FY2026 Internal Connections & Structured Cabling for Heartland Career Center

Each line item on proposal should clearly list Quantity, Manufacturer, Part Number, Description, Unit Price, and Extended Price. Proposals MUST separate eligible and ineligible services by line item for all services to which service provider responds.If a product includes mixed functionality, please indicate the allocation for each function (i.e. 60% Internal Connections and 40% BMIC). Vendors may submit alternative equipment as long as the equipment is an equivalent make and model or serves a similar functionality. Please note: USAC has advised applicants to include all three types of service on each Category 2 Form 470. MIBS was listed above in case USAC deems any of the necessary software licenses to fit that category. You must reference 470 number 260018443 in all correspondence and bid materials. SEEKING PROPOSALS Heartland Career Center is seeking proposals for a project to supply and install structured cabling and category two equipment and licenses at its eligible site. Bidders are advised that this project will be contingent upon district approval and the successful obtaining of Category 2 E-Rate funding, and the contract agreement between the Applicant and the successful bidder must recognize that contingency. Bidders should also understand that this RFP is essentially for time and materials pricing and the district reserves the right to scale this project back substantially or to cancel it entirely, regardless of the status of E-Rate funding. GRAPHIC DESIGN ROOM PROJECT SCOPE Contractor will supply pricing for time and materials to install up to a total of 25+/- Category 6 plenum cable runs, each of an average of 250 at the schools listed below, terminated in vendor -supplied patch panels in IDF/MDF. The contractor shall provide and install all equipment, materials, cabling, hardware and labor required to deliver a complete and fully functional network cabling infrastructure and a computer (data) network cabling infrastructure as specified. All terminations shall meet or exceed Category 6 ratings. PLEASE SEE THE RFP FOR THE REMAINING DETAILS FOR THE GRAPHIC DESIGN ROOM. INTERNAL CONNECTIONS PROJECT SCOPE The Applicant seeks eligible equipment as outlined in Appendix A. Equipment shall be new, factory-sealed equipment currently available from the manufacturer; the Applicant will not accept proposals of used, remanufactured, refurbished, B stock, returns, open-box, discontinued, gray market, or equipment in any other condition other than new and factory-sealed with all original manufacturer warranties. PLEASE SEE THE RFP FOR THE LIST OF EQUIPMENT UNDER APPENDIX A. SITE VISITS A voluntary onsite visit will be held at 79 South 200 West, Wabash, IN 46992 at 11am EST, on February 17, 2026. Please pre-register for this voluntary pre-bid meeting by contacting Amy Schmidt, Technology Director, at aschmidt@hcc.k12.in.us, no later than 2pm EST on February 16, 2026. The pre-registration email should include a primary contact (including cell phone and email), and the number of people who will attend the pre-bid meeting. Emails to the applicant must include Charity Hawkins, Consultant, at charity@adtecerate.com. QUESTIONS The voluntary site visit will be the only opportunity to look at the layout of current equipment and installation. The voluntary site visit will be the only opportunity to ask questions or to receive answers related to this RPF. Respondents choosing not to attend in so doing acknowledge their understanding that they were offered and voluntarily declined the opportunity. SITE VISITS - ALTERNATE DATE In the event that the Heartland Career Center is closed on the date of the scheduled voluntary site visit, an alternate site visit will be scheduled 11am EST, on February 20, 2026. PROPOSAL DELIVERY The Applicant reserves the right to reject each and every bid, and to waive informalities, irregularities, errors in the bidding to the extent permitted by law. This includes the right to extend the date and time for receipt of bids. In the event that a responsible bid is not received or if it is determined that the low bid received is too high, the bid received will be rejected and the project will be cancelled or re-bid. Bids should be e-mailed to Amy Schmidt, Technology Director, at aschmidt@hcc.k12.in.us, by no later than 5pm EST on March 2, 2026. Emails to the applicant must include Charity Hawkins, Consultant, at charity@adtecerate.com.
Requested services (8 line items): - Category 2 — Basic Maintenance Of Internal Connections — Wireless Access Points - Category 2 — Managed Internal Broadband Services — Leased Equipment - Category 2 — Managed Internal Broadband Services — Existing Equipment - Category 2 — Internal Connections — Wireless Access Points And Necessary Software And Licenses - Category 2 — Internal Connections — Uninterruptable Power Supply/Battery Backup And Necessary Software And Licenses - Category 2 — Internal Connections — Cabling - Category 2 — Basic Maintenance Of Internal Connections — Uninterruptable Power Supply/Battery Backup - Category 2 — Basic Maintenance Of Internal Connections — Cabling
State/local procurement requirements: "We will consider multi-year contracts with or without voluntary extensions. All cost proposals must reflect the LCP (Lowest Corresponding Price), GSA pricing, and any available governmental unit discounts including existing state purchasing agreements or contracts when applicable. Any proposal referencing an existing state purchasing agreement or contract must include that information in the proposal. Bid prices must be complete for the services proposed and shall include all associated costs, even if the amounts are estimates based upon current applicable taxes, surcharges, or fees. Each line item on proposal should clearly list Quantity, Manufacturer, Part Number, Description, Unit Price, and Extended Price. Proposals MUST separate eligible and ineligible services by line item for all services to which service provider responds. No proposal can be submitted that includes equipment or components for equipment from companies deemed to provide a national security risk as defined by FCC Order 19-121. All bidders are encouraged to: 1. Read and follow the RFP carefully. 2. Adhere to the FCC E-Rate rules." . The Applicants review of information will be primarily focused on the substance of the details provided in response to the requirements herein including but not limited to technical details, pricing and terms, experience, references, and adherence to the response format provided. Per E-rate rules, the cost of eligible goods and services will be the most heavily weighted evaluation factor. Proposals must be prepared with specificity with regard to the equipment and/or services listed herein. Bids merely listing a general menu of equipment and/or services available from a vendor, bids appearing to be automatically generated without specificity in relation to the requirements of this RFP, and bids missing substantial information but inviting the applicant to contact the bidder to refine the bid and/or discuss specifics will not be considered valid bid responses and will be disqualified from consideration. This includes any SPAM and/or robotic responses. For more information, please review the USAC E-Rate News Brief of February 15, 2024.
Reference documents (Form 470 / RFP): https://publicdata.usac.org/EPC/Prd/Form470/260018443/52810/21056114-USAC_FCC_FORM_470_APPLICATION_260018443_CERTIFIED.pdf, https://publicdata.usac.org/EPC/Prd/Form470/260018443/52810/21055807-FY2026%20Heartland%20Internal%20Connections%20and%20Structured%20Cabling%20RFP.docx