Wireless Internet Service to Remote Rural Areas

The State of Utah Division of Purchasing, in coordination with the Department of Technology Services, is seeking a wireless internet service provider for remote rural areas, specifically targeting Red Fleet and Steinaker State Parks located in the mountainous regions outside of Vernal, Uintah County. The procurement aims to establish a five-year contract for providing high-speed internet connectivity with a minimum bandwidth of 100 Mbps through radio bridge technology. Mandatory vendor qualifications include five years of experience providing internet service in Utah, a Utah-based location, and the capability to deliver service via radio bridges. Vendors must offer comprehensive customer support, including 24/7 US-based technical support with rapid response times of 3 minutes for phone calls and 20 minutes for emails during business hours. The evaluation methodology will focus on selecting the lowest cost, responsive, and responsible vendor who meets all mandatory minimum requirements, with the solicitation (KD26-2) scheduled for submission by August 21, 2025.

The procurement does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract will require vendors to comply with various state regulations, including anti-boycott certifications, E-verify employment verification, and adherence to cybersecurity standards such as NIST 800-53 Rev. 5 and potential FedRAMP/GovRAMP compliance. Contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including $1 million per occurrence for commercial general liability and commercial automobile liability. While specific budget ranges are not detailed, the cost sheet provides a structured format for vendors to submit pricing, with requirements for complete cost breakdowns including licensing, hosting, support, travel, and implementation fees. The procurement emphasizes data protection, with contractors required to maintain confidentiality of state information and comply with extensive technical and security requirements throughout the five-year contract term.