The School Board of Alachua County ("SBAC" or "District") is seeking prospective Bidders to respond to this Invitation For Bid (hereinafter "IFB") to provide the products specified herein. The purpose of this IFB is to select a supplier(s) (hereinafter "Bidder"), secure firm prices and establish a contract for the furnishing and delivery of Ethernet Switch units in strict accordance with the requirements of this IFB. Bidder's response shall include all specified products, delivery, technical expertise, and other services as required for the proper execution and performance of contract. January 06, 2022...............Last day for Submittal of Questions
February 01, 2022..............Planned Award Date
July 1, 2022 ...................Issuance of Purchase Order 3. Award: In order to meet the needs of the Information Resources Department and in the best interest of the District, award shall be made to the low, responsive and responsible Bidder, in the opinion of the School Board. In making recommendation for award, the Purchasing Department shall take into consideration the quality and conformity of proposed products to Bid specifications and qualifications of Bidder, including capability of meeting all delivery requirements. 4. Contract Term: It is the intent of the District that this shall be a one-time purchase. The contract shall commence on the date of the purchase order and shall remain in effect until such time as delivery and acceptance of units by the District, and upon completion of the expressed and implied warranty period. In the event that the District desires to purchase additional units in excess of stated quantities, Bidder may, at its sole discretion, provide an extended ordering deadline past which unit prices will not be honored. CONE OF SILENCE: A Cone of Silence is in effect for all bids listed below as of the "Date Issued." The Cone of Silence is designed to protect the integrity of the procurement process by shielding it from undue influences prior to the recommendation of contract award. The Cone of Silence prohibits any communication regarding each bid between: a) a potential vendor, service provider, lobbyist, or consultant and the staff of the Alachua County Public Schools, including school principals; and b) a potential vendor, service provider, bidder, lobbyist, or consultant and any one or more of the School Board members or members-elect. Unless specifically provided otherwise in the bid document, the Cone of Silence does not apply to the following: a) Communication between a potential vendor, service provider, bidder, lobbyist, or consultant and the ACPS' Purchasing Department; b) Communication between a potential vendor, service provider, bidder, lobbyist, or consultant and the ACPS' Staff Attorney or School Board Attorney; c) Communications at duly noticed pre-bid meetings and site visits prior to bid opening and post-bid opening meetings and site visits, which are administered by the Purchasing Department prior to issuance of a written recommendation of contract award. The Cone of Silence terminates at the time the School Board acts on a written recommendation from the Purchasing Department regarding contract award; provided, however, that communications are permitted when the School Board receives public comment at the meeting when the recommendation is presented. Violation of this policy by a potential vendor, service provider, bidder, lobbyist, or consultant may, in the discretion of ACPS, result in rejection of said bidder, proposer, respondent and/or representative's bid, proposal, or offer and may render any contract award to said bidder, proposer or respondent voidable Jessica Lunsford Act. The School Board is required to conduct background screening of persons who are under or intend to enter into a contract with the School Board. Background screening includes submission of fingerprints (to include contractor employees, agents, and subcontractors) to the FDLE and FBI. -The standard to be applied for the screening depends on the nature of the work to be performed. There are exemptions to the fingerprinting and background screening requirements of the Act. However, even if a contractor is exempt from fingerprinting and background screening, it will be subject to a search of its name against the registration information regarding sexual predators and sexual offenders maintained by the FDLE under s. 943.043 and the national sex offender public registry maintained by the U.S. Department of Justice.
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