§  54.511   Ordering services.

   (a) Selecting a provider of eligible services. Except as exempted in
   § 54.503(e), in selecting a provider of eligible services, schools,
   libraries, library consortia, and consortia including any of those
   entities shall carefully consider all bids submitted and must select
   the most cost-effective service offering. In determining which service
   offering is the most cost-effective, entities may consider relevant
   factors other than the pre-discount prices submitted by providers, but
   price should be the primary factor considered.

   (b) Lowest corresponding price. Providers of eligible services shall
   not submit bids for or charge schools, school districts, libraries,
   library consortia, or consortia including any of these entities a price
   above the lowest corresponding price for supported services, unless the
   Commission, with respect to interstate services or the state commission
   with respect to intrastate services, finds that the lowest
   corresponding price is not compensatory. Promotional rates offered by a
   service provider for a period of more than 90 days must be included
   among the comparable rates upon which the lowest corresponding price is
   determined.

   [ 79 FR 59203 , Aug. 19, 2014]