RFP Specifications: Link to pdf file

Existing Network Switches & Data: Link to xlsx file

Network Switches - show tech transceivers Output: Link to txt file

Vendor Questions & District Answers:

Question #1: For the 5400 Chassis, to appropriately account for copper/PoE/SFP based ports, what are the existing module models in use per chassis? Answer #1 : The walkthrough is the vendor's opportunity to look at the switches to see our needs for copper, POE, SFP, etc. We included a snapshot of daytime POE+ power usage indicated on the Excel sheet that is hyperlinked in the RFP specifications. Note, POE+ usage may be slightly higher at night because of the POE cameras that use more POE power for infrared when dark.

Question #2: What is the type of fiber used in buildings, between buildings, and what is the connection type? (ie. MMF, OM1/ 2/3; SMF, OS1/2; SC, LC, ST; etc.) Answer #2: The walkthrough is the vendors opportunity to look at the switches, determine fiber lines types, fiber transceiver types, MMF vs Single mode cabling. There are a couple of options to address running 10Gbps in our network. The vendor could bring an OTDR meter to measure fiber distance at one of the walkthroughs if they so choose to and determine the fiber lengths. If the current fiber lines will not support 10Gbps speeds as required for the trunk ports between main distribution switches as stated in the RFP specs, include additional fiber SFP ports/transceivers/modules that can run over our current fiber lines between the main distribution switches. That would address our potential current limitations of the existing fiber lines as well as address the RFP specifications requiring a proposal that accounts for potential growth of network utilization. The district could then, later in the future, upgrade the fiber lines to higher fiber standard to accommodate 10Gbps speeds, which would be a project that is outside the scope of this RFP.

Question #3: We see that you are looking for a min of 5 yr Warranty and quick shipment for warrantied equipment. Are you looking for additional uplifted support with next business day hardware replacement, or standard manufacturer's warranty/hardware replacement? Answer #3: There is a rubric category called "Network Switches Warranty Coverage" that will evaluate warranty coverage and turnaround times to receive replacement warrantied equipment. We see next business day replacement (or close to it) as a high priority, especially for our main distribution switches.

Question #4: Is a cloud or on-prem management solution needed that is E-Rate eligible? Answer #4: We are not requiring a cloud management solution to manage our switches. We will let the vendor make proposals on the on-prem method(s) to manage the switches. The RFP specifications have a paragraph labeled "Network switch configuration capability for all switches." Please refer to that section of the RFP for our requirements. One of our RFP evaluation rubric components is "Programming Interface: Ease of use, capability, and flexibility of switch management" which could apply to the various ways and flexibility to manage switches.

Question #5: Are you hoping to complete the work during summer break? Answer #5: We ask that the installation happens within whatever window that allows the district to utilize e-rate funds. If the installation were to occur during the school year when students are scheduled to be in session, the vendor would need to coordinate with the Technology Director for install dates and times which may need to be after hours or weekends if potentially disrupting internet traffic for students and/or staff.

Question #6: Are we requiring a chassis form factor for the main distribution switches, or is a stacked switch solutions okay? Answer #6: We pointed out in section "Main Distribution network Switches" section requirement and say that either is okay.

Question #7: For the core MDF switches, do the form factors and count need to stay the same as current setup [with the 1 main switch chassis and nearby multiple 1RU switches]. Answer #7: No.

Question #8: Do you know the fiber lines distances? Answer #8: No.

Question #9: Where is the internet demarc? Answer #9: The Middle School.

Question #10: Do you know which switches have the default gateways? Answer #10: We do not know.

Question #11: Do you want port for port replacement [referring to the number of ports]? Answer #11: The specs say to account for potential growth of network utilization, which means the switch solution needs to include additional ports for future expansion.

Question #12: Do you know the fiber line distances? Answer #12: No.

Question #13: Is redundancy of POE power supplies per switch wanted? Answer #13: Yes, for the main distribution switches as written in the specs. It is not needed for the 1RU switches.

Question #14: How do you manage switches? Answer #14: We currently use SSH. We pointed out the RFP specs requiring CLI and GUI, and pointed out the rubric "Programming Interface."

Question #15: Do we have multicast on switches? Answer #15: We do not know.

Question #16: What NIC port speeds are on your servers, are there any server NICs with 10Gbps or 25Gbps? Answer #16: We don't know. The vendor(s) was allowed to look at our server rack.

Question #17: In the Middle School furnace room, do you want to move the camera patch panels to the main rack?Answer #17: We are not requiring this for this project, so that would be outside of the scope of this RFP.

Question #18: What is the fiber type to the High School modulars? Answer #18: We believe it is OM4 MMF. We let vendors look at the fiber lines to confirm.

Question #19: A vendor asked if they can attend the mandatory walkthrough virtually because they could not make the trip that day because of inclement weather. Answer #19: Sorry, we are not letting other vendors do a virtual walkthrough. So it wouldn't be fair to let your company do the walkthrough virtually when the other vendors are required to be here onsite for the walkthrough.

Question #20: Did anyone else show up yesterday [referring to one of the mandatory walkthroughs]? Answer #20: Our state is relatively small and we do not have a large number of vendors around the state and nearby areas. So if the vendor were to know the competition was present or not, that may influence vendor responses to not be competitive. So we are not going to answer that question. We want the best price and solution for services rendered. One can attend all of the walkthroughs if they want to know who attended.

Question #4 re-visited: Is a cloud or on-prem management solution needed that is E-Rate eligible? Answer #4 modified: We are not requiring a cloud management solution to manage our switches. We will let the vendor make proposals on the on-prem method(s) and/or cloud management to manage the switches. The RFP specifications have a paragraph labeled "Network switch configuration capability for all switches." Please refer to that section of the RFP for our requirements. One of our RFP evaluation rubric components is "Programming Interface: Ease of use, capability, and flexibility of switch management" which could apply to the various ways and flexibility to manage switches.

Question #21: A walkthrough cannot provide sufficient information on the current SFP type used today without physically removing the SFP. Can you please provide the output or a summary of the SFP information from the following command: “show interfaces transceivers”? Follow-up vendor email question/comment: I found another command that may summarize the info on the SFPs a little better. The info in the “Technical Type” and “Prod#” would be what we are looking for. You can try running both and whatever is easiest for you to extract that data works for us: “show tech transceivers”. Answer #21: We will post the output requested on our website and ask our e-rate consultant to post the output in e-rate too. Be watching for the file in those two places. That way all vendors have access to the same information. Update: The information is posted as file named "Network Switches - show tech transceivers Output" on the following webpage: https://www.arapahoeschools.com/documents/district/business-department/current-bids/network-switches-upgrade-rfp/731719.

Question #22: I am wondering if there is a miscount on the number of 10Gbps SFPs needed. The document calls for 10 but I am wondering if it is supposed to be 8. Please see below and let me know if I am missing something. Admin -> Old Gym: Qty 2 1Gbps SFP (I think this was counted as 10Gbps on the admin side). Admin -> Elem Core: Qty 2 10Gbps SFP. Elem Core -> Elem IDF: Qty 2 10Gbps SFP. Elem Core -> MS Edge: Qty 2 10Gbps SFP. MS Edge -> MS Furnace 5406 Qty 2 10Gbps SFP. MS Edge -> Furnace Cisco switch: Qty. 2 1Gbps SFP (I think this was counted as 10GB on the MS Edge side). If I am correct on the above the SFP count should drop Qty 2 - 10Gbps SFPs and add Qty 2 of 1Gbps SFPs. Answer #22: The current transceivers count is a best estimate of what we have, and was not meant as a one to one replacement for transceivers. Sounds like we made a miscount of current SFPs or the associated # of desired SFP transceivers by speed. The fiber link between the Admin_5406 and OldGym_2948 switch is sufficient at minimum of 1Gbps SFP transceivers since the OldGym_2948 switch is not one of the 6 main distribution switches. The fiber link between MS_Edge_5406 switch and Furnace_124 cisco switch could be addressed one of two ways. Option #1 (preferred because it simplifies the network): One could abandon this link and build the main distribution switch in the MS Furnace room rack to incorporate more ports/poe/etc and thus not need the separated 1RU Furnace_124 cisco switch that is adjacent to the MS_Furnace_5406 switch in the rack, which would mean the transceivers are not needed between MS_Edge_5406 switch and Furnace_124 cisco switch. Option #2 (not preferred, but acceptable): The second option is to keep the fiber link active between the MS_Edge_5406 switch and Furnace_124 cisco switch. If the vendor proposal wants to keep the separated 1RU switch for the replacement of the Furnance_124 cisco switch, then the fiber link needs to be a minimum of 1Gbps between MS_Edge_5406 and Furnace_124 because the latter Furnace_124 is not a main distribution switch. Just a reminder of our specifications. The main trunk lines between the main distribution switches need to be 10Gbps.

Question #23: I can see that you have these in the non e-rate eligible category. Could you explain why you think they are not e-rate eligible, I attached the erate USAC document that explains what is covered. Admin – is admin I get it but if there are councilor offices and that building is used for interconnection between buildings that are used for any programs they are E-rate eligible. Oldgym – If you have an ap out there that kids connect to or if it is used at all for any reason involving students it is eligible. Miantenance - if you have wifi that students can connect to or it is part of the underlying infrastructure to get between buildings. HS_pressbox – not sure if this is used at the football field but is used for streaming the games or if kids access the wifi out there it is eligible. HS_consessions – if students are running the concession and it is based on any curriculum where they are part of a class that runs it is eligible. MS_modular – any classes go on in there they are eligible. Another thing that came up in my mind was what is Cat1 and Cat 2. I think you have the Cat2 stuff pretty well covered but the Cat1 not sure. Any connections between schools HS to MS even on the same campus is a CAT1 connection as long as they are in different buildings, all equipment to bring that link up is also Cat1 and covered. If the buildings are connected even though they are different schools then it is not covered. The link that goes out to the school just over a mile away is totally covered by Cat1 and all the e1uipment would also be covered to keep them connected. The wireless and the current Mikrotik and the lease through the local phone company, all covered under category one. Here is the link for the 2025 USAC funding if you have not already read this. DA-24-1104A1.pdf https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-24-1104A1.pdf. Page 12 is the building to building info. Category 2 right from the document page 8. Within, between or among instructional buildings that compromise a school campus. The second category of equipment and services eligible for E-Rate support, Category Two, includes the internal connections needed for broadband connectivity within schools and libraries. Support is limited to the internal connections necessary to bring broadband into, and provide it throughout, schools and libraries. These are broadband connections used for educational purposes within, between, or among instructional buildings that comprise a school campus (as defined below in the section titled “Eligibility Explanations for Certain Category One and Category Two Services”) or library branch, and basic maintenance of these connections, as well as services that manage and operate owned or leased broadband internal connections (e.g., managed internal broadband services or managed Wi-Fi). Category Two support is subject to district- or library system-wide budgets as set forth in 47 CFR § 54.502. The eligible components and services in Category Two are. Answer #23: Regarding switches in Admin, Old Gym, Maintenance, MS_modular, HS_Concessions, and HS_Pressbox buildings, the District does not feel comfortable trying to say we have sufficient student use of these spaces using the network. We know what our current use of our building spaces is. RFP responses should separate out the E-Rate eligible and Non-E-Rate eligible products and services as the district has defined it in the Existing Network Switches & Data posted excel file that you are referring to. As far as the topic of E-Rate internet circuits into our district, that is not part of the scope of this RFP.

Question #24: Do you have a count of switches? Answer #24: Read the RFP and associated "Existing Network Switches & Data" excel sheet which has the current list of switches.

Question #25: Do you want e-rate eligible switches split the from non-eligible switches in the proposal. Answer #25: Read the RFP. The proposals needs to separate "E-Rate eligible products and services" from "non-eligible products and services." Note: The District has defined which switches we are calling e-rate eligible as listed in the "Existing Network Switches & Data" document.

Question #26: Do you require advanced layer 3? Answer #26: The district refers to the RFP specs, which says we are requiring layer 3 on all switches. We did not specify "advanced," but advanced, whatever that means, is fine as long as all switches have layer 3.

Question #27: What type of fiber do you have? Answer #27: We referred the vendor at the walkthrough to the posted answer on our website [Answer #2]. The walkthrough is the vendors opportunity to look at the switches, determine fiber lines types, fiber transceiver types, MMF vs Single mode cabling.

Question #28: In the MDF, how many 10Gbps ports do you need? Answer #28: That is posted in the specs and associated documents, and vendors are allowed to take pictures of the core switch during the walkthrough.

Question #29: Do you want cloud or on premise management of switches. Answer #29: This question is already answered and posted [answer #4 and answer #4 modified]. [Repeat of Answer #4] We are not requiring a cloud management solution to manage our switches. We will let the vendor make proposals on the on-prem method(s) to manage the switches. The RFP specifications have a paragraph labeled "Network switch configuration capability for all switches." Please refer to that section of the RFP for our requirements. One of our RFP evaluation rubric components is "Programming Interface: Ease of use, capability, and flexibility of switch management" which could apply to the various ways and flexibility to manage switches. [Repeat of Answer #4 modified] We are not requiring a cloud management solution to manage our switches. We will let the vendor make proposals on the on-prem method(s) and/or cloud management to manage the switches. The RFP specifications have a paragraph labeled "Network switch configuration capability for all switches." Please refer to that section of the RFP for our requirements. One of our RFP evaluation rubric components is "Programming Interface: Ease of use, capability, and flexibility of switch management" which could apply to the various ways and flexibility to manage switches.

Question #30: Where is the demarc. Answer #30: Middle School.

Question #31: [During walkthrough and looking at MDF switch and patch panels] Vendor asked what our opinion was about moving patch panels around and putting smaller [1RU] switches between each patch panel. Answer #31: Moving patch panels is not specifically something we asked for, nor in the scope of the RFP.

Question #32: What is the expected installation date? Answer #32: The answer was posted already as answer #5 that says [Repeat of Answer #5] we ask that the installation happens within whatever window that allows the district to utilize e-rate funds. If the installation were to occur during the school year when students are scheduled to be in session, the vendor would need to coordinate with the Technology Director for install dates and times which may need to be after hours or weekends if potentially disrupting internet traffic for students and/or staff.