[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2947-2948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-741]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Native American Business Consultant Applications: Nationwide
AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with Executive Order 11625 and 15 U.S.C. 1512,
the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is soliciting
competitive applications to operate its Native American Business
Consultant (NABC) Program.
The purpose of the NABC is to provide specialized consultant
services to Native American Business Development Centers (NABDC) in
areas beyond an NABDC's capacity and/or capability, and provide direct
business development services to clients outside of the geographic
service area of the NABDC and any other MBDA client service center. The
recipient will provide service nationwide. The award number of the NABC
will be 98-10-95007-01.
DATES: The closing date for applications is February 15, 1995.
Applications must be received on or before February 15, 1995.
Anticipated processing time of this award is 120 days. A pre-award
conference will be held on January 24, 1995, at 9:00 a.m., at the U.S.
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5099C,
Washington, DC 20230.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development
Agency, Office of Operations and Regional Management, Field
Coordination Division, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5075,
Washington, DC 20230, (202) 482-6022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Joe Hardy at (202) 482-2366.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Contingent upon the availability of Federal
funds, the cost of performance for the first budget period (13 months)
from May 1, 1995 to May 31, 1996, is estimated at $205,000. The total
Federal amount is composed $200,000 plus the Audit Fee amount of
$5,000. The NABC will provide service nationwide.
The funding instrument for this project will be a cooperative
agreement. Competition is open to individuals, non-profit and for-
profit organizations, state and local governments, American Indian
tribes and educational institutions.
Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria: The
experience and capabilities of the firm and its staff in addressing the
needs of the business community in general and, specifically, the
special needs of Native American businesses, individuals and
organizations (50 points), the resources available to the firm in
providing business development services (10 points); the firm's
approach (techniques and methodologies) to performing the work
requirements included in the application (20 points); and the firm's
estimated cost for providing such assistance (20 points). An
application [[Page 2948]] must receive at least 70% of the points
assigned to each evaluation criteria category to be considered
programmatically acceptable and responsive. Those applications
determined to be acceptable and responsive will then be evaluated by
the Director of MBDA. Final award selections shall be based on the
number of points received, the demonstrated responsibility of the
applicant, and the determination of those most likely to further the
purpose of the MBDA program. Negative audit findings and
recommendations and unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal
awards may result in an application not being considered for award. The
applicant with the highest point score will not necessarily receive the
funding.
Periodic reviews culminating in year-to-date evaluations will be
conducted to determine if funding for the project should continue. If
an application is selected for funding, MBDA has no obligation to
provide any additional future funding in connection with that award.
Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of
performance is at the total discretion of MBDA.
Executive order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs,'' is not applicable to this program. Federal funds for this
project include audit funds for non-CPA recipients. In event that a CPA
firm wins the competition, the funds allocated for audits are not
applicable. The collection of information requirements for this project
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and
assigned OMB control number 0640-0006. Questions concerning the
preceding information can be answered by the contact person indicated
above, and copies of application kits and applicable regulations can be
obtained at the above address.
Pre-Award Activities--Applicants are hereby notified that if they
incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do so solely at
their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government.
Notwithstanding any verbal assurance that an applicant may have
received, there is no obligation on the part of the Department of
Commerce to cover pre-award costs.
Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws, and
Federal and Departmental regulations, policies, and procedures
applicable to Federal financial assistance awards.
Delinquent Federal Debts--No award of Federal funds shall be made
to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt until
either the delinquent account is paid in full, a negotiated repayment
schedule is established and at least one payment is received, or other
arrangements satisfactory to the Department of Commerce are made.
Name Check Policy--All non-profit and for-profit applicants are
subject to a name check review process. Name checks are intended to
reveal if any key individuals associated with the applicant have been
convicted of or are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud,
theft, perjury or other matters which significantly reflect on the
applicant's management honesty or financial integrity.
Award Termination--The Departmental Grants Officer may terminate
any grant/cooperative agreement in whole or in part at any time before
the date of completion whenever it is determined that the award
recipient has failed to comply with the conditions of the cooperative
agreement. Examples of some of the conditions which can cause
termination are failure to meet cost-sharing requirements;
unsatisfactory performance of the NABC work requirements; and reporting
inaccurate or inflated claims of client assistance. Such inaccurate or
inflated claims may be deemed illegal and punishable by law.
False Statements--A false statement on an application for Federal
financial assistance is grounds for denial or termination of funds, and
grounds for possible punishment by a fine or imprisonment as provided
in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Primary Applicant Certifications--All primary applicants must
submit a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment,
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements and Lobbying.''
Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension--Prospective participants
(as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 105) are subject to 15 CFR Part
26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the related section
of the certification form prescribed above applies.
Drug-Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26,
Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Governmentwide
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section
of the certification form prescribed above applies.
Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, Section 105)
are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitation
on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting
and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the
certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids for
grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000,
and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000 or the single
family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever is
greater.
Anti-Lobbying Disclosures--Any applicant that has paid or will pay
for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR Part 28, Appendix B.
Lower Tier Certifications--Recipients shall require applications/
bidders for subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier
covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if
applicable, a completed Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier
Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form, SF-LLL,
``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the
use of recipients and should not be transmitted to DOC. SF-LLL
submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to
DOC in accordance with the instructions contained in the award
document.
Indirect Costs--The total dollar amount of the indirect costs
proposed in an application under this program must not exceed the
indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal
agency prior to the proposed effective date of the award or 100% of the
total proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever
is less.
Buy American-Made Equipment or Products--Applicants are hereby
notified that they are encouraged, to the extent feasible, to purchase
American-made equipment and products with funding provided under this
program in accordance with Congressional intent as set forth in the
resolution in Public Law 103-121, Sections 606 (a) and (b).
11.801 Native American Program
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance)
Dated: January 5, 1995.
Donald L. Powers,
Federal Register Liasion Officer, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. 95-741 Filed 1-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P
