10812-20250213142516 DCS

DeSoto County Schools is conducting a competitive procurement for network infrastructure equipment through an E-rate reimbursable bid process. The procurement specifically seeks 17 Fortinet FS1024E switches, 17 associated licenses for ForiSwitches, and 117 Ruckus ICX7150-48ZP switches or equivalent network switching equipment. Vendors must demonstrate a minimum of 5 years as an authorized reseller for both Ruckus and Fortinet equipment and provide their Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) and Federal Registration Number (FCC-FRN). The bid will be conducted through a reverse auction process, with unpriced proposals initially due on February 26, 2025, at 9:00 am CST, followed by a reverse auction for approved bidders on March 7, 2025, at 8:00 am CST. Vendors must submit a grand total pricing for all items as a single line item, with the requirement to provide a detailed itemized breakdown after selection. The deadline for submitting questions is February 21, 2025, at 12:00 pm CST, with anticipated board approval scheduled for March 19, 2025.

The procurement requires vendors to maintain specific insurance coverage, including $1 million in general liability and $500,000 in workers' compensation. All equipment will be delivered to a single location at the DeSoto County Schools Board of Education in Hernando, Mississippi. While no specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned, the bid appears open to qualified network equipment resellers meeting the technical and insurance requirements. All shipments will be consolidated to a single delivery point, suggesting a streamlined procurement process. Although the exact budget range is not specified, the procurement involves a significant investment in network switching infrastructure, indicating a potentially substantial contract value. The E-rate reimbursement suggests this procurement is part of a broader technology infrastructure upgrade for the school district's network capabilities.