Q A_20150630.pdf

Q&A, SBAHQ-15-Q-0040, ScaleUp America as of 30 June 2015

*PLEASE NOTE THIS SOLICITATION IS NOT A GRANT OPPORTUNITY*

Q. 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.

Q. 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.

Q. 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.

Q. 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

Q. 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.

Q. 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.

Q. 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.

Q. 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.

Q. 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.

Q. 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

Q. 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.

Q. 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.