Specifications include, but are not limited to: The Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) seeks to engage a contractor to assist OPLIN in providing a variety of services to the Ohio public library community regarding the application and administration of the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, more commonly known as E-rate. The contractor must have a valid E-rate Consultant Registration Number (CRN); must have a minimum of 8 years experience filing state level consortium E-rate applications; must have current and easy access to the profile data of both the public libraries and the public schools of Ohio that is held by the Schools and Libraries Program; must have the ability to validate that data; and must have the authority to request and track changes to that data. The contractor will develop and implement a series of educational workshops, to be presented and archived via webinar and optionally presented in-person. Workshops will be targeted to demonstrate typical public library application scenarios (e.g., “Preparing and Filing Form 470 for Branch Data Transmission and/or Internet Access,” “Evaluating Bids and Filing Form 471 for Branch Data Service”). Please include examples of past training materials/presentations and proposed workshop series topics in your response to this posting. The contractor will develop and implement a program of E-rate support and information to provide support to individual public libraries through email and telephone communications regarding questions and problems related to the E-rate application process as well as required interactions with federal program administrators. The contractor will also manage all aspects of OPLIN’s E-rate program including but not limited to: serving in an advisory capacity to OPLIN for E-rate services; consulting on program integrity assurance audits and other review inquiries; and preparing, submitting and reviewing OPLIN E-rate applications.
