SEFS IRU Scott Hall Dark Fiber - i3 Broadband - No Cost

The Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) awarded a sole source contract to i3 Broadband for dark fiber infrastructure services through an Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) reciprocal agreement. The contract, effective September 8, 2026, through July 14, 2034, provides network backbone services consisting of approximately 68 miles of dark fiber with 16 fiber strands across four fiber rings (I-57 North Ring #1, I-74 West Ring #1, I-72 West Ring #2, and I-74 East Ring #6), plus Layer Two Transport services to three locations. The service area encompasses Points of Presence (POP) and Internet Local Area (ILA) sites in the Champaign, Kankakee, and Chicago areas. The contract is structured as a no-cost agreement where i3 Broadband's annual maintenance costs of $23,410 are offset by DoIT's reciprocal obligation valued at $55,580.70, with i3 Broadband remitting $32,170.70 annually to the State, resulting in a total contract value to DoIT of approximately $461,319.81 over the eight-year initial term.

The sole source procurement was justified based on the unique fiber route characteristics—specifically, the identified route from I-57 and Olympian to 350 East Cermak in Chicago represents the only available fiber on the specified path—and compatibility with existing infrastructure. DoIT determined that constructing alternative fiber infrastructure would cost approximately $6.1 million, resulting in estimated savings of $181,646.94 through this reciprocal arrangement compared to standard commercial alternatives. The contract was approved by the State Purchasing Officer on April 8, 2026, and authorized by the Chief Procurement Officer on April 22, 2026, with funding provided through state appropriated funds.