# E-Rate #28-0001-KCD

Manatee County School District seeks fully managed, scalable Internet access over leased lit fiber with bundled UTM security

**Posted:** September 16, 2026
**Respond By:** October 14, 2026
**Identifier:** 28-0001-KCD
**NAICS:** 517311

The School District of Manatee County, Florida, is seeking proposals for fully managed Layer 3 Internet access services delivered over leased lit fiber for its educational facilities.
- Government Buyer:
  - School District of Manatee County, Purchasing Department
- Scope of Procurement:
  - Two separate Internet circuits, each starting at 20 Gbps and scalable up to 80 Gbps in 5 Gbps increments
  - Services must include bundled Unified Threat Management (UTM) firewall functionality (excluding CIPA content filtering)
  - Installation and cutover required for both circuits at designated DEMARC locations (Manatee County School Support Center and Manatee County Public Safety Center)
  - 24/7 support and strict performance/security standards required
  - Flexibility to add, relocate, or adjust sites and service capacity as needed
- Products/Services Requested:
  - Fully managed Layer 3 Internet access over leased lit fiber (2 units)
  - Installation and initial configuration for both circuits
- Notable Requirements:
  - Must comply with FCC E-rate Category 1 guidelines
  - USAC approval and E-Verify compliance required
  - Service must be scalable and secure, with enterprise firewall functionality
  - No specific OEMs or vendors named; open to qualified providers
- Contract Term:
  - Initial period from July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2032, with up to five one-year renewal options
- Estimated Contract Value:
  - Likely range: $500,000 to $2,000,000 over the contract term
- OEMs:
  - No OEMs specified; solution must be compatible with enterprise-grade network and security equipment
- Potential Competitors:
  - Major ISPs and managed service providers capable of delivering scalable, secure fiber Internet services to K-12 institutions

### Description

The School District of Manatee County is seeking proposals for two fully managed Layer 3 Internet access services delivered over leased lit fiber, each starting at 20 Gbps and scalable to 80 Gbps in 5 Gbps increments. The district intends to procure services that can be adjusted for new sites, relocations, or capacity changes according to the contract or service agreement. The procurement is for Category 1 services under the FCC's E-rate program. Proposals must be submitted via VendorLink by October 29, 2026, with a request for information deadline of October 2, 2026.

[View original listing](https://publicdata.usac.org/EPC/Prd/Form470/270000843/127848/22552698-USAC_FCC_FORM_470_APPLICATION_270000843_CERTIFIED.pdf)