07. e ip-scoring-rubric_tcm1045-599342Total Category Weight
Enter weight for primary and secondary criteria. Note - primary criteria must be at least 75%.
Primary Criteria (Required for All Subgrantee Selection)
States may add or adjust questions based on the three primary criteria listed on page 43 of the BEAD NOFO. Method to weigh, record answers, and score are up to the discretion of the state.
Weight
Selected weight should be consistent
across all subgrantee selection rubrics.
Determination
Determinations should be consistent across all rubrics and map directly to a provided score. NTIA recommends adding answers as dropdowns.
Score
NTIA recommends having score automatically populate, based on answer drop downs.
Explanation
Each rubric should substantiate why an applicant received their
answer/score.
OBD strongly agrees with the BEAD NOFO that matching
contributions allow applicants to demonstrate full commitment to their proposed projects. Additionally matching funds are a force multiplier for federal public funds, minimizing the BEAD subsidy required to
serve customers and making it more likely that the State will be able to serve the maximum unserved and underserved locations with the
available BEAD allocation. To maximize the impact and public benefits of BEAD funding, as it does with its own state grant funded projects, OBD will prioritize applicants that minimize the BEAD program outlay
through matching funds. To incentivize increased matching funds from potential subgrantees and their funding partners, OBD will award
points based on the percentage of the porjected total cost of the project that the applicant will contrigute beyond the required 50% match for the state's Border-to-Border Broadband grant program as detailed in
the scoring table. (Project applications submitted to the Lower Population Density Program will receive points for a community
contribution but are otherwise presumed high cost and need the allowed 75% grant amount to make the project viable.)
Point range 0 to 40
Points will be awarded in 2-point increments, with applicants requesting the full 50% match allowed by the Border-to-Border grant program
receiving 0 points and applicants requesting a 30% match receivng the full 40 points (i.e. a
request for 50% receiving 0 points, a request for 49% receiving 2 points, a request for 48% receiving 4 points, a request for 47% receiving 6
points, a request for 46% receiving 8 points...a request for 31% match receiving 38 points, a
request for 30% receiving 40 points).
Scoring is at the discretion of the
state, based on the answer provided in column D
Each explanation should include how
the reviewer arrived at their answer for this criteria
OBD will award points under the affordability selection criterion for an applicant's commitment to offer either 1) broadband pricing in BEAD-funded service areas that is consistent with the broadband pricing the
subgrantee makes available in unsubsidized areas within Minnesota; or 2) broadband pricing in BEAD-funded service areas that is at or below
the FCC's Urban Rate Survey's reasonable comparability benchmark for the subgrantee's residential plans, including the symmetrical gigabit-level speed specified in the BEAD NOFO. OBD will also award
points for a demonstration of community support for the project, with points for both letters of support and also for a financial commitment.
Both types of community support document that the provider's pricing, including for gigabit symmetrical service, have been vetted and are endorsed by the community as affordable.
Point range 0 to 25
Commitment to offer 1G/1G service at a rate that
is either 1) consistent with the broadband pricing the subgrantee makes available in unsubsidized areas within Minnesota for that service ; or is at
or below the residential rates provided in the FCC Urban Rate Survey's reasonable comparability
benchmark for that serve = 15 points; up to 5 points for demonstration of community support; up to 5 points for demonstration of community
financial contribution.
Scoring is at the discretion of the
state, based on the answer provided in column D
Each explanation should include how
the reviewer arrived at their answer for this criteria
OBD recognizes the important role that fair labor practices play in
minimizing disruptive and costly delays to project completion and ensuring that projects are carried out in accordance with the law.
Consistent with the Infrastructure Act and BEAD NOFO, OBD will prioritize applicants who demonstrate a commitment to fair labor practices through their record of compliance and plans for ensuring
complaince with federal labor and employment laws.
10 points Record of compliance = 5 points; Plans for
compliance = 5 points
Scoring is at the discretion of the state, based on the answer provided in column D
Each explanation
should include how the reviewer arrived at their answer for
this criteria
Secondary Criteria (Required for All Subgrantee Selection--there are no additional or separate secondary criteria for selection among other last-mile broadband deployment projects)
Eligible Entities must give secondary criterion prioritization weight to the prospective subgrantee’s binding commitment to provide service by
an earlier date certain. As written on pages 43 and 45 of the NOFO, "All subgrantees that receive BEAD Program funds for network deployment must deploy the planned broadband network and begin providing services to each customer that desires broadband services within the project area not later than four years after the date on which the
subgrantee receives the subgrant from the Eligible Entity. Eligible Entities must give secondary criterion prioritization weight to the prospective subgrantee’s binding commitment to provide service by an earlier date certain, subject to contractual penalties to the Eligible Entity, with greater benefits awarded to applicants promising an earlier
service provision date." As required for projects constructed under Minnesota's historic Border-to-Border grant program, OBD will prioritize applicants that commit to deploy service as soon as practicable with priority given to those applicants that indicate the project will complete at the conclusion of two full construction seasons.
5 points Projects that indicate they will complete after no longer than two full construction seasons will be awarded 5 points.
Scoring is at the discretion of the state, based on the answer provided in column D
Each explanation
should include how the reviewer arrived at their answer for
this criteria
Projects that deliver higher speeds will be prioritized over projects
proposing to deploy lesser speeds.
Up to 10 points will be awarded for those projects offering the highest speeds available with today's technology.
Projects offering speeds of 10G symmetrical will earn the full 10 points; projects offering speeds of
10Gbps download and 2.5Gbps upload will earn 8 points; projects offering speeds of 2.5Gbps
download and 1Gbps upload will earn 6 points; and projects offering at least 1Gbps symmetrical will earn 4 points.
Scoring is at the discretion of the state, based on the answer
provided in column D
Each explanation
should include how the reviewer arrived
at their answer for this criteria
Minnesota has consistently prioritized community support as evidence provided in a grant application as this support will greatly assist in the
success of the project through a higher take rate and demonstrates the communities' satisfaction with the rates, speeds and quality of service
offered by the provider. The demonstration of community support through a financial contribution to the cost of the project also offsets the amount of funding necessary from BEAD, making the federal
funding go further.
10 points
5 points will be awarded if there is a financial commitment from the community to help with
eligible costs; up to 5 points will be awarded based on the demonstration of community support (letters of support, petition, pre-
registration for service, etc.).
Scoring is at the discretion of the state, based on the answer
provided in column D
Each explanation
should include how the reviewer arrived
at their answer for this criteria
Score Grand Total
Subgrantee Selection Rubric - MINNESOTA
To use this rubric template, Eligible Entities should customize all text in gray
75%
25%