Agenda Item
c. E-Rate Award Extension: Self-Provisioned Fiber Maintenance (Not to exceed $205,320) ~ Updated 3.7.2025
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information & Instructional Technology
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve an extension of the contract for Self-Provisioned Fiber Maintenance to the Zayo Group in an amount not exceed $205,320. This award is in accordance with the federal government's E-rate bidding process and allows the district to continue seeking Category 1 reimbursement for Internet Connections and non-recurring services. This is year 4 of a five-year agreement.
Why: The purpose of this recommendation is to provide maintenance on the DCSD Self Provisioned Fiber (SPF) Optics Network.
Details: DCSD will continue to use this ERATE award to seek reimbursement for the Self-Provisioned Fiber of the DCSD Fiber Optic Network. The FCC's E-Rate program makes telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools and libraries. With funding from the Universal Service Fund, E-Rate provides discounts for telecommunications, Internet access, and internal connections to eligible schools and libraries. The discount percentage is based off the Districts Free and reduced lunch percentage.
This year there was (1) vendor response to the Districts ERATE 470 bid for (Self Provisioned Fiber). The response was evaluated by an internal team that consisted of the Network Manager, PMO Manager, IT Project Manager, and Wi-Fi Engineer.
The 1 vendor that responded to the DCSD 470 requests for Self-Provisioned Fiber (SPF) Maintenance is:
• Zayo
The criteria used to evaluate the companies and Products and Services were based off a 100 Point Scale:
• Price 30
• Experience with DeKalb County School District 25
• Product/Service Features 20
• Reliability 20
• Local Preference 5
Based upon a thorough and detailed evaluation of how well each of the vendors met the major criteria considered, Zayo was selected as the best choice.
As part of the E-rate competitive bidding process, this request for proposal was available to potential vendors, nationally. It is also important to note that Zayo/AGLN designed and built the district’s fiber network and has provided maintenance for the past 15 years.
The E-rate program provides discounts to assist schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. The program is funded through the Universal Service fee. E-rate regulations require that Cost has a higher weighting. However, E-rate regulations do not require selection of lowest cost proposal as part of the evaluation process. The above criteria meet E-rate regulations.
Financial impact: $205,320
General Fund
100.2800.543200.00011.7600.9990.0308.070.0000
DCSD will seek 90% reimbursement against a maximum expenditure of $205,320.
Contact: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information & InstructionalTechnology, 678.676.1274
Effective: March 2025
Status: Approved by Office of Legal Affairs
DocuSign Envelope ID: 55390B22-A7EB-49E4-96F0-BF6685C754C4
Brian Daniels Managing Dr. Strategic Sales
March 25, 2023