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Committee reviews E‑Rate Category 2 bid; administration recommends Dolphin Datacom for internal network gear

Souderton Area SD Committee (Curriculum/Finance/Policy) · February 11, 2026

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Summary

Administration told the committee the district’s Category 2 E‑Rate allotment supports network upgrades; a bid for switches, access points and power supplies returned a not‑to‑exceed cost of $416,199.70 and administration recommended awarding to Dolphin Datacom (district share approximately half).

Administration briefed the committee on the district’s E‑Rate Category 2 cycle (2026–2030) and recommended awarding the Category 2 bid to Consolidated Electrical Distributors / Dolphin Datacom for internal network infrastructure (switches, wireless access points, power supplies). The presenter explained that the district qualifies for a roughly 50% E‑Rate reimbursement rate and that the district allotment translates to an estimated per‑student figure used to calculate its share of eligible costs.

The administration presented a bid total not to exceed $416,199.70 and said the district’s estimated share would be approximately $208,000. The committee heard that the new Category 2 cycle runs 2026–2030, that Category 1 already was set for the next five years, and that category‑2 purchases will be funded through the E‑Rate process with consultant review of vendor responses and a rubric to score bids.

The committee did not take final contract approval at the meeting; administration said the award decision would be followed by a contract recommendation at an upcoming action meeting and that all purchasing paperwork would be presented for board approval in accordance with district procurement rules.