• Applicants
  • Step 1: Determine Eligibility
  • Step 2: Develop a Technology Plan
  • Step 3: Open a Competitive Bidding Process
  • Step 4: Select a Service Provider
  • Step 5: Calculate the Discount Level
  • Step 6: Determine Your Eligible Services
  • Step 7: Submit Your Application for Program Support
  • Step 8: Undergo Application Review
  • Step 9: Receive Your Funding Decision
  • Step 10: Begin Receipt of Services
  • Step 11: Invoice USAC
• Service Providers
  • Step 1: Obtain a Service Provider Identification Number
  • Step 2: Search Applicant Requests for Service
  • Step 3: Respond to Applicant Requests
  • Step 4: Applicants Select Service Provider
  • Step 5: Assist Applicants with Application Review
  • Step 6: Receive Funding Commitment Decision Letter
  • Step 7: Begin Providing Services
  • Step 8: File Annual Certification
  • Step 9: Invoice USAC

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Operational SPIN Change

An operational SPIN change may only be requested by the applicant. The SLD permits Operational SPIN changes when an applicant certifies that (1) the SPIN change is allowed under its state and local procurement rules, (2) the SPIN change is allowable under the terms of any contract between the applicant and its original service provider, and (3) the applicant has notified its original service provider of its intent to change service providers.

Such Operational SPIN changes must be postmarked or received no earlier than the date of the Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) and no later than the last date to submit an invoice. Note that requests for pre-commitment Operational SPIN changes will not be processed.

1. Operational SPIN changes may be requested and approved for tariffed and month-to-month services as well as for contract services.

The SLD will consider SPIN change requests for tariffed and month-to-month services as well as for contract services. For tariffed and month-to-month services, there would be no issue of the change being permitted under the terms of the contract; however, compliance with state and local procurement rules and notification to the service provider are required. Since timing of payments may be a critical issue in these instances, please read When to file SPIN change requests below.

2. Operational SPIN change request deadlines.

A SPIN change request for a funding request (FRN) must be postmarked or received by the last date to submit an invoice for that FRN. (For further information on deadlines, please refer to Service Delivery Deadlines and Extension Requests posted in the Reference Area of this web site.)

3. Changes of SPIN in multi-year contracts are conditionally eligible.

If the applicant has a multi-year contract with the service provider from which it wishes to switch, it may switch to a multi-year contract with a new service provider without posting a new FCC Form 470 and waiting at least 28 days. The multi-year contract with the new service provider must have an expiration date no later than the original contract. Neither contract should be longer than any term for the contract described in the original Form 470 or the RFP under which the original service provider was selected.

4. Service substitutions.

A change in service provider, by itself, does not allow a substitution in the specific products or services to be supplied. Such substitutions are available in limited circumstances that are described in the document Service Substitutions posted in the Reference Area of this web site.

Applicants may make a simultaneous request for both service substitution and change in service provider by (1) following the steps as outlined in the Service Substitutions procedure, and (2) including the service provider change letter described below as an additional attachment to the service substitution request.

In the event that a simultaneous service substitution and service provider change cannot be granted due to a problem with one request or the other, the SLD will contact the applicant to determine if the SLD should continue to process the remaining request.

5. When to file Operational SPIN change requests.

The SLD is concerned about its ability to pay the appropriate service provider depending on when service provider changes are made and when SPIN change requests are received and approved. If a service provider is changed before the SLD approves a SPIN change request, there is a possibility that the SLD will inadvertently pay the old service provider and that payment would be deducted from the funding commitment. To minimize that possibility, APPLICANTS SHOULD NOTIFY THE SLD OF THEIR INTENT TO CHANGE SERVICE PROVIDERS AS SOON AS THE DECISION IS MADE AND SHOULD ADVISE THE SLD OF THE PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CHANGE. Unless the applicant indicates an effective date in the future or upon approval by the SLD, the SLD will make no additional payments on the FRN until the SPIN change is reviewed and either (1) approved and the SPIN is changed or (2) denied and the SLD verifies that additional invoices are for services actually rendered to the applicant by the original service provider.

6. How to apply for an Operational SPIN change.

You can request an Operational SPIN Change by indicating the service provider name and SPIN indicated on the Funding Commitment Decision Letter and the correct service provider name/SPIN to be reflected on SLD records.

Operational SPIN change requests must be in writing. You must supply the following information in your request.

1.	Billed Entity Number
2.	Applicant Name
3.	Funding Request Number (FRN)
4.	Form 471 Application Number
5.	Applicant Contact
6.	Applicant Phone
7.	Applicant E-mail address
8.	Original SPIN
9.	Original Service Provider
10.	Original Service Provider Contact
11.	Original Service Provider Phone
12.	Original Service Provider E-mail address
13.	New SPIN
14.	New Service Provider
15.	New Service Provider Contact
16.	New Service Provider Phone
17.	New Service Provider E-mail address
18.	Has the original service provider supplied any services under this funding request? If yes, you must supply the following information. For recurring services: a. MONTHLY PRE-DISCOUNT AMOUNT for original service provider Do not provide the total pre-discount amount for the funding year or the total funding commitment. Only provide the monthly amount. b. MONTHLY PRE-DISCOUNT AMOUNT for new service provider Neither a. nor b. may be greater the Item 23c on Form 471. c. EFFECTIVE DATE OF CHANGE The date must be expressed as the first day of the month (e.g., October 1, 2003 not October 20, 2003. d. LAST DAY OF SERVICE for new service provider   For non-recurring services: a. ONE-TIME PRE-DISCOUNT AMOUNT for original service provider Do not provide the total pre-discount amount for the funding year or the total funding commitment. Only provide the monthly amount. b. ONE-TIME PRE-DISCOUNT AMOUNT for new service provider The sum of a. and b. may be greater the Item 23h on Form 471. c. EFFECTIVE DATE OF CHANGE The date must be expressed as the first day of the month (e.g., October 1, 2003 not October 20, 2003. d. LAST DAY OF SERVICE for new service provider
19.	The following certification: "I certify that (1) all SPIN changes requested in this letter are allowed under all applicable state and local procurement rules, (2) the SPIN changes are allowable under the terms of the contract, if any, between the applicant and its original service provider, and (3) the applicant has notified its original service provider of its intent to change service providers."
	OR
	In cases where the original provider is no longer in business, you may use the following certification instead: "I certify that (1) all SPIN changes requested in this letter are allowed under all applicable state and local procurement rules, (2) the SPIN changes are allowable under the terms of the contract, if any, between the applicant and its original service provider, and (3) the applicant attempted to notify its original service provider of its intent to change service providers but could not because the service provider is not available for contact."

 

The request may be sent by regular mail, fax, or e-mail.

Regular Mail
The letter should be labeled "Operational SPIN Change" and sent to:

Operational SPIN Change
Schools and Libraries Division
Box 125 - Correspondence Unit
80 S. Jefferson Rd
Whippany, NJ 07981

Fax
Please include a fax cover page to ATTN: Operational SPIN Change and indicate the number of pages you are faxing. The Fax Number is (973) 599-6526.

E-mail
The subject line of the e-mail should include the words "Operational SPIN Change." Send via e-mail.