MBDA Specialty Center Program

These awards will be used to identify, screen, promote, and refer minority business enterprises (MBEs) to specialized advanced manufacturing programs (e.g., the NIST Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP)), and to provide technical and business develo

The MBDA provides Federal assistance in support of innovative projects that promote and seek to resolve the challenges faced by minority enterprises. The funds to be awarded by this program are not congressionally directed funds or designated for existing funded awards.

Eligible applicants include: For-profit entities (including but not limited to sole-proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations), non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, commercial organizations, state and local government entities, Tribal governmental entities, and quasi-government entities.

Congressionally mandated award beneficiaries are members of the minority business community. Pilot or demonstration project beneficiaries are minority business enterprises.

Applicants requesting an indirect cost rate (IDC) are required to submit a copy of their current and signed indirect cost rate agreement with the application package. If an applicant does not have a current Facilities and Administrative (Indirect) Cost Rate Agreement that was negotiated and approved by the Department of Commerce (or by the applicable cognizant Federal agency), please provide a statement to this effect. The applicant must prepare and submit a cost allocation plan and rate proposal or a negotiated indirect cost rate as required by 2 CFR Part 200 "Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards." See 2 CFR § 200.414. The allocation plan and the rate proposal must be submitted to MBDA (or applicable cognizant Federal agency) within ninety (90) days from the award start date. Alternatively, in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.414(f), a non-Federal entity may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs. Applicants proposing a 10 percent de minimis rate pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f) should note this election as part of the budget and budget narrative portion of the application. Indirect costs proposed under the award must be clearly identified as a separate budget line-item.

Applicants requesting an indirect cost rate (IDC) are required to submit a copy of their current and signed indirect cost rate agreement with the application package. If an applicant does not have a current Facilities and Administrative (Indirect) Cost Rate Agreement that was negotiated and approved by the Department of Commerce (or by the applicable cognizant Federal agency), please provide a statement to this effect. The applicant must prepare and submit a cost allocation plan and rate proposal or a negotiated indirect cost rate as required by 2 CFR Part 200 "Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards." See 2 CFR § 200.414. The allocation plan and the rate proposal must be submitted to MBDA (or applicable cognizant Federal agency) within ninety (90) days from the award start date. Alternatively, in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.414(f), a non-Federal entity may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs. Applicants proposing a 10 percent de minimis rate pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f) should note this election as part of the budget and budget narrative portion of the application. Indirect costs proposed under the award must be clearly identified as a separate budget line-item.

Congressionally mandated awards are typically funded for a one-year period. Pilot or demonstration projects may be funded as single-year or multi-year awards.

MBDA will conduct a pre-application teleconference on March 12, 2021. The time of the pre-application teleconference is 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time Participants must register at least 24 hours in advance of the teleconference. Please visit the MBDA Internet Portal at www.mbda.gov to register and additional information.

Awards are made based on a panel evaluation and merit selection review of the applications. This evaluation includes such factors as capability of applicant, prior experience of organization and staff assigned to the project, techniques and methodology, and budget.

The notice of award (CD-450) is executed by the Department of Commerce Grants Officer and is the authorizing document. It is generally provided electronically via the Grants Online system to the Authorized Representative of the recipient organization. The Authorized Representative for a successful applicant will receive instructions from MBDA on how to access the Grants Online system to accept the award. Anticipated time for processing the award is approximately one hundred twenty (120) days from the receipt of application(s). MBDA anticipates award(s) will be made with a start date of July 1, 2021. MBDA will notify unsuccessful applicants, in writing, after a final selection has been made and after an offer has been accepted. Those applications that are not ultimately selected for funding will be retained by MBDA for a period of three (3) years after which they will be destroyed. On occasion, competitive solicitations or competitive panels may produce less than optimum results, such as a competition resulting in the receipt of no applications or a competition resulting in all unresponsive applications received.

The application deadline for all MBDA Programs are listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement.

See NOFO for details related to "Review and Selection Process".

Renewals are not anticipated, but may be considered based on Agency priorities, funding availability and recipient performance.

All decisions are final. There are no administrative appeals, however, unsuccessful applicants may request a debriefing from MBDA.