The SBA, Office of Entrepreneurial Development, has a need for professional support of its Regional Innovation Clusters Program.

The SBA is investing in regional clusters throughout the United States. Clusters are geographic concentrations of interconnected companies and institutions in a particular field. These clusters span a variety of industries that include energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and advanced defense technologies. The goal of the Agency’s involvement in clusters is to increase small business participation and economic activity.

A cluster initiative serves as an organizing entity. The cluster activities increase opportunities for small businesses to participate, promote innovation within the chosen industry, and generally enhance regional economic growth.

Cluster initiatives build off organic clusters by purposely integrating small, medium, and large companies, non-profit organizations, and universities for business funding and research opportunities that create jobs, attract capital, and have long-term, positive economic impact.

Each cluster provides the small business community with matchmaking opportunities, business training, counseling, and mentoring.

Successful cluster initiative proposals will include partnerships with and between business and industry groups, academic institutions, economic development organizations, entrepreneurial education programs, and training initiatives – and will reflect an industry-specific or region-specific focus and collaboration.

The SBA intends to award three to four contracts to contractors to head cluster initiatives. Each contract will be for a base year and four option years. The base year is expected to be for a firm-fixed, not-to-exceed (level-of-effort) price of approximately $500,000 to $600,000. Travel costs and event costs will be included in the negotiated firm-fixed, not-to-exceed price.

Full Notice: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=80fd3802710c2b1f1785ee64352cc1fa&tab=core&tabmode=list&

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"If you do not start developing a Big Data strategy within the next few years, your company will not exist anymore in 10-15 years. Big Data is not something you want to be dealt with by your IT department. Big Data is so important, that it better keeps your Board, and especially your CEO, awake every night."

Why Your CEO Should Be Awake Every Night Because of Big Data http://www.matr.net/article-60474.html