Satellite Television Programming Services for ECI and ECI Annex

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is requesting bids on satellite television programming services for Eastern Correctional Institution (ECI) and ECI-Annex in Westover, Somerset County under IFB BPM052794, with bids due January 13, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. local time. Small business preferences apply: 5% for certified small businesses, 7% for veteran-owned small businesses, and 8% for disabled-veteran-owned small businesses; no Small Business Reserve or federal funding is involved.

The contractor must provide reception, transmission, and all necessary headend equipment and satellite dishes to serve approximately 3,000 televisions across both facilities. The required channel lineup includes all available local channels (ABC, CBS, CBS 10-2, CW, FOX 21, PBS, WCPB-PBS 28-3) plus a minimum of 16 additional channels: WNBC-NBC 4, CNN, ESPN, ESPN2, FX, TBS Superstation, TNT, A&E, SCI-FY, The Weather Channel, USA Network, Discovery Channel, AMC, BET, Telemundo, and Univision. The contractor must respond to service requests within four hours and complete repairs within 24 hours at no additional cost. Bidders must demonstrate at least three complete and consecutive years within the last five years of comparable cable or satellite television programming services with headend equipment, documented through references.

The contract term is five years with no renewal options. The facilities house a combined average daily population of approximately 3,246 incarcerated individuals and approximately 788 DPSCS employees. Contractor personnel performing work at DPSCS facilities are subject to criminal background checks, fingerprinting, photography, and issuance of DPSCS identification cards; any personnel substitution after contract award requires prior written Procurement Officer approval. The contractor must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence and $3,000,000 annual aggregate; workers' compensation insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence; and automobile or commercial truck insurance, with the State listed as additional insured on all policies except workers' compensation. Financial statements for the last two years must be submitted with the bid. Questions are due December 18, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. A pre-bid conference was held December 11, 2025; no additional site visit is required. Bid submission is electronic through eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA).