Bureau of Indian Affairs Notice of Funding Opportunity

Indian Business Incubators Program (IBIP)

Funding Opportunity Number

BIA-IBIP-2026-OIED

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BASIC INFORMATION

ELIGIBILITY

Cost Sharing Requirement

GET READY TO APPLY

Required System Registrations

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Goals Program Description Legislative Authority Type of Award

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION

Application Content and Format Application Documents

SUBMISSION REQUIRMENTS AND DEADLINES

Address to Request Application Package Submission Dates and Times Submission Instructions

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Eligibility Review Merit Review Review and Selection Process Risk Review

AWARD NOTICES

POST AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Administration and National Policy Requirements Reporting

BASIC INFORMATION

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: BIA-IBIP-2026-OIED

Assistance Listing Number(s): 15.032

Estimated Total Program Funding: $3,000,000

Expected Number of Awards: 10

Award Ceiling: $400,000

Award Floor: $300,000

Term Awards are made for an initial thirty-six (36) month term, consisting of three 12-month budget periods (§1187.40). Following the completion of the initial project period, awards may be renewed for one additional thirty-six (36-) month term, consisting of three 12-month budget periods, at the discretion of the Director of the Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED).

Only one application will be accepted from an eligible entity. The OIED anticipates awarding approximately 10 grants under this announcement ranging in value from approximately $300,000 to $400,000 annually. The Indian Business Incubators Program (IBIP) awards will remain active for a three-year period of performance. OIED may not award a grant under the IBIP that is duplicative of existing Federal funding from another source. Duplicative funding means any funding from other Federal grants that would overlap with the IBIP grant for the same activities described in the applicant’s IBIP proposal (§1187.31).

Cost Sharing Required?

Yes

Closing Date Explanation Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on the listed application due date.

Have Questions?

Programmatic Assistance: Mr. Dennis Wilson, Grant Management Specialist, Office of Indian Economic Development, telephone: (505) 917-3235; email: dennis.wilson@bia.gov and DEDGrants@bia.gov

Application Process Assistance: Ms. Jo Ann Metcalfe, Grant Officer, telephone: (410) 703-3390;

email: jo.metcalfe@bia.gov.

Executive Summary On October 20, 2020, Congress enacted the Native American Business Incubators Program Act, Pub. L. 116-174, codified at 25 U.S.C. 5801 et seq. In the Act, Congress established the Native mailto:dennis.wilson@bia.gov mailto:DEDGrants@bia.gov mailto:jo.metcalfe@bia.gov

American Business Incubators Program and required the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations to implement the program. See 25 U.S.C. 5804.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, through the Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED), solicits proposals from eligible entities (see Eligibility Section) for grant funding from established Business Incubators to serve Native entrepreneurs with start-up, early-stage, and established businesses who will provide products or services to Tribal reservation communities. For the purposes of this NOFO, an established incubator is defined as an operational entity currently providing structured incubation services and is able to demonstrate prior performance. The Indian Business Incubator will provide entrepreneurship and business skills training and education to Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs and deliver a range of business services such as mentorships, networking, technical assistance, and access to investors. Further, Indian Business Incubators will promote collaboration, address challenges, and provide individually tailored services to overcome the obstacles that are unique to each participating business.

The OIED will administer this grant program through the Division of Economic Development (DED) funded under a non-recurring appropriation budget. Congress appropriates funds on a year-to-year basis. While IBIP projects may extend over several years, funding for successive years beyond the original period of performance depends on each fiscal year’s congressional appropriations, and at the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary).

The awards are for a project period of 36 months (§1187.40), with an option for an additional 36 months (§1187.41). The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget period. The award continuation beyond each 12-month budget period is subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress on the part of each recipient, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the Federal government. Neither the Department of the Interior (DOI) nor Indian Affairs will be held responsible for proposal or application preparation costs. Publication of this solicitation does not obligate DOI or Indian Affairs to award any specific grant or to obligate all or any part of available funds.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Applicants Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Native American Tribal governments (Federally recognized)

Native American Tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized Tribal governments)

Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS other than institutions of higher education

Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS other than institutions of higher education

Additional Information on Eligibility The Secretary, through the OIED, will solicit proposals for an IBIP grant from eligible entities that are able to provide the physical workspace, equipment, and connectivity necessary for Native https://uscodeweb1.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title25-section5804&num=0&edition=prelim businesses and Native entrepreneurs to collaborate and conduct business on a local, regional, national, and international level:

• The following are eligible entities (§1187.3):

o An Indian Tribe;

Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations, as defined in Section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) (25 U.S.C.

5304), including Tribal Consortia. Indian Tribes are referred to using the term “Tribe” throughout this notice. While Tribes or Tribal Organizations may apply for IBIP grants, grantees may select or retain for-profit or non-profit Tribal Organizations to perform a grant’s scope of work to receive IBIP grants.

o Tribal College or University that will have been operational for not less than one year before receiving a grant under the IBIP;

Qualifies for funding under the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities

Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and implementing regulations at 25 CFR part 41, or the Diné College (Navajo Community College Act) (25 U.S.C. 640a note); or

Is cited in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note).

o An Institution of Higher Education that will have been operational for not less than one year before receiving a grant under the IBIP:

Admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate, or persons who meet the requirements of 20 U.S.C. 1091(d);

Is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education;

Provides an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor’s degree or provides not less than a two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, or awards a degree that is acceptable for admission to a graduate or professional degree program, subject to review and approval by the Secretary;

Is a public or other nonprofit institution; and Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association, or if not so accredited, is an institution that has been granted pre-accreditation status by such an agency or association that has been recognized by the Secretary for the granting of pre-accreditation status, and the Secretary has determined that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a reasonable time.

o A Tribe or private nonprofit organization that provides business and financial technical assistance and;

Is a Tribe or Tribal Organizations, as defined in Section 4 of the Indian Self-

Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) (25 U.S.C. 5304), including Tribal Consortia;

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:25%20section:5304%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:25%20section:5304%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title25-section1801&num=0&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-2010-title25-section640a&num=0&edition=2010 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-2010-title25-section640a&num=0&edition=2010 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:301%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:20%20section:1091%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:25%20section:5304%20edition:prelim)

Will have been operational for not less than one year before receiving a grant under the IBIP; and

Commits to serving one or more reservation communities.

o Two or more eligible entities may submit a Joint Application, but:

All joint entities must submit certifications they are eligible as they combine resources and expertise at a physical location dedicated to assisting Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs under the IBIP, demonstrating that together they meet the requirements of §1187.13; and

The application must indicate which eligible entity will be the lead contact for the purposes of grant management.

Cost Sharing Requirement Cost Sharing Required?

Yes

Applicants providing match must include a description of the non-Federal contributions, in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the grant amount requested (§1187.11(e)). If a waiver request is submitted in writing, the OIED may waive the requirement for the non-Federal contribution (§1187.43), in whole or in part, for one or more years of the initial IBIP grant award if OIED determines the waiver is appropriate based on submitted support justifying:

• The awardee’s ability to provide non-Federal contributions;

• The quality of business incubation services; and

• The likelihood that one or more reservation communities served by the awardee will not receive similar services elsewhere because of the remoteness or other reasons that inhibit the provision of business and entrepreneurial development services.

In a non-competitive renewal (§1187.41(b)), the Awardee must provide non-Federal contributions in an amount not less than 33 percent of the total amount of the grant. Failure to provide the non- Federal contribution will result in noncompliance and OIED may withhold funds, unless OIED receives a written request for a waiver (§1187.43).

If cost share or matching funds are provided, the recipient must maintain accounting and reporting systems that clearly distinguish Federal funds from non-Federal match contributions. Financial records and reports must separately track Federal and match expenditures in accordance with applicable Federal financial management requirements. Matching and cost-sharing requirements are discussed in (§200.306). The primary recipient is responsible for the full amount of the non-Federal match proposed, including any amount provided by one or more third parties as listed on the Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance. While the full match contribution does not need to be in hand as of the date of the application, the application must provide commitments for the non-Federal contribution through the term of the grant. Applicants may meet the required non- Federal cost share or match through in-kind contributions, which must be necessary and reasonable for accomplishing the proposed project objective(s). The applicant must describe and attribute fair and equitable market value (§200.306) to any in-kind match proposed in lieu of cash, which may include, but is not limited to:

• Not paid from, or sourced, from other Federal funds, programs or grants;

• Documented in project records and not be used as match with another grant;

• An allowable cost under 2 CFR 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles;

• Must occur within the period of performance of the award;

• Value of services and property donated as per §200.306, for instance;

o Space as measured by the value of rent;

o Materials and Equipment;

o Donated Services and Technical Assistance;

Payroll or volunteer services from personnel working on the incubator who are not funded by IBIP, which must be well documented and supported per methods used for regular personnel costs;

• Contribution from a third party(ies) (§200.434). A third party is any individual or organization other than the eligible applicant, such as a partner, that is not receiving grant funds;

• Projected earnings through the term of the grant;

For awards that require matching or cost sharing by statute: Recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-Federal resources (at or above the statutory requirement) in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards. A recipient's failure to provide the statutorily required matching or cost sharing amount (and any voluntary committed amount in excess) may result in the disallowance of Federal funds.

Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Report.

Justification: If an applicant is relying on cost share or match from a third-party, then a firm commitment of these resources (letter(s) or other documentation) is required to be submitted with the application. Detailed budget information must be provided for every funding source identified in Item 18. "Estimated Funding ($)" on the SF-424.

Applicants are required to fully identify and document in their applications the specific costs or contributions they propose in order to meet a matching requirement. Applicants are also required to provide documentation in their applications on the sources of funding or contribution(s). In-kind contributions must be accompanied by a justification of how the stated valuation was determined.

Matching or cost sharing must be documented by budget period (or by project period for fully funded award).

Applications that lack the required supporting documentation will not be disqualified from competitive review; however, it may impact an application's scoring under the evaluation criteria.

GET READY TO APPLY

Required System Registrations Unique Entity Identifier and SAM.gov Registration

Before applying, all applicants except individuals applying as a natural person must be registered in SAM.gov. During the SAM.gov registration the entity will obtain their Unique

Entity Identifier (UEI).

The SAM.gov registration process can take several months. If your organization is not already registered in SAM.gov, begin the registration process as soon as possible.

To register in SAM.gov, go to the SAM.gov website and use the available resources to complete registration.

• Financial assistance registrants must review and certify compliance with the SAM.gov “Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications”.

• Already registered? You already have a Unique Entity ID. Before applying, check that your “Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications” on SAM.gov is complete. Remember to renew your registration every year to keep it active while you have an award or application in progress. You can update your registration whenever you need, including during renewal.

• Need help? For additional information and contact information on the SAM.gov Help page.

Applicants can contact the supporting Federal Service Desk for help registering in SAM. Once registered in SAM, entities will be assigned a UEI. Entities must renew and revalidate their SAM registration at least once every 12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly encouraged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure their information is up to date and reflects changes that may have been made to the entity’s IRS information. There is no cost to register with SAM.gov. There are third-party vendors who will charge a fee in exchange for registering entities with SAM.gov; please be aware you can register and request help for free. If applicable, foreign entities who want to receive payment directly to a U.S. bank account must enter and maintain valid, current banking information in SAM.

A Federal award may not be made to an applicant that has not completed the SAM.gov registration.

If an applicant selected for funding has not completed their SAM.gov registration by the time the program is ready to make an award, the program may determine the applicant is not qualified to receive an award. Federal award recipients must also continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information through the life of their Federal award(s).

GRANTS.GOV

This program accepts applications through Grants.gov so once you receive your UEI return to Grants.gov to register with Grants.gov. Please allow 30 days to register and set up a Workspace in Grants.gov. See Submission Instructions below for additional details.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Goals The Indian Business Incubators Program (IBIP) is a competitive discretionary grant program that funds established Business Incubators to provide individually tailored business incubation services to Native entrepreneurs with start-up, early-stage, and established businesses that offer products or services on or near Tribal reservation communities. OIED solicits proposals from eligible entities to deliver structured business services, including mentorship, networking, technical assistance, and access to investors, equipping Native businesses with the tools necessary to start, grow, and https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/content/help https://sam.gov/content/help https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration overcome the unique challenges they face.

Program Description It is very important to thoroughly review this Full Announcement to fully understand how to apply for an IBIP grant.

Recipients are encouraged to prioritize projects in support of the celebration of America’s 250th birthday (America250). This may include, but is not limited to, preservation 2 planning, interpretation, public engagement, and rehabilitation projects that recognize and honor the nation’s founding, history, and cultural heritage.

Prior to applying, applicants should review presidential actions found at:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ and DOI Secretary’s Orders found at:

https://www.doi.gov/document-library/secretary-order. By applying in response to this NOFO, the applicant certifies awareness and compliance with all currently effective and applicable executive orders and secretary’s orders, including but not limited to the Executive Order titled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing as well as the Executive Order and Secretary’s order titled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. Applicants are responsible for ensuring their proposed activities are consistent with the intent and requirements of these directives.

Background & Summary On October 20, 2020, Congress enacted the Native American Business Incubators Program Act, Pub.

L. 116-174, codified at 25 U.S.C. 5801 et seq. In the Act, Congress established the Native American Business Incubators Program and required the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations to implement the program. See 25 U.S.C. 5804.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, through the Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED), solicits proposals from eligible entities (see Eligibility Section) for grant funding from established Business Incubators to serve Native entrepreneurs with start-up, early-stage, and established businesses who will provide products or services to Tribal reservation communities. For the purposes of this NOFO, an established incubator is defined as an operational entity currently providing structured incubation services and is able to demonstrate prior performance. The Indian Business Incubator will provide entrepreneurship and business skills training and education to Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs and deliver a range of business services such as mentorships, networking, technical assistance, and access to investors. Further, Indian Business Incubators will promote collaboration, address challenges, and provide individually tailored services to overcome the obstacles that are unique to each participating business.

The OIED will administer this grant program through the Division of Economic Development (DED) funded under a non-recurring appropriation budget. Congress appropriates funds on a year-to-year basis. While IBIP projects may extend over several years, funding for successive years beyond the original period of performance depends on each fiscal year’s congressional appropriations, and at the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary).

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ https://www.doi.gov/document-library/secretary-order https://uscodeweb1.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title25-section5804&num=0&edition=prelim

The awards are for a project period of 36 months (§1187.40), with an option for an additional 36 months (§1187.41). The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget period. The award continuation beyond each 12-month budget period is subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress on the part of each recipient, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the Federal government. Neither the Department of the Interior (DOI) nor Indian Affairs will be held responsible for proposal or application preparation costs. Publication of this solicitation does not obligate DOI or Indian Affairs to award any specific grant or to obligate all or any part of available funds.

Application Proposal Parameters The following sections on project proposal structure and parameters are suggested to be used as a guide toward supporting an Incubator project that can be competitively ranked. Each Applicant should be well acquainted with the Act and the regulation to submit a proposal with a Project Narrative which addresses the parameters in this section as well as those in Application Documents.

Each proposal will tackle their community’s own distinctive needs and have the freedom to provide for flexibility, and the methods outlined in the proposal should demonstrate the same level of Tribal community cohesion, commitment and depth. The application should show quality and be very clear in describing the program design.

Business incubators are a proven accelerator of Native business growth and Tribal economic development. Effective incubation is characterized by two core principles: the incubator aspires to have a positive impact on the community’s economic health by maximizing the success of emerging companies. The incubator itself operates as a sustainable and efficient business model. Model incubation programs distinguish themselves through a commitment to nationally recognized best practices in governance, strategic planning, financial sustainability, structured service delivery, stakeholder integration, and measurable performance evaluation.

The following sections will outline the structure by which the IBIP will solicit applications from applicants interested in IBIP project funds and the criteria by which the applications will be competitively reviewed (see Application Review Information):

1. Demonstrated Incubator Operational History

2. Description of Services, Location and Reservation Community(ies) Served

3. Business Formation, Job Creation, and Employment Outcomes

4. Implementation of Proven Curriculum and Organizational Sustainability

5. Strategic Planning for Three-Year and Six-Year Terms

6. Community Economic Impact Measures

7. Cost Appropriateness of Project and Budget Justification (Line-Item Budget and Budget

Narrative)

1. Demonstrated Incubator Operational History Applicants seeking funding must demonstrate they have an established operational history of providing structured incubation services to businesses and entrepreneurs. They must show a proven history of incubation operation, a sustainable business model, and client success. Applicants should provide evidence of prior performance, including the number of businesses served, businesses started or sustained, and employment outcomes achieved. Although the regulation specifies an incubator must have been in existence for at least one year (§1187.03), the Applicant should further demonstrate the capacity to provide proven incubation services and commence services delivery within the first 3 months of the award.

The Applicant will be an established incubator which will provide structured and measurable support to entrepreneurs, strengthen local economies and expand employment opportunities within identified Tribal lands and service areas. Applicants must describe their governance structure, including the composition and engagement of the board of directors or advisory body, and how governance supports accountability, strategic direction, and mission alignment.

The proposal should describe the incubator’s mission and how it is aligned with the identified Tribal community’s (§1187.20) economic development priorities, including how the program contributes to strengthening business development and employment within Tribal lands or Tribal service areas. The description should reflect operational maturity, including governance structure, management capacity, staff expertise, and financial sustainability planning which will be threaded between the sections of their application. The incubator should operate as a dynamic and efficient organization capable of delivering measurable economic outcomes. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate familiarity with nationally recognized best practices in business incubation and describe how their governance, strategic planning, and operational systems reflect those principles.

2. Description of Services, Location and Reservation Community(ies) Served Applicants must describe the structured incubation services to be provided and the location(s) from which those services will be delivered. The proposal should clearly identify the reservation community(ies) or Tribal service area to be served and demonstrate an understanding of the local economic conditions, market opportunities, and barriers to business growth (§§1187.20-21).

The description should explain how the incubator integrates into the broader Tribal economic ecosystem, including partnerships with Tribal leadership, Federal government entities, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), workforce programs, Chambers of Commerce, and other economic development entities. The incubator should demonstrate how its services are responsive to the unique characteristics of Tribal economies and how it promotes community engagement and entrepreneurial capacity-building.

The applicant should explain how the physical location and any satellite or remote service delivery methods support structured incubation activities and accessibility for Native entrepreneurs, including those in geographically remote or underserved communities. The project will also detail community buy-in programming efforts that collaborate with associated entities, which can include, but are not limited to, the Tribal government, community development organizations, social work, education and workforce development entities; and seasonal and cultural activities.

3. Business Formation, Job Creation, and Employment Outcomes Applicants must clearly articulate how the incubator will increase business development and employment on Tribal lands or Tribal service areas. The proposal should include both historical outcomes, where applicable, and projected performance targets for the period of performance. At a minimum, applicants should describe measurable indicators that demonstrate impact, including the number of Native businesses served, the number of Native businesses established, the number of Native businesses sustained, and the number of permanent full-time and part-time jobs created and maintained.

Applicants should identify projected revenue growth among incubated businesses and the total capital accessed through loans, grants, equity, or other financing mechanisms. These measures will serve as primary indicators of program effectiveness and will be used to assess the incubator’s contribution to Tribal economic resilience and long-term employment growth. While the IBIP funding would be part of a larger incubation program, there must be sophisticated monitoring and financial mechanisms to accurately attribute those outcomes from the IBIP award.

4. Implementation of Proven Curriculum and Organizational Sustainability Applicants must describe the structured curriculum, technical assistance model, mentorship approach, and business development framework used to support client progression. The proposal should demonstrate that incubation services are delivered through an organized and replicable methodology that includes intake assessment, individualized service planning, milestone tracking, and graduation criteria.

The applicant must also describe its approach to organizational sustainability, including diversified funding sources, financial management systems, and plans to maintain operations beyond the grant term. The incubator should demonstrate that it functions as a sustainable enterprise capable of long-term service delivery and measurable economic impact.

Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how their program reflects recognized best practices in structured incubation, stakeholder engagement, and continuous program improvement. Individually tailored curriculum may require innovation and trend-setting programing. It is highly recommended the applicant be connected to current incubation models, subject matter experts, and with nationally recognized incubation organizations.

5. Strategic Planning for Three-Year and Six-Year Terms Applicants must provide a strategic framework outlining objectives for the initial three-year grant period, as well as planning for a potential six-year lifecycle. The proposal should include quantifiable goals aligned with Tribal economic development strategies and IBIP objectives. Applicants should demonstrate how the strategic plan supports both immediate service delivery and sustained long-term economic impact within the reservation community or Tribal service area.

The strategic plan must identify measurable milestones, implementation timelines, and projected outcomes related to business development, employment growth, and capital formation. The Applicant must also strategize and prioritize compliance to reporting requirements as outlined in the Act (§§5803(f)(2)-(3)) and regulations (§1187.45). The proposal should discuss the approach to anticipation of clientele from various business industries and sectors in the local area.

6. Community Economic Impact Measures

Applicants must describe how the incubator will measure and evaluate its contribution to community-level economic growth. The proposal should outline the management information systems and data collection processes used to monitor performance, track client outcomes, and inform continuous improvement.

Community economic impact measures should include indicators related to business formation, employment growth, job retention, capital investment, and revenue expansion within Tribal lands or service areas. Applicants should explain how these indicators demonstrate progress toward strengthening Tribal economies and expanding employment opportunities. The incubator should serve as a model for coordinated entrepreneurial ecosystem development and demonstrate how its activities contribute to broader economic stability and growth across Native communities.

7. Cost Appropriateness of Project and Budget Justification

Project expenditures must be allowable pursuant to 2 CFR 200 and IBIP funding requirements and restrictions. No construction or construction related activities are permitted. The budget narrative and line-item budget must clearly describe how requested funds directly support measurable business development and employment outcomes within Tribal lands or Tribal service areas.

The proposal must demonstrate that the overall project costs, as well as individual cost categories, are reasonable and commensurate with anticipated economic impact. Applicants must describe financial management systems, internal controls, and procedures that ensure prudent use, proper disbursement, and accurate accounting of Federal funds. The proposal should clearly identify IBIP-funded activities from other Federal or non-Federal funding sources and demonstrate how the grant will enhance or expand existing incubation services rather than replace core operational funding.

Applicant Procurement Procedures The applicant is subject to the procurement standards under 2 CFR 200.318 through 200.326. In accordance with §200.318, an applicant must use its own documented procurement procedures which reflect their organizational laws and regulations, provided the procurements conform to applicable Federal law and standards identified in Part 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations. All awardees are subject to audit reviews once selected.

Legislative Authority This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is designed to provide grants to eligible applicants to operate business incubators serving Tribal reservation communities. The IBIP was authorized under the Native American Business Incubators Act P.L. 116-174, 2020 (the Act), and the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act P.L. 117-74, 2026, with implementing regulations at the Final Rule 25 CFR 1187, 2021 (the regulation). The IBIP is a competitive discretionary grant program to fund existing business incubators to provide individually tailored business incubation. Competitively selected complete applications will impart the necessary tools for Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses, and to overcome the unique obstacles they confront by offering products and services on, or near, reservation communities.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR45ddd4419ad436d?toc=1 https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/294/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6938/text https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/09/08/2021-18736/indian-business-incubators-program

Type of Award Projects will be funded through G (Grant).

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION

Application Content and Format Application Documents The mandatory components, and forms identified below, must be included in the proposal package.

Links to the mandatory forms can be found under the “package” tab on the IBIP FY 2025 grant opportunity page at Grants.gov. Any information in the possession of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or submitted to the BIA throughout the process, including final work product, constitutes government records and may be subject to disclosure to third parties under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552, and the Department of the Interior’s FOIA regulations at 43 CFR part 2, unless a FOIA exemption or exception applies, or other provisions of law protect the information.

Prior to applying, applicants should review presidential actions found at:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ and DOI Secretary’s Orders found at:

https://www.doi.gov/document-library/secretary-order. By applying in response to this NOFO, the applicant certifies awareness and compliance with all currently effective and applicable executive orders and secretary’s orders, including but not limited to the Executive Order titled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing as well as the Executive Order and Secretary’s order titled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. Applicants are responsible for ensuring their proposed activities are consistent with the intent and requirements of these directives.

The Applicant is responsible for confirming that all mandatory documents have been properly uploaded and submitted within the Grants.gov system before the deadline. Please reference the Mandatory Component Checklist for a summary checklist. The following are the names of the required forms:

1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) [V4.0]

2. Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) [V1.0]

3. Project Abstract Summary [V2.0]

a. Project Narrative Attachment Form [V1.2]

4. Budget Narrative

a. Line-Item Budget

5. Attachments [V1.2]

6. Key Contacts [V2.0]

1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance [V4.0] Applicants must submit the appropriate Standard Form (SF)-424, Application for Federal Assistance.

The form should cover only the first-year costs. The required application forms are available with this announcement on Grants.gov. Please indicate the Legal Name of the organization that will be consistent in other Federal programs for all correspondences. For federally recognized Tribes, please utilize the name as listed in the Federal Register Notice 91 FR 1402 01/30/2026 for Indian Entities http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ https://www.doi.gov/document-library/secretary-order https://grants.gov/ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/30/2026-01899/indian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of

Recognized by and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The programmatic point of contact should be provided as the individual to contact pertaining to all matters of the application. The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number indicated must match what is registered as a vendor in SAMs and must be current. Identify the County and the Congressional Districts in the fields provided. The Authorized Representative should be the Tribal Leader or their official designee. The SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance must be complete, signed, and dated. Do not include any proprietary or personally identifiable information. Please note: Enter only the first year (12mo) amount requested from this Federal program in the “Federal” funding box on the SF-424 Application form. All matching funds will be indicated in the “Applicant” field. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the “Other” box and provide details on those Federal source(s) and funding amount(s) in the required Budget Narrative (see SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs section below).

The SF-424 [V4.0] form requires the County as well as the Congressional District number of the applicant, which can be found at https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.

2. SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs Reference Section 1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance [V4.0] and Section 4. Budget Narrative and Line-Item Budget, to correlate the Object Class Categories and Totals that will be expanded and justified in this section. The form should cover only the first-year costs. Applicants must submit the SF-424A “Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs” form. Federal award recipients and subrecipients are subject to Federal award cost principles at 2 CFR 200.

Complete the SF-424A only for the first year (12mo) term amounts. Complete Section A – Budget Summary (page 1) columns (e) and (f) for the Federal amount requested and the non-Federal matching contribution, totaled in column (g). Complete Section B – Budget Categories (page 3) in column (1) for the first year for the appropriate rows, as applicable, totaled in the Total (5) column and Totals (k) row.

The budget must identify the amount of grant funding requested and a comprehensive and itemized breakdown of all projected and anticipated expenditures, including contracted personnel fees, consulting fees (hourly or fixed), travel costs, data collection and analysis costs, computer rentals, report generation, drafting, advertising costs for a proposed project and other relevant project expenses, and their subcomponents.

• Travel costs should be itemized by airfare, vehicle rental, lodging, and per diem, etc., based on the current Federal government per diem schedule. See below Required Grantee Travel and Attendance at an Annual Grantee Meeting.

• Data collection and analysis costs should be itemized in sufficient detail for the OIED review committee to evaluate the charges.

• Personnel may be charged directly or covered indirectly. Do not include the personnel costs or travel of consultants or contractors under this category. For any position, provide: the name of the individual (if known), their title; time commitment to the project in months; time commitment to the project as a percentage or FTE equivalent; annual salary; grant salary;

wage rates; etc. Identify the project director or principal investigator, if known at the time of https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative application. Costs of employee fringe benefits are the allowances and services provided by employers to their employees in addition to regular salaries and wages. Typically, fringe benefit amounts are determined by applying a calculated rate for a particular class of employee (full-time or part-time) to the salary and wages requested. Fringe benefits, like salary, will also be as direct cost (Health insurance, Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes, retirement, taxes, etc.).

• Other expenses may include computer rental, report generation, drafting, and advertising costs for a proposed project.

• Commitment of Non-Federal Resources Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to support the project as identified in Block 18 of the SF-424. This line should be used to indicate required and/or voluntary committed cost sharing or matching, if applicable.

3. Project Abstract Summary and Project Narrative Attachment Form The first paragraph of the Project Abstract Summary and Project Narrative must include the title and basic description of the proposed business incubator location and services provided. The Project Abstract Summary must be submitted utilizing the appropriate form that is available with this announcement on Grants.gov. All fields must be filled with the information requested. Please provide an abstract that is a concise summary to be further applied as an accurate definition of the IBIP project.

Project Narratives are not judged based on their length. Please do not submit any attachments or documents beyond what is necessary. All information should follow the requirements as outlined in Program Description and per §§1187.11-14, as well as the evaluation at §1187.20, §1187.44.

The Project Narrative should not be duplicated elsewhere in the application. Supplemental information such as letters of support, graphs, charts, maps, photographs and other graphic and/or other relevant information may be included as Attachments and not included in the Project Narrative.

At a minimum, it should include:

• A certification that the applicant(s):

o Is an eligible applicant; and o Has or will designate an executive director or program manager to manage the business incubator;

o Agrees to:

A site evaluation by the Secretary as part of the final selection process;

An annual programmatic and financial examination for the duration of the grant; and To the maximum extent practicable, to remedy any problems identified pursuant to the site evaluation and examination.

• A description of the one or more reservation communities to be served by the business incubator;

• A three-year plan that describes:

o One-year milestone goals and objectives that coordinates with the identified budget periods.

o The number of Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs to be participating in the https://grants.gov/ business incubator, with goal setting of anticipated number of Native businesses starting, and the anticipated number of Native businesses to help maintain.

o Whether the business incubator will focus on a particular type of business or industry.

o A detailed breakdown of the services to be offered to Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs participating in the business incubator; and o A detailed breakdown of the services, if any, to be offered to Native businesses and

Native entrepreneurs not participating in the business incubator program.

• Information demonstrating the effectiveness and experience of the eligible applicant in:

o Conducting financial, management, and marketing assistance programs designed to educate or improve the business skills of current or prospective businesses and enhance performance for start-up, early-stage, and established businesses;

o Providing entrepreneurship and business skills training and education to Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs including assisting entrepreneurs and businesses with conducting market research, business plan development, financial education, exploring business structure options, registering a business, Federal and state tax IDs, applying for licenses and permits, and opening a bank account.

o Working in and providing services to Native American communities;

o Providing assistance to entities conducting business in reservation communities;

o Providing technical assistance under Federal business and entrepreneurial development programs for which Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs are eligible; and o Managing finances and staff effectively.

• A description of the applicant’s non-Federal contributions, in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the grant amount requested, unless a waiver request is submitted; and

• A site description of the location at which the eligible applicant will provide physical workspace, including a description of the technologies, equipment, and other resources that will be available to Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs participating in the business incubator, if the applicant is in possession of the site, or a written site proposal containing the information in §1187.12, if the applicant is not yet in possession of the site.

• If the applicant is not yet in possession of the site, the applicant must submit a written site proposal with their application that contains:

o Sufficient detail for the Secretary to ensure, in the absence of a site visit or video submission, that the proposed site will permit the eligible applicant to meet the requirements of the IBIP; and o A timeline describing when the eligible applicant will be:

In possession of the proposed site; and Operating the business incubator at the proposed site.

Applicants must provide milestones and projected outcomes of their project(s) to demonstrate a successful outcome of the grant. The proposal should address grant awardee requirements:

• Awardee must:

o Offer culturally tailored incubation services to Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs;

o Use a competitive process for selecting Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs to participate in the business incubator program; however, awardees may still offer technical assistance and advice to Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs on a walk-in basis;

o Provide physical workspace that permits Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs to conduct business and collaborate with other Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs;

o Provide entrepreneurship and business skills training and education to Native businesses and Native entrepreneurs including:

Conducting market research

• Gathering and reviewing information about potential customers, demand, market size, economic indicators, location, market saturation, and pricing.

Business plan development Financial education, including training and counseling in:

• Applying for and securing business credit and investment capital;

• Preparing and presenting financial statements; and

• Managing cash flow and other financial operations of a business;

Initial startup requirements including exploring business structure options, registering a business, Federal and state tax IDs, applying for licenses and permits, and opening a business bank account.

Management education, including training and counseling in planning, organization, staffing, directing, and controlling each major activity or function of a business or startup and ways to enhance performance for businesses; and

Marketing education, including training and counseling in:

• Identifying and segmenting domestic and international market opportunities;

• Preparing and executing marketing plans;

• Locating contract opportunities;

• Negotiating contracts; and

• Using varying public relations and advertising techniques.

o Provide direct mentorship or assistance finding mentors in the industry in which the Native business or Native entrepreneur operates or intends to operate; and o Provide access to networks of potential investors, professionals in the same or similar fields, and other business owners with similar businesses.

• Each awardee must leverage technology to the maximum extent practicable to provide Native businesses and Native…