— Although the FY 2020 Eligible Services List has not yet been released, I do not expect any changes to Category 1 for FY 2020.<\/p>\n
Changes Coming for Category 2 \u2013 No Details Yet<\/strong><\/p>\n — The FCC has not released their much-anticipated Category 2 Order that will outline what C2 budgets everyone will have for FY 2020 and beyond, as well as any other changes.\u00a0 I am very hopeful that we will see the Order before Thanksgiving and as soon as it\u2019s released, I\u2019ll prepare a detailed summary for the listserve and schedule a webinar.\u00a0 In the meantime, please begin to consider your internal connections needs for each building so you\u2019re prepared to release your 470\/RFP or PEPPM mini-bid right away.<\/p>\n Form 471 Filing Window Dates<\/strong><\/p>\n — USAC has not yet announced the official Form 471 Window dates, but has stated they expect the dates to be similar last year (early January \u2013 mid\/late March).\u00a0 For a suggested FY 2020 bidding\/filing timeline, see the chart at the bottom of this message.<\/p>\n FY 2020 \u201cAdministrative Window\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n — The \u201cAdministrative Window\u201d is the window\u00a0before<\/em>\u00a0the 471 window, during which time schools must update their enrollment and NSLP (or CEP%) data in each school\u2019s EPC profile.\u00a0 The Admin Window is currently open and is expected to close the first week in January.\u00a0 Like last year, I expect PDE\u2019s Bureau of Food and Nutrition will provide us with the \u201cunofficial\u201d enrollment and NSLP (CEP%) data that each school has entered into the PEARS system during the month of October.\u00a0 I will then send to you this unofficial PDE data set by mid-December and you\u2019ll then have a few weeks to update your schools\u2019 EPC profiles while the Admin Window is still open.\u00a0 If you want to update their profiles now, you certainly may, but it will be much easier if you wait until I send you the data in December (which will then likely match what PIA uses to review your Form 471 discount data information).<\/p>\n FY 2020 Form 470\u00a0<\/strong>Category 1 Service Description Drop Down Options<\/strong><\/p>\n — You may recall that in recent years the Form 470 contained confusing drop-down options for applicants seeking Internet Access services.\u00a0 Unfortunately,\u00a0the FY 2020 Form 470 drop downs HAVE NOT CHANGED.\u00a0 The FCC is currently seeking comments on how to improve the Form 470 application for both C1 and C2 for FY\u00a02021, so we are optimistic that FY 2020 is the last year with the current confusing service descriptions.\u00a0 But for FY 2020, here is how you should file for Internet:<\/p>\n !!! Important: Add Bid Due Date to All Form 470\u2019s !!!<\/strong> \u201cDeadline for vendor proposals is 9:00 am Eastern, 29 days after the date this Form 470 is posted.\u00a0 We reserve the right to reject late-submitted proposals. \u00a0Proposals must be e-mailed to the Form 470 contact unless otherwise noted.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Unsure Whether You Need to Rebid Category 1 Services This Year?<\/strong><\/p>\n — In order to remind you of the status of your current Category 1 contracts (telecom and Internet), please see this message (https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=31899<\/a>) sent\u00a0to the listserve a few weeks ago that provides a list of all FY 2019 C1 FRNs, and the expiration dates of those contracts.\u00a0 In the spreadsheet there\u2019s an additional column \u2013 \u201cJulie\u2019s Rebidding Status Notes\u201d \u2013 explaining whether I think the service must be rebid for FY 2020.\u00a0 Please note that this data was taken directly from your FY 2019 From 471 submissions.<\/p>\n Extending an Existing Contract?<\/strong> New Changes to USAC Website<\/strong> Upcoming Webinars<\/strong><\/p>\n I will be conducting several E-rate training webinars in the coming weeks and registration will be announced shortly.<\/p>\n Funding Year 2020 Suggested Timeline:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Julie Tritt Schell<\/p>\n Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator\n
\n<\/strong>— USAC has recently taken the position that if your Form 470 or RFP doesn\u2019t state a deadline for vendors to submit proposals, you must consider all bids received up until the date you conduct your bid evaluation.\u00a0 This is different from previous guidance which was that vendors should consider the 28th<\/sup>\u00a0day after the 470 is posted as the default deadline to submit bids.\u00a0 Therefore, it is extremely important that you state a deadline for vendors to submit proposals (which, of course, must be on or after the 28-day waiting period).\u00a0 I suggest the following language:<\/p>\n
\n— If your original contract included (finite, not open-ended) voluntary extensions and you wish to exercise one of those extensions for FY 2020, be certain to notify the vendor in writing of that decision before the Form 471 is filed.\u00a0 USAC will ask for a copy of that written notification during PIA review, so be sure to retain evidence of that notification.<\/p>\n
\n— On Friday, USAC announced major changes to their website, so most of your bookmarks will no longer work.\u00a0\u00a0 While the EPC log-in is easy to find, most other resources are hidden. \u00a0The Reference Area is gone, but many of those subject topics are now in an FAQ page (under Learn) at:\u00a0https:\/\/www.usac.org\/e-rate\/learn\/faqs\/all-topics\/<\/a>.\u00a0 Also, the best quasi site-map I can find is available by holding your cursor over the word \u201cE-rate\u201d in to top toolbar.<\/p>\n![\"erate_usac\"](\"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/erate_usac.jpg\")
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\n Step:<\/strong><\/td>\n Timeline:<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Post Form 470<\/strong>\u00a0in EPC to competitively bid all new\/expiring contracts (unless using the PEPPM mini-bid option for C2)<\/td>\n Now \u2013 early December (by Thanksgiving, if possible!)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Update enrollment\/NSLP data<\/strong>\u00a0in school EPC profiles<\/td>\n Now \u2013 January 7.\u00a0 But consider waiting for the unofficial PDE data to be available in mid-December<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Conduct bid evaluation<\/strong><\/td>\n Early January<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Obtain school board approval<\/strong><\/td>\n January or February board meeting (no later)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Sign vendor contracts<\/strong><\/td>\n By End of February<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Create Contract Records<\/strong>\u00a0in EPC\/upload signed contracts<\/td>\n Late February\/Early March<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Submit Form 471<\/strong><\/td>\n Early March<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Earliest applicants can\u00a0purchase<\/strong>\u00a0C2 equipment<\/em><\/td>\n April 1, 2020<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Funding Commitment Letters (FCDLs) issued<\/em><\/td>\n End of April \u2013 Sept 1 (goal)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n File Form 486<\/em><\/td>\n Upon receipt of FCDLs<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Earliest that FY 2020 BEARs or SPIs can be submitted to USAC<\/em><\/td>\n July 1, 2020<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \u00a0<\/em><\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n ![\"eratecycle\"](\"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/eratecycle.jpg\")
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\n717-730-7133 – o
\njtschell@comcast.net<\/a>
\nwww.e-ratepa.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n