[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17189]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 

Business Development Center Applications: Houston MBDC I.D. No. 
06-10-95001-01

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 January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1995 is estimated at 
$499,839. 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 Houston, Texas 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; 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 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. 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.
    MBDC 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 August 27, 1994.
    Applications must be postmarked on or before August 27, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Dallas Regional Office, 1100 Commerce Street, 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 August 9, 1994, in the Earl 
Cabell Federal Building, Room 7B23, 1100 Commerce Street, Dallas, Texas 
at 10:00 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 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 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, prejury or other matters which significantly reflect on the 
applicant's management honesty or financial intergrity.
    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 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 any equipment or products authorized to be purchased with 
funding provided under this program must be American-made to the 
maximum extent feasible in accordance with Public Law 103-121, Sections 
606. (a) and (b).

11.800 Minority Business Development
    (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance)

    Dated: July 11, 1994.
Bobby Jefferson,
Acting Regional Director, Dallas Regional Office.
[FR Doc. 94-17189 Filed 7-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-M