The short answer
- The Form 470 Download Tool on opendata.usac.org searches and downloads Form 470 data and the RFP documents attached to them, with no EPC login.
- Read the services and quantities, the allowable contract date, the bid due date and how bids must be submitted, and whether an RFP is attached.
- A posting doesn't tell you who holds the work today or how much Category 2 budget is left. Those come from other USAC data.
Where to search
| Tool | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Form 470 Download Tool | Search and download Form 470s and their RFP documents |
| E-Rate FCC Form 470 Tool Data | Filter the underlying dataset, export it, or pull it through the API |
| Search FCC Forms 470, in EPC | Search from your service provider landing page in EPC |
| Entity Search Tool | Look up an applicant's BEN, its schools and their details |
| FRN Status | See what an applicant was funded for before, and by whom |
Sources: USAC, E-Rate tools; USAC, responding to bids.
The Open Data tools don't need an EPC login, so they are the easiest place to start. Filter by funding year (funding year 2027 is being bid now), state and service type.
What to read on a posting
- Applicant and BEN. The billed entity, which may be a district, a library system or a consortium.
- Services requested. Category, service type and function, quantities, and any manufacturer named "or equivalent".
- RFP documents. If the applicant issued an RFP, it has to be uploaded to the 470 in EPC, so you'll find it with the posting.
- Allowable contract date. The earliest day the applicant can sign (see the allowable contract date).
- Bid due date and method. Usually in the narrative or the RFP. Some applicants take bids only by email, some only through a portal.
- Contact. Who to send questions to, and sometimes a consulting firm.
- Status. Whether the 470 is certified or has been canceled.
What a posting can't tell you
A 470 describes what the applicant wants. It doesn't say who holds the work today, how much of its five-year Category 2 budget is left, or what USAC funded for similar equipment last year. Those are in other public USAC data:
- Finding the incumbent, from FRN Status
- Category 2 budgets, from student counts and funding requests this cycle
- Pricing benchmarks, from Form 471 line items
Rules when you respond
- You may not prepare, sign, post or certify an applicant's Form 470, give input into its RFP, or be the contact on the form.
- Gifts to applicant staff are prohibited, with limited exceptions.
- Price of the eligible products and services must be the applicant's primary factor, weighted more heavily than any other single factor.
- You can submit a bid after the allowable contract date unless the applicant's requirements say otherwise.
- The FCC has ordered a USAC bidding portal for bids starting with funding year 2028, once the Office of Management and Budget approves the rule.
From searching to alerts
Searching works, but it's a daily chore in season, and most postings in a state won't be a fit. E-Rate Workbench runs the search for you every night against your bases, services and no-bid rules, adds the incumbent and remaining Category 2 budget, and emails the keepers each morning. See Form 470 alerts.
Questions providers ask
Is the Form 470 search free?
Yes. USAC's Open Data tools and EPC's Form 470 search are free. The Open Data tools don't need an EPC login.
Where do I find the RFP for a Form 470?
With the posting. If an applicant issues an RFP, it must upload it to the Form 470 in EPC; a link alone isn't enough. The Form 470 Download Tool lets you download RFP documents.
Which funding year should I search?
Form 470s for funding year 2027, which starts July 1, 2027, opened in EPC on July 1, 2026. Check the funding year on each posting, since some applicants still post for the current year.
Can I search by service type?
Yes. Filter by category and service type, such as internal connections, managed internal broadband services or basic maintenance of internal connections.