ONAA 7j TCU Manufacturing NOFO - 07242026.docx

U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA)

Tribal College and University Manufacturing E2G Grant Initiative

Empower To Grow (E2G) Program

7(j) Management and Technical Assistance Services

FY 2026

Funding Opportunity No.

ONAA-7j-2026-01

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement is to invite proposals for funding from Tribal Colleges and Universities, Tribal Serving Institutions, Community Colleges on or near Tribal Lands, and other Trade Schools on or near Tribal Lands interested in providing innovative hands-on, in-person manufacturing training and technical assistance through rapid reskilling of employees for 8(a) and HUBZone eligible small businesses , under the U.S. Small Business Administration's Empower to Grow Program (formerly known as 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance Program).

Opening Date: July 24, 2026 Closing Date: August 24, 2026

Proposals responding to this Funding Opportunity Announcement must be posted to www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, August 24, 2026. No other methods of submission will be permitted. Proposals submitted after the stipulated deadline will be rejected without being evaluated. See 4.1 of this Funding Opportunity Announcement for information regarding SBA webinars to inform the public about the funding opportunity.

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Table of Contents

1.0 Section I – Funding Opportunity Description

1.1. Program Overview

requirements. Proposals will be reviewed against the criteria detailed in Section 5.0. SBA may ask applicants for clarification of the technical or cost aspects of their proposals. Clarifications are not to be construed as a commitment to fund the proposed effort.

Van Tran Email: ONAA@sba.gov

1.2 Introduction

The Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) mission is to ensure that American Indian, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians (referred to collectively as Native American) seeking to create, develop and expand small businesses have full access to the business development and expansion tools available through the Agency’s entrepreneurial development, lending, and procurement programs. ONAA’s overarching goal is to promote and support American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs. In recent years, ONAA sponsored and managed nation-wide contractor-led workshops and roundtables, co-sponsored agreements, interagency agreements, and tribal consultations; developed and distributed promotional materials; and attended and participated in national and regional economic development conferences as subject matter experts for these groups. Our vision for this program initiative is not to encourage duplication of what ONAA has traditionally done in the past, but to solicit new innovative approaches to meet the needs of these targeted groups at the microenterprise level of business ownership. The focus of this program initiative is to target specific Native American business operations in underserved markets throughout the country, including underserved Native American firms, to further expand their business development opportunities. Additionally, ONAA’s vision is to support microenterprises that serve their communities and the surrounding communities. Such empowerment will serve to maximize economic impact and improve quality of life for the targeted underserved communities.

Section 7(j) of the Small Business Act authorizes the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) to provide management and technical assistance to eligible individuals and businesses through the Empower to Grow (“E2G”) Program (formerly known as the 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance Program).

To be eligible for Empower to Grow (“E2G”) services, a client must qualify as small according to SBA's size standards and be one or more of the following:

· Located in areas of high unemployment or low income

· Owned by low-income individuals

· Eligible for SBA's 8(a) program

The term “high proportion of unemployed” means the urban or rural county's unemployment rate is not less than 140 percent of the average unemployment rate for the United States or for the State in which such county is located, whichever is less, based on the most recent data available in the annual Local Area Unemployment Statistics report from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The term "low-income individual" means an individual whose family's taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level amount established by the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce, for determining poverty status. SBA interprets the above eligibility requirements to include HUBZone, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB), and 8(a) program participants.

SBA implements the authority that section 7(j) of the Small Business Act (the “Act”) vests with SBA to award contracts, discretionary grants, or cooperative agreements to private organizations. These grants are intended to fund services and projects that provide management and technical assistance to eligible concerns, whether such funding is partial or in entirety. Annually, the E2G program reaches thousands of eligible businesses located throughout the United States and its territories.

A major goal of the E2G program is to strengthen the Agency’s entrepreneurial education, counseling, and training resources to support the needs of existing businesses by successfully focusing on core program resources and ensuring these resources are aligned with the needs of high-growth small businesses. Consistent with that aim, SBA’s organizational strategic goal is to coordinate internal and external resources to maximize the availability and effectiveness of training services and products to meet business development needs.

1.3 Background

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

For over four decades, these services have been secured from professional service providers, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and private corporations. Strategies employed have included business counseling in marketing, capture, financial and infrastructure management delivered through training seminars and webinars, executive education programs, and other delivery methods, including directed, or “on- call,” services. Legacy services included: accounting, production and engineering; manufacturing, international trade; feasibility studies/market analyses/advertising; government contracting assistance, specialized services, financial counseling, business plan assistance, construction management; management training, computer programming services, data processing services, service contracts, and seminars and workshops.

To maximize the Return on Investment (ROI), management and technical assistance funded under this authority has been targeted to E2G eligible concerns. Within the context of maximizing ROI and the need to leverage existing resources, SBA seeks assistance that is not duplicative of services already made available to the target group through other Federal funding sources and initiatives.

Starting in the 1960s, Native American and Alaska Native tribes began establishing colleges to specifically serve Indigenous students. Today, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) play a central role in awarding college degrees to a historically excluded group of learners. These institutions also contribute to tribal sovereignty and strengthen tribal communities. In addition to preserving Indigenous languages and culture, tribal colleges enrolled roughly 10% of all Indigenous college students in the U.S. in 2016-17, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

TCUs grant associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees. They aim to protect Native culture and encourage Indigenous students to earn college degrees. According to the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI), several TCUs also rank among the fastest-growing community colleges, and TCUs enroll students from more than half of all federally recognized tribes.

The mission of this program is to act as the catalyst for providing in-depth, substantive, outcome-oriented manufacturing and skilled labor training services to Native American entrepreneurs, tribal businesses, both nascent and established, a representative number of which are socially and economically disadvantaged. This mission is accomplished through the award of financial assistance to Tribal Colleges and Universities as defined in the Higher Education Act HEA 316 (U.S.C. 1059c), community colleges near tribal lands, and trade and vocational schools serving tribal communities, to enable them to affect substantial economic impact in their communities, as measured by successful business starts, job creation and retention, and increased company revenues.

Specifically, this initiative seeks to:

· Provide prospective entrepreneurs and existing small businesses with hands-on, in-person manufacturing and skilled labor training, counseling, and specialized services. The services provided must relate to the formation, financing, management, and operation of small business enterprises including awareness and certification in the SBA’s government contracting programs.

· Provide training and counseling services that enhance a small business concern’s ability to access capital, such as business plan development, financial statement preparation/analysis, and cash flow preparation/analysis.

1.4 Purpose

Eligible organizations (as defined in Section 3.2) may apply to SBA for awards under this Funding Opportunity to fund projects to provide management and technical assistance to firms eligible to receive assistance (as defined in Section 8.1.1). This Tribal College and University Manufacturing E2G Grant Initiative aligns with the SBA’s strategic priorities to empower small businesses, bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States, and addresses workforce shortages, operational inefficiencies, and limited access to contract opportunities. This initiative specifically targets Tribal Colleges and Universities, tribal-serving institutions, and community colleges located on or near tribal lands, Alaska Native lands, and Hawaii Native lands. This Funding Opportunity seeks proposals that are unique and innovative in the substance of manufacturing-related training and technical assistance to be provided to eligible participants, and/or the methodology by which the assistance is provided. Applicants may not propose efforts which duplicate SBA’s ongoing array of management and technical assistance services, in substance and/or method of delivery. Accordingly, SBA is seeking proposal of efforts that:

· Outline innovative workforce development approaches to address the current, unique challenges facing E2G eligible small manufacturing firms throughout the United States.

· Provide hands-on, in-person training to SBA’s E2G eligible small manufacturing firms in key manufacturing industries, including but not limited to aerospace, ship building, rail equipment, mining, industrial machinery and equipment, construction equipment, metal fabrication, electrical equipment, food processing, medical and precision manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, robotics.

· Other manufacturing sectors may be eligible for support under this grant as well. Assistance should include hands-on, in-person training in a wide range of activities and topics, including but not limited to the following areas: training in technical proficiency and essential skills including operating machinery, quality control, utilizing industrial software, and maintaining workplace safety.

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 and other federal, state, local and tribal governments, small business development programs and activities; SBA’s Resource Partners such as Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, E2G Technical Assistance providers, Small Business Investment Companies, Certified Development Companies, and SBA lenders; universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education; and private organizations such as chambers of commerce and trade and industry groups and associations.

1.6 SBA Involvement and Oversight

The Office of Native American Affairs oversees this 7(j) Tribal Skilled Labor Grant.

A designated Grants Officer Technical Representative (“GOTR”) within the Office of Entrepreneurial Development at SBA Headquarters will be responsible for the overall monitoring, oversight, and compliance of an award recipient’s implementation of the grant award. A designated Grants Officer within the Grants Management Division or the Office of the Chief Financial Officer will serve as the approving official with responsibilities for issuing the Notice of Award, approving amendments to the award, and processing payments.

In its capacity overseeing and funding the grants, SBA has the authority to approve, monitor, and change methodologies for implementing technical assistance. SBA will collaborate with Grantees via the GOTR on how to execute the service delivery of management and technical assistance to firms eligible to receive E2G assistance to avoid duplication of existing services, as well as to leverage fully the other existent resources and educational tools available through the E2G program, through SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development, and through SBA’s resource partner networks.

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.

1.8 SBA Priorities

ONAA leads Federal Government efforts to promote entrepreneurship among Native American communities, to ensure underserved and economically disadvantaged communities are supported. Competitive proposals will outline how the project will increase the capacity of Native American entrepreneurs to access capital, create new enterprises, increase business survivability, create jobs, access global markets, and do business with the federal government through rapid reskilling of employees for 8(a) and HUBZone eligible small businesses. In alignment with SBA’s manufacturing priorities, proposals should also demonstrate how in person, hands-on training and technical assistance in manufacturing and skilled labor will advance economic self-sufficiency in tribal communities and strengthen the Native American small business ecosystem.

2.0 Section II – Award Information

The assigned North American Industry Classification System code (NAICS) is 541611.

2.1 Estimated Funding

SBA expects to award, at its discretion, up to five awards for a total of up to $10 million.

2.2 Expected Number of Awards

SBA anticipates making up to five awards under this Announcement.

2.3 Period of Performance/Budget Periods

Awards will be made for a 12-month period of performance.

2.4 Continuation of Funds

The 2027 Budget does not request funding for the ONAA’s E2G program. If Congress appropriates funding for the program in future years, SBA may issue a funding opportunity to invite proposals for award continuation. However, an ONAA’s E2G grantee may not receive continued funding if there has been a clear showing of poor performance, as measured by SBA. Poor performance is indicated by unsatisfactory oversight reviews (programmatic and/or financial), a failure to comply with Executive Orders, improper or insufficient activity affecting the operation and integrity of the ONAA’s E2G grantee and/or a failure to allow the rules and procedures set forth in the statute, regulation, and/or Funding Opportunity.

2.4.1. Funding Information

Funds provided under the E2G Program 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 the applicable Office of Management and Budget cost principles. 2 CFR §§ 200.403, 200.404, and 200.405. No more than 49 percent of award funds may be expended on contractor and/or consultant costs. 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. Pre-award costs are costs incurred by the applicant, at the applicant's own risk, before the authorized start date of an award, and based upon agency approval. If approved, these pre-award costs must be represented as a separate line item in the project budget. Authorization of pre-award costs does not change the performance period of the award.

2.5 Funding Instrument

The funding instrument used will be a Grant.

2.6 Matching Requirement

None.

3.0 Section III – Eligibility Information

3.1 General

Only one proposal per applicant will be evaluated. Should an applicant submit more than one proposal, SBA will evaluate the proposal submitted closest to the application deadline without exceeding it. SBA will automatically reject any additional applications from the same applicant.

3.2 Eligible Applicants

As described in Section 5.2, to be eligible for this funding opportunity, an applicant must:

· Be one of the following types of institutions:

a) A Tribal College or University (TCU) as defined in the Higher Education Act, Section 316 (20 U.S.C. §1059c);

b) A community college located on or near tribal lands or Indian lands as defined under 25 U.S.C. §2;

c) A trade or vocational school that primarily serves federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native villages or organizations (as defined under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 43 U.S.C. §1601 et seq.), or Native Hawaiian communities; or

d) A tribal-serving institution with established manufacturing or skilled labor training programs.

· Have been in existence continually for at least the past three years;

· Have experience providing hands-on, in-person technical assistance, tools, or training relating to manufacturing or skilled labor to small businesses on a regional or national basis; and

· Demonstrate that it has the capacity to provide manufacturing-related training and technical assistance to small business concerns.

3.3 Ineligible Applicants

The following applicants will automatically be considered ineligible, and their applications will be rejected without being evaluated:

· Any applicant that owes an outstanding or unresolved financial obligation to the Federal Government.

· Any applicant that is currently suspended, debarred, or otherwise prohibited from receiving awards of contracts or grants from the Federal government.

· Any applicant that has an outstanding or unresolved material deficiency reported under the requirements of the Single Audit Act or Audit Requirements under 2 CFR § 200 within the past three years.

· Any applicant that has had any SBA program grant or cooperative agreement involuntarily terminated or non-renewed by SBA for cause within the past three years.

· Any applicant that has filed for bankruptcy within the past five years.

· Any applicant that proposes to serve as a pass-through and permit another organization to manage the day-to-day operations of the project.

· Any applicant or any agent or officer acting on behalf of the applicant 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) a cover letter; (ii) a technical proposal; (iii) budget information; (iv) certifications, forms, and assurances; and (v) attachments and exhibits. Standard Form (SF) 424 (Version 4).

The SBA will host two webinars to inform the public about this Notice of Funding Opportunity. The registration links for the webinars are as follows:

Wednesday, August 5, 2026, 1:00 p.m. EST Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 1:00 p.m. EST

4.1.1 Cover Letter

The first page of each application must be a cover letter which includes the following information:

· Statement that the application is in response to Funding Opportunity No. ONAA- 7j-2026-02;

· Applicant’s name and address;

· Applicant’s website address (if applicable);

· Name, telephone number, and email address for the applicant’s designated point of contact;

· Discussion of eligibility as defined within this Funding Opportunity;

· Dollar amount of the proposed grant award being requested.

4.1.2 Technical Proposal (not to exceed 15 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 applicant’s past experience and present capacity to provide assistance to E2G eligible firms (see Section 5.2.1 for further guidance);

· Detailed description of the types of hands-on, in-person training assistance that will be provided. Detailed description should reflect the proposed hands-on, in-person technical assistance delivery methods to include consulting to E2G eligible small business participants (see Section 5.2.3 for further guidance) in a wide range of activities and topics including, but not limited to, the areas below:

· Skilled Manufacturing Labor Shortages

· Manufacturing Processes and Inefficiencies

· Technical proficiency and Essential skills – Operating Machinery

· Strategic and operational planning

· Quality Control and Safety

· Business development in Manufacturing

· Contract management

· Compliance

· Proposal Pricing/Develop Cost/Labor Structures

· Manufacturing cost and pricing

· Supply chain issues and the impact of schedule delivery

· Capabilities Statement and website development

· Business Development Cycle

· Limited Contract Readiness

· Capture and proposal management strategies

· Business growth through increased access to capital

· Manufacturing-related software

· Utilizing industrial software

· Detailed anticipated project goals, milestones, strategies and initiatives, outputs and deliverables, project outcomes, long-term outcomes, and methods for evaluation (see Section 5.2.3 for further guidance);

· Identification of the project director, Authorized Organizational Representatives (AORs), and key management personnel and staff, including résumés (or position descriptions for unfilled positions). Résumés must include experience 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 4.1.4 and do not count toward the 15-page limit (see Section 5.2.2 for further guidance);

· Identification of contractors and consultants and the proposed manner of selection (i.e., competitively, or non-competitively). NOTE: No more than 49 percent of award funds may be expended on contractor and/or consultant costs. Copies of contracts and consulting agreements (either signed or samples, as applicable) must be included as attachments in accordance with Section 4.1.4 and do not count toward the 15-page limit (see Section 5.2.2 for further guidance).

· An organizational chart.

Applicants must document as part of the narrative proposal that they:

· Are located in and/or intend to provide services to federally or state recognized tribal communities.

· Must demonstrate substantive experience dealing with issues related to the Native American population and small businesses located in areas with populations of Native Americans.

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

· Are a Tribal College or University as defined in the Higher Education Act HEA 316 (U.S.C. 1059c), a community college located on or near tribal lands, or a trade or vocational school that primarily serves federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native villages or organizations, or Native Hawaiian communities.

· Will provide manufacturing and skilled labor technical assistance to small businesses owned and controlled by Native Americans and businesses located on or near tribal lands.

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

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

4.1.3 Budget Information

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

· Standard Form (SF) 424 (Version 4), Application for Federal Assistance. Version 4 of Standard From 424 must be used by all applicants;

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

· Budget Detail Worksheet (Attachments A-9 through A-12 to the SF-424A). An applicant may substitute its own forms or spreadsheets in place of the Budget Detail Worksheet, provided it includes all the same cost elements/line items covered by Attachments A-9 through A-12 on the checklist.

· Budget narrative providing a detailed explanation of the components of each cost element listed in the SF-424A.

· Grant Recipients are expected to spend the full amount of the grant funding listed in their Notice of Award for the 12-month project period, per their quarterly budget allocation documentation submitted along, and in concert with, their technical proposal.

· Indirect Costs: Applicants may waive indirect costs, and choose not to include indirect costs in their budget. Applicants may request reimbursement for indirect costs using their established Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA, if applicable) or the de minimis rate of 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) per 2 CFR § 200.414. o MTDC are calculated as defined in 2 CFR § 200.1 “Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC)”. For more information on indirect costs for recipients, refer to 2 CFR §§ 200.413 and 200.414.

· If applying using a NICRA, a copy of the NICRA is required to be provided.

· Organizations that do not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate, may elect the De Minimis rate (2 CFR 200.414). The Uniform Guidance offers the option of electing to charge a de Minimis rate of 15 percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely. As detailed in 2 CFR 200.403, costs must be charged consistently as either indirect or direct costs but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If elected, this methodology must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which it may do at any time.

4.1.4 Attachments and Exhibits

In addition to the items discussed in the Technical Proposal and Budget Information sections, applicants must attach copies of the following to its proposal (as applicable):

· Résumés, position descriptions, contracts, consulting agreements, letters of support, pledges of additional funding or in-kind resources, leases, conflict of interest policy, and cost policy statement;

· Copy of the applicant’s cost policy statement that includes the applicant’s general accounting policies, description of cost allocation methodology for salaries and wages, direct and indirect costs, grants and contracts, and expenditure allocations and guidelines the applicant follows;

· Last three years of Single Audit reports as required by 2 CFR § 200. 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F Audit Requirements. The applicant can submit Single Audit Act reports. If the applicant is not required by law to comply with the Single Audit Act, audited financial statements will suffice. Audited financial statements must be submitted within ninety (90) days of receipt of the Notice of Award under this Funding Opportunity.

· 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/applicants.html.

To submit an application via Grants.gov, an organization is first required to have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) 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 several days to complete.

Additionally, applicants may have to download or upgrade their software to utilize Grants.gov. To avoid unexpected delays that could result in the rejection of an application, applicants should not wait until the closing date to begin the submission process.

All institutions applying for federal grants are required to provide a UEI number. The Federal Government has adopted the use of UEI numbers to keep track of how federal grant money is dispersed. Ask your grant administrator or chief financial officer to provide your institution’s UEI number. Research universities and most colleges, independent libraries, and large organizations already have UEI numbers. If your institution does not have a UEI number, please contact SAM.gov. If your organization is not registered, you can register online at https://SAM.gov or apply by phone (1-888-227- 2423).

Information about the Grants.gov registration process can be found at Support | GRANTS.GOV 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). The 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 between 24 to 48 hours to complete. Applicants should save and print proof of an electronic submission made to 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 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.

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 to Grants.gov. To check on the status of your application and see the date and 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) 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 Unique Entity Identifier 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, is not considered a technical difficulty. 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 should use the following link to obtain assistance in navigating Grants.gov and access a list of useful resources: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.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.

4.3 Required Proposal Submission Dates

Each applicant is required to submit its proposal electronically via https://www.grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 24, 2026. 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. 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 changes, additions, revisions, or deletions to applications made after the closing date. Applicants may obtain advice and assistance with the Grants.gov submission process by visiting Support | GRANTS.GOV 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 are illegible or materially incomplete due to an applicant’s failure to include all required forms or the required level of detail, or are otherwise non-responsive to the requirements of this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

SBA will be evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed use of grant funds; SBA will show preference for proposals that maximize funds leading to greater outcomes. Pursuant to Executive Order 14332—Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking, dated August 7, 2025, all else being equal, SBA will provide preference to organizations with lower indirect costs.

5.2 Evaluation Criteria

A timely, complete application received from eligible organizations will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria listed below.

5.2.1 Organizational Experience and Capacity (25 Points)

Applicants will be evaluated on their demonstrated ability to provide hands-on, in-person manufacturing related training and technical assistance to other E2G eligible firms. Applicants must provide adequate evidence and documentation, including specific examples, of their:

· Experience with, and capacity for, conducting management and technical assistance projects, including discussion of the number of years they have conducted such projects. Applicants must include the following measures of past performance:

· 12-Month Placement Rate: Percentage of graduates employed in domestic manufacturing within 12 months of credential completion;

· 24-Month Retention Rate: Percentage of placed graduates still employed in manufacturing 24 months after initial placement.

· Employer Rehire Rate: Percentage of employer partners who return to recruit additional graduates.

· Cost Per Placement: Total grant expenditure divided by graduates successfully placed in manufacturing roles.

· Wage at Placement vs. Regional Median: Starting wage compared to the Bureau of Labor Statistics regional median for manufacturing occupations, confirming graduates are market competitive

· Scope of the geographic SBA Regional area and demographic area it intends to serve.

· Expertise with assisting E2G eligible firms, including the number of firms assisted over the prior 3 years and demonstrable evidence of outcomes of assistance provided (e.g., increase in sales, revenues, contracts, number of employees experienced by assisted firms, etc.).

· Knowledge of, and capability for providing, hands-on, in-person training, management and technical assistance, consulting, and training to small manufacturing businesses;

· Record of receiving other grants or contracts for conducting technical assistance projects, including the names of the awarding agencies, the grant or contract numbers, the most recent annual performance report, and the performance outcomes and results achieved;

· Financial viability by demonstrating the ability to manage federal grant funds in accordance with 2CFR part 200; and

· Responses or corrective actions for any qualified audit opinions, or Single Audit findings.

5.2.2 Project Management (20 Points)

Applicants will be evaluated on the strength of their staffing and management plans for accomplishing the goals and objectives of their proposed projects. Applicants must demonstrate they will devote adequate personnel resources with sufficient experience to deliver management and technical assistance, establish clear and direct lines of responsibility and authority for managing and overseeing the project, and ensure they possess sufficient access to facilities and other physical resources to accomplish the stated objectives. In particular, the applicant must:

· Identify all key management, staff, contractors, and consultants with a description of their expertise and roles in conducting and overseeing the project; stipulate the amount of time each key employee will devote to the project; and provide copies of résumés and position descriptions for each key employee.

· Identify all facilities and other physical resources, including supporting documentation proving sufficient access to such facilities and other physical resources, that will be utilized to implement the proposed project and indicate the hours of operations (including any night and weekend availability).

· Identify equipment (such as but not limited to CNC machines, welding stations, lab tools, and other industry-standard training machinery) and software (such as but not limited to CAD/CAM platforms, ERP training systems, simulation tools, and learning management systems) that will be utilized to implement the proposed project.

· Provide copies of all contracts and consulting agreements relevant to the proposed project and identify the employees or officials of the applicant organization who will be responsible for overseeing and administering those agreements.

· Describe its financial management structure and internal controls and identify all staff members who will be responsible for financial recordkeeping, reporting, expenditure of award funds and addressing of audit findings.

· Provide a copy of its conflict-of-interest policy, addressing, at a minimum, procedures for ensuring its employees, consultants, and contractors do not assist E2G eligible firms in which they, their principals, or their immediate family members have a financial interest or fiduciary duty and for ensuring its employees, consultants, and contractors do not use their role in the project as a means of marketing their outside services to project clients.

5.2.3 Project Design (35 Points)

Applicants will be evaluated on their proposed approach for providing hands-on, in-person manufacturing training and technical assistance; their proposed methodology for evaluating and assessing the effectiveness and impact of their technical support; and the expected measurable outcomes and objectives proposed. Innovation and creativity in providing training assistance to E2G-eligible firms are strongly desired. Applicants must describe in detail the proposed technical assistance delivery methods and products, implementation of stated methods and products, and measurable evaluation criteria for the respective methods and products. The application must address:

· Delivery methods which include hands-on, in-person training approach, means of implementation, anticipated project outcomes, and the criteria under which the methods will be evaluated.

· The innovative approaches to address the current, unique challenges facing small manufacturing firms today.

· SBA Regional area and demographic area it intends to serve.

· Submit marketing plan directed at student recruitment and partnership development.

· Number of E2G eligible small manufacturing firms the applicant has targeted to serve.

· Data elements the applicant will collect from E2G eligible small manufacturing firms, including but not limited to:

· How the firm and its employees benefited from training.

· The number of bids and proposals submitted prior to training activities and after training activities.

· Federal contracts awarded prior to training activities and after training activities.

· Subcontracts awarded through large prime contractors prior to training activities and after training activities.

· Number of new bonds/increases in bonding capacity prior to training activities and after training activities.

· New teaming arrangements (including mentor-protégé agreements, joint ventures) prior to training activities and after training activities.

· New manufacturing jobs created, or manufacturing jobs retained for participants.

· New surety bonds for participants prior to training activities and after training activities.

· New cleared facilities for participants (Security Clearance) prior to training activities and after training activities.

· Traditional and non-traditional financing obtained prior to training activities and after training activities.

· Contract revenue prior to training activities and after training activities.

· The method for collecting the outlined data elements in the previous item.

· Projected milestones and timelines of program accomplishments and activities.

· Detailed description of how the applicant will survey the program participants upon completion of their training to solicit feedback on the quality of the training provided and how the applicant plans to collect and track measurable outcomes associated with the data elements provided.

· Detailed description of how data will be used.

· How the project design will maximize the use of grant funds in a manner that prioritizes delivery of services leading to greater outcomes.

5.2.4 Collaboration and Leveraging of Resources (10 Points)

Applicants will be evaluated on their approach to leverage collaboration with entities such as SBA’s District Offices, other federal, state, local and tribal government agencies, other SBA grant recipients, resource partners, trade associations, business and industry groups, institutions of higher education, and private organizations to expand the breadth of the training program and outreach.

5.2.5 Ability to Reach Special Target Markets (10 Points)

Applicants will be evaluated on their ability and positioning to extend project services to firms eligible to receive assistance under the E2G Program (see Section 8.1.1 that discusses these firms). Applicants must demonstrate their:

· Experience in working with E2G eligible firms and relationships with organizations representing the interests of such individuals;

· Proximity to or ability to reach E2G eligible firms within their regional project service area;

· Experience working with small manufacturing firms and their workforce; and

· Marketing Plan (outreach strategies, budget, etc.)

5.3 Review and Selection Process

Applications that are not rejected by Grants.gov or SBA’s screening process will be evaluated by teams of reviewers and scored based on how well they meet the criteria outlined above. 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 Announcement, 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 thoroughly as possible.

In the interest of providing E2G Program services to as broad a segment of the E2G community as possible, SBA will take the geographical dispersion of applicants’ regional project service areas into account when making award decisions. An application that exceeds the minimum acceptable score and which scores more highly than other acceptable proposals may nevertheless be passed over for funding if that application proposes to serve the same or substantially the same area or market as an existing E2G Program recipient or another more highly rated application that was selected for award.

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 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 15 U.S.C.A.