Wireless-as-a-Service Provider for Tennessee State Parks - UPDATED

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has issued Request for Proposals #32701-04678 for a Wireless-as-a-Service (WaaS) Provider targeting eleven state parks, including Fall Creek Falls, Cumberland Mountain, Roan Mountain, Cedars of Lebanon, Harrison Bay, Montgomery Bell, Tims Ford, Henry Horton, Rock Island, Chickasaw, and Panther Creek. The procurement seeks a comprehensive wireless network solution to enhance connectivity across recreational facilities, cabins, campgrounds, lodges, and park buildings for both guests and park employees. Key deliverables include network design, implementation, monitoring, management, upgrades, maintenance, user authentication, security services, analytics, reporting, and support. Evaluation criteria will include technical response, cost proposal, and a site visit at Cedars of Lebanon State Park, with pricing weighted across site visit costs (18 points) and non-site visit costs (12 points). Critical dates include a technical response deadline of January 20, 2026, a cost proposal submission deadline of March 31, 2026, and anticipated contract award in April 2026. Respondents must provide symmetric service, equipment installation and maintenance, and a pricing model allowing seasonal rate adjustments.

The state emphasizes providing opportunities for minority-owned, women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and small business enterprises during this procurement. The contract has a maximum liability of $10 million, with a sixty-month base term and potential for two additional thirty-month renewals, not exceeding 120 months total. A substantial performance bond of $5 million and a payment bond of $2.5 million will be required from the successful contractor. The WaaS provider must comply with state information technology security standards, demonstrate disaster recovery capabilities, and maintain confidentiality of records. Respondents must submit detailed qualifications, experience, technical approach, references, and evidence of compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The contract includes provisions for proactive network monitoring, a cloud-based network management dashboard, guest internet access, and technical support across approximately 500 support incidents and 300 technician support hours during peak season.