The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation (RICC) has released scoring criteria and other details for Volumes 1 and 2 of its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.
The RICC says that the NTIA has approved Volume 1 and is reviewing the second volume.
Two of the deadlines articulated in the public information already are past: Posting for the RFP to the Corporation and State of Rhode Island Division of Purchasing website (March 31) and the pre-bid webinar (April 7). Four remain: submission of questions and comments (April 14); answers and other addenda posting (April 21); proposal submissions (May 9) and announcement of preferred proposer(s) (June 23).
The proposed Rhode Island BEAD scoring criteria are grouped into priority broadband projects and other last-mile projects.
Those projects within those categories are further divided into primary and secondary criteria. The primary criteria (which is required by the NTIA) is 75% of the total and consists of:
- Affordability: 35 points
- Minimum BEAD program outlay: 30 points
- Fair labor practices: 15 points
Secondary criteria:
- Local and Tribal coordination: 7 points
- Equitable workforce development and job quality: 6 points
- ISBE participation: 6 points
- Community impact: 4 points
- Open access: 2 points
- Speed to deployment: 1 point (required by NTIA)
Other last-mile projects also are split into primary and secondary criteria. The primary criteria for these projects are scored the same as the priority broadband projects. The secondary criteria are:
- Local and tribal coordination: 7 points
- Equitable workforce development and job quality: 6 points
- ISBE participation: 6 points
- Speed of network and other capabilities: 2 points (required by NTIA)
- Speed to deployment: 1 point (required by NTIA)
A wide group of entities may apply for Rhode Island BEAD funds:
- Private companies (e.g., corporations, limited liability companies, general partnerships, limited partnerships, etc.)
- Local governmental entities and Tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations
- Co-operatives, electric cooperatives, and public or private utilities
- Public utility districts
- Partnership proposals (proposer(s) can be partnerships between private entities, public entities or public private partnerships
- Other entities that develop and/or operate broadband networks and can demonstrate the experience, capacity, and financial resources and stability to satisfy the grant obligations
Additional information about broadband in Rhode Island, including links to state funding resources, awards made, BEAD news, state-specific Telecompetitor coverage, and more can be found on the Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
