from the ACG Blog

Key Questions Federal Agencies Should Ask Fiber Optics Vendors

Before hiring a fiber optics contractor, federal agencies should ask these essential questions to ensure compliance, reliability, and mission readiness.

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The Right Questions Lead to the Right Vendor

Federal telecom infrastructure demands more than just experience—it requires the right expertise, certifications, and mindset for secure, high-performance execution.

But how can federal agencies quickly tell which vendors are truly ready for mission-critical fiber optic work?

These 10 essential questions will help procurement officers, project managers, and contracting officers vet fiber optics contractors and avoid costly surprises.

Are You Registered in SAM.gov and Active?

Every federal contractor must be registered and active in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). Ask for:

UEI (Unique Entity ID)
CAGE code
Past project registrations or contract numbers

Last paragraph from Text Section Three

What Relevant Federal Experience Do You Have?

Ask for specific experience in:

Military bases, courthouses, or detention centers
Fiber backbone builds or data room upgrades
Testing and OTDR certification

Bonus: Ask to speak with a prior contracting officer or project lead.

Do You Comply with FAR, BAA, TAA, and CMMC?

Your vendor should know these regulations inside and out:

FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation)
BAA/TAA sourcing rules
CMMC/NIST security frameworks

Lack of compliance awareness is a clear red flag.

What Are Your Testing and Documentation Standards?

Ensure the vendor provides:

OTDR test results
As-builts and labeling
Cable schedules and terminations logs
Documentation aligned with audit and closeout requirements

Can You Work in Secure or Cleared Environments?

Ask if they’ve worked in:

Classified or restricted access zones
Facilities with escort requirements
DoD or DHS infrastructure projects

Vendors should understand protocols for physical and cyber security.

ACG Welcomes the Hard Questions—And Has the Answers

At ACG, we partner with agencies who ask the right questions—because we’re ready with the right answers. Our team is:

Fully compliant and pre-qualified
Experienced in fiber builds for federal networks
Focused on performance, security, and documentation
Backed by a track record in secure government telecom projects

✅ Want to review our credentials or ask about your project requirements?

Contact ACG to start the conversation.

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