Summary

This is a Catalog Pricing spreadsheet template (Attachment A of the Pro Forma Contract) for the State of Tennessee Department of Education's Request for Qualifications for E-Rate Category 1 Broadband services covering fiscal years 2026-2031. The template is designed for contractors to submit pricing for Category 1 broadband services, including internet access, transport services, and related network configurations that support Local Education Agencies (LEAs), Public Charter Schools, and State Special Schools across Tennessee. Respondents must complete the spreadsheet by identifying service item types and descriptions, specifying bandwidth offerings (denoted in either MB or GB), and providing maximum/ceiling prices for each service offering. A Pre-Response Conference is scheduled for October 20, 2025, with responses due by December 8, 2025, and contract awards anticipated in January 2026. The initial contract term spans fiscal years 2026-2031, establishing multiple-award schedule contracts that will facilitate subsequent USAC mini-bid processes among awarded contractors.

The pricing template requires contractors to submit catalog pricing as a qualification requirement, though cost will not be evaluated during the initial qualification phase. Pricing will become the most heavily weighted evaluation factor during subsequent mini-bid events conducted by individual Local Education Agencies. Services must deliver consistent speeds between 1.5 Mbps and 100 Gbps with minimum uptime of 99.9% during school hours (7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday-Friday) and 98.7% outside school hours, ensuring compliance with Federal Communications Commission E-Rate program requirements. The multiple-award structure allows various service providers to compete for individual project opportunities, creating a competitive environment that provides schools with access to diverse broadband service options. Interested vendors should contact Genell Jordan, Sourcing Account Specialist at the Tennessee Central Procurement Office, for complete solicitation details.