In order to receive E-rate funds, applicants must file three separate forms annually with the SLD in the following sequence:

STEP 1: File a Form 470(Roughly July through November)

The first step in applying for E-rate funds is to submit a Form 470 which describes the services your school or district is interested in purchasing.

If you wish to receive a proposal from SchoolDesk or from other vendors providing similar services, simply check Box 9 (Internet Access) and enter "Web Hosting" along with the total number of users and school sites you wish to cover. Below is an example of what Form 470 Block 2, Box 9 might look like:

After filing a Form 470, you must then wait 28 days before moving on to Step 2. This 28-day waiting period allows vendors to bid on the services you've requested. During this time, you are obligated to consider any and all proposals that you may receive from vendors. Note, however, that even though you may have applied for a certain service, you are not required to follow through with it in Step 2, should you decide not to.

Service providers CANNOT help you at all at this point or you will be in direct violation of SLD policies which may lead to lack of funding, financial penalties, jail time or all of the above...DON'T DO IT!

STEP 2: File a Form 471(Roughly November through early-February)

After the 28 days have gone by since submitting your Form 470, you may then sign a contract with the vendor you have chosen. Note: Your contract should contain a contingency clause that nullifies the agreement should E-rate funding not come through for whatever reason. Once a contract has been signed, you must then file a Form 471 which details all of the services you've chosen to implement and names all of the vendors that will be performing the work. If you were to select SchoolDesk for "Web Hosting Service," then starting at Section 21 of your Form 471, things should look similar to this, but only with actual costs and figures:

 
After filing your Form 471, you can review it to ensure that all your figures and calculations are correct by looking at Block 5 like the one shown below.  If it's not correct, don't panic, just contact the SLD and they can help you make corrections.

In naming vendors on a Form 471, you will need to provide their E-rate Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN). SchoolDesk's SPIN is: 143027090, and the LEGAL NAME is actually Blue Torch Network Solutions, Inc., and NOT just "SchoolDesk".

STEP 3: File a Form 486(July and beyond)

Once the SLD has reviewed your Form 471 and funds have been allocated for that program year, you will then receive a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) specifying which components of your application have been funded and which have been denied. If your funding request has been approved, you may then begin to implement your services. Once service has begun, you must then file a Form 486 which informs the SLD that disbursement of funds can begin. If SchoolDesk were named on your Form 486, Block 3 would look similar to the one below: