Capacity Building “Train the Trainer” RFP for Providers of Small Business Technical Assistance

Investing in Partners Empowering the Small Businesses Ecosystem
CAPACITY BUILDING "TRAIN THE TRAINER" REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
FOR PROVIDERS OF SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Address: MassDevelopment
99 High Street, Boston, MA 02110
RFP File Name: Capacity Building "Train the Trainer" RFP for Providers of Small Business
Technical Assistance
Contact Person: Rachel Powers, rpowers@massdevelopment.com
Please submit all questions and inquiries via email to the contact person listed above.
Schedule:
RFP Release Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Deadline for Proposals: Wednesday, August 26, 2026 @11:59PM
RFP and Application via: Submittable Platform accessible on
https://mgpsbtaprogram.submittable.com/submit
Grants will be awarded: O c t o b e r 2026 (subject to change)
Notices of funding availability through this RFP will be sent via email to program partners, members
of the State Legislature, and posted at MassDevelopment.com.
COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL FUNDS, LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Applicants must comply with all applicable laws.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT ON SUBMITTABLE
Visit the Help Center: https://www.submittable.com/help/submitter/
OTHER QUESTIONS: Contact MassDevelopment
Email: rpowers@massdevelopment.com

Capacity Building "Train the Trainer" RFP for Providers of Small
Business Technical Assistance
Overview
MassDevelopment seeks a qualified Massachusetts-based organization to design and deliver a Capacity
Building "Train-the-Trainer" program for Business Support Organizations which service programs
administered by MassDevelopment. The goal is to strengthen the effectiveness, consistency, and reach
of services delivered to small and microbusinesses so they can more effectively start, stabilize, grow and
access capital.
Purpose
Business Support Organizations (BSO), for the purposes of this RFP, are organizations that have been
awarded funds from MassDevelopment to service the Small Business Technical Assistance (SBTA) Grant
Program and/or the Lending Capital Matching Grant Program ("CDFI"). We strive to develop and elevate
the expertise, competencies, and abilities of BSOs to address the changing needs of the Massachusetts
small business landscape, respond to economic uncertainty, and facilitate lending to small businesses
that are unable to obtain traditional sources of capital. More specifically, we are seeking an organization
that can:
Improve the quality of technical assistance for small and microbusinesses offered through
BSOs.
Build organizational capacity and resilience among BSOs.
Equip BSOs with the tools, skills and operational capabilities to address the changing needs of
the Massachusetts small business landscape.
Leverage opportunities to increase equitable access to capital, advice, and resources for
historically underserved entrepreneurs.
About Training Participants (Target Learners/BSO Staff):
Who are they and What do they do!
BSOs are critical to the economic ecosystem, helping small and micro businesses navigate economic
challenges, pursue growth opportunities, create and retain jobs, and improve access to public and
private financing. The SBTA and CDFI programs strive to increase access to one-on-one technical
assistance and capital for small and micro businesses with fewer than 20 employees and earning no
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more than $2.5 million in annual revenues. Collectively, BSOs predominantly serve socially and
economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented small and microbusinesses, including:
Minority-owned businesses
Women-owned businesses
LGBTQ+-owned businesses
Non-native English speaking-owners
Small businesses operating in Gateway Cities
Rural communities
Low-moderate-income individuals
U.S. Military Veterans
Businesses operating as cooperatives
Businesses governed by Employee Stock Ownership Plans
Disabled individuals
Underserved markets
Please refer to the following links for additional information on the Small Business Technical Assistance
Grant Program (SBTA) and Lending Capital Matching Grant Program (CDFI):
FY27 SBTA RFP and Program Guidelines -
FY27 SBTA RFP
FY27 SBTA Program Guidelines
FY25 Lending Capital Matching Grant Program -
FY25 CDFI RFP
FY25 CDFI Program Guidelines
Scope of Work
Proposed education and training must increase the knowledge and skill sets of BSOs, provide coaching
and instruction on essential topics and proficiencies necessary to effectively help startups and existing
businesses navigate economic challenges, pursue growth opportunities, create and retain jobs, and
improve access to public and private financing.
Preference will be given to proposals offering BSO staff and contractors instruction on:
Assisting Businesses to obtain certifications helpful in accessing public bidding opportunities,
including but not limited to MBE, WBE and others
Helping businesses understand and use AI tools related to their industry and operations
Developing and updating business plans, market analyses, and financial projections
Legal guidance and compliance
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Financial Management, including accounting and bookkeeping, providing the fundamentals
around income statements, balance sheets and cash flows
Loan Packaging and guidance around obtaining capital
Accessing new markets and customer growth to create and implement market strategies and
effective scaling of operations
Organizational Capacity Building to address operational challenges and optimization
Proposed Curriculum
Respondents must craft an educational curriculum reflective of small business sector needs, gaps,
challenges and opportunities, and which will allow BSOs to build their expertise, skills and competencies
in the areas noted above, demonstrates best practices to share with BSOs, promotes the teaching of
organizational resilience and supports providing Massachusetts small businesses the assistance they
need to grow and thrive.
It should encompass a continuum of professional programs of study across multiple learning pathways,
including, but not limited to the following:
Small Business Technical Assistance and guidance elevating expertise and improving critical TA
competencies in such areas as financial management and capital readiness, bookkeeping and
accounting, marketing and customer growth, legal and regulatory compliance, and artificial
intelligence.
Leadership development advancing emotional intelligence, cultural competency, and self-
awareness in TA providers counselling entrepreneurs through the complex personal, emotional
and operational demands of business ownership.
The Principles of Community Development Finance and a framework providing practitioners with
the history of Community Development Financial Institutions and the CDFI field, and emerging
trends in financing, capitalization, underwriting and portfolio management, impact measurement
and public policy.
Networking & Knowledge Sharing
Respondents must also outline their plans to cultivate and grow the small business ecosystem in
Massachusetts. This work should encompass activities and events that foster connections, including
but not limited to:
Facilitating peer networking among BSOs to strengthen the sharing of best practices and
regional connectivity, broaden reach and diversity, and amplify collective endeavors to improve
economic outcomes across Massachusetts.
Submissions must include detailed proposals (including estimated timelines for proposed work) in both
areas: Proposed Curriculum and Network & Knowledge Sharing.
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Proposed Budget
MassDevelopment anticipates awarding one grant of up to $65,000 to a qualified organization
("Contractor") for FY27. Funding for Capacity Building is intended to go toward activities that will be
initiated quickly upon execution of the contract with the expectation that program delivery for FY27 will
be completed by June 30, 2027.
Contractors applying for this funding opportunity will be responsible for:
Creating a reasonable budget, inclusive of all costs and professional fees, that aligns with the
Contractor's proposed program and all criteria enumerated herein;
Demonstrating a clear plan for how funds will be used to support program delivery by June 30,
2027.
Respondent(s) should not proceed with proposal implementation until receiving an official award
notification from MassDevelopment. The selected Contractor can expect to receive 75% of their funding
award following contract execution and will receive the remaining 25% following satisfactory submission
of their FY27 final report.
Management
Contractors will be responsible for managing and coordinating the delivery of all services associated with
their proposal, including:
Coordinating the delivery of services and offerings in collaboration with program partners,
vendors, contractors, subcontractors and other providers;
Conducting outreach, engagement and enrollment activities corresponding with program
services and offerings;
Executing a series of activities, workshops, seminars and/or training opportunities through
multiple, potentially overlapping cohorts, with an expected minimum of 10 program
participants/registrants per cohort;
Providing technical, administrative, logistical and operational support for students, instructors,
vendors, contractors and subcontractors throughout each cohort;
Reporting
MassDevelopment requires a final report detailing the use of awarded funds, including performance,
demographic, and outcome data, to be submitted via the Submittable grants management portal by
June 11, 2027. The selected Contractor will be responsible for collecting data and reporting on outcomes
achieved that can be attributed to the services and offerings associated with their proposal and shared
with State agencies, Legislators, grantees, partners and the public-at-large.
To this end, respondents must:
Describe the methodology they will use for evaluating the impact of their proposed FY27
Capacity Building efforts, including collecting, tracking and measuring participant progress and
outcomes;
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Agree to collaborate with MassDevelopment to refine performance metrics and terms and
format of the final report prior to executing an agreement with MassDevelopment;
Agree to deliver a final report summarizing a description of activities, participant outcomes,
program impact, engagement metrics and recommendations for future support.
Timeline
Award Benchmark Date Action
RFP Release July 8, 2026 Applications Open
Submission Deadline August 26, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Application Due
Application Review Period August - September 2026 Grant applications reviewed &
(Estimate) requests for minor clarifications
Grant Award Notifications October 2026 (Estimate) Grant Agreement executed
FY27 Reporting Deadline June 11, 2027 FY27 Final Report Due
Eligibility & Submission Requirements
Eligible applicants are Massachusetts-based organizations (including sole proprietors) with a history of
successfully engaging stakeholders and demonstrated ability to develop and implement capacity
building programming and technical assistance activities for small and micro business development. If
multiple parties are involved, the applicant would be designated as the "Lead" and be responsible for
coordinating all parties, vendors and subcontractors. The Lead and/or fiscal agent as "Contractor" will
execute the contract with and receive funds directly from MassDevelopment.
Required qualifications include:
Experience facilitating meetings, and in designing and facilitating small business development,
educational and capacity building programming
Demonstrated ability to project manage and coordinate logistics for the delivery of proposed
program offerings
Experience working with nonprofit organizations and in serving socially and economically
disadvantaged and historically underrepresented groups and populations
Familiarity with small business needs and Massachusetts' small business landscape
Commitment to and knowledge of practices in diversity, equity and inclusion
Proposals should be submitted as a PDF format file through the Submittable grants management
system and include the following:
1. Organizational Profile: Brief history and experience in small business development and capacity
building. Describe past performance and summary of qualifications, as well as point to examples
of previous training your organization has provided.
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2. Approach/Methodology: Describe how you will deliver training and coaching. Reflect on how
stated goals, objectives and small business needs, gaps and challenges have shaped your
proposal.
The Contractor should utilize information, including, but not limited to the Small Business
Survey developed by Coalition for an Equitable Economy and administered by MassINC
Polling Group in partnership with MassDevelopment. (CEE Small Business Survey Jan
2026.pdf)
3. Scope of Work: Provide proposed breakdown of planned activities and expected outcomes to be
undertaken during FY27, as well as the parties responsible for each component.
4. Budget: Detailed cost breakdown, understanding that MassDevelopment's contribution will not
exceed $65,000; your proposed budget should directly correspond to and support your proposed
Scope of Work, including delivery of capacity building services and all professional fees.
5. Required Supplemental Documentation and Attachments:
Applicant's 2026 Certificate of Good Standing as issued by the Massachusetts Secretary
of the Commonwealth and/or the equivalent to be accepted at the discretion of
MassDevelopment.
o Alternatively, Sole Proprietors may provide a Business Certificate (DBA Filing);
Key Personnel: Resumes/profiles of staff, trainers, consultants and/or partners
participating in your capacity building efforts
U.S. IRS Tax Exempt Certification, if applicable
EIN Confirmation Letter and/or completed W-9 form, as applicable to Private For-Profit
Consultants and Sole Proprietors
Proposals are not expected to exceed five (5) pages, excluding required supplemental documentation
outlined in #5. We encourage interested applicants to reflect on how the goals and objectives stated
above inform their proposed plans within submitted materials. Failure to submit a complete proposal
with all pertinent materials will result in reduced competitiveness and/or denial of funding.
Submission Guidelines
Complete proposals containing all supplemental information must be uploaded and submitted
beginning Wednesday, July 8, 2026 until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2026 via the Submittable
grants management system, through the link provided in this RFP. Late proposals will not be accepted.
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following:
Strategic Alignment with team & agency mission and program priorities, goals & objectives;
Experience & Capacity: Demonstrated experience in small business development and capacity
building, with a history of successfully managing similar projects. Ability to implement proposed
activities and achieve projected outcomes within the required timeframe;
Program Design: Quality and suitability of the proposed training/coaching methods;
Responsiveness to small business needs and opportunities;
Financial Feasibility: Reasonability of budget and alignment with proposed activities
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All materials submitted will become the property of MassDevelopment and must be made available for
reproduction and may not be copyrighted.
Proposals will only be accepted online via the Submittable Platform accessible on:
https://mgpsbtaprogram.submittable.com/submit. Submittable streamlines the RFP process by allowing
you to upload all required documents in one place for quick and efficient submission. You will need to
create an account to access and submit a proposal. After submission, applicants can track their proposal
status and receive updates to stay informed.
APPENDICES
Appendix A - Scope of Work Template
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