Fiber Maintenance

The Genesee Intermediate School District, on behalf of GenNET (Genesee Network for Education Telecommunications), a consortium of 21 local school districts in Genesee County, Michigan, is soliciting bids for fiber network maintenance and operations services. The scope of work encompasses maintenance of approximately 450 miles of fiber optic cable connecting over 200 buildings throughout Genesee County, with particular focus on approximately 14 miles of underground fiber (predominantly unarmored). Required services include after-hours emergency response, annual visual inspection of the entire fiber network with detailed reporting, routine maintenance such as tree trimming and marker/handhole inspection and repair, fiber replacement and repair, hangers repair, as-built documentation maintenance in CAD format, and contractor warranty on all materials and labor. Bidders must be licensed contractors in Michigan, provide their E-rate SPIN number and 2019 Service Provider Annual Certification Form 473, and submit itemized bids with separate identification of non-USF-eligible products and services. A pre-bid meeting was held on December 19, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. at the Erwin L. Davis Education Center in Flint, and sealed bids were due on January 16, 2019, at 2:00 P.M., with bid award anticipated at the District Board meeting on February 26, 2019. The contract may be awarded for one or three years, and bid prices must remain valid for ninety days from the date of bid opening. All bids must include a notarized Public Act 232 of 2004 Familial Relationship Disclosure Statement, a notarized Vendor Certification Statement affirming non-status as an Iran-linked business, and a performance bond; a certified check or bid bond equal to five percent of the total bid or one month's estimated service cost (whichever is greater) is also required at submission.

The procurement contains no identified set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises; however, bidders must comply with all Schools and Libraries Division and Universal Services Fund rules and procedures. The contract is contingent upon GenNET receiving approved Universal Services Fund (USF/E-rate) funding, and services may be revised or terminated if such funding approval is not obtained. All labor, equipment, and materials are exempt from Michigan Sales and Use Tax, and all contractors and subcontractors must comply with criminal background check requirements, OSHA regulations, and provide proof that materials are asbestos-free and lead-free. Vendors must be members of MISSDIG, the underground utility locating service, and replacement fiber must meet current specifications and operate at 10g speeds. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the available procurement documents; however, vendors are instructed to provide line item costs for labor and equipment rates, with estimated annual costs required. The GenNET consortium reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids in whole or in part and to award to other than the lowest bidder.