Office of the Secretary of Transportation, 41812-41817 [2013-16623]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 133 (Thursday, July 11, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41812-41817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16623]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Office of the Secretary of Transportation

Notice of Funding Availability for the Small Business 
Transportation Resource Center Program

AGENCY: Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), 
Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability for the Gulf Region.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the 
Secretary (OST), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 
(OSDBU) announces the opportunity for; (1) Business centered community-
based organizations; (2) transportation-related trade associations; (3) 
colleges and universities; (4) community colleges or; (5) chambers of 
commerce, registered with the Internal Revenue Service as 501C(6) or 
501C(3) tax-exempt organizations, to compete for participation in 
OSDBU's Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) program 
in the Gulf Region.
    OSDBU will enter into Cooperative Agreements with these 
organizations to provide outreach to the small business community in 
their designated region and provide financial and technical assistance, 
business training programs, business assessment, management training, 
counseling, marketing and outreach, and the dissemination of 
information, to encourage and assist small businesses to become better 
prepared to compete for, obtain, and manage DOT funded transportation-
related contracts and subcontracts at the federal, state and local 
levels. Throughout this notice, the term ``small business'' will refer 
to: 8(a), small disadvantaged businesses (SDB), disadvantaged business 
enterprises (DBE), women owned small businesses (WOSB), HubZone, 
service disabled veteran owned businesses (SDVOB), and veteran owned 
small businesses (VOSB). Throughout this notice, ``transportation-
related'' is defined as the maintenance, rehabilitation, restructuring, 
improvement, or revitalization of any of the nation's modes of 
transportation.
    Funding Opportunity Number: USDOT-OST-OSDBU-SBTRC2013-4.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 20.910 
Assistance to Small and Disadvantaged Businesses.
    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    Award Ceiling: $150.000.
    Award Floor: $125,000.
    Program Authority: DOT is authorized under 49 U.S.C. 332(b)(4), (5) 
& (7) to design and carry out programs to assist small disadvantaged 
businesses in getting transportation-related contracts and 
subcontracts; develop support mechanisms, including management and 
technical services, that will enable small disadvantaged businesses to 
take advantage of those business opportunities; and to make 
arrangements to carry out the above purposes.

DATES: Complete Proposals must be electronically submitted to OSDBU via 
email on or before September 1, 2013 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time 
(EST). Proposals received after the deadline will be considered non-
responsive and will not be reviewed. The applicant is advised to 
request delivery receipt notification for email submissions. DOT plans 
to give notice of award for the competed region on or before September 
27, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be electronically submitted to OSDBU via 
email at SBTRC@dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information concerning this 
notice, contact Ms. Patricia Martin-Dean, Program Analyst, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Office of Small and Disadvantaged 
Business Utilization, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W56-462, Washington, 
DC, 20590. Telephone: 1-800-532-1169 or email patricia.martin@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
    1.1 Background
    1.2 Program Description and Goals
    1.3 Description of Competition
    1.4 Duration of Agreements
    1.5 Authority
    1.6 Eligibility Requirements
2. Program Requirements
    2.1 Recipient Responsibilities
    2.2 Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 
Responsibilities
3. Submission of Proposals
    3.1 Format for Proposals
    3.2 Address, Number of Copies, Deadline for Submission
4. Selection Criteria
    4.1 General Criteria
    4.2 Scoring of Applications
    4.3 Conflicts of Interest

Format for Proposals--Appendix A

Full Text of Announcement

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

    The Department of Transportation (DOT) established Office of Small 
and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) in accordance with 
Public Law 95-507, an amendment to the Small Business Act and the Small 
Business Investment Act of 1958.
    The mission of OSDBU at DOT is to ensure that the small and 
disadvantaged business policies and goals of the Secretary of 
Transportation are developed and implemented in a fair, efficient and 
effective manner to serve small and disadvantaged businesses throughout 
the country. The OSDBU also administers the provisions of Title 49, 
Section 332, the Minority Resource Center (MRC) which includes the 
duties of advocacy, outreach and financial services on behalf of small 
and disadvantaged business and those certified under CFR 49 parts 23 
and or 26 as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) and the 
development of programs to encourage, stimulate, promote and assist 
small businesses to become better prepared to compete for, obtain and 
manage transportation-related contracts and subcontracts.
    The Regional Assistance Division of OSDBU, through the SBTRC 
program, allows OSDBU to partner with local organizations to offer a 
comprehensive delivery system of business training, technical 
assistance and dissemination of information, targeted towards small 
business transportation enterprises in their regions.

1.2 Program Description and Goals

    The national SBTRC program utilizes Cooperative Agreements with 
chambers of commerce, trade associations, educational institutions and 
business-centered community based organizations to establish SBTRCs to 
provide business training, technical assistance and information to DOT

[[Page 41813]]

grantees and recipients, prime contractors and subcontractors. In order 
to be effective and serve their target audience, the SBTRCs must be 
active in the local transportation community in order to identify and 
communicate opportunities and provide the required technical 
assistance. SBTRCs must already have, or demonstrate the ability to, 
establish working relationships with the state and local transportation 
agencies and technical assistance agencies (i.e., The U.S. Department 
of Commerce's Minority Business Development Centers (MBDCs), Small 
Business Development Centers (SBDCs), and Procurement Technical 
Assistance Centers (PTACs), SCORE and State DOT highway supportive 
services contractors in their region. Utilizing these relationships and 
their own expertise, the SBTRCs are involved in activities such as 
information dissemination, small business counseling, and technical 
assistance with small businesses currently doing business with public 
and private entities in the transportation industry.
    Effective outreach is critical to the success of the SBTRC program. 
In order for their outreach efforts to be effective, SBTRCs must be 
familiar with DOT's Operating Administrations, its funding sources, and 
how funding is awarded to DOT grantees, recipients, contractors, 
subcontractors, and its financial assistance programs. SBTRCs must 
provide outreach to the regional small business transportation 
community to disseminate information and distribute DOT-published 
marketing materials, such as Short Term Lending Program (STLP) 
Information, Bonding Education Program (BEP) information, SBTRC 
brochures and literature, Procurement Forecasts; Contracting with DOT 
booklets, Women and Girls in Transportation Initiative (WITI) 
information, and any other materials or resources that DOT or OSDBU may 
develop for this purpose. To maximize outreach, the SBTRC may be called 
upon to participate in regional and national conferences and seminars. 
Quantities of DOT publications for on-hand inventory and dissemination 
at conferences and seminars will be available upon request from the 
OSDBU office.

1.3 Description of Competition

    The purpose of this Request For Proposal (RFP) is to solicit 
proposals from transportation-related trade associations, chambers of 
commerce, community based entities, colleges and universities, 
community colleges, and any other qualifying transportation-related 
non-profit organizations with the desire and ability to partner with 
OSDBU to establish and maintain an SBTRC.
    It is OSDBU's intent to award a Cooperative Agreement to one 
organization in the Gulf Region, from herein referred to as ``region'', 
in this solicitation. However, if warranted, OSDBU reserves the option 
to make multiple awards to selected partners. Proposals submitted for a 
region must contain a plan to service all states listed in the entire 
region, not just the SBTRC's state or local geographical area. The 
region's SBTRC headquarters must be established in one of the 
designated states set forth below. Submitted proposals must also 
contain justification for the establishment of the SBTRC headquarters 
in a particular city within the designated state.
    SBTRC Region Competed in This Solicitation:
    Gulf Region: Texas, Louisianan, New Mexico, Oklahoma.
    Program requirements and selection criteria, set forth in Sections 
2 and 4 respectively, indicate that the OSDBU intends for the SBTRC to 
be multidimensional; that is, the selected organization must have the 
capacity to effectively access and provide supportive services to the 
broad range of small businesses within the respective geographical 
region. To this end, the SBTRC must be able to demonstrate that they 
currently have established relationships within the geographic region 
with whom they may coordinate and establish effective networks with DOT 
grant recipients and local/regional technical assistance agencies to 
maximize resources.
    Cooperative agreement awards will be distributed to the region(s) 
as follows:
    Gulf Region: Ceiling: $150,000 per year, Floor: $125,000 per year.
    Cooperative agreement awards by region are based upon an analysis 
of DBEs, Certified Small Businesses, and US DOT transportation dollars 
in each region. It is OSDBU's intent to maximize the benefits received 
by the small business transportation community through the SBTRC. 
Funding may be utilized to reimburse an on-site Project Director up to 
100% of salary plus fringe benefits, an on-site Executive Director up 
to 20% of salary plus fringe benefits, up to 100% of a Project 
Coordinator salary plus fringe benefits, the cost of designated SBTRC 
space, other direct costs, and all other general and administrative 
expenses. Selected SBTRC partners will be expected to provide in-kind 
administrative support. Submitted proposals must contain an alternative 
funding source with which the SBTRC will fund administrative support 
costs. Preference will be given to proposals containing in-kind 
contributions for the Project Director, the Executive Director, the 
Project Coordinator, cost of designated SBTRC space, other direct 
costs, and all other general and administrative expenses.

1.4 Duration of Agreements

    The cooperative agreement will be awarded for a period of 12 months 
(one year) with options for two (2) additional one year periods. OSDBU 
will notify the SBTRC of our intention to exercise an option year or 
not to exercise an option year 30 days in advance of expiration of the 
current year.

1.5 Authority

    DOT is authorized under 49 U.S.C.332 (b) (4), (5) &(7) to design 
and carry out programs to assist small disadvantaged businesses in 
getting transportation-related contracts and subcontracts; develop 
support mechanisms, including management and technical services, that 
will enable small disadvantaged businesses to take advantage of those 
business opportunities; and to make arrangements to carry out the above 
purposes.

1.6 Eligibility Requirements

    To be eligible, an organization must be an established, nonprofit, 
community-based organization, transportation-related trade association, 
chamber of commerce, college or university, community college, and any 
other qualifying transportation-related non-profit organization which 
has the documented experience and capacity necessary to successfully 
operate and administer a coordinated delivery system that provides 
access for small businesses to prepare and compete for transportation-
related contracts.
    In addition, to be eligible, the applicant organization must:
    (A) Be an established 501 C (3) or 501 C (6) tax-exempt 
organization and provide documentation as verification. No application 
will be accepted without proof of tax-exempt status;
    (B) Have at least one year of documented and continuous experience 
prior to the date of application in providing advocacy, outreach, and 
technical assistance to small businesses within the region in which 
proposed services will be provided. Prior performance providing 
services to the transportation community is preferable, but not 
required; and
    (C) Have an office physically located within the proposed city in 
the designated headquarters state in the region for which they are 
submitting the

[[Page 41814]]

proposal that is readily accessible to the public.

2. Program Requirements

2.1 Recipient Responsibilities

(A) Assessments, Business Analyses
    1. Conduct an assessment of small businesses in the SBTRC region to 
determine their training and technical assistance needs, and use 
information that is available at no cost to structure programs and 
services that will enable small businesses to become better prepared to 
compete for and receive transportation-related contract awards.
    2. Contact other federal, state and local government agencies, such 
as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), state and local 
highway agencies, state and local airport authorities, and transit 
authorities to identify relevant and current information that may 
support the assessment of the regional small business transportation 
community needs.
(B) General Management & Technical Training and Assistance
    1. Utilize OSDBU's Monthly Reporting Form to document each small 
business assisted by the SBTRC and type of service(s) provided. The 
completed form must be transmitted electronically to the SBTRC Program 
Analyst on a monthly basis, accompanied by a narrative report on the 
activities and performance results for that period. The data gathered 
must be supportive by the narrative and must relate to the numerical 
data on the monthly reports.
    2. Ensure that an array of information is made available for 
distribution to the small business transportation community that is 
designed to inform and educate the community on DOT/OSDBU services and 
opportunities.
    3. Coordinate efforts with OSDBU's in order to maintain an on-hand 
inventory of DOT/OSDBU informational materials for general 
dissemination and for distribution at transportation-related 
conferences and other events.
(C) Business Counseling
    1. Collaborate with agencies, such as the State, Regional, and 
Local Transportation Government Agencies, SBA, U.S. Department of 
Commerce's Minority Business Development Centers (MBDCs), Service Corps 
of Retired Executives (SCORE), Procurement Technical Assistance Centers 
(PTACs), and Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), to offer a 
broad range of counseling services to transportation-related small 
business enterprises.
    2. Create a technical assistance plan that will provide each 
counseled participant with the knowledge and skills necessary to 
improve the management of their own small business to expand their 
transportation-related contracts and subcontracts portfolio.
    3. Provide a minimum of 20 hours of individual or group counseling 
sessions to small businesses per month.
(D) Planning Committee
    1. Establish a Regional Planning Committee consisting of at least 7 
members that includes representatives from the regional community and 
federal, state, and local agencies. The highway, airport, and transit 
authorities for the SBTRC's headquarters state must have representation 
on the planning committee. This committee shall be established no later 
than 60 days after the execution of the Cooperative agreement between 
the OSDBU and the selected SBRTC.
    2. Provide a forum for the federal, state, and local agencies to 
disseminate information about upcoming procurements.
    3. Hold either monthly or quarterly meetings at a time and place 
agreed upon by SBTRC and planning committee members.
    4. Use the initial session (teleconference call) by the SBTRC 
explain the mission of the committee and identify roles of the staff 
and the members of the group.
    5. Responsibility for the agenda and direction of the Planning 
Committee should be handled by the SBTRC Executive Director or his/her 
designee.
(E) Outreach Services/Conference Participation
    1. Utilize the services of the System for Award Management (SAM) 
and other sources to construct a database of regional small businesses 
that currently or may in the future participate in DOT direct and DOT 
funded transportation related contracts, and make this database 
available to OSDBU, upon request.
    2. Utilize the database of regional transportation-related small 
businesses to match opportunities identified through the planning 
committee forum, FedBiz Opps (a web-based system for posting 
solicitations and other Federal procurement-related documents on the 
Internet), and other sources to eligible small businesses and inform 
the small business community about those opportunities.
    3. Develop a ``targeted'' database of firms (100-150) that have the 
capacity and capabilities, and are ready, willing and able to 
participate in DOT contracts and subcontracts immediately. This control 
group will receive ample resources from the SBTRC, i.e., access to 
working capital, bonding assistance, business counseling, management 
assistance and direct referrals to DOT agencies at the state and local 
levels, and to prime contractors as effective subcontractor firms.
    4. Identify regional, state and local conferences where a 
significant number of small businesses, with transportation related 
capabilities, are expected to be in attendance. Maintain and submit a 
list of those events to the SBTRC Program Analyst for review and 
posting on the OSDBU Web site on a monthly basis. Clearly identify the 
events designated for SBTRC participation and include recommendations 
for OSDBU participation.
    5. Conduct outreach and disseminate information to small businesses 
at regional transportation-related conferences, seminars, and 
workshops. In the event that the SBTRC is requested to participate in 
an event, the SBTRC will send DOT materials, the OSDBU banner and other 
information that is deemed necessary for the event.
    6. Submit a conference summary report to OSDBU no later than 5 
business days after participation in the event or conference. The 
conference summary report must summarize activities, contacts, outreach 
results, and recommendations for continued or discontinued 
participation in future similar events sponsored by that organization.
    7. Upon request by OSDBU, coordinate efforts with DOT's grantees 
and recipients at the state and/or local levels to sponsor or cosponsor 
an OSDBU transportation related conference in the region
    8. Participate in monthly teleconference call with the Regional 
Assistance Division Program Manager and OSDBU staff.
(F) Short Term Lending Program (STLP)
    1. Work with STLP participating banks and if not available, other 
lending institutions to deliver a minimum of five (5) seminars/
workshops per year on the STLP financial assistance program to the 
transportation-related small business community. The seminar/workshop 
must cover the entire STLP process, from completion of STLP loan 
applications and preparation of the loan package to graduation from the 
STLP.
    2. Provide direct support, technical support, and advocacy services 
to potential STLP applicants to increase the probability of STLP loan 
approval

[[Page 41815]]

and generate a minimum of 7 approved STLP applications per year.
(G) Bonding Education Program (BEP)
    Work with OSDBU, bonding industry partners, local small business 
transportation stakeholders, and local bond producers/agents in your 
region to deliver a minimum of 2 complete BEP seminars. The BEP 
consists of the following components; (1) The stakeholder's meeting; 
(2) the educational workshops component; (3) the bond readiness 
component; and (4) follow-on assistance to BEP participants via 
technical and procurement assistance based on the prescriptive plan 
determined by the BEP. For each BEP event, work with the local bond 
producers/agents in your region and the disadvantaged business 
participants to deliver minimum of 10 disadvantaged business 
participants in the BEP event with either access to bonding or an 
increase in bonding capacity.
    Furnish all labor, facilities and equipment to perform the services 
described in this announcement.
(H) Women and Girls in Transportation Initiative (WITI)
    Pursuant to Executive Order 13506, and 49 U.S.C. 332 (b) (4) & (7), 
the SBTRC shall administer the WITI in their geographical region. The 
SBTRC shall implement the DOT WITI program as defined by the DOT WITI 
Policy. The WITI program is designed to identify, educate, attract, and 
retain women and girls from a variety of disciplines in the 
transportation industry. The SBTRC shall also be responsible for 
outreach activities in the implementation of this program and 
advertising the WITI program to all colleges and universities and 
transportation entities in their region. The WITI program shall be 
developed in conjunction with the skill needs of the USDOT, state and 
local transportation agencies and appropriate private sector 
transportation-related participants including, S/WOBs/DBEs, and women 
organizations involved in transportation. Emphasis shall be placed on 
establishing partnerships with transportation-related businesses. The 
SBTRC will be required to host 1 WITI event and attend at least 5 
events where WITI is presented and marketed.

2.2 Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) 
Responsibilities

    (A) Provide consultation and technical assistance in planning, 
implementing and evaluating activities under this announcement.
    (B) Provide orientation and training to the applicant organization.
    (C) Monitor SBTRC activities, cooperative agreement compliance, and 
overall SBTRC performance.
    (D) Assist SBTRC to develop or strengthen its relationships with 
federal, state, and local transportation authorities, other technical 
assistance organizations, and DOT grantees.
    (E) Facilitate the exchange and transfer of successful program 
activities and information among all SBTRC regions.
    (F) Provide the SBTRC with DOT/OSDBU materials and other relevant 
transportation related information for dissemination.
    (G) Maintain effective communication with the SBTRC and inform them 
of transportation news and contracting opportunities to share with 
small businesses in their region.
    (H) Provide all required forms to be used by the SBTRC for 
reporting purposes under the program.
    (I) Perform an annual performance evaluation of the SBTRC. 
Satisfactory performance is a condition of continued participation of 
the organization as an SBTRC and execution of all option years.

3. Submission of Proposals

3.1 Format for Proposals

    Each proposal must be submitted to DOT's OSDBU in the format set 
forth in the application form attached as Appendix A to this 
announcement.

3.2 Address; Number of Copies; Deadlines for Submission

    Any eligible organization, as defined in Section 1.6 of this 
announcement, will submit only one proposal per organization for 
consideration by OSDBU.
    Applications must be double spaced, and printed in a font size not 
smaller than 12 points. Applications will not exceed 35 single-sided 
pages, not including any requested attachments. All pages should be 
numbered at the top of each page. All documentation, attachments, or 
other information pertinent to the application must be included in a 
single submission. Proposal packages must be submitted electronically 
to OSDBU at SBTRC@dot.gov. The applicant is advised to turn on request 
delivery receipt notification for email submission. Proposals must be 
received by DOT/OSDBU no later than September 1, 2013, 5:00 p.m., EST. 
If you have any problems submitting your proposal, please email 
patricia.martin@dot.gov or telephone (202) 366-5337.

4. Selection Criteria

4.1 General Criteria

    OSDBU will award the cooperative agreement on a best value basis, 
using the following criteria to rate and rank applications:
    Applications will be evaluated using a point system (maximum number 
of points = 100);
     Approach and strategy (25 points)
     Linkages (25 points)
     Organizational Capability/Site visit (25 points)
     Staff Capabilities and Experience (15 points)
     Cost Proposal (10 points)
(A) Approach and Strategy (25 Points)
    The applicant must describe their strategy to achieve the overall 
mission of the SBTRC as described in this solicitation and service the 
small business community in their entire geographic regional area. The 
applicant must also describe how the specific activities outlined in 
Section 2.1 will be implemented and executed in the organization's 
regional area. OSDBU will consider the extent to which the proposed 
objectives are specific, measurable, time-specific, and consistent with 
OSDBU goals and the applicant organization's overall mission. OSDBU 
will give priority consideration to applicants that demonstrate 
innovation and creativity in their approach to assist small businesses 
to become successful transportation contractors and increase their 
ability to access DOT contracting opportunities and financial 
assistance programs. Applicants must also submit the estimated direct 
costs, other than labor, to execute their proposed strategy. OSDBU will 
consider the quality of the applicant's plan for conducting program 
activities and the likelihood that the proposed methods will be 
successful in achieving proposed objectives at the proposed cost.
(B) Linkages (25 Points)
    The applicant must describe their established relationships within 
their geographic region and demonstrate their ability to coordinate and 
establish effective networks with DOT grant recipients and local/
regional technical assistance agencies to maximize resources. OSDBU 
will consider innovative aspects of the applicant's approach and 
strategy to build upon their existing relationships and established 
networks with existing resources in their geographical area. The 
applicant should describe their strategy to obtain support and 
collaboration on SBTRC activities from DOT grantees and

[[Page 41816]]

recipients, transportation prime contractors and subcontractors, the 
SBA, U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development 
Centers (MBDCs), Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), 
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), Small Business 
Development Centers (SBDCs), State DOTs, and State highway supportive 
services contractors. In rating this factor, OSDBU will consider the 
extent to which the applicant demonstrates ability to be 
multidimensional. The applicant must demonstrate that they have the 
ability to access a broad range of supportive services to effectively 
serve a broad range of transportation-related small businesses within 
their respective geographical region.
    Emphasis will also be placed on the extent to which the applicant 
identifies a clear outreach strategy related to the identified needs 
that can be successfully carried out within the period of this 
agreement and a plan for involving the Planning Committee in the 
execution of that strategy.
(C) Organizational Capability (25 Points)
    The applicant must demonstrate that they have the organizational 
capability to meet the program requirements set forth in Section 2. The 
applicant organization must have sufficient resources and past 
performance experience to successfully provide outreach to the small 
business transportation resources in their geographical area and carry 
out the mission of the SBTRC. In rating this factor, OSDBU will 
consider the extent to which the applicant's organization has recent, 
relevant and successful experience in advocating for and addressing the 
needs of small businesses. Applicants will be given points for 
demonstrated past transportation-related performance. The applicant 
must also describe technical and administrative resources it plans to 
use in achieving proposed objectives. In their description, the 
applicant must describe their facilities, computer and technical 
facilities, ability to tap into volunteer staff time, and a plan for 
sufficient matching alternative financial resources to fund the general 
and administrative costs of the SBTRC. The applicant must also describe 
their administrative and financial management staff. It will be the 
responsibility of the successful candidate to not only provide the 
services outlined herein to small businesses in the transportation 
industry, but to also successfully manage and maintain their internal 
financial, payment and invoicing process with their financial 
management offices. OSDBU will place an emphasis on capabilities of the 
applicant's financial management staff. Additionally, a site visit will 
be required prior to award for those candidates that are being strongly 
considered. A member of the OSDBU team will contact those candidates to 
schedule the site visits prior to the award of the agreement.
(D) Staff Capability and Experience (15 Points)
    The applicant organization must provide a list of proposed 
personnel for the project, with salaries, fringe benefit burden 
factors, educational levels and previous experience clearly delineated. 
The applicant's project team must be well-qualified, knowledgeable, and 
able to effectively serve the diverse and broad range of small 
businesses in their geographical region. The Executive Director and the 
Project Director shall be deemed key personnel. Detailed resumes must 
be submitted for all proposed key personnel and outside consultants and 
subcontractors. Proposed key personnel must have detailed demonstrated 
experience providing services similar in scope and nature to the 
proposed effort. The proposed Project Director will serve as the 
responsible individual for the program. 100% of the Project Director's 
time must be dedicated to the SBTRC. Both the Executive Director and 
the Project Director must be located on-site. In this element, OSDBU 
will consider the extent to which the applicant's proposed Staffing 
Plan; (a) clearly meets the education and experience requirements to 
accomplish the objectives of the cooperative agreement; b) delineates 
staff responsibilities and accountability for all work required and; 
(c) presents a clear and feasible ability to execute the applicant's 
proposed approach and strategy.
 (E) Cost Proposal (10 Points)
    Applicants must submit the total proposed cost of establishing and 
administering the SBTRC in the applicant's geographical region for a 12 
month period, inclusive of costs funded through alternative matching 
resources. The applicant's budget must be adequate to support the 
proposed strategy and costs must be reasonable in relation to project 
objectives. The portion of the submitted budget funded by OSDBU cannot 
exceed the ceiling outlined in Section 1.3: Description of Competition 
of this RFP per fiscal year. Applicants are encouraged to provide in-
kind costs and other innovative cost approaches.

4.2 Scoring of Applications

    A review panel will score each application based upon the 
evaluation criteria listed above. Points will be given for each 
evaluation criteria category, not to exceed the maximum number of 
points allowed for each category. Proposals which are deemed non-
responsive, do not meet the established criteria, or incomplete at the 
time of submission will be disqualified. OSDBU will perform a 
responsibility determination of the prospective awardee in the region, 
which will include a site visit, before awarding the cooperative 
agreement.

4.3 Conflicts of Interest

    Applicants must submit signed statements by key personnel and all 
organization principals indicating that they, or members of their 
immediate families, do not have a personal, business or financial 
interest in any DOT-funded transportation project, nor any 
relationships with local or state transportation agencies that may have 
the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Appendix A

Format for Proposals for the Department of Transportation Office of 
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization's Small Business 
Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) Program

    Submitted proposals for the DOT, Office of Small and 
Disadvantaged Business Utilization's Small Business Transportation 
Resource Center Program must contain the following 12 sections and 
be organized in the following order:

1. Table of Contents

    Identify all parts, sections and attachments of the application.

2. Application Summary

    Provide a summary overview of the following:
     The applicant's proposed SBTRC region and city and key 
elements of the plan of action/strategy to achieve the SBTRC 
objectives.
     The applicant's relevant organizational experience and 
capabilities.

3. Understanding of the Work

    Provide a narrative which contains specific project information 
as follows:
     The applicant will describe its understanding of the 
OSDBU's SBTRC program mission and the role of the applicant's 
proposed SBTRC in advancing the program goals.
     The applicant will describe specific outreach needs of 
transportation-related small businesses in the applicant's region 
and how the SBTRC will address the identified needs.

[[Page 41817]]

4. Approach and Strategy

     Describe the applicant's plan of action/strategy for 
conducting the program in terms of the tasks to be performed.
     Describe the specific services or activities to be 
performed and how these services/activities will be implemented.
     Describe innovative and creative approaches to assist 
small businesses to become successful transportation contractors and 
increase their ability to access DOT contracting opportunities and 
financial assistance programs.
     Estimated direct costs, other than labor, to execute 
the proposed strategy.

5. Linkages

     Describe established relationships within the 
geographic region and demonstrate the ability to coordinate and 
establish effective networks with DOT grant recipients and local/
regional technical assistance agencies.
     Describe the strategy to obtain support and 
collaboration on SBTRC activities from DOT grantees and recipients, 
transportation prime contractors and subcontractors, the SBA, U.S. 
Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Centers 
(MBDCs), Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), Procurement 
Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), Small Business Development 
Centers (SBDCs), State DOTs, and State highway supportive services 
contractors.
     Describe the outreach strategy related to the 
identified needs that can be successfully carried out within the 
period of this agreement and a plan for involving the Planning 
Committee in the execution of that strategy.

6. Organizational Capability

     Describe recent and relevant past successful 
performance in addressing the needs of small businesses, 
particularly with respect to transportation-related small 
businesses.
     Describe internal technical, financial management, and 
administrative resources.
     Propose a plan for sufficient matching alternative 
financial resources to fund the general and administrative costs of 
the SBTRC.

7. Staff Capability and Experience

     List proposed key personnel, their salaries and 
proposed fringe benefit factors.
     Describe the education, qualifications and relevant 
experience of key personnel. Attach detailed resumes.
     Proposed staffing plan. Describe how personnel are to 
be organized for the program and how they will be used to accomplish 
program objectives. Outline staff responsibilities, accountability 
and a schedule for conducting program tasks.

8. Cost Proposal

     Outline the total proposed cost of establishing and 
administering the SBTRC in the applicant's geographical region for a 
12 month period, inclusive of costs funded through alternative 
matching resources. Clearly identify the portion of the costs funded 
by OSDBU.
     Provide a brief narrative linking the cost proposal to 
the proposed strategy.

9. Proof of Tax Exempt Status

10. Assurances Signature Form

    Complete the attached Standard Form 424B ASSURANCES-NON-
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS.

11. Certification Signature Forms

    Complete form DOTF2307-1 Drug-Free Workplace Act Certification 
and Form DOTF2308-1 Certification Regarding Lobbying for Contracts, 
Grants, Loans, and Cooperative Agreements.

Signed Conflict of Interest Statements

    The statements must say that they, or members of their immediate 
families, do not have a personal, business or financial interest in 
any DOT-funded transportation projects, nor any relationships with 
local or state transportation agencies that may have the appearance 
of a conflict of interest.

12. Standard Form 424

    Complete Standard Form 424 Application for Federal Assistance.

    Note:  All forms can be downloaded from U.S. Department of 
Transportation Web site at https://www.dot.gov/gsearch/424%2Bform.

    Please be sure that all forms have been signed by an authorized 
official who can legally represent the organization.


    Issued in Washington, DC on June 28, 2013.
Brandon Neal,
Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, 
Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2013-16623 Filed 7-10-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P