Opportunity Information: Apply for MBDA OBD 2012 2003240
Apply for MBDA OBD 2012 2003240
- The Department of Commerce in the business and commerce community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "MBDA Business Center" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.805 MBDA Business Center.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 8, 2011 and posted on Dec 8, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 17, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $850,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- For profit entities (including but not limited to sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations), non profit organizations, state and local government entities, Native American Tribes and educational institutions are eligible to apply to operate MBDA Business Centers.
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Opportunity Summary:
The MBDA Business Center opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number MBDA OBD 2012 2003240) is a discretionary federal funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Commerce for organizations that want to operate an MBDA Business Center in one of three designated locations. Rather than funding individual companies directly, the program supports the organizations that will run these centers and deliver hands-on business consulting and technical assistance to eligible minority business enterprises (MBEs). The core purpose is to help minority-owned firms secure more financing and win more contracting opportunities, with the broader economic goal of helping those firms create and retain jobs.
MBDA planned to make three separate awards under this announcement, with each award structured as a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement generally means the agency expects to be more involved than it would be with a typical grant, often through substantial programmatic collaboration, oversight, or coordination during implementation. Each selected operator would be responsible for delivering the MBDA Business Center services described in the full funding announcement and would be measured based on performance tied to outcomes like increased capital raised, contract awards obtained, and employment impacts for the MBEs served.
The expected project period for each award was four years, with funding anticipated on an annual basis across fiscal years 2012 through 2015. MBDA anticipated a total of $850,000 for FY 2012 to support the three centers combined, with an additional anticipated $850,000 per year in FY 2013, FY 2014, and FY 2015 for continuation funding. The announcement also made clear that these funds were contingent because, at the time of posting, funding had not yet been appropriated. Exact locations and the specific funding amounts by location were referenced as being listed in the full announcement and Appendix A.
Eligible applicants were broad and included for-profit entities (such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations), nonprofit organizations, state and local government entities, Native American Tribes, and educational institutions. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement indicated. The opportunity was categorized under business and commerce and community development, reflecting its focus on strengthening minority business capacity and expanding access to markets and capital through an operator-led service model.
A key point emphasized in the announcement is what the program is not: it is not a grant for an individual business to start up or expand. Applications had to be proposals to operate an MBDA Business Center and to provide the required consulting services to minority-owned firms. Applications that proposed something outside of that purpose, such as direct business expansion funding for a single firm, were explicitly stated as not being eligible for consideration.
The opportunity was posted on December 8, 2011, with an application deadline of January 17, 2012, and it was later archived on February 16, 2012. The CFDA number associated with the program was 11.805 (MBDA Business Center). For access issues related to downloading the application package, the listed point of contact was Steve Drescher, Policy Advisor, specifically for application download problems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - MBDA Business Center Opportunity (MBDA OBD 2012 2003240)
1) What is the MBDA Business Center opportunity (MBDA OBD 2012 2003240)?
This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce to select organizations to operate an MBDA Business Center in one of three designated locations. The funded organization would run the center and provide hands-on business consulting and technical assistance to eligible minority business enterprises (MBEs).
2) Who is the federal agency offering this funding?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA).
3) What is the main purpose of funding an MBDA Business Center?
The core purpose is to help minority-owned firms secure more financing and win more contracting opportunities. A broader goal is to support job creation and job retention outcomes at the minority-owned firms served by the center.
4) Does this funding go directly to individual minority-owned businesses?
No. This opportunity is not a grant for an individual business to start up or expand. Funding is intended for organizations that will operate an MBDA Business Center and deliver the required consulting and technical assistance services to eligible MBEs.
5) What type of award is expected under this announcement?
MBDA planned to make awards as cooperative agreements. A cooperative agreement generally means the agency expects to be substantially involved during implementation, often through programmatic collaboration, oversight, or coordination.
6) How many awards did MBDA plan to make?
MBDA planned to make three separate awards under this announcement, corresponding to three designated locations.
7) Where would the MBDA Business Centers be located?
The centers were to be operated in one of three designated locations. The specific locations were referenced as being listed in the full announcement and Appendix A.
8) What is the expected project period for an award?
The expected project period was four years, with funding anticipated on an annual basis across fiscal years 2012 through 2015.
9) How much funding was anticipated?
MBDA anticipated a total of $850,000 for FY 2012 to support the three centers combined, with an additional anticipated $850,000 per year in FY 2013, FY 2014, and FY 2015 for continuation funding.
10) Was the funding guaranteed?
No. The announcement stated that funds were contingent because, at the time of posting, the funding had not yet been appropriated.
11) Are there specific funding amounts by location?
The announcement indicated that exact locations and specific funding amounts by location were referenced as being listed in the full announcement and Appendix A.
12) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included for-profit entities (such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations), nonprofit organizations, state and local government entities, Native American Tribes, and educational institutions.
13) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was indicated in the information provided.
14) What is the assistance listing / CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number associated with the program was 11.805 (MBDA Business Center).
15) What types of activities would the selected operator be responsible for?
The selected operator would be responsible for delivering MBDA Business Center services described in the full funding announcement, including hands-on business consulting and technical assistance to eligible MBEs to help them secure financing and contracting opportunities.
16) How would performance be measured?
Operators would be measured based on performance tied to outcomes such as increased capital raised, contract awards obtained, and employment impacts (job creation and retention) for the MBEs served.
17) What kinds of applications would not be eligible?
Applications that proposed something outside the stated purpose of operating an MBDA Business Center and providing required services to minority-owned firms were explicitly stated as not being eligible for consideration. The announcement specifically highlighted that proposals seeking direct expansion funding for a single firm would not qualify.
18) What is the funding opportunity category?
The opportunity was categorized under business and commerce and community development.
19) When was the opportunity posted, and what was the deadline?
The opportunity was posted on December 8, 2011. The application deadline was January 17, 2012.
20) What does it mean that the opportunity was archived?
The opportunity was later archived on February 16, 2012, indicating it was no longer active for accepting applications as of that archived status/date.
21) Who should be contacted for application download issues?
For access issues related to downloading the application package, the listed point of contact was Steve Drescher, Policy Advisor, specifically for application download problems.
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