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Page 1: REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS FOR CDCS …broadband.masstech.org/.../2012-MBI-02_Soln_CDCs_Dec11.pdf · Questions and Answers Posted: February 1, 2012 ... February 13, 2012 . Request for

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS FOR

CDCS HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES INTEGRATE BROADBAND AND TECHNOLOGY USE

Solicitation No. (2012-MBI-02)

Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Massachusetts Broadband Institute

75 North Drive Westborough, MA 01581-3340

www.masstech.org www.massbroadband.org

Procurement Team Leader: Jason Whittet

Solicitation Issued: December 19, 2011

Bidders’ Teleconference: January 5, 2012

Deadline for Written Questions: January 25, 2012

Questions and Answers Posted: February 1, 2012

Submissions of Applications Due: February 13, 2012

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Request for Applications for Solicitation No. 2012-MBI-01 CDCs Helping Small Businesses Integrate Broadband and Technology Use

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE CDC PROJECT ................................................... 1

2. BACKGROUND ON PROJECT SPONSORS ................................................. 1

2.1 Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) ......................................................................... 1

2.1 Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) .................................................................................... 2

2.2 State Broadband Initiative (SBI) .................................................................................................... 2

3. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS ........................................................... 2

3.1 Threshold Requirements ............................................................................................................... 3

3.2 Project Requirements .................................................................................................................... 3

3.3 Selection Process and Criteria ...................................................................................................... 3

4. APPLICATION PROCESS .......................................................................... 4

4.1 Application and Submission Instructions ...................................................................................... 4

4.2 Application Timeframe .................................................................................................................. 5

4.3 Questions and Answers ................................................................................................................ 5

5. GENERAL CONDITIONS ........................................................................... 5

5.1 Notice of Public Disclosure. .......................................................................................................... 5

5.2 Contractual Requirements ............................................................................................................ 7

5.3 Waiver Authority ............................................................................................................................ 8

5.4 Disclaimer ...................................................................................................................................... 8

5.5 Changes/Amendments to Solicitation ........................................................................................... 8

Attachments to this Solicitation are available as separate documents.

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1. INTRODUCTION TO THE CDC PROJECT

The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (“MBI”), a non-divisible component of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (“MTC”), is soliciting applications from community development corporations (“CDCs”) through the release of this solicitation (No. 2012-MBI-02) (the “Solicitation”) with the intention to select four (4) CDCs for the MBI’s CDCs Helping Small Businesses Integrate Broadband and Technology Use Project (“CDC Project”). As part of the CDC Project, each of the selected CDCs will be required to use a competitive solicitation process to identify approximately 10 small businesses within their regions and then assist them in fully integrating broadband use and computer technology into their organizations and the programs they run.

The MBI has received a supplemental grant award from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) under the State Broadband Initiative (formerly the State Broadband Data and Development Program) (Grant No. 25-50-M09017, CDFA No.11.558) to develop and implement the CDC Project. The MBI has embarked on this project in collaboration with the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) and the Massachusetts Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (MASBE).

The CDC Project presents an exciting opportunity for CDCs to receive grants to develop programs and skills to help small organizations that do not have sufficient resources and abilities to make the best use of technology to improve their operations and remain competitive.

The CDC Project’s goals are to:

Improve Internet access and computer ownership

Build broadband and technology adoption in underserved areas

Help approximately 40 small businesses acquire and effectively use broadband and computer technology to run their organizations.

o Acquire/improve technology skills o Improve the organization through the use of broadband and computer technology

Build technology capacity in the CDCs

Provide a vehicle for the CDCs to build additional relationships with small businesses in their regions

Each of the four selected CDCs will receive up to a $150,000 two-year grant. Up to $60,000 will be used by the CDC to establish and run the technical assistance program and up to $90,000 will be available to provide sub-grants to small businesses. Each CDC will use a competitive process to select approximately 10 small businesses for sub-grant awards. No individual sub-grant may exceed $25,000, so a minimum of 4 small businesses must be chosen by each CDC. Sub-grant funds are not required to be distributed evenly. The sub-grantees, through the technical assistance program provided by the CDC, will use their awards to purchase technology hardware, software and/or services that they would not otherwise have access to in order to carry out their missions more effectively and remain competitive. The MBI may assist the CDC with the competitive process to select sub-grantees.

MTC acts as the contracting entity on behalf of the MBI. As such, MTC will be the contracting counter-party with the selected applicant CDC. But for purposes of this Solicitation (and except where the specific context warrants otherwise), the MBI and MTC are collectively referred to as the MBI.

2. BACKGROUND ON PROJECT SPONSORS

2.1 Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC)

MTC is an independent development agency chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to promote new economic opportunity and foster a more favorable environment for the formation, retention and expansion of technology-related enterprise in Massachusetts. MTC serves as a catalyst in growing the knowledge- and technology-based industries that comprise the Commonwealth’s Innovation Economy. MTC operates at the intersection of government, industry and academia. It brings together leaders and stakeholders to advance technology-based solutions that lead to economic growth. MTC energizes emerging markets by filling gaps in the marketplace, connecting key stakeholders, conducting critical economic analyses, and providing access to intellectual and financial capital. MTC operates three

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programmatic divisions that support economic growth and innovation and that attempt to generate public benefits for Massachusetts citizens: (1) the Massachusetts Broadband Institute; (2) the Massachusetts e-Health Institute; and (3) the John Adams Innovation Institute. For more information about MTC and its programs and activities generally, please visit the website at www.masstech.org.

2.1 Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI)

The MBI is the central broadband program for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The MBI was created on August 4, 2008, when Governor Deval Patrick signed Chapter 231 of the Acts of 2008, An Act Establishing and Funding the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (the “Broadband Act”). The main mission of the MBI is to extend affordable, robust, high-speed Internet access to all homes, businesses, schools, libraries, medical facilities, government offices and other public places across our state with a focus on the hard to serve areas of western and central Massachusetts.

The MBI also administers broadband adoption programs, such as the CDC Project, designed to promote the use of broadband Internet access to residential, business and institutional customers. For more information about the MBI and its programs and activities generally, please visit the website at www.massbroadband.org.

2.2 State Broadband Initiative (SBI)

The MBI is the official Massachusetts mapping entity for SBI funding. The CDC Project is funded with a federal grant from the State Broadband Initiative (formerly the State Broadband Data and Development Program), a $300 million, federal broadband mapping and adoption project administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration under the Department of Commerce. The SBI was created in the Broadband Data Improvement Act which was passed, but not funded, by Congress in 2008. Funding for the SBI was later included in the ARRA. Since its creation the SBI has supported the development of the first National Broadband Map with data from all 50 states and six US territories. The SBI has also provided funding for state broadband adoption programs, including the CDC Project. For more information on the SBI please visit the program website at http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/SBDD.

3. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS

The MBI is working with the Commonwealth’s CDCs to provide technical assistance for small businesses interested in integrating broadband use and computer ownership into their organizations and programs in order to carry out their missions more effectively and remain competitive. Under this program, the MBI will competitively select four CDCs and provide them with a grant award to run the program in their service area.

The selected CDCs will each receive up to a $150,000 grant with up to $60,000 to develop and implement the program and up to $90,000 to provide sub-grants to small businesses. Each CDC will be required to provide a minimum matching contribution of 37.5% of funding provided to establish the program, or a minimum of $22,500 if the entire $60,000 is awarded. The matching contribution may be made from in-kind staff compensation (including salary and fringe benefits), use of space, materials, computer equipment, etc. and other federally allowable matching funds.

Local CDCs are well positioned to identify local small businesses that can most benefit from this assistance. The MBI may advise the CDC in the competitive process used to select the small businesses to receive the sub-grants.

Eligible small businesses must:

have annual operating budgets under $500,000 in order to qualify for sub-grants

be located in the area served by the selected CDC

provide a cash or in-kind matching contribution of at least 25% of the value of the sub-grant. The requirements and specifications under this Solicitation are set forth in sections below. Failure of the applicant to provide the required information specified in each of the sections below completely and accurately, will result in the applicant’s proposal not achieving its maximum scoring potential during the evaluation process. Failure to meet threshold requirements will result in the disqualification of the CDC’s proposal.

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3.1 Threshold Requirements

In order to be considered for funding, the CDCs must:

3.1.1 Be a community development corporation, or a collaborative of CDCs, certified or eligible for certification as defined by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40H, section 2. (http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter40H/Section2)

3.1.2 Be willing to comply with federal flowdown requirements as a sub-recipient.

3.1.3 Lack debarment status at the federal and state levels.

3.2 Project Requirements

The CDC must state in the Application Form in Attachment A, how it will meet the following requirements in order to fulfill the goals of the CDC Project.

3.1.1 Create a technical assistance program to help small businesses adopt and use broadband and computers to improve their organizations. Activities may include, but not be limited to:

3.1.1.1 Installing and using broadband Internet services

3.1.1.2 Acquiring computer devices

3.1.1.3 Technology planning, digital literacy and technology training

3.1.1.4 Software programs and services

3.1.1.5 Websites and other e-services

The program should include such topics as how to determine computer needs and how to develop a technology and staff training plan. CDC staff or consultants hired by the CDC should conduct site visits, needs assessments and help the small business sub-grantees develop a list of specific requirements, which should include at least two years of broadband Internet service. The CDC should provide assistance in developing and conducting appropriate curriculum and training for organizations and their constituents. The CDC must provide technical assistance program services for the two-year grant period.

3.2.1 Conduct outreach and marketing to local small businesses to identify those that would benefit from the technical assistance program, and would be candidates to apply for sub-grants.

3.2.2 Identify, hire (if needed) and manage qualified staff and consultants to perform the activities of the technical assistance program.

3.2.3 Draft, promote and evaluate the sub-grant solicitation to small businesses. The MBI may provide assistance if needed. The CDC must submit the solicitation to the MBI for review prior to publication.

3.2.4 Select at least four (4) small business sub-grantees through the solicitation evaluation. The MBI may request to participate in or review the solicitation evaluation.

3.2.5 Execute contractual agreements with the small business sub-grantees. The CDC must submit the contract template to the MBI for review prior to executing them with the small business sub-grantees. The MBI may provide CDC’s with contract templates and/or required contract provisions as appropriate or needed.

3.2.6 Conduct and manage the technical assistance program to the small business sub-grantees. 3.2.7 Measure and report on the success of the program to the small business sub-grantees using

metrics such as surveys, interviews, and improvements in organizational activities that are a result of the program.

3.2.8 Meet the minimum matching funds contribution. 3.2.9 Report to the MBI on the primary grant, and administer the sub-grants, including tracking

expenditures, in-kind contributions, and quarterly reports.

3.3 Selection Process and Criteria

Proposals that meet the above threshold requirements will be evaluated on a competitive basis according to the criteria outlined below. The MBI staff and a panel of outside reviewers will review the applications, and will present their recommendations for funding to MBI Management. The order of the criteria listed

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below does not denote relative importance. The MBI reserves the right to offer partial funding of a proposal or to ask CDCs to modify their budgets and applications.

As part of the CDC selection process, the MBI may invite finalists to answer questions regarding their proposal in person or in writing. Since the amount of available funding is limited, the MBI expects the competition for grant awards to be high. As such, CDCs are advised to take care in establishing compliance with the threshold requirements and to provide complete information to allow competitive evaluation pursuant to the following:

Extent to which proposals qualitatively address each item in Section 3.2 Project Requirements.

Demonstrated ability of the CDC to carry out the technical assistance program.

Demonstrated experience and capacity of the CDC to implement and carry out assistance/development programs to small business.

Level of the CDC’s general knowledge of the local economic environment and specific knowledge of and engagement with the locality’s small businesses.

Demonstrated ability of the CDC to conduct effective outreach to small businesses.

4. APPLICATION PROCESS

4.1 Application and Submission Instructions

The Application and Budget Forms and Instructions are in Attachment A. Excluding the Budget Form, other required forms, and resumes of key project staff and team members, applications are limited to 15 pages in length.

The MBI recommends that CDCs carefully follow instructions and prepare complete, clear, and concise applications. It is the sole responsibility of the CDC to ensure that its application is complete, meets the threshold requirements and is properly submitted to the MBI. Applications that do not meet the threshold requirements or that are incomplete will be deemed non-conforming and will not be evaluated.

The following items must be submitted to the MBI as part of an application package:

one bound double sided copy of the Authorized Applicant Signature and Acceptance Form, application and attachments with original signatures;

four bound double sided copies (no three-ring binders) of the Authorized Applicant Signature and Acceptance Form, application and attachments;

one unbound single sided copy of the Authorized Applicant Signature and Acceptance Form, application and attachments; and

an electronic copy of the Authorized Applicant Signature and Acceptance Form, application and budget (in MSWord) and attachments (in MSWord or Adobe Acrobat format). The application and budget must be submitted in MSWord/Excel to help expedite the contracting process for awarded CDCs.

The CDC is cautioned to review Section 5.1 prior to submitting an electronic copy of its application. In accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 5.1, any information that the CDC has identified as “sensitive information” in the hard copy of its application should be deleted from the electronic copy prior to submission to the MBI.

Responses will be due no later than 3:00 p.m. EST, on February 13, 2012. Responses received later than the date and time specified will be rejected or deemed non-conforming and returned to the CDC unopened. The MBI assumes no responsibility or liability for late delivery or receipt of responses. Responses must be submitted to:

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Request for Applications for CDCs Project Solicitation No. 2012-MBI-02 Massachusetts Broadband Institute c/o Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Innovation Center 75 North Drive Westborough, MA 01581-3340

4.2 Application Timeframe

The solicitation process will proceed according to the following schedule. The target dates are subject to change. Therefore, CDCs are encouraged to check the MBI’s website frequently for updates to the solicitation schedule.

Solicitation Posted December 19, 2011

Close of Question & Answer Teleconference Registration 1:00 p.m. January 4, 2012

Question & Answer Teleconference 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST January 5, 2012

Deadline for Written Questions 5:00 p.m. January 25, 2012

Questions and Answers Posted 5:00 p.m. February 1, 2012

Applications Due 3:00 p.m. February 13, 2012

4.3 Questions and Answers

A question and answer teleconference will be held from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2012. To register, please email [email protected]. All CDCs interested in participating in the teleconference must register with MTC by 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 4, 2012. Specific conference call dial-in procedures will be given out via email to all registered CDCs. The MBI will post summary responses to procedural questions and issues addressed at the bidders’ teleconference on its website.

Questions regarding this Solicitation may also be submitted to the address set forth in Section 4.1 or by electronic mail to [email protected]. All questions must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, January 25, 2012. Submission of questions by electronic mail is strongly encouraged. Please include the Solicitation number on the envelope or in the subject heading. Responses to all questions received will be posted on or before 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, to the MBI website.

5. GENERAL CONDITIONS

5.1 Notice of Public Disclosure.

5.1.1 General Statement.

Funds awarded are public funds and any information submitted to the MBI by the CDC in response to this grant solicitation or generated in relation thereto is subject to public disclosure requirements as set forth in the Massachusetts Public Records Act, M.G.L. c. 66 (the “Public Records Act”), which governs the retention, disposition and archiving of public records. For purposes of the Public Records Act, “public records” include all books, papers, maps, photographs, recorded tapes, financial statements, statistical tabulations, or other documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by the MBI.

The foregoing notwithstanding, "public records" do not include certain materials or data which fall within one of the specifically enumerated exemptions set forth in the Public Records Act or in other statutes, including MTC’s enabling act, M.G.L. Chapter 40J. One such exemption that may be applicable to

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documents submitted by the CDC in response to the grant solicitation is for any documentary materials or data made or received by the MBI that consists of trade secrets or commercial or financial information regarding the operation of any business conducted by the CDC, or regarding the competitive position of such CDC in a particular field of endeavor (the "Trade Secrets Exemption").

It is the MBI’s expectation and belief that the overwhelming percentage of documents it receives from CDCs does not contain any information that would warrant an assertion by the MBI of an exemption from the Public Records Act. Applicants should therefore take care in determining which documents they submit to the MBI in response to a grant solicitation, and should assume that all documents submitted to the MBI in response to the grant solicitation are subject to public disclosure without any prior notice to the CDC and without resort to any formal public records request.

5.1.2. Procedures for Handling Documents Identified as “Sensitive Information.”

In the event that the CDC’s response to the grant solicitation includes the submission to the MBI of documents that the CDC believes may be proprietary in nature and may fall within the parameters of the Trade Secrets Exemption and/or some other applicable exemption, the following procedures shall apply:

A) At the time of the CDC’s initial submission of documents to the MBI, the CDC must provide a cover letter, addressed to MTC’s General Counsel, indicating that it is submitting documents which it believes are exempt from public disclosure, including a description of the specific exemption(s) that the CDC contends is/are applicable to the submitted materials, a precise description of the type and magnitude of harm that would result in the event of the documents’ disclosure, and a specific start date and end date within which the claimed exemption applies. If different exemptions, harms and/or dates apply to different documents, it is the CDC’s responsibility to provide detailed explanations for each such document.

B) At the time of the CDC’s initial submission of documents to the MBI, the CDC must also clearly and unambiguously identify each and every such document that it contends is subject to an exemption from public disclosure as “Sensitive Information.” It is the CDC’s responsibility to ensure that all such documents are sufficiently identified as “Sensitive Information,” and the CDC’s designation must be placed in a prominent location on the face of each and every document that it contends is exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act.

Information submitted to the MBI in any form other than a hard copy document will not be subject to the procedures set forth in this Section. For example, information submitted by e-mail, facsimile and/or verbally will not be subject to these procedures and may be disclosed at any time without notice to the CDC.

C) Documents that are not accompanied by the written notification to MTC’s General Counsel or are not properly identified by the CDC as “Sensitive Information” at the time of their initial submission to the MBI are presumptively subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act, and the procedures for providing the CDC with notice of any formal public records request for documents, as set forth below, shall be inapplicable.

D) At the time the MBI receives documents from the CDC in response to the grant solicitation, any such documents designated by the CDC as “Sensitive Information” shall be segregated and stored in a secure filing area when not being utilized by appropriate the MBI staff for purposes of evaluating the application for funds. By submitting a signed grant application to the MBI, the CDC certifies, acknowledges and agrees that (a) the MBI’s receipt, segregation and storage of documents designated by the CDC as “Sensitive Information” does not represent a finding by the MBI that such documents fall within the Trade Secrets Exemption or any other exemption to the Public Records Act, or that the documents are otherwise exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act, and (b) the MBI is not liable for the subsequent disclosure of any documents submitted to the MBI by the CDC, whether or not such documents are designated as “Sensitive Information” or the MBI was negligent in disclosing such documents.

E) In the event that the MBI receives an inquiry or request for documents submitted by the CDC in response to the grant solicitation, the MBI shall produce all responsive documents without notice to the CDC. In the event that the inquiry or request entails documents that the CDC has previously

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designated as “Sensitive Information”, the inquiring party shall be notified in writing that one or more of the documents it has requested has been designated by the CDC as “Sensitive Information”, and that a formal, written public records request must be submitted by the requesting party to the MBI’s General Counsel for a determination of whether the subject documents are exempt from disclosure.

F) Upon the General Counsel’s receipt of a formal, written public records request for documents that encompass materials previously designated by the CDC as “Sensitive Information”, the CDC shall be notified in writing of the MBI’s receipt of the public records request, and the MBI may, but shall not be required to provide the CDC an opportunity to present the MBI with information and/or legal arguments concerning the applicability of the Trade Secrets Exemption or some other exemption to the subject documents.

G) The General Counsel shall review the subject documents, the Public Records Act and the exemption(s) claimed by the CDC in making a determination concerning their potential disclosure.

The General Counsel is the sole authority within MTC and the MBI for making determinations on the applicability and/or assertion of an exemption to the Public Records Act. No employee of MTC or the MBI other than the General Counsel has any authority to address issues concerning the status of “Sensitive Information” or to bind MTC or the MBI in any manner concerning the treatment and disclosure of such documents.

Furthermore, the potential applicability of an exemption to the disclosure of documents designated by the CDC as “Sensitive Information” shall not require MTC or the MBI to assert such an exemption. MTC’s General Counsel retains the sole discretion and authority to assert an exemption, and he may decline to exert such an exemption if, within his discretion, the public interest is served by the disclosure of any documents submitted by the CDC.

H) The MBI shall provide the requesting party and the CDC with written notice of its determination that the subject documents are either exempt or not exempt from disclosure.

I) In the event that the General Counsel determines that the subject documents are exempt from disclosure, the requesting party may seek review of such determination before the Supervisor of Public Records, and the MBI shall notify the CDC in writing in the event that the requesting party pursues a review of such determination.

J) In the event the requesting party pursues a review of the determination that the documents are exempt from disclosure and the Supervisor of Public Records concludes that the subject documents are not exempt from disclosure and orders the disclosure of such documents to the requester, the MBI shall notify the CDC in writing prior to the disclosure of any such documents, and the CDC may pursue injunctive relief or any other course of action in its discretion.

K) In the event that the General Counsel determines that the subject documents are not exempt from disclosure or that, under the circumstances and in his discretion, an exemption shall not be asserted, the MBI shall notify the CDC in writing prior to the disclosure of any such documents, and the CDC may pursue injunctive relief or any other course of action in its discretion.

Applicant’s submission of a grant application, with or without supporting documentation, shall require a signed certification that the CDC acknowledges, understands and agrees with the applicability of the foregoing procedures to any documents submitted by the CDC in response to the grant solicitation, including but not limited to the acknowledgements set forth in Section 5.1.2(D), and that the CDC shall be bound by the procedures set forth in this Section 5.1.

All documents submitted by the CDC, whether designated as “Sensitive Information” or not, are not returnable to the CDC, except in the case of returning late submissions as indicated in Section 4.1.

5.2 Contractual Requirements

MTC intends to enter into a Grant Agreement with the selected CDC containing certain standard provisions (the “Agreement”). MTC reserves the right to amend the Agreement without further issuance of another solicitation. As stated herein, the MBI has received grant funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”) (the “Federal Award”). The grants awarded pursuant to this Solicitation will be charged to the Federal Award and the awarded CDC will be considered a Sub-

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recipient for purposes of this Federal Award. Therefore, the selected CDCs will be subject to certain federal flow down provision, which are set forth in the Agreement. These provisions will not be subject to negotiation under any circumstances. Furthermore, if the contract awarded pursuant to this RFP exceeds $100,000, it will be subject to 31 U.S.C. § 1352, as implemented at 15 CFR Part 28, "New Restrictions on Lobbying." The selected CDCs shall, and shall require all subcontractors and/or sub-awardees whose contract exceeds $100,000 to, submit a completed "Disclosure of Lobbying Activities" (Form SF-LLL) regarding the use of non-Federal funds for lobbying. The Form SF-LLL shall be submitted within 15 days following the end of the calendar quarter in which there occurs any event that requires disclosure or that materially affects the accuracy of the information contained in any disclosure form previously filed. The Form SF-LLL shall be submitted from tier to tier until received by MTC. See Attachment B for a copy of the Agreement. Applicants are required to submit exceptions and/or counterproposals to the terms of the Agreement (except for the provisions which flow from the Federal Award) with their application. A failure to submit exceptions and/or counterproposals with the Application shall be deemed a waiver and the Agreement shall not be subject to further negotiation.

5.3 Waiver Authority

The MBI reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to waive minor irregularities in submittal requirements, to request modifications of the application, to accept or reject any or all applications received, and/or to cancel all or part of this solicitation at any time prior to awards.

5.4 Disclaimer

This solicitation does not commit the MBI to award any funds, pay any costs incurred in preparing an application, or procure or contract for services or supplies. The MBI reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications received, negotiate with all qualified CDCs, cancel or modify the solicitation in part or in its entirety, or change the application guidelines, when it is in its best interests.

5.5 Changes/Amendments to Solicitation

This solicitation has been distributed electronically using the MBI’s website. It is the responsibility of the CDCs to check’s the MBI’s website for any addenda or modifications to a solicitation to which they intend to respond. The MBI, MTC, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and its subdivisions accept no liability and will provide no accommodation to CDCs who submit an application based on an out-of-date solicitation document.