NIGP 83977: Switchboards, Telephone

NIGP 83977 Switchboards, Telephone is an Item code under which state and local governments solicit electrical service equipment and cloud-based telecommunications infrastructure. Recent activity shows a divergence in actual purchasing: while the NIGP category name references telephone switchboards, current opportunities span service entrance switchboards for electrical distribution (generator breakers and power switchgear), cloud-based Voice over IP phone systems for education, and network systems supplies through cooperative purchasing mechanisms. Issuing bodies include school districts (Cache County School District in Utah, Montcalm Area Intermediate School District in Michigan), regional utilities (Gainesville Regional Utilities in Florida), and purchasing cooperatives serving multiple districts (Region 7 Purchasing Cooperative in Texas). The mix skews toward education infrastructure, with K-12 districts accounting for at least two of the recent solicitations.

Recent activity concentrates in the Southwest and Midwest. Cache County School District (Utah) issued an Invitation for Bids for a 1600A Service Entrance Switchboard upgrade at Millville Elementary School with a February 5, 2026 response deadline, requiring equipment from ABB, Eaton, Schneider Electric, or Siemens. Montcalm Area Intermediate School District (Michigan) posted a Request for Proposal on April 30, 2026 for a fully cloud-based VoIP phone system supporting 191 full-featured users and fax services, with responses due May 31, 2026. Gainesville Regional Utilities (Florida) solicited proposals under RFP 2026-077 for a direct roll-in replacement of a 5000-amp, 13.8 KV generator breaker with a June 26, 2026 deadline. Region 7 Purchasing Cooperative (Texas) offered a network systems and supplies catalog discount bid (NET2223) with estimated expenditures of $6.4 million over a one-year term.