OWBO-2020-07-02 WBC National Competition.pdf

Page | 1

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO)

WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER (WBC) - INITIAL PHASE GRANT

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) No. OWBO-2020-07-02

Base Budget Period: November 1, 2020 – September 29, 2021

Opening Date: September 10, 2020

New Closing Date: October 22, 2020

The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to twenty-five (25) private, non-profit organizations that will provide entrepreneurial development services to women, with an emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in locations that are outside of the geographical areas of existing WBCs. No proposal for a new Women’s Business Center will be considered if it will be located within one-hundred (100) miles of an existing WBC.

Applicants may request a waiver to this FOA’s 100-mile provision. Waivers to the geographic requirement should be submitted as an attachment to the application (please note the instructions for this FOA regarding attachments) and should be at least two pages and no more than 5 pages and should justify the need for a WBC within 100 miles of an existing

Center.

Eligible applicants must be private, non-profit organizations with 501(c) tax exempt status from the U.S. Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service.

An organization that is operating, or has operated an SBA funded WBC, within the past five (5) years, if selected, will be awarded as an Initial Phase Project. Likewise, an organization that previously operated an SBA-funded WBC (but that is no longer operating), if eligible to apply and selected, will also be awarded as a Initial Phase Project since this application will be treated as an effort to re-establish the WBC.

Furthermore, recognizing the important role that Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) (e.g., Historically Black Colleges and Universities [HBCUs], Hispanic-Serving Institutions [HSIs] from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities [HACU], and Asian American Native

American Pacific Islander Institutions [AANAPISIs]) play in meeting the needs of socially and economically disadvantaged markets, this program announcement seeks to encourage MSIs to provide entrepreneurial development services to socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

MSIs, HBCUs, HSIs, HACU, AANAPISIs and their auxiliary entities are encouraged to apply.

Page | 2

Additionally, religious organizations are encouraged to apply. Such organizations are not required to alter their religious character to participate in a government program, nor to cease engaging in explicitly religious activities outside the program, nor effectively to relinquish their Federal statutory protections for religious hiring decisions.

Likewise, other organizations meeting the WBC program eligibility criteria, as well as other organizations serving socially and economically-disadvantaged entrepreneurs, are also encouraged to apply.

Proposals responding to this FOA must be posted to www.Grants.gov by no later than11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on October 22, 2020. Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.203(b), exigent circumstances allow OWBO to shorten the number of calendar days available in a funding opportunity: the ongoing public health emergency, also referred to as “COVID-19” or

“coronavirus” or “pandemic,” evidences the pressing need to get entrepreneurial assistance to women.

No other methods of submission are permitted.

Proposals submitted after the stipulated deadline will be rejected without evaluation.

http://www.grants.gov/

Page | 3

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

OFFICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP

Table of Contents Section I- Funding Opportunity Description

1.1 Program Overview

1.2 Introduction

1.3 Background

1.4 Purpose

1.5 Leveraging of Resources

1.6 SBA Involvement and Oversight

1.7 Changes or Cancellation

Section II – Award Information

2.1 Estimated Funding

2.2 Expected Number of Awards

2.3 Period of Performance/Budget Periods

2.4 Funding Information

2.5 Funding Instrument

2.6 Non-Federal Matching Requirement

2.7 Non-Federal Matching Certification

Section III – Eligibility Information

3.1 General

3.2 Eligible Applicants

3.3 Ineligible Applicants

Section IV - Application and Submission Information

4.1 Application Instructions

4.1.1 Project Abstract

4.1.2 Technical Proposal

4.1.3 Budget Narrative (Cost/Budget Proposal)

4.1.4 Certifications, Forms, and Assurances

4.1.5 Attachments and Exhibits

4.2 Submission Instructions

4.3 Required Proposal Submission Dates

Section V - Application Review Information

5.1 Review and Selection Process

5.2 Evaluation Criteria

5.3 Risk Assessment

Section VI - Award Administration Information

6.1 Award Notification

6.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

6.3 Reporting

Page | 4

6.3.1 Financial Reports

6.3.2 Health and Human Services (HHS) Payment Management System (PMS) Reports

6.3.3 Performance Reports

6.3.5 Economic Impact Data

6.3.6 Report Submission

6.4 Recordkeeping Requirements

Section VII - Agency Contacts

7.1 Office of Women’s Business Ownership Point of Contact

7.2 Financial/Grants Management Point of Contact

7.3 Grants.gov Technical Support

Section VIII - Other Information

8.1 Definitions

8.1.1 Applicant

8.1.2 Budget Period

8.1.4 Clients Served

8.1.5 Closure

8.1.6 Contact Hours

8.1.7 Contributions/Donations

8.1.8 Cooperative Agreement

8.1.9 Cost Policy Statement

8.1.10 Counseling

8.1.11 Counseling Record

8.1.12 Distance Learning

8.1.13 Electronic Commerce (eCommerce)

8.1.14 Goals

8.1.15 Capital Infusion (Number of Transactions)

8.1.16 Grants Management Officer (GMO)

8.1.17 In-Kind Contribution (third party)

8.1.18 New Business Starts

8.1.19 Non-Federal Entity

8.1.20 Notice of Award

8.1.21 Option Year:

8.1.22 Option Year Work Plan and Budget

8.1.23 Personnel

8.1.24 Preparation Time (hours)

8.1.25 Program Director

Page | 5

8.1.26 Program Income

8.1.27 Project Funds

8.1.28 Project Period

8.1.29 Religious Organization

8.1.30 SBA Resource Partners

8.1.31 Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Women

8.1.32 Technical Assistance

8.1.33 Training

8.1.34 Travel Hours

8.1.35 Women’s Business Centers (WBCs)

8.1.36 WBC Advisory Board

8.1.37 Woman-Owned Business

8.2 Additional Resources and Partnerships

8.3 Templates and Charts

8.3.1 Milestones and Metrics Template

8.3.2 Financial System Self-Assessment

8.3.3 Checklist of Required Submissions

Page | 6

Section I- Funding Opportunity Description

1.1 Program Overview

1.1.1. Federal Agency Name: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

1.1.2. Funding Opportunity Title Women’s Business Center – Initial Phase Grant

1.1.3. Announcement Type Initial

1.1.4. Funding Opportunity

Number:

OWBO-2020-07

1.1.5. CDFA Number 59.043

1.1.6. Closing Date for

Submissions:

September ##, 2020 at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Standard

Time

1.1.7. Authority: Small Business Act §§2(h), 29 (15 U.S.C. §§ 631(h)), and

656, as amended; 13 CFR Part 131

1.1.8. Duration of Authority: Permanent

1.1.9. Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

1.1.10. Funding: Fiscal Year 2020

Project Period is November 1, 2020 – September 29, 2021

1.1.11. Award Amount/Funding

Range:

Up to $ 3,750,000 in funding is available for this FOA.

The SBA expects to provide funding for up to twenty-five

(25) Initial Phase awards, each not to exceed $137,500.00 under this FOA. This funding will support new WBCs that support communities outside of the existing catchment areas locations identified on the cover page. Non-Federal entities are required to match awarded funds on a 1:2 ratio for the base project period and first option year of the grant and a 1:1 ratio for the subsequent three (3) years.

1.1.12. Project Duration: Awards will include a base project period of twelve (11) months, with four (4) option periods of twelve (12) months each. Exercise of options is at the SBA’s discretion and is subject to continuing program authority, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance by the non-Federal entity.

1.1.13. Project Starting Date: November 1, 2020

Page | 7

1.1.14. Proposal Evaluation: Proposals will be reviewed for sufficiency as detailed in

Section 5.0. The SBA may ask applicants for clarification of the technical and cost aspects of their proposals. This must not be construed as a commitment to fund the proposed effort.

1.1.15. Agency Programmatic Point

of Contact:

U.S. Small Business Administration

Office of Women’s Business Ownership

E-mail: owbo@sba.gov mailto:owbo@sba.gov

Page | 8

1.2 Introduction

The WBC Program was established by the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988

(Public Law No. 100-533) as the Women’s Business Demonstration Pilot, providing grants to private non-profit organizations to aid and encourage the development and growth of small women-owned businesses through long-term training and counseling. The program was expanded and made permanent in 2007, when the WBC Sustainability Grant Program, established in 1999, was replaced with the WBC Renewal Grant Program.

1.3 Background

Since its inception in 1953, the SBA has served to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small businesses. While the SBA is best known for its financial support of small businesses through its many lending programs, the agency also plays a critical role in providing funding to organizations that deliver technical assistance in the form of counseling and training to small business concerns and nascent entrepreneurs in order to promote growth, expansion, innovation, increased productivity and management improvement.

The mission of the WBC Program is to act as the catalyst for providing in-depth, substantive, outcome-oriented business services to women entrepreneurs, both nascent and established businesses, a representative number of which are socially and economically disadvantaged. This mission is accomplished through the award of financial assistance to private, 501(c) certified non-profit organizations to enable them to affect substantial economic impact in their communities, as measured by successful business start-ups, job creation and retention, and increased company revenues.

1.4 Purpose

The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to twenty-five (25) private, non-profit organizations that will provide entrepreneurial development services to women, with an emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in communities outside of the catchment areas of existing WBCs.

Eligible applicants must be private, non-profit organizations with 501(c) tax-exempt status from the U.S. Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service. An organization that is operating or has operated an SBA-funded WBC within the past five (5) years, if selected, will be awarded as an Initial Phase Project. Likewise, an organization that previously operated an SBA-funded WBC that is no longer operating, if eligible to apply and selected, will also be awarded as an Initial Phase Project since this application will be treated as an effort to re-establish the WBC.

Recognizing the important role that Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) (e.g., Historically

Black Colleges and Universities [HBCUs], Hispanic-Serving Institutions [HSIs] from the

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities [HACU], and Asian American Native

Page | 9

American Pacific Islander Institutions [AANAPISIs]) play in meeting the needs of socially and economically disadvantaged markets, this program announcement seeks to encourage

MSIs to provide entrepreneurial development services to socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs. MSIs, HBCUs, HSIs, HACU, AANAPISIs and their auxiliary entities are encouraged to apply.

Likewise, other organizations serving socially and economically-disadvantaged entrepreneurs, who meet the WBC program eligibility requirements, are also encouraged to apply.

Additionally, religious organizations are encouraged to apply. Generally, such organizations are not required to alter their religious character to participate in a government program, nor to cease engaging in explicitly religious activities outside the program, nor effectively to relinquish their federal statutory protections for religious hiring decisions.

1.5 Leveraging of Resources

The applicants selected for an award under this FOA are required to maximize efforts leveraging the SBA funding by working in conjunction with the SBA’s District Offices and other federal, state, local and tribal government small business development programs and activities; the SBA resource partners (such as SCORE, Small Business Development

Centers, Women Business Centers, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers); 7(j)

Technical Assistance providers; Small Business Investment Companies; Certified

Development Companies; SBA lenders; universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education; and private organizations (such as chambers of commerce and trade and industry groups and associations).

1.6 SBA Involvement and Oversight

The WBC Program is managed by the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Women’s

Business Ownership (AA/OWBO).

A designated Program Manager (PM) located within OWBO at SBA Headquarters will be responsible for the overall monitoring and oversight of the non-Federal entity’s WBC project, including compliance with the terms and conditions of the cooperative agreement.

A designated Grants Management Officer (GMO) within OWBO will be responsible for issuing the Notice of Award (NOA), making modifications to the award, and processing payments.

An SBA employee assigned to a District Office located within the non-Federal entity’s service area will be tasked with serving as the District Office Technical Representative

(DOTR) and will act as the local representative for SBA.

Page | 10

1.7 Changes or Cancellation

The SBA reserves the right to amend or cancel this FOA, in whole or in part, at the agency’s discretion. Should the SBA make material changes to this FOA, the agency will extend the closing date as necessary to afford Applicants sufficient opportunity to address such changes.

1.8 SBA Priorities

Emerging markets are critical to the strength and vitality of the American economy. As a part of on-going participation in the WBC program, WBCs must outreach and provide services to entrepreneurs, especially women, of all demographics, backgrounds and locations, inclusive of urban and rural populations, and members of Reserve Components of the U.S. Military and National Guard and their spouses.

Central to its strategy to reaching emerging markets are Historically Black Colleges and

Universities (HBCUs) and Opportunity Zones. WBCs must engage HBCUs and

Opportunity Zones.

HBCUs: Given the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in American higher education and the ever-increasing growth and interest in entrepreneurship and small business throughout the HBCU community, it is a natural fit for WBCs and the SBA to also increase its services, partnerships and outreach to HBCUs.

Opportunity Zones: Opportunity Zones were created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to provide investment in economically distressed areas by creating tax incentives for individuals and companies that invest in these designated zones. To facilitate the designation of these zones, the Federal government empowered state, local and tribal governments to prioritize low-income, economically distressed areas that would benefit most from receiving an Opportunity Zone designation. SBA recognizes the importance of ensuring access to capital. WBCs are critical to providing access to capital and promoting small business growth; therefore, WBCs’ engagements with Opportunity Zones is critical to economic development of distressed areas.

1.9 Program Requirements

For the 2020-2021 Program Year (PY), please note three (3) very important requirements for the WBC program.

First, per 13 CFR 131.310(e), each SBA funded WBC must have “Women's Business

Center” as part of its official name and must prominently feature the following statement on its website and promotional documents: “The Women's Business Center is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration.”

Page | 11

With regard to the second and third requirements, in order to ensure that WBC staff are knowledgeable regarding federal grants management, and also accounting and auditing principles needed to effectively management WBC grants, OWBO requires WBC staff responsible for the management of the WBC grant receive at least eight (8) hours of training each year on federal grants management and eight (8) hours of training each year on accounting principles and practices.

Section II – Award Information

2.1 Estimated Funding

Up to $3,750,000.00 in funding is available for this FOA. The SBA expects to provide funding for up to two (25) Initial Phase awards, each not to exceed $137,500.00.

2.2 Expected Number of Awards

The SBA expects to make up to twenty-five (25) awards under this FOA.

2.3 Period of Performance/Budget Periods

Awards will be made for up to a five (5)-year period of performance, consisting of a base period of twelve (11) months from the date of award and four (4) option periods of twelve

(12) months each. The exercise of option periods will be solely at the SBA’s discretion and is subject to continuing program authority, the availability of funds, and a non-Federal entity’s continued satisfactory performance and compliance with all the terms and conditions of the award. Each base and option period will constitute a separate and distinct twelve (12)-month Budget and Performance Period.

2.4 Funding Information

▪ Funds provided under the WBC Program must be used solely for the purposes stipulated in this FOA and the NOA. Funds provided under the WBC Program may not be commingled with funds from other sources. Non-Federal entities are required to maintain separate accounting over Federal funds to ensure funds are used for authorized purposes only. All costs proposed in an applicant’s budget must meet the tests of allowability, allocability, and reasonableness set forth in 2 CFR 200, Subpart

E.

▪ The SBA will not reimburse applicants for their proposal preparation costs. Applicants may request pre-award costs, which require prior approval from SBA. Pre-award costs are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of work of the project and meet the tests of allowability, allocability, and reasonableness.

▪ No Federal funds provided through an Award under this FOA or matching contributions dedicated to such an Award may be used for the purpose of making a sub-grant. While subcontracting is permitted, successful Applicants may not spend more than forty-nine percent (49%) of Award funds on subcontracts. Additionally, under

Page | 12 no circumstances may successful Applicants contract out the administration or day-to-day management of this project to any other party.

▪ Indirect Costs - If the WBC Applicant has never had an approved Indirect Cost Rate

Agreement (ICRA), and the WBC Applicant’s budget includes indirect costs, it may utilize a de minimus rate of ten-percent (10%) of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) to include Federal and non-Federal costs, until the non-Federal entity can provide a copy of a current ICRA either through the SBA or from another cognizant Federal agency. MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000.00 of each subcontract regardless of the period of performance of the subcontracts under the award. MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs, and the portion of each subcontract in excess of $25,000.00. (2 CFR 200.68)

2.5 Funding Instrument

The funding instrument used will be a Cooperative Agreement.

2.6 Non-Federal Matching Requirement

The applicant is required to provide non-Federal matching funds. Non-Federal match may consist of cash, in-kind, and/or program income and must be used for approved budgeted items only.

Annual match

The applicant is required to match awarded funds on a 1:2 ratio (one dollar ($1) of non-Federal funds for every two dollar ($2) of Federal funds) for the base period and first option year and

1:1 in the three (3) subsequent years.

Non-Federal Match

Cash

▪ Donations from Federal entities may not be claimed as match.

▪ Matching contributions must come from non-Federal sources such as state and local public funds; private individuals, corporations, and foundations; and program income

(income from program services).

▪ Funds you receive as payment for services provided under an agreement with an outside, non-Federal entity may be used as match regardless of whether the non-Federal entity received those funds from a Federal source.

▪ When permissible under the terms of the Community Development Block Grant

(CDBG) Program, CDBG funds may also be used as match. The matching contribution must be pledged for WBC activities.

▪ At least one half of the non-Federal match must be in the form of cash.

Page | 13

▪ Note: Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) funds may not be used as match.

In-Kind

▪ No more than one-half of the non-Federal match may be in the form of in-kind contributions, including but not limited to office equipment and office space.

Failure to Obtain Match

The SBA may withhold payment at any time if the required level of non-Federal match has not been obtained. Payment will be withheld unless the applicant has adequately certified that the required amount of non-Federal match equal to or greater than the Federal funds expended (of which at least half is in the form of cash) has been fully obtained and expended for project activities during each reporting period.

Note: Initial Phase WBCs in the base period and first option year of its project must provide non-Federal match equal to or greater than fifty-percent (50%) of the Federal funds expended, of which at least half is in the form of cash.

2.7 Non-Federal Matching Certification

The applicant must certify that the non-Federal matching share has been obtained and expended on the WBC Project and must maintain records of all cash, in-kind donations, and program income and how it was spent.

The DOTR may review programmatic records/information when conducting site visits, mid-year and/or annual reviews. The OWBO Program Manager and the OED financial examiner will review programmatic and financial records when conducting desk reviews, on-site visits, program reviews and/or financial exams.

Section III – Eligibility Information

3.1 General

An organization may submit only one (1) proposal in response to this FOA. Any additional applications from the same organization will automatically be rejected without being evaluated.

3.2 Eligible Applicants

In order to be eligible for this FOA, applicants must be a private non-profit organization certified under § 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and have experience providing technical services to women, with a special emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

To the extent that they satisfy all eligibility criteria the same as all other applicant organizations, Religious Organizations are entitled to compete for Federal financial

Page | 14 assistance (grants and/or cooperative agreements) used to support government programs.

Generally, such organizations are not required to alter their religious character to participate in a government program, nor to cease engaging in explicitly religious activities outside the program, nor effectively to relinquish their Federal statutory protections for religious hiring decisions.

Applicants must document as part of the narrative proposal that they:

▪ Will provide services to women and other entrepreneurs who are both socially-and economically-disadvantaged.

▪ Continue to be organized and incorporated in the United States and remain in good standing in the state or territory of incorporation. A copy of the certificate of good standing or applicable document must be attached to the applicant’s technical proposal.

▪ Are a private not-for-profit or non-profit corporation with an active 501(c)

Federal tax-exempt status certification from the United States Department of

Treasury/Internal Revenue Service. A copy of the 501(c) designation letter must be attached to the applicant’s technical proposal.

▪ Will provide technical assistance to small business concerns owned and controlled by women.

▪ Have an established organizational infrastructure with an internal financial management system that currently meets the requirements of 2 CFR 200.302.

▪ Are responsible for hiring, supervising, and employing staff enough to ensure that the WBC is open to the public a minimum of forty (40) hours a week including evening and weekend hours and to fully provide the services required under this FOA, the NOA, and the applicant’s proposal. Staff must include a full-time (forty (40) hours per week) program director whose time is dedicated one-hundred percent (100%) to managing the day-to-day operations of the

WBC as well as overseeing its staff, volunteers, and all financial aspects.

3.3 Ineligible Applicants

The following organizations will automatically be considered ineligible and their applications will be rejected without being evaluated:

▪ Has a Federal delinquent debt subject to offset;

▪ Any organization that is currently suspended, debarred or otherwise prohibited from receiving awards of contracts or grants from the Federal government;

▪ Any organization with an outstanding and unresolved material deficiency reported under the requirements of the Single Audit Act within the past three years;

▪ Any organization that has had a WBC grant or cooperative agreement involuntarily terminated or not renewed within the past year;

▪ Any organization that has filed for bankruptcy within the past five (5) years;

Page | 15

▪ Any organization that proposes to serve as a pass-through and permit another organization to manage the day-to-day operations of the project;

▪ Any organization that does not propose to hire and employ a full-time (forty

(40) hours per week) program director whose time is dedicated one-hundred

(100%) to managing the day-to-day operations of the WBC and staff; and/or

▪ Any organization that was convicted, or had an officer or agent acting on its behalf convicted, of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the preceding twenty-four (24) months.

Section IV - Application and Submission Information

4.1 Application Instructions

Applications must consist of the following elements: (i) project abstract; (ii) technical proposal; (iii) budget narrative; (iv) certifications, forms and assurances; and (v) attachments and exhibits.

4.1.1 Project Abstract

The applicant must submit an abstract of no more than five (5) pages summarizing the proposed project including, but not limited to the scope of the project and proposed outcomes. The Abstract must include the applicant’s name, telephone number, web address, e-mail address for the applicant’s designated point of contact, and project title, as well as a description of the area to be served, number of participants to be served, and funding level requested. The Abstract is limited to five (5) double-spaced, single one-sided

8.5x11-inch pages with twelve (12)-point text and one (1)-inch margins. When submitting in Grants.gov, this document must be uploaded as an attachment to the application package and specifically labeled “Abstract.”

4.1.2 Technical Proposal

The Technical Proposal must demonstrate the applicant’s capability to implement the grant project in accordance with the provisions of this announcement. It provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the proposed project. It must be succinct, self-explanatory, and well organized so that reviewers can understand the proposed project.

The Technical Proposal pages must be numbered, and the narrative portion of the application shall be limited to twenty (20) double spaced, 8.5 x 11 inch pages with Source

Sans or Times New Roman twelve (12)-point text font and one (1)-inch margins.

Attachments such as position descriptions, résumés, budgets, organization charts, and milestone charts are not counted toward the twenty (20) page maximum.

SBA will not consider any materials beyond the specified page limit and the required attachments in the application review process https://www.grants.gov/

Page | 16

The following instructions provide all the information needed to complete the Technical

Proposal. Carefully read and consider each section and include all required information.

The agency will evaluate the Project Narrative using the evaluation criteria identified in

Section four (4).

Use the same section headers identified below for each section of the Technical Proposal.

1. Statement of Need

Describe in both quantitative and qualitative terms the need for assistance, including the nature and scope of the problem and the consequences of not addressing the need. Incorporate demographic and local economic data whenever possible. Be sure to describe:

▪ The geographic region where the WBC will provide services, the specific needs of women and socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, and the characteristics of the local economy;

▪ The services the WBC proposes to deliver and how they will assist women, socially and economically-disadvantaged women, and other socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs to start, grow or expand their business ; and

▪ How the proposed project complements and does not duplicate other public and private projects or services in the market area.

Applicants must specify whether the focus will be on rural, urban, or tribal areas.

Please note that emphasis is given to projects that engage socially and economically-disadvantaged entrepreneurs; and those engaging communities served by MSIs and other organizations operating in designated Opportunity

Zones.

Opportunity Zones were created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to provide investment in economically distressed areas by creating tax incentives for individuals and companies that invest in these designated zones, for more information on Opportunity Zones visit:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions

Rating Criteria: Up to twenty (20) points will be awarded based on the extent to which the application:

▪ Presents a discussion which is clear, logical, and an accurate interpretation of market and demographic data (five (5) points);

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions

Page | 17

▪ Includes data sources and citations that provide information that enables the identification and verification of data (three (3) points);

▪ Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the training and technical assistance needs of women and socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs within the geographic target area and the consequences of not addressing this need, based on the quantitative and qualitative information provided; (seven (7) points) and

▪ Clearly describes how the proposed WBC will meet this need (5 points).

2. Project Design

Describe the methods that the proposed WBC Project will use to address the needs of women entrepreneurs in the targeted geographic area. Detail a plan of action that describes how the project will accomplish the proposed work and state the reason for taking the proposed approach over alternate approaches. Cite factors that might impact the project, identify any potential barriers, and describe how the project will overcome those barriers. Be sure to:

▪ Describe the full nature (e.g., cohort, group or individualized training, one-to-one counseling, mentoring, conferences, etc.), scope, and frequency of the project’s training and technical assistance activities and provide a convincing explanation that these training activities are appropriate and will lead to the creation of businesses and access to capital;

▪ Describe how the WBC will collaborate with the SBA and its Resources

Partners;

▪ Describe the WBC’s outreach, recruitment, and enrollment strategy for engaging the target population(s), including clear identification of how the SBA and other partner organizations will support this effort; and

▪ Provide a detailed explanation of the process or system for reviewing, approving, and collecting data from program participants to inform and evaluate program performance and impact.

OWBO is interested in supporting innovative approaches to providing services to all entrepreneurs. Applicants are encouraged to consider forming collaborations and consortia that will expand the breadth and reach of program services. These approaches can be especially useful in reaching socially and economically-disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

Importantly, selected organizations will be expected to develop a plan to encourage business development in Opportunity Zones. Guidance will be provided after award.

Rating Criteria: Up to thirty (30) points will be awarded based on the extent to

Page | 18

▪ Clearly proposes a plausible model infused with evidence-based, evidence-informed, and/or promising practices and provides a clear approach to support its choice of model/components (ten (10) points);

▪ Will directly engage women entrepreneurs and other socially and disadvantaged entrepreneurs within the specified geographic target area to support the creation, growth, and expansion of businesses (ten (10) points);

▪ Strongly justifies its approach, including addressing any factors that might accelerate or decelerate implementation (five (5) points); and

Considers barriers that may impact the project’s success (five (5) points).

3. Project Objectives, Metrics and Milestones

The Project Workplan is composed of a performance narrative and performance workplan template. Together they communicate how the project will be implemented and how progress will be measured.

Performance Narrative

The performance narrative should clearly describe your project goals and how project activities will generate results for OWBO’s three performance measures— unique clients served, new business starts, and capital infusion (# of transactions).

WBCs are encouraged to be data driven, which may require them to collect more data than what OWBO requires for performance reporting. WBCs should not feel bound to limit their data collection.

Performance Workplan Template

The Performance Workplan Template will present the measures, targets, and milestones for the base and options periods. The template must include the following:

▪ Milestones, which are key markers of grant progress and are typically expressed in the form of an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development;

▪ Measures are quantifiable indicators used to determine if a project or program is achieving its desired objectives; and

▪ Targets, defined as the anticipated number of clients you will serve, business starts will be realized, and capital infusion transactions achieved.

Using the metrics tab provide performance metric targets for the entire base period of six (6) months as well as each of the four (4) twelve (12)-month option years of the project’s term. Using the milestones tab describe those tasks, actions, or products for each project year that are essential to the project’s success and provide a timeline (including start and end dates) for completion.

Page | 19

The Workplan should reflect, and be consistent with, the Project Design and

Budget Narrative and must cover all years of the project period, including the initial base and four option periods. You may propose multi-year activities, as well as activities that build upon each other, but each phase of the project must be attainable within a single budget year.

Importantly, first year activities should include a planning phase which details the steps needed to successfully launch the project, such as hiring key staff (i.e., Director); securing locations to house the center; finalizing partnership agreements;

and ensuring readiness for transmitting data to SBA.

Rating Criteria: Up to twenty (20) points will be awarded based on the extent to

▪ Reflects clear and realistic timelines for the completion of work and demonstrates how the project will operate through the funding period (five (5) points);

▪ Reflects a coherent and feasible approach for successfully addressing the identified outcomes and outputs (five (5) points); and

▪ Clearly describes and justifies a sound plan for meeting the preliminary steps during the planning phase to ensure that the following key benchmarks are reached: hiring key staff, securing locations for WBC operations, meeting with potential partners, and ensuring readiness for transferring or entering data to

EDMIS (ten (10) points).

4. Organizational, Administrative, and Fiscal Capacity

Please provide information on the organization’s current mission, structure, staffing, and relevant experience. Describe how these factors contribute to the ability of the organization to implement the program requirements and meet program expectations. Include information about any partnerships or collaborations that will have a significant role in implementing the Project. Describe the fiscal and administrative controls in place to properly manage Federal funds. Include the organization’s capability to meet and sustain the Project’s matching funds requirement.

Provide a detailed staffing plan that describes how staff will contribute to the accomplishment of the Project’s goals. Please detail qualifications and experience of all project staff. Such qualifications and experience must demonstrate the staff’s ability to manage a strategic partnership, including fiscal and administrative management, outreach, and promotion. Include copies of the WBC Project

Page | 20

Director’s résumé or the position description if unavailable and all position descriptions as attachments.

An organizational chart that displays the proposed Project’s staffing plan must be included.

The WBC must have an advisory board. Include a list of WBC advisory board members and each member’s phone number, e-mail address, and include the role(s) and responsibility(ies) of each member. If there is no advisory board, include your plan to obtain your WBC’s advisory board. See definition below for the WBC

Advisory Board. State by whom and during what hours the facility or facilities will be staffed. Also, provide a list of planned closures (e.g., holidays).

Applicants should provide a comprehensive description of the existing or planned systems and processes that the host organization will use to provide timely and accurate financial and participant-level performance reporting, including the process for tracking participant-level data on characteristics, services, activities, and outcomes of women entrepreneurs served through the project to report to the

SBA during the life of the grant. In addition, detail how these systems will be used to regularly assess progress towards the identified performance goals and how rigorous performance reporting will be considered in staffing and budgeting plans.

Rating Criteria: Up to fifteen (15) points will be awarded based on the extent to

▪ Effectively communicates how the applicant organization’s current mission, structure, staffing, and relevant experience will support the implementation and effective operation of a WBC (one (1) point);

▪ Describes the fiscal and administrative controls in place to properly manage

Federal funds and capacity to meet and sustain the project’s matching funds requirement (five (5) points);

▪ Provides a detailed staffing plan that describes how staff will contribute to the accomplishment of the project’s goals, providing the qualifications and experience of all project staff; provides an advisory and details when the center is open and closed (three (3) points);

▪ Provides a comprehensive description of the existing or planned systems and processes that the host organization will use to provide financial and program data to the SBA (three (3) points); and

▪ Demonstrates the technological capacity to support the WBC’s website and connect to the SBA website at www.sba.gov; to provide client support and training via email; and to provide or facilitate virtual training opportunities

(three (3) points).

http://www.sba.gov/

Page | 21

5. Past Performance – Programmatic Capability

Applicants should provide a full description of their organization’s prior experience in the provision of services to women and socially and economically-disadvantaged entrepreneurs. This experience should be supported with documentation and data including length of time services were provided; number of entrepreneurs served;

outcomes achieved; and past engagement with SBA and/or SBA Resource Partners.

Rating Criteria: Up to ten (10) points will be awarded based on the extent to which the application:

▪ Details the applicant’s experience providing technical assistance to women and/or socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, both nascent and established (five (5) points); and

▪ Describes past achievements operating an economic development program or another program comparable to the proposed project and the extent to which the past performance of the comparable program prepares the organization to undertake the proposed project (five (5) points).

6. Bonus Points (fifteen (15) points)

The SBA is especially interested in projects that meet the needs of socially and economically-disadvantaged communities. To receive the maximum bonus points applicants must clearly specify that socially and economically disadvantaged communities and their populations will be the focus of the Project. Bonus points will be awarded to projects that serve: rural areas; tribal communities; are and/or will partner with MSIs, religious organizations, and/or other organizations serving socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs; currently operate in an

Opportunity Zone; and/or partner with an Opportunity Fund. This information must be described in the Statement of Need and Project Design sections of the application.

4.1.3 Budget Narrative (Cost/Budget Proposal)

Budget information for the initial twelve (11)-month base period must be provided through the submission of the following:

▪ SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance;

▪ SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs;

Note: Budget estimates of Federal funds needed for the balance of the project period (i.e., the four additional twelve (12)-month option years) must be indicated on the SF-424A, Section E.

▪ Annual Budget Summary Worksheets must submit in its original Microsoft

Excel file format. However, an applicant may substitute their own worksheets

Page | 22 in place of the Annual Budget Summary provided it includes all the same cost elements/line items covered by the Annual Budget Summary;

▪ Certification of Cash Match and Program Income and Sources of Match

Worksheet; and

▪ The Annual Budget Summary includes a narrative area where applicants can provide a brief but detailed explanation of the components of each cost element listed in the SF-424A and Annual Budget Summary (an example can be found on the Example tab of the Annual Budget Summary).

Rating Criteria: Up to five (5) points will be awarded based on the extent to which the application:

▪ Includes a budget narrative that provides a detailed description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A as well as a description of leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support grant activities (three

(3) points); and

▪ Includes a completed SF-424a and budget narrative with numbers that align and total correctly (two (2) points).

Note: The SF-424 and 424A are located at www.Grants.gov. The Annual Budget

Summary Worksheets and the Certification of Cash Match & Program Income &

Sources of Match Worksheet are located at www.sba.gov/wbc.

Use the following guidance for preparing the budget narrative:

▪ Personnel: List all staff positions by title (both proposed and current, if applicable). Give the annual salary of each position, the percentage of each position’s time devoted to the Project, the amount of each position’s salary funded by the grant, and the total personnel cost for the period of performance

(base and four option periods).

▪ Fringe Benefits: For salaried employees, provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement, etc.

▪ Travel: Specify the estimated number of in-state and out-of-state trips for project staff, along with each trip’s purpose, mileage, per diem, and the associated staff who traveled.

▪ Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase which has an estimated acquisition cost of $5,000.00 or more per unit (or if your capitalization level is less than $5,000.00, use your capitalization level) and a useful lifetime of more than one year (see 2 CFR 200.33 for the definition of

“Equipment”). List the quantity and unit cost per item. Please note that items with a unit cost of less than $5,000 are classified as “Supplies,” not

“Equipment.” Additionally, we do not generally permit the purchase of equipment during the last funded year of a grant.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sba.gov/wbc

Page | 23

▪ Supplies: Identify categories of supplies (e.g. office supplies) in the detailed budget and list the quantity and unit cost per item. Supplies include all tangible personal property that does not qualify as Equipment (see 2 CFR 200.94 for the definition of Supplies).

▪ Contractual: Contracts are defined according to 2 CFR 200.22 as a legal instrument by which a non-Federal entity purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a Federal award. For each proposed contract and subaward, specify the purpose and estimated cost.

▪ Construction: Construction costs are not allowed, so this line must be left as zero.

▪ Other: List any item not covered elsewhere here (such as stipends or incentives). Provide clear and specific detail, including costs, for each item so that we can determine whether the costs are necessary, reasonable, and allocable.

▪ Indirect Costs: If you include indirect costs in the budget, you must provide one of the following:

o A current version of your organization’s Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate

Agreement (NICRA), including an explanation of how the indirect costs are calculated. This explanation should include which portion of each line item, along with the associated costs, are included in your cost allocation base; or o Your intention to claim indirect costs using the ten-percent (10%) de minimis rate, confirming that your organization meets the requirements as described in 2 CFR 200.414(f). Clearly state that your organization has never received a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate

Agreement (NICRA) and your organization is not one described in

Appendix VII of 2 CFR 200, paragraph (D)(1)(b).

4.1.4 Certifications, Forms, and Assurances

▪ Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Regulatory

Secretariat Division the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implemented a new process in the System for Award Management (SAM), for pre-award registration requirements for federal Grant Recipients. These revisions will enable non-Federal entities to submit common federal government-wide certifications and representations for Federal financial assistance at the time of registration in SAM.

▪ Non-federal entities are required to complete funding system assessment and submit a letter from the applicant’s Auditor, Certified Public Accountant, Treasurer, Comptroller, Chief Financial Officer, or similarly qualified individual certifying that your organization’s financial management system currently meets the requirements of 2 CFR 200.302.

▪ Applicants are responsible for ensuring they are compliant with all the

Page | 24 certifications and assurances required to submit a federal grant application.

Information on the requirements can be found at SAM.gov.

4.1.5 Attachments and Exhibits

Along with the items discussed in the Technical Proposal, Budget Information, and

Evaluation Criteria sections, applicants must submit copies of the following with its proposal (as applicable):

▪ Résumé and position description for the WBC Director and position descriptions for all other full- and part-time staff (including unfilled positions), copies of contracts and consulting agreements (include three quotes for all subcontracts between $3,501.00 – $137,500.00), letters of support, pledges of additional funding or in-kind resources, leases, conflict of interest policy consistent with 2 CFR 2701.112. Successful applicants must maintain current signed conflicts of interest policy for all current employees, contractors, which include consultants and instructors providing services to the WBC;

▪ An organizational chart that depicts the relationship between the WBC and the host organization, as well as the WBC’s operating structure; and

▪ A copy of the applicant’s Cost Policy Statement.

4.2 Submission Instructions

Required forms are provided in the Grants.gov application package for this FOA. All other required supporting worksheets are located at www.sba.gov/wbc. All proposals, including all attachments, must be submitted electronically via the government-wide financial assistance portal https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/home.html.

NO OTHER FORMS OF SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Specific instructions for obtaining, completing, and submitting an application via grants.gov, including animated tutorials, may be found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

A. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ http://www.sba.gov/wbc https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/home.html

Page | 25

Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number, active

SAM registration, and Grants.gov account to apply.