Rural Health Care
About Rural Health Care:
- Overview of the Program
- Overview of the Process
- Monthly Conference Calls
- Site Visits
- Understanding Audits
- Filing Appeals
- Rural Health Care Pilot Program
Rural Health Care Tools:
Step 3: 28-day Competitive Bidding Requirement
The posting date, the date on which USAC posts an applicant's Description of Services Requested and Certification Form (Form 465), starts the 28-day competitive bidding process.
All health care providers seeking support must complete the 28-day posting requirement before entering into an agreement to purchase services.
In addition to posting Form 465 on the USAC website, a health care provider may choose to issue a request for proposal (RFP) for telecommunications or Internet services. Issuing an RFP does not exempt a health care provider from the requirement to post a Form 465 on the USAC website or to wait 28 days before contracting for services.
Service providers may contact health care providers directly to negotiate rates and conditions for providing service. USAC is not involved in contract negotiations between health care providers and service providers.
Health care providers may contact service providers after Form 465 has been posted on the USAC website to discuss their needs with service providers serving their area. However, health care providers must wait 28 days from the date of posting before entering into any agreement to purchase services with a vendor.
Health care providers entering into an agreement to obtain services before the 28-day posting period is completed or signing a Funding Request and Certification Form (Form 466) before the 28-day posting period is completed will be ineligible to receive support.
