Notice of Contract Award - Cox Florida Telcom, L. P. (Broadband Internet Services)

Eglin Air Force Base, Florida issued a Notice of Intent to award a sole-source, firm fixed-price contract to Cox Florida Telcom, L.P. for broadband internet services, with capability statements due by September 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM Central Standard Time. This is a sole-source procurement authorized under RFO 12.102(b); the Contracting Officer determined that only one source is reasonably available.

The requirement stems from Section 651 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, mandating rapid deployment of high-speed broadband internet access to unaccompanied service members in dormitories. The scope covers acquisition, delivery, installation, and management of a comprehensive managed WiFi system across 10 unaccompanied housing dormitory buildings at Eglin AFB, supporting 766 individual rooms and 10 common areas. The system must provide broadband speeds meeting or exceeding FCC benchmarks of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, include all necessary cabling (coaxial and Category 5e or greater), establish a user login landing page with Terms and Conditions, and provide a minimum 2-year standard commercial warranty. The contract value is estimated at under $10 million across a 5-year period of performance.

Market research determined that Cox Communications is the best acquisition path; Cox maintains existing physical infrastructure, cable plant, and operational control within all ten target buildings, while alternative providers would require complete infrastructure rebuild and cannot meet the mandatory 60-duty-day installation window beginning September 30, 2026. Interested parties must submit capability statements demonstrating technical capability and cost data to jared.dunn.6@us.af.mil with subject line "Broadband Internet Services." The Government retains sole discretion to conduct competitive procurement based on responses received.