May 31 BEAR Deadline for Several FY 2019 & FY 2020 FRNs

May 23, 2022

Attached: FY 2019 & FY 2020 BEARs Due May 31 2022

~ List of Impacted RNs Attached ~
~ Request BEAR PIN ASAP if You Don’t Have One ~
~ No Additional Deadline Extensions Available ~

The FY 2019 and FY 2020 BEAR Form 472 reimbursement deadline is May 31, 2022 for several PA schools and libraries that received a one-time invoice extension from the original February 28 deadline.  If your name is shown below, review the attached sheet showing the FRNs where no disbursements have been made by USAC (meaning that 100% of the commitment amount remains), and if you purchased the equipment or received the service, be sure to submit the BEAR by the May 31, 2022 deadline.  There is no way to request a further extension.

Very Important Notes – Please Read:

• If you don’t yet have a BEAR PIN, request one ASAP.  To request a BEAR PIN, complete the short PIN Request Template and then upload it into EPC by creating a Customer Service Case.  USAC will then e-mail you a new PIN.  A BEAR PIN Request Guide is available at: https://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Form-472-BEAR-PIN-Request-Guide.pdf.
• Where are BEAR Forms filed?  BEARs (Form 472s) are filed under the One Portal System umbrella, not in EPC.  When you log into One Portal (click ‘Sign In’ from www.usac.org/sl) and validate your identity, you will see a screen that has both EPC and BEAR links:

Click on the BEAR link and then enter your BEAR PIN/credentials.  If you do not see the BEAR link after logging into One Portal, it means you do not have a BEAR PIN associated with your e-mail address/EPC log-in.  A BEAR Form Filing Guide is available at:  https://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Form-472-BEAR-Filing-Guide-2020.pdf.

• Having trouble logging into One Portal?   See: https://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/One-Portal-MFA-Set-Up-Guide.pdf.
• Form 498 ID:  When completing the BEAR, be sure a Form 498 ID is showing.  If the Form 498 ID is blank, it means that USAC does not have your school or library’s banking information in their systems which means that your BEAR cannot be processed because reimbursements can be directly deposited into your account.  The Form 498 is only submitted one time and the only time it must be modified is if your school or library changes banks, band account numbers, and/or BEAR remittance contacts within your institution (the remittance contact receives the BEAR approval e-mails).  To modify your Form 498, log into EPC > Records > Form 498s > Click on the 498 > Modify Form 498 (upper right corner of form).

If you have any questions about the FY 2019 or FY 2020 Invoice Deadlines or completing the BEAR, 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