Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center (Region 3)

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of the Secretary, through the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, is soliciting a cooperative agreement to establish and operate the Region 3 Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center (SBTTAC). This initiative, under NAICS code 541690, aims to provide capacity-building support, counseling, and access to transportation-related business opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses. The award structure consists of a 12-month base year with two additional option years based on performance. The selected recipient must meet specific performance targets, including facilitating at least 43 financing transactions, delivering a minimum of 1,219 hours of one-on-one counseling, and conducting at least 10 structured workshops. The selection process utilizes a best-value trade-off approach based on a 100-point weighted scoring system. Evaluation factors include Approach and Strategy (25 points), Stakeholder Engagement (25 points), Organizational and Staff Capability (20 points), Cost Proposal and Budget Effectiveness (20 points), and Risk Management and Program Compliance (10 points). Applicants must submit a comprehensive package via Grants.gov by August 30, 2026, including a project narrative limited to 35 pages, a cybersecurity and physical security risk plan, and signed conflict of interest statements. Administrative oversight is managed by the OSDBU Program Manager, with strict requirements for prior approval regarding key personnel changes and budget reallocations exceeding 10 percent.