Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the official notice NTIA_Amended_TBCP3_NOFO_2026.pdf (55 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.

Award size and project length

• Project period: 12 months · p. 44

  “The first annual report must cover any period of the grant period of performance prior to March 31st, which may be fewer than 12 months. 3.” Open page 44

Registrations you need first (4)

• Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 28

  “SAM Unique Entity Identifier Number All applicants must supply a SAM Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number.” Open page 28

• SAM.gov · p. 28

  “Now, entities doing business with the federal government must use the Unique Entity ID created in SAM.gov.” Open page 28

• eRA Commons · p. 28

  “Electronic Research Administration (eRA) Commons Registration Applicants must be registered in eRA Commons prior to submitting an application.” Open page 28

• Grants.gov · p. 28

  “While applications are submitted through Grants.gov, eRA Commons registration is required to facilitate the processing of awards and post-award administration.” Open page 28

Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist

What to submit

• Form SF-424 · p. 14

  “Application for Federal Assistance o SF-424, Item 12, should list the Funding Opportunity number as “2026- NTIA-TBCP"” Open page 14

• Form CD-511 · p. 14

  “CD-511 Certification Regarding Lobbying o Applicants should enter “2026-NTIA-TBCP” in the Award Number field.” Open page 14

• Indirect cost rate agreement · p. 15

  “If indirect costs are included in the proposed budget, the applicant must provide a copy of its Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) (or provisional rate).” Open page 15

• Budget narrative / justification · p. 19

  “The applicant must clearly describe in the budget narrative how it applied or calculated its administrative costs and demonstrate that its combined direct and indirect administrative costs are both at or under the 2% limit.” Open page 19

• Form SF-LLL · p. 47

  “NTIA will use Standard Forms 424 (Application for Federal Assistance), Consolidated Budget Form (CBF), 424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs), 424C (Budget Information for Construction Programs), 424D (Assurances for Construction Programs), 425…” Open page 47

Length limits

• Executive Summary: 1,000 words max · p. 15

  “An Executive Summary (not to exceed 1,000 words).” Open page 15

• Eligible Entity: 250 words max · p. 16

  “Status as an Eligible Entity (not to exceed 250 words).” Open page 16

• Demonstrated Need: 500 words max · p. 16

  “Demonstrated Need (not to exceed 500 words).” Open page 16

• Funded Activities: 1,000 words max · p. 16

  “Funded Activities (not to exceed 1,000 words).” Open page 16

• Project Plan: 5 pages max · p. 17

  “Project Plan (not to exceed 5 pages).” Open page 17

• Implementation Team: 500 words max · p. 17

  “Implementation Team (not to exceed 500 words).” Open page 17

• Existing Programs: 500 words max · p. 18

  “Alignment with Existing Programs (not to exceed 500 words).” Open page 18

• Funding Variance: 250 words max · p. 18

  “Justification for Funding Variance (If Applicable, not to exceed 250 words).” Open page 18

• Other Funding Sources: 500 words max · p. 18

  “Other Funding Sources (not to exceed 500 words).” Open page 18

• Status of Eligible Entity: 250 words max · p. 19

  “Status of Eligible Entity (not to exceed 250 words).” Open page 19

• Demonstrated Need: 250 words max · p. 19

  “Demonstrated Need (not to exceed 250 words).” Open page 19

• Project: 250 words max · p. 20

  “Identify the total number of Unserved Native American/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian households, businesses and community anchor institutions to be served by completion of the proposed Project and have new access to qualifying broadband speeds (not to exceed…” Open page 20

• Word limit (see quote): 500 words max · p. 20

  “Describe plans to deploy Qualifying Broadband Service to Native American/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian households, businesses, and community anchor institutions in the proposed Project area that meets quality of service performance measures such that network…” Open page 20

• Consortia: 500 words max · p. 21

  “Describe the overall Project plan, including: steps taken to ensure cost effectiveness (e.g., technology mix and economies of scale for Consortia); service capacity; timeframes for construction; and scalability (not to exceed 500 words).” Open page 21

• Consortium: 500 words max · p. 21

  “As applicable, include Consortium members and their role in implementation (not to exceed 500 words). vii.” Open page 21

How applications are scored (100 points in total for each project type)

Build your narrative outline from these criteria

• Project Purpose and Need: 35 points · p. 32

  “Project Purpose and Need (35 points)” Open page 32

• ↳ Project Need: 20 points · p. 32

  “Project Need (20 points) o Reviewers will assess whether there is baseline data demonstrating unmet demand or identifiable barriers to broadband use and adoption, including but not limited to:” Open page 32

• ↳ Project Purpose: 15 points · p. 32

  “Project Purpose (15 points) o 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,…” Open page 32

• Performance Measures and Sustainability: 15 points · p. 32

  “Performance Measures and Sustainability (15 points)” Open page 32

• Strength of Project Implementation Plan and Budget: 25 points · p. 32

  “Strength of Project Implementation Plan and Budget (25 points) 13 See 47 U.S.C. § 1723(c)(1)(C)i-v” Open page 32

• Strength of Applicant’s Organizational Capability: 25 points · p. 33

  “Strength of Applicant’s Organizational Capability (25 points)” Open page 33

• Project Purpose and Need: 20 points · p. 33

  “Project Purpose and Need (20 points)” Open page 33

• ↳ Project Need: 10 points · p. 33

  “Project Need (10 points)” Open page 33

• ↳ Project Purpose: 10 points · p. 34

  “Project Purpose (10 points) o Reviewers may award up to 10 points in evaluating whether the infrastructure investment is necessary to provide Qualifying Broadband Service in the proposed service area and is unlikely to be made using private sources of funds.” Open page 34

• Project Cost-Efficiency and Design: 30 points · p. 34

  “Project Cost-Efficiency and Design (30 points)” Open page 34

• ↳ Cost-Efficiency: 15 points · p. 34

  “Cost-Efficiency (15 points) o Reviewers will assess how the applicant will use existing infrastructure and/or leverage different broadband technologies to create cost-effective solutions. o Reviewers will assess the cost per Broadband Serviceable Location,…” Open page 34

• ↳ Speed of Broadband Service: 5 points · p. 34

  “Speed of Broadband Service (5 points) o Reviewers will assess the speed of broadband service that the project proposes to provide.” Open page 34

• ↳ Financial Sustainability: 5 points · p. 34

  “Financial Sustainability (5 points) o Reviewers will assess the financial sustainability of a network to support long-term operational expenses, including affordable rates for end-users.” Open page 34

• ↳ Speed of Deployment: 5 points · p. 34

  “Speed of Deployment (5 points) o Reviewers will assess the estimated speed of deployment.” Open page 34

• Strength of Project Implementation Plan and Budget: 25 points · p. 34

  “Strength of Project Implementation Plan and Budget (25 points)” Open page 34

• ↳ Implementation Plan: 15 points · p. 34

  “Implementation Plan (15 points)” Open page 34

• ↳ Budget: 10 points · p. 35

  “Budget (10 points) o Reviewers will assess the feasibility and appropriateness of the proposed project budget, including an assessment of whether the amounts budgeted can realistically achieve project goals, and that costs are reasonable, allocable, and…” Open page 35

• Strength of the Applicant’s Organizational Capability: 25 points · p. 35

  “Strength of the Applicant’s Organizational Capability (25 points)” Open page 35

Mistakes that get applications rejected (6)

• Missing a required part: Partial or duplicate applications using multiple methods of transmission will not be accepted. · p. 1

  “Partial or duplicate applications using multiple methods of transmission will not be accepted.” Open page 1

• Could get your application rejected: The inclusion of matching funds as part of an application will not be considered during Merit Review but... · p. 3

  “The inclusion of matching funds as part of an application will not be considered during Merit Review but is a selection factor during the OICG Associate Administrator Review and the Assistant Secretary Final Selection.” Open page 3

• Sent the wrong way or format: Facsimile submissions will not be accepted. · p. 14

  “Facsimile submissions will not be accepted.” Open page 14

• Could get your application rejected: Any information beyond one page for each resume and any additional resumes submitted will not be considered. g. · p. 15

  “Any information beyond one page for each resume and any additional resumes submitted will not be considered. g.” Open page 15

• Not registered in time: Entities without an active SAM.gov registration and/or UEI at the time of application submission and award... · p. 28

  “Entities without an active SAM.gov registration and/or UEI at the time of application submission and award may be deemed ineligible for a grant award.” Open page 28

• Could get your application rejected: However, failure of the prospective primary tier participant to furnish a certification or an explanation... · p. 51

  “However, failure of the prospective primary tier participant to furnish a certification or an explanation shall disqualify such person from participation in this transaction. iii.” Open page 51