Erate Consultant

The School District of Greenville County is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide comprehensive consulting services for the Federal Communications Commission FCC E-Rate Program. The selected consultant will support the District through all phases of the E-Rate process, including strategic planning, identification of eligible services, application filing, competitive bidding support, and managing Program Integrity Assurance reviews, audits, and appeals. The objective is to maximize eligible funding while ensuring ongoing compliance with FCC and Universal Service Administrative Company USAC requirements. The contract is for an initial term of one year, with the option to extend annually for a potential total of five years. Proposals must be submitted through the Procurement Portal by 10:00 am on December 1, 2026. A critical requirement is the identification of a dedicated primary consultant who will be principally responsible for the services; the District explicitly rejects pooled or help-desk models and considers this individual a material component of the agreement. Qualified firms must demonstrate significant experience with K-12 public school districts and both Category 1 and Category 2 projects. Award selection will be based on a team evaluation and ranking of response quality, with mandatory evidence of capability required to avoid a low ranking. The successful contractor must provide comprehensive pricing, including base fees, hourly charges, and project fees. Required insurance includes Commercial General Liability, Business Auto Liability, and Worker's Compensation, with a request for disclosure regarding Professional Liability insurance. Additionally, the awarded entity must comply with South Carolina law regarding performance and payment bonds and verify that all personnel undergo criminal conviction background checks to ensure student and staff safety. Subcontracting or outsourcing of services is prohibited without prior written approval from the District.