FC0002571-Ciena-P1 and P2 Site Equipment Upgrade Purchase

The Maryland Department of Information Technology is issuing a Purchase Order and Request for Proposal (PORFP) for Ciena networking equipment to support the "nMD MAN 10G Edge Expansion - Phase 1" project. The procurement encompasses the supply and installation of Ciena networking equipment across multiple state facilities to modernize Maryland's network infrastructure with 10-gigabit Ethernet edge expansion capabilities. The bill of materials specifies 13 units of Ciena 5130 switches, 18 units of 5164 switches, and 68 units of 3948 switches, along with associated software licenses covering SAOS base operating system, Ethernet and OAM, FlexE, EVPN routing, MPLS routing, and security modules. Additional deliverables include various optical transceivers ranging from 10 GIG to 100G capacity, AC power cords, console adapters, managed spares, and select support packages with next business day arrival capability for one year. The contract includes installation services and technical support to ensure deployment at designated state locations aligned with the state's network modernization objectives. The proposal submission deadline is May 25, 2026, with the opportunity posted on May 15, 2026.

This procurement is designated as a sole-source purchase from Ciena Corporation, reflecting the incumbent vendor's established relationship with the state and system compatibility requirements with existing Maryland network infrastructure. The sole-source designation restricts bidding to Ciena as the designated supplier, limiting the opportunity to organizations beyond the incumbent vendor. The contract includes provisions for warranty coverage and technical support services throughout the deployment and operational phases, with funding allocated through the state's information technology capital improvement budget. The pricing structure is based on Ciena's submitted proposal with costs itemized by equipment type and installation labor, reflecting maximum list prices (MSRP) and estimated totals based on DoIT's previous purchasing of similar items. All software licenses are designated as perpetual, indicating one-time licensing costs for the specified equipment quantities. Freight and handling charges are included as a separate line item within the overall procurement budget.