American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AIANNH) Projects

American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AIANNH) Projects is sponsored by Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

MBDA's American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AIANNH) Project This Announcement provides information about the Agency’s strategic priorities for the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian project (AIANNH) businesses to encourage new activities, education, outreach, innovative projects that are not addressed through other MBDA programs.

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE - BS Minority Business Enterprise BUSINESS AND COMMERCE - BK Small Business BUSINESS AND COMMERCE - BL Economic Development EDUCATION - GI American Indian or Alaskan Native Education Executive Order 11625 clarifies the authority of the Secretary of Commerce (a) to implement Federal policy in support of the minority business enterprise program; (b) provide additional technical and management assistance to disadvantaged businesses; (c) to assist in demonstration projects; and (d) to coordinate the participation of all Federal departments and agencies in an increased minority enterprise effort.

, Title Coordination of a national program for minority business enterprise, 15 US Code 1512 _These funding amounts do not reflect the award amounts that are displayed on USASpending. gov_ **This listing is NOT funded for the current fiscal year. ** The period of performance for awardees under this program ended on August 31, 2025.

Applicants must submit proof of legal entity, for example, State-issued Certificate of Good Standing, copy of registered Articles of Incorporation, by-laws, IRS 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt letter, authorizing legislation or other evidence of applicant entity legal status. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Federally Recognized Indian/Native American/Alaska Native Tribal Government, Indian/Native American/Alaska Native Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized), Municipality or Township government (inclusive of cities, towns, boroughs (except in Alaska), and villages), County Government (inclusive of boroughs in Alaska, parishes and other governmental entities with geographic regional control and authority), Additional eligibilities are identified within the NOFO.

See below. Eligible applicants include: Indian Tribal governments, Tribal entities, Alaska Native Corporations, Native Hawaiian entities, for-profit entities (including but not limited to sole-proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations), non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, commercial organizations, state and local government entities, and quasi-government entities.

Specific Restrictions Determined at NOFO Level MBE Service Recipients - Organizations that are owned or controlled by the following persons or groups of persons are the organizations that are considered MBEs for the purpose of this BAA AIANNH initiative and for the purpose of pilot or demonstration projects designed to overcome their challenges: Native Americans (Including American Indians), Alaska Natives (including Alaska Native Corporations and Tribal entities), Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Hasidic Jews, and Asian Indians.

Specific Restrictions Determined at NOFO Level Agency Requirements for Each Project a) Alignment to MBDA Mission – Each proposed project should align, compliment and support MBDA’s mission to promote the growth and global competitiveness of America’s minority business enterprise (MBE) community.

b) Service Location - MBDA seeks to fund projects located in a U.S. State or U.S. Territory servicing Tribal and native businesses in one of the locations designated in AIANNH Locations section (I. B. 2 above).

Applications must identify the designated location that it will impact through the award. c) Performance – Funded projects must align with the MBDA program priorities as described in Section I. B.

above. Further, applications must address one or more of the three (3) AIANNH Strategic Initiatives section (I. B.

1 above) in order to support Tribal and native business growth. d) Innovation - Applications must address the unique challenges faced by AIANNH communities and businesses in the designated locations and are encouraged to use innovative approaches to address these challenges.

Applicants requesting an indirect cost rate (IDC) are required to submit a copy of their current and signed indirect cost rate agreement with the application package. If an applicant does not have a current Facilities and Administrative (Indirect) Cost Rate Agreement that was negotiated and approved by the Department of Commerce (or by the applicable cognizant Federal agency), please provide a statement to this effect.

The applicant must prepare and submit a cost allocation plan and rate proposal or a negotiated indirect cost rate as required by 2 CFR Part 200 “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. ” See 2 CFR § 200. 414.

The allocation plan and the rate proposal must be submitted to MBDA (or applicable cognizant Federal agency) within ninety (90) days from the award start date. Alternatively, in accordance with 2 CFR § 200. 414(f), a non-Federal entity that does not have a current negotiated indirect cost rate may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs.

Applicants proposing a 10 percent de minimis rate pursuant to 2 C. F. R.

§ 200. 414(f) should note this election as part of the budget and budget narrative portion of the application. Indirect costs proposed under the award must be clearly identified as a separate budget line-item.

Deadline determined at as part of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) The application deadline for all MBDA Programs are listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement. Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E. O. 12372.

Pre-application webinars are scheduled for all MBDA program competitions. Specific pre-application information is listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program.

Prior to the formal review process, each application will receive an initial administrative screening to ensure that all required forms, signatures, and documents are present.

An application will not be evaluated by the review panel if: a) The application is received after the closing date; b) The application package is not complete; c) The project synopsis/description fails to address one of the above-listed AIANNH Strategic Initiative (see Section I. B.

1, “Program Priorities”); d) The application falls within the scope of an existing MBDA competitive program or announcement for Federal Funding or duplicates a project previously awarded; e) The principal purpose of the activities in the application is to provide a direct benefit or service to MBDA; MBDA Merit Review Panel - Each responsive application will receive an independent, merit review by a panel qualified to evaluate the applications submitted based on the published criteria.

The review panel will consist of at least three (3) individuals, all of whom could be a combination of full-time federal employees and/or non-federal civilians at least one of whom will be an MBDA employee. Each reviewer shall evaluate and provide individual scores for each proposal based on the criteria set out in this Section (see Application Review Information, above) for a maximum of 100 points.

The Applicant Narrative section of the application will be eligible for a total of 65 points, the Applicant Budget section will be eligible for 35 points. The review panel may discuss the application(s) but will not provide a consensus on scores for each applicant. Each application will be reviewed against the criteria individually.

(i.e., applications will not be compared to others). The Chairperson of the merit review panel will be responsible for averaging reviewers’ scores, collating reviewer comments, and completing an evaluation. Applications that receive an overall average of 75 points or more will be considered for funding.

Applications receiving an average score of 60 to 74 points may be given a second consideration for funding if the applicant is able to respond to the panel’s request for additional information/negotiation within an allotted time. Applications receiving fewer than 60 points will not be considered for funding.

The applications receiving an initial average score of 75 points or higher or applications given a second consideration (as noted above) will be forwarded to the Program Manager for review and consideration of the merit panel evaluation and overall average score. Upon completion, the Program Manager will forward funding recommendations to the Selecting Official.

The MBDA National Director is the MBDA Selecting Official and makes the final recommendation to the Grants Officer regarding the funding of applications under this Announcement.

The Selecting Official will recommend funding for applications evaluated as meritorious based on the final scores as prepared by the Merit Review Panel; however, the Selecting Official also may recommend an application for an award based on one or more of the following selection factors: the availability of funds, Presidential, Department of Commerce, or MBDA priorities; and geographic distribution of Projects and/or geographic region/area served by the Project.

Prior to making a final recommendation for funding to the Grants Officer, MBDA may conduct negotiations with an applicant regarding the elements of the application and/or may request that the applicant provide written clarifications regarding its application. After applications are proposed for funding by the selecting official, the Grants Management Division performs administrative reviews.

These may include reviews of the financial stability of an applicant, quality of the applicant's management systems, history of performance, and the applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on non-Federal entities. Upon review of these factors, if appropriate, special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk may be applied to an award.

Additional details may be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement. From 90 to 120 days. The notice of award (CD-450) is executed by the Department of Commerce Grants Officer and is the authorizing document.

It is generally provided electronically via the Grants Online system to the Authorized Representative of the recipient organization. The Authorized Representative for a successful applicant will receive instructions from MBDA on how to access the Grants Online system to accept the award. MBDA anticipates award(s) will be made with a start date of September 1, 2021.

MBDA will notify unsuccessful applicants, in writing, after a final selection has been made and after an offer has been accepted. Those applications that are not ultimately selected for funding will be retained by MBDA for a period of three (3) years after which they will be destroyed.

On occasion, competitive solicitations or competitive panels may produce less than optimum results, such as a competition resulting in the receipt of no applications or a competition resulting in all unresponsive applications received. From 60 to 90 days.

MBDA Business Center awards are typically made for a period of five years, with funding renewed on an annual basis at the discretion of MBDA and the Department of Commerce based upon the availability of funds, the recipient’s performance level, and Agency priorities. Not Applicable. All decisions are final.

There are no administrative appeals; however, unsuccessful applicants may request a debriefing from MBDA.

The following 2CFR policy requirements apply to this assistance listing: Subpart B, General provisions Subpart C, Pre-Federal Award Requirements and Contents of Federal Awards Subpart D, Post Federal; Award Requirements Subpart E, Cost Principles Subpart F, Audit Requirements The following 2CFR policy requirements are excluded from coverage under this assistance listing: **Financial Reports:**The financial report shall include details on the use of Federal funds and contributions of non-Federal funds (if proposed).

The financial reports are to be submitted to the Department of Commerce via Grants Online on a semi-annual and annual basis. The semi-annual and annual reports are due thirty (30) days after the end of the initial six-month period in each funding period. The final report is due within one-hundred-twenty (120) days after the expiration of the award.

, Frequency: Semi-Annually Annually Project Closeout/Final Report **Progress/Performance Reports :**Progress reports are to be submitted to the Department of Commerce via Grants Online on a semi-annual and annual basis. The semi-annual report is due forty-five (45) days after the end of the initial six-month period in each funding period. The final report is due within one-hundred-twenty (120) days after the expiration of the award.

The semi-annual and annual reports must include data and information to determine project progression and success. MBDA will rely on these reports, data, and information as evidence for future program design, policy recommendations, and/or statistical purposes. Note: failure to submit reports in a timely manner may result in MBDA award enforcement and/or delayed access to Federal funds.

, Frequency: Semi-Annually Annually Project Closeout/Final Report Documents, papers and financial records of grantees or subrecipients relating to the award are required to remain available to the Federal Government for three years from the date of submission of the final financial status report, unless a longer retention period is required under 15 CFR Section 14. 53 or 15 CFR Section 24. 42 (depending on the type of recipient).

Retention Period: 3 Years 1401 Constitution Avenue, MBDA Native American Business Enterprise Entrepreneurship Program **To:**MBDA Native American Business Enterprise Entrepreneurship Program **From:**MBDA AIANNH Project (FY21) **To:**MBDA AIANNH Project (FY21) **From:**MBDA American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Project **To:**MBDA American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Project **From:**MBDA Business Center - American Indian and Alaska Native MBDA Business Center - American Indian and Alaska Native MBDA Business Center - American Indian and Alaska Native MBDA Business Center - American Indian and Alaska Native MBDA Business Center - American Indian and Alaska Native MBDA Business Center - American Indian and Alaska Native MBDA Business Center - American Indian and Alaska Native MBDA Business Center - American Indian and Alaska Native MBDA Business Center - American Indian and Alaska Native