FY 2026 Form 471 Application “Window” Now Open!
January 26, 2026
~ Form 471 Deadline is April 1, 2026 ~
~ Post 470’s NOW if you haven’t done so already! ~ Deadline is March 4, 2026
The FY 2026 Form 471 Application Filing Window officially opened at noon on January 21st and already I can see that 21 PA schools or libraries have submitted applications (and another 32 have started a draft)! As a reminder, the Form 471 is where applicants formally request E-Rate funding from the E-Rate Administrator (USAC) and the form where they provide details such as specific services/equipment bandwidth and quantities, selected service providers, discount rate, costs, and the Form 470 used to competitively bid the service/equipment. If you haven’t yet posted your Form 470 for services that must be competitively bid for FY 2026, you still have some time to do so, but not much. Although the Form 471 deadline is April 1, and therefore the last possible date to file the Form 470 is March 4, 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 non-public schools, libraries and other entities that don’t require board approval, I recommend that you have all 470s filed no later than February 8.
~ If you already are in a multi-year contract, or if your procurement is complete for FY 2026 and your contract has been signed, or if you’re using the CABIO option, you can file the Form 471 now! No need to wait!
Reminders Before Starting Form 471:
1. COMPETITIVE BIDDING: When is Bidding Required? Competitive bidding is required every year where there is no contract (month-to-month services) and at the beginning of every new contract (or upgrade to an existing contract). For example, if you signed a 3-year contract in 2023 with no voluntary extensions, you must rebid for that service for FY 2026 (the existing contract would expire June 30, 2026). Alternatively, if you signed a 5-year contract in 2023, no competitive bidding would be required for FY 2026 and you can proceed directly to filing the Form 471. Remember, a Form 471 must be filed each and every year of your contract to request E-Rate funding for the upcoming year.
— FY 2026 Category 1 Rebidding Status: FY-2026-C1-Bidding-Status.xlsx
— Category 1 Form 470 Filing Guide: Category-1-Form-470-Filing-Guide-FY-2026.pdf
— Category 2 Form 470 Filing Guide & Bidding Requirements – Public Schools: Category-2-Eligibility-Form-470-Bidding-Guide-Public-Schools-FY-2026-1.pdf
— Category 2 Form 470 Filing Guide & Bidding Requirements – Nonpublic Schools and Libraries: Category-2-Eligibility-Form-470-Bidding-Guide-Non-Public-Schools-and-Libraries-FY2026-1.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
— If you want to use the CABIO Internet Bidding Exemption (geared for small schools and libraries), see: CABIO-Bidding-Exemption-Guide-FY-2026.pdf
2. CONTRACT RECORDS: If you have signed a new contract for FY 2026, 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 2026 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 2026 – 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).
3. EPC PROFILE UPDATES:
a. 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’s 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.
b. Consortia memberships also have been “locked down” HOWEVER, the Client Service Center (CSC) does have the ability to assist consortia leaders with adding members to their consortia membership. Call them at 888-203-8100 or create a Customer Service Case in EPC prior to starting your Form 471.
c. The ability to link to a consultant also has been locked down, but CSB has the ability to perform this function on the backend.
I will be sending messages to the listserve in the coming days regarding Form 471 training dates, as well as messages related to conducting E-Rate-compliant Bid Evaluations, creating Contract Records in EPC, and Form 471 filing guides. Stay tuned!
Happy Filing!
Lorrie
Lorrie Germann
Pennsylvania E-Rate Coordinator
717-576-2737 – o
lgermann@e-ratepa.org
www.e-ratepa.org