The Office of Broadband and Digital Equity—a division of the Baltimore City Office of Information and Technology—and the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) are seeking proposals from qualified internet service providers to deliver high-speed, affordable internet to more than 4,100 housing units across eight HABC properties.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) is part of Baltimore's Broadband Access Initiative. This project helps more people get fast, affordable internet—especially in neighborhoods that have been left out in the past. It's funded by a mix of federal, state, and local support.

Connecting Communities That Need It Most

Baltimore City is investing approximately $25 million in broadband infrastructure to support this effort. The Request for Proposals (Solicitation No. RFQ-000724) invites proposals from internet providers to offer free or low-cost, high-speed service to residents at the following HABC properties:

• Brooklyn Homes (523 housing units)
• Cherry Hill Homes (1,282 housing units)
• Douglass Homes (394 housing units)
• Gilmor Homes (437 housing units)
• Latrobe Homes (671 housing units)
• McCulloh Homes (394 housing units)
• Mount Winans (52 housing units)
• Westport Homes (202 housing units)

What We're Looking For

The selected provider will be responsible for:

• Connecting each housing unit to the City's existing broadband infrastructure
• Offering internet service at speeds of at least 250 megabits per second, with no data caps or hidden fees
• Keeping costs between $0 and $50 per month, with higher-speed options available
• Providing all installation and maintenance services
• Supporting digital adoption by helping more households enroll

The City has already built a strong foundation to support this work, including underground fiber lines, neighborhood internet cabinets, and connection points that bring service directly into each building. The selected provider will receive non-exclusive access to the City's fiber infrastructure under a lease agreement.

The City also welcomes proposals that include optional plans to expand service into nearby neighborhoods, especially where internet access is limited.

Community and Economic Impact

Proposals will be evaluated not only on cost and technical ability, but also on community benefit. Strong proposals will include:

• Hiring Baltimore City residents and creating local jobs
• Partnering with small, minority-owned and women-owned businesses
• Helping expand internet access in underserved neighborhoods

The City will track key outcomes to evaluate the overall community and economic impact.

Important Dates

• Pre-Proposal Conference (Virtual): Thursday, June 5, 2025, 2:00 p.m. ET
• Proposal Submission Deadline: Wednesday, July 2, 2025, 11:00 a.m. ET
• Public Proposal Opening: Wednesday, July 2, 2025, 12:00 p.m. ET – lived streamed on charmtvbaltimore.com/live-stream
• Estimated Award Date: Fall 2025

To attend the pre-proposal conference, companies must email Abraham Bey at abraham.bey@baltimorecity.gov with the subject line "Internet Service Provider for HABC Locations – RFQ-000724 – Join Meeting."

How to Submit a Proposal

To view the full RFP and submit a proposal, companies must be registered as a supplier in the City's Workday procurement system. If not already registered, they must complete registration before submitting a proposal.

Instructions and required forms are included in the RFP. All submissions must follow the RFP guidelines and include both technical and pricing proposals.