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Regional Innovation Clusters Program – 2015 Solicitation Now Open

On June 5th, 2015, the SBA released a combined synopsis/solicitation on FedBizOpps.gov for regional innovation cluster initiative services. The SBA intends to award a total of up to three contracts for entities to head regional innovation cluster initiatives. This combined synopsis/solicitation is partially set-aside for award to one qualified small business. The remaining two awards are being competed full and open.

Link to the full notice on FedBIzOpps:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=bcbfb49702a2e0e50ad70ab3e6a64184&tab=core&_cview=0

Brief Summary of the SBA Clusters Program and Solicitation SBAHQ-15-R-0015:

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 connect and enhance innovation assets so that small businesses can effectively leverage them to commercialize new technologies and expand into new markets, thereby positioning themselves and their regional economies for growth.

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

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

Each cluster initiative provides the small businesses in the cluster 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 and region-specific focus and collaboration.

The SBA intends to award a total of three 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, level-of-effort price not to exceed $500,000.00. Travel costs and event costs will be included in the negotiated firm-fixed, not-to-exceed price.

As part of SBA’s involvement in the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative, the SBA intends to make one of the three contemplated contract awards to an entity that will provide cluster initiative services to a community affected by changes in the coal economy. Offerors who intend to submit a proposal to serve a community affected by the coal economy should cross reference the POWER Federal Funding Opportunity and take note of the special instructions included in the SBA statement of work.

Additionally and among all three contemplated awards this year, the SBA will take into consideration whether proposing entities are part of and will provide services to communities with an Investing in Manufacturing and Communities Partnership (IMCP) designation, as well as entities that are part of a Promise Zone designation.

An overview webinar will be held by the Program Office on June 11, 2015 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. The webinar is entitled "SBA Regional Innovation Clusters 2015 Solicitation: Informational Webinar". The link to this webinar is: http://emsp.intellor.com/login/420309 The webinar is informational only; no interaction with listeners will occur.

Potential Offerors may direct questions by email only to the Contracting Officer (CO) within the time allowed following the posting of this Combined Synopsis/Solicitation. Questions and answers will be provided in writing and posted by amendment to this notice on this website. The date and time when written questions by email shall be submitted to the CO is no later than 3 p.m., Mountain Time, June 23, 2015. Note that, due to the press of business, no other form of communication from an Offeror will be entertained or replied to by the CO. The email address for the CO is [email protected].

The date and time when written proposals are due to the CO is August 4, 2015, no later than 3 p.m., Mountain Time.

For more information on the SBA Clusters Program:

https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-initiatives/clusters-initiative

Thanks to Wayne Gardella and Gloria O’Rourke for passing this along

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