Enterprise Internet Access with Transport - Secondary ERATE

Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) is soliciting proposals for Enterprise Internet Access with Transport - Secondary services through an E-Rate funded Request for Proposal (RFP 26-009RA). The procurement seeks an existing E-Rate approved vendor with a current Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) to provide internet access services supporting the district's 80,000 students across over 80 campuses and administrative sites. The required internet access service must deliver a minimum of 20 Gbps bandwidth, scalable up to 100 Gbps, with a Single Mode Fiber 100 Gbps port connection and high-reliability service featuring 99.99% uptime, unlimited data transfers, and dedicated non-oversubscribed transport. The initial contract term spans three years from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029, with potential renewal options for two additional one-year terms through June 30, 2031. Proposal submissions are open from September 18, 2025, to October 23, 2025, with a pre-proposal meeting scheduled for October 7, 2025, via Microsoft Teams. Proposal evaluation will be based on purchase price (35 points), service quality (30 points), meeting district needs (25 points), vendor reputation (5 points), and past district relationship (5 points), totaling 100 possible points.

The RFP encourages participation through a Supplier Diversity Initiative that supports small businesses, defined as independently owned entities with less than 50 employees and/or under $3 million in annual business volume. Vendors must comply with numerous requirements, including providing a valid Certificate of Insurance, completing a Conflict of Interest Questionnaire, submitting a Suspension and Debarment Certification, and executing a comprehensive Data Protection Agreement. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the document indicates that billing cannot commence before July 2026 and that vendors must provide the Lowest Corresponding Price as part of the E-Rate program requirements. Potential vendors must submit multiple documents through the Bonfire digital portal, including a Scope of Service narrative, various questionnaires, a Pricing BidTable, and several mandatory forms. The district emphasizes strict data privacy protocols, with the contractor required to handle district data securely and comply with federal laws like FERPA, COPPA, and IDEA. Vendors should note that all rights to district data remain exclusively with FBISD, and the successful contractor will be granted only a limited, non-exclusive license to use the data for performing contractual obligations.