Alternate Internet Service - Term Contract - Supplier Inquiry & Response

Louisiana State University (LSU) is seeking to procure an alternate Internet service contract for a 100 Gbps Internet connection to serve as a diverse backup path for its primary network infrastructure. The procurement is specifically for a single optical circuit to be located either at the Frey Computing Services Center or David Boyd Hall on the LSU campus, covering jurisdictions within East Baton Rouge Parish and Baton Rouge City. The contract requires an Internet Service Provider (ISP) with a minimum of seven years of business experience, explicitly excluding current LONI (Louisiana Optical Network Initiative) service providers. Technical specifications include support for IPv4 and IPv6, BGP peering, and a minimum of four 9's reliability, with a 100G-LR4 QSFP28 optic handoff to LSU's border router. The solicitation is an Invitation to Bid (ITB) with a bid submission deadline of April 3, 2025, at 11:00 AM CT, and an anticipated contract start date of approximately May 1, 2025. The initial contract term is 12 months, with options for up to four additional 12-month renewals.

The procurement does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract encompasses network infrastructure supporting approximately 40,000 network nodes, including 30,000 students and 5,000 faculty/staff members. Pricing requirements mandate that all installation costs and monthly service fees be comprehensively included in the bid, with no additional charges permitted beyond the initial submission. The ISP must provide 24x7x365 support and collaborate closely with LSU network engineers to establish and maintain the service. While specific budget ranges are not detailed in the available documentation, the contract represents a significant telecommunications infrastructure investment for LSU's network redundancy and load balancing capabilities. The procurement emphasizes technical competence, reliability, and comprehensive service delivery as key evaluation criteria for potential contractors.