FY 2021 Rebidding Status for Category 1 FRNs

 October 6, 2020

Attached: FY 2021 Rebidding Status of Category 1 FRNs

Although FY 2020 just began, it’s time to begin planning for FY 2021 which is for services that will be provided as of July 1, 2021.  At this stage, the most important thing you can do is determine whether your Category 1 contract(s) (data transmission services and Internet access) require rebidding, and if so, assess your future needs and begin the bidding process.

How do you know when your existing contracts expire?  Of course the most definitive source is the vendor contract itself.  But assuming you entered the contract expiration date and contract extension options in your Contract Records accurately, I’ve created the attached list of all FY 2020 funded and pending Category 1 FRNs, and the expiration dates of those contracts.  In the spreadsheet there’s also a column – “Julie’s Rebidding Status Notes” – that explains whether I think the service must be rebid for FY 2021.  My data is derived from the information you entered into the FY 2020 Form 471, and my conclusions are drawn from whether your contract expires on or after June 2021, 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 M 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, 2021, you are not required to file a Form 470 for FY 2021.

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.

– Julie

Julie Tritt Schell

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

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