BEAD SUBRECIPIENT SUPPORT PROGRAM REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Link to Full Request for Proposals
RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: January 29th, 2024;
February 19th, 2024; March 18th, 2024, or until all funds are exhausted or the Board votes to suspend the program.
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, Access, 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 greater 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
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Rob Fish, Deputy Director, Vermont Community Broadband Board, robert.fish@vermont.gov