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DoIT Releases RFP for K-12 Broadband Service
The Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) released RFPs this week related to recent changes for K-12 public school service and E-rate participation.
The bid posting was made available this week for vendors interested in DoIT’s E-rate Last Mile and WAN Circuits FIBER solicitation. Interested providers should register in BidBuy (https://www.bidbuy.illinois.gov/bso/) to receive all official information about it, including notices, solicitation documents, and amendments. After registration, vendors should access this information under the link below. The solicitation’s reference number and title is: “20-448DOIT-TELEC-B-11479 – E-rate Last Mile and WAN Circuits FIBER IFB.”
https://www.bidbuy.illinois.gov/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?bidId=20-448DOIT-TELEC-B-11479&parentUrl=activeBids
Vendors interested in DoIT’s E-rate Last Mile and WAN Circuits NON-FIBER solicitation should register in BidBuy (https://www.bidbuy.illinois.gov/bso/) to receive all official information about it, including notices, solicitation documents, and amendments.
After registration, please access this information under the link below. The solicitation’s reference number and title is: “20-448DOIT-TELEC-B-11616 – E-rate Last Mile and WAN Circuits NON-FIBER IFB.”
https://www.bidbuy.illinois.gov/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?bidId=20-448DOIT-TELEC-B-11616&parentUrl=activeBids
DoIT also posted a solicitation for Internet Egress related to the new K-12 program.
Vendors interested in DoIT's E-rate Internet Egress solicitation should register in BidBuy (https://www.bidbuy.illinois.gov/bso/) to receive all official information about it, including notices, solicitation documents, and amendments.
After registration, please access this information under the link below. The solicitation’s reference number and title is: “20-448DOIT-TELEC-B-11128 – E-rate Internet Egress IFB.”
https://www.bidbuy.illinois.gov/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?bidId=20-448DOIT-TELEC-B-11128&parentUrl=activeBids
More information on the changes made and how to bid on the last mile fiber transport for schools in the DoIT consortia is available in the recording of the webinar provided by DoIT on Oct. 8 and the accompanying presentation slide deck.
The webinar and slide presentation includes information for service providers to register with the state to receive RFP notifications and to be eligible to bid on the RFPs. Service Providers interested in responding to the RFPs should register as soon as possible. It was highly recommended that service providers interested in responding to the RFPs register in both of the following two ways:
Illinois BidBuy
Illinois Procurement Gateway
Additional Resources:
Illinois Pathway to Procurement - This website provides helpful information about registering as a vendor and the Illinois procurement process.
USAC - In addition to being registered in BidBuy and the Illinois Procurement Gateway, companies may also monitor RFPs posted on the USAC E-rate website.
Feel free to contact Randy Nehrt with questions or concerns.
Broadband Advisory Council Meeting focuses on Education & Connect Illinois Broadband Grant Program
The Broadband Advisory Council met November 18. The meeting included a presentation for DoIT that included an overview and history of the Illinois Century Network and the changes DoIT was making to provide backbone broadband service available to schools that join the consortia at no-cost to the school districts. In turn, last mile transport would be bid out for schools in the consortia through the process as described in the article above.
The Director of the Office of Broadband, Matt Schmit, also provided a brief presentation at the meeting with some updates on Connect Illinois, the state's multi-year, $400 million broadband grant program aimed at improving high-speed internet service throughout Illinois. Here are a few highlights from the presentation:
- Director Schmit said his office was working to get an RFP out as soon as possible to find a third-party vendor to assist the state with broadband mapping
- Director Schmit also indicated that the goal is still to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the first wave of investment to improve broadband access through Connect Illinois early in 2020
Broadband grant applicants will need to be pre-qualified to submit a grant proposal. If you think your company may apply for a Connect Illinois grant, you should complete the pre-registration process as soon as possible. There is a quick link on our website with information describing the pre-qualification process for applicants interested in applying for grants. The slides cover the entire registration process, including pre-qualification requirements, and risk assessment, which are both part of the state's Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) pre-award process.
- Director Schmit presented the vision for Connect Illinois:
- To provide ubiquitous broadband connectivity that is reliable and affordable to all homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions throughout Illinois
- To promote digital literacy and adoption
- To drive economic development and expand opportunity and innovation in such areas as education, health care, and agriculture
- Director Schmit outlined the short-term ubiquitous service goal - ensuring that all Illinois homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions can access broadband at basic service levels:
- “All homes, businesses, and community anchors will have access to service of at least 25/3 Mbps”
- Director Schmit also described the longer term competitive access goal … ensuring that all Illinois homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions have direct access to a provider with service levels necessary for advanced applications, heavy bandwidth use, or future need
- Director Schmit outlined in broad terms, the key criteria for grant funding:
- Competitive matching grants
- Score based upon merit
- Require a certain non-state match
- Applicant inclusive
- Encourage a wide variety of proposals, including but not limited to those from providers, cooperatives, municipalities, nonprofits, and P3s
- Community driven approach
- Create incentives for direct engagement with local communities, various stakeholder groups, and/or inclusive community technology goals
- Alignment with Five-Year Economic Plan and policy goals including telehealth and education
- Invite applicants to identify how proposed projects align with related opportunities
- Likely up to $50 million in first round of investments - First round likely to prioritize:
- Unserved areas
- Leverage federal dollars
- Significant non-state match
- Director Schmit said he hoped that the $420 million from the state would leverage funding from private investment and other funds to at least double the total investment, potentially bringing the total investment to possibly more than $1 billion.
- Proposed timeline for the grant program:
- NOFO out early in 2020
- Applications due early in 2020
- Challenge Process and Grant Awards in Spring 2020
The last presentation during the BAC meeting was from John Sallet, with the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. His presentation was an overview of the information in their recent publication released October 30, Broadband for America’s Future: A Vision for the 2020’s.
Feel free to contact Randy Nehrt with questions or concerns.
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