2024 Category 1 - Switches

This bidding process falls under the USAC (Universal Service Administrative Company) E-Rate program and is filed under FCC Form 470 #: 240013745 (LCSD_FY2024_C1_SWITCHES).

Qualifications, procedures, and directions for reviewing the Lebanon Community School District #9 Form 470 can be found at the following USAC website: https://www.usac.org/e-rate/service-providers/before-you-begin/.

Direct search of FCC Form 470s: https://data.usac.org/publicreports/Forms/Form470Rfp/Index. (Billing Entity Number: 144952)

Documents attached at bottom of page

• • LCSD-2024-Category1-Bid_Items-Switches.docx

  • 2024_Bid Evaluation_LebanonSchoolDistrict - Switches.xlsx

Addendum:

**Any additional documentation that is added during this bidding process will be posted here and attached at the bottom of this page.**

(Updated //)

Questions and Answers/Clarifications:

**Any questions and answers  and/or clarifications that are posed during this bidding process will be added here**

(Updated 2/2/2024)

1.)
Question: When does the bidding window end?

Answer: The bidding window officially closes at 11:59pm (PST) on 2/13/2024.  Bids after this date will not be accepted unless we receive written notice (email, letter, or fax) requesting an extension before 11:59pm (PST) on the closing date (2/13/2024).  Those requesting extensions must have their bid submitted no later than 11:59pm (PST) 2/20/2024.

2.)
Question: Is email an acceptable form of submittal?  Is email acceptable for submitting a request of extension of time?

Answer: Yes, email is an acceptable form of submittal in both instances.

3.)
Question: If quoting "Pre-Owned/Refurbished", do you need Cisco DNA?

Answer: "Pre-Owned/Refurbished" Core switches (eg. Cisco 9300-48UXM-EDU) need SmartNet and Cisco DNA as required to allow support and IOS upgrades on these switches.  "Pre-Owned/Refurbished" Access level switches do not need Smartnet and Cisco DNA as long as they still support IOS upgrades.

4.)
Question: If quoting "Pre-Owned/Refurbished" do you need to quote "EDU" sku?

Answer: No

5.)
Question:  Looking at the response guidelines & weighting, where does warranty and other value adds not expressly listed on the quote fall into the E-Rate response.?

Answer:  We will grade responses according to the  "E-Rate Bid Assessment Worksheet".

6.)
Question:  While 3rd party components are eligible for purchase, how do OEM (Cisco in this case) SFPs and components change the response weighting?

Answer:   Cisco  OEM SFPs can be quoted and are preferred if the price-point matches or is lower than 3rd party SFPs.

7.)
Question:  Are 3rd party cables acceptable instead of Tripp-Lite?

Answer: Yes, if the cables are of the same quality.