Minority Business Resource Development

 

The objectives of the overall program are to 1) provide financial assistance awards for projects that affect or contribute to the establishment, preservation and strengthening of minority business enterprises (MBEs) as directed by congressional mandate, and 2) promote the development of novel approaches to increasing the strategic growth and global competitiveness of MBEs through the administration of pilot or demonstration projects.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
11.802
Federal Agency/Office
Minority Business Development Agency, Department of Commerce
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 Exceeded Performance Goals
Fiscal Year 2017 Met Performance Goals
Fiscal Year 2018 Will meet Performance Goals
Fiscal Year 2020 Exceed 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, October 13, 1971, 15 U.S.C. 1512
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants eligible to provide services under pilot or demonstration projects are nonprofit organizations, for-profit firms, State and local governments, Native American Tribal entities, and educational institutions. Applicants for congressionally mandated projects are those specifically identified in applicable legislation.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Congressionally mandated award beneficiaries are members of the minority business community. Pilot or demonstration project beneficiaries are minority business enterprises.
Credentials/Documentation
Recipients are subject to the administrative requirements contained in 15 CFR Part 14 or 15 CFR Part 24, depending on the type of recipient. Eligible costs under the award will be determined in accordance with 2 CFR part 220 (2007) (OMB Circular A-21, "Cost Principles for Educational Organizations), 2 CFR part 225 (2007) (OMB Circular A-87, "Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments) and 2 CFR part 230 (2007) (OMB Circular A-122, "Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations).
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. MBDA will conduct pre-application conferences for all grant competitions.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Application packages will be made available on Grants.gov. Applicants must submit the required program narrative, applicable federal standard forms (SF) and Department of Commerce (DOC) forms through the grants.gov portal during open application periods.
Award Procedure
MBDA makes award recommendations to the agency's Selecting Official, based on the results of the panel evaluation. The Selecting Official (or his/her designee) makes the final decision. The agency's Grants Officer processes the award decisions, the funding request and executes the notice of award to the grant recipient. Name checks, verification of academic credentials and pre-award audits may be required of the recipient prior to 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 unsuccessful and successful applicants shall be notified in writing after the award competition has ended.
Appeals
All decisions are final. There are no administrative appeals, however, unsuccessful applicants may request a debriefing from MBDA.
Renewals
Renewals are not anticipated, but may be considered based on Agency priorities, funding availability and recipient performance.
How are proposals selected?
Awards are made based on a panel evaluation and merit selection review of the applications. This evaluation includes such factors as capability of applicant, prior experience of organization and staff assigned to the project, techniques and methodology, and budget.
How may assistance be used?
Program funds in this category are restricted to the uses stipulated by congressional mandate, or for the specific uses identified as part of a pilot or demonstration project.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: MBDA conducts periodic performance monitoring reviews.
Auditing
In addition, audits may be conducted by the Department of Commerce's Office of Inspector General and by other authorized federal agencies.
Records
Documents, papers and financial records of grantees or subrecipients relating to the award are required to remain available to the Federal Government for three years from the date of submission of the final financial status report.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 30%. Congressionally mandated awards typically do not require matching funds. Pilot projects may require non-Federal cost-sharing in the form of in-kind contributions, cash and/or program fees. Cost share requirements are outlined in the applicable Federal Register notice, Notice of Funding Opportunity announcement and Grants.gov.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Congressionally mandated awards are typically funded for a one-year period. Pilot or demonstration projects may be funded as single-year or multi-year awards. Monthly drawdown of funds available
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Contact Minority Business Development Agency Headquarters
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
(Project Grants) FY 22$5,900,000.00; FY 23 est $5,900,000.00; FY 24 est $5,900,000.00; FY 21$5,900,000.00; FY 20$6,000,000.00; FY 19$4,510,000.00; FY 18$10,101,473.00; FY 17$407,668.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Not applicable.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2022 https://www.mbda.gov/entrepreneurship-education-formerly-incarcerated-persons https://www.mbda.gov/access-capital-innovative-finance-projects https://www.mbda.gov/mbe-equity-multiplier-project