850382opticBalt.pdf

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND

PURCHASING DIVISION

400 WASHINGTON AVENUE, ROOM 148

TOWSON, MARYLAND 21204-4665

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. P-10000553

FIBER OPTIC CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED SERVICES

Timeline

Issue Date October 21, 2026

Pre-Proposal Meeting (Mandatory) December 16, 2026, 11:00am

WebEx

Question Submission Deadline January 5, 2027, 4:00pm

Due Deadline January 14, 2027, 3:00pm

Amendments to solicitations often occur prior to bid opening and sometimes within as little as

48 hours prior to bid opening. It is the potential vendor’s responsibility to frequently visit the

Procurement Portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/baltimorecountymd to obtain amendments.

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. P-10000553

FIBER OPTIC CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED SERVICES

Table Of Contents

1. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR SOLICITATIONS

2. TIMELINE

3. INSURANCE PROVISIONS

4. BACKGROUND

5. SCOPE OF SERVICES AND SPECIFICATIONS

6. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

7. QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES; ADDENDA

8. EVALUATION OF OFFERS

9. ORAL PRESENTATION

10. OFFEROR QUALIFICATIONS

11. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

12. PRICING PROPOSAL

13. VENDOR REQUIRED FORMS

14. ATTACHMENTS

Attachments:

A - Mandatory_Contract_Provisions

B - OIT Technical Standards

C - Informational WAGE RATES

1. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR SOLICITATIONS

Instructions, Forms and Specifications

A. All offers are to be submitted on and in accordance with the forms provided by the Division of

Procurement Services. All offers must be submitted electronically as specified in the General

Conditions. Bid/Proposal times are either Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Daylight Time, whichever prevails. Late offers will not be considered.

B. Responses to Requests for Bids and Requests for Proposals shall be accompanied by an executed Procurement Affidavit, as provided by the Division of Purchasing Services. This does not apply to Requests for Quotations.

C. Amendments to solicitations often occur prior to offer opening and sometimes within hours prior to offer opening. All bidders are responsible for frequently visiting the Procurement Services web site to obtain amendments.

D. Additional information or clarification of any of the instructions or information contained herein may be obtained from the Division of Purchasing Services. The County assumes no responsibility for oral instructions or suggestions. All official correspondence in regard to this solicitation must be directed to, and will be issued by, the Division of Purchasing.

E. Offerors finding any discrepancy in or omission from the specifications, in doubt as to meaning, or asserting that the specifications are discriminatory, shall notify the Division of Purchasing

Services in writing at once, but in no case later than five (5) business days prior to the scheduled opening of bids. Exceptions stated do not obligate the County to change the specifications. The

Division of Purchasing Services will notify all offerors in writing, by amendment duly issued, of any substantive revisions to specifications or instructions.

F. Unless a written exception detailing non-conformance to specifications is noted on the offer, any part number, product number, catalog number, etc., noted on the offer will be considered in full compliance with the specifications.

G. Submission of a offer in response to this solicitation evidences the offeror’s acceptance of these

General Instructions and the terms and conditions of the solicitation. Submission of an offer evidences offeror’s representation and warranty that the person submitting the offer is authorized to act for and bind the contractor.

H. All original and duplicate bids/proposals and other attachments, related documents and correspondence, including all follow-up documents and correspondence, shall be typed or written in English. All prices/percentages and/or other monetary figures shall be in United States dollars.

I. Issuing Officer: The sole point of contact for the County for purposes of this solicitation is the

Buyer, listed on the cover page; questions regarding any aspect of the competitive process must be directed to the Buyer, in writing.

Award of Solicitations

A. Any award pursuant to Requests for Quotation and Requests for Bid is made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder following the public opening of bids under Section 10-2-406 of the Baltimore County Code, 2015, as amended.

B. Awards on Requests for Quotations and Requests for Bid will be made within sixty (60) days after bid opening unless otherwise indicated in this solicitation. No bidder will be allowed to withdraw a bid during that period.

C. The successful offeror may be required to give security or bond, as stated in the bid document, for performance of the contract.

D. When there is a conflict between the unit price or percentage and the extension, the unit price or percentage will prevail as the amount of the offer.

E. Cash discounts will be considered in determining awards. However, cash discount offers must allow not less than 30 days to be considered in offer evaluation. An offer offering a cash discount in a period of less than 30 days will be evaluated as an offer without a discount offer; however, should that offeror obtain award by consideration of the gross price, the County shall make every effort to obtain the discount. The County will not accept any payment terms with a period of less than 30 days.

F. Invoices against resulting order(s) must be submitted, to the Office of Budget and Finance, Disbursements Section, 400 Washington Avenue, Room 148, Towson, Maryland 21204-4665 or via email to disbursement@baltimorecountymd.gov with vendor name in the subject line. Invoices must show the vendor's Federal Tax Identification Number or Social Security

Number, as appropriate, and order number and line number(s) that correspond with resulting order(s).

G. The County will not pay interest charges or other penalties for invoice payments.

H. Prices quoted shall be exclusive of all non-applicable Federal and Maryland State taxes. Tax exemption certificate will be furnished if required.

I. The County reserves the right to consider making payments via electronic funds transfers (EFT) on contracts for which this payment vehicle may be appropriate.

Public Information, Proprietary And Confidential Information:

A. The County operates under the Maryland Public Information Act, which permits access to most records and documents.

B. Bids/Proposals will be available for public inspection after the award announcement, except to the extent that a Contractor designates trade secrets or other proprietary data to be confidential. It is the responsibility of the bidder/offeror to clearly identify each part of their bid/proposal that it believes is confidential or proprietary by identifying each pertinent page with the clearly legible words "confidential" or ''proprietary". The bidder/offeror agrees, with regard to any portion of the bid/proposal that is not identified as ''proprietary" or "confidential" that it believes, and expressly permits, the County to deem it not to be proprietary or confidential. A

Contractor's designation of material as confidential will not necessarily be conclusive, and the

Contractor may be required to provide justification why such material should not be disclosed, on request, under the Maryland Public Information Act, State Government Article, Sections §§

10-611 through 10-628, of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

C. Failure to comply may result in disclosure of unmarked information or rejection of improperly designated confidential material.

Reservations

A. The County reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any and all offers received, and to make a whole award, multiple awards, a partial award, or no award, to best serve the public interest.

B. The County may waive formalities in offers as the interests of the County may require.

C. The County reserves the right to increase or decrease quantities by approximately twenty (20) percent to be purchased at the prices offered.

D. The County reserves the right to award solicitations or place orders on a lump sum or individual item basis, or in such combination as to best serve the public interest.

E. The County may waive minor differences, irregularities, and technicalities in the specifications, provided they neither violate the specifications intent, materially affect the operation for which the items or services are being purchased, nor increase estimated maintenance and repair costs to the County.

F. At any time during normal business hours and as often as the County may deem necessary, the

Contractor shall make available to and permit inspection and photocopying, by the County, its employees or agents, of all records, information and documentation of the Contractor related to the subject matter of this contract, including, but not limited to, all contracts, invoices, payroll, and financial audits.

G. Notwithstanding any other terms or provisions of the contract, in the event the County is temporarily or permanently prevented, restricted or delayed in the performance of any or all of the duties and obligations imposed upon or assumed by it thereunder, by act of the General

Assembly of Maryland or the Baltimore County Council, by a court of competent jurisdiction or by administrative delay not due to the fault of the County (and its members and agents) shall not be liable directly or indirectly for any claims caused to or suffered by the Contractor or any other person in connection with or as a result of such prevention, restriction or delay.

H. The County further reserves the right to make such investigation as it deems necessary to determine the ability of offerors to furnish the required services, and offerors shall furnish all such information for this purpose as the County may request. The County also reserves the right to reject the offer of any offeror who is not currently in a position to perform the contract, or who has previously failed to perform similar contracts properly, or in a manner acceptable to the

County, all of which shall be in the County’s sole discretion.

Delivery

A. Offerors shall guarantee delivery of materials in accordance with the delivery schedule stated in specifications. All items shall be delivered F.O.B. Destination/Inside Delivery, unless otherwise indicated, with delivery costs and charges included in the bid price.

B. The County reserves the right to charge the Contractor or vendor for each day the materials, supplies, or services are not delivered in accordance with the delivery schedule. The sum established by the specifications may be invoked at the discretion of the Purchasing Agent, said sum to be considered not as a penalty, but as liquidated damages, and deducted from final payment, or otherwise, charged to the Contractor or vendor. This remedy is not exclusive but shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies available to the County. These liquidated damages shall be in addition to any and all actual damages incurred directly or indirectly by the

County, its agents, assigns, and contractors.

C. All offerors and vendors/contractors are to ensure that packaging materials used for this requirement are not made of non-recyclable Styrofoam (Polystyrene). Additionally, any materials used in packing to cushion, protect and ship are to be made of recycled, recyclable or biodegradable materials.

Competition

A. The name of any manufacturer, trade name, or vendor catalog number mentioned in the specifications is for the purpose of designating a standard of quality and type, and for no other purpose unless otherwise stated in the solicitation.

B. An offeror may offer a price on only one unit per line item. Even though two or more units may meet the specification, offerors must determine for themselves which to offer. Submission by an offeror of prices for more than one unit shall be sufficient cause for rejection of the offer for that specific item.

C. Offers which show omission, irregularity, alteration of forms or additions not called for, as well as conditional or unconditional unresponsive offers, or offers obviously unbalanced, may be rejected.

D. All offers must be accompanied by such descriptive literature as may be called for by the specifications or offers.

E. If products to be provided to the County contain any substances that could be hazardous or injurious to a person's health, a material safety data sheet (MSDS) must be provided to the

Division of Purchasing Services. This applies also to any product used by a Contractor when providing a service to the County.

F. Specifications are based on County needs and uses, estimated costs of operations and maintenance, and other significant and/or limiting factors to meet County requirements, and to ensure consistency with County policies. Minimum specifications, and maximum specifications where included, are not established arbitrarily to limit competition or to exclude otherwise competitive offerors.

G. Unless multiple or alternate offers are requested in the solicitation, these offers may not be accepted. However, if an offeror clearly indicates a base offer, it shall be considered for award as though it were the only offer submitted by the offeror.

Terminations

A. Termination for Convenience: The County may terminate a contract, in whole or in part, without cause, by providing written notice thereof to the Contractor. In the event of termination, without cause, the County shall advise the Contractor in writing of the termination date and of work to be performed during the final days prior to contract termination. The Contractor shall be paid for all reasonable costs incurred by the Contractor up to the date of termination set forth in the written notice of termination. The Contractor will not be reimbursed for any anticipatory profits, which have not been earned up to the date of termination. Payments to be provided on a lump sum basis shall be prorated by the County based on the services rendered or goods delivered up to the date of termination set forth in the written notice.

B. Termination for Default:

1. In addition to other available rights and remedies, the County shall have the right upon the happening of any default, without providing notice to the Contractor: 1) To terminate a contract immediately, in whole or in part; 2) To suspend the contractor's authority to receive any undisbursed funds; and/or 3) To proceed at any time or from time to time to protect and enforce all rights and remedies available to the County, by suit or any other appropriate proceedings, whether for specific performance or any covenant, term or condition set forth in the contract, or for damages or other relief, or proceed to take any action authorized or permitted under applicable law or regulations.

2. Upon termination of a contract for default, the County may elect to pay the Contractor for services provided or goods delivered up to the date of termination, less the amount of damages caused by the default, all as determined by the County in its sole discretion. If the damages exceed the undisbursed sums available for compensation, the County shall not be obligated to make any further disbursements hereunder.

C. Funding Out: If funds are not appropriated or otherwise made available to support contract continuation in any fiscal year, the County shall have the right to terminate the contract without prior notice to the Contractor and without any obligation or penalty.

Hold Harmless – Indemnification

A. The Contractor shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the County, its employees, agents and officials from any and all liabilities, claims, suits, or demands including attorney’s fees and court costs which may be incurred or made against the County, its employees, agents or officials resulting from any act or omission committed in the performance of the duties imposed by and performed under the terms of the contract. The Contractor shall not be responsible for acts of gross negligence or willful misconduct committed by the County.

B. The Contractor shall also defend, indemnify and hold harmless the County, its employees, agents and officials from any and all liabilities, claims, suits, or demands including attorney’s fees and court costs which may be made against the County, its employees, agents or officials by any third party arising from the alleged violation of any third party’s trade secrets, proprietary information, trademark, copyright, patent rights, or intellectual property rights in connection with the contract.

C. Unless notified in writing by the County to the contrary, the Contractor shall provide defense for the County, its employees, agents and officials in accordance with this Article and in doing so the Contractor shall allow the County to participate in said defense of the County, its employees, agents and officials, to the extent and as may be required by the County and the Contractor shall cooperate with the County in all aspects in connection therewith. All filings, actions, settlements, and pleadings shall be provided to the County for comment and review prior to filing or entering thereof. No filing, action, settlement or pleading shall be filed or entered without the prior consent and approval of the County.

Minority/Women’s Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) and Small Business Notice

Baltimore County is seeking Minority, Woman and Small Businesses to offer on current solicitations as a prime or subcontractor. In accordance with the Executive Order 2022-005 dated December 6, 2022, “an overall goal of 30% of the cumulative total of all discretionary dollars spent in a fiscal year of County procurements is to be awarded to and/or performed by MBE and WBE firms.” Refer to the section entitled Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise Requirements

(MBE/WBE) for the current required goal. MBE/WBE’s and Small Businesses are encouraged to respond to this solicitation.

Authority

A. In case of disputes as to whether an item or service quoted or delivered meets specifications, the decision of the Purchasing Agent or authorized representative shall be final and binding on both parties. The Purchasing Agent may request the recommendation in writing of the head of the using agency, the Standards and Specifications Committee, or other objective sources.

B. Offerors desiring to appeal a decision of the Division of Procurement Services must deliver written protests to the Division of Purchasing Services within 10 days of notification of award. The Purchasing Agent or designee will review the protested decision, examine any additional information provided by the offeror and respond in writing within 10 working days of receipt of written protests.

C. Instructions, Specifications, and Proposals are issued, and all bids, quotations, orders, and purchases are made pursuant and subject to the provisions of the Baltimore County Charter, and Article 10, Title 2 of the Baltimore County Code, 2015, as amended, and regulations and policies established or prescribed by the Division of Purchasing Services.

HIPAA

The Contractor shall comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and shall execute a Business Associate Agreement as may be required by the County.

Reports

When required, reports prepared for Baltimore County should be printed on recycled and recyclable paper printed on both sides per Section 10-2-312 of the Baltimore County Code, 2015, as amended.

Terms of Contract

A. Any contract awarded pursuant to this solicitation shall be by and between the successful offeror and the County, and shall contain and incorporate, but may not be limited to, all terms and conditions of the solicitation, any amendments or changes thereto. Submission of an offer in response to this solicitation evidences the Contractor’s acceptance of the terms and conditions therein.

B. The provisions of the contract awarded pursuant to this solicitation shall be governed by the laws and regulations of Maryland and Baltimore County.

C. Any litigation arising out of or relating in any way to the contract or the performance thereunder shall be brought only in the courts of Maryland, and the Contractor hereby irrevocably consents to such jurisdiction. To the extent that the County is a party to any litigation arising out of or relating in any way to the contract or the performance thereunder, such an action shall be brought only in a court of competent jurisdiction in the courts of the State of Maryland.

Severability

If any provisions in the contract are declared by a court or other lawful authority to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason the remaining provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby and shall remain enforceable to the full extent permitted by law.

Counterparts

The contract may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

Survival

The provisions of paragraphs 1.7 (Representations and Warranties), 4.2 (Damages), 7

(Indemnification), and 10 (HIPAA) shall survive delivery of commodities and/or performance of services.

No Waiver, Etc.

No failure or delay by the County to insist upon the strict performance of any term, condition or covenant of the contract, or to exercise any right, power, or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof, shall constitute a waiver of any such term, condition, or covenant or of any such breach, or preclude the County from exercising any such right, power, or remedy at any later time or times.

Maryland Registration / Qualification Requirements

A. Baltimore County verifies the company’s status with SDAT and may require the successful offeror to submit a Good Standing Certificate (also known as a “Certificate of Status”) issued by the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation’s (“SDAT”) Charter Division, and the

State of Organization.

B. For information on registering to do business in the State of Maryland or to download SDAT related forms visit the Maryland Department of State Department of Assessments & Taxation at https://businessexpress.maryland.gov/.

If you need additional assistance call (410) 767-1184.

C. Baltimore County requires the successful offeror to be in “good standing” (also known as

Certificate of Status) with the State in which it is organized, and in the State of Maryland, under certain circumstances. Baltimore County verifies the successful offeror’s status with

SDAT. Non-compliance to this section may result in a delay in contract award or rejection of an offer.

Eligibility of Candidates for Employment

A. The E-Verify program is an internet-based employment verification system that allows employers to verify employee status against Federal Social Security and immigration databases.

B. Baltimore County encourages employers to utilize the E-verify program, or an equivalent system, as a means to help employers determine the eligibility of new hires.

Warranty

A. Contractor warrants for one year from acceptance, or for such longer period otherwise expressly stated in the attached solicitation, all goods, services, and construction provided. This includes a warranty against any and all defects. The contractor must correct any and all defects in material and/or workmanship that may appear during the warranty period, even if discovered after the end of the warranty period, by repairing any such defect, (or replacing with new items or new materials, if necessary), at no cost to the County and to the County’s satisfaction.

B. Should a manufacturer's or service provider’s warranty exceed the requirements stated above, that warranty will be the primary one used in the case of defect. Copies of manufacturer's or service provider’s warranties must be provided upon request.

C. All warranties must be in effect from the date of acceptance by the County of the goods, services, or construction.

https://businessexpress.maryland.gov/

D. The contractor warrants that all work shall be accomplished in a workmanlike manner, and the contractor must observe and comply with all Federal, State, County and local laws, ordinances and regulations in providing the goods, and performing the services or construction.

American Manufactured Goods Required for Public Works

A. The Contractor shall comply with Section 14-416 of the Maryland State Finance and

Procurement Article which requires a contractor or subcontractor to use or supply American

Manufactured goods in the performance of a contract for (a) constructing or maintaining a public work; or (b) buying or manufacturing machinery or equipment that is to be installed at a public work site, as the same may be amended from time to time.

B. This section does not apply: (a) if Baltimore County determines that: (i) the price of the American manufactured goods exceeds the price of a similar manufactured good that is not manufactured in the United States by an unreasonable amount; (ii) the item or a similar item is not manufactured or available for purchase in the United States in reasonably available quantities;

(iii) the quality of the item or a similar item manufactured in the United States is substantially less than the quality of a comparably priced, similar, and available item that is not manufactured in the United States; or (iv) the procurement of a manufactured good would be inconsistent with the public interest; or (b) to emergency life safety and property safety goods.

C. The Contractor shall certify to Baltimore County whether the offered goods and/or services are provided in the United States.

Recycled and Environmentally Preferable Products and Services.

A. Under Executive Order 2025-01, County agencies are encouraged to buy recycled and environmentally preferable products and services. Recycled products include recycled material, especially post-consumer material. Environmentally preferable products and services are those with a reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products that serve the same purpose. These products include those that minimize the consumption of energy and water; prevent the creation of solid waste, air pollution or water pollution; minimize the use of materials or processes which compromise the environment;

and/or promote the use of non-toxic substances and avoid toxic materials or processes.

B. Baltimore County favors recycled and environmentally preferable products and services. All vendors are strongly encouraged to offer such products in response to solicitations and to assist the County in documenting recycled and environmentally preferable results.

Requests for Proposals

In addition to aforementioned instructions, the following apply to Requests for Proposals (RFP).

A. All proposals submitted shall be valid for 180 days following the closing date noted, unless otherwise specified in the proposal documents. This period may be extended by mutual written agreement between offerors and the County. Proposals may not be withdrawn during this period.

B. Modifications: The County may, at any time by written order, make changes within the general scope of a contract including, but not limited to, changes (1) in any designs or specifications; (2) in the method, quantity, or manner of performance of the work; (3) in any County-furnished facilities, equipment, materials, services, or property; or (4) directing acceleration in the performance of the work. No change, modification or revision shall be binding upon the County, unless made in writing by its authorized representatives.

C. Subcontracting and Assignment: All sub-contracting arrangements require prior approval of the

County. The Contractor shall not assign, transfer, convey, delegate, subcontract, or otherwise dispose of any award of any or all of its rights, title, or interest therein, without the prior written consent of the County, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

D. Additional Reservations for RFP’s

1. This RFP creates no obligation on the part of the County to compensate offerors for proposal preparation expenses. The County reserves the right to award a contract based upon proposals received without further negotiation and may do so; offerors should not rely upon the opportunity to alter their proposals during discussions.

2. The County reserves the right to waive minor irregularities, to negotiate in any manner necessary to best serve the public interest, and to make a whole award, multiple awards, a partial award, or no award. The County reserves the right to cancel this RFP, in whole or in part, any time before the closing date.

E. Confidentiality: Offerors must specifically identify any portions of their proposals deemed to contain confidential information, proprietary information or trade secrets. Those portions must be readily separable from the balance of the proposal. Such designations will not be conclusive, and offerors may be required to justify why such material should not, upon written request, be disclosed by the County under the Public Information Act, General Provisions Article, Title 4, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended. The County may disclose such information if required by law, court order or subpoena.

Sustainable Fiber Construction and Environmental Practices

A. Sustainable Construction Requirements

The Contractor shall perform all services under this Contract in a manner that minimizes adverse environmental impacts and supports Baltimore County's sustainability objectives. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable Federal, State of Maryland, and local environmental laws, regulations, permits, and requirements applicable to the work performed under this Contract.

The Contractor shall, to the extent feasible and consistent with applicable codes, standards, engineering requirements, and the County's direction:

A. Minimize disturbance to existing roads, sidewalks, pavement, landscaping, vegetation, trees, soil, and other surrounding areas during construction, maintenance, locating, and related activities.

B. Utilize existing conduit, pathways, and infrastructure where feasible and appropriate to reduce unnecessary excavation, construction materials, and disturbance to the surrounding environment.

C. Select construction methods that minimize excavation, surface disturbance, traffic impacts, and disruption to residents, businesses, utilities, and existing infrastructure, when technically and operationally feasible.

D. Implement appropriate erosion, sediment, stormwater, and soil protection measures in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, permits, and County requirements.

E. Restore areas disturbed by the Contractor's operations to conditions equal to or better than those existing prior to the work, unless otherwise directed by the County or required by applicable construction specifications.

F. Minimize unnecessary vehicle idling and, where commercially feasible, utilize properly maintained, fuel-efficient, or alternative-fuel equipment and vehicles appropriate for the work.

G. Prevent and promptly address releases of fuels, oils, lubricants, chemicals, or other hazardous substances. Such materials shall be stored, handled, transported, and disposed of in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

B. Sustainable Materials Management

The Contractor shall manage materials in a manner that promotes waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and responsible disposal.

A. The Contractor shall salvage and reuse useful materials removed or recovered during the performance of work, to the extent feasible and consistent with the County's requirements.

B. Reusable materials, including fiber optic cable, conduit, hardware, and other components, shall be reused for County projects when directed or approved by the County.

C. Materials that cannot be reused shall be recycled or diverted from disposal facilities whenever feasible and when appropriate recycling or recovery programs are reasonably available.

D. The Contractor shall properly manage and dispose of construction debris, scrap materials, removed cable, lashing wire, tape, packaging, empty reels, and other waste generated through contract performance.

E. The Contractor shall minimize packaging and utilize recyclable or reusable packaging materials whenever feasible.

F. The Contractor shall properly manage electronic components, batteries, and other materials requiring special handling and shall ensure that such materials are recycled or disposed of in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

G. County-supplied materials and equipment that are removed, excess, or otherwise designated for return shall be handled in accordance with the County's direction and the applicable requirements of this Contract.

C. Vegetation and Natural Resource Protection

The Contractor shall minimize impacts to trees, vegetation, soil, and other natural resources during construction and maintenance activities.

A. Tree trimming, vegetation removal, and right-of-way clearing shall be limited to the areas and extent authorized by the County and shall be performed in accordance with applicable permits, regulations, and requirements.

B. The Contractor shall take reasonable measures to avoid unnecessary damage to trees, vegetation, landscaping, and other natural resources.

C. Removed branches, foliage, and other vegetative debris shall be promptly removed from the work area and properly managed in accordance with applicable requirements.

D. Where work results in disturbance to grass, soil, landscaping, or other areas, the Contractor shall restore the affected areas in accordance with the Contract specifications and County requirements.

E. The Contractor shall use appropriate measures to minimize soil erosion and prevent sediment from entering storm drains, waterways, or other environmentally sensitive areas.

D. Environmentally Preferable Products and Materials

Where technically appropriate, commercially available, reasonably priced and consistent with the

County's specifications, the Contractor is encouraged to provide or utilize environmentally preferable products and materials.

Such products or materials may include those that:

A. Contain recycled or post-consumer content;

B. Are recyclable or reusable at the end of their useful life;

C. Reduce waste or packaging;

D. Have reduced environmental impacts associated with their manufacture or use; or

E. Demonstrate other recognized environmental attributes.

The use of environmentally preferable products or materials shall not relieve the Contractor of the obligation to meet all technical, performance, safety, durability, and applicable code requirements.

E. Sustainability Information to be Provided by Offerors

Offerors shall provide the following information as part of their proposal:

A. A brief description of the Offeror's sustainability and environmental practices as they relate to fiber optic construction, emergency maintenance, locating, engineering, and related services.

B. A description of the Offeror's approach to reducing construction waste and promoting the reuse, recycling, and responsible disposal of materials.

C. A description of the Offeror's practices for minimizing environmental impacts associated with excavation, trenching, directional boring, aerial construction, vegetation management, and restoration activities.

D. A description of any environmental certifications, sustainability programs, or environmental management systems maintained by the Offeror, if applicable.

E. A description of any recycling, material recovery, or responsible disposal programs utilized by the Offeror for fiber optic cable, conduit, construction materials, electronic components, packaging, or other materials generated through its operations.

F. Sustainability Reporting and Tracking

Baltimore County seeks to track and document environmental benefits associated with environmentally preferable purchasing and sustainable practices in support of Executive Order 2025-

01 and the County's sustainability objectives.

The Contractor shall cooperate with the County by providing reasonably available information necessary to document sustainability outcomes associated with this Contract.

The Contractor shall provide available information regarding sustainable practices and environmental attributes associated with work performed under this Contract. Such information may include, but is not limited to:

1. Quantities or types of materials reused or recycled;

2. Quantities of construction materials diverted from disposal facilities;

2. TIMELINE

Issue Date: October 21, 2026

Pre-Proposal Meeting (Mandatory): December 16, 2026, 11:00am

WebEx

Question Submission Deadline: January 5, 2027, 4:00pm

Due Deadline: January 14, 2027, 3:00pm

3. INSURANCE PROVISIONS

3.1. General Requirements

Coverages Required:

Unless otherwise required by the specifications or the contract, the Contractor/Vendor shall purchase and maintain the insurance coverages listed herein.

Insurance Companies must be acceptable to Baltimore County and have an A.M. Best Rating of A-, Class X or better.

Verification of Insurance:

Before starting work on the contract or prior to the execution of the Contract on those bid, the

Contractor/Vendor shall provide Baltimore County, Maryland with verification of insurance coverage evidencing the required coverages.

Baltimore County as Additional Insured:

The coverage required, excluding Worker’s Compensation and Employers’ Liability and Medical

Malpractice Liability/Professional Liability/Errors and Omissions Liability, must include Baltimore

County, Maryland as an additional insured.

Contractor's/Vendor's Responsibility:

The providing of any insurance herein does not relieve the Contractor/Vendor of any of the responsibilities or obligations the Contractor/Vendor has assumed in the contract or for which the

Contractor/Vendor may be liable by law or otherwise.

Failure to Provide Insurance:

Failure to provide and continue in force the required insurance shall be deemed a material breach of the contract.

3.2. Insurance Coverages

A. General Liability Insurance

1. Minimum Limits of Coverage:

2. Personal Injury Liability and Property Damage Liability Combined Single Limit - $1,000,000 each occurrence

3. Such insurance shall protect the Contractor/Vendor from claims which may arise out of, or result from, the Contractor's/Vendor's operations under the contract, whether such operations be by the Contractor/Vendor, any subcontractor, anyone directly or indirectly employed by the Contractor/Vendor or Subcontractor, or anyone for whose acts any of the above may be liable.

4. Minimum Coverages to be Included:

a. Independent Contractor's coverage;

b. Completed Operations and Products Liability coverage; and

c. Contractual Liability coverage.

5. Damages not to be Excluded:

Such insurance shall contain no exclusions applying to operations by the

Contractor/Vendor or any Subcontractor in the performance of the Contract including but not limited to: (a) Collapse of, or structural injury to, any building or structure; (b) Damage to underground property; or (c) Damage arising out of blasting or explosion.

B. Automobile Liability Insurance

1. Minimum Limits of Coverage:

Bodily Injury Liability and Property Damage Liability

Combined Single Limit - $1,000,000 any one accident

2. Minimum Coverages to be Included:

Such insurance shall provide coverage for all owned, non-owned and hired automobiles.

C. Workers' Compensation and Employers' Liability Insurance

1. Such insurance must contain statutory coverage, including:

Employers' Liability insurance with limits of at least:

Bodily Injury by Accident - $1,000,000 each accident

Bodily Injury by Disease - $1,000,000 policy limit

Bodily Injury by Disease - $1,000,000 each employee

D. Other

Such other insurance in form and amount as may be customary for the type of business being undertaken by the Contractor/Vendor.

4. BACKGROUND

A. The State of Maryland was awarded competitive federal grant funds to extend middle-mile broadband infrastructure to each of Maryland’s 23 Counties, the City of Baltimore, and the

City of Annapolis, including many rural and underserved communities across the State.

Expanding broadband is crucial for helping to create jobs, improve public safety, increase educational opportunities, improve health care delivery, and to improve infrastructure for the

Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC). The project was grant funded through the

U.S. Department of Commerce’s (DOC) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program

(BTOP), as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

B. The Inter-County Broadband Network, the “ICBN”, comprised of nine central Maryland counties and cities and led by Howard County, Maryland, was a key sub-recipient of the

State’s grant award. Built using grant funds, the ICBN consists of 850 miles of fiber optics and directly connects over 650 community anchor institutions (schools, libraries, government buildings,community colleges, public safety agencies, etc.) The ICBN consists of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, MontgomeryCounty and Prince George’s County.

5. SCOPE OF SERVICES AND SPECIFICATIONS

5.1. Scope of Services

Baltimore County, Maryland, (the “County”), seeks qualified firm(s) (the “Contractor”), to furnish fiber emergency maintenance, construction and locating services for approximately 250 miles of existing fiber throughout the County.

5.2. General Scope of Emergency Maintenance Services

A. Ability to respond to line outages or damage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and able to respond to calls from the County within 30 minutes of initial notification.

B. Performing fiber repair and maintenance services as necessary to meet required Service Level

Agreements (SLA’s). A matrix of response times shall be provided for emergency and non-emergency response times for normal business hours and after-hour response and repair.

C. Performing splicing or reconfiguration of splices of fiber as necessary to provide required paths. Ability to splice ribbonized cables utilizing a mass fiber splicer is required.

D. Performing fiber OTDR and optical power meter testing and preparing detailed test reports for leased fiber customers and government participants.

E. Ability to communicate accurate technical as-built documentation and fiber utilization records, to include splice matrices, termination panels, patches, and fiber test data, and GPS data, to the County and a third party contracted to maintain said documentation.

F. Maintain an inventory of key materials needed for emergency repairs and routine maintenance according to material standards. Contractor shall not charge the County for storage of materials required for emergency maintenance, and storage shall be maintained within the boundaries of Baltimore County. Contractor shall provide a quarterly inventory report, of all materials maintained in storage, to the County Fiber Program Manager.

G. Contractor shall provide all required tools and equipment and shall be compensated on a time and materials basis.

5.3. General Scope of Construction Services

Underground Cable Construction.

A. Before construction, the Contractor shall provide notification to other utility companies and other parties using the appropriate one-call underground location and marking services. Pull-tapes with linear length markers and a minimum tensile strength of 1000 lbs. shall be installed in the new conduit. Tracer wire, for purposes of locating conduit, shall be installed within, or adjacent to, conduit containing new fiber cable. New vaults shall typically be installed at 500-foot increments. In addition, excess fiber will be stored in vaults at intervals not to exceed

1,200 feet and should result in approximately 10% slack in any given span.

B. New fiber installations to anchor sites that are served by underground service shall be placed in existing conduit where possible. A minimum of 100 feet or 15 percent of the drop length

(whichever is larger) shall be provided and stored as excess fiber.

C. Underground Construction Methodology. Underground construction shall include trenching

(including micro trenching), directional boring, underground missile, and possible open cut street construction. At all times, inconvenience to residents and existing underground infrastructure shall be minimized to the extent possible. The Contractor shall inform the County of proposed construction methodology before construction commences.

D. Rodding and Roping of Existing Conduit. Existing conduit is typically two inches in diameter.

Innerduct may be used in existing and new underground construction, at the discretion of the

County. Prior to installation of new fiber and innerduct, existing conduits may need to be rodded and roped by the Contractor. Prior to placement of fiber cable, the Contractor shall rod and rope all straight conduit longer than 100 feet, all conduit longer than 60 feet if it contains a turn that exceeds 30 degrees, and all conduit longer than 40 feet if it contains a turn that exceeds 60 degrees.

Aerial Cable Installation.

A. The Contractors shall walk-out all plant locations, with a representative of the utility pole owner, prior to construction, and placement of new strand, fiber optics, attachment hardware, risers, pedestals, and splice cases. In addition, the Contractors shall select locations to place excess fiber to be stored using snowshoes at intervals not to exceed 1,200 feet. All aerial cable shall be clearly labeled as “Baltimore County Optical Network” using cable wrap labels specifically designed for this purpose. Construction methodology shall be in conformance with the manufacturers’ recommended practices and make ready instructions as a result of the ride out. In the event manufacturers’ recommended practices are in conflict with County

Engineering instructions, the Contractor shall immediately contact the County for resolution instruction.

Fiber Laterals.

Fiber Laterals to Anchor Sites will typically be 12, 24 and 48-count single mode fiber optics.

Backbone network routes will generally be comprised of 216-count single mode fiber, but may expand in the future to include larger count Small Form Factor single-mode cables.

A. All fibers entering and exiting facilities shall be spliced in rack-mounted or wall mounted splice enclosures and fiber patch panels. The recommended fiber connectors shall be LC-UPC, or other connectors, as specified by the County. In all cases every strand of fiber within the cable will be terminated in the panel. Each patch panel will be labeled to identify the termination point of the fiber.

B. The number of ports at each location will be based upon the network construction and jurisdictional requirements. Patch panels will be rack-mounted or wall mounted and labeled to identify the termination point of the far-end fiber.

Fiber Splicing.

The Contractor shall splice all fiber strands in termination panels. The Contractor will be provided a splice matrix for each OSP splice and termination panel assignments for all ISP splices. The

Contractor may be required to communicate with the County vendor who provides and maintains all splice matrix data.

Fiber Testing.

The Contractor shall provide bi-directional OTDR & Power Meter at1310nm & 1550nm for each fiber and provide the County with documentation of all test results.

As-Built Maps and Red Line Documentation.

The Contractor shall provide and maintain red line, including GPS, information in a mutually agreed format of actual plant locations, drop locations, excess fiber storage locations, and splice locations to the County.

General Work Elements.

The following elements apply to all work under this contract unless a specific exception is noted in the specifications for the individual item. These guidelines in no way waive the Contractors responsibility to follow all local construction codes and regulations:

A. Each item shall be installed in accordance with the design at locations as shown on the plans or as directed by the County.

B. Backfill in trenches, around forms and vaults or at any other place shall be completed thoroughly, using a power tamper, in lifts of not more than six inches as it is being placed unless otherwise directed in writing by the County. Any paving material or fill removed for trenching shall be replaced in kind, and in accordance with County Department of Public

Works specifications.

C. All holes and trenches shall be protected at the Contractor’s expense from accidental entry by vehicles and pedestrians through the use of steel plates or other approved materials as required by the County or other governing body.

Should the Contractor fail to provide adequate protection to the surroundings of a work site or should the operations be carried out in such a way as to allow or cause damage to any roadway, street, sidewalk, the property of any utility, or other private or public property, work may be stopped until deficiencies are corrected. Should the repair not be undertaken and should it be necessary for the County to protect the area and/or make the repair, and the cost shall be the responsibility of the Contractor.

D. At the discretion of the County, sod shall be removed either by the use of an approved sod cutter and then replaced, or topsoil and seed of matching grass variety shall be placed. Care shall be taken to minimize the disturbance and the area shall be fully restored. A mechanical narrow trench device shall be used where digging is not done by hand. Where new pavement is to be placed or where reconstruction is taking place, the County may omit this requirement.

E. All concrete shall be finished to match any adjacent concrete. Concrete will be removed and replaced in full sections between expansion joints. If no match is required, the surface area shall be broom finished and edged.

F. All fiber cable and conduit shall be transported by and unreeled from a cable trailer(s). The laying of reels on the ground and subsequent removal of fiber cable from this position is prohibited.