Communication services from MAX Gigapop (MAX)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Mission Acquisition Solutions (OMAS), on behalf of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Information Technology, is soliciting communication services from Mid-Atlantic Crossroads (MAX) Gigapop for Internet 2 connectivity. This is a sole-source Request for Quotation (RFQ) number 75N98026Q00256 being conducted under FAR Part 12 as a simplified commercial acquisition, with the Contracting Officer determining that only MAX can meet the Government's specific connectivity requirements via the MAX Gigapop network. The procurement encompasses 12 Internet 2 connection items including 10 Gbps commodity internet connections, eRA Commons direct connections, cross-connects at multiple data centers (Equinix in Ashburn, VA and Coresite in Reston, VA), Azure connectivity, and Oracle GovCloud circuits with associated local loops and transport services. Quotations must demonstrate technical acceptability and full compliance with all RFQ terms, and must include a cover letter with required identifiers (Federal Tax Identification Number, Unique Entity Identifier, Cage Code), business size designation, point of contact information, acknowledgement of amendments, and firm pricing valid for at least 60 days. The submission deadline is 10:00 AM EST on April 29, 2026, with quotes to be submitted via email to Teferi Gebremariam at Teferi.Gebremariam@hhs.gov.

No set-aside designation has been applied to this procurement. The incumbent contractor is Mid-Atlantic Crossroads (MAX), which is the sole-source provider for this requirement. The contract award value has not been disclosed, as all pricing is marked as "To Be Determined" (TBD) pending receipt of quotations. The contract is structured as a firm fixed price purchase for severrable services with a base performance period of May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. The place of performance is Bethesda, MD 20814, with the service requirement covering multiple data center locations across the mid-Atlantic region. Invoicing will be submitted monthly in arrears through the Department of Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform, with payment expected 30 days after invoice receipt or Government acceptance, whichever is later.