Network upgrade - CAT 2 Erate

Talbot County, Georgia, is seeking proposals for a comprehensive network upgrade project through the E-Rate Category 2 program, targeting infrastructure improvements across multiple school district locations. The procurement specifically focuses on network equipment, fiber connections, and associated installation services, with a comprehensive scope including data distribution switches, transceivers, licenses, modules, wireless access points, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, and fiber optic cabling. Proposals are due on December 2, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. EST, with a mandatory pre-bid walk-through scheduled for November 13, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. EST at the Screven County Maintenance & Operations Building. Bidders will be evaluated on multiple criteria, including cost of E-Rate eligible goods (40 points), cost of E-Rate ineligible goods (10 points), scope of work and specification compliance (20 points), prior experience (20 points), and response completeness (10 points). Vendors must quote specified brands or equivalent products that meet or exceed technical specifications, with installation costs to be quoted separately from equipment costs.

The procurement appears open to qualified technology service providers with specific requirements for participation, including maintaining valid SPIN and FRN numbers and Green Light Status with the E-Rate program. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly noted in the documentation. The project's service start date is April 1, 2026, with pricing held firm through September 30, 2027, and an option to extend for an additional annual term through September 30, 2028. While exact budget figures are not disclosed, the project involves multiple school entities including Screven County High School, Screven County Middle School, and Screven County Elementary School, suggesting a substantial technology infrastructure investment. Importantly, all equipment must be new, with no refurbished or gray-market items acceptable, and the district prefers a single vendor capable of providing all required components. The contract remains contingent upon receiving a Federal E-Rate Program Category Two Funding Commitment Decision Letter and approval by the Screven County School District Board of Education.