Cluster-Webinar_2018v2.pdf

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation

Office of Entrepreneurial Development

August 8th, 2018

4PM ET

Primary RFP Point of Contact:

Cheryl Flanagan, CO Cheryl.Flanagan@sba.gov

Presentation by Matthew Stevens

Office of Entrepreneurial Development

73351018R0015

Informational Webinar mailto:Cheryl.Flangan@sba.gov

• Provide Overview of SBA’s Regional Innovation Clusters Initiative

• Discuss Protocol for Questions re: this Year’s

RFP

• Highlight Key Elements of Solicitation

• Review Submission Instructions

Today’s Agenda

Overview of Initiative Questions Protocol Key Solicitation Elements Submission Instructions

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

The ability of small businesses to drive innovation is critical to U.S. competitiveness.

The Small Business Administration Clusters Initiative connects and enhances regional cluster assets so that small businesses can effectively leverage them to grow, commercialize new technologies and expand into new markets, thereby positioning themselves and their regional economies for growth.

Mission of SBA’s Clusters Initiative

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Secondary: Advances cluster development nationwide by convening industry and economic development thought leaders, policymakers, and practitioners

The initiative convenes cluster leaders and relevant experts to share expertise and best practices, with a focus on encouraging collaboration between public and private partners at local, state and national levels.

Two Main Functions of SBA Clusters Initiative

Primary: Directly support regional cluster initiatives

At a community level, SBA-funded cluster initiatives measurably connect sector-specific public and private resources to provide small businesses with specialized assistance, mentoring, showcasing, and access to capital.

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Defining Clustering and Cluster Initiatives

Small Businesses

Entrepreneurs

Large Contractors

Lenders

Venture Capital

Investors

Gov’t Agencies Community Leadership

Colleges Trade

Associations

Industry Cluster

A cluster is a geographic concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers and associated institutions focused or clustered around a particular industry or sector(s).

Auto manufacturing in Detroit

Silicon Valley in California

Financial Services in New York

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Defining Clustering and Cluster Initiatives

Small Businesses

Entrepreneurs Lenders

Venture Capital

Investors

Gov’t Agencies Community Leadership

Colleges Trade

Associations

Large Contractors

Cluster Initiative

Industry Cluster

Cluster initiatives build off organic clusters by purposely integrating small, medium and large companies and universities for business, funding and research opportunities that create jobs, attract capital and have long-term, positive economic impact. Its Core functions:

Serves as a navigator/concierge to connect stakeholders

Maintain governance structure

Provide some in-house technical assistance and rely on outside service providers

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Find… Filter… Facilitate… SBA Clusters can Work Closely With DoD, USDA, Other Government Agencies and Large Companies to “Find, Filter, and Facilitate” Rapid Fielding of Innovative Technology

3 KEY FUNCTIONS

How Clusters Connect Innovation and Small Businesses to Federal Agency Requirements

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Results from Five Years of Evaluations

Total small business participation increased nearly nine-fold

Number of Small Businesses

Cluster Activity Impacts Small Businesses

81% satisfaction from reporting small businesses (satisfied or very satisfied)

In new economic activity generated by small businesses in Y5 $276 Million

16,000 Hours of one-on-one assistance delivered to small businesses, an average of 30 hours per participant

Patent applications filed by small businesses directly served by the cluster in Y5 alone

Group events: training, networking, showcasing and matchmaking events hosted by the clusters 325

New full-time equivalent jobs generated 881

In SBIR/STTR Funding attained (in Y5) $13.3 Million

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

SBA’s Regional Innovation Clusters

1 Autonomous and Unmanned Systems Cluster (southeast New Mexico)

Industry Focus:

Autonomous and unmanned systems

2 The Ozarks Cluster (northwest Arkansas )

Industry Focus:

Food processing, supply chain, and logistics

3 The Water Council Cluster (Milwaukee, WI)

Industry Focus:

Water technology

4 Marine Industry Science and Technology Cluster (southeast LA, southern MS, northwest FL)

Industry Focus:

Science and technology applications in marine industries

5 BioSTL: St. Louis Biosciences Cluster (Saint Louis region)

Industry Focus:

Medical and plant biosciences

Oklahoma-South Kansas Unmanned Aerial Systems Cluster (Oklahoma City, OK)

Industry Focus:

Unmanned aerial systems

6 The Appalachian Ohio Wood Products Cluster (Appalachian OH)

Industry Focus:

Wood Products

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Protocol for Questions (Synopsis)

Potential Offerors may direct questions by email only to the Contracting Officer (CO) within the time allowed following the posting of this Combined Synopsis/Solicitation.

Questions and answers will be provided in writing and posted by amendment to this notice on this website.

The date and time when written questions by email shall be submitted to the CO is no later than 3 p.m., Mountain Time, August 10th, 2018. Note that, due to the press of business, no other form of communication from the Offeror will be entertained or replied to by the CO. The email address for the CO is cheryl.flanagan@sba.gov.

mailto:cheryl.flanagan@sba.gov

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Award Information (Synopsis)

As a result of the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, the SBA intends to award a total of seven contracts to contractors to head cluster initiatives.

Each contract will be for a base year and four option years. The base year will be for a firm-fixed, level-of-effort (not-to-exceed) price of $500,000.00.

Contractor is to estimate each option year for a firm-fixed level-of-effort (not-to-exceed) price of $500,000.00. Option year prices may vary at the time of exercise depending on available funding.

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Award Information (Synopsis)

This combined synopsis/solicitation is partially set-aside for award to two qualified small businesses.

The remaining awards (five awards) are being competed full and open.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services, with a size standard of $14 Million. The Product Service Code is R499, Support – Professional – Other.

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Solicitation Components – Compete Proposal

(1) SF- 1447 – to be completed and signed by Offeror

(2) Performance-Based Statement of Work (SOW) with its two attachments

(3) Contract Clauses and Solicitation Provisions

(4) Pricing Schedule to be completed by an

Offeror, and

(5) Past Performance Information form to be completed by an Offeror.

+ Small Business Subcontracting Plan (if other than small)

Solicitation Components (Continued)

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Overview (SOW, pg. 1)

SBA is interested in proposals that:

(a) support the growth of a regional cluster;

(b) demonstrate strong regional, bottom-up support;

(c) are market-driven;

(d) demonstrate high potential for success and sustainability; and

(e) closely align with emerging entrepreneurial development trends.

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Key Areas of Focus (SOW, pgs. 2-3)

• Specific services to be provided by small businesses participating in the cluster

• Linking and connecting businesses

• Tie-in to emerging entrepreneurial growth initiatives

• Leveraging federal resources

• Past Performance / prior experience

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Key Priorities in this Year’s RFP:

• Focus on rural areas

• HUBZones

• Opportunity Zones

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Emphasis on Emerging Entrepreneurial Growth Initiatives and other Federal Resources

• Affiliation with recipients of USDA grant programs with a focus on economic growth in rural areas, to include:

• Rural Business Development Grant Program

• Value Added Producer Grant Program

• Rural Business Investment Program

• Incorporation or linkage to an accelerator program;

• Brokering of public private partnerships to enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the cluster;

• Alignment with rapid prototyping centers (e.g. Maker Spaces); and/or

• A focus on advanced industries which include, but are not limited to, manufacturing, agricultural technology, electronics, robotics, defense systems, power/energy innovations, cyber security

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Emphasis on Emerging Entrepreneurship Markets (SOW, pg. 5)

An Offeror shall provide details as to how its proposal aligns with the SBA’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive small business ecosystem. In particular, the proposal should address in detail how the planned course of action will enhance opportunities for and provide benefits to emerging businesses, inner-city and rural populations, etc.).

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Identification of Proposed Cluster (SOW, pg. 5)

Offeror shall specifically identify the cluster, by region and by sector(s), to be supported by the cluster initiative and specifically state whether the proposed cluster is currently being supported through active SBA contracts. A map of currently funded SBA cluster initiatives is located in

ATTACHMENT A.

A Proposal will be ranked more highly that focuses on a regional cluster not being currently supported through active SBA contracts. SBA is looking for proposals that either embody a different sector or a different region than those initiatives currently being supported.

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Evaluation Factors (Clauses and Provisions, pgs. 8-12)

Factor 1 – Technical Approach

Factor 2 – Cluster Qualifications and Experience

Factor 3 – Past Performance / Experience

Factor 4 – Price

Factors 1 and 2 are the most important factors and are of equal value. When combined, Factors 1, 2, 3 are significantly more important than price (Factor 4)

Technical Proposal Part 1

Technical Proposal Part 2

Past Performance Form

Pricing Schedule

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Proposals shall include only the following:

• a filled in and signed SF-1447 (complete blocks 13 & 27) – one copy;

• Technical Proposal, Part 1 – Contractor’s Technical Approach – limitation of 10 pages – four copies;

• Technical Proposal, Part 2 – Statement of Contractor’s Cluster Qualifications and

Cluster Initiative Experience – limitation of 5 pages (narrative statement).

Attach required and recommended documents and information listed in the Statement of Work, and, resumes of key personnel at the end of this part (attachments do not count toward the page limitation) - four copies;

• Past Performance / Past Experience Form– use provided form – no page limitation – four copies;

• Completed Pricing Schedule – use provided form – no page limitation - two copies;

• Subcontracting Plan – no page limitation – two copies if Contractor is an “other-than-small for-profit” business (not required is Contractor is a for-profit small business; and

• Any exceptions or changes to the contract terms and conditions – one copy.

Submission Instructions (Clauses and Provisions, pgs. 8-9)

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Submission Instructions (Clauses and Provisions, pgs 8-9)

Contractor submission of its offer shall be made only by paper using the U. S. Post Office or a delivery service to:

Cheryl T. Flanagan, Contracting Officer Small Business Administration, Denver Finance Center, Acquisition Division 721 – 19th St., Third Floor Denver, CO 80202

Contractor’s proposal must be complete, in accordance with these solicitation provisions, and received by the Contracting Officer no later than 3 p.m., Mountain Time, on August 24th, 2018.

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2018 Solicitation - Webinar 8/8/2018

Potential Offerors may direct questions by email only to the Contracting Officer (CO) within the time allowed following the posting of this Combined Synopsis/Solicitation.

Questions and answers will be provided in writing and posted by amendment to this notice on this website.

The date and time when written questions by email shall be submitted to the CO is no later than 3 p.m., Mountain Time, August 10th, 2018. Note that, due to the press of business, no other form of communication from the Offeror will be entertained or replied to by the CO. The email address for the CO is cheryl.flanagan@sba.gov.

Protocol for Questions (Synopsis) mailto:cheryl.flanagan@sba.gov

Thank you for your interest!