[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13778]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 7, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 

Salinas, CA: Business Development Center Applications

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency.

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 November 1, 1994, to October 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, clients fees, in-kind contributions or combinations 
thereof. The MBDC will operate in the Salinas, 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 July 18, 1994. Applications 
must be postmarked on or before July 18, 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, 
July 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 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 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 unsatisfactory 
performance of MBDC work requirements, and reporting inaccurate or 
inflated claims of client assistance. Such inaccurate or inflected 
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 provide 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 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 to DOC in accordance with the instructions 
contained in the award document.
    11.800 Minority Business Development Center.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance)

    Dated: June 1, 1994.
Melda Cabrera,
Regional Director, San Francisco Regional Office.
[FR Doc. 94-13778 Filed 6-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-M