Agenda Item
e. ERATE Category 2 (Not to exceed $2,984,452.83) ~ Updated 3.7.2025
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information, and Instructional Technology
Request: It is requested the Board of Education approve the ERATE Category 2 awards for the following eligible purchases for services from the following vendors in the amounts listed below, as the lowest responsible, responsive bids, in an amount not to exceed $2,984,452.83. The district cost should not exceed $447,667.93 after the 90% Erate discount.
$554,680.23 CDWG Access Level Switches and associated components for new school locations (New Cross Keys, New Dresden and New Sequoyah)
$2,429,772.60 MGT Wireless Access Points and Licenses
Why: This recommendation provides the DeKalb County School District with Category 2 Erate for all eligible services that are classified as internal connections within a school building that support the attachment of student devices to the “Top of Rack” Category 1 Switch. DCSD shall receive a 85% reimbursement or discount based on free and reduced data. ERATE is administered by the “Universal Service Administrative Company” (USAC).
Details: DCSD utilizes ERATE to leverage the purchasing dollars of the “Universal Service Administrative Company” (USAC). ERATE allows DCSD to extend purchasing power for approved eligible services and seek reimbursement.
This year DCSD applied for the following reimbursement for services.
Access Level Switches and associated components for the new (Cross Keys HS, Sequoyah MS/HS Complex and Dresden ES)
Wireless Access Points and Licenses for providing wireless access for students at (Cross Keys HS, Sequoyah MS/HS Complex and Dresden ES and existing locations). After reviewing all criteria and costs, the bid is awarded to MGT.
Financial impact: If ERATE is awarded, these numbers are before 85% reimbursement. The pre-discounted amount shall not exceed $2,984,452.83. The district cost should not exceed $447,667.93 after the 85% Erate discount.
$554,680.23 CDWG Access Level Switches and associated components for new school locations (New Cross Keys, New Dresden and New Sequoyah)
$2,429,772.60 MGT Wireless Access Points and Licenses
General Funds
306.2210.573400.80336.7600.9990.8010.070.0000
Contact: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information and Instructional Technology, 678.676.1274
Effective: March 2025
Status: Approved by Office of Legal Affairs
VENDOR DECISION/EVALUATION MATRIX
SCHOOL OR LIBRARY NAME: DeKalb Co. SD Date: 2/14/25 E-rate: 2025-26
Choose and Int. Connections or
Indicate the service MIBS or Basic
CATEGORY 2: (1 per Matrix): Maint.:
Eligible Service: →'→'→'→'→'→ Switches & Related Components
SERVICE PROVIDERS
Total
Points
Factors Available CDW AiOS VENDOR 3 VENDOR 4 VENDOR 5 VENDOR 6
Price & Install Install Only
Price 30 30 15
Past Experience /
Relationship with
Respondent 20 20 10
Technical Capability,
Quality of Work,
Ability to Provide
Services Purchased /
Turnkey Solution,
Qualified Personnel 25 25 15
Responsiveness to Bid 10 10 2
Changeover Costs 10 10 0
Willingness to invoice
via SPI 5 5 2
TOTAL POINTS: 100 100 44 0 0 0 0
Winning bidder based on most points was: CDW Selection team member initials: JS
Nonresponsive bidders, if any:
NOTES:
We received one complete bid for switching equipment for CDW-G. We also received one bid for switch installation and project management only from
AiOS - however, no equipment was included. Based on the District's past positive experience with CDW-G on other similar projects and based on CDW's
complete and cost-effective bid, the District has chosen to award the entirety of the bid to CDW-G.
We received one complete bid for switching equipment for CDW-G. We also received one bid for switch installation and project management only from
AiOS - however, no equipment was included. Based on the District's past positive experience with CDW-G on other similar projects and based on CDW's
complete and cost-effective bid, the District has chosen to award the entirety of the bid to CDW-G.
**** NOTE: POINT VALUES AND FACTORS MAY BE CHANGED PER YOUR OWN CRITERIA, BUT PRICE MUST
REMAIN THE MOST HEAVILY WEIGHTED FACTOR AND THE "TOTAL POINTS" OF ALL FACTORS MUST ADD TO 100%****