[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-3843] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: February 22, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Minority Business Development Agency Business Development Center Application: State of South Carolina With the Exceptions of Greenville, Charleston, and Columbia MSAs AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 program (MBDC) to operate a Rural Minority Business Development Center (RMBDC) for approximately a 3-year period, subject to agency priorities, recipient performance and the availability of funds. The total cost of performance for the first budget period (12 months) from July 1, 1994 to June 30, 1995 is estimated at $411,765. The application must include a minimum cost-share of 15% of the total project cost, through non-Federal contributions. The Federal amount includes $8,540 for an annual audit fee. Cost-sharing contributions may be in the form of cash contributions, client fees, in-kind contributions or combinations thereof. The RMBDC will operate in the State of South Carolina geographic service area with the exceptions of Greenville, Charleston and Columbia, MSAs. The headquarters of the RMBDC will be located in Orangeburg, South Carolina. The award number for this RMBDC will be 04-10-94007-01. 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 RMBDC will provide business development services to the rural minority business community to help establish and maintain viable rural minority businesses. To this end, MBDA funds organizations to identify and coordinate public and private sector resources on behalf of rural minority individuals and firms; to offer a full range of management and technical assistance to rural minority entrepreneurs; and to serve as a conduit of information and assistance regarding rural 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 rural minority businesses, individuals and organizations (50 points); the resources available to the firm in providing rural 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 received 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 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 points score will not necessarily receive the award. If an application is select for funding, DOC 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 DOC. Award under this program shall be subject to all Federal laws and Federal and Departmental regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to Federal assistance awards. The RMBDC shall be required to contribute at least 15% of the total project cost through non-Federal contributions. To assist in this effort, the RMBDC may charge client fees for management and technical assistance (M&TA) rendered. Based on a standard rate of $50 per hour, the RMBDC 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 is funding for the project should continue. Continued funding will be at the total discretion of MBDA based on such factors as the RMBDC's performance, the availability of funds and Agency priorities. DATES: The closing date for applications is March 24, 1994. Applications must be postmarked on or before March 24, 1994. ADDRESSES: Atlanta Regional Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency, 401 West Peachtree Street NW., suite 1715, Atlanta, Georgia 30308-3516, (404) 730-3300. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert M. Henderson, Acting Regional Director, Atlanta Regional Office, telephone (404) 730-3300. 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. A pre-application conference to assist all interested applicants will be held on March 9, 1994, 9 a.m. at the following address: U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency, 401 West Peachtree Street NW., room 1715, Atlanta, Georgia 30308-3516. 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 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. Awards under this program shall be subject to all Federal laws, and Federal 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 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 honestly 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 RMBDC 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. 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 applicants/ 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 ward document. 11.800 Minority Business Development Centers (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) Dated: February 15, 1994. Robert Henderson, Acting Regional Director, Atlanta Regional Office. [FR Doc. 94-3843 Filed 2-18-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-21-M