Requests for Proposals

OVERVIEW
The Vermont Community Broadband Board (“Board") invites proposals from Eligible Providers as defined herein for funds to promote the ability of sub-applicants to participate in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. This program provides needs-based grants to assist in preparing a BEAD Application. Awards range from $10,000-$200,000 to be used for planning, analysis, stakeholder engagement, collaboration, legal (if a collaborative approach is proposed), and short-term capacity necessary to plan and draft an application to the BEAD program.

BACKGROUND
In 2023, the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) was awarded $229 million in funding from the federal Broadband Equity and Deployment (BEAD) Program. In an effort to promote a competitive program, the VCBB established the BEAD Subrecipient Support Program. The VCBB Board has approved $1 million to provide needs-based grants to Eligible Providers to ensure they have the resources required to participate in the competitive BEAD grant program.

GOALS
• To ensure all types of Eligible Providers have the ability to compete in the BEAD program.
• To encourage collaboration among potential subgrantees to promote the efficient expenditure of grant funding. This can lower costs and promote great oversight and accountability.
• To encourage planning in expectation of the subrecipient selection process raising the quality of applications received.
• To raise the caliber of the applications received during the BEAD subrecipient selection process.
• To gather information to inform the implementation of the program from key stakeholders

Through this Request for Proposal (RFP), the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) seeks to enter into a contract with one or more companies or organizations to provide fiber optic site inspections.

Proposals are due Friday May 5th, 2023 at 12:00pm (noon)
Contact: Christine Hallquist
Christine.Hallquist@vermont.gov

The purpose of this RFP is to identify alternative and preferred funding solutions for the Communications Union Districts. The VCBB estimates that via the funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act, the VCBB will be able to provide most CUDs with 50-60% of the required infrastructure funding through grants. The remaining amount is intended to be raised via bond market, other federal grants, or private funding. The purpose of this RFP is to identify and work with the CUDs to implement mechanisms for reducing financing costs for the remaining 40-50%. Deadline June 6, 2020.