U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/OFA/AGFS/AMD -- OFA51, 1305 East West Highway -- Station 7604, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

R -- CAPITAL PLACEMENT AND CONSULTING SERVICES SOL 52-DKBE-0-90120 POC Tracey Miller (301) 713-0829 WEB: Capital Placement and Consulting Services, http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~amd/. E-MAIL: Capital Placement and Consulting Services, Tracey.M.Miller@agf.noaa.gov. The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), has a requirement seeking the most qualified applicant to develop and operate the Minority Business Capital Access Resource Center (MBCARC). The purpose of the MBCARC is to provide capital placement and consulting services to minority businesses. It is MBDA's intent to provide funding in the amount of $450,000 per year, Subject to the Availability of Funds, in support of the Statement of Work. In accordance with Executive Order 11625 and 15 U.S.C. 1512, MBDA is soliciting competitive bids from private/public entities to develop, operate and deliver services to the minority business community through the MBCARC. The MBCARC will provide rapidly growing minority businesses with consulting, capital placement and information services. In general, the operator of the MBCARC shall be required to perform the following: (1) Develop relationships and partnerships with private equity, venture capital and financial institutions with respect to financings of $5 million or more, (2) Develop relationships and partnerships with the minority business community, including minority business advocacy and trade organizations, (3) Identify and assist minority businesses seeking equity and high-end debt financing, (4) Provide evaluations, consulting and technical assistance to minority businesses seeking equity and high-end debt capital, (5) Provide capital placement services to minority businesses seeking equity and high-end debt financing, and (6) Provide information, data, orientation and training on the foregoing to the staff of MBDA and its funded network. The successful contractor shall provide the necessary personnel, materials, equipment and facilities to accomplish the following work requirements: (1) Develop an overall Work Plan and Timeline, (2) Develop Sources of Financing, particularly equity, (3) Identify and Outreach to Growth-Oriented Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)s, (4) Identify for MBEs Consulting and Capital Placement Services, (5) Provide Orientation and Training on the MBCARC to MBDA and its funded network, (6) Develop an equity finance training program for the MBE community, (7) Develop a database of training sources for MBEs, and (8) Provide Quality Assurance in daily operations and client service activities. Period of Performance is for a base period plus 2 option periods. MBDA is especially interested in receiving innovative proposals from highly experienced firms. Specifically, the applicant must have experience and knowledge in completing debt and equity financing for $5 million transactions (or greater). All responsible sources are invited to request a copy of the solicitation document. This announcement and solicitation will be available on NOAA's Procurement Acquisition website. The website address is http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~amd/. We anticipate issuance o/a September 15, 2000. This procurement will be conducted under full and open competition procedures. Posted 08/15/00 (W-SN486021). (0228)

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