Women's Business Center - Initial Phase - Puerto Rico.pdf

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO)

WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER (WBC) - INITIAL PHASE GRANT

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) No. SB-OEDWB-21-002

Base Budget Period: September 30, 2021 – September 29, 2022

Opening Date: July 27, 2021, New Closing Date: August 16, 2021

The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to two (2) private, non-profit organizations that will provide entrepreneurial development services to women, with an emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in locations that are outside of the geographical areas of existing WBCs for the Territory of Puerto Rico. Eligible applicants must be private, non-profit organizations with 501(c) tax exempt status from the U.S. Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service and must provide services to the

Territory of Puerto Rico.

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 (but that is no longer operating), if eligible to apply and selected, will also be awarded as an Initial Phase Project since this application will be treated as an effort to re-establish the

WBC.

Furthermore, recognizing the important role that Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) (e.g., Historically

Black Colleges and Universities [HBCUs], Hispanic-Serving Institutions [HSIs] from the Hispanic

Association of Colleges and Universities [HACU], and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander

Institutions [AANAPISIs]) play in meeting the needs of socially and economically disadvantaged markets, this program announcement seeks to encourage MSIs to provide entrepreneurial development services to socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

MSIs, HBCUs, HSIs, HACU, AANAPISIs and their auxiliary entities are encouraged to apply.

Additionally, religious organizations are encouraged to apply. 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. Likewise, other organizations meeting the WBC program eligibility criteria, as well as other organizations serving socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, are also encouraged to apply.

Proposals responding to this FOA must be posted to www.Grants.gov by no later than 11:59:59 p.m.

Eastern Daylight Time, on August 16, 2021.

No other methods of submission are permitted. Proposals submitted after the stipulated deadline will be rejected without evaluation.

Table of Contents

Section I- Funding Opportunity Description

1.1 Program Overview

1.2 Introduction

1.3 Background

1.4 Purpose

1.5 Leveraging of Resources

1.6 SBA Involvement and Oversight

1.7 Changes or Cancellation

1.8 SBA Priorities

Section II – Award Information

2.1 Estimated Funding

2.2 Expected Number of Awards

2.3 Period of Performance/Budget Periods

2.4 Funding Information

2.5 Funding Instrument

2.6 Non-Federal Matching Requirement

2.7 Non-Federal Matching Certification

Section III – Eligibility Information

3.1 General

3.2 Eligible Applicants

3.3 Ineligible Applicants

Section IV - Application and Submission Information

4.1 Application Instructions

4.1.1 Project Abstract

4.1.2 Technical Proposal

4.1.3 Budget Information

4.2 Submission Instructions

4.3 Required Proposal Submission Dates

Section V - Application Review Information

5.1 General

5.2 Review and Selection Process

5.2 Evaluation Criteria

5.3 Applicant Risk Assessment

5.4 Award Notification

Section VI - Award Administration Information

6.1 Award Notification

6.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

6.3 Reporting

6.4 Recordkeeping Requirements

Section VII - Agency Contacts

7.1 Office of Women’s Business Ownership Point of Contact

7.2 Financial/Grants Management Point of Contact

7.3 Grants.gov Technical Support

Section VIII - Other Information

8.1 Definitions

8.2 Advance Understandings

8.3 Shared Information

Section I- Funding Opportunity Description

1.1 Program Overview

1.1.1 Federal Agency Name: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

1.1.2 Funding Opportunity Title: Women’s Business Center Initial

1.1.3 Announcement Type: Initial

1.1.4 Funding Opportunity Number: SB-OEDWB-21-002

1.1.5 CDFA Number: 59.043

1.1.6 Closing Date for Submissions: August 16, 2021 11:59 PM Eastern Time

1.1.7 Authority: Small Business Act §§2(h), 29 (15 U.S.C. §§ 631(h)), and 656(m), as amended; 13 CFR Part 131

1.1.8 Duration of Authority: Permanent

1.1.9 Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

1.1.10 Funding: Funding is from Fiscal Year (FY) 2021

1.1.11 Award Amount/Funding Range: A total amount of $300,000 in FY 2021 funding is available for this program. SBA expects to make no more than two awards with a maximum amount of up to

$150,000. Only qualified recipients will be funded.

There is a matching fund requirement.

1.1.12 Project Duration: The length of the project is a total of 60 months with five 12-month budget periods. Awards will be made for a base project period of 12 months, plus four continuation periods of 12 months each, if eligible.

The continuation of the award will be solely SBA’s discretion and is subject to the continuing program authority, the availability of funds and satisfactory performance by the Non-federal entity. Non-Federal entities are required to match awarded funds on a 1:2 ratio for the base project period and first option year of the grant and a 1:1 ratio for the subsequent three (3) years.

1.1.13. Project Starting Date: September 30, 2021

1.1.14 Proposal Evaluation: Proposals will be reviewed for

sufficiency as detailed in Section 5.0. SBA may ask

Applicants for clarification of the technical and cost aspects of their proposals. This must not be construed as a commitment to fund the proposed effort.

1.1.15 Agency Programmatic Point of Contact: Donald Malcolm Smith, U.S. Small Business

Administration, Office of Women’s Business Ownership

Email: owbo@sba.gov

1.2 Introduction

The WBC Program was established by the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 (Public Law No.

100-533) as the Women’s Business Demonstration Pilot, providing grants to private non-profit organizations to aid and encourage the development and growth of small women-owned businesses through long-term training and counseling. The program was expanded and made permanent in 2007, when the WBC Sustainability Grant Program, established in 1999, was replaced with the WBC Renewal

Grant Program.

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 plays a critical role in providing 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.

The mission of the WBC Program is to act as the catalyst for providing in-depth, substantive, outcome-oriented business services to women entrepreneurs, both nascent and established businesses, a representative number of which are socially and economically disadvantaged. This mission is accomplished through the award of financial assistance to private, 501(c) certified non-profit organizations to enable them to affect substantial economic impact in their communities, as measured by successful business start-ups, job creation and retention, and increased company revenues.

Specifically, by statute WBC's must:

▪ Provide prospective entrepreneurs and existing small businesses with training, counseling, and specialized services. The services provided must relate to the formation, financing, management, and operation of small business enterprises.

▪ Provide training and counseling services that enhance a small business concern's ability to access capital, such as business plan development, financial statement preparation/analysis, and cash flow preparation/analysis.

1.4 Purpose

The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to two private, non-profit organizations that will provide entrepreneurial development services to women, with an emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, within the Territory of Puerto Rico. Eligible applicants must be non-profit organizations with 501(c) tax-exempt status from the U.S. Treasury/Internal Revenue Service and must provide services to the Territory of Puerto Rico.

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 selected, will also be awarded as an Initial Phase Project since this application will be treated as an effort to re-establish the WBC.

mailto:owbo@sba.gov

Recognizing the important role that Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) (e.g., Historically Black

Colleges and Universities [HBCUs], Hispanic-Serving Institutions [HSIs] from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities [HACU], and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Institutions

[AANAPISIs]) play in meeting the needs of socially and economically disadvantaged markets, this program announcement seeks to encourage MSIs to provide entrepreneurial development services to socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs. MSIs, HBCUs, HSIs, HACU, AANAPISIs and their auxiliary entities are encouraged to apply.

Likewise, other organizations serving socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, who meet the WBC program eligibility requirements, are also encouraged to apply. Additionally, religious organizations are encouraged to apply. 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.

1.5 Leveraging of Resources

The applicants selected for an award under this FOA are required to maximize efforts leveraging the SBA funding by working in conjunction with the SBA’s District Offices and other federal, state, local and tribal government small business development programs and activities; the SBA resource partners (such as SCORE, Small Business Development Centers, Women Business Centers, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers); SBIR/STTR; 7(j) Technical Assistance providers; Small Business Investment

Companies; Certified Development Companies; SBA lenders; universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher education; and private organizations (such as chambers of commerce and trade and industry groups and associations).

1.6 SBA Involvement and Oversight

The WBC Program is managed by the Assistant Administrator (AA) of the Office of Women’s Business

Ownership (OWBO).

A designated Program Manager (PM) located within OWBO at SBA Headquarters will be responsible for the overall monitoring and oversight of the non-Federal entity’s WBC project, including compliance with the terms and conditions of the Notice of Award (NOA). OWBO will conduct periodic assessments of the project to verify progress. The level of monitoring will be dependent on the awarded applicant’s proposed measures, milestones (e.g., outputs and outcomes), and goals.

A designated Grants Management Officer (GMO) within OWBO will be responsible for issuing the

NOA, making modifications to the award, and processing payments.

An SBA employee assigned to a District Office located within the non-Federal entity’s service area will be tasked with serving as the District Office Technical Representative (DOTR) and will act as the local representative for SBA. SBA will conduct performance assessments every 12 months from the start date of the project.

1.7 Changes or Cancellation

The SBA reserves the right to amend or cancel this FOA, in whole or in part, at the agency’s discretion.

Should the SBA make material changes to this FOA, the agency will extend the closing date as necessary to afford Applicants sufficient opportunity to address such changes.

1.8 SBA Priorities

OWBO leads Federal Government efforts to promote entrepreneurship among women, especially those in underserved and economically disadvantaged communities. Competitive proposals will outline how the project will increase the capacity of women entrepreneurs to access capital, create new enterprises, increase business survivability, create jobs, and do business with the federal government.

Section II – Award Information

2.1 Estimated Funding

Up to $ 300,000 in funding is available for this FOA. The SBA expects to provide funding for up to two

(2) Initial Phase awards, each not to exceed $150,000.

2.2 Expected Number of Awards

The SBA expects to make up to two (2) awards under this FOA.

2.3 Period of Performance/Budget Periods

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 a non-Federal entity’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 Funding Information

Funds provided under the WBC Program must be used solely for the purposes stipulated in this FOA and the NOA. Funds provided under the WBC Program may not be commingled with funds from other sources. Non-Federal entities are required to maintain separate accounting over Federal funds to ensure funds are used for authorized purposes only. 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.

The SBA will not reimburse applicants for their proposal preparation costs. Applicants may request pre-award costs, which require prior approval from SBA. Pre-award costs are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of work of the project and meet the tests of allowability, allocability, and reasonableness.

No Federal funds provided through an Award under this FOA, 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.

Indirect Costs - If the WBC Applicant has never had an approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (ICRA), and the WBC Applicant’s budget includes indirect costs, it may utilize a de minimus rate of ten percent

(10%) of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) to include Federal and non-Federal costs, until the non-

Federal entity can provide a copy of a current ICRA either through the SBA or from another cognizant

Federal agency. MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000.00 of each subcontract regardless of the period of performance of the subcontracts under the award. MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs, and the portion of each subcontract in excess of $25,000.00. (2 CFR 200.68).

2.5 Funding Instrument

The funding instrument used will be a Cooperative Agreement.

2.6 Non-Federal Matching Requirement

The applicant is required to provide non-Federal matching funds. Non-Federal match may consist of cash, in-kind, and/or program income and must be used for approved budgeted items only.

The applicant is required to provide non-Federal matching funds. Non-Federal match may consist of cash, in-kind, and/or program income and must be used for approved budgeted items only.

Annual match

The applicant is required to match awarded funds on a 1:2 ratio ($1 of non-Federal funds for every $2 of

Federal funds) for the base period and first option year and 1:1 in the three subsequent years.

Non-Federal Match

Cash

▪ Donations from Federal entities may not be claimed as match.

▪ Matching contributions must come from non-Federal sources such as state and local public funds; private individuals, corporations, and foundations; and program income (income from program services).

▪ Funds you receive as payment for services provided under an agreement with an outside, non-

Federal entity may be used as match regardless of whether the non-Federal entity received those funds from a Federal source.

▪ When permissible under the terms of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Program, CDBG funds may also be used as match. The matching contribution must be pledged for WBC activities.

▪ Note: Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) funds may not be used as match.

▪ At least one half of the non-Federal match must be in the form of cash.

In-Kind

▪ No more than one-half of the non-Federal match may be in the form of in-kind contributions, including but not limited to office equipment and office space.

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.

2.7 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 and the OED financial examiner will review programmatic and financial records when conducting desk reviews, on-site visits, program reviews and/or financial exams.

Section III – Eligibility Information

3.1 General

An organization may submit only one (1) proposal in response to this FOA. 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 FOA, applicants must be a private non-profit organization certified under §

501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and have experience providing technical services to women, with a special emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

To the extent that they satisfy all eligibility criteria the same as all other applicant organizations, Religious

Organizations are entitled 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 women and other entrepreneurs who are both socially- and economically-disadvantaged.

▪ 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 owned and controlled by women.

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

▪ Are responsible for hiring, supervising, and employing staff enough to ensure that the WBC is open to the public a minimum of forty (40) hours a week including evening and weekend hours and to fully provide the services required under this FOA, the NOA, and the applicant’s proposal. Staff must include a full-time (forty (40) hours per week) program director whose time is dedicated one hundred percent (100%) to managing the day-to-day operations of the WBC as well as overseeing its staff, volunteers, and all financial aspects.

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 does not propose to hire and employ a full-time (forty (40) hours per week) program director whose time is dedicated one hundred percent (100%) to managing the day-to-day operations of the WBC and staff; and/or

▪ 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

The applicant must submit an abstract of no more than five (2) pages summarizing the proposed project including, but not limited to the scope of the project and proposed outcomes. The Abstract must include the applicant’s name, telephone number, web address, e-mail address for the applicant’s designated point of contact, and project title, as well as a description of the area to be served, number of participants to be served, and funding level requested. The Abstract is limited to five (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

“Abstract.”

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. It provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the proposed project. It must be succinct, self-explanatory, 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 twenty (20) 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 twenty (20) page maximum.

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 four (4).

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

1. Statement of Need

Describe in both quantitative and qualitative terms the need for assistance, including the challenges and opportunities that exist within the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the consequences of if those needs are not addressed. Demographic and local economic must be used. Be sure to describe:

▪ The geographic region where the WBC will provide services, the specific needs of women and socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, and the characteristics of the local economy;

▪ The services the WBC proposes to deliver and how they will assist women, socially and economically disadvantaged women, and other socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs to start, grow or expand their business ; and

▪ How the proposed project complements and does not duplicate other public and private projects or services in the market area.

Applicants must specify whether the focus will be on rural, urban, or tribal areas.

Please note that emphasis is given to projects that engage socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs; and those engaging communities served by MSIs and other organizations operating in economically distressed communities.

Rating Criteria: Up to twenty (20) points will be awarded based on the extent to which the application:

▪ Presents a discussion which is clear, logical, and an accurate interpretation of market and demographic data (five (5) points);

▪ Includes data sources and citations that provide information that enables the identification and verification of data (three (3) points);

▪ Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the training and technical assistance needs of women and socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs within the geographic target area and the consequences of not addressing this need, based on the quantitative and qualitative information provided; (seven (7) points) and

▪ Clearly describes how the proposed WBC will meet this need (5 points).

2. Project Design

Describe the methods that the proposed WBC Project will use to address the needs of women entrepreneurs in the targeted geographic area. Detail a plan of action that describes how the project will accomplish the proposed work and state the reason for taking the proposed approach over alternate approaches. Applicants should address how they will engage and partner to connect entrepreneurs to the full array of SBA resources.

Focus should be given on increasing the capacity of women of entrepreneurs to maximize business opportunities with the federal government and accessing resources through the

SBIR/STTR program.

Cite factors that might impact the project, identify any potential barriers, and describe how the project will overcome those barriers. Be sure to:

▪ Describe the proposed approach (e.g., cohort, group or individualized training, one-to-one counseling, mentoring, conferences, etc.), scope, and frequency of the project’s training and technical assistance activities and provide a convincing explanation that these training activities are appropriate and will lead to the creation of businesses and access to capital;

▪ Describe how the WBC will collaborate with the SBA and its Resources

Partners;

▪ Describe the WBC’s outreach, recruitment, and enrollment strategy for engaging the target population(s), including clear identification of how the SBA and other partner organizations will support this effort; and

▪ Provide a detailed explanation of the process or system for reviewing, approving, and collecting data from program participants to inform and evaluate program performance and impact.

▪ OWBO is interested in supporting innovative approaches to providing services to all entrepreneurs. Applicants are encouraged to consider forming collaborations and consortia that will expand the breadth and reach of program services. These approaches can be especially useful in reaching socially and economically-disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

Rating Criteria: Up to forty-five (45) points will be awarded based on the extent to which the application:

o Clearly proposes a plausible model that reflects local market opportunities and economic conditions, infused with evidence-based, evidence-informed, and/or promising practices, provides a clear approach to support its choice of model/components, and detailed plan for engaging SBA resources (Twenty (20) points);

o Will directly engage women entrepreneurs, those who speak English as a second language, and other socially and disadvantaged entrepreneurs within the specified geographic target area to support the creation, growth, and expansion of businesses (fifteen (15) points);

o Strongly justifies its approach, including addressing any factors that might accelerate or decelerate implementation (five (5) points); and o Considers barriers that may impact the project’s success (five (5) points).

3. Project Performance and Evaluation

Project Performance and Evaluation is comprised of a Performance Narrative (which is included in the technical proposal) and the Milestones and Metrics template (which is an attachment). Together they communicate how the project’s progress will be measured.

Performance Narrative

The Performance Narrative should clearly identify quantitative outcomes and outputs for the proposed project that will fulfill the program goals and grantee expectations as described in Section 1.3 Background. The narrative must address at minimum how data will be collected to demonstrate results OWBO’s three core performance measures, which are unique clients served, new business starts, and capital infusion (number of transactions).Grantees should describe the frequency of data collection and how data will be used to make program adjustments; describe a feasible plan to evaluate success in achieving the goals set forth in the application; and demonstrate a sound relationship between planned project activities and intended quantitative outcomes and outputs.

Performance Workplan Template The Performance Workplan Template will present the measures, targets, and milestones for the base and options periods. The template must include the following:

▪ Milestones, which are key markers of grant progress and are typically expressed in the form of an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development;

▪ Measures are quantifiable indicators used to determine if a project or program is achieving its desired objectives; and

▪ Targets, defined as the anticipated number of clients you will serve, business starts will be realized, and capital infusion transactions achieved.

Using the metrics tab provide performance metric targets for OWBO’s core measures for the entire base period of twelve (12) months as well as each of the four (4) twelve (12)-month option years of the project’s term. Using the milestones tab describe those tasks, actions, or products for the base year that are essential to the project’s success and provide a timeline (including start and end dates) for completion.

The Performance Narrative should reflect, and be consistent with, the Project Design and Budget and must cover all years of the project period, including the initial base and four option periods. You may propose multi-year activities, as well as activities that build upon each other, but each phase of the project must be attainable within a single budget year.

Importantly, first year activities should include a planning phase which details the steps needed to successfully launch the project, such as hiring key staff (i.e., Director);

securing locations to house the center; finalizing partnership agreements; and ensuring readiness for transmitting data to SBA.

Rating Criteria: Up to twenty (20) points will be awarded based on the extent to which the application:

▪ Reflects clear and realistic timelines for the completion of work and demonstrates how the project will operate through the funding period and describes a sound relationship between planned project activities and intended quantitative and qualitative outcomes and outputs. (five (5) points);

▪ Reflects a coherent and feasible approach for successfully addressing the identified outcomes and outputs (five (5) points); and

▪ Clearly describes and justifies a sound plan for meeting the preliminary steps during the planning phase to ensure that the following key benchmarks are reached: hiring key staff, securing locations for WBC operations, meeting with potential partners, and ensuring readiness for transferring or entering data to EDMIS (ten (10) points).

Funded applicants must be willing to collect data and participate in SBA sponsored evaluations. In addition, upon award grantees will be required to provide a detailed implementation plan. Applicants may also propose to conduct an independent evaluation and at the conclusion must provide SBA with all data and also any interim and the final report. More information on SBA program evaluation concepts can be found at:

Framework and Guidelines for Program Evaluation at the US Small Business

Administration.

4. Organizational, Administrative, and Fiscal Capacity

Please provide information on the organization’s current mission, structure, staffing, and relevant experience. Describe how these factors contribute to the ability of the organization to implement the program requirements and meet program expectations.

Include information about any partnerships or collaborations that will have a significant role in implementing the Project. Describe the fiscal and administrative controls in place to properly manage Federal funds. Include the organization’s capability to meet and sustain the Project’s matching funds requirement.

Provide a detailed staffing plan that describes how staff will contribute to the accomplishment of the Project’s goals. Please detail qualifications and experience of all project staff. Such qualifications and experience must demonstrate the staff’s ability to manage a strategic partnership, including fiscal and administrative management, outreach, and promotion. Include copies of the WBC Project Director’s résumé or the position description if unavailable and all position descriptions as attachments. An organizational chart that displays the proposed Project’s staffing plan must be included.

The WBC must have an advisory board. Include a list of WBC advisory board members and each member’s phone number, e-mail address, and include the role(s) and responsibility(ies) of each member. If there is no advisory board, include your plan to obtain your WBC’s advisory board. See definition below for the WBC Advisory Board.

State by whom and during what hours the facility or facilities will be staffed. Also, provide a list of planned closures (e.g., holidays).

Applicants should provide a comprehensive description of the existing or planned systems and processes that the host organization will use to provide timely and accurate financial and participant-level performance reporting, including the process for tracking participant-level data on characteristics, services, activities, and outcomes of women entrepreneurs served through the project to report to the SBA during the life of the grant.

In addition, detail how these systems will be used to regularly assess progress towards the identified performance goals and how rigorous performance reporting will be considered in staffing and budgeting plans.

Rating Criteria: Up to fifteen (15) points will be awarded based on the extent to which the application:

▪ Effectively communicates how the applicant organization’s current mission, structure, staffing, and relevant experience will support the implementation and effective operation of a WBC (one (1) point);

▪ Describes the fiscal and administrative controls in place to properly manage

Federal funds and capacity to meet and sustain the project’s matching funds requirement (five (5) points);

https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2019-05/final%20508%20Framework%20and%20Guidelines%20for%20Program%20Evaluation%20at%20the%20US%20Small%20Business%20Administration%2003%2013%202019.pdf https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2019-05/final%20508%20Framework%20and%20Guidelines%20for%20Program%20Evaluation%20at%20the%20US%20Small%20Business%20Administration%2003%2013%202019.pdf

▪ Provides a detailed staffing plan that describes how staff will contribute to the accomplishment of the project’s goals, providing the qualifications and experience of all project staff; provides an advisory and details when the center is open and closed (three (3) points);

▪ Provides a comprehensive description of the existing or planned systems and processes that the host organization will use to provide financial and program data to the SBA (three (3) points); and

▪ Demonstrates the technological capacity to support the WBC’s website and connect to the SBA website at www.sba.gov; to provide client support and training via email; and to provide or facilitate virtual training opportunities

(three (3) points).

5. Past Performance – Programmatic Capability

Applicants should provide a full description of their organization’s prior experience in the provision of services to women and socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs. This experience should be supported with documentation and data including length of time services were provided; number of entrepreneurs served;

outcomes achieved; and past engagement with SBA and/or SBA Resource Partners.

Rating Criteria: Up to ten (10) points will be awarded based on the extent to which the application:

▪ Details the applicant’s experience providing technical assistance to women and/or socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, both nascent and established, in particular those that are native Spanish speakers (five (5) points);

and

▪ Describes past achievements operating an economic development program or another program comparable to the proposed project and the extent to which the past performance of the comparable program prepares the organization to undertake the proposed project (five (5) points).

6. Bonus Points (fifteen (15) points)

The SBA is especially interested in projects that meet the needs of socially and economically disadvantaged communities. To receive the maximum bonus points applicants must clearly specify that socially and economically disadvantaged communities and their populations will be the focus of the Project. Bonus points will be awarded to projects that serve rural areas; tribal communities; are and/or will partner with

MSIs, religious organizations, and/or other organizations serving socially and economically disadvantaged. This information must be described in the Statement of

Need and Project Design sections of the application.

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;

▪ SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs;

▪ Detailed Expenditure Worksheet-Budget must be submitted in its original Microsoft Excel file format. However, an applicant may substitute their own worksheets in place of the Annual

Budget Summary provided it includes all the same cost elements/line items covered by the

Annual Budget Summary; and

▪ The Annual Budget Summary includes a narrative area where applicants can provide a brief but detailed explanation of the components of each cost element listed in the SF-424A and Annual Budget Summary (an example can be found on the Example tab of the Annual Budget Summary).

The Detailed Expenditure Worksheet-Budget are located at www.sba.gov/wbc. 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.

▪ 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: Specify the estimated number of in-state and out-of-state trips for project staff, along with each trip’s purpose, mileage, per diem, and the associated staff who traveled.

▪ Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase which has an estimated acquisition cost of $5,000.00 or more per unit (or if your capitalization level is less than $5,000.00, 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 $5,000 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: Identify categories of supplies (e.g. office supplies) in the detailed budget and list the quantity and unit cost per item. Supplies include all tangible personal property that does not qualify as Equipment (see 2 CFR 200.94 for the definition of Supplies).

▪ Contractual: Contracts are defined according to 2 CFR 200.22 as a legal instrument by which a non-Federal entity purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a Federal award. For each proposed contract and subaward, specify the purpose and estimated cost.

▪ 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 detail, including costs, for each item so that we can determine whether the costs are necessary, reasonable, and allocable.

The scoring for the risk assessment is as follows: Low = 0 - 85 Moderate = 86 - 170 High = 170 and higher.

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 federal Grant

Recipients. 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, letters of support, leases, conflict of interest policy and Cost Policy Statement

▪ Any other documentation the Applicant believes supports its Proposal.

4.2 Submission Instructions

Required forms are provided in the grants.gov application package for this FOA. All other required supporting worksheets are located at www.sba.gov/wbc. All proposals, including all attachments, must be submitted electronically via the government-wide financial assistance portal https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/home.html. NO OTHER FORMS OF SUBMISSION WILL BE

ACCEPTED. Specific instructions for obtaining, completing, and submitting an application via grants.gov, including animated tutorials, may be found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

A. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number, active SAM registration, and Grants.gov account to apply. Applicants must register as organizations, not as individuals.

Important Note: The DUNS Number has been replaced by a “new, non-proprietary identifier” requested in, and assigned by, SAM.gov. This new identifier is being called the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), or the Entity ID. Grants.gov has transitioned this by educating users about the upcoming changes and updating field labels and references to the DUNS Number (the current identifier) within the Grants.gov system. Users utilizing GrantSolutions should continue using the DUNS Number in UEI fields until further notice. To learn more about SAM’s rollout of the UEI, please visit https://gsa.gov/entityid.

1. Obtain a DUNS Number: All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a

DUNS Number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). Applicants must enter the DUNS Number in the data entry field labeled "Organizational DUNS" on the SF-424 form. For more detailed instructions for obtaining a DUNS Number, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html.

2. Register with the SAM: All organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with the

SAM. Failure to register with the SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov.

SAM registration must be renewed annually. For more detailed instructions on how to register with SAM, https://gsa.gov/entityid please refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html.

3. Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step is to register an account with Grants.gov. Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.

4. Add an Organization Applicant Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant). If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the DUNS

Number for the organization in the DUNS field. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on

Grants.gov, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html.

5. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization

Applicant Profile, your request for Grants.gov roles and access are sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the Authorized

Organizational 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

Grants.gov, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html.

6. Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but DUNS and SAM registrations may take several weeks.

Therefore, an organization's registration should be done in enough time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application submission deadlines. Complete organization instructions can be found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.

B. How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. For each FOA you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html.

1. Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete an application online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

2. Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display your progress through the application process. You may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help. a.