Request for wireless network equipment and services

Forest Hills Public Schools (FHPS) in Kent County, Michigan is soliciting sealed bid proposals for a district-wide wireless network equipment and services project. The procurement encompasses the supply, installation, testing, and implementation of comprehensive wireless infrastructure across 21 school buildings and ancillary facilities, including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and operational buildings. The deliverables include approximately 1,000 wireless access points (Ruckus Wireless R750 or comparable equivalent), 57 wireless access point enclosures, 21 network switches (Extreme Networks X450G2-48p-10GE4 or comparable), cabling, controllers, and related materials. The project is phased over two years, with secondary buildings scheduled for summer 2021 deployment and elementary buildings for summer 2022, with work required between May and mid-August to meet school year commencement. All proposed equipment must be newly manufactured with current production status and cannot be end-of-life products. Vendors must provide three years of comprehensive warranty coverage with 8x5 4-hour response time and next business day remediation, plus annualized pricing for years four and five. Pricing must include all equipment, cabling, installation, design, permits, shipping, insurance, training, documentation, and removal of existing access points at no additional cost. Sealed bid proposals were due on January 14, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. local time at the office of Susan Case, 6590 Cascade Rd SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, with public opening immediately following. Vendor questions were required to be submitted by December 30, 2020, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time to Shae Sultes at Plante Moran (shae.sultes@plantemoran.com or 248.603.5352). All bid proposals must include three mandatory components: a sworn and notarized statement disclosing any familial relationships between the bidder and Board of Education members, a sworn certification that the contractor is not an Iran-linked business, and a bid bond equal to no less than five percent of the total bid amount.

No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are identified in the procurement documents. However, all vendors must comply with Michigan school safety legislation (MCL 380.1230 series) and the Iran Economic Sanctions Act, with notarized affidavits required for both certifications. The District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid proposals in whole or in part, waive any informalities or irregularities, and award the contract to other than the lowest bidder or to one or more contractors at its sole discretion. FHPS currently operates a Ruckus wireless network with SmartZone controllers at Northern High School and prefers continued use of Ruckus or comparable equivalent products, along with Extreme Networks switching equipment; the selected vendor must accommodate approximately 20 additional capacity licenses for the existing controllers to support the new 1,000 access points. The District intends to participate in the Universal Service Fund (USF) e-Rate program for project funding, which is not released until July 1st, and vendors must accommodate this participation and comply with all USF procedures; contractors may not invoice prior to receipt of a positive Funding Commitment Decision Letter and successful filing of Form 486 by the District. Performance and labor and materials payment bonds equal to the total purchase price are required, effective for one year after project acceptance. Payment shall be structured as progress billing not to exceed ninety percent of the total purchase price, with ten percent retained until final acceptance. No specific budget range or award value is stated in the procurement documents.