Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OSBDC-COVID-2020-1
Summary
Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OSBDC-COVID-2020-1 from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Small Business Development Centers, a request for work plan and budget information for Fiscal Year 2020 funding. The base year budget period runs April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021 and the option year April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021, with an opening date of April 10, 2020 and a closing date of April 24, 2020. Its purpose is to provide SBA-funded Small Business Development Centers with resources for education, training and business advising to small businesses affected by supply chain disruptions, staffing challenges, lower gross receipts or a closure as a result of COVID-19.
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U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Office of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
Funding Opportunity Announcement No.
OSBDC-COVID-2020-1
REQUEST FOR WORK PLAN AND BUDGET INFORMATION
(Fiscal Year 2020 Funding)
Base Year Budget Period:
April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021
Option Year Budget Period:
April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021
Opening Date: April 10, 2020
Closing Date: April 24, 2020
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to provide current SBA
funded Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) with resources to provide education,
training and business advising to small businesses that have experienced supply chain
disruptions, staffing challenges, a decrease in gross receipts or customers or a closure as a
result of COVID-19.
This is a non-competitive funding opportunity announcement; therefore, there is no
synopsis posted at grants.gov. This FOA along with one attachment - the OSBDC Cost Price
Analysis Worksheet - was emailed to the SBDC Directors on April 10, 2020. All other required
SBA forms relevant to this request are located at www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/osbdc.
Proposals responding to this FOA must be received via email at SBDCGrantsq@sba.gov no
later than 5:59:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time, April 24, 2020. No other methods of submission
will be permitted. Proposals submitted after the stipulated deadline will be rejected without
being evaluated.
U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Small Business Development Centers
Small Business Development Center 2020 Work Plan and Budget Information Request
Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OSBDC-COVID-2020-1
Table of Contents
Work Plan Narrative Guide........................................................................................................................... 2
I. Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................................... 2
II. Performance Summary ........................................................................................................................ 2
III. Performance Objectives, Performance Metrics and Milestones .................................................... 3
IV. Financial Justification ...................................................................................................................... 5
V. Risk Assessment ................................................................................................................................... 5
VI. Eligible Applicants ............................................................................................................................ 5
VII. Ineligible Applicants ......................................................................................................................... 6
VIII. Additional Information/Documents ................................................................................................ 6
IX. Advance Payments, Quarterly and Final Payments and Reporting Requirements ....................... 7
X. Submission Instructions ...................................................................................................................... 9
XI. Checklist of Required Submissions ................................................................................................. 9
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U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Small Business Development Centers
Small Business Development Center 2020 Work Plan and Budget Information Request
Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OSBDC-COVID-2020-1
Work Plan Narrative Guide
For each section below, the work plan narrative must address all the requests in that section.
The total response to the requests in this work plan narrative must be limited to five (5)
pages. This does not include other required attachment(s). Please use the sections below to
organize your Work Plan Narrative. Narratives longer than five (5) pages will not be
considered.
I. Statement of the Problem
a. Describe the specific needs of small businesses resulting from the COVID-19 public
health emergency in the SBDC Service Area, and
b. Describe the current economic and business climate of the geographic region your
SBDC network serves.
II. Performance Summary
Given the unprecedented upheaval caused by the coronavirus on the economy, the CARES
Act has allocated resources for the SBDC network to build small business relief programs
in their respective states and regions. The networks have some discretion on how these
resources are allocated and the types of staff that they hire; however, they must adhere to
the guidelines below in Section III under Performance Objectives, Performance Metrics
and Milestones.
To ensure small businesses are aware of the expanded resources and programs offered by
the SBDCs, each SBDC Lead Center is authorized to spend five percent of their budget
across their entire network on marketing programs and literature for small business.
Moreover, given the size of some Service Areas, the SBDC State and Regional Directors
may ask the AA/OSBDC in writing for permission to exceed the five percent threshold for
marketing to ensure all small businesses and entrepreneurs can receive information on
SBDC and SBA small business programs, services and loans. This marketing material
should also provide important information to protect small businesses from falling victim
to scams, predatory lenders and other nefarious actors.
Acquisition of technology services and/or hardware may be necessary to best enable and
expand the means and abilities of the SBDC network to deliver training and advising
services through remote access technologies. This may include, but is not limited to,
technologies which enable the use of toll-free phone numbers, call centers, broadband
and/or cellular services, web-based video conferencing and website development. The
brief budget narrative should clearly describe the hardware and/or services to be
acquired and the planned or anticipated improvement in program delivery.
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U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Small Business Development Centers
Small Business Development Center 2020 Work Plan and Budget Information Request
Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OSBDC-COVID-2020-1
III. Performance Objectives, Performance Metrics and Milestones
Performance Objectives: Describe the project’s approach and how project activities will
generate results for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 by providing counseling,
education, training and business advising to small businesses on:
a. Accessing and applying for financial resources, to include Paycheck Protection
Program (PPP) loans, SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and all types of SBA
and non-SBA loan programs so small businesses can effectively access capital and
promote business sustainability, growth and resilience.
b. How small businesses can protect their workplaces, employees and customers against
potential health and safety threats, including the prevention of the transmission of
COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.
c. Understanding and preparing for the potential effects of sudden natural or manmade
disasters on small business supply chains, operations, finances, payrolls, distribution
and sale of products.
d. How to develop robust web integration, online sales and marketing, cybersecurity for
small businesses, online distribution and delivery services for small businesses.
e. How small businesses can develop and execute Continuity of Operations through
planning, telework and remote management and customer service practices to
sustain business activities during periods of interrupted business service.
f. How to protect small business intellectual property.
g. The risks and mitigation of cyber threats in online commerce, remote customer
service or telework practices by providing small businesses and entrepreneurs with a
series of online and in-person cyber-security awareness training cohorts.
h. How to mitigate the effects of reduced travel or outside activities on small businesses.
Performance Metrics: Given the unprecedented circumstances of the coronavirus’
impact on small businesses, the SBA is implementing two different sets of goals for the
SBDCs, three short-term goals and three more traditional, long-term goals. The short-
term goals are designed to accurately reflect the needs of small business during and
immediately after the economic shutdown and the long-term goals, are designed to
measure small business activity in a more normal business environment. The short-term
goals are in effect from April 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020. The long-term goals will
be in effect from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. When calculating their
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U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Small Business Development Centers
Small Business Development Center 2020 Work Plan and Budget Information Request
Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OSBDC-COVID-2020-1
short-term goals, SBDCs are permitted to count all applicable activity towards their goals
starting on March 9, 2020.
Short-term Goals:
1. Capital Assistance: (Capital Infusion) Number of clients that receive information,
counseling and training on Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Paycheck Protection
Program (PPP) loans and all SBA disaster loan programs. This assistance includes
tracking the number of SBA and non-SBA disaster loans that SBDC clients applied for
during the coronavirus crisis. SBDCs will also earn credit towards this goal by helping
clients navigate the application process with lenders. While this goal will focus
primarily on providing clients with capital assistance information, the SBDCs are still
responsible for tracking and reporting the actual number of disaster loans they helped
small businesses obtain. (SBDCs will continue to capture traditional 7(a), 504 and
other SBA loans through the core grant’s annual Capital Infusion (CI) goal.)
2. Small Business and Individuals Served: (Unique Clients Served) Given the large
number of small businesses and individuals seeking assistance by phone, online
platforms and through SBDC-hosted webinars, it is difficult for the SBDCs to capture
all of these small businesses with the SBA 641 form. Thus, the SBDC may count the
total number of small businesses and individuals served towards this goal, as it is
important for SBA and the entire small business community to know the full number
of small businesses seeking and receiving SBDC assistance and training during and
after the coronavirus crisis. To capture this goal, the SBDC must request that everyone
seeking assistance complete a 641 form and provide the 641 form either directly, via
email or as an attachment to the online platform or webinar. Given that many may
choose not to complete a 641 form, the SBDCs must also keep accurate records of the
total number of small businesses who participate in this training and report these
total numbers to the SBA.
3. Consulting Hours: (Jobs Supported) Given the unprecedented number of phone and
online requests for information and guidance from the small business community, as
well as those who advocate for the small business community, the SBDCs will capture
and report the full level of support provided to small businesses seeking assistance.
This reporting should be all-encompassing to provide an accurate picture of both the
volume of correspondence and depth of technical support provided by the SBDCs.
Long-term Goals:
1. Capital Infusion: Number of clients that receive EIDL, Paycheck Protection Program
(PPP) loans and other COVID-19 and disaster assistance loans, as well as ongoing
disaster capital assistance and counseling from the SBDCs.
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U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Small Business Development Centers
Small Business Development Center 2020 Work Plan and Budget Information Request
Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OSBDC-COVID-2020-1
2. Unique Clients Served: Number of Unique Clients Served (UCS) that receive post-
COVID-19 related counseling and training disaster assistance. This metric requires an
SBA form 641.
3. Jobs Supported: Jobs Supported (JS) as a result of SBDC programs, counseling,
training and subject-matter-expertise provided by the SBDC COVID-19-relief funding
grant.
IV. Financial Justification
a. Provide an SF-424 and an SF-424A, a brief budget narrative and the required OSBDC
Cost Price Analysis Workbook that describes how the funding being requested will
support the realization of the SBDC network mission. Note: The SF-424 and SF-424A
are located at www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/osbdc/resources/20351.
b. Matching funds are not required.
V. Risk Assessment
As required by 2 C.F.R. § 200.205(b), applicants will be further evaluated by SBA senior
staff to assess the possible risks they may pose. In assessing the possible risks posed by
an applicant, SBA will consider the Applicant’s:
a. Financial stability;
b. Management systems quality and its ability to meet the management standards
prescribed in 2 C.F.R. § 200.302;
c. History of performance in managing other Federal awards, including: timeliness of
providing required reports; compliance with the terms and conditions of the award;
ability to meet matching funds requirements; and the extent to which the Applicant
has failed to fully expend funds provided under prior awards;
d. Results, reports and findings from any of its available audits or programmatic reviews
and its responses to them; and
e. Ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory or other requirements.
VI. Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for this Funding Opportunity, an Applicant must be an existing SBDC Lead
Center currently funded by SBA.
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U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Small Business Development Centers
Small Business Development Center 2020 Work Plan and Budget Information Request
Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OSBDC-COVID-2020-1
VII. Ineligible Applicants
The following applicants will automatically be considered ineligible and their applications
will be rejected without being evaluated:
a. Any organization that is NOT a currently SBA funded SBDC Lead Center.
VIII. Additional Information/Documents
a. Indirect costs or Facilities and Administrative (F&A) charges are currently reimbursed
under the regular SBDC core program funding. The purpose of this supplemental
funding is to provide for temporary services to affected small business concerns who
suffered, in many cases, extreme economic injury as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
in 2020. In order to ensure that the maximum amount of CARES Act funds are available
to directly assist affected small business concerns, the SBA Administrator requests that
host institutions cover specific COVID-19 relief indirect costs against the indirect costs
built into the annual core grant. However, at the request of the SBDC community made
during the negotiating process required by the CARES Act, SBA has agreed to make
exceptions for institutions that demonstrate a need for additional resources. In such
circumstances, SBA will permit up to a 15% indirect cost rate against the supplemental
funding available under the CARES Act.
b. For Contracts between $10,001 and $250,000, the SBDC network do not need to
submit copies of the proposed contracts to the Grants Management Specialist (GMS)
or Program Manager (PM) for approval before executing them. However, the Applicant
must obtain price quotes (either orally or in writing) from at least three qualified
sources and inform SBA of these quotes in the corresponding payment
requests/financial reports. If the Applicant does not choose to go with the lowest
quote, the Applicant must explain why.
c. For contracts of $10,000 or less, the Applicant does not need to submit copies of the
proposed contracts to the GMS or PM for approval before executing them and the
contracts are not required to be awarded via competition if the SBDC host
organization considers the prices to be reasonable.
The SBDC network also may not contract out the overall administration or day-to-day
management of this project to any other party.
d. The SBDC network may, however, hire contracted business advisors and subject-
matter-experts for the functions and program delivery detailed in this Funding
Opportunity.
e. Any other documentation the Applicant believes supports its proposal.
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U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Small Business Development Centers
Small Business Development Center 2020 Work Plan and Budget Information Request
Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OSBDC-COVID-2020-1
IX. Advance Payments, Quarterly and Final Payments and Reporting Requirements
Advance Payments
OSBDC will advance 25% of the total amount of each respective award immediately upon
receiving an acceptable application from each SBDC. This one-time advance payment will
enable the SBDC networks to begin hiring new employees and building new programs for
the small-business COVID-19 relief effort. With the SBDC network application complete
an SF-270 Request for Advance. Please make sure to check the “Advance” box on the
form.
All other payments submitted will be on a reimbursable cost basis. These payment
requests should be included with other required SBDC network quarterly reports. A
complete and correct package is required to receive the reimbursable payments.
SBDCs may charge COVID-19 program related advance expenses and pre-award costs
incurred since February 15, 2020 to this grant.
Quarterly Payments and Reporting Requirements
Performance Reports must address the SBDC network’s progress toward meeting
activities, objectives and performance goals from the approved proposal Reports should
also include a discussion of issues the SBDC believes may impair its ability to achieve
these items by the end of the budget period, accompanied by proposed actions for
improvement.
SBDCs will submit metrics quarterly through the SBA Office of Entrepreneurial
Development EDMIS portal and provide a quarterly report, not to exceed 10 pages, to
OSBDC within 45 days after each Federally recognized quarter. These quarterly reports
must also include an SF-270 Request for Payment and a completed SF-425 detailed below.
Quarterly Period of Performance dates for reporting are below. The payments and
reports are due 45 days after the period of performance.
• April 1, 2020 - June 30, 2020 – This will be for your advance payment report.
• July 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020
• October 1, 2020 -December 31, 2020
• January 1, 2021- March 31, 2021
If the SBDC network exercises an Option Year, the required reporting cycles would
include:
• April 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021
• July 1, 2021 - September 30, 2021
• October 1, 2021 -December 31, 2021
• January 1, 2022 - March 31, 2022
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U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Small Business Development Centers
Small Business Development Center 2020 Work Plan and Budget Information Request
Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OSBDC-COVID-2020-1
SBDCs will also submit periodic Best Practices and Success Stories on COVID-19 small
business relief efforts provided directly to the OSBDC Program Manager for inclusion in
the OSBDC Weekly Status Reports (WSR).
All payments, including the SBDC network’s first advance payment, and reports should be
sent via email to the following email address: Covidpayments@sba.gov.
SBDCs should submit financial reports quarterly to Covidpayments@sba.gov.The SF-425
Federal Financial Report (FFR) should show actual funds spent (expenditures) and any
bills you are going to pay (unliquidated obligations incurred), both for the reporting
period and cumulatively. The SF-425 must be signed by an authorized representative of
the SBDC’s host institution. All financial reports should include a budget versus actual
expenditure report. The SBDC must submit financial reports with the same regularity as
progress reports.
Final Payments and Reports
The SBDC network will provide a final, comprehensive report, not to exceed 30 pages,
within 90 days after the end of the period of performance. As part of the quarterly and
final reports SBDCs will provide numerical metrics quarterly through EDMIS as outlined in
Section III under Performance Objectives, Performance Metrics and Milestones.
Both Quarterly and Final Reports will include, but are not limited to:
• Efforts to develop services to assist COVID-19-affected small businesses;
• Notable counseling and training programs offered by the SBDC;
• Updates on EIDL, PPP and other SBA loan and non-SBA programs;
• Challenges faced by small businesses after the effects of COVID-19;
• The number of unique small businesses served by the SBDC;
• Other relevant outcome performance data with respect to small business, including
number of employees affected, effect on sales, disruptions in supply chains, efforts to
improve remote and online sales and marketing, cybersecurity efforts, small-business
intellectual property protection efforts and efforts to mitigate the effects of disasters
on small business operations;
• SF-425;
• SF-270; and
• Budget versus Actuals worksheet.
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U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Small Business Development Centers
Small Business Development Center 2020 Work Plan and Budget Information Request
Funding Opportunity Announcement No. OSBDC-COVID-2020-1
X. Submission Instructions
All proposals (narratives, budgets and forms) must be submitted electronically to
SBDCGrantsq@sba.gov.
NO OTHER FORMS OF SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED. Required forms are available at
www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/osbdc. Non-federal entities are required to have a
DUNS number and must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). If
you experience technical difficulties with your submission, contact your designated
OSBDC Program Manager.
SBDCs must return the completed application within 14 calendar days from the date this
Funding Opportunity is posted.
XI. Checklist of Required Submissions
Checklist of Required Submissions for the OSBDC-COVID 2020-1
Work Plan Narrative & Budget Information Request
Address & submit all information requested by the Work Plan & Budget Information Request
OPEN DATE: April 10, 2020 CLOSE DATE: April 24, 2020
☐ The work plan narrative must be limited to 5 pages. For each section, the narrative
should address all requests included in that section. Provide responses in the order
detailed in the Funding Opportunity Announcement.
☐ A general statement stipulating that the information provided for in the core award
cooperative agreement is still valid and applicable.
☐ Organization Chart (ONLY if it has changed since the most recent application for core
award funding application.) (An organizational chart should include names and
positions for all proposed full-time and part-time program staff working on this SBDC
Network project.)
☐ Provide position description for the SBDC Network and senior level Directors. (ONLY
provide if key personnel changed since your most recent application for core award
funding.)
☐ SF-424 Form located at https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/osbdc/resources/20351
☐ SF-424A Form located at
https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/osbdc/resources/20351
☐ Brief budget narrative to support project costs.
☐ OSBDC Cost Price Analysis Workbook Form
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