Alaska Broadband Office seeks engineer to verify grant progress

The Alaska Broadband Office is hiring a professional engineer to review subgrantee project reports and verify that broadband construction matches approved network designs.

The state issued a request for proposals May 14 for the engineering services, which will cover projects statewide. The contract falls under Alaska Statute 36.30.270, which means cost will not be a factor in selecting the contractor. The deadline for proposals is May 23.

The procurement signals the state is adding independent oversight as federal broadband dollars flow to Alaska communities. The engineer will evaluate whether subgrantees are meeting their construction milestones and building networks according to their approved plans.

Under AS 36.30.270, the state can procure professional services based solely on qualifications and expertise. The state has used similar outside engineering and audit contracts for oversight in other infrastructure programs, including recent procurements for airport projects and energy authority audits.

Proposals must be submitted through the state's IRIS procurement system at iris-vss.alaska.gov. The Alaska Broadband Office is part of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.