CONTENT FILTERING

Location:	North Carolina
Posted:	Dec 19, 2025
Due:	Jan 6, 2026
Agency:	State Government of North Carolina
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	D - Automatic Data Processing and Telecommunication Services
Solicitation No:	251-26-247
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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RFP #251-26-247

Memorandum from Purchasing Department

Letter of Instruction for RFP #251-26-247

To: Prospective Parties

Thank you for your interest in the Wake County Public School System. Please review the following

instructions prior to submitting your proposal.

● Prior to submitting and executing the proposal, please make sure you read and understand the

terms and conditions referenced. All proposals are subject to the terms and conditions outlined

herein. All responses will be controlled by such terms and conditions and the submission of other

terms and conditions, price lists, catalogs, and/or other documents as part of an offeror’s response

will be waived and have no effect either on this Request For Proposals or on any contract that may

be awarded resulting from this solicitation. The attachment of any other terms and conditions by

the Offeror may be grounds for rejection of that proposal. Offeror specifically agrees to the

conditions set forth in the above paragraph by signature to the proposal.

● Please read carefully the section titled CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROHIBITED COMMUNICATIONS

DURING THE RFP PROCESS. All questions should be directed to

bids-mcalvert@wcpss.net.

● Offerors are cautioned that this is a request for offers, not a request to contract, and WCPSS

reserves the unqualified right to reject any and all offers when such rejection is deemed to be in the

best interest of WCPSS.

● In submitting a proposal, the Offeror agrees not to use the results there from as part of any news

release or commercial advertising.

● Submit one (1) signed, original executed proposal responses and one (1) electronic copy on a flash

drive (emails not accepted) of your proposal simultaneously to the address identified below.

● Clearly mark each package with: (1) Vendor name; (2) the RFP number; and (3) the due date. Address

the package(s) for delivery as shown in the table below. If Vendor is submitting more than one (1)

proposal, each proposal shall be submitted in separate envelopes and marked accordingly. For

delivery purposes, separate envelopes from a single Vendor may be included in the same outer

package. Proposals are subject to rejection unless submitted with the information above included on

the outside of the proposal package.

● Include a copy of IRS Form W-9 along with WCPSS Vendor Information Form (Attachment A).

● Before submitting a bid, Vendor must register with North Carolina eVP. PLEASE NOTE: WCPSS ONLY

ACCETPS SEALED PROPOSALS. ELECTONIC PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Additional

information can be found https://eprocurement.nc.gov/registering-evp/download?attachment.

There is no cost to register.

RFP #251-26-247

Request for Proposal #251-26-247

1551 Rock Quarry Rd – Bldg. F

Raleigh, NC 27610

Refer ALL Inquiries to: Marcella Calvert

Telephone No: 919-588-3457

E-Mail: bids-mcalvert@wcpss.net

DUE DATE: JANUARY 6, 2026 @ 2:00PM ET

Contract Type: AGENCY SPECIFIC TERM

Commodity: 432322 CONTENT FILTERING

Using Agency Name: WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL

SYSTEM

NOTICE TO VENDORS

Sealed proposals, subject to the conditions made a part hereof, will be received at this office (1551 Rock

Quarry Road, Building F, Raleigh, NC) until 2:00 p.m. on the day of opening and then opened, for furnishing

and delivering the commodity as described herein. Refer to page 2 for proper mailing instructions.

Proposals submitted via facsimile (FAX) machine or email in response to this Request for Proposal will not be

acceptable. Proposals are subject to rejection unless submitted on this form.

EXECUTION

In compliance with this Request for Proposal, and subject to all the conditions herein, the undersigned offers

and agrees to furnish and deliver any or all items upon which prices are proposed, at the prices set opposite

each item within the time specified herein. By executing this proposal, I certify that this proposal is submitted

competitively and without collusion.

Failure to execute/sign proposal prior to submittal shall render bid invalid. Late proposals are not

acceptable.

VENDOR:

FEDERAL ID OR SOCIAL SECURITY NO.

STREET ADDRESS:

CITY & STATE & ZIP:

PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS ADDRESS IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE

P.O. BOX:

TELEPHONE

NUMBER:

ZIP:

TOLL FREE TEL. NO

(800)

TYPE OR PRINT NAME & TITLE OF PERSON SIGNING:

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE:

DATE:

FAX NUMBER:

E-MAIL:

Offer valid for 60 days from date of proposal opening unless otherwise stated here: ____ days.

Prompt Payment Discount: _______ % __________________ days.

Submit one (1) signed, original executed proposal response, and one (1) electronic copy on a flash drive

(emails will not be accepted) of your proposal simultaneously to the address identified below.

Clearly mark each package with: (1) Vendor name; (2) the RFP number; and (3) the due date. Address the

package(s) for delivery as shown in the table above. If Vendor is submitting more than one (1) proposal, each

RFP #251-26-247

proposal shall be submitted in separate envelopes and marked accordingly. For delivery purposes, separate

envelopes from a single Vendor may be included in the same outer package. Proposals are subject to rejection

unless submitted with the information above included on the outside of the proposal package.

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS: Mail only one fully executed proposal with copies, unless otherwise instructed,

and only one proposal package with copies per envelope. Address envelope and include proposal number

as shown below. It is the responsibility of the Vendor to have the proposal in this office by the specified time

and date of opening.

DELIVER TO:

PROPOSAL NO. RFP 251-26-247

Wake County Public School System

Attention: Marcella Calvert

1551 Rock Quarry Road, Bldg. F

Raleigh, NC 27610

RFP SCHEDULE

The table below shows the intended schedule for this RFP. WCPSS will make every effort to adhere to this

schedule.

Event

Issue RFP

Submit written questions to

bids-mcalvert@wcpss.net

(Reference RFP # in the subject line)

Provide Responses to Questions

Submit Proposals

Responsibility

WCPSS

Vendor

Date and Time (ET)

12-19-2025

12-29-2025 by 2:00 PM

WCPSS

Vendor

12-31-2025 by End of Business Day

1-6-2026 @ 2:00 PM

PROPOSAL QUESTIONS

Upon review of the RFP documents, Vendors may have questions to clarify or interpret the RFP in order to

submit the best proposal possible. To accommodate the Proposal Questions process, Vendors shall submit any

such questions, in written form by the above due date. WCPSS will not respond to questions via telephone or

telephone message(s). Written questions must be emailed to bids-mcalvert@wcpss.net by the date and time

specified above. Vendors should enter “RFP #251-26-247 Questions” as the subject for the email. Questions

submittals should include a reference to the applicable RFP section and be submitted in the format shown below:

Reference

Vendor Question

RFP Section, Page Number

Vendor question …?

Questions received prior to the submission deadline date, WCPSS’ response and any additional terms deemed

necessary by WCPSS will be posted in the form of an Addendum and shall become an Addendum to this RFP.

No information, instruction, or advice provided orally or informally by any WCPSS personnel, whether made in

response to a question or otherwise in connection with this RFP, shall be considered authoritative or binding.

Vendors shall rely only on written material contained in an Addendum to this RFP. Addendums associated

with the Request for Bid will be posted to the following links and it will be the vendor’s responsibility

to adhere to and check these addendums prior to bid submittal:

http://webarchive.wcpss.net/about-us/purchasing/open-bids.html

RFP #251-26-247

https://evp.nc.gov/solicitations

PROPOSAL EVALUATION

All proposals will be evaluated by representatives of WCPSS. WCPSS may, at its sole discretion, ask for

additional information and/or elect to conduct interviews with finalists to clarify information provided in the

proposals.

The services that are the subject of this RFP are not required to be bid under North Carolina law, and none of

the statutory requirements regarding public bidding apply to this RFP. This document, and not those statutes,

will govern the selection process.

WCPSS shall not be required to award the contract to the lowest proposed compensation; nor shall WCPSS

have any obligation to explain its decision to recommend or not to recommend any particular vendor or to invite

or exclude any particular vendor from consideration at any stage of the process. Instead of recommending that

contracts be awarded to one or more vendors who presented proposals, WCPSS may, at its sole discretion,

reject the proposals and repeat the process, enter into direct contract negotiations with one or more vendors

(possibly including vendors who have not previously submitted proposals) or take any other action WCPSS

deems advisable under all circumstances.

WCPSS is expected to make any final selection(s) based upon any factors or considerations WCPSS deems

relevant. Factors often considered include qualifications, relevant experience, fee, and ability to perform work

in a timely manner. WCPSS retains sole discretion to award the contract to the vendor(s) it believes will best

serve the interests of WCPSS and may consider any factors, documents, or information it deems relevant in

making that determination. WCPSS shall not have any obligation to explain its decision to select or not select

any individual vendors or to invite or exclude any individual vendors from consideration at any stage of the

process. The decision of WCPSS to accept or reject any proposals and to award contract(s) to any one or more

vendor(s) shall be final and not subject to further review.

Vendors are subject to immediate disqualification at any stage of the selection process for any of the following:

● The submission of false or misleading information in the vendor’s proposal.

● Any efforts to dissuade or discourage other vendors from submitting proposals.

● Any efforts to influence, dictate, or change the terms of another vendor’s proposal.

● Any form of bid collusion or bid rigging.

METHOD OF AWARD

All qualified proposals will be evaluated, and awards will be made to the Vendor(s) meeting the RFP

requirements and achieving the highest and best final evaluation which is best for WCPSS. Vendors

SHALL not be considered who are not approved or authorized by The State of North Carolina to do

business with The State of North Carolina. WCPSS reserves the right to waive any minor informality or

technicality in proposals received. Contract will be for an initial duration of twelve months, with an

option to renew for up to four additional one-year terms, provided the vendor continues to offer

qualified contract resources at competitive rates.

IMPORTANT: CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROHIBITED COMMUNICATIONS DURING EVALUATION

During the evaluation period—from the date proposals are opened through the date the contract is

awarded—each Vendor submitting a proposal (including its representatives, sub-contractors, and/or suppliers)

is prohibited from having any communications with any person inside or outside of WCPSS regarding this

solicitation. All communication should be directed in written form to the WCPSS contact indicated on pages 1,

2, and 3.

RFP #251-26-247

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

BACKGROUND

For informational purposes, WCPSS is the nation’s 15th largest school district and the largest in North

Carolina. With 121 elementary schools, 41 middle schools, 36 high schools, and 5 special schools, we serve

over 161,000 students and have over 20,000 staff in the district. The district has multiple school calendars,

and our school year begins the first week of July and ends June 30. A list of schools and locations can be

found here. A list of future schools and locations can be found here.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) is seeking to procure and implement

Lightspeed Systems to strengthen its web filtering, reporting, and classroom management

capabilities. This strategic initiative is designed to promote a safe, compliant, and effective

digital learning environment for both students and staff. In addition, it will enhance

visibility into device usage, support data-informed decision-making, and improve

instructional oversight across the district.

IN SCOPE

The following activities are in scope for the deployment and configuration of the Lightspeed

filtering solution across the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS):

1. Deployment of Filtering Solution: Implement the Lightspeed filtering platform across all WCPSS-

managed devices, ensuring comprehensive web filtering and policy enforcement.

2. Support for Unmanaged and Untrusted Devices: Develop and deploy filtering policies for

unmanaged or untrusted devices, including:

• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

• Operational Technology (OT) devices

• Guest network connected devices

3. DNS Configuration: Configure internal and external DNS settings to support the filtering solution

rollout and ensure proper traffic routing and policy enforcement.

4. System Integration: Integrate Lightspeed with existing identity and rostering systems, including but not

limited to:

• Rapid Identity

• ClassLink

• Microsoft Entra ID

5. Policy Configuration: Define and implement differentiated access policies based on user roles and

grade levels, including:

• Staff

• Students (preschool, elementary, middle, high school, and early college)

6. Lightspeed Insight Implementation (if included): Deploy and configure Lightspeed Insight to deliver

comprehensive analytics and reporting on device usage, web activity, and policy compliance across the

district.

7. Lightspeed Classroom Management Implementation (if included): Deploy and

configure Lightspeed Classroom Management tools. The implementation should

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

Solicitation Number:	251-26-247
Project Title:	CONTENT FILTERING
Description:	The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) is seeking to procure and implement Lightspeed Systems to strengthen its web filtering, reporting, and classroom management capabilities.
Opening Date:	1/6/2026 2:00 PM
Posted Date:	12/20/2025
Status:	Open
Department:	WAKE COUNTY BD OF EDUCATION


Solicitation Number * 251-26-247	Department WAKE COUNTY BD OF EDUCATION	Status Reason Open
Opening Date 2026-01-06T14:00:00.0000000	Posted Date * 2025-12-19T20:32:41.0000000Z	Commodity Code Content management software
Mandatory Conference/Site Visit — —	Special Instructions —	Solicitation Type * Select RFP IFB RFI
Owner Marcella Calvert
Description The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) is seeking to procure and implement Lightspeed Systems to strengthen its web filtering, reporting, and classroom management capabilities.

Attachments RFP #251-26-247_Content Filtering_Technology_FINAL (MC).pdf (749.97 KB)