Innovative Solutions

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

“Product Development Programs”

Applications Must Be Postmarked By January 22, 2003

Send all applications to:

Innovative Solutions

Attn: Giorgio Caldarone

8 S. Kainalu Drive

Kailua, Hawaii 96734

Sponsored in part by the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture

Innovative Solutions Contact:

Giorgio Caldarone, 383-0236, email:

Copy of Announcement:

Innovative Solutions is administering a Department of Agriculture grant designed to assist local Hawaii businesses to develop new value added products, or new versions of existing merchandise that use goods grown in Hawaii. Candidates will be selected based on the likelihood of success for the new product and its sustainability beyond the assistance period, in addition to its ability to promote economic growth through job creation and increased commerce. Products with the potential to create new industries will be given special consideration. Three to five candidates will be selected to receive services. If selected, the candidate must contribute $1,500 - $2,500 in return for services that are valued between $16,000 - $27,000.

Details of this program can be found at: Please direct any questions to Giorgio Caldarone at 808-383-0236 or .

Innovative Solutions, a program of the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is part of a nationwide network of not-for-profit centers whose purpose is to provide Hawaii based businesses with operational solutions they need to succeed. The centers are linked through the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an arm of the Department of Commerce. The ultimate goal of the program is to help ensure a nationally and globally competitive economy. Assistance is offered in such areas as instruction in lean manufacturing principles, marketing and business development, strategic planning, product development, process and productivity improvement, workforce development and operational planning.

Project Overview:

This project will focus on assisting Hawaii based businesses in developing new value-added products or new versions of existing products utilizing goods/materials grown in Hawaii.

Assistance Offered

Innovative Solutions will provide staff to serve in the role of Project Manager (PM). The PM will oversee and coordinate the delivery of services to the participating businesses.

The following are an example of the list of services available under this program but not limited to:

  • Product Development
  • Market Research
  • Business Planning
  • Strategic Planning
  • Manufacturing Process Design

All services must be in support of the development and/or commercialization of new value-added products or new versions of existing products utilizing goods/materials grown in Hawaii.

The evaluation process may include interviews with the candidates and facility tours (if appropriate). Please refer to the evaluation criteria page (next page) for the actual evaluation criteria. Candidates will be selected based on the likelihood of success for the new product and its sustainability beyond the assistance period in addition to its ability to promote economic growth through job creation and increased commerce. Products with the potential to create new industries will be given special consideration. Once the candidates are selected, Innovative Solutions will write up a client specific project, which will detail the actual work to be delivered.

Review and Evaluation

At the conclusion of the delivery of services each participant will be asked to complete a phone interview to gauge the actual and anticipated impact of the project. This survey will include measures of sales increases, capital expenditures, job creation and overall increased market awareness. A secondary survey may also be administered by the Department of Agriculture. Applicants are required to respond to both surveys as one of the terms of this project.

Proposal Conditions:

  1. There is a minimum $1,500 cash requirement from the business being supported (responder) in order to receive approximately $16,000 of support. Higher levels of support will require larger cash contributions and will be dependent on the availability of funds. The maximum amount one business can receive is $27,000 which would require a $2,500 cash contribution.
  1. Funds requested must be used for work to be completed from March 1, 2003 to no later than August 30, 2003.
  1. Funds requested may not be used for construction (permanent structure), capital improvements, equipment purchase, general operating expenses and other purposes deemed inappropriate by the selection committee.
  1. The selection committee, with the approval of the business, reserves the right to change the scope of a given project. All applicants will be contacted should this need arise.
Timeline

January 22, 2003Applications are due to Innovative Solutions

February 11, 2003Applicants are selected

March 1, 2003Project proposals are finalized and work can begin

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  1. Project/Proposal Merits and Alignment with Program Objectives (65%)
  • Creativity of proposal
  • Market feasibility and overall potential of product
  • Use of Hawaii grown products
  • Use of other local resources
  • Ability to meet goals and objectives outlined above
  • Potential economic impact of program on Hawaii’s economy
  • Project Sustainability including long-term production, marketing and distribution plans
  1. Operating Experience and Performance (15%)
  • Depth and breadth of experience in performing work specific to the proposed project
  • Level of integrity, reliability and credibility of the business
  • Staff resources including relevant expertise of individuals responsible for implementing the project
  1. Financial Accountability and Responsibility (20%)
  • History of financial accountability
  • Detailed budget (No specific format required) for the proposal in question. Please identify all sources of funding in the budget (e.g. in-kind, grants, etc…)
  • Can the funds being requested make significant progress towards the development of a product and its eventual commercialization?

The proposals will be reviewed by a panel of Innovative Solutions and University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources personnel.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

All of the following must be submitted as part of your proposal package by January 22, 2003, for your proposal to be considered for funding.

1.A signed and completed “Application Form” (see Attachment A).

  1. A detailed description of your project in accordance with the attached outline (see Attachment B).
  1. A detailed budget for your proposal (see Attachment B). Identify all sources of funding in addition to the state funds you are seeking.
  1. A recent annual financial statement certified as to its accuracy by an authorized representative of the company. (Documents will remain confidential, viewed by reviewing committee only, and used solely for purposes relating to this program.)
  1. Please note that Innovative Solutions reserves the right to request that a proposal be modified in order to ensure that it is consistent with the objectives of the program and that the proposals objectives are achievable with the funding requested.
  1. Please email a copy of your proposal to: AND submita signed hardcopy originalof your proposal to:

Innovative Solutions

Attn: Giorgio Caldarone

8 S. Kainalu Drive

Kailua, Hawaii 96734

Note: All electronic files must be in a format that is compatible with Microsoft Word and Excel. If you are unable to email a copy of the proposal, then please send the signed original PLUS four (4) copies to the address above.

Proposals failing to provide the required documents by the required date will not be considered.

ATTACHMENT A

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Product Development Application Form

Name______Date ______

Organization ______Title ______

Address ______

______

______

Telephone ______

Email ______

Federal Taxpayer ID No. ______State Taxpayer ID No. ______

# Of years your company has been in business _____

Is your organization currently using federal and state funds in another capacity? (If yes, please describe below.)

PROJECT INFORMATION:

Project Title ______

Brief description of your project (maximum 100 words):

Project Start & End Dates ______

Amount Requested ______

Please provide alternate Point of Contact information if different from the information provided on the previous page:

I certify that the information provided in this application is true to the best of my knowledge:

SignatureDate

Print Name & Title

ATTACHMENT B

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Product Development Application Form

Please provide the following in a typed format:

Section 1 – Business History(Maximum 1000 words or two single spaced pages)

  • Provide a brief history of your organization
  • List key accomplishments of your organization and/or some of its key members
  • Briefly describe organizational qualifications and individual expertise that would demonstrate your organization’s capacity to successfully implement the proposal

Section II – Project Overview (Maximum 2000 words or four single spaced pages)

  • Describe your project and the reasoning that supports its implementation (be sure to identify and describe all assumptions, e.g. market size, growth rates, production issues, etc…)
  • Provide a work plan and timeline for your proposal
  • List your goals and objectives for the proposal
  • Briefly describe some of the challenges of the proposal
  • Describe how the project will be sustained on an ongoing basis (Human resources, financial resources, plant and equipment, marketing, etc…)
  • If applicable, please describe the progress you have made concerning this product (e.g. market research, research and development, product testing, etc…)

Section III – Budget Overview(No format restrictions. Electronic formats must be in Microsoft Excel or Word)

  • Please include a copy of the proposal budget (Please describe any assumptions that have been made in the budget)

Note: Please try to include all elements of the evaluation criteria into one of the three sections.