Wake Island Airfield Fiber Installation from Lightning to Weather Instruments

The Department of the Air Force Pacific Air Forces seeks a small business contractor to engineer, furnish, install, and test 12 strands of single-mode blown fiber optic cable from the Lightning Vault Building (Bldg. 1603) to ATCALS Weather Instruments on Wake Island, with quotations due September 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM AKDT. This is a 100% small business set-aside firm fixed-price RFQ.

Performance runs from September 30, 2026 through September 29, 2027, with place of performance at Wake Island Airfield on FOB Destination basis. Scope includes installation of new fiber optic distribution panels, removal of approximately 5,885 feet of abandoned in-place copper cable, installation of one new handhole, and approximately 7,075 feet of new 1x4-way MicroDuct. Work must complete within one year of award. The contractor must furnish all materials, equipment, labor, supervision, housing, food, and transportation; cargo shipment to Wake Island costs $2,594 to $4,216 per pound and requires six weeks advance coordination with Hickam AFB's Traffic Management Office.

The NAICS code is 238210 with a $19 million size standard. Wage Determination 2015-5693 (effective August 27, 2026) applies, establishing prevailing wage rates for service contract work. The solicitation requires contractors to be registered and active in SAM with a valid CAGE code. Evaluation uses Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) methodology, weighing price (primary), technical acceptability (requiring minimum three years of telecommunications systems and fiber installation experience and clear understanding of the PWS), and past performance (acceptable/unacceptable, requiring at least two relevant references from the past five years). Questions are due September 15 at 5:00 PM AKDT. Quotations must remain valid for 30 calendar days. Amendment 1 was posted September 16.

Critical requirements include UXO detection and clearance for all digging activities in undisturbed areas to depths of 12–16 inches and Senior Unexploed Ordnance Supervisor and Unexploded Ordnance Safety Officer qualified personnel. Testing must comply with TIA 526-7-A standards using OTDR and optical power meters at 1310 nm and 1550 nm. Contractors must report all labor hours via SAM.gov by October 31 of each calendar year and submit invoices through WAWF within 30 days of completion. Multiple permits are required, including AF Forms 103, 1024, and 332, requiring 45–60 calendar days advance coordination.