ERATE: Wide Area Solution

St Johns Public School District (BEN 131254) in Michigan is issuing a Request for Proposals for a Wide Area Network (WAN) solution to provide high-speed connectivity between the Early Learning Center (106 W Tolles Dr, St. Johns, MI 48879) and St. Johns Middle School (501 W Sickels Street, St. Johns, MI 48879). The procurement is technology-neutral and seeks proposals for Self-Provisioned Fiber (SPF), Leased Lit Fiber, Leased Dark Fiber, or other third-party network solutions, with all bids required to meet a minimum 10Gbps connection speed requirement. Deliverables include comprehensive warranties (three years for leased services, seven years for SPF systems), as-built drawings, testing results, and labeling systems. An Intent to Bid Form and mandatory facilities walkthrough are required by February 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM. Sealed bids in duplicate (plus electronic submission via the Triple R bidder portal) are due by 2:00 PM on March 27, 2026, with bids opening the same day at the St. Johns District Office. The Board of Education is scheduled to approve the award on April 13, 2026, with contract execution by March 12, 2026, installation beginning July 1, 2026, and completion by August 4, 2026. Required qualifications include a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN), four references with at least one from a school or school district, Familial Disclosure Affidavit, Iran Linked Business Affidavit, and Prevailing Wage documentation per Michigan Public Act 10 of 2023. Bidders must identify USF-eligible and ineligible products/services separately with detailed bill of materials including specific manufacturers, part numbers, and quantities, and submit all pricing on a unit price basis with total project costs.

This procurement is contingent upon receiving E-Rate funding approval from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), with the District reserving the right to reduce services if funding is lower than requested. No specific set-asides or restrictions limiting bidder eligibility are identified in the solicitation documents; however, the District reserves the right to reject any or all bids and award contracts based on cost-effectiveness analysis or divide the project among multiple vendors. Bids submitted through telephonic, oral, facsimile, email, or other non-sealed methods will not be considered, and the District assumes no liability for delivery delays or postal delays. For SPF proposals, bidders must submit a 5 percent bid bond of the total base bid price, and the selected vendor must furnish a performance bond and labor/material payment bond equal to 100 percent of the contract amount. The service term for leased fiber options is established as July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. No incumbent vendors, existing infrastructure details, or specific budget values are identified in the available documentation.