Request for Proposal (RFP 4037) for Network Switches

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) in Wisconsin is seeking qualified vendors to supply Local Area Network (LAN) switches through Request for Proposal (RFP 4037) to support its 1:1 device deployment and enhance instructional technology infrastructure. The procurement involves acquiring 152 Catalyst 2960-X 48 GigE PoE switches with 2 x 10G SFP+ ports and LAN Base K12 licensing, along with 24 Catalyst 2960L 8-port GigE PoE switches with 2 x 1G SFP ports and LAN Lite licensing. Accompanying accessories include power retainer clips, AC power cords, FlexStack Plus stacking modules, stack cables, and SFP transceiver modules. Proposals will be evaluated using weighted criteria: cost of eligible products (35%), integration with existing network architecture (30%), in-state/local vendor status (20%), past performance (10%), and flexible invoicing capability (5%). Key dates include a vendor conference on January 30, 2019, proposal submission deadline of February 28, 2019, estimated evaluation by March 4, 2019, and potential Board of Education approval on March 18, 2019. Vendors must submit pricing separately from technical proposals and keep prices fixed for 60 days.

The district offers a 5% preference to diverse-owned businesses certified by the Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program or participating in the Wisconsin Diversity Procurement Network. Vendors must meet affirmative action requirements, with exemptions for businesses with 15 or fewer employees or aggregate district business under $25,000. The procurement is structured through the FCC E-Rate Category 2 funding process, requiring vendors to possess a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) and clearly distinguish E-Rate eligible and ineligible items on invoices. MMSD is tax-exempt and will file a BEAR Form 472 for direct reimbursement. Contractors must maintain appropriate insurance coverage and comply with accessibility guidelines including WCAG 2.0 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Equipment orders will be placed between June 15 and July 15, 2019, with invoicing required after July 1, 2019 to align with the 2019-20 E-Rate funding cycle. The district reserves the right to defer or cancel agreements if E-Rate funding becomes unavailable.