FOA No. OWBO-2019-01-1 (WBC Initial Phase Grant) (1) (1) (1).docx

U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Women’s Business Ownership Women’s Business Center Initial Grant Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OWBO-2019-01-1

U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Women’s Business Ownership

WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER - INITIAL PHASE GRANT

Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OWBO-2019-01-1

Base Budget Period: April 1, 2019 – September 29, 2019 Opening Date: February 12, 2019 Closing Date: March 28, 2019

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to provide funding for one (1) non-profit organization that will provide services to the state of Idaho to start a new, community-based Women’s Business Center (WBC).

Eligible applicants must be private, non-profit organizations with 501(c)- tax exempt status from the U.S. Treasury/Internal Revenue Service and must provide services to the State of Idaho. Note: Public non-profit organizations and for-profit businesses are not eligible for these awards. (Public non-profits are organizations such as churches, schools, and hospitals that generally provide charitable services directly to the public, that are funded in large part by public donations, and that have many outside, unaffiliated directors.)

Proposals responding to this funding opportunity announcement must be posted to www.Grants.gov by 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, March 28, 2019. No other methods of submission are permitted. Proposals submitted after the stipulated deadline will be rejected without evaluation.

Table of Contents

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

OFFICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP

1. Section I- Funding Opportunity Description 1.

1.0 Program Overview

1.1.6. Closing Date for Submissions: March 28, 2019, 11:59:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

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

April 1, 2019 – September 29, 2019

1.1.11. Award Amount/Funding Range: A total amount of $150,000 in funding is available for this funding opportunity announcement.

The SBA expects to provide funding for up to one (1) Initial Phase award not to exceed $150,000 under this funding opportunity announcement for a new Women’s Business Center (WBC) in the location identified on the cover page.

Non-Federal entities are required to match awarded funds on a 1:2 ratio for the base project period and first option year of the grant and a 1:1 ratio for the subsequent three years.

1.1.12. Project Duration: Awards will include a base project period of six (6) months, with 4 option periods of 12 months each.

Exercise of options is at the SBA’s discretion and is subject to continuing program authority, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance by the non-Federal entity.

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

1.1.15. Agency Point of Contact: U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Women’s Business Ownership Tel: (202) 205-6673 | E-mail: owbo@sba.gov Introduction The Women’s Business Center (WBC) Program was established by the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 (Public Law No. 100-533) as the Women’s Business Demonstration Pilot. This provided grants to private non-profit organizations to aid and encourage the development and growth of small women-owned businesses through long-term training and counseling. The program was expanded and made permanent in 2007 when the WBC Sustainability Grant Program, established in 1999, was replaced with the WBC Renewal Grant Program.

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

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

Purpose The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement is to provide funding for up to one (1) non- profit organization that will provide services to the State of Idaho to start a new, community- based Women’s Business Center (WBC).

Eligible applicants must be private, non-profit organizations with 501(c) tax-exempt status from the U.S. Treasury/Internal Revenue Service and must provide services to the State of Idaho. Note: Public non-profit organizations and for-profit businesses are not eligible for these awards. Public non-profits are organizations such as churches, schools, and hospitals that generally provide charitable services directly to the public, are funded in large part by public donations, and have many outside, unaffiliated directors.

Leveraging of Resources The applicant selected for award under this funding opportunity announcement is required to maximize efforts that leverage SBA funding by working in conjunction with the SBA’s District Offices and other Federal, state, local, and tribal government small business development programs and activities; SBA resource partners such as SCORE, Small Business Development Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, 7(j) Technical Assistance providers, Small Business Investment Companies, Certified Development Companies, and SBA lenders; universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education; and private organizations such as chambers of commerce and trade and industry groups and associations.

SBA Involvement and Oversight The WBC Program is managed by the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) under the direction of the Associate Administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development.

An SBA employee assigned to a District Office located within the chosen applicant’s service area will be tasked with serving as the District Office Technical Representative (DOTR) and will act as the local agency contact and liaison for that award. The DOTR’s functions will include conducting site visits and reviews, coordinating the WBC’s efforts with those of other SBA resource partners, and reporting any issues that may arise to the OWBO.

A designated Program Manager (PM) located within OWBO at the SBA’s headquarters will be responsible for the overall monitoring and oversight of the selected applicant’s WBC project, including compliance with the terms of the cooperative agreement.

A designated Grants Officer within the OWBO will be responsible for issuing Notice of Awards, making modifications to the award, and processing payments.

Changes or Cancellation The SBA reserves the right to amend or cancel this funding opportunity announcement, in whole or in part, at the agency’s discretion. Should the SBA make material changes to this funding opportunity announcement, the agency will extend the closing date as necessary to afford applicants enough opportunity to address such changes.

2.0 Section II – Award Information

2.

2.0 Estimated Funding Award will be made under this funding opportunity announcement in an amount not to exceed $150,000, subject to available funding.

Funding Information A. Funds provided under the WBC Program must be used solely for the purposes stipulated in this funding opportunity announcement and the notice of award 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 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E.

B. The SBA will not reimburse applicants for their proposal preparation costs, but applicants may request pre-award costs. Pre-award costs must directly relate to the conduct of the project and meet the tests of allowability, allocability, and reasonableness.

C. No Federal funds provided through an Award under this funding opportunity announcement, or matching contributions dedicated to such an Award, may be used for the purpose of making a sub-grant. While subcontracting is permitted, the successful applicants may not spend more than 49% of Award funds on subcontracts. Additionally, under no circumstances may the successful applicant contract out the administration or day-to-day management of this project to any other party.

D. If the applicant has never had an approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (ICRA) and its budget includes indirect costs, it may utilize a de minimis rate of 10% of the Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) (to include Federal and non-Federal funds) until the applicant can provide a copy of a current indirect cost rate agreement (ICRA) either through the SBA, or from another cognizant Federal agency. This new rule does not apply to organizations that have an expired ICRA.

MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to $25,000 of each subcontract (regardless of the period of performance of the subcontracts under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs, and the portion of each subcontract in excess of $25,000 (2 CFR Part 200.68).

Funding Instrument The funding instrument used will be a Cooperative Agreement.

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

A. Annual match The applicant is required to match awarded funds on a 1:2 ratio ($1 of non-Federal funds for every $2 of Federal funds) for the base period and first option year and 1:1 in the three subsequent years.

B. Non-Federal Match

1. Cash Donations from Federal entities may not be claimed as match.

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

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

When permissible under the terms of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, CDBG funds may also be used as match. The matching contribution must be pledged for WBC activities.

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

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

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

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

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

Non-Federal Match Certification The applicant must certify that the non-Federal matching share has been obtained and expended on the WBC Project and must maintain records of all cash, in-kind donations, and program income and how it was spent. The DOTR or other financial examiner will review records during site visits and the mid-year and annual programmatic and financial reviews.

3.0 Section III – Eligibility Information

3.

3.0 General An organization may submit only one proposal in response to this funding opportunity announcement. Any additional applications from the same organization will automatically be rejected without evaluation.

Eligible Applicants In order to be eligible for this funding opportunity, applicants must be a private non-profit organization certified under § 501(c)- of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and have experience providing technical services to women entrepreneurs.

Applicants must document as part of the narrative proposal that they – A. Will provide services to a population within the state listed in this funding opportunity announcement;

Note: An organization that previously operated an SBA-funded Women’s Business Center within the past five years and/or previously operated an SBA-funded Women’s Business Center within 50 miles of the proposed territory of the application may be eligible to apply, but, if selected, would be awarded as a Renewal Phase Project.

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

C. Are a private not-for-profit or non-profit corporation with an active 501(c) Federal tax-exempt status certification from the United States Department of Treasury/Internal Revenue Service (a copy of the 501 (c) designation letter must be attached to the applicant’s technical proposal);

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

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

F. Are responsible for hiring, supervising, and employing staff enough to ensure that the Women’s Business Center is open to the public a minimum of 40 hours a week (to include evening and weekend hours) and to fully provide the services required under this funding opportunity announcement, the notice of award, and the applicant’s proposal. Staff must include a full- time (40 hours per week) program director whose time is dedicated 100% to managing the day-to-day operation of the WBC project as well as overseeing its staff, volunteers, and all financial aspects of the project.

Applicants responding to this funding opportunity announcement may apply for a new WBC Project within 50 miles of an existing WBC Project; however, their written narrative must include a justification using data for the necessity of an additional WBC Project within the same area of service as the existing WBC Project.

The SBA will take the narrative and any supporting documentation into consideration when reviewing, ranking, and scoring the applicant’s proposal.

Ineligible Applicants The following organizations will automatically be considered ineligible and their applications rejected without evaluation:

A. Any organization outside of the state of Idaho;

B. Any organization that owes an outstanding and unresolved financial obligation to the Federal government. Any organization that;

C. Is currently suspended, debarred, or otherwise prohibited from receiving awards of contracts or grants from the Federal government;

D. Has an outstanding and unresolved material deficiency reported under the requirements of the Single Audit Act within the past three years;

E. Has had a WBC grant or cooperative agreement involuntarily terminated or non-renewed within the past year;

F. Has filed for bankruptcy within the past five years;

G. Proposes to serve as a pass-through and permit another organization to manage the day-to-day operations of the project;

H. Does not propose to hire and employ a full-time (40 hours per week) program director whose time is dedicated 100% to managing the day-to-day operation of the WBC and staff; and/or

I. Was convicted, or had an officer or agent acting on its behalf convicted, of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the preceding 24 months.

1.0 2.0 3.0

4.0 Section IV - Application and Submission Information Application Instructions 4.

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

5.

5.0

4.1.1 Project Abstract

The applicant must submit an abstract of no more than two pages summarizing the proposed project, including, but not limited to, the scope of the project and proposed outcomes. The Abstract must include the applicant’s name, telephone number, web address, e-mail address for the applicant’s designated point of contact, and project title, as well as a description of the area to be served, number of participants to be served, and funding level requested. The Abstract is limited to two double-spaced, single-.1sided 8.5x11-inch pages with 12-point text and 1-inch margins. When submitting in grants.gov, this document must be uploaded as an attachment to the application package and specifically labeled “Abstract.”

4.1.2 Technical Proposal

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

The Technical Proposal pages must be numbered, and the narrative portion of the application shall be limited to twenty-five (20) pages. Attachments such as position descriptions, résumés, budgets, organization charts, and milestone charts are not counted toward the 20-page maximum. Besides attachments, we will not read or consider any materials beyond the specified page limit in the application review process.

The following instructions provide all the information needed to complete the Technical Proposal. Carefully read and consider each section and include all required information. The agency will evaluate the Project Narrative using the evaluation criteria identified in Section ##. Use the same section headers identified below for each section of the Technical Proposal.

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

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

· The services you propose to deliver and how they will assist women entrepreneurs to start, grow or expand their ventures; and

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

Applicants should specify whether the focus will be on rural, urban, or tribal areas. Please note that priority is given to projects serving rural communities and/or tribal areas.

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

· Describe the full nature (virtual, in-person, cohort), scope, and frequency of the project’s training and technical assistance activities and provide a convincing explanation that these training activities are appropriate and will lead to the creation of businesses and access to capital;

· Describe how you will collaborate with the SBA and its Resources Partners;

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

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

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

3. Project Workplan: Objectives, Metrics and Milestones Comprised of a narrative and the Performance Workplan Template, the Project Workplan communicates how the Project will be implemented and how progress toward realizing goals, targets, and milestones will be measured.

The narrative section of the workplan should clearly communicate your project goal and describe how project activities will generate results for the OWBO’s three performance measures--clients served, new business starts, and capital infusion. WBCs are encouraged to be data driven, which may require them to collect more data than what is strictly necessary to track these three-performance metrics. WBCs should not feel bound to limit their data collection.

For each major task of each project year, action, or product, the Performance Workplan Template should be used to communicate a timeline (including start and end dates) for completion. Metrics must be included for the entire base period of 12 months as well as each of the four 12-month option years of the project’s term.

Your Workplan should reflect, and be consistent with, the Project Design and Budget Narrative and must cover all years of the project period, including the initial base and four option periods. However, each year’s activities should be fully attainable in one budget year. You may propose multi-year activities, as well as activities that build upon each other, but each phase of the project must be discreet and, aside from multi-year activities, attainable within a single budget year.

Importantly, first year activities should include a planning phase which details the steps needed to successfully launch the project, such as hiring key staff (i.e., Director); securing locations to house the center; finalizing partnership agreements; and ensuring readiness for inputting or importing data into EDMIS.

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

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

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

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

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

Provide a detailed staffing plan that describes how staff will contribute to the accomplishment of the Project’s goals. Please detail qualifications and experience of all project staff. Such qualifications and experience must demonstrate the staff’s ability to manage a strategic partnership, including fiscal and administrative management, outreach, and promotion. Include copies of the WBC Project Director’s résumé or the position description if unavailable and all position descriptions as attachments. An organizational chart that displays the proposed Project’s staffing plan must be included. The WBC must have an advisory board. Include a list of WBC advisory board members and each member’s phone number, e-mail address, and include the role(s) and responsibility(ies) of each member. If no advisory board, include your plan to obtain Your WBC’s advisory board. See definition below for WBC Advisory Board. State by whom and during what hours the facility or facilities will be staffed. In addition, provide a list of planned closures. (e.g., holidays, etc.)

Applicants should provide a comprehensive description of the existing or planned systems and processes that the host organization will use to provide timely and accurate financial and participant-level performance reporting, including the process for tracking participant-level data on characteristics, services, activities, and outcomes of women entrepreneurs served through the project to report to the SBA during the life of the grant. In addition, detail how these systems will be used to regularly assess progress towards the identified performance goals and how rigorous performance reporting will be considered in staffing and budgeting plans.

5. Past Performance – Programmatic Capability Applicants should provide a full description of their organization’s prior experience in the provision of services to women entrepreneurs, specifically those that are socially or economically disadvantaged. This experience should be supported with documentation and data including length of time services were provided; number of entrepreneurs served; outcomes achieved; and past engagement with SBA District Offices, Resource Partners, and/or Programs.

In awarding grants, the SBA will give priority to applications from organizations that demonstrate experience of the following:

· Working with Native American Tribes in a successful, collaborative manner;

· Enhancing the capacity of rural communities and their entrepreneurs;

· Preparing women to start, grow, and expand businesses; and

· Working with the SBA, SBA Resource Partners, SBA Microloan Program lenders, non-lender technical assistance providers, and other SBA resource partners such as mainstream financial institutions, state and/or local governments, chambers of commerce, loan funds, community colleges, and women’s organizations.

4.1.3 Budget Narrative (Cost/Budget Proposal)

Budget information for the 12-month base period must be provided through the submission of the following:

· SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance;

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

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

· Assurances for Non-Construction Programs -- Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Regulatory Secretariat Division the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implemented a new process in the System for Award Management (SAM), to the currently approved information collection requirement regarding the pre-award registration requirements for federal Prime Grant Recipients. These revisions will enable non-Federal entities to submit common federal government-wide certifications and representations for Federal financial assistance at the time of registration in SAM.

· Annual Budget Summary Worksheets (B10-B16) (must submit in its original Microsoft Excel file format--However, an applicant may substitute their own worksheets in place of the Annual Budget Summary provided it includes all the same cost elements/line items covered by the B10-B16);

· Certification of Cash Match and Program Income and Sources of Match Worksheet; and

Your own budget narrative providing a brief (no more than 5 pages), detailed explanation of the components of each cost element listed in the SF-424A and B10–B16 (example can be found on www.sba.gov/wbc).

Note: The SF-424 and 424A are located at Grants.gov. The Annual Budget Summary Worksheets (B10-B16) and the Certification of Cash Match & Program Income & Sources of Match Worksheet are located at www.sba.gov/wbc.

Use the following guidance for preparing the budget narrative:

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

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

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

Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase which has an estimated acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit (or if your capitalization level is less than $5,000, use your capitalization level) and a useful lifetime of more than one year (see 2 CFR 200.33 for the definition of Equipment). List the quantity and unit cost per item. Please note that items with a unit cost of less than $5,000 are classified as Supplies, not Equipment. Additionally, we do not generally permit the purchase of equipment during the last funded year of a grant.

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

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

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

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

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

A current version of your organization’s Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), including an explanation of how the indirect costs are calculated. This explanation should include which portion of each line item, along with the associated costs, are included in your cost allocation base.

or Your intention to claim indirect costs using the 10 percent de minimis rate, confirming that your organization meets the requirements as described in 2 CFR 200.414(f). Clearly state that your organization has never received a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and your organization is not one described in Appendix VII of 2 CFR 200, paragraph (D)(1)(b).

4.1 4.1.1 4.1.2 4.1.3

4.1.4. Certifications, Forms, and Assurances

· Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Regulatory Secretariat Division the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implemented a new process in the System for Award Management (SAM), to the currently approved information collection requirement regarding the pre-award registration requirements for federal Prime Grant Recipients. These revisions will enable non-Federal entities to submit common federal government-wide certifications and representations for Federal financial assistance at the time of registration in SAM.

4.1.5 Attachments and Exhibits

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

· Résumé and position description for the WBC Director and position descriptions for all other full- and part-time staff (including unfilled positions), copies of contracts and consulting agreements (include 3 quotes for all subcontracts between $3,501 – $150K), letters of support, pledges of additional funding or in-kind resources, leases, conflict of interest policy consistent with 2 CFR 2701.112. Successful applicant must maintain current signed conflicts of interest policy for all current employees, contractors (which include consultants), and instructors providing services to the WBC project;

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

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

4.2 Submission Instructions

Required forms are provided in the grants.gov application package for this funding opportunity. All other required supporting worksheets are located at www.sba.gov/wbc. All proposals (including all attachments) must be submitted electronically via the government-wide financial assistance portal https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/home.html. NO OTHER FORMS OF SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED. Specific instructions for obtaining, completing, and submitting an application via grants.gov, including animated tutorials, may be found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

A. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number, active System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and Grants.gov account to apply. Applicants must register as organizations, not as individuals.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but DUNS and SAM registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, an organization's registration should be done in enough time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application submission deadlines. Complete organization instructions can be found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.

1. Obtain a DUNS Number: All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a DUNS Number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). Applicants must enter the DUNS Number in the data entry field labeled "Organizational DUNS" on the SF-424 form. For more detailed instructions for obtaining a DUNS Number, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html.

2. Register with the SAM: All organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with the SAM. Failure to register with the SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. For more detailed instructions for registering with the SAM, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html.

3. Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step is to register an account with Grants.gov. Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.

4. Add an Organization Applicant Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant). If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the DUNS Number for the organization in the DUNS field. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html.

5. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, your request for Grants.gov roles and access are sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the AOR role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html.

6. Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html.

Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the

B. How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. For each FOA you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html.

1. Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete an application online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

2. Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display your progress through the application process. You may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

a. Adobe Reader: If you prefer not to complete the forms online, you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

b. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In many forms you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory and must be completed to successfully submit your application.

c. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The online forms are designed to autofill commonly required fields across forms, including the applicant’s name, address, and DUNS number. Once you complete the SF-424, these fields will autofill in the other forms.

3. Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through Workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to address any potential technical issues that may disrupt application submission.

4. Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a Workspace application, a Grants.gov tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned. This number will be listed on the confirmation page that appears after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted Workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants with 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and via email at support@grants.gov. For questions related to this specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the grant’s application package.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist the SBA with understanding and tracking your issue.

C. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

Online Submission. All applications must be received by the close date and time stated in the FOA. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application.

When the SBA successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov records when receiving your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by the SBA.

Applicants with slow internet access, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission may be slow, and it take some time before Grants.gov receives your application. Again, Grants.gov will provide either an error message or an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number via email sent to the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. The Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission too quickly because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

4.3 Required Proposal Submission Dates

Each applicant is required to submit their proposal electronically via www.grants.gov no later than 11:59:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on March 28, 2019. Because of the pre-conditions for submitting applications via Grants.gov and the potential for encountering technical difficulties, applicants are strongly encouraged to log on to Grants.gov and review the submission instructions early. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE CLOSING DATE TO BEGIN THE SUBMISSION PROCESS. Applicants bear sole responsibility for ensuring their proposals are submitted and received before the closing date.

The SBA will consider the date and time stamp generated by Grants.gov as the official submission time. Any proposal that is not received by Grants.gov before the closing date of this FOA will be rejected without evaluation, unless the applicant can clearly demonstrate through documentation obtained from Grants.gov that they attempted to submit their proposal in a timely manner but were unable to do so solely due to Grants.gov system issues. Additionally, the SBA will not accept any changes, additions, revisions, or deletions to applications made after the closing date.

Applicants should save proof of any electronic submission made at Grants.gov. If problems occur while using Grants.gov, the applicant is advised to print any error message received and contact the Grants.gov Support Center for immediate assistance. Applicants may obtain advice and assistance with the Grants.gov submission process by visiting http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html or by calling 1-800-518-4726.

5.0 Section V - Application Review Information

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5.1 General

Applications will be rejected without evaluation if they are submitted by ineligible organizations or if they are illegible or materially incomplete due to an applicant’s failure to include all required forms and/or provide the required level of detail. All elements of this section must be addressed.

5.2 Evaluation Criteria

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

(Maximum)

1. Statement of Need (up to 20 points) Points will be awarded based on the extent to which the application:

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

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

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

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

2. Project Design (up to 30 points)

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

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

· Will directly engage women entrepreneurs within the specified geographic target area and support the creation, growth, and expansion of businesses (10 points);

·…