Coffee Networking Equipment FY26

The Coffee County School System (CCSS) in Douglas, Georgia is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for network infrastructure equipment and installation services under the E-Rate program for Fiscal Year 2026. The procurement seeks five Aruba network switches (one CX 6000 48G Class 4 PoE switch and four CX 6000 12G Class 4 PoE switches), 25 Aruba 615 Campus wireless access points, and five transceivers (one 10G SFP+ transceiver and four 1G SFP transceivers), along with associated accessories, power supplies, mounting kits, licenses, cables, and complete installation and configuration services. All equipment must be new, factory-sealed, currently available from the manufacturer, and submitted with original manufacturer warranties. Bid responses must itemize switches, wireless access points, transceivers, power supplies, mounting kits, licenses, cables, and installation/configuration costs as separate line items with manufacturer part numbers, with non-E-Rate eligible items listed separately. Evaluation will be weighted as follows: cost effectiveness (40 points), adequacy of response to RFP (20 points), satisfactory previous business relationship (20 points), level of service and support (10 points), references (10 points), and local or in-state vendor status (5 points). Sealed proposals must be received by 3:00 PM EST on Friday, January 16, 2026, with bids opened at 3:15 PM the same date; the vendor selection will be presented to the Board of Education at the January 22, 2026 work session with formal approval at the regular meeting that evening. Questions may be submitted via email to Logan Evans (logan.evans@coffee.k12.ga.us) by 3:00 PM on Friday, January 9, 2026, and pricing must remain valid for 60 days from proposal delivery. The contract term runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Only authorized Aruba resellers are eligible to submit proposals, representing a significant restriction on eligible vendors; alternative equipment may be submitted if it is equivalent in make and model and serves the same functionality, though the district's established Aruba infrastructure creates a strong preference for brand continuity. The project is included on the district's E-Rate application for funding year 2026-2027 (USAC Form 470 #26008890), entitling the district to discounted services through the Universal Fund, which may impact the total award value and vendor cost structures. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is specified in the available documentation. The specific budget or award value range has not been disclosed in the RFP materials, though interested vendors should anticipate competitive bidding given the detailed specifications and emphasis on cost effectiveness as the highest-weighted evaluation criterion.