Application Notes:

Applications must be received by 9:00 p.m. ET on January 9, 2023.

Standard forms and the detailed budget worksheet and narrative template must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov, and the pilot programs application form must be submitted online at forms.universalservice.org.

Applications must include:

• Standard forms:
  • SF 424
  • SF 424A
  • SF LLL (if applicable)
  • Negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
• Program-specific forms:
  • Pilot programs application form
  • Detailed budget worksheet and narrative template

The full contents of the application will become available upon initiation of the online application process.

The following are required in order to submit an application:

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
• SAM (System for Award Management) registration

Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.

Applications that pass the eligibility/compliance review will be evaluated according to the following merit review criteria:

• Applicant’s ability to conduct impactful outreach to target populations
• Potential impact of the applicant’s proposed pilot project
• Quality and feasibility of applicant’s proposed outreach
• Budget

In addition, the funding agency will weigh the interest in geographic and entity type diversity against the applicant’s final score as part of the application evaluation process.

Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.

Match Notes:

Matching funds are not required for this program; however, priority consideration may be given to applicants that provide additional cash and/or in-kind contributions in the event of a tie during the application evaluation process.

All matching funds must be used within the project period.

The following may not be used as a match:

• In-kind contributions provided by any broadband provider or a specific group of Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)-participating providers, including broadband industry groups and trade associations
• Federal funds, unless otherwise authorized by federal statute

Projects may include funds from multiple funding sources under the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program overall; however, funds may not be transferred between programs, as detailed on page 21 of the NOFA file.

Funding Notes:

Up to $10 million is available for this program overall, with up to $5 million available to support awards through this component.

Funding will be provided on a reimbursement basis.

Funding selections are anticipated to be made by March 2023. Awards will be made no later than in March 2023,

The project period will last 12 months, from March 2023 to March 2024. Extensions to the project period for up to a six-month period may be allowed on a case-by-case basis with prior written approval by the funding agency, as detailed on page 32 of the NOFA file. Extension requests must be submitted at least 120 days prior to the end of the original project period.

Costs for supplies are limited to $5,000.

Project management and administrative costs are limited to 5 percent of the total award amount.

Funds may not be used for:

• Activities that make a profit from, or otherwise financially benefit, from conducting ACP outreach
• Supplanting other outreach funding
• Activities that include other incremental charges above actual cost of proposed outreach activities, or fees or charges to eligible households for educating or providing enrollment assistance
• Commission or compensation to individuals conducting outreach based on the number of ACP applications submitted or households enrolled
• Remote ACP application assistance
• Lobbying
• Purchasing certain telecommunications and video surveillance products and contracting with certain related entities, as detailed on page 42 of the NOFA file
• Pre-award costs, including application preparation and submission costs
• Exercises
• Equipment

Refer to page 24 of the NOFA file for information regarding additional ineligible costs.

For FY 2023, a total of $4,995,831 was distributed via 23 awards ranging from $30,145 to $557,265 through this component. Refer to the Award file for details.

April 19, 2023
Information regarding awards through this program has been released and attached as the Award file. A brief summary of the awards has been added to the Financial section, and a sample of award recipients has been added to the Eligibility section.