NM OBAE - BEAD Program Application 2025 - Benefit of the Bargain Round
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Pursuant to the "BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice" published by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on June 6, 2025, the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) requires prequalified applicants to complete the following application to request grant funding from the New Mexico BEAD Program in the Benefit of the Bargain round.
OBAE will review and evaluate only those applications deemed fully responsive to ALL the listed questions. There will be limited opportunity for curing and applicants are advised to their applications are complete and fully compliant with all requirements to avoid disqualification.
The application submission window for the Benefit of the Bargain round is from July 7 to July 18, 2025.
Applicants are required to submit an electronic application through the Submittable portal.
Program Resources
Please refer to the following documents for additional background about the New Mexico BEAD Program.
NTIA BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice: The Policy Notice modifies and replaces certain requirements outlined in the BEAD Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Each Eligible Entity must comply with this Policy Notice to gain approval of its Final Proposal from the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. The BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice supersedes all other guidance documents relating to New Mexico's BEAD application process. If guidance provisions of other components of New Mexico's BEAD application process are not addressed in the Policy Notice, applicants should consider them in full force and effect and are responsible for reviewing OBAE BEAD materials to ensure compliance. If applicants are unsure which guidance applies, please contact OBAE for technical assistance via email at broadband@connect.nm.gov.
OBAE BEAD Benefit of the Bargain Round Application Materials: Pursuant to the Policy Notice, OBAE has published an updated application, scoring guide, and templates for the Benefit of the Bargain Round.
OBAE BEAD Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): During the application submission round, applicants may submit questions to broadband@connect.nm.gov. OBAE will respond to these questions within 48 hours and publish responses to the BEAD FAQs page on the OBAE website (https://connect.nm.gov/bead-faqs.html). The last day to submit questions is Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
OBAE BEAD Office Hours: Beginning Wednesday, July 2 and continuing through the Benefit of the Bargain round, OBAE will host Office Hours every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10-10:30am. During Office Hours, BEAD Coordinator Andrew Wilder will be available to answer questions and provide technical assistance to prospective applicants and other interested stakeholders.