RFP 2026_8 Erate Cabling and Core Switches.pdf

February 13, 2026

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

FORM 470 #260020928

To: All Vendors

The Gordon County School System(“GCSS”) requests your proposal to provide a total of (43) Forty-three fiber backbone replacement runs for MDF and IDFs at each school using 12 Strand OS2 SM Armored CMP Fiberoptic Cable (PDPK012AB0707-I/0/C4C5). Installed and terminated in enclosures. (See attached table for lengths). (72) Seventy-two Cat 6 Plenum rated cables w/ Modular 24 port patch panels, 1 foot and 10 foot patch cables, Faceplates/biscuit box with average length of 225 foot per cable. Installed and connected. (2) Two Meraki C9300X-24Y with 5 Year licensing and power cable and standard rack mount hardware. (2) Two additional power supply for switches (PWR/C1/715WAC/P/2) with power cables. Functionally equivalent equipment will also be considered. Prices shall remain firm for the entire proposed period. Offers that do not guarantee prices through this period shall be considered “non-responsive” and will not be considered.

Please submit your proposals in a sealed envelope labeled “RFP 2026-8 E-Rate Cabling and Core Switches” as per the attached specifications. to the Gordon County School System, Purchasing Department at 7300 Fairmount Hwy; Calhoun, Georgia 30701, either by mail or in person before the deadline of 2:00 PM EST on March 16, 2026, ensuring that you use the enclosed proposal form and review all relevant terms and conditions prior to the time of bid closing. Late entries will be disqualified.

RFP shall be reviewed carefully and awarded in an equitable manner as specified in this document. Information shall be provided to the Board for their final approval.

GCSS reserves the right to accept or reject all offers, to waive any irregularity in proposals received, to award the entire proposal to one vendor or to make awards by group or by line item whichever is in the best interest of GCSS. Additionally, the GCSS may unilaterally terminate this contract in whole or in part, for the school system’s convenience, availability of unobligated funds, or because of the failure of the contractor to fulfill the contract obligations in any respect.

Your interest and participation are solicited and appreciated.

Sincerely, Michelle Steward

Purchasing Agent

General Terms and Conditions

1. Three (3) references to similar structures (such as schools, colleges, and universities) shall be included with the proposal. References shall include complete name of institute, address, contact person, phone number and E-mail address, if available.

2. Indicate if you have ever defaulted on a contract or been denied a proposal due to non-responsibility to perform. If so, provide the facts and circumstances.

3. Proposals must be on the form provided within this Request for Proposal, sealed within an envelope marked as shown in the cover letter. Four (4) copies are requested (1 original, 3 copies). Please use the checklist at the end of this document to make sure all required components are included.

4. The vendor shall provide all specific or special warranties or guarantees of materials, equipment, and incidentals, as required to complete a project.

5. The vendor shall be responsible for the payment of any required taxes or fees associated with the contract.

6. The vendor warrants to the GCSS that all materials and equipment furnished under this contract shall be of excellent quality free from faults and defects to ensure quality results and performance for the project's completion.

7. The Solicitation (RFP) shall only be modified by a Solicitation Addendum.

8. The contract will be awarded to the vendor responsible whose proposal is determined to be the most advantageous and of the best value to GCSS. The successful vendor will be chosen using an e-Rate approved method of evaluation. All bidders will be notified of the winning vendor.

9. By the submission of this proposal, the vendor agrees not to assign the contract to others unless specifically authorized in writing by the GCSS and its designee.

10. No awards of any kind are made at the time of closing. A copy of the tabulations and/or the awards will be available upon request for any who submitted an offer. This information may be obtained after the offer has been awarded.

11. Final acceptance for GCSS will be contingent upon the approval of their Governing Board.

12. Neither GCSS nor any party submitting a response will be bound unless and until a written contract mutually accepted by both parties is negotiated as to its terms and conditions and is signed by GCSS and a party containing such terms and conditions as are negotiated between those parties. GCSS reserves the right to waive non-compliance with any requirements of this Request for Proposal and to reject any or all proposals submitted in responses. Upon receipt and review of responses, GCSS will determine the party(s) and proposal that in the sole judgment of GCSS is in the best interest of GCSS (if any is so determined), with respect to the evaluation criteria stated herein. GCSS then intends to conduct negotiations with such party(s) to determine if a mutually acceptable contract may be reached.

13. Request for Proposals are subject to the Georgia Open Records Act. You should consult your attorney on how to protect proprietary data submitted in proposals if you wish. Subject to the provisions of the Open Records Act, the details of the proposal documents will remain confidential until the final award.

14. A primary contact person shall be assigned to GCSS for all communications relating to services provided by the successful vendor. This is essential to retaining a professional and successful relationship.

15. Any materials or supplies provided by the service provider and found not in accordance with specifications shall be rejected at no cost assigned to the GCSS.

16. All services requested shall be complete and to the satisfaction of the GCSS or its designee before payment is made.

17. The vendor shall provide a State of Georgia Drug-Free Workplace certificate or Company Drug-Free Policy and the requirements. False certification or violation by failing to carry out the requirements of O.C.G.A. 50-24-3 shall cause termination of contract.

18. Despite any provision of the RFP, GCSS reserves the right to reject all offers or portions thereof or cancel an RFP.

19. The GCSS will neither honor nor consider any price increases, fuel surcharges or add-on cost during this proposal period.

20. Vendor shall have a USAC SPIN# and shall use SPI billing. The item requested shall meet all terms, conditions, and specifications within the Request for Proposal. The GCSS operates with a purchase order system. Each request by the school system must have a purchase order assigned.

21. Actual quantities purchased may be adjusted to meet USAC Category 2 budgets.

22. A proposed timeline for the project's completion must be included with the RFP.

23. Pricing shall include freight.

24. The GCSS also reserves the right to negotiate with proposers prior to the award for the purpose of obtaining the best and final offers. All proposers will be given an opportunity to participate in negotiations and submission of a best and final offer if deemed necessary. The GCSS shall not disclose the contents of proposals to competing proposers during the negotiations. Reference O.C.G.A 36-91-21 for regulations for best and final offers.

SPECIFICATIONS

Forty Three (43) Fiber Backbone Replacement Runs For MDF and IDFs at each school using 12 Strand OS2 SM Armored CMP Fiberoptic Cable (PDPK012AB0707-I/0/C4C5) Run. Installed and terminated in enclosures. (See attached table for length)

Seventy Two (72) Cat 6 Plenum rated cables w/ Modular 24 port patch panels, 1 foot and

10 foot patch cables, Faceplates/biscuit box with average length of 225 foot per cable

Two (2) Meraki C9300X-24Y with 5 Year Licensing and Power Cable

Two (2) Additional Power Supply for Switches (PWR/C1/715WAC/P/2) with Power Cables

1. This specification is intended to describe and set minimum acceptable standards for the purchase and installation of the above-listed items.

2. Switches will be delivered to schools as specified in the table below.

3. Vendors shall be aware of and comply with USAC regulations.

4. Vendor shall have USAC SPIN# and shall use SPI billing.

5. Vendor shall provide Gordon County Schools an error free FRN Line-Item Bulk Upload File on most current USAC format within 2 business days of award notification.

School Qty Unit Cost Extended

Fiber Backbone Replacement Runs for MDF and IDF at each school using 12 Strand

OS2 SM Armored CMP Fiberoptic Cable (PDPK012AB0707-I/0/C4C5) Run.

Installed and terminated in enclosures. (See attached table for lengths)

Ashworth Middle School 6 Belwood Elementary School 3 Fairmount Elementary School 3 Gordon Central High School 5 Red Bud Elementary School 7 Red Bud Middle School 5 Sonoraville Elementary School 4 Sonoraville High School 2 Tolbert Elementary School 4 W.L. Swain Elementary School 4

Sub-Total 43 Cat 6 Plenum rated cables w/ Modular 24 port patch panels, 1 foot and 10 foot patch cables, Faceplates/biscuit box with average length of 225 foot per cable Ashworth 48

Belwood 24

Sub-Total 72

Meraki C9300X-24Y with 5 Year Licensing and Power Cable

Gordon Central High School 1

Sonoraville High School 1

Sub-Total 2

Additional Power Supply for Switches (PWR/C1/715WAC/P/2) with Power Cables

Gordon Central High School 1

Sonoraville High School 1

Sub-Total 2

Total 119

PROPOSAL FORM

The undersigned vendor in compliance with the request for “Proposal No. 2026-8 E- Rate Cabling and Core Switches” having reviewed related documents along with the specifications, terms, and conditions, hereby proposes to furnish all equipment as described in the specifications, terms, and conditions. No additional cost will be paid for by GCSS.

Shipping must be included in the price.

ITEM:

Forty Three (43) Fiber Backbone Replacement Runs For MDF and IDFs at each school using 12 Strand OS2 SM Armored CMP Fiberoptic Cable (PDPK012AB0707-I/0/C4C5) Run. Installed and terminated in enclosures. (See attached table for lengths)

Seventy Two (72) Cat 6 Plenum rated cables w/ Modular 24 port patch panels, 1 foot and 10 foot patch cables, Faceplates/biscuit box with average length of 225 foot per cable

Two (2) Meraki C9300X-24Y with 5 Year Licensing and Power Cable

Two (2) Additional Power Supply for Switches (PWR/C1/715WAC/P/2) with Power Cables

TOTAL COST: $______________________________________________________

COMPANY NAME: ____________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________

CITY: __________________STATE: ____________ZIP CODE: ________________

EMAIL ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________

TELEPHONE NUMBER: ________________________________________________

SIGNATURE: _____________________________TITLE_______________________

DATE: ________________________________________________________________

VENDOR APPLICATION

Type or print legibly in ink. All signatures must be in ink and original. Signature stamps are not acceptable.

Vendor Name: ___________________________________________________________

Federal Tax ID No: ______________________________Social Security No._________________ (If Company) (If individual)

Regular mailing address: Remit to address:

Phone: ____________________________ Fax: ___________________________

Email Address_______________________________________________________________ Previous Vendor Name(s) and Address:

Have you ever done business with the GCSS under any of the above names?

Yes________ No________ If yes, which ones?

Names and signatures of persons authorized to sign proposals and contracts:

Name Title Signature

Have you ever been bonded? ________________ If yes, give the name and address of the Bonding Company.

Have you ever had a bond revoked? ________If yes, briefly state the reason:

Is any litigation pending against you or your company? ___________________ If yes, briefly state the reason why:

Is your inventory stocked in the State of Georgia? ___________ If not, where is it stocked?

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the above information is a complete and true statement of the facts.

Signature of person authorized to sign this application Title Date

VENDOR DECLARATION

The offeror understands, agrees and warrants:

That the offeror has carefully read and fully understands the full scope of the project.

That the offeror can successfully undertake and complete the responsibilities and obligations in said proposal.

That the vendor has liability insurance including workers’ compensation. A declaration of insurance form is included in the proposal.

That the vendor shall also submit within the proposal package an Immigration Requirement Form (Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act OCGA 13- 10-90). Information for obtaining an E-Verify form is available at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (usic.gov).

That this proposal may be withdrawn by requesting such withdrawal in writing at any time prior to March 16, 2026, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time but may not be withdrawn after such date and time.

That the Gordon County School System reserves the right to reject any or all offers and to accept that offer which will, in its opinion, best serve the public interest. The Gordon County School System reserves the right to waive any technicalities and formalities in the proposal.

That by submission of this proposal the vendor acknowledges that the Gordon County School System has the right to make any inquiry or investigation it deems appropriate to substantiate or supplement information supplied by the vendor.

If a partnership, a general partner must sign.

If a corporation, the authorized corporate officer(s) must sign, and the corporate seal must be affixed to this bid.

OFFEROR:

Name Title

Name Title

AFFIX CORPORATE SEAL (If Applicable)

CERTIFICATE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

In connection with the performance of work under this contract, the vendor agrees as follows:

The vendor agrees not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, or disability. The successful vendor shall take affirmative action to ensure that employees are treated without regard to their race, creed, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, or disability. Such action shall include, but not be limited to the following: employment, upgrading, demotion, transfer, recruiting or recruitment, advertising, lay-off or termination, rates of pay or other compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship.

In the event of the vendor’s non-compliance with this nondiscrimination clause, the contract may be canceled or terminated by the Gordon County School System. -The vendor may be declared, by the Gordon County School System, ineligible for further contracts with the Gordon County School System until satisfactory proof of intent to comply shall be made by the vendor.

The vendor agrees to include this non-discrimination clause in any sub-contracts connected with the performance of this agreement.

COMPANY

SIGNATURE

TITLE

NON-COLLUSION AFFIDAVIT

The following affidavit is to accompany the proposal:

STATE OF

COUNTY OF

Owner, Partner, or Officer of Firm

Company Name, Address, City and State being of lawful age, being first duly sworn, on oath says, that he/she is the agent authorized by the offeror to submit the attached proposal. Affidavit further states as offeror, that they have not been a party to any collusion among offerors in restraint of competition by agreement to propose at a fixed price or to refrain from submitting; or with any office of the Gordon County School System or any of their employees as to quantity, quality or price in the prospective contract; or any discussion between offerors and any official of the Gordon County School System or any of their employees concerning exchange of money or other things of value for special consideration in submitting a sealed proposal for:

FIRM NAME: __________________________________________

SIGNATURE: __________________________________________

TITLE: __________________________________________

Subscribed and sworn to before me this_____ day of 20__.

NOTARY PUBLIC

STATE OF GEORGIA PROMPT PAY ACT AFFIDAVIT

THIS AFFIDAVIT IS TO ACCOMPANY THE PROPOSAL

GEORGIA PROMPT PAY ACT: The Georgia Prompt Pay Act was enacted by the General Assembly in 1994 and took effect January 1, 1995. This act requires owners to pay contractors within 15 days of receipt of a pay request by the owner or the owner’s representative. If payment is not made the owner shall pay the contractor 1% per month interest on the delayed payment. Additionally, the contractor must pay subcontractors within 10 days of receipt of payment from the owner.

This Act is Code Section 13-11-1 (Georgia Laws of 1994, p. 1398 par. 4)

Firm Name: ______________________________________________________________

Signature: _______________________________________________________________

Title: ___________________________________________________________________

Subscribed and sworn to before me this________ day of _________________, 20______

Notary Public

EVERIFY

Contractor Affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91(b)(1)

By executing this affidavit, the undersigned contractor verifies its compliance with O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91, stating affirmatively that the individual, firm or corporation which is engaged in the physical performance of services on behalf of (Gordon County School System) has registered with, is authorized to use and uses the federal work authorization program commonly known as E-Verify, or any subsequent replacement program, in accordance with the applicable provisions and deadlines established in O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91. Furthermore, the undersigned contractor will continue to use the federal work authorization program throughout the contract period and the undersigned contractor will contract for the physical performance of services in satisfaction of such contract only with subcontractors who present an affidavit to the contractor with the information required by O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91(b). Contractor hereby attests that its federal work authorization user identification number and date of authorization are as follows:

Everify Number Date of Authorization Name of Contractor Name of Project Name of Public Employer I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on _____________, 20___ in _______________(city), ________(state).

Signature of Authorized Officer or Agent

Printed Name and Title of Authorized Officer or Agent

Subscribed and sworn before me on this _______ day of ___________,20_____.

NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires:

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST

RFP 2026-8 E-Rate Cabling and Core Switches

The following are required items. Please make sure all the following bid documents are submitted with your proposal package. If any documents are excluded, your proposal will not be considered. One (1) original and three (3) copies of the following proposal documents shall be submitted with your proposal package:

• Vendor Declaration

• Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance E-Verify Form

• Certificate of Liability including Workers’ Compensation

• State of Georgia Drug Free Certificate (https://sbwc.georgia.gov/)

• Certificate of Non-Discrimination

• Non-Collusion Affidavit

• State of Georgia Prompt Pay Act

• Specifications Checklist

• Proposal Form

• References Letters(3)

• Vendor Application

• W-9

• Timeline

PROPOSAL SELECTION EVALUATION

The services being sought under the RFP are considered professional in nature.

Consequently, the evaluation of the proposals will be based upon consideration of the demonstrated qualifications and capabilities of the proposers, which will result in an award that is in the best interest of Gordon County Schools.

1. The Product in the proposal comply with RFP specifications and scope. (10 Points)

2. Responsiveness of the proposal. Clearly stating and understanding the specifications, including all required forms are complete, signed, and notarized. (20 points)

3. The capability of the proposer to deliver the services in an efficient and timely manner.

(10 Points)

4. Quality of the proposed Switches and Cabling (20 points)

5. Overall cost of the proposal (40 Points)

Evaluations will be performed by a committee appointed by the Superintendent. Following completion of the initial evaluations, if deemed necessary by the committee, firms best qualified may be granted an opportunity to appear before the Evaluation Committee to make an oral presentation and submit to an interview. Committee evaluations will be reviewed by the Superintendent for her consideration of a recommendation. Recommendation for the award shall be presented to the Board by the Superintendent. Areas to be evaluated are listed above. The committee reserves the right to follow up with proposers, to get further clarification of items specifically mentioned in the proposal.

A local proposer shall be given 10 additional points, when all other factors are equal, and their pricing is within five percent (5%) of the lowest proposal. “Local” for the purposes of this policy, shall mean a provider with a recognized physical point-of-sale in Gordon County, Georgia.

https://sbwc.georgia.gov/