U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Procurement and Grants Management, 409 3rd Street, SUITE 5000,5th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20416

L -- VETERANS BUSINESS OUTREACH PROGRAM SOL OVA-99-001 DUE 062399 POC Reginald Teamer (202) 205-6773 or Mina Wales (202) 205-7080 The Small Business Administration (SBA) plans to issue program announcement no. OVA-99-001 to invite applications from educational institutions, private businesses, veterans' nonprofit community-based organizations, and Federal, State, and local departments and agencies for disabled veterans, to provide long-term training, counseling, and mentoring to benefit small business concerns and potential concerns owned and controlled by "eligible veterans." "Eligible Veteran" pursuant to 38 U.S.C. Section 4211(3) means: (a) a veteran who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or (2) a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability. The authorizing legislation is the Small Business Act, Section 8(b)(17), 15 U.S.C. 656(b)(17) and the program is known as the Veterans Business Outreach Program (VBOP). SBA will mail program announcements to interested parties between late April 1999 and early May 1999. The approximate closing date will be late June 1999. SBA must receive applications/proposals by the date and time that will be specified on the program announcement. SBA will select successful applications by a competitive process. The successful applicants will receive an award to establish a Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC). Service and assistance areas include financial, management, marketing, and government procurement/certification assistance. Applicants must show evidence that they have existing facilities that strictly comply with the Americans' with Disabilities Act of 1999 as amended and be available to conduct the program individually for clients who are homebound because they are severely service-disabled. Applicants must include a five-year plan that provides a detailed description of proposed services and assistance that provides long term training, counseling and mentoring to benefit business concerns and potential concerns owned and controlled by eligible veterans. SBA will require award recipients to partner with the local SBA District Office and SBA resource partners to provide services locally and on the Intranet. A center may receive financial assistance up to five years, subject to continuing program authorization and funding. However, the award will be issued annually to conduct a 12-month project. Posted 04/08/99 (W-SN317901). (0098)

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