Form 498 – Adding UEI Number & Banking Info Reminder

June 8, 2026

This is a reminder that beginning in August 2026, USAC will use SAM.gov banking information to pay all Universal Service Fund (USF) invoices. To continue receiving USF disbursements, all service providers and E-Rate participants who use the FCC Form 472/BEAR for invoicing must have an active SAM.gov account, a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) on their FCC Form 498, and a valid bank account associated with their SAM.gov account.

To help with this process, USAC has created a new tool to assist  E-Rate applicants in determining whether the UEI has been added to their Form 498.  Using the tool, I’ve pulled the most current data, which can be accessed by clicking on E-Rate_PA_Applicant_498_UEI_Data_Set_As of 6-8-2026.  If you see “No” listed in Column “B” for your organization, please follow the steps listed below as soon as possible to complete this step.  The tool also shows the current status of your Form 498.  If your status is listed as “Rejected”, “Bank Rejected”, or “In Progress”, I’ve added notes on how to proceed.

If you plan to file  BEAR forms and believe you have an active SAM.gov Account, UEI, and a linked valid bank account, you should:

  • Log in to SAM.gov to confirm that the UEI is connected to a valid bank account—specifically, the bank account designated to accept USF disbursements, the SAM.gov account is active, and check the annual renewal due date.
  •  Log in to EPC to add the UEI to the FCC Form 498, if needed.

Please remember you must renew your SAM.gov account annually. The renewal due date is included in your account on SAM.gov.  You will not be able to receive USF disbursements if your SAM.gov account becomes inactive. 
For step-by-step instructions on updating the Form 498, or how to file a new Form 498 if there is no current approved form in EPC, I’ve provided a guide you can access by clicking on Form-498-Filing – Updating-Guide-UEI & Banking Info.

BEAR filers who do not have an active SAM.gov Account, UEI, and a linked valid bank account should:

  • Visit SAM.gov and follow the registration process through to completion. Visit the SAM.gov  Learn How to Register Your Entity page to get started.
  • Once registered with SAM.gov, you will be automatically assigned a UEI.
  • Log in to SAM.gov to link the UEI to a valid bank account—specifically, the bank account designated to accept USF disbursements.
  • Reference the  Form-498-Filing – Updating-Guide-UEI & Banking Info guide to add the UEI to the FCC Form 498.

Because the SAM.gov registration process can take up to six weeks, USAC recommends starting as soon as possible. For more information, visit USAC’s  SAM.gov UEI Requirement webpage.

If you have questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Lorrie

Lorrie Germann
Pennsylvania E-Rate Coordinator
717-576-2737 – o
lgermann@e-ratepa.org
www.e-ratepa.org

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