Maine's BEAD Subgrantee Selection Process
The Subgrantee Selection Process (SSP) is the two-step process by which MCA will evaluate prospective applicants on their organizational readiness to manage a BEAD-funded project.
Phase 1: Prospective Applicant Pre-Qualification Evaluation (September 18 - October 18, 2024)
- Prospective applicants will submit organizational-level information (technical, financial, operational and managerial capacity) that demonstrates their ability to meet the requirements of the BEAD program.
- Applicants will also be presented with a map of draft Project Service Areas (PSAs) and asked to indicate which they intend to apply for.
Phase 2: BEAD Project Application (January 17 - March 7, 2025 at 5 PM EST)
- Prospective Applicants approved in Phase 1 will be invited to submit project applications for BEAD funding.
- Applicants will provide project-level information, including a bid for specific Project Service Areas (PSAs).
Pre-Qualification Evaluation
During the Prospective Applicant Pre-Qualification Evaluation, MCA will evaluate an applicant’s technical, financial, operational and managerial capacity. This evaluation is conducted at the organizational level. It is separate from, and prior to, MCA’s assessment of the capacity needed to successfully complete project-specific proposals in the subsequent BEAD Project Application phase.
The Pre-Qualification Evaluation will allow MCA to identify the pool of eligible applicants and work with those entities to ensure that the BEAD Project Application process is as streamlined and competitive as possible. This phase will also allow MCA to determine which prospective applicants meet the minimum qualifications set forth by guidance, included in the following documents.
- Maine's BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2
- Pre-Qualification Evaluation Supplemental Guidance (Sept 2024)
- BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
During the Pre-Qualification Evaluation, applicants will also be presented with draft Project Service Areas (PSAs) and asked to indicate which area(s) they intend to apply for during the BEAD Project Application phase. This selection will not be binding during Pre-Qualification Evaluation. The review of project-specific information will take place during the second phase of the Subgrantee Selection Process (the BEAD Project Application), where MCA will collect detailed information and bids for specific PSAs.
Within 30 days following the close of the Pre-Qualification Evaluation, MCA will notify prospective applicants of their pre-qualification status and ability to proceed into the BEAD Project Application period. Prospective applicants that are approved through Pre-Qualification Evaluation will be admitted to the BEAD Project Application phase where the final PSAs will be available to bid on, with the winner of the selection being required to build infrastructure to bring internet to the locations contained within the PSA.
BEAD Project Application
During the BEAD Project Application, MCA will collect project-specific information, including bids for Project Service Areas (PSAs). MCA will also check application information against Pre-Qualification Evaluation responses to ensure alignment and that there are no discrepancies. BEAD Project Applications will be competitively scored based on the minimal BEAD outlay (the request for public funds relative to the applicant’s financial match), affordability, fair labor practices and other digital equity and technical criteria.
Through the BEAD Project Application, qualified applicants will request BEAD funding to serve approximately 26,000 homes and businesses and 2,500 Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) such as libraries, community centers, and healthcare facilities across the State with high-speed internet. These locations were determined through Maine’s BEAD State-Led Challenge Process with direct engagement from internet service providers, nonprofit organizations, local and Tribal governments, and the Maine public.
While qualified applicants will answer the majority of application questions in the MCA Grant Portal, they will bid on Project Service Areas (PSAs) in the MCA Subgrantee Selection CHART Mapping Tool. MCA has developed several key documents to support applicants through this phase:
- Project Application Guidance for Qualified BEAD Applicants (Version 3)
- User Guide: Subgrantee Selection CHART Mapping Tool User Instructions & FAQ
Within the BEAD Project Application, there are also several questions that applicants must answer via MCA-provided workbooks. MCA-provided workbooks include:
- Community Engagement Tracker (downloadable Excel format)
- Community Engagement Tracker (Google Sheets)
- Associated support letter template for community use (Google Sheets)
- Financial Workbook (downloadable Excel format)
- Financial Workbook (Google Sheets)
- Internet Service Tiers and Pricing (downloadable Excel format)
- Internet Service Tiers and Pricing (Google Sheets)
- Eligible Community Anchor Institutions (downloadable Excel format)
- Eligible Community Anchor Institution (Google Sheets)
In summer 2025, MCA will announce provisional selections of projects matched to provisional subgrantees. This will be followed by a public comment period, and then selections will go through several rounds of approval from Maine representatives and finally from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) through Maine’s BEAD Final Proposal. After gaining approval, subgrantees can move forward with the initial stages of contracting and building BEAD-funded networks.
Technical Assistance
For any questions during the BEAD Project Application, please reach out to bead@maineconnectivity.org.
MCA will host office hours every Thursday from 3:30-4:30 pm throughout the duration of the BEAD Project Application period, starting on January 23. These will be unstructured, drop in spaces for any applicant to come to with questions for the MCA BEAD Team. Register for office hours.
BEAD Project Application
Maine's BEAD Subgrantee Selection Process
The Subgrantee Selection Process (SSP) is the two-step process by which MCA will evaluate prospective applicants on their organizational readiness to manage a BEAD-funded project.
Phase 1: Prospective Applicant Pre-Qualification Evaluation (September 18 - October 18, 2024)
- Prospective applicants will submit organizational-level information (technical, financial, operational and managerial capacity) that demonstrates their ability to meet the requirements of the BEAD program.
- Applicants will also be presented with a map of draft Project Service Areas (PSAs) and asked to indicate which they intend to apply for.
Phase 2: BEAD Project Application (January 17 - March 7, 2025 at 5 PM EST)
- Prospective Applicants approved in Phase 1 will be invited to submit project applications for BEAD funding.
- Applicants will provide project-level information, including a bid for specific Project Service Areas (PSAs).
Pre-Qualification Evaluation
During the Prospective Applicant Pre-Qualification Evaluation, MCA will evaluate an applicant’s technical, financial, operational and managerial capacity. This evaluation is conducted at the organizational level. It is separate from, and prior to, MCA’s assessment of the capacity needed to successfully complete project-specific proposals in the subsequent BEAD Project Application phase.
The Pre-Qualification Evaluation will allow MCA to identify the pool of eligible applicants and work with those entities to ensure that the BEAD Project Application process is as streamlined and competitive as possible. This phase will also allow MCA to determine which prospective applicants meet the minimum qualifications set forth by guidance, included in the following documents.
- Maine's BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2
- Pre-Qualification Evaluation Supplemental Guidance (Sept 2024)
- BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
During the Pre-Qualification Evaluation, applicants will also be presented with draft Project Service Areas (PSAs) and asked to indicate which area(s) they intend to apply for during the BEAD Project Application phase. This selection will not be binding during Pre-Qualification Evaluation. The review of project-specific information will take place during the second phase of the Subgrantee Selection Process (the BEAD Project Application), where MCA will collect detailed information and bids for specific PSAs.
Within 30 days following the close of the Pre-Qualification Evaluation, MCA will notify prospective applicants of their pre-qualification status and ability to proceed into the BEAD Project Application period. Prospective applicants that are approved through Pre-Qualification Evaluation will be admitted to the BEAD Project Application phase where the final PSAs will be available to bid on, with the winner of the selection being required to build infrastructure to bring internet to the locations contained within the PSA.
BEAD Project Application
During the BEAD Project Application, MCA will collect project-specific information, including bids for Project Service Areas (PSAs). MCA will also check application information against Pre-Qualification Evaluation responses to ensure alignment and that there are no discrepancies. BEAD Project Applications will be competitively scored based on the minimal BEAD outlay (the request for public funds relative to the applicant’s financial match), affordability, fair labor practices and other digital equity and technical criteria.
Through the BEAD Project Application, qualified applicants will request BEAD funding to serve approximately 26,000 homes and businesses and 2,500 Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) such as libraries, community centers, and healthcare facilities across the State with high-speed internet. These locations were determined through Maine’s BEAD State-Led Challenge Process with direct engagement from internet service providers, nonprofit organizations, local and Tribal governments, and the Maine public.
While qualified applicants will answer the majority of application questions in the MCA Grant Portal, they will bid on Project Service Areas (PSAs) in the MCA Subgrantee Selection CHART Mapping Tool. MCA has developed several key documents to support applicants through this phase:
- Project Application Guidance for Qualified BEAD Applicants (Version 3)
- User Guide: Subgrantee Selection CHART Mapping Tool User Instructions & FAQ
Within the BEAD Project Application, there are also several questions that applicants must answer via MCA-provided workbooks. MCA-provided workbooks include:
- Community Engagement Tracker (downloadable Excel format)
- Community Engagement Tracker (Google Sheets)
- Associated support letter template for community use (Google Sheets)
- Financial Workbook (downloadable Excel format)
- Financial Workbook (Google Sheets)
- Internet Service Tiers and Pricing (downloadable Excel format)
- Internet Service Tiers and Pricing (Google Sheets)
- Eligible Community Anchor Institutions (downloadable Excel format)
- Eligible Community Anchor Institution (Google Sheets)
In summer 2025, MCA will announce provisional selections of projects matched to provisional subgrantees. This will be followed by a public comment period, and then selections will go through several rounds of approval from Maine representatives and finally from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) through Maine’s BEAD Final Proposal. After gaining approval, subgrantees can move forward with the initial stages of contracting and building BEAD-funded networks.
Technical Assistance
For any questions during the BEAD Project Application, please reach out to bead@maineconnectivity.org.
MCA will host office hours every Thursday from 3:30-4:30 pm throughout the duration of the BEAD Project Application period, starting on January 23. These will be unstructured, drop in spaces for any applicant to come to with questions for the MCA BEAD Team. Register for office hours.