Opportunity Information: Apply for OSBDC 2010 06
Apply for OSBDC 2010 06
- The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Business Energy Audit and Energy Efficiency Program formerly Small Business Sustainability Initiative (SBSI)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.037 Small Business Development Centers.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 9, 2009 and posted on Nov 9, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 14, 2009 Closing date is December 14, 2009 at 900 pm Eastern Time. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- An eligible candidate is an existing SBDC recipient organization currently funded under the Small Business Development (SBDC) Program and in satisfactory standing with the Association of Small Business Development Centers. An application submitted by an entity that is not a current lead SBDC will not be considered.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Small Business Energy Audit and Energy Efficiency Program (previously called the Small Business Sustainability Initiative, or SBSI) was a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) funding opportunity run through the Office of Small Business Development Centers (OSBDC). It was released as Program Announcement No. OSBDC 2010 06, posted on November 9, 2009, and closed on December 14, 2009 at 9:00 pm Eastern Time (with an archive date of December 15, 2009). The award mechanism was a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning recipients would be expected to coordinate closely with SBA on program execution rather than simply receiving funds with minimal involvement.
The goal of the program was to expand the services that Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide by adding a strong energy efficiency focus. In practical terms, the SBA wanted participating SBDCs to help small business owners understand and adopt energy efficiency practices through training and educational activities, and to connect them to credible information and resources that could lead to real reductions in energy use and operating costs. A notable feature of the announcement is its emphasis on financing options, specifically including "on-bill financing" where energy improvements can be paid back through utility bills. The program also envisioned SBDCs serving as conveners and connectors, not just trainers, by helping small businesses navigate the relationships among utilities, lenders, and SBA-backed resources.
Applicants were required to deliver the core set of services centered on energy-efficiency education and access to resources, and, where allowed by state utility laws and regulations, to act as facilitators between small businesses, electric utilities, lenders, and the SBA to help set up on-bill financing arrangements. Beyond those baseline expectations, applicants also had to offer at least one of two additional service categories: (1) Energy Audit and Professional Referral Assistance, which implies helping businesses get energy audits and connecting them with qualified professionals or service providers, and/or (2) Energy Efficiency Assistance, which would cover more hands-on guidance to help businesses identify, prioritize, and implement efficiency measures.
Eligibility was narrow and clearly limited to existing lead SBDC recipient organizations that were already funded under the SBDC program and were in satisfactory standing with the Association of Small Business Development Centers. The announcement explicitly states that applications from entities that were not current lead SBDCs would not be considered. This design reflects the SBA's intent to leverage the established national SBDC network, which is described as the SBA's largest matching-grant funded small business assistance delivery system, linking federal, state, and local government resources with universities and the private sector to provide management and economic development support to small firms and entrepreneurs.
From a funding standpoint, the opportunity anticipated making about four awards, with an estimated total program funding amount of $500,000. Individual awards were expected to fall between $100,000 (award floor) and $250,000 (award ceiling). The program also required cost sharing or matching, consistent with how the broader SBDC program is structured as a partnership model rather than a fully federally funded effort. The funding activity category was listed as Business and Commerce, and the CFDA number associated with the opportunity was 59.037 (Small Business Development Centers).
For questions or help accessing the full announcement, the SBA directed applicants to the Office of Small Business Development Centers, providing both an email address (OSBDC@sba.gov) and a phone number ((202) 205-6766), along with a link to SBA's SBDC funding opportunities page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Small Business Energy Audit and Energy Efficiency Program?
The Small Business Energy Audit and Energy Efficiency Program was a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) funding opportunity run through the Office of Small Business Development Centers (OSBDC). It was previously known as the Small Business Sustainability Initiative (SBSI). The program was designed to expand the services offered by Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) by adding a strong focus on energy efficiency education, resources, and support for small businesses.
What was the goal of this SBA program?
The goal was to help participating SBDCs support small business owners in understanding and adopting energy efficiency practices. The SBA emphasized training and educational activities, connecting small businesses to credible information and resources, and encouraging practical steps that could reduce energy use and operating costs.
What type of award was offered under this opportunity?
The award mechanism was a discretionary cooperative agreement. That means recipients were expected to coordinate closely with the SBA on program execution, rather than receiving funds with minimal federal involvement.
When was the opportunity posted, and when did it close?
The program announcement (Program Announcement No. OSBDC 2010 06) was posted on November 9, 2009, and it closed on December 14, 2009 at 9:00 pm Eastern Time. The archive date was December 15, 2009.
How many awards did the SBA anticipate making?
The SBA anticipated making about four awards under this funding opportunity.
How much funding was available in total?
The estimated total program funding amount was $500,000.
What was the expected award size per recipient?
Individual awards were expected to range from $100,000 (award floor) to $250,000 (award ceiling).
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, consistent with the broader SBDC partnership model described in the announcement.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to existing lead SBDC recipient organizations that were already funded under the SBDC program and were in satisfactory standing with the Association of Small Business Development Centers.
Were non-SBDC organizations allowed to apply?
No. The announcement explicitly stated that applications from entities that were not current lead SBDCs would not be considered.
Why was eligibility limited to lead SBDCs?
The SBA’s design relied on leveraging the established national SBDC network, described as the SBA’s largest matching-grant funded small business assistance delivery system that links federal, state, and local resources with universities and the private sector to provide management and economic development support.
What core services were applicants required to deliver?
Applicants were required to deliver a core set of services centered on energy-efficiency education and access to resources for small businesses. The intent was for SBDCs to provide training and educational activities and connect businesses with credible information that could lead to real reductions in energy use and operating costs.
What is "on-bill financing" and how did it relate to this program?
The announcement specifically emphasized financing options, including "on-bill financing," where energy improvements can be paid back through utility bills. Where permitted by state utility laws and regulations, applicants were expected to help facilitate connections among small businesses, electric utilities, lenders, and SBA-backed resources to support on-bill financing arrangements.
Were applicants expected to work with utilities and lenders?
Yes. The program envisioned SBDCs serving as conveners and connectors, not just trainers, by helping small businesses navigate relationships among utilities, lenders, and SBA-backed resources, particularly in the context of financing energy improvements.
Did the program require work related to energy audits?
Beyond the baseline expectations, applicants had to offer at least one of two additional service categories. One of those categories was Energy Audit and Professional Referral Assistance, which implied helping businesses obtain energy audits and connecting them with qualified professionals or service providers.
What were the two additional service categories applicants could choose from?
Applicants had to offer at least one of the following: (1) Energy Audit and Professional Referral Assistance, and/or (2) Energy Efficiency Assistance, which would include more hands-on guidance to help businesses identify, prioritize, and implement energy efficiency measures.
Did applicants have to offer both additional service categories?
No. The announcement required applicants to provide at least one of the two additional service categories, not necessarily both.
What was the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category was listed as Business and Commerce.
What CFDA number was associated with this program?
The CFDA number associated with the opportunity was 59.037 (Small Business Development Centers).
Who could be contacted for questions about the announcement?
The SBA directed applicants to the Office of Small Business Development Centers (OSBDC). The contact email was OSBDC@sba.gov and the phone number was (202) 205-6766.
Where did the SBA point applicants to find the full announcement or related opportunities?
The SBA referenced its SBDC funding opportunities page as the place to access the full announcement and related information.
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