[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1579]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: January 26, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Minority Business Development Agency
[I.D. No. 06-10-94004-01]
Business Development Center Applications: Little Rock MBDC
AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with Executive Order 11625, the Minority
Business Development Agency (MBDA) is soliciting competitive
applications under its Minority Business Development Center (MBDC)
program. The total cost of performance for the first budget period (12
months) from June 1, 1994 to May 31, 1995 is estimated at $169,125. The
application must include a minimum cost-share of 15% of the total
project cost through non-Federal contributions. Cost-sharing
contributions may be in the form of cash contributions, client fees,
in-kind contributions or combinations thereof. The MBDC will operate in
the Little Rock, Arkansas geographic service area.
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.
The MBDC program provides business development services to the
minority business community to help establish and maintain viable
minority businesses. To this end, MBDC funds organizations to identify
and coordinate public and private sector resources on behalf of
minority individuals and firms; offer a full range of management and
technical assistance to minority entrepreneurs; and to serve as a
conduit of information and assistance regarding minority businesses.
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 minority 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 must receive at least 70%
of the points assigned to any one 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. Finally 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
award.
MBDCs shall be required to contribute at least 15% of the total
project costs through non-Federal contributions. To assist in this
effort, the MBDCs may charge client fees for management and technical
assistance (M&TA) rendered. Based on a standard rate of $50 per hour,
the MBDC will charge client fees at 20% of the total cost for firms
with gross sales of $500,000 or less, and 35% of the total cost for
firms with gross sales of over $500,000.
Quarterly reviews culminating in year-to-date evaluations will be
conducted to determine if funding for the project should continue.
Continued funding will be at the total discretion of MBDA based on such
factors as the MBDC's performance, the availability of funds and Agency
priorities.
DATES: The closing date for applications is February 28, 1994.
Applications must be postmarked on or before February 28, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Dallas Regional Office, 1100 Commerce St., room 7B23,
Dallas, Texas 75242, (214) 767-8001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bobby Jefferson, Acting Regional Director, Dallas Regional Office,
telephone (214) 767-8001.
A pre-bid conference will be held on February 17, 1994, in the Earl
Cabell Federal Building, room 7B23, 1100 Commerce Street, Dallas, Texas
at 10 a.m.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Anticipated processing time of this award is
120 days. Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs,'' is not applicable to this program. 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 Costs--Applicants are hereby notified that if they incur
any costs to an award being made, they do 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 obligation on the part of the Department of Commerce to cover pre-
award costs. Awards under this program shall be subject to all Federal
laws, and Federal and Departmental regulations, policies, and
procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards.
Outstanding Account Receivable--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, 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 honesty or financial integrity.
Award Termination--The Departmental Grants Office 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 grant/cooperative
agreement. Examples of some of the conditions which can cause
termination are failure to meet cost-sharing requirements;
unsatisfactory performance of the MBDC 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, ``Certification 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.
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 Actitities.'' 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.
11.800 Minority Business Development.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance)
Dated: January 19, 1994.
Bobby Jefferson,
Acting Regional Director, Dallas Regional Office.
[FR Doc. 94-1579 Filed 1-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-M
