[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5600]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 10, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Minority Business Development Agency
Business Development Center Applications: Santa Barbara, CA
AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 under its Minority Business Development Center
(MBDC) Program. The total cost of performance for the first budget
period (12 months) from August 1, 1994 to July 31, 1995, is estimated
at $198,971. 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 Santa Barbara, California 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, 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 management and
technical assistance to minority entrepreneurs; and to serve as a
conduit of information and assistance regarding minority business.
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 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.
MBDCs shall be required to contribute at least 15% of the total
project cost 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 an MBDC's performance, the availability of funds and Agency
priorities.
DATES: The closing date for applications is April 20, 1994.
Applications must be postmarked on or before April 20, 1994.
The mailing address for submission is:
San Francisco Regional Office, Minority Business Development Agency,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 221 Main Street, room 1280, San
Francisco, California 94105, 415/744-3001.
A pre-application conference to assist all interested applicants
will be held at the following address and time:
San Francisco Regional Office, Minority Business Development Agency,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 221 Main Street, room 1280, San
Francisco, California 94105, April 1, 1994 at 10 a.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Melda Cabrera, Regional Director, San Francisco Regional Office at 415/
744-3001.
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 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.
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, a 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 of 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 unsatisfactory
performance of 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.
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.
11.800 Minority Business Development
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance)
Dated: March 1, 1994.
Melda Cabrera,
Regional Director, San Francisco Regional Office.
[FR Doc. 94-5600 Filed 3-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-M
