Thank you Anne, so far none of the bids match the specifications laid out
in the 470.

On Tue, Feb 9, 2016 at 1:58 PM, Anne Perloff <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> If you do not like any bids received, you can always stop the process
> right there. You are not required to sign a contract and file a Form 471 to
> apply for E-Rate funds just because you posted a Form 470.
>
> Assuming you really do want to proceed, consider the bid responses.
>
> Was there something unclear in your Form 470 that caused providers to not
> respond appropriately? You can file a new Form 470, making any necessary
> changes. There is still time left.
>
> Did none of the service providers offer bids that complied with
> specifications you laid out in your Form 470 or RFP? You can disqualify
> non-compliant bids. If no one met your requirements (and you can show why
> the bid responses were disqualified) you can solicit new bids. You can also
> file a new Form 470.
>
> Are the costs prohibitive? You can negotiate pricing as long as everyone
> is afforded the same opportunity.
>
> ​Document everything of course!​
>
> _____________________________________________
>
> *Anne Perloff*
> Maine State E-Rate Coordinator for Schools
> Networkmaine ... a unit of the University of Maine System
>
> Web: www.networkmaine.net/erate/
>
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
> Phone: 207-561-3584
>
> Fax: 207-561-3531
>
> Mail:
> Networkmaine
> 5752 Neville Hall Rm 244
> University of Maine
> Orono, ME 04469
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 9, 2016 at 1:14 PM, Tabor, Jennifer <
> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Hi Anne,
>> What if we don't like any of the bids we receive, do we have to award a
>> contract?
>>
>> Looking forward to your reply,
>> Jennifer
>>
>> On Tue, Feb 9, 2016 at 9:10 AM, Anne Perloff <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> After the Form 470 is posted, there is a mandatory 28 day (minimum)
>>> waiting period during which vendors may submit proposals to you for
>>> consideration and/or contact you for more information relating to the
>>> services you listed on your Form 470. Then, on the 29th day that your Form
>>> 470 was posted or after, you may select a vendor, sign a contract and
>>> submit the Form 471 to request E-Rate funding for those services.
>>>
>>>
>>> If contacted by a vendor about a specific service listed on a 470,
>>> applicants are required to provide relevant information to prospective
>>> vendors so they may submit solid proposals for consideration. Do not simply
>>> ignore these inquiries as it would be a violation of the E-Rate competitive
>>> bidding requirements. Applicants are encouraged to keep a log of all vendor
>>> inquiries and the responses to these inquiries. However, generic emails
>>> from vendors saying that the service provider can provide the general type
>>> of service requested is not considered a good faith response to a Form 470
>>> posting and can be considered 'spam' and ignored by the applicant. In
>>> addition, inquiries from "brokers" or mass e-mails that are not specific to
>>> your 470 are not considered legitimate inquiries by USAC.
>>>
>>>
>>> Below is a compilation of some frequently asked questions regarding
>>> vendor selection.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *1. What should we do if we received no bids for a service listed on our
>>> 470?*
>>>
>>>
>>> If you do not receive any bids after your 28-day waiting period, you can
>>> contact service providers to solicit bids and can then review and evaluate
>>> any bids received as a result. However, remember that if you post a new FCC
>>> Form 470, issue a new Request for Proposal (RFP), or amend your existing
>>> RFP, you start a new 28-day waiting period.
>>>
>>>
>>> If the Form 470 is for an existing service, you can choose to remain
>>> with your incumbent provider. You are not required to seek more than one
>>> bid, but if you only get one bid, you must make sure that it is cost
>>> effective.
>>>
>>>
>>> Memorialize what occurred by writing a memo for your files (or email to
>>> yourself. The memo should include the following:
>>>
>>>
>>> "At the conclusion of the Form 470 28-day waiting period, we did not
>>> receive any bids. We subsequently contacted [LIST OF VENDORS]."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *2. What should we do if we only receive one bid for a service listed on
>>> our 470?*
>>>
>>>
>>> Memorialize why you selected the vendor you did by writing a memo for
>>> your files (or email to yourself) explaining why you selected that
>>> particular vendor. The memo should include the following:
>>>
>>>
>>> "At the conclusion of the Form 470 28-day waiting period, we only
>>> received one bid, which was from [VENDOR]. We reviewed the bid for cost
>>> effectiveness and selected [VENDOR] as the provider for [DESCRIPTION OF
>>> PRODUCT OR SERVICE] to our entity.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *3. What should we do if our existing vendor did not submit a bid?*
>>>
>>>
>>> You may use a recent invoice from your existing provider as a bid
>>> response and evaluate that invoice with the other bids received.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> * 4. Do we have to select the lowest bid?*
>>>
>>>
>>> No. You are just required to select the lowest responsible bid after you
>>> have completed a bid evaluation process. Keep in mind though that price of
>>> eligible services has to be the most heavily weighted factor, which means
>>> for example that if you have 3 criteria that you judged the proposals on,
>>> the price of eligible services must be at least 34% of the total weight.
>>> Many other factors besides price may be considered (for example, vendor
>>> qualifications/experience, in-state preference, existing relationship with
>>> school, references from other school customers, cost of ineligible
>>> services/equipment such as new cell phones required to run on vendor's
>>> network). Keep all of the bids received and the tool you used to evaluate
>>> bid responses as proof that you selected the lowest responsible bid.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *5. Are you required to respond to vendors that contact you after the
>>> 28-day waiting period?*
>>>
>>>
>>> No. But you may do so as long as you afford all vendors the same
>>> opportunity.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *6. Are you required to meet with vendors?*
>>>
>>>
>>> No. But you may do so as long as you afford all vendors the same
>>> opportunity.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *7. Is there anything we can do during this 28 day waiting period?*
>>>
>>>
>>> Of course!
>>>
>>>    - You are permitted to reach out to vendors and encourage them to
>>>    submit proposals in response to your Form 470 posting.
>>>    - Begin your Form 471 online by completing the information that you
>>>    already know. Then when you select your vendors, you can complete the
>>>    remainder.
>>>
>>>
>>> *8. When can I file a Form 471?*
>>>
>>>
>>> If your 28-day waiting period has already expired (meaning your
>>> Allowable Contract Date has passed), you may submit your Form 471 if you
>>> have conducted your bid evaluation, selected your vendor(s), and signed a
>>> contract (unless you are just purchasing on a month-to-month basis).
>>>
>>>
>>> _____________________________________________
>>>
>>> *Anne Perloff*
>>> Maine State E-Rate Coordinator for Schools
>>> Networkmaine ... a unit of the University of Maine System
>>>
>>> Web: www.networkmaine.net/erate/
>>>
>>> Email: [log in to unmask]
>>>
>>> Phone: 207-561-3584
>>>
>>> Fax: 207-561-3531
>>>
>>> Mail:
>>> Networkmaine
>>> 5752 Neville Hall Rm 244
>>> University of Maine
>>> Orono, ME 04469
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Jennifer Tabor
>> Director of Curriculum
>> RSU 64
>> Superintendent's Office
>> 408 Main St.
>> Corinth, ME 04427
>> 207-285-3334
>>
>
>


-- 
Jennifer Tabor
Director of Curriculum
RSU 64
Superintendent's Office
408 Main St.
Corinth, ME 04427
207-285-3334