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[Federal Register: January 21, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 13)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3517-3522]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21ja10-102]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

 
Notice of Funding Availability for the Small Business 
Transportation Resource Center Program

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), Office of 
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the 
Secretary (OST), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 
(OSDBU) announces the opportunity for; (1) Business centered community-
based organizations; (2) transportation-related trade associations; (3) 
colleges and universities; (4) community colleges or; (5) chambers of 
commerce, registered with the Internal Revenue Service as 501C(6) or 
501C(3) tax-exempt organizations, to compete for participation in 
OSDBU's Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) program 
in the Southwest Region, the South Atlantic Region, and the Mid-South 
Atlantic Region. The Central, Great Lakes, Gulf, Mid Atlantic, 
Northeast, Northwest, and Southeast Regions will be competed at a later 
date as their cooperative agreements expire. A new West Central Region 
will also be competed at that time.
    OSDBU will enter into Cooperative Agreements with these 
organizations to outreach to the small business community in their 
designated region and provide financial and technical assistance, 
business training programs, such as, business assessment, management 
training, counseling, technical assistance, marketing and outreach, and 
the dissemination of information, to encourage and assist small 
businesses to become better prepared to compete for, obtain, and manage 
DOT funded transportation-related contracts and subcontracts at the 
federal, state and local levels. Throughout this notice, the term 
``small business'' will refer to: 8(a), Disadvantaged business 
enterprises (DBE), women owned small business (WOB), HubZone, service 
disabled veteran owned business (SDVOB), and veteran owned small 
business (VOSB). Throughout this notice, ``transportation-related'' is 
defined as the maintenance, rehabilitation, restructuring, improvement, 
or revitalization of any of the nation's modes of transportation.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 20.910 
Assistance to small and disadvantaged businesses.
    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement Grant.
    Award Ceiling: $138,000.
    Award Floor: $128,000.
    Program Authority: DOT is authorized under 49 U.S.C. 332(b)(4), (5) 
& (7) to design and carry out programs to assist small disadvantaged 
businesses in getting transportation-related contracts and 
subcontracts; develop support mechanisms, including management and 
technical services, that will enable small disadvantaged businesses to 
take advantage of those business opportunities; and to make 
arrangements to carry out the above purposes.

DATES: Complete Proposals must be electronically submitted to OSDBU via 
email on or before February 16, 2010, 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. 
Proposals received after the deadline will be considered non-responsive 
and will not be reviewed. The applicant is advised to turn on request 
delivery receipt notification for email submissions. DOT plans to give 
notice of awards for the competed regions on or before the following 
dates:

Southwest Region February 28, 2010
South Atlantic Region March 31, 2010
Mid-South Atlantic Region March 31, 2010

ADDRESSES: Applications must be electronically submitted to OSDBU via 
e-mail at SBTRC@dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information concerning this 
notice, contact Mr. Arthur D. Jackson, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., W56-462, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: 
1-800-532-1169. E-mail: art.jackson@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
    1.1 Background
    1.2 Program Description and Goals
    1.3 Description of Competition
    1.4 Duration of Agreements
    1.5 Authority
    1.6 Eligibility Requirements
2. Program Requirements
    2.1 Recipient Responsibilities
    2.2 Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 
Responsibilities
3. Submission of Proposals
    3.1 Format for Proposals
    3.2 Address, Number of Copies, Deadline for Submission
4. Selection Criteria
    4.1 General Criteria
    4.2 Scoring of Applications
    4.3 Conflicts of Interest
Format for Proposals--Appendix A
Assurances Signature Form--Attachment 1
Certification Signature Form--Attachment 2
Standard Form 424--Attachment 3

Full Text of Announcement

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

    The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) established 
the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) in 
accordance with Public Law 95-507, an amendment to the Small Business 
Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.
    The mission of OSDBU at DOT is to ensure that the small and 
disadvantaged business policies and goals of the Secretary of 
Transportation are developed and implemented in a fair, efficient and 
effective manner to serve small and disadvantaged businesses throughout 
the country. The OSDBU also administers the provisions of Title 49, 
Section 332, the Minority Resource Center (MRC) which includes the 
duties of advocacy, outreach and financial services on behalf of small 
and disadvantaged business and those certified under CFR 49 parts 23 
and or

[[Page 3518]]

26 as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) and the development of 
programs to encourage, stimulate, promote and assist small businesses 
to become better prepared to compete for, obtain and manage 
transportation-related contracts, and subcontracts.
    The Regional Partnerships Division of OSDBU, through the SBTRC 
program allows OSDBU to partner with local organizations to offer a 
comprehensive delivery system of business training, technical 
assistance and dissemination of information, targeted towards small 
business transportation enterprises in their regions.

1.2 Program Description and Goals

    The national SBTRC program utilizes Cooperative Agreements with 
chambers of commerce, trade associations, educational institutions and 
business-centered community based organizations to establish SBTRCs to 
provide business training, technical assistance and information to DOT 
grantees and recipients, prime contractors and subcontractors. In order 
to be effective and serve their target audience, the SBTRCs must be 
active in the local transportation community in order to identify and 
communicate opportunities and provide the required technical 
assistance. SBTRCs must already have, or demonstrate the ability to 
establish working relationships with the state and local transportation 
agencies and technical assistance agencies (i.e., The U.S. Department 
of Commerce's Minority Business Development Centers (MBDCs), Small 
Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Procurement Technical Assistance 
Centers (PTACs), SCORE and State DOT highway supportive services 
contractors in their region. Utilizing these relationships and their 
own expertise, the SBTRCs are involved in activities such as 
information dissemination, small business counseling, and technical 
assistance with small businesses currently doing business with public 
and private entities in the transportation industry.
    Effective outreach is critical to the success of the SBTRC program. 
In order for their outreach efforts to be effective, SBTRCs must be 
familiar with DOT's Operating Administrations, its funding sources, and 
how funding is awarded to DOT grantees, recipients, contractors, 
subcontractors, and its financial assistance programs. SBTRCs must 
outreach to the regional small business transportation community to 
disseminate information and distribute DOT-published marketing 
materials, such as STLP Program Information, Bonding Assistance 
information, SBTRC brochures and literature, Procurement Forecasts; 
Contracting with DOT booklets, and any other materials or resources 
that DOT or OSDBU may develop for this purpose. To maximize outreach, 
the SBTRC may be called upon to participate in regional and national 
conferences and seminars. Quantities of DOT publications for on-hand 
inventory and dissemination at conferences and seminars will be 
available upon request from the OSDBU office.

1.3 Description of Competition

    The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals from 
transportation-related trade associations, chambers of commerce, 
community based entities, colleges and universities, community 
colleges, and any other qualifying transportation-related non-profit 
organizations with the desire and ability to partner with OSDBU to 
establish and maintain an SBTRC.
    It is OSDBU's intent to award Cooperative Agreement to one 
organization in each of the designated geographical area(s), from 
herein referred to as ``region(s)'', competed in this solicitation. 
However, if warranted, OSDBU reserves the option to make multiple 
awards to selected partners. Proposals submitted for a region must 
contain a plan to service the entire region, not just the SBTRC state 
or local geographical area. The region's SBTRC headquarters must be 
established in the designated state set forth below. Submitted 
proposals must also contain justification for the establishment of the 
SBTRC headquarters in a particular city within the designated state.
SBTRC Region(s) Competed in This Solicitation
South Atlantic Region:
    North Carolina, Headquarters
    Virginia
    Kentucky
    West Virginia
Southwest Region:
    California, Headquarters
    Arizona
    Nevada
    Hawaii
Mid-South Atlantic Region:
    Georgia, Headquarters
    Tennessee
    South Carolina

    Program requirements and selection criteria, set forth in Sections 
2 and 4 respectively, indicate, the OSDBU intends for the SBTRC to be 
multidimensional; that is, the selected organizations must have the 
capacity to effectively access and provide supportive services to the 
broad range of small businesses within the respective geographical 
region. To this end, the SBTRC must be able to demonstrate that they 
currently have established relationships within the geographic region 
with whom they may coordinate and establish effective networks with DOT 
grant recipients and local/regional technical assistance agencies to 
maximize resources.
    Cooperative agreement awards will be distributed to the region(s) 
as follows:

South Atlantic Region: Up to $138,000 per year
Southwest Region: Up to $136,000 per year
Mid-South Atlantic Region: Up to $128,000 per year

    Cooperative agreement awards by region are based upon an analysis 
of DBEs, Certified Small Businesses, and US DOT transportation dollars 
in each region.
    It is OSDBU's intent to maximize the benefits received by the small 
business transportation community through the SBTRC. Funding may be 
utilized to reimburse an on-site Project Director up to 100% of salary 
plus fringe benefits, an on-site Executive Director up to 50% of salary 
plus fringe benefits, the cost of designated SBTRC space, other direct 
costs, and all other general and administrative expenses. Selected 
SBTRC partners will be expected to provide in-kind administrative 
support. Submitted proposals must contain an alternative funding source 
with which the SBTRC will fund administrative support costs. Preference 
will be given to proposals containing in-kind contributions for the 
Project Director, the Executive Director, cost of designated SBTRC 
space, other direct costs, and all other general and administrative 
expenses.

1.4 Duration of Agreements

    Cooperative agreements will be awarded for a period of 12 months 
(one year) with options for two (2) additional one year periods. OSDBU 
will notify the SBTRC of our intention to exercise an option year or 
not to exercise an option year 30 days in advance of expiration of the 
current year.

1.5 Authority

    DOT is authorized under 49 U.S.C. 332(b)(4), (5) & (7) to design 
and carry out programs to assist small disadvantaged businesses in 
getting transportation-related contracts and subcontracts; develop 
support mechanisms, including management and technical services, that 
will enable small disadvantaged businesses to take advantage of those 
business opportunities; and to make

[[Page 3519]]

arrangements to carry out the above purposes.

1.6 Eligibility Requirements

    To be eligible, an organization must be an established, nonprofit, 
community-based organization, transportation-related trade association, 
chamber of commerce, college or university, community college, and any 
other qualifying transportation-related non-profit organization which 
has the documented experience and capacity necessary to successfully 
operate and administer a coordinated delivery system that provides 
access for small businesses to prepare and compete for transportation-
related contracts.
    In addition, to be eligible, the applicant organization must:
    (A) Be an established 501 C(3) or 501 C(6) tax-exempt organization 
and provide documentation as verification. No application will be 
accepted without proof of tax-exempt status;
    (B) Have at least one year of documented and continuous experience 
prior to the date of application in providing advocacy, outreach, and 
technical assistance to small businesses within the region in which 
proposed services will be provided. Prior performance providing 
services to the transportation community is preferable, but not 
required; and
    (C) Have an office physically located within the proposed city in 
the designated headquarters state in the region for which they are 
submitting the proposal that is readily accessible to the public.

2. Program Requirements

2.1 Recipient Responsibilities

(A) Assessments, Business Analyses
    1. Conduct an assessment of small businesses in the SBTRC region to 
determine their training and technical assistance needs, and use 
information that is available at no cost to structure programs and 
services that will enable small business enterprises to become better 
prepared to compete for and receive transportation-related contract 
awards.
    2. Contact other federal, state and local governmental agencies, 
such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, (SBA), state and local 
highway departments, state and local airport authorities, and transit 
authorities to identify relevant and current information that may 
support the assessment of the regional small business transportation 
community needs.
(B) General Management & Technical Training and Assistance
    1. Utilize OSDBU's Intake Form to document each small business 
assisted by the SBTRC and type of service(s) provided. The completed 
form must be transmitted electronically to the SBTRC Program Manager on 
a monthly basis, accompanied by a narrative report on the activities 
and performance results for that period. The data gathered must be 
supportive by the narrative and must relate to the numerical data on 
the monthly reports.
    2. Ensure that an array of information is made available for 
distribution to the small business transportation community that is 
designed to inform and educate the community on DOT/OSDBU services and 
opportunities.
    3. Coordinate efforts with OSDBU's National Information 
Clearinghouse in order to maintain an on-hand inventory of DOT/OSDBU 
informational materials for general dissemination and for distribution 
at transportation-related conferences and other events.
(C) Business Counseling
    1. Collaborate with agencies, such as the SBA, U.S. Department of 
Commerce's Minority Business Development Centers (MBDCs), Service Corps 
of Retired Executives (SCORE), Procurement Technical Assistance Centers 
(PTACs), and Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), to offer a 
broad range of counseling services to transportation-related small 
business enterprises.
    2. Create a technical assistance plan that will provide each 
counseled participant with the knowledge and skills necessary to 
improve the management of their own small business to expand their 
transportation-related contracts and subcontracts portfolio.
    3. Provide a minimum of 20 hours of individual or group counseling 
sessions to small businesses per month.
(D) Planning Committee
    1. Establish a Regional Planning Committee consisting of at least 7 
members that includes representatives from the regional community and 
federal, state, and local agencies. The highway, airport, and transit 
authorities for the SBTRC's headquarters state must have representation 
on the planning committee. This committee shall be established no later 
than 60 days after the execution of the Cooperative agreement between 
the OSDBU and the selected SBRTC.
    2. Provide a forum for the federal, state, and local agencies to 
disseminate information about upcoming procurements.
    3. Hold either monthly or quarterly meetings at a time and place 
agreed upon by SBTRC and planning committee members.
    4. Use the initial session (teleconference call) by the SBTRC 
explain the mission of the committee and identify roles of the staff 
and the members of the group.
    5. Responsibility for the agenda and direction of the Planning 
Committee should be handled by the SBTRC Executive Director or his/her 
designee.
(E) Outreach Services/Conference Participation
    1. Utilize the services of the Central Contractor Registration 
(CCR) and other sources to construct a database of regional small 
businesses that currently or may participate in DOT direct and DOT 
funded transportation related contracts, and make this database 
available to OSDBU, upon request.
    2. Utilize the database of regional transportation-related small 
businesses to match opportunities identified through the planning 
committee forum, FedBiz Opps, a web-based system for posting 
solicitations and other Federal procurement-related documents on the 
Internet, and other sources to eligible small businesses and contact 
the eligible small businesses about those opportunities.
    3. Develop a ``targeted'' database of firms (100-150) that have the 
capacity and capabilities, and are ready, willing and able to 
participate in DOT contracts and subcontracts immediately. This control 
group will receive ample resources from the SBTRC, i.e., access to 
working capital, bonding assistance, business counseling, management 
assistance and direct referrals to DOT agencies at the state and local 
levels, and to prime contractors as effective subcontractor firms.
    4. Identify regional, state and local conferences where a 
significant number of small businesses, with transportation related 
capabilities, are expected to be in attendance. Maintain and submit a 
list of those events to the SBTRC Program Manager for review and for 
posting on the OSDBU Web site on a monthly basis. Include 
recommendations for OSDBU and/or SBTRC participation with the list.
    5. Conduct outreach and disseminate information to small businesses 
at regional transportation-related conferences, seminars, and 
workshops. In the event that the SBTRC is requested to participate in 
an event, prior approval must be granted by the OSDBU prior to 
participation. Upon OSDBU approval,

[[Page 3520]]

the SBTRC will send DOT materials, the OSDBU banner and other 
information that is deemed necessary for the event.
    6. Submit a conference summary report to OSDBU no later than 5 
business days after participation in the event or conference. The 
conference summary report must summarize activities, contacts, outreach 
results, and recommendations for continued or discontinued 
participation in future similar events sponsored by that organization.
    7. Upon approval by OSDBU, coordinate efforts with DOT's grantees 
and recipients at the state and/or local levels to sponsor or cosponsor 
an OSDBU transportation related conference in the region.
(F) Loan and Bond Assistance
    1. Work with STLP participating banks and if not available, other 
lending institutions, to deliver a minimum of five (5) seminars/
workshops per year on the STLP financial assistance program to the 
transportation-related small business community. The seminar/workshop 
must cover the entire STLP process, from completion of STLP loan 
applications and preparation of the loan package to graduation from the 
STLP.
    2. Provide direct support, technical support, and advocacy services 
to potential STLP applicants to increase the probability of STLP loan 
approval and generate a minimum of 5 approved STLP applications per 
year.
    3. Work with local bond producers/agents in your region to deliver 
a minimum of five (5) seminars/workshops to DBEs on the DOT ARRA BAP 
and how the Reimbursable Fee Program works. A minimum of 10 DBE firms 
per workshop should participate.
    4. Provide direct support, technical support, and advocacy services 
to potential Disadvantaged Business Enterprise American Reinvestment 
and Recovery Act of 2009 Bonding Assistance Reimbursable Fee Program 
(DBE ARRA BAP) applicants to increase the probability of reimbursement 
approval and generate a minimum of 5 approved DBE ARRA BAP applications 
until September 8, 2010 or until notice of cessation in the event the 
program is extended.
    5. Provide direct support, technical support, and advocacy services 
to potential Provide direct support, technical support, and advocacy 
services to potential Bonding Assistance Program (BAP) applicants to 
increase the probability of guaranteed bond approval and generate a 
minimum of 5 approved BAP applications per year from inception of the 
BAP program.
    (G) Furnish all labor, facilities and equipment to perform the 
services described in this announcement

2.2 Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) 
Responsibilities

    (A) Provide consultation and technical assistance in planning, 
implementing and evaluating activities under this announcement.
    (B) Provide orientation and training to the applicant organization.
    (C) Monitor SBTRC activities, cooperative agreement compliance, and 
overall SBTRC performance.
    (D) Assist SBTRC to develop or strengthen its relationships with 
federal, state, and local transportation authorities, other technical 
assistance organizations, and DOT grantees.
    (E) Facilitate the exchange and transfer of successful program 
activities and information among all SBTRC regions.
    (F) Provide the SBTRC with DOT/OSDBU materials and other relevant 
transportation-related information for dissemination.
    (G) Maintain effective communication with the SBTRC and inform them 
of transportation news and contracting opportunities to share with 
small businesses in their region.
    (H) Provide all required forms to be used by the SBTRC for 
reporting purposes under the program.
    (I) Perform an annual performance evaluation of the SBTRC. 
Satisfactory performance is a condition of continued participation of 
the organization as an SBTRC and execution of all option years.

3. Submission of Proposals

3.1 Format for Proposals

    Each proposal must be submitted to DOT's OSDBU in the format set 
forth in the application form attached as Appendix A to this 
announcement.

3.2 Address; Number of Copies; Deadlines for Submission

    Any eligible organization, as defined in Section 1.6 of this 
announcement, will submit only one proposal per region for 
consideration by OSDBU. Eligible organizations may submit proposals for 
multiple regions.
    Applications must be double spaced, and printed in a font size not 
smaller than 12 points. Applications will not exceed 35 single-sided 
pages, not including any requested attachments.
    All pages should be numbered at the top of each page. All 
documentation, attachments, or other information pertinent to the 
application must be included in a single submission.
    Grant application packages must be submitted electronically to 
OSDBU at SBTRC@dot.gov. The applicant is advised to turn on request 
delivery receipt notification for email submissions.
    Proposals must be received by DOT/OSDBU no later than February 16, 
2010 5 p.m., EST.

4. Selection Criteria

4.1 General Criteria

    OSDBU will award the cooperative agreement on a best value basis, 
using the following criteria to rate and rank applications:
    Applications will be evaluated using a point system (maximum number 
of points = 100);
     Approach and strategy (25 points)
     Linkages (25 points)
     Organizational Capability (25 points)
     Staff Capabilities and Experience (15 points)
     Cost Proposal (10 points)
(A) Approach and Strategy (25 Points)
    The applicant must describe their strategy to achieve the overall 
mission of the SBTRC as described in this solicitation and service the 
small business community in their entire geographic regional area. The 
applicant must also describe how the specific activities outlined in 
Section 2.1 will be implemented and executed in the organization's 
regional area. OSDBU will consider the extent to which the proposed 
objectives are specific, measurable, time-specific, and consistent with 
OSDBU goals and the applicant organization's overall mission. OSDBU 
will give priority consideration to applicants that demonstrate 
innovation and creativity in their approach to assist small businesses 
to become successful transportation contractors and increase their 
ability to access DOT contracting opportunities and financial 
assistance programs. Applicants must also submit the estimated direct 
costs, other than labor, to execute their proposed strategy. OSDBU will 
consider the quality of the applicant's plan for conducting program 
activities and the likelihood that the proposed methods will be 
successful in achieving proposed objectives at the proposed cost.
(B) Linkages (25 Points)
    The applicant must describe their established relationships within 
their geographic region and demonstrate their ability to coordinate and 
establish effective networks with DOT grant recipients and local/
regional technical

[[Page 3521]]

assistance agencies to maximize resources. OSDBU will consider 
innovative aspects of the applicant's approach and strategy to build 
upon their existing relationships and established networks with 
existing resources in their geographical area. The applicant should 
describe their strategy to obtain support and collaboration on SBTRC 
activities from DOT grantees and recipients, transportation prime 
contractors and subcontractors, the SBA, U.S. Department of Commerce's 
Minority Business Development Centers (MBDCs), Service Corps of Retired 
Executives (SCORE), Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), 
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), State DOTs, and State 
highway supportive services contractors. In rating this factor, OSDBU 
will consider the extent to which the applicant demonstrates ability to 
be multidimensional. The applicant must demonstrate that they have the 
ability to access a broad range of supportive services to effectively 
serve a broad range of transportation-related small businesses within 
their respective geographical region. Emphasis will also be placed on 
the extent to which the applicant identifies a clear outreach strategy 
related to identified needs that can be successfully carried out within 
the period of this agreement and a plan for involving the Planning 
Committee in the execution of that strategy.
(C) Organizational Capability (25 Points)
    The applicant must demonstrate that they have the organizational 
capability to meet the program requirements set forth in Section 2. The 
applicant organization must have sufficient resources and past 
performance experience to successfully outreach to the small business 
transportation resources in their geographical area and carry out the 
mission of the SBTRC. In rating this factor, OSDBU will consider the 
extent to which the applicant's organization has recent, relevant and 
successful experience in advocating for and addressing the needs of 
small businesses. Applicants will be given points for demonstrated past 
transportation-related performance. The applicant must also describe 
technical and administrative resources it plans to use in achieving 
proposed objectives. In their description, the applicant must describe 
their facilities, computer and technical facilities, ability to tap 
into volunteer staff time, and a plan for sufficient matching 
alternative financial resources to fund the general and administrative 
costs of the SBTRC. The applicant must also describe their 
administrative and financial management staff. OSDBU will place an 
emphasis on capabilities of the applicant's financial management staff.
(D) Staff Capability and Experience (15 Points)
    The applicant organization must provide a list of proposed 
personnel for the project, with salaries, fringe benefit burden 
factors, educational levels and previous experience clearly delineated. 
The applicant's project team must be well-qualified, knowledgeable, and 
able to effectively serve the diverse and broad range of small 
businesses in their geographical region. The Executive Director and the 
Project Director shall be deemed key personnel. Detailed resumes must 
be submitted for all proposed key personnel and outside consultants and 
subcontractors. Proposed key personnel must have detailed demonstrated 
experience providing services similar in scope and nature to the 
proposed effort. The proposed Project Director will serve as the 
responsible individual for the program. 100% of the Project Director's 
time must be dedicated to the SBTRC. Both the Executive Director and 
the Project Director must be located on-site. In this element, OSDBU 
will consider the extent to which the applicant's proposed Staffing 
Plan; (a) clearly meets the education and experience requirements to 
accomplish the objectives of the cooperative agreement; (b) delineates 
staff responsibilities and accountability for all work required and; 
(c) presents a clear and feasible ability to execute the applicant's 
proposed approach and strategy.
(E) Cost Proposal (10 Points)
    Applicants must submit the total proposed cost of establishing and 
administering the SBTRC in the applicant's geographical region for a 12 
month period, inclusive of costs funded through alternative matching 
resources. The applicant's budget must be adequate to support the 
proposed strategy and costs must be reasonable in relation to project 
objectives. The portion of the submitted budget funded by OSDBU can not 
exceed the ceiling outlined in Section 1.3 Description of Competition 
per fiscal year. Applicants are encouraged to provide in-kind costs and 
other innovative cost approaches.

4.2 Scoring of Applications

    A review panel will score each application based upon the 
evaluation criteria listed above. Points will be given for each 
evaluation criteria category, not to exceed the maximum number of 
points allowed for each category. Proposals which are deemed non-
responsive, do not meet the established criteria, or incomplete at the 
time of submission will be disqualified.
    OSDBU will perform a responsibility determination of the 
prospective winning recipient in each region, which may include a site 
visit, before awarding the cooperative agreement.

4.3 Conflicts of Interest

    Applicants must submit a certified statement by key personnel and 
all organization principals indicating that they, or members of their 
immediate families, do not have a personal, business or financial 
interest in any DOT-funded transportation projects, nor any 
relationships with local or state transportation agencies that may have 
the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Appendix A--Format for Proposals for the Department of Transportation 
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization's Small Business 
Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) Program

    Submitted proposals for the DOT, Office of Small and 
Disadvantaged Business Utilization's Small Business Transportation 
Resource Center Program must contain the following 12 sections and 
be organized in the following order:
    1. Table of Contents:
    Identify all parts, sections and attachments of the application.
    2. Application Summary:
    Provide a summary overview of the following:
     The applicant's proposed SBTRC region and city and key 
elements of the plan of action/strategy to achieve the SBTRC 
objectives.
     The applicant's relevant organizational experience and 
capabilities.
    3. Understanding of the Work:
    Provide a narrative which contains specific project information 
as follows:
     The applicant will describe its understanding of the 
OSDBU's SBTRC program mission and the role of the applicant's 
proposed SBTRC in advancing the program goals.
     The applicant will describe specific outreach needs of 
transportation-related small businesses in the applicant's region 
and how the SBTRC will address the identified needs.
    4. Approach and Strategy:
     Describe the applicant's plan of action/strategy for 
conducting the program in terms of the tasks to be performed.
     Describe the specific services or activities to be 
performed and how these services/activities will be implemented.
     Describe innovative and creative approaches to assist 
small businesses to become successful transportation contractors and 
increase their ability to access DOT contracting opportunities and 
financial assistance programs.
     Estimated direct costs, other than labor, to execute 
the proposed strategy.

[[Page 3522]]

    5. Linkages:
     Describe established relationships within the 
geographic region and demonstrate the ability to coordinate and 
establish effective networks with DOT grant recipients and local/
regional technical assistance agencies.
     Describe the strategy to obtain support and 
collaboration on SBTRC activities from DOT grantees and recipients, 
transportation prime contractors and subcontractors, the SBA, U.S. 
Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Centers 
(MBDCs), Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), Procurement 
Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), Small Business Development 
Centers (SBDCs), State DOTs, and State highway supportive services 
contractors.
     Describe the outreach strategy related to the 
identified needs that can be successfully carried out within the 
period of this agreement and a plan for involving the Planning 
Committee in the execution of that strategy.
    6. Organizational Capability:
     Describe recent and relevant past successful 
performance in addressing the needs of small businesses, 
particularly with respect to transportation-related small 
businesses.
     Describe internal technical, financial management, and 
administrative resources.
     Propose a plan for sufficient matching alternative 
financial resources to fund the general and administrative costs of 
the SBTRC.
    7. Staff Capability and Experience:
     List proposed key personnel, their salaries and 
proposed fringe benefit factors.
     Describe the education, qualifications and relevant 
experience of key personnel. Attach detailed resumes.
     Proposed staffing plan. Describe how personnel are to 
be organized for the program and how they will be used to accomplish 
program objectives. Outline staff responsibilities, accountability 
and a schedule for conducting program tasks.
    8. Cost Proposal:
     Outline the total proposed cost of establishing and 
administering the SBTRC in the applicant's geographical region for a 
12-month period, inclusive of costs funded through alternative 
matching resources. Clearly identify the portion of the costs funded 
by OSDBU.
     Provide a brief narrative linking the cost proposal to 
the proposed strategy.
    9. Proof of Tax Exempt Status:
    10. Assurances Signature Form:
    Complete the attached form identified as Attachment 1.
    11. Certification Signature Form:
    Complete the attached form identified as Attachment 2.
    12. Standard Form 424:
    Complete the attached Standard Form 424 identified as Attachment 
3.
    Please be sure that all forms have been signed by an authorized 
official who can legally represent the organization.

    Issued in Washington, DC on January 13, 2010.
Brandon Neal,
Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, 
Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation.

[FR Doc. 2010-1062 Filed 1-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
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