the other portions of CalREN? A: [The timeline overhead provided in Appendix A was shown in answer to this question. CalREN Briefing Packages are the best source of information for CalREN timelines.] Q25: How soon do you expect to get the switch virtual channels? A: The standard is being completed, so we expect 12 to 18 months for the vendor to implement it, so it should be early 1995. Q26: Will you entertain experiments prior to CalREN, or are you going to force us into a Permanent Virtual Connection (PVC)- only model for the life of the funding period? A: We would need to explore that further in terms of how we can do that in a lab or field environment. It depends on two parts: the customer premises equipment and the ATM switch vendor's advance release capabilities. [We do not have a complete answer at this time.] Q27: [Follow-up to Q26.] For the record then, it is early 1995 that you expect it formally, but maybe some experiments before then? A: Yes. Q28: It sounds like you have a set amount of money that you are going to use for ATM, or I should say for the whole CalREN project; so much for ATM, so much for education, so much for health care, etc. Can you give us an idea of how you have divided the money, like is it 10 percent ATM, 50 percent for something else, etc., or have you divided it up in some other way? The reason I'm asking is, what if lots of really wonderful projects come up for ATM and you use up all the money, what protection is there for people who, say, have health care and are the last ones, that they will actually have some money available for the CalREN project? A: We have allocated at least 24 ATM ports for Northern California and at least 24 ports for Southern California, but as stated earlier, all of the funding, including the ATM ports is fluid. Since ATM is the highest cost CalREN technology, we did feel it prudent to set port guidelines. [We will not exhaust the CalREN fund prior to reviewing and approving all of the RFPs.] Q29: If our project begins in 1994 with OC3c; in 1995 when OC12c becomes available, could we upgrade that into OC12c with CalREN funding? A: Identify this in your proposal. During the review process we will determine the appropriateness of CalREN funding for this transition. Q30: I want to ask the same question again one more time so I understand it. After two years, as the project becomes successful, and we decide to continue to use it, the only charge you will impose on the user would be the monthly access fee, so there is no more installation fee? A: There would not be an installation fee, but all other tariff charges would apply. Q31: Is there going to be an avenue for accepted CalREN participants if they've set up an application with OC3c and then move into Phase II and they haven't specifically specified that in their proposal, is there any way that they can submit an addendum and say, "Now that we are in Phase II, this would be worthwhile to do," or do they have to specify that in the initial application? A: It needs to be specified initially, because by 1995, all funds will have been allocated. Q32: The way you have separated this, in terms of ATM first, and Education, Health Care, etc., it seems that there is an assumption that Education will not require ATM technology. Is that what you are saying? A: It is our sense that the majority of Education-related applications will not require ATM, but any Education applications which do are encouraged to submit to this RFP. Q33: Have there been any discussions regarding a relationship between CalREN and Internet? A: We do have a relationship in the sense that we are expecting many Internet-related application proposals. Q34: On the timeline, there is a notation under Health Care and Education that two briefings are required. It is worded somewhat ambiguously. Could you tell me which of the briefings I should be at? A: CalREN will be holding Briefing Sessions in Northern and Southern California for the convenience of potential respondents. The Northern California session will be held in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Southern California session will be held in the Los Angeles area. Q35: Is there a significant group within Smart Valley that is looking at Health Care? A: Not that we are aware of off-hand, but we are not thoroughly familiar with all of Smart Valley's activities and potential projects. Q36: Can you tell us when OC3c will be available? A: We are rolling out the service with OC3c. Q37: Do you have a schedule of when the ATM Briefing Session in Southern California will be held? A: [This was deferred in the session, but is now answered here.] The ATM - Greater Los Angeles Area Briefing Session will be held on November 18, 1993, from 10:00AM to 12:00PM, at Pacific Bell, 1010 Wilshire Blvd., Auditorium, Los Angeles. Q38: Could you detail as soon as possible the issues involving PVC management, like how do we get them set up? How often are we allowed to change them and what would the charges be? A: Basically, the change charge will be a one-time charge for the change, so if you know what changes you want to make, you can make as many or as few as you want. It is not going to be a charge for each. Part of the Market Trial is to see how often you do want to change, what rates or PVCs that you want, but there will be a small charge. Q39: Since the ATM service is going to be evolving over the next couple of years, is it possible for certain features like permanent virtual path connections to be activated prior to switch virtual services, the principal advantage of that being allowing user-to-user signaling? Is that something that is going to be available within the network in a phased timeframe between 1993 and 1995? A: If you want to do permanent virtual path connections internal through the VP, you have to do your own signalling prior to public PVP availability. Q40: [Follow-up to Q39.] So you are essentially saying that PVCs won't be supported initially? A: Not at first, but sometime during 1994. Q41: If we submit proposals that use DS3 rather than OC3c, is there any particular advantage--some applications can work over both DS3 as well as OC3c. I was just curious whether there is any intrinsic advantage to having DS3 service, I mean in terms of increasing probability of a win. A: Unless there is a cost difference, and that had to be used as a deciding factor, it would not have any influence on the probability of winning. Q42: Can you tell us a little more about the connection between CalREN and Smart Valley? Is Smart Valley's role exclusively or in any way going to be just limited to the pre-selection process for these proposals, or do they have a more extensive role? A: CalREN will take projects from any group of project collaborators. Where Smart Valley comes into play is that they have already done work putting together coalitions. They are brokering work and helping groups build relationships. [Smart Valley also seeks demonstration projects--their vision and project guidelines are similar to CalREN's, although they have stated that they do not intend to sponsor wide area network style ATM projects.] Q43: [Follow-up to Q42.] Is there a greater role for Smart Valley than just in the sense that it was presented here? A: Pacific Bell was involved in Smart Valley prior to the creation of the CalREN program and the associated CalREN Trust. Additionally, many Smart Valley project initiatives were well-formulated prior to the inception of CalREN. Smart Valley projects which meet the CalREN criteria are quite likely to receive CalREN funding, just as any other projects which meet the criteria are.