[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 247 (Monday, December 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67531-67532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32433]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Minority Business Development Agency; Notice

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of business development center 
applications for Baltimore.

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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 to operate its Baltimore, Maryland Minority 
Business Development Center (MBDC).
    The purpose of the MBDC Program is to provide business development 
assistance to persons who are members of groups determined by MBDA to 
be socially or economically disadvantaged, and to business concerns 
owned and controlled by such individuals. 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 client services to minority entrepreneurs; and to serve as a 
conduit of information and assistance regarding minority business.
    In accordance with the Interim Final Policy published in the 
Federal Register on May 31, 1996, the cost-share requirement for the 
MBDC in this notice has been increased to 40%. The Department of 
Commerce will fund up to 60% of the total cost of operating an MBDC on 
an annual basis. The MBDC operator is required to contribute at least 
40% of the total project cost (the ``cost-share requirement''). Cost-
sharing contributions may be in the form of cash, client fees, third 
party in-kind contributions, non-cash applicant contributions or 
combinations thereof. In addition to the traditional sources of an 
MBDC's cost-share contribution, the 40% may be contributed by local, 
state and private sector organizations. It is anticipated that some 
organizations may apply jointly for an award to operate the center. For 
administrative purposes, one organization must be designated as the 
recipient organization.
    The MBDC will provide service in the Baltimore, Maryland 
Metropolitan Area. The award number of the MBDC will be 03-10-97004-01.

DATES: The closing date for applications is February 18, 1997. 
Applications MUST be received in the MBDA Headquarters' Executive 
Secretariat on or before February 18, 1997.

PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCE: A pre-application conference will be held. 
For the exact date, time and location, contact the New York Regional 
Office at (212) 264-3262. PROPER IDENTIFICATION IS REQUIRED FOR 
ENTRANCE INTO ANY FEDERAL BUILDING.

ADDRESSES: Completed application packages should be submitted to the 
U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency, MBDA 
Executive Secretariat, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5073, 
Washington, DC 20230, Telephone Number: (202) 482-3763.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND AN APPLICATION PACKAGE, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Heyward Davenport, Regional Director at (212) 264-3262.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Contingent upon the availability of Federal 
funds, the cost of performance for the first budget period (13 months) 
from May 1, 1997 to May 31, 1998, is estimated at $403,200. The total 
Federal amount is $241,920 and is composed of $236,160 plus the Audit 
Fee amount of $5,760. The application must include a minimum cost share 
of 40%, $161,280 in non-federal (cost-sharing) contributions for a 
total project cost of $403,200.
    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 
knowledge, background and/or 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 (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). In accordance 
with Interim Final Policy published in the Federal Register on May 31, 
1996, the scoring system will be revised to add ten (10) bonus points 
to the application of community-based organizations. Each qualifying 
application will receive the full ten points. Community-based applicant 
organizations are those organizations whose headquarters and/or 
principal place of business within the last five years have been 
located within the geographic service area designated in the 
solicitation for the award. Where an applicant organization has been in 
existence for fewer than five years or has been present in the 
geographic service area for fewer than five years, the individual years 
of experience of the applicant organization's principals may be applied 
toward the requirement of five years of organization experience. The 
individual years of experience must have been acquired in the 
geographic service area which is the subject of the solicitation. 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. Periodic 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.
    The MBDC shall be required to contribute at least 40% of the total 
project cost through non-Federal contributions. To assist in this 
effort, the

[[Page 67532]]

MBDC may charge client fees for services rendered. Fees may range from 
$10 to $60 per hour based on the gross receipts of the client's 
business.
    Anticipated processing time of this award is 150 days. 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. 
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. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with a collection of information, subject to the requirements 
of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays a currently 
valid OMB Control Number. 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.
    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.
    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.
    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, 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 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, ``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, 
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.
    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).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, 11.800 Minority Business 
Development Center)

    Dated: December 16, 1996.
Frances B. Douglas,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Minority Business 
Development Agency.
[FR Doc. 96-32433 Filed 12-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P