RFP - Managed Services Provider

The Port of Newport is soliciting proposals for comprehensive Managed IT Services to commence September 3, 2026, with proposals due by April 7, 2026. The procurement encompasses project management, transition management, and implementation services including migration from the Port's current IT service provider, along with ongoing managed services such as network infrastructure and systems management, cloud services management, software management and implementation, email and collaboration services, cybersecurity support, user provisioning and deprovisioning, routine and on-call IT support, device deployment and configuration, and technical assistance for Port staff. The Port, which currently operates without in-house IT staff and requires less than an estimated 5 hours per month of support activity, operates a Microsoft-centric environment utilizing Microsoft 365, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft VOIP, Outlook, and related cloud services, with infrastructure including servers, Unify network switches, two camera servers distributed across facilities, Windows operating systems, and internet service through multiple providers (Astound for main office and South Beach, Spectrum for International Terminal). Qualified vendors must maintain current Microsoft certifications appropriate to services provided and demonstrate experience supporting small organizations or public agencies with limited internal IT staff, while the Port is open to proposals for both fully managed services and blended IT options. Selection will be based on vendor qualifications, relevant experience, demonstrated performance, technical expertise, knowledge of best practices, responsiveness to RFP requirements, and cybersecurity frameworks aligned with NIST, CIS, or ISO 27001 standards, with cost being a consideration but not the sole determining factor. Service desk support must be provided during established business hours with emergency response capabilities as defined in the Service Level Agreement.

The RFP documentation does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting the types of organizations eligible to respond. The Port maintains a detailed 125-page inventory of all connected devices and software available to proposers, which includes 38 total devices consisting of 37 Windows workstations and 1 Windows server, with device configurations ranging from 8 to 31.69 gigabytes of RAM and solid-state drive storage from 119.2 to 512 gigabytes, as well as a substantial software inventory including Microsoft 365 applications, Adobe products, and Bitdefender Endpoint Security. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is identified in the available documentation. The Port's current infrastructure includes specific device models, network configurations, and multi-provider internet service arrangements that successful proposers will need to integrate and manage. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the RFP materials provided.