KETS Network Products and Services

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Education is requesting proposals for KETS Network Products and Services—enterprise-level network infrastructure including switches, routers, wireless access points, firewalls, SD-WAN solutions, software licenses, installation, training, and maintenance support serving 175 sites across Kentucky public school districts, the Kentucky School for the Blind, and the Kentucky School for the Deaf—with proposals due August 14, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Bidders must be original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) bidding directly, with each manufacturer permitted only one bid and up to three authorized resellers post-award. All proposals failing to meet mandatory requirements will be deemed non-responsive.

Mandatory qualifications include Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act compliance and WCAG 2.0 Level AA accessibility standards; current VPAT or Accessibility Conformance Report; accurate product categorization as Internal Connections or Managed Internal Broadband Services per USAC guidance; SKU-level allocation percentages between IC and MIBS functionality; designated single point of contact, pre-sales engineer, and post-sales support staff; equipment delivery within thirty calendar days of purchase order receipt; one year of primary service coverage and warranty included in initial equipment cost; maintenance of current, distinguishable E-Rate eligible and non-eligible pricing lists; and disclosure of AI functionality in MIBS products. Resellers must execute a signed Reseller Agreement prior to participation and maintain current OEM authorization, E-Rate program eligibility, and knowledge of KETS contract requirements and the Kentucky school system.

Pricing is structured as minimum discount percentages off Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), maintained throughout the contract term without reduction. Leasing must be available and comply with Kentucky procurement and USAC E-Rate requirements. The initial contract term runs through September 30, 2029, with four optional two-year renewal periods. Evaluation combines technical merit (maximum 1,000 points), cost proposal (maximum 1,625 points), and potential oral demonstrations (maximum 1,000 points). Vendor questions were due July 21, 2026; Commonwealth responses were issued July 31, 2026. The Commonwealth reserves the right to extend the contract to other state agencies with vendor consent. Written questions contact: Dianne Lee, 502-782-0799.