59228 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 186 / Monday, September 27, 2010 / Notices 

represented, containing a brief 

statement of why the applicant should 

be considered for membership on the 

Board. This sponsor letter should also 

address the applicant’s travel and 

tourism-related experience. 

3. The applicant’s personal resume. 

4. An affirmative statement that the 

applicant is not required to register as 

a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents 

Registration Act of 1938, as amended. 

5. An affirmative statement by the 

applicant that he or she is not a 

federally registered lobbyist, and that 

the applicant understands that he or 

she, if appointed, will not be allowed to 

continue to serve as a Board member if 

the applicant becomes a federally 

registered lobbyist. 

6. If the applicant represents a state or 

regional tourism marketing entity, the 

functions and responsibilities of the 

entity. 

7. If the applicant represents an 

organization, information regarding the 

control of the organization, including 

the governing structure, members, and 

revenue sources as appropriate 

signifying compliance with the criteria 

set forth above. 

8. If the applicant represents a 

company, information regarding the 

control of the company, including the 

governing structure and stock holdings 

as appropriate signifying compliance 

with the criteria set forth above. 

9. The entity’s or organization’s size 

and ownership, product or service line 

and major markets in which the entity 

or organization operates. 

Appointments of members to the 

Board will be made by the Secretary of 

Commerce. 

Dated: September 21, 2010. 

Jennifer Pilat, 

Executive Secretary, U.S. Travel and Tourism 

Advisory Board. 

[FR Doc. 2010–24049 Filed 9–24–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Minority Business Development 

Agency 

[Docket No.: 100914450–0452–02] 

Solicitation of Applications for the 

MBDA Business Center (MBC) 

Program 

AGENCY: Minority Business 

Development Agency, Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Minority Business 

Development Agency (MBDA) is 

soliciting competitive applications from 

organizations to operate a MBDA 

Business Center (MBC). This notice 

specifies the thirty (30) MBC projects 

and their respective locations are being 

individually competed. The MBC 

program delivers strategic business 

consulting services to eligible minority 

business enterprise (MBE) clients 

through the use of business consultants 

and the leveraging of strategic 

partnerships. Responsibility for 

ensuring that applications in response 

to this competitive solicitation are 

complete and received by MBDA on 

time is the sole responsibility of the 

applicant. Applications submitted must 

be for the operation of a MBC and to 

provide business consulting services to 

eligible MBEs. Applications that do not 

meet these requirements will be 

rejected. This is not a grant program to 

help start or to further an individual 

business. 

A link to the full text of the 

Announcement of Federal Funding 

Opportunity (FFO) for this solicitation 

may be accessed at: http:// 

www.Grants.gov, or at http:// 

www.mbda.gov. The FFO contains a full 

and complete description of the 

application and programmatic 

requirements under the MBC Program. 

In order to receive proper consideration, 

applicants must comply with the 

requirements contained in the FFO. 

DATES: The closing date for receipt of 

applications is November 10, 2010 at 5 

p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). 

Complete applications must be 

submitted electronically through http:// 

www.Grants.gov. The date that 

applications will be deemed to have 

been submitted electronically shall be 

the date and time received by 

www.Grants.gov. Applicants should 

save and print the proof of submission 

they receive from Grants.gov. 

Applications received after the closing 

date and time will not be considered. 

Anticipated time for processing is 

approximately one hundred-forty (140) 

days from the closing date for receipt of 

applications. MBDA anticipates that 

awards made pursuant to this notice 

will be made with a start date of April 

1, 2011. 

Pre-Application Conference: In 

connection with this solicitation, two 

pre-application conferences are 

scheduled for October 20 and 25, 2010. 

The time and location of the preapplication conference have yet to be 

determined. Participants must register at 

least 24 hours in advance of the 

conference and may participate in 

person or by telephone. Please visit the 

MBDA Internet Portal at http:// 

www.mbda.gov (MBDA Portal) or 

contact an MBDA representative listed 

below for the specific time and location 

of the pre-application conference and 

for registration instructions. 

ADDRESSES: Applicants are required to 

submit their proposal electronically 

through http://www.Grants.gov. MBDA 

will not accept hard-copy, facsimile or 

email transmissions of applications. 

Electronic submissions should be 

made in accordance with the 

instructions available at Grants.gov (see 

http://www.grants.gov/applicants/ 

resources.jsp for detailed information). 

Applicants should register as 

organizations, not as individuals. As 

part of the registration process the 

person submitting the application must 

be registered as an Authorized 

Organizational Representative (AOR) of 

the organization. AORs registered at 

http://www.Grants.gov are the only 

officials with the authority to submit 

applications at http://www.Grants.gov. If 

the application is submitted by anyone 

other than the organization’s AOR it 

will be rejected and cannot be 

considered for the competition. Note 

that a given organization may designate 

multiple individuals as AORs for 

purposes of http://www.Grants.gov 

purposes. MBDA strongly recommends 

that applicants not wait until the 

application deadline date to begin the 

application process through Grants.gov 

as, in some cases, the process for 

completing an online application may 

require 3–5 working days. Before 

beginning to apply through http:// 

www.Grants.gov, please review fully the 

application instructions posted at 

http://www.Grants.gov and in Section 

IV. of the FFO. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

further information, please visit 

MBDA’s Minority Business Internet 

Portal at http://www.mbda.gov. 

Agency Contacts: MBDA Office of 

Business Development, 1401 

Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5085, 

Washington, DC 20230. Contact: Ms. 

Rita Gonzales, Program Manager, 202– 

482–1940. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority: 15 U.S.C. Section 1512 and 

Executive Order 11625. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA): 11.805, MBDA 

Business Center. 

Program Description: The MBC 

program is a key component of MBDA’s 

overall portfolio of minority business 

development services, focusing on 

securing large public and/or private 

contracts and financing transactions, 

stimulating job creation and facilitating 

entry to global markets for ‘‘eligible 

minority-owned businesses.’’ For this 


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purpose, business concerns that are 

owned or controlled by the following 

persons or groups of persons are eligible 

to receive business assistance services 

under the MBC Program: African 

Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian 

and Pacific Islander Americans, Native 

Americans (including Alaska Natives, 

Alaska Native Corporations and Tribal 

entities), Asian Indian Americans and 

Hasidic Jewish Americans. See 15 CFR 

1400.1–.2 and Executive Order 11625. 

The primary drivers of the MBDA 

MBC program are job creation and 

retention and the award of 

procurement/contract and financial 

transactions to MBEs. The MBCs 

provide services including, but not 

limited to, the development of a pool of 

contract and finance opportunities; 

direct matching of opportunities with 

qualified/vetted MBEs; execution of 

relationship management and deal 

sourcing initiatives (such as but not 

limited to industry clusters); assisting 

MBEs in accessing global market 

opportunities and financing; 

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 growth 

alternatives (i.e. mergers, acquisitions 

and/or joint ventures); and provision of 

service referrals to MBEs of all sizes. 

Through the cooperative agreements 

expected to be awarded under this 

funding opportunity, MBDA seeks to 

establish a national network of publicprivate partnerships that will provide 

services aimed at increasing the 

probability of significant growth for 

minority-owned firms. MBC and MBDA 

staff will work collaboratively to 

improve access to market and financial 

opportunities (domestic and global), 

foster key industry relationships, and 

leverage business expertise. Operators of 

MBC projects will work with the 

Agency and its network of funded 

centers to support and enhance the 

Agency’s initiatives, performance, 

brand, reach, customer service and 

establishment of strategic partners. 

MBC services are targeted towards 

assisting MBE clients achieve higher 

levels of growth and competitiveness. 

Start-up and/or micro firms will be 

served by the MBC program via strategic 

partnership referrals or electronic 

service delivery mechanisms (e.g., 

MBDA Business Portal). While the MBC 

program serves all MBEs, target clients 

include eligible MBEs with one or both 

of the following characteristics: (1) 

Annual revenues of over $1,000,000 or 

(2) participant in a high-growth industry 

(e.g., green technology, clean energy, 

health care, infrastructure and 

broadband technology, among others). 

Promoting the success of MBEs is 

anticipated to have a significant impact 

on employment and the tax base in their 

communities. 

The MBC program generally requires 

project staff to: (1) Directly provide 

high-level business development 

services to eligible MBEs; (2) develop 

and maintain a network of strategic 

partnerships; (3) provide collaborative 

consulting services with MBDA, other 

MBDA funded programs and strategic 

partners; and (4) provide referral 

services to clients. The MBCs will assist 

eligible MBEs in accessing federal and 

non-federal contracting and financing 

opportunities (domestically and 

globally) that result in demonstrable 

client outcomes and job creation/ 

retention. 

Successful applicants will possess 

experience in assisting minority-owned 

firms in obtaining large scale 

procurements/contracts and financing 

awards; accessing established supply 

chains; educating and assisting minority 

firms in joint ventures, teaming 

arrangements, mergers and acquisitions; 

and facilitating entry and large scale 

transactions in global markets. It is also 

anticipated that the mission of 

successful applicant organizations will 

align with both the mission of MBDA 

and the MBC program objectives. 

Please refer to the FFO pertaining to 

this competitive solicitation for a full 

and complete description of the 

application and programmatic 

requirements under the MBC Program. 

Funding Availability: MBDA 

anticipates a total of $8.7 million in FY 

2011 funds will be available to fund the 

financial assistance awards for the MBC 

projects identified in this FFO. The 

Agency also anticipates that $8.7 

million will be available in FY 2012 

through FY 2015 to support 

continuation funding for this program. 

The total award period for awards made 

under this competitive solicitation is 

anticipated to be five years and all 

awards are expected to be made with a 

start date of April 1, 2011. 

FY 2011 funding for this program has 

not yet been appropriated and the 

funding periods and funding amounts 

referenced in this solicitation are subject 

to the availability of funds, as well as to 

Department of Commerce and MBDA 

priorities at the time of award. In no 

event will the Department of Commerce 

or MBDA be responsible for proposal 

preparation costs. Publication of this 

notice does not obligate the Department 

of Commerce or MBDA to award any 

specific cooperative agreement or to 

obligate all or any part of available 

funds. 

Pursuant to this notice, and as set 

forth more fully in the corresponding 

FFO, competitive applications for new 

awards are being solicited for the thirty 

(30) MBC projects in the respective 

locations identified in the below table. 

The anticipated amount of the financial 

assistance award for each MBC project 

is also set forth below, although actual 

award amounts may vary depending on 

the availability of funds: 

MBDA National Enterprise Center (NEC or Regional 

Office) 

MBC location 

(state, city) 

Federal 

funding 

years 1–5 

Atlanta NEC 

Alabama—Mobile ........................................................................................ $230,000 

Florida—Orlando ......................................................................................... 230,000 

Florida—Miami ............................................................................................ 332,112 

Mississippi—Biloxi ....................................................................................... 250,000 

Georgia—Atlanta ......................................................................................... 250,000 

North Carolina—Raleigh ............................................................................. 250,000 

South Carolina—Columbia .......................................................................... 250,000 

Chicago NEC 

Illinois—Chicago .......................................................................................... 590,400 

Indiana—Indianapolis .................................................................................. 225,000 

Michigan—Detroit ........................................................................................ 290,000 

Ohio—Cleveland ......................................................................................... 225,000 

Wisconsin—Milwaukee ............................................................................... 225,000 

Dallas NEC 

Colorado—Denver ....................................................................................... 243,359 


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MBDA National Enterprise Center (NEC or Regional 

Office) 

MBC location 

(state, city) 

Federal 

funding 

years 1–5 

New Mexico—Albuquerque ......................................................................... 237,957 

Texas—Dallas ............................................................................................. 295,238 

Texas—El Paso .......................................................................................... 228,378 

Texas—San Antonio ................................................................................... 242,490 

New York NEC 

New York—Manhattan ................................................................................ 500,000 

New York—Queens .................................................................................... 275,000 

New York—Williamsburg ............................................................................ 291,000 

Pennsylvania—Philadelphia ........................................................................ 275,000 

Puerto Rico* ................................................................................................ 241,000 

Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia* ......................................................... 301,000 

San Francisco NEC 

Arizona* ....................................................................................................... 290,000 

California—Inland Empire ........................................................................... 355,000 

California—Los Angeles .............................................................................. 365,000 

California—Northern* .................................................................................. 365,000 

Hawaii* ........................................................................................................ 295,500 

Nevada* ....................................................................................................... 270,000 

Washington* ................................................................................................ 270,000 

* Applicants are required to identify the city where the MBC project would be physically located along with a justification for the proposed 

placement. 

The award period for projects funded 

under the solicitation is anticipated to 

be five (5) years, with five consecutive 

annual funding periods. Applicants 

must submit project plans and budgets 

for each of the five (5) funding periods 

under this award (April 1, 2011–March 

31, 2012, April 1, 2012–March 31, 2013, 

April 1, 2013–March 31, 2014, April 1, 

2014–March 31, 2015 and April 1, 

2015–March 31, 2016). Projects will 

initially be funded for the first year of 

the award. A project operator will not 

compete for funding in years two 

through five, as long as the center is 

operating at a ‘‘Commendable’’ or 

‘‘Outstanding’’ performance level at the 

time during the current program year 

that MBDA determines its 

recommendations to the Grants Officer 

for continuation funding for the next 

program year. A project that achieves a 

performance rating of ‘‘Good’’ or lower 

will not qualify for automatic renewal, 

but rather will be eligible for negotiation 

of award terms and conditions for the 

next funding period at the discretion of 

MBDA, subject to the approval of the 

Grants Officer. 

In this respect, recommendations for 

continuation funding are generally 

evaluated by MBDA based on the midyear performance rating and/or a 

combination of the mid-year and 

cumulative third quarter performance 

ratings for the current program year. In 

making such continued funding 

determinations, MBDA and the 

Department of Commerce will consider 

all the facts and circumstances of each 

case, such as, but not limited to, market 

conditions, most recent performance of 

the project and other mitigating 

circumstances. 

Electronic Access: Applicants will be 

able to access, download and submit 

electronic grant applications for the 

MBC Program through http:// 

www.Grants.gov. MBDA strongly 

recommends that applicants not wait 

until the application deadline date to 

begin the application process through 

Grants.gov as in some cases the process 

for completing an online application 

may require additional time (e.g., 3–5 

working days). The date that 

applications will be deemed to have 

been submitted electronically shall be 

the date and time received at 

Grants.gov. Applicants must save and 

print the proof of submission they 

receive from Grants.gov. Applications 

received after the closing date and time 

will not be considered. 

Program Priorities: Preference may be 

given during the selection process to 

applications that effectively address one 

or more of the following MBDA program 

priorities: 

(a) Applicants who demonstrate 

experience in assisting MBEs in 

obtaining large scale contracts and 

financing awards and accessing 

established supply chains; 

(b) Applicants who demonstrate a 

record of facilitating large scale 

transactions for MBEs in global markets, 

or facilitating entry into global markets; 

(c) Applicants who demonstrate a 

record of assisting MBEs in joint 

ventures, teaming arrangements, 

mergers and acquisitions; 

(d) Applicants who demonstrate a 

track record of successfully partnering 

and collaborating with third-party 

entities for the benefit of MBEs; 

(e) Applicants who demonstrate 

experience working with MBEs in highgrowth industries; 

(f) Applicants who demonstrate the 

capacity and willingness to assist MBEs 

in identifying and accessing federal 

procurement opportunities, either 

directly or via partnerships; 

(g) Proposals that direct 80% or more 

of the federal funding for the project 

towards direct business consulting staff 

costs (i.e., direct consulting staff salaries 

and fringe benefits, travel costs and 

training costs); and 

(h) Applicants who propose 

innovative additions to the MBC 

program that significantly enhance their 

opportunity to be successful (See 

Appendix F of the FFO for samples of 

possible additions that can be 

developed, enhanced and proposed by 

applicants). 

Eligibility Criteria: For-profit entities 

(including but not limited to soleproprietorships, partnerships, and 

corporations), non-profit organizations, 

state and local government entities, 

American Indian Tribes, and 

educational institutions are eligible to 

operate MBCs. 

Match Requirements: There is no 

predefined minimum or maximum 

amount of required non-federal cost 

sharing under the MBC program. 

However, as discussed below, nonfederal cost sharing through the 

generation of ‘‘program income’’ is 

mandatory. Non-federal cost share is the 

portion of the total project costs not 

borne by the Federal Government. 

The MBC program is a fee-for-service 

program and MBC operators are 

required to generate ‘‘program income’’ 

through the collection of client fees, 


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membership fees, success fees and/or 

other fee structures proposed by the 

applicant. All proposed fee structures 

must be acceptable to MBDA and 

approved by the Grants Officer. Program 

income generated by the MBC project 

must be applied directly to the award’s 

non-federal cost share and must be used 

in furtherance of program objectives. 

See the ‘‘Program Income’’ discussion in 

Section III.B, Non-Federal Cost Share 

Requirement, of the FFO as well as the 

Proposed Budget and Narrative portion 

of Section IV.B. of the FFO for 

additional information on this 

requirement. 

Beyond the required generation of 

program income, applicants may 

contribute additional non-federal cost 

share to the award by one or more of the 

following methods: (1) Applicant cash 

contributions; (2) applicant in-kind (i.e., 

non-cash) contributions; or, (3) thirdparty cash or in-kind contributions 

(including a state or local grant or other 

form of support for the project). 

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will 

be evaluated and applicants will be 

selected based on the below evaluation 

criterion. The maximum total number of 

points that an applicant may receive is 

110, including: (1) 90 points under the 

Program Narrative component; (2) 10 

points under Budget and Budget 

narrative component; and (3) 10 bonus 

points under the optional Service 

Innovation component. The number of 

points assigned to each evaluation 

criterion will be determined on a 

competitive basis by the MBDA review 

panel based on the quality of the 

application with respect to each 

evaluation criterion. 

Program Narrative: 

1. Applicant Capability (30 points 

total). 

• Organizational Background and 

Knowledge of Community (5 points 

maximum): Applicant’s organizational 

background, emphasizing knowledge of 

the minority business sector and 

strategies for enhancing its growth and 

expansion. Consideration will be given 

as to whether the applicant has a 

physical presence in the applicable 

location and past experience providing 

related services. 

• Mission Alignment (5 points 

maximum): The extent to which the 

mission of the applicant organization 

aligns with the mission of MBDA and 

the objectives of the MBC program. 

• Access to Markets (5 points 

maximum): Applicant’s knowledge of 

and experience in public and private 

sector contracting opportunities for 

MBEs, as well as demonstrated 

experience in assisting clients into 

supply chains. The applicant’s 

professional working relationships and 

networks with potential sources of 

contracts for MBEs will also be 

considered. Additionally, the 

applicant’s experience with facilitating 

large procurement/contract deals on 

behalf of MBEs, conducting business 

matchmaking forums, and assisting 

MBEs with the establishment of joint 

ventures and teaming arrangements will 

be considered. 

• Access to Capital (5 points 

maximum): Applicant experience in 

successfully preparing and matching 

MBEs with traditional sources of 

capital, alternative sources of financing 

(i.e., equity and venture capital), loan 

and bonding packages, and mergers and 

acquisitions. The applicant’s 

professional working relationships and 

networks with financial institutions 

(corporate, banking and investment 

communities) will also be considered. 

• Business Consulting to Clients (5 

points maximum): The applicant’s 

experience with and strategies for 

enhancing minority business growth 

and delivery of business consulting 

services and related successful client 

outcomes. 

• Key Staff (5 points maximum): 

Qualifications and experience of 

proposed key staff, including but not 

limited to the Project Director and 

business consultants. The Applicant’s 

plan for recruiting staff will also be 

considered. 

2. Resources (30 points total). 

• Partners (10 points maximum): The 

applicant’s plan for establishing and 

maintaining a network of strategic 

partners and the extent to which each 

partner will support the MBC in 

implementing the program and meeting 

program performance goals will be a 

consideration. Whether the partnerships 

will be leveraged towards assisting 

clients with securing contracts, securing 

financing, job creation, penetrating 

global markets, achieving size and scale, 

or providing referrals for services will 

also be considered. Additionally, how 

the applicant will interact and 

coordinate with its strategic partners 

towards effecting successful client 

outcomes will be considered. 

• Resources (10 points maximum): 

Resources that will be used in 

implementing the program in each of 

the five program years will be 

considered. Resources include, but are 

not limited to, existing prior and/or 

current data lists that will serve in 

fostering immediate success for the 

MBC. 

• Location/Equipment (10 points 

maximum): The applicant’s strategic 

rationale for the proposed MBC office 

(the center location must be close to 

private and public sector resources and 

potential clients, and be professional in 

appearance). The applicant’s plan for 

satisfying the MBC information 

technology requirements, including 

computer hardware, software 

requirements, creation and support of 

an MBC website and network map (see 

Appendix C, Information Technology 

and Computer Requirements, of the 

FFO) will also be considered. 

3. Techniques and Methodologies (30 

points total) 

• Performance Measures (10 points 

maximum): For each of the five (5) 

funding periods, the applicant’s 

techniques and methodology to be used 

in implementing the program will be 

considered, including the quarterly 

breakdown of the performance goals. 

Additionally, the applicant’s 

recognition of and strategy for 

addressing existing market conditions in 

achieving its proposed performance 

goals will also be considered. 

Additionally, how the applicant 

proposes to establish a system that 

corresponds to, or may compliment, 

MBDA’s tracking and validation of 

contracts and financings will be 

considered. (See Suggested Performance 

Goals for each MBC location are listed 

in Appendix B, Suggested Performance 

Goals by Center Location, of the FFO.) 

Please note that deviations, either above 

or below, from the Suggested 

Performance Goals require justification. 

• Start-up Phase (10 points 

maximum): The applicant’s strategic 

plan for commencement of the MBC 

operations within the initial 60-day 

period (the MBC shall have sixty (60) 

days to become fully operational after 

an award is made—see Section I.A.4., 

Operational and Performance 

Requirements, of the FFO) will be 

considered. Please note that the 

applicant must submit a schedule with 

significant implementation milestones, 

such as the hiring of key staff and the 

opening of the MBC facility. 

• Work Requirements Execution Plan 

(10 points maximum): The applicant’s 

description for how staff time will be 

used effectively and efficiently to 

achieve the work requirements of the 

overall program including the start-up 

phase will be considered. Please note 

that the applicant must include a 

specific five-year plan-of-action 

detailing how the MBC work 

requirements will be met for each of the 

five (5) funding periods. (See ‘‘Program 

Details and Work Requirements’’ in 

Section I.A.4 of the FFO.) A staff 

allocation chart for each of the five (5) 

years must also be included as part of 

the work requirements execution plan. 

Budget and Budget Narrative: 


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1. Reasonableness, Allowability and 

Allocability of Proposed Program Costs 

(5 points maximum). 

All of the proposed program costs 

expenditures should be broken down 

into their individual units and 

discussed. The budget narrative must 

match the proposed line item budget. 

Fringe benefits and other percentage 

item calculations should match the 

proposed budget line-item and 

narrative. Line item amounts in the 

detailed budget and budget narrative 

must match the budget numbers 

reflected in Standard Form (SF) 424 

(one for all five years) and 424A (one for 

each of the five years). 

All costs included in the proposed 

budget must be allowable, allocable and 

reasonable. Each item of cost must be 

accompanied by a sufficiently detailed 

description and cost breakdown to 

enable reviewers to make a 

determination regarding its allowability, 

allocability and reasonableness. One 

word descriptions and lump sum 

amounts are not adequate for justifying 

costs. Each budget item should be 

broken out and described fully so that 

there is no ambiguity as to its relevance 

to MBC program objectives and its 

reasonableness. The following Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) 

Circulars and Federal Acquisition 

Regulations (depending on the type of 

recipient) will be used to determine 

allowable costs, and will apply to the 

entire amount of the MBC award, 

including both the federal and nonfederal program costs: 

• 2 CFR part 220 (OMB Circular A– 

21, ‘‘Cost Principles for Educational 

Organizations’’); 

• 2 CFR part 225 (OMB Circular A– 

87, ‘‘Cost Principles for State, Local and 

Indian Tribal Governments’’); 

• 2 CFR part 230 (OMB Circular A– 

122, ‘‘Cost Principles for Nonprofit 

Organizations’’); and 

• 48 CFR part 31 for commercial 

organizations and for those 

organizations listed in Appendix C to 2 

CFR part 230. 

2. Performance-Based Budgeting (5 

points maximum). 

The extent to which the line-item 

budget and budget narrative relate to the 

accomplishment of the MBC work 

requirements and performance measures 

(i.e., performance-based budgeting) will 

be considered. The budget will be 

compared to the program narrative to 

determine whether the budget is 

realistic from a programmatic 

perspective and whether costs are 

necessary to complete the work 

requirements. Costs included in the 

budget that are determined to be 

unrealistic will be considered as an 

indication of an applicant’s lack of 

understanding of the requirements of 

the MBC program and/or the methods 

that must be utilized to deliver services. 

Program Income (i.e., client fees, 

membership fees, success fees, and/or 

other acceptable fee structures 

proposed) must be adequately addressed 

and properly documented, including 

but not limited to how the proceeds will 

be billed, collected, waived and used by 

the applicant in furthering the program 

objectives. 

Service Innovation (Optional)—Bonus 

Points (10 points maximum): 

Bonus points may be awarded to an 

applicant proposing innovative MBE 

services that enhance the required MBC 

program scope. This component is 

optional and any service(s) proposed 

under the ‘‘Service Innovation’’ is in 

addition to the core MBC services (see 

‘‘Program Details and Work 

Requirements’’ in Section I.A.4, of the 

FFO). Proposed innovations cannot be 

used as a substitute or otherwise in lieu 

of the defined MBC program and service 

requirements. 

An applicant proposing a ‘‘Service 

Innovation’’ must fully describe the 

aspects of any innovative addition(s) to 

the work requirements that the 

applicant will implement. Some 

examples have been provided in 

Appendix F—Sample Innovation 

Concepts, of the FFO. Applicants are 

not required to utilize these examples. 

MBDA encourages any innovative 

solutions; however, proposed ideas 

(including the stated examples) must be 

fully developed and articulated, 

including their processes and 

anticipated results. 

Review and Selection Process 

1. Initial Screening 

Prior to the formal paneling process, 

each application will receive an initial 

screening to ensure that all required 

forms, signatures and documentation 

are present. An application will be 

considered non-responsive and will not 

be evaluated by the review panel if it is 

received after the closing date for 

receipt of applications, the applicant 

authorized organizational representative 

(AOR) fails to submit Standard Form 

424 by the application closing date, or 

the application does not provide for the 

operation of a MBC. Note, AOR 

substitutions require approximately ten 

(10) working days to be processed by 

www.Grants.gov. Other application 

deficiencies will be accounted for 

during panel review and may result in 

point deductions. 

2. MBDA Merit Review Panel 

Each responsive application will 

receive an independent, merit review by 

a panel qualified to evaluate the 

applications submitted. The review 

panel will consist of at least three (3) 

individuals, all of whom are full-time 

federal employees and at least one of 

whom will be an MBDA employee, who 

will review the applications for a 

specified project based on the published 

evaluation criterion. Each reviewer shall 

evaluate and provide a score for each 

proposal. Each project review panel 

(through the panel Chairperson) shall 

provide the MBDA Selecting Official 

with a ranking of the applications based 

on the average of the reviewers’ scores. 

3. MBDA Regional Director Review 

The MBDA Regional Director will 

review panel recommendations and 

submitted applications for MBC projects 

located within the geographical area 

served by his/her National Enterprise 

Center (NEC) (sometimes referred to as 

an MBDA Regional Office). 

Responsibility for the NEC review will 

reside with the Regional Director. 

The applicable MBDA Regional 

Director will review the panel 

recommendation and submitted 

applications and provide a written 

memorandum to the MBDA Selecting 

Official either indicating his/her 

concurrence with the recommendation 

of the panel or making an alternate 

recommendation for selection out of 

rank order. Any recommendation by the 

Regional Director for selection out of 

rank order must be justified based on 

one or more of the MBDA Program 

Priorities outlined in the FFO. 

The panel recommendation, together 

with Regional Director’s 

recommendation, will be provided to 

the MBDA Selecting Official for 

consideration in making the final award 

recommendation to the Grants Officer. 

4. Final Selection and Recommendation 

for Funding 

The MBDA National Director is the 

Selecting Official and makes the final 

recommendation to the Grants Officer 

regarding the funding of applications 

under this competitive solicitation. 

MBDA expects to recommend funding 

of the highest ranked applicant for each 

of the MBC projects being competed 

(only one award will be made for each 

project), as evaluated and recommended 

by the review panel and taking into 

account results of the respective MBDA 

Regional Director’s review. However, 

the MBDA National Director may decide 

not to select any of the recommended 

applications, or may select an applicant 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 186 / Monday, September 27, 2010 / Notices 59233 

out of rank order, for either of the 

following reasons: 

(a) A determination that a lower 

ranked applicant better addresses one or 

more of the program priorities set forth 

in the FFO. The National Director (or 

his/her designee) reserves the right to 

conduct one or more site visits, in order 

to make a better assessment of an 

applicant’s capability to achieve the 

program priorities; or 

(b) The availability of MBDA funding. 

Prior to making a final recommendation 

for funding to the Grants Officer, MBDA 

may conduct negotiations with an 

applicant that Selecting Official 

anticipates recommending and/or 

request that the applicant provide 

written clarifications regarding its 

application. 

Intergovernmental Review: 

Applications under this program are not 

subject to Executive Order 12372, 

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs.’’ 

Limitation of Liability: In no event 

will MBDA or the Department of 

Commerce be responsible for proposal 

preparation. All funding periods under 

the award are subject to the availability 

of funds to support the continuation of 

the project. Publication of this notice 

does not obligate MBDA or the 

Department of Commerce to award any 

specific project or to obligate any 

available funds. FY 2011 funds have not 

yet been appropriated for the MBC 

program. 

Universal Identifier: All applicants 

will be required to provide a Dun and 

Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering 

system (DUNS) number during the 

application process. See the June 27, 

2003 Federal Register notice (68 FR 

38402) for additional information. 

Organizations can receive a DUNS 

number at no cost by calling the 

dedicated toll-free DUNS Number 

request line at 1–866–705–5711 or by 

accessing the Grants.gov Web site at 

http://www.Grants.gov. 

Department of Commerce Pre-Award 

Notification Requirements for Grants 

and Cooperative Agreements: The 

Department of Commerce Pre-Award 

Notification Requirements for Grants 

and Cooperative Agreements contained 

in the Federal Register notice of 

February 11, 2008 (73 FR 7696) are 

applicable to this solicitation. 

Paperwork Reduction Act: This 

document contains collection-ofinformation requirements subject to the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The 

use of the MBDA Performance Online 

Database and of Standard Forms 424, 

424A, 424B, SF–LLL, and CD–346 have 

been approved by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) under 

the respective control numbers 0640– 

0002, 4040–0004, 4040–0006, 4040– 

0007, 0348–0046 and 0605–0001. 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of 

the law, no person is required to 

respond to, nor shall any person be 

subject to penalty for failure to comply 

with, a collection of information subject 

to the requirements of the PRA, unless 

that collection of information displays a 

currently valid OMB control number. 

Executive Order 12866: This notice 

has been determined to be not 

significant for purposes of E.O. 12866. 

Administrative Procedure Act/ 

Regulatory Flexibility Act: Prior notice 

and an opportunity for public comment 

are not required by the Administrative 

Procedure Act for rules concerning 

public property, loans, grants, benefits, 

or contracts (5 U.S.C. 533(a)(2)). Because 

notice and opportunity for comment are 

not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 533 or 

any other law, the analytical 

requirements of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C 601 et seq.) are 

inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory 

flexibility analysis is not required and 

has not been prepared. 

Dated: September 22, 2010. 

Alejandra Y. Castillo, 

Deputy National Director, Minority Business 

Development Agency. 

[FR Doc. 2010–24164 Filed 9–24–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–21–P 

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY 

COMMISSION 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission for Office of 

Management and Budget Review; 

Comment Request; Requirements for 

Non-Full-Size Baby Cribs 

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety 

Commission. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Consumer Product Safety 

Commission (‘‘CPSC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) 

is announcing that a proposed 

collection of information has been 

submitted to the Office of Management 

and Budget (‘‘OMB’’) for review and 

clearance under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (‘‘PRA’’). 

DATES: Fax written comments on the 

collection of information by October 27, 

2010. 

ADDRESSES: To ensure that comments on 

the information collection are received, 

OMB recommends that written 

comments be faxed to the Office of 

Information and Regulatory Affairs, 

OMB, Attn: CPSC Desk Officer, FAX: 

202–395–6974, or e-mailed to oira_

submission@omb.eop.gov. All 

comments should be identified with the 

OMB control number 3041–0012. In 

addition, written comments also should 

be submitted by e-mail to cpsc-os@cpsc.

gov, or by mail/hand delivery/courier 

(for paper, disk, or CD–ROM 

submissions), preferably in five copies, 

to: Office of the Secretary, Consumer 

Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 

4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 

20814; telephone (301) 504–7923. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Linda Glatz, Division of Policy and 

Planning, Office of Information 

Technology, Consumer Product Safety 

Commission, 4330 East West Highway, 

Bethesda, MD 20814, 301–504–7671, 

lglatz@cpsc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

compliance with 44 U.S.C. 3507, the 

CPSC has submitted the following 

proposed collection of information to 

OMB for review and clearance: 

Requirements for Non-Full-Size Baby 

Cribs—(OMB Control Number 3041– 

0012—Extension). 

The safety regulations for non-fullsize baby cribs (also referred to as ‘‘nonfull-size cribs’’) are codified at 16 CFR 

Part 1509 and 16 CFR 1500.18(a)(14). 

These regulations were issued to reduce 

hazards of strangulation, suffocation, 

pinching, bruising, laceration, and other 

injuries associated with non-full-size 

cribs. (A non-full-size crib is a crib 

having an interior length greater than 55 

inches or smaller than 493⁄4; inches; or 

an interior width greater than 305⁄8; 

inches or smaller than 253⁄8; inches; or 

both.) The regulations prescribe 

performance, design, and labeling 

requirements for non-full-size cribs. 

They also require manufacturers and 

importers of those products to maintain 

sales records for a period of three years 

after the manufacture or importation of 

non-full-size cribs. If any non-full-size 

cribs subject to provisions of 16 CFR 

1500.18(a)(14) and part 1509 fail to 

comply in a manner to warrant a recall, 

the required records can be used by the 

manufacturer or importer and by the 

Commission to identify those persons 

and firms who should be notified of the 

recall. 

In the Federal Register of June 28, 

2010 (75 FR 36637), the CPSC published 

a 60-day notice requesting public 

comment on the proposed collection of 

information. No comments were 

received. 

We estimate the burden of this 

collection of information as follows. 

Approximately 16 firms manufacture or 

import non-full-size baby cribs and are 

subject to the record keeping 

requirements. The Commission staff 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES