RFP #2-CAT2PH3-0127 ? E-Rate CAT 2 Phase 3 ? Form 470 #270000074 the provisionof E-Rate Category Two (CAT 2) network equipment and installation services to support a network Phase 3 projectat five (5) IDEA Public Schools campuses in Texas: IDEA Weslaco Pike, IDEA Weslaco, IDEA Frontier, IDEA Riverviewand IDEA Walzem.

T E X A S
Request for Proposal
2-CAT2PH3-0127
E-Rate CAT 2 Phase 3 - Form 470
#270000074
Purchasing Department
2115 West Pike Blvd
Weslaco, TX 78596
solicitations@ideapublicschools.org
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Contents
PART I - CURRENT CONDITIONS/BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................... 6
PART II - SCOPE AND SPECIFICATIONS OF THE PROPOSAL ........................................................................................... 8
Key Requirements for Bidders ................................................................................................................................... 10
Performance Requirements: ...................................................................................................................................... 10
Contract Term: ............................................................................................................................................................ 11
Insurance Requirements: ........................................................................................................................................... 11
PART III - PROPOSAL SUBMISSION & REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................... 12
Description of Proposal .............................................................................................................................................. 13
Site names and addresses .......................................................................................................................................... 13
Required Proposal Format: ........................................................................................................................................ 14
PART IV - EVALUATION CRITERIA ............................................................................................................................... 15
PART V - GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................ 17
PART VI - SUPPLEMENTAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS ................................................................................................. 21
PART VII - REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS......................................................................................................................... 24
Attachment A - Title Page ......................................................................................................................................... 24
Attachment B - Vendor Acknowledgement .............................................................................................................. 25
Attachment C - Evidence of Insurance ...................................................................................................................... 26
Attachment D - IDEA Conflict of Interest Form......................................................................................................... 27
Attachment E - Texas Ethics Commission Form CIQ ................................................................................................. 28
Attachment F - Felony Conviction Disclosure Statement ......................................................................................... 30
Attachment G - Certification Regarding Lobbying .................................................................................................... 31
Attachment H - Contract Provisions for Contracts Involving Federal Funds ........................................................... 32
Attachment H - Contract Provisions for Contracts Involving Federal Funds (cont'd) .............................................. 33
Attachment H - Contract Provisions for Contracts Involving Federal Funds (cont'd) .............................................. 34
Attachment I - Reference Sheet ................................................................................................................................ 35
Attachment J - Litigation, Terminations, Claims ....................................................................................................... 36
Attachment K - Proposed Pricing .............................................................................................................................. 37
Attachment L - IRS Form W-9 .................................................................................................................................... 38
Attachment M - Deviations and Exceptions ............................................................................................................. 39
Attachment N - Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace ................................................................................ 40
Attachment O - Child Support Certification .............................................................................................................. 41
Part VIII: APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................. 42
Appendix A: Site ......................................................................................................................................................... 43
Appendix B: Vendor E-Rate Service Provider Number Requirement ....................................................................... 44
Appendix C: RFP Completion Checklist ...................................................................................................................... 45
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Part IX: ADDENDA ....................................................................................................................................................... 46
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Sr. Procurement Analyst: Felicia Black Email: solicitations@ideapublicschools.org
Purpose of Request for Proposal (RFP): This Request for Proposal ("RFP") solicits proposals for the provision
of E-Rate Category Two (CAT 2) network equipment and installation services to support a network Phase 3 project
at five (5) IDEA Public Schools campuses in Texas: IDEA Weslaco Pike, IDEA Weslaco, IDEA Frontier, IDEA Riverview
and IDEA Walzem.
This Phase 3 project represents the next stage of IDEA Public Schools' network refresh initiative and focuses
exclusively on securing E-Rate Category 2 funding for the replacement of existing network equipment that is
approaching end-of-life with functionally equivalent or superior solutions that integrate seamlessly with IDEA's
existing network infrastructure. Services will include equipment procurement, delivery, installation,
configuration, testing, performance validation, maintenance, removal of legacy equipment, and submission of
required project documentation.
Respondents must propose solutions that meet current operational requirements without necessitating the
replacement of existing supporting infrastructure or creating additional administrative overhead associated with
managing multiple network platforms. Proposed solutions must maintain compatibility with IDEA Public Schools'
existing network architecture and support scalability, reliability, and operational efficiency across all project sites.
The primary objective of this Phase 3 project is to establish a turnkey, scalable, and reliable network
infrastructure that supports IDEA Public Schools' current and future technology needs while ensuring compliance
with E-Rate program requirements and applicable Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations.
Note: Vendor must agree to participation in the Universal Service Support Mechanism for Schools and Libraries
(known as the "E-Rate" Program) as provided for and authorized under the Federal Telecommunications Act of
1996 (Reference 47 U.S.C. 254, "Universal Service"). Vendor must ensure compliance with all applicable E-Rate
rules, requirements, regulations, and mandates.
Vendor shall submit with its proposal a valid Service Provider Identification Number ("SPIN"), a valid Federal
Communications Commission Registration Number ("FCCRN"), and a statement regarding if vendor is currently
on "Red Light Status" or not.
Timeline:
All dates and times are tentative and subject to change.
First Advertisement Date/Issue Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Second Advertisement Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Pre-Proposal Meeting: Friday, September 11, 2026 @ 10:30 AM CST
Respondent Question Cut-Off Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026, no later than 3:00 PM CST
IDEA Responses to Vendor Questions: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Proposals Due by Date & Time: Wednesday, October 21, 2026, no later than 2:00 PM CST
Anticipated Evaluation Period: Monday, October 26, 2026 - Friday, November 6, 2026
Anticipated Board Meeting & Approval: January 2027
Initial Proposed Contract Term: July 1, 2027-June 30, 2028
Renewal option #1: July 1, 2028-June 30, 2029
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Pre-Proposal A virtual pre-proposal meeting will be held at 10:30 AM CST via TEAMS video conference
Conference on Friday, September 11, 2026. Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing
to solicitations@ideapublicschools.org no later than 3:00 PM CST on Tuesday, September
15, 2026. The subject line must read "Questions: RFP 2-CAT2PH3-0127 E-Rate CAT 2
Phase 3 - Form 470 #270000074". Respondents are responsible for reviewing questions
and answers prior to submitting a proposal. Oral communication regarding this RFP shall
not be binding and shall in no way excuse a Respondent of the obligations set forth in this
proposal. While the pre-proposal meeting is non-mandatory, it is highly encouraged that
all potential respondents participate and attend.
Join TEAMS Meeting: Microsoft Teams Meeting
Meeting ID: 241 251 682 912 930
Passcode: Ku3re3oG
Proposal Submission: Proposals must be submitted electronically using the Public Purchase or Self-Service
website, or by sending one (1) clearly identified hard copy ORIGINAL of the Proposal to:
IDEA Public Schools
RFP #2-CAT2PH3-0127 E-Rate CAT 2 Phase 3 - Form 470 #270000074
Attn: Purchasing Department
2115 West Pike Blvd
Weslaco, TX 78596
Proposals MUST be received by IDEA by the specified due date and time outlined in the timeline. Each
proposal MUST be sealed and marked with the relevant information; failure to do so must result in the
proposal not being considered. Hard Copy Submissions Must Include: One (1) clearly identified hard copy
ORIGINAL of the Proposal response. One (1) copy of the complete Proposal on a FLASH DRIVE, labeled with
the Respondent's name.
Note: Faxed or emailed Proposals will not be accepted. Acceptance Period is 180 days from the date of the
proposal submission deadline unless otherwise stated in writing.
Funding Type: IDEA intends to utilize E-Rate funding support for eligible products and services procured through
contracts resulting from this RFP. The E-Rate program, administered by the Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) under the Federal Universal Service Fund, provides discounts to eligible schools and libraries
for telecommunications, internet access, and related services. The non-discounted portion of eligible purchases
will be paid by IDEA using applicable state and local funds. Respondents shall comply with all applicable E-Rate
program requirements and federal, state, and local procurement regulations. Additional information regarding
the E-Rate program may be found at https://www.usac.org/e-rate/.
Eligible Respondents: Respondents must not be debarred or suspended by federal or state-funded agencies
and must have the legal authority to transact business in Texas. Additionally, respondents must affirmatively
demonstrate responsibility and good standing, which may be considered as part of the performance evaluation
criteria. Respondents must demonstrate that they have a valid Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN), a
valid Federal Communications Commission Registration Number ("FCCRN"), and a statement regarding if
respondent is currently on "Red Light Status" or not at the time of proposal submission.
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Respondents may withdraw their proposals in writing at any time prior to the submission deadline, without
penalty or prejudice.
Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Participation: Certified Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs)
are encouraged to respond to this RFP. However, HUB certification is not required to submit a proposal or be
considered for award. All qualified vendors will receive fair and equitable consideration based on the
evaluation criteria outlined in this RFP.
PART I - CURRENT CONDITIONS/BACKGROUND
Introduction: IDEA Public Schools ("IDEA") is a Texas non-profit corporation and a tax-exempt organization
pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Pursuant to Chapter 12, Subchapter D of the Texas
Education Code and its Contract for Charter with the Texas State Board of Education, as renewed by the
Commissioner of Education, IDEA is an open-enrollment charter holder, governmental entity, and public school
system. IDEA transforms education by preparing graduates to succeed in college and life. IDEA is a growing
network of high-performing charter schools serving students located throughout Texas in the Austin, El Paso,
Houston, Permian Basin, Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tarrant County regions.
IDEA serves primarily low-income students in underserved areas of both rural and urban communities. Over 80%
of IDEA students are considered low-income, and one in every three students is the first in their family to go to
college. Since the first graduating class in 2007, nearly 100% of seniors have been accepted and matriculated to
a college or university every year. Thanks to a rigorous path to college, IDEA students attend selective universities
throughout the country, win national awards and scholarships, and complete college at a rate six times the
national average for low-income students.
Note: While IDEA's program, curriculum, and mission has been replicated to serve students in other states, this
Request for Proposals and any subsequent contract is only for goods and services provided to IDEA's Texas-
based charter school and campuses.
Project Background:
Current Network Infrastructure: IDEA Public Schools is committed to enhancing network performance and
reliability by expanding and completing the retrofit of the network infrastructure across all campuses. To
achieve this, we seek to procure essential networking equipment and licensing solutions.
This procurement includes advanced wireless access points designed to deliver robust Wi-Fi coverage and
support our growing user base. Additionally, we require high-capacity switches to facilitate efficient data
routing and provide power over Ethernet capabilities for our devices.
This RFP seeks network hardware, delivery, installation and configuration services only. Software licensing and
subscription services for the equipment described in this RFP are furnished by the District and are not solicited,
priced or evaluated under this RFP. No licensing or subscription cost will be requested through E-Rate under
this procurement. Furthermore, a dedicated power supply is necessary for the uninterrupted operation of our
access points, along with high-speed connectivity cables to enable seamless data transfer between devices.
Software licensing furnished by the District
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The District maintains existing software licensing and subscription entitlements sufficient to operate the
equipment described in this RFP on its standardized platform. Bidders shall not include, price or invoice
software licensing or subscription services for that equipment.
Where a manufacturer's ordering process requires licensing to appear on a quotation, the bidder shall list it at
$0.00 with the notation "District-furnished licensing, not invoiced." Licensing lines will be excluded from
evaluation and from any resulting purchase order.
For informational purposes, and to ensure all bidders have equal information: for proposals based on the
District's current platform, the manufacturer provides an order-entry mechanism that allows any authorized
partner holding the manufacturer's applicable commerce certification to exclude licensing from a hardware
quotation by referencing the District's existing agreement. The District does not require bidders to hold any
manufacturer certification, does not grant account access to any bidder, and takes no position on how a bidder
processes its own order.
Reference specifications and equivalency
Manufacturer model numbers appearing in this RFP and its attachments are reference designations used to
convey required capability. They are not a requirement to supply that manufacturer. The District will consider
any product that meets or exceeds the minimum technical requirements listed in this RFP, and will accept
equivalent solutions.
Bidders proposing products other than the reference models shall provide manufacturer datasheets, plus a
written deviations list identifying anything that does not meet the stated specifications.
Alternate proposals: licensing and total cost
Bidders proposing products other than the reference models shall separately identify and price all software
licensing, subscription and management platform costs required to operate the proposed equipment.
The District will evaluate proposals on total cost to the District, including hardware, installation, licensing,
subscription, management platform, and any transition or interoperability cost identified by the bidder. Where
a proposal requires the District to purchase licensing it does not currently hold, that cost will be included in the
total cost comparison. Where a proposal allows the District to use licensing it already holds, no licensing cost
will be attributed.
Investing in this equipment is vital to maintaining a resilient network infrastructure that can adapt to our future
needs and support our strategic goals.
Project Vision: The primary goal of this RFP is to create a network infrastructure that supports the growing
technological needs of IDEA Public Schools while ensuring continuity and reliability. Bidders are expected to
propose innovative and resilient solutions that deliver high performance at a competitive cost, adhering to E-
Rate guidelines.
IDEA Public Schools is committed to fostering a competitive bidding process that emphasizes cost-effectiveness,
network performance, and future scalability. Vendors are encouraged to present their best solution to ensure
IDEA's ability to deliver high-quality education supported by state-of-the-art network infrastructure.
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Bidders should ensure that their proposals meet all technical, design, and pricing specifications outlined in the
RFP while providing clear evidence of their ability to deliver the required services efficiently and within budget.
Existing Environment and Standardization Requirements: IDEA currently operates and manages a standardized
Cisco/Meraki network environment across five campuses. To maintain operational efficiency, reduce training
requirements, streamline management, support existing monitoring and security processes, and ensure
interoperability with the IDEA's existing infrastructure, IDEA may evaluate proposed solutions based on their
ability to integrate with and be managed within the current network environment. Equivalent products will be
considered; however, respondents proposing equivalent solutions must demonstrate that the proposed
equipment can provide substantially equivalent functionality, interoperability, manageability, and operational
performance without requiring IDEA to incur significant additional costs, administrative burden, retraining, or
replacement of existing management platforms. Equivalency determinations will be based on documented
functional capability, interoperability, manageability, performance, and total cost of ownership rather than
manufacturer brand alone.
PART II - SCOPE AND SPECIFICATIONS OF THE PROPOSAL
Proposal Specifications: The following describes the service and performance requirements that the successful
Respondent(s) will be required to meet. IDEA will use objective criteria specified in this solicitation to review
Proposals and may make multiple awards if deemed in the best interest of IDEA, at its sole discretion. The
anticipated spending and total contract value will depend on the scope of services and needs identified during
the evaluation process and may vary based on the number of awards issued.
Although various factors will be considered for award, price will be primary and the highest weighted factor during
the evaluation.
A. Internal Connections - Network Electronics
A. 1 General Requirements
A.1.1 The "District" is planning to add new and/or upgrade existing Network Electronics at five (5)
IDEA Public Schools sites identified in the Pricing Worksheet. All new LAN Switches will feature
100/1000 Mb. The Respondent shall provide all equipment, configuration, and installation
services for the items listed in Section I.
Installation may occur at any IDEA Public Schools E-Rate eligible site, based on District needs.
Respondents must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate installation across multiple sites as
designated by IDEA.
A.1.2 "The District" desires a contract with the Respondent to provide a complete, "turnkey"
installation, configuration, network wireless performance survey, and maintenance.
Respondents are responsible for receiving and storing equipment in their secured facilities
until installation.
A.1.3 Proposals should include all the costs associated with the delivery of all labor services, and
materials needed to complete the project. The Respondent will include all costs in the bid,
including: shipping, insurance, delivery, taxes, etc. The Respondent will also include lift rental
fee cost, and gym heavy-duty flooring protection sheet.
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A.1.4 The Respondent will provide documentation to prove their staff's capabilities, experience, and
certifications. Information included in the Respondent Reference list above should include
network electronics installation, configuration and maintenance for similar projects. The
Respondent must provide a dedicated implementation team qualified to meet technical and
project management requirements.
* PMP Certification
* Manufacturer Certification for the proposed solution
A.1.5 The "District" requests all Respondents bid the approved equal equipment listed below in
Section I. (Proposal will only be accepted on the spreadsheet provided) Other equipment, or
technologies, or brand name solutions will be considered as alternates. Proposals are requested
for the makes/models identified in this RFP. Offers containing alternative makes/models are
required to submit product specifications and documentation to establish that the equipment
is equivalent to the requested solution. The applicant will be the arbiter of whether the
proposed solution is functionally and technically equivalent to the requested solution.
A.1.6 The attached Price Sheet provides the minimal technology specifications that are acceptable
to meet the "District's" current and future technology needs.
A.1.7 The Respondent will remove existing/legacy equipment (if applicable), during the installation,
and inventory and drop-off legacy equipment at IDEA's designated location.
A. 2 Respondent Closeout Deliverables
A.2.1 Respondent is expected to provide the following deliverables:
A.2.1.1 Equipment inventory list
1. Onsite equipment - newly installed equipment
2. Offsite equipment - removed legacy equipment, including new unused equipment
A.2.1.2 Access Point and Cabling as-built maps
A.2.1.3 Manufacturer portal updated with AP names and scaled map uploaded.
Any contract award issued as a result of this RFP does not guarantee any minimum amount of service or payment.
IDEA will not issue a Purchase Order (P.O.) until a campus or department initiates a request for the goods and/or
services described in this RFP. A Vendor/Contractor shall not perform services for IDEA without the issuance of a
P.O. or Contract Agreement. A Vendor/Contractor will be compensated, with the submission of proper
supporting documentation, by IDEA for goods and/or services satisfactorily provided and/or performed in
accordance with the Agreement requirements and this RFP.
Technical Specifications and Deliverables:
Any specific make, model, or manufacturer references identified in this RFP and its attachments are provided
solely to describe the minimum technical, functional, compatibility, and performance requirements of IDEA.
Pursuant to E-Rate program rules, proposals will be accepted for the exact items specified or for functionally
equivalent products from any manufacturer. Proposed equivalent solutions must be fully interoperable with the
IDEA's existing network environment or include all additional hardware, software, licensing, labor, and
implementation necessary to provide equivalent functionality without additional cost to the IDEA.
Proposed solutions that require additional infrastructure modifications, separate management platforms,
increased administrative overhead, substantial staff retraining, or additional costs to achieve equivalent
functionality will be evaluated as part of the Technical & Functional Suitability and Total Cost of Ownership
criteria. Such factors may adversely impact a Respondent's evaluation score.
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IDEA reserves the sole right to determine whether a proposed solution is functionally, technically, and
operationally equivalent to the specified equipment.
Vendors submitting functionally equivalent solutions must:
* Clearly identify the proposed make/model.
* Demonstrate how the proposed solution meets or exceeds the technical and functional requirements.
* Confirm that the proposed equipment and services are eligible under the E-Rate program's Category Two
rules.
The attached pricing worksheet identifies the minimum technical requirements and quantities requested by IDEA
Public Schools. Respondents shall provide all equipment, software, licensing, installation, configuration, testing,
validation, documentation, and project management services necessary to deliver a complete turnkey solution.
All equipment furnished shall be new, current-production equipment and manufacturer-supported at the time
of installation. Refurbished, remanufactured, gray-market, or end-of-support equipment will not be accepted
unless specifically approved by IDEA Public Schools.
Awarded Respondent(s) Responsibilities:
a) Ensuring compliance with E-Rate filing and documentation
b) Providing regular updates on project progress
c) Responding promptly to installation and configuration issues
d) No price increases will be permitted during the term of the agreement
e) Project documentation deliverables will be provided within one month of installation and
configuration of network equipment/deliverables.
f) By submitting a proposal on the requested services herein, the vendor certifies its proposed
services and/or products comply with Part 47 Section 54.9 and 54.10 of the FCC rules which
prohibits the sale, provision, maintenance, modification, or other support of equipment or
services provided or manufactured by Huawei, ZTE, or any other covered company posing a
national security threat to the integrity of communications networks or the communications
supply chain. See https://www.usac.org/about/reports-orders/supply-chain/ for more details.
g) As required by 47 CFR 54.511(b) all bids in response to this RFP must offer the lowest
corresponding price (LCP) which is defined as the lowest price that a service provider charges to
nonresidential customers who are similarly situated to a particular E-Rate applicant (school,
library, or consortium) for similar services. See https://www.usac.org/E-Rate/service-
providers/step-2-responding-to-bids/lowest-corresponding-price/ for more details.
Key Requirements for Bidders
a) Pricing: Proposals are requested for the makes/models specified in Attachment K: Proposed Pricing (or
equivalent). Offers containing alternative makes/models are required to submit product specifications
and documentation to establish that the equipment is equivalent to the requested solution. The
applicant will be the arbiter of whether the proposed solution is functionally and technically equivalent
to the requested solution.
Performance Requirements:
a) The specifications included above are minimum basic requirements.
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