Sllides-WebinarPresentation-Clusters-06112015.pdf

SBA Regional Innovation Clusters

2015 Solicitation

U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Entrepreneurial Development (OED)

June 11th, 2015

3:30-4:30PM ET

Presented by Matt Stevens, OED

Primary Point of Contact: Cheryl Flanagan, CO Cheryl.Flangan@sba.gov

SBAHQ-15-R-0015

Informational Webinar mailto:Cheryl.Flangan@sba.gov

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SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2015 Solicitation - Webinar 6/11/2015

Today’s Agenda

• Provide Overview of SBA’s Regional Innovation Clusters Program

• Discuss Protocol for Questions

• Highlight Key Elements of Solicitation

• Review Submission Instructions

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Mission of SBA’s Clusters Program

The ability of small businesses to drive innovation is critical to U.S. competitiveness.

The Small Business Administration Clusters Program connects and enhances regional cluster assets so that small businesses can effectively leverage them to grow, commercialize new technologies and expand into new markets, thereby positioning themselves and their regional economies for growth.

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Two Main Functions of SBA Clusters Program

1. Directly supports regional cluster initiatives

At a community level, SBA-funded cluster initiatives measurably connect sector-specific public and private resources to provide small businesses with specialized assistance, mentoring, showcasing, and access to capital.

2. Convenes thought leaders, policy makers, and practitioners

In order to foster healthy innovation ecosystems for small businesses in advanced industries, the program convenes cluster leaders, shares best practices, and encourages collaboration between public and private partners at local, state and national levels.

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Defining Clustering and Cluster Initiatives

Small Businesses

Entrepreneurs

Large Contractors

Lenders

Venture Capital

Investors

Gov’t Agencies Community Leadership

Colleges Trade

Associations

Industry Cluster

A cluster is a geographic concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers and associated institutions focused or clustered around a particular industry or sector(s).

Auto manufacturing in Detroit

Silicon Valley in California

Financial Services in New York

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Defining Clustering and Cluster Initiatives

Small Businesses

Entrepreneurs Lenders

Venture Capital

Investors

Gov’t Agencies Community Leadership

Colleges Trade

Associations

Large Contractors

Cluster Initiative

Industry Cluster

Cluster initiatives build off of organic clusters by purposely integrating small, medium and large companies and universities for business, funding and research opportunities that create jobs, attract capital and have long-term, positive economic impacts. Its

Core functions:

Serves as a navigator/concierge to connect stakeholders

Maintain governance structure

Provide some in-house technical assistance and rely on outside service providers

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Results from Three Years of Evaluations

Cluster Activity Impacts Small Businesses of SBA’s Regional Innovation Clusters

84%

54%

42%

32% 28%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Business

Networking

Access to cluster services

Government

Procurement

Opportunities

Supply Chain

Integration

Access to

New Markets

Other

Reasons Small Businesses Participate in Clusters (Percent “Yes”)

In new economic activity generated by small businesses

$3 Billion

75% satisfaction from reporting small businesses.

88% of small businesses reported that the cluster services were unique and could not be found elsewhere.

80% of participants agree that cluster activities led to increases in collaborative activity within their region.

Total small business participation increased by over 500%

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Number of Small Businesses new patents acquired by participating small businesses

60% of participants agree that cluster participation resulted in the development of new products and services.

71% of participants seeking commercialization services agree that cluster participation led to the commercialization of new technology.

The number of times faster that cluster payrolls grew relative to their local region. 4.5x

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SBA’s 11 Regional Innovation Clusters (Attachment 2b)

San Diego Regional Innovation

Cluster

(San Diego, California)

Industry Focus:

Autonomous systems, cybersecurity, and other defense technologies

Advanced Power and Energy

(St. Paul, Minnesota)

Power and energy generation, storage, distribution, conservation, and other defense technologies

3 The Smart Grid Cluster

(Chicago, Illinois)

Smart electrical grid equipment and

Enterprise for Innovative

Geospatial Solutions Cluster

(Bay St. Louis, Mississippi)

Geospatial technologies

5 TechRICH

(Huntsville, AL)

Aerospace robotics, cybersecurity.

And other defense technologies

6 FlexMatters Cluster

(Cleveland, Ohio)

Flexible electronic

8 Autonomous and

Unmanned Systems

(Alamogordo, New Mexico)

Autonomous and unmanned systems

9 The Ozarks Cluster

(Fayetteville, Arkansas )

Food processing, supply chain, and logistics

10 The Water Council Cluster

(Milwaukee, WI)

Water technology

11 Marine Industry

Science and

Technology Cluster

(Stennis Space Center, Mississippi)

Science and technology applications in marine industries

Northeast Electrochemical

Energy Storage Cluster

(East Hartford, Connecticut)

Hydrogen and fuel-cell and supply chain

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Protocol for Questions (Synopsis)

Potential Offerors may direct questions by email only to the Contracting Officer (CO) within the time allowed following the posting of this Combined Synopsis/Solicitation.

Questions and answers will be provided in writing and posted by amendment to this notice on this website.

The date and time when written questions by email shall be submitted to the CO is no later than 3 p.m., Mountain Time, June 23, 2015. Note that, due to the press of business, no other form of communication from Offeror will be entertained or replied to by the CO. The email address for the CO is cheryl.flanagan@sba.gov .

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Award Information (Synopsis)

As a result of the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, the SBA intends to award a total of three contracts to contractors to head cluster initiatives.

Each contract will be for a base year and four option years. The base year will be for a firm-fixed, level-of-effort (not-to-exceed) price of $500,000.00.

Contractor is to estimate each option year for a firm-fixed level-of-effort (not-to-exceed) price of $500,000.00. Option year prices may vary at the time of exercise depending on available funding.

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Award Information (Synopsis)

This combined synopsis/solicitation is partially set-aside for award to one qualified small business. The remainder two awards are being competed full and open.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services, with a size standard of $14 Million. The Product Service Code is R499, Support – Professional – Other.

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Solicitation Components

(1) SF- 1447 – to be completed and signed by Offeror

(2) Performance-Based Statement of Work (SOW) with its two attachments

(3) Contract Clauses and Solicitation Provisions

(4) Pricing Schedule to be completed by an

Offeror, and

(5) Past Performance Information form to be completed by an Offeror.

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Solicitation Components (Continued)

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Overview (SOW, pg 1)

SBA is interested in proposals that:

(a) support the growth of a regional cluster;

(b) demonstrate strong regional, bottom-up support;

(c) are market-driven;

(d) demonstrate high potential for success and sustainability; and

(e) closely align with emerging entrepreneurial development trends.

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Key Areas of Focus (SOW, pgs 2-3)

• Specific services to be provided by small businesses participating in the cluster

• Linking and connecting businesses

• Tie-in to emerging entrepreneurial growth initiatives

• Leveraging federal resources

• Past performance / prior experience

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What’s New This Year:

• Focus on communities/regions in the country affected by changes in the coal economy

• Enhanced focus on inclusive entrepreneurial development

• Enhanced focus on leveraging other federal economic development initiatives

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Focus on Communities/Regions in the Country Affected by Changes in the Coal Economy (SOW, pg. 1)

As part of SBA’s involvement in the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative, the SBA intends to make one of the three contemplated contract awards to an entity that will provide cluster initiative services to a community affected by changes in the coal economy. Offerors who intend to submit a proposal to serve a community affected by the coal economy should cross reference the POWER Federal Funding Opportunity and take note of the special instructions included in this statement of work.

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=276458

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Special Instructions for Cluster Initiatives in Communities Affected by Changes to the Coal Economy (SOW, pgs 5,7)

**SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS for Cluster Initiatives located and providing services to communities affected by changes in the coal economy:

Offerors who intend to submit a proposal to serve a community affected by the coal economy shall cross reference the POWER Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO). Specifically, Offerors who put forth proposals predicated on enhancing clusters in communities affected by the coal economy shall also include in its proposal the Core Project Narrative as indicated in Section IV, Subpart D (pgs. 14-15) of the POWER FFO.

The SBA will not pre-define geographies that are eligible; instead the Offeror shall demonstrate the degree of economic distress/impact resulting from coal economy contractions (e.g., mine closures, power plant closures, etc.). Offerors shall demonstrate how the proposed cluster initiative will mitigate those impacts through support for job-creating economic and entrepreneurial development in compatible industries.

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Emphasis on Emerging Entrepreneurial Growth Initiatives and other Federal Resources

• Affiliation with a Promise Zone designated community;

• Affiliation with an Investing in Manufacturing Communities

Partnership designated community;

• Involvement with the National Network for Manufacturing

Innovation;

• Affiliation with the POWER initiative;

• Incorporation or linkage to an accelerator program;

• Brokering of public-private partnerships to enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the cluster;

• Alignment with rapid prototyping centers (e.g. Maker Spaces);

and/or

• A focus on advanced industries which include, but are not limited to, manufacturing, electronics, robotics, defense systems, power/energy innovations, and cyber security

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Emphasis on Emerging Entrepreneurial Growth Initiatives and other Federal Resources: More Information on IMCP and Promise Zones (pgs. 1-2, SOW)

The SBA will take into consideration whether proposing entities are part of and will provide services to communities with an Investing in Manufacturing and Communities Partnership (IMCP) designation, as well as entities that are part of a Promise Zone designation.

• The Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) aims to accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing and create a competitive climate for communities to attract manufacturing jobs and investment. The IMCP encourages communities to devise comprehensive economic development strategies that strengthen their competitive edge in attracting global manufacturers and their supply chains. More information on IMCP can be found at http://www.eda.gov/challenges/imcp/

• As a participant in the Administration’s Promise Zone Initiative, the SBA is cooperating with HUD and 10 other federal agencies to support comprehensive revitalization efforts in 20 high poverty urban, rural and tribal communities across the country. For more information on Promise Zones, please go to www.hud.gov/promisezones http://www.eda.gov/challenges/imcp/ http://www.eda.gov/challenges/imcp/ http://www.hud.gov/promisezones

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Emphasis on Inclusive Entrepreneurship (SOW, pg. 4)

An Offeror shall provide details as to how its proposal aligns with the SBA’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive small business ecosystem. In particular, the proposal should address in detail how the planned course of action will enhance opportunities for and provide benefits to historically-underserved and underrepresented populations (e.g. veterans, women, minorities, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, inner-city and rural populations, etc.).

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Identification of Proposed Cluster (SOW, pg. 5)

Offeror shall specifically identify the cluster, by region and by sector(s), to be supported by the cluster initiative and specifically state whether the proposed cluster is currently being supported through active SBA contracts. A list and map of current SBA contract-based clusters are included in the attachment “2015 SBA – 11 Regional Innovation Clusters Map.pdf” to this SOW.

A proposal will be ranked more highly that focuses on a regional cluster not being currently supported through active SBA contracts. SBA is looking for proposals that either embody a different sector or a different region than those initiatives currently being supported.

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Evaluation Factors (Clauses and Provisions, pgs. 10-14)

Factor 1 – Technical Approach

Factor 2 – Cluster Qualifications and Experience

Factor 3 – Past Performance / Experience

Factor 4 – Price

Factors 1 and 2 are the most important factors and are of equal value. When combined, Factors 1, 2 and 3 are significantly more important than price (Factor 4)

Technical

Proposal Part 1

Technical

Proposal Part 2

Past Performance

Form

Pricing Schedule

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Submission Instructions (Clauses and Provisions, pgs 8-9)

Proposals shall include only the following:

• a filled in and signed SF-1447 (complete blocks 13 & 27) – one copy;

• Technical Proposal, Part 1 – Contractor’s Technical Approach – limitation of 15 pages – four copies;

• Technical Proposal, Part 2 – Statement of Contractor’s Cluster Qualifications and

Cluster Initiative Experience – limitation of 10 pages (narrative statement).

Attach required and recommended documents and information listed in the Statement of Work, and, resumes of key personnel at the end of this part (attachments do not count toward the page limitation) - four copies;

• Past Performance / Past Experience Form– use provided form – no page limitation – four copies;

• Completed Pricing Schedule – use provided form – no page limitation - two copies;

• Subcontracting Plan – no page limitation – one copy if Contractor is an “other-than-small for-profit” business (not required if Contractor is a for-profit small business; and

• Any exceptions or changes to the contract terms and conditions – one copy.

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Submission Instructions (Clauses and Provisions, pgs 8-9)

Contractor’s submission of its offer shall be made only by paper using the U. S. Post Office or a delivery service to:

Cheryl T. Flanagan, Contracting Officer Small Business Administration, Denver Finance Center, Acquisition Division 721 – 19th St., Third Floor Denver, CO 80202

Contractor’s proposal must be complete, in accordance with these solicitation provisions, and received by the Contracting Officer no later than 3 p.m., Mountain Time, on August 4th, 2015.

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Protocol for Questions (Synopsis)

Potential Offerors may direct questions by email only to the Contracting Officer (CO) within the time allowed following the posting of this Combined Synopsis/Solicitation.

Questions and answers will be provided in writing and posted by amendment to this notice on this website.

The date and time when written questions by email shall be submitted to the CO is no later than 3 p.m., Mountain Time, June 23, 2015. Note that, due to the press of business, no other form of communication from Offeror will be entertained or replied to by the CO. The email address for the CO is cheryl.flanagan@sba.gov .

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Thank you for your interest!

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Requirements

The Offeror shall demonstrate in its Technical Proposal that it is an established regional cluster initiative of the region and sector proposed by the Offeror, or that it leads or co-leads an established cluster initiative in the region and sector proposed is recognized as a leader or co-leader of the cluster it currently represents, convenes, and coordinates, and has a history of representing, convening, and coordinating, a variety of stakeholders devoted to implementing a strategic plan for growth and competitiveness of a region, centered on a particular industry or set of complementary industries aligns its efforts in its Technical Proposal with emerging entrepreneurial growth trends, and/or other federal agency programming and initiatives; and will promote a more inclusive small business ecosystem with respect to underrepresented and underserved communities. (SOW, pg 6)

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Requirements

In its Technical Proposal, an Offeror shall further address how it will provide at least four of the following services to small businesses involved in the cluster:

Business training;

Business counseling/consulting;

Mentoring;

Technology transfer counseling/consulting;

Commercialization of existing research and development (R&D) counseling/consulting;

Engagement with Department of Defense, Department of Energy or other federal agency’s Small

Business Innovative Research & Development Programs;

Support in obtaining Facility Clearance status and holding of security clearances;

Export readiness counseling/consulting;

Support for underserved communities; and/or

Other defined services relevant to small businesses.