NIGP 83896: Wire and Cable, Telecommunication (Not Otherwise Specified)

NIGP 83896 Wire and Cable, Telecommunication (Not Otherwise Specified), an Item code, encompasses structured cabling infrastructure—copper and fiber optic cable systems, installation labor, termination, testing, certification, and related hardware—that state and local governments deploy across educational facilities, correctional institutions, municipalities, counties, and transit infrastructure to support voice, data, and video networks. Recent solicitations show buyers purchasing complete cabling lifecycle services: design and installation of new structured systems; moves, adds, and changes (MAC) to existing infrastructure; system maintenance and 24/7 technical support; cable management components; and integration with surveillance, intercom, access control, and broadcast automation platforms. Issuing bodies span state departments, county purchasing offices, city procurement bureaus, independent school districts, regional education service centers, airport authorities, and county sheriff departments. Texas agencies—the Department of Criminal Justice, Education Service Center Region 4, Department of Information Resources, and Northside Independent School District—and Georgia jurisdictions—Chatham County and Madison County School System—appear as repeat buyers. Competitive mechanics include RFPs, RFQs, IFBs, and ITBs; cooperative purchasing vehicles such as DIR's master cooperative contract serving statewide entities; and set-asides including Texas VetHUB (Veteran Heroes United in Business) subcontracting goals at 3% and Georgia M/WBE participation targets at 30%.

Texas dominates recent activity, with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice soliciting broadband cabling and video surveillance system installation across 80 TDCJ facilities statewide (RFP 696IT26O017, due November 9, 2026); Texas Education Service Center Region 4 bidding structured network cabling and fiber optic connections across member school districts (RFP 696IT26O017, due November 9, 2026); and DIR posting an indefinite-quantity cooperative cabling services contract serving state agencies, local governments, and K-12 districts statewide with historical volumes of $11.1 million to $12.0 million annually (COOP2026SOL00008, due September 24, 2026). Georgia activity includes Madison County School System's structured cabling installation at Comer Elementary School with 281 total drops—68 access points, 61 camera, 88 data, and supporting infrastructure (RFP PE55127NONST2026000000015, due July 20, 2026)—and Chatham County's annual low-voltage cabling services contract with M/WBE participation goals and cost-per-foot pricing (IFB PE77548NONST2027000000399, due August 11, 2026). Additional geographic spread includes Florida (City of Doral telecommunications wiring services, ITB 2026-22, due September 28, 2026), Michigan (Early Childhood Center structured cabling, due November 5, 2026), Georgia (Peachtree City Airport Authority air traffic control tower communications and weather station wiring, due September 17, 2026), and Texas (City of Brownsville 5G infrastructure deployment across eighty-two locations, due July 30, 2026). Contract terms typically run one to three years with renewal options; insurance requirements are standard at $1 million minimum commercial general liability and workers' compensation; and qualifications often mandate BICSI credentials, manufacturer certifications, and demonstrated prior experience on comparable installations.