Board approves $33,909 firewall purchase to maintain network protection pending E‑Rate rebate
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Summary
The Cedar Springs Public Schools board approved purchasing a replacement firewall from Sentinel for $33,909 to avoid a lapse in protection. The district expects an E‑Rate rebate that would reduce net cost to about $18,989; federal E‑Rate approval remains pending.
Cedar Springs Public Schools directors approved a $33,909 purchase of a new network firewall to replace expired protection and avoid an interruption in cybersecurity coverage.
District staff said the purchase is eligible for E‑Rate (FCC) discounts and that the district expects a rebate of $14,919.96, bringing the district’s net cost to about $18,989.04 once the E‑Rate application is approved and the rebate is processed.
Michael (staff member) told the board the current firewall subscription has expired and the district is operating on a temporary license. “Because, in today's day and age, we really cannot operate without firewall. The threats and liability would just be too — you'd be too exposed to bad actors,” Michael said. He told the board the vendor Sentinel submitted the low bid and that Sentinel and Vector Technology were the two bidders.
The district advertised the project and received two bids: Sentinel at $33,909 and Vector Technology at $42,900. Staff said the project is approximately 44% E‑Rate eligible under the FCC program, which produces the $14,919.96 estimated discount. The board was asked to authorize the full purchase now so the unit can be installed before temporary coverage expires; the E‑Rate rebate would be applied later in the accounting records.
A board member moved to accept the Sentinel proposal and the motion was seconded. The board voted, and the motion carried. District staff will complete purchase and installation while awaiting final FCC/E‑Rate approval; the E‑Rate application remains under federal review.
Board members and staff emphasized the timing risks if the temporary license lapses before the new unit is in place. Staff said they are working with the vendor and the ISD to secure short extensions as needed during procurement and installation.
The board received the vendor quotes and procurement documents in the meeting packet. Staff confirmed they followed the district’s bid procedures and that the E‑Rate process typically requires paying the full vendor invoice up front and receiving the rebate when the E‑Rate fund administrator processes approved reimbursements.
No other contract details (contract number, warranty terms, or maintenance schedule) were specified during the meeting. Staff said they will return documentation to the board file and process the rebate through the district’s accounting system.
