This page provides FAQs for the Library Digital Connectivity Grant (DCG) library subgrant program (November 1, 2024 – October 30, 2026) and the GPLS-owned Chromebook program (August 1, 2024 – October 30, 2026). Georgia Public Library Service will update these notes periodically as new questions arise, with all changes clearly marked.
The reimbursement I submitted included the hotspots and the first month's data. Do I need to take out the data and resubmit for just the hotspots?
Answer:
Yes, due to the recent DCG program changes implemented by the U.S. Department of Treasury, data plans, filtering plans, and other recurring costs are no longer considered allowable and reimbursable items under this grant.
Do we need to resubmit with only the allowable items listed in the invoice and included with proof of payment, etc.?
Answer:
Yes, due to the recent DCG program changes implemented by the U.S. Department of Treasury, data plans, filtering plans, and other recurring costs are no longer considered allowable and reimbursable items under this grant.
Will the grant’s reimbursements occur before the end of this fiscal year in June, or will they go into the new fiscal year?
Answer:
Submit what you have as long as these items have been received, paid, and deployed. The grant period won't end with the items arriving. You will continue to report on the items for the life of the grant.
Should we still include funder acknowledgements on hotspot device covers, even though data plans are no longer covered?
Answer:
It depends on the item. Costs for hotspot devices and cases are allowable expenses. If you choose to get reimbursed for the devices, they will still need to have funder acknowledgement.
How do we acknowledge the funder? Where do we find the funder acknowledgement statement or other marketing items specific to the grant?
Answer:
Please visit the marketing toolkit here: https://georgialibraries.org/tech-toolkit/.
Since lending kiosks and other items were deemed unallowable, is there an appeal process to see if there can be reconsideration?
Answer:
GPLS automatically appeals any decision that deems an item unallowable after previous approvals. Unfortunately, we have not been successful up to this point.
Can we close out our grant with the last reimbursement next week and return the funds for another library?
Answer:
Yes, you can request a partial termination of the grant. This requires a termination letter on the library’s letterhead signed by the library director. The letter should include the grant number or project title, grant program name, requested date for termination, reason for the termination, and what part of the project you will keep and what you will stop. Submit the letter by emailing the GPLS Help Desk.
I don’t want to spend my full grant, just what I have spent so far. How do we submit a termination request and what should be on it?
Answer:
A partial termination request requires a termination letter on the library’s letterhead signed by the library director. The letter should include the grant number or project title, grant program name, requested date for termination, reason for the termination, and what part of the project you will keep and what you will stop. Submit the letter by emailing the GPLS Help Desk.
I don’t want to continue the grant. How can I completely terminate my grant?
Answer:
A full termination is only possible if no reimbursement has been submitted and paid by GPLS. If you have a paid reimbursement, please see partial terminations in question 8. Full terminations require a letter on the library’s letterhead signed by the library director. The letter should include grant number or project title, grant program name, requested date for termination, and reason for the termination. Submit the letter by emailing the GPLS Help Desk.
What requested date should I use on my termination letter?
Answer:
Any date following the final determination on June 5, 2025, when data and filtering plans were deemed no longer allowable. Whatever date your library director and grant team decided to finally pursue a termination.
If I want to spend my full award amount, can I revise my budget?
Answer:
Yes, change requests can be submitted through the online form on the GPLS Technology Grants website. Change requests after July 31, 2025, will only be processed for the following:
Vendor changes (requires new SAM.gov checks and purchasing threshold review)
Deployment benchmark extensions
Final inventory benchmark extensions
Can we continue using the purchased hotspots if we choose to assume the data costs, or are they dead in the water by the terms of the grant?
Answer:
Yes, you may continue to use the hotspot devices purchased with the grant, but please note that your library will assume all responsibility for data plan costs.
Would any of the following items qualify for the grant and could they be purchased? Would there be any limitations?
Remote holds cabinets
Remote holds lockers
Lending kiosks
Answer:
The only big ticket item that is currently allowable are remote holds lockers. All other big items are unallowable.
If I already purchased a remote holds locker, do I need to get three quotes again and special approval from the funder?
Answer:
Yes, the $10,000 micro-threshold is in effect for all new purchases, requiring 3 quotes for any purchase of $10,000 per vendor. Any new single piece of equipment over $10,000 will require special approval from the funder, regardless of previous purchase.
For the micro-threshold, will I need formal quotes for the 3 quotes required by purchasing guidelines?
Answer:
For cheaper, smaller items, like devices and accessories, carts from vendor sites are allowable as a quote. For the remote holds lockers and other more expensive items, please provide formal quotes.
For software we would need an API - would the purchase of the API qualify?
Answer:
No, it would not be allowable
Must my library’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) be current (shows as active and not expired) in order to receive reimbursement under the grant?
Answer:
Yes, go to SAM.gov to confirm that your library’s UEI number is active. If it isn’t, complete the steps to reactivate it. The reactivation process may take approximately three weeks to process.
Do desktop computers qualify for the grant?
Answer:
Yes, they are considered connectivity devices. Please see the allowable items list for other eligible items.
I wasn’t sure whether to report 100% purchases/deployment on quarterly reporting since guidance is in limbo?
Answer:
Revised guidance has been issued as of September 5, 2025. Quarterly progress reports should reflect the change your library system has requested: full termination, partial termination, or change request for full spending.
If I request full or partial termination, do I still have to submit quarterly progress reports?
Answer:
Yes - For full terminations, this will be the last report and should still reflect the change in direction and finally the decision to fully terminate. For partial terminations, the first quarterly report should note the same decision making process and what device data you can provide. After that, quarterly reports will still remain due requiring usage and other data for all existing devices and equipment deployed under the partial project.
We had received this grant for hotspot service plans, and our award has been cancelled. Am I still required to submit a progress report?
Answer:
Yes, the award is still considered active and work was still being done during the reporting period.
Are training or annual recurring costs allowable?
Answer:
Training and recurring costs are not allowable expenses under this grant.
Is there a list of approved vendors that we can refer to?
Answer:
GPLS cannot pre-approve vendors. We can only supply libraries with information on vendors who want to provide a statewide discount. These vendors can be found on the Tech Deals webpage.
I noticed that monitors were not on the revised allowed items list. Are they no longer allowable?
Answer:
Yes, they are allowable, if needed for devices or equipment on your change request.
How do I submit a question or get a meeting with you?
Answer:
Please submit questions to the GPLS Help Desk. To meet with the grants team, please book a chat on the booking page.
Where do I find all the revised documents?
Answer:
Resources can be found on this website under DCG Resources.
I was taking a look at the Allowable Items list and saw Chromebooks are eligible but no mention of Chromeboxes. Would Chromeboxes be allowable in DCG?
Answer:
Chromeboxes are considered a PC and are therefore allowable.
Our vendor quotes use the words “Remote Lockers." Is that sufficient or does it exactly have to state "Remote Holds Lockers?"
Answer:
That's fine. Avoid using the term "book lockers," as it's not approved under the grant guidelines.
We have a few patrons that will never return the hotspots until we disable them. This is a constant thing with these patrons. Are we allowed to put a restriction on them like no more hotspot checkouts for like a week or something?
Answer:
Yes, your library may place checkout restrictions on the hotspot devices. However, your library can't charge replacement costs. We recommend speaking with other libraries to see what types of checkout restrictions they have in place for their hotspot devices.
Would charge carts be allowable?
Answer:
The Library Digital Connectivity Grant funder has approved charging carts as an allowable item; however, any one subrecipient library cannot purchase BOTH charge carts AND remote device lockers. In other words, if you use your grant award to purchase charge carts, you cannot use any of the funding to purchase remote device lockers and vice versa.
Will libraries have to submit device data on GPLS-owned Chromebooks and other connectivity devices?
Answer:
Starting April 2026, library systems that have received devices and accessories from GPLS will have to report device data in the quarterly progress reports. Any library that submitted inventory prior to April 2026 will need to submit it on the revised Inventory form. The GPLS-owned device libraries will continue to report quarterly on the same schedule as the subaward libraries as they are now a subaward through October 2026.
Where do I report inventory changes to GPLS for lost or damaged Chromebooks and other devices?
Answer:
Please report any changes to the inventory update form. This online form covers both GEER and GTA Chromebooks.
How do we dispose of damaged devices?
Answer:
First check if the device can be replaced under warranty.
Verify that the device is physically damaged. If the damage is software related or unknown, contact GPLS via the helpdesk first.
If the device can not be repaired and has physical issues, it can be disposed of following your library guidelines around technology surplus/disposal. GPLS recommends harvesting good parts for repair of other devices if they are available (keyboards, trackpads, monitors/screens, etc.).
Can libraries charge patrons fines or other replacement costs?
Answer:
Fines are allowable but replacement costs are not.
Should we add funder acknowledgements like with other grants (i.e. ARPA)?
Answer:
Yes, please visit the marketing toolkit here: https://georgialibraries.org/tech-toolkit/.