6213001EQ0002_SOW.pdf

Solicitation SBAHQ-16-Q-0006

RESEARCH ON:

WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS

Statement of Work

Location of Work: To be completed by the contractor off-site (not at SBA headquarters)

Period of Performance:

Task A – Base Period: Three (3) Months from Date of Award Task B – Option Period 1: If exercised, Four (4) Months, effective the day after the base period ends.

Clearance Required: None

1. Introduction

The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) is a non-partisan federal advisory council created to serve as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners. The Council’s mission is to promote bold initiatives, policies and programs designed to support women’s business enterprises at all stages of development in the public and private sector marketplaces- from start-up to success to significance. Members of the Council are prominent women business owners and leaders of women’s business organizations. For more information on NWBC, see www.nwbc.gov.

2. Background

The NWBC’s research priority this year is to explore and understand women’s participation in incubators and accelerators. Through this Performance Work Statement, NWBC seeks to obtain a research firm or firms to examine this topic in greater detail.

Women’s Participation in Incubators and Accelerators

Business incubators—organizations that help entrepreneurs get off the ground through mentoring, funding and facilities—have been around since the 1950s. Business accelerators, similar to incubators but with a for-profit structure and a stronger focus on commercialization, are a newer phenomenon. Entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations are paying increasing attention to incubators and accelerators as a tool for developing new firms and helping them succeed through the application of financial, intellectual, and social capital. Politicians and government officials, particularly at the state level, are also focusing on incubators and accelerators as a vehicle for job creation and economic development. However, little research has been done on the makeup of entrepreneurs selected by these programs. Incubators and accelerators may need to examine their application process or program to ensure that they are not http://www.nwbc.gov/ missing women entrepreneurs with business models that would provide a strong return on investment. Women may not be participating as effectively or at the same rates as their male peers; they may also be experiencing higher rates of attrition.

For current NWBC research, see: http://www.nwbc.gov/issues-and-research. For current research by the SBA Office of Advocacy on women entrepreneurs, see:

http://www.sba.gov/advocacy/7540.

3. Scope

The contractor shall be responsible for all aspects of survey data collection, conducting interviews and analyzing the results from both components. The contractor shall be responsible for presenting a clear and complete view of this topic in a comprehensive written report and a PowerPoint deck.

The NWBC will work closely with the vendor throughout the project, and reserves the right to tailor or amend the research throughout the process, without change to the scope. The National Women’s Business Council will also own this project upon completion. The contractor shall complete the research on behalf of the NWBC and cannot share or distribute the report in any way without the express written permission of the Council. The contractor shall list the NWBC as a client and will receive full credit for the report, but the contractor’s name and logo possibly shall not appear on the cover.

This Scope of Work is for a single project, but based on the results the NWBC may wish to conduct additional research on this topic in the future. The vendor shall identify interesting further questions and areas of research in the final report. The NWBC reserves the right to conduct future projects on this topic with a different contractor.

NWBC encourages bidders to submit proposals of relevance to policy-makers, academics, and small business owners on the topics identified in this Performance Work Statement. Possible topics of interest are wide-ranging and are not limited to the following:

Women’s Participation in Incubators and Accelerators The study seeks to address the following major research questions:

• What are the general characteristics of female entrepreneurs who have participated in incubator and accelerator programs?

• What are the general characteristics of incubator and accelerator programs that female entrepreneurs participate in and what are the outcomes of entrepreneurs who participate in these programs?

• How do women decide to participate in incubator or accelerator programs?

• What incubator and accelerator program selection procedures might affect the participation of women?

http://www.nwbc.gov/issues-and-research http://www.sba.gov/advocacy/7540

• How do female entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses benefit from participating in incubator or accelerator programs?

• What incubator and accelerator program elements benefit women the most?

TASK A: Survey Analysis and Report

• The contractor shall complete the data collection for three OMB-approved surveys. One survey focuses specifically on women’s experiences as business owners; a second is geared towards female incubator and accelerator graduates; and the third survey targets the program managers of business incubator and accelerator programs. The contractor will need to survey additional women graduates and program managers from incubator and accelerator programs to meet the participation requirements of these surveys.

• The contractor shall code and analyze the results from the three completed surveys. The contractor shall determine the most effective statistical tests to use to analyze the data.

• The contractor shall propose policy recommendations and conclusions to increase women’s participation in business incubator and accelerator programs informed by the survey results.

• The contractor shall produce a written report – including drafts for NWBC feedback, peer review, and a finalized report. The contractor shall write a comprehensive written report that includes the completed survey analysis and policy recommendations, as well as other external data analysis and a previously completed literature review.

• The contractor shall produce a PowerPoint Summary deck, containing key insights from the report and policy recommendations.

TASK B: In depth interviews, Expert Panels, Data Analysis and Report

• The contractor shall review the notes from 18 completed in-depth interviews, which will be provided by the NWBC.

• The contractor shall complete an additional two in-depth interviews. The contractor shall identify two additional candidates for in-depth interviews (IDIs) and conduct the interviews.

In-depth interviews will be conducted using prepared interview templates, which will be provided by the NWBC.

Groups or individuals for surveys or IDIs should be women entrepreneurs participating in accelerators and incubators, as well as program managers and others involved with the management of incubator and accelerator programs.

These surveys/interviews should analyze these populations by exploring some of the subtopics listed above.

• The contractor shall arrange and conduct expert panels. Participants in the expert panels shall include representatives of incubators, accelerators, entrepreneurs, economic development agencies, non-profits, and other experts. The expert panels shall offer an opportunity to present the findings from the earlier survey and IDI for discussion.

• The contractor shall propose additional policy recommendations and conclusions, if necessary, to increase women’s participation in corporate supplier diversity programs based on the expert panels and interview analysis.

• The contractor shall produce a written report – including drafts for NWBC feedback, peer review, and a finalized report. The contractor shall write a comprehensive written report that incorporates: 1) existing deliverables – completed literature review; 2) the Task A deliverables – data collection and survey analysis; 3) analysis of the 20 in-depth interviews and expert panels completed in Task B; and policy recommendations.

• The contractor shall produce a PowerPoint Summary deck, containing key insights from the report and policy recommendations.

4. Applicable Directives

Other information of relevance when submitting a proposal:

• Research proposals should establish a method for acquiring additional survey responses and

IDI participants and analysis methodology. List a timeline and provide cost information.

• Previously completed research funded by the National Women’s Business Council can give researchers perspective when creating bids. See http://www.nwbc.gov/issues-and-research

• It is encouraged that proposals are no longer than 10 pages, not including company credentials and references.

• Other bid details are listed in the bid package.

5. Performance Requirements

The methodology and hypotheses put forth in the technical proposal, which should clearly show how the survey and IDIs analysis will be conducted, are binding, and are expected to be an integral part of the final report. The analysis is expected to fully document the issues related to women’s participation in incubators and accelerators. Factors that will favorably impact the ratings of a proposal include: soundness of methodology, demonstrated knowledge of the covered literature, familiarity with small business research and relevant data sources, novelty of the ideas put forth, and quality and use of data. See the “Background” and “Scope” sections above for further expectations for this research.

The final product should contain a thorough review of the current and relevant literature, discussion of the data and findings, and overall conclusions. The report should demonstrate policy relevance to current issues. For other details on the final product, see the “Deliverables” and “Performance Requirement Summary” sections that follow.

Depending on technical merit, policy relevance and costs, NWBC may award more than one contract.

6. Deliverables

Deliverable Format Due Date Task A:

Kickoff Meeting Telephone Within five days of award Regular progress reports

Telephone/e-mail conversations;

these may include draft versions of the paper (especially for later progress reports)

Periodic updates on a schedule agreed to between the contractor and the contracting officer’s representative (COR)

Summary of preliminary survey results

E-mailed electronic version Due 1 month from date of contract award

Final version of the research report including survey results

E-mailed electronic version of the final report; see #7 for specific requirements of any draft or final version of the report (no Adobe Acrobat PDF files)

Due by 3 months from the date of the contract award

Final version of a PowerPoint summary deck including survey results

E-mailed electronic version Due by 3 months from the date of the contract award

Summary of preliminary IDIs results

E-mailed electronic version Due 4 months from date of contract award

Final version of the research report including survey results and IDIs

E-mailed electronic version of the final report; see #7 for specific requirements of any draft or final version of the report (no Adobe Acrobat PDF files)

Due by 7 months from the date of the contract award

Final version of a PowerPoint summary deck including survey results and IDIs

E-mailed electronic version Due by 7 months from the date of the contract award

7. Performance Requirement Summary

Contractors must adhere to the following when submitting drafts and the final report, with the final version completed not more than seven months from the date of award:

• Contractors will work with the contracting officer’s representative (COR) to give periodic written updates. All preliminary drafts of the final report must be clearly marked “draft.”

• Contractors must maintain workman-like professional relationship throughout the project.

Specifically, contractor will respond to phone calls and emails within three business days.

• The final report must be thoroughly edited and of high quality before submission to the

COR. All research and data projects are subject to the Office of Management and Budget and data quality and peer review guidelines. Per these guidelines, peer review may range from internal NWBC staff review to that of external reviewers in relevant fields such as academics or technical experts. Feedback from this process will be incorporated into subsequent drafts before the report can be finalized for release.

• The final report must contain an executive summary and table of contents. It must conform with the current version of one of the major style guides, such as the University of Chicago Manual of Style or the American Psychological Association (APA) Style Manual, in terms of grammar, style, and organization. In particular, each table and figure must have a source specified on the page; references, footnotes and bibliographies shall be formatted consistent with a major style guide; and all pages shall have page numbers, including tables and figures.

• All government agency websites are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Section 508 of the ADA’s 1998 amendments requires the electronic documents posted by Federal agencies to be accessible to employees and members of the public with disabilities to the extent that it does not pose an “undue burden.” To comply with this mandate, the final report must be formatted according to NWBC’s guidelines to achieve 508 compatibility, with these guidelines provided by the COR at the time of the award. Per the guidelines, written descriptions of all figures and charts in the final report must be provided in a separate document.

• The contractor will provide NWBC with an electronic version of the study within seven months from the contract start date. The research is expected to progress roughly along the following timeline and with the following benchmark submissions to the COR:

Months in Contract Term

Work Progress and Expected Submissions to COR

1 Survey response completion 2 Analysis of Preliminary Results 3 First draft of Task A; Peer review initiated. Refinements and revisions of first draft report based on peer review and NWBC review

4 Final draft of Task A; refinements and changes for publication.

4 Conduct IDIs 5 Analysis of IDIs; preliminary results 6 First draft of Task B; Peer review initiated. Refinements and revisions of first draft report based on peer review and NWBC review; preliminary results for publication in NWBC annual report

7 Final draft of Task B; refinements and changes for publication.

7 Final report of Task B; completed and ready for publication.

Final PowerPoint deck submitted.

• The format of the electronic version must be a native word processing software format. An

Acrobat (PDF) file is not acceptable. All tables, graphics, and charts must be supplied in an editable software format. The type used in the document will be no smaller than 12 point for manuscript text; 10 point for tables, graphics and charts; and 9 point for footnotes.

• Following approval and acceptance of the final report, NWBC will assign a date for public release of the report. Upon release, an electronic final report, along with an NWBC-prepared research summary, will be posted on NWBC's web site, http://www.nwbc.gov/issues-and-research, and the report also will be available for sale at cost through the National Technical Information Service.

• The definition of small businesses should be the same as used by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Size Standards.

• The NWBC encourages contractors to publish their findings in professional journals, if possible, but they can do so only after completing the contract. They must also give appropriate citation to the NWBC for sponsoring the research and reference the SBA contract number.

TASK A: Survey Analysis and Report