REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WASHINGTON STATE MICROENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION. Microenterprise Project Grants. Notification: December 2, 2009

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1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WASHINGTON STATE MICROENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION Microenterprise Project Grants Notification: December 2, 2009 Washington State Microenterprise Association 500 South 336 th Street, Suite 208 Federal Way, WA

2 WASHINGTON STATE MICROENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION Request for Proposals Microenterprise Project Grants I. PURPOSE OF REQUEST The Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) is seeking proposals from Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDO s) and those interested in becoming MDO s throughout Washington State in support of efforts to expand availability of and access to microenterprise development services. Funding for these grants is made possible by the State of Washington for the following purpose: 1) Provide funds to support capacity building for microenterprise development organizations in Washington state. 2) Provide grants to microenterprise development organizations for the delivery of training and technical assistance services This Request for Proposals (RFP) is designed to secure applications for funding by Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDO s) or emerging MDO s who wish to address program delivery and / or capacity building on a project specific basis. See Eligible Uses, Section V. Amount and Number of Awards: WSMA has a very limited pool of funds for re-granting for the biennium. We anticipate awarding two to three (2-3) $8,000 $12,000 Microenterprise Grant awards which will be renewable (one time only) based on availability of funds. The initial grant award will be for a performance period of January May As funding permits, the second grant/performance period will be for 11 months, from July 2009 May II. TIME SCHEDULE Proposals will be accepted if received on or before 5:00 pm, January 8 th, Organizations submitting proposals shall assume any and all risk for the proper delivery of their proposal. See Section III for delivery information. WSMA will use the following timetable for awarding funds. This timeline may be adjusted at the discretion of the WSMA: December 2, 2009: RFP notification December 10, 2009 Application teleconference ** January 8, 2010: Proposals due to WSMA January 22, 2010: Grant review and selection process complete January, 25, 2010: Announcement of awardees January 30, 2010: Facilitation of funding contracts **Teleconference Information: December 10, 2009 at 1:00pm. To participate in the teleconference dial (866) , enter Access Code and follow instructions.

3 III. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPOSALS A. All proposals must be electronically submitted with proper documentation to Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA), Attention Teresa Lemmons, Executive Director at by the due date herein. Electronic submittal is mandatory to facilitate the review and selection process. Proposals should be in PDF format. An official signed original with proper attachments must also be submitted to WSMA at the below address. It must be postmarked no later than January 8 th : Washington State Microenterprise Association 500 South 336 th Street, Suite 208 Federal Way, WA B. Signed original proposals must be in a sealed envelope and clearly marked in the lower lefthand corner: WSMA RFP. No fax or telephone proposals will be accepted. C. Proposals must provide all of the information called for in section VII of this RFP. Please answer each item. Incomplete proposals will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding. D. All proposals must provide a cash-match equivalent to 25% of the total project costs. A letter certifying the source and availability of funds must be included with your proposal and signed by an authorizing party. E. Proposals should be no more than five pages in length using a 12 point font and 1-1/2 line spacing. Please do not exceed page limits. F. Proposals should be prepared simply and economically, with an emphasis on completeness and clarity of content. G. Proposals must be received by 5:00 pm, January 8, WSMA assumes no responsibility for delays caused by any delivery method. H. Questions can be directed to Teresa Lemmons at teresa@wamicrobiz.org or IV. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS To be eligible for funding, an applicant must be a non-profit MDO serving disadvantaged populations. WSMA defines a Microenterprise Development Organization as a non-profit entity committed to encouraging, supporting and providing resources to micro entrepreneurs through training, technical assistance and access to micro-capital. MDO s typically serve low-tomoderate income individuals pursuing financial self-sufficiency; target small businesses with five or fewer employees; and those who may require up to $35,000 in capital. Eligible organizations may include the following: Existing microenterprise organizations Community-based organizations seeking to strengthen their microenterprise development activity.

4 V. ELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS Due to a short time frame for use of funds, eligible projects must be initiated no later than January 30, 2010 and completed no later than May 30, 2010 for initial funding. Eligible activities include: expanding services or serving a new market (geographic or target population), training and technical assistance services, technology and capacity building activity. Eligible uses of funds include: personnel, supplies and materials, space and equipment, travel, consulting fees, and other project related expenses. Loan packaging and technical assistance to borrowers is an eligible use of funds; however, funds may not be used to provide grants, loans, or investments directly to businesses as per state funding restrictions. Due to current economic concerns, our funding emphasis will be toward projects that can demonstrate tangible job creation, business creation and access to capital outcomes. VI. SELECTION CRITERIA The following factors will be considered in selecting projects for funding: Organizational Eligibility Organizational ability to provide business development services in low-income communities the ability to carry out the proposed project Availability and commitment of matching funds Reasonableness of proposed project Geographic representation Depth of service available by organization to its target community and its ability to work with other organizations to meet the technical and financial needs of their customer. Organizational ability to monitor progress of target clients Ability to demonstrate outcomes and achieve economic impact WSMA shall use the following factors to rate each proposal. FACTOR WEIGHT GIVEN A. Reasonableness of Design: 30% Organizational ability; reasonableness of resources vs. effort; experience of organization with target population; can be accomplished within allowed timeframe B. Outcome: 60% Clarity and definition of outcome; populations to benefit; Ability to monitor and measure C. Budget: 10% Demonstrated match; financial strength of organization Total 100%

5 Each proposal will be independently evaluated. The WSMA may adjust the weight given or the factors to be considered if necessary. In the event this occurs, each proposal will be evaluated for the same factors and same weights. Consideration will be given to achieve geographic representation. Projects that effectively establish need and can demonstrate substantial contribution to program outcomes including business and job creation, access to capital and leveraging of resources will be given preference. VII. REQUIRED INFORMATION / PROPOSAL STRUCTURE Proposal Cover Page: Complete the proposal cover page and attach. This cover is not counted against the five page limit. Proposal Summary: Project Description: Provide a brief description of the project and target community being served. Explain how you will implement the project and the resources (i.e. staff, material, consultants, etc.) needed to carry out the project. Statement of Need: Describe the activities and the need they serve. Be specific and relevant, citing data to support your case. Project Goal: Tell us what you hope to achieve, what outcomes and impacts you anticipate, any problems you intend to solve or lessons you hope to learn. Project Timeline: Explain the timeline for your project, significant milestones or benchmarks, and how it will be completed by May 30, 2010 (for initial funding period). Organizational History: No more than one page for your organizational history. This should address your organization s eligibility, your ability to provide business development support to low-income communities, and your experience and history in this work with your target community. Please provide prior year microenterprise service delivery data and/or your current capacity to provide microenterprise services amount and type of services you provide. Explain if and how your organization provides comprehensive training and technical assistance to clients; works with other organizations to meet the need; and/or your plans to provide this service. Please specify agencies and organizations in which you collaborate to provide services. Reporting: Please answer the following questions: Describe your organizations ability to monitor and report the progress of clients affected by this project. (If this project does not propose direct client services, please specify).

6 Explain how this project will demonstrate tangible outcomes that have an economic impact on the target community including at least one of the following: access to capital, new business creation and/or job creation? What experience does your organization have in capturing and reporting data relative to this project? Budget: Please provide all three of the items below Organization Budget: Please indicate your agency s overall annual budget and what percentage this project represents of the agency s budget. Project Budget: Using the format below, please provide a detailed explanation of the costs associated to this project and the basis for your requested grant amount. If this project is part of a larger undertaking or significant funds from sources other than the WSMA are required to carry out this activity, please list source of funds and address whether these funds have been committed for this purpose. If applicable, please explain how the WSMA funds leverage other resources. Matching Funds: Please describe the source and use of the required matching funds for this project. Attach a written letter of commitment for matching funds on agency letterhead from your agency s Director, or other authorized personnel, which certifies funds are available for this purpose. Complete the budget sheet and include with your proposal. Budget Narrative Description WSMA Funds Matching Funds Total Personnel Fringe Material Space Equipment Travel Consulting (specify*) Other (specify) Totals *Projects proposing use of consulting services must provide name of consulting entity, activities to be carried out and qualifications of the consulting party.

7 ATTACHMENTS: A copy of your agency s IRS Certification of Tax-exempt Status Letter of Commitment of Matching Funds VIII. EXPECTATIONS: WSMA Program grantees will: 1. Submit a complete proposal. 2. Execute a contract with the WSMA to carry out proposed activities within the time line established. 3. Prepare and submit required Progress Report and Final Report on a timely basis.

8 WSMA Microenterprise Project Grant RFP PROPOSAL COVER SHEET Name of Organization: Contact Person: Address: Phone: Fax: Website: Project Objective: Training and Technical Assistance Expansion of Service or Target Population Technology Capacity Building Other (specify) Geographic location and target community: Amount of Request: $ Submitted by: Signature and Date: Name and Title Date