SEFS IRU Dark Fiber - Zeke Giorgi - Stratus

The Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DOIT) is issuing a notice of intent to award a sole source contract to Stratus Networks, Inc. for IRU Dark Fiber services at the Zeke Giorgi North and South locations. The procurement encompasses two dark fiber segments totaling 30.56 miles with eight fiber pairs combined, routing from the Zeke Giorgi Center at 200 S Wyman St., Rockford, Illinois, with handoff points along Interstate 90 and Interstate 39. The North segment spans 20.24 miles with four fiber pairs, while the South segment covers 10.32 miles with four fiber pairs, designed to support Point of Presence (POP) sites and International Landing Area (ILA) sites across the Dekalb, Rockford, and Chicago areas. The contract is structured as a 20-year term agreement commencing July 1, 2026, and concluding June 30, 2046, with no renewal options, authorized under 30 ILCS 500/20-60(d). DOIT justified the sole source award designation based on Stratus Networks being the only vendor with existing fiber infrastructure meeting the state's specified route requirements, as constructing new fiber would cost approximately $5,000,000. The pricing was validated through comparison against four other vendors and two state agencies. Interested parties may submit written comments or request a public hearing by 4:00 p.m. on May 23, 2026, to Dianne Richman, Chief Procurement Officer, at Dianne.Richman@illinois.gov or 217-622-1857; a public hearing is scheduled for May 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (CST) via WebEx, and will be cancelled if no written comments or hearing requests are received by the deadline.

This sole source procurement is designated as a sole economically feasible source award, restricting participation to the identified incumbent vendor, Stratus Networks, Inc., which currently possesses the only existing dark fiber path meeting the state's operational requirements. No set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions on organization types are indicated in the procurement documents. The contract integrates with existing infrastructure supporting critical operations at multiple locations, including the Rockford facility, Zeke Giorgi building, Dekalb, Northern Illinois University ICN POP, Rockford POP, Elgin, and Waubonsee locations. The estimated contract value is $447,280, consisting of a one-time IRU fee of $183,360, annual recurring maintenance fees of $10,696, and proportional relocation costs of $50,000. The contract will be funded through State Appropriate Funds, with maintenance services included within the overall pricing structure. DOIT's need was identified on March 31, 2026, with the required service date established as July 1, 2026, reflecting the urgency of establishing connectivity for critical state operations.