[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3843]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 22, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Minority Business Development Agency

 

Business Development Center Application: State of South Carolina 
With the Exceptions of Greenville, Charleston, and Columbia MSAs

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 
program (MBDC) to operate a Rural Minority Business Development Center 
(RMBDC) for approximately a 3-year period, subject to agency 
priorities, recipient performance and the availability of funds. The 
total cost of performance for the first budget period (12 months) from 
July 1, 1994 to June 30, 1995 is estimated at $411,765. The application 
must include a minimum cost-share of 15% of the total project cost, 
through non-Federal contributions. The Federal amount includes $8,540 
for an annual audit fee. Cost-sharing contributions may be in the form 
of cash contributions, client fees, in-kind contributions or 
combinations thereof. The RMBDC will operate in the State of South 
Carolina geographic service area with the exceptions of Greenville, 
Charleston and Columbia, MSAs. The headquarters of the RMBDC will be 
located in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
    The award number for this RMBDC will be 04-10-94007-01.
    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 RMBDC will provide business development services to the rural 
minority business community to help establish and maintain viable rural 
minority businesses. To this end, MBDA funds organizations to identify 
and coordinate public and private sector resources on behalf of rural 
minority individuals and firms; to offer a full range of management and 
technical assistance to rural minority entrepreneurs; and to serve as a 
conduit of information and assistance regarding rural 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 rural minority businesses, individuals and 
organizations (50 points); the resources available to the firm in 
providing rural 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 received 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 MBDC 
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 points score 
will not necessarily receive the award.
    If an application is select for funding, DOC 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 DOC. Award under this program 
shall be subject to all Federal laws and Federal and Departmental 
regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to Federal assistance 
awards.
    The RMBDC shall be required to contribute at least 15% of the total 
project cost through non-Federal contributions. To assist in this 
effort, the RMBDC may charge client fees for management and technical 
assistance (M&TA) rendered. Based on a standard rate of $50 per hour, 
the RMBDC 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 is funding for the project should continue. 
Continued funding will be at the total discretion of MBDA based on such 
factors as the RMBDC's performance, the availability of funds and 
Agency priorities.

DATES: The closing date for applications is March 24, 1994. 
Applications must be postmarked on or before March 24, 1994.

ADDRESSES:

Atlanta Regional Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority 
Business Development Agency, 401 West Peachtree Street NW., suite 
1715, Atlanta, Georgia 30308-3516, (404) 730-3300.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert M. Henderson, Acting Regional 
Director, Atlanta Regional Office, telephone (404) 730-3300.

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. A pre-application conference to assist all interested 
applicants will be held on March 9, 1994, 9 a.m. at the following 
address: U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development 
Agency, 401 West Peachtree Street NW., room 1715, Atlanta, Georgia 
30308-3516. 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 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 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 honestly 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 RMBDC 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 applicants/
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 ward document.

11.800 Minority Business Development Centers

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance)

    Dated: February 15, 1994.
Robert Henderson,
Acting Regional Director, Atlanta Regional Office.
[FR Doc. 94-3843 Filed 2-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-M