E-Rate Cabling and Core Switches

The Gordon County School System (GCSS) in Georgia is soliciting proposals for fiber optic cabling infrastructure upgrades and core network switch procurement through this E-Rate program-funded request for proposal. The procurement encompasses 43 fiber backbone replacement runs utilizing 12-strand OS2 single-mode armored CMP fiber optic cable (PDPK012AB0707-I/0/C4C5) totaling 20,820 feet across ten school locations, 72 Cat 6 plenum-rated cables with modular 24-port patch panels and associated hardware averaging 225 feet per cable, two Meraki C9300X-24Y core switches with five-year licensing, and two additional power supplies (PWR/C1/715WAC/P/2) with installation and termination services included. All fiber runs must be properly installed and terminated in enclosures, and all Cat 6 cables must be connected to patch panels with associated hardware. Qualified vendors must be E-Rate compliant with a valid USAC SPIN number and utilize SPI billing, with actual quantities subject to adjustment to meet USAC Category 2 budgets. The evaluation committee will assess proposals using a weighted point system allocating 40 points for overall cost, 20 points for product quality and specifications compliance, 20 points for proposal responsiveness and completeness, 10 points for delivery capability, and 10 points for specification compliance. Sealed proposals consisting of one original and three copies must be submitted to the GCSS Purchasing Department at 7300 Fairmount Highway, Calhoun, Georgia 30701 by 2:00 PM EST on March 16, 2026. Vendors must provide references from three similar institutions, a project completion timeline, proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance, a Georgia Drug-Free Workplace certificate, an E-Verify affidavit, and a W-9 form.

The RFP does not identify specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, though local preference provisions apply providing 10 additional points when all other factors are equal and pricing is within five percent of the lowest proposal, with "local" defined as a provider maintaining a recognized physical point-of-sale in Gordon County, Georgia. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documents. Pricing must remain firm throughout the contract period with all costs, including freight, incorporated into the proposal; no price increases, fuel surcharges, or additional costs are permitted during performance. The GCSS reserves the right to conduct negotiations with qualified proposers prior to award, with final board approval required before contract execution. While no specific budget range is disclosed in the available documents, the scope of work spanning comprehensive fiber infrastructure upgrades across ten school facilities suggests a significant procurement value, though the actual award amount will depend on vendor pricing and final USAC Category 2 budget allocations.