Approaching Deadline to Submit FY 2022 & FY 2021 BEARs

January 9, 2024

Attached: FY 2021 Non-Recurring BEARs Due by Jan 29 2024

Attached: FY 2022 Non-Recurring BEARs Due by Jan 29 2024

Although we usually associate October 28 as the BEAR deadline, the BEAR deadline for NON-RECURRING services (mainly internal connections) is January 29 (because applicants have until September 30 to purchase/install internal connections equipment, thus making the invoicing deadline later than the recurring services invoice deadline).  Several FY 2021 non-recurring FRNs also have January 29 deadlines, likely due to automatic invoice deadline extensions due to service substitutions and SPIN change approvals, and I’ve included them on this message as well.

First, check the list at the bottom of this message to determine if your entity is impacted.  If your organization is listed, then open the relevant funding year spreadsheet (FY 2021 or FY 2022) to see the associated FRN and invoice deadline.  Note:  The attached files contain all FRNs for which 2% or more of funding is remaining for FY 2021 or 2022, with an invoice deadline soon approaching.

Requesting an Invoice Deadline Extension:  If you cannot file your BEAR by the deadline, you are permitted to request a single, 120-day Invoice Deadline Extension which is done in EPC.  See the IDER Filing Guide for more information on requesting the invoice deadline extension.

New BEAR System:  On November 6, USAC moved the Form 472 BEAR from the legacy system into the EPC system, with a much-improved BEAR!  A Guide to the new Form 472 BEAR Invoicing System is available at:  https://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Form-472-BEAR-Filing-Guide-New-BEAR.pdf.  To access the EPC Invoicing System, log into EPC and select “EPC E-rate Invoicing” from the shortcuts menu in the top right corner of your Landing Page.  If you don’t see this link, it means that your EPC Account Administrator must change your User Permissions in their EPC portal (see Slide 11 for instructions on changing User Permissions).  Hint:  the new BEAR allows (not requires) you to upload a copy of the relevant vendor invoice and I encourage you to do so for Category 2 funding requests.

Returning Category 2 Funds:  If your Category 2 FRN has funds remaining that you don’t need, I suggest you file a Form 500 to relinquish the remaining amount back into your Category 2 budget so it can be used in FY 2024 or FY 2025.  If you’re not using the FRN at all, select the Cancel option; if you want to return some of the funding, use the Reduce option.

Below is a list of entities that have funds remaining from a non-recurring FRN from FY 2021 or FY 2022 and an invoice deadline of January 29, 2024.

— Julie

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