Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program

The Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program is a federal funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration through a Notice of Funding Opportunity, aimed at strengthening small business participation in strategically important supply chains including Advanced Manufacturing, Biotechnology, Defense Industrial Base, Energy, Food Systems, and Transportation Infrastructure. Organizations applying must design and implement technical assistance and workforce development initiatives that reduce operational, technical, and market access barriers for small suppliers, with the goal of improving supplier readiness, production capability, and integration into critical sectors. The program supports a two-year performance period from September 30, 2026, to September 30, 2028, with a maximum award amount of $500,000 per recipient and no option periods; proposals must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by August 7, 2026, and require a current Unique Entity Identifier from SAM.gov, with no requirement for the applicant to self-certify as a small business. The evaluation process is strictly quantitative, scoring proposals out of 100 points based on five primary criteria: Small Business Support Programming (45 points), Supply Chain Challenge and Opportunity (20 points), Milestones and Outcomes (15 points), Relevant Experience and Past Performance (8 points), and Organizational Mission and Viability (4 points), with additional points for Project Team and Management Approach and Data Collection and Reporting. Award decisions follow a trade-off process favoring technical merit over cost, with portfolio balance considered to avoid duplication across similar industries. Special requirements include a maximum of 49% subcontracting, a 15% de minimis indirect cost rate unless a negotiated rate exists, no pass-through entities permitted, prohibition on financial interest or equity in served businesses, and strict compliance with 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2701, OMB A-133 audit standards, and conflict of interest policies. Applicants must submit a cover letter, technical proposal, organizational qualifications, resumes of key personnel (max 2 pages each), an organizational chart, contracts or consulting agreements if applicable, and a detailed budget using SF-424A, all formatted in 12-point Times New Roman, single-spaced, within specified page limits. Financial reporting is required through SF-425, with final reports due 120 days post-performance period, and all certifications regarding debarment, tax compliance, and drug-free workplace are verified through SAM.gov rather than submitted