MSU RFP 26-05 Internet Service Provided for Bozeman Campus

Montana State University (MSU) has issued Request for Proposal (RFP) 26-05 for comprehensive internet service infrastructure for its Bozeman campus, seeking a service provider to deliver a minimum of 100 GB/s network capacity. The procurement will include both Internet2 and commodity Internet services with redundant Wide Area Networking paths extending east and west from Bozeman. Key deliverables include network infrastructure that enables peering services to other Montana State University campuses and public entities at no additional cost, with full operational and testing readiness required by May 14, 2026. The RFP opened on November 20, 2025, with proposal submissions due by December 30, 2025, at 12:00 AM MST, and prospective offerors must submit questions to the public Q&A board by November 25, 2025. Evaluation criteria will likely include technical capability, network performance, redundancy, cost structure, and the provider's ability to meet the specified 100 GB/s capacity. Offerors must demonstrate financial stability through audited financial statements from the preceding three years and may be required to provide references and participate in presentation or demonstration phases.

The RFP requires compliance with Montana's equal pay initiative and prevailing wage requirements, suggesting potential set-aside or preference considerations for local or disadvantaged businesses. Offerors must register in SmartBuyMSU, the University's e-procurement system, if awarded, and submit standard documentation including W-9 forms. Payment terms are established at Net 30 with no available discount, and the contract term, while not explicitly specified, may be extended at the University's discretion. All proposal costs must be fully disclosed, with undisclosed costs deemed non-applicable. The primary contact for this procurement is Ashley Ward (ashley.ward@montana.edu, +1 406-994-6399), who can provide additional details about the RFP requirements. While specific budget ranges are not detailed in the provided documentation, the sophisticated network infrastructure requirements suggest a significant investment in high-capacity internet services for the Bozeman campus.