Applicants must submit a program narrative that includes:  

• A clear scope of work and schedule for device deployment.  
• A justification for the number and type of devices requested.  
• A description of how devices will be used to support work, education and health monitoring.  
• A description of how devices will be made publicly accessible (onsite vs. lending model).  
• An explanation of how the equipment will enhance digital participation for underserved populations.  
• A description of the organization’s capacity to manage and maintain the equipment.  
• A strategy for measuring usage and outcomes and a plan for ongoing support.  

If requesting ancillary equipment, the narrative must also include:  

• A clear description of how the requested equipment will support the capital investment of devices.  
• How this equipment will be integrated into existing services or access points.  
• An explanation of how the equipment will enhance digital participation, accessibility and service delivery especially for underserved populations.  
• A justification for each item requested.  

Eligible organizations must be physically located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, lack debarment status, comply with all programmatic requirements and may be one of the following entity types:   

• Municipality or municipal entity/authority
• State agency
• Tribal nations
• Nonprofit organizations, including community-based organizations  
• Philanthropic foundations  
• Educational providers  
• Healthcare providers  
• Community action agencies  
• Career centers  
• Libraries  
• Other eligible organizations that can make devices publicly available through on site use or a lending program at no cost and comply with all programmatic requirements.  

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects must provide devices to the public to expand access to work, education and health monitoring. Devices must be made available to the public free of charge via on-site technology labs or through a lending model. Internal staff use is not permissible as a primary activity; however, staff-assisted training or support for public users is allowed. Each organization may request a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 500 devices.

MBI reserves the right to adjust allocations based on responses. 

As part of the awardee's contract, organizations will agree to the following terms of the program:

Public Benefit & Use Certification: All equipment will be used to support public access to education, workforce development and health care services and will not be used for internal-only administrative purposes.  

• Deployment & Use Timeline: Devices will be deployed within three months of contract execution. 
• Ownership & Transfer Restrictions: The awardee will retain ownership and is responsible for managing the fleet of all devices through the program's lifecycle ending Wednesday, December 31, 2026. This does not preclude the lending of devices to individuals. Following the program's completion, the grantee must retain ownership for at least five years, until Wednesday, December 31, 2031. Devices may not be resold or transferred without written approval from MBI. 
• Federal Compliance & Reporting: The awardee will comply with all Treasury Capital Projects Fund guidance and participate in all reporting activities, including: 
  • Quarterly Inventory Narrative: Detailing devices in circulation, usage counts and lost/retired units. 
  • Program Impact Report: Highlighting community impact, submitted by Wednesday, December 31, 2026. 
  • Close-Out Package: An Asset Disposition Log documenting any devices refurbished, donated or responsibly recycled.  

Application Evaluation Framework  

• Prerequisite for Scoring: Before scoring, applications will be reviewed for completeness. Any application that does not demonstrate how the project will enable public access across all three required domains work, education, and health monitoring will be deemed ineligible and will not be scored.  
• Main Application Score: Evaluated across five categories totaling 100 points. A minimum score of 50 points (excluding bonus points) is required for award consideration.  
• Bonus Points: Up to 20 bonus points may be awarded.  
  • Maximum Score: 120 points.  
  • Ancillary Score: The Ancillary Equipment request is scored separately out of a maximum of 50 points.  

Scoring Criteria & Bonus Points – Main Application

• Scoring Criteria (max 100 points)
  • Project Impact (20 points)  
  • Feasibility and Readiness (20 points)  
  • Community Engagement and Public Accessibility (20 points)  
  • Equipment Effectiveness and Program Alignment (20 points)
  • Monitoring and Evaluation (20 points)  
• Bonus Points (max 20 points)
  • Project is located in a Gateway City or state-designated rural community (+5)  
  • Serves ≥ 75% Treasury-defined impacted households (+5)  
  • Integrates digital skills training or Lifeline/ACP enrollment support (+5)  
  • Commits to refurbish, donate or responsibly recycle displaced devices (+5)  

Scoring Criteria & Bonus Points – Ancillary Equipment

• Scoring Criteria (max 40 points)
  • Public access or integration readiness (10 points)
  • Organizational experience (10 points)
  • Operational readiness (10 points)
  • Empowerment-centered implementation (10 points)
• Bonus Points (max 10 points)
  • Project is led by or directly serves an FQHC, CHC or Disability-Service Organization requesting assistive or remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology (+10)

Connected & Online Device Program – Scoring Rubric

Main Device Rubric (120 Points)