GSKIZ, Request for Proposals for Keystone Innovation Zone Coordinator Services

Date of Issue: Friday, April 24, 2020
Close Date: Friday, May 22, 2020
Contract Period: July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021

Overview
The Keystone Innovation Zone Tax Credit Program is a key component of the Keystone
Innovation Zone (KIZ) Program. The KIZ Program, established in 2003, creates designated geographic zones to foster innovation and create entrepreneurial opportunities by aligning the combined resources of educational institutions and the private sector.

With a total pool of up to $15 million in tax credits available to KIZ companies annually, the KIZ Tax Credit Program significantly contributes to the ability of young KIZ companies to transition through the stages of growth. KIZ Tax Credits can be used to offset certain state tax liabilities. This innovative program also contains a tradability component crucial to young companies that have little or no tax liability.

The institutions of higher education and research institutions that jointly sponsor the Greater Susquehanna Keystone Innovation Zone (hereinafter “sponsoring institutions”) are seeking a qualified nonprofit organization which is not an institution of higher education to serve as the Keystone Innovation Zone Coordinator for the Greater Susquehanna KIZ. 

Key Responsibilities

​Responsibilities to KIZ Companies​​

• ​Promote and increase awareness of the KIZ program to interested companies in the central PA region.
• Certify eligibility of companies pursuing KIZ tax credits and existing KIZ-designated companies.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation on KIZ subzones, including:
  • Companies operating within the zone
  • Geographic confirmation (by deed, lease, etc.)
  • KIZ start date
  • Date of onsite visits with companies
  • Federal EIN, and company start date
  • Pennsylvania Department of State Registration
  • Targeted industry served:
    • Advanced Materials/Diversified Manufacturing
    • Business Services
    • Life Sciences
    • High Technology
  • Intellectual property owned or technology under development
  • At minimum, quarterly communications with each KIZ company

Reporting to PA DCED

• Semi-annual reporting into KIZ Force
  • First Half Fiscal Year (July 1 – Dec. 31)
    Reporting Window Dec. 15 – Jan 15
  • Second Half Fiscal Year (Jan 1 – June 30)
    Reporting Window June 15 – July 15
• Notification to PA DCED of zone transfers or modification requests
• Tax Credit Applications – due September 15
  • Notify Companies of Application Window
  • Reminder(s) as Application Window closes
  • Provide Coordinator Certificate – Verify no missing reports for past four periods
  • Direct companies to KIZ Tax Credit Manager for assistance

Reporting to Sponsoring Institutions & Rural Business Innovation

• Quarterly meeting with Keystone Innovation Zone Committee of Rural Business Innovation
• Quarterly written reporting of KIZ company documentation noted above, and annual written reporting of tax credits applied for, attained, and sold by KIZ companies 
• In-person report to the Board of Directors of Rural Business Innovation at each quarterly meeting

PA DCED Statement of Work

Responsibilities of a KIZ Coordinator

• Certify the Eligibility of KIZ Companies
  • Confirm a company is located with the boundaries of the KIZ. Verifying documentation includes a copy of the company's lease or property deed.
  • Confirm the start date of the company. Verifying documentation includes a copy of the company's EIN verification letter or Pennsylvania Department of State Registration. 
  • Confirm the company's targeted industry sector. Verifying documentation includes NAICS code confirmation.
  • Confirm the company is developing intellectual property. Verifying documentation includes a brief description of the business, its customers, and the technology being developed.
• Maintain Verification Documentation
  • Establish a documentation file containing all pertinent verification that a KIZ Company is eligible for tax credits under the KIZ Program. 
  • Permit the Department to access these files upon request at a mutually agreed upon time so that the Department can verify KIZ Company compliance with the tax credit requirements of the KIZ Program.
• Maintain KIZ Force Accounts 
  
  • Create a KIZ Force account for all new KIZ Companies.
    
  • Notify the Department for assistance when a KIZ Company transfers from one KIZ to another.
  • Update the KIZ Force account when a contact at the KIZ Company changes, when the KIZ Company moves out of the zone, or when the KIZ Company ages out of the KIZ Program.
  • Provide all required information and ensure that the KIZ Company contacts are enabled in the system.
• Communicate with Client Companies
  • Notify KIZ Companies of semi-annual reporting deadlines utilizing the KIZ Force account.
  • Ensure KIZ Company metrics reports are completed on time and are accurate.
  • Notify KIZ Companies when the KIZ Tax Credit application opens.
  • Provide qualified KIZ Companies with a KIZ Coordinator certificate in a timely manner.
  • Notify KIZ Companies of the KIZ Tax Credit application deadline.
  • Conduct yearly on-site visits to KIZ Companies 

​Zone Administration

• Designate a representative to serve as the point person for you, the KIZ Coordinator. This representative will be responsible for the administration of the KIZ.
• Coordinate services and resources for KIZ Companies.
• Network and communicate with other KIZ Coordinators statewide to share resources and effective practices.
• Report performance progress to the Department annually on July 30th through the "Coordinator Impact Report”.
• Participate in annual KIZ Coordinator meetings and semi-annual conference calls.
• Maintain and post up-to-date maps of the KIZ's boundaries.
• Provide the Department annually with a current list of board members of the KIZ Partnership. The board members of the KIZ Partnership should be comprised of the following:
  • At least one institution of higher education;
  • Private businesses; Business support organizations, including economic development organizations and workforce development organizations; 
  • Commercial lending institutions; and
  • Foundations.

Contract Payment & Renewal

• Payment to the selected Keystone Innovation Zone Coordinator or the entity which they represent shall be paid on a prorated quarterly basis by Rural Business Innovation.
• The contract with the selected individual or entity may be renewed upon mutual consent of both parties sixty (60) days prior to expiration for a maximum of five (5) years prior to issuance of a new RFP. If renewed, the renewed annual contract rate shall consist of the prior year’s rate adjusted for the appropriate Consumer Price Index category increase, if applicable.

Proposal Submittal
Proposals should be inclusive of a description of how applicant would plan to fulfill each key responsibility, background of relevant experience, staff capacity, and contract cost. Proposals should be submitted in PDF format via email to dknorr@bloomu.edu no later than 4:00 PM on the RFP due date.

Questions
Questions about this RFP can be submitted via email to Dan Knorr, RBI Board of
Directors President, at dknorr@bloomu.edu or by calling 570-389-4655.

​Attachments
• 2019 Greater Susquehanna Keystone Innovations Zones Approved Application​
• GSKIZ - Zone Maps
• Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) Tax Credit Guidelines 07/08/2019