NIGP 83977: Switchboards, Telephone

NIGP 83977 Switchboards, Telephone is an Item code covering telephone system equipment and telecommunications services that state and local governments procure to support voice communication infrastructure across their facilities. Recent solicitations show the code encompasses both legacy circuit-switched breaker and line replacement work and modern cloud-based VoIP phone systems with unified communications capabilities. State and local issuing bodies soliciting under this code include utilities (Gainesville Regional Utilities), large school districts (Hillsborough County Public Schools, Montcalm Area Intermediate School District), and intermediate education service districts. School districts appear to dominate recent activity, driven by aging on-premises telephone infrastructure replacement and migration to cloud-hosted systems. Work ranges from direct equipment replacement of generator breakers and circuit infrastructure to full system upgrades including handset provisioning, voicemail, fax integration, number porting, and managed VoIP services with SLA-backed uptime guarantees.

Recent procurement activity is concentrated in Florida and Michigan. Gainesville Regional Utilities posted RFP 2026-077 on October 5, 2026, for a direct roll-in replacement of a 5000 amp, 13.8 KV generator breaker with responses due June 26, 2026, requiring firm lump-sum pricing, a five percent bid bond, and onsite commissioning support with a minimum one-year warranty. Hillsborough County Public Schools posted RFP 26365RFPMST on September 7, 2026, for telecommunications services-voice across 280 facilities covering approximately 4,225 existing telephone lines and 5,094 analog lines with responses due September 25, 2026; evaluation weights qualifications and experience at thirty percent, specifications and scope at twenty-five percent, cost and best value at thirty-five percent, and utilization of HCPS-registered small business enterprises at ten percent. Montcalm Area Intermediate School District in Michigan issued RFPMAI2600000019351 on April 30, 2026, for a fully cloud-based VoIP system supporting approximately 191 full-featured users with handsets and softphone capabilities, voicemail services, and fax support, with proposals due May 31, 2026, targeting vendor selection by June 12, 2026, and a July 1, 2026 project start date.