Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Now Accepting Both Prequalification Materials and Applications
Prequalification
Prequalification is the first step in OBC's subgrant process, and only those who successfully prequalify will be considered for an award. The prequalification window is extended for a minimum of three weeks, until 5:00 PM ET on June 13, 2025.
OBC is currently reviewing prequalification submissions on a rolling basis. OBC will notify applicants when their prequalification has been approved or if it requires more materials.
Application
NJ BEAD applications are due by 5:00 PM ET on June 19, 2025.
Applicants may prepare and submit applications before receiving notification of the outcome of prequalification. OBC will review an applicant’s application once it has successfully prequalified. OBC will notify applicants if it has any questions or requires any updates to applications.
During prequalification, potential applicants will provide required financial, operational, managerial and technical qualifications.
Prequalification Materials
Required Documents
Applicants are required to submit the following documents for prequalification:
|
Item |
Naming Convention |
Format |
|
Prequalification Intake Form (template provided - version 1.1) |
[ApplicantName]_NJBEAD_prequal.xlsx |
XLSX |
|
Resumes for Key Management Personnel |
[ApplicantName]_KeyManagementResumes.pdf |
|
|
Project Organizational Chart(s) and Corporate Relationships |
[ApplicantName]_OrganizationalChart.pdf |
|
|
Certification of Compliance with Federal, State, and Local Laws |
[ApplicantName]_ComplianceCertification.pdf |
|
|
Record of Federally, State, or Locally Funded Broadband Deployment Projects |
[ApplicantName]_DeploymentProjects.pdf |
|
|
Audited Financial Statements |
[ApplicantName]_FinancialStatements.pdf |
|
Conditional Documents
Applicants should submit the following documents for prequalification, if applicable:
|
Item |
Condition |
Naming Convention |
Format |
|
Formalized Agreement with Provider Partner |
If applicant is partnering with a provider and is not a provider itself |
[ApplicantName]_ProviderAgreement.pdf |
|
|
Documentation of Past Meetings with Worker-Led Health and Safety Committees |
If applicant currently has worker-led health and safety committees in place |
[ApplicantName]_HealthSafetyMeetings.pdf |
|
|
Notice to Employees About Worker-Led Health and Safety Committees |
If applicant has issued such a notice to employees outlining their rights to create worker-led health and safety committees |
[ApplicantName]_HealthSafetyNotice.pdf |
|
|
Penalties Disclosure |
If applicant or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, or holding companies incurred penalties within the last 3 years related to deployment projects |
[ApplicantName]_PenaltiesDisclosure.pdf |
|
|
Defaulted Projects Disclosure |
If applicant has defaulted on a previous state or federal broadband project |
[ApplicantName]_DefaultedProjects.pdf |
|
|
Qualified Operating or Financial Reports |
If applicant has exclusively operated an electric transmission or distribution service |
[ApplicantName]_FinancialReports.pdf |
|
|
Certification of Accuracy of Financial Reports |
If applicant has exclusively operated an electric transmission or distribution service |
[ApplicantName]_FinancialReportsCertification.pdf |
|
|
Proposed Organizational Structure |
If applicant has exclusively operated an electric transmission or distribution service |
[ApplicantName]_OrganizationalStructure.pdf |
|
|
NEPA/NHPA Compliance Plans |
If applicant has submitted NEPA/NHPA compliance plans as part of other state BEAD programs |
[ApplicantName]_NEPA_NHPA_Compliance.pdf |
|
|
BABA Compliance Plans |
If applicant has submitted BABA compliance plans as part of other state BEAD programs |
[ApplicantName]_BABA_Compliance.pdf |
|
- Download New Jersey’s BEAD Notice of Funding Availability
- Application instructions are available here: Application Instructions
What to submit with your application
Required documents
For each application, submit the following documents:
|
Item |
Naming Convention |
Format |
|
Application Intake Form (template provided - version 1.0) |
[ApplicantName]_[ProjectName]_NJBEAD_application.xlsx |
XLSX |
|
BSL shapefiles (template provided – See tab “11. BSLs” of the Application Intake Form) |
[ApplicantName]_[ProjectName]_NJBEAD_BSL |
Shapefiles |
|
CAI shapefiles (template provided – See tab “12. CAIs” of the Application Intake Form) |
[ApplicantName]_[ProjectName]_NJBEAD_CAI |
Shapefiles |
|
High-level route map shapefiles |
[ApplicantName]_[ProjectName]_NJBEAD_RouteMap |
Shapefiles |
|
[ApplicantName]_[ProjectName]_NJBEAD_ProgramConditions.pdf |
|
Optional documents
For each application, applicants may submit the following documents:
|
Item |
Naming Convention |
Format |
|
Letters of Support from local governments |
[ApplicantName]_[ProjectName]_NJBEAD_SupportLetter.pdf |
|
|
Proof of substantial efforts to engage with local government |
[ApplicantName]_[ProjectName]_NJBEAD_EffortToEngage.pdf |
|
Instructions, FAQs, Webinars
- Application Instructions
- NJ BEAD FAQs (Last updated: May 30, 2025)
- April 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET: Pre-qualification Webinar
Recording Link | Webinar Deck - April 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET: Pre-qualification Webinar 2
Recording Link | Webinar Deck - May 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET: NJ BEAD Office Hours
Recording Link - June 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET: Application
Recording Link | Webinar Deck
Eligibility Data
The BEAD Challenge Process allowed eligible participants to submit data regarding the broadband status of locations across New Jersey. The state’s Challenge Process ran from November 4, 2024, to March 17, 2025, and the results received NTIA approval on May 2, 2025. The dataset below includes Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) with final classifications as unserved or underserved, as determined through the approved challenge process. A list of post-challenge Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) is also included. The data is based on FCC Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric version 4 (as of 12/31/2023), with applicable updates from version 6 (as of 12/31/2024). Please note, locations that are part of an existing enforceable commitment in New Jersey have been omitted from the “Post Challenge Location” file. This includes projects anticipated to be awarded through the New Jersey Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Equity (NJBIDE) Pilot Program.
PABB Reference prices
Minimization of BEAD Outlay (PABBs):
View the OBC-determined reference prices by PABB: NJ BEAD Reference Prices per PABB (Last updated: May 27, 2025)
Broadband Affordability:
Affordability reference prices are shown in the table below: (Last updated: May 27, 2025)
|
Type of applicant |
Reference price |
|
Fiber applicant |
$99.95 |
|
Non-fiber applicant |
$68 |
(Source: FCC Urban Rate Survey, 2025)
Request a CostQuest License
Participating entities are encouraged to request a no-cost NTIA Tier D or Tier E License from CostQuest Associates to participate in the State Broadband Challenge Process. However, obtaining a CostQuest license is not required to participate in the challenge process. This license will permit licensees to view the BSL data on a more granular level and is an important tool for analyzing areas that may need to be challenged. The process to request a license may take up to two weeks.
How to Request a NTIA Fabric License
Review the NTIA Fabric Licensing FAQ to learn about the licensing process and determine the appropriate tier license for your organization.
Tier D
Entities that participate in any federal broadband programs, including entities with reporting requirement or entities that plan to participate in the BEAD sub-granting process, should request a Tier D License. Internet service providers, for example, should request a Tier D license. Licensees will be similar to those with an FCC Fabric Tier 2 license.
Use this guide for requesting an NTIA Tier D to assist in completing the application process.
If you have any questions, CostQuest can be reached directly by emailing IFAsupport@costquest.com.
To apply for an NJ BEAD administered grant, applicants must submit all their required documents to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) External Access Portal (e-Filing). This portal is also referred to as Infoshare.
Please refer to this BPU e-Filing System Walkthrough for step-by-step instructions on how to properly submit your documents. It is crucial that applicants reference the docket number TO25020078 and mark all documents as confidential before submitting, as explained in this walkthrough.
Note: Applicants can submit both their prequalification material and application using the same process.