Active SLED Opportunity · CALIFORNIA · NEVADA COUNTY (CA)
AI Summary
Nevada County (CA) seeks proposals for modernizing its enterprise network access switching infrastructure with a future-ready, secure, and scalable solution including deployment assistance and long-term support.
The County of Nevada (“the County”) is seeking proposals from qualified vendors and value-added resellers (“Respondents”) to supply, license, and assist in the deployment of a modern enterprise network access switching solution to replace the County’s aging access-layer infrastructure. This Request for Proposals (RFP) describes the County’s requirements, the scope of the engagement, the evaluation approach, and the instructions Respondents must follow to submit a responsive proposal. The County intends to replace approximately ninety (90) access-layer switches—with a planning range of eighty (80) to one hundred (100) units—deployed across data center, campus, and remote County facilities. Beyond a like-for-like hardware replacement, the County is seeking a future-ready access platform that will serve as the foundation for network access control, segmentation, and a progressive move toward a Zero Trust security posture over the life of the equipment. Objectives Through this procurement, the County aims to: Modernize the access layer by replacing end-of-life switching hardware with a platform expected to remain fully supported for a minimum of seven (7) years, with ten (10) or more years strongly preferred. Establish a foundation for security and access control, including support for port-level authentication (e.g., 802.1X), Network Access Control (NAC), dynamic segmentation, and integration with the County’s existing security ecosystem. Simplify operations by consolidating management, monitoring, and troubleshooting under a centralized “single pane of glass” capable of administering the new access infrastructure and, where feasible, interoperating with adjacent third-party systems. Reduce operational burden on a small internal team by securing vendor or reseller deployment assistance with clearly defined hand-off, validation, and post-deployment support. Protect the County’s investment through transparent licensing terms, predictable end-of-life timelines, and a scalable hardware design (including modular, upgradable power) that can adapt to changing needs without a full hardware refresh. Intended Outcome The County is procuring the right long-term solution rather than the lowest-cost solution. Proposals will be evaluated on the overall balance of functionality, scalability, total cost of ownership, supportability, and fit with the County’s environment and future direction. Cost is a meaningful factor but is not the sole determinant of award. This RFP will result in the award of one contract to be effective for the duration of the project with an option to renew the contract for two additional one-year periods to support the project as needed, at the County’s discretion. This RFP includes a description of the scope of work, proposal requirements, and instructions for submitting your proposal.
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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