PJM_MBDA_FINAL_OMB-FALD May 26 2026-CLEAN_05282026 (2).pdf

MBDA Parren J. Mitchell Entrepreneurship Education Program NOFO Funding Opportunity Number MBDA-OBC

FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity

MBDA Parren J. Mitchell Entrepreneurship Program

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Federal Awarding Agency Name

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), U.S.

Department of Commerce (DOC)

Funding Opportunity Title

Parren J. Mitchell Entrepreneurship Education Program

Announcement Type

Initial: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is publishing application submission requirements and application review procedures for MBDA’s Parren J. Mitchell Entrepreneurship Education Program through which MBDA plans to award grants for activities designed to develop and implement entrepreneurship curricula.

Funding Opportunity Number

MBDA-OBC-2026-00002

Assistance Listing Number(s)

11.802 Minority Business Resource Development

Key Dates and Application Submission Instructions

Application Deadline: Due June 29, 2026 by 11:59 p.m.

Eastern Daylight Time.

Applications may be submitted starting from the publication date of this NOFO up to the deadline above. Applications must be submitted electronically via grants.gov. Applications sent via email, regular mail, or any other method must be pre-approved by MBDA. See section IV D.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Applicants should be aware that on-time submission means that an application is submitted error free (of both Grants.gov and eRA Commons errors) by 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time, June 29, 2026.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring the completeness of their application.

Funding Opportunity Description

The Parren J. Mitchell Entrepreneurship Education program was created to train and educate entrepreneurs in subjects directly related to successful entrepreneurship through the development and implementation of evidence-based curricula. This curriculum must be practical and targeted to building the skills necessary to yield real results for entrepreneurs in a defined period of time. Further, classes or modules in this program will be available to any enrolled students at the grantee institution who are either entrepreneurs or aspiring entrepreneurs.

Funding Instrument Assistance will be in the form of grants

Funding Details Approximately $14,500,000 for 7-10 awards.

Cost Share and Match Requirements

The eligible Applicant shall provide a cost share or match of 20% of the total amount of Federal funding to be made available for the award. See section III.B. below.

Eligible Applicants

Under the MBDA Act (15 U.S.C. § 9543(b)(1)), eligible applicants are limited to institutions of higher education described in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1067q(a)).

Requests from individuals will not be considered for funding.

See section III.A, below.

Pre-Application Technical Assistance Webinars and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document

MBDA will conduct a pre-application technical assistance webinar. The webinar is designed to help prospective applicants understand the Program so they can prepare competitive grant applications.

Dates and times for the webinar described above and any additional webinars will be posted on the MBDA website.

Participants should register at least 24 hours in advance of any webinar. Please visit the MBDA website at www.mbda.gov to register and view recordings of the webinars, as well as other additional information.

MBDA will post responses to questions in “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) on its website. The FAQ’s will be updated regularly throughout the application period.

Webinar participants can submit questions for possible MBDA inclusion in the FAQs. In addition, applicants may send questions to MBDA via email at pjm@mbda.gov. Please note that MBDA will not provide individual responses to questions.

Award Notification

If selected for potential award and approved by the Selection Official, the Applicant can anticipate, subject to the availability of funds, receiving an award within a reasonable time after the closing date of the NOFO.

http://www.mbda.gov/ mailto:pjm@mbda.gov

Agency Contacts For questions concerning this NOFO, including requests for technical assistance with application requirements, please contact MBDA via email at pjm@mbda.gov.

mailto:pjm@mbda.gov

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Program Description

A. Program Objectives and Priorities

B. Statutory Authority

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

B. Project/Award Period

C. Type of Funding Instrument

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Cost Share or Matching Requirement

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

B. Content and Form of Application

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

D. Submission Dates and Times

E. Intergovernmental Review

F. Funding Restrictions

G. Other Submission Requirements ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

V. Application Review Information

A. Evaluation Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

C. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

C. Reporting

VII. Agency Contact(s)

VIII. Other Information

A. Conferences

B. Collaboration with MBDA .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

C. Past Performance and Non-Compliance with Award Provisions

D. Limitation of Liability

E. Audit Costs

F. Right to Use Information

G. Freedom of Information Act Disclosure

H. NOFO Changes Communicated on Grants.gov

I. Termination

J. Executive Order 14173: Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity

K. Prohibition on Using Federal awards to Promote or Support Theories of Disparate- Impact Liability

Appendix A: Definitions

Appendix B: Project Abstract SAMPLE

Appendix C: PERFORMANCE Measure DEFINITIONS

APPENDICES

I. Program Description

A. Program Objectives and Priorities

The Trump Administration recognizes entrepreneurs as a key component to the success of local, regional, and the national economy. They generate new economic activity that would not otherwise exist through job creation, innovation, productivity, market competition, capital formation and investment, local wealth creation, expanding regional economic sectors/industries, and commercialization of research. It is critical to invest in the education of entrepreneurs to support these core drivers of U.S. economic dominance.

The Parren J. Mitchell Entrepreneurship Education (PJM) Program promotes the education and training of entrepreneurs by funding eligible institutions to develop and implement evidence-based curricula and programming on subjects necessary for successful entrepreneurship.

Curricula developed or selected must be practical and targeted to successfully build the skills entrepreneurs need to sustain and grow their businesses. The PJM Program is interested in projects that yield real results over defined periods of time.

Under the PJM Program, awardees will develop and implement evidence-based curricula that prioritize training in various skill sets needed by contemporary successful entrepreneurs, including, but not limited to: business management; financial management and accounting;

market analysis; competitive analysis; innovation; strategic planning; succession planning;

marketing; and technology and technology adoption. In addition, skills such as general management, leadership, and human resources should be considered and included within the curricula to an extent that they align within the priority skill sets listed above.

Entrepreneurial development interventions with sound evidence bases are more likely to yield improved entrepreneurial outcomes for participants. As such, Applicants must demonstrate that their proposed curricula are grounded in existing evidence. Applicants that propose to replicate or adapt existing, evidence-based curricula should establish the efficacy of those existing curricula from prior research and justify any adaptations the Applicant plans on making to the curricula through this Program.

While there is a set of broad skills needed to successfully manage business ventures, it is critical that skills be aligned to opportunities, especially those that meet market needs. To that end, MBDA has established the following two Priority Areas for the PJM Program. Applicants must address at least one of the below Priority Areas in their proposal:

Priority Area 1: Leveraging Regional Assets Entrepreneurs and businesses operate in complex interconnected ecosystems and institutes of higher education are poised to help them identify, navigate, and leverage regional assets. To that end, to address this Priority Area, the curricula developed and implemented by successful Applicants should include curriculum elements designed to ensure that entrepreneurs are able to align their ventures with the innovation clusters that exist within the regions in which they operate. Applicants addressing this Priority Area should design their curricula to not only educate entrepreneurs about regional innovation clusters that exist within their ecosystems, but should also suggest an implementation strategy where regional assets are included in execution of the project.1

Priority Area 2: Supporting Technology Development and Commercialization Universities play a significant role in the development and commercialization of new technology. The PJM Program will seek to serve as a catalyst in technology development and commercialization by enhancing the knowledge and skills of entrepreneurs to access technology transfer resources.2 By educating entrepreneurs, eligible institutions can advance technology and promote market entry for entrepreneurs. This also ensures that eligible institutions and entrepreneurs can support critical supply chains that are essential for our nation’s economy and national security. To address this Priority Area, curricula developed and implemented under this NOFO should (at minimum) ensure entrepreneurs complete their educational programming with an understanding of the following:

• The benefits of “tech transfer” resources for entrepreneurs;

• The process for identifying “tech transfer” resources by/for entrepreneurs;

o Best practices to consider when preparing to leverage “tech transfer” resources by/for entrepreneurs o (e.g., consider concepts including: “customer discovery”, “problem-solution fit”, etc.); and

• The availability of “tech transfer” strategic partnerships within the Applicant’s network for entrepreneurs to engage.

An Applicant also may address this second Priority Area by developing and implementing curricula that is expressly used to complement an existing evidence-based technology transfer program.

For this Program, an “entrepreneur” is an enrolled student who seeks (or aspires) to launch or scale a business. This includes but is not limited to nascent or ideation stage entrepreneurs. The definition of entrepreneur does not require or imply any success or experience in any past entrepreneurship activity.

An important aspect of this Program will be to document the efficacy of the curriculum developed and impact of its implementation on individual entrepreneur outcomes. As such, successful proposals, whether focusing on Priority Area 1 or 2, must demonstrate:

1 Regional Assets are synonymous with Regional Innovation Clusters, which are networks of similar, synergistic, or complementary entities that support a single industry sector and its various supply chains. In general, RICs:

(1) Are based on a geographic area that may cross municipal, county, and other jurisdictional boundaries;

(2) May include catalysts of innovation and drivers of Regional economic growth, such as universities, government research centers, and other research and development resources;

(3) Have active channels for business transactions and communication; and

(4) Depend upon specialized infrastructure, labor markets, and services that build on the unique competitive assets of a location, including talent, technology, services, and hard and soft infrastructure, to spur innovation, job creation, and business expansion.

2 For the definition of “technology transfer”, see Appendix A of this NOFO.

• The ability to deliver an evidence-based curricula; AND

• Effectively collect and communicate proposed outputs, outcomes, and/or impacts that:

o Support the overall program goals and objectives of the PJM Program;

o Support the specific Priority Area; and o Support an approach by which MBDA may effectively monitor the project’s successes, challenges, and areas of opportunities.

Additionally, MBDA intends to evaluate program success. To this end, Applicants will be required to provide client data for all recipients of services funded by this Program. Applicants will be required to attest to all performance and client data submitted in support of their program activities to best preserve the integrity of evaluations.

Applicants may provide proposed services to entrepreneurs in-person, virtually, or through a combination of in-person and virtual services. Awards may fund operational and programmatic costs related to developing and executing the proposed project plan. However, an Applicant proposing to serve entrepreneurs significantly outside its regional geographic area (i.e. online or distance learning) must clearly demonstrate the benefit for those students where the curricula may be primarily focused on local and regional networks Additionally, an applicant must provide an effective outreach plan to reach and serve entrepreneurs within their project’s geographic area, industry, and/or market segment.

Curricula must be designed and implemented to serve enrolled students who seek (or aspire) to launch or scale a business. Applicants must not limit the implementation of their curricula to students that are currently enrolled in their respective college or university.

Rather, successful Applicants will provide curricula-based entrepreneurship training to entrepreneurs in their designated geographic service area regardless of whether that entrepreneur is currently enrolled as a student. However, nothing prevents the Applicant from providing university course credit only to currently enrolled students.

Applicants must have an outreach and engagement strategy to ensure that their project reaches a broad array of entrepreneurs. In addition, successful Applicants must develop and maintain a website accessible to the public that discusses and disseminates information about their project under this Program. MBDA will provide more detailed website requirements, branding requirements, and a license to use any required Program logos as part of the post-award process.

B. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for the Parren J. Mitchell Entrepreneurship Education Program is 15 U.S.C. § 9543(b).

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

In fiscal year (FY) 2026 under this NOFO, MBDA expects to obligate approximately $14.5 million for 7-10 financial assistance awards for selected proposals. The awards, which MBDA anticipates funding at approximately $1,500,000 to $2,000,000, will have an overall two-year period of performance.

At this time in FY 2026, MBDA will fund two-year awards at approximately $1,500,000 to $2,000,000.

Publication of this NOFO does not oblige MBDA or the DOC to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds. MBDA or the DOC will not be responsible for application preparation costs, including but not limited to, if this program fails to receive funding or is cancelled because of agency priorities.

B. Project/Award Period

Subject to availability of funding, MBDA expects to issue awards for a total period of performance of two years from approximately September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2028. Each budget year within the two-year period of performance will be 12 months. Anticipated budget periods are outlined below.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

Funding will be made through a grant.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants Under the MBDA Act (15 U.S.C. § 9543(b)(1)), eligible applicants are limited to institutions of higher education described in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1067q(a)). Therefore, eligible applicants are limited to:

a Historically Black College or University (see definition of “part B institution” in 20 U.S.C. § 1061(2));

a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1101a);

a Tribal College or University (as defined in 20 U.S.C § 1059c);

an Alaska Native-serving institution or a Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1059d(b));

Budget Year Months Anticipated Start and End Dates – for budget planning

Year 1 12 months September 1, 2026 August 31, 2027 Year 2 12 months September 1, 2027 August 31, 2028 a Predominantly Black Institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1067q(c)(9));

an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1067q(c)(2)); or a Native American-serving nontribal institution (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1067q(c)(8)).

B. Cost Share or Matching Requirement

A non-Federal cost share of 20% of the Federal funding is required, for awards issued pursuant to this NOFO. Non-federal cost sharing is that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal Government. The applicant’s share of expenses may include cash, services, and third-party in-kind contributions, as described at 2 CFR § 200.306. The source and detailed rationale of the cost share, including cash, full- and part-time personnel, and in-kind donations, must be documented in the Budget Narrative and Justification submitted with the application .

As with the Federal share, any proposed costs included as non-Federal cost sharing must be an allowable/eligible cost under this program and under the Federal cost principles set forth in 2 CFR part 200, Subpart E.

In accordance with section B.03 of the Department of Commerce Financial Assistance General Terms and Conditions, the non-Federal share, whether in cash or third-party in-kind contributions, is to be paid out at the same general rate as the Federal share.

Non-federal cost sharing incorporated into the budget of an approved financial assistance award is subject to audit in the same general manner as Federal award funds. See 2 CFR part 200, Subpart F.

Revenue (e.g., program income) may be, but is not required to be, generated from fees for service, client fees, membership fees, or other appropriate fees associated with services or activities funded through this Program as long as they are pre-approved by MBDA. Any program income generated 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 program authorized by the award (2 CFR § 200.307(b)(2)). Awardees cannot charge fees so high that Program-funded services and activities are not accessible to a broad range of rural businesses.

In accordance with 15 U.S.C. § 9552(b)(2)(B), MBDA may determine, based upon a demonstration by the Applicant of substantial need, that the Applicant shall not be required to provide the full match with respect to the funding to be provided. To qualify for a lower match requirement or no match requirement, an Applicant must submit a request with the application, including an explanation of the substantial need, supporting documentation, and the amount being sought.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.307

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

Applications for the 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.

Required Application Content

1 Project Abstract (See Section IV.B.1, below, for requirements) One (1) page limit

2 Project Narrative (See Section IV.B.2, below, for requirements) Twenty (20) page limit

3 Supporting Documents (i.e., Letters of Commitment, resumes) Page Limits cited in Section

IV.B.3

4 Standard Forms

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)

• SF-424A (Budget Information Non-Construction Programs)

• CD-511 (Certification Regarding Lobbying)

• SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) if applicable 5 Budget Narrative Seven (7) page limit 6 Indirect Cost Rate (ICR) Agreement Documentation (if applicable) 7 Project Performance and Start-up Narrative (see section

IV.B.2.c.ii, below, for requirements)

1. Project Abstract (One (1) page limit)

At a minimum, the Project Abstract page must provide the lead Applicant’s name, address, telephone number, email address, date of submission, project executive summary, brief description of project goals (the intended impact and what the Applicant hopes to accomplish), and the Funding Opportunity Number. Applicants should also provide the following additional information: the project title, total budget, and start and end dates. Note: The executive summary should be no more than 250 words and include a description of the curricula to be developed and implemented and the priorities that will be addressed. If your application is selected for funding, MBDA may publish this executive summary, or portions of it, on its or other relevant websites http://www.grants.gov/ and via social media. See Appendix B for a template.

2. Project Narrative (Twenty (20) page limit)

All applications must contain a detailed Project Narrative with defined sections as described below. All pages of the application must be consecutively numbered. Materials beyond 20 pages may not be read or considered. Applicants are encouraged to provide a clear and concise narrative that includes a compelling justification for the project and articulates the needs of the geographic area, the efficacy of curricula to be developed and implemented, and entrepreneurs to be served.

a. Project Description: The Applicant should fully describe and explain what is being proposed, including:

i. The geographic region where services will be provided and the need for focused entrepreneurial development services as established through data. Applicants should also describe the regional ecosystems in which they operate, which could include economic makeup and population density. The location and geographic area should directly correspond to Questions 14 and 16 on the SF-424 (see section V.A.1.a.

(i.e., Evaluation Criteria 1.a.)).

ii. A detailed description of the curricula that will be developed, associated implementation activities, and a description of how these will yield project and entrepreneurial outcomes. Curricula and the associated implementation activities must address at least one of the Program’s Priority Areas (see section I.A, above).

The educational support activities to deliver or implement curricula should be clearly defined in terms of format, delivery, and length. Outputs/deliverables from these activities should be reasonably aligned to both PJM’s objectives and the Applicant’s proposed curricula strategy. The proposed outcome/impact of the planned curricula should also be reasonably articulated. For Applicants that plan to rely upon or modify existing curricula, Applicants must demonstrate that they have the right to use such curricula and describe in detail the evidence supporting the efficacy of existing curricula as well as their development process and timeline for any modifications and the evidence supporting such modifications. For Applicants that propose to develop entirely new interventions or curricula, the Applicant must describe in detail the development process and timeline, including the data relied upon and field-testing process(es) the Applicant proposes to implement. Importantly, proposed curricula are not required to be synchronous.

However, if synchronous curricula and programming are developed, Applicants should propose metrics for program completion (see section V.A.1.b. (i.e., Evaluation Criterion 1.b.)).

iii. The names, affiliations, complete mailing addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers of all key person(s) who will lead the project. Identification and description of key stakeholders, project leaders, and partners that will be leveraged to accomplish the PJM Program’s objectives. If the Applicant proposes to leverage third-party partnerships and their respective resources to implement key components or activities for the proposed project under this NOFO, the Applicant must provide proof of commitment by the third party as an attachment to the proposal. In this section, the Applicant should also describe its strategy to leverage and collaborate with existing Department of Commerce programs and other federal, state, or local government programs in the geographic region, including those that support entrepreneurs’ access to capital (see section V.A.1.c. (i.e., Evaluation Criterion 1.c.))

iv. A description of the strategies the project will implement to drive the participation of entrepreneurs in the project. This includes but is not limited to the Applicant’s outreach strategy. If the Applicant proposes to leverage stakeholders or other partners for outreach or awareness raising, the Applicant should provide a description of those stakeholders’/partners’ roles and an indication that they have agreed to collaborate with or partner with the project. These strategies must ensure wide dissemination to ensure maximum participation of entrepreneurs of all types in the project (see section V.A.1.d. (i.e., Evaluation Criterion 1.d.)).

b. Applicant Capability: The Applicant must present information describing the experience and qualifications of the organization to carry out the proposed project. The application should include the following information:

i. A concise summary of the Applicant’s organization; its mission and programs;

experience executing projects or services similar to those proposed; and a list of previous or current projects or services relevant to the proposal (see section V.A.2.a. (i.e., Evaluation Criterion 2.a.)).

ii. An overview that emphasizes the Applicant’s experience and strategies for the development of evidence-based curricula, knowledge of entrepreneurship, and the implementation of entrepreneurial development programs (see section V.A.2.b.

(i.e., Evaluation Criterion 2.b.)).

iii. Proof of capability to implement and manage a project of the scope and breadth proposed. This should include a discussion of financial and management infrastructure and can include but is not limited to, public records of accomplishments, public citations, and/or letters of referrals or recommendations as attachments to the proposal (see section V.A.2.c. (i.e., Evaluation Criterion 2.c.)).

iv. 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 Project (see section V.A.2.d. (i.e., Evaluation Criterion 2.d.)).

v. Applicants must provide a one-page bio or resume for each of the Applicant’s key personnel(s) showing relevant experience of the leader(s). MBDA expects that an Administrator or Department Head or other staff with similar authority will serve as the Project Director, to oversee the success of the proposed project. The biographies and attachments should be included as attachments to your proposal and will not count toward the 20-page limit. Applicants must identify a Project Director;

however, if the identified person is not currently employed by the Applicant, the Project Narrative should note when the person will be onboarded (see section V.A.2.d. (i.e., Evaluation Criterion 2.d.)).

c. Project Performance and Start-up: The Project Performance and Start-up part of the

Project Narrative communicates how the proposed project’s progress, production, and impact will be measured. This narrative should clearly describe how the project’s activities will generate results for MBDA’s performance measures. Applicants are encouraged to be data driven, which may require them to collect more data than what MBDA requires for performance reporting. The Project Performance and Start-up narrative has three components: 1) Project Impact Narrative; 2) Project Performance Worksheet; and 3) Project Start-up Narrative.

i. The Project Impact Narrative should clearly describe what your proposed intervention intends to accomplish; how the goals, activities, and measures align;

how data will be collected; how project activities will generate results for MBDA and project-specific performance measures; and how the curricula will yield improved entrepreneurial outcomes. Applicants must present a clearly articulated theory or theories of change for the curricula that will be developed and/or implemented. Importantly, Applicants must describe how data will be collected and how data will be used to inform project delivery (see section V.A.3.a. (i.e., Evaluation Criterion 3.a.)).

ii. The Project Performance Worksheet must be in a spreadsheet format that will present the core measures that are required by MBDA as well as project-specific measures that the Applicant proposes to track through the performance period of the grant. The overarching goal for core program measures is to capture how many entrepreneurs are engaged through proposed curricula, how many (and what type

of) educational support activities are executed, and how these activities illustrate impact on entrepreneurship. For example, in each year, XX entrepreneurs participated in XX educational activities (curricula), resulting in XX businesses developed, XX contracts secured, etc. For each core measure, the Applicant must propose a numeric target. Sub-metric goals are discretionary. The template must include the following:

a. Core Measures –

i. Students Enrolled (target goal required);

ii. Students Served (target goal required);

iii. Educational Support Activities Delivered (target goal required);

iv. Start-up (Incubator) Outputs (overall target goal required);

1. Business Plans Developed (target goal is discretionary)

2. New Businesses Formed (target goal is discretionary)

3. Prototypes Produced (target goal is discretionary)

v. Advanced Stage (Accelerator) Outputs (overall target goal required);

1. Capital Infusion (target goal is discretionary)

2. Contracts Secured (target goal is discretionary)

3. Jobs Created (target goal is discretionary)

vi. See Appendix C for additional details.

b. Project-specific measures and related numerical targets (if applicable)

c. Note: Applicants ensure that their proposed numeric targets for the beginning of the program reflect project ramp-up, curriculum development, and anticipated start date for delivery/implementation of curricula.

iii. The Project Start-up Narrative should clearly describe the operational processes and procedures that will be deployed to launch the project, such as hiring key staff (e.g., Director); securing locations to house the project; finalizing partnership agreements; and ensuring readiness for transmitting data to MBDA. Awardees are able to use the systems of their choice to collect data. However, MBDA will provide post-award guidance on the submission of data and participation in the evaluation of the PJM Program.

3. Supporting Documents

If cited in the proposal, the Applicant must provide the following additional documentation that supports the proposed project, including:

• Resumes of key personnel

• Memoranda of Understanding or Memoranda of Agreement between project partners.

• Letters of Support, Letters of Commitment, or other evidence of existing strategic relationships, collaborations, or alliances. Letters of Support or Commitment should be signed by an individual authorized to commit to the organization. Letters of Support or Commitment that provide details about how the entity intends to support the Applicant and/or engage with the project will be viewed as more competitive. (5-page limit)

• Data/literature cited in the Project Narrative.

• Letters of recommendation from entrepreneurs who were served by the Applicant, if available. (5-page limit)

• Project Timeline

4. Standard Forms (SF), Budget Narrative and Matching Commitment

The Applicant must provide the required Standard Forms, 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 the application.

Each Applicant may not be required to submit all forms listed, depending on the project type or the Applicant type.

i. Signed SF-424. The SF-424 must be signed by the authorized organization representative. Electronic signatures submitted through Grants.gov satisfy this requirement. ONE SF-424 form will cover both budget years. Please note that the authorized organization representative will be recognized as the main point of contact to receive official notifications on the application throughout the competition and to sign on behalf of the organization.

ii. SF-424A. Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs. Applicants must submit a SEPARATE SF-424A for EACH budget year within the two-year period of performance. In Section B of the form, include the federal fund amounts in column 1.

iii. Budget Narrative. A detailed budget narrative must be completed and submitted for all non-construction applications that describes the specific goods or services to be purchased in each cost category. The Federal and non-federal share amounts must be separated out for each budget year within the two-year period of performance (see additional information below in section IV.B.4.b.).

iv. Commerce Department (CD)-511. Certification Regarding Lobbying.

v. SF-LLL. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable).

b. Budget Narrative. Applicants MUST provide a clear budget narrative that identifies and justifies how funds in each cost category will be used to support the proposed project.

The budget narrative should specifically address each budget line item (including both the Federal and matching non-Federal share). Please note that the budget narrative total should match exactly the total project costs listed in both the SF-424, Question 18, Line g (“TOTAL”) and the appropriate Federal and non-Federal total fields of the SF-424A.

Please also note that successful Applicants will be required to develop and maintain a project-specific webpage through the duration of the project. Applicants should plan their budgets accordingly. MBDA will provide post-award guidance regarding webpage requirements and branding requirements.

5. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement Documentation (as applicable)

Applicants requesting to use an established 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 that exceed the de minimis rate (discussed below) 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 General Terms and Conditions, dated September 22, 2025 (available at https://www.commerce.gov/oam/policy/financial-assistance-policy).

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 15 percent of modified total direct costs. Applicants proposing a 15 percent de minimis rate pursuant to 2 CFR § 200.414(f) should 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.

6. Format Requirements

All pages should be single-spaced and should be composed in at least 11-point font with one-inch margins. The total proposal shall not exceed 30 pages, including the Project Abstract, Project Narrative, literature cited, Budget Narrative, project timeline, and organizational structure. The following items are not included in the 30-page limit:

• Resumes/bios of key personnel https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRd93f2a98b1f6455/section-200.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRd93f2a98b1f6455/section-200.414

• Required forms (i.e., Standard Forms 424, CD-511, etc.)

• Letters of Support and/or Letters of Commitment

• Letters documenting provision of matching funds

• Letters of recommendation from entrepreneurs served by the Applicant

Failure to follow these 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) is required to:

• Register in the System for Award Management (SAM) before applying;

• Provide a valid unique entity identifier in the application; and

• Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information during the entire period that the Applicant has an active Federal award or an application 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 Requirements

Applicant organizations must complete and maintain three registrations to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. These registrations include SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. The complete registration process for all three systems can take 4 to 6 weeks, so Applicants should begin this activity as soon as possible.

Prior to registering with eRA Commons, Applicant organizations must first obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov, if needed. Organizations can register with eRA Commons in tandem with completing their full SAM and Grants.gov registrations; however, all registrations must be in place by time of application submission. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.

The first PD/PI listed on the application must include their eRA Commons ID in the "Credential, e.g. agency login" Applicant Identifier field on the SF424 form. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the Applicant Identifier field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-25.110

NOTE: We strongly encourage all prospective Applicants to begin required registrations as early as possible. Completing the required registrations can take six weeks or longer. Submission due dates will not be extended because of registration delays. Submissions received after the due date will be considered late and will not be accepted.

See below for more detailed information on each required registration process.

1. System for Award Management (SAM.gov): SAM.gov registration is required to do business with the U.S. government. After registering with SAM.gov, you will receive a 12-character Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) that you will use throughout the application process. We recommend allowing at least three weeks for initial SAM.gov registrations and at least two weeks for SAM.gov registration renewals. Additional information on SAM.gov registration is available here: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration. You must update your SAM.gov registration any time your entity’s information changes. You must also renew and revalidate your entity’s SAM.gov registration at least every 12 months from the date you last certified to and submitted the registration. The renewal process may take up to two weeks. Your SAM.gov account’s primary point of contact will receive an email message alerting them to the renewal requirement at 60 days, 30 days, and 15 days prior to expiration. If you do not renew your registration by the deadline, it will expire.

2. eRA Commons: After completing your SAM.gov registration and receiving your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), you must register with eRA Commons and create several required user accounts. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Financial Assistance and Agreements Office (FAAMO) uses eRA Commons to process grant applications and manage grant awards. NOTE: eRA Commons requires Applicants to create one ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE and two USER ACCOUNTS before submitting an application. These requirements are described in detail below. We recommend allowing at least three weeks for eRA Commons registration. This process can be completed concurrently with your Grants.gov registration.

Additional information on the eRA Commons registration process is available here:

https://www.commerce.gov/ocio/programs/gems/applicant-and-grantee-training.

After creating an overall account for your “institution”, which may be for your organization or yourself as an individual, eRA Commons requires you to set up at least two user accounts: one Signing Official (SO) account and one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account.

The Signing Official (SO) user account must be assigned to an individual with signature authority to legally bind the organization in grants administration matters. The SO will receive 4- 5 emails throughout the registration process. The PD/PI account must be assigned to an individual with primary responsibility for the project(s) described in the grant application. The eRA Commons User ID (Username) for the PD/PI must also be listed on the SF-424 form for item 4 (Applicant Identifier). Your SO and PD/PI user accounts must be active before you submit an application. Both accounts can be assigned to the same individual if appropriate.

3. Grants.Gov: After completing your SAM.gov registration and receiving your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), you must complete a one-time registration process with Grants.gov. Grants.gov is a government-wide portal used to solicit and accept grant applications. We recommend https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/sam.gov/content/entity-registration__;!!FiG2giev53vN!6en0IcOLSyQLodXCC-Hyo2VfEGX80am3B69__SvfxJilYuGye4Rifq4cTn3lMUHKzm9Batrh8Md_HIQLChvCAoFwMrURCw$ allowing at least two weeks for Grants.gov registration. This process can be completed concurrently with your eRA Commons registration. Additional information on the Grants.gov registration process is available here: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration.

Submission Validation

Grants.gov and eRA Commons validation processes for a submitted application can take up to two business days after submission. Completed applications are sent for review. To ensure successful submission of an application, we strongly recommend that you submit a final and complete application at least two business days prior to the submission deadline.

Grants.gov and eRA Commons will not accept submissions if the Applicant has not been authorized or if credentials are incorrect. Submissions may also be rejected if:

• The PD/PI’s account username within eRA Commons is not provided on the SF-424 form for item 4 (Applicant Identifier).

• The UEI from SAM.gov is not provided on the SF-424 form for item 8.c (UEI).

• The Congressional District is not entered in the correct format on the SF-424 form for item 16 (Congressional Districts). The correct format is: [State Abbreviation]-[three digit district number]. For example, Virginia’s 1st Congressional District would be listed as

VA-001.

• PDF files are not flattened. To flatten a fillable PDF, you can use the “Print to PDF” function from any web browser or PDF reader application.

• File sizes exceed 100 MB.

• Page sizes are greater than 8.5x11.

• File names exceed 50 characters (including spaces).

• File names include special characters.

After you submit your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by NIST FAAMO or eRA Commons. Applications submitted through Grants.gov will be accompanied by FOUR automated responses: 1. Grants.gov Submission Receipt; 2.

Grants.gov Submission Validation Receipt for Application; 3. Grants.gov Grantor Agency Retrieval Receipt for Application; and 4. Grants.gov Agency Tracking Number Assignment for Application.

In addition to the Grants.gov automated notification messages, you may receive automated email notifications of any errors or warnings identified by eRA Commons. You must resolve all eRA Commons errors prior to the application due date in order for the application to be processed.

Once an electronic application is accepted in eRA Commons, you will receive an additional automated notification that the completed application was received and that an application number will be assigned. You should save and print the proof of submission messages from both Grants.gov and eRA Commons. If you do not receive an acceptance message from both Grants.gov and eRA Commons, you should follow up with the agency contact listed in section VII to confirm NIST FAAMO’s receipt of the complete submission.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration__;!!FiG2giev53vN!6en0IcOLSyQLodXCC-Hyo2VfEGX80am3B69__SvfxJilYuGye4Rifq4cTn3lMUHKzm9Batrh8Md_HIQLChvCAoFWRdZ4wQ$

E. Submission Dates and Times

Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies). Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIST FAAMO’s electronic system for grants administration.. Once submitted, an application will go through system validation checks to identify any errors in first Grants.gov and then in eRA Commons. Any errors identified by a system must be corrected in that specific system. All applications must be free and clear of any errors in both Grants.gov and eRA Commons in order to be accepted and considered.

All applications must be received on or before June 29, 2026, at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Applications may be submitted starting from the publication date of this NOFO up to the deadline above. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late. The electronic submission will receive a date and time stamp and will be processed after it is fully uploaded. Applicants should anticipate receiving confirmation of successful submission within 48 hours. It is imperative that Applicants obtain this confirmation as proof of successful submission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications as early as possible. Waiting to apply until the end of the competition period puts an application at risk; be sure to allow ample time. Late applications will not be accepted.

In addition, please note the following:

• MBDA will not accept any unsolicited changes, additions, revisions, or deletions to applications after the submission deadline.

• Throughout the review and selection process, MBDA reserves the right to seek clarification from Applicants whose applications are being reviewed and considered.

• Applicants may be asked to clarify objectives and work plans and modify budgets or other specifics as necessary to comply with federal requirements and provide supplemental information required by the agency before award.

• See section V of this NOFO for application review and selection information.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to start early and not to wait until near the application deadline before logging on and reviewing the instructions for submitting an application through Grants.gov. Applicants should SAVE AND PRINT WRITTEN PROOF of an electronic submission made at Grants.gov. If problems occur while using Grants.gov, the Applicant is advised to print any error message received and contact Grants.gov immediately. You can find contact information for Grants.gov on its website, including at https://www.grants.gov/support at the time of publication of this NOFO.

MBDA, in its sole discretion, may pre-approve in writing submission via an alternate method (e.g., email) due to a systems issue at Grants.gov only insofar as any such systems issue is beyond the control of the Applicant.