Minority Business Opportunity Committee (11.803)
Program
11.803 Minority Business Opportunity Committee
Federal Agency
MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Authorization
Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, Executive Order 11625, Public Law 105-277.
Program Number
11.803
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To facilitate opportunities for minority businesses through the utilization of public and private sector organizations, that provide minority business owners/individuals with enhanced access to the marketplace by identifying and facilitating procurement and contract awards, marketing and sales opportunities, financing transactions and resources, potential joint venture partners, timely market leads and other current business information; to promote relationship building and sharing of business information between organizations in a geographic service area, conducting substantial purchasing activity; to assist in the identification of sources of capital; conduct media outreach, disseminate economic data, sponsors workshops, conferences and seminars within service area; maintain inventories of resources such as bid opportunities, sources of debt and equity funds, business ownership possibilities such as franchises, and prospective joint venture partners.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds will be used in support of the MBDA policy statement on funding business development programs. Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is charged under Executive Order 11625 with fostering new minority business enterprises and maintaining and strengthening existing firms to increase their opportunities to participate and receive the benefits of our economic system. MBDA uses a portion of its program funds to award contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements to public and private sector entities which have the greatest potential for developing access to capital, market, and other opportunities on behalf of minority business. The performance of each funded recipient is evaluated on a scheduled basis. Renewals are based on Agency priorities, funding availability, and performance of recipients.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants for this program are Federal, State or local government entities or quasi governmental entities, American Indian Tribes, colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations, and for project organizations.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Beneficiaries of this program are minority business persons/firms. Eligible beneficiaries of this program have been designated as African American, Native American, Aleut, Asian Indian, Asian Pacific American, Eskimo, Hasidic Jew, Puerto Rican, and Spanish-Speaking Americans.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-87 for awards to State, local and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; A-21, Cost Principles For Educational Institutions; and A-122 for other recipients. Administrative requirements are found in 15 CFR Part 24 for State and Local governments and Indian tribes and all others are at 15 CFR Part 14.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
A preapplication conference may be scheduled for recipients of these awards. Conferences will be announced in the Federal Register. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
The standard application forms as furnished by the Department of Commerce must be used for this program. Recipients are subject to the administrative requirements contained in 15 CFR Part 14 OR 15 CFR Part 24.
Award Procedure
The application package will advise the applicant where to submit the application. Each application will be reviewed and evaluated by MBDA. Name checks, verification of academic credentials and pre-award audits may be required from applicants.
Deadlines
Deadlines for formal competitive awards are outlined in the Federal Register.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
All decisions are final. There are no administrative appeals.
Renewals
Minority Business Opportunity Committee (MBOC) awards may be made for a period of 3 years with funding provided on an annual basis at the sole discretion of MBDA and the Department of Commerce. Performance evaluations will be conducted, and funding levels will be established for each of the three budget periods. The MBOC will receive continued funding after the initial competitive year at the discretion of MBDA based upon the availability of funds, the MBOC's performance, and agency priorities.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Projects are required to provide the 25 percent minimum amount of cost-sharing in the form of in- kind contributions and/or cash.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
For 1 to 3 years depending on the requirements of the projects.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Financial (quarterly and annually), narrative (semi annually); statistical reports are required.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Documents, papers and financial records of grantees or subrecipients relating to the MBOC program are required to remain available to the Federal Government for 3 years from the date of submission of the final financial status report in accordance with the applicable administrative requirements.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2003, MBDA implemented a performance verfication system to validate reported amounts for contract awards and financial transactions to minority business enterprises.
Financial Information
Account Identification
13-0201-0-1-376.
Obligations
(Grants/Cooperative Agreements) FY 02 $1,162,682; FY 03 est $1,497,008; and FY 04 est $1,633,099.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
From $100,000 to $400,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
There are no applicable program-specific regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for this program.
Related Programs
11.303, Economic Development_Technical Assistance; 15.850, Indian Arts and Crafts Development; 39.001, Business Services; 59.005, Business Development Assistance to Small Business; 59.006, 8(a) Business Development; 59.009, Procurement Assistance to Small Businesses.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Contact the nearest Minority Business Development Agency Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Stephen Boykin, MBOC Program Manager, Business Development Specialist, Room 5079, Minority Business Development Agency, Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. Telephone: (202) 482-1712. Use the same number for FTS.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
In fiscal year 2003, the Prince George's County, Maryland MBOC is required to generate through its partners, contract and procurement opportunities to minority businesses totaling $500,000,000. Their strategic outreach efforts will account for $91.7 million in minority contracting. New jobs will be created and will pave the way for future competitive efforts to stimulate growth in a challenged economy.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Competitive awards for the MBOC program are made based on a panel evaluation of the applications. This evaluation includes such factors as capability and experience of staff assigned to the project; techniques and methodology, creativity and innovation, resources and costs.
