GCN Network Services Request for Proposals

Officially posted June 8, 2005

Deadline for submissions: July 10, 2005
Contract awarded to SISD

Introduction

The City of Gustavus, Alaska, doing business as the Gustavus Community Network (GCN), seeks certain network services including electronic mail, authentication, authorization, accounting, and billing. This request for proposals describes both the minimum services required of all proposals and optional additional services desirable for building a model, full-featured community network.

GCN has broadband Internet access at the Gustavus Public Library via satellite. 120 to 160 GCN subscribers dial in on a bank of 16-24 modems (actually a Lucent Portmaster 3 connected to the local phone company office with a channelized T-1) to get Internet access. Broadband customers are connected to the library using Wi-Fi, SHDSL modems, T-1 circuit, and Ethernet.

GCN has obtained basic network services from Gustavus resident Nathan Borson since 2001. Borson has in turn obtained all services from a third party. Borson's contract has long expired and was in any case between Borson and the now-defunct Gustavus Community Association of which GCN was a part until December, 2004. GCN is now part of the City of Gustavus and additional functionality is sought so a new contract is needed. Borson has said he will not be submitting a proposal since he does not provide the services himself anyway.

Equipment and Services Provided by GCN

The following is provided by GCN and shall not be included in a network services proposal:

1. All end-user technical support and customer service;

2. All network equipment and support, including switches, routers, firewalls, modems, transceivers, wiring, lines, and circuits;

3. Upstream Internet access; and

4. Space and power for all equipment.

Minimum Services Required

All proposals shall include purchase, setup, and maintenance of the following basic network services:

1. Local E-Mail - SMTP server and electronic mailboxes accessible by POP3, IMAP, and HTTP;

2. Local Web Hosting for GCN administration and customers;

3. Local Authentication - RADIUS username/password authentication and authorization for dial-up users as well as for users connected to a public broadband network. The latter might be accomplished with the help of an Internet Subscriber Server;

4. Accounting - Track and report time and traffic for all authenticated users.

5. Billing - Automated billing system supporting these minimum features:

   • Self-service signup via web page;

   • Automatic provisioning of e-mail, web hosting, and Internet access;

   • Automatic e-mailing of invoices based on a variety of service packages including usage-based and hourly wireless broadband;

   • Automatic credit card payment processing;

   • Automatic suspension of access for non-payment;

   • Detailed reports for administrators;

   • Usage reports and billing and payment history for end-users;

6. Local DNS - Primary server for gustavus.ak.us zone and sub-zones and caching server with forwarding to be used as primary name server by local hosts; and
7. Usage Graphs - Real-time graphs showing modem use and network traffic.

Optional Services Desired

Ultimately, GCN wishes to be a model open community network providing not only affordable broadband Internet access but also complete integrated electronic communication, collaboration and sharing services to strengthen our community. Because our means are limited and because some of these services are already provided in some form by the Gustavus Public Library (see links below) these services are optional at this time. Cost is our biggest concern and will be our primary selection criterion so proposals should seek to provide the minimum services at the best price. However, we want to know which, if any, of these optional services would be included in proposals; this will be a secondary selection criterion. If they are not included we would like to know any thoughts on how they might be added in the future.

1. Threaded discussion boards with integrated e-mail subscription, e-mail list server, and RSS support;

2. Content management system such as Plone or Mambo for easy file sharing and web site creation by the community portal and individual subscribers;

3. Interactive community calendar(s) where subscribers can easily add new events;

4. Community directory:

   • Central directory service provides single sign-on authentication for all community network services including Internet access, e-mail, discussion board, content management system, and external systems (probably via LDAP);

   • Users control their own listing and specify how much is public;

   • Public directory can be queried via LDAP by external applications including a web interface and clients like Outlook Express;

5. Network device monitoring -- utility displays whether devices are responding and logs status changes.

Submitting a Proposal

Please include the following elements in your proposal:

• How you propose to implement the minimum requirements;

• Which, if any, optional services your proposal includes and how you would implement them;

• Any thoughts on how you would implement other optional services in the future;

• Information to help us evaluate your capability to deliver the specified services, including background, experience, and references;

• One-time and recurring costs associated with your proposal;

• When you would be able to complete the initial setup and begin providing the proposed services;

• Terms of support you provide under your proposal, especially any limits on when, how, or how often you may be contacted.

Please direct your technical questions to Nathan Borson: support@gustavus.ak.us , (907) 697-2313.

Please direct your procedural questions to city clerk Lexa Meyer, clerk@gustavus-ak.gov , (907) 697-2451

When you are ready to submit your proposal, e-mail it to clerk@gustavus-ak.gov or send to City of Gustavus, PO Box 1, Gustavus AK  99826. Please note the deadline for submittals.