- In order to apply for discounted services under the Universal Service
Fund (or "E-rate"), schools and libraries must demonstrate that the pre-discount prices/rates
were arrived at through a competitive bid process. Many of the contracts established by the
Office of General Services meet this
requirement. Other contracts which were negotiated directly with manufacturers offer
competitive pricing and include guidelines for contract users to negotiate best and final pricing
when making larger purchases.
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- OGS contracts offer competitive pricing and added value. The
pre-discount price (for E-rate purposes) is the price established under
these contracts or the best and final price negotiated by the school or library.
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- Considering this is the price BEFORE application of the
E-rate discount and the contracts were arrived at through a
competitive bid process or negotiation, it makes for a great
starting point for the E-rate process.
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E-Rate Filing Notes:
A school or library planning to file for an E-Rate discount under an
OGS contract is encouraged to first post its service need on the Schools
and Libraries Web site by filing its own Form 470. Once a Form 470 has
been posted for 28 days, the applicant can then select an OGS contract
vendor and file a funding request via a Form 471.
IMPORTANT: The "Contract Award Date" (Form 471 Item 18) on which the
vendor is selected must be on or after the "Allowable Vendor
Selection/Contract Date" (Form 471 - Item 17) established by the Form
470. Ideally, the applicant will document the "Contract Award Date"
with a letter or purchase order indicating the applicant's intention to
use that vendor in the upcoming funding year.
WARNING: Generally, an applicant should NOT use the actual OGS contract
date as the Form 471 "Contract Award Date" unless the applicant has an
earlier Form 470 "Allowable Vendor Selection/Contract Date." As a back
up for a school or library that did not file its own Form 470 in time,
certain OGS contracts may qualify under a Statewide Form 470. The Statewide Form 470
Application Numbers and Allowable Contract Dates are as follows:
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Application: #304530000247321 |
Allowable Date: 11/30/1999 |
Application: #225740000297481 |
Allowable Date: 11/10/2000 |
Application: #494370000371220 |
Allowable Date: 11/26/2001 |
Application: #152850000416601 |
Allowable Date: 10/22/2002 |
Application: #420390000462667 |
Allowable Date: 11/19/2003 |
Application: #414710000517758 |
Allowable Date: 01/03/2005 |
Application: #654860000569177 |
Allowable Date: 01/24/2006 |
Application: #819560000600283 |
Allowable Date: 12/28/2006 |
Application: #335210000636342 |
Allowable Date: 12/06/2007 |
Application: #320390000700980 |
Allowable Date: 12/16/2008 |
Application: #639490000795968 |
Allowable Date: 01/08/2010 |
Application: #775100000873079 |
Allowable Date: 12/31/2010 |
Application: #862000000964552 |
Allowable Date: 01/20/2012 |
Application: #119010001067275 |
Allowable Date: 12/25/2012 |
Application: #427920001159392 |
Allowable Date: 01/02/2014 |
Application: #950590001287527 |
Allowable Date: 02/11/2015 |