E-Rate Licenses for Access Points (APs) and Switches

Location:	California
Posted:	Feb 18, 2026
Due:	Feb 27, 2026
Agency:	Carlsbad Unified School District
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	70 - General Purpose Information Technology Equipment (including software).
Solicitation No:	RFP 14-2526
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 14-2526

E-rate Licenses for Access Points (Aps) and Switches

RFP Release Date

January 28, 2026

Submission Deadline

February 27, 2026 @ 2:00pm (PST)

Carlsbad Unified School District

Request for Proposals (RFP)

RFP Number: 14-2526-260015439

Project Title: E-Rate – Licenses for Access Points (APs) and Switches

I. Notice to Proposers

Carlsbad Unified School District (“District”) invites qualified and experienced vendors to

submit proposals for E-Rate eligible software licenses for wireless access points and

network switches. This Request for Proposals (RFP) is issued in accordance with District

purchasing policies and all applicable federal and state regulations governing the E-Rate

(Schools and Libraries Program).

This RFP is for equipment/licenses only. No installation, configuration, or professional

services are included.

II. Background and Purpose

The District seeks to procure annual cloud management licenses to support its existing

network infrastructure. The intent of this RFP is to obtain competitive pricing for eligible

products while ensuring full compliance with E-Rate program requirements.

III. Scope of Work

The successful proposer shall provide the following E-Rate eligible licenses or approved

equivalents. Quantities are estimates and may be increased or decreased at the District’s

discretion.

A. Products Requested

Description (or Equivalent)

One (1) Year ExtremeCloud

IQ Pilot Tier 0 Cloud

Subscription (US K–12) – AP

Licenses

Model

Number (or

Equivalent)

97304-

AP510C-FCC

Est. Qty

Unit E-Rate

Eligible

Cost

Extended E-

Rate Eligible

Cost

RFP 14-2526 E-Rate Licenses for Access Points (APs) and Switches

Description (or Equivalent)

One (1) Year ExtremeCloud

IQ Pilot Tier 0 Cloud

Subscription (US K–12) –

Switch Licenses

Other Miscellaneous

Charges (if applicable)

Sales Tax (7.75%)

Model

Number (or

Equivalent)

XCIQ-PT0-C-

EW-1YR-K12

N/A

Est. Qty

104

Unit E-Rate

Eligible

Cost

N/A

Extended E-

Rate Eligible

Cost

IV. Term of Agreement

The term of the agreement shall be from July 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

V. E-Rate Requirements and Invoicing

1. The District prefers the Service Provider Invoice (SPI) method of reimbursement.

2. Vendors must acknowledge that USAC may not be invoiced prior to July 1, 2026.

3. If funding is approved prior to July 1, 2026, the District reserves the right to place the

order at that time.

4. Vendors may invoice the District at the time of order but must delay invoicing USAC

until on or after July 1, 2026.

This project is contingent upon approval of E-Rate funding. The District reserves the right to

cancel, modify, or reject proposals in whole or in part if funding is denied or reduced, or if it

is determined to be in the District’s best interest.

Service Providers must comply with all current and future E-Rate rules issued by the

Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) for the duration of the agreement.

VI. Vendor Qualifications and Certifications

• Vendors proposing equivalent products must submit documentation demonstrating

functional equivalency.

• Vendors must certify that they are an authorized manufacturer channel partner at

the time of proposal submission.

• All products must be new, unused, and provided in original manufacturer

packaging.

RFP 14-2526 E-Rate Licenses for Access Points (APs) and Switches

• Vendors must certify that all products are sourced from authorized distribution

channels.

• Vendors shall provide a copy of the applicable End User License Agreement

(EULA) and warrant that all software is licensed to the District as the original end

user.

The District reserves the right to verify product authenticity with the manufacturer and to

reject proposals involving unauthorized products.

VII. Proposal Evaluation and Award

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria (100 total points):

• E-Rate Eligible Cost – 50 points

• Methodology and Service Level (billing, account support, technology, cost of

change) – 25 points

• Vendor Experience and Financial Stability – 20 points

• E-Rate Program Experience – 5 points

The District reserves the right to award to the proposer whose proposal is determined to be

the most advantageous to the District.

VIII. Questions and Clarifications

All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing and asked through

PlanetBids no later than February 11, 2026 at 4:00 PM PST.

All questions and the District’s responses will be provided on PlanetBids, the Bid page of

the District’s website: https://carlsbadusd.net/purchasing and will also be uploaded into

the Form 470 on the USAC website. It is the vendor’s responsibility to check the website

frequently to ensure all addendums and clarifications regarding this RFP have been

reviewed and submitted, as required. Questions received after the date and time

referenced will not be addressed.

RFP 14-2526 E-Rate Licenses for Access Points (APs) and Switches

IX. Proposal Submission and Vendor Information

Company Name: ________________________________________

Contact Name: __________________________________________

SPIN: ___________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________

Phone Number: _________________________________________

Email Address: _________________________________________

By signing below, the Vendor certifies that the information contained in this proposal is

true and accurate and agrees to comply with all requirements of this RFP.

Authorized Signature: __________________________________ Date:______________________

X. Proposal Submission Requirements

Proposals must be received by the District via the PlanetBids Portal no later than February

27, 2026 at 2:00 PM PST. Proposals received after this deadline will not be accepted.

The District is not responsible for proposals that are delayed, misdirected, or not received

due to technical issues. Submission of a proposal constitutes acknowledgment that the

proposer has read and understands all requirements of this RFP.

XI. District Terms and Conditions

A. Right to Reject Proposals

The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive informalities or

irregularities, and to accept the proposal deemed to be in the best interest of the District.

B. Non-Collusion Declaration

By submitting a proposal, the proposer certifies that the proposal is made without

collusion with any other person or entity and that the proposer has not directly or indirectly

induced or solicited any other proposer to submit or refrain from submitting a proposal.

RFP 14-2526 E-Rate Licenses for Access Points (APs) and Switches

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

Bid / RFQP No.	Description	Type	Docs Available	Submission Deadline
RFP 14-2526	E-Rate Licenses for Access Points (APs) and Switches	RFP	Addendum #1	February 27, 2026 2:00pm

E-Rate Licenses for Access Points (APs) and Switches

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