E-Rate Year 30 District-Wide ISP WAN Ring Connections

Ontario-Montclair School District is requesting proposals for E-Rate Year 30 district-wide Internet Service Provider and WAN ring connectivity under RFP Contract C-267-238, with sealed bids due December 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. PST via Bonfire. Service providers must hold a valid FCC Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN), FCC Registration Number (FRN), and maintain Green Light Status with the FCC — the key eligibility filter.

The scope encompasses a single unified solution from one vendor: one 100 Gbps direct Internet Access circuit to the District Office (expandable to 400 Gbps over the contract term), forty 10 Gbps WAN ring connections (expandable to 25 Gbps and 40 Gbps), and connectivity for a new district data center in 2028. The district operates 28 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 2 warehouses/IT facilities, 2 data centers, and administrative offices throughout Ontario and Montclair. A mandatory detailed transition plan identifying project milestones, subcontractors, and installation timelines must accompany all proposals; omission results in immediate disqualification. Bidders must provide three references for similar work completed within the past three years.

The contract term is five years, with service commencement July 1, 2027 and installation potentially beginning January 1, 2027. Project completion must occur within 365 consecutive calendar days from Notice to Proceed. Pricing must separately itemize one-time installation costs and monthly recurring charges, submitted on the attached Excel worksheet; the District prefers amortization of installation costs into monthly fees. All service provider equipment remains vendor property with repair and maintenance at no cost to the District.

Evaluation prioritizes E-Rate eligible cost (40 points), transition plan (35 points), district experience (10 points), E-Rate experience (10 points), and customer service (5 points). Questions are due November 2, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. PST, with answers by November 5. The project is contingent on federal E-Rate and California Teleconnect Fund eligibility; the District reserves the right to reject all bids or proceed partially or not at all.