E-Rate #270001495

USETPA cooperative solicitation for E-Rate networking equipment and related services

USETPA is seeking suppliers for E-Rate-eligible networking equipment and related services for participating schools, libraries, and other eligible entities. - Buyer: US Educational Technology Purchasing Alliance (USETPA), a consortium; the attached RFP is co-authored with Nampa School District. USETPA establishes cooperative convenience contracts, while participating entities determine their own orders and quantities. - OEMs named: Fortinet is identified in the Form 470 and equipment categories, generally as “Fortinet or equivalent.” The attached RFP instead refers to EXTREME products and services or equivalents, creating a material inconsistency between the documents. - Equipment requested: Antennas, connectors and related components; cabling; caching; firewall components; racks; routers; switches; UPS/battery backups; wireless access points; and wireless controllers, including necessary software and licenses where specified. The initial summary reports 5,000–9,999 units for antennas/components and 5,000–9,999 feet of cabling; other listed equipment categories are described as up to 9,999 each. Actual quantities depend on member needs. - Services requested: Basic maintenance for the listed internal-connection equipment; Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS) using leased or existing equipment; and broader networking and IT services described in the RFP, including LAN and MAN/WAN infrastructure, transport, network security, servers, storage, cloud, disaster recovery/cybersecurity, hosted internet, managed support, cabling, professional services, training, and IT financing or leasing. - Notable requirements: MIBS bids must state whether remote management, on-site management, or both are included. The RFP calls for category-based discounts and pricing details, and describes applicable E-Rate, cloud, and supply-chain security provisions. No specific part numbers or member-level quantities are provided. - Contract term: The RFP contains inconsistent term descriptions: a five-year term with a possible additional five-year extension in one section, and an initial two-year term with renewal language in another. No specific performance dates are stated.

Description

The solicitation seeks bids for E-Rate-eligible products through convenience contracts, with quantities determined by member need. Listed items include Category 2 internal connections and related equipment and services, including Fortinet or equivalent products. USETPA is authorized to seek bids but not to order services; contract users place their own orders. The source also states that questions and bids must be directed to USETPA, and that contacting consortium members about the Form 470 will result in disqualification.

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