Tomorrow is final day to post a 470!
February 25, 2014
Pennsylvania applicants have posted about 1700 Form 470’s for FY 2014 (which is almost identical to last year)! If you are one of the handful of schools or libraries that have not yet submitted your Form 470, this is your final friendly reminder that tomorrow, Wednesday, February 26– is the final day to file this form online (it’s too late to file on paper). To post a Form 470, go to: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/menu.asp and click on ‘Create Form 470’ (stay clear of the interview version). At the bottom of this message are some helpful reminders and answers to the most common questions I’ve been receiving about the Form 470.
As always, if you have any E-rate questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at jtschell@comcast.net.
1) NEW: Single Priority Category
USAC has just released a new Form 470 and the most significant change is that they combined the telecom and Internet buckets into a single Priority 1 category. Applicants will still be required to choose the proper category on the Form 471, but if they don’t, this can be corrected. This change is only for Priority 1 services; Priority 2 service still must be posted in the correct category.
2) List Disqualification Reasons in Item 13. If you want to disqualify vendors, you must list those disqualification reasons in Item 13 of your Form 470 (or in your RFP).
3) File online, even if you don’t have a PIN. If you haven’t received a PIN, file online, and then mail in your signature/certification page after you hit submit. The SLD will then mail you a PIN in a few weeks. There is no way to request a PIN unless you have first signed a paper certification.
4) Include all of your services on a single 470. There is no maximum number of 470’s that you may submit, although it is a good idea to place all of your services on a single Form 470 because then you only have a single 470 number to keep track of for this year. However, there is no harm in filing two or more 470’s. Also, there is no way to amend a 470 after it’s been submitted. If you need to change your services, you need to file a new Form 470 (in which case your 28-day clock restarts).
5) Instead of using the print preview feature, after you’ve submitted your Form 470, go back to the “apply online” page and choose the “search posted” option. Then type-in your 470 number and print off a complete, clean copy of your application. At the top of the completed form it also will show you your allowable contract date (ACD), which is the first date you can sign contracts and file your 471.
6) Rebidding contracts and MTM services. Unless you are under a multi-year contract (that was originally competitively bid using a Form 470) that expires on or after June 30, 2015, YOU MUST POST A FORM 470 FOR EVERY SERVICE FOR WHICH YOU ARE SEEKING E-RATE DISCOUNTS.
7) Form 470’s for multi-year contracts: If you posted a Form 470 in a previous year, and then signed a multi-year contract that expires on or after June 30, 2015, you are not required to file a Form 470 for FY 2014 (you still must list the service on the Form 471). If you wish to exercise a voluntary extension of a contract without posting a 470, you may only do so if your contract contains the terms of the voluntary extensions (meaning the exact number of years or dates that the extensions can be exercised and it’s not just open-ended). Otherwise, you must post a Form 470 to extend the contract.
8) Signing contracts before the Allowable Contract Date. If you post a 470 on Wednesday, February 26, the only day you will be permitted to file select vendors, sign contracts and submit the Form 471 is March 26 (which is 29 days after the date you submitted the Form 470). Be sure not to sign contracts before or after this date!
As always, if you have any E-rate questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at jtschell@comcast.net.
— Julie
Julie Tritt Schell
PA E-rate Coordinator
717-730-7133 – o
717-730-9060 – f
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org
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