Cisco Catalyst Center & WLC Equipment Upgrade

Wake County's IT Department is seeking bids for a Cisco Catalyst Center & Wireless LAN Controller Equipment Upgrade Project, with proposals due by October 8, 2025. The procurement involves the acquisition of specific Cisco networking equipment, including one Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance (Gen 3) with 32 cores, two Cisco Catalyst CW9800M Wireless Controllers, and two 750W AC Redundant Power Supplies. Strict bidding requirements mandate that vendors must be authorized Cisco Channel Partners with appropriate certifications and specializations. All bids must be submitted through the Bonfire pricing sheet (BT-39RF), with no partial bids or alternative spreadsheets accepted. Vendors are prohibited from adding any additional equipment, licenses, or services beyond the specified list, and only genuine Cisco products will be considered. The equipment will be delivered to the Wake County Office Building located at 337 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601. Bidders must include all freight, shipping, and handling costs in their total price, and the products must be new and in original packaging, sourced directly from Cisco or through authorized channel sales.

The procurement appears to have no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though Wake County typically follows standard procurement guidelines that may provide opportunities for historically underutilized businesses. Vendors must comply with E-Verify requirements and provide comprehensive documentation, including potential submission of Cisco's end user license agreement. The bid emphasizes that all software will be licensed originally to the buyer as the primary licensee. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated in the documents, the procurement involves specialized networking equipment that typically represents a significant technology investment. The county reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to make awards based on factors including price, quality, delivery, and service. Potential bidders should note the 60-day bid consideration period and the requirement to maintain pricing throughout this timeframe. The procurement process follows standard Wake County procurement protocols, with a focus on obtaining high-quality, genuine Cisco networking infrastructure to upgrade the county's existing technology ecosystem.