Score your draft
Native Entities Grant Program. Rate your own draft against each scoring criterion in the official notice, the way a reviewer would read it.
A self-check, not a prediction. Reviewers decide the real score. GrantMe doesn't read or rate your writing; you do.
Private by design. Nothing you type or paste on this page is sent to GrantMe or saved anywhere. Reloading or closing the page clears it. Print the page to keep your scores.
100 points in total. Source: the official notice, NTIA_Amended_NEGP_NOFO_2026.pdf. If the notice describes rating levels for its criteria, use its words when you score.
How to use it
- Read what reviewers look for under each criterion.
- Find the part of your draft that answers it. Paste it in the box to check its length.
- Give yourself a score from 0 to the criterion's points. Start with the lowest scores when you revise.
Scoring criteria
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Project Purpose and Need · 35 points
See page 24 of the notice for what reviewers look for.
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Project Need · 20 points
Reviewers will assess whether there is baseline data demonstrating unmet demand or identifiable barriers to broadband use and adoption, including but not limited to: • The percentage of individuals in need of services within the proposed service area. • The number of households in need of broadband service subsidies for both first time connections and ongoing service. • A description of the geographic scope and impacted areas. • Other data demonstrating the level of need of the individuals to be served (i.e. poverty rates, unemployment rates, etc.).
of 20 points
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Project Purpose · 15 points
Reviewers will assess whether the proposed activities address the unmet demand or identifiable barriers to broadband use and adoption. o Reviewers will assess the extent to which the Project improves the access to, and use of, broadband services to impact one or more of the following: • Economic and Workforce Development Goals, Plans, and Outcomes; • Educational Outcomes; • Health Outcomes; • Social & Civic Engagement; • Delivery of Other Essential Services;16
of 15 points
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Performance Measures and Sustainability · 15 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 25):
Reviewers will assess the effectiveness of the applicant’s performance metrics for measuring success of the Project against proposed objective and consider how the applicant will collect data and information to track the identified program outcomes, including frequency and scope. • Reviewers will consider if the applicant has a plan for sustaining the benefits of the program.
of 15 points
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Strength of Project Implementation Plan and Budget · 25 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 25):
Reviewers will assess the overall soundness of the proposed project plan and milestones and whether the proposed activities and timelines can be conducted within the period of performance. • Reviewers will assess if the proposed Project, including specific activities to be conducted, is achievable and consistent with the allowable programmatic activities. 16 See 47 U.S.C. § 1723(c)(1)(C)i-v. • Reviewers will assess the extent to which the applicant has established clear measurable objectives that are achievable within the Period of Performance. • Reviewers will assess if the proposed Project budget can achieve Project goals within the period of performance, and that costs are reasonable, allocable, and allowable. • Reviewers will assess the extent to which the applicant has included measures to track progress and mitigate risks to the Project’s implementation strategy and timeline.
of 25 points
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Strength of Applicant’s Organizational Capability · 25 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 26):
Reviewers will assess the strength of the applicant’s organizational capability to implement the proposed Project including the programmatic and technical experience of the implementation team. • Reviewers will assess whether the applicant has the breadth and depth of experience, as an organization or through partnerships, that demonstrates the experience necessary to effectively complete the proposed Projects. • Reviewers will assess the applicant’s ability to manage large federal grant awards effectively, either based on demonstrated management of past projects, or based on an explanation and description in the applicant’s application materials indicating their capacity to do so. • Reviewers will assess the applicant’s ability to manage large programmatic initiatives, either based on the applicant’s past success and relevant experience, or based on an explanation in the applicant’s…
of 25 points
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Your total: ______ of 100 points
Length limits in this notice
- Executive Summary: 1,000 words max (notice p. 12) “An Executive Summary (not to exceed 1,000 words).”
- Eligible Entity: 250 words max (notice p. 12) “Status as an Eligible Entity (not to exceed 250 words).”
- Demonstrated Need: 500 words max (notice p. 12) “Demonstrated Need (not to exceed 500 words).”
- Funded Activities: 1,000 words max (notice p. 13) “Funded Activities (not to exceed 1,000 words).”
- Project Plan: 5 pages max (notice p. 14) “Project Plan (not to exceed 5 pages).”
- Implementation Team: 500 words max (notice p. 14) “Implementation Team (not to exceed 500 words).”
- Existing Programs: 500 words max (notice p. 14) “Alignment with Existing Programs (not to exceed 500 words).”
- Funding Variance: 250 words max (notice p. 14) “Justification for Funding Variance (If Applicable, not to exceed 250 words).”
- Other Funding Sources: 500 words max (notice p. 14) “Other Funding Sources (not to exceed 500 words).”
Page limits can't be checked from pasted text. Check them in your word processor with the notice's font, spacing and margins. A limit marked “suggested” isn't a rule. Word and character counts can differ between tools (and some forms count spaces), so leave some room.
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See how others wrote it
Sample proposals agencies have posted. Read them for structure; don't copy their words.
Built from the official notice's scoring section. Criteria, points and quotes come from the notice; the three questions under each criterion are GrantMe's, not the funder's.