{"id":21951,"date":"2017-10-16T02:29:33","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T02:29:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e-ratepaorg.local\/?p=21951"},"modified":"2017-10-17T02:33:41","modified_gmt":"2017-10-17T02:33:41","slug":"final-days-to-submit-fy-2016-bears-for-recurring-services-are-you-on-the-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=21951","title":{"rendered":"Final Days to Submit FY 2016 BEARs for Recurring Services –\u00a0 Are You On the List?"},"content":{"rendered":"

October 16, 2017<\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0BEAR Filing Guide FY 2016
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0Form 498 Filing Guide<\/a><\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0FY 2016 BEARs Due As of Oct 16<\/a><\/p>\n

~ Do NOT File in EPC – Use Old BEAR System ~<\/strong>
\n~ Must Have Approved Form 498 Before Filing BEAR ~
\n~ Request Extension Now if Needed ~<\/strong>
\n~ List of Affected Entities is Below and Attached ~
\n~ BEAR Filing Guide Attached ~<\/p>\n

We\u2019re down to the wire for FY 2016 BEARs to be submitted, or to request an extension.\u00a0 The last date to receive recurring services for Funding Year 2016<\/strong> was June 30, 2017; therefore, schools and libraries only have until October 28, 2017 <\/strong>(technically it\u2019s October 30 because the 28th<\/sup> falls on a weekend) to submit BEAR Forms (Form 472) to USAC to seek reimbursement if they paid their vendors in full.\u00a0 If your vendor provided discounted bills from July 1, 2016 \u2013 June 30, 2017, you can disregard this message.\u00a0 If your vendor charged you full price, you have just a few days to submit the form to collect your E-rate funding.\u00a0 Note: This list does not include internal connections FRNs \u2013 the invoice deadline for those funding requests is at the end of January 2018 (separate message to come on that later).<\/p>\n

There are several steps you must take before the Form 472 BEAR can be submitted. Please review each step and you will be successful in obtaining your reimbursements.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. ARE YOU ON THE LIST?<\/strong>\u00a0 Look at the list at the bottom of this message. If your school or library is listed, you likely have to file a BEAR for recurring services.\u00a0 Open the attached spreadsheet for details about which funding requests are affected.\u00a0 If your name is not on the list below, you can disregard this message as it means you either already submitted a BEAR or your vendor provided discounted bills.<\/li>\n
  2. DID YOUR VENDOR SUBMIT THEIR 2016 FORM 473 SPAC?\u00a0 <\/strong>If Column H (Vendor SPAC Filed?) shows \u2018No\u2019, you must contact your vendor prior to submitting the BEAR and tell the vendor they must submit the SPAC ASAP. \u00a0This is an annual form that every vendor must submit and without it, no BEARs that list that SPIN will be paid.\u00a0 Direct the vendor to: https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=20121<\/a> for more information.<\/li>\n
  3. DID YOU SUBMIT THE FORM 486 FOR THE FRN?<\/strong>\u00a0 If Column I (Form 486 Filed?) shows \u2018Missing or Not Filed\u2019, but you know your 486 was submitted, contact USAC at 888-203-8100 and make sure it\u2019s still in \u201creview\u201d status.\u00a0 Due to IT issues (bugs), some 486s are stuck in the EPC approval process and no invoices can be submitted until they\u2019re approved.<\/li>\n
  4. DO YOU HAVE A BEAR PIN?<\/strong>\u00a0 BEARs (Form 472s) are NOT filed in EPC; they are filed in the legacy system at: https:\/\/www2.sl.universalservice.org\/bear\/login.aspx<\/a>.\u00a0 To get into the old system, you must use your E-rate PIN — not your EPC credentials.\u00a0 If you had an old E-rate PIN but can\u2019t find it, contact CSB at 888-203-8100 and they can regenerate one for you.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t have an E-rate PIN, complete the short PIN Request template at: http:\/\/www.usac.org\/_res\/documents\/sl\/xls\/PIN-request-template.xlsx<\/a> and then upload it into EPC by creating a Customer Service Case.\u00a0 USAC will then mail you a new PIN (or e-mail it since we\u2019re so close to the deadline).<\/li>\n
  5. DO YOU HAVE AN APPROVED 498 ON FILE WITH USAC?<\/strong>\u00a0 The 498 provides USAC with the banking information so that your BEAR reimbursements can be directly deposited into your account.\u00a0 Before you file the BEAR, you must have an approved Form 498 but you do not need to complete the Form 498 annually.\u00a0 If you completed it last year, the online BEAR system already has your banking data on file.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n