Orlando Aims to Bridge Digital Divide With the Help of Vendors

To help bridge the digital divide, Orlando has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for vendors to provide mobile hot spots, tablets, laptops, mobile device management (MDM) services and software for its soon-to-be-relaunched device checkout program.

According to the RFP, the program aims to help “underserved residents with connectivity and devices, so that they have access to technology and the Internet.”

The city first piloted the program in 2021, allowing residents to check out hot spots and tablets for free from five neighborhood centers for personal use at home for several weeks at a time.

Now, the city is looking to relaunch the program and expand it to include not only hot spots and tablets but also laptops, cellular data costs for hot spots and tablets, and mobile device management for all checked-out laptops and tablets.

Per the RFP, vendors may include one, several or all the categories listed below in their response:

• Hot spots and associated cellular data: Vendors must provide 88 mobile hot spot devices with 5G and Wi-Fi speeds of at least 100 Mbps download/35 Mbps upload. Each mobile hot spot must allow a minimum of 10 devices to connect via Wi-Fi, and a one-year cellular data plan with unlimited data must be included.
• Tablets and associated cellular data: Vendors must provide 62 tablets with built-in 5G cellular connectivity. Each tablet must reach speeds of at least 100 Mbps download/35 Mbps upload when operating over their own cellular connection. A one-year cellular data plan with unlimited data must also be provided, and the tablet’s operating system must be Apple iPad OS.      
• Laptops: Vendors must provide 162 laptops. Approximately 100 laptops will be donated to residents, and 62 will be allocated to the checkout program. All computer operating systems must be Windows 11 to qualify.  
• Mobile device management for tablets and laptops: Vendors must provide MDM software and support for 62 tablets and 62 laptops on a one-year basis. When devices are checked out and returned, the city will contact the MDM provider to remotely delete any personal data and reset the device so it’s ready for the following user to check out. If a device is not returned, the city will contact the MDM provider to remotely disable it. Other MDM support includes remotely updating devices and adding applications as needed.     

More information about RFP24-0034 can be found online. Vendors must submit proposals to the city by 2 p.m. on Aug. 29.