E-Rate 2025

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The 470 form is the document you submit that officially kicks off the E-Rate process.
This form starts the competitive bidding process!

After the required 28 day waiting period for the 470 to be posted, you may close out the competitive bidding process and select your provider based on the E-Rate qualifications.

The 471 form is the document that provides USAC with the details regarding the services/equipment you are requesting as well as the entities receiving the services/equipment.

After you certify and submit your 471 form, the Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) reviewers at USAC will review your form and follow up with any additional questions needed to finalize the 471 process.

You made it! Once you receive your Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) your approved services may begin. You must submit the 486 form to inform USAC that all requirements have been met and services have begun.

After USAC has processed your 486 form, your service provider may begin invoicing for the services provider. There are two options when invoicing:

  • The 472 invoice form is the BEAR (Billed Entity Application Reimbursement) and utilized when the applicant pays the vendor in full and requests reimbursement from USAC.
  • The 474 invoice form is the SPI (Service Provider Invoice) that allows the service provider to invoice the school or USAC directly for the services provided.

* Please note this overview is a summary overview of the information provided by USAC. For detailed steps, please view the USAC page found here.

E-Rate Resources

USAC Detailed Process
Calculating E-Rate Discounts
Submitting E-Rate Forms

Contracts for IT Services & Hardware/Software in Education

ALJP

 

TIPS #250106

  • Acer
  • ACTi
  • Adobe
  • Ambit
  • APC
  • Asus
  • Audio Enhancements
  • Carbon Black
  • Check Point
  • Chromebook Tech
  • Cisco/Meraki
  • Clear Winds Solutions
  • CWT Branded
  • Dell
  • DUO
  • Dynabook
  • Eaton/Tripp Lite
  • Equipment Licensing

 

  • Extreme
  • Extron
  • Fortinet
  • Free PBX
  • GoGuardian
  • Google Admin
  • HP
  • HPE/Aruba
  • Ipevo
  • Juniper
  • Learn Safe
  • Lenovo
  • Lexmark
  • Microsoft
  • Mitel
  • Newline Interactive
  • Nutanix
  • Palo Alto

 

  • Polycom
  • Ruckus
  • School Manager
  • SentinelOne
  • SMART
  • SonicWall
  • Sophos
  • Valcom
  • Veeam
  • Verkada
  • Vertiv/Liebert
  • ViewSonic
  • VMware
  • WebRoot
  • Wyse Management
TIPS contract logo
Vendors that Clear Winds Technologies partners with, including: Dell Technologies, Cisco, VMware, Mitel, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Juniper, Veeam, HPE Aruba, HP, Lenovo, and more.