Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grants for Broadband Service Improvements

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grants for Broadband Service Improvements is sponsored by Appalachian Regional Commission. This funding, made possible through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, aims to bolster broadband infrastructure and services across West Virginia.

Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 1 of 28 # Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Questions due: June 20, 2025 Answers posted on ARC website: June 27, 2025 Proposal due date: July 18, 2025 Selection date: September 8, 2025 Contract period: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026 (with possible extension up to March 31, 2027) # Overview of Request for Proposals (RFP) The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) invites proposals from qualified consultants to assess the performance and outcomes of ARC’s broadband grants and better understand the grant implementation experiences of grantees.

ARC’s investments in broadband are designed to address unmet needs and create connections to help Appalachian communities thrive. These investments have expanded over the years, from exclusively broadband construction (or deployment) projects to non-construction projects that support access to available and affordable broadband—including digital opportunity projects and, more recently, broadband as a service (BaaS) projects.

This program evaluation will examine over 80 grants that closed between Fiscal Years (FY) 2019 and 2023, representing $28 million in ARC funding. Roughly a quarter of the grants were construction projects funding middle mile or last mile fiber networks. Around one-third of the grants funded equipment, one-third funded technical assistance and the remaining grants funded wireless last mile service.

These projects aimed to serve around 500 communities, 70,000 households, and 7,000 businesses; create or retain over 10,000 jobs; and leverage over $29 million in private investment. The evaluation should include quantitative analysis of the grant portfolio, collection and analysis of current network performance data, input from grantees, and, to the extent possible, input from grantee beneficiaries.

Questions to be addressed should cover goals and approaches of funded projects, grant performance and sustainability, and factors of grant successes and challenges.

Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 2 of 28 Required deliverables include the following: ● Final report that includes key findings and recommendations ● Staff presentation, which will be conducted virtually ● Data files, including raw data, edited datasets, and results of statistical analyses.

This will include an Excel spreadsheet formatted for uploading updated grant performance data to ARC’s grants management database. The Appalachian Region (the region), as defined in ARC’s authorizing legislation, is a 206,000-square-mile region that follows the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from Southern New York to Northern Mississippi.

It includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Forty-two percent of the region’s population is rural, compared with 20% of the nation's population. The region’s economy is made up of a wide range of industries, including large shares of manufacturing and professional services.

Appalachia has made significant progress over the past five decades: Its poverty rate, which was 30. 9% in 1960, fell to 14. 3% over the 2019–2023 period.

The number of high-poverty counties in the region (those with poverty rates greater than 1. 5 times the national average) declined from 297 in 1960 to 119 over the 2019–2023 period. Since the 2012–2016 period, the share of Appalachian adults ages 25 and over with a bachelor’s degree or higher has risen by over four percentage points, to 27.

3%, in 2019–2023. Additionally, the high school completion rate for the region is now almost equal to that of the country, after decades of lagging behind. These gains have transformed the region from one of widespread poverty to one of economic contrasts.

While many communities are doing well economically, others still require basic infrastructure such as roads, health clinics, and water and wastewater systems. # About the Appalachian Regional Commission The Appalachian Regional Commission is a regional economic development entity serving 423 counties across the Appalachian Region.

Established by an act of Congress in 1965, the Commission is composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states, as well as a Federal Co-Chair appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. Annually, the group of governors elects one governor to serve as the States’ Co-Chair.

To strengthen local participation, ARC works with the Appalachian states to support a network of multi-county planning and development organizations, or local development districts (LDDs), throughout the region. Seventy-four LDDs cover all 423 counties in the region.

The LDDs help identify needs of local communities, assist with participation in ARC programs, and at times serve as pass-through entities or fiscal agents to local grantees. Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 3 of 28 1. Strengthen the region’s economy through expanding economic development strategies and investments in entrepreneurship and business development.

2. Expand and strengthen community systems (education, healthcare, housing, childcare, and others) that help Appalachians obtain a job, stay on the job, and advance along a financially sustaining career pathway. 3.

Ensure that the residents and businesses of Appalachia have access to reliable, affordable, and resilient utilities and infrastructure in order to successfully live and 4. Strengthen Appalachia’s community and economic development potential by preserving and investing in the region’s local, cultural heritage, and natural assets. 5.

Invest in the capacity of local leaders, organizations, and communities to address local challenges by providing technical assistance and support to access resources, engage partners, identify strategies and tactics, and conduct effective planning and project Additional information about the Appalachian Regional Commission can be found at # About ARC’s Broadband Grants Accessible, affordable broadband is fundamental for long-term economic growth and stability.

However, despite the general acceptance that broadband is an essential need, many Appalachian communities struggle to secure reliable broadband services. This impacts their ability to access education, employment opportunities, telehealth, and more. ARC’s broadband projects are designed to address unmet needs and create connections to help Appalachian communities thrive.

These investments have expanded over the years, from exclusively broadband construction (or deployment) projects to non-construction projects that support access to available and affordable broadband — including digital opportunity projects and, more recently, broadband as a service (BaaS) projects.

Broadband Construction Projects ARC invests in projects that promote the productive and strategic use of broadband and other telecommunications infrastructure to increase connectivity and strengthen economic Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 4 of 28 competitiveness.

Examples of broadband construction projects include, but are not limited to: • Installation of fiber or a wireless system into an industrial park to supply the bandwidth necessary for an expanding industry • Construction of a middle mile fiber optic network to increase bandwidth and capacity • Construction of a last mile FTTX network to bring service to areas without existing broadband service or without adequate service.

Unlike other grants, ARC does not administer construction grants. ARC operates in partnership with federal and state agencies under an MOU to manage federal construction grants throughout the region. Applicants for construction grants must secure a letter from the appropriate federal or state agency, known as a basic agency letter, indicating their willingness to administer ARC funds for any proposed infrastructure project.

Digital Opportunity Projects Examples of digital opportunity project activities include, but are not limited to: • Planning studies to explore options for a single district or a cluster of communities that lack broadband. This kind of study would assess the existing and future broadband needs, potential solutions, and costs for implementation.

• Programs that conduct outreach related to affordable internet access to low-income households • Digital literacy and training programs to help individuals and businesses develop the skills necessary to access and effectively use broadband technologies • Partnerships with community organizations and local governments to provide digital resources, such as computer labs and mobile technology units to communities in need Broadband as a Service Projects BaaS projects offer eligible communities the option to procure broadband as a service, rather than funding capital expenditure (construction/infrastructure).

Grantees will enter long-term contracts with internet service providers (ISPs) to subsidize broadband service for residential locations, businesses, and community anchor institutions within their approved project areas. Grantees will not own any broadband infrastructure, but must ensure that the selected ISP offers broadband services that are reasonably affordable and available to all who need them.

Note that, as the grant portfolio for this evaluation includes older, closed grants, BaaS projects are not included. More information about ARC’s broadband grants can be found at www. arc.

gov/broadband- This program evaluation will examine over 80 grants that closed between fiscal years 2019 and 2023, representing $28 million in ARC funding. Roughly a quarter of the grants were construction projects funding middle mile or last-mile fiber networks.

Around one-third of the grants funded equipment, one-third funded technical assistance and the remaining Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 5 of 28 grants funded wireless last mile service. These projects aimed to serve around 500 communities, 70,000 households, and 7,000 businesses; create or retain over 10,000 jobs, and leverage over $29 million in private investment.

ARC investments in the broadband portfolio typically track one or more of the following ARC performance measures: • Data — Megabits Per Second (Mbps) Download • Data — Megabits Per Second (Mbps) Upload o Note: ARC started tracking upload speeds in 2024. Projects included in the evaluation will not include projected or closeout upload speeds, but ARC is interested in collecting current upload speeds through this evaluation.

• Leveraged Private Investment (LPI) • Businesses Served and Improved • Communities Served and Improved • Households Served and Improved • Organizations Served and Improved Generally, projections for construction measures and “served” measures are expected to be met by grant closeout. Other projected measures, such as the “improved” measures and LPI, are expected to be met up to three years after grant closeout.

More information about ARC’s grant performance measures can be found at www. arc. gov/resource/guide-to-arc-project- The goals of this evaluation are to assess the performance of ARC’s broadband grants, better understand the grant implementation experiences of grantees, highlight promising practices among grantees, and provide ARC with a set of recommendations for improvement.

This project aims to achieve the above goals by summarizing grant data, collecting updated ARC grant performance data from past grantees as well as current real-time performance data, and collecting additional feedback from past grantees, including qualitative input on their experiences implementing their ARC grants. To the extent possible, ARC is also interested in direct feedback from grantee beneficiaries/clients.

ARC does not have contact information for grantee beneficiaries, and we recognize that some grantees may not be able to share such information. Any contact with beneficiaries would be coordinated between grantees and the selected contractor. Proposals should include an outline of the data collection and analysis to be conducted, a work plan, and a schedule for reports and deliverables.

The evaluation should address the following questions: Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 6 of 28 Description of the grant portfolio: ● What were the goals of the projects? ● What approaches did the projects use to meet these goals? ● What types of organizations received the grants and what are the characteristics of their beneficiaries?

● What specific ARC outputs and outcomes were projects designed to achieve, and to what extent did projects meet their performance goals? In addition: o What are current real-time upload/download speeds and latency for closed last mile projects? o For middle mile projects, what is the bandwidth/capacity of the network?

● What changes did grant beneficiaries (i.e., grantee clients) experience as a result of these projects? o How have ARC broadband grants fostered broadband access for Appalachian communities, in terms of affordability, provider options, availability, device access, and reliable service?

o Among businesses who received new or improved broadband service, what economic or other impact have they experienced (e.g., productivity, web presence, business opportunities, investments in technology, etc.)?

● What are the characteristics of communities that have received new or improved broadband service as a result of an ARC grant (e.g., population, number of households, number of schools, number of school-aged children, number and type of Community Anchor Institutions, etc.)? ● To what extent were project-related activities sustained beyond the period covered by the ARC grant, and for what amount of time?

Factors of successes and challenges: ● What factors influenced projects’ successful implementation and sustainability? ● What challenges/barriers to success did projects face, and how were they addressed?

The final report should include strategic, actionable recommendations for both ARC and the local communities and organizations that are implementing broadband projects related to the following topics: ● Implementation of broadband grants ● Support provided by ARC to applicants and grantees throughout the grant lifecycle ● Assessing grant performance ● Considerations for future broadband investment The successful applicant will develop a feasible methodology to complete the scope of work within the given timeframe.

The methodology should include the following: ● Quantitative analysis of the grant portfolio ● Framework for collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, such as: o Updated ARC grant performance metrics and grantee feedback (may include surveys, focus groups, interviews, site visits, and/or other methods) Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 7 of 28 o Network performance data ● Framework for completing at least 10 case studies to highlight promising practices and/or innovative approaches.

Specific attention should be given to best practices in communities that are rural and/or economically distressed.

ARC will provide the contractor with an Excel file dataset that includes the following: ● Descriptive information about each grant (e.g., start date, close date, funding amount, ● A narrative description of the grant ● Grantee contact information, current as of the close of the grant ● Projected ARC performance measures ● Closeout ARC performance measures The selected contractor will also have view-only access to ARC’s grants management database, where further information may be accessed (e.g., history of correspondence between the grantee and ARC staff and interim progress reports from the grantee).

• To the extent possible, feedback from grantee beneficiaries • Current network performance measures for construction projects o For last mile projects, download and upload speeds, latency, technology type, price packages o For middle mile projects, bandwidth capacity measured in Gbps • GIS data (polygon in shapefile or KMZ format) of the project location OR Fabric Location IDs of the locations served (note that this data must only be used for the purposes of this evaluation).

• Community Anchor Institutions served as well as locations taking mass market service The final report will summarize evaluation findings and synthesize themes in the areas of grantee successes and challenges, progress towards performance goals, and current network performance. The report will include actionable recommendations aimed at ARC’s implementation of the broadband grant program.

A draft report will be submitted in Microsoft Word to allow for ARC review and feedback. The final report will be submitted in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF once edits have been incorporated. Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 8 of 28 Findings and recommendations will be shared with ARC staff during a one-hour all-staff presentation.

This presentation will be conducted virtually via Zoom. The data files must include electronic versions of all relevant datasets compiled during the study, including raw data (to the extent possible while protecting confidentiality of survey responses), edited datasets, and results of statistical analyses.

This will include an Excel spreadsheet formatted for uploading updated ARC grant performance data to ARC’s grants management database. GIS shapefiles of the project areas must be submitted in a zipped ESRI Shapefile, CRS WGS84 4326; Fabric ID and other location data must be submitted in a CSV format with lat/long and location ID (where applicable). 4.

Other Deliverables as Suggested by Contractor Note that for this evaluation, ARC is not interested in the development of public-facing websites or web-based interactive maps. # Technical, Management, and Cost Proposal Contents The technical proposal must not exceed 15 pages, not including the abstract, accompanying resumes, and organizational background materials. 1.

Summary Abstract (300 words) In this section, provide a brief abstract of the proposal by summarizing the background, objectives, proposed methodology, and expected outputs and results of this project. Describe the approach or methods you intend to use to accomplish all the tasks specified in this RFP, including how you will collect speed and latency data.

Network performance measures may utilize the FCC standard for measuring network performance , or similar methodology. The proposal should identify the tasks in this project that will require participation by ARC staff. Further, the proposal should identify specific information needs, including sources, procedures, and individual research tasks that may need to be performed by ARC staff.

Finally, the proposal should identify any difficulties that may be encountered in this project and propose practical and sound solutions to overcome these difficulties. 3. Project Work Plan and Milestones The proposal should describe the phases into which the proposed work can be logically divided and performed.

A schedule of milestones and deadlines should be specified for the completion of various work elements, including, for example, interviews, analyses, written Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 9 of 28 progress reports, preliminary drafts for review, and final report. Regular check-in meetings with ARC staff are also required.

Please note: It is the responsibility of the contractor to provide line editing of the final report/deliverable. The contractor should budget accordingly. Personnel performing the work must be described in this section, including the number of people and their professional classifications (e.g., project director, meeting facilitator, analyst, business consultant, writer, line editor, etc.).

Brief resumes of the education and relevant experience of all key personnel are required. The selected contractor will be required to furnish the services of those identified in the proposal as key personnel. Any change in key personnel must be approved by ARC.

The management proposal must not exceed 15 pages, not including attachments. 1. Business Management Organization and Personnel Furnish a brief narrative description of the organization, including the division that will perform the proposed effort, and the authority responsible for controlling these resources and personnel.

The proposal must include a staffing plan that describes the contractor’s proposed staff distribution to accomplish this work. The staffing plan should present a chart that assigns the time commitment of each staff member to the project’s tasks and schedule. In addition, the proposal should include a detailed description of activities for key project-related personnel and anticipated deliverables.

Finally, the proposal should identify the relationship of key project personnel to the contracting organization, including consultants and subcontractors. 3. Relevant Prior Experience The proposal must describe the qualifications and experience of the organization and the personnel to be assigned to the project.

Information provided should include direct experience with the specific subject-matter area and must provide examples (links and/or attachments) of the three most similar recent projects undertaken by the applicant organization and the extent to which performance goals were achieved. Provide client organization names and addresses, names of contact persons, and email addresses and telephone numbers for reference.

Submission of this information shall be construed as an implied consent for ARC to contact those entities or individuals without further consent from the offeror. 4. Contract Agreement Requirements This section of the proposal should contain any special requirements that the contractor would like to include in the contract.

Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 10 of 28 The contract awarded for this project will be a FIRM FIXED-PRICE CONTRACT, with a total budget not to exceed $250,000 . Payments shall be made on a monthly or quarterly schedule (depending on contractor preference). The contract terms shall remain firm during the project and shall include all charges that may be incurred in fulfilling the terms of the contract.

Proposals must contain a detailed budget narrative as well as all cost information, including direct labor costs (consistent with the staffing plan), labor overhead costs, travel, estimated cost of any subcontracts, other direct costs, total direct cost and overhead, and total cost and fee or profit.

Proposals should include a plan for a kickoff meeting, regular check-in meetings, and a final presentation of key findings and recommendations to all staff. We anticipate these meetings will be conducted virtually. However, proposals should include travel costs, if applicable, for any potential in-person activities such as site visits.

ARC policy on allowable indirect overhead costs for university-based contracts is to permit universities to charge the same rates charged to their own state agencies. ARC will honor indirect rates as suggested by the contractor. However, be aware that a lower indirect rate may be more competitive in the selection process.

Proposals are due at or before 5:00 p. m. Eastern Time on July 18, 2025.

Please send proposals as one Word file or PDF to contracts@arc. gov . ● Submissions must be sent via email.

● Responses or unsolicited amendments will not be accepted after the closing date and ● Requests for time extensions past any deadlines will not be considered. ● Questions may be submitted to contracts@arc. gov by close of business on June 20.

Answers will be posted on the Contract Opportunities section of the ARC website on June 27.

Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 11 of 28 ARC will select contractors through a competitive process based on the following criteria: A complete, clearly articulated evaluation design and technically competent methodology that, at a minimum, addresses: • Analysis of grantee portfolio • Gathering feedback from grantee beneficiaries • Collecting real-time network performance measures • Excel spreadsheet for uploading performance data to ARC grants Qualifications and relevant prior experience evaluating broadband projects and broadband grant programs Relevance of similar projects undertaken by the applicant and inclusion of A credible management proposal for staffing, and the capability to carry out and support the project in a timely fashion Cost effectiveness of the proposal 5 points Overall Quality (writing style, formatting, readability, accuracy) 5 points It is anticipated that the contractor will be selected by September 8, 2025, for an estimated contract start date of October 1, 2025, and completion date of September 30, 2026.

Depending on the project plan, contract extensions will also be considered up to March 31, 2027. ARC reserves the right to modify the schedule of this procurement, including but not limited to, the execution of the contract or any other element. ARC also reserves the right to partially award the work associated with this RFP or to cancel this solicitation at its sole discretion.

# Warranties and Representations As used in this Section, “Contracting Officer” means the ARC Procurement and Contracting Officer and “Contractor” means an offeror awarded a contract under this RFP. 1. Certificate of Independent Price Determination .

The offeror certifies that: (A) The prices in this offer have been arrived at independently, without, for the purpose of restricting competition, any consultation, communication or agreement with any other offeror or competitor relating to: (1) those prices; (2) the intention to submit an offer; or (3) the methods or factors used to calculate the prices offered.

(B) The prices in this offer have not been and will not be knowingly disclosed by the offeror, directly or indirectly, to any other offeror or competitor before contract award unless otherwise required by law.

(C) No attempt Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 12 of 28 has been made or will be made by the offeror to induce any other concern to submit or not to submit an offer for the purpose of restricting competition. 2. Certificate of Binding Authority .

Each signature on the offer is considered to be a certification by the signatory that the signatory: (A) Is the person in the offeror’s organization responsible for determining the prices being offered in this proposal, and that the signatory has not participated and will not participate in any action contrary to provisions set forth in the preceding provision one “Certificate of Independent Price Determination,” or (B) has been authorized, in writing, to act as agent of the offeror in certifying that the offeror (and/or its principals) has not participated or will participate in any action contrary to the provisions set forth in the preceding provision 1.

3. Gratuities . The offeror certifies that it has not offered or given a gratuity to any ARC staff or its agents, nor has intended, by the gratuity, to obtain a contract or favorable treatment under a contract.

If the contract arising from this solicitation is terminated due to a finding of a gratuity, ARC will be entitled to pursue the same remedies as in a breach of the contract. The rights and remedies available to ARC under this provision shall not be exclusive and are in addition to any other rights and remedies provided by law or under contract. 4.

Covenant Against Contingent Fees .

The offeror acknowledges and warrants that no person or agency has been employed or retained to solicit or obtain a contract from this solicitation upon an agreement or understanding for a contingent fee, except for a bona fide agency or employee of the contractor or supervised by the contractor who neither exerts nor proposes to exert improper influence to solicit or obtain ARC contracts nor holds out as being able to obtain any ARC contract or contracts through improper influence.

Improper influence, for purposes of this provision, means any influence that induces or intends to induce an ARC employee or officer to give consideration or to act regarding an ARC contract on any basis other than the merits of the matter. 5. Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to ARC .

The offeror acknowledges that, if awarded a contract under this solicitation, it shall not enter into any agreement with an actual or prospective subcontractor, nor otherwise act in any manner which has or may have the effect of restricting sales by such subcontractors directly to ARC of any item or process made or furnished by the subcontractor under this contract or under any follow-on production contract.

Notwithstanding the above, the contractor is not precluded from asserting rights that are otherwise authorized by law or regulation. For purposes of this provision, the restriction applies only to the extent that any agreement restricting sales by subcontractors results in ARC being treated differently from any other prospective purchaser for the sale of the commercial product and/or commercial service(s). 6.

Anti-Kickback Procedures . The offeror warrants to have in place and follow reasonable procedures designed to prevent and detect kickbacks in its own operations and direct business relationships.

“Kickback,” as used here, means any money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, thing of value or compensation of any kind which is provided to any ARC employee or contractor or subcontractor for the purpose of improperly obtaining or rewarding favorable treatment in connection with a contract with ARC or in connection with a subcontract relating to a prime contract with ARC.

The forbidden kickback conduct shall Request for Proposals: Evaluation of ARC’s Broadband Grants Page 13 of 28 include: (A) providing or attempting to provide or offering to provide any kickback; (B) soliciting, accepting, or attempting to accept any kickback; or (C) including, directly or indirectly, the amount of any kickback in the contract price charged by a prime contractor to ARC or in the contract price charged by a subcontractor to a prime contractor or higher tier subcontractor.

7. Cancelation, Rescission, and Recovery of Funds for Illegal or Improper Activity .

(1) If ARC receives information that a contractor or a person has knowingly obtained contractor bid or proposal information or source selection information before the award of an ARC procurement contract to which the information relates, ARC may: (1) cancel the solicitation, if the contract has not yet been awarded or issued; or (2) rescind the contract with respect to which the contractor or someone acting for the contractor has been convicted for an offense where the conduct violates 41 U.S.C.

2102 for the purpose of either: (i) exchanging the information covered by such subsections for anything of value; or (ii) obtaining or giving anyone a competitive advantage in the award of an ARC or federal agency procurement contract. (2) If ARC rescinds the contract under the preceding paragraph (A) of this provision, ARC is entitled to recover, in addition to any penalty prescribed by law, the amount expended under the contract.

(3) The rights and remedies of ARC specified herein are not exclusive and are in addition to any other rights and remedies provided by law, regulation or under this contract. 8. Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity .

ARC, at its election, may reduce the price of a firm-fixed-price contract if the ARC’s Executive Director or their designee determines that there was a violation of the integrity of the procurement process. The price adjustment will be by 10% of the initial contract price determined by the Executive Director or their designee from records or documents in existence prior to the date of the contract award.

ARC may, at its election, reduce a prime contractor’s price for violations of the procurement integrity by its subcontractors by an amount not to exceed the amount of the fee reflected in the subcontract at the time the subcontract was first definitively priced. The rights and remedies of ARC specified herein are not exclusive and are in addition to any other rights and remedies provided by law or under a contract. 9.

Certification and Disclosure Regarding Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions .

The offeror, by signing its offer, certifies to the best of its knowledge and belief that no federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of ARC, any agency, a member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a member of Congress on its behalf in connection with the awarding of a contract related to this procurement action.

If any registrants under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 have made a lobbying contact on behalf of the offeror with respect to a contract related to this procurement activity, the Request