Design Input The Counties are currently contracted with EN Engineering, LLC to design the middle mile fiber ring within each’s respective borders. There is no plan to run this dark fiber ring into Pennsylvania and/or Delaware to a data center/area carrier hotel to light it. As such, the respondents must disclose whether the Counties’ currently planned route: would intersect any lit fiber lines of the respondent’s or would require modification to intersect with its lit fiber lines. The successful respondent MUST have the ability to light this dark fiber network. Respondents must show the ability to facilitate connectivity from the counties Middle-Mile fiber infrastructure to MULTIPLE carrier hotels in order to provide redundant Tier 1 internet connectivity and service to the customers served as set forth in the counties approved grant application to the NTIA MMG program. The respective carrier hotels and routes/connectivity to them must be detailed in the response. The Counties are planning on utilizing a strand-and-lash fiber with a count of 432 strands, which has been modified from the original application. Total footage is estimated at 1,083,696’ (205.24 miles), of which 1,031,222’ (195.3 miles) is aerial, and 52,474’ (9.9 miles is underground). This breaks out to 561,545’ aerial and 21,529’ underground in Cumberland County and 357,079’ aerial and 31,118’ underground in Salem County. There is a piece of the route running through Gloucester as well, of which there is 112,246’ aerial and 854’ underground that is in the design but under evaluation. The pole owners are Verizon, Atlantic City Electric, the City of Vineland, and Public Service Electric & Gas (PSEG), for which pole data is in the process of being collected. The respondent must identify any impacts this may have on its ability to operate and maintain the network. Entity shall abide by New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ Filing Guidelines for Parties Interested in Providing Competitive Local Exchange Carrier Services in the State of New Jersey. As part of the design input, the respondent must communicate with the Counties and design engineers on all matters to ensure that the operation is a success. In other words, if matters arise where technology/equipment designed may conflict or be insufficient to meet the operational goals, these must be disclosed so that changes can be made or considered. The respondent shall not charge any amounts, fees or requests for reimbursement for this service, all assistance in this is viewed as operational start-up for the entity to ultimately benefit. Operation, Maintenance, and Administration The Counties shall each engage with the Respondent through a Lease Agreement that shall be for a period of nineteen (19) consecutive years and eleven (11) months, consistent with the grant terms identifying an expected useful life of 20+ years. The respondent shall pay a lease fee to each respective county in equal quarterly installments due on or before March 31st, June 30th, September 30th, and December 31st. Installment amounts for when odd-year lease periods exist shall be pro-rated by the number of days within the quarter. For example, if the lease begins 7/15/26, only the number of days available to be in use by the respondent in the quarter ending 7/15/26-9/30/26 shall be payable on or before 9/30/26. Throughout the duration of the Lease Term, the respondent shall be responsible for all aspects of maintenance. The counties shall not be responsible in any way, shape or form. Please be advised, that the respondent will need to adhere to the New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act and Regulations (N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.25 et seq.) in the provision of maintenance and repair work. Accordingly, relevant Public Works Contract Registration (PWCR) certificates must be supplied by either the respondent or its designated subcontractors for this type of work, and, in addition, supply certified payrolls to the Counties within ten (10) days of payment of said wages. The relevant forms related to the PWCR and listing of Prime Subcontractors directly relate to this aspect. Throughout the duration of the Lease Term, effective on day 1, the respondent can sub-let to willing agencies strands of fiber as would be customary in their business practice. All sub-letting agreements during the Lease Term for use of the fiber strands shall include the counties as parties, in such form and content approved by the respective legal counsels. The counties make no guarantee of financial or business viability of the project. Throughout the duration of the Lease Term, the successful respondent can expand upon the network or improve it to the extent it is approved by the Counties. If it is expanding the network, it shall be the property of the respondent. If it is improving the current network, it shall be deemed a leasehold improvement of the Counties. All operating expenditures of the network shall be borne by the successful respondent, inclusive of any annual pole licensing fees.
