Notice of Intent to Sole Source Internet Services in Greenland

Synopsis

In accordance with FAR 5.201, the U.S. Department of State is providing notice of its intent to issue a sole source purchase order to Tusass a/s, located in Nuuk, Greenland, for the provision of 100 Mbps/100 Mbps internet services to support the U.S. Consulate in Nuuk. The purchase order will be for a one-year period at a fixed unit price per month, structured to allow termination if necessary. The estimated total cost for this procurement is $26,000.

The U.S. Consulate in Nuuk is currently operating from a temporary space within a Danish Joint Arctic Command (JACO) facility in Nuuk, Greenland under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The Department of State does not lease this space and is not authorized to modify the building or its infrastructure. Under the MOA, office space is assigned at the discretion of JACO, and the Consulate may be required to relocate to another space within JACO or to an alternative temporary location.

The JACO facility has been pre-wired exclusively for Tusass internet service. No other provider has infrastructure in place, and modifications to accommodate an alternative provider are not permitted under the MOA.

The Department of State intends for our occupancy in the JACO facility to be temporary and is actively making arrangements to move into a permanent consulate facility. The Department plans to conduct a full and open competitive solicitation for a multi-year internet service contract once the consulate moves into this new permanent office space, to include the capability to accept installation of internet service. The Department of State is committed to fostering competition in the Greenlandic telecommunications market and will engage with industry stakeholders to assess potential service expansions and encourage broader market participation in future acquisitions.

Sole Source Justification

In accordance with FAR 6.302-1, a sole source award is justified when only one responsible source is available to meet the Government's requirements.

The Department reviewed available internet providers in Nuuk, including Tusass a/s, Nanoq Media, inu:it a/s, and Comby a/s. While Nanoq Media, inu:it a/s and Comby offer internet services, they do not own independent telecommunications infrastructure and must lease bandwidth from Tusass. As resellers, they have limited control over service-level reliability, outage response, and network maintenance, which may create delays in resolving critical service disruptions. Because Tusass is the sole owner and operator of Greenland’s telecommunications infrastructure, it maintains full control over network reliability, security compliance, and technical support. While alternative providers exist, their reliance on Tusass’ infrastructure limits genuine competition in the market, as they cannot offer independent alternatives in terms of core network quality or infrastructure resilience.

The JACO facility is exclusively pre-wired for Tusass service, with no other provider having infrastructure in place at this location. Since the Department is not authorized to modify the JACO facility, using a different service provider would violate the MOA. Additionally, a direct contract with the infrastructure owner ensures a secure and reliable connection without third-party involvement. Engaging an intermediary introduces contractual complexities, delays response times, and increases the risk of service disruptions.

The Department also evaluated satellite-based providers, including Starlink and OneWeb. Starlink was considered but does not have landing rights in Greenland, as Tusass a/s holds exclusive rights to provide satellite internet services under Greenlandic law. While OneWeb operates ground stations in Greenland to support its satellite network, these do not provide direct internet services to end users. Even if satellite service were permitted, it would require ground equipment, including satellite terminals and antennas, which the U.S. Consulate is not authorized to install at the JACO facility under the terms of the MOA. Furthermore, satellite-based services remain unreliable due to frequent interference from Nuuk’s extreme weather conditions—such as cloud cover, snow, ice, and strong winds—which degrade connectivity stability. Given these factors, satellite-based services are not viable alternatives for diplomatic operations requiring uninterrupted, secure connectivity.

Additionally, Tusass a/s complies with U.S. Government cybersecurity and risk mitigation standards, including requirements under FAR 12.301 for acquisitions of commercial items. Any other provider offering services to the Department of State must demonstrate compliance with cybersecurity and risk management protocols before contract award.

Given the combination of pre-existing infrastructure limitations, regulatory restrictions, and the Department’s inability to modify telecommunications systems at the JACO facility which houses the Consulate, Tusass a/s is the only provider capable of delivering the required internet service under these specific operational conditions. This procurement is conducted in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, which allows for a sole source award when only one responsible source is available to meet the agency’s requirements.

In compliance with FAR 5.203(a)(1), this notice is being published for a minimum of 10 calendar days to allow potential vendors the opportunity to respond.

Response Instructions

This notice is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties who can demonstrate direct infrastructure ownership or authorized control over independent telecommunications services in Nuuk may submit a capability statement, including clear and convincing evidence of their ability to meet the Government’s requirements.

Responses must include:

• Proof of ownership or direct operational control of telecommunications infrastructure in Nuuk.


• Technical capability to provide 100 Mbps/100 Mbps service with direct service-level management.


• Demonstrated ability to meet U.S. Government cybersecurity and risk mitigation standards.


• Compliance with Greenlandic telecommunications regulations.


• Ability to use existing infrastructure at the JACO Facility housing the U.S. Consulate without modifications.

All responses must be submitted in writing to CopenhagenProcurement@state.gov no later than April 9, 2025.

Any information received will be considered solely to determine whether a competitive procurement is feasible. If no responses are received that demonstrate the ability to meet these requirements, the Department intends to proceed with issuing a sole source award to Tusass in accordance with FAR 13.501(a)..