{"id":34543,"date":"2022-11-17T00:38:41","date_gmt":"2022-11-17T00:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e-ratepaorg.local\/?p=34543"},"modified":"2022-11-21T00:52:06","modified_gmt":"2022-11-21T00:52:06","slug":"category-1-form-470-filing-guide-time-to-file-for-fy-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=34543","title":{"rendered":"Category 1 Form 470 Filing Guide: Time to File for FY 2023!"},"content":{"rendered":"

November 17, 2022<\/span><\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0Category 1 Form 470 Filing Guide FY 2023<\/a><\/p>\n

~ Form 470 Filing Guide Attached ~<\/p>\n

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

The Form 470 marks the start of the FY 2023 funding year because it opens the\u00a0competitive bidding process for equipment and services that aren\u2019t yet under contract for FY 2023 (July 1, 2023 \u2013 June 30, 2024).\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 provides complete step-by-step screenshots showing how to complete the Form.\u00a0 Category 2 eligibility and Form 470 filing instructions will follow.<\/p>\n

FY 2023 Eligible Category 1 Services<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the FCC has not yet formally adopted the FY 2023 Eligible Services List (ESL), their\u00a0draft ESL<\/a>\u00a0contained no recommended changes for FY 2023.\u00a0 As soon as the FCC approves the final ESL, USAC can announce the FY 2023 Form 471 window filing dates.<\/p>\n

Understanding Which Form 470 Options to Select<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last year, 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, the attached Form 470 Filing Guide contains screenshots of the form with plain language annotations to help you select the appropriate option(s) \u2013 see slides 18-25.<\/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\u00a0(unless using the CABIO option).<\/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, 2024, you are\u00a0not\u00a0required to file a Form 470 for FY 2023.\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 a Form 470 for FY 2023?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Based on the contract expiration date that you listed on your FY 2022 Form 471 and whether you indicated in the Contract Record whether the original contract contained optional extensions, I\u2019ve created the\u00a0FY 2023 Possible Category 1 Rebid List<\/a>. \u00a0If you see that your contract expiration date (CED) is not accurate on the list, it likely means you entered it incorrectly on your FY 2022 Form 471.\u00a0 If this happened, simply use the correct CED on your FY 2023 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

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

    To further assist with what information you should include in an RFP or Form 470 narrative box, please refer to this helpful\u00a0E-rate RFP and Form 470 Narrative Guide<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/8-5-RFP-Form-470-Narrative-Guide-FY-2023-PA-NEW.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Note: I encourage you to issue an RFP with your Form 470 to describe the services you want, minimum requirements for vendors, and possible disqualification factors, even if the RFP is just one-page.\u00a0 Doing so will give you the ability to them upload any RFP addenda, Q & A, or additional information given to bidders using the \u2018Related Actions\u2019 feature in EPC when on the Form 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, or if you provide additional, substantive information to bidders, you must provide this to all bidders using an RFP addendum and then be sure that the bid due date is at least 28 days after the posting of that new information.<\/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