L -- BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS LEARNING, INVESTMENT, NETWORKING AND COLLABORATION (BUSINESS LINC) PROGRAM

Notice Date

January 26, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Procurement and Grants Management, 409 3rd Street, SUITE 5000,5th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20416

ZIP Code

20416

Response Due

March 20, 2001

Point of Contact

Marty Gold (202) 205-7549 or Mina A. Bookhard (202) 205-7080

Description

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) invites applications for awards for fiscal year 2001 under a grant competition supported by sub-section 102 of Public Law No. 106-554, Business LINC Grants and Cooperative Agreements ("Business LINC"). The statute authorizes the Administrator to enter into cooperative agreements with qualified coalitions of public and private entities to promote the growth of small businesses by matching large concerns with small concerns and creating business-to-business partnering and mentoring relationships. These Business LINC cooperative agreements would provide funding to qualified coalitions to: (1) expand business-to-business relationships between large and small businesses, and (2) provide businesses with online information and a database of companies that are interested in mentor-protege programs or community-based, statewide, or local business development programs. Coalitions may consist of public entities, private entities, or a combination of public private entitites. To qualify, the coalition must provide an amount, either in-kind or in cash, equal to the grant amount. Subject to funding availability, SBA intends to award up to $7.0 million in appropriated funds under this notice and expects to issue up to 50 awards. SBA reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all or none of the applications submitted in response to this notice. Award amounts may vay, depending upon availability of funds (and performance for option years); however, award amounts will be at least $25,000 and no single awardee may receive more that $250,000 in a single fiscal year. The selection criteria to be used for this competition will be provided in the application package. The closing date for applications is March 20, 2001, 4p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST). To obtain a copy of the complete application package, call Mina Bookhard at (202) 205-7080, or see the Business LINC Program Announcement under the "Go To New Stuff" icon on SBA's website at www.sba.gov. Questions concerning the technical aspects of this notice should be directed to Marty Gold (202) 205-7549. Questions about the budget or funding matters should be directed to Mina Bookhard at (202) 205-7080.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010130/LSOL001.HTM (W-026 SN50B9Y2)