Request for Information
Digital Television and High Speed Internet Services
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and
Washington Dulles International Airport

Statement of Need:

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (Airports Authority) is seeking information from firms or organizations interested in and able to provide digital television service and high speed internet to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (National) and Washington Dulles International Airport (Dulles). Such services are not currently available at either airport and many of the airlines and other tenants at National and Dulles, as well as the Airports Authority itself, are interested in obtaining digital television and high speed internet services.

Background:

The Authority is an independent body created by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia, with the approval of the U.S. Congress.  The Airports Authority operates and maintains Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. The Authority is a public body, corporate and politic and is independent of all other bodies. It is not an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia or the District of Columbia, nor is it a federal agency.

Purpose:

The Airports Authority’s purpose for issuing this RFI is to research and determine the feasibility of contracting for a Digital Television System with High Definition (HD) capabilities and high speed internet services.  The Airports Authority is interested in (a) minimizing amounts it would pay to obtain these services on the campuses of National and Dulles Airports, and (b) obtaining revenue from sales of such services to tenants of National and Dulles Airports. Currently, tenants at both National and Dulles have the ability to obtain, or currently have, cable television directly through cable operators local to each airport. Comcast provides cable television services for National; Cox Communications provides services for Dulles. The present system is analog. The Airports Authority is not limited to seeking television services from Comcast and Cox.  High speed internet services are not currently available at National and Dulles. Interested firms should assume that all new infrastructure will be needed to provide the television services on the airports.  The Airports Authority’s wishes to have state-of-the-art equipment and services that will allow both the Airports Authority and its tenants to obtain more channels at reasonable cost and also have the option of obtaining high speed internet service through the provider. The provider(s) will be prohibited from offering digital telephone service because the Authority currently provides its own telephone system under other arrangements. There are currently 25 customers at National with Comcast for cable service.  There are 15 customers at Dulles with Cox Communications for cable service.  The Airports Authority believes there is potential for more customers with effective marketing.

Open Discussion Forum:

An open forum discussion regarding this RFI will be held at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, 1 Aviation Circle, Conference Room 1-B, First Floor on September 30, 2008 at 10:00 AM Local Time for interested firms.

Questions:

Questions and Answers - Updated October 15, 2008 (50 KB) Note: The deadline for submitting questions has passed. No further questions will be accepted.

Information Requested:

Firms or organizations interested and qualified to furnish High Definition Digital Television System (HD) and high speed internet services are requested to submit an expression of interest statement (not to exceed ten pages).  The response should outline the firm’s qualifications, describe how the firm could provide these services to both Airport campuses with minimal upfront cost to the Airports Authority, at a reasonable cost to airport tenants, and how the proposed arrangement would allow the Airports Authority to generate revenue for itself from tenant subscriptions for these services. The firm providing the services should expect to absorb all equipment and maintenance costs. Firms responding to the RFI should also specify the preferred length of the contract, as well as summarize any other significant financial and contractual requirements.

Time for Response:

The expression of interest statement and cover letter should be submitted not later than 3:00 PM October 16, 2008 to:           Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority           Procurement  and Contracts Dept., MA-440           1 Aviation Circle, Suite 154           Washington, DC 20001-6000           Attention: Ms. Katherine A. Ruhl No other notification of this project will be made at this time and no further action beyond submission of the expression of interest is required or encouraged.  This is not a Request for Proposals.

Last Updated October 15, 2008