Understanding the State and Local Implementation Grant Program (SLIGP) Criteria

On February 6, 2013, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration released the Federal Funding Opportunity announcement for the State and Local Implementation Grant Program (SLIGP). Corner Alliance has provided the following Key Next Steps for States in preparing for the SLIGP grant application and nationwide public safety broadband network planning activities

Understanding the State and Local Implementation Grant Program (SLIGP) Criteria

The FFO detailed the evaluation criteria for all SLIGP applications. Applications are judged on a 100-point scale and must be awarded 70 points to be deemed a successful application. The following categories constitute the large majority of points for evaluation:

• Updating Governance Structure and SCIPs (24 points)
• Stakeholder Engagement (15 points)
  • Tribal Nations (5 points)
  • Coordination with Local Government Jurisdictions (5 points)
  • State-level Involvement (5 points)
• Rural Coverage (10 points)
• Potential Network Users (6 points)
• Education and Outreach (6 points)

Key Next Steps for States

Prepare Grant Application

NTIA must receive your State’s application for SLIGP grant funds by March 19th, 2013, and initial funds will be awarded by July 15 for the three-year performance period. Although this grant is non-competitive, prompt action will ensure your State’s application meets requirements and maximizes benefits of your planning activities. With the short window for applications, the following priorities should be set for completing SLIGP applications.

1. Create Staffing Plan
2. Gather information to answer Supplemental Narrative Questions
3. Create Detailed Budget Justification

Begin Work on Key Activities

Phase one of the grant program focuses on beginning planning, consultation, and outreach activities. Corner Alliance recommends prioritizing action on the following activities to maximize the effectiveness of SLIGP grant funds:

1. Ensure that your State has designated a single officer or governmental body to serve as the coordinator of the implementation of the SLIGP grant funds.
2. Begin assessing your State governance structure and Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP)

• Determine how your States’ current governance structure will include additional and relevant stakeholders to inform efforts related to the public safety broadband network
• Determine how your States’ SCIP needs to be updated to reflect new public safety broadband network efforts utilizing SLIGP resources
• Determine how local governments and jurisdictions will be represented
• Determine how your state will ensure Tribal representation or document challenges to obtaining sufficient Tribal representation and efforts undertaken to overcome those challenges
• Determine how to leverage State-level agencies including the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Technology Officer

3. Begin to Establish an Outreach and Education Plan

• Determine what existing communications avenues exist that can be leveraged for outreach and education
• Based on your State’s governance structure and SCIP, determine all audiences and stakeholders that you need to included in the Outreach and Education plan
• As part of your State’s Outreach and Education Plan, ensure that you are collecting information on potential users for the public safety broadband network