a new Firewall as well as Managed Internal Broadband Services(MIBS) and Basic Maintenance

Location:	Mississippi
Posted:	Dec 22, 2025
Due:	Jan 21, 2026
Agency:	State Government of Mississippi
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	D - Automatic Data Processing and Telecommunication Services
Solicitation No:	49-20251218130007 BPSD
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Biloxi Public School District

160 St. Peter Street

Biloxi, MS 39530

E-RATE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

Term Contract for Internal Connections Equipment/Services

and for Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS)

The Biloxi Public School District is soliciting sealed bids for a new Firewall as well as Managed

Internal Broadband Services(MIBS) and Basic Maintenance. The District is seeking a two-year

contract to cover the 2026 funding year for all Internal Connections Equipment and Services

requested in the proposed RFP. The District is seeking a five-year contract for Managed Internal

Broadband Services and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections. Sealed bids will be received

at 160 St. Peter Street, Biloxi, MS 39530 and electronically at centralbidding.com on or before

10:00 AM CST on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Copies of this Invitation to Bid and, if any, subsequent addenda as well as detailed specifications,

communications, updates, and other relevant information can be found on our website:

https://www.biloxischools.net/69136_2.

Interested parties shall submit a sealed bid, clearly labeled with the words “E-RATE Term

Contracts Beginning July 1, 2026” on or before 10:00 AM CST on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in

one of the following ways:

Physical Submission

Sealed bid clearly marked “E-

RATE Term Contracts Beginning

July 1, 2026” to:

Biloxi Public School District

Business Office

Attn: Jennifer Gibson

160 St. Peter Street

Biloxi, MS 39530

Electronic Submission

www.centralbidding.com – For

any questions relating to the

electronic bidding process,

please call Central Bidding at

228-810-4814.

Submission Deadline

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

10:00 AM CST

Bids received after the stated

deadline will be deemed invalid

and will not be considered. The

responsibility of timely delivery

rests solely with the bidder.

Bids or alterations by fax, phone or email WILL NOT be accepted. Envelopes not marked will

remain sealed. It is the sole responsibility of the respondents to ensure their responses arrive in a

timely manner. Late arrivals will be rejected. The Biloxi Public School District is not responsible

for delays of any commercial carrier or delays incurred by the respondents.

Schedule of Events:

Event

Release of RFP

Newspaper Publish Dates

Mandatory Site Visit

Proposals Due and Opening of Proposals

Recommendation to School Board

Contract Start Date

Date(s)

December 21, 2025

December 21 and December 28, 2025

January 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM

January 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM

February-April 2026

July 1, 2026

Inquiries:

Correspondence and inquiries regarding this RFP must be done via email as follows:

Regarding specifications of bid

Alex Mitchell – Technology Director

Alex.mitchell@biloxischools.net

Regarding bidding process or timeline

Jennifer Gibson – Purchasing Director

Jennifer.gibson@biloxischools.net

If a vendor does not receive a response within 24 hours, it is the responsibility of the vendor to call

the BPSD Office at 228-374-1810 to confirm that the email was received. Leave a message if

necessary. Please note that the Biloxi Public School District will be closed from Friday,

December 19, 2025 through Friday, January 2, 2026.

Basis of Award:

1. E-rate approval by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC).

2. Provider must have current USAC Service Provider Annual Certification.

3. References of at least three installations of similar application size and complexity

4. Provide documentation of the vendor’s employee certifications

5. Be an authorized dealer in the State of Mississippi for all products

6. Mandatory site visit. If a vendor has already completed a site visit in the past, they may be

exempt from the mandatory site visit. Any providers who have not completed a prior site

visit and wish to respond to this RFP, must complete the mandatory site visit.

BILOXI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT – RFP FOR E-RATE TERM CONTRACTS BEGINNING 7/1/26

PAGE 2 OF 21

I. General Conditions

The following are the General Conditions for the work to be performed as outlined in the Detailed

Specifications.

1. Location of Sites

The location of the work is on property owned by the Biloxi Public School District (“the District”)

and through negotiated services on right-of-ways.

2. Scope of Work

It is understood that, except as otherwise specifically stated in this RFP, The Service Provider

shall provide and pay for all materials, labor, tools, equipment, transportation, temporary

construction of every nature and all other services and facilities of every nature whatsoever,

necessary to execute, complete and deliver the work within the specified time. Licenses

necessary for the execution of the work shall be secured and paid for by The Service Provider. This

would include all pole rights and other right-of-way needed for fiber services obtained through

local utilities.

Any work necessary to be performed after regular working hours, on weekends or legal holidays,

shall be performed without additional expense to The District, unless the weekend or holiday

work due to a delay caused by The District. The Service Provider will be fully responsible for

securing all required right-of-ways, construction permits and cross connects required to

complete this project.

3. Protection in General

The Service Provider shall protect all buildings, furniture, equipment, personal items, trees,

shrubs, lawns and all landscaping on school property from damage. Any damaged property shall

be repaired or replaced at the Service Provider's expense. Labor shall include all restoration

(leveling, sod replacement) of grounds broken up during the installation of this network.

4. Change in Contract

The District will not be responsible for any change in the work involving extra costs unless

approval in writing is furnished by the Technology Director before such work is begun.

5. Existing Conditions

The Service Provider, in submission of this proposal, will have visited the premises and will be

assumed to have taken into consideration all conditions, which might affect this work. The point

BILOXI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT – RFP FOR E-RATE TERM CONTRACTS BEGINNING 7/1/26

PAGE 3 OF 21

of demarcation shall be in the MDF at each location or another location as specified by The

District technical personnel. No consideration will be given to any claims based on a lack of

knowledge of existing conditions. To schedule a site visit, contact Alex Mitchell at

alex.mitchell@biloxischools.net.

If a Service Provider does not receive a response within 48 hours, it is the responsibility of the

Service Provider to call Alex Mitchell at 228-374-1810 or 228-297-6039 and confirm that the email

message was received. Leave a message if necessary.

6. Insurance

Within ten (10) days after notification of award, The Service Provider shall furnish to the District a

Certificate of Insurance showing compliance within the following limitations:

• The Service Provider agrees to comply with the provisions of Worker's Compensation Laws

of the State of Mississippi.

• It shall be stated on every policy or Certificate of Insurance, as the case may be, that "The

insurance company agrees that the policy shall not be canceled, changed, or allowed to

lapse until ten (10) days after The District has received written notice as evidenced by the

return receipt of registered mail, and it is agreed further that as to lapsing, such notice will

not be valid if mailed more than fifteen (15) days prior to the expiration date shown on the

policy."

• The Service Provider shall maintain other insurance (with the limits shown below) that shall

protect The Service Provider and The District from any claim for property damage or

personal injury, including death, which may arise out of operations under this contract, and

the Service Provider shall furnish the District with certificates and policies of such insurance

as follows.

• Below is a list of the insurance coverage that must be procured by The Service Provider at

his/her own expense. The Service Provider agrees to follow instructions indicated in each

case:

o The District Protective Liability Insurance: Personal injury, including death, limits of

$1,000,000.00 for each person and $1,000,000.00 for each accident.

o Service Provider's Public Liability Insurance: Personal injury, including death, limits

of $1,000,000.00 for each person and $1,000,000.00 for each accident.

o Property Damage limits of $100,000.00 for each accident and $500,000.00 for the

aggregate.

7. Workmanship

All work shall be performed in a professional manner. Personnel from The District may observe

the work procedures and workmanship of the Service Provider, but such observation will not

BILOXI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT – RFP FOR E-RATE TERM CONTRACTS BEGINNING 7/1/26

PAGE 4 OF 21

relieve the Service Provider from any responsibility of performance or constitute acceptance of

the work performed.

8. Warranty

The Service Provider shall furnish a written warranty that describes the services proposed under

these specifications. It is understood that the Service Provider is not responsible for the

warranty/function of existing equipment already installed at the schools. However, limited

troubleshooting of existing equipment or cabling will be provided by the Service Provider free of

charge to determine if the existing equipment or cabling can be reutilized. The Service Provider

must also show proof that their employee(s) are certified to install the proposed cabling

components and electronic equipment, as assurance that a warranty can be provided.

9. Financing

The Service Provider will provide a binding contract to The District for submission to the Schools

and Libraries Division. Complete payment to the Service Provider will be subject to the rules of

the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD). After notification by the Schools and Libraries Division

(USAC Fund Administrator) of the acceptance of the Contract, The District will submit Form 472

for reimbursement.

10. Lease

In the case of leased equipment such as routers, contractual terms of the lease must be provided

with The Service Provider’s Bid. The term “lease” is used to refer to contractual arrangements

whereby the ownership of the property remains with the Service Provider, as stipulated in the SLD

Fact Sheet on Internet Services Connectivity, 2/24/98, page 1. The SLD has stated that it will not

commit to discounts on a contract that is titled or described as a lease when in effect the terms of

the agreement constitute a purchase. For example, a lease which includes upfront payment of

capital costs will not be eligible for discounts.

11. Application for Payment

All applications (invoices) for payment shall be submitted to The District according to the USAC

regulations. The district will pay the monthly bills in full, and then file a FCC Form 472 to receive

reimbursement for the discounted portion.

12. Addenda

Any addenda issued will be posted on the Biloxi Public School District Bid Website at

https://www.biloxischools.net/69136_2. Also, any addenda issued after the RFP shall be

BILOXI PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT – RFP FOR E-RATE TERM CONTRACTS BEGINNING 7/1/26

PAGE 5 OF 21

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Smart Number	49-20251218130007 BPSD	Advertised Date	12/21/2025 12:00 AM
RFx #	3170034669	Submission Date	01/21/2026 10:00 AM
RFx Status	Open	Major Procurement Category	INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)
RFx Opening Date	N/A	Sub Procurement Category	EQUIPMENT - TECHNOLOGY
RFx Type	MDA - RFx
Agency	MPTAP
RFx Description	The Biloxi Public School District is soliciting sealed bids for a new Firewall as well as Managed Internal Broadband Services(MIBS) and Basic Maintenance. The District is seeking a two-year contract to cover the 2026 funding year for all Internal Connecti

PRODUCT CATEGORY	PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
20890	CPU Softw-Back-up