SEFS IRU Peoria Dark Fiber - Bluebird

The Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) is procuring Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) fiber backbone services through a sole source procurement method from Missouri Network Alliance, LLC d/b/a Bluebird Network. The procurement, identified as bid number 26-448DOIT-TELEC-B-51861, addresses DoIT's critical need for fiber route services to maintain reliable network connectivity across key Illinois locations including Peoria, Bartonville, Macomb, Canton, and Springfield. The services encompass five distinct fiber routes totaling 133.2 miles with 636.4 total fiber miles, providing network backbone support for Point of Presence (POP) sites and ILA sites, enabling POP-to-POP and POP-to-ILA communications, with specific lateral connections to critical facilities including the Illinois Century Network Peoria POP, Western Illinois University, Limestone High School, and Springfield locations. The contract term begins April 30, 2026, and extends through October 27, 2033, representing approximately 7.6 years with no renewal options. The procurement includes both an IRU fee and annual maintenance costs. A public hearing is scheduled for April 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (CST) via WebEx conference call, with interested parties required to submit written comments or formally request a public hearing by 4:00 p.m. (CST) on April 17, 2026, to Dianne Richman, Chief Procurement Officer, at Dianne.Richman@illinois.gov or by phone at 217-622-1857.

DoIT justified this sole source procurement based on Bluebird's exclusive ownership and operational control of the required fiber infrastructure through its subsidiary PEG Bandwidth IL, LLC, and the geographically unique routing specifications that no other vendor can replicate. The agency evaluated alternatives from AT&T, Comcast, Consolidated Communications, and Windstream, determining that constructing new competitive infrastructure would cost an estimated $9.1 million and require 12-24 months for permitting and construction. The total estimated contract value is $741,936.00, comprised of an IRU fee of $225,120.00 and annual maintenance costs of approximately $64,040.50 spread across the 7.6-year term, generating estimated savings of over $8.3 million compared to new construction. Funding is provided through State Appropriated Funds. No set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational types are specified in the procurement documents. The State Purchasing Officer approved the sole source determination on April 8, 2026, with the contract award contingent upon the Chief Procurement Officer's approval following the hearing and evaluation of all testimony presented.