FY 2020 Rebidding Status for Category 1 FRNs

October 3, 2019

Attached: FY 2020 Rebidding Status for Category 1 Services

I realize it’s a daunting task keeping track E-rate deadlines, let alone what dates your existing contracts expire.  In order to remind you of the status of your current Category 1 contracts (telecom and Internet), attached is a list of all FY 2019 C1 FRNs, and the expiration dates of those contracts.  In the spreadsheet there’s an additional column – “Julie’s Rebidding Status Notes” – explaining whether I think the service must be rebid for FY 2020.  My data is derived from the information you entered into the FY 2019 Form 471, and my conclusions are drawn from whether your contract expires on or after June 2020, and whether you have any contract extensions that may be available to be exercised so that rebidding isn’t necessary.  The data available to me, unfortunately, doesn’t make clear whether you still have extensions remaining; it only shows if you listed that your contract included extensions when your original contract was signed.

Please refer to Column L of the attached spreadsheet (Julie’s Rebidding Status Notes); the data is color-coded as follows:

Red:  Must rebid services.

Blue:  May need to rebid, depending on whether contract extension is available/signed.

Black:  Service under contract and no rebid is required.

Based on the status, you can determine the need to file a Form 470 to competitively bid for services.

As a reminder, a Form 470 must be filed:

1)  If a service is covered on a Month-to-Month basis (meaning no contract exists – these are mostly cable modem-type services);

2)  At the beginning of any new contract.  Note:  If you posted a Form 470 in a previous year, and then signed a multi-year contract that expires on or after June 30, 2020, you are not required to file a Form 470 for FY 2020.

Important Reminder on Voluntary Extensions:

If you current contract includes voluntary extensions, and you want to exercise one of those extensions, first check to be sure that the extensions are finite and not open-ended (meaning the extensions are written for the exact number of years).   If they are written as “automatically renew”, they likely aren’t eligible to be used unless you post a new 470.  If they are finite, you are not required to post a new Form 470 to use one of the extensions, but you must have written documentation to the vendor notifying them that you are electing to extend your contract, pursuant to one of the extension terms in your original contract.

If you have any questions, please let me know.  Next, we’ll focus on how to file the Form 470 to competitively bid services.

Confused?  Register for Beginner’s Training at:  https://e-ratepa.org/?page_id=745

— Julie

Julie Tritt Schell
Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator
717-730-7133 – o
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org