[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43044-43046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21214]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Notice; Solicitation of Native American Business Development 
Center Applications for Arizona and California

SUMMARY: In accordance with Executive Order 11625 and 15 U.S.C. 1512, 
the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is soliciting 
competitive applications from organizations to operate the Native 
American Business Development Centers (NABDC) listed in this document.
    The purpose of the NABDC is to provide integrated business 
development services to Native American entrepreneurs.

DATES: The closing date for applications is September 24, 1996. 
Applications MUST be received on or before September 24, 1996. 
Anticipated processing time of this award is 120 days.

PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCE: A pre-application conference will be held. 
For the exact date, time, and location, contact the San Francisco 
Regional Office at (415) 744-3001.
    Proper Identification is Required for Entrance Into any Federal 
Building.

ADDRESSES: Completed application packages MUST be submitted to the U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency, MBDA 
Executive Secretariat, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5073,

[[Page 43045]]

Washington, DC 20230, Telephone Number: (202) 482-3763.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND AN APPLICATION PACKAGE, CONTACT: Melda 
Cabrera, Regional Director, at (415) 744-3001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following are NABDCs for which 
applications are solicited:

1. NABDC Application: Arizona
    Metropolitan Area Serviced: State of Arizona
    Award Number: 09-10-97007-01
    Cost of Performance Information: Contingent upon the availability 
of Federal funds, the cost of performance for the first budget period 
(13 months) from December 1, 1996 to December 31, 1997, is estimated at 
$197,825. The total Federal amount is $197,825 and is composed of 
$193,000 plus the Audit Fee amount of $4,825.
2. NABDC Application: California
    Metropolitan Area Serviced: State of California
    Award Number: 09-10-97008-01
    Cost of Performance Information: Contingent upon the availability 
of Federal funds, the cost of performance for the first budget period 
(13 months) from December 1, 1996 to December 31, 1997, is estimated at 
$310,575. The total Federal amount is $310,575 and is composed of 
$303,000 plus the Audit Fee amount of $7,575.

Standard Paragraphs--The Following Information and Requirements Are 
Applicable to the Arizona and California NABDCs

    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 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 Native American 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).
    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 funding. The applicant with the highest point 
score will not necessarily receive the award.
    If an application is selected for funding, MBDA 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 MBDA.
    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. 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 Activities--Applicants are hereby notified that if they 
incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do so solely at the 
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 
activities.
    Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws, and 
Federal and Departmental regulations, policies, and procedures 
applicable to Federal financial assistance awards.
    Delinquent Federal Debts--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 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 cooperative agreement. 
Examples of some of the conditions which can cause termination are 
failure to meet cost-sharing requirements; unsatisfactory performance 
of the NABDC 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

[[Page 43046]]

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.
    Indirect Costs--The total dollar amount of the indirect costs 
proposed in an application under this program must not exceed the 
indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal 
agency prior to the proposed effective date of the award or 100% of the 
total proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever 
is less.
    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).

11.801 Native American Program

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance)

    Dated: August 15, 1996.
Donald L. Powers,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. 96-21214 Filed 8-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21M-U