FY 2020 Form 471 “Window” Now Open!

January 15, 2020

~ Form 471 Deadline is March 25, 2020 ~
~ Post 470’s NOW if you haven’t done so already! ~

The FY 2020 Form 471 Application Window officially opened at noon today and already 7 PA applicants have submitted Form 471s (listed below)!  If you haven’t yet posted your Form 470 for services that must be competitively bid for FY 2020, you still have some time to do so, but not much.  Although the Form 471 deadline is March 25, and therefore the last possible date to file the Form 470 is February 26, applicants – especially public schools — should have your 470’s released as soon as possible so you have time to take the contracts to your board meeting(s) for approval.   For nonpublic schools, libraries and other entities that don’t require board approval, I recommend that you have all 470s filed no later than February 1.

Reminders Before Starting Form 471:

1. CONTRACT RECORDS:   If you have signed a new contract for FY 2020, a new Contract Record must be created in EPC prior to starting the Form 471.  If you are submitting a Form 471 FRN for FY 2020 based on a multi-year contract for which you created a Contract Record in EPC in a previous year, you should NOT create a new Contract Record for FY 2020 – just cite that same contract record that’s in your Contract Module when prompted to do so in the Form 471.  The only exception to this is if you found an error to an existing Contract Record, in which case you should create a new Contract Record (there’s no way to edit an existing Contract Record in EPC, unfortunately).  Also, don’t create a new Contract Record if you are utilizing one of the available extensions on an existing contract (simply update the contract expiration date when prompted on the Form 471).

2. EPC PROFILE UPDATES:

• School and library EPC profiles have now been “locked down” and no further changes can be made in EPC.  If you need to make changes to your school or library’ EPC profiles, you should submit a RAL Correction in EPC immediately after your 471 is submitted, explaining the changes that should be made. During the review of your 471, PIA will work with you to process the entity profile update.
• Consortia memberships also have been “locked down” HOWEVER, the Client Service Bureau (CSB) does have the ability to assist consortia leaders with updating their consortia membership.  Call them at 888-203-8100 or create a Customer Service Case in EPC prior to starting your Form 471.
• The ability to link to a consultant also has been locked down, but CSB has the ability to perform this function on the backend.

3. Helpful Bidding Documents:

• Category 1 Form 470 Filing Guide, including a C1 470 drop down cheat sheet.  This message also has the C1 rebidding status for everyone who filed last year based on the data you entered into your 471 application.
• Category 2 Bidding Requirements/Options for PA Public Schools
• PEPPM E-rate Mini-Bid Guide FY 2020
• Category 2 Bidding Rules for PA Non-Public Schools and Libraries
• Calculating Available Category 2 Budgets for FY 2020 (also use the FFL tool at:  https://www.fundsforlearning.com/FFLServices/c2budgetcalculator.php)

I will be sending messages to the listserve in the coming days related to conducting bid evaluations, creating Contract Records, and filing the Form 471 in EPC.

Happy Filing!

— Julie

p.s.  Congratulations to these entities that filed their 471s in the first few hours of the FY 2020 Application Window!

• Tri-Valley Free Public Library
• Palmerton Area School District
• St Joseph the Worker School
• Norristown Area School District
• Mt St Joseph Academy
• Jefferson Co-Dubois AVTS
• Gesu School

— Julie

We are HERE in the FY 2020 E-rate cycle:

Julie Tritt Schell
Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator
717-730-7133 – o
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org