Opportunity 1180001272009

The summary for the Opportunity 1180001272009 grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Department of Commerce, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

Opportunity 1180001272009: In accordance with Executive Order 11625 and 15 U.S.C. § 1512, MBDA is soliciting competitive applications from eligible organizations to operate a Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC) in the following geographical service areas:Houston MBECHouston, TXHouston-Sugar Land Baytown, TX MSA**** Metropolitan Statistical Area, please see OMB Bulletin No.09-01, Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses (November 20, 2008) at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins.Note: MBDA originally made a three (3) year award for the operation of the Houston MBEC project for the period January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2009. See 71 FR 42352. The original award was subsequently terminated at the recipient's request effective January 1, 2009. On October 7, 2008, MBDA published an announcement soliciting competitive applications for an operator of the Houston MBEC for a new three (3) year award period. See 73 FR 58555. However, the competition was deemed unsuccessful by MBDA due to a lack of responsive applications. This Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO or Announcement) solicits competitive applications for a new operator of the Houston MBEC project and supersedes in its entirety the previously published competitive solicitation for this project.A MBEC operator must provide services to eligible clients within the specified geographical service area. In some cases, the geographical distance may be cost- prohibitive for the MBEC to conduct in-person meetings with clients. MBDA anticipates the MBEC would provide, to the best of its abilities, services to those firms beyond a reasonable distance through virtual communications, including but not limited to telephone, email and facsimile. Service to eligible clients outside of an operator's specified service area may be requested, on a case-by-case basis, through the appropriate MBDA Regional Director and approved by the Grants Officer.The MBEC Program requires MBEC staff to provide standardized business assistance services to minority firms with $500,000 or more in annual revenues and/or "rapid-growth potential" minority businesses ("Strategic Growth Initiative" or "SGI" firms) directly; to develop a network of strategic partnerships; and to provide strategic business consulting. This is a fee for service program, therefore, the MBEC is required to charge client fees. These requirements will be used to generate increased results with respect to financing and contracts awarded to minority-owned firms and thus, are a key component of this program.The MBEC Program will concentrate on serving SGI firms capable of generating significant employment and long-term economic growth. The MBEC program shall continue to leverage telecommunications technology, including the Internet, and a variety of online/computer-based resources to dramatically increase the level of service that the MBEC can provide to minority-owned firms.