CalDEP Questions & Answers (Q&A)

The California Department of Technology (CDT) is administering CalDEP. Funding for the program comes from the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Yes, CalDEP addresses Goals 2 and 3 under the SDEP. Goal 1, as defined in the 2020 Broadband for All Action Plan

 and the SDEP and its corresponding objectives will be addressed through the continued build-out of existing Broadband for All investments and Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD)-funded projects. Please see RFA Section 2 . Goals of the California Digital Equity Program for more information.

Centralized Services are tools and resources developed, procured, or curated by CDT to support CalDEP Subgrantees and ecosystem partners with conducting and reporting on activities and progress in alignment with the SDEP. Centralized Services may include promotion and outreach materials, a digital literacy training platform, a broadband-specific workforce development hub, the Digital Equity Ecosystem Mapping (DEEM) tool, and a Statewide Digital Equity Public Survey.   

State Agency Digital Inclusion Efforts are programs that impact digital equity outcomes for Covered Populations statewide. 

CDT will inform Subgrantees of Centralized Services and State Agency Digital Inclusion efforts as agreements are finalized to create opportunities for collaboration and alignment. 

There are two funding tracks in CalDEP. Track 1: Regional/Local Ecosystems provides subgrants to develop and refine regional/local digital equity plans and provides capacity to implement digital equity activities. Track 2: Targeted Statewide Ecosystems supports ecosystem development, planning, and innovation for a specific Outcome Area or Covered Population statewide. CDT does intend to procure services associated with Centralized Services to support subgrantees. CDT will communicate information about these procurements and others as they become available.

The RFA Section 3. Definitions defines Digital Navigators as trusted community organizations or community members who conduct activities including, but not limited to, the following:

• Assess users’ individual needs and goals
• Advise on availability and access to low-cost offers for devices and internet service
• Connect residents to or provide digital literacy training
• Connect residents to digital education, workforce development programs, and online public benefit programs or resources
• Hardware and software technical support efforts
• Individual, one-on-one support
• Communal, group-based support

Entities that carry out workforce development programs are eligible to CalDEP funding if they meet all other eligibility requirements outlined in RFA Section 4. Eligible Applicants, subject to the program requirements of Track 1 and Track 2 Given the focus of CalDEP, Eligible Entities that conduct workforce development programs or apprenticeships related to broadband infrastructure, technology, digital skills, or knowledge-based jobs are encouraged to participate.

Organizations may be part of multiple applications as programmatic Partners. However, Organizations serving as Lead Applicants are allowed to submit only one (1) application per funding Track.  

Note: a Lead Applicant for Track 1 may partner with entities across multiple counties (whether the counties are contiguous or non-contiguous) to submit one application for multiple county funding allocations. 

Yes, as long as they or their fiscal agents belong to one of the federally defined Eligible Entity categories and meet all eligibility criteria.  Please refer to 4. Eligible Applicants in the RFA for more information. 

No, there may only be one Lead Applicant per application.

Both Lead Applicants and second-tier subgrantees for CalDEP must be located and operate in the State of California, have an active Unique Entity ID (UEI) number assigned by SAM.gov and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) assigned by the Internal Revenue Service, and belong to one of the federally defined Eligible Entity categories.  

Please refer to 4. Eligible Applicants in the RFA for more information on Subgrantee eligibility requirements. 

Eligible tribes may participate as partners in Track 1 or Track 2 applications if they have applied for or received funding from other sources. However, CalDEP awards may supplement, but not supplant, other State or Federal funds that have been made available to the Subgrantee to carry out digital equity activities. (See RFA Section 7.2 Funding Restrictions). In the application Section 8.2.5, Lead Applicants must provide a disclosure of other sources of State or Federal Funding that the Lead Applicant and any partnering entities have: 1) already applied for or are in the process of applying for, or 2) already received, for activities related to the purposes of this RFA. Lead Applicants must also provide a general description of the uses of these other funding sources (either intended or proposed), indicate the amount of funding requested or awarded from these sources, and describe how their CalDEP application will supplement, and not supplant or duplicate, the activities that may be funded through the other sources (whether already received or applied for). Please also refer to the question “Which Track should tribes and tribal associations apply for?” for more information on tribal participation in CalDEP funding tracks. Note: If awarded, the Subgrantee must establish and maintain a financial management system that is capable of identifying and tracking each State and Federal award separately, which includes the ability to distinguish between different grants.

National organizations may participate in both CalDEP funding tracks, as Lead Applicants or partners, as long as they are located and operate in the State of California, belong to an Eligible Entity category, have an active Unique Entity ID (UEI) number assigned by SAM.gov, and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) assigned by the Internal Revenue Service. (RFA Section 4. Eligible Applicants). Organizations that have an active registration with the State of California through the Secretary of State are considered to be located and operating in the State of California. If the organization’s address associated with their UEI assigned by SAM.gov is not located within California, the Lead Applicant is required to also provide the address of their organization’s physical location or office in California. Alternatively, national organizations may provide the address for their registered corporate agent in California as listed on their registration with the Secretary of State.

While federal grant rules define “Indian Tribes” under Eligible Entities as federally-recognized Tribes only, State-recognized Tribes may participate in an application if they belong to one of the other Eligible Entity categories (e.g., not-for-profit foundations, corporations, institutions, or associations) and meet other eligibility requirements. See RFA Section 4. Eligible Applicants in the RFA for more details. 

Organizations may participate in CalDEP as Lead Applicants or partners as long as they are located and operate in the State of California, belong to an Eligible Entity category, have an active Unique Entity ID (UEI) number assigned by SAM.gov, and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (RFA Section 4, Eligible Applicants). For the purposes of CalDEP, organizations that have an active registration with the State of California through the Secretary of State are located and operating in the State of California. If the organization’s address associated with their UEI assigned by SAM.gov is not located within California, the Lead Applicant is required to also provide the address of their organization’s physical location or office in California. Alternatively, national organizations may provide the address for their registered corporate agent in California as listed on their registration with the Secretary of State.

To be eligible for CalDEP funding, an entity must be located and operate in the State of California, have an active Unique Entity ID (UEI) number assigned by SAM.gov and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) assigned by the Internal Revenue Service, and belong to one of the following Eligible Entity categories:

• A local political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the State of California.
• An Indian Tribe or a Native Hawaiian organization.
• A foundation, corporation, institution, or association that is:
  • a not-for-profit entity; and
  • not a school
• A community anchor institution. 
• A local educational agency. 
• An entity that carries out a workforce development program.
• A partnership between any of the entities listed above.
• A Regional Broadband Consortia (as long as they or their fiscal agents belong to an Eligible Entity category as listed above and have an active UEI).

Eligible entities may include county governments and county agencies/departments, public libraries, special districts, community colleges, and local educational agencies. All Track 1 Lead Applicants must adhere to the requirements of Track 1, including developing or refining regional/local digital equity plans that align with the State Digital Equity Plan, including an implementation plan to address barriers for all Covered Populations in the county geographic area it pertains to. Note: Track 1 Subgrantees may choose to identify specific Covered Populations to prioritize in their implementation activities based on their planning process and needs assessment results.
All Track 2 Lead Applicants must focus on ecosystem building, planning, capacity-building, and innovation for a specific Covered Population or Outcome Area statewide. If an entity does not have the experience in managing large initiatives or the capacity to meet Lead Applicant requirements, the entity may consider joining an application as a partner or second-tier subgrantee.

As noted in the RFA Section 4. Eligible Applicants, all Lead Applicants and second-tier subgrantees must have an active Unique Entity ID (UEI) number assigned by SAM.gov, an Employer Identification Number (EIN) assigned by the Internal Revenue Service, be located and operate in California, and belong to one of the Eligible Entity categories. Beyond meeting minimum eligibility requirements, applicants will be scored on their experience managing large initiatives; managing state and federal grants; experience with serving Covered Populations in the specific county, multi-county region, or diverse regions of the state; and experience in digital equity or digital inclusion planning programming.  

For-profit entities are not eligible for CalDEP subgrants, except for for-profit entities that carry out workforce development programs in some cases. Lead Applicants, however, may procure services of a for-profit entity as a vendor or contractor.

While an entity may only serve as the Lead Applicant on one application per funding track, an entity may be a partner on other CalDEP applications. In this case, their involvement in other CalDEP applications must be listed in the Partnership Form under “Involvement in Other Applications (if applicable).” However, activities across the different applications must be non-duplicative. If awarded, the entity must establish and maintain a financial management system that is capable of identifying and tracking each CalDEP award (including awards as a Lead Applicant or second-tier subgrantee) and all other State and Federal awards separately, which includes the ability to distinguish between different grants or subgrants.

Track 2 applications should be statewide, rather than regional. Track 2 Subgrantees are expected to support, coordinate, or share best practices with Track 1 Subgrantees.  

As written in the RFA 4. Eligible Applicants, CDT encourages entities to partner on CalDEP applications. Please note that for each application, one Eligible Entity must be designated as the Lead Applicant for the partnership. Partners on an application must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) executed by both the Partner and the Lead Applicant.

Partners are defined as entities participating in, collaborating on, or contributing to the proposed activities. Partners may or may not receive funding. Those who will receive funding are considered second-tier subgrantees and must be Eligible Entities. Refer to RFA 7.2. Funding Restrictions for additional second-tier subgrantee requirements.

Potential Lead Applicants and partner entities are encouraged to utilize the Partnership Collaboration Resource to seek and find partners for specific Track 1 or Track 2 applications. 

Second-tier subgrantees may be identified at the time of application or after awards are received and during the period of performance. Please refer to RFA 7.2. Funding Restrictions.

Adult schools may be eligible to participate in an application in either funding track, if they meet the Eligible Entity requirements as stated in RFA Section 4. Eligible Applicants. Adult schools are encouraged to participate in the Partnership Coordination Resource to identify a potential Lead Applicant to partner with in their geographic area. 

Per CDT’s Procuring Goods and Services

 guidance, Lead Applicants may contract for services that cannot be provided by staff employed by their organization. Generally, these services are for a short-term period and provide a specific and identifiable product or service. If awarded funds, recipients are responsible for ensuring their contractors/ consultants comply with applicable federal regulations and requirements. Contracting out must not affect a recipient’s overall responsibility for the management of the project, and the recipient must reserve sufficient rights and control to enable it to fulfill its responsibilities for the project.

A County government, as a Lead Applicant, may propose providing CalDEP funding to other County departments. In this case, the provision of funds to other County departments would not be considered a second-tier subgrant, as the County government would be considered a single entity. An agreement such as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between departments may be considered.  

If awarded, all County departments are responsible for complying with post-award requirements, including reporting, timekeeping, and record-keeping. Refer to RFA Section 10. Post-Award Expectations for more information.

No. Per the RFA Section 4. Eligible Applicants Letters of Support (LOS) allow for stakeholders to express general support or endorsement for the application. A template can be found as part of Technical Assistance Resources here.

Letters of Intent (LOI) must describe the activities the Partners intend to pursue or participate in to support the Lead Applicant and Application project.  A template can be found as part of Technical Assistance Resources here. 

Per the RFA Section 8.2 Content and Form of Application, CDT understands that Track 1 applicants may need to develop their local digital equity plans before finalizing activity details. As such, Track 1 applicants should provide the following Application information to the greatest extent possible to serve as preliminary information, including within submitted LOI/LOS.

CDT will not release information on applications until awards are announced.

Please refer to the Partnership Coordination Resource to see if any other entities from your County have expressed interest in partnerships.

CDT encourages Lead Applicants to identify partnerships of interested entities within each county prior to the application.

No. Grant Application Resolutions may differ by locality and CalDEP only provides templates for any materials that are required for application submission. 

As part of their applications, Track 1 applicants must submit more than one Letter of Intent (LOI) or Letter of Support (LOS) from partners or stakeholders in their geographic scope of the application, and Track 2 applicants must submit more than one LOI/LOS from partners or stakeholders across the state. Additionally, Technical Review includes scoring the Lead Applicant’s “Robustness of partnership strategy presented, including diversity and regional/local reach of partners and stakeholders” as part of the “Strength of Applicant’s Organizational Capacity” evaluation criteria. Please see RFA Section 9. Selection Information for more information. Additional partners can be identified during the period of performance. 

A for-profit workforce development program may be ineligible for CalDEP funding if it charges members of Covered Populations for services intended to be provided by the CalDEP award. Please see RFA Section 7.2 Funding Restrictions for more information. Please note this is not an exhaustive list and all applicants must align with eligibility requirements as detailed in RFA Section 4. Eligible Applicants.

Regional/local digital equity plans should reference the barriers to digital equity faced by Covered Populations in the California SDEP as a baseline. Subgrantees are encouraged to add contextual information on how barriers from the SDEP manifest in the local community, and then identify any additional barriers experienced locally as applicable. Applicants are encouraged to review the SDEP for more information on barriers faced by Covered Populations.  Additional guidance and planning tools will be provided to Subgrantees.

CDT will provide a Regional/Local Digital Equity Plan template, as well as data including Covered Populations, Broadband Adoption rates, and a Digital Equity Ecosystem Mapping Survey. CDT intends to provide ongoing technical assistance to all Subgrantees. 

Track 2 requires Subgrantees to focus on targeted ecosystem development or digital equity innovation for a Covered Population or Outcome Area. As such, applicants should propose programs that are as extensive as possible throughout the state, given their focus area, and provide justification for why their proposed Covered Population or Outcome Area may be served more effectively in statewide, rather than regional or local, ecosystems. 

Track 2 Subgrantees must include a plan to support, coordinate, or share best practices with Track 1 Subgrantees, and participate in and contribute to the Statewide Implementation Group and other communities of practice established by CDT. 

Subgrantees are encouraged to leverage Centralized Services to support the efficiency and effectiveness of their implementation activities.  However, if local needs exceed what Centralized Services provide, Subgrantees may allocate CalDEP funding to procure or develop services to meet those needs, with approval from CDT.  Centralized Services will primarily be offered in English and Spanish. Subgrantees may opt to use funding for services in other languages as needed by their local or regional communities. More information about Centralized Services will be provided as they become available on the Broadband for All Portal. 

All Tribes and Tribal-serving entities meeting eligibility requirements are encouraged to participate in both Tracks. All Lead Applicants are encouraged to coordinate and partner with Tribes and Tribal-serving entities. For Track 1, Tribes and Tribal-serving entities may participate in applications (subject to the requirements of Track 1 including developing plans to drive towards measurable objectives to benefit members of all Covered Populations within the county/region or multi-county joint application regions). For Track 2, Tribes and Tribal-serving entities should consider applying under the Tribal Collaboration Outcome Area for statewide ecosystem development, planning, and innovation.

Broadband adoption activities are an allowable use of CalDEP funds for Track 1. CalDEP Track I Subgrantees are encouraged to align broadband adoption efforts with infrastructure deployment projects funded by state or federal grants.

Under Track I, a Subgrantee must develop or modify an existing Regional/Local Digital Equity Plan that aligns with the State Digital Equity Plan (SDEP) and the SDEP measurable objectives. Once the plan is approved, the Subgrantee may make a second-tier subgrant to an eligible entity to conduct activities in a specific community or neighborhood.

No. As noted in Section 7.2 of the RFA on Funding Restrictions, CalDEP awards may not be used for construction activities or infrastructure projects, including installing broadband infrastructure. As noted in Section 2, the Goals of the California Digital Equity Program, deployment of broadband infrastructure will be addressed through other Broadband for All investments and BEAD-funded projects.

CDT will only award one application per county funding allocation and encourages Lead Applicants to identify partnerships of interested entities within each county prior to the application. Multi-county applications must address the entirety of the multi-county area it represents, and if awarded, must submit a regional/local digital equity plan for each county.

In responding to questions in the Application Portal, multi-county applicants should describe their proposed activities, experience, partnerships, Covered Populations estimates, and preliminary estimated outputs for each county proposed in their application. They should also provide Letters of Intent/Support from partners or stakeholders representing each county in their application. 

No. As noted in the RFA Section 5. Eligible Use of Funds and Program Requirements, Track 2 is designed to fund subgrantees focusing on targeted ecosystem development or digital equity innovation for a specific Covered Population or Outcome Area. In the Application Portal
, applicants must select the specific Covered Population or Outcome Area that their application will focus on.

CalDEP does not require cost sharing or matching funds, and CDT will not give additional consideration during the evaluation process for applications proposing matching funds.  

While matching funds are not required, applicants are allowed to voluntarily propose contributions of matching funds, which should be described in the appropriate Narrative section of the Budget Form.

Matching funds must comply with the requirements of 2 CFR 200.306
, including meeting the following requirements:

• Matching funds are verifiable in the applicant’s records
• Matching funds are not included as contributions for any other Federal award
• Matching funds are necessary, reasonable, and allowable for achieving the objectives of the CalDEP application
• Matching funds are not paid by the Federal Government under another Federal award

Track 1 provides regional/local planning plus capacity subgrants. Applicants must develop or refine regional/local digital equity plans that align with the State Digital Equity Plan, including an implementation plan to address barriers for all Covered Populations in the county geographic area it pertains to. Note: Track 1 Subgrantees may choose to identify specific Covered Populations to prioritize in their implementation activities based on their planning process and needs assessment results.

Track 2 provides statewide ecosystem subgrants that focus on ecosystem building, planning, capacity-building, and innovation for a specific Covered Population or Outcome Area. Track 1 and Track 2 Subgrantees are encouraged to work together.

Track 1 subgrants are for development of regional/local digital equity ecosystems. Track 1 applicants may apply to receive one or more county funding allocations to serve their proposed counties. If awarded, Track 1 subgrantees must develop or refine a regional/local digital equity plan for each proposed county, then implement local digital equity activities that align with the regional/local plan and the SDEP. Regional/local digital equity plans must drive towards measurable objectives to benefit members of all Covered Populations within the county/region or multi-county joint application regions.

Track 2 subgrants are for digital equity innovation and targeted ecosystem development that benefits a specific Covered Population or Outcome Area statewide. Track 2 subgrants must be used for statewide ecosystem building and planning, capacity-building, or innovation and will be awarded in the expected range of $400,000 to $1,000,000.

For Track 1,CDT will only award one application per county funding allocation, meaning the awarded application will receive the entirety of the county’s funding allocation. Track 1 subgrantees must develop or refine a regional/local digital equity plan for each proposed county, and these plans must drive towards measurable objectives to benefit members of all Covered Populations within the proposed county or multi-county region. All Tribes and Tribal-serving entities meeting eligibility requirements are encouraged to participate in Track 1. All Lead Applicants are encouraged to coordinate and partner with Tribes and Tribal-serving entities.

Yes. Applicants who wish to apply for both Funding Tracks must submit a separate application for each Track. However, activities across the two applications must be non-duplicative. If awarded, the entity must establish and maintain a financial management system that is capable of identifying and tracking each CalDEP award (including awards as a Lead Applicant or second-tier subgrantee) and all other State and Federal awards separately, which includes the ability to distinguish between different grants or subgrants.   

Only Lead Applicants will submit an application for CalDEP funding. As part of the application, the Lead Applicant may include Letters of Intent from their potential second-tier subgrantees. Second-tier subgrantees may also be identified after awards are received and during the period of performance.

Devices and hotpots are allowable costs, subject to the program requirements of Track 1 and Track 2 and cost restrictions and requirements for Device Costs and Broadband Subsidies, as noted in the RFA 7.2. Funding Restrictions.

No more than ten (10) percent of the subgrant amount may be used to fund subsidies for the provision of broadband services through affordable broadband programs. Please refer to the RFA 7.2. Funding Restrictions for more information.

In Track 1, Subgrantees must develop or refine regional/local digital equity plans that align with the State Digital Equity Plan, including an implementation plan to address barriers for all Covered Populations in the county geographic area it pertains to. Once the plan has been developed and approved, Track 1 Subgrantees must implement local digital equity activities that align with the SDEP measurable objectives and regional/local digital equity plan. Subgrantees may distribute funds to second tier subgrantees, who are eligible entities for specific projects.  Please refer to the RFA 5. Eligible Use of Funds and Program Requirements.

All Track 2 Lead Applicants must focus on digital equity ecosystem building, planning, capacity-building, and innovation for a specific Covered Population or Outcome Area statewide. Please refer to the RFA Section 5. Eligible Use of Funds and Program Requirements for more information.

Coalition-building activities in support of digital equity planning may be eligible uses of funds subject to the digital equity planning timing requirements and cost cap. Please refer to the RFA 5. Eligible Use of Funds and Program Requirements and RFA 7.2. Funding Restrictions.

This depends on the funding track the organization is applying under. For Track 1, organizations should apply for counties where they have experience and are able to demonstrate support from local partners or stakeholders through more than one Letter of Intent or Letter of Support. For Track 2, organizations must submit an application to address a specific Covered Population or Outcome Area on a statewide level.

Subgrantees may provide second-tier subgrants to community partners as long as they meet Eligible Entity requirements and other second-tier subgrantee requirements. Please refer to RFA 4. Eligible Applicants and 7.2. Funding Restrictions for second-tier subgrantee requirements.

Participant support costs such as stipends or subsistence allowances are allowable but must be reasonable and included in the budget.  Please refer to the Allowable / Unallowable Costs and Activities Resource Guide

Devices purchased for programmatic staff are not subject to the Device Costs threshold identified in RFA Section 7.2 and the Allowable vs Unallowable Cost and Activities

 document. Programmatic staff devices must be essential and allocable to the performance of the CalDEP award.

Staff salary and wages, including for instructors, are allowable as part of employee compensation for personnel services in proportion to the amount of time or effort an employee devotes to the CalDEP-supported project or program during the period of performance under the federal award, including salaries, wages, and fringe benefits. Please refer to the Allowable / Unallowable Costs and Activities resource for more information.

Staff salary and wages are subject to the program requirements of Track 1 and Track 2 and timekeeping requirements as outlined in RFA Section 10. Post-Award Expectations.

For Track 1, CDT will only award one application per county funding allocation, meaning the awarded application will receive the entirety of the county geographic region’s funding allocation. Entities that are interested in working on digital equity on a smaller scale within the county geographic region are encouraged to join an application as a partner or second-tier subgrantee.

Yes, CalDEP funding can be used for capacity-building and other allowable uses. Lead Applicants / CalDEP awardees may also choose to provide second-tier subgrants to Eligible Entities to implement awarded projects.

Track 1 Lead Applicants must first develop or refine regional/local digital equity plans that align with the State Digital Equity Plan, including an implementation plan to address barriers for all Covered Populations in the county geographic area it pertains to. The implementation activities may include professional development training for entities serving Covered Populations or digital inclusion resources only if these programs align with SDEP measurable objectives and the regional/local digital equity plan.

Track 2 Lead Applicants must focus on ecosystem building, planning, capacity-building, and innovation for a specific Covered Population or Outcome Area statewide. Note that capacity-building is specifically mentioned as an eligible use of funds for Track 2, but has to be aligned with Track 2 requirements for statewide focus on a specific Covered Population or Outcome Area.

Yes. If the county or region has previously completed a digital equity plan, they must upload this plan alongside their application with a description to demonstrate how it aligns with the SDEP. If the pre-existing plan is accepted as meeting all minimum requirements, CalDEP awardees may proceed with implementation activities. Applicants should provide this description as part of the Track 1-specific application question that asks for either “Description of local digital equity planning activities and timeline for completion” (if developing a new plan) or “Please describe prior planning efforts and provide a description of local digital equity planning activities and timeline for update (if applicable)” (if upgrading/submitting an existing plan). Please see RFA Section 8.2.6. Funding Track Specific Questions.

Regional/local digital equity plans must be completed and submitted to CDT for approval within 6 months of award. If entities cannot complete the plan within this timeframe, CDT may consider requests for extensions up to 6 months, not exceeding 12 months post-award. CDT expects to review and approve regional/local digital equity plans within 3 months of receipt. See RFA Section 5.1. Track 1: Regional/Local Ecosystems.

No. Track 1 Subgrantees Applicants must address the entirety of the county or multi-county area it represents, including municipalities, unincorporated areas, and rural areas.

Track 2 requires Applicants to focus on targeted ecosystem development or digital equity innovation for a Covered Population or Outcome Area statewide. As such, applicants should propose programs that are as extensive as possible throughout the State, given their focus.

Per CDT’s Procuring Goods and Services

 guidance, Lead Applicants may contract for services that cannot be provided by staff employed by their organization. Generally, these services are for a short-term period and provide a specific and identifiable product or service. If awarded funds, recipients are responsible for ensuring their contractors/ consultants comply with applicable federal regulations and requirements. Contracting out must not affect a recipient’s overall responsibility for the management of the project, and the recipient must reserve sufficient rights and control to enable it to fulfill its responsibilities for the project.

Post-award, if subgrantees identify any digital skills training needs that are not met by those provided by CDT as Centralized Services, licenses for digital skills training subscriptions may be an allowable use of funds. 

Yes. Per the RFA Section 7.2. Funding Restrictions, Subgrantees may select contractors through a competitive process during the period of performance. In this case, for the application, Lead Applicants may include a line item and budget amount for an unnamed contractor and describe the need purpose for the contractor in the Narrative section of the Budget Form.  

Lead Applicants may also propose specific entities as contractors at the point of application if they have an existing agreement with the contractor and provide sufficient justification for their selection, including demonstrating that the contractor was selected through a competitive process.

Please refer to the Technical Assistance Resources page on the CalDEP portal for the Allowable / Unallowable Costs and Activities resource. 

No, Track 1 subgrants are for development of regional/local digital equity ecosystems. Track 1 subgrantees must develop or refine a regional/local digital equity plan for each proposed county, then implement local digital equity activities that align with the regional/local plan and the SDEP. Regional/local digital equity plans must outline strategies, key activities, and measurable objectives to benefit members of all Covered Populations within the county/region.  

However, Track 1 Subgrantees may provide second-tier subgrants to Eligible Entities to include broadband adoption, digital literacy, or device programs as a part of language programs for members of Covered Populations with language barriers. 

Track 2 Subgrantees must focus on targeted ecosystem development or digital equity innovation for a Covered Population or Outcome Area statewide. As such, applicants should propose programs that are as extensive as possible throughout the state, given their focus area, and provide justification for why their proposed Covered Population or Outcome Area may be served more effectively in statewide, rather than regional or local, ecosystems. Track 2 Subgrantees must engage stakeholders across the state and include a plan to support, coordinate, or share best practices with Track 1 Subgrantees. Refer to RFA Section 5.2 Track 2: Targeted Statewide Ecosystems for more information. 

As such, Track 2 applicants must submit more than one Letter of Intent (LOI) or Letter of Support (LOS) from partners or stakeholders across the state. These may include letters from statewide organizations, or letters from a diverse group of local partners or stakeholders to demonstrate the application’s statewide reach. 

Additionally, evaluation criteria for Track 2 applicants include: 

• Justification for targeted statewide ecosystem
• Benefits Covered Populations in diverse regions of the state
• Ability to demonstrate support from the statewide digital equity ecosystem through Letters of Intent or Letters of Support
• Applicant Team’s experience in serving Covered Populations in diverse regions of the state

Refer to RFA Section 9. Selection Information for more information.

Second-tier subgrants are optional under CalDEP. However, CDT will only award one application per county funding allocation and encourages Lead Applicants to identify partnerships of interested entities within each county prior to the application. 

No, CDT does not have a requirement for regional/local digital equity plans to be officially adopted by a County government board or other governing body. However, CDT acknowledges that there may be benefits and value in regional/local digital equity plans being formally adopted by governing bodies to facilitate sustainability. 

All financial documentation requirements are outlined in the RFA Section 8. Application and Submission Information. In addition to the Budget Form, applicants must submit Standard Federal Financial Assistance Forms and Documentation. 

Per the RFA Section 10. Post-Award Expectations, each CalDEP awardee must submit a Financial Report to CDT twice yearly, consistent with Federal reporting guidelines. Additionally, all Subgrantees are subject to audits from CDT during the period of performance. CDT audits will include a review of Subgrantee programmatic and financial records and documentation pertaining to the performance/compliance of the subgrant agreement through site visits, desk reviews, or other agreed-upon procedures. 

Among the Centralized Services CDT will provide is a digital literacy assessment and training platform to support subgrantees to conduct activities consistent with the SDEP. Online learning programs may be allowable costs if local needs (for Track 1) or targeted Covered Population or Outcome Area needs (for Track 2) exceed what Centralized Services provide, subject to the program requirements of Track 1 and Track 2.

Track 1 Lead Applicants must develop or refine regional/local digital equity plans that align with the State Digital Equity Plan, including an implementation plan to address barriers for all Covered Populations in the county geographic area it pertains to. The implementation activities may include online learning programs only if these programs align with SDEP measurable objectives and the regional/local digital equity plan.
Track 2 Lead Applicants must focus on ecosystem building, planning, capacity-building, and innovation for a specific Covered Population or Outcome Area statewide. These activities may include online learning programs only if these programs align with SDEP measurable objectives for a Covered Population or Outcome Area statewide.

No. All Track 1 Subgrantees must use their awarded funding for digital equity planning and implementation of activities within their specified county or multi-county region, not just one school district. Please see the RFA Section 5.1. Track 1: Regional/Local Ecosystems for more information.

No. Track 1 Applicants (planning plus capacity) are not required to have a regional/local plan that aligns with the SDEP prior to submitting their application. Selected subgrantees will be given a 6-month planning period to develop/refine a regional/local digital equity plan that aligns with a SDEP.

CDT will not pre-approve any existing plans prior to the submission of an application. If applicants believe that existing Digital Equity Plans associated with the county allocation(s) applied for aligned with the State Digital Equity Plan, those may be submitted with the application on the application portal.

Yes, during the post-award period of performance, prior to expending CalDEP funds on program implementation, all existing, revised, and newly developed plans must be reviewed and approved by CDT in order to ensure alignment with the State Digital Equity Plan. Refer to RFA Section 5.1 Track 1: Regional/Local Ecosystems for more information

See “Participant Support Costs” in  Allowable / Unallowable Cost and Activities

No. CDT plans to share a local digital equity plan template for Track 1 Subgrantees as a part of post-award guidance. Applicants should refer to the minimum requirements of regional/local digital equity plans in RFA Section 5.1 Track 1: Regional/Local Ecosystems.

Under the requirements of NTIA’s Capacity Grant funding, all applications must focus on Covered Populations, as defined by NTIA’s State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Applications should additionally prioritize Covered Households. Applicants should consider intersectionality among Covered Populations to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of proposed activities and serve communities who may belong to multiple Covered Populations. 

Subgrants awarded under Track 1: Regional/Local Ecosystems must develop or implement plans to advance measurable objectives to benefit members of all Covered Populations within the county/region or multi-county joint application regions. Subgrantees may choose to identify specific Covered Populations to prioritize in their implementation activities based on the results of their planning process and needs assessment.   

Subgrants awarded under Track 2: Targeted Statewide Ecosystems must focus on digital equity innovation and targeted ecosystem development that target a specific Covered Population or Outcome Area statewide.  If an application focuses on an Outcome Area, Covered Populations must benefit from the services.  

No. The NTIA Capacity Grant NOFO provides the following definition: Incarcerated individuals (as defined by the State or Territory), other than individuals who are incarcerated in a Federal correctional facility.

However, working with organizations that serve formerly incarcerated people may be permissible if activities being conducted serve formerly incarcerated individuals who are members of one of the other Covered Populations.

Yes. Organizations serving specific Covered Populations are encouraged to participate in CalDEP applications if they meet the definition of Eligible Applicants per the RFA Section 4. Eligible Applicants.

For Track 1, organizations whose experience is in serving a specific Covered Population in a county or region are encouraged to partner with a Lead Applicant for their county(s) as a partner or second-tier subgrantee.

For Track 2, organizations whose experience is in serving a specific Covered Population statewide are encouraged to apply as a Lead Applicant, partner, or second-tier subgrantee focusing on the specific Covered Population.

The formula for Track 1 funding allocation was determined using:

• Covered Populations (75%) using the estimates from the US Census Bureau and NTIA’s Digital Equity Act Population Viewer
   estimates;
• Relative Lack of Broadband Availability and Adoption (25%) using most current data from California Public Utilities Commission 2023 CASF Annual Report and the American Community Survey

A minimum allocation of 0.5 percent of the total Track 1 funding pool was assigned to counties whose formula allocations amounted to less than 0.5 percent of the total funding pool and for counties that had less than 20,000 in total population. 

In Track 1, CDT will make no more than 58 awards, one award per county funding allocation. CDT may make fewer than 58 awards in Track 1 if one or more multi-county applications are awarded. For Track 2, CDT expects to make up to 14 awards, with each award in the range between $400,000 and $1,000,000.

Each county’s funding allocation is specified in the RFA Section 7. Allocation & Award Formula, as determined by the funding formula based on the NTIA’s formula for the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant allocations and modified with public input. CDT will award one application per county funding allocation, meaning the awarded application will receive the entirety of the county’s funding allocation. The awarded Lead Applicant may in turn provide second-tier subgrants to other Eligible Entities within the county to support in their planning or implementation activities.

CalDEP does not include a funding set-aside for tribes. However,all Tribes and Tribal-serving entities meeting eligibility requirements are encouraged to participate in both Tracks. All Lead Applicants are encouraged to coordinate and partner with Tribes and Tribal-serving entities. For Track 1, Tribes and Tribal-serving entities may participate in applications (subject to the requirements of Track 1 including developing plans to drive towards measurable objectives to benefit members of all Covered Populations within the county/region or multi-county joint application regions). For Track 2, Tribes and Tribal-serving entities should consider applying under the Tribal Collaboration Outcome Area for statewide ecosystem development, planning, and innovation.

No. As noted in the RFA Section 7. Allocation & Award Formula, CDT expects to award Track 2 subgrants within the range of $400,000 to $1,000,000. 

CalDEP awards may not be used for construction activities or infrastructure projects, including installing broadband infrastructure. As noted in the CalDEP goals, deployment of broadband infrastructure will be addressed through other Broadband for All investments and BEAD-funded projects. Please refer to the RFA Section 7.2. Funding Restrictions for more information.

For Track 1, applicants should request the total funding allocation for the single county or multiple counties that they are applying for. For example: if the applicant is applying for a county with a funding allocation of $215,000, the applicant should apply and budget for that amount.  CDT will award one application per county funding allocation, meaning the awarded application will receive the entirety of the county’s funding allocation. The awarded Lead Applicant may in turn provide second-tier subgrants to other Eligible Entities within the county to support their implementation activities. For Track 2, applicants should request funding within the range of $400,000 to $1,000,000.

Yes, salaries and wages are allowable for personnel services in proportion to the amount of time or effort an employee devotes to the subgrant-supported project or program during the period of performance under the CalDEP award, including salaries, wages, and fringe benefits. Please refer to Allowable / Unallowable Costs and Activities for more information.

Take-home devices may be provided (to keep or loaned) to members of Covered Populations with the most demonstrated need, subject to the Device Costs requirements listed under RFA Section 7.2. Funding Restrictions. Requirements include a cap of $400 per device and pairing device distribution with broadband adoption assistance and digital literacy training.  

CalDEP funding may be used for computing devices that meet the needs of Covered Populations as defined in the SDEP and regional/local digital equity plans, subject to the Device Costs requirements listed under RFA Section 7.2. Funding Restrictions. These computing devices may include tablets and desktop or laptop computers. Because Objective 2.2 in the SDEP is to reduce the percentage of Californians who rely solely on a smartphone, smartphones are not an allowable expense as take-home computing devices to be distributed to program participants. Smartphones for administrative or staff use are allowable, however. The restriction on smartphones will be reflected in an upcoming update to the Allowable / Unallowable Costs and Activities document and subsequent addendum to the RFA.

Eligible applicants who are receiving CPUC CASF funding may also apply for CalDEP. While we encourage the use of different funding sources to supplement CalDEP funding, activities between the funding sources must be non-duplicative. If awarded, the entity must establish and maintain a financial management system that is capable of identifying and tracking each CalDEP award (including awards as a Lead Applicant or second-tier subgrantee) and all other State and Federal awards separately, which includes the ability to distinguish between different grants or subgrants.  In the application Section 8.2.5, Lead Applicants must provide a disclosure of other sources of State or Federal Funding that the Lead Applicant and any partnering entities have 1) already applied for or is in the process of applying for, or 2) already received, for activities related to the purposes of this RFA. Lead Applicants must also provide a general description of the uses of these other funding sources (either intended or proposed), indicate the amount of funding requested or awarded from these sources, and describe how their CalDEP application will supplement, and not supplant or duplicate, the activities that may be funded through the other sources (whether already received or applied for).

Each county’s funding allocation is specified in the RFA Section 7. Allocation & Award Formula, as determined by the funding formula based on the NTIA’s formula for the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant allocations, modified with public input.

Organized fundraising costs are unallowable, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred to raise capital or obtain contributions, regardless of the purpose for which the funds will be used. Refer to the Allowable / Unallowable Costs and Activities Technical Assistance resource and 2 CFR 200.442.

Please refer to RFA Section 2. Goals of the California Digital Equity Program.

No, CDT does not require a breakdown of budget items for each proposed second-tier subgrantee in the Budget Form. Lead Applicants must provide the total funding allocated to each second-tier subgrantee proposed in the application under tab F. Second-tier Subgrants in the Budget Form.  

Note: second-tier subgrantees may be identified at the time of application, or after awards are received, and during the period of performance. If the Lead Applicant is proposing to identify second-tier subgrantees after award, Lead Applicants can include a line item and budget amount for second-tier subgrantees generally in the Budget Form. Second-tier subgrantees must be selected no later than 12 months from the start of the award. Refer to RFA Section 7.2 Funding Restrictions for more information. 

When completing the CD-511 Certification Regarding Lobbying, “NTIA-SDECGP-2024” should be listed in the Award Number field.

Track 1 multi-county applications may be submitted to pool resources and leverage economies of scale across multiple counties. As such, a Track 1 multi-county applicant should submit one Budget Form that reflects the sum of the funding allocations for the counties in their partnership. In the Budget Form, the narrative sections should be completed to explain the necessity and basis of all costs, including specifying the costs that will be shared across all counties in the partnership or any county-specific costs. 

For Indirect Costs, Lead Applicants may propose using their approved negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or charging the de minimis rate of up to 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) as Indirect Costs. As defined in 2 CFR part 200, MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $50,000 of each second-tier subgrant. In the second-tier subgrant budget, second-tier subgrantees may separately propose using their NICRA or charging the de minimis rate for their Indirect Costs.

Eligible applicants who applied for the NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant may also apply for CalDEP. Please see the RFA for Track 1 and Track 2 guidelines, requirements, eligible uses and allowable activities. In the event that CalDEP funding is awarded, Subgrantees are required to track and report activities and outcomes separate from those funded through other grants  to prevent duplication. If awarded, the Subgrantee must establish and maintain a financial management system that is capable of identifying and tracking each State and Federal award separately, which includes the ability to distinguish between different grants.

Please refer to RFA Section 5.1 Track 1: Regional/Local Ecosystems for program requirements for Track 1. Please also refer to the Allowable / Unallowable Costs and Activities

 resource for allowability of costs related to devices for community training rooms, furniture, and buildings and land construction.

Yes, Subgrantees can request a budget modification and update their partnership form during their period of performance. 

Applicants should refer to the County Covered Population Data, in the Technical Assistance Resources page, to provide an estimate based on the proposed county coverage.

The CalDEP application period closes on May 30, 2025, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time.

The form will automatically save your progress. Alternatively, there is a “Save” button at the bottom of the page. You may return to the draft
 at a later date to finish filling out the form.

If second-tier subgrants are proposed in the application, Lead Applicants should confirm (yes or no) whether they have an existing agreement with the proposed second-tier subgrantee to perform the activities proposed in the CalDEP. Note: Lead Applicants do not need to have finalized existing agreements with proposed second-tier subgrantees at the time of application. These agreements may be developed and executed after the award is made and during the period of performance.

Audits are not required for the application. If awarded, all Subgrantees are subject to audits from CDT during the period of performance. Additionally, federal regulations require any Subgrantee that expends federal awards of $1,000,000 or more in the Subgrantee’s fiscal year to conduct a single or program-specific audit in accordance with federal requirements and submit the completed audit to CDT for approval. Please refer to the RFA Section 10. Post-Award Expectations for audit requirements.

The CalDEP application period began on March 26 and will close on May 30 at 11:59pm PDT. Applications may be submitted at any time during the open application period.

Frequently asked questions related to CalDEP can be found on the CalDEP Questions & Answers (Q&A) page.  If you have further questions,  you may submit those to CalDEP@state.ca.gov, or attend the next Office Hours on May 7, 2025. Refer to the Technical Assistance Resources page for more information on Office Hours.

Lead Applicants do not need to submit a separate line-item budget for each second-tier subgrant at the time of application. However, if awarded, CalDEP awardees must have an executed written agreement with each second-tier subgrantee that includes their specified budget.

No. Please refer to RFA Section 5.2 Track 2: Targeted Statewide Ecosystems for more information on Track 2 requirements.

If the entire pool of funding is not awarded through the first request for application (RFA) round for either Track, CDT will conduct a second RFA round. Details of any subsequent RFA rounds after the initial request will depend on the outcomes of the first round.  

For Track 1 funding, if there are counties that were not awarded or did not have any applications submitted for their allocation in the first round either as an individual county application or part of a multi-county / regional application, CDT will proactively reach out to stakeholders in those counties for a second round RFA process, as needed.

During the Administrative Review stage, an initial screening will be conducted to flag any Track 1 applications that serve overlapping or duplicate counties. In these cases, CDT will apply the Track 1 Evaluation Metrics during the Technical Review stage to score the applications for the overlapping county or counties. CDT will prioritize the application with the best proposal for a given county based on the Evaluation Metrics. See RFA 9.2. Review Process for full details. 

CDT will seek to ensure adequate distribution of funds across targeted Covered Populations and Outcome Areas. In cases where comparable applications propose serving the same targeted Covered Population or Outcome Area, CDT plans to select the highest scoring application between the overlapping applications. At the State’s sole discretion, in cases where the remaining applications are below 70 points, CDT reserves the right to award one or more applications within the same Covered Population or Outcome Area. See RFA 9.2. Review Process for full details. 

CDT will only award one application per county funding allocation and encourages Lead Applicants to identify partnerships of interested entities within each county prior to the application.

Yes, all subgrantee selections must be approved by NTIA before CDT may award funding.

Track 1 applicants may apply for multiple county funding allocations to develop or refine regional/local digital equity plans for each proposed county, then implement local digital equity activities that align with the regional/local plans and the SDEP. While there is no limit to the number of counties a Track 1 applicant may apply for, organizations should apply to serve counties where they have experience and are able to demonstrate support from local partners or stakeholders through more than one Letter of Intent or Letter of Support. 

Please refer to RFA Section 9.1. Evaluation Criteria for the Evaluation Metrics that will be used to determine which applications will receive funding. 

Track 2 applications are meant to be statewide in scope for a specific Covered Population or Outcome Area, while Track 1 is for regional/local planning and capacity for the implementation of local digital equity activities such as broadband adoption efforts digital navigation services, digital literacy training, etc., for one or more counties. To ensure Track 1 and Track 2 Subgrantees are working in coordination, Track 2 Subgrantees must include a plan to support, coordinate, or share best practices with Track 1 Subgrantees.

For this Track 2 Evaluation Metric, CDT will consider the number of individuals within the Covered Populations that are proposed to benefit from the application and the application’s ability to reach multiple Covered Population groups. Note: due to intersectionality, Track 2 applicants proposing to serve a specific Covered Population may also expect to serve individuals who belong to other Covered Populations.

According to RFA Section 9.2 Review Process, CDT will flag any Track 1 applications that serve overlapping or duplicate counties during the Administrative Review stage.

In these cases, CDT will apply the Track 1 Evaluation Metrics during the Technical Review stage to score the applications for the overlapping county or counties. CDT will prioritize awarding the application with the best proposal for a given county based on the Evaluation Metrics.

Based on these evaluation steps, CDT will award a county’s allocation to the application with the best application for the given county, which may result in the removal of that county from another awarded application’s scope through an additional curing process. Please refer to RFA Section 9.2 for more information, including information on tiebreakers.

Please refer to the List of example documents certifying Eligible Entity status on the Technical Assistance Resources page for acceptable documents.

Subgrantees may submit reimbursement requests on a quarterly basis. 

Final financial and programmatic reports are due within ninety (90) days after the end of the period of performance. CDT will provide a reporting template to all Subgrantees.

Yes, Subgrantees are required to contribute to CDT’s ongoing collection of responses for the Statewide Digital Equity Public Survey and Digital Equity Ecosystem Mapping (DEEM) tool to continue to build out statewide and regional/local needs assessments and asset inventories. These efforts will help ensure that the State and stakeholder community has comprehensive data on digital equity assets and gaps. Please note, CDT will provide opportunities for input from Subgrantees and subject matter experts to develop the next iteration of the Statewide Digital Equity Public Survey and DEEM tool.

Activity reports and/or functional timesheets are required to support salary, wage, and fringe benefit expenditures charged to CalDEP awards. Each report must account for the total activity for which each employee is compensated and the hours worked on a particular CalDEP activity. A description of activities must be included, and the description must include enough detail to determine whether the activity is CalDEP related. For more information, refer to Section 10.4. Timekeeping Requirements of the CalDEP Grant Guidelines and Request for Applications (RFA), 2 CFR 200.430(g)(1)(iii), and 2 CFR 200430(g)(3).

Subgrantees may submit reimbursement requests on a quarterly basis.

CDT will share reporting requirements with Subgrantees post-award.

CDT commits to data transparency and openness, and will make programmatic reporting data publicly available on the Broadband for All portal.

Yes, RFA Section 10.4. Compliance with State and Federal Requirements stipulates that all personnel funded by CalDEP awards who are directly allocated to the Subgrant or second-tier award, will need to maintain functional timesheets. Note that the Subgrantee is responsible for ensuring any second-tier subgrantee complies with all CalDEP program requirements as indicated through the CalDEP Guidelines and RFA.

There is no time in training requirements for CalDEP, as CalDEP acknowledges individuals learn at different paces. Applicants are encouraged to focus on measuring the completion of digital literacy training modules or curricula or digital skills obtained.

CalDEP will reimburse Subgrantees quarterly. Advance payment is not possible. 

Yes. Per the RFA Section 5. Eligible Use of Funds and Program Requirements, while the period of performance for all awards made under CalDEP must end by August 31, 2029, Subgrantees may propose flexible timelines within the maximum period of performance.  This may apply to the grant activities of different counties that have partnered on application. Track 1 multi-county applications should provide as much detail as possible in their application about the different timelines for each county.

However, please note that regional/local digital equity plans for each county must be completed and submitted to CDT for approval within 6 months of award. 

Please refer to Technical Assistance Resources page for information on ongoing technical assistance for Subgrantees. 

Small organizations can leverage CDT’s ongoing technical assistance during the application period. These include the Partnership Coordination Resource through which applicants can identify potential partners, and webinars and office hours for application support. During the period of performance, CDT will also continue to provide ongoing technical assistance to all Subgrantees.

The video recording, presentation, and transcript of the CalDEP launch webinar is posted on the CalDEP Technical Assistance Resource webpage.

CDT has created a Partnership Coordination Resource page to enable potential lead grant applicants and interested partner entities to find and connect with each other prior to and during the CalDEP Request for Applications period to identify and form potential partnerships. Entities who wish to participate in this Resource may submit their details on the page, which will be vetted by CDT before being published on a rolling basis.

No, CDT is unable to review applications before they are submitted. We encourage applicants to review the RFA and Technical Assistance resources thoroughly and participate in Office Hours and the Question-and-Answer period.

To update your organization’s information, please submit a new entry on the Partnership Coordination Resource page with updated information.

Please refer to the Allowable / Unallowable Costs and Activities Resource Guide and the CalDEP Project Budget Development video on the Technical Assistance Resources page for more information.

Office Hours on May 7 have been extended by another hour. The session will now run from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. PDT.

Additionally, questions may be emailed questions at any time to CalDEP@state.ca.gov. Please include “CalDEP RFA Question(s)” in the subject line. Responses to questions will be posted on a regular basis to the CalDEP Q&A page.

The period of performance for CalDEP awards is expected to begin in November 2025 and must end by August 31, 2029. Subgrantees may propose flexible timelines within the maximum period of performance. Please note: The start date is subject to change as CDT Subgrantee selections must be approved by NTIA before award.

Applicants may find all meeting artifacts and recordings of CalDEP webinars and office hours on the CalDEP Technical Assistance Resources page. The recording for the first Office Hours held on April 16 can be found here. 

While formation of a California Connect Corps was originally anticipated to be part of the SDEP effort, this requirement was ultimately removed by the legislature.  References to the California Connect Corps as mentioned in the SDEP have been renamed the California Digital Equity Program (CalDEP).

According to RFA Section 1. Program Background, Centralized Services: services developed, procured, or curated by CDT are tools and resources to support CalDEP Subgrantees and ecosystem partners to conduct and report on activities and progress in alignment with the SDEP. CDT will provide a set of Centralized Services which may include promotion and outreach materials, a digital literacy training platform, a broadband-specific workforce development hub, the Digital Equity Ecosystem Mapping (DEEM) tool, and a Statewide Digital Equity Public Survey.

CDT will inform CalDEP Subgrantees of Centralized Services and State Agency Digital Inclusion Efforts as agreements are finalized to create opportunities for collaboration and alignment, including revisions to the DEEM tool and Statewide Digital Equity Public Survey.

Funding from the California Department of Technology (CDT)’s State Digital Equity Capacity Grant comes from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and will be awarded to selected applicants in the form of subgrants. Note: Funding for CalDEP awards is contingent upon the availability of these federal funds and CDT’s ongoing access to them. Please see the RFA Section 10.3. Execution and Performance.

CalDEP staff reviews all entries prior to posting to ensure that entities who enter information in the Partnership Coordination Resource (PCR) belong to at least one of the Eligible Entity categories.  

The PCR is a tool that applicants may use to identify other organizations they might wish to partner with on an application. Organizations share their information in the Partnership Coordination Resource by completing the form. 

Participation is completely optional. Submitting information to the Partnership Coordination Resource, and the contents of the information submitted, have no effect on an application.