1461-20251106080848 scsd

Simpson County School District (SCSD) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for High Speed Broadband Services, seeking to establish a Wide Area Network (WAN) connecting nine district buildings to a central office in Mendenhall, Mississippi. The procurement is for a 3-year contract with two possible 1-year extensions, running from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. Proposing service providers must meet mandatory requirements including a completed site visit walkthrough, current USAC Service Provider Annual Certification (SPAC) and Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN), and a Mississippi general contractor's license if construction is involved. Site visits are mandatory and scheduled from November 10, 2025 through November 21, 2025, with proposals due by 10:30 AM CDT on December 17, 2025. The evaluation criteria will be weighted as follows: Price of Eligible Services (40%), Experience & References (20%), Technical Quality & Compliance with Specifications (20%), and Support/Helpdesk/Network Management (20%). Proposers must provide fixed circuits of 10 Gbps and greater, with WAN architecture requiring circuits to aggregate at a provider-owned switch before connecting to district core infrastructure.

The procurement does not explicitly mention set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Service providers must maintain comprehensive liability insurance, including $1 million per person/$1 million per accident personal injury coverage and $100,000/$500,000 property damage limits. The district will leverage E-Rate funding using the Service Provider Invoice (SPI) method, with a 90% discount rate. Providers must submit invoices detailing discounted and non-discounted amounts within USAC timeframes and maintain records for ten years. Award is contingent upon E-Rate approval by USAC and Simpson County School Board approval, with the district reserving the right to cancel the award if funding is denied or delayed. The successful vendor must provide 24/7/365 helpdesk and network management system support, secure necessary construction permits and right-of-way agreements, and complete the work by July 1, 2026. While specific budget ranges are not detailed, payment will be contingent on continued E-Rate subsidies throughout the contract term.