MBDA-OBD-2022-2007282 NOFO Report.pdf

MBDA Business Center Program

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 3

A. Program Objective 3 B. Program Priorities 3 C. Program Authority 7

II. Award Information 7 A. Funding Availability 7 B. Project/Award Period 7 C. Type of Funding Instrument 8

III. Eligibility Information 8 A. Eligible Applicants 8 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 9 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 10

IV. Application and Submission Information 10 A. Address to Request Application Package 10 B. Content and Form of Application 10 C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 15 D. Submission Dates and Times 15 E. Intergovernmental Review 15 F. Funding Restrictions 15 G. Other Submission Requirements 16

V. Application Review Information 18 A. Evaluation Criteria 18 B. Review and Selection Process 19 C. Selection Factors 20 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 21

VI. Award Administration Information 21 A. Award Notices 21 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 21 C. Reporting 22

VII. Agency Contacts 23 VIII. Other Information 23

Notice of Federal Funding Page 1 of 41

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Federal Agency Name(s): Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), Department of Commerce

Funding Opportunity Title: MBDA Business Center Program

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: MBDA-OBD-2022-2007282

Federal Assistance Listings Number: 11.805, MBDA Business Center (MBC)

Dates: Complete applications will be accepted in Grants.gov up to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 2, 2022. Applications received after this time will not be reviewed or considered.

Funding Opportunity Description: This notice requests applications from qualified organizations to operate MBDA Business Centers in six states, Arkansas, Indiana, Oregon, South Carolina, Wisconsin and Utah. The Business Centers will facilitate the growth and job creation in minority business enterprises in their locales by providing expert technical assistance to minority business enterprises consistent with the terms of this Notice of Funding Opportunity. These programs align with the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) strategic mission goals to support minority business enterprises (MBEs) and the Administration’s strategic priority to advance racial equity and support for underserved communities through the Federal government.

Pre-Application Teleconference: MBDA will conduct a series of pre-application teleconferences from 2:00-3:00pm Eastern time on the following dates with focus areas noted below:

• April 28 – General competition information, key changes from previous competitions and key dates, live Question and Answer session

• May 3 – Program priorities and objectives with examples, live Question and Answer session

• May 10 – Budget pitfalls to avoid and best practices, live Question and Answer session

• May 17 – Measuring success and performance, live Question and Answer session Participants must register at least 24 hours in advance of the teleconference. Please visit the MBDA website at www.mbda.gov to register and view recordings of the teleconferences, as well as other additional information.

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FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, assists minority business enterprises (MBEs) through its MBDA Business Center Program.

The Program supports a national network of Business Centers that provide high quality, technical assistance to MBEs. Business Centers provide counseling and mentoring to MBEs, assist MBEs to access capital, contracts and grants, facilitate the growth of MBEs by promoting trade, and support MBEs to create and retain jobs. The goal of these Business Centers is to further MBDA’s core objective of promoting the growth and global competitiveness of America’s MBE community.

MBDA is soliciting competitive applications from eligible entities to operate MBDA Business Centers as described in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). MBDA anticipates awarding a total of approximately $2,100,000 pursuant to this NOFO for cooperative agreements issued for the operation of a business center in each of the following states:

Arkansas Indiana Oregon South Carolina Wisconsin Utah

The states were selected as those states that do not currently have a Business Center or Specialty Center and also have the highest number of MBEs in rank order (Source: Census 2017 Non-Employer and Employer Classifiable Firms). MBDA will evaluate applications based on the applicant’s demonstrated ability to serve the community and states in which they are located. However, a Business Center may provide services to minority business enterprises located in any U.S. state or territory.

B. Program Priorities

Centers must offer a wide array of assistance. This can be accomplished through a mixture of direct services or referral to other qualified organizations. The Business Centers

Notice of Federal Funding Page 3 of 41 must offer programming and services across three categories: business development, capacity-building and navigation, described below.

Business Development: The Business Center must assist clients to increase revenues and profits. The Business Center is encouraged to focus on opportunities that increase MBE participation in public and private large-scale investments and high-growth industries, specifically, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, innovation and emerging technologies.

Business Centers may support MBEs in activities including, but not limited to:

o Contracting Assistance: providing information and assistance to MBEs pursuing federal, state, local, and private sector prime contract and subcontract opportunities.

o Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Procurement: providing information and assistance to MBEs pursuing federal, state, local and private sector prime contract and sub-contract opportunities related to the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

o Accessing supply chains: providing information and assistance to MBEs pursuing opportunities to participate in global supply chains.

o Export promotion: helping MBEs identify and develop potential export markets, participate in trade shows, and connect with U.S. Export Assistance Centers.

Capacity Building: The Business Center is required to provide MBEs with one-on-one business counseling. The goals of these services may be to improve operational efficiencies, increase resources, build scale, manage risk, increase liability thresholds, strengthen management teams, facilitate access to financing, increase profits and owner equity, and integrate new technology and equipment. Business Centers may support MBEs in activities including, but not limited to:

o Access to capital: increasing awareness of basic credit practices and credit requirements; assisting in the development of business plans, financial packages, and credit applications.

o Management Counseling: assistance and resources relating to management, technological and technical assistance, financial, legal, and marketing services, and services related to workforce development.

Navigation: The Business Center must facilitate referrals and connections to an ecosystem of organizations that can support MBE growth and competitiveness. Referral organizations can include but need not be limited to: Federal agencies or programs, including those distributed through state, local, non-profit, and private sector entities; state and municipal governments;

major employer firms; chambers of commerce and other local economic development organizations; financial institutions; and community-based organizations. Business Centers must develop, cultivate, and maintain a network of strategic partnerships that foster access by MBEs to economic markets, capital, contracts, or other resources that facilitate their

Notice of Federal Funding Page 4 of 41 growth. As part of their network, Business Centers are required by law to establish or continue a referral relationship with at least one community-based organization. A community-based organization is a public or private nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness that is representative of a community or significant segments of a community;

and provides educational or related services to individuals in the community.

Business Centers are expected to provide one-on-one technical assistance services to MBEs to support the broad goals of Business Development, Capacity Building and Navigation.

They also should ensure that they are developing targeted programming and services specific to the needs of the MBEs in the Center’s service area. A Business Center should therefore have a sophisticated knowledge of the needs of targeted MBEs and a plan for how the Business Center will provide programming and services to meet those needs.

For example: A Business Center may target services to construction firms seeking to scale operations. The Business Center might propose to focus business development services on state and local procurement opportunities, and provide technical assistance focused on bonding. Alternatively, a Business Center may target services to local MBEs in the service sector and may target technical assistance to operations and workforce development.

Performance Measures and Goals

MBDA will measure each Business Center’s performance. MBDA has defined performance measures and minimum numerical goals that it expects each Business Center to meet. These goals are listed below. Because the awards are for three years and 10 months, the periods for achieving and reporting on the goals will begin with a 10-month period and then shift to an annual period.

Applicants should develop workplans that allow them to achieve and report on these minimum performance goals. Applicants may propose alternative numerical goals within each of the performance measures below, but any deviation below the numerical targets set below requires justification. MBDA is more likely to permit a deviation if it is grounded in facts and data about the specific needs of the MBEs in the region the applicant proposes to serve.

While applicants may propose different numerical targets for a given performance measure, applicants may not propose different measures. Section VII.B.(c).3 provides more detail on the process for proposing alternative numerical goals. Appendix A defines each performance measure.

Measures & minimum goals:

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Customers Reached

• First 10 months – 2,500

• First full-year reporting period goal (i.e., goal for months 11 through 22 of the award) - 3,600

• Second full-year reporting period goal – 4,320

• Third full-year reporting period goals – 5,184 Number of MBEs Served

• First 10 months – 83

• Subsequent-year annual goals – 100, including 50 new clients Client Gross Revenue Generated

• First 10 months – $62,500,000

• Subsequent-year annual goals – $75,000,000 Percent Clients that Increase Profits

• First 10 months – 42%

• Subsequent-year annual goals – 50% Value of Financing, Capital & Bonding

• First 10 months – $20,833,333

• Subsequent-year annual goals – $25,000,000 Number of Jobs Created or Retained

• First 10 months – 208

• Subsequent-year Annual Goals – 250 Strategic Facilitated Actions

• First 10 months – 21

• Subsequent-year annual goals – 25 Strategic Partners

• First 10 months – 8

• Subsequent-year annual goals – 10

Minority Business Enterprises. For the purposes of the Business Center program and these performance measures, a minority business enterprise, or MBE, is a business enterprise that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially or economically disadvantaged individual; and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. A socially or economically disadvantaged individual is an individual who has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias (or the ability of whom to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities, as compared to others in the same line of business and competitive market area) because of the identity of the individual as a member of a group, without regard to any individual quality of the individual that is unrelated to that identity.

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It is presumed that the term “socially or economically disadvantaged individual” includes an individual who is Black or African-American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Asian Indians, and Hasidic Jews.

C. Program Authority

The statutory authority for this program is the Minority Business Development Act (“MBDA Act”), 15 U.S.C. §§ 9501-9598, specifically, §§9521-26 and 9598.

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

MBDA expects to expend approximately $2.1 million in fiscal year (FY) 2022 funds for the financial assistance awards under this NOFO to cover the first budget period, which will last 10 months, of the selected projects. MBDA anticipates making six awards under this NOFO. The funding amount for each award in FY 2022 will be approximately $350,000.

MBDA anticipates that up to $7.56M will be available in FY 2023 through FY 2025 to support continuation of the program for the subsequent budget periods (12 months each) of the selected projects. This translates into approximately $420,000 for each center in each of those budget periods.

Receipt of any prospective funding also is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds, satisfactory performance, and continued relevance to program objectives and will be at the sole discretion of MBDA. In addition, MBDA may terminate an award, and thereby decline to fund future years, for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the award or if an award no longer effectuates MBDA’s program goals or priorities.

Publication of this NOFO does not obligate Department of Commerce or MBDA to award any specific cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any part of available funds.

B. Project/Award Period

MBDA expects to issue awards for a total term of three years and ten months from September 1, 2022 – June 30, 2026, with an initial 10-month budget period from September 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Subsequent budget periods will extend for 12-month terms, as outlined below.

Year 1 (FY 22) - $350,000 10 months, September 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023 Year 2 (FY 23) - $420,000 12 months, July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024

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Year 3 (FY 24) - $420,000 12 months, July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 Year 4 (FY 25) - $420,000 12 months, July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026

C. Type of Funding Instrument

Funding will be through a cooperative agreement. After the award is made, MBDA will be substantially involved in the activities of the Business Center, including by:

(1) providing training relating to the MBDA Business Center Program;

(2) requiring that the operator and staff of each Business Center:

• attend a conference with MBDA to establish the services and programs that the Business Center will provide, in carrying out the requirements before the date on which the Business Center begins providing those services and programs, as well as other required training(s);

• receive necessary guidance relating to carrying out the requirements of the Business Center Program; and

• work in coordination and collaboration with MBDA to carry out the MBDA Business Center

Program and other MBDA programs;

(3) facilitating connections between Business Centers and—

(A) Federal agencies other than MBDA, as appropriate; and

(B) other institutions or entities that use Federal resources, such as small business development centers, women’s business centers, procurement technical assistance centers and entities participating in the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program;

(4) monitoring projects carried out by the Business Center; and

(5) establishing and enforcing administrative and reporting requirements for each Business Center.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include:

• Private sector entities, defined as entities that are not public sector entities. This includes, for example, for-profit entities of any type and non-profit entities, and may include quasi-governmental entities that are not agents of the state, but does not include the Federal Government, any Federal agency, or any instrumentality of the Federal Government.

• Public sector entities, defined as States, agencies of a State, political subdivisions of a

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State, or agencies of a political subdivision of a State

• Native entities, which means a Tribal Government; an Alaska Native village or Regional or Village Corporation, as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); a Native Hawaiian organization, as that term is defined in section 7517 of title 20; the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

• Institutions of higher education

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

A non-federal cost share of 33% of the Federal funding is required for each budget period. A Business Center may meet the matching requirement by using (i) cash or in-kind contributions, without regard to whether the contribution is made by a third party; or (ii) Federal funds received from other Federal programs, if those programs allow funding to be used for cost sharing purposes.

A Business Center may, but is not required to, generate revenue from fees for service, client fees, membership fees, or other appropriate fees approved by MBDA. Any income the Center generates in operating the Business Center may be used towards the matching requirement, unless the matching requirement is met from other cash or in-kind sources. Any income generated in excess of the matching requirement must be used to carry out the activities of the Business Center authorized by the award (2 C.F.R. 200.307(e)(2)). MBDA cautions against charging fees at a level where the Center cannot accomplish the mission of providing robust service to a range of MBEs.

In-kind contributions must be documented and must be eligible project costs and meet applicable Federal cost principles and other requirements of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

If an applicant uses other Federal funds to satisfy the matching requirement, it will be required to submit an attestation of the usage toward this grant.

The MBDA Under Secretary may make a determination, based upon a demonstration by the applicant of substantial need, that the applicant shall not be required to provide the full 33% match with respect to the funding to be provided. To qualify for a waiver, an applicant must submit a request with the application, including justification for the waiver and the amount being sought.

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C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

None.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

All application materials and forms are available at the Grants.gov website (http://www.grants.gov). Helpful competition materials such as FAQs will be made available on the MBDA website (www.mbda.gov).

B. Content and Form of Application

Applicants for MBDA Business Center program must be complete and follow the format described in this NOFO. A complete application packet consists of the following forms and required submissions described below. Applications that fail to include all the necessary elements may not be reviewed or considered and may be disqualified.

(1) Title Page (One (1) page limit) At a minimum, the application title page must provide the applicant’s name, address, telephone number, email address, date of submission, and the Funding Opportunity Number.

Applicants must also provide the following additional information: project’s title, total budget, start and end dates, and the names, affiliations, complete mailing addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers of all key persons affiliated with the proposal.

(2) Table of Contents (One (1) page limit) Under the Table of Contents, applicants must outline the full contents of the application and provide corresponding page numbers. All pages of the application must be consecutively numbered.

(3) Applicant Narrative (Ten (10) page limit) A detailed narrative with defined sections as described below.

a) Project Description: The applicant must fully describe and explain what is being proposed, demonstrating knowledge of the community that the applicant proposes to serve and the ability to conduct effective outreach to that community to advance the goals of an MBDA Business Center.

(1) Executive Summary: Provide an executive summary of the project of no more than 250 words.

(2) Location and Market Needs: Indicate the specific geographic service area, location for the proposed Business Center, and data-based description of the needs of the MBEs in the

Notice of Federal Funding Page 10 of 41 service area, including MBE market size and growth trends, main industries, and an analysis of current support eco-system gaps and strengths. Applicant is encouraged to provide or reference external sources of data and research.

(3) Program Activities: Provide a detailed description of the evidence-driven services, programs and activities that the applicant proposes to undertake. First, this section must describe how the applicant proposes to offer a broad array of programs and services to support the broad goals of Business Development, Capacity Building and Navigation described above in Section I.B. Second, this section must also describe the targeted programming and services that the applicant proposes to meet the specific needs of the MBEs in the Center’s region. These targeted proposals should reflect the needs of MBEs described in the “Location and Market Needs” section of the Project Description above.

(4) Project Implementation Timeline: Provide a timeline over the entire period of performance with progressive milestones demonstrating how the applicant will accomplish the project. Please include operational processes and procedures that will be deployed to accomplish the business development objectives and ensure customer satisfaction and financial solvency. Include a detailed plan for the first 120 days describing the start-up activities of Center operations that includes all compliance requirements (reference Appendices C, D E & F).

(5) Strategic Partners: Identify and describe strategic alliances/partnerships and how they will contribute to the proposed Business Center, such as with financial institutions, trade associations, and municipal and state governments. Applicants should demonstrate relationships with and knowledge of the community that will be served. If the applicant proposes to leverage one or more third parties to carry out a substantial portion of the proposed project, the applicant will need to describe the third party and its role as well as provide proof of commitment by the third party, such as a memorandum of understanding or letter of commitment, in the Supporting Documents section of the proposal. At a minimum the applicant must provide proof of one referral relationship to a community-based organization. The term “community-based organization” means a public or private non-profit organization of demonstrated effectiveness that is representative of a community or significant segments of a community and provides educational or related services to individuals in the community.

(6) Outreach and Marketing: The applicant must describe the specific data-driven marketing strategies it will use to reach large numbers of MBEs, recruit MBE clients, and expand visibility of the services offered by the proposed Business Center. This strategy should explain how it will be executed in the relevant languages of the MBE community it intends to serve.

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b) Applicant Capability: The applicant must present information describing its experience and qualifications to operate a Business Center. The application must include the following information.

(1) Applicant Profile: A concise summary of the applicant’s organization, its mission and programs, experience with similar projects or services as those proposed, and a list of previous or current projects or services relevant to the proposal.

(2) Applicant Background: An overview that emphasizes the applicant’s knowledge of strategies for enhancing growth, expansion, and capacity building of businesses; and accomplishments dealing with the specific issues facing MBEs, including information that demonstrates experience in: increasing business participation in large-scale contracts, grants, procurements; accessing financing, legal assistance, and/or established supply chains;

engaging in joint ventures, teaming arrangements, mergers and acquisitions, public and private large-scale investments and high-growth industries, specifically, infrastructure, supply chain development, advanced manufacturing, and innovation and emerging technologies; workforce development; facilitating large-scale transactions in global markets.

(3) Organizational Structure, Biographies or Resumes for Major Participants: A chart showing the applicant’s organizational structure, including a functional statement noting the duties and/or responsibilities of all units that will comprise the organization during the period for which the proposal applies. Applicants must also provide a brief narrative outlining the reporting structure and/or governance of the Business Center and the financial operation of the organization. The applicant must provide in the Supporting Documents section of the application a bio or resume showing relevant experience of the applicant’s key leader(s), for example President/CEO to oversee the success of the proposed project, as well as for the key project personnel who will lead the project.

(4) Proof of Capability: Applicants also are encouraged to provide proof of capability such as, but not limited to, public records of accomplishments, public citations, and/or letters of referrals/recommendations as attachments in the proposal.

c) Project Goals and Objectives: The applicant must provide a breakdown of the proposed annual goals in 6-month increments. For the first ten-month period the breakdown should be the first 120 days and subsequent 6 months. If the applicant is proposing to deviate from the minimum baseline provided for each award period, a data-driven justification should be provided. For the breakdown of the goals, the applicant should provide:

(1) A detailed description of the methodology or evidence and assumptions that were used to construct and propose the breakdown.

(2) Identification of key assumptions and/or risks that may impact the applicant’s ability to meet or exceed the goals, as well as proposed contingency plans and/or strategies for adjusting performance to a satisfactory level if an applicant falls short of their goals.

(4) Supporting Documents

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The applicant may provide additional information that supports the proposed project. This should include any memorandum of understanding, commitment letters, or other evidence of existing strategic partnerships, as well as biographies or resumes of the applicant’s key leaders and key project personnel. It may also include literature cited in the proposal, which may support scoring under the Applicant Narrative – Project Description criterion as noted above.

(5) Standard Forms (SF) and Budget Narrative for 3 years and 10 months The applicant must provide the required SF, attachments, and budget information as described in the section below.

(a) Standard Application Forms. Please refer to the application package available through

Grants.gov. Please review each form to determine which is required with a submission. Each applicant may not be required to submit all forms listed, depending on the project type or the applicant type.

(i) Signed SF-424: Must be signed by the authorized representative. Electronic signatures submitted through Grants.gov satisfy this requirement. One form will cover all funding periods.

(ii) SF-424A: Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs. Must be submitted for all budget periods.

(iii) Signed SF-424B: Assurances for Non-Construction Programs. Budget Narrative must be completed and submitted for all non-construction applications. Must be signed by the authorized representative.

(iv) SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.

(v) Signed Commerce Department (CD)-511: Certification Regarding Lobbying.

Certification regarding debarment, suspension, and other responsibility matters, drug free workplace requirements, and lobbying. Must be signed by the authorized representative.

(b) Budget Narrative. The applicant must provide a detailed justification for all budget items in sufficient detail to enable the proposal reviewers to evaluate the appropriateness of the funding requested (e.g., staffing, infrastructure, work activities, materials and supplies, equipment, etc.). The budget justification must be broken-out and detailed using the same budget categories as the SF-424A. All total costs on the Budget Narrative must match the SF-424 and SF 424-A exactly. The SF-424, SF-424A and Budget Narrative must have the same correct Federal and non-Federal (if applicable).

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If the applicant will charge fees or generate income in connection with the operation of the project, it must provide a description of the types of fees it proposes to charge. Fees that are not a fee for service, client fee, or membership fee must be approved by MBDA.

(d) Required Travel Item(s). Each applicant must include in its budget forms and narrative travel costs for (2) key personnel to attend the events included below. In the event that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause limitations on travel and gatherings, the events will be virtual.

Minority Enterprise Development Week National Training Conference NOAA Grants Management Workshop (Years 1&3) Please refer to section VIII “Other Information” of this NOFO for additional information pertaining to required travel.

(e) Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (as applicable). Applicants requesting an indirect cost rate are required to submit a copy of their current and signed indirect cost rate agreement with the application package. If an applicant does not have a current indirect cost rate established by a cognizant Federal agency, provide a statement to this effect. If a successful applicant includes indirect costs in the budget and has not established an indirect cost rate with a cognizant federal agency, the applicant will be required to obtain such a rate in accordance with Section B.06 of the Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions, dated November 12, 2020.

Alternatively, in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.414(f), a non-Federal entity that does not have a current negotiated indirect cost rate may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs. Applicants proposing a 10 percent de minimis rate pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f) must note this election as part of the budget and budget narrative portion of the application.

Indirect costs proposed under the award must be clearly identified as a separate budget line-item.

Costs must be consistent with the Uniform Guidance: Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance), 2 CFR Part 200.

(6) Format Requirements

All pages should be single-spaced and should be composed in at least 11-point font with one-inch margins on 8-1/2 inch x 11 inch paper. The total proposal shall not exceed 20

Notice of Federal Funding Page 14 of 41 pages, including the title page, table of contents, applicant narrative, literature cited, budget narrative, letters of support or letters of commitment (if any), and organizational structure.

The following items are not included in the 20-page limit: resumes/bios of key personnel and required forms. Failure to follow the requirements may result in the rejection of the application. Any PDF or other attachments that are included in an electronic application must meet the above format requirement when printed.

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

Each applicant (unless the applicant is eligible for an exception under 2 CFR § 25.110(b), (c), or (d) is required to:

during which the applicant has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by MBDA (or any other Federal agency).

MBDA may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time MBDA is ready to make the award, MBDA may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

D. Submission Dates and Times

All proposals must be received on or before June 2, 2022 at 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time (E.T). Applications may be submitted starting from the publication date of this NOFO up to the deadline above. Applications received after this time will not be reviewed or considered for funding. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov. The electronic submission will receive a date and time stamp at and will be processed after it is fully uploaded. Applicants should anticipate receiving confirmation of successful submission within forty-eight (48) hours. It is imperative that applicants obtain this confirmation as proof of successful submission. Waiting to submit an application until the end of the competition period puts an application at risk; be sure to allow ample time.

E. Intergovernmental Review

Applications under this project are not subject to Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

F. Funding Restrictions

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Any income the Center generates in operating the Business Center may be used towards the matching requirement, unless the matching requirement is met from other cash or in-kind sources. Any income generated not used for the matching requirement must be used to carry out the activities of the Business Center authorized by the award (2 C.F.R. 200.307(e)(2)).

G. Other Submission Requirements

In order to submit an application through Grants.gov, an applicant must register for a Grants.gov user ID and password. Note that this process can take between three to five business days or as long as four weeks if all steps are not completed correctly. The most up-to-date instructions for application submission via Grants.gov can be found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html. Applicants already registered with Grants.gov do not need to re-register; however, all registered organizations must keep their System for Award Management (SAM registration up-to-date through sam.gov or their applications will not be accepted by Grants.gov.

New Grants.gov Users New Grants.gov users should note that the registration process can be lengthy, requires interaction with multiple organizations not affiliated with MBDA, and requires confirmation at each step. Applicants should register as organizations, not individuals. The process requires the applicant to appoint one or more Authorized Organization Representatives (AOR). The AORs registered at Grants.gov are the only officials with the authority to submit applications for an applicant. An applicant may authorize multiple AORs for Grants.gov.

Below are instructions for registering as an organization:

• Obtain a DUNS Number: Call 1-866-705-5711 or access the Dun & Bradstreet website http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform (1-2 business days).

• Register with SAM: Access https://www.sam.gov. The applicant needs to identify the authorizing official of its organization and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) (7-10 business days).

• Create Grants.gov Username and Password: Complete the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) profile and create a username and password. The applicant will need to use its organization's DUNS Number (same day).

• Authorize the AOR: Request approval, then the applicant’s E-Biz POC must log in to Grants.gov to confirm the AOR (same day).

• Track AOR Status: Log in to Grants.gov and look at the Applicant welcome box for your current status (same day).

• Download an application package: Use Funding Opportunity Number MBDA-OBD- 2022-2007282 and Download a Grant Application Package (same day).

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• Complete your application package: Write your proposal and fill out ALL the required forms, fields, and certifications (allow 3 days).

• Submit your application package: Access your completed application package, ensure all the necessary information is entered, check the package for errors, then click the "Save & Submit" button on the cover page (3 days).

• Track my application package: Enter the tracking number you received after Step 8 and click the "Submit Tracking Number(s)" button. Note, confirmation of successful submission may require 48 hours (allow 2 days).

Electronic Submission

The electronic submission date is the date that applications have been submitted electronically and received by Grants.gov. Proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that www.Grants.gov receives your application. You must save and print the proof of submission from/on www.Grants.gov. If problems occur while using www.Grants.gov, the applicant is advised to (i) print any error message received and (ii) call www.Grants.gov at 1-800-518-4726 for immediate assistance.

The time it takes to completely upload an application will vary depending on a number of factors, including the size of the application, the speed of the applicant’s Internet connection, and the time it takes Grants.gov to process the application. If Grants.gov rejects the application, the applicant must resubmit the entire application and receive a date and time stamp from Grants.gov. The Grants.gov time stamp will be considered the date and time of submission receipt. Before beginning to apply through Grants.gov, please review the application instructions posted at Grants.gov.

If you experience a grants.gov “systems issue” (technical problems or glitches with the grants.gov website) that you believe threatens your ability to complete a submission, you must (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 and document a case number regarding your communications with grants.gov.

Important note: problems with an applicant organization’s computer system or equipment are not considered “systems issues.” Similarly, an applicant’s failure to: (i) complete the required registration, (ii) ensure that a registered AOR submits the application, or (iii) receive an email message from grants.gov are not considered systems issues. A grants.gov “systems issue” is an issue occurring in connection with the operations of grants.gov system, such as the temporary loss of the service by grants.gov due to unexpected volume of traffic

Notice of Federal Funding Page 17 of 41 or failure of information technology systems, both of which are highly unlikely.

Confirmation of successful submission requires 48 hours. Applicants are advised to review the Grants.gov tutorial to minimize risk of an unsuccessful submission. Please visit http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-tools-and-tips.html.

Throughout the review and selection process, MBDA reserves the right to seek clarification in writing from applicants whose applications are being reviewed. MBDA may additionally ask applicants to clarify application materials or modify budgets or other specifics necessary to comply with Federal requirements.

www.grants.gov

V. Application Review Information

A. Evaluation Criteria

Each application will be evaluated based on criteria included below. The number of points that can be earned for each category of criteria is listed below, with 100 points the maximum total that can be earned.

1. Impact of the Proposed Project (40 points) This criterion considers the effectiveness of the proposed project, including:

• the quality of the proposed services and their alignment to the needs of the MBEs to be served (10 points)

• the quality of the analysis of the local MBE needs (8 points)

• the quality and feasibility of the project implementation timeline (4 points)

• the breadth and quality of the applicant’s strategic partners and alliances (6 points)

• the effectiveness of the applicant’s proposed outreach and marketing plans, including how well it is supported by data (5 points); and

• the quality of the analysis in the Project Goals and Objectives section of the application, including the contingency plans, and in particular how well the analysis reflects the MBE market to be served and project implementation timeline. (7 points)

2. Applicant Capability (30 points) This criterion assesses whether the applicant and its personnel possess the experience, background, and qualifications to accomplish the project, including

• the quality of the knowledge, experience and demonstrated track record of the applicant in enhancing growth, expansion, and capacity building of businesses, with extra weight given to experience with MBEs and specific examples of success (25 points)

• the knowledge, experience, and qualifications of the key project personnel (5 points)

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3. Applicant Budget (30 points) This criterion evaluates the budget to determine if it is realistic and commensurate with the project needs and time frame.

Total Available Application Points 100

All applications must adhere to the submission guidelines provided in this section and section IV.B.1.a), “A Complete Application.” Omissions will result in the deduction of points from the final score according to the table below up to and including disqualification of the entire application.

Mandatory Item: (Failure to Adhere Shall Result In)

- Title Page (5 Point Deduction)

- Table of Contents (5 Point Deduction)

- Applicant Narrative (Disqualification)

- Budget Narrative (Disqualification)

- Required Standard Forms (SF) and Attachments (Disqualification)

All project proposals will be evaluated, and applicant(s) will be selected based on the level at which the proposal addresses the evaluation criteria above, less any points deducted for failure to include the mandatory items noted above.

B. Review and Selection Process

1. Initial Screening – Prior to the formal review process, each application will receive an initial administrative screening to ensure that all required forms, signatures, and documents are present. An application will not be evaluated by the review panel if:

a) The application is received after the closing date;

b) The application package is not complete;

c) The project fails to address program objectives and priorities (see Section I);

d) The principal purpose of the activities in the application is to provide a direct benefit or service to MBDA.

2. MBDA Merit Review Panel - Each responsive application will receive an independent, merit review by a panel (Merit Review Panel) qualified to evaluate the applications submitted based on the published criteria. The Merit Review Panel will consist of at least three (3) individuals, all of whom could be a combination of full-time federal employees and/or non-federal civilians. Each reviewer shall evaluate and provide individual scores for each proposal based on the criteria set out in this Section (see Application Review Information, above) for a maximum of 100 points. The Merit Review Panel may discuss the application(s) but will not provide a consensus on scores for each applicant. Each application

Notice of Federal Funding Page 19 of 41 will be reviewed against the criteria individually.

Prior to review by the Merit Review Panel, MBDA will sort all applications into groups according to geographic service area. The Merit Review Panel will review and rank the applications within each geographically designated group such that each group will have its own final ranking.

Applications will be ranked by averaging the scores of all reviewers for each application.

Applicants may receive written follow-up questions during the review process from the MBDA program office relative to requested clarifications of items contained in the applicant’s proposal. The Chairperson of the Merit Review Panel will be responsible for averaging reviewers’ scores, collating reviewer comments, and completing an overall evaluation form that documents the scores and comments of the merit reviewers.

Applications that receive an overall average of 75 points or more will be considered for funding. Applications that receive an average score of 60 to 74 points will be given consideration for funding only if there are no proposals that score above 75 points.

Applications that receive fewer than 60 points will not be considered for funding.

C. Selection Factors

The ranked applications will be forwarded to the Program Manager for review for completeness and then forwarded to the Selecting Official.

The Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, or their designee, is the Selecting Official and makes the final recommendation to the Grants Officer regarding the funding of applications under this NOFO. The Selecting Official will recommend funding for applications evaluated as meritorious based on the final ranking according to each geographic service area group as prepared by the Merit Review Panel; however, the Selecting Official may recommend an application for an award outside of the rank order established by the Merit Review Panel based on one or more of the following selection factors:

• The extent to which the application meets the overall objectives and priorities of the MBDA Business Center Program as provided in Section I.A and B;

• The performance of the applicant under previous Federal financial assistance awards, as well as the performance of any third parties the applicant identifies who will be responsible for carrying out a substantial portion of the project;

from the investments flowing from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

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D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

Anticipated time for processing awards is approximately one hundred forty (140) days from the receipt of applications. MBDA anticipates that the awards under this NOFO will be made with start dates of September 1, 2022. Successful applicants may be eligible for pre-award costs (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.458).

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

The notice of award (CD-450) is executed by the Department of Commerce Grants Officer and is the authorizing document. It is generally provided electronically via the Grants Online system to the Authorized Representative of the recipient organization. The Authorized Representative for a successful applicant will receive instructions from MBDA on how to access the Grants Online system to accept the award.

MBDA will notify unsuccessful applicants, in writing, after a final selection has been made and after an offer has been accepted. Those applications that are not ultimately selected for funding will be retained by MBDA for a period of three (3) years after which they will be destroyed.

On occasion, competitive solicitations or competitive panels may produce less than optimum results, such as a competition resulting in the receipt of no applications or a competition resulting in all unresponsive applications received.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

1. Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements For Grants And Cooperative Agreements – the Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements, published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2014, effective December 26, 2014 (79 FR 78390) are applicable to this solicitation and may be accessed online at:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/12/30/2014-30297/department-ofcommerce-pre-award-notification-requirements-for-grants-and-cooperativeagreements

2. Awards made under this NOFO are subject to the Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions. This document will be provided in the award package. This document can be found at:

https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2020- 11/DOC%20Standard%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20-

Notice of Federal Funding Page 21 of 41

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3. Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements:

Through 2 C.F.R. § 1327.101, the Department of Commerce adopted Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, which apply to awards in this program. Refer to http://go.usa.gov/SBYh and http://go.usa.gov/SBg4

4. Review of Risk - After Applications are proposed for funding by the Selecting Official, the Grants Office will perform administrative reviews, including an assessment of risk posed by the applicant under 2 C.F.R. 200.206.