Solicitation Intent to Award Notice.docx

This is a Solicitation Notice Intent to Award issued by the State of Nebraska, Department of Administrative Services State Purchasing Bureau, for High Speed Transport Services under Solicitation Number 124043 O5. The solicitation sought qualified vendors to design, develop, and implement high-speed transport services for Network Nebraska, a statewide telecommunications network serving 294 educational entities including K-12 school districts, educational service units, colleges, universities, and public libraries. The procurement focused on leased lit fiber circuits with Ethernet-based, layer-2 high-speed data connectivity linking eligible entities to seven core aggregation points across the state. The solicitation was released on December 18, 2025, with an electronic bid submission deadline of January 23, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. The initial contract term is four years, commencing July 1, 2026, with potential four one-year renewal options. All new circuits must be operational by the first Friday in August of each service year. The Notice of Intent to Award, posted on February 25, 2026, identifies five selected vendors: Viaero Fiber Networks, LLC; Glenwood Telecommunications, Inc.; Allo Communications; NebraskaLink LLC d/b/a OPTK Networks; and Hamilton Long Distance.

Vendors were required to provide bandwidth options ranging from 100 Mbps to higher capacities with mandatory compliance with FCC E-Rate requirements and possession of a Service Provider Form 498 I.D. (SPIN). Key service level guarantees include 99.99% uptime, maximum 15-millisecond latency, and 24-hour trouble response. Vendors must bundle all costs, including equipment, hardware, installation, cross-connects, and maintenance, into circuit costs without additional charges. The state reserves the right to conduct annual technology refresh reviews and may impose liquidated damages for E-Rate eligibility failures. The contract allows for awards to one or multiple vendors, with total 48-month costs calculated through a specific pricing methodology including monthly recurring charges, non-recurring charges, and applicable taxes. While specific award values are not disclosed in the intent notice, the comprehensive cost sheet and participation of 25 entities with bandwidth options ranging from 200 Mbps to 100,000 Mbps suggest significant potential contract value.