US Roure 30 Middle Mile Infrastructure Project

The US Route 30 Middle Mile Infrastructure Project, issued by the Ohio Department of Development's BroadbandOhio office, is a competitive solicitation aimed at expanding commercially available middle-mile broadband infrastructure along the full stretch of US Route 30 across Ohio. The project requires the design, construction, and deployment of a fiber-based network extending east and west from Mansfield, linking to the OARnet backbone, and addressing broadband connectivity needs across 15 counties and critical institutional stakeholders, including military and higher education facilities. The contract term spans from late 2025 through June 2027, with options for renewal and extensions based on legislative funding. Applicants must submit technical and cost proposals electronically via OhioBuys by the established deadline early in 2026, adhering to detailed submission instructions and requirements. Key deliverables include constructing Points of Presence conforming to 179th Cyberspace Wing specifications, a project management plan, and community engagement components, with emphasis on fiber conduit installation capable of supporting 288 fibers and redundancy provisions. Evaluations prioritize technical merit and cost in a weighted best-value trade-off process, where technical criteria such as fiber expansion planning, proposer methodology and experience, work plan, and minority business enterprise (MBE) certification collectively carry the majority of points, while cost holds a secondary but significant weight. The contract encourages compliance with state and federal laws, particularly prohibiting certain political contributions and requiring certifications around legal and financial standing, with offerors completing detailed certification forms addressing past legal and financial issues that may affect eligibility. Special contract conditions emphasize submission of personnel qualifications, incorporation of travel costs into proposals, and requirements for formal subcontracting agreements. Final acceptance and inspection are overseen by ODOT and OARnet, ensuring adherence to Ohio Department of Transportation standards and project specifications. The contract’s maximum value is capped at $6 million, with payment and invoicing managed through the state’s budget and finance office, albeit with limited publicly available details on precise payment mechanisms or accounting codes.