Mobile satellite station

The Office of State Procurement on behalf of South Carolina State University is requesting bids on a mobile satellite communication system under IFB, with proposals due July 10, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. EST and questions due June 11, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. EST. A South Carolina resident contractor preference applies to vendors maintaining an in-state office staffed for at least fifty weeks with two employees working thirty-five hours weekly and directly employing South Carolina residents to perform services representing more than fifty percent of the total bid price.

The scope is a one-time purchase of a 1.2-meter Ku-Band mobile very small aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite antenna system with associated installation, testing, and training. The antenna will be installed atop the Mobile Technology Center and must deliver a minimum of 10 Mbps download and 4 Mbps upload bandwidth with capability to connect to commercial Ku-band satellite coverage throughout the Continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Puerto Rico, and all other U.S. territories. The contractor must remove existing satellite systems, install and configure the new system in a rack-mounted configuration, conduct operational testing of VoIP and data connectivity, and provide comprehensive training to 1890 Research & Extension PSA personnel on system setup, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. All items must be new.

The contractor must procure fixed-price coverage for all labor, materials, equipment, and services. Insurance requirements include Commercial General Liability of $1 million per occurrence, Auto Liability of $1 million per accident, Workers' Compensation at statutory limits, and information security and privacy coverage of $1 million per claim and $5 million aggregate. Vendor registration with the State of South Carolina prior to bid submission is required, along with debarment, ethics, drug-free workplace, and illegal immigration compliance certifications. Award is scheduled for July 21, 2026, and will be made to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder.