February 7, 2014
\n~ 37 Districts Remain ~<\/p>\n
There are 37 school districts listed below that have not yet filed a Form 470 for FY 2014. If your district’s name is on this list, it means that no Form 470 has been posted yet and you have at least one service that is not under a contract that expires June 30, 2015 or after (based on what I can see from your FY 2013 Form 471 filing). Therefore, if your district’s name is on the list, you must file a Form 470 ASAP! The absolute last day to post a Form 470 is February 26 — but DO NOT WAIT THIS LONG — as it will only give you only one day (March 26) to evaluate proposals, select a vendor, negotiate contracts, and create and file your Form 471 and Item 21 attachments. And if your district requires contracts to go to the board for approval, you should make sure you calculate your last Form 470 posting date as 29 days before your board meeting.
\nTo post a Form 470, go to: http:\/\/www.sl.universalservice.org\/menu.asp and click on ‘Create Form 470.’ At the bottom of this message are some helpful reminders and answers to the most common questions I’ve been receiving.<\/p>\n
As always, if you have any E-rate questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at jtschell@comcast.net!<\/p>\n
DISTRICTS THAT NEED TO POST FY 2014 FORM 470<\/p>\n
Abington Heights SD
\nBeaver Area SD
\nCentral Valley SD
\nChartiers Valley SD
\nChester-Upland SD
\nClarion Area SD
\nClarion-Limestone Area SD
\nConemaugh Valley SD
\nEast Pennsboro Area SD
\nFreeport Area SD
\nGeneral McLane SD
\nHighlands SD
\nJamestown Area SD
\nJuniata County SD
\nKeystone Central SD
\nLower Merion SD
\nLoyalsock Township SD
\nMidland Borough SD
\nNazareth Area SD
\nNeshannock Township SD
\nNorth Pocono SD
\nNorth Schuylkill SD
\nNorthern Potter SD
\nNorwin SD
\nPottstown SD
\nSaint Clair Area SD
\nSomerset Area SD
\nSouthern Tioga SD
\nStroudsburg Area SD
\nUnion City Area SD
\nUpper Darby SD
\nWest Middlesex Area SD
\nWest Shore SD
\nWestern Beaver County SD
\nWilkinsburg Borough SD
\nWilmington Area SD
\nWindber Area SD<\/p>\n
1) NEW: Single Priority Category
\nUSAC has just released a new Form 470 and the most significant change is that they combined the telecom and Internet buckets into a single Priority 1 category. Applicants will still be required to choose the proper category on the Form 471, but if they don’t, this can be corrected. This change is only for Priority 1 services; Priority 2 service still must be posted in the correct category.<\/p>\n
2) List Disqualification Reasons in Item 13. If you want to disqualify vendors, you must list those disqualification reasons in Item 13 of your Form 470 (or in your RFP).<\/p>\n
3) File online, even if you don’t have a PIN. If you haven’t received a PIN, file online, and then mail in your signature\/certification page after you hit submit. The SLD will then mail you a PIN in a few weeks. There is no way to request a PIN unless you have first signed a paper certification.<\/p>\n
4) Include all of your services on a single 470. There is no maximum number of 470’s that you may submit, although it is a good idea to place all of your services on a single Form 470 because then you only have a single 470 number to keep track of for this year. However, there is no harm in filing two or more 470’s. Also, there is no way to amend a 470 after it’s been submitted. If you need to change your services, you need to file a new Form 470 (in which case your 28-day clock restarts).<\/p>\n
5) Instead of using the print preview feature, after you’ve submitted your Form 470, go back to the “apply online” page and choose the “search posted” option. Then type-in your 470 number and print off a complete, clean copy of your application. At the top of the completed form it also will show you your allowable contract date (ACD), which is the first date you can sign contracts and file your 471.<\/p>\n
6) Rebidding contracts and MTM services. Unless you are under a multi-year contract (that was originally competitively bid using a Form 470) that expires on or after June 30, 2015, YOU MUST POST A FORM 470 FOR EVERY SERVICE FOR WHICH YOU ARE SEEKING E-RATE DISCOUNTS.<\/p>\n
7) Form 470’s for multi-year contracts: If you posted a Form 470 in a previous year, and then signed a multi-year contract that expires on or after June 30, 2015, you are not required to file a Form 470 for FY 2014 (you still must list the service on the Form 471). If you wish to exercise a voluntary extension of a contract without posting a 470, you may only do so if your 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). Otherwise, you must post a Form 470 to extend the contract.<\/p>\n
Julie Tritt Schell
\nPA E-rate Coordinator<\/p>\n
717-730-7133 – o<\/span>
\n717-730-9060 – f<\/span>
\njtschell@comcast.net<\/span><\/span><\/a>
\nwww.e-ratepa.org<\/span>
\nPenn*link<\/span><\/p>\n\n