RFP: WAN and Internet Services (E-Rate FY 2026–2027)

Putnam County School District is seeking a single primary vendor (or a lead vendor with subcontractors) to design, install, and manage a district‑wide leased lit‑fiber Ethernet WAN and high‑capacity Internet service for all K‑12 schools, district centers, and support facilities. The solution must be scalable, support bandwidth from 100 Mbps up to 40 Gbps, provide low‑latency transport for VoIP, video, and multicast, and include all necessary routing, switching, monitoring, and 24 × 7 support. The contract will be funded 90 % by the FCC E‑Rate Category 1 program, requiring strict segregation of eligible and ineligible costs, and must be fully operational by 1 July 2026. Vendors must hold a valid FCC SPIN/498 ID, be able to file FCC Forms 473/474, and comply with E‑Verify and de‑barment certifications. • Provide leased lit‑fiber Ethernet WAN interconnecting every district location listed in the worksheet. • Deliver primary Internet connectivity (1‑20 Gbps) with BGP routing, unfiltered ports, and DDoS mitigation. • Supply all routing/multilayer switching hardware, network monitoring, reporting, and 24 × 7 technical support, with the ability to upgrade bandwidth within 30 days of request. • Separate E‑Rate‑eligible recurring charges from any one‑time construction costs and comply with all FCC, USAC, and state procurement rules. • Contract term is three years with two optional one‑year renewals; all services must be live by 1 July 2026.