Find Telecommunications RFPs in Illinois

Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) is GSA's $50 billion, 15-year government-wide contract for telecommunications and IT infrastructure services. It covers voice, data, video, managed network, and cloud services. There are currently about 10 prime contractors on EIS. New vendors can participate by subcontracting with EIS primes or bidding on agency-specific task orders that allow outside competition.

E-Rate provides annual discounts of 20-90% on eligible telecommunications and internet services for schools and libraries. Schools post Form 470 (Request for Services) on the USAC portal, then vendors respond with bids. Eligible services include broadband, Wi-Fi equipment, fiber construction, and managed network services. The program distributes over $4 billion annually.

FirstNet is a federally mandated nationwide broadband network for first responders, managed by the First Responder Network Authority and built by AT&T. Vendors participate primarily by subcontracting with AT&T for cell tower construction, fiber deployment, equipment installation, and network maintenance. The network covers all 50 states and territories.

Key certifications include FCC licensing for spectrum-related work, manufacturer certifications (Cisco, Juniper, etc.) for network equipment, BICSI certification for structured cabling, and security clearances for DOD/intelligence community telecom work. For E-Rate, USAC requires vendors to have a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN).