E-RATE CATEGORY 2 PROJECT

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS E-RATE CATEGORY 2 PROJECT STONE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT Funding Year 2027 (2027–2031)
NOTICE TO BIDDERS Notice is hereby given that the Stone County School District will receive written, sealed bids until the hour of 12:00 p.m., Thursday, November 19th, 2026, at which time bids will be opened in the Board Room of the Stone County School District Office located at 214 N Critz Street, Wiggins, MS 39577. Bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked: 'ATTN: SEALED BID - DO NOT OPEN — 2027 E-Rate Cat 2 Bid'. Electronic bids may also be submitted via Central Bidding (www.centralbidding.com).
1. Bid Timeline and Submission Key Dates Event / Milestone Date and Time Letter of Intent to Bid Due Date Thursday, October 29th, 2026, 12:00 p.m. Mandatory Vendor Meeting & Site Visit Thursday, November 5th, 2026, 12:00 p.m. Bid Submission Deadline & Public Opening Thursday, November 19th, 2026, 12:00 p.m.
2. Project Description & Scope of Work The Stone County School District (SCSD) wishes to upgrade its E-Rate eligible Category 2 network infrastructure across all district facilities. The project encompasses structured Category 6/6a cabling, network switches, wireless access points, wireless controllers, UPS battery backups, Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (BMIC), and Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS).
● Internal Connections Equipment & Cabling: A 3-year contract term (July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2030) for products and installation. Pricing must remain firm through the final C2 service delivery deadline. ● Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS): A 3-year contract term (July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2030) for a block of hours to support wired/wireless LAN infrastructure on an as-needed basis. ● Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (BMIC): Manufacturer support and hardware maintenance for E-Rate eligible wired and wireless LAN components. ● Option to Bid Portions: Vendors may bid on one, two, three, or all parts of the RFP, as well as specific building sites. Bundled pricing discounts are allowed. However, preference will be given to bidders who bid on the entire project as a single turnkey unit. In order to be eligible to bid, all prospective bidders must attend the mandatory vendor meeting. The vendor meeting will be held at the Stone County School District Office located at 214 N Critz Street, Wiggins, MS 39577 on November 5th, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to allow potential bidders an opportunity to present questions and obtain clarification of the requirements of the bid documents. Because the Stone County School District considers the meeting to be critical to understanding the bid requirements, attendance is mandatory in order to qualify as a bidder.1 No transcript or minutes from this meeting will be created or available. Proposals from vendors who do not attend the vendor meeting WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. Nothing discussed or information provided during the mandatory vendor meeting shall be construed as changing the scope of this procurement as set forth in this RFP. Anything discussed or any information provided during the mandatory vendor meeting shall be interpreted in light of this RFP; if there is any conflict or perceived conflict between this RFP and information provided or statements made during the mandatory vendor meeting, this RFP shall govern.2 At the time of the vendor meeting, all bidders will be expected to complete and turn in the “Site Visit Information Form” furnished in this document. Intent to Bid: Stone County School District requests that all vendors interested in submitting a proposal complete the Letter of Intent to Bid that is provided at the end of this document. The Letter of Intent to Bid should be emailed to Brandon Wilson at bwilson@stoneschools.org prior to October 29th, 2026, 12:00 p.m. If an email reply is not received within 24 hours, it is the responsibility of the respondent to call Brandon Wilson at 601-928-7247 to confirm receipt of your Letter of Intent to Bid. Submitting a Letter of Intent to Bid does not commit you to bidding. The Letter of Intent to Bid is not a requirement to submit a proposal, however the mandatory vendor meeting is a requirement to bid. In the case of inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances, all vendors who have submitted the Letter of Intent to Bid will be notified of a change to the mandatory vendor meeting date or time. General The specifications herein are provided to convey the intent of the District and do not indicate every cable or component necessary for the complete system that the proposing vendor shall provide. Technical specifications of all equipment and necessary components proposed should be provided with the bid. Proposals that deviate from these specifications will be considered, provided the vendor indicates why its proposed alternative specifications will meet the needs and intent of the District. Prices quoted shall be an all-inclusive solution including all applicable taxes, shipping costs, installation of equipment, configuration of equipment, any necessary cabling, training, technical support and trash removal, and represent complete installation and integration with the existing network where necessary. All equipment included in the vendor's proposal must be new equipment purchased from an authorized reseller. No grey market, third party, or used equipment will be considered. Prices quoted in the vendor’s response will remain in effect for a period of sixty (60) months from the time of the contract signing or until the final service delivery deadline for Funding Year 2026 C2 products and services. Omissions in the proposal of any provision described herein shall not be construed as to relieve the vendor of any responsibility or obligation to the complete and satisfactory delivery, operation and support of any services. Should the vendor have questions or find discrepancies in, or omissions from this RFP, or be in doubt of its meaning, the vendor shall at once notify Stone County School District. All questions should be addressed to Brandon Wilson and sent via email to bwilson@stoneschools.org. If a response is not received within 24 hours, it is the responsibility of the respondent to call Brandon Wilson at 601-928-7247 to confirm receipt of the questions. All questions and answers will be emailed to all vendors attending the mandatory vendor meeting. Bid Submission Instructions Bids may be hand delivered or mailed to the Stone County School District located at 214 N Critz Street, Wiggins, MS 39577. Bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked as follows: ATTN: SEALED BID - DO NOT OPEN “2027 E-Rate Cat 2 Bid” Bid Opening: November 19th, 2026, 12:00 p.m.
All paper bids submitted for structured cabling where said bid is in excess of $50,000 shall contain on the outside of the envelope the contractor's current Certificate of Responsibility Number. If structured cabling costs in excess of $50,000 are submitted electronically, an attachment must be included with the electronic bid submittal indicating the Certificate of Responsibility. Envelopes not so marked will not be considered. The Stone County School District Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids and waive any informality. Bidders must submit one (1) original and two (2) copies of their full response along with two (2) electronic copies. The first page in the bid submission packet must be the Bid Worksheet. The worksheet will show the vendor’s total cost. In additional to the Bid Worksheet, Vendors MUST provide quotes submitted on the vendor’s standard quote form showing line-item pricing. Failure to comply may result in bid disqualification. Bids must include the following: The “Bid Worksheet” completed and signed by the bidder. Note, the “Bid Worksheet” is a total for all E Rate eligible products and services. In the occurrence of discrepancies between the total costs and line item costs, the line-item cost will be deemed to be the correct cost. (THE BID WORKSHEET MUST BE THE FIRST PAGE IN THE BID SUBMISSION DOCUMENTATION) Required Documents as listed in this RFP. It is the sole responsibility of the respondents to ensure their responses arrive in a timely manner. Late arrivals will be rejected. The Stone County School District is not responsible for delays of any commercial carrier or delays incurred by the respondents. Oral, telephone, or emailed bids will not be considered. Signatures on the proposals must be in longhand and executed by a principal duly authorized by the vendor to make a contract. PLEASE NOTE: Common Carriers, UPS and FedEx, in the Wiggins, Mississippi area generally do not deliver overnight packages on time. The Stone County School District will not be responsible for, nor will it accept bid responses delivered after the deadline. As an alternate submission mechanism for Category 2 products and services, bids may be submitted through secure electronic submission. Official Bid Documents are available at Central Bidding (www.centralbidding.com). Electronic Bids may be submitted at Central Bidding (www.centralbidding.com). For questions related to the electronic bidding process, please call Central Bidding at 225-810-4814. Evaluation Methodology The Stone County School District Board of Trustees will award a contract based on the vendor submission that best meets the needs of the Stone County School District with regard to the current Technology Plan, future growth, RFP specifications, and not necessarily the lowest price even though price will be the primary factor. The following factors may be considered when evaluating responses: • Price • Technical Specifications • Technical Certifications of Vendor Staff • Number of Service Staff within close proximity to Wiggins, Mississippi • Vendor response time • Turnkey Solution • Ease of Use • Experience with Vendor (includes Vendor-supplied customer references and recent (7 years) District experience with Vendor (if any); may also include any publicly available reports or testimonials regarding recent Vendor performance) Vendor Qualifications The Stone County School District may make such investigations as deemed necessary to determine the ability of the bidder or subcontractors or suppliers to perform the work, and the bidder shall furnish to the Stone County School District all such information and data for this purpose as the Stone County School District may request. The Stone County School District reserves the right to reject any bid if the evidence submitted by or investigation of such Bidder fails to satisfy the Stone County School District that such bidder is properly qualified to carry out the obligations of the contract and/or to complete the work contemplated therein within the time required. The bidder is specifically advised that any person, firm or other party to whom it proposes to award a subcontract or purchase order under this contract must be acceptable to the Stone County School District. The successful vendor (contractor) must have or be certified with the following: • Be able to supply all products and services • Be an authorized dealer in the State of Mississippi for all products • Have current liability insurance and workers compensation insurance (certificates of insurance must be furnished by winning bidder within 10 days of award • Provide documentation of the vendor’s employee certifications • Participate in the mandatory vendor meeting. Any bid submitted by a vendor who does not attend the mandatory vendor meeting will not be considered. There will be no exceptions. • Provide an E-Rate SPIN • Provide at least 3 references for projects of the same scope and size Financing This project will be subsidized by the E-Rate program and is therefore subject to funding availability and contingent upon E-Rate funding. Due to the extended period of time, it could take for the District to receive a funding commitment from USAC for this project and possible unforeseen financial circumstances, any contract arising from this RFP will also be contingent upon the District’s availability of funds at the time of funding for the non-E-Rate portion of the project. The District also reserves the right to increase or decrease quantities requested in this RFP to adhere to the District’s needs at the time of funding. The District reserves the right to purchase products and services from the winning bid response during the term of the subsequent contract using alternate funding sources if alternative funding becomes available during the contract term. The Stone County School District requires that the winning bidder provide the USAC Service Provider Invoice (SPI) method for invoicing. Disqualification of Bidder The Stone County School District reserves the right to award to other than the lowest bidder when, in the judgment of the District administration, it is in the best interest of the District to do so. A Bidder may be disqualified for any substantial non-compliance with the terms of this RFP, including: 1. Bidder’s failure to sign Bidder’s Proposal Form or to otherwise properly complete the Proposal Form 2. Bidder’s failure to attend and complete the mandatory pre-bid conference 3. Bidder’s failure to include documentation for required certifications and authorizations A Bidder may also be disqualified for the following reasons: 1. Bidder being in litigation or dispute with the Stone County School District 2. Bidder having defaulted on a previous contract 3. Bidder having preformed unsatisfactorily on a previous contract, including but not limited to the Bidder’s failure to fulfill the warranty obligations of a previous contract with the Stone County School District The Stone County School District will strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of the E-Rate program when evaluating bid responses.
3. District Governance, Legal, and Compliance Mandates In accordance with the SCSD Contract Routing & Approval Compliance Summary, District Board Policies DJ/DJE, and Mississippi statutory requirements, all vendors submitting proposals under this RFP must agree to the following mandatory legal, financial, digital safety, and federal compliance terms. Any proposal or resulting contract that conflicts with these mandates will be disqualified or returned without Board review. 3.1 Payment Terms & Prompt Payment Act Compliance: Payment for the District's non-discounted portion shall be strictly governed by the Mississippi Prompt Payment Act (MS Code §§ 31-7-301 through 31-7-317). Standard payment terms are Net 45 days following verified receipt of goods or completion of services. Pre-payment, advance deposits, or upfront billing are strictly prohibited by state law. 3.2 Term, Termination for Convenience & Non-Appropriation: All resulting contracts must have fixed start and end dates. Multi-year agreements (including MIBS blocks) are contingent upon annual Board fund allocation pursuant to MS Code § 31-7-13(n). Furthermore, the District reserves the right to terminate any resulting agreement for convenience upon thirty (30) days' written notice to the vendor without penalty or early termination fee. 3.3 Governing Law, Exclusive Venue, and Prohibition of Arbitration: Any contract resulting from this RFP shall be governed by, construed, and enforced under the laws of the State of Mississippi. Exclusive jurisdiction and venue shall reside in the courts of Stone County, Mississippi. Any vendor provisions requiring mandatory binding arbitration or private mediation are hereby void and deleted, preserving the District's sovereign immunity and right to a jury trial. 3.4 Prohibition of Automatic Renewals ('Evergreen' Clauses): Contracts shall not contain automatic renewal provisions. Any extension beyond the stated contract term must be executed via formal written amendment approved by the SCSD Board of Trustees. 3.5 Digital Safety Compliance (MS Code § 37-11-81): Vendors warrant that all equipment, software, and managed services support robust Technology Protection Measures (TPM) designed to block access to child pornography and other material deemed harmful to minors, in full compliance with MS Code § 37-11-81. 3.6 Student Data Privacy & Vetting (FERPA, COPPA, CIPA): Vendors acknowledge that all software, network management tools, and digital platforms must be vetted by the SCSD Technology Department and maintain strict compliance with federal and state student data privacy laws, including FERPA, COPPA, and CIPA. 3.7 Critical Cybersecurity 72-Hour Breach Notification Protocol: Vendors agree that in the event of any confirmed or suspected security incident, data breach, unauthorized network access, or known exploited vulnerability affecting District data, credentials, or infrastructure, the vendor shall notify the SCSD Technology Department within seventy-two (72) hours of discovery. The notification must detail: (a) the nature and scope of the incident, (b) specific data or network topology impacted, and (c) the vendor's immediate remediation plan. Vendors shall cooperate fully in any breach investigation. 3.8 Federal EDGAR & Program Provisions: Because this project is subsidized by federal E-Rate funds and may exceed $250,000, winning bidders must comply with EDGAR regulations: (a) Certification of non-debarment and non-suspension via SAM.gov; (b) Certification of compliance with Byrd Anti-Lobbying provisions; (c) Reserving all administrative, contractual, and legal remedies in instances where the vendor breaches contract terms. 3.9 Required Documentation Prior to Contract Execution: Prior to final Board approval and contract execution, the winning bidder must provide: (a) Current W-9 form; (b) Proof of active SAM.gov registration; (c) Certificate of Insurance (COI) listing SCSD as an additional insured; (d) Proof of MS Contractor's Certificate of Responsibility (for cabling >$50,000); and (e) Executed SCSD Contract Routing & Approval Cover Form.
4. Evaluation Methodology and Vendor Qualifications The SCSD Board of Trustees will award contracts based on the proposal that best meets the needs of the District regarding technical specifications, capacity for growth, and overall value. Price of E-Rate eligible goods and services will be the primary factor, but not the sole factor. Evaluation Criterion Weight / Evaluation Importance E-Rate Eligible Cost / Price Primary Factor (Highest Weight) Technical Specifications & Solution Architecture Secondary Factor Staff Technical Certifications & Authorized Reseller Status Secondary Factor Proximity of Support Engineers & Response Time to Wiggins, MS
Secondary Factor
Vendor Experience & Customer References (Minimum 3 required)
Secondary Factor
Turnkey Solution & Ease of Management Secondary Factor 5. Technical Equipment & Cabling Specifications ● Cabling: All copper cable and components must be Category 6 rated or higher. Fiber runs must be single-mode supporting 10G or higher. ● Switches: Proposed switches must be Ruckus/Brocade or EQUIVALENT, fully compatible with existing district switches and management platforms, including 10G SFPs, VLAN configuration, and 5-year licensing. ● UPS Battery Backups: Proposed UPS units must be Tripplite or EQUIVALENT with web/SNMP management capabilities included, including any add-on network cards required for management. ● Wireless APs & Controller: Proposed Access Points and Controller must be Ruckus/Brocade or EQUIVALENT, supporting high-density school deployments, cloud/app management, and 5-year licenses. ● Invoicing Method: Winning bidder must utilize the USAC Service Provider Invoice (SPI) method for E-Rate billing.
6. District Building Locations & Connectivity Facility Name Physical Address City/State/Zip Current Circuit
Perkinston Elementary School 40 Second Avenue Perkinston, MS 39573 2 Gbps Circuit Stone County School District Office 214 North Critz Street Wiggins, MS 39577 10 Gbps Host Circuit Transportation Department 644 Airport Street Wiggins, MS 39577 2 Gbps Circuit Stone Education Center 327 S First Street Wiggins, MS 39577 2 Gbps Circuit Stone Elementary School 1652 E Central Avenue Wiggins, MS 39577 2 Gbps Circuit Stone High School 400 E Border Avenue Wiggins, MS 39577 2 Gbps Circuit Stone Middle School 532 E Central Avenue Wiggins, MS 39577 2 Gbps Circuit Stone CTE Center 650 Legacy Drive Wiggins, MS 39577 2 Gbps Circuit 7. Required Bid Forms & Submission Worksheets MANDATORY SUBMISSION FORM ORDER: The '2027 E-Rate Bid Worksheet' below MUST BE THE FIRST PAGE (TOP PAGE) of the vendor's submitted proposal packet, followed immediately by itemized vendor quote sheets. STONE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT — 2027 E-RATE BID WORKSHEET
(MUST BE PAGE 1 OF PROPOSAL PACKET)
E-Rate Eligible Cabling Total Price: $ ___________________________ E-Rate Eligible Equipment Total Price: $ ___________________________ E-Rate Eligible MIBS Total Price (4-Year Block): $ ___________________________ E-Rate Eligible Basic Maintenance Total Price: $ ___________________________ TOTAL E-RATE ELIGIBLE PROJECT COST: $ ___________________________ LETTER OF INTENT TO BID FORM
(Submit via email to bwilson@stoneschools.org prior to Oct 29, 2026)
TO: Brandon Wilson, Technology Director (bwilson@stoneschools.org) REFERENCE: Stone County School District 2027 E-Rate Category 2 RFP This letter confirms our intent to submit a proposal in response to the above-referenced RFP.
Company Name: Contact Person: Title: Address: City, State, Zip: Phone Number: Email Address: Authorized Signature: Date:

"Exhibit A"
Stone County School District 2027 C2 E-Rate Needs
Preferred Manufacturer
Preferred Part Number/SKU Total Qty
Single AP Drop N/A N/A 10 quote 200 ft average Interior Fiber Runs N/A N/A 6 quote 600ft average Exterior Fiber Runs N/A N/A 10 quote 1200ft average 24 Port Switch Ruckus/Brocade ICX8200-24ZP 15 48 Port Switch Ruckus/Brocade ICX8200-48ZP2-E 40 10Gbps Optics (8-pack) Ruckus/Brocade 10G-SFPP-LR-S8 4 10Gbps Optics Ruckus/Brocade 10G-SFPP-LR-S 10 Stacking Cables Ruckus/Brocade
E25G-SFP28-TWX-P-00501 40
Stacking Cables Ruckus/Brocade
E25G-SFP28-TWX-P-0301 10
Wireless Access Points Ruckus/Brocade 9U1-R670-US00 140 Wireless Access Points Ruckus/Brocade 9U1-R770-US00 12 Fiber Patch Cable 1M N/A N/A 50 Cat 6 Patch Cables 1ft N/A N/A 4000 Rack Mount UPS Tripplite
As necessary to support rack equipment 30
Notes: ● All switches should be POE and capable of powering connected APs via Cat6 cable. ● Quote should include all necessary stacking cables, SFP/SFP+ modules, transceivers, connectors, etc that may be necessary to make the equipment work. ● Quote should include all necessary power supplies, power cables, connectors, optics, licenses, support, installation, and configuration per RFP. ● Quote should include all necessary mounting brackets and hardware for access points. ● All equipment to be managed under the Managed Services contract will be the new equipment above plus existing Ruckus/Brocade Switches, access points, and Cat 6 drops. ● Please include a line item/catalog pricing schedule in your bid for all bid items, including equipment, cabling, labor, travel, etc and and any proposed alternative equipment. ● All cabling and equipment should include Labor and Materials ● Please include a price per foot for interior fiber runs to include all labor and materials. ● Please include a price per foot for exterior fiber runs, to incluce all labor and materials and cost of boring if required. ● Please include pricing for Erate eligible Basic Maintenance for support of all equipment noted. ● The District reserves the right to increase or decrease quantities. ● All part numbers listed are preferred, EQUIVALENTS will be accepted, and Alternatives may be considered. ● Make sure UPS plugs are normal US plugs. ● All switch products should integrate with the current district management console (Ruckus Virtual Smartzone) if possible.