USAC has announced details of the new invoice payment process that will take effect this summer. Beginning July 1, 2016, USAC will no longer accept payment requests in paper form; instead all filings will be submitted electronically.
- The BEAR and SPI forms can still be filed on paper up until July 1, 2016.
- USAC encourages applicants who have not filed their BEAR forms by June 1 to hold their reimbursement requests and submit them via the new system beginning July 1.
- The Service Providers Annual Certification (SPAC) form will be available for vendors to complete using the existing E-file System, not via EPC.
- All payment notification letters will be sent electronically and will appear in a user’s EPC news feed.
Additionally, beginning July 1, 2016, Service Providers will no longer serve as a conduit for applicant reimbursements. Instead, approved BEAR funds will be paid directly into an applicant’s bank account. Applicants will be required to have a Form 498 on file with USAC in order to receive the direct payments.
You can read the USAC news brief in full here.