{"id":33799,"date":"2021-11-11T17:23:31","date_gmt":"2021-11-11T17:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e-ratepaorg.local\/?p=33799"},"modified":"2021-11-12T17:28:56","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T17:28:56","slug":"category-1-eligibility-and-form-470-filing-guide-time-to-file-for-fy-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=33799","title":{"rendered":"Category 1 Eligibility and Form 470 Filing Guide: Time to File for FY 2022!"},"content":{"rendered":"

November 11, 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0Guide to New Form 470 Options<\/a><\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0Category 1 Eligibility and Form 470 Filing Guide FY 2022<\/a><\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0Rebidding Status for Category 1 Services from FY 2021 Data (1)<\/a><\/p>\n

~ List of PA Applicants that May Need to File 470 for Recurring Services Attached ~<\/p>\n

~ Category 1 Eligibility and Form 470 Filing Guide Attached ~
\n~ Gide to New Form 470 Options Attached (470 updated for FY 2022)~<\/p>\n

The Form 470 marks the start of the FY\u00a02022 funding year because it opens the\u00a0competitive bidding process for equipment and services that aren\u2019t yet under contract for FY 2022 (July 1, 2022 \u2013 June 30, 2023).\u00a0 On the Form 470, schools and libraries identify and seek proposals for the products and services they need, and for which they will be requesting E-rate discounts, so that potential service providers can review those requests and submit proposals to you for consideration.\u00a0 Attached is an updated Form 470 Filing Guide for Category 1 services that provide complete details and step-by-step screenshots showing how to complete the Form.\u00a0 Category 2 eligibility and Form 470 filing instructions will follow.<\/p>\n

New Form 470 for FY 2022!<\/strong><\/p>\n

For FY 2022, the Form 470 has changed.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You may recall that in recent years the Form 470 contained drop-down options for both Category 1 and Category 2 service requests.\u00a0 For FY 2022, the FCC modified the drop-down options to be descriptive options with progressive disclosures for Category 1 (meaning the form takes you to additional levels of questions, depending on the options you select).\u00a0 To make the options a little more understandable, I\u2019ve created the attached helpful guide that contains screenshots of the new Form 470 sections with plain language annotations to help you select the appropriate option(s).<\/p>\n

When Must a Form 470 be Filed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. If a service is covered on a Month-to-Month basis (meaning no contract), a new Form 470 is required\u00a0annually.<\/li>\n
  2. At the\u00a0beginning\u00a0of any new contract.\u00a0 Note:\u00a0 If you posted a Form 470 in a previous year, and then signed a multi-year contract that expires on or after June 30, 2023, you are\u00a0not\u00a0required to file a Form 470 for FY 2022.\u00a0 If you wish to exercise a voluntary extension of a contract without posting a 470, you may only do so if your original 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). \u00a0Otherwise, you must post a Form 470 to extend the contract.<\/li>\n
  3. If you\u2019re upgrading bandwidth mid-contract and the upgrades and associated prices are not included in the original contract (or making any other significant changes to your original contract).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Who Must File for FY 2022?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Attached is a list of all recurring services FRNs submitted in FY 2021 and a note explaining whether *I think<\/strong>* they need to be rebid for FY 2022.\u00a0 My conclusions are drawn from a few factors \u2013 whether your contract expires on or after June 2022, and whether you have any contract extensions available to be exercised so that rebidding isn\u2019t necessary.\u00a0 The data is also color coded as follows:<\/p>\n

    Red<\/strong>:\u00a0 Must rebid services.<\/p>\n

    Blue<\/strong>:\u00a0 May need to rebid, depending on whether contract extension is signed.<\/p>\n

    Black<\/strong>:\u00a0 Service under contract and no rebid is required.<\/p>\n

    Note<\/strong>:\u00a0 If you see that your contract expiration date (CED) is not accurate on the attached list, it means you entered it incorrectly on your FY 2021 Form 471.\u00a0 If this happened, simply use the correct CED on your FY 2022 Form 471 and if PIA asks about the change, you can simply provide them with a copy of your contract that shows the accurate CED.<\/p>\n

    Form 470 Narratives and RFPs<\/strong><\/p>\n

    I encourage you to use the narrative box to further describe any services you want.\u00a0 In addition, if you have a Request for Proposal (RFP), you MUST upload it into the Form 470 at the time the 470 is filed.\u00a0 In addition, any RFP addenda, Q & A, or additional information given to bidders\u00a0also\u00a0must be uploaded to the Form 470 with the RFP, a process that is done using the \u2018Related Actions\u2019 feature in EPC when on the 470 page.\u00a0 However, this can only happen if an RFP was uploaded with the 470 initially.\u00a0 Important:\u00a0\u00a0When any of the services or locations change, the 28-day clock must be restarted.<\/p>\n

    To assist with knowing what requirements to put on the Form 470 or in RFPs, please refer to this helpful\u00a0E-rate and Form 470 Narrative Guide<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/RFP-Form-470-Narrative-Guide-FY-2022.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Deadline to File Form 470<\/strong>
    \nAlthough the very last possible date to file a 470 is 29 days before the 471 window closes,\u00a0do not wait\u00a0this long to file.\u00a0\u00a0I encourage everyone to file their 470’s by the first week in December!\u00a0 You will then receive vendor questions\/proposals during the month of December, can evaluate your bids and select your vendors in January, have your board approve contracts in January or February (if required by local policy), and then sign your contracts and file your 471 in early March.<\/p>\n

    Important Requirements\/Reminders:<\/strong><\/p>\n