{"id":33160,"date":"2021-03-24T16:18:11","date_gmt":"2021-03-24T16:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e-ratepaorg.local\/?p=33160"},"modified":"2021-04-02T16:21:34","modified_gmt":"2021-04-02T16:21:34","slug":"fy-2021-form-471-deadline-is-tomorrow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=33160","title":{"rendered":"FY 2021 Form 471 Deadline is Tomorrow!"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 24, 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

~ Contact me ASAP if you can\u2019t meet the March 25 deadline ~<\/p>\n

By my calculations, about 80 PA entities still have to file before tomorrow\u2019s midnight deadline.\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t yet started the 471, please do so today!\u00a0 Although I haven\u2019t heard of much slow-down in the last week, in prior years the EPC system started to crawl from about 11:30 \u2013 5, so you may wish to consider filing earlier or later in the day.\u00a0 If you cannot make the March 25 deadline, please contact me as soon as possible so we can discuss your options.\u00a0 Below are answers to the questions I\u2019ve been receiving lately, links to the Guides, the link to the AMA Zooms for today and tomorrow, and my final words of wisdom for you.<\/p>\n

Final words of wisdom:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0You must file a Form 471 every year to request funding \u2013 even if you\u2019re in a multi-year contract.\u00a0 There’s no such thing as a multi-year E-rate funding commitment.<\/p>\n

Ask me Anything Zoom Sessions<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0Today and tomorrow from 1:00 \u2013 2:00.\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/cciu.zoom.us\/j\/98212732290?pwd=T2UvMmJnRE1kblExZ1RCcDBmNllkUT09<\/p>\n

Recent FAQs (<\/strong>in addition to the C1, C2 and General Filing Hints at:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=33122<\/a>):\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Should I include $0-value C2 items on my FRN?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

No.\u00a0 Leave those off.<\/p>\n

2. What option do we select for C2 installation?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Select > Miscellaneous > Installation from the drop-down options.<\/p>\n

3. Should C2 licenses be treated as Internal Connections or Basic Maintenance?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Equipment licenses should be applied for as Internal Connections.\u00a0 Be careful not to confuse licenses with maintenance charges.\u00a0 If the licenses are maintenance charges, they must be listed on a separate FRN under Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections.<\/p>\n

4. Can maintenance\/support be included on the same FRN as the Internal Connections FRN?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

No.\u00a0 Support\/maintenance charges must be filed on a separate FRN using the Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections drop down.\u00a0 Also, don\u2019t forget that multi-year support SKUs must be pro-rated so you\u2019re only applying for 1-year\u2019s worth of support (so if you\u2019re paying upfront for 3 years of support, you must apply for 1\/3 of the cost each year). \u00a0This is different from multi-year\u00a0licenses\u00a0which are fully eligible in the first year.<\/p>\n

5. Are vendor taxes and fees E-rate eligible?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most are and you should include them as a separate FRN\u00a0Line Item<\/em>\u00a0on your FRN (don\u2019t bundle them with your monthly cost).\u00a0 PIA will ask you for proof of these charges, so don\u2019t guess.\u00a0 If you already submitted your 471 and didn\u2019t include those fees, you can either add a new FRN Line Item to the existing Form 471 using the RAL Modification process, or submit a new 471 by tomorrow (copy the previously-submitted FRN, add the additional FRN Line Item) and then use the RAL Modification to cancel the original FRN.<\/p>\n

6. Does the vendor contract have to be signed by both the vendor and the applicant before the 471 is filed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

All contracts must be signed by the\u00a0applicant\u00a0prior to filing the Form 471. \u00a0\u00a0The vendor is\u00a0not\u00a0required to sign by the Form 471 filing.<\/p>\n

7. I need to edit my incomplete 471 – how to get back into the 471?<\/strong><\/p>\n

— If you click on something that takes you out of the 471, or if you deliberately leave the 471, it’s easy to return where you left off.\u00a0 Simply go to your EPC Landing Page by clicking on \u201cTasks\u201d from the top toolbar.\u00a0 There you\u2019ll find the incomplete Form 471s.<\/p>\n

— Or if you’re on the ‘Review PDF’ page, click on \u201cEdit Form\u201d in the bottom left corner to get back into the form.<\/p>\n

— Or if you clicked on Save and Share or Send for Certification, EPC has sent the form to all “full rights users” in your EPC account, and the form has disappeared from your Landing Page Task List.\u00a0 You’ll have to contact one of the full rights users in your organization and have them send it back to you.\u00a0 Hint:\u00a0 Don\u2019t ever click \u201cSave and Share.\u201d<\/p>\n

8. Can we upload contract amendments to our existing Contract Record in EPC?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, you cannot modify or add additional documents to your existing Contract Record in EPC. \u00a0If you amended your contract (perhaps to upgrade bandwidth), PIA may reach out to you to ask why the requested services\/amounts are different than what are contained in your original contract in which case you\u2019ll simply send them the contract amendment. \u00a0Do not create a new contract record simply because a contract was amended.\u00a0 There\u2019s also no way to delete an existing Contract Record.<\/p>\n

9. We just realized that we need to make changes to a school\u2019s entity profile but the system is locked down.\u00a0 What should we do?<\/strong><\/p>\n

There was an \u201cAdmin Window\u201d from Oct 1 – January 13 when such changes could be made; however, the system is now locked down and no changes can be made, including to Enrollment, NSLP data, Entity Name changes, etc.\u00a0 However, you can submit a RAL correction to memorialize the changes after the 471 is submitted (https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=33127<\/a>).<\/p>\n

10. How do I answer the questions on the certification page?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes\/No Questions:\u00a0On the final Certification Page, there are two questions asking if you received any funds from a service provider or if a service provider has helped you locate funds.\u00a0 The answer to both of these questions should be NO.\u00a0 Essentially, they are asking if a service provider has waived any of your non-discounted amounts (your fair share), or given you funds to offset those amounts. Don’t be confused by the meaning of these questions or pause in anyway.\u00a0 The answers should always be NO.\u00a0 If a vendor does offer to waive your share or give you funds to cover it, cancel your contract with that vendor and go to the next lowest bid.<\/p>\n

Technology Budget Question:\u00a0 The forms asks for \u201cTotal budgeted amount allocated to resources not eligible for E-rate support.\u201d\u00a0 Here they want you to take your entire technology budget and subtract the amount\u00a0you\u2019re spending on E-rate purchases.\u00a0 In reality, if you enter the estimated amount of your technology budget, that\u2019s fine.\u00a0 Just don\u2019t list $0.<\/p>\n

Topic-Related Guides and Additional Guidance:<\/strong><\/p>\n