2026 Wireless Upgrade RFP

The City of Donalsonville, located in Spalding County, Georgia, is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting proposals from Internet Service Providers and vendors to deploy Fixed Wireless broadband infrastructure and services to homes and businesses within city limits and surrounding areas. The procurement seeks a turnkey solution that includes design, installation, and ongoing maintenance of a Gigabit fixed wireless network utilizing three strategically located base station sites (Highway 91 tower, 7th Street water tank, and Highway 84 location) equipped with Cambium 3 GHz technology licensed through Federated Wireless, along with associated network cabinets, backup power supplies, fiber optic links between towers, an 11 GHz point-to-point backup system, and connectivity infrastructure connecting to the managing partner location at 156 E College Street in Colquitt, Georgia. The vendor must transition approximately 160 to 200 existing customers from the current network to the new infrastructure and establish a fiber connection between City Hall and the fire department, with all costs including equipment, installation, maintenance, site work, licensing fees, and fiber optic installation the sole responsibility of the vendor. Detailed equipment specifications, tower locations, and fiber connection maps are provided in the RFP exhibits. Proposals must be submitted electronically to Jeffrey Hatcher at citymanager@donalsonvillega.org by 5:00 PM EST on January 16, 2026, with all proposals remaining effective for a minimum of 120 days from submission. Evaluation will be based on five criteria: Company Profile (10 points), Company Experience (10 points), Project Execution (10 points), Technical Requirements (20 points), and Financial Approach, with coverage distance and total number of locations served as additional grading factors; respondents must demonstrate organizational structure, relevant telecom and broadband experience, safety records, detailed project timelines, company history, references, financial information, and disclosure of any bankruptcy or lawsuits within the past five years that could impact broadband operations.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting organizational types from responding; however, respondents are prohibited from lobbying City officials or using media to influence the evaluation process and must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation, though the existing wireless system currently serving 160 to 200 customers will require seamless transition to the new network infrastructure. The City reserves the right to conduct interviews with selected candidates, request written or video conference clarifications, accept or reject any or all proposals, waive irregularities, and negotiate the final contract form at its sole discretion, with funds drawn down based on project milestones. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the RFP documents, and all submitted materials become City property subject to public disclosure requirements under Georgia freedom of information laws, except information clearly marked as proprietary. The City will not assume contractual obligations or responsibility for proposal development costs.