Wednesday, March 26 \u2013 8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nTo reach CSC, call 888-203-8100<\/strong>. Note: Call volumes are significantly higher during the last few days of the filing window, so you will generally reach an agent more quickly if you call this weekend or weekdays before 11:00 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- If your service provider has applied for but does not yet have a SPIN number, you can enter the Interim SPIN 143666666 on your Contract Record or Form 471 as a placeholder so you can timely file your application before the March 26 deadline. After the SPIN has been received, you can then update the application with the actual SPIN using the RAL Modification Process or during the PIA review of your application.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Can I Increase Category 2 Quantities<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Because FY 2025 is the final year of the current Category 2 Budget Cycle, schools and libraries are eager to utilize as much of their remaining C2 budget cap as possible \u2013 awesome!\u00a0During the bid evaluations, many schools and libraries are finding that their bids are coming in with lower costs than they had anticipated when they developed their original equipment list, thus begging the question \u2013 \u201cCan I increase quantities on my vendor contract and Form 471 than what was originally sought on my mini-bid or Form 470.\u201d\u00a0The answer is yes, this is permissible, but within reason.\u00a0First, you should conduct your bid evaluation and select the winning vendor. Next, e-mail the winning vendor to seek a draft contract that increases quantities of X product. Then submit the Form 471 using the new contract and higher quantities\/amounts.\u00a0Be sure to keep your bid evaluation (always) and a paper trail of your vendor correspondence.\u00a0 To view what\u2019s remining in your C2 budget, use this tool:\u00a0E-Rate-C2-Budget-Tool-FY2021-\/8z69-hkn7<\/a>.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Additional Words of Wisdom: <\/strong> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
\n- You must file a Form 471 every year to request funding for recurring services \u2013 even if you\u2019re in a multi-year contract. There’s no such thing as a multi-year E-rate funding commitment. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Support SKUs (maintenance) must be filed on a separate FRN in the Basic Maintenance category (BMIC). <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- If a SKU has no cost, or you are not requesting E-rate discounts on it, leave it off your Form 471 entirely.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Don\u2019t use the Save & Share or Send for Certification Buttons on the Form 471. It will take the application out of your EPC portal and send to all other EPC Users for your entity. You\u2019ll find yourself frantic wondering why your application disappeared. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- There\u2019s no way to upload a contract amendment into EPC. Don\u2019t create a new Contract Record. You can mention in the FRN narrative if your contract was amended and PIA will reach out for a copy of the amendment if they need it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
I will also be checking\u00a0e-mail\u00a0this weekend if you have any questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Happy filing! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
— Julie<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Julie Tritt Schell
Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org <\/p>\n\n\n\n
717-730-7133<\/p>\n\n