CATV Programming Services for UNC Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Information Technology Services division is seeking a vendor to provide Cable Television (CATV) programming services through a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued for campus-wide distribution. The procurement aims to secure commercial programming content for approximately 700 connections across stadiums, classrooms, athletic venues, and public spaces, with a minimum requirement of 95 channels. Vendors must provide comprehensive services including all necessary cabling, equipment, and installation labor to deliver content to the university's CATV head-end, with pricing structured as a monthly rate per drop. Key deliverables include ensuring FCC compliance, maintaining a 24/7 help desk with four-hour status updates, and maintaining signal measurements per FCC standards. Evaluation criteria will encompass vendor experience, reference performance, pricing, and contract terms, with awards made on a best-value basis. Critical procurement dates include a January 22, 2026 deadline for written questions, with the final RFP response due on February 19, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET, followed by a public opening via Zoom at 1:00 PM ET the same day.

The contract is structured as an indefinite quantity agreement with an initial three-year term and potential extensions up to seven additional one-year terms, not exceeding ten years total. Vendors must be registered North Carolina suppliers in good standing and comply with E-Verify requirements and security background checks. Insurance requirements are substantial, including $2 million in Commercial General Liability, $1 million in Professional Liability, and Workers' Compensation as mandated by state law. Service availability guarantees require 99% uptime, with financial penalties for extended outages and potential contract termination for persistent service interruptions. The university reserves the right to conduct interviews, request best and final offers, and make partial awards. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, the comprehensive requirements suggest a preference for experienced, well-resourced telecommunications service providers with robust infrastructure and comprehensive programming capabilities. The contract potentially extends to other UNC System institutions, indicating a significant opportunity for the selected vendor to provide services across multiple university locations.