Questions & Responses RFQ 2024-03

Description

DETCOG Digital Inclusion RFQ #2024-03 Responses to Questions – Round 1 1. How many organizations, including anchor institutions and community-centric nonprofits, do you anticipate will receive training (i.e., train-the-trainer services) from the vendor selected to provide a digital navigation program? a. RESPONSE: This will be determined by ideal proximity for accessibility in areas of highest need. Each census block group, or collection of block groups, that show unusually high percentages of Census ACS reported need based on device access and internet subscriptions with nearby anchor institutions will have priority. We will also utilize FCC reported under and unserved Broadband Serviceable Locations (BSLs) in our region as a benchmark immediate need for all related services, including digital literacy and inclusion. These are suggestions for metrics; however, we will remain open to any suggested data that better guides our activities. 2. Does DETCOG have plans for a phased or staggered rollout of digital inclusion activities for the 11-county region? If so, please describe with reference to priority counties and timeline. a. RESPONSE: The staggered approach will be decided on the capacity of each grant award. If DETCOG is successful with its application for the NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, we will assess further need through later funding pools (Texas State Digital Equity Capacity Grant and others that follow). Our priority is to first serve Census Block Groups of highest need (determined by the partnership), followed with a tiered approach for the remainder of our communities. 3. Ideally, how many residents, per year, will be served over the next 4 years under the digital navigation program? a. RESPONSE: The FCC reports ~190,000 BSLs across our region. Of those BSLs, roughly 50% fall in the under and unserved category, with over 40% of BSLs being unserved. In conjunction with FCC data, we will also look at Census Block Group reporting of geographical areas high in a lack of device access and literacy. Then, we will work with our selected respondents determine a more precise number of households to serve. Households, or residents, served per year will also be determined by the tiered approach. 4. Has a baseline for digital literacy skill already been established for the various covered populations in the region, or are you looking for the chosen vendor(s) to help DETCOG and local organizations establish the baseline? a.