{"id":24261,"date":"2018-01-24T01:53:01","date_gmt":"2018-01-24T01:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e-ratepaorg.local\/?p=24261"},"modified":"2018-01-28T02:02:48","modified_gmt":"2018-01-28T02:02:48","slug":"deadlines-approaching-to-submit-fy-2016-bears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=24261","title":{"rendered":"Deadlines Approaching to Submit FY 2016 BEARs"},"content":{"rendered":"

January 24, 2018<\/p>\n

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

Attached:\u00a0FY 2016 BEARs Due List as of Jan 24<\/a><\/p>\n

~ FY 2016 Non-Recurring Services BEAR Deadline is Jan 29
\n~ Do NOT File in EPC – Use Old BEAR System ~<\/strong>
\n~ Request Extension Now if Needed ~<\/strong>
\n~ List of All Entities with Upcoming BEAR Deadlines is Attached ~
\n~ BEAR Filing Guide Attached ~<\/p>\n

Although we usually associate October 28 as the BEAR deadline, the BEAR deadline for NON-RECURRING services (internal connections) is Monday, January 29, 2018<\/strong> (it\u2019s actually January 28, but that\u2019s a Sunday), and for applicants that requested invoice deadline extensions, their new BEAR deadline for recurring services is February 26, 2018.\u00a0 Attached is a list of all FRNs that have no disbursements for FY 2016 and that have approaching invoice deadlines, including for recurring services that received extensions through late February.\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget \u2013 BEARs are filed in the legacy system at: https:\/\/www2.sl.universalservice.org\/bear\/login.aspx<\/a>, NOT in EPC.<\/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 \u2018No\u2019, be sure to file the 486 at least 24-hours before you submit the BEAR.\u00a0 If you know your 486 was submitted, contact USAC at 888-203-8100 and make sure it\u2019s still in \u201creview\u201d status.\u00a0 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 will e-mail you a new one.\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 e-mail you a new PIN.\u00a0 PINs are no longer mailed!<\/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.\u00a0 Most PA applicants now have approved 498s on file with USAC, so there\u2019s no need to submit this form again.\u00a0 Once it\u2019s on file, it stays on file until you need to change any of your banking information.\u00a0 \u00a0The 498 is not filed annually.\u00a0 To determine if you have an approved Form 498, log into EPC > Records > Form 498s > Click on 498 if one is showing to see the Status.\u00a0 If no 498 is showing, then there isn\u2019t one on file with USAC.\u00a0 Refer to this guide if you need help:\u00a0 https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=13701<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  6. DO YOU NEED MORE TIME?<\/strong>\u00a0 You may request a single, 120-day extension to file the BEAR, but the request must be submitted by the invoice deadline.\u00a0 There are no exceptions to this deadline, so when in doubt, it\u2019s best to request! \u00a0You cannot request an additional extension.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    HOW TO REQUEST AN INVOICE DEADLINE EXTENSION:<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n