I have $5,000 in Subsidized Direct Loans at 4.06% and $12,500 in
Perkins loans at the fixed 5% interest rates.

I have been looking at federal consolidation programs and have been
finding that although the variable rates are now very low (2.82%) only
my Direct loans receive that rate, so my new rate if I consolidated
both loans would be about 4.5% or 4.375%.

Is there any way to get my Perkins loans consolidated at a lower rate
through federal consolidation programs?  Will private lenders offer
low enough interest rates and fees to be worth considering?