E Rate Consulting Services

The Vendor is required to provide assist and support eligible organizations in making full use of the E-Rate program to secure and maximize available program funding and benefits, while ensuring full compliance.
- Strategic Planning and Analysis
•    Strategic assessment of eligibility, technology needs and funding opportunities
•    Development of annual and/or multi-year strategies and timelines aligned with commission deadlines
•    Guidance on discount optimization using free & reduced lunch data
•    Ongoing expertise in E-Rate eligibility requirements and commission rules
- Application Preparation and Filing
•    Preparation, submission and tracking of all required commission forms (e.g., forms 470, 471, 472, 474, 486, 500) and related certifications
•    Assistance with proposal development and the competitive bidding process
•    Evaluation of vendor responses and award recommendations
•    Liaison between the applicant, service providers and commission
•    Coordination of responses to Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) review inquiries
- Contract Oversight
•    Guidance on contract documentation requirements to align with commission program rules
•    Review of contracts and purchase orders for eligibility and compliance
•    Monitoring of contract terms and amendments to ensure services are delivered in accordance with funding commitments
•    Collaboration with service providers to resolve issues impacting funding or service delivery
- Funding Commitment and Post-Commitment Support
•    Review of funding commitment decision letters (FCDLS)
•    Management of program-related requests, including filing waivers, service substitutions, spin changes, and form 500 adjustments, as applicable
•    Assistance with appeals of denied or reduced funding applications
•    Verification of service provider invoices against contract pricing, budgets and funding commitments
•    Facilitation of reimbursement claims submissions (billed entity applicant reimbursement (bear) or Service provider invoice (SPI))
•    Support during program audits and reviews
- Documentation and Records Management
•    Ongoing management of comprehensive, audit-ready e-rate documentation in accordance with commission program retention requirements
•    Secure storage and archiving of records with readily available access as needed
- Reporting
•    Regular reporting on the status of applications, funding commitments, and reimbursements
•    Generate reports highlighting key program milestones, such as invoicing, compliance, and issue resolution
- Training and Ongoing Support
•    Communication of timely updates on e-rate compliance, policies, and program changes
•    Formal training options on a variety of e-rate related topics
•    Coaching sessions tailored to member needs
•    Mentorship and resources to build internal Member capacity.

- Contract Period/Term: 1 year
- Pre-Proposal Meeting (Non-Mandatory) Date: September 18, 2025
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: October 02, 2025