To establish and maintain an apex accelerator to serve as a resource for business entities, including newly started business entities, to obtain procurement technical assistance

The Office of the Secretary of Defense awarded CAL Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation (doing business as HSU Foundation) a Cooperative Agreement totaling $647,180.04 on April 1, 2026, under the Procurement Technical Assistance For Business Firms program (CFDA 12.002) to establish and maintain an APEX Accelerator providing procurement technical assistance to business entities, including newly started firms.

Performance takes place in California with a period of performance from April 1, 2026 through March 30, 2027. The Procurement Technical Assistance For Business Firms program provides financial assistance to non-profit and government agencies operating centers where any U.S. business can receive free education and technical assistance to help sell products and services to federal, state, and local governments. HSU Foundation, a tax-exempt non-profit educational institution and Hispanic-Serving Institution serving as fiscal intermediary for federal research grants and cooperative agreements at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, operates the Humboldt Small Business Development Center and Veterans Business Outreach Center awards under this program, delivering entrepreneurship training and government contracting counseling to service members, veterans, and small business owners in the region.