80-4, 60-1

The APEX Accelerators assist small businesses looking to enter the world of government contracting. The local centers provide one-on-one advising, technical information, marketing assistance and training to businesses interested in selling their products or services to local, state, and/or federal government agencies. Services include targeting appropriate agencies; bid lead matching services; access to specs and standards; assist with quality issues and more.

This award is governed by provisions of Chapter I, Subchapter C of Title 32, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), “DoD Grant and Agreement Regulations” (DoDGARs), Parts 21, 22, 26, 28, 34; and Title 2 CFR, Parts 1122 and 1125.

20 ILCS 605/605-505

N/A

Award recipients must establish and maintain an APEX Accelerator with physical location(s) to serve as a resource for large and small businesses to obtain procurement technical assistance. Procurement technical assistance means professional, specialized assistance provided to clients that enables them to identify potential contractual opportunities and obtain or perform under contracts, innovation and technology grants, and other DoD-funded instruments, with DoD, other Federal agencies, State and/or local governments, and with Federal, State and/or local government contractors. Clients may include any business pursuing or performing these types of contracts or subcontracts at any tier. As used in this part, the terms “State” and “local government” have the meanings provided in 10 U.S.C. 4951. Innovation and technology grants refer to awards issued pursuant to the Small Business Innovation Research and/or Small Business Technology Transfer programs. You must collaborate with DoD and other Federal agencies and work cooperatively with them to accomplish the work under this award.

Yes

FY 2023 APEX Accelerators Award-Specific Terms and Conditions 2.0

Nonprofit Organizations; Education Organizations; Government Organizations;

This Request for Application package is intended to solicit applications from qualified Illinois universities, colleges, chambers of commerce and other non-profit business development related organizations that are interested in operating an Illinois APEX Accelerator. The program's primary purpose is to provide information and guidance to assist Illinois small businesses in the area of government procurement and to accelerate the growth potential of viable, long-term, entrepreneurial ventures and small businesses in order to create and retain jobs in Illinois. Entities listed in the System for Award Management (SAM) “Excluded Parties List System (EPLS)” are not eligible for an award. An entity that employs any person listed in the SAM’s EPLS

Small businesses interested in pursuing government contracts, businesses seeking assistance in certification as minority, women, service-disabled veteran owned businesses, and government prime-contractors seeking small business subcontractors.

Advisory Services and Counseling

Economic Development

N/A

Executive Summary Prepare a one-page executive summary, which provides an overview of the major highlights and key points of the application. The participating agencies and the amount of funding requested for each program should also be included in this clear, succinct and concise summary. Center Requirements 1. Staffing An organizational chart of the center(s) and of the host institution is required. Resumes should be provided on all key program staff (e.g. center director, business specialist, coordinator, etc.). The specific duties and responsibilities of staff should be defined. Describe how staff impacts the delivery of center services. 2. Recognition and Identity Describe your plan to implement the APEX Accelerator recognition and identity standards. 3. Knowledge of Client Needs and Expectations Describe the systematic process or processes used to analyze the needs of center clients and the small business community. 4. Market Sector Focus Fully describe the market sector focus for the planned APEX Accelerator. Clearly identify the key strengths of the applicant and how the applicant plans to share these strengths and special market sector focus with the other programs. Each Illinois APEX Accelerator must identify its specific market sector and demographic focus and strengths. This focus should be based on the strengths of the local economy as well as the abilities and strengths of the local APEX Accelerator. The support and expertise housed within the host institution will also play an important role in determining the key market sector focus of the APEX Accelerator. 5. Marketing Provide an outline of the plans to market the services and programs of the center(s) to the appropriate client base. 6. Resource Partners Describe how the center will leverage and coordinate area business assistance resources to provide services to the entire area to be served. Please indicate in this section if you are also submitting an application package for the Illinois Small Business Development Center. 7. Advisory Board Describe the make-up of the center Advisory Board and how it will be utilized to support the center. Please indicate how often the Advisory Board will meet and include a list of members and organizations/sectors represented, if available. 8. Financial Management Identify the fiscal agent for the center program(s). Describe your organization’s fiscal procedures and controls and responsible staff in the following areas: reconciliation of cash accounts, segregation of program income, maintenance of property control records, time and effort certification, bookkeeping procedures, and the maintenance of general ledgers. 9. Office Operations Identify the location, address and operating hours of the center(s). Provide a description of how clients will be serviced when professional staff is out of the office. Include a description of the facility along with parking arrangements, accessibility and signage. Performance Indicators/Measures Form Complete separate performance indicators/measures in this application package for each program area addressed. Provide a detailed narrative describing how the projected outputs and outcomes were determined.

Eligible parties must submit a complete application in compliance with the Illinois APEX Accelerator Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Documents include but are not limited to uniform application, uniform budget template, scope of work, mandatory disclosure, and conflict of interest form.

The Illinois APEX Accelerator must provide statewide coverage for the technical assistance provided therefore geographical dispersion, program balance, and diversity are all factors.

Merit-based review with 3 reviews per application. Only one review by program staff and funds are disbursed on reimbursement basis with verifiable documentation.

TBD

It varies, current awards 120 - 180 days.

The Merit Based Review process is subject to appeal. However, competitive grant appeals are limited to the evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested. Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Department within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published. The written appeal shall include the name and address of the appealing party, the identification of the grant and a statement of reasons for the appeal. To file an appeal, applicants must submit the appeal in writing and in accordance with the Merit-Based Application Review Appeals Process listed on the Grant Opportunities page of the DCEO website: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/AboutDCEO/GrantOpportunities/Pages/MeritAppReview.aspx.

Current grants are for 1 year with 2 - 1 year renewal options.

Grantees must match grants with 50% cash.

The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (“Final Guidance”), located at 2 C.F.R. 200 et seq., supersedes and combines the requirements of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars A-21, A-87, A-102, A-110, A-122, and A-133. The SBA has published exceptions to the Final Guidance at 2 C.F.R. Part 2701

Quarterly PFR and PPR

Standard GATA requirements

Standard GATA requirements

Various

Various

$90,000 - $160,000

N/A

The guidance in 2 CFR part 200, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards,” as modified and supplemented by the Department of Defense’s (DoD) interim implementation found at 2 CFR Part 1104, “Implementation of Governmentwide Guidance for Grants and Cooperative Agreements.”

N/A

500 East Monroe Springfield, IL 62701 and 555 W Monroe St, 12th Floor Chicago, IL 60661

https://dceo.illinois.gov/smallbizassistance/beginhere/ptac.html

N/A

Illinois APEX Accelerator at College of DuPage

FY 2015 : $612,211
FY 2016 : $524,184
FY 2017 : $523,153
FY 2018 : $500,000
FY 2024 : $1