RFQ 26-04499 for VMware Licensing

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Technology Services and Security is soliciting bids under RFQ 26-04499 for VMware/Broadcom vDefend firewall licensing for an on-premises environment. The requirement is for 384 compute cores, with a strong preference for a Distributed Firewall-only SKU, though the vDefend Firewall bundle is acceptable. Bidders must provide pricing for two specific term options: January 16, 2026, through June 30, 2026, and January 16, 2026, through September 27, 2027. This solicitation is restricted to current awardees under the ITS75 Category 1 Statewide Contract, and responses must be submitted via the COMMBUYS portal by December 15, 2025. The award will be based on the best value to the Commonwealth, potentially involving facilitated oral presentations and product demonstrations. Key contractual requirements include a minimum six-month warranty period and a commitment to hold support and maintenance rates fixed for three years following the initial term. Bidders must affirm there is no pending litigation affecting the solution and are encouraged to be certified small businesses if the annual spend is under 250,000 dollars. Additionally, the contract includes strict guidelines regarding the use of Generative AI, requiring human review of all content and prohibiting the use of agency data for model training without written consent. Performance is preferred from resources located within the United States.