NSF Convergence Accelerator Midwest Region Questions and Answers.pdf

U.S. National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator Regional Anchor Solicitation for the Midwest Region

Questions and Answers

1 Question: What is the period of performance start date and end date?

The period of performance will begin once an award is issued. The award is expected to have a period of performance of five year upon award with the possibility to extend to a total of ten years. The current anticipated start date is scheduled for November 2024.

2 Question: What is the reference to 4.3 in Org Purpose & History? “A short introduction of the organization’s purpose and history (not repeating examples to be given under 4.3. below”?

Section 4.3 asks for specific examples that reflect the organizations capabilities. Those examples should not be a repetition of what was already stated in the introduction of the Organization's Purpose and History.

3 Question: Should the variable regional anchor costs include participant support costs for travel, or will those be covered in their subawards?

Travel for teams selected for Phase I or Phase II awards should be covered/included as part of the subawards/subcontracts and should not be included in anchor variable costs.

4 Question: Are there any requirements for how an organization SAM.gov needs to be set up to ensure you are eligible for an award?

Organizations whose SAM registration includes FAR reps and certs will have addressed all NSF requirements. NSF may request as part of this solicitation process prior to award, that offering firms complete NSF provided reps and certs.

5 Question: Could NSF please provide more detail on the Convergence Accelerator curriculum to ensure that applicants are budgeting appropriately for its delivery in line with NSF’s expectations and established practice?

The NSF Convergence Accelerator will provide all curriculum information for the asynchronous and synchronous sessions, held weekly, once a cohort has been onboarded.

Please see the Sample Curriculum for additional information.

6 Question: The solicitation notes that the Anchor is expected to develop a plan to measure the impact of Regional Convergence Accelerator project awards within 5 years, and within 10 years (page 4). Could NSF please confirm whether the anchor would also be responsible for implementing this plan, as opposed to it being outsourced by NSF after development?

Answer: The plan will be executed by the Anchor in partnership with NSF.

https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/2023-03/Sample%20of%20NSF%20Convergence%20Accelerator%20Phase%201%20Innovation%20Curriculum%20schedule_508.pdf?VersionId=vqP4w1.bwpm6Zp8DL9Io2xqu6UXjHjSv

7 Question: Does NSF expect applicants to submit letters of collaboration from the potential consortium connections identified in the proposal?

Letters of collaboration are not required to be submitted with your proposal. The NSF may request letters of commitment from partners and/or subcontractors prior to issuing an award.

8 Question: The solicitation includes the word “dedicated”. Does this mean that the anchor will ONLY run this NSF accelerator and do no other work?

It is not a requirement that the Anchor only run the NSF Convergence Accelerator Regional Program. The Anchor may have other business interests.

9 Question: Could the anchor organization, or an affiliate of it, invest in that company, after it had completed the accelerator, so long as the investment was open to other investors at the same time, with the same terms? Would the answer be different if they had not completed the accelerator program yet?

There cannot be co-Funding or additional funds provided to the teams/awardees from the Anchor.

10 Question: Do you expect that the anchor organization construct relationships with investors, to invest in the breakthrough companies that result from this accelerator? (This is a common issue with many startup accelerator-like programs - a gap between the program ending and the capital and resources needed to hit the ground running and grow.)

The funded teams/awardees in the region (particularly Phase 2) should be developing sustainability plans as part of their projects. Also, please also see solicitation Section 3 regarding nurturing the regional network

11 Question: Are organizations that have active awards, or that are subrecipients or partners on existing NSF awards eligible to respond to this solicitation?

Please see solicitation regarding eligibility e.g., Page 2&3 and COI sections e.g., Section 6

12 Question: Are you able to provide more information on what "variable anchor costs" are?

It is up to the responding offerors to come up with a comprehensive plan for how to support this effort. Part of the comprehensive plan is the development of a budget which constitutes the "variable anchor costs".

13 Question: Can you provide more insight into the desired fee structure?

Offerors may propose whatever fee structure they believe will best lend itself to supporting this program.

14 Question: Can organizations be listed as a subcontractor and/or consortium member on more than one proposal?

Organizations may be listed as a subcontractor and/or consortium member on more than one proposal. However, there will be a single Anchor award for the Midwest region.