FINAL_Q A_20150713.pdf

FINAL Q&A, SBAHQ-15-Q-0040, ScaleUp America as of 13 July 2015

*PLEASE NOTE THIS SOLICITATION IS NOT A GRANT OPPORTUNITY*

1. The Iowa Center for Economic Success is very interested in applying for this. We currently operate the only Women’s Business Center in the State of Iowa (and have since the 1990s). Does this funding come in conflict with WBC?

A. Entities that are currently under grant agreements to operate Women’s Business Centers and are registered in the System for Award Management are welcome to submit a proposal. The funding, scope and implementation of ScaleUp shall remain independent and non-duplicative of any other SBA funding source or activity. In other words, any activities or services provided to small businesses and entrepreneurs under the ScaleUp America contract must be in addition to any present requirements under other SBA agreements, and any and all metrics/outcomes shall not be double-counted among other SBA-funded activities.

2. In reference to point 1, can our operation of WBC count as “Entrepreneurship Education Curriculum: Delivery of a proven, existing curriculum…” ?

A. No. While the operation of a WBC may be presented as favorable information for past experience/prior performance in this action, all offerors must identify the specific curriculum it will use in the implementation of ScaleUP America. Please see pg. 5 of the Statement of Objectives that describes the minimum requirements of the existing curriculum for growth-oriented entrepreneurs and small business owners.

3. I am a grant writer for profit corporations and nonprofit corporations. Tell me, is this opportunity only available for companies that have between $150K-$500K in gross revenues? Would a private party such as myself be of any service to a company doing this solicitation? In another case example could there be a middleman, who with proper credentials, be a part of something like this in helping a company achieve this solicitation? Would that individual have to have a gross revenue of $150K to $500K? And if so, would he be able to make a fee for helping the business apply? Or is this opportunity just for the businesses themselves?

A. This solicitation is for qualified entities who seek to manage and to implement the ScaleUp

America initiative in their community on behalf of the SBA. In turn, these entities would be responsible for providing assistance to two cohorts of growth-oriented small businesses with average revenues from $150k- $500k. This is not a grant opportunity or a direct opportunity for businesses to receive assistance. Additionally, there are not any revenue requirements for the entity submitting the proposal.

The entity submitting the proposal is responsible for proposing and sharing how it will meet the program objectives, such as their key personnel and management work plans. SBA will not have a direct relationship with any subcontractors, which would include any individual, such as a grant writer, that assist the entity with applying for this solicitation. For more information, please see

pg. 9 and pg. 10 of the SOO for the Contractor Furnished Items and Services and Contractor Personnel.

4. What are the names of the firms that were successful in the competitive bidding process and were awarded the FFP award? Where are these firms located and in what region of the United States did they deliver the scope of services for ScaleUp America?

A. https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-initiatives/scaleup-america-initiative#communities

5. Were the same eight firms able to continue with the option year for this year 2015?

A. SBA currently funds ScaleUp America initiatives in the following communities: Aurora, IL;

Central Ohio (Columbus), OH; Jacksonville Metropolitan Statistical Area, FL; Kansas City, KS and MO; Greater Portland, ME; Roanoke, VA; Tucson, AZ; and Western North Carolina. As indicated in the solicitation, SBA will make only one award per community. Therefore, a proposal will be ranked more highly that focuses on communities not being currently supported through active SBA ScaleUp initiatives.

6. Can my organization submit our own quotation as a prime contractor if another business submits a quotation where my organization would be a sub-contractor?

A. Yes you can. However, please keep in mind the clause 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, if you would like to be considered for the partial small business set-aside.

7. The mission of my organization limits us to serving Native Americans. Can we select only Native communities to conduct the work but open any training up to non-natives as well?

A. Offerors may submit one proposal for one community, defined in the SOO as “A geographic defined space or region, such as a town, county, metropolitan statistical area, etc.” Therefore, yes, an entity/organization could propose their community and explain their geographic region, which could include reservation lands and/or an area with Tribal Nation communities.

As part of their proposal, the offeror must describe why ScaleUp America is relevant for their community. For example, as described on page 2 of the SOO, “Offerors should provide a data-driven assessment of the proposed community’s entrepreneurial ecosystem as it exists today and identify training, education and support gaps for high-potential entrepreneurs and growth-oriented small businesses with average annual revenues of $150,000-$500,000.”

Additionally, the offeror shall detail how it will serve underrepresented and underserved groups in their community if awarded ScaleUp contract, which includes Native American business owners. In the proposal, the offeror must provide details on how it will conduct outreach to underrepresented and underserved populations (please see pg. 3 of the SOO) and also how they will select the businesses that participate in their cohorts. However, any entity that receives federal funding may not discriminate who they serve based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, disabilities, national origin and age. Therefore, all eligible, qualified small businesses in the community must be eligible to apply for ScaleUp America. Please see the definitions of growth-oriented small business/entrepreneur and underserved or under represented small business/entrepreneur in the SOO.

8. Volume I. The solicitation expressly states that the cover page and table of contents do not count against the page limit. It is unclear whether job descriptions (as distinguished from resumes) and community stakeholder letters of support count against the 40 page limit. I am assuming that job https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-initiatives/scaleup-america-initiative%23communities descriptions (being submitted in lieu of resumes) would not count but that letters of support would. Please advise.

A. Resumes do not count against the page limit. Job descriptions and letters of support do count against the page limit.

9. Volume I. Are we supposed to use the format shown at the top of page 46 of the solicitation (Name of Main Point of Contact….) in the section on key personnel? Or does that pertain to requesting approval of a diversion of key personnel?

A. You do not have to use the format, but you must make sure all the information in the format is provided. This information is required if you choose to change key personnel as well.

10. Volume III. There do not appear to be any amendments to acknowledge, correct? If any amendments are issued, what is the form for acknowledgement or is that provided at that point in time?

A. Number of amendments, if any, can be acknowledged in your coversheet included with Volume I

11. Volume III. Where do we complete the Section K certifications? Do we use pages 24 -37 of the solicitation or is there a standard form to be used?

A. The provisions located in Section K contain fill-in blanks, check boxes, etc. Please review Section K carefully to ensure something is not missed.

12 I also had additional clarifying questions about one of the responses to questions posted on FedBizOpps. In regards to the exchange below, does that answer indicate there are NO recommended/require conferences or events held for successful offerers each year?

In speaking with current, active, ScaleUP programs there was mention that travel to DC is recommended. Can you comment on any required / recommended travel for successful offerors?

A: It is anticipated that the resulting contracts will be firm fixed price (FFP) with a base year of twelve (12) months and four (4) 12 month option periods. The award amount shall include any associated travel and event costs. The Government will not pay any travel/event costs in addition to a business’s final proposed quote.

Last year, SBA hosted a two-day gathering of the ScaleUp awardees in Washington, DC, and current offerors are welcome to anticipate and to include a similar event in their proposed budget.

With the award of a firm fixed price contract, any award amount will include any associated travel and event costs incurred by the offeror.

13 "Estimated travel costs, if any, will not be included as part of the price reasonableness determination, but will be considered in price limitations set previously for each individual contract. Please ensure your pricing includes a total with and without travel costs included."

Do we submit two different proposals (one with travel costs and the other without travel costs?

This is very important because we know that travel will be a part of the proposal requirements.

A. You do not have to submit separate price quotes. It is recommended vendors include travel as a separate line item. This is up to the vendor. Some vendors may not have to include travel because of their proximity to the Washington, D.C. area. Because travel costs can only be estimated and not determined at a fixed price, if a vendor chooses to include travel as a separate line item, it will not be included in price evaluations. However, we cannot consider any pricing that exceeds the $240k cap which includes any travel estimates.

14. Is there any formal certification required in order to qualify for the small business set aside for this contract, or will you be using the information that is self-reported on the SAM website to make the small business determination?

A. No formal certification is required from the SBA for small business status. Companies may self-certify as described in the Reps & Certs portion of their SAM registration.

15. It appears that Attachment B – PPQ has the solicitation number from last year’s solicitation. Will an updated form be provided, or should we use this version?

A. Administrative error. No updated form will be posted, please use the current form.

16. Can you provide additional information on section 52.232-32: Performance-Based Payments?

Does this mean that we must wait until we pass certain program milestones before we’re eligible to submit a request for payment, even though the contract is firm fixed price?

A. Please review subpart FAR 32.10 for definitions and descriptions of performance based payments.

17. May bidders provide a summary description of the individual letters and their relevancy within the page-count limit, and submit images of the letters of support as appendices outside of the page limit?

A. No. Letters of support count should be included within your proposal and do count toward the page limit.

18. I am finishing the response to the SBA solicitation for ScaleUp America. We are instructed to fill out certain information in the Solicitation/Contractor/Order for Commercial Items, one of the is block 17a. That block is asking for a code and facility code. What are these?

A. You must put your company’s DUNS number in the “code” box.

19. Also, in block 12 is asking for discount terms. My estimated cost, as shown in my budget, exceeds the maximum amount of $240,000 which my organization is willing to fund. Will this qualify as a discount terms?

A. This block should reflect the prompt payment discount offered to the government. If net 30 it should so state. A simpler explanation is if the Government provides payment faster than you require (the norm is 30 days), will a discount be applied.

20. After reading through Section K, is it correct for me to think that if I have all of our information updated on SAM and I have no changes specifically for this application, I don't have to submit anything from pages 23-39, Section K?

A. No, all certifications are required to be submitted. However, not all boxes or spaces are required to be completed if you have an active SAM registration. Please read each carefully.

21. Can we list our Project Manager as a current contractor (and provide proof of that contract) and upon winning the award then hire the contractor as full time bona fide staff person?

A. As long as you identify the appropriate personnel, we are not concerned with their current employment status. However, any personnel changes after awardees have been determined must be approved by the COR prior to start of work.

22. Is budget information desired? I understand this is not a grant opportunity, but would it be helpful to include information similar to that which is required for grant applications: i.e., a key personnel breakdown, detailed expenditures?

A. Unlike Grants, competitive acquisitions do not provide a breakdown of Government estimates or dictate a Contractor’s budget break out. This is for the Contractor to determined based on requirements posted by the Government.

23. Am I to understand we could also submit a job description of an open position if we don’t have that key person identified yet?

A. No. Key personnel must be identified beforehand so that the Government may compare credentials to the requirement.

24. Is a full time person required or could our PM and/or key people be part time?

A. Determination to be made by Contractor.

25. Are past awards and/or budgets public?

A. Please see question 4.

26. Is there a certain percentage of budget that must go to the primary contractor for roducts/services as opposed to products/services from subcontractors and vendors?

A. This is negotiated between to the Prime Contractor and their subs unless competing for a small business set-aside. Please see clause 52.219-14, Limitations on subcontracting which is included in this solicitation.

27. Definition and Clarification of Data-Driven Assessments (DDA)

I am guessing the intention is to use statistics and tabulations to demonstrate reasonable descriptions as in these following four examples:

1. A data driven assessment of XXXX entrepreneurial ecosystem would include statements such as the XXX held 15 pitch competitions in 2014 and recorded attendance of over 400 people at these events.

2. Our current business accelerator has a percentage of 52% minority participants.

3. There are no intensive curriculum training programs available for high-potential entrepreneurs and growth oriented small businesses with average revenues between $150k - $500K

4. We have identified over 8,000 small businesses that would qualify for this program.

A: Yes. Providing this kind of information and explaining the source of the information/statistics are examples that an offeror could include in their data-driven assessment.

28. Use of multiple Training Curricula - Please answer these two questions:

1. Can we offer two cohorts (within one 12 month period) and utilize a different training curriculum for each separate cohort?

2. If we would divide a single cohort into two different sub-groups, can we utilize two different training curricula during the same single cohort?

A. All offerors must support a minimum of two cohorts in a twelve-month period. The intention of a cohort is for individuals to learn from each other (please see the definition provided in the SOO), therefore an offeror should not propose to further divide the cohorts into sub-groups. The same curriculum should be used for all of the ScaleUp cohorts supported by the offeror during a twelve-month period.