[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 110 (Monday, June 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34461-34462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14390]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


Notice Inviting Application for Funding Under the 7(j) Management 
and Technical Assistance Program

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.

ACTION: Notice of invitation for proposals for 7(j) management and 
technical assistance awards in FY 2003.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) plans to issue 
program announcement No. MTA-03-01, to solicit proposals from public or 
private organizations, to provide business development assistance and 
training for nationwide 7(j) eligible client executives. The 
authorizing legislation for this training is section 7(j) of the Small 
Business Act, U.S.C. 636(j). SBA will select successful proposals using 
a competitive process.
    Awardees will have responsibility for project oversight, design, 
marketing, management, execution, monitoring and reporting for the 
training program. Proposals are being solicited from organizations that 
have experience in Executive Education or similar Programs and have 
successfully provided executive level training to small business 
entrepreneurs on at least 3 occasions during the past five (5) years. 
Colleges and universities that respond to this solicitation, must have 
American Assembly for Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) 
accreditation or be a member of the American Indian Higher Education 
consortium (AIHEC). The applicant must have the qualified faculty, 
support staff, training and technical materials, equipment and 
facilities, or access to facilities, as well as an internal financial 
management system, to provide Executive Education Program (EEP) 
training services to 7(j) eligible client executives in a classroom 
environment.
    The EEP proposal should present training that will develop and 
improve the management and business decision skills of the 7(j) 
eligible clients. The enhancement of these skills should ensure the 
continued viability and growth of the small business owners in the 21st 
century. The EEP training curriculum must include the following three 
core subject matters for small business owners: strategic planning, 
financial analysis and, e-commerce. Additional subject matters should 
include some of the following: internal management systems, business 
alliances, government contracting, information technology, market 
research, financial reporting, product lines, quality assurance 
services, human resources, insurance, taxation, legal issues, 
investments, international business opportunities and etc.
    SBA plans to award approximately $700,000.00, subject to the 
availability of funds, under this notice. This amount would fund 
several awards which would provide EEP training to approximately 175 
7(j) eligible executives. SBA reserves the right to fund, in whole or 
in part, any, all, or none of the proposals submitted in

[[Page 34462]]

response to this notice. Awards will have a project period of three (3) 
years-an initial 12-month budget period with up to two (2) options 
years. Award amounts may vary, depending on the number of 7(j) eligible 
clients that an applicant is able to train (and performance for option 
years). However, no single awardee may receive more than $400,000.00 in 
a single fiscal year. All proposals must provide training sessions for 
at least 30 eligible executives per class.
    The selection criteria to be used for this competition will be 
provided in the application package.

DATES: The closing date for applications will be July 9, 2003.

ADDRESSEES: To obtain a copy of the complete application package call 
Adrienne Dinkins at (202) 205-7140, or go to SBA's Web site at http://www.sba.gov.

FOR APPLICATIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION: Questions concerning the 
technical aspects of this notice should be directed to Jacqueline 
Fleming at (202) 205-6177. Questions about budget or funding matters 
should be directed to Adrienne Dinkins at (202) 205-7140.

    Program Authority: 15 U.S.C. 636(j).

Luz Hopewell,
Associate Administrator, Business Development.
[FR Doc. 03-14390 Filed 6-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8025-01-P