IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION: With this FCC Form 470 CENIC is procuring lit or managed circuits and optional dark fiber segments for California public libraries. Proposers interested in responding to this RFP MUST submit a signed Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) or have an existing NDA on file with CENIC. The signed NDA (Exhibit A), MUST be submitted to 2027libraryrfp@cenic.org. Upon receipt of a signed Exhibit A, a list of aggregation hub site (Exhibit B) addresses will be provided. Any questions on the RFP must be conveyed in writing and will be answered in writing. The Question & Answer exhibit will be posted online on the CENIC website https://cenic.org/publications/2027libraryrfp. Questions should be submitted to the following e-mail address: 2027libraryrfp@cenic.org.Proposers are encouraged to review the Questions & Answers exhibit before submitting a question in case it may have previously been asked and answered. Note that the quantities listed on this FCC Form 470 are best estimates. Final quantities ordered will depend on the available bandwidths and final network configurations. Exhibit D lists the A and Z locations for which E-rate eligible pricing and solutions are requested as well as indicates desired bandwidths. Broadband services SHALL consist of one of the following or equivalent: (1) Metro Ethernet service (MEF standards compliant) at the CIRs requested, (2) dedicated lit DWDM-based or direct-fiber-based point-to-point at Gigabit (1,000 Mb/s), 10 Gigabit (10,000 Mb/s), 100 Gigabit (true 100GbE not 10x10GbE) (100,000 Mb/s), or 400 Gigabit (true 400GbE not 4x100GbE (400,000 Mb/s), or (3) a pair of single mode dark fibers (Optional), connecting each site to the specified location on Exhibit D. Note that some of the bandwidths requested exceed the maximum currently available in the FY 2027 FCC Form 470 dropdown selections which currently lists the maximum as 100 Gbps. CENIC is seeking bids up to 400 Gbps. If discounts are available for ordering multiple circuits, please indicate the discounted rates under the Multiple Bandwidth sections in Exhibit D. CENIC plans to post a separate Form 470 and RFP for Category One network equipment for all of its segments. For the convenience of sorting and evaluation, responses MUST be submitted using the Pricing Worksheet (Exhibit D) and responses cannot be in PDF or locked spreadsheets. SPAM and/or robotic responses will not be considered valid bid responses and will be disqualified from consideration. Bidders are to carefully review the Request for Proposal documents and exhibits for all minimum bidding requirements, terms and conditions, bid disqualification factors, and deadlines associated with this procurement. Responses must be received in electronic format via email at 2027libraryrfp@cenic.org by Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 5:00pm Pacific Daylight Time. Upon request by one or more proposers, CENIC may, at its sole discretion, extend the due date for all circuits or on a circuit-by-circuit basis.

Cenic-Corporation For Education Network Initiatives In California