MBDA Rural Business Center Program NOFO Funding Opportunity Number MBDA-OBC-

FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity

MBDA Rural Business Center 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

MBDA Rural Business Center Program

Announcement Type

Initial: This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is publishing application submission requirements and application review procedures for MBDA’s Rural Business Center Program through which MBDA plans to award cooperative agreements to eligible entities to operate MBDA Rural Business Centers.

Funding Opportunity Number

MBDA-OBC-2026-00003

Assistance Listing Number(s)

11.805 Minority Business Center

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 on the application due date.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring the completeness of their application.

Funding Opportunity Description

The Rural Business Center Program will provide awards to support technical assistance, capacity building, and entrepreneurial development services to rural business enterprises at all stages, from ideation to maturity.

Funding Instrument Assistance will be in the form of cooperative agreements.

Funding Details Approximately $14,500,000 for 5 - 7 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. § 9551(2)), 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)). Consortia of institutions of higher education are also eligible so long as the designated lead Applicant that would enter into the award agreement with MBDA and assume primary operational and financial responsibility for completing the project should an award be made, is an eligible institute 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 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 webinars. 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 a compilation of “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) on its website. The FAQ 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 RBC@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 receiving an award within a http://www.mbda.gov/ mailto:RBC@mbda.gov reasonable time after the closing date of the NOFO.

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

C. Other Criteria That May Affect Eligibility

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 Requirements

E. Submission Dates and Times

F. Intergovernmental Review

G. Funding Restrictions

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

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

APPENDICES

I. Program Description

A. Program Objectives and Priorities

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) from the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), MBDA will provide awards to eligible entities to operate MBDA Rural Business Centers (“RBCs” or “Centers”). RBCs will provide technical assistance, capacity building and entrepreneurial development services to businesses in rural areas throughout all phases of the business process, from ideation to launch and growth, including supporting rural businesses. These could range from the ideation stage (e.g., pre-start-up) to any level of revenue and profitability.

MBDA is soliciting competitive applications from eligible entities for the operation of RBCs as described in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The Act established key priorities for this Program designed to overcome the unique challenges faced by rural businesses. In addition to providing technical assistance, capacity building, and entrepreneurial development services, RBCs also will serve as a resource navigator to help strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and support businesses with issues related to:

• Adoption and accessibility of broadband internet access;

• Digital literacy skills, including but not limited to specialized focus on understanding, engaging with, and safely using AI to advance and supplement business activities;

• Leveraging e-commerce;

• Promoting U.S. manufacturing, particularly advanced manufacturing in the United States by encouraging entrepreneurs to support skilled trades training for their workforce;

• Promoting trade and export opportunities;

• Securing financial capital;

• Facilitating entrepreneurship in rural areas;

• Creating jobs in rural areas;

• Helping rural businesses meet gaps in the supply chain of critical supplies and essential goods and services for the United States;

• Improving the connectivity of rural businesses through transportation and logistics;

• Promoting workforce skills development in support of rural business endeavors; and

• Any other issue relating to the unique challenges faced by rural business.

See 15 U.S.C. § 9552(c).

An RBC may be located in any U.S. state or territory and must provide services that benefit rural businesses.

Rural Business Center Program Requirements

a) Each proposed Center must align, complement, and support priorities to promote the growth and global competitiveness of America’s rural businesses. The Applicant should demonstrate how they will leverage public and private sector resources, strategic partnerships and alliances, and inherent resources available through their region’s academic institutions, consortium(s), partnership(s) and/or subcontractors that will further support rural businesses through training, consulting, and development.

b) Service Population and Area – MBDA seeks to fund projects with clearly defined geographic service areas; however, a Center may serve any rural business located in any U.S.

state or territory.

c) Services – Funded projects must align with the MBDA program objectives and priorities in this section (i.e., section I.A. of the NOFO). The Center must provide management and technical assistance (i.e., business consulting services, business training services, business triage, and referral) to rural business clients that support their respective entrepreneurial development and capacity building journey. The Center will provide education, training, legal, financial, and technical assistance to rural businesses directly and/or through partner(s).

d) Performance – Funded projects shall be monitored regularly to track progress. The defined measures and goals are aligned to key outputs, outcomes, and impacts under this program.

B. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for the MBDA Rural Business Center Program is 15 U.S.C.

§§ 9551-9552.

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

In fiscal year (FY) 2026 under this NOFO, MBDA expects to obligate approximately $14.5 million for 5-7 financial assistance awards for selected proposals. The awards, which MBDA anticipates funding at approximately $2,250,000 to $3,000,000, will have an overall three-year period of performance (see 15 U.S.C. § 9552(b)(3)).

At this time in FY2026, MBDA will fund three-year awards at approximately $2,250,000 to $3,000,000.

Publication of this NOFO does not oblige MBDA or the DOC to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds.

B. Project/Award Period

Subject to availability of funding, MBDA expects to issue awards for a total period of performance of three years from approximately September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2029. Each budget year within the three-year period of performance will be 12 months. Anticipated budget periods are as outlined below.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

Funding will be made through a cooperative agreement. After the award is made, MBDA will be substantially involved in the activities of this Program, including but not limited to the following anticipated activities:

• Providing training relating to the purpose of this Program, eligible activities, and program performance measures.

• Requiring recipients to participate in a pre-implementation conference with MBDA to review the proposed services and performance measures that the recipient will provide and measure.

• Providing necessary guidance that encourages collaboration between other MBDA programs and initiatives.

• Facilitating collaborations with DOC programs and other federal agency programs as appropriate.

• Monitoring activities carried out by the awardee, including by soliciting feedback from enrolled businesses.

• Conducting periodic Program evaluations and providing findings for improvement.

• Establishing and enforcing administrative, communications, and reporting requirements for each awardee.

• Providing access to and training for a performance management reporting system.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

Under the MBDA Act (15 U.S.C. § 9551), eligible Applicants are limited to:

(1) 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 Year 3 12 months September 1, 2028 August 31, 2029

• 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)); or

(2) a consortium of institutions of higher education that is led by an institution of higher education described in paragraph (1) above.

Note: In a consortium application, there must be a designated lead Applicant; the lead Applicant would enter into the award agreement with MBDA and assume primary operational and financial responsibility for completing the project should an award be made. For this Program, the lead Applicant must be an institution of higher education described in paragraph (1) above.

MBDA is not authorized to provide cooperative agreements to individuals under this NOFO, and such requests will not be considered for funding.

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)). MBDA will review proposed fee structures during application to ensure awardees do not 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.

C. Other Criteria That May Affect Eligibility

In accordance with 15 U.S.C. § 9552(c)(1), a MBDA Rural Business Center shall primarily serve clients that are rural minority business enterprises, or minority business enterprises that are located more than 50 miles from an MBDA Business Center (other than that MBDA Rural Business Center).

An applicant’s consideration of geographic service area may affect MBDA’s evaluation of submitted materials.

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 One (1) page limit

2 Project Narrative Twenty (20) page limit

3 Supporting Documents (i.e., Letters of Commitment, resumes) 4 Standard Forms

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.307 http://www.grants.gov/

Required Application Content

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

• CD-511 (Certification Regarding Lobbying)

• SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) (if applicable) 5 Budget Narrative 6 Indirect Cost Rate (ICR) Agreement Documentation (if applicable) 7 Project Performance Worksheet (see section IV.2.c., below, for requirements)

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

At a minimum, the Project Abstract page must provide the 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 proposed services and activities as well as 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 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. Material 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 the proposed services and activities, and rural businesses to be served.

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

i. The geographic region where services will be provided and a clear description of rural business needs in that region. This section must include the Applicant’s planned location for the Center and a rationale justifying the location of the Center. 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 Criterion 1.a.)).

ii. A detailed description of the proposed approach that will be utilized (including what services will be provided, how they will be provided, and the types of businesses that will be served – e.g., ideation phase entrepreneurs, growth-stage businesses, any industries of focus, etc.) and how it will meet the needs of eligible participants in the region. Proposed approaches and services must address the Program’s priorities and objectives (see section I.A., above).

As part of this section, Applicants must demonstrate an understanding, backed by data, of target business needs (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 and partners that will be leveraged to accomplish the Program’s objectives. If the Applicant proposes to leverage third-party partnerships and their respective resources to accomplish the proposed project under this NOFO, the Applicant must provide proof of commitment by the third-party as an attachment to the proposal (i.e., Letters of Commitment). The Applicant should also describe any strategies 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 rural businesses’ 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 rural businesses 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 rural businesses of all types in the project (see section V.A.1.d. (i.e., Evaluation Criterion 1.d.)).

4. 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. Organization Profile: A concise summary of the Applicant’s organization, its mission and programs, past experience with similar projects or services as 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.). As part of the Organization Profile, the Applicant must detail:

• The space, facilities, and staffing for the MBDA Rural Business Center;

• The Applicant’s understanding of the current challenges facing rural businesses and their awareness of resources available to support rural businesses;

• The Applicant’s knowledge of the community that the Applicant serves and the ability to conduct effective outreach to that community to advance the goals of an MBDA Rural Business Center;

• Experience leveraging other federal resources and track record of working with other federal resources; and

• The Applicant must be able to demonstrate a referral relationship with at least one community-based organization with a track record of serving the target rural business population in the service area proposed.

ii. Documentation of status as an eligible entity (see section III.A.).

iii. Organizational Background. An overview that emphasizes the Applicant’s knowledge of strategies for enhancing economic development; growth, and technical assistance provided to rural businesses; and accomplishments dealing with the specific issues facing rural business enterprises, including the following organizational abilities:

• The ability to collaborate with governmental and private sector entities to enhance the capacity of rural businesses through public-private partnerships;

• The ability to provide innovative business solutions, including access to contracts, capital, and markets;

• The ability to leverage resources from within the eligible entity to advance the MBDA Rural Business Center; and

• The ability to provide services that advance the development of science, technology, engineering, and math skills development within rural businesses to the end of improving business skills (i.e. digital literacy, advanced manufacturing, etc.).

(see section V.A.2.b (i.e., Evaluation Criterion 2.b.)).

iv. 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.)).

v. 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.)).

vi. 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 Start-up Narrative should note when the person will be onboarded (see section V.A.2.d. (i.e., Evaluation Criterion 2.d.)).

5. 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; and how project activities will generate results for MBDA’s and project specific performance measures; and how the proposed services and activities will yield improved entrepreneurial outcomes for rural businesses. Applicants must present a clearly articulated theory (or theories) of change for their proposed services and activities. 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 life of the project. For each measure, the Applicant must propose a numeric target. The template must include the following:

a. Core Measures (Clients Served, Capital Infusion, New Business Starts, Jobs Supported, Percentage of Businesses Realizing Revenue Growth), which are quantifiable indicators used to determine if a project or program is achieving its desired objectives (see section V.A.3.b. (i.e., Evaluation Criteria 3.b.)). See Appendix C for additional details.

b. Numeric Targets keyed to each Core Measure (i.e., the anticipated number of clients you will serve, new business starts to be realized, jobs supported, and the dollar value of capital that program participants will obtain) (see section V.A.3.c. (i.e., Evaluation Criteria 3.c.)).

c. Project-specific measures and related numerical targets, if applicable.

d. Note: Applicants should ensure that their proposed numeric targets for the beginning of the program reflect project ramp-up and anticipated start date for delivery/implementation of services and activities.

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 (i.e., Director); securing locations to house the project;

meeting with potential partners and finalizing partnership agreements; and ensuring readiness for transmitting data to MBDA (see section V.A.3.d.

(i.e., Evaluation Criteria 3.d.)). 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 MBDA Rural Business Center program.

6. Supporting Documents

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

• 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 the organization. Letters of Support or Commitment that provide detail about how the entity intends to support the Applicant and/or engage with the project will be viewed as more competitive.

• Resumes of the proposed project director and key project staff

• Data/literature cited in the Project Narrative.

• Letters of recommendation from past recipients of services, including businesses, if available.

• Project Timeline.

7. 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 all 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 424A for EACH budget year within the three-year period of performance. In Section B of the form, include the federal fund amounts in column 1 and the non-federal matching share amounts in column 2. Federal and non-federal matching share funds must be separated out for each budget year. These should be clearly labeled. In Section C, include the breakdown of projected non-federal sources of match.

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 three-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.

8. 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 https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/DOC%20Financial%20Assistance%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20as%20of%2019%20May%202025.pdf https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/DOC%20Financial%20Assistance%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20as%20of%2019%20May%202025.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRd93f2a98b1f6455/section-200.414

§ 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.

9. 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

• 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 past recipients of services, including businesses, served by the Applicant

Failure to follow these requirements may result in the rejection of the application. Any PDFs 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, or longer, so Applicants should begin this activity as soon as possible.

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

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.

Registration Requirements

NOTE: We strongly encourage all prospective Applicants to begin required registrations as early as possible. Completing the required registrations can take four to 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. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Financial Assistance Agreements Management 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.era.nih.gov/register-accounts/register-in-era-commons.htm.

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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 SO account and one PD/PI account. The 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 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 The grants.gov and eRA Commons validation processes for a submitted application can take up to two business days after submission. Only validated applications are sent to NIST FAAMO 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. 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.

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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.

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. Applications may be submitted starting from the publication date of this NOFO up to the deadline above.

If Grants.gov identifies any errors in an application, it will be rejected. The applicant must correct their application and then submit the updated application in Grants.gov prior to the application due date and time. If eRA Commons identifies any errors in an application, the applicant must log into eRA Commons to make any necessary corrections to their application directly in that system. 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 forty-eight (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. 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 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. However, any submission via this alternate method must have email or facsimile receipt timestamps no later than the application deadline or must be postmarked on or before the application deadline. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED for any reason, including but not limited to late submissions caused by issues with grants.gov, SAM, or Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) registrations. An application that is not timestamped, as applicable, by the application deadline WILL NOT

BE REVIEWED.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring the completeness of their application F. Intergovernmental Review

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

G. Funding Restrictions

The following activities and associated costs are not allowable under this Program. Such costs may not be charged to the Federal share or matching share of the award.

• Construction: Construction activities are not allowable under this Program. For the purposes of an award made pursuant to this NOFO, construction includes any activity that disturbs the ground or modifies a structure.

• Capital Investments & Loans: The use of award funds for equity investments, loans, or grants to entrepreneurs or businesses is not allowable under this Program. Thus, the cost of any capital investment, loan, or grant is not an allowable cost under an award. Neither Federal nor matching share funds may be invested in startups or other companies, whether through capital, debt, hybrid, or another mechanism. Similarly, services funded by Federal or matching share cannot be exchanged for equity or otherwise used as the basis for an equity stake in a company.

V. Application Review Information

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

A. Evaluation Criteria

Each application will be evaluated based on criteria included below. The number of points that can be earned for each category of criteria is listed below. A maximum total of 100 points may be earned for required criteria for a maximum possible total of 100 points.

Summary of Evaluation Criteria

1 Project Description 50 points 2 Applicant Capability 25 points 3 Project Objectives, Metrics, and Implementation 25 points

Total Available Application Points 100 points

1. Project Description (50 points…