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Board awards three-year internet and network services contract amid federal E-Rate court uncertainty
Summary
Trustees awarded a three-year contract for managed internet, content filtering and firewall services to United Data Technologies Inc. The packet shows a three-year cost of $71,885 and staff warned of a pending court challenge to E-Rate funding.
The Lincoln County School Board voted March 3 to award a three-year contract for managed internet, content filtering and basic firewall services to United Data Technologies Inc. The packet lists a total cost of $71,885 for the three-year term.
District IT staff explained the contract is routed through the federal E-Rate program, which covers a substantial portion of internet and network costs. IT staff said, "Right now, we're paying 80% of our Internet and also a lot of our network design," and described E-Rate as an important source of funding for internet connections and certain networking equipment.
IT staff cautioned trustees that the federal E-Rate program is the subject of ongoing litigation and a Supreme Court review could change funding availability. Staff said the district is monitoring the litigation and would notify the board if a court ruling required a change in funding or service agreements.
The board approved the contract award by motion and voice vote. Staff said they used the state procurement track and E-Rate bid process and that two qualified bids were received; United Data Technologies was the recommended vendor.
