About this opportunity
AI summaryThe Orange County Employees Retirement System seeks a contractor to deliver IT network infrastructure services for a new building under a turnkey or lot-based award structure. The scope of work encompasses network design and engineering, core, distribution, and access LAN, wireless systems, network security, WAN-edge architecture, structured cabling, and telecom room infrastructure. Contractors will also deliver Internet, WAN, and carrier services, voice and unified communications, hardware and licensing procurement, and optional post-installation monitoring, maintenance, and helpdesk support. Participation is limited to onshore United States organizations performing work onsite in Santa Ana, California. Applicants must submit questions by November 13, 2026, and deliver proposals digitally via email or online.
Buyer and opportunity details
- Client
- Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS)
Scope of work
- Complete turnkey network integration across Lots 1 through 3 including Prime Integrator role
- Lot 1 network design, engineering, core/distribution/access LAN, wireless, routing, firewall, and security
- Lot 2 structured cabling, Category 6A copper, single-mode fiber backbone, racks, patch panels, and UPS
- Lot 3 commercial Internet, WAN, and carrier services with dual-carrier diverse-path connectivity
- 100% certification testing of all copper and fiber runs
- Optional Lot A voice and Unified Communications deployment or extension
- Optional Lot B managed services, centralized monitoring, help desk, and maintenance
- Comprehensive as-built documentation, administrative training, and punch-list close-out
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| Lot 1: Technical solution and network architecture | Not specified |
| Lot 1: Key personnel and references | 20 |
| Lot 1: Cost and five-year TCO | 20 |
| Lot 1: Warranty, documentation, training and implementation plan | Not specified |
| Lot 2: Cabling/telecom-room infrastructure technical solution | 25 |
| Lot 2: Licensing, cabling qualifications and references | 20 |
| Lot 2: Cost/unit pricing | 20 |
| Lot 2: Certification testing, warranty and close-out | Not specified |
| Lot 3: Service design, diversity/serviceability and carrier solution | 25 |
| Lot 3: Carrier lead time, construction plan and contingency | 25 |
| Lot 3: Carrier/WAN experience and references | Not specified |
| Optional Lot A: Technical solution/integration | 25 |
Minimum qualifications
- Necessary permits and licenses to perform requested services in California and local jurisdiction, and bonded where applicable
- Proper low-voltage/electrical contractor licensing for Lot 2 work
- Personnel trained and qualified to certify copper and fiber installations, with BICSI certification
- Demonstrated experience designing and implementing enterprise LAN, WLAN, network security, and WAN infrastructure for Lot 1
- Demonstrated experience installing and certifying Category 6A copper and single-mode fiber systems for Lot 2
- Demonstrated experience procuring, coordinating, and implementing commercial Internet/WAN circuits and diverse-path planning for Lot 3
- Demonstrated experience managing multi-vendor IT infrastructure projects for Prime Integrator, with PMP or comparable certification preferred
- At least three references for comparable work completed within the past five years relevant to each Lot proposed
Documents to include with your response
- Exhibit A: Intent to Respond
- Exhibit C: Minimum Qualifications Certification
- Exhibit D: Proposal Cover Page and Checklist
- Executive summary
- Firm history, ownership structure, office locations, and organization chart
- Detailed Gantt chart demonstrating how the June 11, 2027 live date will be met
- Separately identified and priced Prime Integrator option for Lot 1 respondents
- Staff profiles, applicable licenses, manufacturer/industry certifications, and at least 3 references
- Sample deliverables relevant to proposed Lot(s)
- Itemized pricing proposal and unit-price/allowance schedule
Key dates
- Intent to Respond Deadline
- 5:00 p.m., PT, November 13, 2026
- RFP Questions Deadline
- 5:00 pm, PT, November 13, 2026
- RFP Submission Deadline
- 5:00 pm PT, December 4, 2026
- OCERS Initial Evaluation
- December 7 -18, 2026
- Finalists Interviews/Clarifications, if required
- December 28-30, 2026
- Notice of Intent to Award/Selected Respondent(s)
- January 11-15, 2027
- Target ISP circuit installation and testing
- no later than May 21, 2027
- Required Operational Go-Live
- June 11, 2027
How to submit
- Method
- Electronic via OCERS online bidding system
- Instructions
- Submitted in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF format via https://vendors.planetbids.com/portal/56826/portal-home by 5:00 pm PT, December 4, 2026.
Contract details
- Term
- Lots 1 and 2 are project-based through final acceptance and close-out; Lot 3 has 36-month or 60-month carrier terms; Optional Lot B has an initial one-year term with up to four 1-year renewal options.
- Place of performance
- Santa Ana, CA
- Insurance and bonding
- Commercial General Liability: $2M/occurrence, $2M aggregate; Auto Liability: $1M/occurrence, $2M aggregate; Workers Comp: $1M/occurrence, $1M aggregate; Umbrella/Excess: $8M/occurrence, $8M aggregate; Cyber: $2M/occurrence, $5M aggregate. OCERS named additional insured.