November 15, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
~ C2 Eligibility and Form 470 Filing Guide Available ~ Changes to FY 2025 Category 2 and Form 470<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Category 2 Budgets: What\u2019s Remaining for Your School or Library<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 FY 2025 is the 5th<\/sup>\u00a0and final year of the current 5-year\u00a0Category 2 budget which spans FY 2021 \u2013 FY 2025 so if you need any eligible equipment, licenses or cabling, be sure to begin the procurement process now so you can use these remaining funds in FY 2025!\u00a0 \u00a0C2 budgets are calculated based on the C2 multiplier ($167\/student for schools\u00a0and $4.50\/sq ft for libraries\u00a0\u2013 or a minimum of $25,000\/building) and the Category 2 enrollment or library square footage that\u2019s currently in EPC.\u00a0\u00a0The school enrollment figure used for C2 budgets can be different from the enrollment used for discount calculations.\u00a0 Schools can use the same C2 enrollment for the entire budget cycle or modify it if enrollment or library square footage has increased to take advantage of the higher C2 budget. \u00a0To see what your remaining C2 budget is for FY 2025 (as of 9\/16\/2024), see:\u00a0\u00a0Remaining-C2-Budgets-as-of-Sept-16-2024-1.xlsx<\/a>.\u00a0 If you update your C2 enrollment in EPC or return an unspent commitment from a prior funding year, the C2 budget will change and the results can be found on USAC\u2019s C2 Budget Data Tool at:\u00a0E-Rate-C2-Budget-Tool-FY2021-\/8z69-hkn7<\/a>.\u00a0 Simply use the filter on the right side of the page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To determine if you have undisbursed C2 funds from a prior E-rate funding year since 2021 and learn how to \u201cdecommit\u201d those funds back into your C2 budget, see: https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=35679<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n — Contract signing date (must be on or before the Form 471 submission date).<\/p>\n\n\n\n — Term of contract (4\/1\/2025 – 9\/30\/2026 for equipment purchases).<\/p>\n\n\n\n — List of equipment\/quantities\/prices (or services) and installation costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n — Whether you want the equipment\/services to be contingent upon E-rate funding approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recommended Timeline: <\/strong>The Form 471 filing window dates have not yet been announced but the window is expected to be open from mid- January \u2013 mid-late March, 2025. Because non-public schools and libraries often don\u2019t have a local requirement to first obtain board approval prior to contract signing, these entities can be more flexible with when their bidding process begins. I recommend releasing the Form 470 by mid-December, but no later than the first week in January, with the intention of conducting the bid evaluation and signing a vendor contract in February and submitting the Form 471 in early March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have any questions related to the information contained in this message, please don’t hesitate to contact me at\u00a0jtschell@comcast.net.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n — Julie<\/p>\n\n\n\n Julie Tritt Schell
~ Final Year to Use C2 Funding in Current Budget Cycle ~
~ Amount Remaining in Your C2 Budget Available ~
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Category 2 E-rate funding covers the equipment and related services that transport data within schools and libraries,\u00a0such as wireless access points, routers, switches, and wiring,\u00a0subject to a 5-year budget cap.\u00a0 Competitive bidding rules related to Category 2 funding for PA\u00a0nonpublic schools and libraries\u00a0applicants mirrors the E-rate requirements exactly as these entity types are not subject to the additional requirements under the PA public procurement code. \u00a0The following message outlines those bidding requirements for PA nonpublic schools and libraries and a Category 2 Eligibility and Form 470 Filing Guide is available at:\u00a0Category-2-Eligibility-Form-470-Bidding-Guide-Non-Public-Schools-and-Libraries-1.pdf<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
General C2 Bidding Reminders for All<\/u> Applicants (public and non-public):<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator
717-730-7133 – o
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n