NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE The Small Business Administration (SBA) intends to award a sole source/single award BPA to America's SBDC (ASBDC) for Accreditation reviews of Small Business Development Center grantees under the authority of 6.302-5 Authorized or required by statute (41 U.S.C.3304(a)(5). Pursuant to section 21 of the Small Business Act, SBA is authorized to carry out the Small Business Development Center Program. Section 21(a)(3)(A) of the Small Business Act further authorizes the small business centers to form an association to pursue matters of common concern and if more than a majority of the small business development centers are members of the association, the SBA “is authorized and directed to recognize the existence and activities of such an association and to consult with it and develop documents (i) announcing the annual scope of activities pursuant to this section, (ii) requesting proposals to deliver assistance as provided by this section, and (iii) governing the general operations and administration of the Small Business Development Center Program.” Additionally, section 21(k)(2), provides that SBA “may provide financial support, by contract or otherwise, to the association authorized by subsection a(3)(A) of this section for the purpose of developing a small business development center accreditation program. With regard to funding, section 20(a)(1)(D) of the Small Business Act provides that funds shall be available “to pay the expenses of the association referred to in section 21(a)(3)(A) for conducting the accreditation program, as provided in section 21(k)(2).” Therefore, under this statutory authority, the SBA seeks to procure services from the Association of Small Business Development Centers. America's SBDC is the association that represents America's nationwide network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). https://americassbdc.org/. The BPA period of performance shall be from the date of award for a 1 (one) 12 (twelve) month base period and 4 (four) consecutive 12 (twelve) month option periods. The total estimated value of the BPA will be 500,000.00. This is a NOTICE OF INTENT and no solicitation is currently available for this requirement. This NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE QUOTES OR A SOLICITATION FOR OFFERS ; however, if any firm believes that the SBA should not pursue a sole-source BPA with America's SBDC, or if it believes it can perform the requirements as described above and within the attached “draft” Statement of Work”, that firm may contact the procuring agency in writing (electronically) with supporting evidence (capability statement only with corresponding pricing information (if applicable) that demonstrates in detail the ability to perform the requirements. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed procurement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The SBA will not be responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this notice. This notice in no way obligates the Government to award any contract. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. Responses or questions relative to this action shall be emailed to Pedro Arritola-Vazquez at
[email protected] no later than 18 May 2021, 5:00 P.M. EST.