The School District of Manatee County seeks to establish a pre-qualified list of suppliers to provide lighting supplies. The requested scope also includes pick-up and recycling of used lamps. The solicitation is active, with bids due November 5, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. local time.
Manatee County School District is soliciting proposals from qualified USAC-approved firms for internal connections equipment at existing school sites under the E-Rate Category 2 program. The procurement includes switches, wireless access points, antennas, related software and licenses, and installation and initial configuration services. This is a competitive equipment-and-services solicitation, not a grant program, with proposals due October 29, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Manatee County School District is soliciting proposals from qualified USAC-approved firms for internal connections equipment at existing school sites under the E-Rate Category 2 program. The procurement includes switches, wireless access points, antennas, related software and licenses, and installation and initial configuration services. This is a competitive equipment-and-services solicitation, not a grant program, with proposals due October 29, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Sole Source:If sale is less than $250,000 and the product is truly proprietary and aligned to Ready 2026 goals, use sole source with justification.
Coops:Frequently procures through TIPS, OMNIA, and Sourcewell; you can gain access through the Starbridge reseller & contract-vehicle platform — reach out to your Starbridge contact to pursue onboarding.
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Manatee County School District rarely uses sole source above $250,000. Pursue sole source only if the product is genuinely proprietary and directly supports a Ready 2026 Strategic Plan goal (e.g., dyslexia or ELL software), and keep it under $250,000. Process: work with the relevant department head to draft a justification citing Florida State Board Rule 6A-1.012(12)(d) and present it to the procurement team.
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This entity actively uses cooperative purchasing and piggybacking for speed and compliance. You can get onboarded to the recommended path by reaching out to your Starbridge contact through the Starbridge reseller & contract-vehicle platform.
Recommended (accessible through Starbridge):
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Manatee County School District Contracts
Track vendor wins and renewal opportunities
Imagine Learning LLC at Manatee County School District
Effective: Jul 1, 2023Expires: Sep 30, 2026Expiration date locked.
This contract represents an agreement between the School District of Manatee County and Imagine Learning LLC for digital learning subscriptions, diagnostic and instructional language programs, professional development, and hospital-homebound school services. The agreement spans from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. It includes two price quotes, one for usage-based services and another for fixed-price digital library access and professional development. The School Board approved an estimated total expenditure of $600,000.00 for this procurement.
Amplified IT LLC at Manatee County School District
Effective: Dec 1, 2022Expires: Sep 30, 2026Expiration date locked.
This Purchase Order (SDMC1-PO00084559) from School District Manatee County to Amplified IT LLC covers a one-year license for 'Gopher Pack - Domain' (AIT-GOP-1005) for over 40,000 students. The license term is from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023. Although the PO lists zero amounts for line items and totals, a note clarifies the 'Real total' as $5464.65 after a $607.00 discount, indicating the actual cost of the service.
Amplified IT LLC at Manatee County School District
Effective: Nov 7, 2022Expires: Sep 30, 2026Expiration date locked.
This Purchase Order (SDMC1-PO00084534) dated November 7, 2022, is issued by School District Manatee County to Amplified IT LLC for 25 units of 'SUPPORT - 20-39' remote support hours. The service is to be invoiced immediately upon receipt of the PO and expires one year from the invoice date. All monetary totals within this document are listed as 0.00, with a note directing to an attached quote for detailed pricing.
ClassLink, Inc. at Manatee County School District
Effective: May 29, 2019Expires: Sep 30, 2026Expiration date locked.
This document outlines the terms and conditions for the School District of Manatee County to license and use ClassLink Software. It includes provisions for annual software licensing, technical support services under a Service Level Agreement, confidentiality obligations via a Non-Disclosure Agreement, and a detailed Data Security Statement affirming ClassLink's commitment to data privacy and security. The agreement specifies that annual fees are based on enrollment and provided via invoice, and it automatically renews annually unless terminated. The document also details warranties, limitations of liability, and general provisions governing the relationship between ClassLink and the Customer.
ClassLink, Inc. at Manatee County School District
Effective: Aug 1, 2023Expires: Sep 30, 2026Expiration date locked.
This Purchase Order (SDMC1-PO00097937) from School District Manatee County to CLASSLINK INC, dated July 13, 2023, covers the annual renewal of ClassLink LaunchPad, Analytics Plus, and Roster Server Hosting licenses for the period of August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024. Despite quantities and unit prices being listed, all extended amounts and the total PO amount are explicitly stated as 0.00.
Early Buyer Signals
Board meetings and strategic plans from Manatee County School District
School District Of Manatee County Strategic Plan 2026-2029
Date: Jan 1, 2026Type: Strategic Plan
The strategic plan for the School District of Manatee County aims to develop every student for life, learning, and leadership, preparing them to succeed and contribute to their community, grounded in a 'Portrait of a Graduate' philosophy. It is structured around four key priority areas: Student Learning & Support, Employee Retention & Wellness, Community & Family Engagement, and Financial Stewardship & Long-term Sustainability. The plan commits to core values, academic excellence, transparent communication, responsible financial stewardship, and supporting every student and employee in safe and secure environments.
School Board Workshop
Date: Oct 20, 2026Type: Meeting mention
The board workshop focused on reviewing and revising the charter for the Citizens Financial Audit Committee. Key discussion points included clarifying committee composition requirements, specifically regarding financial expertise and the inclusion of business backgrounds; establishing guidelines for committee chair and vice-chair eligibility; defining the role and limitations of the school board liaison, including the removal of the tie-breaking vote; and setting protocols for information requests from district staff.
School District of Manatee County Regular School Board Meeting
Key Contacts
Public-sector contacts connected to Manatee County School District.
The meeting featured a student celebration regarding the Guy Harvey Conservation District recognition, which highlights the district's environmental stewardship and educational programs. A public comment session addressed safety concerns regarding student conditioning exercises on stadium bleachers. The board also received reports and presentations concerning the internal audit plan and a proposed cyber security maturity assessment, which will involve collaboration with district IT staff.
Extracted from official board minutes, strategic plans, and video transcripts.
Meeting signals
Know what buyers discuss before RFPs drop
Track Manatee County School District meetings, strategic plans, and budget discussions before the public bid appears.