2027 Small Business Development Centers CORE

The Small Business Administration is soliciting applications from existing Small Business Development Centers to renew cooperative agreements for calendar year 2027 program operations, with an application deadline of December 3, 2026. Applicant eligibility is restricted to currently funded SBDC Lead Centers; applications from entities not currently receiving SBDC funding will not be considered.

The SBA anticipates awarding up to 62 cooperative agreements with estimated total program funding of $140 million, distributed according to a per capita formula established in Section 21 of the Small Business Act. Individual award amounts range from a floor of $200,000 to a ceiling of $8,393,834. All awards carry a mandatory 1:1 cost-sharing requirement with at least 50 percent in cash and the remainder in in-kind or waived indirect costs.

The 12-month performance period runs January 1 through December 31, 2027. SBDCs must deliver statutorily required services including one-on-one confidential counseling, technology transfer assistance, rural business support, export assistance with certified counselors, base closure support, cybersecurity training, intellectual property protection, employee ownership resources, and regulatory compliance information. Recipients must maintain certified export and cyber strategy counselors at specified minimum levels, conduct formal cybersecurity and intellectual property training programs, and report performance data through SBA's management information system using Forms 641 and 888.

Applicants must select one focus area from seven categories—Onshoring and Manufacturing, Rural, Exporting and International Trade, Innovation and Investment, Disaster Preparedness and Resilience, Contracting & Procurement, or Specialty Area of Service—and document corresponding performance measures as output or outcome metrics.

The technical proposal submission limit is 35 pages and must address organizational structure, management strategy, program objectives, performance goals, collaboration plans, operating hours, advisory board information, and conflict of interest policies. Applications require SF-424 and SF-424(A) forms plus eight attachments: list of attachments, planned milestones worksheet, cost-price analysis and budget justifications workbook, indirect cost rate agreements, cost-sharing proposal, optional SBA District Office letter of support, and supporting documentation including resumes for new key personnel.

Eligible applicants must currently be funded SBDC Lead Centers with no outstanding financial obligations, suspensions, debarment actions, material deficiencies, or prior involuntary grant terminations. Post-award compliance includes biennial financial and programmatic examinations and adherence to 2 CFR Part 200 and 13 CFR Part 130.

CFDA 59.037. For program questions, contact Traci.Giddens@sba.gov; for financial questions, contact Teresa.Clouser@sba.gov. All applications must be submitted electronically through GrantSolutions.gov; registration may take 1–2 weeks and should be initiated immediately.