2024 Category 2

This bidding process falls under the USAC (Universal Service Administrative Company) E-Rate program and is filed under FCC Form 470 #: 240013740 (LCSD_FY2024_C2_IC).

NOTE: Bidding Window has been extended until 11:59pm (PST) 2/21/2024.

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-Category2-Bid_Items.docx

  • 2024_Bid Evaluation_LebanonSchoolDistrict - Category2.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 2/15/2024/)

• LCSD-Network Data Cabling Standards.pdf

• LCSD-2024-Category2-Bid_Items-Addendum.pdf

• SOK-Modular_Fiber-Overview.png

• SOK-Modular_Aerial_Fiber_Crossing.png

Questions and Answers/Clarifications:

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

(Updated 2/15/2024)

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

Answer: The bidding window officially closes at 11:59pm (PST) on 2/14/2024.  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 (2/14/2024).  Those requesting extensions must have their bid submitted no later than 11:59pm (PST) 2/21/2024. 

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: Do you have a cabling standards document?

Answer: See Addendum document: "LCSD-Network Data Cabling Standards.pdf"

4.)
Question: Will you be providing a walk-through for the "Cabling" section of this project?

Answer: You can contact us is you would like to do a walk-through for the cabling portion of this project.  To save time, we will try to group walk-throughs with multiple potential bidders.

5.)
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.

6.)
Question: If quoting "Pre-Owned/Refurbished" do you need to quote "EDU" sku?

Answer: No.

7.)
Question: Do bidders need to bid on all sections (eg. Section: Wireless Access Points, Section: Switches, Section: Cabling) or will you award each section separately?

Answer: We will award each section separately (eg. Section: Wireless Access Points, Section: Switches, Section: Cabling).  You are welcome to bid on as many sections as you would like.  We will not break up awards within a single section.

8.)
Question: For the "Cabling" section of this project, is the district requesting installation of network rack, PDU, network equipment and patch cables?

Answer: No, for the "Cabling" section of this project, the District will install Fire-Rated Backboard, Equipment Rack, PDU, and network equipment.  The district will provide and install all ethernet patch cables.  The district will install all fiber patch cables.

The winning bidder will provide all structured cabling, data jacks, patch panels, necessary cable support (J-Hooks,etc), Wall Plates, Surface Mounts.

Please refer to the addendum document for district standards: "LCSD-Network Data Cabling Standards.pdf"

9.)
Question: For the "Cabling" section of this project, is the  district  providing  trenching and conduit for  fiber  path from Seven Oak Main building to Seven  Oak  modular building?

Answer:  Yes,  the district will provide trench and conduit  from these two buildings.

10.)
Question:  For the "Cabling" section  of this  project, does the district  require cabling to be terminated "in the field"

Answer: Yes.

11.)
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".

12.)
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.

13.)
Question:  Can APC  surge protector be  quoted instead of Tripp-Lite?

Answer:   Yes

14.)
Question:  Are 3rd party cables acceptable instead of Tripp-Lite?

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

15.)
Question:  How are  you running the fiber to the Seven Oak Modular?

Answer:  We  will be running the Fiber from the MDF in the main Seven Oak Building (Drop Ceiling) and will then be running aerial from the main building to the modular building.  Fiber will needs to be ruggedized outdoor cable (we will provide messenger/guide cable and latches between buildings) or our preferred Aerial  Fiber Cable (we will provide latches).  If there is a large price difference between  ruggedized outdoor cable and Aerial Fiber Cable please quote both as  separate options.