Internet Services

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for comprehensive Internet Services across 23 school locations, seeking a qualified telecommunications provider to deliver an end-to-end broadband internet solution. The procurement targets bandwidth options ranging from 10Gbps to 30Gbps and requires a full-service approach including network infrastructure, implementation planning, connectivity, hardware, configuration, and monitoring services. Proposal evaluation will be conducted using six key criteria: price (40 points), technical merit (15 points), security (15 points), support and Service Level Agreement (10 points), monitoring (10 points), and business stability (10 points). The RFP timeline includes a written questions deadline of January 26, 2026, with proposal submissions due February 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. EST. Proposal evaluation is scheduled for February 23, 2026, with a projected contract award on March 2, 2026, contingent upon Board and USAC approvals. The anticipated contract term is five years with four optional one-year renewal periods, with service implementation set to commence on July 1, 2026.

Responding vendors must hold a valid Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) and current Service Provider Annual Certification (SPAC), and must participate in the E-Rate program while complying with its gift rules. The successful vendor is required to maintain professional liability insurance with a minimum AM Best rating of A:VII, covering $5,000,000 for errors and omissions. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, the RFP indicates flexibility in award, with the possibility of selecting a single vendor, multiple vendors, or no vendors based on RCPS's best interest. Pricing proposals must comprehensively cover all turn-key service delivery costs to the primary data center, with all installation charges to be waived by the vendor. Although a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the procurement serves approximately 15,000 students and 1,500 staff members across one primary data center and 22 remote locations, suggesting a substantial potential contract value for the selected internet services provider.