2023 ARDF NOFO_MB V2.docx

SAMPLE NOFO

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

U.S. EMBASSY Yaoundé, Cameroon Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Title: ARDF-Africa Regional Democracy Fund, POL/ECON, U.S. Embassy Yaounde Funding Opportunity Number: AFYDE-ARDF-GR-POLECON-2023 Deadline for Applications: May 31 Assistance Listing Number: 19.225 Total Amount Available: $400,000

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Political and Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon, announces an open competition for experienced Cameroon-based Civil Society Organizations that are working in the areas of Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights to submit applications under the FY 2022 Africa Regional Democracy Fund program, that will advance human rights, human rights systems, policies, and protection; civic education, citizen participation, and public accountability; and elections and political processes.

Please follow all instructions below.

Priority Region: None. Each proposal should specify project location.

A.1. Background The events occurring in Cameroon over the recent years – in particular the repression of the activities of political parties, civil society and trade unions, the socio-political crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions, as well as the recurrent and untimely bans on public demonstrations by the administrative authorities – continue to render the security and socio-political climate a great concern. Amidst these crises, civilian populations have suffered and continue to be subjected to serious human rights violations. These include killings, abduction, arbitrary arrests and unlawful detention, extortion, physical and gender-based violence, extrajudicial executions and targeted assassinations, and social injustice towards vulnerable groups including indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, women, children, youth, detainees, LGBTQI+ individuals, and displaced persons.

These crises are exacerbated by misinformation, community conflicts, and poor government accountability, which in turn corrupts democratic thinking and inter-community dialogue and fans violence without sustainable or inclusive peace and growth. To address some of these challenges, the 2019 Law on Decentralization emphasizes the active participation of CSO/local population in the management of local affairs – yet there is still a visible absence of these actors (especially marginalized groups including women, Persons With Disabilities (PWD), indigenous populations; and youth) in local decision- and policy-making processes, in the management of local finances, and in the development of local initiatives.

Furthermore, in 2025, Cameroon will hold numerous elections, including presidential, legislative, and municipal elections. In previous elections, the participation of youth and vulnerable and minority groups – especially indigenous persons, rural women, and PWDs – was marginal, not only in terms of voter registration and the issuance of voter registration cards, but also in the nomination of these persons by political parties.

A.2. Theory of Change

· If civil society organizations increase the awareness of target communities; provide accountability to victims of human rights abuses or violations; and if civic space becomes more open, human rights and fundamental freedoms will gain greater grounds.

· If responsive governance, inclusive management, tolerance of citizens’ monitoring are integral parts of target local councils’ management systems, positive civic attitudes will contribute to mitigating conflicts and advancing strong democratic processes and norms.

A.3. Program Objectives The overall goal is to contribute to the advancement of human rights of vulnerable populations and to strengthen inclusive citizen participation in local decision-making and political processes in Cameroon. Proposals should address one of the below objectives:

Objective 1: Promote social justice, the rights of children, vulnerable women, detainees, internally displaced persons, indigenous and minority groups including LGBTQI+ persons and PWDs, through the opening of civic space.

Objective 2: Increase the participation of youth, women, indigenous groups, PWDs, and other vulnerable populations in local decision-making, governance, and peace-building processes in local council areas.

Objective 3: Enhance the involvement of youth, women, indigenous groups, and other vulnerable populations in political discourse in an effort to curb apathy towards the electoral process.

A.4. Expected Results Specific results could include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Enhanced human rights of indigenous, minorities, and other vulnerable populations.

· Increased civil documentation of IDPs and other rural populations.

· Civic space is more open.

· Increased participation of youth, indigenous and rural women, and PWDs in political process and local governance.

· Reduced community and intergenerational conflicts, and misinformation that spurs violence.

· Increased participation of eligible electorate.

A.5. Possible Activities To achieve the goals and expected results, project activities could include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Intercommunity dialogue meetings for the recognition of the rights of the indigenous.

· Development of processes to facilitate the issuance of civil documents for vulnerable populations.

· Capacity-building activities for CSOs, whistleblowers, journalists, and lawyers who are active in the prevention of human rights violations.

· Advocacy for the internalization of certain international conventions that Cameroon ratified.

· Advocacy with municipal and traditional administrative authorities to consider the needs and aspirations of youth, women, and indigenous persons in public policies and council development plans.

· Educational campaigns in rural communities on the importance of voter registration, and voter card collection.

A.6. Performance Indicators and Monitoring Plan The project should monitor and report on performance indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, and timebound. Establish, where possible, performance baseline data and expected performance targets for each expected result and include details on what sources of data will be used to document performance, how the indicators will be measured, frequency of measurement, and units of measure. Where possible, indicators should be gender-sensitive. They should be disaggregated by sex, age, ability and, if possible, gender. Indicators should reflect key project outputs or outcomes that reflect on the primary goals or objectives of the project and that the implementer can collect with high quality data.

Applicants must fill out the table below and insert it into the proposal document. Additional non-Department of State (DOS) indicators may be added that are relevant to the project by adding rows to the chart.

All applicable indicators should be included in the proposal and subsequently to the award, routine, periodic reporting of all indicators will be required. The implementer will be responsible for quarterly reporting on each performance indicator included in the grant as well as analysis of progress or impediments to reach indicator targets.

The following indicators, as relevant to the project’s specific objectives, are required. indicators are required. Applicants are welcome to propose other indicators relevant to the primary objectives and expected results of the project. These should be reflected in the Performance Monitoring Plan as described below.

· Number of election officials trained with USG assistance.

· Number of individuals receiving voter education through USG-assisted programs.

· Number of people who participated in USG-supported events, trainings, or activities designed to build mass support for peace and reconciliation.

· Number of USG-supported activities designed to promote or strengthen the civic participation of women.

· Number of women’s rights CSOs receiving USG assistance in advocacy interventions.

· Number of local women participating in a substantive role or position in a peacebuilding process supported with USG assistance.

· Percentage of participants reporting increased agreement with the concept that males and females should have equal access to social, economic, and political resources and opportunities.

· Number of persons trained with USG assistance to advance outcomes consistent with gender equality or female empowerment through their roles in public or private sector institutions or organizations.

· Number of human rights defenders trained and supported.

· Number of USG-assisted civil society organizations (CSOs) that participate in legislative proceedings and/or engage in advocacy with national legislature and its committees.

· Number of human rights organizations trained and supported through USG-assisted programs.

· Number of individuals receiving education on human rights fundamentals through USG-assisted programs.

· Number of victims of human rights violations who received legal or victim’s assistance with USG assistance.

· Number of public forums resulting from USG assistance in which members of the public interact with no restriction/ban from administrative authorities.

The State Department takes into consideration the quality of data reported by recipients as part of the award activities, therefore applicants should be aware that recipients will be subject to data quality assessments.

The Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) should include the following:

· Narrative explaining how monitoring and evaluation (M&E) will be carried out and who will be responsible for M&E activities.

· Project Objectives and Indicators (template provided as Attachment 3) listing by project objectives the output- and outcome-based performance indicators with baselines (if available) and quarterly and cumulative targets; data collection tools; data sources; types of data disaggregation, if applicable; and frequency of data collection.

A.7. Risk Analysis The purpose of the risk analysis is to identify the internal and external risks associated with the proposed project in the application, rate the likelihood of the risks, rate the potential impact of the risks on the project, and identify actions that could help mitigate the risks. A risk analysis should not be considered a one-time exercise or a static document. Applicants should conduct adequate risk analysis and remediation for all its operations and advise that risk analysis and remediation occur throughout the life of a project and should result in revisions to risk analysis documents and processes as necessary. The risk analysis should include gender-related risks, including, but not limited to, gender-based violence.

The safety and security of recipients and beneficiaries are of utmost importance. The recipient is required to conduct thorough risk assessments and take all actions necessary in accordance with those assessments to mitigate those risks. The Embassy will not take responsibility for the risks incurred by any recipient. A suggested format for a risk analysis is provided in attachment 5.

A.8. Participants and Audiences:

The intended target audiences should be CSOs active in human rights, democracy, and governance issues; administrative authorities; local leaders; local populations, including vulnerable populations as described above; and survivors of human rights violations.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 12 months Number of awards anticipated: Eight to 10 awards (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $24,000 to a maximum of $50,000 Total available funding: $400,000 Type of Funding: FY22 Economic Support Funds (ESF) under the Foreign Assistance Act Anticipated program start date: September 2023

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months (September 2023 – September 2024) or less.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

C.1 Eligible Applicants The Africa Regional Democracy Fund program is limited to Cameroonian local registered Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with at least two years of experience working in the areas of Democracy, Governance and Human Rights. Organizations and entities with a prior history of poor performance of U.S. government grants are ineligible for this funding.

C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching Providing cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an eligibility requirement for this NOFO.

C.3 Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

Organizations must have a commitment to equal opportunity employment practices and to non-discrimination practices with regard to beneficiaries, without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

D.1 Address to Request Application Package Application forms required below are available at: grantsyaounde@state.gov.

D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content of Application Please ensure:

· The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity

· All documents are in English

· All budgets are in U.S. dollars

· All pages are numbered

· All documents are formatted to A4 paper, and

· All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required:

D.2.1. Mandatory application forms

· SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations)

· SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

· SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at XXX (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov)

D.2.2. Summary Page Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

D.2.3. Proposal (20 pages maximum) The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use the ARDF optional application form. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.

· Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact.

· Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.

· Problem Statement: Clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed.

· Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. Also, indicate the program objective (s) the proposal will address, such as: Promote Accountable, Transparent, and Democratic Governance, Promote Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Protect and Promote Democratic Values and Leadership, Competitive Political Processes, and the Freedoms of Expression and Peaceful Assembly, Foster Openness and Open Societies, Deliver Democratic and Security Dividends.

· Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.

· Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.

· Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.

· Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles, and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?

· Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.

· Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the time-frame of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?

· Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

D.2.4. Budget Justification Narrative After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

D.2.5. Attachments

· 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program.

· Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner (if possible).

· If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file.

· Official permission letters, if required for program activities (if applicable).

· Annexes: Budget, Activity Timeline, Performance Monitoring Plan, Logic Model, Risk Analysis.

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) (NOTE: This section is required and not optional)

Required Registrations:

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all federal awards.

Note: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required for federal assistance applications.

The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number. Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee.

Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

· Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.

· Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.

· Please note that as of November 2022 and February 2022 respectively, organizations based outside of the United States that do not intend to apply for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awards are no longer required to have a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code or CAGE code to apply for non-DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities. If an applicant organization is mid-registration and wishes to remove a CAGE or NCAGE code from their SAM.gov registration, the applicant should submit a help desk ticket (“incident”) with the Federal Service Desk (FSD) online at www.fsd.gov using the following language: “I do not intend to seek financial assistance from the Department of Defense. I do not wish to obtain a CAGE or NCAGE code. I understand that I will need to submit my registration after this incident is resolved in order to have my registration activated.”

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO NOT plan to do business with the DoD should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Proceed to SAM.gov to obtain a UEI and complete the SAM.gov registration process. SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually.

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO plan to do business with the DoD in addition to Department of State should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Apply for an NCAGE code by following the instructions on the NSPA NATO website linked below:

NCAGE Homepage:

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/sc/CageList.aspx NCAGE Code Request Tool (NCRT):

Exemptions An exemption from the UEI and sam.gov registration requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if:

· An applicant’s identity must be protected due to potential endangerment of their mission, their organization’s status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applicant.

· For an applicant, if the federal awarding agency makes a determination that there are exigent circumstances that prohibit the applicant from receiving a unique entity identifier and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a federal award. In these instances, federal awarding agencies must require the recipient to obtain a unique entity identifier and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the federal award date.

Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the NOFO providing a justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.

D.4. Submission Dates and Times Applications are due no later than 11:59 PM Cameroon time on May 31, 2023.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

D.5. Funding Restrictions The following activities and costs are not covered under this announcement:

· Construction is not an allowable activity under this award.

· Activities that appear partisan or that support individual or party electoral campaigns.

· Direct support or the appearance of direct support for any religious organization, to include repair or building of structures used for religious purposes.

· Military assistance of any kind, including weapons buy-back or rewards programs.

· Purchase of firearms, ammunition, or removal of unexploded ordnances.

· Para-police (i.e., militias, neighborhood watch, security guards) and prison-related projects. This restriction includes no funding of any secondary need in a law-enforcement organization.

· Payments for any partner government, military, or civilian government employee salary or pension.

· Duplication of services immediately available through municipal, provincial, or national government.

· Funds for market research, advertising (unless public service related to grant program), or other promotional expenses.

· Expenses made prior to the approval of a proposal or unreasonable expenditures will not be reimbursed.

· Charitable or development activities;

· Fund-raising campaigns;

· Lobbying for specific legislation or projects;

· Scientific research;

· Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;

· Projects seeking funds for personal use;

· Projects that require a participation fee.

D.6. Other Submission Requirements All application materials must be submitted by email to grantsyaounde@state.gov .

Faxed or couriered document will not be accepted.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1. Criteria Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below.

Project justification, goals and benefits – 20 points: The proposal addresses a specific problem that affects the community and proposes a project that will improve the political and/or social conditions, or governance. It targets an adequate number of people and describes how it will benefit the target population.

Budget and budget justification – 5 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.

Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 5 points: The organization must show capacity to implement the scope and scale of the proposed work and the ability to successfully complete the project within the proposed budget and timeline. The organization must have internal controls in place to manage federal funds. Organizations that have previously carried out similar or other human rights projects may be ranked higher during the evaluation process.

Monitoring and evaluation plan – 5 points: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured.

Sustainability – 5 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.

Timeline – 5 points: Project timeline should be feasible within 12 months, appropriate and connected to project goals and budget.

Support of Equity and Underserved Communities – 5 points: Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the program will support and advance equity and engage underserved communities in program administration, design, and implementation.

E.2 Review and Selection Process A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications.

E.3 Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov (formerly, FAPIIS)

i. The federal awarding agency, prior to making a federal award with a total amount of federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the U.S. government designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov (see 41 U.S.C. 2313);

ii. An applicant, at its option, may review and comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously entered. Currently, federal agencies create integrity records in the integrity module of the Contractor Performance Assessment and Reporting System (CPARS) and these records are visible as responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov;

iii. The federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in §200.206 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

E.4 Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates No later than September 25, 2023.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1. Federal Award Notices The grant award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

F.2. Payment Method Request for Payment will be submitted through a SF-270. Payments shall be disbursed via EFT upon receipt of a signed SF-270 form and required reporting.

F.3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply.

These include:

· 2 CFR 25 - UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

· 2 CFR 170 - REPORTING SUBAWARD AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION INFORMATION

· 2 CFR 175 - AWARD TERM FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

· 2 CFR 182 - GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE)

· 2 CFR 183 - NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY

· 2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS

· U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable federal laws, and relevant executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following: NOTE:

· Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 85 FR 49506 on August 13, 2020, particularly on:

· Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an objective process of evaluating federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205),

· Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 115—232) (2 CFR part 200.216),

· Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O. 13864) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341),

· Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR part 200.322), and Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR part 200.340).

· In accordance with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Underserved Communities, proposals should demonstrate how the program advances equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. The proposal should also demonstrate how the program will further engagement in underserved communities and with individuals from underserved communities. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing racial equity and underserved communities will enhance the program’s goals and objectives, as well as the experience of participants.

The support of underserved communities will be part of the review criteria for this opportunity. Therefore, proposals should clearly demonstrate how the program will support and advance equity and engage underserved communities in program administration, design, and implementation.

F.4. Reporting Reporting Requirements: Recipients will, at a minimum, be required to submit quarterly Progress Reports and quarterly Financial Reports. Progress Reports will compare actual to planned performance and indicate the progress made in accomplishing each assistance award tasks/goals noted in the grant agreement and will contain analysis and summary of findings, both quantitative and qualitative, for key indicators. Financial Reports provide a means of monitoring expenditures and comparing costs incurred with progress. Failure to submit reports on time will result in payment delays.

Recipients must report immediately when a program faces unplanned delays in implementation, fails to meet program targets or milestones, or costs increase. Any changes or revisions to the approved budget require prior approval from the Grants Officer.

Foreign Assistance Data Review: As required by Congress, the Department of State must make progress in its efforts to improve tracking and reporting of foreign assistance data through the Foreign Assistance Data Review (FADR). The FADR requires tracking of foreign assistance activity data from budgeting, planning, and allocation through obligation and disbursement. Successful applicants will be required to report and draw down federal funding based on the appropriate FADR Data Elements, indicated within their award documentation. In cases of more than one FADR Data Element, typically program or sector and/or regions or country, the successful applicant will be required to maintain separate accounting records.

Applicants should be aware of the post award reporting requirements reflected in 2 CFR 200 Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact Lucresse Ngum at NgumLR@state.gov .

H. OTHER INFORMATION

H.1. Guidelines for Budget Justification

· Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.

· Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.

· Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit.

· Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.

Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities.

· Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

· Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 10% of modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68.

· “Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.

· Alcoholic Beverages: Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.

H.2. Applicant Vetting Applicants are advised that proposals will be evaluated against the potential risk that federal funds may inadvertently be passed to the wrong hands and that funds may benefit terrorists groups or their supporters. Applicants may be asked to submit information required by DS Form 4184, Risk Analysis Information (attached to this solicitation), about their company and its principal personnel. Vetting information is also required for all sub-award performance on assistance awards identified by DOS as presenting a risk of terrorist financing. When vetting information is requested by the Grants Officer, information may be submitted on the secure web portal at: https://ramportal.state.gov, via Email to RAM@state.gov, or hardcopy to the Grants Officer.

H.3. Marking Policy Applicants are advised that recipients and sub-recipients of federal assistance awards are subject to the State Department’s Marking Policy. More information on this policy can be found in Section N of the Department of State’s Standard Terms and Conditions:

https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/U.S.-Department-of-State-Standard-Terms-and-Conditions-10-21-2020-508.pdf

H.4. Monitoring Site Visits A monitoring site visit, at least once during the lifetime of a grant, is required by Department of State grant policy. The site visit is conducted to gather additional information on the recipient’s ability to properly implement the project, manage funds, and share substantiating document for programmatic, indicator, and financial reporting. Specifically, the site visit will involve the review of the programmatic progress (progress on activities, sub-recipient/consultant work, data quality, etc.) as well as administrative and financial management and controls.

H.5. Privacy Disclosure The Department of State understands that some information contained in applications may be considered sensitive or proprietary and will make appropriate efforts to protect such information. However, applicants are advised that the Department of State cannot guarantee that such information will not be disclosed, including pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or other similar statutes.

H.6. Attachments:

Attachment 1: Budget Guidance and Template for New Awards Attachment 2: Budget Narrative Template – Sample Format Attachment 3: Project Monitoring Plan Template Attachment 4: Logic Model Attachment 5: Risk Analysis

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POL/ECON OFFICER: Madeline Branch (ok)