At the request of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Office of Managing Director (OMD), and to ensure wide exposure of the Universal Service Administrative Company's (USAC) solicitations, the FCC is alerting the public that USAC has posted on its website, the Request for Quotes (RFQ) EMC® CX3-40 Hardware and Software Support Renewals. The RFQ is available electronically at http://www.usac.org/about/tools/procurement.  The closing date for quotes is October 14, 2010 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.  This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for hardware and software support.  This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Quotes are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. No additional notification will be issued by the FCC. ALL COMMUNICATIONS IN REFERENCE TO THESE OPPORTUNITIES SHALL BE THROUGH USAC'S Contracting Office. The RFQ describes the services requested and provides instructions on how to respond.

BACKGROUND: USAC is a not-for-profit Delaware corporation. The FCC has appointed USAC as the permanent administrator of the Universal Service Fund (USF) and the universal service support mechanisms (Support Mechanisms): High Cost, Low Income, Rural Health Care (RHC) and Schools & Libraries (SL) as set forth in Title 47, Part 54, Section 701 of the Code of Federal Regulations. As part of its administrative function, USAC performs, subject to FCC oversight, the billing, collection, and disbursement functions associated with the USF and the Support Mechanisms. Additional information concerning USAC and its administration of the USF and Support Mechanisms can be obtained from USAC's website located at: www.usac.org.

USAC is requesting quotes from authorized partners and/or resellers of EMC® product and services, to provide EMC® hardware and software support.  Respondents must be capable of providing the support renewals no later than November 5, 2010.  USAC expects to award a contract to the selected Contractor ("Contractor") no later than October 22, 2010 (tentative date) to perform the functions identified in the RFQ.

THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT BY A FEDERAL AGENCY, GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED CORPORATION OR OTHER ESTABLISHMENT IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. THE CONTRACT AWARDED AS A RESULT OF THIS RFQ WILL NOT BE A SUBCONTRACT UNDER A FEDERAL PRIME CONTRACT TO USAC.

Complete quotes must be submitted to Mr. Jay Beard, USAC Purchasing Manager, USAC Contracting Office, no later than the date and time set forth in the RFQ. Quotes must be submitted by e-mail ([email protected]), mail, courier or hand delivered to: Universal Service Administrative Company Attn: Mr. Jay Beard, 2000 L Street, NW, Suite 200. Washington, DC 20036. Please submit an original signed by a duly authorized representative, and an electronic copy of the proposal in Microsoft Word® format on magnetic disk or CD-ROM.