1551-20260205074713 CSD.pdf

PDF 117 KB Posted Feb 7, 2026

Attached to: 1551-20260205074713 CSD
Solicitation number: 3170034966
Issued by: Mississippi

About this file

Written by GovTribe AI · Feb 10, 2026

Summary

This Request for Proposal is issued by the Columbia School District Technology Department in Mississippi for a wireless access point replacement project under E-Rate funding for Fiscal Year 26-27. The district seeks qualified vendors to furnish, install, and configure enterprise-class wireless access points (Ruckus or equivalent) with associated SmartZone onsite controllers or equivalent management licensing across all E-Rate-eligible campuses, including necessary cabling installation. The project encompasses furnishing and delivering Wi-Fi 7 indoor and outdoor access points to replace existing infrastructure, installing additional access points only where necessary to eliminate coverage gaps identified during the mandatory site walkthrough, reusing existing CAT6 cabling where possible, performing comprehensive post-installation testing, and delivering complete as-built documentation and asset inventory spreadsheets in Excel format suitable for E-Rate documentation. The mandatory vendor site visit meeting is scheduled for February 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM at the Columbia School District Central Office, with proposals due by 10:00 AM local time on March 10, 2026. Proposal opening is scheduled for 10:30 AM on March 10, 2026. The contract term will begin July 1, 2026 and extend through June 30, 2027, contingent upon E-Rate funding approval. The district reserves the right to award to a single vendor providing a complete turnkey solution with all components, installations, and configurations completed without subcontractors.

Proposals will be evaluated based on price (25%), prior experience with the district (20%), personnel qualifications and professionalism (15%), management integration with current network (15%), company providing all services without subcontractors (5%), bid documentation including Excel spreadsheets (10%), and preference for Mississippi-based companies attending the site visit (10%). Bidders must possess a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) and provide at least three references, preferably school districts. The successful proposer must warrant all materials and workmanship for a minimum of five years, with manufacturer warranties included for all devices and equipment. No refurbished or gray-market equipment will be accepted. The project funding is dependent upon E-Rate approval by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and receipt of a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL); failure to secure E-Rate funding will render the contract null and void. The district reserves the right to terminate any resulting contract with thirty days' written notice and may reject any or all proposals at its sole discretion.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

E-RATE Funding Year 26-27

WIRELESS ACCESS POINT REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Columbia School District

Technology	Department
613	Bryan	Avenue

Columbia, MS 39429

Contact: John Sabine, Technology Coordinator

Telephone: (601) 649-6391 ext. 1030

E-mail:	jsabine@columbiaschools.org
District	URL:	www.columbiaschools.org

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

And

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

RFP # ERATEFY26-27Equipment

Subject

RFP

The

Columbia

School

District

(the

district)

will

sealed

statements

qualifications

(SOQ)

and

proposals

from

qualified

firms/vendors

provide

services

necessary

for

installation

and

configuration

network

equipment

for

the

26-27

(E-RATE)

cycle.

Bidders

must

have

Service

Provider

Identification

Number

(SPIN)

and

this

SPIN

must

included

the

bid

proposal.

Those

interested

shall

submit

signed,

sealed

SOQ

and

cost

proposal

the

district

10:00

local

time,

03/10/2026

the

address

listed

page

one

this

RFP.

Purpose Sites in scope: All E-Rate eligible campuses of Columbia School District (Columbia School District).

Proposals

are

being

sought

the

District

provide

wireless

access

points

for

All

E-Rate

eligible

campuses

Columbia

School

District,

including

associated

/Ruckus

SmartZone(onsite

only)

controller

equivalent

management

licensing.

Providing

Cabling

needed.

General Requirements

The

District

seeks

enterprise

class

wireless

access

points,

(Ruckus

equivalent),

with

appropriate

/Ruckus

SmartZone

(onsite

only)

controller

equivalent

management

and

licensing.

Proposers

should

note

applicable

certifications.

Terms used throughout this RFP:

USAC–Universal Service Administrative Company

SPIN –Service Provider Identification Number

FCDL–Funding Commitment Decision Letter

FCC–Federal Communications Commission

SLD–School and Library District

USF — Universal Service Fund

All proposals and supporting documentation must be sent to:

(Submittal should be clearly labeled on the outside of the submittal)

Columbia School District

FY 26-27 Network Upgrade Project

RFP # ERATEFY26-27Equipment

Submittal should be addressed to:

Columbia School District

SEE ADDRESS ON PAGE ONE OF THIS RFP

One

original

and

two

copies

proposals

and

statements

qualifications

are

prepared

and

delivered

either

mail,

Federal

Express,

hand

delivered

the

address

notated

the

cover

page

before

10:00

local

time,

03/10/2026

where

they

will

time

and

date

stamped.

addition,

the

bid

must

broken

down

per

school

building

and

totals

per

school

campus

must

shown,

well

grand

total

for

the

entire

district

project

(PDF

and

Excel

files

must

submitted).

All

the

above

bid

documents

must

also

provided

electronic

format

one

jump

drive.

Please

not

fax

proposals.

addition

the

project

total,

any

received

bid

must

include

excel

spreadsheet

breakdown

the

bid.

Basis of Award

• E-rate approval by USAC

• The bidder must have SLD SPIN

• References of at least two installations of similar application size and complexity.

• Please see “Vendor Requirements” on the following pages for additional information.

• Please also see “Criteria for Selection” in more detail.

Selection Schedule

Event Date(s)

Release of RFP to Vendors 02/05/2026 10:00AM

Vendor Site Visit Meeting

02/24/2026 10:00AM

Proposal Submission Deadline 03/10/2026 10:00AM

Proposal Opening 03/10/2026 10:30AM

Questions

regarding

the

RFP

may

emailed

Bids@columbiaschools.org

before

March

2026.

response

will

emailed

all

bidders.

will

the

responsibility

the

vendor/bidder

check

the

website/vendor

thread

daily

for

any

changes

the

RFP

the

listing

bidder

questions

and

answers

that

may

arise.

mailto:Bids@columbiaschools.org

NON-APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS

the

event

funds

are

not

appropriated

the

School

District

governing

body

any

fiscal

period

for

payments

due

under

RFP

ERATEFY26-27Equipment,

then

the

Technology

Director,

Superintendent’s

designee(s),

will

immediately

notify

the

successful

vendor(s),

designee(s),

such

occurrence

and

this

contract

will

terminate

the

last

day

the

fiscal

period

for

which

appropriations

were

received

without

penalty

expense

the

School

District

any

kind

whatsoever,

other

payments

herein

agreed

upon

for

which

funds

will

have

been

appropriated

and

budgeted

are

otherwise

available.

AWARD

SOME

THE

ENTIRE

PROJECT

MAY

SUBJECT

THE

AVAILABILITY

DISTRICT

FUNDING

AND

PROJECT

NEEDS.

Proposer’s

response

the

request

must

include

statement

that

the

proposed

terms

will

remain

effect

and

available

for

the

project

term

identified

July

2026,

through

June

30,

2027

The

work

itself

will

consist

all

aspects

technology

implementation

for

which

the

district

desires

contract

with

the

selected

Proposer(s).

The

school

district’s

vision

for

this

technology

project

calls

for

the

installation

and

configuration

new

technology

equipment,

software,

and

services

improve

the

district’s

network

access

point

(backbone)

infrastructure.

Proposed

solutions

must

integrate

with

the

existing

network

environment

ensure

seamless

management

and

design.

Completion

for

the

project

scheduled

for

June

30,

2027.

The

School

District

reserves

the

right

waive

any

informality

and

reject

any

all

proposals.

Proposers

are

prohibited

from

contacting

lobbying

members

the

School

Board,

school

district

administrators,

school

district

employees,

school

district

contractors,

school

district

consultants.

Failure

conform

this

condition

will

grounds

for

disqualification

the

proposer.

Proposals

and

statements

qualifications

are

include

the

information

requested

the

beginning

this

RFP.

MANDATORY VENDOR SITE VISIT MEETING

mandatory

vendor

site

visit

meeting

will

held

the

date

and

time

listed

under

Selection

Schedule

the

beginning

the

RFP

the

school

District

central

office

and

proceeding

the

respective

school

campuses.

Any

questions

received

will

discussed

that

time

and

responses

will

posted

the

district

web

site

for

everyone

review

after

the

walk-throughs

have

been

completed.

Written

questions

will

allowed

for

any

vendor

interested

responding

the

District’s

RFP

and

responses

again

will

posted

the

web

site.

The

district

will

only

ONE

bid

per

vendor.

This

Network

Upgrade

Project

will

awarded

SINGLE

vendor

that

can

quote,

install,

all

network

equipment

requested/required.

The

School

District

requires

“turnkey”

solution

for

this

project.

Requested

paper

copies

and

electronic

copies

the

proposal

and

other

required

documentation

must

sent

sealed

envelope

clearly

marked

listed

the

beginning

the

RFP.

This

Network

Upgrade

Project

will

include

preferred

equipment

preference

information

and

will

provided

each

vendor

who

attends

the

vendor

site

visit

meeting.

This

information

will

include

listing

equipment

specifications

and

school

campus

maps

with

explanations.

(If

necessary)

The

equipment

specification

list

provided

minimum

guideline

list.

the

bidder

wishes

add

the

district’s

equipment

list

improve

the

functionality

their

proposed

equipment,

the

bidder

encouraged

so.

Therefore,

attendance

this

walk-through

utmost

importance

allow

the

prospective

bidder

receive

detailed

equipment

list

and

able

visit

each

school

campus.

The

information

will

also

discussed

the

mandatory

vendor

visit.

The

successful

proposer

must

warrant

all

materials

and

workmanship

for

minimum

period

five

(5)

years

for

all

wireless

access

points.

Manufacturer

warranties

must

included

for

all

devices

and

equipment.

refurbished

gray-market

equipment

will

accepted.

Preference

given

solutions

utilizing

the

Ruckus

SmartZone

controller

equivalent

for

management.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

The district will utilize the following criteria (as the basis for the proposal evaluations & selection).

Factor Weight

Price of the ELIGIBLE Equipment, Services & Warranties 25%

Prior Experience with the District 20%

Personnel Qualifications, Professionalism & Scope of Work 15%

Management Integration w/ Current Network 15%

Company Provides all Services (No sub-contractors) 5%

Bid Documentation Includes Excel Spreadsheet of Quoted Equipment 10%

Preference to Mississippi Based Companies Attending Site Visit Meeting 10%

Total 100%

The

district

reserves

the

right

select

outright

single

proposer,

and

waive

the

finalists’

state

the

evaluation

process

the

event

Proposer

has

total

points

scored

significantly

higher

than

all

the

other

Proposers

responding

this

RFP.

The

district

its

sole

discretion

may

reject

any

all

responses

this

RFP

and

may

waive

all

formalities,

technicalities,

and

irregularities.

All

bidders

are

placed

notice

that

award

the

RFP

will

based

upon

the

products

and

services

best

suited

the

district.

The

sole

judgment

the

district

such

matters

shall

final.

The

district

has

identified

the

factors

itemized

above

under

scoring

criteria

critical

company’s

ability

effectively

assist

the

district’s

integration

technology.

considered

for

evaluation,

bidders

must

provide

relevant

responses

all

sections

this

RFP.

(100

evaluation

points

are

possible).

separate

response

requested

for

each

criteria

section.

Appropriate

labeling

required.

(See

details

each

factor

below

and

the

following

pages).

• Proposer must abide by the district’s bid policy.

• Proposer must abide by the state of Mississippi bid laws.

• Proposer

must

provide

specific

price

quotes

for

eligible

services.

The

district

reserves

the

right

select

combination

pricing,

services

and/or

Proposer(s)

that

appears

best

suited

meet

the

needs

the

district.

The

proposer

must

allocate

the

extent

that

clear

delineation

can

made

between

eligible

and

ineligible

components.

The

proposer(s)

must

provide

school

campus

bid

totals,

well

total

cost

for

the

entire

project.

• Prior Experience with the School District

The

district

has

also

determined

that

company’s

background,

experience,

and

financial

stability

are

essential

for

the

success

long-term

relationship

with

its

selected

Proposer(s).

Proposers

responding

this

RFP

should

include

information

about

their

company’s

experience,

financial

stability,

and

quality

services

and

products

and

satisfaction

their

clients.

minimum

three

(3)

references

(school

districts

preferred)

should

included

the

bid

document.

• Personnel Qualifications, Professionalism & Scope of Work

The

district

seeking

(an)

E-rate

Proposer(s)

that

has

the

depth,

breadth,

and

quality

resources

necessary

complete

all

phases

broad

technology

and

service

project.

addition,

the

timely

availability

these

resources

and

support

elements

will

critical

project

success.

Describe

the

various

resources

from

your

company

that

will

made

available

assist

the

district

the

execution

its

mission

performance

each

scope

work

(SOW).

Provide

resumes

and

experience

summaries

demonstrate

the

competencies

and

experience

typical

personnel

who

would

assigned

the

district

program.

Provide

list

industry

standard

certified

employees

and

their

certifications.

Proposers

must

provide

SOW

and

contract

information

for

each

school

campus

project

being

proposed.

• Management Integration w/ Current Network

The

district

requires

network

that

will

continue

provide

the

district

with

modern,

efficient,

and

reliable

network

support

bandwidth

and

data

and

provide

all

needed

capabilities

within

the

district

school

buildings.

Reliability

and

high

performance

are

key

requirements

this

networking

plan,

the

district

network

continues

support

the

technology

needs

the

future.

Vendor’s

proposal

provides

interoperability

with

the

current

District

environment.

Seamless

integration

with

the

current

network.

• Company provides all services ( no sub-contractors )

The

district

interested

providers

that

provide

all

components,

installations,

and

configurations

for

this

RFP

without

sub-contractors.

• Bid documentation includes Excel spreadsheets of all quoted equipment.

The

district

requests

that

all

bid/quote

documentation

also

include

Excel

spreadsheets

allow

for

seamless

the

E-Rate

471

application

process.

• Mississippi	Based	Companies	Attending	Site	Visit	Meeting	(K-12	Experience)	The
district	is	interested	in	providers	that	understand	the	technology,	administrative,	and
instructional	challenges	facing	today’s	educators,	children,	and	administrators.	The
education	environment	is	vastly	changing	with	challenges	that	make	technology

decisions

important

they

reach

the

district

constituencies.

The

respondent

must

show

that

their

solutions

are

sustainable

within

the

framework

the

district’s

resources

implement

and

maintain

ongoing

operations

and

that

future

support

local

and

Mississippi

based.

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS FORMAT

Please

provide

the

following

information

the

same

format

prescribed

this

questionnaire.

Supplemental

materials

providing

additional

information

may

attached,

but

the

information

requested

below

provided

this

format

and

sequence.

Please

provide

succinct

responses

the

following

questions

and

limit

those

responses

the

page

allowances

set

out

each

item.

• FIRM INFORMATION: (LIMIT 1/2 PAGE) Name of Firm:

Address of Home Office and Address of Branch Office if Applicable:

Telephone Number(s):

Fax Number(s):

Form of Business Organization (Corporation, Partnership, Individual, Joint Venture, Other):

Year Founded:

Primary individual to contact:

• ORGANIZATION: (LIMIT 1/2 PAGE)

1. How many years has your organization been in business in its current capacity?

2. How

many

years

has

your

organization

been

business

under

its

present

name?

Under

what

other

former

names

has

your

organization

operated?

3. If

your

organization

corporation,

answer

the

following:

Date

incorporation,

State

incorporation,

President’s

name,

Vice-President’s

name(s),

Secretary’s

name,

and

Treasurer’s

name.

4. If

your

organization

partnership,

answer

the

following:

Date

organization,

type

partnership,

applicable,

names

general

partner(s).

5. If	your	organization	is	individually	owned,	answer	the	following:	Date	of	organization,
name	of	owner.

6. If

the

form

your

organization

other

than

those

listed

above,

describe

and

name

the

principals.

• LICENSING: (LIMIT 1/2 PAGE)

1. List

jurisdictions

which

your

organization

legally

qualified

business

and

indicate

registration

license

numbers,

applicable.

2. List jurisdictions in which your organization’s partnership or trade name is filed.

• EXPERIENCE: (LIMIT 2 PAGES)

1. Describe your firm’s experience with completing this scope of work for public entities, if any.

2. Provide a list of the public entities previously assisted with contact names and phones numbers.

• FEES:

1. Based

the

scope

work

outlined

herein

please

describe

your

firm’s

full

price

associated

with

the

completion

this

work

for

the

Network

Upgrade

Project

(RFP

ERATEFY26-27Equipment)

• COORDINATION OF INSTALLATION

1. The

Contractor

shall

responsible

for

securing

all

permits

and

approvals

necessary

complete

the

work

(if

required).

ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. CONTRACT TERM

The

term

the

contract

will

begin

when

the

school

board

approves,

and

written

contract

signed

both

the

district

and

the

vendor/bidder

selected.

The

term

the

contract

award

will

begin

July

2026.

Initiation

the

contract

dependent

E-Rate

funding,

the

event

E-Rate

does

not

fund

the

project

then

the

contract

will

null

and

void.

addition,

Funding

Commitment

Decision

Letter

(FCDL)

does

not

guarantee

the

district

will

proceed

with

this

project

and

may

only

able

proceed

with

portions

the

project

per

school

campus

basis.

2. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER TERMINATION

The

district

shall

reserve

the

right

terminate

any

contract/purchase

order

entered

into

result

the

REQUEST

FOR

PROPOSAL

any

time

giving

thirty

(30)

days

written

notice

its

intent

cancel.

the

event

the

Proposer

fails

carry

out

and

comply

with

any

the

conditions

and

agreements

performed

under

the

specifications,

the

district

will

notify

the

Proposer,

writing,

such

failure

default.

the

event

the

necessary

corrective

action

has

not

been

completed

within

10-day

period,

the

Proposer

must

submit,

writing,

why

such

corrective

action

has

not

been

performed.

The

district

reserves

the

right

determine

whether

not

such

non-

compliance

may

construed

failure

performance

the

contract/purchase

order.

3. LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

The

successful

Proposer

must

keep

himself

informed

of,

and

adhere

to,

all

laws

and

ordinances

governing

any

matter

work

performed

under

the

resulting

contract/purchase

order.

The

successful

Proposer

will

obtain

all

necessary

licenses

and

permits

and

will

aware

all

labor

conditions

and

agreements

relating

the

work

specified

this

document

and

shall

make

all

provisions

necessary

avoid

any

disputes

which

might

arise

from

those

conditions

and

agreements

and

shall

responsible

for

any

delays,

damages

extra

costs

caused

disputes.

4. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

shall

the

Proposer’s

responsibility

provide

for

the

safety

workers

and

public

compliance

with

the

requirements

insurance

and

public

health

and

safety.

The

district

requires

all

workers

on-site

have

company

badge.

list

workers

with

current

photographs

must

provided

the

school

district’s

Technology

Department

throughout

the

life

cycle

the

project(s)

that

require

installation

services.

5. INDEMNIFICATION

The

Proposer

shall

responsible

for

all

damage

persons

property

that

occurs

result

his

fault

negligence,

that

any

his

employees,

agents,

subcontractors.

Proposer

shall

save

and

hold

harmless

the

District

and

its

School

Board

against

any

and

all

loss,

cost,

damage,

claims,

expense

liability

connection

with

the

performance

the

contract/purchase

order.

Any

equipment

facilities

damaged

the

Proposer’s

operation

shall

repaired

and

/or

restored

their

original

condition,

including

cleaning

and

painting,

the

Proposer’s

expense.

The

successful

Proposer

will

assume

the

liability

for

all

losses,

damages

(including

loss

use),

expenses,

demands

and

claims

connection

with

arising

out

any

injury

alleged

injury

persons

(including

death),

damages

alleged

damage

property,

sustained

alleged

have

been

sustained

connection

with

have

arisen

out

the

performance

the

work

the

Proposer,

and

his

agents,

and

employees,

including

losses,

expenses,

damages

sustained

the

District.

The

successful

Proposer

will

undertake

and

agree

indemnify

and

hold

harmless

the

district

and

its

board,

individually

collectively,

and

the

officers,

agents,

and

employees

the

District

and

its

Board,

from

any

and

all

such

losses,

expenses,

damages

(including

loss

use),

and

pay

all

damages,

judgments,

costs

and

expenses,

including

attorney’s

fees

connection

with

said

demands

and

claims

resulting

thereof.

Any

claims

against

the

district

must

filed

within

the

State

Mississippi

within

the

county

the

district.

The

Proposer

shall

abide

the

Federal

Occupational

Safety

and

Health

Administration

(OSHA)

regulations

that

apply

work

performed

under

this

Request.

The

Proposer

shall

defend,

indemnify,

and

hold

the

district

free

and

harmless

against

any

and

all

claims,

loss,

liability

and

expense

resulting

from

any

alleged

violation(s)

said

regulation

(s)

including

but

not

limited

to,

fines

penalties,

judgments,

court

costs,

and

attorney’s

fees.

6. ATTORNEYS STATEMENT

the

event

that

the

district

employs

attorneys

incurs

other

expenses

that

may

deem

necessary

protect

endorse

its

rights

under

this

contract/purchase

order,

the

Proposer

agrees

pay

the

attorney’s

fees

and

expenses

incurred

the

district.

either

party

defaults

the

performance

this

agreement,

the

defaulting

party

shall

pay

the

non-defaulting

party

responsible

for

the

attorney’s

fees

and

court

costs.

7. NEGOTIATIONS

The

district

reserves

the

right

have

any

additional

terms

and

conditions

incorporated

into

the

agreement

provided

authorized

modification

the

contract/purchase

order

mutually

agreed

upon

and

duly

executed

both

parties.

8. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

the

event

inconsistency

between

the

terms

and

conditions

the

resulting

contract/purchase

order,

the

inconsistency

shall

resolved

giving

precedence

the

following

order:

(1)

The

REQUEST

FOR

PROPOSAL,

including

the

Scope

Work

and

Statement

Qualifications,

and

(2)

Proposer

Response.

9. PROJECT START DATE

The

district

reserves

the

right

start

the

project

after

July

2026,

even

the

project

has

not

yet

received

funding.

All

pricing

proposed

will

considered

valid.

EXHIBIT E-1 (PROPOSER’S CONTRACT DOCUMENTS)

Proposer

shall

provide

contract

for

services

offered.

Proposer

shall

also

provide

Service

Level

Agreement

(SLA)

include

resolution

procedures,

escalation

process,

and

Proposer’s

response

structure

(tiered

other).

Reference List

1 Company Contact Name

Phone Number Fax Number

E-Mail Address Physical Address

Scope of Work

2 Company Contact Name

Phone Number Fax Number

E-Mail Address Physical Address

Scope of Work

3 Company Contact Name

Phone Number Fax Number

E-Mail Address Physical Address

Scope of Work

The

awarded

vendor

will

provide

turnkey

wireless

access

point

replacement

project

across

all

E-

Rate-eligible

campuses

the

Columbia

School

District.

1. Furnish

and

deliver

new

Wi-Fi

indoor

and

outdoor

access

points

replace

all

existing

APs

across

district

campuses.

2. Provide	and	install	additional	APs	only	where	necessary	to	eliminate	coverage	gaps
identified	during	the	mandatory	site	walkthrough.

3. Reuse

existing

CAT6

cabling

where

possible;

install

new

CAT6

cabling

only

where

required

support

new

access

point

locations.

4. Perform	comprehensive	post-installation	testing	to	verify	performance,	coverage,	and
connectivity	at	all	access	point	locations.

5. Deliver	complete	as-built	documentation,	including	device	models,	serial	numbers,
installation	locations,	and	configuration	summaries.

6. Provide	a	detailed	asset	inventory	spreadsheet	(Excel	format)	suitable	for	E-Rate
documentation	and	internal	district	tracking.

7. Supply a minimum five (5)-year warranty on all wireless access points and related hardware.

***Configuration of equipment will be handled by district.***

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated Feb 10, 2026.