SBA WBC Modernization Initiative NOFO Announcement - Georgia.docx

U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Women’s Business Ownership Funding Opportunity No. SB-OEDWB-26-003

U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Women’s Business Ownership

WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

PROGRAM YEAR 2026

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NO. SB-OEDWB-26-003

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity is to invite proposals for the Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) Modernization and Alignment initiative. This initiative will establish a Lead Center Model, supported by a network of Service Centers, to deliver coordinated, statewide or territory-wide business services. This competition is limited to applicants in the following state: Georgia. Selected awardee must reside in the state in which it will serve as a Lead Center. Selected awardee will be responsible for designing and executing an integrated service delivery approach that ensures comprehensive coverage and aligns resources with the needs of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Table of Contents

Section I – Funding Opportunity Description

1.1 Program Overview

1.2 Introduction

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), through the Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO), which is part of the Office of Entrepreneurial Development, is responsible for the general management and oversight of the WBC program. The WBC program provides a variety of training, counseling, and technical assistance services, to entrepreneurs and both nascent and established businesses.

1.3 Background

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

1.4 Purpose

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity is to invite proposals for funding to establish a Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) modernization and alignment initiative. This initiative will establish a Lead Center Model, supported by a network of Service Centers, to deliver coordinated, statewide or territory-wide business services. To support a more evenly distributed funding allocation by population, this competition is limited to applicants in the following states: Georgia. Selected awardee must reside in the state in which it will serve as a Lead Center. Selected awardee will be responsible for designing and executing an integrated service delivery approach that ensures comprehensive coverage and aligns resources with the needs of the local entrepreneurs.

1.5 Intended Outcome

The intended outcome of the initiative is to:

· Ensure consistent, statewide or territorial coverage for entrepreneurial development.

· Expand reach and impact to serve more clients including hard to reach rural areas.

· Improve performance consistency and strengthen service delivery across the network.

· Reduce administrative costs for the SBA and WBCs.

1.6 Leveraging of Resources

The applicant selected for an award under this NOFO is required to maximize support for small businesses by leveraging the SBA funding and working in conjunction with the SBA’s District Offices and other federal, state, local, private and community non-profit, faith-based organizations, and tribal government small business development programs and activities; the SBA resource partners (such as SCORE, Small Business Development Centers, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs); 7(j) Technical Assistance providers; Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs); Certified Development Companies (CDCs); SBA lenders; universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education; and private organizations (such as chambers of commerce, trade and industry groups, associations, and regional and local trade schools).

1.7 SBA Involvement and Oversight

The WBC Program is managed by the Assistant Administrator (AA) of the Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO). The SBA will have substantial involvement in the administration, monitoring, and oversight of the Cooperative Agreement. OWBO shall assign a Grants Management Specialist (GMS) to review the budget and all fiscal documentation for compliance with applicable Federal and program requirements. The Grants Management Officer (GMO) issues the Notice of Award. A Program Analyst (PA) located within OWBO serves as the Grants Officer’s Technical Representative (GOTR) responsible for overall monitoring and oversight of the Recipient’s WBC project, including compliance with the terms of the Cooperative Agreement and program service delivery and performance.

The SBA District Office will designate a Project Officer (PO) to conduct delegated grant monitoring activities on behalf of OWBO. SBA will also conduct financial and programmatic examinations and onsite reviews for each WBC. WBCs will include metrics for each of the measures in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

1.8 Changes or Cancellation

The SBA reserves the right to amend or cancel this NOFO, in whole or in part, at the Agency’s discretion. Should the SBA make material changes to this NOFO, the Agency will extend the closing date as necessary to afford applicants sufficient opportunity to address such changes.

1.9 SBA Priorities

Competitive proposals will outline how the project will increase the capacity of entrepreneurs to access capital, create new enterprises, increase business survivability, create jobs, access global markets, and do business with the federal government.

Additionally, SBA’s top priorities include supporting onshoring and manufacturing, supporting all aspects of industry in food supply chain, critical minerals, furthering the reach of services provided to rural small businesses, addressing the need for skilled labor and childcare shortages.

Section II – Award Information

2.1 Estimated Funding

SBA expects to make one award using a funding formula based on population.

Subject to the availability of funds and compliance with the terms and conditions of the Cooperative Agreement, SBA has the discretion to adjust the award to an amount consistent with the authorized funding level under the federal appropriations law.

Population-Based Formula

2.2 Expected Number of Awards

The SBA expects to make one award under this NOFO. Selected non-federal entity is responsible for establishing a Lead Center and a network of partner Service Centers, which include existing WBCs in Georgia.

2.3 Period of Performance/Budget Periods

As defined by 15 USC 656: Women’s Business Center Program, awards will be made for up to a five (5)-year period of performance, consisting of a base period of twelve (12) months from the date of award and four (4) option periods of twelve (12) months each. The exercise of option periods will be solely at the SBA’s discretion and is subject to continuing program authority, the availability of funds, and the applicant’s continued satisfactory performance and compliance with all the terms and conditions of the award. Each base and option period will constitute a separate and distinct twelve (12)-month Budget and Performance Period.

2.4 Project Start Dates

The start date is September 30, 2026, for entities responding to the Notice of Funding Opportunity No. SB-OEDWB-26-003 for Program Year 2027.

2.4.1. Continuation of Funds

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

2.5 Funding Information

Funds provided under the initiative must be used solely for the purposes stipulated in this NOFO and the Notice of Award and may not be co-mingled with any other monies. All costs proposed in an applicant’s budget must meet the tests of allowability, allocability, and reasonableness set forth in 2 CFR 200, Subpart E. Applicants are required to maintain separate accounting over Federal funds to ensure funds are used for authorized purposes only.

No Federal funds provided through an Award under this NOFO, or matching contributions dedicated to such an Award may be used for the purpose of making a sub-grant. While subcontracting is permitted, successful applicants may not spend more than forty-nine percent (49%) of Award funds on subcontracts. Additionally, under no circumstances may successful applicants contract out the administration or day-to-day management of this project to any other party.

2.6 Funding Instrument

The funding instrument used will be a Cooperative Agreement and substantial involvement is expected between the awarding Agency and the applicant when carrying out the activity contemplated in the Agreement.

2.7 Matching Requirement

The applicant will comply with 13 CFR 131.430 and 2 CFR 200.306 Failure to Obtain Match The SBA may withhold payment at any time if the required level of non-Federal match has not been obtained. Payment will be withheld unless the applicant has adequately certified that the required amount of non-Federal match equal to or greater than the Federal funds expended (of which at least half is in the form of cash) has been fully obtained and expended for project activities during each reporting period.

Note: Initial Phase WBCs in the base period and first option year of its project must provide non-Federal match equal to or greater than 50% of the Federal funds expended, of which at least half is in the form of cash.

2.8 Non-Federal Matching Certification

The applicant must certify that the non-Federal matching share has been obtained and expended on the WBC Project and must maintain records of all cash, in-kind donations, and program income and how it was spent.

The OWBO Program Manager, OWBO Grants Management Specialist and the OED financial examiner will review programmatic and financial records when conducting desk reviews, on-site visits, program reviews and/or financial exams, or financial reviews.

Section III – Eligibility Information

3.1 General

An organization may submit only one (1) proposal in response to this NOFO. Any additional applications from the same organization will automatically be rejected without being evaluated.

3.2 Eligible Applicants

In order to be eligible for this NOFO, applicants must be a private non-profit organization certified under § 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and have experience providing technical and entrepreneurial development services to small business concerns.

An organization that is operating or has operated an SBA-funded WBC within the past five (5) years, if selected, will be awarded as an Initial Phase Project. Likewise, an organization that previously operated an SBA-funded WBC that is no longer operating, if eligible to apply and if selected, will also be awarded as an Initial Phase Project since this application will be treated as an effort to establish Lead Center WBCs.

To the extent that they satisfy all eligibility criteria the same as all other applicant organizations, Faith based Organizations are eligible to compete for Federal financial assistance (grants and/or cooperative agreements) used to support government programs. Generally, such organizations are not required to alter their religious character to participate in a government program, nor to cease engaging in explicitly religious activities outside the program, nor effectively to relinquish their Federal statutory protections for religious hiring decisions.

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

· Will provide services to entrepreneurs.

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

· Are a private not-for-profit or non-profit corporation with an active 501(c) Federal tax-exempt status certification from the United States Department of Treasury/Internal Revenue Service. A copy of the 501(c) designation letter must be attached to the applicant’s technical proposal.

· Will provide technical assistance to small business concerns.

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

3.3 Ineligible Applicants

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

· Has a federal delinquent debt subject to offset;

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

· Any organization with an outstanding and unresolved material deficiency reported under the requirements of the Single Audit Act within the past three years;

· Any organization that has had a WBC grant or cooperative agreement involuntarily terminated or not renewed within the past year;

· Any organization that has filed for bankruptcy within the past five (5) years;

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

· Any organization that was convicted or had an officer or agent acting on its behalf convicted, of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the preceding twenty-four (24) months.

Section IV - Application and Submission Information

4.1 Application Instructions

Applications must consist of the following elements: (i) Project Abstract; (ii) Technical Proposal; (iii) Budget Narrative; (iv) Certifications, Forms and Assurances; and (v) Attachments and Exhibits.

4.1.1 Project Abstract – Executive Summary The applicant must submit an abstract of no more than two (2) pages that provides a concise but comprehensive snapshot of the organization, the proposed project, and the unique proposed impact of the project. The Abstract is limited to two (2) double-spaced, single one-sided 8.5x11-inch pages with twelve (12)-point text and one (1)-inch margins. When submitting, this document must be uploaded as an attachment to the application package and specifically labeled “Project Abstract – Executive Summary.”

The Project Abstract - Executive Summary must include:

Host Organization Overview

· Name and type of organization (e.g., nonprofit, university, economic development organization, chamber of commerce, CDFI, etc.)

· UEI Number:

· Point of Contact:

· POC Email Address:

· POC Telephone Number:

· Website

· Host organization mission

· List of SBA Products (i.e., grants, loans, etc.)

Area(s) of Specialization

· Describe any unique expertise, focus areas, or specialized programming

Community and Economic Impact

· Describe the organization’s role within the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the proposed WBC’s contribution to economic development in the service area

Why This WBC Matters Provide a brief closing statement summarizing:

· The proposed WBC’s unique value proposition

· It’s impact on entrepreneurs and small businesses in the geographical/target area(s)

· Why SBA’s investment is important

4.1.2 Technical Proposal

The Technical Proposal must demonstrate the applicant’s capability to implement the grant project in accordance with the provisions of this announcement. The Technical Proposal provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the proposed project. It must be succinct, and well organized so that reviewers can understand the proposed project.

The Technical Proposal pages must be numbered, and the narrative portion of the application shall be limited to ten(10) double spaced, 8.5 x 11-inch pages with Source Sans or Times New Roman twelve (12)-point text font and one (1)-inch margins. Attachments such as position descriptions, résumés, budgets, organization charts, and milestone charts are not counted toward the maximum ten(10) pages.

SBA will not consider any materials beyond the specified page limit and the required attachments in the application review process

The following instructions provide all the information needed to complete the Technical Proposal. Carefully read and consider each section and include all required information. The agency will evaluate the Project Narrative using the evaluation criteria identified in Section V.

Use the same section headers identified below for each section of the Technical Proposal.

A. Project Description (50 Points). An SBA Women’s Business Center – Lead Center is required to provide statewide services in four (4) areas: (a) counseling; (b) training; (c) access to capital; and (d) jobs supported. These elements are designed to: (1) increase the capacity of small businesses to establish, sustain, and expand their business ventures; and (2) finance their businesses.

Project Design (25 Points): Applicants must provide a clear, comprehensive, and actionable project plan describing the proposed statewide service delivery model for the Women’s Business Center (WBC) Program. The project design section should demonstrate the applicant’s capacity to effectively plan, implement, and manage a coordinated state-side WBC network. The project design should demonstrate how the applicant will maximize the use of grant funds in a manner that prioritizes delivery of services leading to greater outcomes.

Geographic Service Area and Ecosystem Analysis

· Provide an analysis of the proposed WBC service areas and of the statewide entrepreneurial ecosystem, including key industries, priority sectors, and existing support systems that contribute to the formation, growth, and financing of businesses.

· Applicants should identify gaps, underserved markets, and opportunities for targeted service delivery.

Lead Center and Service Center Structure

· Applicants must demonstrate their ability to establish, manage, and coordinate a network of Service Centers to deliver comprehensive and integrated services across the assigned geographic area.

· Describe the proposed network structure, including the establishment of a Lead Center and associated Service Center(s). Note that if there are existing WBCs in the identified states and they are in good standing, they should be considered as part of the proposal as a Service Center.

· Lead Centers: Serve as the primary award recipients and are responsible for the overall program management, administration, and performance outcomes of the WBC network.

· Service Centers: Operate under the direction and oversight of the Lead Center.

Applicants must include a Service Center Network Plan that demonstrates their ability to identify, select, and manage Service Centers through a formalized section and contracting process. At a minimum, the selection criteria should include:

Selection Criteria:

· Applicant’s demonstrated past performance

· Geographic coverage and accessibility

· Capacity to deliver required services Service Area Coverage Plan

· Provide a detailed strategy for ensuring full geographic coverage across the state, including:

· Coordination between the Lead Center and Service Centers

· Identification of underserved or priority areas

· Targeted approaches to expand access in rural and/or high-need communities Existing Women’s Business Centers in States for the initiative Prospective Lead Centers and existing WBCs in Georgia below are highly encouraged to collaborate and integrate as part of the proposal submission. Note that if an existing WBC becomes a Lead Center, it will forfeit any other WBC award funding received for work during the period of performance of this funding opportunity. It will only receive the total amount identified on the Population-Based Formula chart in Section 2.1.

Service Delivery Model (25 points) Describe a coordinated, statewide service delivery approach that ensures consistency, quality, and accessibility of services across the network. The model must address:

Core services:

· Business counseling, mentoring, and capacity assessments

· Training and technical assistance (e.g., contracting, exporting, financial readiness)

· Access to capital through coordination with SBA access to capital programs (e.g.,7(a), 504, microloan, surety bonds) and financial partners (e.g., lenders, CDCs, SBICs, venture capital, and state/local programs)

· Workforce related support, including partnerships that address skilled labor shortages Service Standardization:

· Describe how services will be aligned across Service Centers while allowing flexibility to meet local needs Service Accessibility: In-Person and Virtual Delivery

· Describe the applicant’s plan to deliver in-person, virtual, and hybrid services to maximize access.

· Use of digital tools for on-demand training and client engagement

Targeted Initiatives

· Manufacturing and onshoring support

· Rural business development and access to markets and capital

· Childcare business support and sector-specific assistance

· Supporting all aspects of industry in food supply chain

· Critical Minerals

· Addressing the need for skilled labor Partnerships and Collaboration Strategy

· Describe coordination with SBA District Offices and resource partners (e.g., SBDC, SCORE, VBOC)

· Demonstrate partnerships with federal, state, local, and private sector organizations to expand service delivery

· Include plans for joint outreach, events, and resource leveraging to maximize impact

B. Applicant Capability and Network Management (25 points) Organization/Institution Profile and Background/Capability (20 points). The application capability should include the organization mission, programs, and experiences including providing management and technical assistance programs and economic development support to the small business community, entrepreneurial project experience and strategies for best practices.

The applicant should provide 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, a list of previous or current projects or services relevant to the proposal, public records of accomplishments, public citations, and/or letters of referrals/recommendations as attachments to the proposal.

In addition, the applicant should include:

· Governance and coordination structure

· Experience managing multi-site or statewide programs

· Processes to monitor performance and ensure achievement of program goals in both lead and service center, if applicable

Project Organizational Structure and Biographies/Resumes for Major Participants (5 points). 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 also must provide a brief narrative outlining the reporting structure and/or governance of the Project. Also, the applicant should provide a one-Page bio or resume for each of the applicant’s key leader(s) showing relevant experience of the leader(s), for example: Administrator or Department Head to oversee the success of the proposed project. The biographies and attachments should be included with your proposal but will not count toward the 10-15-page limit.

C. Data Collection and Program Evaluation (15 points).

The Data collection and program evaluation section should reflect, and be consistent with, the Project Description and Budget sections. Applicants must present a clear, feasible plan to collect, analyze, and use data to measure program performance and outcomes. Lead centers are responsible for reporting and uploading the service centers key performance metrics (i.e., Unique Clients Served, New Business Starts, Capital Infusion, and Jobs Supported) into Nexus. The narrative should describe the applicant’s ability to interface with complex reporting systems. Describe a data collection plan, aimed at describing the measures, methods, techniques, and tools to be used to evaluate the project and its anticipated outcomes specifically the impact on small businesses. At minimum, include the following:

Data Metrics and Collection Methods

· Identify key performance metrics to include at a minimum, (1) Unique Clients Served, (2) Capital Infusion Transactions, (3) New Business Starts, and (4) Jobs Supported

· Identify proposed target metrics for (1) Unique Clients Served, (2) Capital Infusion Transactions, (3) New Business Starts, and (4) Jobs Supported for the state/territory within the first year of the project.

· Describe additional data to be collected (e.g., service utilization)

· Explain methods, tools, and systems for data collection, tracking, and reporting. (Program reporting must be uploaded to Nexus)

Performance Evaluation and Learning

· Describe how outcomes will be evaluated against program goals

· Outline how lessons learned (both successes and challenges) will be documented and applied

Service Model Effectiveness

· Describe how your proposed service model will ensure effective program implementation

· Explain how you will assess the effectiveness of your service model over the period of performance, including how you will refine the model if opportunities or gaps are identified

Data-Driven Program Improvement

· Describe how data will be used to inform decision-making and improve service delivery

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

D. Financial and Administrative Capacity (10 points). Narrative describing the lead center’s ability to control program resources and details of a sound financial management system. In addition, describe the Host’s planned match contribution for the program year and ability to obtain required match, letters of commitment of match for the future. Furthermore, this section of the proposal will use the Standard Forms and Annual Budget Summary to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and appropriateness of the funding requested. Applicants should ensure each budget item is described fully so that there are no ambiguity or questions regarding its relevance or reasonableness to the project and its objectives. Please reference Section 4.1.3 for additional instructions.

1. Budget: The applicant must submit the SF-424 (application package) and initial breakout via the SF-424A. The applicant must indicate matching funds if provided in the appropriate areas of the SF-424 and SF424A. Costs must align.

2. Annual Budget Summary: The applicant must provide a detailed justification for all budget items in sufficient detail to enable the proposal reviewers to evaluate the appropriateness of the funding requested (e.g., staffing, infrastructure, work activities, materials and supplies, equipment, etc.). The budget justification must be broken-out and detailed using the same budget categories as the SF-424A. All costs must align.

4.1.3 Budget Information

Budget information for the twelve (12)-month period of performance must be provided through the submission of the following:

· SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance; Included in GrantSolutions.gov;

· SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs; Included in GrantSolutions.gov;

· In Section B of SF-424A, line 6g titled “Construction” is not used.

· Budget Detail Worksheet (Attachments A-9 through A-12 to the SF-424A).

· Use the following guidance for preparing the budget:

· Personnel: List all staff positions by title (both proposed and current, if applicable). Give the annual salary of each position, the percentage of each position’s time devoted to the Project, the amount of each position’s salary funded by the grant, and the total personnel cost for the period of performance. Employees of the non-Federal entity should be budgeted as Federal or cash match, and not In-kind.

· Fringe Benefits: For salaried employees, provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement, etc.

· Travel: For local travel, provide the total anticipated mileage, and mileage rate. For out of state/region travel, provide estimated cost and justification including a.) Purpose, b) Destination, c.) Mode of transportation and rate (i.e., airfare or mileage and rate), d.) Number of trips, and e.) Number and position of travelers. Federal grant funds are not authorized for foreign travel or to attend out of state/region conferences.

· Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase which has an estimated acquisition cost of $10,000.00 or more per unit (or if your capitalization level is less than $10,000.00, use your capitalization level) and a useful lifetime of more than one year (see 2 CFR 200.33 for the definition of “Equipment”). List the quantity and unit cost per item. Please note that items with a unit cost of less than $10,000 are classified as “Supplies,” not “Equipment.” Additionally, we do not generally permit the purchase of equipment during the last funded year of a grant.

· Supplies: All tangible personal property other than those described in the equipment definition. A computing device is a supply if the acquisition cost is below the lesser of the capitalization level established by the recipient or subrecipient for financial statement purposes or $10,000, regardless of the length of its useful life. See this section's definitions of computing devices and equipment.

· Contracts: For the purpose of Federal financial assistance, a legal instrument by which a recipient or subrecipient conducts procurement transactions under a federal award. For additional information on subrecipient and contractor determinations, see § 200.331(b).

· Construction: Construction costs are not allowed, so this line must be left as zero.

· Other: List any item not covered elsewhere here (such as stipends or incentives). Provide clear and specific details, including costs, for each item so that we can determine whether the costs are necessary, reasonable, and allocable.

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

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

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

4.1.4 Certifications, Forms and Assurances

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Regulatory Secretariat Division the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), implemented a new process in the System for Award Management (SAM), for pre-award registration requirements for Applicants. These revisions will enable non-Federal entities to submit common federal government-wide certifications and representations for Federal financial assistance at the time of registration in SAM.

Non-federal entities are required to complete funding system assessment and submit a letter from the applicant’s Auditor, Certified Public Accountant, Treasurer, Comptroller, Chief Financial Officer, or similarly qualified individual certifying that your organization’s financial management system currently meets the requirements of 2 CFR 200.302. Applicants are responsible for ensuring they are compliant with all the certifications and assurances required to submit a federal grant application. Information on the requirements can be found at SAM.gov.

4.1.5 Attachments and Exhibits

Each applicant must attach copies of the following to its Proposal (as applicable):

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

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

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

· Any other documentation the applicant believes supports its proposal.

4.2 Submission Instructions

SBA requires the use of the Grants.gov website for submission of competitive announcements. If your organization hasn't already done so, it must register with Grants.gov before it can apply for this funding opportunity. Registration creates a profile of basic information about your organization including the staff members who are authorized to submit applications on its behalf. These steps take several days, so please don't wait until the last minute if you have a deadline approaching. If you have problems registering with Grants.gov, call the support desk at 1-866-577-0771. Complete instructions for registering with Grants.gov are located at www.Grants.gov.

Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, active System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and www.Grants.gov account to apply for grants. If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity, then you may begin with step 3, Create this identifier at www.Grants.gov Account, listed below.

As of February 2, 2019, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Regulatory Secretariat Division of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implemented a new process in the System for Award Management (SAM), to the currently approved information collection requirement regarding the pre-award registration requirements for applicant. These revisions will enable non-Federal entities to submit common federal government-wide certifications and representations for Federal financial assistance at the time of registration in SAM. You must have an up-to-date SAM profile before your grant application can be reviewed for possible award.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but UEI and SAM registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, an organization's registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

Complete organization instructions can be found on www.Grants.gov:

Obtain a UEI: All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a UEI. Applicants must enter the UEI in the data entry field labeled "Organizational UEI" on the SF-424 form. For more detailed instructions for obtaining a UEI, refer to: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration Register with SAM: All organizations applying online through wwwGrants.gov must register and maintain registration with the System for Award Management (SAM). Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through www.Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration The next step is to register an account with www.Grants.gov. Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions here: Home | GRANTS.GOV Add a Profile to www.Grants.gov Account: A profile in Www.Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Www.Grants.gov account to access all your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your www.Grants.gov account, enter the UEI for the organization in the UEI field while adding a profile. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on www.Grants.gov, refer to: Home | GRANTS.GOV EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with www.Grants.gov and create an Organization.

Applicant Profile, the organization applicant's request for www.Grants.gov roles and access are sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to www.Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on www.Grants.gov, refer to: Home | GRANTS.GOV Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to: Home | GRANTS.GOV

b. Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through www.Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

3. How to Submit an Application to SBA via www.Grants.gov www.Grants.gov applicants must apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. For each Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on www.Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities, refer to: Home | GRANTS.GOV Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive support.

Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out web forms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on www.Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at: Home | GRANTS.GOV Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant’s name, address, and UEI. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. www.Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a www.Grants.gov Tracking Number Home | GRANTS.GOV is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to: Home | GRANTS.GOV Applicant Support: Home | GRANTS.GOV provides applicants 24/7 support. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant you are applying for.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the www.Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist the SBA with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

4. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

a. Online Submission. All applications must be received by [11:59:59 p.m.] Eastern Day light Savings Time on September 13, 2026. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by www.Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by www.Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from www.Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. This applicant with the AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp from Grants.gov tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

When SBA successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the download of submissions, www.Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by www.Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by SBA.

Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before www.Grants.gov receives your application. Again, www.Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role attempting to submit the application. The www.Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

4.3 Required Proposal Submission Dates

Each applicant is required to submit their proposal electronically via https://www.grants.gov/ by no later than 11:59:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on September 13, 2026. Because of the pre-conditions for submitting applications via Grants.gov and the potential for encountering technical difficulties, applicants are strongly encouraged to log on to Grants.gov and review the submission instructions early.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE CLOSING DATE TO BEGIN THE SUBMISSION PROCESS.

Applicants bear sole responsibility for ensuring their proposals are submitted and received before the closing date.

The SBA will consider the date and time stamp generated by Grants.gov as the official submission time. Any proposal that is not received by Grants.gov before the closing date of this NOFO will be rejected without evaluation, unless the applicant can clearly demonstrate through documentation obtained from Grants.gov that they attempted to submit their proposal in a timely manner but were unable to do so solely due to Grants.gov system issues. Additionally, the SBA will not accept any changes, additions, revisions, or deletions to applications made after the closing date.

Applicants should save proof of any 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 the Grants.gov Support Center for immediate assistance. Applicants may obtain advice and assistance with the Grants.gov submission process by visiting http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html or by calling 1-800-518-4726.

Section V - Application Review Information

5.1 General

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

Applications will first be screened to determine if the applicant meets stated mandatory eligibility requirements. SBA will not evaluate applicants that do not document in their application that they meet the requirements for participation in the WBC Program. Submissions will only be accepted via www.Grantsolutions.gov.

Applications will be rejected without being evaluated if…