FY 2022 Application Cycle Check-In

January 3, 2022

Happy New Year, E-raters!

I hope everyone had an awesome (and healthy) holiday break and are ready to continue the FY 2022 E-rate application process!  I know sometimes it’s hard to remember where we are in the E-rate cycle, so here’s a quick reminder of what you should be doing now:

• Update Enrollment/NSLP Data in EPC By January 10 (if needed)

Although most schools will not be updating their enrollment and NSLP data this year due to schools not operating NSLP programs, if you wish to do so, the deadline to make entity profile updates in EPC is January 10.

My advice:  Only if your E-rate discount will increase by using the most current data (Oct 2021) should you update the enrollment and NSLP data in EPC for each school before the close of the Admin Window.  See How-To Guide at:  https://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Updating-C2-Budgets-and-Enrollment-NSLP-in-EPC-FY-2022.pdf.

• If Applying for Category 2 in FY 2022 and Enrollment Has Increased, Update C2 Enrollment and Request C2 Replacement Budget in EPC by January 10

Category 2 enrollments are separate and distinct from enrollments for E-rate discount calculations.  Applicants are permitted to use the same C2 enrollment data (schools) or square footage (libraries) data for the entire 5-year C2 budget cycle, or if enrollment increases, they may increase their C2 enrollment and request a Category 2 Replacement Budget (C2RB) with USAC.

My advice:  If your organization will be requesting Category 2 funding for FY 2022, and if your enrollment (or library square footage) has increased, you will want to update the C2 budget enrollment data in EPC and then use the new C2RB procedure to request a Replacement C2 Budget (it doesn’t happen automatically – see this How-To Guide to explain this process).  If you’re not applying for Category 2 funding in FY 2022, or if you are applying for C2 but your enrollment has decreased – do nothing, and you will retain the higher C2 budget.

Where to find C2 enrollment and remaining C2 budget amounts:  To see the current C2 Enrollment and/or the remaining Category 2 budget for your entity, use USAC’s C2 Budget Tool and filter by your organization’s Billed Entity Number.

• Post FY 2022 Form 470’s (or release PEPPM mini-bids) NOW

If you have any existing services that are MTM or have contracts expiring before June 30, 2023, be sure to file a Form 470 to competitively bid those services as soon as possible if you haven’t done so already.  The Form 470 service descriptions have changed this year, so be sure to refer to this Form 470 Guide as you complete this form (especially for Category 1 services).  For assistance with RFP and Form 470 narrative development, use this Helpful Guide:  https://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/RFP-Form-470-Narrative-Guide-FY-2022.pdf.  If you’re using the PEPPM Mini-bid procurement option for your Category 2 requests, be sure to review and follow the detailed PEPPM Guide and templates available at:  https://e-ratepa.org/?page_id=6121 (don’t forget to always use the most updated Category/Vendor List when sending your mini-bids as vendor contacts change from time to time).  Don’t wait any longer to begin your bidding process as your goal should be to take your contracts to your board for approval at their February meetings, if possible (and if required by local policy).

• FY 2022 Form 471 Filing Window Dates

The Form 471 Window will open on January 12 and will close on March 22.  If you have an existing service in a multi-year contract (no 470 needed), or have already completed your bidding and signed a signed vendor contract, or if you’re using the CABIO Bidding Exemption Option, you can file your Form 471 as soon as the window opens on January 12!

If you have any questions, please contact me at jtschell@comcast.net!

— Julie

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