Fiber Maintenance and Restoration Services

The City of Columbus is seeking proposals under Solicitation RFQ033329 for a Universal Term Contract to provide comprehensive fiber optic cable maintenance and restoration services across its approximately 1,000-mile network of aerial and underground infrastructure. The contract, structured as an Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) agreement, has a base term of three years with two optional one-year extensions, allowing the City to purchase services as needed up to a maximum estimated value of $5 million over the full five-year period. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the City’s Bonfire portal by August 20, 2026, and must include detailed pricing, technical capabilities, and documentation verifying compliance with industry standards such as EIA/TIA-455 series, ANSI/ICEA S-87-640, and OSHA/EPA regulations. Evaluation will be conducted under a Best Value Procurement model, awarding the contract based on a weighted score of cost (35 points), capacity and efficacy including a guaranteed four-hour emergency response and minimum inventory of 5,000 feet of each fiber strand count (25 points), company stability and experience (20 points), and past performance as rated by three professional references on a 1–10 scale (20 points), totaling 100 points; the award will not go to the lowest bidder but to the most advantageous proposal. The selected vendor must maintain all necessary licenses, permits, and insurance, assume full liability for damages caused by negligence, and comply with strict confidentiality provisions prohibiting public disclosure of City-related information without written consent. Key personnel must submit detailed resumes, and any staff changes during the contract term require additional documentation. The contractor is required to maintain a specified inventory of materials including splice enclosures and fusion sleeves and must be available to work nights and weekends to meet service demands. The contract includes an optional extension provision allowing same pricing to continue for up to two additional years, and the City may extend services to other participating agencies under the Central Ohio Organization of Public Purchasers (COOPP), with the vendor obligated to honor terms but not held financially liable for those agencies’ obligations. Compliance with Ohio Revised Code §3517.13 is mandatory, requiring certification regarding prohibited campaign contributions to City officials, and preference will be given to vendors holding environmental certifications such as Green Seal, ISO 14001, or Energy Star. All invoicing will occur through written purchase orders