RFI 27-009 Entertainment & Information Delivery System.pdf

Request for Information State of Colorado

Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC)

RFI 2027000009

Modernization of Statewide Correctional Entertainment &

Information Delivery System August 5, 2026

Sole Point of Contact for this Request for Information (RFI) is:

Sheila Lucero – Purchasing Manager (doc_purchasing@state.co.us) Sole Point of Contact, please do not contact any other CDOC employee.

Interested parties are urged to read the solicitation document and attachments thoroughly before submitting the requested information.

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1. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

MARKET RESEARCH ONLY

This is a Request for Information (RFI) and is intended only for market research purposes. In accordance with §24-103-201.5, C.R.S and the associated Colorado Procurement Rules, no award will result from any response to any vendor responding to this RFI. This RFI is considered formal market research for the purposes of §24-37-302(1) (a.5), C.R.S., if applicable.

CONFIDENTIALITY

i. All responses to this RFI shall be considered confidential until after an award based on a subsequent solicitation has been made or until the procurement official from the issuing agency determines that the state will not pursue a solicitation based on this RFI.

After such time, the responses to this RFI shall be open to public inspection in accordance with the provisions of the Colorado Open Records Act. Reference §24-103- 201.5(4), C.R.S

ii. The State reserves the right to have information submitted in response to this RFI reviewed by other entities within the State for purposes of compiling and analyzing possible options.

INTRODUCTION

On behalf of the State of Colorado, Colorado Department of Corrections, Division of Colorado Correctional Industries is issuing this RFI for the purposes of collecting information and researching the available Modernization of Inmate Television and entertainment systems.

BACKGROUND, OVERVIEWS AND GOALS

i. The CDOC currently operates a legacy satellite-based distribution system providing approximately 30 channels to multiple correctional facilities statewide. The system is approaching end-of-life. The goal of this RFI is to identify scalable, secure, and cost-effective alternatives that can provide enhanced entertainment, educational, and rehabilitative content to the incarcerated population.

ii. Current Environment:

a. Infrastructure: Satellite downlinks at individual facilities feeding into an analog

RF distribution network. Vendors are responsible for providing all necessary infrastructure (including, but not limited to, network connectivity, hardware, and cabling) required for their solution to function. The CDOC will not supply any infrastructure or resources for this system.

b. Reach: Multiple facilities statewide (approximately 19 with approximately 16,500 inmates), ranging from minimum to maximum security.

c. Content: Approximately 30 channels of linear television.

d. Hardware: Existing Coaxial (RG-6/RG-11/RG-59, analog amplifiers, splitters, combiners, modulators) infrastructure exists in facilities.

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e. System History: These systems were originally installed in the 1980’s or 1990’s and have been incrementally expanded over time, with components replaced and maintained on an ad-hoc basis as necessary.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

iii. This Schedule of Activities is for information and planning purposes only. Schedules for Activities listed as “Estimated” may be subject to change depending on the needs of the State. All times are stated in Mountain Time (MT), as appropriately adjusted for daylight savings.

ACTIVITY DATE TIME

(MST)

Solicitation Published via Colorado VSS, https://www.colorado.gov/vss and bidnetdirect.com//cdoc

August 5, 2026

Written Inquiries Deadline. Send Inquiries to:

bidnetdirect.com//cdoc NOTE: No inquiries will be accepted after this date.

August 11, 2026 2:00pm

Response to written inquiries; will be posted to Colorado VSS and bidnetdirect.com//cdoc (Estimated) August 14, 2026

Response Submission Deadline Response must be submitted in the method described in Section 3.

A proposal sent at 4:01 pm MST is considered late.

August 21, 2026 4:00pm

2. REQUESTED INFORMATION

CDOC is interested in exploring various delivery models, including but not limited to:

i. Delivery Technologies

a. IPTV Systems: Over-the-top (OTT) or closed-network IP-based delivery

b. Hybrid Fiber-Coax (HFC): Leveraging existing wiring with modernized headend equipment.

c. Streaming/VOD: Platforms capable of delivering Video-on-Demand (educational and recreational).

d. Wireless/Tablet Integration: System that integrates with existing or future inmate tablet programs.

ii. Content & Management

a. Customizable channel lineups (Broadcast, Cable, Educational, Religious)

b. Centralized management dashboard for statewide control of content.

c. Capability to broadcast CDOC-originated content (internal announcements, training).

d. Electronic Program Guide (EPG) functionality.

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iii. Security & Compliance

a. Strict “White-List” capabilities to prevent unauthorized access to external networks.

b. Hardened hardware suitable for correctional environments (tamper-resistant).

c. Ability to disable specific channels or the entire system remotely during emergencies.

iv. Performance Standards

a. System Availability: The system must maintain a minimum uptime of 99.9%, excluding scheduled maintenance.

b. Latency & Buffering: For streaming or VOD, video start time must be under 2 seconds, with minimal latency during playback.

c. Concurrent Usage: Architecture must support 100% concurrent usage (16,500 inmates for linear TV channels without serviced degradation.

d. Failover & Redundancy: Describe the strategy used to achieve the 99.9% uptime requirement. Vendors may propose automatic failover for critical headend components; however, if you can demonstrate a reliable alternative architecture that achieves the uptime goal without full hardware redundancy, please detail that approach and the associated cost impact.

Pricing Information In order to assist the state in gathering information, this RFI may request that Respondents submit pricing information. Submission of pricing information is not mandatory and such information may be voluntarily included in response.

3. RESPONSE SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Respondents are asked to submit responses via email to the procurement point of contact identified above. The response submission email should include the subject line: “Response submission from (insert respondent name) for RFI 2027000009, Modernization of Statewide Correctional Entertainment & Information Delivery System.

B. The RFI is posted on the Colorado VSS and bidnetdirect.com//cdoc. Please submit your RFI response and attachments electronically to bidnetdirect.com//cdoc. No other electronic submission methods, hard copy submittals, or emails will be accepted. Desired Response Format and Content.

C. Desired Response Format and Content

i. Font size for basic narrative description must be no smaller than 10pt font Ariel, Courier, or Times New Roman are preferable. Do not send handwritten documents.

D. Vendor Response

Please provide a response addressing the following categories:

SECTION INFORMATION REQUESTED

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Technical Architecture Describe your proposed delivery method (Cloud-based, On-premises, Hybrid, Etc.). Detail how your system utilizes or replaces existing coaxial infrastructure. Describe any required infrastructure, services, or resource dependencies, noting that vendors should assume no existing Department resources are available for use.

Additionally, please describe your approach to maximizing video resolution and visual clarity. The Department seeks high-definition video quality; identify any scalable strategies or architectural choices that allow for improved fidelity while minimizing significant increases to overall project costs.

SECTION INFORMATION REQUESTED

Content Acquisition Detail your relationships with content providers. How do you handle licensing for correctional settings? Do you allow individuals to “upgrade” to get additional options?

Inmate Tablets Can your system deliver content to handheld tablets? If so, what are the bandwidth requirements? Describe the delivery method and requirements.

Security Measures Describe the security protocols used to ensure the system cannot be used for unauthorized communication or internet access.

Cost Model Provide a high-level overview of your pricing structure (e.g., Per-Subscriber-Per-Day, Flat Monthly Fee, or Capital Purchase).

Repair & Support If offered, detail your ongoing support and maintenance model. Include service level agreements (SLAs), typical response times for critical hardware failures, options for on-site versus remote troubleshooting, and any equipment replacement policies.

4. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Colorado Vendor Self Service

i. This solicitation is being published on Colorado Vendor Self Service (Colorado VSS), so that Offerors who have an interest may submit a proposal in accordance with the terms of this solicitation.

ii. Vendors can self-register for this system free of charge or may click on “Public Access” on the website to view solicitation documents and modifications without

RFI 2027000009 Page 5 of 6 registering. Vendors are encouraged but not required to register prior to or at the time they submit their response. The State also recommends that interested vendors check Colorado VSS on a regular basis throughout this solicitation process.

News Releases and Announcements Respondents shall not issue any news releases, communications or announcements of any kind pertaining to this solicitation, without prior written approval by the State.

Response Material Ownership All material submitted in response to this RFI becomes the property of the State.

Submission of Confidential or Proprietary Information

i. As per §24-103-201.5, C.R.S, all responses to requests for information are confidential until after an award based on a subsequent solicitation has been made or until the procurement official determines that the state will not pursue a solicitation based on the RFI. After such time, the responses to a RFI shall be open to public inspection in accordance with the provisions of the “Colorado Open Records Act”, part 2 of the article 72 of this title 24.

ii. A Respondent may submit, as a part of its Response, a written request for classification of certain portions of the response as a trade secret or other confidential or proprietary information. Material for which the Respondent is requesting confidentiality shall be readily identifiable and separated from other portions of the response to facilitate public inspection of the non-confidential portion of the response. Commingling of confidential and non-confidential information is not acceptable. Neither price information nor any information that will be included in a resulting Contract or purchase order will be considered confidential.

iii. The Respondent must include the rationale for any request to classify portions as a trade secret or confidential or proprietary, including references to the authority that allows for such treatment.

iv. A complete redacted response should also be included along with an unredacted Response and confidentiality justification.

v. Except as provided in Section 4.D above, in no event shall an entire response be classified as confidential. The Procurement Official or his or her designee shall determine if the information identified in the Respondent’s request is exempt from disclosure in accordance with §24-72-204, C.R.S., and shall inform the Respondent in writing of his or her determination. If the Respondent does not agree with the determination, the Respondent may protest the determination in accordance with article 109 of the Colorado Procurement Code and the terms of this solicitation. Reference Procurement Rule R-24-101-401-03.

Vendor Assistance Any vendors needing support responding to solicitations may contact the Colorado Supplier Diversity Navigator at the Statewide Equity Office of Supplier Diversity. Services provided include assistance with responding to solicitations, interpretation of solicitation documents, technical assistance referrals, availability of resources, and bond assistance through the

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Construction Statewide Bond Assistance Program. The office can be reached during normal business hours by calling 303-866-5765 or emailing DPA_SupplierDiversityHelp@state.co.us.