26-033 erate WAN service

The Houston County School District in Georgia is issuing Request for Proposals (RFP) 26-033 to procure Wide Area Network (WAN) services that will provide reliable, high-speed connectivity between the district's central office and 49 school and administrative facilities. The district is seeking proposals for either dark fiber service (one or two pairs preferred) or lit fiber service capable of delivering a minimum of 20 Gbps of bi-directional throughput to each location. Service providers must demonstrate a minimum of three years' experience in WAN services, maintain 24/7 support with four-hour response times, and guarantee 99.999% monthly uptime while complying with E-Rate program requirements including valid USAC SPIN registration and FCC registration. Installation must be coordinated with the Director of Technology and completed by July 1, 2026, with an initial contract term running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and automatic annual renewal thereafter unless the district provides written notice of cancellation. Proposals are due by March 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with evaluation conducted on a 100-point scale comprising eligible cost (40 points), completeness of proposed solution (30 points), business stability and references (20 points), and demonstrated E-Rate experience (10 points). Pricing shall be submitted using the provided Financial Proposal form with separate line items for installation and monthly recurring charges across all 49 circuit locations.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular organization types based on disadvantaged enterprise status. No incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure integration requirements are noted in the procurement documents. The contract award is contingent upon receipt of a Funding Commitment Decision Letter from the Schools and Libraries Division awarding the requested E-Rate discounts, meaning this procurement is partially funded through the federal E-Rate program. The service provider will assume responsibility for all permits, inspections, right-of-way charges, maintenance, damage prevention coordination, and physical infrastructure ownership. Specific budget ranges or award values are not disclosed in the available documentation, though pricing evaluation represents the largest component of the scoring criteria at 40 points.