[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 79 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19989-19990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10589]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency


Business Development Center Application: Puerto Rico 
``Islandwide''

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 to operate the Puerto Rico ``Islandwide'' Minority 
Business Development Center (MBDC) for approximately a 3-year period, 
subject to agency priorities, recipient performance and the 
availability of funds.
    By consolidating the BDCs under an islandwide concept, we save 
Federal funds while continuing to offer quality service to eligible 
clients in Puerto Rico. This action also allows for coverage of both 
the metropolitan and rural areas of Puerto Rico. The main office of the 
``Islandwide'' MBDC will be located in San Juan. The largest areas of 
minority business concentration are San Juan, Ponce and Mayaguez. 
Satellite offices will be put in place to cover the Ponce and Mayaguez 
areas. The award number for this MBDC will be 02-10-97006-01.

DATES: The closing date for applications is May 30, 1997. Applications 
Must be received in the MBDA Headquarters' Executive Secretariat on or 
before May 30, 1997. A pre-application conference to assist all 
interested applicants will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 1997. For 
further information concerning time and location, please contact the 
Atlanta Regional Office at 404/730-3300.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND AN APPLICATION PACKAGE, CONTACT: Robert 
Henderson, Regional Director, Atlanta Regional Office, (404) 730-3300.
    Proper identification is required for entrance into any Federal 
Building.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Contingent upon the availability of Federal 
funds, the cost of performance for the first budget period (13 months) 
from September 1, 1997 to September 30, 1998, is estimated at $599,187. 
A 30-day start-up period will be added to the first budget period, 
making it a 13-month award. The application must include a minimum 
cost-share of $89,878, (15%) of the total project cost, through non-
Federal contributions. The Federal share, to be in the amount of 
$509,308, includes $12,733 for an annual audit fee. Cost-sharing may be 
in the form of cash contributions, client fees, in-kind contributions 
or combinations thereof.
    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.
    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 (45 
points); the resources available to the firm in providing both rural 
and urban 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 will 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 point score 
will not necessarily receive the award.
    The ``Islandwide'' MBDC shall be required to contribute at least 
15% of the total project cost through non-Federal contributions. To 
assist in this effort, the ``Islandwide'' MBDC may charge client fees 
for management and technical assistance (M&TA) rendered. Fees may range 
from $10 to $60 per hour based on the gross receipts of the client's 
business.
    If an application is selected for funding, DOC has no obligation to 
provide any additional future funding beyond the initial award. Renewal 
of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is 
at the total discretion of DOC. Awards under this program shall be 
subject to all Federal laws, Federal and Departmental regulations, 
policies and procedures applicable to Federal assistance awards.
    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 ``Islandwide'' MBDC's performance, the availability of 
funds and Agency priorities.
    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.
    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, or a repayment 
schedule is established and

[[Page 19990]]

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 whether 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 26.105) 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 26.605) 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 
28.105) 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 Pub L. 103-121, Sections 606(a) and (b).

11.800  Minority Business Development Center

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance).

    Dated: April 18, 1997.
Frances B. Douglas,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Minority Business 
Development Agency.
[FR Doc. 97-10589 Filed 4-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-M