High-speed internet service as a direct connection

The New Mexico Department of Information Technology is conducting an emergency procurement for high-speed internet service as direct connections throughout the state, with proposals due August 21, 2026. This is a six-month temporary engagement authorized under NMSA 1978 § 9-27-20 to bridge a gap until completion of the competitive RFP #60-36100-25-06699.

Three contractors are pre-selected under this emergency procurement: CenturyLink Communications, LLC; Plateau Telecommunications Incorporated LLC; and 7200 NW Fiber Platform LLC/Unite Private Networks. The scope includes secure, symmetrical high-speed internet service as direct connections; internet service support and monitoring; outage notifications; professional services and training for ISP services; and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack prevention solutions. Construction services, tangible goods, and equipment or hardware purchases are excluded.

The total contract value is $100,000 for the six-month term. The emergency determination, approved June 29, 2026, cites critical operational impacts of service loss: inability of hospitals to access health records, emergency services to respond to incidents, state agencies to deliver services such as driver's licenses and vehicle renewals, and the State's SHARE financial and payroll system to function. The procurement applies across numerous state agencies, facilities, and correctional institutions statewide.

DoIT commits to preventing future emergency procurements through maintained staffing, contract training for managers, and systems to monitor contract expiration dates in advance.