FOA-OWBO-2020-06.pdf

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U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO)

WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER (WBC) – RENEWAL GRANT

Fiscal Year 2020

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) No. OWBO-2020-06

Base Budget Period: September 30, 2020 – September 29, 2021

Competition OWBO-2020-06a- Opening Date: September 3, 2020, Closing Date: September 10, 2020

Competition OWBO-2020-06b- Opening Date: September 3, 2020, Closing Date: September 17, 2020

Competition OWBO-2020-06c- Opening Date: September 3, 2020, Closing Date: September 24, 2020

The purpose of this FOA is to provide existing SBA WBC grantees who have successfully completed a five (5) year Initial WBC Project by September 29, 2020, or those WBCs that will have successfully completed a three (3) year Renewal WBC Project by September 29, 2019, the opportunity to apply for a new three (3) year Renewal Grant.

Proposals responding to this FOA must be posted to www.Grants.gov by no later than 11:59:59

P.M.. Eastern Standard Time, on the closing date of the competition detailed above. No other methods of submission are permitted.

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

http://www.grants.gov/

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Table of Contents

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

OFFICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP

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 Match 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 Technical Proposal

SBA Priorities

Preparing the Renewal Phase Technical Proposal

I. Performance Summary

II. Project Objectives, Metrics and Milestones

III. Personnel Description

4.1.2 Budget

4.1.3 Certifications, Forms, and Assurances

4.1.4 Attachments and Exhibits

4.2 Submission Instructions

4.3 Required Proposal Submission Dates

Section V - Application Review Information

5.1 General

5.2 Evaluation Criteria

5.3 Review and Selection Process

5.4 Risk Assessment

Section VI - Award Administration Information

6.1 Award Notification

6.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

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6.3 Reporting

6.3.1 Financial Reports

6.3.2 Health and Human Services Payment Management System Reports (HHS PMS Reports)20

6.3.3 Performance Reports

6.3.4 Entrepreneurial Development’s Management Information System Reports (EDMIS

Reports)

6.3.5 Economic Impact Data

6.3.6 Report Submission

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

8.2 Additional Resources and Partnerships

8.3 Templates and Charts

8.3.1 Milestones and Metrics Template

8.3.2 Financial System Self-Assessment

8.4 Checklist of Required Submissions

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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 – Renewal Phase Grant

1.1.3. Announcement Type Renewal

1.1.4. Funding Opportunity Number: OWBO-2020-06

1.1.5. CDFA Number 59.043

1.1.6. Closing Date for Submissions: Competition OWBO-2020-06a- Closing Date: September 10, 2020

Competition OWBO-2020-06b- Closing Date: September 17, 2020

Competition OWBO-2020-06c- Closing Date: September 24, 2020

11:59:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

1.1.7. Authority: Small Business Act §§2(h), 29 (15 U.S.C. §§631(h)), and 656, as amended

1.1.8. Duration of Authority: Permanent

1.1.9. Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

1.1.10. Funding: Fiscal Year 2020

Project Period is September 30, 2020 – September 29, 2021

1.1.11. Award Amount/Funding

Range:

Federal award amounts for this grant will be based on an amount not to exceed $150,000.00, subject to the availability of funding, for those non-Federal entities currently in the program that will have successfully completed a five (5)-year Initial WBC Project by September 29, 2020, or those non-Federal entities that will have successfully completed a three (3)-year Renewal WBC

Project by September 29, 2020. The non-Federal entity is required to match awarded funds on a 1:1 ratio.

1.1.12. Project Duration: Awards will be made for a base project period of twelve (12) months, with two (2) option periods of twelve (12) months each.

Exercise of options is at the SBA’s discretion; subject to the availability of funds; and satisfactory performance by the non-

Federal entity.

1.1.13. Project Starting Date: September 30, 2020

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

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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, measured by outcomes such as successful business start-ups and capital infusion.

1.4 Purpose

Eligible organizations (as defined in Section 3.2) may apply to the SBA for an award of financial assistance under this FOA to fund an existing community-based WBC. A WBC provides technical assistance to women entrepreneurs, both nascent and established. A representative number of clients served by a WBC must be socially- and economically-disadvantaged. A non-Federal entity receiving a WBC grant must provide assistance to women entrepreneurs in the areas of finance, management, and marketing, as well as other areas as defined in this FOA.

1.5 Leveraging of Resources

The Applicants selected for an award under this FOA are required to maximize efforts to leverage the SBA funding by working in conjunction with the SBA’s District Offices; other

Federal, state, local and tribal government small business development programs and initiatives; the SBA resource partners (e.g., SCORE, Small Business Development Centers, 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 (e.g., chambers of commerce and trade and industry groups and associations).

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1.6 SBA Involvement and Oversight

The WBC Program is managed by the Assistant Administrator of OWBO (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 of the cooperative agreement.

A designated Grants Officer (GM) within OWBO will be responsible for issuing the Notice of

Award, making modifications to the award, processing payments, and approving requests for no-costs time extensions, budget amendments, key personnel changes, project scope changes, etc.

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 a liaison for that award. The DOTR’s functions may include conducting site visits and programmatic reviews, coordinating the SBA resource partners’ efforts, and reporting any issues that may arise to OWBO.

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.

Section II – Award Information

2.1 Estimated Funding

The awards made under this FOA will not exceed $150,000.00, subject to the availability of funding.

2.2 Expected Number of Awards

The SBA expects to make forty-four (44) awards under this Funding Opportunity

Announcement.

2.3 Period of Performance/Budget Periods

Awards will be made for a three (3)-year period of performance, consisting of a base period of twelve (12) months from the date of award and two (2) option periods of twelve (12) months each. The exercise of option periods will be solely at the SBA’s discretion; subject to the availability of funds; and the 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 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 and may not be commingled with funds from other sources, and 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.

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▪ The SBA will not reimburse Applicants for their proposal preparation costs, but

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

(49) percent of Award funds on subcontracts. Additionally, under no circumstances may successful Applicants contract out the administration or day-to-day management of this project to any other party.

▪ Indirect Costs - Non-Federal entities utilizing a de minimis rate of ten (10) percent of

Modified Total Direct Costs may be required to discontinue using said rate upon the establishment of a negotiated indirect cost rate and must immediately provide SBA with a copy of its Negotiated Indirect Cost Agreement should it wishes to recover indirect costs.

The use of the ten (10) percent de minimis rate should not be used as the substitute by an organization that has an indirect cost rate simply because they do not have a Negotiated

Indirect Cost Agreement. Modified Total Direct Costs (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 non-Federal entity is required to match awarded funds on a 1:1 ratio (one dollar ($1) of non-Federal funds for every one dollar ($1) of Federal funds) for each year of the three (3) year project. Non-Federal match may consist of cash, in-kind, and program income. Non-Federal match must be used for approved budgeted items only.

▪ The organization receiving the Cooperative Agreement is required to match Federal funds on a 1:1 ratio. Non-Federal matching funds may take the form of cash or cash equivalent, in-kind donations provided by a third party, or unreimbursed indirect costs

(i.e., waived indirect).

▪ Cash match in an amount not less than fifty (50) percent of the Federal funding is required. The remainder may be in the form of additional cash or in-kind contributions, and/or waived indirect costs. See 13 C.F.R. §130.450.

▪ No portion of the match may be from Federal sources, with the exception of applicable

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Community Development

Service Grant (CDSG) funds may not be used as 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 non-Federal entity has adequately demonstrated and 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 (with the exception of the first quarter).

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?browsePath=Title+13%2FChapter+I%2FPart+130%2FSection+130.450&granuleId=CFR-2011-title13-vol1-sec130-450&packageId=CFR-2011-title13-vol1&collapse=true&fromBrowse=true

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2.7 Non-Federal Match Certification

The non-Federal entity 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, program income and how it was expended. SBA staff will review records during site visits and during the mid-year and annual programmatic and financial reviews.

Section III – Eligibility Information

3.1 General

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

3.2 Eligible Applicants

In order to be eligible for funding under this opportunity, Applicants must –

▪ Be a private nonprofit organization certified under §501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

▪ Currently be in the SBA’s WBC Program;

▪ Successfully complete a five (5)-year Initial WBC Project by September 29, 2020, or a three (3)-year Renewal WBC Project by September 29, 2020;

▪ Continue to meet the program criteria as provided in the Eligibility section of this FOA.

Applicants must document as part of the narrative proposal that it –

Is the same organization that received the prior WBC Initial or Renewal grant:

▪ Continues to be organized and incorporated in the United States, and remains in good standing in the state or territory of incorporation (a copy of this document must be attached to the Applicant’s technical proposal);

▪ Is 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 this document must be attached to the Applicant’s technical proposal);

▪ Continues to provide technical assistance to small business concerns owned and controlled by women;

▪ Has an established organizational infrastructure with an internal financial management system that currently meets the requirements of 2 CFR §200.302; and

▪ Is responsible for hiring, supervising, and employing staff sufficient to ensure that the

WBC is open to the public, in person or virtually, a minimum of forty (40) hours a week to include 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 (100) percent to managing the day-to-day operations of the WBC project, its staff and volunteers as well as overseeing all financial aspects of the project.

3.3 Ineligible Applicants

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

▪ Any organization that has a federal delinquent debt subject to off-set;

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

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▪ Any organization with an outstanding and unresolved material weakness reported under the requirements of the Single Audit Act within the past three (3) years;

▪ Any organization that has had a WBC grant or cooperative agreement involuntarily terminated or non-renewed within the past year;

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

▪ 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) percent to managing the day-to-day operation 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

Renewal applications must consist of the following elements: (i) technical proposal; (ii)

Annual Budget Summary; (iii) certifications, forms, and assurances; and (iv) attachments and exhibits (these are forwarded through www.SAM.gov).

4.1.1 Technical Proposal

The technical proposal must demonstrate the applicant’s capacity 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 OWBO can understand and evaluate the proposed project.

The technical proposal pages must be numbered, and the narrative portion of the application shall be limited to ten (10) single-spaced, single-sided, 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 ten (10) page maximum.

Besides attachments, the agency will not consider any materials beyond the specified page limit in the application review process.

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 should 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 reach emerging markets are Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and

Opportunity Zones. WBCs should 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

Page | 10 of 28 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.

New Program Requirements

For the 2020-2021 Program Year (PY) please note there are new requirements for the WBC program. Per 13 CFR §131.310(e) all SBA funded WBCs must have “Women's Business

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

Administration.” To ensure that WBC staff are knowledgeable regarding federal grants management and also accounting and auditing principles needed to effectively management WBC grants, OWBO is requiring that 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 accounting principles and practices.

Preparing the Renewal Phase Technical Proposal

The following instructions provide all the information needed to complete the

Technical Proposal. Carefully read and consider each section and include all required information. Use the same section headers identified below for each section of the technical proposal. The Renewal Phase Technical Proposal must demonstrate need for entrepreneurial development services for your service area and your capacity to manage a WBC grant in accordance with the provisions of this Announcement.

I. Performance Summary

a. Using data submitted to EDMIS describe fully in quantitative terms the impact of program services on women entrepreneurs realized during the prior program year.

You complement EDMIS data with other performance indicators used by your

WBC.

b. Summarize key program accomplishments.

c. Describe difficulties/problems encountered in achieving planned goals and objectives including:

• Barriers to accomplishment(s); and

• Actions taken to overcome difficulties.

d. Describe changes (new services or program components), if any, to be made during this option period affecting the following:

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• Goals and objectives;

• Projected timeline for project implementation; and

• Approaches and strategies.

II. Project Objectives, Metrics and Milestones

Comprised of a concise narrative and the Milestones and Metrics template, this section communicates how the project will be implemented and how progress toward achieving goals, targets, and milestones will be measured.

a. Project Design: Using data, describe the area that your WBC serves and the characteristics of the women entrepreneurs that you will engage. Describe the project’s approach(s) to providing entrepreneurial development services to women

(e.g., cohort, group or individualized training, one-to-one counseling, mentoring, conferences, etc.) and how the approach(s) will contribute to producing results for the WBC Program’s impact performance measures—new business starts, and capital infusion number of transactions. Your proposal should be consistent with the changes proposed in Section I(d) and the Annual Budget Summary. WBCs are encouraged to be data driven and should collect data that allows them to effectively manage and provide data per the Notice of Award.

WBCs must provide a list of planned closure dates for the WBC that will occur during the first renewal period.

b. Marketing and Outreach: Describe how the center will market programs and services to women entrepreneurs (including a representative number that are socially- and economically-disadvantaged) and detail your expertise and experience reaching them. Please communicate how your outreach plan will engage

HBCU’s and Opportunity Zones and contribute to producing results for the program’s output measure- Unique Clients Served.

HBCU Outreach and Engagement

WBCs with HBCUs in their states or regions, should partner with their respective SBA Regional and District Offices and HBCU leadership (the university president, dean, chancellor, etc.) to develop a small business outreach plan to be submitted within ninety (90) days after award. The Small Business

Outreach Plan should describe how the WBC will partner with respective

HBCUs; provide a timeline for hosting events (workshops, training conferences, etc.); and identify the points of contacts for the WBC and HBCU.

The plan must include conducting at least one small business workshop or event with the school. The plan will be submitted to the partner HBCUs and the

WBC’s Program Manager. States with HBCUs include Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Any outreach above this level is welcome and should be detailed in the outreach plan. In addition to workshops and engagements, outreach with HBCUs may

Page | 12 of 28 include establishing partnerships with HBCUs to support WBCs service delivery, including counseling and training.

WBCs should report on the progress of their outreach to and partnerships with

HBCUs through the WBC Semi-Annual Report and WBC Final Programmatic

Report. Reporting should include the date(s) and type(s) of outreach events, successes, and best practices regarding engagement of HBCUs.

Opportunity Zones Outreach and Engagement

WBCs should develop plans to encourage business development in Opportunity

Zones. These plans should be developed in conjunction with the SBA Regional

Administrator and District Office and actively engage state, local and tribal economic development officials, chambers of commerce, lenders and other public and private entities.

WBC Opportunity Zone activities must be submitted ninety (90) after the start of Fiscal Year 2020 and be submitted to the OWBO Program Manager. A discussion on how the outreach and business development efforts in their

Opportunity Zones has helped the WBC reach its performance metrics should be included in the WBC’s Semi-annual and Final Reports. The Final Report must discuss the impact of Opportunity Zone partnership efforts on new business starts and capital infusion outcomes.

c. Organizational Capacity and Administrative Controls and Systems: Describe your organization’s capacity to effectively manage a WBC grant including program management structure, reporting (financial, performance, and programmatic), and administration (maintaining sound accounting systems, procurement processes, and administrative procedures). If your WBC received a financial examination with findings, please discuss how these issues were resolved and will be mitigated moving forward.

d. Performance Workplan: Using the Milestones and Metrics template, present the targets and milestones for the entire renewal period. The metrics tab should be used to provide targets by quarter for each of the OWBO required metrics. OWBO will provide the minimum performance level for your WBC for the first renewal period. For each major task within a project year, the milestone tab should be used to construct a timeline

(including start and end dates) for completion. The template must include the following:

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

▪ 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.

III. Personnel Description

Please provide the qualifications and experience for staff, including but not limited to, the WBC Director and business counselors. All WBC staff shall possess the

Page | 13 of 28 ability to deliver and/or support the program services and fulfill the work requirements of this Announcement and must be experienced in using information systems and delivering entrepreneurial development services to women. Position descriptions, qualification requirements, education requirements, and salary ranges must be provided for each proposed WBC staff position.

If a specific individual is identified for a position, a copy of the individual’s resume must be submitted. Position descriptions and resumes should be included as attachments and do not count toward the page limit.

4.1.2 Budget

a. The SF-424 A and the Annual Budget Summary should be used to present your proposed budget. These documents do not count toward the five (5)-page limit.

b. Using the Annual Budget Summary, please clearly and logically describe how your proposed expenditures will support the activities that you have described in section II(a). Be sure that the costs and totals associated with each line item on the SF-424A align with the Annual Budget summary and the budget narrative (the budget narrative has been incorporated into the Annual Budget

Summary).

c. Provide a detailed description of the leveraged resources to be provided that indicates the project will be appropriately matched. Use the Certification of

Cash Match and Program Income Worksheet to account for these leveraged resources. Grantees must complete page two (2) of the worksheet and list sources for all cash match and the activity which will generate program income.

4.1.3 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), to the currently approved information collection requirement regarding the pre-award registration requirements for federal Prime 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.

4.1.4 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):

▪ Non-Profit Verification (501(c) Certification from IRS.

▪ Résumé and position description for the WBC Director and position descriptions for all other full- and part-time staff (including unfilled positions) listed on the budget.

▪ The WBC Host Organization must adhere to OMB Memo: M-18-18

Micropurchase and Simplified Acquisition Thresholds for Grantees.

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Importantly, more than forty-nine (49) percent of this project may not be contracted out to other parties (as measured by Project Funds). You also may not contract out the overall administration or day-to-day management of this project to any other party. If there are contracts above $250,000.00, the host must follow the competitive bid process and submit the contract for prior approval.

▪ Letters of support, pledges of additional funding or in-kind resources.

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

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

▪ Copy of the Applicant’s current, government-wide indirect cost rate agreement (if the Applicant’s budget includes indirect costs). Non-Federal entities utilizing a de minimis rate of ten (10) percent of Modified Total

Direct Costs may be required to discontinue using said rate upon the establishment of a negotiated indirect cost rate and must immediately provide SBA with a copy of its Negotiated Indirect Cost Agreement should it wishes to recover indirect costs. The use of the ten (10) percent de minimis rate should not be used as the substitute by an organization that has an indirect cost rate simply because they do not have a Negotiated Indirect

Cost Agreement.

▪ List of all Federal awards the Applicant has received within the last five (5) years to include: (1) the grantor agency name; (2) Code of Federal Domestic

Assistance number; (3) the year of the award; (4) the amount of the award;

and (5) status of award (i.e., whether the award is ongoing or closed).

▪ Any other documentation the Applicant believes supports its proposal.

4.2 Submission Instructions

All proposals (narratives and forms) must be submitted electronically via www.Grants.gov, the government-wide financial assistance portal, located at:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/home.html.

NO OTHER FORMS OF SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED.

All required forms are provided in the www.Grants.gov application package for this funding opportunity. Specific instructions for obtaining, completing, and submitting an application via www.Grants.gov, including animated tutorials, may be found at:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html

In order to submit an application via www.Grants.gov, an organization is first required to have a DUNS number, be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM), and have a www.Grants.gov username and password. The process for meeting these three pre-submission requirements may take several days to complete. Additionally, Applicants may have to download or upgrade their software in order to utilize www.Grants.gov. Applicants should not wait until the closing date to begin the submission process in order to avoid unexpected delays that could result in the rejection of an application.

Information about the grants.gov registration process can be found at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html. Applicants must http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/home.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

Page | 15 of 28 register as organizations, not as individuals. Please note that organizations already registered with www.Grants.gov do not need to re-register. However, all registered organizations must keep their SAM registration current. As part of the www.Grants.gov registration process, an

Applicant must designate one or more Authorized Organizational Representatives (AORs).

AORs are the only individuals who may submit applications to www.Grants.gov on behalf of an organization. If an application is submitted by anyone other than a designated AOR, it will be rejected by www.Grants.gov and cannot be considered for funding.

Once an application is submitted, it undergoes a validation process through which it will be accepted or rejected by the www.Grants.gov system. The validation process may take twenty-four (24) to forty-eight (48) hours to complete. Applicants should save and print written proof of an electronic submission made at www.Grants.gov. Applicants can expect to receive multiple emails regarding the status of their submission. The first email will confirm receipt of the application. The second email will indicate that the application has either been successfully validated by the system and assigned an SBA tracking number, or it has been rejected due to errors. An Applicant will receive a third email once the SBA has downloaded its application from www.Grants.gov for review in accordance with Section 5.3 below.

If www.Grants.gov notifies an Applicant, via email, that its application contains an error(s), the Applicant must correct the noted error(s) before the system will accept and validate the application. Applicants that choose to submit on or close to the closing date are advised they may not receive email notification of an error with their applications until after the submission deadline, and thus will not have an opportunity to correct and resubmit their applications.

APPLICATIONS THAT ARE REJECTED BY WWW.GRANTS.GOV WILL NOT BE

FORWARDED TO THE SBA AND CANNOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING.

It is the Applicant’s responsibility to verify that its submission was received and validated successfully at www.Grants.gov. To check on the status of your application and see the date and time it was received, log on to www.Grants.gov and click on the “Track My Application” link from the menu.

If you experience a technical difficulty with www.Grants.gov (i.e., system problems or glitches with the operation of the grants.gov website itself) that you believe threatens your ability to submit your application, please (i) print any error message received; and (ii) call the grants.gov

Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 for immediate assistance.

Ensure that you obtain a case number regarding your communications with grants.gov.

NOTE: Problems with an Applicant’s own computer system or equipment are not considered technical difficulties with www.Grants.gov. Similarly, an Applicant’s failure to: (i) obtain a

DUNS number or complete the SAM or www.Grants.gov registration process; (ii) ensure that an AOR submits the application; or (iii) take note of and act upon an email from www.Grants.gov rejecting its application due to errors, are not considered technical difficulties. A www.Grants.gov technical difficulty is an issue occurring in connection with the operations of www.Grants.gov itself, such as the temporary loss of service by www.Grants.gov due to an unexpected volume of traffic or failure of information technology systems, both of which are rare occurrences.

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Applicants should use the following link to obtain assistance in navigating www.Grants.gov and access a list of useful resources: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html.

If you have a question that is not addressed under the “Applicant FAQs,” try consulting the

“Applicant User Guide” or contacting www.Grants.gov via email at Support@Grants.gov or telephone at 1-800-518-4726.

The www.Grants.gov Contact Center is open twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week.

4.3 Required Proposal Submission Dates

Each Applicant is required to submit its proposal electronically via www.Grants.gov by no later than 11:59:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on September 12, 2020.

Because of the pre-conditions for submitting applications via www.Grants.gov and the potential for encountering technical difficulties in using that site, Applicants are strongly encouraged to log on to grants.gov and review the submission instructions early. DO NOT

WAIT UNTIL THE CLOSING DATE TO BEGIN THE SUBMISSION PROCESS.

Applicants bear sole responsibility for ensuring their proposals are submitted and received before the closing date.

The SBA will consider the date and time stamp on the validation generated by www.Grants.gov as the official submission time. A proposal that is not received by www.Grants.gov before the closing date of this FOA will be rejected without being evaluated, unless the Applicant can clearly demonstrate through documentation obtained from www.Grants.gov that it attempted to submit its proposal in a timely manner but was unable to do so solely because of www.Grants.gov systems issues.

SBA will not accept any changes, additions, revisions, or deletions to applications made after the closing date.

Applicants should save and print written proof of an electronic submission made at www.Grants.gov. If problems occur while using www.Grants.gov, the Applicant is advised to

(i) print any error message received; and (ii) contact www.Grants.gov for immediate assistance.

Applicants may obtain advice and assistance with the www.Grants.gov submission process by visiting http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html or by calling 1-800-518-4726.

Section V - Application Review Information

5.1 General

Applications will be rejected without being evaluated if they are submitted by ineligible organizations or they are illegible or materially incomplete due to an Applicant’s failure to include all required forms and/or provide the required level of detail.

All elements of this section must be addressed.

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5.2 Evaluation Criteria

The SBA has established procedures for assessing the technical merit of applications to provide for an objective review and to assist applicants in understanding the standards against which applications will be evaluated. The evaluation criteria are based on the information required in the application as described in Section IV of this FOA.

Reviewers will award points based on the evaluation criteria described below:

Criterion Points

(Maximum)

Past Performance Summary 20

Project Design 20

Marketing and Outreach 20

Performance Workplan 25

Personnel Description 10

Budget and Budget Justification 5

Total 100

1. Past Performance Summary (up to 20 points)

Points will be awarded based on the extent to which the application:

▪ Describes effectively in quantitative and qualitative terms the impact of program services on women entrepreneurs realized during the five (5) year Initial or the previous three (3) year Renewal Grant period. (8 points);

▪ Summarizes key program accomplishments entrepreneurs realized during the five

(5) year Initial or the previous three (3) year Renewal. (5 points);

▪ Effectively communicates difficulties/problems encountered in achieving planned goals and objectives and how they were remediated; (5 points) and

▪ Clearly describes changes that will be implemented in the new renewal period. (2 points).

2. Project Workplan: Objectives, Metrics, and Milestones (up to 20 points)

▪ Reflects clear and realistic timelines for the completion of work and demonstrates how the project will operate through the funding period (10 points); and

▪ Reflects a coherent and feasible approach for successfully addressing the identified outcomes and outputs (10 points).

3. Marketing and Outreach (up to 20 points)

▪ Effectively describes how the center will market the programs and services to women entrepreneurs (8 points);

▪ Presents a marketing and outreach strategy that supports the project design and the realization of project outputs and outcomes (8 points);

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▪ Provides a list of planned closure dates for the WBC that will occur during the base period (4 points).

4. Performance Workplan (up to 25 points)

▪ Presents measures, targets, and milestones for the base and option periods (15 points); and

▪ Presents a timeline for each major task within the project year (including start and end dates) for completion. Metrics must be included for the entire 12-month period

(10 points).

5. Personnel Description (up to 10 points)

▪ Effectively describes how personnel listed on the budget contribute to realizing project goals (6 points); and

▪ Effectively describes how volunteers will be integrated into the WBC’s delivery of services (4 points).

6. Budget and Budget Justification (up to 5 points)

▪ 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 (3 points); and

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

5.3 Review and Selection Process

Applications that are not rejected by www.Grants.gov or SBA’s screening process will be evaluated by OWBO and scored based on how well they meet the criteria outlined above.

The maximum score any application can receive is 110 points.

Prior to evaluating applications received in response to this funding opportunity announcement, SBA will establish a minimum acceptable score. Only those applications that meet or exceed that threshold will be eligible for funding. Applicants are therefore encouraged to design proposals that address each of the scoring criteria listed above as thoroughly as possible.

In the interest of providing WBC services to as broad a segment of the required area as possible as stated in this FOA, the SBA will take the geographical dispersion of applicants’ project service areas into account when making award decisions. An application that exceeds the minimum acceptable score and which scores more highly than other acceptable proposals may nevertheless be passed over for funding if that application proposes to serve the same or substantially the same area or market as an existing non-

Federal entity’s WBC project or another more highly rated application that was selected for award.

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At SBA’s discretion, it may award qualified applicants not awarded under this funding opportunity announcement using subsequent fiscal year resources and subject to the availability of funds.

5.4 Risk Assessment

As required by 2 C.F.R. §200.205(b), applicants receiving acceptable scores will be further evaluated by OWBO senior staff to assess the possible risks they may pose. In assessing the possible risks posed by an applicant, OWBO will consider the applicant’s:

▪ Financial stability;

▪ Management systems quality and its ability to meet the management standards prescribed in 2 C.F.R. §200.302;

▪ History of performance in managing other Federal awards, including: timeliness of providing required reports; compliance with the terms and conditions of the award;

ability to meet matching funds requirements; and the extent to which the applicant has failed to fully expend funds provided under prior awards; and

▪ Ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

Although an applicant may receive a score placing it in the low risk range, SBA may still decline to issue it an award under this announcement based on its assessed risk.

Section VI - Award Administration Information

6.1 Award Notification

All Applicants will receive written notification of their application status.

6.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

All successful Applicants will be required to comply with the requirements set forth in the

Small Business Act, §§2(h) and 29 (15 U.S.C. §§631(h) and 656), as amended; 2 CFR Chapter

I, Chapter II, §200, et al., 13 C.F.R. §143; the Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-

424B); and the terms and conditions set forth in their NOA. In addition, the SBA may, from time to time, advise non-Federal entities of awards made under this FOA of new legal requirements and/or policy initiatives with which they must agree to comply.

6.3 Reporting

The non-Federal entities are required to submit the reports identified below. The SBA may withhold payment if reports are not received or are deemed inadequate. Failure to report in a timely manner will also be weighed against future applications for grant funding from the same organization and the exercise of any option periods. The reports provided by non-

Federal entities may be made public. In addition, the SBA reserves the right to increase the frequency of reporting as deemed necessary as well as require non-Federal entities to post these reports (with the exception of financial reports) on their web sites.

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6.3.1 Financial Reports

The non-Federal entities will be required to submit semi-annual financial reports to the SBA using the SF-425 Federal Financial Report (FFR) and supporting documents identified by

OWBO, within thirty (30) days after the completion of each six (6) month period. Note: WBC projects deemed “high risk” must submit quarterly financial reports.

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

Reports)

The non-Federal entities will be required to submit quarterly financial reports to HHS using the electronic SF-425 via the HHS Payment Management System within thirty (30) days after the completion of each quarter.

6.3.3 Performance Reports

The non-Federal entities will be required to submit semi-annual performance reports to the

SBA using the report identified by OWBO within thirty (30) days after the completion of each six (6) month period. Note: WBC projects deemed “high risk” must submit quarterly performance reports.

6.3.4 Entrepreneurial Development’s Management Information System Reports (EDMIS

Reports)

The non-Federal entities will be required to either manually enter performance data or upload data files quarterly to the EDMIS system, the OED centralized data collection system, within

30 (thirty) days after the completion of each quarter. EDMIS training is provided by the SBA.

6.3.5 Economic Impact Data

The non-Federal entities will be required to submit annual economic impact data to the SBA via the EDMIS Impact Data Entry Screen, within 30 (thirty) days after the end of the forty (4th) quarter only.

6.3.6 Report Submission

The non-Federal entities will be required to submit reports as instructed by the NOA.

Recordkeeping Requirements

Activity Records: The Non-Federal entities will be required to maintain complete and accurate records and…