Meraki Licensing

The School Board of Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS), the nation's seventh-largest school system located in Florida, is soliciting an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for an Enterprise License Agreement (ELA) for the Cisco Meraki platform to provide comprehensive licensing, technical support, and infrastructure coverage across the district. The procurement encompasses Meraki network hardware and wireless access points (WAPs) currently installed throughout HCPS, with capability for future expansion, and includes all related labor, materials, supervision, equipment, and services necessary to deliver comprehensive technical support with 24/7 access, defined service level agreements, software updates and upgrades, and hardware replacement or repair services. Key deliverables include per-device annual licenses on a firm pricing basis, centralized management capabilities through a single pane of glass interface, detailed reporting on license utilization and support activity, and support scalability for future device additions. The specific equipment to be licensed includes Meraki MS300 licenses (5,842 units across Medium and Large Essentials categories), Meraki MT and MR Essentials licenses (20,737 units), Cisco DNA Switching equipment including C9500 switches (4 units) and C9300X 12-port switches (647 units), and various enterprise-level hardware components. The requested licensing term is 36 months with a start date of September 15, 2026, and an end date of September 14, 2029, with annual billing and an initial contract term renewable for up to two additional three-year periods contingent upon annual appropriation, contractor performance, and mutual agreement. Technical questions are due by Friday, January 30, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time, and completed bids must be submitted electronically via www.myVendorLink.com by Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM Eastern Time. Required qualifications include establishment as a Cisco partner with a valid Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN), provision of a letter of certification from an authorized Meraki reseller or channel partner, proof of a minimum three-year track record in providing Meraki licensing services, evidence of Florida business authorization, current licenses and business tax receipts, proof of required insurance, E-Verify compliance, and business references from the previous three years preferably from school districts or Florida-based organizations.

This is an E-Rate-funded purchase requiring contractors to comply with the Lowest Corresponding Price (LCP) Rule and participate in the Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries, including filing FCC Form 473 and supporting BEAR (Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement) processing. Prospective vendors must be established as a Cisco partner and cannot be entities owned by, controlled by, or organized under the laws of countries of concern as defined by Florida Statute 287.138, which includes the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolas Maduro, and the Syrian Arab Republic. All vendors must submit required affidavits certifying compliance with Florida's restrictions on contracting with entities of foreign countries of concern and affirming that the company does not engage in human trafficking or labor coercion practices. HCPS encourages Small Business Enterprises (SBEs) to register with the Office of Supplier Development, with vendors able to voluntarily provide information regarding minority ownership status, service-disabled veteran status, and applicable business certifications from recognized agencies such as the City of Tampa or the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council. The estimated budget for this ITB is approximately $10,300,000 for the initial three-year term, though actual purchases may vary, with pricing to include all costs associated with annual licenses on a per-device basis and potential volume discounts or other pricing incentives. Standard payment terms are net 45 days, with potential discussion of alternative terms for SBE program participation.