Digital Radios, Airtime Services, Equipment, and Related Items

Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) is seeking proposals for digital radios, airtime services, equipment, and related items to support its school bus fleet communication system. The district operates over 450 school buses currently equipped with Kenwood NEXEDGE digital two-way radios and is requesting proposals for either compatible airtime services or a complete radio system replacement. The procurement requires 100% radio coverage within district boundaries and reliable statewide line-of-sight communication to support transportation operations, dispatch communication, and emergency coordination across its 83 campuses serving 78,000 students. The Request for Proposals (RFP) was released on December 21, 2025, with a pre-proposal conference scheduled for January 6, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CST via Microsoft Teams. Proposals are due by 2:00 p.m. CST on January 30, 2026, through the FBISD Electronic Bidding Portal (Bonfire). Evaluation will be conducted on a best-value basis using weighted criteria including purchase price (30 points), vendor reputation and references (5 points), quality of goods or services (25 points), extent of meeting district needs (25 points), past relationship with FBISD (10 points), long-term cost (5 points), and service agreement compliance (pass/fail).

Vendors must submit detailed proposals including scope narratives, technical specifications, implementation timelines, and cost proposals, along with at least five references from similar projects completed within the past five years. The contract will be for three years with options for two additional one-year renewals, with potential Board awards anticipated in April 2026 and implementation planned for Summer 2026 (June-July). Warranty requirements specify a minimum of one year parts and labor, with a preference for two years, and vendors must maintain a service location within the Houston metropolitan area with 24-48 hour response times and loaner equipment availability. The district reserves the right to award to one or multiple vendors and may potentially extend the contract to other Central Texas Purchasing Alliance (CTPA) member districts. While no specific budget range is mentioned, vendors must provide comprehensive pricing details and demonstrate the ability to meet the district's technical and operational requirements. All proposers must complete various compliance documents, including the Texas Ethics Commission Form 1295, Conflict of Interest Questionnaire, and Vendor Acknowledgement Form.