E-Rate Form 470: A Plain Guide for Schools and Libraries

Form 470 is how a school or library opens competitive bidding for E-Rate services. A clean one brings you more useful bids and fewer problems later. This is a plain overview. Always check current rules with USAC.

Where Form 470 fits

Form 470: describe what you need and open bidding, through USAC’s E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC)
Wait at least 28 days: bidders need that time, and you cannot choose a vendor before it ends
Evaluate bids: price of the eligible services must be your most heavily weighted factor
Sign a contract, then file Form 471 during the application window
Funding decision, then Form 486 once services start
Invoicing through the provider or by reimbursement to you

Writing a Form 470 that gets useful bids

List every site and describe the service and bandwidth you need
Avoid naming a brand unless you also add “or equivalent”
Attach any RFP or local procurement rules, and follow them as well as the E-Rate rules
Keep your bid evaluation records. USAC can ask for them, and retention rules run for years

Common mistakes

Selecting a vendor before the 28 days are up
Letting a bidder help write the Form 470, which can compromise the bidding
Giving another factor more weight than price
Filing Form 471 for services the Form 470 did not cover

Working with FiberFed

We respond to Form 470 requests for internet access and WAN. Program services run under our E-Rate and Rural Health Care Rider. See E-Rate services, or our E-Rate guide for the wider program.