Hall county CAT2 RFP FY26

The Hall County Library System is procuring networking infrastructure and related services through an E-Rate Category 2 funding initiative for the funding year July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. This Request for Proposal solicits USAC service providers holding valid Service Provider Identification Numbers (SPIN) and FCC Form 498 filer status to supply equipment, licensing, installation, and configuration services for internal network connections across multiple library locations. The required deliverables include one Meraki MX85 Firewall (or equivalent), eight MS150-48MP-4X Switches (or equivalent), and twenty CW9172I Access Points (or equivalent), along with comprehensive three-year licensing packages encompassing one Meraki MX85 Advanced Security License for new equipment, eight Meraki MS150-48 Enterprise Licenses for new equipment, thirty-eight Meraki MR Enterprise License renewals, seven Meraki MS150-48 Enterprise License renewals, four Meraki MX85 Advanced Security License renewals, and one Meraki MX250 Advanced Security License renewal, all with support and bug fixes included. Proposals must include detailed cost breakdowns with clear identification of E-Rate eligible and ineligible portions, SPI invoicing, service descriptions, and documentation of installation and initial configuration capabilities. The evaluation criteria weight pricing at 40 percent, ineligible item costs at 10 percent, past performance (particularly with libraries and schools in multi-location deployments) at 25 percent, and technical requirements capability at 25 percent. Questions must be submitted by March 2, 2026 (extended to March 6, 2026 per the primary RFP), and proposals are due March 20, 2026 (extended to March 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM EST per the addendum) to Mason Patton, IT Operations Manager, at mpatton@hallcountylibrary.org.

This procurement is restricted to USAC service providers with active SPIN numbers and FCC Form 498 filer status, with no specific set-asides mentioned for disadvantaged enterprises in the available documentation. The proposal must integrate with the existing Meraki environment currently deployed across the library system, with vendors permitted to propose functional equivalents to the specified Meraki equipment. No incumbent vendor information or current contractor details are provided in the solicitation materials. The contract is subject to all E-Rate program rules and regulations under 47 CFR Part 54 and requires USAC funding approval; the Hall County Library System reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and negotiate with multiple qualified vendors simultaneously, with final contract approval contingent upon IT Operations Manager and Director authorization. No specific contract award value or budget range is disclosed in the available documentation, though the scope encompasses both new equipment procurement and multi-year licensing renewals across the library system's network infrastructure.