Lumen ILA Huts I-55 Corridor (Sole Economically Feasible)

The State of Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology is pursuing a sole-source contract award to Level 3 Communications LLC, doing business as Lumen Technologies, for the installation and provisioning of In-Line Amplification (ILA) hut services along the I-55 corridor. The procurement, identified as Bidbuy number 26-448DOIT-TELEC-B-51008, encompasses the provision of fiber access and equipment housing infrastructure, including network racks, conduit infrastructure, fiber splicing and termination services, 20-amp 48 VDC power units, installation services, and associated monthly recurring charges. The contract term is 4 years and 10 months, with a projected start date of March 25, 2026, and end date of January 31, 2031, with no renewal options included. The State's Purchasing Officer approved the contract on March 11, 2026. A public hearing is scheduled for March 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM via WebEx to allow interested parties to present testimony regarding the appropriateness of the sole-source procurement method in accordance with the Illinois Procurement Code, with access available at 1-312-535-8110 or 1-415-655-0002 using the provided access code and password. Written comments or requests for a public hearing must be submitted by 4:00 PM on March 20, 2026, to Dianne Richman at the Chief Procurement Office, or the hearing will be cancelled.

This is a sole-source procurement based on economic feasibility rather than competitive bidding, reflecting the State's determination that Lumen Technologies possesses exclusive qualifications and control over ILA hut facilities along the State's fiber route. Lumen Technologies serves as the incumbent vendor with a purchase history dating back to 2010, with previous contracts valued at $702,400 (2010-2013), $468,267 (2013-2015), $750,000 (2015-2018), and $750,000 (2021-2026). The State has invested over $3 million in fiber infrastructure and holds Indefeasible Rights of Use (IRU) for eight fiber strands terminating within Lumen-owned facilities; the justification emphasizes that constructing alternative ILA huts would cost an estimated $4.5 million, while full infrastructure replacement would exceed $60 million and require up to three years. The estimated contract value is $574,200 for the initial term, funded through state appropriated funds. Pricing analysis indicates minimal increases since 2021, with installation charges remaining unchanged and only the 19-inch open rack monthly fee increasing 14.3% (from $875 to $1,000), while battery capacity has doubled at no effective cost increase per amp. No set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises have been identified in the procurement materials.