Fiber Construction Services North

The State of Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, through its Telecommunications organization, awarded a Blanket Competitive Sealed Bidding contract to Custom Underground, Inc. for REBID II Fiber Construction Services in the North Region. The initial three-year contract term runs from May 6, 2026, through May 5, 2029, with a base value of $5,380,715.00 and an optional seven-year renewal period valued at $21,178,127.80, for a total potential contract value of $26,558,842.80. Custom Underground, Inc. was selected as the sole responsive bidder following an Invitation for Bid process conducted by the State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office.

The contract encompasses labor resources, equipment rental, materials, and specialized services required for fiber optic cable installation and splicing operations. Labor categories include project managers, design engineers, foremen, equipment operators, splicer/fiber technicians, laborers, and truck drivers, with differentiated pricing for standard business hours (Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), extended hours (Monday-Friday, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., and Saturdays), and weekend/holiday work. Equipment provisions include directional boring machines, plowing equipment, excavation machinery, and support vehicles, while materials and equipment rental costs are structured as cost-reimbursable line items subject to vendor-provided documentation of actual expenses. Custom Underground, Inc. committed to Business Enterprise Program and Veterans Business Program participation, allocating 7 percent of contract value to certified Business Enterprise Program vendor D N D Electric, Inc. and 4 percent to Veterans Business Program vendor participation.