Category 3 - Solutions
Connections Category 3 provides for specific telecommunications infrastructure solutions when a customer has described general requirements. In this category, any portion of a customer requirement can be outsourced to one of the Connections solution providers. This option is ideal for agencies that do not wish to build and maintain their infrastructure on their own, but would rather have someone else handle the details on their behalf.
Category 3 can include all telecommunications infrastructure requirements in a building or a campus, customer service support, and billing verification functions.
Section C.5 of the Connections contract provides additional details on the types of solutions offered under Category 3.
General Characteristics
When to use Category 3
Examples
General Characteristics
1. Managed delivery of integrated solutions
Voice communications
Data communications
Cable and wire management
Voice and video conference
Billing and account management support
Customer service and technical support
2. Includes management and integration of any combination of:
Professional, Technical, E-Commerce services (e.g., Program/Project Management, Design, Development, Integration, Implementation, Operation)
Hardware
Software
3. Delivers a turnkey solution/product.
When to use Category 3
1. Customer has a functional description of desired outcome.
2. Customer can specify services required an external interfaces.
3. Customer desires a full turn-key solution.
Examples
1. Provision a new facility for voice, data, or video communications.
Engineering design
Provisioning (acquire all equipment and supplies)
Installation
Testing and certification
2. Integrate two existing customer information systems.
Analyze existing systems (hardware, software, databases).
Design solution.
Acquire hardware and software, as necessary.
Customize acquired hardware and software.
Develop or modify other software, as required.
Test.
Implement.
3. Perform a local network security assessment.
4. Implement a data warehouse.
Select host hardware.
Acquire required hardware and software.
Design warehouse data store.
Design interfaces from source systems to data warehouse.
Develop and implement the data warehouse in test mode.
Implement data warehouse.
Operate data warehouse in pilot mode for three months.
5. Customer service functions (i.e., voice help desk services)
Systems maintenance and upgrades
Set maintenance and repairs
Moves, adds, and changes
Inventory management
Emergency services
6. Billing verification
Examine bills and determine accuracy.
In addition, solution could include a fee structure for customer billing, methods of collection, and possible recommendations for alternatives.
Sub-categories under Category 3 may be found in the below attachment.
Doc ID
Name
Format
Size
Publish Date
 
Category 3 Codes
Subcategories for Solutions
Excel
14k
1/13/2004
Last Reviewed 9/4/2008