FEDERAL AGENCY:

MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

AUTHORIZATION:

Executive Order 11625, October 13, 1971; Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, Public Law 105-277.

To provide electronic and one-on-one business development service to Native Americans interested in entering, expanding or improving their efforts in the marketplace. To help Native American business development centers to provide a wide range of services to Native American clients, from initial consultation to the identification and resolution of specific business problems.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) competitively selects and funds eight Native American Business Development Centers (NABDC's) to provide management and technical assistance to Native Americans located throughout the country. Recipients of NAP funds provide clients with advice and counseling in such areas as preparing financial packages, business counseling, business information and management, accounting guidance, marketing, business/industrial site analysis, production, engineering, construction assistance, procurement and identification of potential business opportunities. MBDA does not have the authority to nor does it make loans to Native American firms. Program funds are restricted to providing management and technical assistance.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   There are no eligibility restrictions for this program. Applicants eligible to provide services to the Native American community may include individuals, nonprofit organizations, for-profit firms, local and State governments, Native American Tribes, and educational institutions.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Native Americans will benefit. Award recipients must provide assistance to Native Americans interested in starting, expanding, or maintaining a business. Assistance emphasis is on Native Americans.

Credentials/Documentation:   Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for awards to States, local governments and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments. OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions; OMB Circular No. A-122 will be used for other recipients. Administrative requirements for States, local governments and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments are contained in 15 CFR, Part 24. All other recipients are subject to the administrative requirements contained in 15 CFR Part 14.

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication conferences may be scheduled for NAP projects. The conferences will be announced in the Federal Register. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by 15 CFR Part 24 must be used for this program. This program is subject to the provisions of 15 CFR Part 14.

Award Procedure:   The Federal Register Notice will advise the applicant where to submit the application. Each application will be reviewed and evaluated by MBDA. Name checks, verification of academic credentials and pre-award audits may be required from applicants.

Deadlines:   Deadlines for formal competitive awards are outlined in the Federal Register.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 4 to 6 months. Unsuccessful applicants shall be notified in writing within 10 days of notification to the successful applicant.

Appeals:   All decisions are final. There is no administrative appeal process.

Renewals:   NAP awards are made for a period of 3 years with funding provided on an annual basis at the discretion of MBDA and the Department of Commerce. Performance evaluations will be conducted, and funding levels will be established for each of three budget periods. The NAP recipient will receive continued funding after the initial competitive year at the discretion of MBDA based upon the availability of funds, the recipients performance, and agency priorities.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula. The Native American Program does not require any matching or cost-sharing by the recipient.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Awards may be granted for 1 to 3 years.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Financial (quarterly and annually); narrative (semi annually and annually); statistical reports on each client are required.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," non federal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:   Documents, papers and financial records of grantees or subrecipients relating to the NAP are required to remain available to the Federal Government for 3 years from the date of submission of the final financial status report.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   13-0201-0-1-376.

Obligations:   (Cooperative Agreements) FY 02 $1,583,500; FY 03 est $1,583,500; and FY 04 est $1,583,500.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$155,000 to $287,500.

In fiscal year 2002, MBDA funded Native American business development centers in 8 locations that provided management and technical assistance to minority business enterprise clients. Clients were assisted to obtain $82.9 million in financial packages and $108.2 million in procurement contracts from financial institutions and procurement sources, respectively.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

There are no applicable regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Contact the nearest Minority Business Development Agency Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office:   Barbara Curry, Room 5071, Minority Business Development Agency, Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230. Telephone: (202) 482-1940. Use the same number for FTS.

Web Site Address:   http://www.mbda.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

An NABDC located in Oklahoma received a $235,000 award to provide one-to-one management and technical assistance to eligible Native American clients to develop business plans and promote the development and operation of businesses.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Competitive awards for the NAP are made based upon a panel evaluation of the applications. This evaluation includes such factors as capability and experience of staff assigned to the project, techniques, methodology, resources and costs.