FY 23 B2S NOFO.pdf

2023 BUILD TO SCALE PROGRAM

N o t i c e o f F u n d i n g O p p o r t u n i t y

Office of INNOVATION and

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

ii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Federal Awarding Agency Name

U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)

Funding Opportunity Title 2023 Build to Scale Program

Announcement Type

2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) publishing EDA’s application submission requirements and application review procedures for EDA’s Build to Scale Program, through which EDA awards grants for activities designed to develop and support regional innovation initiatives, as authorized by section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. § 3722).

Funding Opportunity Number EDA-HDQ-OIE-2023-B2S

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)

11.024 Build to Scale

Key Dates

The application deadline is 11:59 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON JULY 28, 2023.

Applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed or considered.

Applications will only be accepted electronically. Please carefully read the application submission information provided in section D.2 (p. 11) of this NOFO for full details.

Funding Opportunity Description

EDA’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship is committed to furthering tech-based economic development initiatives that accelerate high-skill and high-wage job growth, create economic opportunity, and support the future of the next generation of industry leading companies. Funding is available for organizations that aid companies in developing the next generation of technologies. Under the Build to Scale Program, EDA is soliciting applications for two competitions, the

• 2023 Venture Challenge; and

• 2023 Capital Challenge.

Cost Sharing and Matching

Applicants must provide matching share equal to at least 50 percent of the total project cost, i.e., applicants must match each dollar requested with at least one dollar of applicant match. See section C.3 (p.10) of this NOFO.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for EDA financial assistance under this NOFO include:

• A State;

• An Indian tribe;

• A city or other political subdivision of a State;

• An entity whose application is supported by a State or a political subdivision of a State and that is— o a nonprofit organization, o an institution of higher education, o a public-private partnership, o a science or research park, iii o a Federal laboratory, o a venture development organization, or o an economic development organization or similar entity that is focused primarily on improving science, technology, innovation, or entrepreneurship; or

• A consortium of any of the aforementioned entities.

EDA is not authorized to provide grants or cooperative agreements to individuals under this Program. Requests from individuals will not be considered for funding.

Informational Webinar EDA plans to conduct an informational webinar for this NOFO and expects to make available scheduling information and a link to a recording at https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale.

Award Notification Subject to the availability of funding, successful applicants should expect to receive grant award notification approximately 90-120 days following the application deadline set forth in this NOFO.

https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

2023 BUILD TO SCALE PROGRAM

Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... ii A. Program Description

1. Overview

2. Program Information

3. Equity Investment Priority

4. Statutory Authority

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding Under this Announcement

2. Type of Funding Instrument Used; Period of Performance

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Definitions

3. Cost Sharing or Matching

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

3. Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements

4. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

5. Submission Dates and Times

6. Intergovernmental Review

7. Funding Restrictions

8. Other Submission Requirements

9. EDGE System Issues

E. Application Review Information

1. Evaluation Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Awards in Excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) H. Other Information

1. Right to Use Information

2. Disclosure of Information

3. Freedom of Information Act Disclosure

4. Past Performance and Non-Compliance with Award Provisions

5. EDA’s Non-Relocation Policy

6. NOFO Changes Communicated on Grants.gov

7. Audit Requirements

8. Office of Inspector General Rights and Responsibilities

9. Certifications Required by Annual Appropriations Acts for Corporations and for Awards over $5

Million

Appendix A EXAMPLE OUTPUT AND OUTCOME MEASURES AND REPORTING Appendix B OPTIONAL CHECKLIST-STYLE GUIDE FOR REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR

APPLICATION

1. PUBLIC ENTITIES: For States, Indian Tribes, Cities, Other Political Subdivisions of States, and

Institutions of Higher Education That Are 100% Publicly Controlled

2. NON-PUBLIC ENTITIES: For Nonprofit Organizations, Institutions of Higher Education That Are Not

100% Publicly Controlled, Public-Private Partnerships, Science or Research Parks, Federal Laboratories, Venture Development Organizations, Economic Development or Similar Organizations

Section A

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Overview Entrepreneurs, especially technology entrepreneurs, flourish in healthy ecosystems. Technology-based economic development (TBED) grows ecosystems in which entrepreneurs can build and scale technology-driven businesses, which in turn create high-skill and high-wage jobs, economic opportunity, and the industries of the future. EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) awards grants through the Build to Scale (B2S) Program to foster technology-based ecosystems,1 to advance the growth of connected, innovation-centric economies that accelerate technology, and to enable commercialization to increase regional and global competitiveness.2 EDA invites organizations that are aiding technology-based companies with high growth potential (including but not limited to startups) in developing the next generation of technologies to apply for Build to Scale Program funding. The Build to Scale program aims to:

• build public and private capacity for entrepreneurs and innovators to invent, improve, and bring to market new products and services in critical, emerging, and transformative sectors and industries;

• expand regional knowledge ecosystems to realize economic and job growth;

• accelerate the growth of regional economies that are focused on industries of the future;

• catalyze regional leadership through TBED strategies;

• empower communities to provide proof-of-concept and commercialization assistance to technology innovators and entrepreneurs; and

• equitably and inclusively increase access to capital for technology-enabled entrepreneurs.

Under the Build to Scale Program, EDA is soliciting applications for two separate competitions: (1) the Venture Challenge and (2) the Capital Challenge. Applicants may apply to both Challenges but may only

1 Through the Build to Scale program, EDA “award[s] grants, on a competitive basis, . . . for activities designed to develop and support . . . regional innovation initiative[s].” 15 U.S.C. § 3722(c)(1). “The term ‘regional innovation initiative’ means a geographically-bounded public or nonprofit activity or program that addresses issues in the local innovation systems in order to—

(A) increase the success of innovation-driven industry; (B) strengthen the competitiveness of industry through new product innovation and new technology adoption; (C) improve the pace of market readiness and overall commercialization of innovative research; (D) enhance the overall innovation capacity and long-term resilience of the region; (E) leverage the region’s unique competitive strengths to stimulate innovation; and (F) increase the number of full-time equivalent employment opportunities within innovation-based business ventures in the geographic region.” § 3722(a)(2).

2 See 15 U.S.C. §§ 3720, 3722.

submit one application per Challenge, and each submitted application must have separate and distinct scopes of work, and match or cost share commitments. As set forth below, both Challenges are designed to develop and support regional innovation initiatives.

This grant program supports organizations that may be operating initiatives to unlock investment capital across a region or sector, operating programs to accelerate company growth, empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs, or otherwise enabling technology commercialization. Applicants should consider aligning their project work with key technology focus areas that the National Science Foundation (NSF) updates annually.3 Awards made under Build to Scale may only fund operational and programmatic costs related to developing and supporting regional innovation initiatives. Award funds may not be passed or transferred directly to beneficiaries (i.e., participant startup companies and individuals) served by the program being funded by award funds. In addition, award funds may not be used to subsidize such companies’ expenses that are unrelated to program activities, including general operating expenses. A provider of matching share, including an entity providing cash or in-kind contributions, may not serve as a contractor under the same award, and may not be paid with award funds to provide goods or services to the award recipient.

Funding may not duplicate other federal funding, including funding awarded under other TBED-centric EDA programs (STEM Talent Challenge, Tech Hubs), other Department of Commerce programs, or other federal agency programs. EDA will not fund activities that already are or will be paid for with other federal funds, or are or will be counted as cost share on another federal award.

2. Program Information

i. Venture Challenge Under the Venture Challenge, EDA seeks competitive proposals that support technology entrepreneurship and accelerate company growth in their community, region, or combination of regions. Competitive proposals will outline how the project will strengthen economic competitiveness through new product or service innovation or new technology adoption, enhancing research commercialization processes and outcomes, remediating structural barriers that inhibit regional innovation capacity and resilience, or leveraging regional competitive strengths to stimulate innovation and the creation of high-skill and high-wage jobs. Companies served by the applicant organization should be challenging the status quo of established markets or commercializing technologies, as well as furthering job creation within their businesses. Applicants should provide empirical evidence that illustrates how funds leveraged through this competition will not only launch new programming and/or scale existing programming, but also generate sustainable added value for the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by augmenting existing regional assets for innovation and commercialization.

Funding for the Venture Challenge is available at three levels: Build, Scale, and Ignite. Venture Challenge Build applicants may request up to $750,000 over the period of performance, and Venture Challenge Scale applicants must request more than $750,000 and may request up to $2,000,000 over the period of performance. EDA expects the period of performance for these two levels to be approximately three years.

Venture Challenge Ignite applicants may request up to $300,000 over the period of performance, which EDA expects will be approximately 18 to 24 months. If the applicant needs a shorter or longer period of performance, the applicant should include in the application a justification, and EDA will review and choose to accept that justification for any of the funding levels.

3 42 U.S.C. § 19107; see also section D.2.iii.a.3.c) below.

Venture Challenge Ignite applicants

• may be establishing new partnerships across sectors, industries, and organizational types to build capacity;

• may be conducting community needs audits and assessments to develop a comprehensive technology-based economic development strategy for the region;

• may be establishing governance and other formal agreements and structures among partners and identifying regional TBED champions;

• may be establishing a new or reimagined commercialization and technology transfer function;

• may request up to $300,000 over the period of performance (expected to be approximately 18-24 months); and

• must provide a 1:1 match.

The Ignite Challenge provides operational and programmatic funding to support the development of nascent technology-based ecosystems. This program is open only to applicants that are not current or prior Build to Scale or Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) program grantees and aims to strengthen organizations’ capacities to design and implement Tech Based Economic Development (TBED) projects through feasibility studies, impact analyses, and planning to address regional innovation needs, including access to capital. These projects should focus on building partnerships, establishing governance, and identifying potential sources of matching funds that will enable the organization to implement TBED projects in the near future.

Venture Challenge Build applicants

• should pilot a solution to a demonstrated need or implement a proven solution to a demonstrated need in a new region or community;

• must demonstrate a commitment and ability to achieve, measure, and share data that support agreed upon impacts;

• may request up to $750,000 over the period of performance (expected to be approximately three years); and

• must provide a 1:1 match.

Venture Challenge Scale applicants

• should scale an existing initiative that has demonstrated prior success based on empirical evidence;

• must have a proven track record of successful deployment of programs;

• must demonstrate a commitment and ability to achieve, measure, and share data that support agreed upon program effects to accelerate technology-based economic development strategies;

• must request more than $750,000 and may request up to $2,000,000 over the period of performance (expected to be approximately three years); and

• must provide a 1:1 match.

Organizations interested in applying to the Venture Challenge as a Build or Scale applicant are encouraged to review project profiles of past awardees of the Venture Challenge and the i6 Challenge (the predecessor to the Venture Challenge) at https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale.

ii. Capital Challenge The Capital Challenge provides operational support for the formation, launch, or scale of investment funds that seek to raise equity-based capital to deploy in scalable startups (e.g., angel, seed, or venture funds) or of organizations that expand equity-based capital access and deployment within a community, region, or regional industry (e.g., angel networks or investor training programs). The Capital Challenge does not support strictly debt-based capital.

Funding for the Capital Challenge is available at two levels: Form and Deploy. Capital Challenge Form applicants may request up to $400,000, and Capital Challenge Deploy application must request more than $400,000 and may request up to $750,000 over the period of performance, which EDA expects will be approximately three years unless the applicant clearly justifies a shorter or longer period of performance and EDA accepts that justification. Although Capital Challenge applicants should operate investment vehicles that raise equity or equity-based capital and deploy that capital into scalable technology businesses, funding must primarily support operational and programmatic costs and may not be used as investment capital.

Capital Challenge Form applicants

• should identify, educate, and connect investors and other potential sources of equity-based capital (whether traditional, hybrid, or new structures) within a regional technology cluster;

• should identify sources of potential investments (i.e., dealflow) and build capacity to conduct due diligence and close investment deals;

• must demonstrate a commitment and ability to achieve, measure, and share data that support agreed upon effects;

• may request up to $400,000 over the period of performance (expected to be approximately three years); and

• must provide a 1:1 match.

Capital Challenge Deploy applicants

• should raise and deploy equity or equity-based capital, whether through traditional or hybrid models, within a regional technology cluster via a fund or other collaborative investment framework;

• should deploy investment capital into technology startups based on an investment thesis that clearly supports and fosters the growth of a regional technology cluster and its entrepreneurship ecosystem;

• must not use B2S funding or matching share as investment capital but instead to operate or support one or more investment vehicles;

• should assess companies for high-growth potential as a central factor of their investment strategy;

• must demonstrate a commitment and ability to achieve, measure, and share data that support agreed upon effects;

• must request more than $400,000 and may request up to $750,000 over the period of performance

(expected to be approximately three years); and

• must provide a 1:1 match.

Organizations interested in applying to the Capital Challenge are encouraged to review project profiles of past awardees of the Capital Challenge or Seed Fund Support competition (the predecessor to the Capital Challenge), at https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale/historical.

3. Equity Investment Priority Consistent with Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government, and EDA’s Equity Investment Priority, EDA expects https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale/historical

Section B projects to advance equity to underserved populations to the extent practicable. In this context, EDA is seeking projects that directly benefit: 1) one or more traditionally underserved populations, including but not limited to women, Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders; or 2) underserved communities within geographies that have been systemically and/or systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic prosperity such as Tribal Lands, Persistent Poverty Counties, and rural areas with demonstrated, historical underservice.

A successful project will articulate which populations or communities will benefit (as noted above and https://www.eda.gov/funding/investment-priorities) and include a plan for inclusive community engagement in the project and ensuring that the economic benefits of the project will be shared by all communities in the project region, including any underserved communities. Your explanation should address the communities affected, barriers those communities may face in accessing benefits of the project, contemplated outreach efforts, and other planned steps to address identified barriers, as appropriate. Applicants should show a commitment to equity and diversity, and EDA will consider applicants’ demonstration of prior concrete successes related to equity and diversity.

4. Statutory Authority The statutory authority for the Build to Scale program is section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. § 3722). The regulations governing the Build to Scale program are located at subparts A and B of 13 C.F.R. part 312.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding Under this Announcement EDA has been appropriated $50 million for grants authorized by section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.4 The funding periods and funding amounts referenced in this notice are subject to the availability of funds at the time of award as well as to DOC and EDA priorities at the time of award. DOC and EDA will not be held responsible for application preparation costs. Publication of this announcement does not obligate DOC or EDA to make any specific grant award or to obligate all or any part of available funds.

Subject to the availability of funding and based on applications received, EDA expects to make awards under this NOFO as follows:

i. Venture Challenge EDA plans to award no less than $40,000,000 under the 2023 Venture Challenge. The maximum federal share of each Venture Challenge Build award is $750,000; the maximum federal share of each Venture Challenge Scale award is $2,000,000. Under Venture Challenge Ignite the maximum federal share is $300,000.

ii. Capital Challenge EDA plans to award no less than $8,000,000 under the 2023 Capital Challenge. The maximum federal share of each Capital Challenge Form award is $400,000; the maximum federal share of each Capital Challenge Deploy award is $750,000.

4 Public Law 117-328, division B, title 1 (December 29, 2022).

https://www.eda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/EDA-FY21-Investment-Priorities-Definitions.pdf#Underserved-Populations https://www.eda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/EDA-FY21-Investment-Priorities-Definitions.pdf#Geographies https://www.eda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/FY2022_PPCs.xlsx

Section C

2. Type of Funding Instrument Used; Period of Performance Under this NOFO, EDA may award grants to eligible applicants to support project activities. Periods of performance are dependent on the type of project and the scope of work of the grant award. See section F.1 (p. 26) of this NOFO for award notification information. EDA anticipates awards will typically have an initial period of performance of approximately three (3) years, with Venture Challenge Ignite having an expected period of performance of 18-24 months; all competitions under this NOFO have an anticipated start date of November 1, 2023 (subject to change).

EDA expects all projects to proceed efficiently and expeditiously, and EDA expects applicants to document clearly in their applications a reasonable and appropriate timeline that includes the start and completion dates of the proposed scope of work. As a condition of their respective awards, grantees will be required to provide timely periodic progress reports and performance data as set forth in section F.3 (p. 27).

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants Entities that are eligible for funding include:

• a State;5

• an Indian tribe;

• a city or other political subdivision of a State; 6

• an entity whose application is supported by a State or a political subdivision of a state and that is— o a nonprofit organization;

o an institution of higher education;

o a public-private partnership;7 o a science or research park;

5 The term “State” means one of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States. 15 U.S.C. § 3722(a)(3). Departments within the State government (e.g., State’s Department of Labor, etc.) are considered part of the State.

6 A “political subdivision of a state” is a unit of government created by and under the authority of a higher level of government.

For example, counties, cities, etc.

7 For the purposes of the Build to Scale program, EDA defines a public-private partnership (PPP) as a relationship formalized by contractual agreement between a public agency and a private-sector entity that reasonably defines the terms of collaboration in the delivery and financing of a public project. EDA will typically review agreements for items such as the purpose and objectives of the partnership, the binding/contractual nature of the relationship, the duties and responsibilities of each party, and the duration of the agreement. The scope of the relationship documented in the agreement may be limited to the proposal set forth in a given partnership’s grant application or may encompass a broader program, initiative, or other set of activities or goals.

Organizations that plan to apply to this NOFO as a PPP may structure their applications in one of four ways: (1) The private entity that is party to the PPP applies on behalf of the PPP that includes the contractual agreement establishing the PPP, and that clearly documents the roles and responsibilities of each member of the PPP; (2) The public entity that is party to the PPP applies on behalf of the PPP that includes the contractual agreement establishing the PPP, and that clearly documents the roles and responsibilities of each member of the PPP; (3) The PPP applies as a single entity if the PPP is an established entity, independent of the parties to the PPP and with its own organizational structure and clearly defined management team; and the application includes the contractual agreement establishing the PPP, and clearly documents the roles and responsibilities of each member of the PPP; or (4) If the public and private partners are equally involved in the management and/or carrying out of the grant, then the entities of the PPP should submit as co-applicants. The application should include the contractual agreement establishing the PPP, and clearly document the roles and responsibilities of each member of the PPP.

o a Federal laboratory;

o a venture development organization;8 or o an economic development organization or similar entity that is focused primarily on improving science, technology, innovation, or entrepreneurship;9 or

• a consortium of any of the aforementioned entities.10

EDA is not authorized to provide grants to individuals or other entity types that are not eligible under this NOFO, and such requests will not be considered for funding.

If an organization is currently implementing an OIE award (i.e., under a prior-year Build to Scale or Regional Innovation Strategies program funding opportunity) and submitting an application to the same or successor challenge11 under this NOFO, EDA will not consider that application for award unless all activities under the existing award, including but not limited to final reporting requirements, are completed and submitted to EDA prior to October 1, 2023.

• To be eligible for the 2023 Venture Challenge, all current Venture Challenge, i6 Challenge, and Industry Challenge – Blue Economy recipients must have completed all activities within their current awards’ SOWs and must have fulfilled their final reporting requirements by October 1, 2023.

• To be eligible for the 2023 Capital Challenge, all current Capital Challenge, Seed Fund Support grants, must have completed all activities within their current awards’ SOWs and must have fulfilled their final reporting requirements by October 1, 2023.

2. Definitions Under the Build to Scale program, lead applicants may choose to partner with co-applicants, subrecipients, or contractors, which can all potentially serve as federally funded partners under the grant (meaning part of the federal budget requested in the application would go to these partner entities). Applications may also include unfunded project partners (meaning they would not receive federal funds from this grant); please note the following definitions for help determining a partner’s legal classification under this grant. Before disbursing any program funds, a case-by-case determination must be made as to whether the partner or party receiving the funds has the role of subrecipient or contractor, pursuant to factors listed in 2 CFR § 200.331, Subrecipient and contractor determinations.

8 To be eligible for funding, a venture development organization must be a State or nonprofit organization that contributes to regional or sector-based economic prosperity by providing services for the purposes of accelerating the commercialization of research. 15 U.S.C. § 3722(a)(4).

9 For purposes of the Build to Scale program, EDA defines an economic development organization as an organization with a primary purpose to support the economic development of a community or region. 13 C.F.R. § 312.3. To evaluate an organization’s eligibility as an economic development organization or similar entity, EDA will look to the organization’s Articles of Incorporation, Charter, Resolutions, Bylaws, and other documents that may be relevant to establish the primary purpose of the organization. Applicants are encouraged to submit all relevant documentation to EDA for evaluation. EDA reserves the right to request additional information from applicants to establish eligibility, as necessary. If applicants have further questions concerning these documentation requirements, they should contact the representative listed in section G (p. 27) of the NOFO.

10 A consortium is two or more eligible entities jointly applying for an award as co-applicants.

11 The Regional Innovation Strategies program’s i6 Challenge is the predecessor of the B2S Venture and Industry Challenges (this NOFO considers the Venture and Industry challenges to be different versions of the same Challenge); the Regional Innovation Strategies program’s Seed Fund Support Grant Competition is the predecessor of the B2S Capital Challenge.

i. Subrecipients

To be considered a subrecipient, an organization must be an eligible entity under this NOFO (see section C.1 (p. 8). A subrecipient is an entity that receives a subaward from a pass-through entity (i.e., the lead applicant) to carry out part of a Federal award; but does not include an individual that is a beneficiary of such award.12 Subrecipients generally carry out a portion of project activities on behalf of the applicant or co-applicant(s). Additional documentation may be required for each potential subrecipient. For more information on application requirements, see Appendix B. Please note: When deciding between applying as a co-applicant or relying on subrecipients to perform part of the scope of work, EDA prefers subrecipients.

ii. Co-applicants Each co-applicant must be an eligible entity under this NOFO (see section C.1 (p. 8)); generally, co-applicants jointly manage and implement the scope of work of an award. Co-applicants have a significant role in the project scope of work. Co-applicants are generally required to submit the same forms that the primary applicant must submit. See section D (p. 11) and Appendix B for specific application requirements and a comprehensive checklist of the documents required for all co-applicants. Co-applicants of an application that is awarded funding will be considered “Co-recipients.”

iii. Contractors Contractors are entities that receive a contract, defined as a legal instrument by which a recipient or subrecipient purchases property or services needed to carry out a project or program under a Federal award (for definition of “contractor” see 2 CFR 200.1). Contractors do not have to meet eligibility requirements under this NOFO; however, all contracts (including with contractors listed in application materials) must be procured in accordance with the procurement standards at 2 CFR §§ 200.317-327.

Please note: Contractors that receive federal funds under a B2S award cannot provide match or cost share for the same award.

iv. Technology-Based Economic Development (TBED)

Technology-Based Economic Development (TBED) supports a climate where technology and innovation help drive an economy. Strategies often include a research base that generates new knowledge;

mechanisms for transferring knowledge to the marketplace; an entrepreneurial culture; sources of risk capital; and a technically skilled workforce.13

3. Cost Sharing or Matching A minimum one-to-one (1:1) match is required for all Build to Scale awards. Applicants must demonstrate at the time of the application a matching share of at least 50 percent of the total project cost; i.e., for every dollar of federal funds requested, applicants must demonstrate a commitment of at least one dollar of matching share. Matching share greater than the 1:1 requirement will be accepted but is not necessary to qualify for funding and WILL NOT MAKE AN APPLICATION MORE COMPETITIVE. EDA in its sole discretion may agree to reduce the matching share prior to, at, or during an award to no lower than 1:1.

12 For full definition, see 2 CFR 200.1.

13 https://ssti.org/TBED.

https://ssti.org/TBED

Section D

Applicants must provide documentation (e.g., a signed letter, resolution, MOU, etc.) to show that all matching share is committed, whether provided by the applicant or a third party. For full details on what is included and allowed to meet match requirements, see section D.2.i (p.11).

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package An applicant must submit a complete application, as detailed in Section D.2 (p.11) of this NOFO, to be considered for funding. EDA intends to review each application within 60 days after receiving the complete application. EDA may request additional documentation or information from the applicant to make an eligibility determination. EDA will reject any documentation that the agency determines is inaccurate or incomplete, which may cause the application to be rejected.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission An applicant must obtain, complete, and submit an application electronically through the Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE) at sfgrants.eda.gov. EDA will not accept paper, facsimile, or email transmissions of applications except as provided below. In order to obtain and submit an application through EDGE, an applicant must register for an EDGE account at sfgrants.eda.gov. As part of the registration process, you will assign one Authorized Representative for your organization, however, multiple points of contact may be registered or added by the lead applicant to the application workspace to view or work on completing the application. The Authorized Representative will be the only official with the authority to submit applications. The required electronic file format for attachments is text-searchable Portable Document Format (PDF), word, and where appropriate, Microsoft Excel.

i. Verify That Your Submission Was Successful Applicants should save and print written proof of an electronic submission made through EDGE. Applicants, specifically the Authorized Representative submitting the application and materials, will receive a time and date stamped email from EDGE confirming the submission and receipt of the application and other required documents.

Applicants should save and print both the confirmation screen provided on EDGE after the applicant has submitted an application and the confirmation email sent when the application has been successfully submitted.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify that its submission was timely received and submitted successfully through EDGE.

ii. Alternatives to Submission through EDGE To accommodate applicants’ accessibility requirements, a paper version of the application may be obtained by contacting EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) via email at oie@eda.gov or via phone at (202) 482-8001.

http://www.sfgrants.eda.gov/ mailto:oie@eda.gov

All Build to Scale applications, whether under the Venture or Capital Challenges, must include the following documents to be considered for funding (also, see Appendix B for application checklist):

Project Design and Substance Project Narrative Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan Matching Share Commitment Letters State/Local Government Support (if applicable, depending on your organization type)

Forms and Supporting Documentation SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) SF-424A (Budget Information Non-Construction Programs) CD-511 (Certification Regarding Lobbying) SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) State Single-Point-of-Contact (SPOC)/Executive Order 12372 Compliance Documentation (if applicable)14 Organizational Documentation (if applicable, depending on your organization type)15 Indirect Cost Rate (ICR) Documentation (if applicable) Project Service Area and FIPS Codes

iii. Project Design and Substance

Document Number Project Narrative One per application Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan One per application Matching Share Commitment Letters One per match source State/Local Government Support (if applicable, depending on your organization type)

One per application

a. Project Narrative All applicants must provide a Project Narrative of no more than ten (10) total pages with margins no less than one-half inch (0.5”) using Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or a similar font of size no less than eleven

(11) points to be considered for funding. Material beyond the tenth page will not be read or considered.

Any appendices will not be considered in scoring. Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide a clear and concise narrative that includes a compelling justification for the project and articulates a clearly defined regional economic gap, how the proposed project will uniquely meet this need, and the expected outcome(s) that will result from the proposed project. Lengthy applications will not receive greater consideration. Project Narratives must address the following areas:

1) Project Description and Overview

a) Executive Summary Provide an executive summary of no more than 250 words that includes a project title and the name of the Challenge and funding level to which the application is being submitted (i.e., Venture Challenge Build, 14 Only certain States participate in the SPOC compliance process. See section D.2.ii (p.17).

15 Only non-public, eligible entities are required to submit organization documents, and the documentation required varies by eligible entity type. See section Appendix B.

Venture Challenge Scale, Venture Challenge Ignite, Capital Challenge Form, Capital Challenge Deploy). If the application is selected for funding, EDA may publish this executive summary, including but not limited to on its or other websites and via social media.

b) Vision, Mission, Goals, Roles What are your organization’s vision and mission for this project? How are you positioned to support a technology entrepreneurship ecosystem and lead this project work? What are the program goals?

Describe the roles you currently play in the innovation ecosystem, and how those roles enable you to achieve those goals. How are you positioned to support a technology entrepreneurship ecosystem? Will other organizations be involved in this work and if so, what roles and responsibilities will they have? Please include any funded partners’ organizational type, formal relationship, and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number (Ex: 501(c)(3) non-profit, subrecipient, UEI: ABC12345) Describe how the proposed programming leverages and builds upon regional assets, and uses data to support claims.

2) Ecosystem Resources and Assets Describe the project’s location and region, including its primary service area, the communities or regions served (e.g., assets, financial and business resources, workforce, and infrastructure), stakeholders leveraged, and the region’s assets and opportunities. The location and region should directly correspond to Questions 14 and 16 of the SF-424. If the applicant expects impacts beyond the noted region, the applicant should note the region of expected impact.

3) Proposed Solution

a) Problems and Solutions What problems is your project trying to solve? What solutions are being proposed to further innovation ecosystem development and support commercialization? To what extent do the solutions align with any of EDA’s investment priorities?16 To what extent does existing evidence suggest that the proposed actions will address the problems you are trying to solve? Describe in detail how the solutions align with specific regional opportunities or tackle structural challenges. Explain how achievable the solution is. For example, has the idea already been piloted in the area? Do you have examples of where this or similar solutions have been implemented before? If the solution is completely new, what research has been done that leads you to believe the outcomes are achievable?

b) Affected Groups Describe the specific communities and groups that the solution will serve and affect, and explain the rationale for how participants are targeted. Provide an estimate of how many people, organizations, and communities will be affected by the project either directly or indirectly, and indicate to what extent, if any, you expect the solution to serve and benefit historically underserved populations and increase the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of your regional innovation economy.

c) Region-Opportunity Alignment Why is this opportunity ripe for the region? Identify the factors through data that contribute to the region’s innovation and job creation strengths and challenges (e.g., ecosystem resources, emerging sectors, R&D systems and infrastructure, other regional assets). How will the lead applicant leverage available regional

16 U.S. Econ. Dev. Admin., Investment Priorities, https://www.eda.gov/funding/investment-priorities.

resources to support ecosystem efforts? What technology area(s) will your project focus on? How do the area(s) align with the NSF-identified key technology focus areas?17

4) Partnerships Describe any former, current, or future partnerships or working relationships with public and private entities at the national, State, regional, and local level that will be working on this project. Provide a brief description of each entity and specific detail on the roles and responsibilities of these collaborators including effectiveness of past collaboration efforts.

5) Outcomes What are the anticipated goals you hope to achieve (i.e., outcomes) and what outputs do you plan to measure to assess to demonstrate progress towards those outcomes? Anticipated outcomes should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timebound (SMART), and the application should indicate why and how these outcomes were selected, including existing evidence that suggests these outcomes are appropriate. Include baseline measures that describe the current state to help you assess any potential changes.. How will your organization achieve those outcomes? Applicants selected for funding must employ a data and client management system to track their metrics in a machine-readable format;

applicants should include a description of their respective systems and, if no such system exists, should include their acquisition and implementation in the project narrative and budget. Applicants should also be prepared to participate in a program evaluation activities required by EDA.

6) Program Sustainability Provide a program sustainability plan, including anticipated challenges, potential barriers, a forecast of post-award period operations. What is the vision for this program after the grant period ends? Explicitly indicate how you plan to continue and evolve operations after you have spent all Build to Scale grant funds, including any existing long-term funding commitments.

7) Scope of Work (1 page) Applicants must submit no more than one (1) page as the scope of work for the project. This document should outline all activities that will be conducted under this program and a timeline to support its implementation. The scope of work should include work performed by the applicant, any subrecipient(s), any co-applicant(s), and any unfunded project partner(s), and should outline roles and responsibilities. The scope of work should align with and support claims made in the project narrative and the budget narrative.

EDA may incorporate this section into any award if selected for funding.

17 42 U.S.C. § 19107 lists the initial set of key technology focus areas:

(1) Artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomy, and related advances;

(2) High performance computing, semiconductors, and advanced computer hardware and software;

(3) Quantum information science and technology;

(4) Robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing;

(5) Natural and anthropogenic disaster prevention or mitigation;

(6) Advanced communications technology and immersive technology;

(7) Biotechnology, medical technology, genomics, and synthetic biology;

(8) Data storage, data management, distributed ledger technologies, and cybersecurity, including biometrics;

(9) Advanced energy and industrial efficiency technologies, such as batteries and advanced nuclear technologies, including but not limited to for the purposes of electric generation (consistent with 42 U.S.C. § 1874); and

(10) Advanced materials science, including composites 2D materials, other next-generation materials, and related manufacturing technologies.

b. Budget Narrative & Staffing Plan Applicants must provide a clear budget narrative that identifies and justifies each budget line item (including both the federal share and matching non-federal share) and the narrative total should match the total project costs listed in both the SF-424, Question 18, Line g (“TOTAL”) and the appropriate totals fields of the SF-424A. The budget narrative should include an itemized list of the matching share sources, the total match contribution per each matching share source, and whether the match is cash or in-kind. The budget narrative should include itemized valuations of any in-kind matching funds (which, for personnel costs, should be supported by the staffing plan). Applicants may use the optional budget and staffing template available at https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale to supplement the budget narrative. Each line item in the budget narrative should clearly indicate

• the budget category (from the SF-424A) to which the line item corresponds;

• a description of the intended use of funds for each line item; and

• if any matching share is allocated to a given line item, a citation to the one or more commitment letters that documents each relevant matching organization’s commitment to provide the matching share of the given line item.

Recipients generally must expend non-federal share, whether in cash or in-kind, at the same general rate as the federal share. However, if the applicant’s budget narrative proposes otherwise (e.g., if the project’s implementation depends on a higher proportion of federal share expenditure upfront), the applicant must clearly explain why project implementation requires different expenditure rates.

As part of the budget narrative, applicants also must submit a staffing plan that lists key positions that would be charged to the federal and non-federal portions of the budget for each year of the period of performance. The staffing plan must include position titles, maximum annual salaries, percentage of time dedicated to the project, and the total amount of annual salaries that would be charged to the project. The total amount of annual salaries that would be charged to the project must be consistent with the amount reflected on the “Personnel” budget line item on the Form SF-424A for each project year.

c. Matching Share Commitment Letters Applicants must submit commitment letters or equivalent documents for all matching funds (whether cash or in-kind) from all sources (i.e., applicant, subrecipients, and any other third-party sources of matching funds) that are SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE of the contributing organization. (Authorized Representatives must have the authority to execute documents and to obligate and expend funds on behalf of their respective organizations.)

Each matching share commitment letter (whether from the applicant or a third party) must:

1. state whether the contribution is cash or in-kind;

2. if in-kind, provide a valuation and description for in-kind contributions;

3. state whether the contribution is from a non-federal source or from a federal source that is explicitly authorized by statute to be used as matching share; and

4. state that, at the time of award, the matching share

a. is committed to the project,

b. will be available as needed, and

c. is neither conditioned nor encumbered in any way that would preclude its use consistent with the requirements of EDA investment assistance.

https://docgov.sharepoint.com/sites/OIE/Shared%20Documents/NOFOs/FY23%20B2S%20NOFO/hould%20clearly%20indicate

A provider of matching share, whether cash or in-kind contributions, may not serve as a contractor under the award for which it provides matching share. Match documentation should include a quantitative valuation and note whether the contribution is cash or in-kind. Funds from other federal financial assistance awards can serve as matching share funds only if authorized by statute, which may be determined by EDA’s reasonable interpretation of the statute.

In-kind contributions may be used for the required matching share and must consist of contributions directly related to the proposed project, such as services, equipment, or space. An in-kind contribution is a non-monetary contribution. Goods or services offered free or at less than (discounted) the usual charge can be considered an in-kind contribution and still require a signed letter of commitment. EDA will fairly evaluate all in-kind contributions, which must be eligible project costs and which must meet applicable federal cost principles and uniform administrative requirements. As with other match sources, a commitment letter is required for both applicant-provided and third-party sources of in-kind match, as provided in section C.3 .

This letter should include details on what the in-kind contribution will consist of and a valuation (ex: 40 hours of consulting time at $100 hourly rate for a total in-kind contribution of $4,000 across the period of performance).