Emergency Fiber Restoration

Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SVEC) is requesting proposals for emergency fiber restoration services across its service territory in Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, and Suwannee Counties, Florida, with proposals due August 5, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Work will be governed by FEMA Public Assistance requirements and 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

SVEC serves approximately 30,000 meters and operates roughly 2,500 miles of fiber optic lines supporting nearly 9,000 broadband customers. The scope includes damage assessment of fiber circuits (structures, cable, strand, guying, splice enclosures, and associated hardware), restoration of damaged facilities, material transportation to work sites, installation, splicing, site cleanup, and disposal of damaged materials as directed by SVEC. All deliverables must meet audit-quality documentation standards for FEMA reimbursement.

The resulting contract will be a Master Service Agreement (MSA) activated through Task Releases on an as-needed basis in response to future disaster events. Compensation is structured as either time and materials or unit rates, with no cost-plus-percentage-of-cost markups permitted. Mobilization, demobilization, hourly equipment and labor rates, documented fuel charges, and GSA-capped meal and lodging expenses are reimbursable. Overtime applies to hours exceeding eight per day, weekend work, or 40 hours weekly; all other hours are straight time.

Contractors must maintain commercial general liability, automotive liability, and workers' compensation insurance with minimum coverage limits of $1 million per occurrence and name SVEC as additional insured. A five percent bid guarantee ($17,500) is required. SVEC reserves the right to require performance and payment bonds at 100 percent of estimated Task Release costs and to award contracts to multiple respondents.

Evaluation uses a 100-point scale: proposal completeness (5 points), firm qualifications and responsibility (15 points), cost effectiveness (40 points), and similar projects and references (40 points). Questions are due July 22, 2026. Proposals should be submitted via VendorLink or email to Kimbridge Wilkison at kimbridgew@svec-coop.com. SVEC will hold a pre-proposal conference if deemed necessary.