DHS-R034 Chester Metro Ethernet (SP)

The Illinois Department of Information Technology is requesting quotes for fiber-based point-to-point metro-ethernet transport service providing wide area network last-mile connectivity between a Department of Human Services facility at 1315 Lehmen Drive, Chester, Illinois and an Illinois Century Network Point of Presence site, with quotes due September 22, 2026 under RFQ DHS-R034 Chester.

Service must be delivered exclusively through fiber optic metro-ethernet technology; copper and wireless services are explicitly unacceptable. Bidders are responsible for identifying the appropriate Z-end location ICN POP and delivering service inside the building to the DoIT-designated telecom room at both the A and Z end locations, with service terminating on vendor-provided equipment. The Chester site currently operates with 500 megabits of bandwidth provided by Stratus. Attachment B specifies end locations and POP sites; Attachment A provides site contact information (Robert Walls, robert.walls@illinois.gov, 618-319-3648).

All pricing must be submitted through the BidBuy electronic system as all-inclusive and final, with no additional taxes, fees, surcharges, or pass-through charges permitted after award, including regulatory recovery fees, universal service fees, or telecommunications-related surcharges. Bidders must complete cost proposals for all OPTION line items representing additional bandwidth tiers; failure to include all OPTION pricing renders a bid non-responsive. Award will be determined based on total cost of ownership, calculated as monthly recurring charge multiplied by the service term plus non-recurring installation costs per site location. Option line items will not factor into the award decision except in cases of tied bids but may be utilized during the service term at the agency's discretion if bandwidth requirements change.

If a bidder has executed a contract with DoIT within the previous twelve months for a similar product or service, the negotiated terms and conditions from that existing contract will automatically apply to this resulting award without further negotiation.