High Speed Telecommunications Service - Erie 1 BOCES-WFD

Erie 1 Board of Cooperative Educational Services (Erie 1 BOCES) is seeking a high-speed telecommunications service provider for a five-year contract from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030. The procurement specifically requires establishing a point-to-point telecommunications network connecting the Erie 1 BOCES headquarters in West Seneca with two Workforce Development remote sites in Cheektowaga. The service must provide a minimum bandwidth of 10 Gbps per link, utilizing single-mode fiber optic infrastructure with specific technical requirements including fusion splicing and compatibility with existing Extreme VSP 8400 and Aruba 5412 series network switches. Bidders must submit comprehensive documentation including a current Dun & Bradstreet financial report, customer references, a sample contract, and various certifications such as Non-Collusive Bidding and Iran Divestment Act compliance. The bid is structured as a best-value procurement, with pricing being the most heavily weighted evaluation criterion, and will also consider factors like specification compliance, corporate resources, implementation capability, and service provider history. The bid response is due by May 13, 2025, with potential vendors required to provide detailed pricing inclusive of base service costs, taxes, surcharges, and fees.

The procurement does not explicitly specify set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The bid requires vendors to be common carriers and provide transparent pricing, including Federal Universal Service Fund surcharges (currently 36.6%) and New York State Telecom Excise surcharges (currently 2.5%). While no incumbent vendor is mentioned, the bid indicates the need to integrate with existing network infrastructure, specifically Extreme VSP 8400 and Aruba 5412 series switches. Vendors must provide comprehensive cost breakdowns, implementation timelines, and detailed technical specifications for network connectivity. Though an exact budget range is not specified, the comprehensive technical requirements and five-year contract duration suggest a significant telecommunications investment for Erie 1 BOCES. The procurement appears focused on securing a robust, high-speed telecommunications solution that can support the educational and workforce development needs of the organization across multiple sites.