Underground Fiber Optic Drop Installation Services

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Underground Fiber Optic Drop Installation Services
Burke County, Georgia
RFP No.: RFP-2026-BB-001
RFP Issue Date: July 31, 2026
Proposal Due Date: September 2, 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
Questions Due: August 26, 2026, 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
Addendum Posted on Website: Friday, August 28, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
Issued by:
Burke County Board of Commissioners
Burke County Manager's Office
PO Box 89 | 602 N. Liberty Street
Waynesboro, GA 30830
Contact: Adam Flakes | a.flakes@burkecounty-ga.gov
This document constitutes a Request for Proposals and does not commit Burke County to
award a contract or to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of proposals.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND .................................................................................. 4
1.1 Purpose and Background ................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Federal Compliance ............................................................................................................................ 4
1.3 Award Authority .................................................................................................................................. 4
SECTION 2: SCOPE OF WORK - STANDARD DROP INSTALLATION .................................................. 4
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS .............................................................................................................. 5
BACKGROUND CHECKS AND DRUG TESTING ............................................................................... 5
Scope of Services................................................................................................................................. 5
2.1 Work Order Assignment ..................................................................................................................... 6
2.2 Scheduling and Customer Contact ..................................................................................................... 6
2.3 Utility Locates ..................................................................................................................................... 6
2.4 Drop Route.......................................................................................................................................... 7
2.5 Fiber Optic Termination Box Installation ............................................................................................. 7
2.6 GPS Documentation (Optional) .......................................................................................................... 7
2.7 Split Riser Guard Installation .............................................................................................................. 8
2.8 Excess Cable Storage ........................................................................................................................ 8
2.9 Materials Pickup ................................................................................................................................. 8
2.10 Customer Arrival and Communication .............................................................................................. 8
2.11 Burial Depth ...................................................................................................................................... 8
2.12 Photographic Documentation ........................................................................................................... 9
2.13 Work Order Closeout ........................................................................................................................ 9
2.14 Private Utility Line - Not Responsible Acknowledgment and Property Owner Damage Liability ... 9
2.14.1 Definition of Private Lines .......................................................................................................... 9
2.14.2 Contractor's Limitation of Liability for Unmarked Private Lines ............................................... 10
2.14.3 Contractor's Commitment to Repair ........................................................................................ 10
2.14.4 Property Owner's Financial Responsibility for Repair Costs ................................................... 10
2.14.5 Customer Signature Requirement - Pre-Construction .......................................................... 11
SECTION 3: CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS ................................................ 12
3.1 Minimum Qualifications ..................................................................................................................... 12
3.2 Insurance Requirements ................................................................................................................... 12
3.3 Required Licenses ............................................................................................................................ 13
SECTION 4: PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND QUALITY REQUIREMENTS .................................... 13
SECTION 5: PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................. 14
5.1 Proposal Organization ...................................................................................................................... 14
SECTION 6: FEE SCHEDULE / PRICING MATRIX ................................................................................... 16
SECTION 7: EVALUATION CRITERIA ...................................................................................................... 20
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SECTION 8: GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS ................................................................................ 20
8.1 Contract Award ................................................................................................................................. 20
8.2 Public Records .................................................................................................................................. 21
8.3 Conflict of Interest ............................................................................................................................. 21
8.4 Indemnification .................................................................................................................................. 21
8.5 Compliance with Laws ...................................................................................................................... 21
8.6 Non-Discrimination ........................................................................................................................... 22
8.7 E-Verify ............................................................................................................................................. 22
8.8 Termination for Convenience............................................................................................................ 22
8.9 Subcontracting .................................................................................................................................. 22
8.10 Change Order Procedures.............................................................................................................. 22
8.11 Dispute Resolution .......................................................................................................................... 22
8.12 Termination for Cause .................................................................................................................... 22
8.13 Vendor Suspension / Debarment ................................................................................................... 23
8.14 Anti-Lobbying .................................................................................................................................. 23
8.15 General Requirements .................................................................................................................... 23
SECTION 9: REQUIRED FORMS .............................................................................................................. 23
FORM 1 - PROPOSER INFORMATION FORM .................................................................................. 23
FORM 2 - REFERENCE SHEET ......................................................................................................... 24
FORM 3 - CERTIFICATION OF NON-COLLUSION ............................................................................ 26
FORM 4 - E-VERIFY COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION ...................................................................... 26
FORM 5 - CERTIFICATION REGARDING LOBBYING....................................................................... 27
A. PURPOSE & AUTHORITY .............................................................................................................. 27
FORM 6 - EQUIPMENT LIST ............................................................................................................... 29
SUSPENSION AND DEBARMENT CERTIFICATION ........................................................................... 30
SECTION 10: SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS .......................................................................................... 30
10.1 Deadline .......................................................................................................................................... 30
10.2 Delivery ........................................................................................................................................... 31
10.3 Questions and Clarifications ........................................................................................................... 31
10.4 Proposal Validity ............................................................................................................................. 31
10.5 Withdrawal of Proposals .................................................................................... 31
APPENDIX I: PRICING SCHEDULE ............................................................................. 31
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SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
1.1 Purpose and Background
Burke County is undertaking a major expansion of its county-wide fiber broadband network as
part of its Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment (BEAD) program participation. This
procurement seeks qualified contractor pricing for underground fiber optic drop installation
services required for the County's multi-year Fiber-To-The-Premise (FTTP) deployment.
Burke County, Georgia (hereinafter "the County") is soliciting proposals from qualified contractors.
Burke County, Georgia, acting through its designated Internet Service Provider (ISP), is hereby
soliciting proposals from qualified contractors to perform underground fiber optic drop installations
connecting individual customer premises to the fiber distribution network within Burke County.
This Request for Proposal ("RFP") is issued in support of broadband expansion initiatives within
Burke County, Georgia. The objective is to extend last-mile fiber optic connectivity from existing
fiber distribution infrastructure - including handholes and distribution terminals - to residential
and commercial customer premises throughout designated service areas.
1.2 Federal Compliance
All work performed under any resulting contract must comply with applicable federal, state, and
local regulations. Where federal funding is involved, all installations, materials, and practices shall
comply with the requirements of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD)
Program and the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA), including domestic sourcing and
manufacturing requirements for materials and equipment.
1.3 Award Authority
Burke County reserves the right to award one or more contracts as a result of this solicitation, and
to negotiate terms with one or more respondents as deemed in the best interest of the project.
SECTION 2: SCOPE OF WORK - STANDARD DROP INSTALLATION
The Contractor shall perform underground fiber optic drop installations in accordance with the
following standard procedures. Each installation shall adhere to the sequential steps described
below, and the Contractor shall ensure full compliance with every requirement at each stage of
the process.
The Contractor is responsible for providing all required tools, vehicles, and test equipment to carry
out the tasks listed in this RFP. All contractor personnel must adhere to the highest quality
standards of customer service and workmanship. The Contractor shall be responsible for
maintaining satisfactory standards of employees' competency, conduct, courtesy, appearance,
honesty, and integrity, and shall be responsible for taking such disciplinary action with respect to
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any employee as may be necessary. Burke County may request that the Contractor remove from
this assignment any employee found unfit due to failure to adhere to customer service or
workmanship standards.
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
The Contractor shall always conduct itself in a respectful and professional manner. Profanity, lewd
discussions, and any form of discrimination toward or around customers are strictly prohibited.
Failure to comply constitutes grounds for corrective actions, or even contract termination.
BACKGROUND CHECKS AND DRUG TESTING
The Contractor is responsible for conducting background checks on all staff. Any associated costs
shall be included in the bid rates, not as a separate item. Burke County recommends that the
Contractor have in place a drug screening program where 100% of new hires are tested and
periodic random testing is being used. Any associated costs shall be included in the rates
submitted in response to this solicitation, not as a separate item.
Scope of Services
The selected Offeror(s) must be capable of performing tasks in the following areas:
Provide timely residential and commercial Fiber Drop installations.
Integrate with Burke County's ISP's Customer Service team for work order flow
management and coordination.
Provide inventory control of Burke County provided materials.
Burying the drop fiber (plowing, trenching, or boring).
Installing the riser guard at the residence/business.
Installing the pot (water valve pot) for slack storage.
Installing the Dwelling Housing (Part No. 100-01578) on the exterior of the residence.
For installations on mobile homes or steel buildings where direct wall mounting is not
feasible, the Dwelling Housing shall be mounted on a 4x6 pressure-treated post with the
appropriate housing assembly.
Maintaining drop sequential records.
Recording all materials used.
Retrieving materials from designated storage locations.
Locating all existing underground utilities and facilities prior to any construction activity.
This requirement includes, but is not limited to, Burke County's existing fiber optic
infrastructure, which must be identified and marked before any ground-disturbing work
commences.
Customer connections may include single-family residences, multi-family dwellings, and
commercial entities. For residential premises, the scope of installation is limited to the exterior
drop and Fiber Optic Termination Box; interior wiring is the responsibility of the ISP. For
commercial premises, interior conduit and wiring requirements may vary by site and will be
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addressed on a per-project basis as directed by the ISP. To assist proposing firms with quoting
these connections, a sequence of typical tasks for standard premises installations is provided
below.
2.1 Work Order Assignment
The Contractor will receive new customer connection work orders issued by the ISP through its
designated work order management system. Each work order will contain all pertinent installation
details, including customer name, service address, premises type, and any special instructions or
site-specific considerations (engineering design, or customer specific requests). The Contractor
shall review each work order promptly upon receipt and identify any questions or conflicts prior to
the scheduled installation date.
2.2 Scheduling and Customer Contact
Each work order will include a scheduled appointment time and a designated Customer Contact
Person. The Contractor shall adhere to the scheduled time window and shall not deviate from the
assigned appointment without prior written authorization from the ISP. If the Contractor anticipates
any delay or scheduling conflict, the ISP must be notified immediately so that the customer may
be informed and the appointment rescheduled as necessary.
2.3 Utility Locates
Prior to any excavation, trenching, boring, or ground-disturbing activity, the Contractor shall
contact 811 (Georgia One-Call Center) and ensure that all underground utility locates are
completed and properly marked before installation begins. The Contractor shall not commence
any excavation until all locate markings are in place and all applicable waiting periods have
expired. The Contractor shall be solely responsible for any damage to underground utilities
resulting from failure to obtain or observe utility locates.
NOTE:
If The 72-Hour Waiting Period Has Expired and No Utilities Have Been Marked,
The Contractor Shall Not Proceed with Any Excavation. The Contractor Shall
Contact Burke County And/or The ISP for Direction Before Commencing Any
Ground-Disturbing Work.
The Contractor shall recognize that any utilities depicted on construction drawings are provided
for general informational purposes only and do not constitute a complete or guaranteed
representation of all underground infrastructure. Burke County makes no warranty as to the
accuracy or completeness of the utilities shown, and assumes no responsibility for any
inaccuracies, omissions, or discrepancies therein. This limitation expressly includes Private Lines,
as defined in Section 2.14.1, which may not appear on any construction drawing. Prior to
commencing any ground-disturbing work, the Contractor is required to discuss the existence and
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location of all known Private Lines directly with the landowner or property owner. The Contractor
shall contact the Georgia 811 One-Call agency a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours in advance
of construction to request the location of all registered buried utilities. The Contractor is solely
responsible for locating and avoiding all subsurface obstructions and shall bear full responsibility
for all direct and indirect costs and consequences arising from any damage to utilities, whether or
not such utilities were shown on construction drawings.
During performance of the Work, if Contractor hits a gas line or has reason to believe it has hit a
gas line, Contractor shall immediately call 9-1-1 and make the appropriate notification.
Contractor shall keep a Utility Location Log of all telephone contacts to notify existing utilities of
pending excavation. Such a log shall include date, time of day, name of individual contacted,
name of agency or company contacted, telephone number, and confirmation number. If
requested, the Utility Location Log shall be made available to Burke County for review.
2.4 Drop Route
The fiber drop cable shall be installed from the ISP's assign handhole or distribution point to the
customer premises. The drop route shall typically be directed to the side of the structure nearest
the electric power meter, unless site conditions or customer preferences require an alternative
routing approved by the ISP. The Contractor shall select the most direct and least disruptive route,
avoiding driveways, sidewalks, landscaped beds, and other hardscape features where
practicable. In some project areas, subdivisions, MDU, high population areas. An OptiTap-
compatible connector on the network end of the preconnectorized drop cable shall be connected
to the OptiTap-style terminal inside the handhole at the road. The ISP will provide proper training
on this installation.
2.5 Fiber Optic Termination Box Installation
The Contractor shall install a Fiber Optic Termination Box (ONT NID housing) on the exterior wall
of the customer premises. The Termination Box shall be positioned near the electric power meter
or as close as practicable to the customer's existing network cables, telephone interface, or
designated network entry point. Mounting shall be secure, level, and weatherproof, using
appropriate fasteners for the exterior wall material (wood, masonry, vinyl siding, etc.).
A Fiber Optic Termination Box is a small enclosure located at the terminal end of the fiber where
it enters the customer premises. Its primary function is to splice, secure, and protect the optical
fibers connecting the incoming drop cable to the pigtail or patch cable. The Termination Box
provides a protected environment for fiber management, ensures proper bend radius
maintenance, and serves as the demarcation point between the ISP's outside plant network and
the customer premises equipment.
2.6 GPS Documentation (Optional)
The Contractor shall GPS-record the complete route of the fiber drop from the handhole at the
road, through the yard, to the Fiber Optic Termination Box on the structure. GPS data shall be
captured at sufficient intervals to accurately represent the path of the buried cable, including all
turns, directional changes, and transition points. All GPS data shall be recorded in a format
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compatible with the ISP's geographic information system (GIS) and shall meet the accuracy
standards specified in Section 4 of this RFP.
2.7 Split Riser Guard Installation
The Contractor shall install a split riser guard vertically up the exterior wall from ground level to
the Fiber Optic Termination Box. The riser guard shall protect the exposed fiber cable run on the
building exterior from physical damage, UV exposure, and environmental hazards. The split edge
of the riser guard shall be mounted facing toward the premises wall to provide total coverage. The
riser guard shall be securely fastened to the wall using manufacturer-approved clamps at
appropriate intervals.
2.8 Excess Cable Storage
The Contractor shall store excess drop cable in a 10-inch Round Standard Series Valve Box
(Black Box with Green Cover) at one (1) location for each installation:
Near the customer premises: A valve box shall be installed at the base of the
structure, adjacent to the riser guard. A minimum of twenty (20) feet of excess cable
shall be stored within the valve box to accommodate future service, repairs, or splice
work as needed.
At the handhole at the road: Excess cable shall be stored at the distribution end of the
drop inside the serving handhole. The stored cable length shall extend a minimum of
eight (8) feet beyond the existing loop or cable tip within the handhole, ensuring
sufficient slack for future maintenance or reconnection.
Excess cable shall be coiled neatly, taped every 4 ft with the mainline fiber cable, maintaining
proper bend radius, and placed back within the valve box with the cover securely seated.
2.9 Materials Pickup
The Contractor shall pick up all materials needed for each installation from the ISP's designated
warehouse prior to traveling to the job site. The Contractor is responsible for verifying the correct
type and quantity of materials for each work order before departing the warehouse. Any material
shortages, defects, or discrepancies shall be reported to the Burke County warehouse personnel
at the time of pickup.
2.10 Customer Arrival and Communication
The Contractor's installation team must arrive at the customer location within the time window
specified on the work order. Upon arrival, the team shall meet the identified Customer Contact
Person and describe the planned installation process before beginning any work. The explanation
shall include the proposed cable route, the location of the Termination Box, the expected duration
of the installation, and any temporary disruptions to the yard or landscaping. The Contractor shall
obtain verbal acknowledgment from the Customer Contact Person before commencing work.
2.11 Burial Depth
All buried drop cable shall be installed at a depth of eight (8) to twelve (12) inches below finished
grade. The Contractor shall verify burial depth at multiple points along the route and shall
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document compliance. In areas where rocks, roots, or other subsurface obstructions prevent
achieving the minimum depth, the Contractor shall notify the ISP and document the obstruction
and the actual depth achieved at that location.
2.12 Photographic Documentation
The Contractor shall take photographs of each completed fiber drop installation, documenting the
full route, termination points, riser guard placement, valve box locations, and overall
workmanship. Photographs shall include, at a minimum:
The handhole and cable entry point at the road
The cable route through the yard (overview)
The valve box at the customer premises
The riser guard installation on the exterior wall
The Fiber Optic Termination Box (open and closed)
The overall premises view showing completed installation
Any areas of yard restoration
All photographs shall be date/time-stamped and geotagged in accordance with the quality
requirements specified in Section 4.
2.13 Work Order Closeout
Upon completion of each installation, the Contractor shall close the premise installation work order
in the ISP's work order management system. Closeout shall include uploading all GPS route
data(optional), all required photographs, notation of any exceptions or deviations from standard
procedures, and confirmation of customer acknowledgment. Work orders shall be closed within
twenty-four (24) hours of installation completion as specified in Section 4.
2.14 Private Utility Line - Not Responsible Acknowledgment and Property Owner
Damage Liability
2.14.1 Definition of Private Lines
For purposes of this section, the term "Private Lines" refers to any underground lines, cables,
pipes, conduit, or other buried infrastructure located on a property that is privately owned, privately
installed, or otherwise not registered with the Georgia 811 One-Call Center. Because Private
Lines are not captured in the 811 locate process, they present a unique risk during underground
installation activities and require proactive coordination between the Contractor and the property
owner.
Private Lines include, but are not limited to, the following:
Irrigation and sprinkler system supply lines and associated control wiring;
Invisible fence or underground pet containment system wiring;
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Landscape lighting wiring and other low-voltage outdoor cables;
Private water supply lines or well lines running between a well and the structure;
Septic system piping, septic tanks, and drain fields;
Private gas lines running between a fuel storage tank and the structure;
Electrical and plumbing lines serving swimming pools or hot tubs;
Outdoor audio, speaker, or entertainment system cabling;
Secondary electrical service lines feeding outbuildings, detached garages, sheds, or
barns;
Previously installed private telephone, cable television, or internet service lines; and
Any other privately installed buried line, pipe, or conduit not known to or registered with
Georgia 811.
Prior to commencing any ground-disturbing work at a property, the Contractor is required to
consult with the homeowner or property owner to identify, discuss, and document the existence
and approximate location of any known or suspected Private Lines. This consultation shall be
completed before any excavation, boring, trenching, or other subsurface work begins.
2.14.2 Contractor's Limitation of Liability for Unmarked Private Lines
The Contractor has complied with all applicable Georgia state requirements by contacting Georgia
811 and ensuring that all registered public utilities at the service address have been located and
marked prior to commencing any ground-disturbing work. The Contractor takes all reasonable
precautions to avoid damage to known underground infrastructure. However, the Contractor
cannot be held responsible for damage to any Private Line that: (a) was not disclosed by the
Property Owner to the Contractor prior to commencement of installation; (b) was not marked,
staked, or otherwise identified on the property prior to commencement of installation; and/or (c)
was not registered with the Georgia 811 One-Call Center. The Contractor shall bear no liability
for damage to such unmarked or undisclosed Private Lines.
2.14.3 Contractor's Commitment to Repair
Notwithstanding the limitation of liability in Section 2.14.2, the Contractor agrees to make a good-
faith effort to repair any damaged Private Line discovered during or immediately following the
installation process, subject to the cost responsibility provisions of Section 2.14.4.
2.14.4 Property Owner's Financial Responsibility for Repair Costs
The Property Owner acknowledges and agrees that, in the event a Private Line is damaged during
the underground fiber optic drop installation due to the failure of the Property Owner to disclose,
mark, or identify such Private Line prior to commencement of work, ALL costs associated with the
repair or replacement of the damaged Private Line shall be the sole financial responsibility of the
Property Owner. Such costs may include contractor labor and equipment costs to excavate and
repair the damaged line, cost of replacement materials, third-party specialty contractor costs (e.g.,
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