Office of Ed Tech

New Hampshire Department of Education

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NHEON > Office of Educational Technology >E-Rate > Consortium

New Hampshire K-12 Schools Connectivity Consortium In the spring of 2008, an ad hoc group of NH educators began exploring the possibility of forming a purchasing consortium. A number of K-12 schools expressed interest in forming the "NH K-12 Schools Connectivity Consortium" to provide group buying power primarily for a high speed data and voice network for schools (and possibly libraries in the future) throughout the state of NH. The group drafted an RFP and on answering questions and smoothing the way for this project to come to fruition for as many New Hampshire schools (public and private) as are interested. In the fall of 2009, with the assistance of the New Hampshire Department of Education offering to act as the consortium lead in filing an E-Rate Form 470, this effort was moved forward. The advisory committee for this effort did not choose a provider for the 2010-11 filing year. They did, however feel that a great deal was learned during the process to inform this effort for the 2011-12 filing year. A new timeline was created and another review team reviewed the proposals submitted for the 2010-11 E-Rate filing year. Concord, NH -- December 14, 2010 -- The New Hampshire Department of Education (NHDOE) is pleased to announce, on behalf of the New Hampshire K-12 Schools Connectivity Consortium, that the Consortium has selected Education Networks of America, Inc. (ENA) to provide Internet access and managed network services for Consortium members. Under the three-year contract, Consortium members—including any eligible public or private school district that wishes to join on an opt-in basis—will be able to purchase enhanced connectivity, network, and other services at Consortium pricing. Read the Press Release. If you have questions about this initiative, please email Bev Straneva at the Southwestern NH Educational Support Center in Keene. If you are interested in the possibility of your school district being a member of the K-12 Schools Connectivity Consortium, here is the ENA Proposal submitted in response to RFP and the documents referenced within the ENA proposal: ENA Proposal ENA Customer Consortium Program ENA Voice Services Brochure Letter of Reference from State of Idaho, Department of Administration Letter of Reference from Johnson County Library, Franklin, Indiana Letter of Reference from Indiana Virtual Academy, Versaille, Indiana High Speed Broadband Access for All Kids (SETDA Report, June 2008) The principal contact for ENA’s Proposal Response is: Oliver Landow, National Customer Services Director; Phone: (866) 615-1101 x 9100; Fax: (615) 312-6099; E-mail: olandow@ena.com Schools that file a Form 471 to select ENA as their chosen provider should download and retain the NHDOE certification statement in their E-Rate records.
2010-11 TIMELINE
September	The NHDOE established an E-Rate BEN number using the SLC Consortium entity category. NHDOE will submit an E-Rate Form 470 during the week of September 27, 2010 on behalf of all NH schools. The Form 470 is the mechanism set up by the E-Rate program to request bids for services. Filing the consortium Form 470 does not commit individual NH schools and school districts to participate, but allows them the option to do so. The services requested are those which were decided upon by an advisory committee on behalf of the consortium. This advisory group finalized the services to be requested on the Form 470 and within a separate RFP. The final criteria within the RFP will be used to determine which Bidder is chosen. The advisory group will rate all provider responses and choose the winning bid. Although NHDOE representatives will be part of the advisory group, the Consortium, not the state will make the final decision regarding the successful bidder.
September 13	Bidders Conference via webinar. Bidders should contact the Consortium Coordinator to indicate their attendance. The RFI was reviewed. Any significant questions raised are also posted in the Q&A included in the RFP, page 8.
November 4	Providers of managed network services are asked to indicate their proposed costs and associated details by submitting proposals to Beverly Straneva, Consortium Coordinator, acting on behalf of the consortium advisory group. The deadline for provider proposals is 11/4/2010 by 5pm.
November 15	An advisory group will cull through proposals, using an established evaluation process, as required by the E-Rate program, to select a successful provider for the consortium.
December	Information dissemination about the status of this Consortium effort will continue at the 2010 Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference in Manchester and throughout the month of December to provide information and assistance to all NH schools interested in joining the Consortium for the 2011-12 E-Rate filing year.
January	NHDOE will work with the provider to coordinate an outreach effort so that schools can be aware of the opportunity to participate.
USEFUL LINKS Forming a Consortium - http://wwwusac.org/sl/tools/reference/consortia.aspx Sample Form 470 - http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step03/form470-filing-information.aspx All steps in the process - http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/ OLD DOCUMENTS BELOW 2010 Release of RFI 2010 Official Request for Proposals (RFP) and E-Rate Form 470. 2010 E-Rate survey for schools, per Additional Services, item 5 and school survey responses 2009 Survey for School District Tech Coordinators (Nov 2009) School District Survey Results (Nov 2009) Bidders additional 2009 questions here Consortium 2009 responses to bidder questions here NH E-Rate Consortium Blog Page for 2009-10 on NHEON (not currently utilized)

Last updated: March 24, 2011