U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide $600,000 in Funding for Regional Clusters

[CC-Conrad Clyburn-MedForeSight]

Colleagues,

I believe this is an exciting opportunity ... Please let me know if you find this of interest..  If so, let's talk about how one might capture this rare "Triple Helix" funding opportunity ...

ENJOY!

CC
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... The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the availability of funding to support economic development and job creation through existing regional clusters....

...  As part of its Regional Cluster Initiative, SBA will accept proposals from local and regional cluster initiatives beginning July 7 for funding of up to $600,000 per cluster to support up to 15 projects across the country ...

... Proposals should be submitted by the cluster’s coordinating entity.  SBA’s Regional Cluster Initiative focuses on accelerating small business growth and job creation through clusters that leverage and align a region’s economic, business and workforce assets. Regional clusters are networks of organizations and businesses in a geographic area that grow through increased collaboration, efficiency and innovation...

... SBA is launching two programs within its Regional Cluster Initiative: Regional Innovation Clusters (RICs) and Advanced Defense Technologies (ADTs). Prospective offerors for both solicitations may find additional information through the Federal Business Opportunities website (www.fedbizopps.gov)...


REGIONAL INNOVATION CLUSTERS (RICs)
... Successful offerors will receive a one-year contract with an option for an additional year to provide business training, commercialization and technology transfer services, counseling, mentoring and other services that support the growth and development of small businesses in the cluster area and its industries...
... Information on the RIC solicitation (SBAHQ-10-R-0021) is available at https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=7e3fa8...  ...

ADVANCED DEFENSE TECHNOLOGIES (ADTs)
SBA is working with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to identify areas around the country where regional innovation clusters can help meet critical defense technology needs. Successful offerors that meet specified criteria will receive a one-year contract with an option for an additional year to provide business training, counseling, mentoring, matchmaking, and other services to small businesses that focus on critical DOD technologies...

... Areas of high-growth potential critical to DOD include, but are not limited to, advanced robotics, advanced defense systems, power/energy innovations, cyber-security and applied lightweight materials ...... Experience working with DOD’s Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program and defense technology development programs is preferred. Offerors with Defense Security Service Facility Clearances who can hold security clearances and discuss classified material on site are also preferred but not required...
... Information on the ADT solicitation (SBAHQW-10-R-0022) is available at https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=78cf4b...
..

ENJOY!

CC

[Marcia Eichenauer]

Christ King Of kings Network has contacts in SW Flordia with both Florida University (Medical) Development offices, as well as Regional Community Healthcare Initiatives. The State of Fla is very interested in Telemed and I have contacts at the state's telemed office, as well.

As you know, we are collaborating with an org of volunteer doctors for a project in Haiti, to link doctors and victims via new social media apps. With some help from you, further support, we could expand this to address violence against women and children, with a larger/high level network.

We are interested in both of the opps above and are applying for a defense contract within the context of what we are already doing. We will be submitting a paper for a presentation to a med tech conference about our work.

You have my contact email, CC. My phone is 239 949 6705. We can discuss our Haiti new media project HAITIGOFish, as well as our streaming media project Christ King Of kings Info. which is more like a TV network with streaming to address mental health issues/violence.

We are getting interest from Business Development strategists as well as other potential investors/partners, etc. within our Christian networks.


Grace and peace,
Marcia Lynn

[CC-Conrad Clyburn-MedForeSight]

Marcia,

Thank you for the note. When will be a good time to call?

CC

[Marcia Eichenauer]

CC, any day this week, after 3 pm. Just let me know what day is best.

Thanks, CC, looking forward to it,
ML

[CC-Conrad Clyburn-MedForeSight]

Marcia,

I will call tomorrow at 3:00PM. I look forward to talking.

CC

[Marcia Eichenauer]

CC,

yes, tomorrow, 3 pm!
ML

[CC-Conrad Clyburn-MedForeSight]

Colleagues,

FAQs on SBA Regional Clusters Initiative RFP.

Thanx to MedTech-IQ member Paul Cox for the link.

CC
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Clusters
SBA Program Office

Frequently Asked Questions



What is a regional cluster?

* A regional cluster is a geographically-bounded, active network of similar, synergistic or complementary organizations engaged in or with a particular industry sector, with active channels for business transactions, communications, and dialogue that share specialized infrastructure, labor markets and services and that are located within a defined geographic region.

A cluster’s region may cross municipal, county, and other jurisdictional boundaries. A cluster often encompasses local universities, government research centers, and/or other research and development (R&D) resources, which serve as catalysts of innovation and drivers of regional economic growth. In addition, participants in the cluster may have strategic partnerships with entities outside of the cluster’s geographic region. A successful cluster will leverage the region's unique competitive strengths and find ways to nurture networks for business financing, business-to-business sales, education, and workforce development. These networks work in concert with local governments, venture capitalists, private banks, workforce investment boards, non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education (including community colleges), and other public and private agencies and institutions.


Who can submit an offer for a contract?

* Proposals should be submitted by the cluster or the cluster’s representative or coordinating entity, which will be responsible for performing the services set forth in the proposal, such as business training, commercialization and technology transfer services, counseling, mentoring and other services that support the growth and development of small businesses in the cluster area and its industries.

What’s the difference between the two programs?

* The Regional Innovation Clusters (RIC) program is non-specific to a particular technology or industry. This program seeks to leverage the organic, bottom-up nature in which clusters most typically form. While SBA does not specify which technology or industry a cluster specializes in, a cluster must be focused on a technology or industry.
* The Advanced Defense Technology (ADT) program seeks clusters that specialize in defense-specific technologies.


Can I compete under both programs?

* Offerors may compete under only one program.


What are the requirements?

* SBA will select community/regional initiatives across the country that meet criteria specified in the Statement of Work.
* Offerors to the Regional Innovation Clusters program will be asked to demonstrate that they have the partnerships, technical capacity and local assets to support their existing regional cluster. SBA will assess Regional Innovation Clusters by the impact the cluster has on the region’s economic growth, creation of sustainable jobs and the opportunities the Regional Innovation Cluster provides for small businesses.
* Offerors to the Advanced Defense Technologies program should work in areas with high-growth potential that meet critical defense technology needs, including, but not limited to, advanced robotics, advanced defense systems, power/energy innovations, cyber-security and applied lightweight materials.
* For the ADT program, experience working with DOD’s Small Business Innovative Research program and defense technology development programs is preferred. Offerors with Defense Security Service Facility Clearances who can hold security clearances and discuss classified material on site are also preferred but not required.
* Successful offerors under both programs will receive one-year contracts with an option for an additional year.

Where can I find more information?

* More information will be available shortly! SBA will issue the Solicitation on or about July 7, 2010, and it will be available on www.fedbizopps.gov.
* In addition, SBA will have information webinars for interested offerors.

When is the application deadline?

* We anticipate that the due date for proposals will be 5:00 pm EDT, Friday, August 13, 2010. However, prospective Offerors should monitor www.fedbizopps.gov for any amendments.

[Marcia Eichenauer]

Thanks, CC, we are looking at how we may address these two, with a bridge/link and via a christian new media network/app. As you know, we are addressing violence against women and children/human traffficking...let me know if this may be possible 'in the mix' as we have over 100 doctors who are interested in participating...all christian, ML
* The Regional Innovation Clusters (RIC) program is non-specific to a particular technology or industry. This program seeks to leverage the organic, bottom-up nature in which clusters most typically form. While SBA does not specify which technology or industry a cluster specializes in, a cluster must be focused on a technology or industry.
* The Advanced Defense Technology (ADT) program seeks clusters that specialize in defense-specific technologies