E-Rate ServiceBid Documents

The Indiana State Library is requesting proposals for internet access and WAN connectivity services to the Indiana Public Library Internet Consortium under RFP 27-88394, with proposals due November 11, 2026, by 3:00 PM Eastern Time. A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for September 30, 2026, at 9:30 AM (in-person and virtual) at the Indiana Government Center South in Indianapolis, with written questions due October 7, 2026.

The solicitation carries a 3% Indiana Veteran-Owned Small Business subcontracting goal and a Buy Indiana Initiative preference (5 points each in evaluation). Respondents must be registered as bidders with the Indiana Department of Administration Procurement Division and comply with Secretary of State requirements if awarded.

The scope covers high-speed digital transmission networks supporting approximately 144 public library systems across 255 statewide locations. Services include symmetric internet access ranging from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps per site, customer premises equipment (routers, switches, circuit terminations), 24/7/365 support via toll-free phone, email, live chat, and online ticketing, annual bandwidth consulting, network monitoring with 99.99% availability guarantees, and CIPA-compliant filtering. The vendor must be an eligible E-Rate service provider with valid FCC SPIN and current SPAC, deliver a Service Level Agreement by contract execution, and complete equipment installation and staff training by July 1, 2027. Optional services include bandwidth shaping, quality of service pricing, disaster recovery, VoIP, firewall services, and web hosting, priced separately. Current annual consortium expenses total approximately $4.492 million (informational only). The vendor must use the Service Provider Invoice reimbursement method, invoicing the State for discounted services and individual libraries for undiscounted portions.

The contract term is four years from execution with zero renewal options. Evaluation spans 91 points maximum: Mandatory Requirements (pass/fail), Management Assessment and Quality (39 points), Cost Proposal (41 points), Buy Indiana Initiative (5 points), and IVOSB Subcontractor Commitment (5 points plus 1 possible bonus). Cost scoring normalizes to the lowest bid at full points. Proposals must include Executive Summary, Business Proposal, Technical Proposal, Cost Proposal with narrative, and Attestation Form. Pricing must remain firm for 180 days from award. Reference check forms are due November 11, 2026. Award recommendation is targeted for December 15, 2026. Addenda 1, 2, and 3 have been issued, adjusting cost proposal formatting and evaluation point allocations for E-Rate regulatory compliance.