FY21 WBC Resiliency and Recovery DemonstrationGrant - Final.pdf

U.S. Small Business Administration

Office of Women’s Business Ownership Women’s Business Center Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration Grant

Funding Opportunity No. OWBO-2021-01

WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER RESILIENCY AND RECOVERY DEMONSTRATION GRANT

FY 2021

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NO.

OWBO-2021-01

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity is to invite proposals for funding from entities currently funded by

SBA as a Women’s Business Center (WBC). Proposals must include detailed plans to continue or establish projects to improve service delivery, training, and supports provided to women-owned businesses. Successful respondents will demonstrate innovative approaches to service delivery for addressing the needs of women business owners.

Opening Date: April 20, 2021

Closing Date: May 20, 2021

Proposals responding to this program must be posted to www.Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time

(EDT), May 20, 2021. No other methods of submission will be permitted. Proposals submitted after the stipulated deadline will be rejected without being evaluated.

http://www.grants.gov/

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

OFFICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1.0 Section I – Funding Opportunity Description

1.1. Program Overview

1.2 Introduction

1.3 Background

1.4 Purpose

1.5 Leveraging of Resources

1.6 SBA Involvement and Oversight

1.7 Changes or Cancellation

2.0 Section II – Award Information

2.1 Estimated Funding

2.2 Expected Number of Awards

2.3 Period of Performance/Budget Periods

2.4 Funding Information

2.5 Funding Instrument

2.6 Matching Requirement

2.7 Program Income Restrictions

3.0 Section III – Eligibility Information

3.1 General

3.2 Eligible Applicants

3.3 Ineligible Applicants

4.0 Section IV – Application and Submission Information

4.1 Application Instructions

4.1.1 Abstract

4.1.2 Technical Proposal (not to exceed 15 pages)

4.1.3 Budget Information

4.1.4 Certifications, Forms and Assurances

4.1.5 Attachments and Exhibits

4.2 Submission Instructions

4.3 Required Proposal Submission Dates

5.0 Section V - Application Review Information

5.1 General

5.2 Evaluation Criteria

5.2.1 Organizational Experience and Capacity (25 Points)

5.2.2 Project Design (35 Points)

5.2.3 Project Management (15 Points)

5.2.4 Collaboration and Leveraging of Resources (10 Points)

5.2.5 Performance Evaluation: (15 Points)

5.3 Review and Selection Process

6.0. Section VI - Award Administration Information

6.1. Award Notification

6.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

6.3 Reporting

6.3.1 Financial Reports

6.3.2 Performance Progress Reports

6.3.3 Report Submission

7.0 Section VII - Agency Contacts

7.1 Portable Assistance Program Point of Contact

7.2 Financial/Grants Management Point of Contact

7.3 Grants.gov Technical Support

8.0 Section VIII - Other Information

8.1 Definitions

8.2 Instructions

8.3 Advance Understandings

8.4 Shared Information

1.0 Section I – Funding Opportunity Description

1.1. Program Overview

1.1.1. Federal Agency Name U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

1.1.2. Funding Opportunity Title Women’s Business Center Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration Grant

1.1.3. Funding Opportunity Type Initial

1.1.4. Funding Opportunity Number: Funding Opportunity No. OWBO-2021-01

1.1.5. CDFA Number 59.043

1.1.6. Closing Date for Submissions: May 20, 2021, 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

1.1.7. Authority: Small Business Act §§2(h), 29 (15 U.S.C. §§ 631(h)), and 656, as amended; Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act

PL 116–136 § 1103 of, 13 CFR Part 131

1.1.8. Duration of Authority: One Year

1.1.9. Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

1.1.10. Period of Funding: Funding is for up to a twelve-month period

1.1.11. Award Amount/Funding Range: A total amount of approximately $2,700,000 in funding is available for this program. SBA expects to make 14 awards of not more than $200,000 per award. There is no matching requirement.

1.1.12. Project Duration: Single Year awards will be made for a project period of 12 months.

1.1.13. Project Starting Date: Within 30 calendar days of the date of award.

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

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

1.1.15. Agency Programmatic Point of

Contact:

Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Entrepreneurship Education Email: owbo@sba.gov

1.2 Introduction

The Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) is accepting applications for the Women’s Business Center Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration Grant. The purpose of this project is to continue or establish projects that improve service delivery, training and supports provided to women-owned businesses. Successful respondents will demonstrate innovative approaches to service delivery for addressing the needs of their respective entrepreneurial ecosystems.

The WBC Program was established by the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 (Public Law No.

100-533) as the Women’s Business Demonstration Pilot, providing grants to private non-profit organizations to aid and encourage the development and growth of small women-owned businesses through long-term training and counseling. The program was expanded and made permanent in

2007, when the WBC Sustainability Grant Program, established in 1999, was replaced with the WBC

Renewal Grant Program.

1.3 Background

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

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

1.4 Purpose

SBA intends to solicit, evaluate, and fund eligible applications from WBCs for its Resiliency and

Recovery Demonstration project awards. The funded projects will enable awardees to continue or establish projects that improve service delivery, training and supports provided to women-owned businesses. Successful respondents will demonstrate innovative approaches to service delivery for addressing the needs of their respective entrepreneurial ecosystems. Best practices must be used shall be used for the education, training, and advising of covered small business concerns and their employees on:

(A) accessing and applying for resources provided by the Administration and other Federal resources relating to access to capital and business resiliency;

(B) the hazards and prevention of the transmission and communication of COVID–19 and other communicable diseases;

(C) the potential effects of COVID–19 on the supply chains, distribution, and sale of products of covered small business concerns and the mitigation of those effects;

(D) the management and practice of telework to reduce possible transmission of COVID–19;

(E) the management and practice of remote customer service by electronic or other means;

(F) the risks of and mitigation of cyber threats in remote customer service or telework practices;

(G) the mitigation of the effects of reduced travel or outside activities on covered small business concerns during COVID–19 or similar occurrences; and

(H) any other relevant business practices necessary to mitigate the economic effects of COVID–19 or similar occurrences.

1.5 Leveraging of Resources

Applicants selected for Awards under this Funding Opportunity are required to maximize their efforts to leverage SBA funding by working in conjunction with:

• SBA’s District Offices;

• Small business development programs and activities of other federal, state, local and tribal governments;

• SBA resource partners such as SCORE, Small Business Development Centers, Women’s

Business Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, 7(j) Technical Assistance providers, Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), Certified Development Companies (CDCs) and SBA lenders;

• Universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education; and

• Private organizations such as chambers of commerce, trade and industry groups and associations.

1.6 SBA Involvement and Oversight

The Women’s Business Center Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration Grant project is managed by the designated Grants Officer Technical Representative (GOTR, a.k.a. Program Manager) within the OWBO. The Program Manager will be responsible for overall monitoring and oversight of a Recovery and Resiliency Award Recipient, including compliance with the terms of the Cooperative Agreement.

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

1.7 Changes or Cancellation

SBA reserves the right to amend or cancel this Funding Opportunity, in whole or in part, at the

Agency’s discretion. Should SBA make material changes to this Funding Opportunity, the Agency will extend the closing date as necessary to afford Applicants sufficient opportunity to address such changes.

2.0 Section II – Award Information

2.1 Estimated Funding

SBA expects to issue up to 14 awards under this Funding Opportunity. The amount of funding provided under each award will be not more than $200,000 per award.

2.2 Expected Number of Awards

SBA anticipates making at 14 awards under this Funding Opportunity.

2.3 Period of Performance/Budget Periods

Single Year Project awards will be made for a one-year period of performance.

2.4 Funding Information

Funds provided under the Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration Grant must be used solely for the purposes stipulated in this Funding Opportunity 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 C.F.R. Part 200.

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.

2.5 Funding Instrument

The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.

2.6 Matching Requirement

There is no matching requirement for this Award.

2.7 Program Income Restrictions

No Program Income is allowed to be generated under this award.

3.0 Section III – Eligibility Information

3.1 General

An organization may submit more than one proposal in response to this Funding Opportunity, provided that the purpose of each project is separate and distinct.

To the extent that they satisfy all eligibility criteria the same as all other applicant organizations, Religious Organizations are entitled to compete for Federal financial assistance (grants and/or cooperative agreements) used to support government programs. Generally, such organizations are not required to alter their religious character to participate in a government program, nor to cease engaging in explicitly religious activities outside the program, nor effectively to relinquish their

Federal statutory protections for religious hiring decisions.

3.2 Eligible Applicants

To be eligible for this Funding Opportunity an applicant must be an existing WBC currently funded by

SBA.

3.3 Ineligible Applicants

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

• Any organization NOT currently funded as a WBC;

• Any organization currently having an outstanding, unresolved financial obligation to any

Federal Agency;

• Any organization that is currently suspended, debarred, or otherwise prohibited from receiving awards of contracts or grants from the Federal Government;

• Any organization with an outstanding and unresolved material deficiency reported under the requirements of the Single Audit Act or OMB Circular A-133 within the past three years;

• Any organization having any unresolved non-compliant condition within SBA program guidelines occurring while administering or implementing any SBA program;

• Any organization that has had an WBC cooperative agreement involuntarily terminated or non-renewed by SBA for cause within the past year;

• Any organization that has filed for bankruptcy within the past five years;

• Any organization that proposes to serve as a pass-through and permit another organization to manage the day-to-day operations of the project; and/or

• Any organization that was convicted, or had an officer or agent acting on its behalf convicted, of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the past two years.

4.0 Section IV – Application and Submission Information

4.1 Application Instructions

Applications must consist of the following elements: (i) Project Abstract; (ii) a technical proposal in MS

Word format; (iii) Detailed Expenditure Worksheet; and (iv) attachments and exhibits. To retrieve these forms, use the hyperlink provided (WBC Forms and Worksheets) which will direct you to the appropriate location on the WBC webpage or insert the following URL into your web browser www.sba.gov/wbc.

4.1.1 Abstract

The applicant must submit an abstract that summarizes the proposed project including, but not limited to the scope of the project and anticipated impact. The Abstract must include the applicant’s name, telephone number, web address, e-mail address for the applicant’s designated point of contact, funding requested, project title, and a description of the area to be served. The Abstract is limited to five (2) double-spaced, single one-sided 8.5x11-inch pages with twelve (12)-point text and one (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 (not to exceed 10 pages)

The technical proposal serves as the narrative blueprint for the Applicant’s planned project and must include the following information:

• Detailed description of the program innovation or intended program innovation used by the WBC to promote the resiliency and recovery of women entrepreneurs impacted by the COVID-

19 public health emergency.

• Detailed description how the program innovation has or will improve service delivery to women-owned business owners with emphasis on delivery of services established in response to COVID-19.

• Detailed description of the anticipated results including the impact on the WBC program’s performance metrics (unique clients served, capital infusion (number of transactions), new business starts, and jobs supported.

• A plan for the sustainability of the program innovation after funding has concluded.

• Detailed description of how a Resiliency and Recovery grant will aid the WBC in scaling the program innovation.

• How many women entrepreneurs will be served within the WBCs existing catchment area.

• Detailed description of the Applicant’s past experience and capacity to implement evidence based entrepreneurial development effective practices or promising strategies that improve outcomes (See Section 5.2.1 for further guidance).

• Identification of the project director and key management personnel and staff, including résumés (or position descriptions for unfilled positions). Résumés must include experience https://www.sba.gov/wbc relevant to this project and may not be more than two pages in length. Copies of résumés must be included as attachments in accordance with Section 4.1.5 and do not count toward the page limit. (See Section 5.2.3 for further guidance.)

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

(i.e., competitively or non-competitively). Include a brief description of the scope of each contract and its purpose towards meeting project goals and objectives.

• An organizational chart showing the project and its key personnel in relation to the recipient organization.

• A timeline describing performance milestones for the project period using the “Metrics and Milestones Worksheet” available at the www.sba.gov/wbc.

4.1.3 Budget Information

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

Budget information for the twelve (12)-month period of performance must be provided through the submission of the following:

▪ SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance;

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

▪ Detailed Expenditure Worksheet-Budget must be submitted 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 Annual Budget Summary; and

▪ The Annual Budget Summary includes a narrative area where applicants can provide a brief but detailed explanation of the components of each cost element listed in the SF-

424A and Annual Budget Summary (an example can be found on the Example tab of the

Annual Budget Summary).

Note: The SF-424 and 424A are located at www.Grants.gov. The Detailed Expenditure Worksheet-

Budget 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.

▪ 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.

http://www.sba.gov/wbc http://www.sba.gov/wbc

▪ 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 the associated staff who traveled.

▪ Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase which has an estimated acquisition cost of $5,000.00 or more per unit (or if your capitalization level is less than $5,000.00, 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:

o 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 o Your intention to claim indirect costs using the ten-percent (10%) 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 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), for pre-award registration requirements for federal 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.

Non-federal entities are required to complete funding system assessment and submit a letter from the applicant’s Auditor, Certified Public Accountant, Treasurer, Comptroller, Chief Financial Officer, or similarly qualified individual certifying that your organization’s financial management system currently meets the requirements of 2 CFR 200.302.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring they are compliant with all the certifications and assurances required to submit a federal grant application. Information on the requirements can be found at SAM.gov.

4.1.5 Attachments and Exhibits

Each Applicant must attach copies of the following to its Proposal (as applicable):

• Résumés, position descriptions, letters of support, leases, conflict of interest policy and Cost Policy Statement

• The most recent A-133 audit report. If the Applicant is not subject to the requirements of the

Single Audit Act, it must instead submit a copy of its most recent audited financial statement;

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

• Any other documentation the Applicant believes supports its Proposal.

4.2 Submission Instructions

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

ACCEPTED. All required forms are provided in the Grants.gov application package for this Funding Opportunity. Specific instructions for obtaining, completing, and submitting an application via

Grants.gov, including animated tutorials, may be found at http://www.Grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants.html.

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

Information about the Grants.gov registration process can be found at http://www.Grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Applicants must register as organizations, not as individuals. Please note that organizations already registered with Grants.gov do not need to re-register. However, all registered organizations must keep their SAM registration up-to-date. As part of the Grants.gov registration process, an Applicant must designate one or more Authorized Organizational Representatives (AORs). AORs are the only individuals who may submit applications to Grants.gov on behalf of an organization. If an application is submitted by anyone other than a designated AOR, it will be rejected by Grants.gov and cannot be considered for funding.

Once an application is submitted, it undergoes a validation process through which it will be accepted or rejected by the Grants.gov system. The validation process may take 24 to 48 hours to complete.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

Applicants are advised to save and print written proof of an electronic submission made at Grants.gov. Applicants can expect to receive multiple emails regarding the status of their submission.

The first email will confirm receipt of the application. The second email will indicate that the application has either been successfully validated by the system and assigned an SBA tracking number, or it has been rejected due to errors. An Applicant will receive a third email once SBA has downloaded its Application from Grants.gov for review in accordance with Section 5.3 below.

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

APPLICATIONS THAT ARE REJECTED BY GRANTS.GOV WILL NOT BE FORWARDED TO SBA AND

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

If you experience a technical difficulty with Grants.gov (i.e., system problems or glitches with the operation of the Grants.gov website itself) that you believe threatens your ability to submit your application, please (i) print any error message received; and (ii) call the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 for immediate assistance. Ensure that you obtain a case number regarding your communications with Grants.gov. NOTE: Problems with an Applicant’s own computer system or equipment are not considered technical difficulties with Grants.gov. Similarly, an Applicant’s failure to: (i) obtain a DUNS number or complete the SAM or Grants.gov registration process; (ii) ensure that an AOR submits the application; or (iii) take note of and act upon an email from Grants.gov rejecting its application due to errors, are not considered technical difficulties. A Grants.gov technical difficulty is an issue occurring in connection with the operations of Grants.gov itself, such as the temporary loss of service by Grants.gov due to an unexpected volume of traffic or failure of information technology systems, both of which are rare occurrences.

Applicants may use the following link to obtain assistance in navigating Grants.gov and access a list of useful resources: http://www.Grants.gov/web/grants/support.html. If you have a question that is not addressed under the “Applicant FAQs,” try consulting the “Applicant User Guide” or contacting Grants.gov via email at support@Grants.gov or telephone at 1-800-518-4726. The Grants.gov Contact

Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week – except for federal holidays.

4.3 Required Proposal Submission Dates

Each Applicant is required to submit its proposal electronically via www.Grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on May ##, 2021. Because of the pre-conditions for submitting applications via Grants.gov and the potential for encountering technical difficulties in using that site, Applicants are strongly encouraged to log on to Grants.gov and review the submission instructions early. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE CLOSING DATE TO BEGIN THE SUBMISSION PROCESS.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html mailto:support@grants.gov

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

SBA will consider the date and time stamp on the validation generated by Grants.gov as the official submission time. A Proposal that is not received by Grants.gov before the closing date of this Funding Opportunity will be rejected without being evaluated, unless the Applicant can clearly demonstrate through documentation obtained from Grants.gov that it attempted to submit its proposal in a timely manner but was unable to do so solely because of Grants.gov systems issues. Additionally, SBA will not accept any unsolicited changes, additions, revisions, or deletions to applications made after the closing date.

Applicants should save and print written proof of an electronic submission made at Grants.gov. If problems occur while using Grants.gov, the applicant is advised to print any error message received and contact Grants.gov 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

5.1 General

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

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

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

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

5.2 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 5.2 of this FOA. Reviewers will award points based on the evaluation criteria below:

Criterion Points

Organizational Experience and capacity 15 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html

Project Design 40

Plan for Sustainability 15

Collaboration and Leveraging of Resources 10

Performance Evaluation 15

Budget and Budget Justification 5

Total 100

5.2.1 Organizational Experience and Capacity (15 Points)

Applicants will be evaluated on their demonstrated ability to organize, lead, and sustain a project that implements innovative program approaches that improve the outcomes of women entrepreneurs.

Applicants must describe how the management structure and staffing of the proposed project will enable the organization to meet the grant purpose as specified in Section I.4., and how the management structure and staffing are designed to ensure responsible general management and implementation of the project. Specifically, applicants must:

▪ Describe the organization’s experience and leadership with respect to:

o Developing innovative program strategies that are evidence based and have demonstrated impact on the outcomes of women entrepreneurs;

o Preparing women to start, manage, and expand their business ventures;

o Working with the SBA, SBA resource partners, Chambers, and Economic Development organizations to support entrepreneurial ecosystems; and o Participating in projects that produce replicable and transferable effective practices and promising strategies.

▪ Highlight the qualifications of key staff and the organizational structure that would ensure the success of the project (include job descriptions, which identify the key tasks);

▪ Describe the overall financial stability of the organization as demonstrated by strong accounting systems, fiscal and administrative controls, and previous grants management experience; and

▪ Describe the organization’s procurement processes and procedures and explain how the organization is equipped to meet federal procurement requirements.

5.2.2 Project Design (40 Points)

Through the Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration grant, OWBO will support the synthesis and implementation of innovative program approaches that improve the outcomes of women entrepreneurs impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. The proposed approaches implemented for this project can be either those that were developed by the WBC and were found to be effective or an approach that has a demonstrated positive impact on entrepreneurial outcomes, but the WBC lacked the resources to implement.

Applicants will be evaluated on the uniqueness of the innovative program approach and its realized or anticipated impact on entrepreneurial outcomes, the proposed strategy for implementing the proposed innovation, and the methodology for evaluating the effectiveness and impact of their projects. Applicants must describe in detail how the project will yield positive outcome. Applicants should:

▪ Identify and describe in detail the innovative program approaches that will be provided to women entrepreneurs. Examples of innovative practices include, but are not limited to:

▪ Providing outreach strategies, to include development of outreach and recruitment plans to recruit women into entrepreneurial development programs;

▪ Developing linkages and connections with lending resources;

▪ Providing access to supportive services to improve retention and participation, such as childcare and transportation; and

▪ Developing mentorship opportunities for women and creating (formal/informal) support groups for women entrepreneurs.

▪ Identify and describe the types of systemic change that will be realized by implementing the innovative program approach and how they will be incorporated into the organization’s entrepreneurial development programs.

5.2.3 Plan for Sustainability (15 Points)

Proposals should address how the organization will promote and sustain ongoing efforts to implement the proposed innovative program approach. Plans may include:

▪ The commercialization of technical assistance, curricula or toolkits;

▪ Securing support from funders; and

▪ Support from individual donors.

5.2.4 Collaboration and Leveraging of Resources (10 Points)

Applicants will be evaluated on the breadth of their plans for coordinating their proposed activities and working to expand the scope and reach of their project in collaboration with entities such as SBA’s District Offices, lenders (banks, CDFIs, and microlenders), other federal, state, local and tribal government agencies, other SBA grant Recipients/resource partners (SCORE, Small Business Development Centers [SBDC]), trade associations, business/industry groups, institutions of higher education, and/or private organizations. Identify the organization(s) that you will partner with and describe their experience providing entrepreneurial development services and/or facilitating access to capital, and their specific roles and responsibilities for this project. If applicable, Letters of Commitment from each partner must be included.

5.2.5 Performance and Program Evaluation: (15 Points)

Describe the evaluation plan that will implemented to assess the proposed innovative program approach and include: 1) the methods that will be employed; 2) what data will be collected to support the selected method, and then 3) how will the data be analyzed. The evaluation plan should include at minimum:

▪ Identification of specific data on participants and other data that the grantee plans to use, and how the data will be collected for analysis;

▪ How the grantee will document the lessons learned, both positive and negative; How the effectiveness of the proposed innovative program approach will be determined and how program could potentially be replicated;

▪ How program participants will be involved in evaluation activities;

▪ How data will be used to inform program delivery; and

▪ Identification of potential methods to analyze the data to assess the impact on the

▪ WBC Program’s core outcomes (unique clients served, capital infusion [number of transactions], new business starts, and jobs supported) reflected in numerical targets; and Key program 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.

Applicants must use the Metrics and Milestone template at www.sba.gov/wbc to present performance information.

▪ 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.

Funded applicants must be willing to collect data and participate in SBA sponsored evaluations. Applicants may also propose to conduct an independent evaluation and at the conclusion must provide SBA with all data and also any interim and the final report. More information on SBA program evaluation concepts can be found at: Framework and Guidelines for Program Evaluation at the US Small Business Administration.

5.3 Review and Selection Process

Applications that are not rejected by Grants.gov or SBA’s initial eligibility screening process (see Section 3.3) will be evaluated by reviewers and scored on the basis of how well they meet the criteria outlined above. The proposal reviews will be conducted on a fair and impartial basis. These reviewers may be SBA employees or employees of other Federal Agencies. The maximum score any application can receive is 100 points. Prior to evaluating applications received in response to this

Funding Opportunity, SBA will establish a minimum acceptable score. Only those applications that meet or exceed that threshold will be eligible for funding. Applicants are therefore encouraged to design proposals that address each of the scoring criteria listed above as completely and thoroughly as possible. From the applications which (1.) Meet the minimum score requirement, and (2.)

Represent the best scoring applications, the SBA will conduct a risk evaluation of the applicants. The risk evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the requirements imposed by 2 C.F.R. § 200.205.

At its discretion, SBA may decline to issue an Award to any potential Recipient if the Agency determines the applicant poses too great a risk. Criteria to be evaluated include the following:

• Financial stability (Indicated as a score of 174 or greater);

• Quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards prescribed in the Uniform Grant Guidance;

http://www.sba.gov/wbc https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2019-05/final%20508%20Framework%20and%20Guidelines%20for%20Program%20Evaluation%20at%20the%20US%20Small%20Business%20Administration%2003%2013%202019.pdf https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2019-05/final%20508%20Framework%20and%20Guidelines%20for%20Program%20Evaluation%20at%20the%20US%20Small%20Business%20Administration%2003%2013%202019.pdf

• History of performance. The applicant’s record in managing awards, cooperative agreements, or procurement awards, if it is a prior recipient of such federal awards, including timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting requirements and, if

• applicable, the extent to which any previously awarded amounts will be expended prior to future awards.

The scoring for the risk assessment is as follows: Low = 0 - 85 Moderate = 86 - 170 High = 170 and higher.

6.0. Section VI - Award Administration Information

6.1. Award Notification

All Applicants selected for awards will receive written notification. Applicants not selected for awards will not be notified. There will be no debriefing process for unsuccessful Applicants.

6.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

All successful Applicants will be required to comply with the requirements set forth in Section 21(a)(4)(C)(viii) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. § 648(a)(4)(viii)); 13 C.F.R. Part 130.; 2 C.F.R. Part

200, OMB Circular A-133 (as applicable); the Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B);

and the Terms and Conditions set forth in their Notices of Award. In addition, SBA may, from time to time, advise Recipients of Awards made under this Funding Opportunity of new legal requirements and/or policy initiatives with which they must agree to comply.

6.3 Reporting

All Recipients are required to submit the reports identified below. SBA may withhold payment if reports are not received or are deemed inadequate. Failure to report in a timely manner, or otherwise in accordance with these instructions, will also be weighed against future applications for grant funding from the same organization and the exercise of any option periods. The reports provided by Recipients may be made public. In addition, SBA reserves the right to require Recipients to post these reports on their websites.

6.3.1 Financial Reports

Recipients must submit quarterly financial reports to SBA using the SF-425, “Federal Financial Report”

(FFR), and the SF-270, “Request for Advance or Reimbursement”, within 30 days of the completion of each of the first three quarters and within 90 days of the completion of the fourth quarter of each Budget Period. Each submission must include a Quarterly Detailed Expenditures Worksheet or comparable detail of budget and actual costs. The sample worksheet for this attachment is available on the OWBC website (select Resources/WBC Grantee Forms and Worksheets). A narrative explanation is also required if the actual expenditures year-to-date (YTD) exceed the amount budgeted for a given cost category.

6.3.2 Performance Progress Reports

Performance Progress Reports (PPR) are due from Recipients within 30 days of the completion of each quarter. The Recipient may use either the PPR template (SF-PPR), available on the OWBC website, or a form of their own design that includes the same categories of information covered by the PPR. Each PPR component must be in PDF or MS Word format, unless noted below, and include the following:

• SF-PPR Cover Sheet (See Section 6.3.3.)

• attached narrative of project accomplishments to date including a discussion of any problems encountered and steps taken or proposed to correct those problems (in MS

WORD format).

• An updated Planned Milestone Accomplishments Chart or alternative performance measurement tool that shows a comparison of project goals to actual accomplishments.

This chart should identify goal targets compared to quarterly and project-to-date values.

If milestones are missed, then provide an explanation for the shortfall and describe a strategy to achieve the goals.

• Copies of résumés and subcontracts relating to the current Budget Period, if not previously submitted.

When small businesses access Spokes and receive counseling and training services those instances must be captured using the SBA Form 641 and SBA Form 888, or the equivalent. Data must be submitted to SBA through EDMIS within 30 days of the end of each quarter for awards under this

Funding Opportunity.

6.3.3 Report Submission

Reports must be submitted electronically to the GOTR. To avoid problems with electronic email size limitation, transmissions of electronic reports should not be over 5MB. Transmissions should be clearly labeled in the email subject line, including details such as the following:

Reporting quarterly progress:

• WBC Name, “Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration Grant,” Quarter# (e.g. 1,2,3, etc.), Grant Number (e.g. SBAHQ-B-00-0000), Project Name

Reporting Final overall results:

• WBC Name, “Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration Grant,” Grant Number (e.g. SBAHQ- B-00-0000), Project Name

For each reporting cycle, Recipients must use the SF-PPR, Performance Progress Report or its equivalent. The SF-PPR must be submitted in one transaction along with the financial and performance report materials. Incomplete submissions will not be accepted. A pattern of incomplete or delinquent submissions may result in delayed reimbursement, the disqualification for future solicitations or the denial of requests to exercise option years.

Reporting should be:

• Transacted by one responsible individual and not fragmented between individuals or offices;

• Submitted within 30 days of the completion of each of the first three quarters and within 90 days of the completion of the final quarter of the Budget Period;

7.0 Section VII - Agency Contacts

7.1 Portable Assistance Program Point of Contact

Questions concerning general information contained in this Funding Opportunity should be directed to the Office of Women’s Business Ownership at owbo@sba.gov. Indicate “Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration Grant” and the Funding Opportunity number in the subject line.

7.2 Financial/Grants Management Point of Contact

Questions regarding budgetary matters related to this Funding Opportunity should be directed to owbo@sba.gov.

7.3 Grants.gov Technical Support

For technical support with filing an electronic application in response to this Funding Opportunity, contact the Grants.gov help desk at 1-800-518-4726 or support@Grants.gov.

8.0 Section VIII - Other Information

8.1 Definitions

The following definitions apply to awards made under this Funding Opportunity (See 13 CFR part 130 et seq. for additional definitions relating to the Small Business Development Center Program).

8.1.1 Applicant - An eligible organization that applies for funding under this Funding Opportunity.

8 .1.2 Budget Period - The 12-month period during which expenditure obligations will be incurred by the Recipient of an Award under this Funding Opportunity. For the purposes of this Funding Opportunity, the Budget Period will be from September 30th to September 29th of the subsequent year.

8.1.3 Cooperative Agreement - A legal instrument signed by both SBA and a Recipient that memorializes the award of funding under a Cooperative Agreement and contains the specific Terms and Conditions that apply to the Award.

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

Accounting Standards Board Disclosure Statement [CASB DS-2] may be submitted for this purpose.

8.1.5 Counseling - Services provided one-on-one to an individual and/or business that are delivered in person (face-to-face), on the telephone, or electronically and which:

mailto:owbo@sba.gov mailto:owbo@sba.gov mailto:support@grants.gov

a. Are substantive in nature and concern the formation, management, financing, and/or operation of a small business enterprise; AND

b. Are specific to the needs of the business or individual; AND

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

8.1.6 Notice of Award - The official document, signed (or the electronic equivalent of signature) by a

Grants Management Officer that:

a. Notifies the Recipient of the award of a grant;

b. Contains or references all the Terms and Conditions of the grant and Federal funding limits and obligations; and

c. Provides the documentary basis for recording the obligation of Federal funds in the SBA accounting system.

8.1.7 Program Innovation- An effective enhancement or promising strategy

8.1.8 Project Period - The total period of performance for an award made under this Funding

Opportunity.

8.1.9 Qualifying Event - A recent business or government downsizing or closure that has had a negative economic impact, measurable by the loss of jobs and/or increased small business instability, in the proposed area of service. The specific Qualifying Event must have occurred not more than 5 years prior to the issue date of this Funding Opportunity.

8.1.10 Recipient - An Organization that has had its Application accepted and has been awarded funding under this Funding Opportunity.

8.1.11 Religious Organization- An entity that is organized for religious purposes and engages in activity consistent with, and in furtherance of, such purposes.

8.1.12 WBC - The entity established by the WBC Recipient Organization that has a current Cooperative

Agreement with SBA to administer and operates the WBC Network.

8.1.13 Small Business - A business entity:

a.) That is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in its field of operation, is organized for profit with a place of business located in the United States, and operates primarily within the United States; and b.) That does not exceed the applicable size standard for its industry as established under

13 C.F.R. § 121. In general, the most common size standards are:

• 500 employees for most manufacturing and mining industries;

• $39.5 million in average annual receipts for most general and heavy construction industries;

• $16.5 million in average annual receipts for all specialty trade contractors;

• $8 million in average annual receipts for most retail and service industries;

and

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