Cumberland Communications Facility

The Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) is soliciting proposals from a master contractor (FA 13) to purchase and install a communications monopole tower and equipment shelter in Allegany County, Maryland under TORFP BPM057831, with proposals due August 21, 2026 at 12:00 PM via electronic submission through eMMA. A mandatory pre-proposal site visit is scheduled for July 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM at 600 Bishop Walsh Road, Cumberland, Maryland; written questions were due July 27, 2026. Amendment No. 1 (dated July 28, 2026) adds Attachment U (Contract Affidavit) as a mandatory submission requirement.

A 3 percent Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) subcontracting goal applies; zero percent for Veteran Small Business Enterprise (VSBE). Maryland prevailing wage rates apply to all work, as the contract value exceeds $500,000. The contractor must complete a Maryland Contract Affidavit certifying registration with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, good standing status, compliance with financial disclosure requirements for contracts at or above $200,000, and compliance with Maryland's drug and alcohol-free workplace program under COMAR 21.11.08.

Scope encompasses purchase and installation of a 185-foot monopole tower meeting EIA 222-H standards (118 MPH three-second wind gust, one-inch concurrent radial ice loading, hot-dip galvanized steel), a 12×26×10-foot two-room concrete equipment shelter, a 30 kW propane-fueled backup generator, a 1,000-gallon propane tank, site development, fencing, electrical infrastructure, and grounding per Motorola R56 standards. Antenna, antenna mount, and cable installation are excluded. Tower and shelter must come from pre-approved manufacturers; Generac generators are prohibited. Concrete must meet 4,500 PSI minimum strength from state-certified SHA-approved plants with certified test reports. The contractor bears all costs for materials, labor, permitting, and third-party inspections and testing.

The estimated period of performance is 260 working days following Notice to Proceed. Liquidated damages are assessed at $700 per day for delays beyond 180 business days, $745 per day for projects rated "D" by Maryland Department of Environment inspectors, and $1,045 per day for projects rated "F." The contractor must provide $2,000,000 commercial general liability insurance and $1,000,000 performance and payment bonds within ten business days of recommended award. Ten percent retainage is withheld until final completion. Tower materials and structures carry a five-year warranty; equipment shelters, generators, and associated equipment carry a two-year warranty. Technical proposals are evaluated on project solutions, experience and capabilities, construction schedule, delivery plan, and safety policies, with technical merit weighted more heavily than cost.