V2526020RFP - E-Rate Year 29 (2026-2027) Wireless Access Points and UPS

Location:	California
Posted:	Jan 14, 2026
Due:	Feb 11, 2026
Agency:	Vista Unified School District
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	59 - Electrical and Electronic Equipment Components 70 - General Purpose Information Technology Equipment (including software).
Solicitation No:	V2526020RFP
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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E-RATE Year 29 (2026-2027)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

RFP # V2526020RFP

470 # 260011667

Vista Unified School District

1234 Arcadia

Vista, CA, 92084

Wireless Access Points and UPS

PROCUREMENT TIMELINE

RFP ISSUED:

REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION DEADLINE

PROPOSALS DEADLINE:

PROJECT START DATE:

PROJECT END DATE:

JANUARY 14, 2026

JANUARY 28, 2026 2:00 PM PST

FEBRUARY 11, 2026 2:00 PM PST

PENDING FUNDING APPROVAL

9-30-27 +USAC APPROVED EXTENSIONS

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E-RATE SUPPLEMENTAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Signed copy to be returned with bid response.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 established a fund by which Schools and Libraries (“Applicant” or

“Applicants”) across the Country could access discounts on eligible telecommunications products and

services. The program is commonly known as the E-rate Program. The eligibility for discounts on

internet access, telecommunications products and services, internal connection products, services and

maintenance is determined by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). Funding is made

available upon application approval by the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”), which

was established by the Act. The amount of the discount is based on the numbers of students eligible to

receive free and reduced-price meals.

1) E-RATE CONTINGENCY

The project herein is contingent upon the approval of funding from the Universal Service Fund’s

Schools and Libraries Program, otherwise known as E-rate. Even after award of Agreement(s)

and/or E-rate funding approval is approved, the Applicant may or may not proceed with the

project, in whole or in part. Execution of the project, in whole or in part, is solely at the

discretion of the Applicant.

2) SERVICE PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS

The Applicant expects Service Providers to make themselves thoroughly familiar with any rules

or regulations regarding the E-rate program.

a. Service Providers are required to be in full compliance with all current rules and

requirements and future rules and requirements issued by the FCC and USAC throughout the

agreement period of any Agreement entered into as a result of this RFP/RFB/RFQ.

b. Service Providers are responsible for providing a valid Service Provider Identification Number

(“SPIN”). More information about obtaining a SPIN may be found at this website:

https://www.usac.org/e-rate/service-providers/step-1-obtain-a-spin/

c. Service Providers are responsible for providing a valid Federal Communications Commission

Registration Number (“FRN”) at the time the Proposal is submitted. More information about

obtaining an FRN may be found at this website:

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do

d. Service Providers are responsible for providing evidence of FCC Green Light Status at the time

the proposal is submitted. Any potential Service Provider found to be in Red Light Status must

provide an explanation of the steps it is undertaking to be removed to Red Light Status and the

expected timeframe for resolution. A Service Provider's sustained Red Light Status may be

grounds for termination of the Agreement as it could prohibit the Service Provider from

providing E-rate discounts in a timely manner which would cause harm to the Applicant. More

information about FCC Red and Green Light Status may be found at this website:

http://www.fcc.gov/debt_collection/welcome.html

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e. Products and services must be delivered before billing and E-rate discounting can commence.

At no time may the Service Provider invoice before July 1, 2026.

f. Prices must be held firm for the duration of the associated E-rate Funding Year(s) or until all

work associated with the project is complete (including any Agreement and USAC-approved

extensions).

g. Goods and services provided shall be clearly designated as “E-rate Eligible.” Non-eligible

goods and services shall be clearly called out as 100% non-eligible or shall be “cost allocated” to

show the percentage of eligible costs per USAC guidelines.

h. For Category 2 equipment or services, within one (1) week of notification of award, the

awarded Service Provider must provide the Applicant a bill of materials using a completed and

most current and appropriate version of USACs “Bulk Upload Template” (formerly known as

the Item 21 attachment) located at https://www.usac.org/e-rate/applicant-process/applying-

for-discounts/fcc-form-471-filing/. Subsequent schedules of values and invoices must match

the Bulk Upload Template and approved Funding Request Line Items or subsequent approved

service substitutions. If the service provider’s proposal consisted of pricing per eligible

location, a summary sheet and summary Bulk Upload Template must be provided to describe

the cumulative amount for all sites.

i. In the event of questions during an E-rate pre-commitment review, post-commitment review,

and/or audit inquiry, the awarded Service Provider is expected to reply within 3 days to

questions associated with its proposal.

j. The awarded Service Provider is required to send copies of all forms and invoices to the

Applicant prior to invoicing USAC for pre-approval. Failure to comply with this requirement may

result in the Applicant placing the vendor on an “Invoice Check” with the USAC:

https://www.usac.org/e-rate/applicant-process/invoicing/invoice-check/.

k. Service providers must comply with the FCC rules for Lowest Corresponding Price ("LCP").

Further details on LCP may be obtained at USAC's website: https://www.usac.org/e-

rate/service-providers/step-2-responding-to-bids/lowest-corresponding-price/.

l. Service providers must not propose any equipment or services produced or provided by

companies, their parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries, found to pose a national security threat to

the integrity of communications networks or the communications supply chain as required by

FCC rules. See https://www.usac.org/about/reports-orders/supply-chain/. Any proposed

solution including Covered Equipment or Services as defined by the FCC will be disqualified. If,

after award of the project it is found Covered Equipment or Services are included, the award

and/or Agreement will be considered to be null and void. See https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain.

m. SPAM and/or robotic responses will not be considered valid Proposals and will be disqualified

from consideration.

n. Any Service Provider proposals identifying contingency fees such as allocations for change

orders, tariffs, or other speculative fees not specifically called out for in the scope and/or terms

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of the RFP/RFB/RFQ will automatically be included in the Proposal price and subject to

evaluation unless otherwise specified in the RFP/RFB/RFQ. Contingency fees not pre-approved

by the Applicant will not be allowed.

3) SERVICE PROVIDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

a. The Service Provider acknowledges that no change in the products and/or services specified

in its proposal will be allowed without prior written approval from the Applicant and a USAC

service substitution approval with the exception of a Global Service Substitutions. See

https://www.usac.org/e-rate/applicant-process/before-youre-done/service-substitutions/.

b. The Service Provider acknowledges that all pricing and technology infrastructure information

in its Proposal shall be considered as public and non-confidential pursuant to §54.504 (2)(i)(ii).

c. The Service Provider acknowledges that its offer is considered to be the lowest

corresponding price pursuant to § 54.511(b). Service Providers found not to be providing Lowest

Corresponding Price (LCP) may be required to repay any identified overcharges to USAC. The

Service Provider acknowledges that LCP is solely the service provider’s responsibility and it will

not hold the Applicant liable, or seek reimbursement from any applicant, for any appeals,

commitment adjustments or funding recoveries.

d. The Service Provider attests that its offer does not violate the FCC’s Supply Chain

certifications included in the FCC Form 473. Supply Chain requirements and certifications can be

viewed at USAC’s Website: https://www.usac.org/about/reports-orders/supply-chain/.

e. This offer is in full compliance with USAC’s Free Services Advisory https://www.usac.org/e-

rate/applicant-process/competitive-bidding/free-services-advisory/. There are no free services

offered that would predicate an artificial discount and preclude the applicant from paying its

proportionate non-discounted share of costs. The Service Provider agrees to provide

substantiating documentation to support this assertion should the applicant, USAC, or the FCC

request it.

4) STARTING SERVICES/ADVANCE INSTALLATION

Category 1 Services

The annual E-rate Funding Year begins on July 1 and expires on June 30 of each calendar year.

Regardless of the Agreement’s “effective date,” E-rate eligible goods and/or services requested

in this RFP/RFB/RFQ shall be delivered no earlier than the start of the 2026 funding year (July 1,

2026). If Category 1 services (Telecommunication Services and Internet access) will begin on or

shortly after July 1 of a funding year, the service provider, in some cases, may need to undertake

some construction and installation work prior to the beginning of that funding year. Within the

limitations indicated below, the infrastructure costs of a service provider can be deemed to be

delivered at the same time that the associated Category 1 services begin. That is, if services

begin on July 1, then the delivery of service provider infrastructure necessary for those services

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can be considered as also delivered on July 1. However, NO INVOICING can take place prior to

July 1 of the associated Funding Year.

Early Funding Conditions

Category 1

There are four conditions that must be met in order for USAC to provide support in a

funding year for Category 1 infrastructure costs incurred prior to that funding year.

· Initiation of installation cannot take place before selection of the service provider pursuant to a

posted Form 470 and in any event no earlier than six months prior to July 1 of the funding

year.

· The Category 1 service must depend on the installation of the infrastructure.

· The underlying Category 1 service cannot have a service start date prior to July 1 of the funding

year.

· No invoices can be submitted to USAC for reimbursement prior to July 1 of the funding year.

For more information, please refer to the FCC Order involving the Nassau County Board of

Cooperative Educational Services (DA 02-3365 , released December 6, 2002). This FCC decision

only applies to Priority/ Category 1 services (telecommunications services and Internet access).

The complete text can be found at the following URL:

https://www.usac.org/e-rate/applicant-process/starting-services/advance-installation/

Category 2

There are two conditions that allow USAC to provide support in a funding year for Category 2

Internal Connections (equipment and services) incurred prior to that funding year.

● Applicants may seek support for Category 2 eligible services purchased on or after April 1,

three months prior to the start of the funding year on July 1. This will provide schools with the

flexibility to purchase equipment in preparation for the summer recess and provide the

maximum amount of time during the summer to install these critical networks.

● No invoices can be submitted to USAC for reimbursement prior to July 1 of the funding year.

For more information, please refer to the FCC Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking (FCC 14-99 , released July 23, 2014).

It is important to note NO FCC FORM 474 INVOICING can take place before the Funding

Commitment Decision Letter is issued, the FCC Form 486 is approved, and/or prior to July 1 of

the funding year.

5) INVOICING

a. The Service Provider agrees to bill and receive a portion of the payment for the provisions of

goods and services described herein directly from USAC via the FCC Form 474 Service Provider

Invoice (SPI). The Applicant will only be responsible for paying its non-discounted share of costs

and does not intend to use the BEAR process (FCC Form 472). The maximum percentage the

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

V2526020RFP - E-Rate Year 29 (2026-2027) Wireless Access Points and UPS

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See also