E-rate FY26 Internet and Managed Firewall
The Harris County School District is requesting proposals for internet access and managed firewall services. The new service is being planned to begin on July 1, 2026. The District is looking for interested vendors who can provide solutions that will address its current and future needs. The District is open to all proposals from vendors that meet the District's needs and qualifications based on the information outlined in this Request for Proposal (RFP).
Bidders will be given the opportunity to survey the datacenter to determine what equipment is needed. Attendance at this site survey is NOT REQUIRED in order to place a bid, but no consideration will be given for the vendor's lack of information, and the site survey is designed to make sure that all potential bidders are creating designs based on the same survey. The survey will be held on January 7, 2026 at 9:30 Eastern. All Bidders are to report to Harris County School District Technology Office located at 757 Carver Circle, Hamilton, Georgia 31811. (Directions to Harris County School District Technology Office and Professional Learning Lab)
E-rate FY26 Internet and Managed Firewall RFP
TIMELINE AND KEY MILESTONES
December 12, 2025: RFP issued
January 7, 2026: Optional site survey (9:30 Eastern)
January 14, 2026: Deadline for questions regarding bid specifications (4:00 Eastern)
January 28, 2026: Proposal deadline (noon Eastern)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: Can you only except bids on Internet plus managed firewall service, or can you take a bid just on the internet without the firewall service?
A: The district intends to procure internet access and managed firewall services as described in the RFP. Vendors may submit bids for internet access only, or for internet access combined with managed firewall services, provided the bid is responsive to the applicable specifications. All bids will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria outlined in the RFP, with cost of eligible services as the primary factor. The district will evaluate the total cost of meeting its requirements when comparing bids. Put another way, the District will consider bids for internet only, but we would have to factor how much we would have to pay someone else for a firewall into the total cost of the project.