USAC Information and Updates
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has made available a flat 65% subsidy for eligible health care providers in the Rural Health Care program (RHC) Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF). The Universal Services Administrative Company (USAC) facilitates programs on behalf of the FCC.
During the funding year, Requests for Proposals (RFP) will be posted to the USAC website. Find active RFPs here.
The application period for Fund Year 2024, [July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025], is underway. For a list of consortium sites participating in the 2023 Fund Year, please contact us at: info@fedfunding.net
Search for RFPs by Consortium HCP#
Kansas Health-e Broadband Consortium, HCP# 33832
Alabama Hospital Association Broadband Consortium, HCP# 71046
Arkansas Hospital Association Broadband Connectivity Consortium, HCP# 93415
Nebraska Hospital Association Connectivity Consortium, HCP# 96491
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Inline with fair and open bidding requirements, any clarification and/or questions in regard to posted RFPs that FFG manages will be posted here on the FFG website.
Questions and answers for FY2024 RFPs will be posted below. Check back often.
Q: With respect to the AltaPoint (461-Form #: RHC46100006303 and 6302),Are these responses sent to you directly via email, or delivered to 500 N Eastern Blvd in Montgomery directly?
A: All responses should be sent to info@fedfunding.net as outlined in the RFP document.
Q2- If delivered to Montgomery, how many physical and electronic copies of the response are necessary? N/A
Q3 – Due to the Columbus Day holiday is there a chance the responses can be moved back an additional day or week?
A: This is a date set by USAC. 10/10/23 is the Allowable Contract Selection Date (ACSD), the RFP posting period closes on the 9th.
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Questions and answers for FY2023 RFPs will be posted below. Check back often.
Q: “I see we have an opportunity to bid for this location. I just wanted to reach out and see if you thought it would be worth our time to bid. Please let me know your thoughts.”
A: I always encourage vendors to participate. It is a good opportunity for health care providers (HCP) to know what is available to them.
Q: “I was trying to edit the PDF to add in our responses, and I’m having trouble. I wanted to ask if you have the RFP in a word format that we could use for our official response?
A: Yes, [sent] please reach out directly if a WORD copy is needed.
Please note the RFP closes on October 11, at 5pm MST. The Allowable Contract Selection date (ACSD) is October 12. Many service providers are unaware of the 2 different dates.
Q: “For Form 461, 461100000727, is the health care provider looking for a site to site mesh network, or Ethernet to all locations, could you be more specific?”
A: The HCP is looking at all options at this time. Many services are coming up for renewal and it is beneficial for them to know the new market prices. At this time there are no new builds anticipated. HCP has moved away, or in process of moving away, from smaller service types such as PRI, T1s and are looking for increased bandwidth and reliable operable service. We understand providing quotes for multiple locations without fully executed site surveys, which takes time, is challenging. We suggest giving multiple price ranges to show best and worse case dependent on site survey, especially if you know the location would need a site survey.
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Q: In order to provide a full response that meets your requirements at the best prices, we need additional information to ensure a clear understanding of the project to be undertaken, and/or the services desired.
- Is there more specific information available for example type of service and speed at the locations?
A: Form RHC46100003804 is for the University of Alabama Birmingham locations listed in the RFP, page 14. They currently have data services in place; however, they are open to seeing new market pricing and open to learning about new technology that may be available to them. We ask that service providers provide variable bandwidth quotes for services, to accommodate for growth, that they can provide for the locations listed.
Please provide variable bandwidth options for Internet and Ethernet connections. Currently the lowest bandwidth speed they have is 50M Ethernet connection and largest 10G Internet.
The RFP closes 1/25/23, with the allowable contract selection date of 1/26/23.
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Fund Year 2022 RFP Questions / Answers:
Address clarification on FCC # 100054464
Please note the correct address for HCP 108501, Ness City Medical Clinic, is 316 E Custer, Ness City KS 67560