Alachua County Library District E-Rate Branch Routers

The Alachua County Library District is seeking proposals to procure Peplink Balance SDX routers or equivalent hardware to upgrade the network infrastructure across 13 sites, including a headquarters and 12 branch locations, as part of its E-rate FY2025 funding application. The contract, covering hardware and licensing only, is set for the period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with the possibility of extension depending on funding approval. The network operates on a traditional hub-and-spoke configuration with the headquarters serving as the central hub, interconnected via a 10GB fiber WAN supplied by GRUcom. The existing network uses Meraki switches, and the preferred handoff from GRUcom is via SFP+ connections, which will connect to the Meraki switches on the LAN side. The contract emphasizes hardware procurement and licensing support, with a preference for four-year manufacturer support licenses. Installation services are not included beyond initial manufacturer support. The solicitation, identified as 25-532-PM, was posted on February 12, 2025, with a response deadline of March 12, 2025. The project is valued between $500,000 and $1,500,000, and interested vendors can contact Precious Merriweather via email or phone for further details. The procurement process is managed through an online portal, providing additional project information and submission guidelines.