Frequently Asked Questions
ISP
Expenses incurred prior to execution of the grant agreement are not eligible for reimbursement (ConnectMT Application Guide Section 6.2 and Grant Agreement). Any procurement of contractors must comply with federal procurement standards outlined in 2 CFR 200.318 – 2 CFR 200.327.
Prior to executing the grant agreement, subrecipients may consider reviewing the federal procurement requirements and drafting applicable solicitation documents, so they may be ready to advertise after the grant agreement is executed.
Expenses incurred prior to execution of the grant agreement are not eligible for reimbursement (ConnectMT Application Guide Section 6.2). Any procurement of materials must comply with federal procurement standards outlined in 2 CFR 200.318 – 2 CFR 200.327.
Prior to executing the grant agreement, subrecipients may consider reviewing the federal procurement requirements. Specifically, the methods of procurement outlined in 2 CFR 200.320. Purchases in excess of the $250,000 (simplified acquisition threshold) will require a formal procurement process.
Costs incurred that fail to comply with the requirements of the Build America, Buy America Act provisions will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Any procurement of contractors must comply with federal procurement standards outlined in 2 CFR 200.318 – 2 CFR 200.327.
All procurements must take affirmative steps to solicit small, minority and women owned enterprises (2 CFR 200.321), comply with the domestic preferences for procurements (2 CFR 200.322) and Build America, Buy America Act and be supported by a cost or price analysis that demonstrates costs incurred are reasonable (2 CFR 200.404).
The methods of procurement vary based on the dollar value of the anticipated contract outlined in 2 CFR 200.320.
- Micro-purchases ($10,000 threshold): Micro-purchases may be awarded without soliciting competitive price or rate quotations. Price reasonableness should be documented based on research, experience, purchase history, or other information.
- Small purchases (> $10,000 and < $250,000): Small purchases may be awarded by soliciting price or rate quotations from an adequate number of qualified sources (generally at least three).
- Formal Procurements (> $250,000): Purchases greater than $250,000 (current simplified acquisition threshold) must be completed through a formal procurement. A brief overview of a formal procurement:
- Bids/proposals must be requested publicly.
- The evaluation criteria and their relative importance must be included in the request.
- Subrecipients must have a written method for conducting technical evaluations of the proposals received and making selections.
- Contracts must be awarded to the responsible offeror whose proposal is most advantageous based on price and the other pre-established evaluation criteria.
- A cost or price analysis will need to be documented (2 CFR 200.324)
Note, after completing the bidding process, subrecipients must ensure contracts include the required contract provisions (2 CFR 200.327) and the applicable bonding requirements (2 CFR 200.326).
The grant is a subaward of federal funds and must comply with federal procurement requirements. Costs incurred that do not meet the requirements in the grant agreement, U.S. Treasury guidance and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) will not be eligible for reimbursement.
The grant program requires that projects incorporate strong labor standards. The Treasury believes using these practices in construction projects may help to ensure a reliable supply of skilled labor that will minimize disruptions, such as those associated with labor disputes or workplace injuries.
Examples of strong labor standards include project labor agreements and community benefits agreements that offer wages at or above the prevailing rate and include local hire provisions.
Self-certification of the Davis-Bacon Act and a Project Labor Agreement are optional labor standards. However, if subrecipients elect not to implement these practices for their project, they will be required to report enhanced labor information and certifications when completing periodic reporting and submitting requests for reimbursement for labor costs.
The enhanced labor information includes, but may be subject to change in Treasury guidance:
- If not self-certifying Davis-Bacon Act compliance
- Number of contractors and sub-contractors working on project
- Number of employees on the Project hired directly and hired through a third party
- Wages and benefits of workers on the Project by classification
- Whether wages are at rate less than prevailing
- If there is not a Project Labor Agreement
- How the Subrecipient will ensure the Project has ready access to a sufficient supply of appropriately skilled labor to ensure high-quality construction
- How the Subrecipient will minimize risks of labor disputes and disruptions
- How the Subrecipient will provide a safe and health workplace, including descriptions of safety training, certification and/or licensure requirements
Grant terms and conditions were established by the Treasury as a condition of the federal funding.
Costs incurred that fail to comply with the requirements of the Build America, Buy American Act will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Self-certification of the Davis-Bacon Act and a Project Labor Agreement are optional labor standards. However, if subrecipients elect not to implement these practices on their project, they will be required to report enhanced labor information and certifications when completing periodic reporting and submitting requests for reimbursement for labor costs.
Once your request for reimbursement (RFR) is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Department of Administration. The Department may request additional information or supporting documentation from you before approving the RFR.
Once the RFR is approved, payment should be issued within 30 business days.
The Department will provide additional guidance on the request for reimbursement process. Generally, requests for reimbursement will need to be supported with sufficient documentation for the Department to evaluate that costs were incurred consistent with grant terms and conditions. Example documentation includes, but is not limited to:
- Procurement documentation, including documentation required by 2 CFR 200.320, cost analysis, and contracts/agreements
- Invoices supported by sufficient detail, including timesheets (as applicable) equipment use logs and receipts for reimbursable's (with no mark-up)
- Proof of payment
- If labor claimed, timesheets with supporting documentation for rate claimed; compliance certification for labor standards
- Status of funds/budget tracking spreadsheet
Notify the Department of Administration about significant anticipated delays as soon as possible and submit a revised Project Schedule for approval.
Due to the State’s deadline to expend the grant funds, projects must be completed and all requests for reimbursement submitted to the Department by September 30, 2026.
Further, as noted in the grant agreement, all cost overruns will be the responsibility of the subrecipient.
Awards
Unserved areas where at least 10% of the delivery points (locations) do not currently have access to broadband service of at least 25 Mbps download speed and 10 Mbps upload speed with low latency.
Underserved areas that have no access to broadband service with download speeds greater than 100 Mbps and upload speeds greater than 20 Mbps with low latency.
The ConnectMT program defines a frontier area as an area that lacks connectivity services of less than or equal to 4 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.
An ‘unserved area’ is defined by the program as an area that lacks access to low latency service of at least 25 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload.
General
Map
Please check back on the ConnectMT homepage for announcements on any further mapping updates."
Archive
Unserved areas where at least 10% of the delivery points (locations) do not currently have access to broadband service of at least actual 25 Mbps download speed and 10 Mbps upload speed with low latency.
Underserved areas that have no access to broadband service with download speeds greater than 100 Mbps and upload speeds greater than 20 Mbps with low latency.
Yes, any eligible provider may apply to provide service to any unserved last mile location as long as it commits to offer terrestrial based broadband service at or above 100 mbps download speeds, 20 mbps upload speeds level service with low latency on a 24 hours, 7 days per week, 365 days per year basis (with accommodations for planned downtime related to maintenance and service, and unplanned downtime related to unforeseen events) in accordance with the Connect Montana Act as defined by Montana Senate Bill 297. An incumbent service provider’s area is not “protected” from competition nor is it able to prevent funding from being provided to a competitor when it fails to offer and provide service to locations as defined by the Connect Montana Act.
A location having service is defined as where the internet service provider delivers broadband service to a last mile site. The “last-mile” means at the spot of the residence, business, or government customer; included in this is where service can be provided by either wireless means or fixed wired within 5 business days of service request. Such service provision must not result in existing customers experiencing latency of data download or reduction of megabits transmission speeds.
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P16/Section 6.6
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P7
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P7
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P9/Section 1.8
The Montana Department of Administration
Mitchell Building, 125 N Roberts St.
PO Box 200101, Helena, MT 59620-0101
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P10/Section 1.8
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P10/Section 1.8
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P7
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P13/Section 4.1
You should provide a brief narrative that outlines your documentation process and includes images of the map with your overlayed proposed project area. The map will also produce an excel file that you should upload to your application.
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P14/Section 4.4
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P10/Section 1.9; Section 3.7
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P11/Section 1.9
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P11/Section 2.3"
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P18/Section 6.10
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P18/Section 6.12
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P18/Section 6.12
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P20/Section 7.1
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P10/Section 1.9
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P16/Section 6.4
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P16/Section 6.5
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P18/Section 6.12
Applicable Application/Guidebook Section: G P11/Section 2.4