25-032 (BS) Data Center Equipment Refresh (E-Rate)

The San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) is seeking proposals for a comprehensive Data Center Equipment Refresh project funded through E-Rate, targeting the modernization of two district data centers located in San Antonio, Texas. The procurement involves a full-scale technology infrastructure upgrade focused on Cisco networking equipment, with specific requirements for procurement, installation, configuration, testing, and removal of existing infrastructure. Proposers must provide a solution that includes a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) with expertise in Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) data center environments, demonstrating proficiency in Cisco ACI, ISE, and wireless technologies. The evaluation will utilize a best value approach, with 35 points allocated to purchase price and additional considerations for vendor reputation, quality of goods, long-term costs, past district relationships, references, and impact on historically underutilized businesses. Key proposal deadlines include a pre-proposal conference on September 22, 2025, at 9:00 am, and the final proposal submission due on October 28, 2025, at 2:00 PM CST, with a potential contract term of one year and options to renew for four additional one-year periods.

The procurement is open to qualified vendors, with potential preferences for historically underutilized businesses (HUBs), though specific set-aside percentages are not explicitly detailed in the documents. The project specifically requires integration with existing Cisco network infrastructure, necessitating vendors to demonstrate compatibility and minimal disruption to current systems. The anticipated installation window spans from July 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027, contingent upon receiving a Funding Commitment Decision Letter from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). While no guaranteed minimum contract value is specified, the price sheet indicates a comprehensive seven-year licensing model with equipment including Cisco Catalyst switches (9300 and 9600 series), network modules, SFP transceivers, Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) cluster components, and Catalyst 8500 Edge Platform equipment. The project will utilize the Service Provider Invoicing (SPI) billing methodology, where vendors will only invoice SAISD for the discounted portion of services and equipment, with funding contingent on district and E-Rate funding availability.