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TBCP 3 Grant Support

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has opened their Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) for the third round and your community might be able to benefit from it. TBCP is a $3 billion program, from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, to support Tribal governments bringing high-speed Internet to Tribal lands, including telehealth, distance learning, affordability, and broadband adoption initiatives. You can learn more about the TBCP on the BroadbandUSA website here.


Thankfully at Nokomis Strategies, two members of our team are former federal program officers from TBCP. We have reviewed TBCP applications from the federal perspective and understand what NTIA reviewers are actually looking for. Our insider knowledge of the program goes beyond external expertise, as we have experience on both sides of the TBCP review table. If you work with us, we can help you understand and apply a NOFO, develop your proposal, evaluate written proposals for weaknesses, and implement the TBCP grant when you are awarded it.

 

NOFO Technical Assistance


We can:

  • Conduct an eligibility check before you invest time in an application.  

  • Provide a straightforward breakdown of a 100+ page Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).  

  • Identify where the scoring points are actually located.  

  • Offer guidance on deadlines, attachments, and submission mechanics.  

  • Address questions like "Do we qualify?" and "Is this worth pursuing?" early in the process.  

  • Assist with interpreting the nuances of federal guidance.  

 

Proposal Development


Building the application from a blank page. Budget narrative support, cost per household, infrastructure vs. service costs, cost per connection. Technical narrative - network design, technology choice (fixed wireless, LEO, fiber). Sustainability plan - how the network keeps running after grant funds are spent. Letters of support, certifications, and required attachments. Timeline and milestone planning that matches what NTIA expects to see.

 

Proposal Evaluation


Ensure you have a second set of eyes on your submission before you hit "submit." Review your work against the actual NOFO scoring rubric to identify any gaps, weak sections, or missing required elements. Double-check the budget calculations and assess technical feasibility. This should be a pre-submission audit rather than a complete rewrite. This service is ideal for Tribes that already have an in-house draft or are working with another consultant's draft.

 

Implementation Support


Support extends beyond the award letter. Establishing compliance and reporting structures. Tracking milestones, vendors, and subrecipients. Preparing for federal monitoring and audits. Assisting awardees in fulfilling the commitments outlined in their proposals. Minimizing deobligation, rescopes, budget modifications, etc. after funds are allocated.

 

Applicant Pain Points


If any of these situation apply to you, we can help:

  • We lack grant-writing staff.  

  • We are unsure of our eligibility for the grant.  

  • We have never managed an award of this size before.  

  • We are concerned about the processes that follow once we receive the funding.  

  • We don’t know what reviewers are specifically looking for.  

  • We began an application but got stuck.  


If you're interested in learning more about how Nokomis Strategies can help you, contact us at info@nokomisstrategies.co or call (907) 300-2742.

 
 
 
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