Whatcom County Rural Broadband Fiber to the Premise - Ferndale

The Port of Bellingham is seeking qualified firms to provide comprehensive telecommunications engineering and design consulting services for the North Ferndale Project, part of its effort to expand rural broadband infrastructure in Whatcom County. The scope includes creating detailed design drawings for PON/GPON/XGSPON fiber architectures, developing construction-ready outside plant telecommunication plans with takeoff sheets and bills of materials, and managing permitting processes with various authorities such as PSE, WSDOT, and BNSF. Additionally, the contract involves fielding telecommunications pole attachments, conducting make-ready analyses, and coordinating with construction teams to ensure the successful deployment of a fiber optic network. The project aims to extend an existing fiber network over 22 miles, serving approximately 456 homes, with the goal of establishing a publicly owned, open-access, carrier-grade broadband infrastructure capable of delivering symmetrical internet speeds up to 1Gbps, primarily to rural communities east of Lake Terrell and west of Ferndale. The solicitation, titled "Whatcom County Rural Broadband Fiber to the Premise - Ferndale," was posted on January 31, 2024, with a response deadline of February 23, 2024. It is managed under NAICS code 541611 and is designated as a SLED (State and Local Government Entity) procurement by the Port of Bellingham, part of the Washington state government. Interested firms can find additional details and submit responses through the Port’s bidding portal. The project emphasizes building a resilient, community-focused broadband network to meet current and future connectivity needs in the region.