Regional Innovation Clusters

 

The purpose of this program is to connect and expand regional innovation clusters to align federal resources ? including SBA?s resource provider network, lending and investing partners, business development programs and America?s Seed Fund, the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs ? with existing state and local resources, regional strengths, and economic growth opportunities in the region and beyond to support small businesses in commercializing new technologies and reaching new markets, thereby positioning themselves and their regional economies for growth.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Deleted 04/02/2020 (Archived.)
Program Number
59.067
Federal Agency/Office
Small Business Administration
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
C - Direct Payments For Specified Use
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 FY 2016 data not yet available. data not available
Fiscal Year 2017 data not available
Fiscal Year 2018 data not available
Fiscal Year 2022 In FY 2022, the SBA added two additional RICs to bring the total to fourteen. The RICs continued to provide resources to businesses in high potential sectors across the country ranging from agriculture to healthcare supply chain logistics. The RICs provided support through virtual workshops assisting small businesses with economic recovery during the pandemic.
Authorization
Small Business Act, Section 8(b)(1)(A) (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(A))
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Educational institutions, public or private organizations and businesses, individuals, State and local governments, Indian tribes and lending and financial institutions and sureties that have the capability to provide the required business assistance.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Small business concerns as defined by industry size standards established by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Credentials/Documentation
Documentation to establish that all program eligibility criteria are met and that offeror is registered in the System for Award Management.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The Regional Innovation Cluster program is currently deployed through time and materials contracts and as such, applicants shall comply with the associated Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses.
Award Procedure
A technical evaluation panel reviews offers for this program based on a published evaluation criteria and makes a recommendation for award to the designated contracting officer. The contracting officer is warranted to make an award determination on behalf of the agency and may do so at his/her discretion.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 90 to 120 days.
Appeals
FAR Part 33 applies to protests and appeals for the Regional Innovation Clusters program.
Renewals
On a case by case need basis, as determined by the contracting officer and the program office.
How are proposals selected?
The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror(s) whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered, which could include the technical approach, cluster qualifications and experience, and past performance/past experience.
How may assistance be used?
Business training; business counseling/consulting; mentoring; technology transfer counseling/consulting; commercialization of existing research and development (R&D) counseling/consulting; engagement with federal agency’s Small Business Innovative Research & Development programs; support in obtaining Facility Clearance status and holding of security clearances; export readiness counseling/consulting; support for underserved communities; building networks and partnerships ; providing opportunities for accessing new resources and markets; and/or other defined services relevant to small businesses.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Each award is monitored by a Contracting Officer’s Representative
Auditing
OMB Circular No. A-133
Records
(2) The Contractor shall make available at its offices at all reasonable times the records, materials, and other evidence for examination, audit, or reproduction, until 3 years after final payment under this contract or for any shorter period specified in FAR Subpart 4.7,
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The contract is awarded for one year (12 months), with four additional option years to be exercised at the discretion of the SBA. Invoicing shall occur once a month in arrears. Invoices shall include the contract number, the requisition number, and the period of time (beginning and end date) for the services detailed on the invoice. Invoicing shall be in accordance with Contractor’s Pricing Schedule. Back up detail shall be provided for travel, Other Direct Costs, and subcontracting efforts.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Alison Evans
SBA Office of Investment and Innovation
409 3rd St SW
Washington, DC 20416 US
alison.evans@sba.gov
Phone: 202-856-7386
Website Address
http://www.sba.gov/clusters
Financial Information
Account Identification
73-0400-2-3-376
Obligations
(Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 22$5,654,000.00; FY 23 est $10,000,000.00; FY 24 est $10,000,000.00; FY 17$3,259,000.00; FY 18 est $5,000,000.00; FY 19 est $0.00; FY 16$5,824,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$5,000,000 to $6,000,000 cumulative.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
See Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at https://www.acquisition.gov/?q=browsefar
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2016 See http://www.sba.gov/clusters
Fiscal Year 2022 Regional Innovation Clusters (RICs) promote innovation in regional ecosystems so that small businesses can effectively leverage partnerships to commercialize new technologies and expand into new markets, positioning themselves and their regional economies for growth. RICs are on the ground collaborations between business, research, education, financing, and government institutions that work to develop and grow a particular industry or related set of industries in a geographic region. Within a cluster, businesses are better able to commercialize innovative technology and create products and services beyond the resources, capabilities, and capacities of a single small business.

 



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