[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 247 (Monday, December 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67531-67532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32433]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Minority Business Development Agency; Notice
AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; solicitation of business development center
applications for Baltimore.
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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 Baltimore, Maryland Minority
Business Development Center (MBDC).
The purpose of the MBDC Program is to provide business development
assistance to persons who are members of groups determined by MBDA to
be socially or economically disadvantaged, and to business concerns
owned and controlled by such individuals. To this end, MBDA funds
organizations to identify and coordinate public and private sector
resources on behalf of minority individuals and firms; to offer a full
range of client services to minority entrepreneurs; and to serve as a
conduit of information and assistance regarding minority business.
In accordance with the Interim Final Policy published in the
Federal Register on May 31, 1996, the cost-share requirement for the
MBDC in this notice has been increased to 40%. The Department of
Commerce will fund up to 60% of the total cost of operating an MBDC on
an annual basis. The MBDC operator is required to contribute at least
40% of the total project cost (the ``cost-share requirement''). Cost-
sharing contributions may be in the form of cash, client fees, third
party in-kind contributions, non-cash applicant contributions or
combinations thereof. In addition to the traditional sources of an
MBDC's cost-share contribution, the 40% may be contributed by local,
state and private sector organizations. It is anticipated that some
organizations may apply jointly for an award to operate the center. For
administrative purposes, one organization must be designated as the
recipient organization.
The MBDC will provide service in the Baltimore, Maryland
Metropolitan Area. The award number of the MBDC will be 03-10-97004-01.
DATES: The closing date for applications is February 18, 1997.
Applications MUST be received in the MBDA Headquarters' Executive
Secretariat on or before February 18, 1997.
PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCE: A pre-application conference will be held.
For the exact date, time and location, contact the New York Regional
Office at (212) 264-3262. PROPER IDENTIFICATION IS REQUIRED FOR
ENTRANCE INTO ANY FEDERAL BUILDING.
ADDRESSES: Completed application packages should be submitted to the
U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency, MBDA
Executive Secretariat, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5073,
Washington, DC 20230, Telephone Number: (202) 482-3763.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND AN APPLICATION PACKAGE, PLEASE CONTACT:
Heyward Davenport, Regional Director at (212) 264-3262.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Contingent upon the availability of Federal
funds, the cost of performance for the first budget period (13 months)
from May 1, 1997 to May 31, 1998, is estimated at $403,200. The total
Federal amount is $241,920 and is composed of $236,160 plus the Audit
Fee amount of $5,760. The application must include a minimum cost share
of 40%, $161,280 in non-federal (cost-sharing) contributions for a
total project cost of $403,200.
The funding instrument for this project will be a cooperative
agreement. If the recommended applicant is the current incumbent
organization, the award will be for 12 months. For those applicants who
are not incumbent organizations or who are incumbents that have
experienced closure due to a break in service, a 30-day start-up period
will be added to their first budget period, making it a 13-month award.
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
knowledge, background and/or 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 (45 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 (25 points); and the firm's
estimated cost for providing such assistance (20 points). In accordance
with Interim Final Policy published in the Federal Register on May 31,
1996, the scoring system will be revised to add ten (10) bonus points
to the application of community-based organizations. Each qualifying
application will receive the full ten points. Community-based applicant
organizations are those organizations whose headquarters and/or
principal place of business within the last five years have been
located within the geographic service area designated in the
solicitation for the award. Where an applicant organization has been in
existence for fewer than five years or has been present in the
geographic service area for fewer than five years, the individual years
of experience of the applicant organization's principals may be applied
toward the requirement of five years of organization experience. The
individual years of experience must have been acquired in the
geographic service area which is the subject of the solicitation. An
application 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 award. Periodic 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.
The MBDC shall be required to contribute at least 40% of the total
project cost through non-Federal contributions. To assist in this
effort, the
[[Page 67532]]
MBDC may charge client fees for services rendered. Fees may range from
$10 to $60 per hour based on the gross receipts of the client's
business.
Anticipated processing time of this award is 150 days. 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.
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.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required
to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure
to comply with a collection of information, subject to the requirements
of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays a currently
valid OMB Control Number. 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.
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.
Pre-Award Costs--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.
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 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 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, ``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.
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 contained in Public Law 103-121, Sections 606 (a) and (b).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, 11.800 Minority Business
Development Center)
Dated: December 16, 1996.
Frances B. Douglas,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Minority Business
Development Agency.
[FR Doc. 96-32433 Filed 12-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P
