Agenda Item
m. Approval of Educational Funding Group, Inc. for E-Rate Consulting Services (Not to Exceed $80,000)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information and Instructional Technology
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve payment to Educational Funding Group, Inc. for E-Rate consulting services in an amount not to exceed $80,000.
Why: The E-Rate program provides critical funding support for the District’s wide area network (WAN) infrastructure, internet access, and eligible network equipment used to deliver broadband services across DeKalb County School District schools and facilities. Due to the complexity of federal E-Rate rules, application processes, and compliance requirements, specialized consulting support is required to ensure the District remains compliant, competitive, and positioned to maximize available funding. Approval of this item authorizes continued professional E-Rate consulting services in support of the Division of Information and Instructional Technology.
Details: The Educational Funding Group, Inc. (EFG) serves as the District’s E-Rate consulting partner, guiding DCSD through the extensive rules, procedures, and compliance obligations of the federal E-Rate program. The E-Rate program, funded through the Universal Service Fund and administered by USAC under the direction of the FCC, is designed to provide discounts to assist schools and libraries in obtaining affordable telecommunications and internet access.
The E-Rate program supports two primary categories of services:
Category 1: Services that provide connectivity to and within educational facilities, including internet access and wide area network services.
Category 2: Eligible internal connections and equipment, including wireless access points, switches, routers, data cabling, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
Key Services Provided by EFG:
Technology Review
Form Preparation
Competitive Bidding Support
USAC Review Support
Post-Commitment Actions
Document Retention
E-Rate Compliance and Regulatory Guidance
Ancillary Services
Continued collaboration between Educational Funding Group and DCSD has helped ensure the District consistently receives maximum benefit from the E-Rate program while strengthening and expanding its network infrastructure in a compliant and cost-effective manner.
Financial impact: General Fund
100.2800.530000.00011.7600.9990.0308.070.0000
Contact: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information and Instructional Technology, 678.676.1274
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Pending Approval by the Office of Legal Affairs
Chronology: Educational Funding Group (EFG)
The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) participates annually in the federal E-Rate program
to support critical network infrastructure, internet access, and eligible equipment needed to
deliver reliable broadband services across schools and administrative facilities. The E-Rate
program, funded through the Universal Service Fund and administered by the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), provides discounts to eligible schools and libraries for qualified
telecommunications, internet access, and internal network services and equipment.
Due to the complexity of E-Rate regulations, application requirements, audit processes, and
ongoing compliance obligations, DCSD requires specialised professional consulting support to
ensure full regulatory compliance and to maximise available E-Rate funding opportunities.
Educational Funding Group, Inc. (EFG) has served as the District’s E-Rate consulting partner,
guiding DCSD through the program’s requirements and supporting the successful planning,
application, and administration of E-Rate-funded projects.
The E-Rate program supports two primary service categories:
● Category 1: Services that provide connectivity to and within educational facilities,
including wide area network (WAN) services and internet access.
● Category 2: Eligible internal connections and equipment, including wireless access
points, switches, routers, data cabling, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
Through its engagement with DCSD, EFG provides comprehensive professional consulting
services designed to support the full E-Rate lifecycle, from strategic planning and competitive
bidding through application, review, post-commitment administration, and reimbursement.
Key Services Provided by EFG:
Technology Review
● Reviews the District’s existing and planned technology needs relative to E-Rate eligible
services
● Aligns District projects with E-Rate eligibility rules and funding priorities
● Identifies opportunities to maximise E-Rate discounts and funding utilisation
Form Preparation and Filing Support
● Prepares and processes all required E-Rate applications and forms on behalf of the
District
● Submits all filings to DCSD for review and approval prior to submission to USAC
● Supports annual FCC Forms and related program documentation
Competitive Bidding Support
● Guides the District through the E-Rate competitive bidding process in coordination with
DCSD procurement procedures
● Assists with the review and evaluation of vendor proposals
● Supports identification of the most cost-effective and compliant E-Rate eligible solutions
USAC Review and Audit Support
● Prepares written responses to USAC Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) reviews
● Supports Cost-Effectiveness, Payment Quality Assurance (PQA), and Selective Service
Reviews (SSR)
● Assists with other audits or compliance inquiries related to E-Rate-funded projects
Post-Commitment Administration
● Prepares and submits post-commitment changes and corrections, including service
substitutions and SPIN changes
● Supports service certifications, appeals, and waiver requests to USAC and/or the FCC
● Reviews vendor invoices for E-Rate accuracy prior to reimbursement submissions
Document Retention and Compliance
● Retains copies of all E-Rate-related documentation for the required compliance period,
currently ten (10) years from the last date of service
● Supports District compliance with FCC and USAC record retention requirements
E-Rate Regulatory Guidance and Ancillary Services
● Advises the District on changes to FCC and USAC E-Rate rules and regulations
● Tracks the District’s Category 2 budgets
● Evaluates NSLP/CEP data as needed
● Reconciles E-Rate reimbursements to ensure accuracy and completeness
These services constitute professional consulting services requiring specialised regulatory,
technical, and programmatic expertise. In accordance with the DeKalb County School District
Board of Education Purchasing Policy governing professional services, EFG is engaged based
on demonstrated qualifications, experience, and specialised knowledge of the E-Rate program
rather than a traditional low-bid procurement process.
Continued collaboration between Educational Funding Group and DCSD has enabled the
District to consistently maximise E-Rate funding benefits, maintain compliance with federal
program requirements, and strategically plan and implement network and connectivity initiatives
that strengthen instructional and operational technology infrastructure across the District.
Procurement:
In accordance with DeKalb County Board of Education Policy DJE III.C.4, contracts for
professional services are awarded based on qualifications and the ability to assess
professional expertise, and competitive bidding is seldom the best method for selecting
such services. EFG meets the definition of professional services based upon their
specialized skills, knowledge, and technical abilities.
Financial Impact:
Year Cost
2024 $75,000
2025 $80,000
2026 $80,000 requested