Hispanic Serving Institutions_Entrepreneurial Training and Technical Assistance
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
To support Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) to achieve their principle mission; utilize the resources of HSIs to increase the ability of small and disadvantaged business enterprises (S/DBEs) to participate in transportation-related projects; and assist S/DBEs in obtaining information on DOT procurement opportunities and provide training and technical assistance to enhance DBEs and small business opportunity to successfully compete on DOT contracts and funded projects.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
Financial assistance under this section may be used by educational institutions to design and carry out programs to encourage, promote and assist minority entrepreneurs and small businesses compete in transportation-related contracts, subcontracts and projects. Funds may also be used to develop educational programs designed to enhance DBEs' knowledge of the transportation field, and thus increasing their capabilities to successfully compete in transportation-related contracts. In addition, this project will attract more of the Nation's young talent into transportation-related careers by providing through their academic course studies and practical experience through internships.
Who is eligible to apply...
Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) are accredited and degree-granting public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education with at least 25 percent of total undergraduate Hispanic full-time student enrollment.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
Announcement was published in the Commerce Business Daily. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular A-110 for nonprofit institutions.
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
Applications will be evaluated by a review panel. Decisions on acceptability are made by the Director, OSDBU. The Department of Transportation will award the Cooperative Agreement. Only one project will be awarded to an HIS; therefore, institutions with multiple campuses should coordinate and submit only one application per HIS. Further, in order to avoid duplication of efforts, only one cooperative agreement will be awarded in any one State.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
To be determined.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Selections for award will be announced by DOT press release.
Preapplication Coordination
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
Renewals will be based upon funding availability and program evaluation.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
Minority, women-owned, disadvantaged business enterprises and small businesses. Hispanic-Serving Institutions of higher education. Students meeting eligibility requirements.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Project Grants
The funding, for fixed or known periods, of specific projects. Project grants can include fellowships, scholarships, research grants, training grants, traineeships, experimental and demonstration grants, evaluation grants, planning grants, technical assistance grants, survey grants, and construction grants.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Average: Three Cooperative agreements were awarded for a one year period; two in the amount of $80,000 each and one in the amount of $94,000 in Fiscal year 2003.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 02 $254,000; FY 03 $254,000; and FY 043 est $254,000.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
69-0102-0-1-407.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
Cooperative Agreements will have five major activities including: establish an internet use and access capability; train and provide technical assistance to small, disadvantaged and women-owned business entrepreneurs in the areas and access of Electronic Commerce (EC), application of electronic communication technology, status of the Federal implementation of EC; provide funding for transportation related student internships to support the outreach and training activities; provide information dissemination and outreach activities regarding the Presidential initiative to hire individuals off the welfare rolls and support the DOT Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Futures Program.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
In FY 2003 three agreements were awarded to Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, Texas, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, Florida, and California State University, San Bernardinol California.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
Proposals are rated on a 100- point numerical scale and weighted using the following factors: Approach (25 points); linkages (25 points); organizational capability (25 points); staff capabilities and experience (15 points); and cost (10 points).
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
One year cooperative agreements of $80,000 each were obligated in fiscal years 2000 and 2001.
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
Implementation plan; quarterly progress reports; and a final report at the end of the project.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
Audits
DOT's Inspector General and the Comptroller General of the United States may at all reasonable times investigate and audit, in the offices of the grantee, all documents, papers, books and records relevant to the execution and implementation of the conditions of this agreement.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
Records
Recipient is required to retain all documents, files, books, and records relevant to the execution and implementation of the conditions of this agreement for a period of not less than 3 years, except when litigation, dispute, exception, or audit have been filed. In that case, the records and other materials shall be retained until the litigation, dispute, exception, or audit is judicially or administratively made final.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Public Law 97-449, 49 U.S.C. 332, 96 Stat. 2428; Higher Education Act of 1965, Title III, Section 316(a), Public Law 102-325, 20 U.S.C. 1059c; Executive Order 12729, Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, dated February 22, 1994.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
Will be published in the Commerce Business Daily.