MBDA Business Center

 

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, will provide Federal assistance to support innovative projects seeking to promote and ensure the growth of minority enterprises. The MBDA Business Center Program provides technical assistance and business development services to minority business enterprises (MBEs).

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
11.805
Federal Agency/Office
Minority Business Development Agency, Department of Commerce
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 MBDA redesigned the Business Center Program Exceed Performance Goals
Fiscal Year 2017 Met Performance Goals
Fiscal Year 2018 Will meet Performance Goals
Fiscal Year 2019 Exceeded Performance Goals
Fiscal Year 2020 Will meet Performance Goals
Fiscal Year 2021 Will meet Performance Goals
Fiscal Year 2022 Will meet Performance Goals
Fiscal Year 2023 Will meet Performance Goals
Authorization
11625, 15 U.S.C. 1512
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants eligible to operate MBC projects are nonprofit organizations, for-profit firms, State and local governments, Native American Tribal entities, and educational institutions.
Beneficiary Eligibility
The Minority Business Center program serves all eligible minority business enterprises through direct services or through strategic partner referral. Eligible beneficiaries of this program are: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, Native Americans (including Alaska Natives, Alaska Native Corporations and Tribal entities), Asian Indians and Hasidic Jews. See 15 C.F.R. ? 1400.1-.2 and Executive Order 11625.
Credentials/Documentation
Not applicable.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. Preapplication conferences will be scheduled for all MBDA program competitions.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. All applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.Gov. Applicants must submit a program narrative, detailed budget and budget narrative and applicable standard forms (SF) and Department of Commerce (DOC) forms. Application packages will be made available on Grants.gov.
Award Procedure
Each application will be reviewed and evaluated by a review panel. The panel will make funding recommendations to the Agency's Selecting Official. The Selecting Official or his/her designee will make final decisions on grant awards. The Grants Officer will process and execute the notices of award. Name checks, verification of academic credentials and pre-award audits may be required of the recipient prior to or following an award. Electronic notification of award will be generated and forwarded to the selected recipient by the Grants Officer.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 90 to 120 days. Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing after the award competition has ended.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
From 60 to 90 days. Minority Business Center (MBC) awards are typically made for a period of five years, with funding renewed on an annual basis at the discretion of MBDA and the Department of Commerce based upon the availability of funds, the MBC's performance level, and Agency priorities.
How are proposals selected?
Applications submitted are competitively evaluated and awarded. Selection criteria includes such factors as capability and experience of staff assigned to the project, techniques and methodology, resources, budget, and alignment with program priorities. Past performance under an MBDA, Department of Commerce or other federal award may also be considered when selecting proposals for a Business Center award.
How may assistance be used?
Program funds in this category are to be used by MBDA Business Center operators to provide services including, but not limited to, development of a pool of contracting and financing opportunities; direct matching of opportunities with qualified/vetted MBEs; execution of relationship management and deal sourcing initiatives; assisting MBEs in accessing global market opportunities; identification and securing of alternative sources of capital for MBEs; promotion of the advantages of achieving size and scale; educating MBEs on the benefits of strategic alternatives (i.e. mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and/or divestitures); and provision of service referrals to MBEs of all sizes. The uses and use restrictions are more specifically defined in the applicable Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO).
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Performance monitoring will be conducted by MBDA throughout the duration of the award.
Auditing
Audits shall be performed in accordance with audit requirements contained in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements found in 2 CFR part 200, Subsection F. Recipients expending $750,000 or more in federal funds during the recipient's fiscal year must conduct a single audit in accordance with guidelines outlined in 2 CFR ??200.500-.520. For-profit organizations not covered by the audit requirements in 2 CFR ??200.500-.520 are subject to the audit requirements set forth in the terms and conditions of the award. Recipients that expend less than $750,000 during the recipient's fiscal year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR ?200.503, but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and Government Accountability Office (GAO). Applicants are also reminded that other audits may be conducted by the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General and by other authorized federal agencies.
Records
(i) Financial reports are to be submitted to the Department of Commerce Grants Office on a semi-annual basis. A final financial report is due within ninety (90) days after expiration of the award. (ii) Performance narrative reports are to be submitted to the Federal Program Officer within forty-five (45) days after the end of the second program quarter of each funding period. (iii) An annual or final performance report is due forty-five (45) days after the end of each funding period. (iv) Expense summary reports are to be submitted to Federal Program Officer within forty-five (45) days after the end of each quarter of each funding period. (v) Additional reporting requirements are set forth in the NOFO. Failure to submit reports on time may result in MBDA award enforcement action or delay in access to federal funds.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary. Cost share requirements are outlined in the applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Awards are generally made for a five-year period, but may be made for a shorter period at the discretion of MBDA. Awards are awarded annually
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
MBDA has a Headquarters Office in Washington, DC
Headquarters Office
Tamara Marshall-Jones
1401 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20230 US
TMarshall-jones@mbda.gov
Phone: 2024825678
Website Address
http://www.mbda.gov
Financial Information
Account Identification
13-0201-0-1-376
Obligations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$22,422,500.00; FY 23 est $23,420,000.00; FY 24 est $40,122,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
375,000 - 415,000 (annual funding)
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
MBDA is in compliance with 2 CFR 200
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2022 https://www.mbda.gov/mbda-programs/business-centers

 


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