·       Before the listed deadlines, all Questions and Bids must be submitted using the on-line IFCB system. Bids submitted before the bid deadline outside of this system will be disqualified. If the system is down before the deadline, please email your bid to info@crwconsulting.com or fax it to 918.445.0049. Bids or questions submitted in this fashion will be disqualified if the on-line system is active at the time of submission. The applicant reserves the right to request and obtain bids outside of the website system if the bid deadline has passed and zero or one bid is received (the intent for this is to follow USAC guidance on obtaining cost-effective bids).

·      For all requested services and/or products listed on this IFCB: proposals that include generic/encyclopedic price lists will be considered non-responsive and will be disqualified. SPAM and/or robotic responses will not be considered valid bid responses and will be disqualified from consideration.

·       Bidder must agree to participate in USF Program (AKA “E-rate”) for the corresponding funding year.

·       Please include the correct Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) on your bid.

·       By submitting a bid, bidder certifies that the bidder does have a valid (non-red light status) SPIN for the E-rate program at the time of submission. Should the Applicant discover that the bidder is on red light status, or if the FCC classifies the bidder as on red-light status before work is performed and invoices are paid, the contract will be null and void and the applicant will have no payment obligations to the bidder.

·       Bidder is expected to provide the lowest corresponding price per E-rate rules.  See https://www.usac.org/e-rate/service-providers/step-2-responding-to-bids/lowest-corresponding-price/ for details.

·       Contracts must not prohibit SPIN changes.

·       Bidder must agree to provide the Applicant the choice of discount methods (SPI or BEAR).

·       Bidder will be automatically disqualified if the District determines that the bidding company has offered any employee of the District any individual gift of more than $20 or gifts totaling more than $50 within a 12 month period. This does not apply to the recent FCC exemptions of the Gift Rule for the COVID pandemic.

·       All contracts awarded will be contingent upon E-rate funding and final board approval.  The applicant may choose to do all or part of the project upon funding notification.

·       All applicable fees, surcharges, and taxes must be identified on the bid. E-rate rules require the applicants to evaluate the price of eligible goods and services that will be listed on the 471 application during the competitive bidding process. Fees and surcharges that apply but are not listed on the bid will be the responsibility of the bidding company, should their bid be awarded.

·       If there is a request for Internal Connections (Category Two) equipment, or Category One equipment listed on this IFCB the applicant will accept bids for functionally equivalent equipment.

·       LEASED WIDE AREA NETWORK CIRCUITS DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Bids submitted for services to an incorrect address will be disqualified.

·       LEASED WIDE AREA NETWORK CIRCUITS DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Any and all installation charges must be identified on your bid. If you submit a bid indicating that installation charges may apply without listing those charges, we will consider your bid incomplete and disqualify your bid.

·       LEASED WIDE AREA NETWORK CIRCUITS DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Vendors must bid all connections. If vendors submit a bid missing any connection, we will consider your bid incomplete and disqualify your bid.

·       SELF PROVISIONED NETWORK DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Bids submitted for services to an incorrect address will be disqualified.

·       SELF PROVISIONED NETWORK FACTOR: Any and all installation charges must be identified on your bid. If you submit a bid indicating that installation charges may apply without listing those charges, we will consider your bid incomplete and disqualify your bid.

·       SELF PROVISIONED NETWORK DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Vendors must bid all connections. If vendors submit a bid missing any connection, we will consider your bid incomplete and disqualify your bid.

·       DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR CATEGORY ONE NETWORK EQUIPMENT: The applicant will not accept bids from manufacturers of equipment deemed a national security threat by the Federal Communications Commission. The list of prohibited equipment is available here: https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist . Vendors that submit bids that includes these manufacturers will have their bid disqualified.

·       DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR CATEGORY ONE NETWORK EQUIPMENT: Service providers are required to bid the entire hardware project.  Bids for individual components, or bids that do not include all of the requested items for the project will be disqualified.

·       DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR CATEGORY ONE NETWORK EQUIPMENT: Vendors must complete and include the C1 Cover Page with their bid. Bids received without the cover page will be disqualified.

UPDATE 12/9/25 - THE BID DEADLINE HAS BEEN UPDATED TO 1/6/26.
UPDATE 12/2/25 - THE QUESTIONS DEADLINE HAS BEEN UPDATED TO 12/6/25.

Category One:

Leased Wide Area Network Circuits – Two connections any delivery/technology type. Leased dark fiber bidders should bid 6 fiber strands. Lit leased fiber bidders should bid 10 GB. A map is available for download along with this IFCB.

These connections will be from the hub located at Hazen Elementary – 200 East Cleveland Street, Hazen, AR 72064 to the following:

1.       Agricultural Science Building – 500 North Prairie Street, Hazen, AR 72064

2.       Football Athletic Facility – 311 East Crowley Street, Hazen, AR 72064

After the initial term, or after any voluntary renewal terms are executed, the Vendor must offer up to 12 months of a month-to-month service if the Applicant decides to transition to a new service provider. Vendor must list that monthly cost as part of their proposal.

LEASED WIDE AREA NETWORK CIRCUITS DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Bids submitted for services to an incorrect address will be disqualified.

LEASED WIDE AREA NETWORK CIRCUITS DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Any and all installation charges must be identified on your bid. If you submit a bid indicating that installation charges may apply without listing those charges, we will consider your bid incomplete and disqualify your bid.

LEASED WIDE AREA NETWORK CIRCUITS DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Vendors must bid all connections. If vendors submit a bid missing any connection, we will consider your bid incomplete and disqualify your bid.

Self- Provisioned Network  - The district will accept bids for any type of technology that can achieve their connectivity goals including fiber, wireless, purchased radio/wireless bridges, etc. A map is available for download along with this IFCB.

These connections will be from the hub located at Hazen Elementary – 200 East Cleveland Street, Hazen, AR 72064 to the following:

1.       Agricultural Science Building – 500 North Prairie Street, Hazen, AR 72064

2.       Football Athletic Facility – 311 East Crowley Street, Hazen, AR 72064

SELF PROVISIONED NETWORK DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Bids submitted for services to an incorrect address will be disqualified.

SELF PROVISIONED NETWORK FACTOR: Any and all installation charges must be identified on your bid. If you submit a bid indicating that installation charges may apply without listing those charges, we will consider your bid incomplete and disqualify your bid.

SELF PROVISIONED NETWORK DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR: Vendors must bid all connections. If vendors submit a bid missing any connection, we will consider your bid incomplete and disqualify your bid.

Category 1 Network Equipment

DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR CATEGORY ONE NETWORK EQUIPMENT: The applicant will not accept bids from manufacturers of equipment deemed a national security threat by the Federal Communications Commission. The list of prohibited equipment is available here: https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist . Vendors that submit bids that includes these manufacturers will have their bid disqualified.

DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR CATEGORY ONE NETWORK EQUIPMENT: Service providers are required to bid the entire hardware project.  Bids for individual components, or bids that do not include all of the requested items for the project will be disqualified.

DISQUALIFICATION FACTOR CATEGORY ONE NETWORK EQUIPMENT: Vendors must complete and include the C1 Cover Page with their bid. Bids received without the cover page will be disqualified.

Operations and Maintenance services – A map is available for download along with this IFCB. Two connections, these connections will be from the hub located at Hazen Elementary – 200 East Cleveland Street, Hazen, AR 72064 to the following:

1.       Agricultural Science Building – 500 North Prairie Street, Hazen, AR 72064

2.       Football Athletic Facility – 311 East Crowley Street, Hazen, AR 72064