FINAL - SCORE - Funding Opportunity Announcement FY2020 v6 as of 12-3-19 (002).pdf

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Office of Entrepreneurship Education (OEE)

SCORE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

FY 2020

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) No. SCORE-2020-02

The purpose of this FOA is to invite a proposal for funding from the current recipient of the SCORE award.

To be eligible, applicant must be a current recipient of SBA funding to SCORE. For-profit businesses are not eligible for this award.

Opening Date: December 4, 2019

Closing Date: December 6, 2019

Fiscal Year Proposal is to be posted to www.Grants.gov by 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time on December 5, 2019. No other methods of submission will be permitted. Proposal submitted after the stipulated deadline will be rejected without being evaluated.

http://www.grants.gov/

U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Entrepreneurship Education

SCORE Program Funding Opportunity Announcement No. SCORE-2020-01

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

OFFICE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION

Paragraph Subject Page

1.0 Section I – Funding Opportunity Description 4

1.1 Program Overview 4

1.2 Introduction 5

1.3 Background 5

1.4 Purpose 5

1.5 Leveraging of Resources 5

1.6 SBA Involvement and Oversight 6

1.7 Changes or Cancellation 6

2.0 Section II – Award Information 6

2.1 Estimated Funding 6

2.2 Expected Number of Awards 6

2.3 Period of Performance/Budget Periods 6

2.4 Funding Information 6

2.5 Funding Instrument 7

3.0 Section III – Eligibility Information 7

3.1 General 7

3.2 Eligible Applicants 7

3.3 Ineligible Applicants 7

4.0 Section IV – Application and Submission Information 7

4.1 Application Instructions 7

4.2 Submission Instructions 10

4.3 Required Proposal Submission Dates 12

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5.0 Section V – Award Administration Information 12

5.1 Proposal Evaluation 12

5.2 Award Notification 12

5.3 Administrative and National Policy Requirements 12

5.4 Reporting 12

5.5 Recordkeeping Requirements 13

5.6 Risk Assessment 14

6.0 Section VI - Important Priorities 14

6.1 SBA Signature Initiatives or Programs 14

6.2 Markets Segmentation 15

7.0 Section VII – Agency Contacts 15

7.1 Office of Entrepreneurship Education Point of Contact 15

7.2 Financial/Grants Management Point of Contact 15

8.0 Section VIII – Other Information 16

8.1 Definitions 16

8.2 Additional Resources and Partnerships 19

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1.0 Section I – Funding Opportunity Description

1.1 Program Overview

1.1.1 Federal Agency Name

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); Office of

Entrepreneurship Education

1.1.2 Funding Opportunity Title SCORE

1.1.3 Announcement Type Initial

1.1.4 Funding Opportunity Number: Funding Opportunity Announcement No. SCORE-2020-01

1.1.5 CDFA Number 59.026

1.1.6 Closing Date for Submissions: December 5, 2019 – 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time

1.1.7 Authority: 15 USC § 637(b)(1)

1.1.8 Duration of Authority: Permanent

1.1.9 Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

1.1.10 Funding:

Funding is for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020

1.1.11 Award Amount/Funding Range:

The Award will be made under this Funding Opportunity

Announcement in the amount appropriated.

1.1.12 Project Duration: The SCORE award will be made for a one-year project period not to exceed 12 (twelve) months, subject to the availability of appropriations.

1.1.13 Project Starting Date: October 2019

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

5.0. SBA may ask SCORE for clarification of the technical and cost aspects of its proposal. This must not be construed as a commitment to fund the proposed effort.

1.1.15 Agency Programmatic Point of Contact:

Office of Entrepreneurship Education U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Tel: (202) 205-7007 | Email: nvbishop@sba.gov mailto:nvbishop@sba.gov

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1.2 Introduction

The SBA awards a Federal Cooperative Agreement to SCORE and provides annual oversight of these funds. The annual appropriation funds the organization’s volunteer recruitment, training, and support; purchase of supplies, equipment, and leases; technology and management systems;

marketing materials and course development; and other necessary requirements for the successful volunteer provider network. Central to SCORE’s impact are its volunteers, who provide mentoring and counseling free of charge as well as low cost training. SCORE volunteers are committed to both

America’s small businesses and their local communities.

SCORE, through its 300+ chapters and more than 10,000 volunteers, serve entrepreneurs with in-person mentoring, training workshops, virtual counseling and online training. It provides business research, information and articles to online communities for veterans, women, millennial entrepreneurs, disaster recovery and minorities. SCORE has adapted its structure and services to meet the needs of the small business community in ever-changing economic conditions. SCORE offers free advice in Spanish and other languages.

1.3 Background

Since its inception in 1953, SBA has served to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small businesses. While 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 business counseling and business training workshops to small business concerns and nascent entrepreneurs in order to promote growth, expansion, innovation, increased productivity and management improvement.

The mission of the SCORE Program is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.

1.4 Purpose

The SCORE Program is designed to provide high quality business and economic development assistance to existing small businesses and nascent (pre-venture) entrepreneurs. The SCORE program delivers professional, high quality, individualized business advising and technical assistance to existing small businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs. SCORE will provide problem solving assistance to help small businesses access capital, develop and exchange new technologies, and improve business planning, strategy, operations, financial management, personnel administration, marketing, export assistance, sales and other areas required for small business growth and expansion, management improvement, increased productivity and innovation.

1.5 Leveraging of Resources

The Applicant selected for award under this Announcement is required to maximize their efforts and leverage SBA funding by working in conjunction with SBA District Offices and other Federal, state, local and tribal government small business development programs and activities; SBA resource partners such as Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), and Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs); Regional Innovation Clusters; 7(j) Technical

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Assistance providers; Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs); U.S. Export Assistance

Centers (USEACs); Certified Development Companies (CDCs); SBA lenders; universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education; as well as private organizations, such as chambers of commerce and trade and industry groups and associations. When the SCORE Chapters are located in communities where SBA resource partners are nearby, the SCORE Chapters will coordinate and collaborate with them in offering training and other forms of assistance to small business clients.

SCORE is encouraged to fully employ the resources of other Federal, state and local government, academic and private sector programs concerned with aiding small businesses in order to provide seamless business development assistance at every stage of business growth.

Supporting Emerging Markets

Emerging markets are critical to the strength and vitality of the American economy. SCORE should outreach and provide services to entrepreneurs 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. To this end, SCORE should engage Historically Black

Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Opportunity Zones.

HBCUs: Given the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in American higher education and the ever-increasing growth and interest in entrepreneurship and small business throughout the HBCU community, it is a natural fit for SCORE Chapters 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 to Opportunity Zones. SCORE

Chapters are critical to mentoring clients about access to capital and promoting small business growth; therefore, SCORE’s engagements with Opportunity Zones is critical to economic development of distressed areas.

1.6 SBA Involvement and Oversight

SBA’s oversight of this grant is provided by the Director of the Office of Entrepreneurship

Education (OEE). A designated national Program Manager (PM) located within OEE at SBA

Headquarters will be responsible for the overall monitoring and oversight of the SCORE Program award recipient, including compliance with the terms of the Cooperative Agreement.

A designated Grants Management Officer (GMO) within the SBA Office of Grants Management

(OGM) will be responsible for issuing the Notice of Award (NOA), making amendments to the award, and processing payments.

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1.7 Changes or Cancellation

SBA reserves the right to amend or cancel this FOA, in whole or in part, at the Agency’s discretion.

Should SBA make material changes to this FOA, the Agency will extend the Closing Date as necessary to afford the Applicant sufficient opportunity to address such changes.

2.0 Section II – Award Information

2.1 Estimated Funding

SBA expects to issue an award based on the funds appropriated under the Continuing Resolution.

The exact amount is unknown at this time and will be released as soon as known.

2.2 Expected Number of Awards

The SBA will provide funding for one award under this FOA.

2.3 Period of Performance/Budget Periods

The SCORE award will be made for a one-year project period not to exceed 12 (twelve) months, subject to the availability of appropriations.

2.4 Funding Information

Funds provided under the SCORE Program must be used solely for the purposes stipulated in this

FOA and the NOA and may not be commingled with any other monies. All costs proposed in an

Applicant’s budget must meet the tests of allowability, allocability, and reasonableness set forth in the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance at 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

Indirect Costs are excluded from the SCORE FOA No. SCORE-2020-01 because all of SCORE’s costs related to this project are instead being paid as Direct Costs.

Funding is subject to the availability of funds and the requirements enumerated in the Small Business

Act. In the event that SBA is operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) at the time of award, funding will be available during the period of the CR to the extent that funds are provided to the

SBA, for this purpose, by OMB. The amount available under the period of the CR may be less than the pro rata total anticipated amount of award.

Subject to the availability of funds and compliance with the terms and conditions of the Cooperative

Agreement, SBA has the discretion to increase the award to an amount consistent with the authorized funding level under the Federal appropriations law. SBA may reimburse SCORE for pre-award costs incurred prior to the execution of the Notice of Award in accordance with 2 C.F.R. §

200.308(d)(1).

2.5 Funding Instrument

The funding instrument used will be a Cooperative Agreement.

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3.0 Section III – Eligibility Information

3.1 General

SCORE will submit only one proposal in response to this FOA.

3.2 Eligible Applicants

In order to be eligible for this FOA, the Applicant must be a non-profit organization certified under

§ 501(c) - of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and have been providing technical assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Any organization that does not currently have a SCORE

Cooperative Agreement with SBA’s OEE will automatically be considered ineligible and their application will not be evaluated.

3.3 Ineligible Applicants

Any organization that does not currently have a SCORE Cooperative Agreement with SBA’s OEE will automatically be considered ineligible and their applications will not be evaluated.

4.0 Section IV - Application and Submission Information

4.1 Application Instructions

Application must consist of the following elements: (i) a cover letter; (ii) a technical proposal;

(iii) budget information; (iv) certifications, forms and assurances; and (v) attachments and exhibits.

4.1.1 Cover Letter

The first page of the application must be a cover letter that includes the following information:

• Statement that the application is in response to FOA No. SCORE-2020-01;

• Applicant’s name and address;

• Applicant’s website address (if applicable);

• Name, telephone number, fax number, and email address for the Applicant’s designated point of contact; and

• Dollar amount of assistance being requested.

4.1.2 Technical Proposal

• The technical proposal pages must be numbered and should not exceed the minimum amount needed to address the requirements of the FOA. The Technical Proposal serves as a narrative blueprint for the Applicant’s planned project and must include the following information:

• Detailed description of the Applicant’s past experience and present capacity to provide assistance to provide technical assistance to entrepreneurs, both nascent and established;

• Detail the method by which SBA funds will be allocated to subordinate SCORE Chapters;

• Detail how low-performing chapters are identified; list the current chapters meeting that criteria and provide the strategies that will be used to remediate their performance;

• Detailed description of how entrepreneurs in emerging markets and communities will be engaged, to include partnership development and marketing campaigns;

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• This will include an outreach plan for locations where SCORE Chapters have HBCUs in their states or regions. The outreach plan will outline how SCORE will partner and collaborate with the appropriate SBA Regional and District Offices and HBCU leadership (the university president, dean, chancellor, etc.) to develop a small business outreach plan that will engage the local communities, which will be submitted to SBA within 90 days after the start of FY 2020.

The small business outreach plan will outline how SCORE will help mentor HBCU students who are interested in starting their own businesses. The plan must include conducting at least one small business workshop or event with each of the HBCU schools. 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 welcomed and should be detailed in the outreach plan. In addition to workshops and engagements, outreach with HBCUs may include establishing partnerships with

HBCUs to support SCORE’s service delivery. SCORE should provide updates on the progress of its outreach to and partnerships with HBCUs in their states in its quarterly performance reports to SBA. Reporting should include the date(s) and type(s) of outreach events and successes and best practices regarding its engagements;

• SCORE should also develop outreach activities to encourage mentoring activities in Opportunity

Zones. Similar to the HBCU outreach plans, the Opportunity Zone activities should be developed in conjunction with the appropriate SBA Regional Administrator and SBA District

Office(s) and coordinated with state, local and tribal economic development officials, chambers of commerce, lenders and other public and private entities. SCORE Opportunity Zone planned activities must be submitted 90 days after the start of FY 2020 and be submitted to the OEE

Program Manager. A discussion on how the outreach and business development efforts in their

Opportunity Zones has helped SCORE reach its performance metrics should be included in its reports to SBA;

• Detailed description of how national partnerships with minority (including women) organizations will be established with the goal of increasing clients;

• Detailed description of the proposed technical assistance delivery methods and the means of implementation. Importantly, applicants must describe their plan for measuring the effectiveness of their project. The Program Performance Plan must demonstrate how the applicant will monitor and measure the achievement project objectives and completion of the activities proposed in their technical proposal. The plan should include ambitious targets for output and outcome measures and performance milestones (for the 12-month performance year) that will be used to assess the grantee's success in delivering business mentoring and training services. SBA expects measures and targets to support the following performance goals:

FY2020 SBA Performance Goals – SCORE Targets

• Total Unique Clients Served – 200,000

• Number of New Business Starts - 600

• Percentage of businesses realizing revenue growth – 2%

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Additional Reporting Requirements:

• Collect data on profitability – collect and create baseline;

• Number of training clients (in-person and virtual);

• Number of training events (in-person and virtual);

• Number of counseling/mentoring clients (in-person and virtual);

• Number of counseling/mentoring sessions (in-person and virtual);

• Number of new volunteers;

• Number of minority (including women) volunteers;

• Number of jobs created;

• Number of jobs retained;

• Percent Helped by SCORE (Customer Service).

• Identification of key and non-key personnel, including key personnel résumés and position description for all staff (or position descriptions for unfilled positions). Résumés must include experience and position descriptions must detail services relevant to this project. Copies of résumés, position descriptions and salary schedule on key personnel chart must be included as attachments in accordance with Section 4.1.5;

• Identification of contractors and consultants, if any, and the manner in which they were selected

(i.e., competitively or non-competitively). NOTE: No more than forty-nine percent (49%) of award funds may be expended on contractor and/or consultant costs related to mentoring and/or training for clients. Copies of contracts and consulting agreements (either signed or samples as applicable) must be included as attachments in accordance with Section 4.1.5; and

• Additionally, all active SCORE volunteers will be certified prior to counseling clients; and

SCORE will implement its client engagement/impact survey based on the availability of funding.

4.1.3 Cost Proposal

Budget information must be provided through the submission of the following:

(Note: A SF-424, 424A, 424B, Annual Budget Summary Worksheet (B10 - B16) and Budget Narrative must be submitted for the Initial Phase award.

• Standard Form SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance;

• SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction Programs);

• SF-424B, Assurances – Non-Construction Programs;

• Annual Budget Summary Worksheet (B10 - B16). An Applicant may substitute its own worksheets in place of the Annual Budget Summary provided it includes all the same cost elements/line items covered by the B10 - B16;

• Budget narrative providing a brief, detailed explanation of the components of each cost element listed in the SF-424A and B10 – B16.

4.1.4(a) Certifications, Forms, and Assurances

Consistent with 2 C.F.R. Part 200.415 financial Certifications must be signed by an authorized individual at a level no lower than vice president or chief financial officer of the organization. SF-

LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities:

• SF-424B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs; and

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• Letter from the Applicant’s Auditor, CPA, Treasurer, Comptroller, CFO or similarly qualified individual certifying that the non-Federal entity’s financial management system currently meets the requirements of 2 C.F.R. Part 200.302.

4.1.4(b) Certifications, Forms, and Assurances

Each Applicant must complete and submit the following forms:

• SBA Form 1623, Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility

Matters; and

• SBA Form 1711, Certification Regarding Lobbying.

4.1.5 Attachments and Exhibits

Along with the items discussed in the Technical Proposal and Budget Information, Applicants must submit copies of the following with its proposal (as applicable):

• Resumes for key personnel, position descriptions for all SCORE National staff (including unfilled positions), copies of contracts, consulting agreements, pledges of additional funding or in-kind resources, leases, conflict of interest policy consistent with 2 CFR 2701.112 signed by all current employees, contractors (which include consultants);

• The SCORE Association will submit to SBA a copy of its annual Bonus/Compensation Plan that outline incentives for SCORE Association staff, based upon performance and accomplishments of their individual/department goals;

• Copy of the Applicant’s Cost Policy Statement; and

• Any other documentation the Applicant believes supports its proposal.

4.2 Submission Instructions

All proposals (narratives and forms) must be submitted electronically via the government-wide financial assistance portal www.grants.gov. NO OTHER FORMS OF SUBMISSION WILL BE

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

In order to submit an application via Grants.gov, an organization is first required to have a DUNS number, be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM), and have a 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 to utilize Grants.gov.

Applicants should not wait until the closing date to begin the submission process 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.html. Applicants must register as organizations, not as individuals. Please note that organizations already registered with Grants.gov do not need to re-register. However, all registered organizations must keep their SAM registration up to date.

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

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As part of the 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 grants.gov on behalf of an organization. If an application is submitted by anyone other than a designated AOR, it will be rejected by 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 Grants.gov system. The validation process may take 24 to 48 hours to complete.

Applicants should save and print written proof of an electronic submission made at 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 SBA has downloaded its application from Grants.gov for review.

If Grants.gov notifies an Applicant via email that its application contains an error, 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 GRANTS.GOV WILL NOT BE FORWARDED

TO SBA AND CANNOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to verify that its submission was received and validated successfully at Grants.gov. To check on the status of your application and see the date and time it was received, log on to Grants.gov and click on the “Track My Application” link from the left-hand menu.

If you experience a technical difficulty with 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 Grants.gov. Similarly, an Applicant’s failure to:

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

Applicants should use the following link to obtain assistance in navigating 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 Grants.gov via email at support@grants.gov or telephone at 1-800-518-4726.

mailto:support@grants.gov

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4.3 Required Proposal Submission Dates

The Applicant is required to submit its proposal electronically via www.grants.gov no later than 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time on December 5, 2019. Because of the pre-conditions for submitting applications via 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.

SBA will consider the date and time stamp on the validation generated by Grants.gov as the official submission time. A proposal that is not received by Grants.gov before the closing date of this Announcement will be rejected without being evaluated, unless the Applicant can clearly demonstrate through documentation obtained from Grants.gov that it attempted to submit its proposal in a timely manner but was unable to do so solely because of Grants.gov systems issues. Additionally, 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 Grants.gov. If problems occur while using Grants.gov, the Applicant is advised to (i) print any error message received;

and (ii) contact Grants.gov for immediate assistance. Applicants may obtain advice and assistance with the Grants.gov submission process by visiting https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html or by calling 1-800-518-4726.

5.0 Section V - Award Administration Information

5.1 Proposal Evaluation

The applicant will first be screened to determine if the applicant meets stated mandatory eligibility requirements. SBA will not evaluate an applicant that does not document in their application that they meet the requirements for participation in the program. SBA reserves the right to negotiate the terms and conditions of the project with the applicant.

In addition, SCORE must disclose in its application if it currently holds any other financial assistance awards from SBA, or has any other applications for SBA financial assistance awards still pending. If it does, SCORE must identify how it will avoid duplication of efforts, commingling of funds, and overlapping or double claiming of costs among those projects. SCORE must treat each

SBA project as separate and discrete with individual outcomes and deliverables, and provide each application and award with its own reporting, accounting, and audit trails.

Failure to sufficiently distinguish between multiple applications from the same organization, or between an application and one or more current SBA awards, may result in rejection of an application on the ground that it is duplicative of proposed or existing efforts.

5.2 Award Notification

The Applicant selected for this award will receive written notification.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html

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5.3 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, Part 200, the

Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B); and the terms and conditions set forth in their notices of award. In addition, the SBA, from time to time, may 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.

5.4 Reporting

The Recipient is required to submit the reports identified below. 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 Cooperative

Agreement funding from the same organization. The reports provided by Recipients may be made public. In addition, SBA reserves the right to require Recipients to post these reports on their web site(s).

5.4.1 Financial Reports

The Recipients will be required to submit quarterly financial reports to SBA using the SF-425, Federal Financial Report (FFR) within 30 days of the completion of each fiscal year quarter.

5.4.2 Performance Reports

The Recipients will be required to submit quarterly performance reports to SBA within 30 days of the completion of each fiscal year quarter. In addition, the grantee will provide a semi-annual update to SBA on SCORE Chapters with limited capacity to reach the mentoring needs of the small business community and create an action plan to address those needs; a semi-annual update to SBA on the progress of the Futures Project; and a semi-annual update to SBA on the progress of Virtual

Mentoring.

FY2020 SBA Performance Goals – SCORE Targets

• Total Clients Served – 200,000

• Number of New Business Starts - 600

• Percentage of businesses realizing revenue growth – 2%

5.4.3 EDMIS Reports (Entrepreneurial Development’s Management Information System)

SCORE is required to either manually enter performance data or upload data files to the EDMIS system, the Office of Entrepreneurial Development’s (OED) centralized data collection system.

5.4.4 Program Income Report

SCORE is required to submit a semiannual program income report to SBA by the established deadline (SBA Form 2113 and required attachments). 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative

Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.

5.4.5 Report Submission

The Recipient will be required to submit reports as instructed in the NOA.

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5.5 Recordkeeping Requirements

A. Activity Records

SCORE is required to maintain complete and accurate records and supporting documentation.

Client counseling, training, and other activities must be fully documented on the SBA Form 641 and SBA Form 888 or equivalent forms.

In addition to the performance and program reports already mentioned in the Reporting

Requirements, SCORE must maintain the following records:

1. Counseling Activity Reports

SCORE is required to collect all counseling activities on SBA Form 641 Counseling

Information Form (or an equivalent form). Data gathered on this form must meet the minimum requirements as stipulated by OED’s EDMIS database. Signed copies of these forms must be retained by SCORE either electronically or in hard copy and be made available for SBA review upon request.

2. Training Activity Reports

SCORE will utilize SBA Form 888 Management Training Report (or an equivalent form) to report small business management training activities (see definitions section for training).

SCORE may use a computerized version of this form. Hard copies of these forms must be retained by SCORE and be made available for SBA review upon request.

3. SCORE Client Evaluation Forms

Evaluations of SCORE services or client satisfaction surveys must be collected from clients who receive continuous mentoring or attend a SCORE training event. Copies of these evaluations must be retained by SCORE and be made available for SBA review upon request.

5.6 Risk Assessment

As required by 2 C.F.R. § 200.205(b), Applicants will be further evaluated by the program office to assess the possible risks they may pose to accomplishing the objectives of the award and to maintaining compliance with the terms and conditions of the award. In assessing the possible risks posed by individual applicant, the program office will include in its consideration the following:

a) Financial stability;

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

c) 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; Results, reports, and findings from any of its available audits or programmatic reviews and its responses to them; and

d) Ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

SBA may decline to issue an award under this announcement based on this risk assessment.

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6.0 Section VI – Important Priorities

6.1 SBA Signature Initiatives or Programs

SCORE will:

• Participate in SBA’s initiatives or programs.

• Assist small businesses to prepare business continuity/disaster readiness plans.

• Support to the extent practical:

▪ Technology assistance -Provide information and assistance to small businesses to increase their use of technology to improve business efficiency;

▪ International trade assistance;

▪ Collaborative ventures to improve assistance to small businesses;

▪ Faith-based and other neighborhood organizations;

▪ Contracting and procurement assistance; and

▪ Veterans with the VBOCs, SBA District Offices to support the Boots to Business Reboot training initiative.

• Participate in SBA impact surveys and assessments through cooperation with SBA’s contractor(s)

– particularly the provision of client data. SBA reserves the right to change requirements for the provision of this section. SBA will notify the SCORE Association in advance of any related or proposed changes.

• On-line service delivery of SCORE and use of web-based training as part of their service portfolio.

6.2 Market Segmentation

SCORE will explore, offer or expand services targeted toward markets to increase outreach and assistance to the following entrepreneurial audiences:

• Veterans and Military Communities

• Minority and Women Entrepreneurs

• Urban Entrepreneurs

• Rural Entrepreneurs

• Cybersecurity

• Opportunity Zones

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities

• Disaster affected businesses where appropriate

7.0 Section VII - Agency Contacts

7.1 Office of Entrepreneurship Education Point of Contact

Questions concerning general information contained in this FOA should be directed to the Office of

Entrepreneurship Education at 202-205-7007 or nvbishop@sba.gov.

7.2 Financial/Grants Management Point of Contact

Questions regarding financial matters related to this FOA should be directed to the Office of Grants

Management at 202-205-6612 or wanda.middleton@sba.gov.

mailto:nvbishop@sba.gov mailto:wanda.middleton@sba.gov

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8.0 Section VIII - Other Information

8.1 Definitions

The following definitions apply to awards made under this FOA.

8.1.1 Applicant – An eligible organization that applies for funding under this FOA.

8.1.2 Budget Period – The 12-month period during which expenditure obligations will be incurred by the

Recipient of an award under this Announcement.

8.1.3 Client - The client is the business, if it exists. In the case of a prospective business, the client is the individual.

In-Business: A business that has completed the required registration(s), if applicable, with the local, state, and/or Federal governments (e.g., DBA registration, business license, agency-issued tax identifications, etc.).

At least one of the following:

• Has documented a transaction from the sale of a product or professional or personal service for the purpose of gain or profit;

• Has contracted for or compensated an employee(s) or independent contractor(s) to perform essential business functions;

• Has acquired debt or equity capital to pursue business operations (e.g., to purchase inventory, equipment, building, business, etc.); or

• Has incurred business expenses in the operation of a business.

Nascent Entrepreneur: An individual who has taken one or more active steps to form a business.

This includes individuals seeking assistance from the SBA and/or one of its resource partners.

Start-up: A business that has been in operation up to 12 months.

8.1.4 Closure - A period of time when SCORE plans to cease operations, such as a national holiday, annual local event or other extended period of time.

8.1.5 Contact hours - The amount of time spent directly interacting with a business or individual client.

8.1.6 Cooperative Agreement – A legal instrument reflecting a relationship between the United States government and the Recipient when the principal purpose of the relationship is to transfer a thing of value to the Recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation and substantial involvement is expected between the awarding agency and the Recipient when carrying out the activity contemplated in the agreement.

8.1.7 Cost Policy Statement – A document describing all accounting policies of an Applicant organization and narrating in detail its proposed cost allocation plan. This plan must stipulate the procedures used to identify, measure, and allocate all costs to each benefitting activity.

8.1.8 Counseling – Services provided to an individual and/or business which are delivered in person

(face-to-face), on the telephone, or electronically and which:

• Are substantive in nature and require assistance from a resource partner in the formation, management, financing, and/or operation of a small business enterprise.

• Are specific to the needs of the business or individual; AND

• Require a signed SBA Form 641 or equivalent form that supports SBA’s management information database.

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Advisory Services – A range of consulting services provided by experts on the topic requiring specialized advice.

Mentoring Services – Counseling services provided by a SCORE volunteer.

Face-to-face counseling – Meets the definition of “counseling” and is conducted in person between counselor(s) and client representatives.

Online counseling – is computer or internet-based exchange between counselor(s) and client representatives.

Telephone counseling – is a verbal telephone-based exchange between counselor(s) and client representatives.

8.1.9 eLearning - The process of connecting learners with remote and multiple resources. Such learning uses communication technologies to stimulate continuous and lifelong learning. The technologies used include video, audio, computer, satellite, audio-graphic and print technologies.

8.1.10 Electronic commerce (eCommerce) - Electronic commerce refers to all aspects of business and market processes enabled by the Internet and other digital technologies.

8.1.11 Goals and initiatives – SCORE goals are those established in collaboration with OEE.

8.1.12 Grants Management Officer (GMO) – The SBA official with delegated authority to obligate

Federal funds by signing the NOA.

8.1.13 Key Personnel – A person who devotes at least 50% of her/his time to SCORE and who serves in a position/role that is vital to the successful operation of SCORE.

8.1.14 Notice of Award – The legal document, signed by both SBA and a Recipient, that memorializes the award of funding under a Cooperative Agreement and contains the specific terms and conditions that apply to the award.

8.1.15 Preparation time (hours) - The amount of time spent preparing and researching information for a business or individual client.

8.1.16 Program funds - Includes all SBA Federal funds reported on the SF-425. It does not include other funds under the Cooperative Agreement Recipient’s umbrella. 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative

Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.

8.1.17 Program income - Gross income earned by the Recipient that is directly generated by an activity supported with project funds or earned as a result of the award.

Program income includes, but is not limited to, income from fees for services performed, the use or rental of real or personal property acquired under federally-funded projects, the sale of commodities or items fabricated under an award, and license fees and royalties on patents and copyrights.

8.1.18 Performance Period – The total period of performance for an award made under this FOA.

8.1.19 Recipient organization - An applicant organization for which funding is approved and that enters into a Cooperative Agreement with the SBA.

8.1.20 SBA Resource Partner - Organizations that provide services through SBA funding or through another recognized relationship with the SBA. Resource partners include, but are not limited to, SBDCs, WBCs, VBOCs, USEACs, SBA Microloan Program intermediaries and non-lender technical assistance providers, and SBA co-sponsorship and memorandum-of-understanding partners.

8.1.21 Socially and Economically Disadvantaged - CRA designated areas (13 CFR 124.103)

Socially disadvantaged individuals are those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within American society because of their identities as members of groups and without regard to their individual qualities. The social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond their control. Members of designated groups:

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• Physically Disability

• African Americans

• Hispanic Americans

• Native Americans (American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians)

• Asian Pacific Americans (persons with origins from Japan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, American Samoa, Guam, U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands [Republic of

Palau], Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Laos, Cambodia [Kampuchea], Taiwan; Myanmar-Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Republic of the

Mar Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Macao, Hong Kong, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, or Nauru; Subcontinent Asian Americans (persons with origins from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives Islands or Nepal).

8.1.22 Technical assistance – Counseling or training services provided to an individual and/or business in accordance with the terms of this FOA and a Recipient’s NOA.

8.1.23 Training – a workshop, seminar or similar activity or event which delivers a structured program of knowledge, information or experience on a business-related subject.

Co-hosted training (collaborative) – Meets the definition of “training” and further defined as an activity where each organization actively participates and contributes substantially to the training.

Online Training – Online training is a structured program of knowledge, information or experience on an entrepreneurial or business-related subject. It must be of a quality and substantive nature, and must include a registration process as well as an evaluation process (e.g. 1-5 star ranking). Online training may be synchronous or asynchronous:

• Synchronous – A group of clients proceed through the training module(s) or program as a group.

• Asynchronous – A client individually proceeds through the training module(s) or program individually and is self-paced.

Total hours of training – The total number of hours the trainer spends teaching the training session.

8.1.24 Travel hours – The amount of time spent traveling to and from a location (separate from assigned post-of-duty) to meet with businesses or individual clients. If meeting with more than one client, travel time is counted only once.

8.1.25 Emerging Market(s) – CRA designated areas (12 CFR 228.12)

Section 228.12 Definitions - Defines key terms used in the regulation, the section sited here is the definition:

1. Low-or moderate-income geographies;

2. Designated disaster areas; or

3. Distressed or underserved non-metropolitan middle-income geographies designated by the

Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, based on—

a. Rates of poverty, unemployment, and population loss; or

b. Population size, density, and dispersion. Activities revitalize and stabilize geographies designated based on population size, density, and dispersion if they help to meet essential community needs, including needs of low- and moderate-income individuals.

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8.2 Additional Resources and Partnerships

A. Cosponsorship Agreements

If one or more organizations and the SBA are involved with SCORE as cosponsors of an activity, a cosponsorship agreement must be executed by the SBA, SCORE, and all other cosponsors in accordance with the SBA’s Cosponsorship SOP 90 75 03 or revised equivalent. If any cash is to be collected, from Cosponsors or participants to support the cosponsored activity, one of the

Cosponsors must be designated as the Fiscal Agent for that Cosponsored Activity. As Fiscal Agent, the Cosponsor must set-up a separate accounting mechanism to manage the Cosponsorship Funds.

The Fiscal Agent must take whatever internal accounting measures are necessary to ensure it does not commingle its own funds with the Cosponsorship Funds. The Fiscal Agent shall receive all cash from the Cosponsors or participants and pay the cosponsorship expenses accordingly. At the end of the Cosponsored Activity, the Fiscal Agent must provide SBA with a full accounting of the cash received and expenses paid. In the event Cosponsorship Funds remain in the cosponsorship account after all the expenses have been paid, the Cosponsors must decide how to handle the excess funds in accordance with SOP 90 75 03 or revised equivalent.

B. Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Efforts for Small Businesses

SCORE is encouraged to participate in SBA Disaster Preparedness and Recovery efforts to assist small businesses and entrepreneurs to spur long-term economic recovery and resiliency through collaborative technical assistance working with SBA Resource Partners, state and local economic development partners and initiatives.