DNR-R036 Benton Metro Ethernet (SP)

The Illinois Department of Information Technology (DoIT) is soliciting bids for fiber-based point-to-point Metro Ethernet transport services to provide wide area network (WAN) connectivity between the Department of Natural Resources facility located at 901 N DuQuoin, Benton, Illinois 62812 and one of fifteen designated Illinois Century Network (ICN) Points of Presence sites throughout Illinois. The procurement requires vendors to deliver fiber-based last-mile connectivity with a minimum bandwidth of 100 Megabits per second, with optional higher-tier bandwidth offerings available up to 1 Gigabit. The service must guarantee 99.98% availability on a 30-day average basis with 24/7/365 operation, synchronous bandwidth, and continuous connectivity. Copper and wireless service alternatives are explicitly prohibited; service must be delivered entirely via fiber technology with vendors responsible for installation inside the building to DoIT-designated telecom rooms at both origin and destination end locations, terminating on vendor-provided switching equipment. Award will be determined based on total cost of ownership calculated as Monthly Recurring Charge multiplied by Service Term plus Non-Recurring Installation charges per site location, with all pricing required to be all-inclusive and final, excluding any additional taxes, fees, surcharges, or pass-through charges such as regulatory recovery fees, universal service fees, or telecommunications-related surcharges. The Request for Quote was posted on March 23, 2026, with a submission deadline of April 14, 2026. All electronic submissions must be made through the BidBuy platform only.

The solicitation documents do not indicate specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular organization types or disadvantaged enterprises. This is identified as a new initiative with no current service provider in place, meaning there is no incumbent contractor whose terms would carry forward; however, the supplemental instructions specify that if a bidder has executed a similar contract with the State of Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology within the past twelve months, the negotiated terms and conditions from that existing contract shall automatically apply to this solicitation without further negotiation. While the site information sheet identifies the required 100 Megabits per second bandwidth and references optional bandwidth tiers to be priced for responsive consideration, specific award values or budget ranges are not disclosed in the available solicitation documents. Prospective vendors should direct inquiries to the listed site contact, Matt Pennell, at matt.pennell@illinois.gov or 618-300-8395, for additional information regarding pricing expectations, contract term duration, service specifications, and renewal options.