Score your draft
Tribal Broadband Connectivity 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.
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100 points in total for each track. Source: the official notice, NTIA_Amended_TBCP3_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.
This notice scores different project types on different lists. Use the set for your project type.
Broadband Use and Adoption Projects
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Project Purpose and Need · 35 points
See page 32 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 promote 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.13
of 15 points
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Performance Measures and Sustainability · 15 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 32):
Reviewers will assess the effectiveness of the applicant’s performance metrics for measuring success of the project against proposed objectives 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. 32):
13 See 47 U.S.C. § 1723(c)(1)(C)i-v • 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. • 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. 33):
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
Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Projects
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Project Purpose and Need · 20 points
See page 33 of the notice for what reviewers look for.
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Project Need · 10 points
Applications that propose to connect 100% of unserved locations in the proposed service area will receive 10 points. Those that propose to connect between 75% and 100% of unserved locations in the service area will receive up to 7 points. Those that propose to connect between 50% and 75% of unserved locations in the service area will receive up to 5 points. Those that propose to connect less than 50% of unserved locations will receive 0 points.
of 10 points
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Project Purpose · 10 points
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. The likelihood of private investment may be demonstrated by factors such as: • The level of poverty within the proposed service area • The estimated number of locations to be served in Rural Areas • Evidence that the cost of deploying service would otherwise be prohibitive (e.g. terrain, tree cover, etc.)
of 10 points
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Project Cost-Efficiency and Design · 30 points
See page 34 of the notice for what reviewers look for.
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Cost-Efficiency · 15 points
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, and whether the project would impose excessive costs on the program, using Appendix B as a benchmark. o Reviewers will assess how the applicant’s solution can be scaled over time to meet the growing needs of the community and households within the service area.
of 15 points
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Speed of Broadband Service · 5 points
Reviewers will assess the speed of broadband service that the project proposes to provide. Applications proposing to provide speeds above 25/3mbps will score higher, with applicants proposing 100/20mbps or greater will receive full points.
of 5 points
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Financial Sustainability · 5 points
Reviewers will assess the financial sustainability of a network to support long-term operational expenses, including affordable rates for end-users.
of 5 points
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Speed of Deployment · 5 points
Reviewers will assess the estimated speed of deployment. Full points will be awarded to applicants demonstrating a plan for streamlined deployment and provision of service.
of 5 points
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Strength of Project Implementation Plan and Budget · 25 points
See page 34 of the notice for what reviewers look for.
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Implementation Plan · 15 points
Reviewers will assess the overall soundness of the proposed project plan and milestones and whether the proposed activities, timelines, and measurable objectives can be conducted within the Period of Performance. o Reviewers will assess if the proposed Project, including specific activities to be conducted, is achievable and consistent with allowable programmatic activities. o 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 15 points
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Budget · 10 points
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 allowable.
of 10 points
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Strength of the Applicant’s Organizational Capability · 25 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 35):
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.
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. 15) “An Executive Summary (not to exceed 1,000 words).”
- Eligible Entity: 250 words max (notice p. 16) “Status as an Eligible Entity (not to exceed 250 words).”
- Demonstrated Need: 500 words max (notice p. 16) “Demonstrated Need (not to exceed 500 words).”
- Funded Activities: 1,000 words max (notice p. 16) “Funded Activities (not to exceed 1,000 words).”
- Project Plan: 5 pages max (notice p. 17) “Project Plan (not to exceed 5 pages).”
- Implementation Team: 500 words max (notice p. 17) “Implementation Team (not to exceed 500 words).”
- Existing Programs: 500 words max (notice p. 18) “Alignment with Existing Programs (not to exceed 500 words).”
- Funding Variance: 250 words max (notice p. 18) “Justification for Funding Variance (If Applicable, not to exceed 250 words).”
- Other Funding Sources: 500 words max (notice p. 18) “Other Funding Sources (not to exceed 500 words).”
- Status of Eligible Entity: 250 words max (notice p. 19) “Status of Eligible Entity (not to exceed 250 words).”
- Demonstrated Need: 250 words max (notice p. 19) “Demonstrated Need (not to exceed 250 words).”
- Project: 250 words max (notice 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…”
- Word limit (see quote): 500 words max (notice 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…”
- Consortia: 500 words max (notice 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).”
- Consortium: 500 words max (notice p. 21) “As applicable, include Consortium members and their role in implementation (not to exceed 500 words). vii.”
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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.