Data Cabling for New Groves K-12 School (ERATE)

The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) in Georgia issued RFP 22-28 for data cabling installation at the new Groves K-12 School facility, with proposals due January 20, 2022 and Addendum #1 posted December 17, 2021. The project qualifies as ERATE eligible, enabling federal funding for qualifying components.

The scope encompasses backbone and horizontal cabling systems for a multi-building K-12 facility. Backbone work includes multimode 50/125-micrometer optical fiber cabling (12-fiber, nonconductive), three MDF racks and up to 144 IDF racks, ladder rack pathways, UPS systems, and cable management. Horizontal cabling covers 100-ohm, 4-pair UTP cabling, patch panels, and telecommunications outlets serving multiple data closets distributed across the facility. All cabling must comply with TIA-568.0-D through TIA-568-C.3, TIA-569, TIA-606-A, ANSI/NFPA-70 (2014), and BICSI standards. Installation must be supervised directly by a Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) with BICSI-certified personnel. Approved backbone cable manufacturers are General Cable Technologies (GenSPEED6), Berk-Tek (LANmark-6), and SYSTIMAX Solutions (2071); connecting hardware suppliers are Panduit Corp., SYSTIMAX, and Ortronics. Contractors must provide factory and field testing per TIA-568.1-D standards using Level 3 cable analyzers and furnish a 15-year manufacturer and performance warranty with conveniently located service support.

The estimated construction budget is $500,000. The contract requires a performance bond and payment bond equal to at least 100% of the contract sum, commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and a standard manufacturer warranty of at least twelve months from acceptance. Liquidated damages are $100 per day for unexcused delays. The district will pay properly documented invoices within forty days of determination of proper payment. Addendum #1 modified the evaluation and award process to require the Evaluation Committee to identify offerors "reasonably susceptible for award" and permit discussions and negotiations with all qualified offerors for best and final offers. The Superintendent recommends the most advantageous proposal to the School Board for final approval. The contract was awarded to NetPlanner Systems, Inc.