DIR Contracts and E-Rate Eligibility

Mark HowardLead Contracts Manager

ICT Cooperative Contracts

What is E-Rate?

The Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, commonly known as "E-Rate," is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and provides discounts to assist most schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access.

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Who Can Participate in the E-Rate Program?

Schools

In general, a school is eligible for Schools and Libraries support if it meets the following eligibility requirements:

• Schools must provide elementary or secondary education as determined under state law.

• Schools may be public or private institutional day or residential schools, or public charter schools.

• Schools must operate as non-profit businesses.

• Schools cannot have an endowment exceeding $50 million.

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Who Can Participate in the E-Rate program?

Libraries

Libraries must meet the statutory definition of library or library consortium found in the 1996 Library Services and Technology Act (Pub. L. 104-208) (LSTA) to meet eligibility requirements for Schools and Libraries support.

• Libraries must be eligible for assistance from a state library administrative agency under that Act.

• Libraries must have budgets completely separate from any schools (including, but not limited to, elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities).

• Libraries cannot operate as for-profit businesses.

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DIR Would Like to Make the E-Rate Process as Simple as Possible

We have hopefully simplified the procurement process for products and services that qualify for E-Rate funding by filing the Form 470 with USAC on select RFOs. Contracts awarded under these RFOs are E-Rate eligible.

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Eligible contracts are designated by the following green E-Rate symbol on the contract detail page.

How Do I Know Which DIR Contracts are Eligible for E-Rate?

Critical Timing for Form 470

MUST BE POSTED at least 28 days before the filing of the Form 471, keeping in mind (1) the timeframe for compliance with all competitive bidding requirements and (2) the Form 471 application filing window opening and closing dates

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What DIR Products and Services are Eligible for E-Rate?

Four categories of eligible services have been established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):• Telecommunications Services

• Internet Access

• Internal Connections

• Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections

Services and products may be eligible, not eligible, or conditionally eligible for support. The schools and libraries Eligible Services List provides details about eligible equipment and services and the conditions under which they are eligible.

Eligibility is based on criteria established by statute and FCC rules.

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Eligible Services List

The Eligible Services List (ESL) indicates whether specific products or services may be able to receive discounts under the Schools and Libraries Support Mechanism.

The List is organized into five sections that represent the five funding categories established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plus a Miscellaneous section that is applicable to multiple categories: • Telecommunications Service

• Telecommunications

• Internet Access

• Internal Connections

• Basic Maintenance

• Miscellaneous

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DIR reviews all of its prospective competitive procurements to determine if the products and/or services fall within the current USAC Eligible Services List. If the answer is yes, and in the best interest of the State, DIR will file a Form 470 for that competitive procurement.

Once contract(s) are awarded, DIR customers can reference the appropriate DIR Form 470 for their prospective filing.

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DIR Active Form 470 Filings

Augmenting Data Communications and Telecommunications Networking Equipment and Related ServicesRFO # DIR-SDD-TMP-153

Data Storage and Related Services RFO #DIR-SDD-TMP-151

Microsoft Hosted E-Mail and Related Services RFO #DIR-SDD-TMP-148

Tex-AN Next Generation RFO #DIR-TEX-AN-NG-001

Comprehensive Web Development and Management Services RFO # DIR-SDD-TMP-117

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Look for the green “E-Rate Qualified” symbol on the contract page

Check for the RFO number in paragraph “1.B. Compliance With Procurement Laws,” which is on the first page of all DIR contracts.• B. Compliance with Procurement Laws

This Contract is the result of compliance with applicable procurement laws of the State of Texas. DIR issued a solicitation on the Comptroller of Public Accounts’ Electronic State Business Daily, Request for Offer (RFO) DIR-SDD-TMP-153, on December 18, 2009, for Data Communications & Telecommunications Networking Equipment and Related Services. Upon execution of this Contract, a notice of award for RFO DIR-SDD-TMP-153 shall be posted by DIR on the Electronic State Business Daily.

To Identify DIR E-Rate Eligible Contracts

References

For more information on E-Rate funding, visit the USAC website:

www.universalservice.org/sl/about/overview-program.aspx

Very good overview of the E-Rate process:

www.universalservice.org/_res/documents/sl/pdf/E-rate-Overview.pdf

Critical Schools and Libraries Deadlines:

www.universalservice.org/sl/tools/deadlines/default.aspx

Eligible Services List:

www.universalservice.org/sl/tools/eligible-services-list.aspx

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DIR E-Rate Questions: Contact Information

Mark Howard

Lead Contracts Establishment Manager

ICT Cooperative Contracts

512.463.2653 Office

800.348.9157

mark.howard@dir.texas.gov

www.dir.texas.gov

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