2025-1-13 PEMS 9 FAQs (Updated Jan 13) 1.pdf

QUESTIONS TO AND ANSWERS FROM THE OFFICE TO MONITOR AND

COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP OFFICE) ABOUT ITS PROGRAM TO

END MODERN SLAVERY (PEMS) FUNDING OPPORTUNITY 2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ELIGIBILITY

LOGISTICS

BUDGET AND TIMELINE

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

SOI CONTENT

COMPTETITIVE REVIEW

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

ELIGIBILITY

1. Who is eligible to apply for funding?

U.S.-based and foreign non-governmental organizations (including faith-based organizations), U.S. based and foreign non-profits, public international organizations (PIOs), institutions of higher education, and for-profit organizations are eligible to apply.

The Department of State prohibits for-profit organizations from earning a profit under its assistance awards. Additionally, applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR Part 30 (2020)—Cost

Accounting Standards and 48 CFR Part 31 (2019)—Contract Cost Principles and

Procedures takes precedence over the cost principles in 2 CFR § 200, Subpart E, for Federal awards to U.S. and foreign for-profit entities.

U.S. government agencies may apply for funding projects that would be funded through an Interagency Acquisition Agreement (IAA). Foreign governments are not eligible to apply but may be beneficiaries of funded projects, provided the funding does not cover salaries of government agency personnel and complies with U.S. law and policy restrictions.

2. Are current TIP Office grantees eligible to apply?

Yes, organizations currently receiving funds from the TIP Office are eligible to apply for additional funding under this opportunity. There are no restrictions on receiving funding from other U.S. government sources, including other

Department of State bureaus.

LOGISTICS

1. How much funding does the TIP Office have for PEMS?

The U.S. Congress has appropriated $25 million annually since Fiscal Year 2016 for

PEMS, with $200 million in funding obligated to date. The TIP Office plans to allocate up to $22 million in Fiscal Year 2024 funding to issue multiple awards under this funding opportunity.

2. How does the TIP Office define the stages of funding under PEMS? How is this different from previous funding calls?

PEMS funding is structured to support interventions at three critical stages:

• Research and design of innovative solutions (Stage 1)

• Implementation and rigorous evaluation of promising practices (Stage 2)

• Replication or scaling of effective solutions (Stage 3)

The 2025 funding opportunity builds on prior PEMS-funded initiatives and is designed to address critical evidence gaps on what approaches are effective in responding to trafficking in persons. While the 2023 PEMS funding opportunity focused heavily on stage 1 with the research, development, and piloting of projects through Intervention Development Research (IDR), the 2025 PEMS opportunity is focused more heavily on stage 2, validating promising interventions that have already been developed but have not undergone rigorous evaluation.

3. What is the funding range for this opportunity?

The TIP Office plans to issue multiple awards, with a project duration not to exceed 54 months (four and a half years). Awards under this opportunity may range from $500,000 - $5,000,000, depending on the scale and maturity of the intervention to be proposed and the evaluation approach.

4. What is the maximum number of awards?

The number of awards depends on the quality of proposals and the availability of funds.

5. What are the expected funding dates?

Subject to available funds, the TIP Office expects to award the funds to successful applicant(s) no later than September 2025. Funded projects will begin on or after

October 1, 2025.

6. Where can I find the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)?

The funding opportunity is available on MyGrants and on Grants.gov.

7. How many applications can an organization submit to this funding opportunity?

Applicants can submit multiple SOIs on different interventions that are not interdependent; however, organizations may only submit up to thee (3) proposals as the prime applicant. There is no limit to the number of applications in which an organization is listed as a partner organization. Applicants with multiple country locations, offices, or entities must coordinate to limit the total number of proposals in which the organization is listed as the prime applicant to comply with the limits above.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=trafficking

8. If an organization submits more than the allotted applications, will it receive a technical fail?

If an organization submits more than the allotted number (3) of applications, then the last submitted application/s, which will be determined by date and time of submission, will not be eligible and receive a technical fail.

9. May an organization apply separately as a partner organization and a prime?

Yes, an organization can apply as the prime organization and be a partner organization on another application so long as the prime organization is clearly identified.

10. What do you mean by a partner organization?

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, a partner organization is any organization that would receive sub-award funding from a successful applicant to assist in implementing anti-trafficking projects and/or activities. Applicants are allowed to collaborate with other organizations when submitting application(s). In such cases, the lead applicant must be clearly identified, and one or more partner organizations may be designated as sub-recipient.

11. Does the prime applicant have to be based in the country where the project will be implemented?

Applications are strongly encouraged from organizations based in the country where projects are proposed. However, there is no requirement for the prime organization to be based in the intervention country. Applicants should possess significant contextual expertise and existing relationships with key stakeholders within the local system (government, civil society, etc.) or be partnered with a local organization(s) with such capacity.

12. Is preference given to organizations of a certain size or capacity?

This funding opportunity is designed to be accessible to organizations of all sizes.

It aims to support a diverse range of applicants, from small grassroots organizations to larger, well-established entities. Note that applications are welcome from organizations with minimal prior experience implementing government grants, and costs for building grant management capacity may be included under this opportunity.

BUDGET AND TIMELINE

1. Is cost sharing required under the funding opportunity?

Cost sharing, cost matching, and cost participation ARE NOT required under this funding opportunity. However, applicants may choose to include voluntary cost-sharing if desired. If cost-sharing is included, applicants should specify the amount in the SF-424 form. Applications including voluntary cost-sharing will not receive preferential treatment or be evaluated differently from those without it.

2. Is there any limitation on the duration of the funding period?

Project duration should not exceed four and half years (54 months). If a timeline extending beyond four and a half years would be beneficial for measuring outcomes and impacts assessed with the evaluation, please indicate that in the

SOI, and the TIP Office may consider a phase funded project that allows for additional years.

3. What budget information is required for the application at time of submission?

At the time of submission, applicants must provide a few sentences summarizing the anticipated costs of the total project, including costs for the intervention as well as monitoring, evaluation, and research. Additional guidance for applicants as they prepare cost estimates at this stage is provided in the “Statement of Interest

Guidance” section of the NOFO document.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

1. If an organization proposes a partnership with another organization, do all parties need to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, or only the prime applicant?

A valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), formerly known as the Data Universal

Numbering System (DUNS), is not required to submit an application on MyGrants.

However, organizations selected for an award must have a valid UEI. Please note that selected grantees cannot issue sub-awards to sub-recipients unless those sub-recipients have obtained and provided a valid UEI.

Organizations are encouraged to verify their UEI or begin the process of obtaining one as soon as possible. Instructions for obtaining a UEI can be found at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

2. How do I unlock my MyGrants account or change my password? What should

I do if I encounter difficulty using the MyGrants website?

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration

Unfortunately, the TIP Office is unable to unlock accounts or reset passwords.

Please review the MyGrants recipient training at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pUKQ6gRmi0 to answer any questions about the platform.

For other assistance with MyGrants, please contact the ILMS Support Desk at 1-

(888)-313-4567 (toll free for international callers) or submit a ticket using the

ILMS Self Service Portal (https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/grants).

Customer Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please note support hours may change on Federal holidays. Direct questions regarding the process of uploading applications to Customer Support. Technical difficulties not resolved by the Support Desk by the time of submission must be fully documented, including a ticket number documenting communication with Customer Support, and reported to the TIP Office at JTIPGrants@state.gov only. Please do not contact any other Department of State personnel.

SOI CONTENT

1. How does PEMS define “intervention” under this funding opportunity?

An intervention or intervention model is a set of planned activities or strategies designed to bring about specific changes in a situation or group. Interventions can https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pUKQ6gRmi0 mailto:JTIPGrants@state.gov involve multiple components working together to achieve clearly defined outcomes. For example, an intervention might include efforts spanning two or more of the four Ps (prevention, protection, prosecution, partnerships) or activities across multiple countries targeting a shared goal.

2. What categories of interventions are eligible for funding?

Eligible interventions MUST fall into one of the following categories:

a) An existing intervention which has shown promise but has not been rigorously evaluated;

b) An intervention that has shown success in other fields (such as combating gender-based violence) but has not been adapted and tested as a human trafficking intervention;

c) An intervention for which there is a design for programming supported by significant research, but has not yet had the funding to implement and evaluate the intervention.

Regardless of the category, SOIs must include evidence to support the intervention's potential and outline plans for implementation, rigorous evaluation, and how the evaluation will contribute to both the applicant’s work and the broader knowledge base on anti-trafficking programming. Applicants must demonstrate how they will consider new knowledge acquired and introduce any necessary corresponding modifications. Please refer to the “Statement of Interest

Guidance” section of the NOFO document for further information.

3. Will one category of funding be prioritized over the other?

No, as emphasized in the NOFO, the TIP Office prioritizes projects that have the most potential to be effective, replicable or scalable, sustainable, and cost-effective.

4. Are newly designed interventions eligible for funding?

Yes, newly designed interventions are eligible if they are supported by significant research or evidence that points to their potential for success in combating human trafficking. As noted in the NOFO, applicants should develop a total budget factoring in the size of the proposed intervention, evaluation methodology, and maturity or level of existing evidence for the intervention. Funding for the development and piloting of more nascent promising interventions will be provided at lower levels than funding for interventions that have significant evidence of their effectiveness.

5. Can an applicant propose an intervention in a well-researched area if they can demonstrate a critical need for additional evaluation or adaptation?

Yes, interventions in well-researched areas are eligible if applicants can demonstrate a critical need to:

• Adapt or test the intervention in a new context,

• Conduct a rigorous evaluation to validate its effectiveness in addressing human trafficking,

• Scale the intervention to reach underserved populations or regions.

If relevant, applicants should provide a strong rationale for why their proposed work is necessary despite existing research in the area.

6. What details are required for the implementation plan at the SOI stage?

Applicants should include the proposed location(s), scale, target beneficiaries, and a general timeline. Further planning and detail will be required for applicants invited to submit full proposals in stage 2. While detailed plans for the intervention model’s review and refinement are not required at this stage, applicants should note that initial adjustments may be needed to enhance effectiveness.

7. What types of evidence are considered acceptable to support the effectiveness of an intervention? Are certain types of evidence prioritized under this funding opportunity?

The TIP Office is open to a variety of evidence types and sources, including an organization’s monitoring data, external evaluations, qualitative research, and other reliable sources. Evidence must go beyond anecdotal accounts. For newly designed or untested interventions in the human trafficking context, evidence should strongly indicate the intervention’s potential for success in this context.

Additional details are available in the “Statement of Interest Guidance” section of the NOFO document.

8. Do applicants need to propose specific evaluation methodologies at the

SOI stage?

Applicants can either provide a summary of planned methodologies or explain how the applicant will determine appropriate approaches and if relevant, develop a partnership with a partner specialized in the evaluation approach.

Methodologies can include experimental, quasi-experimental, mixed methods, or other rigorous approaches, depending on the context. Further information is provided in the “Statement of Interest Guidance” section of the NOFO document.

9. What evaluation methods are considered “rigorous” under this funding call?

Rigorous evaluation uses methods that provide credible evidence of an intervention's effectiveness, assessing whether it met its targets and contributed to broader outcomes. Evaluation plans should add value to the applicant’s work and the wider anti-trafficking knowledge base.

Applicants may propose various evaluation methods that are well-suited to the context, needs, and intervention’s maturity. Note that the use of experimental or quasi-experimental approaches, such as Randomized Control Trials, is allowed but is NOT a requirement under this opportunity. Proposals should clearly articulate how the evaluation will enhance understanding of the effectiveness of anti-trafficking programming. A helpful resource that includes some research and learning questions for the anti-trafficking space is Innovation for Poverty Action’s

Research and Learning Agenda, which has been developed under the Program to

End Modern Slavery. Applicants may choose to address research questions included in this agenda or develop their question/s. For more details on evaluation methods, see the “Statement of Interest Guidance” section of the

NOFO document.

10. How should survivor engagement be incorporated in project proposals?

https://poverty-action.org/research-and-learning-agenda-human-trafficking-research-initiative https://poverty-action.org/research-and-learning-agenda-human-trafficking-research-initiative

The TIP Office encourages applicants to meaningfully incorporate survivor engagement by consulting individuals with lived experience during development, partnering with survivor-led organizations, and ensuring activities are survivor-informed.

11. Are there any exclusions on what types of interventions can be proposed?

No – applicants are welcome to propose interventions that fall under any aspect of the anti-trafficking response. The TIP Office uses a “3P” paradigm— prosecution, protection, and prevention—as the fundamental framework used around the world to combat human trafficking. Prevention activities focus on preventing trafficking among vulnerable populations – examples of prevention activities include but are not limited to: targeted behavioral change campaigns, vocational training or livelihood assistance for individuals at high risk of trafficking, increasing community level actors’ capacity to identify and refer potential cases, etc. Protection activities include support for survivors of trafficking once they have been identified. Examples include mental health support, case management, housing support and shelter services, repatriation assistance to a survivor’s home country, educational or vocational support, etc. Prosecution activities include those efforts to identify and hold perpetrators of trafficking accountable and build the capacity of public justice systems to prosecute offenders. Examples include but are not limited to working with law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and court personnel to increase their capacity, skills, and resources to handle trafficking cases effectively and in a trauma-informed and victim-centered manner.

Additional information can be found here: https://www.state.gov/3ps-prosecution-protection-and-prevention/

12. Does a proposed intervention need to focus solely on human trafficking or can an intervention address other issues such as gender-based violence as well?

Human trafficking issues and programming overlap with many fields and expertise in these areas can be valuable to developing effective programming. However, intervention costs covered by this grant/cooperative agreement should primarily benefit victims of trafficking or people who are vulnerable to trafficking, and any outcomes measurement and evaluation plans for the proposed intervention must be able to specifically show the intervention’s impacts among survivors or those vulnerable to human trafficking.

13. Can this opportunity be used to fund just an evaluation of an intervention that is being implemented with funding from a different source or grant?

No – this opportunity is intended to cover both the implementation and the rigorous evaluation of a promising intervention. If applicants have intervention activities that will be funded through other sources, they must design an approach https://www.state.gov/3ps-prosecution-protection-and-prevention/ https://www.state.gov/3ps-prosecution-protection-and-prevention/ to implement a unique instance or iteration of the intervention that will allow for the evaluation to track (and at a minimum, disaggregate) outcomes of the activities funded through this specific funding opportunity.

COMPETITIVE REVIEW

1. How does the TIP Office decide which proposal(s) to fund?

Funding for anti-trafficking projects will be allocated through an open and competitive two-stage process. All SOIs received will first undergo a technical review to ensure they meet the technical requirements. SOIs which pass the technical review are reviewed by State Department staff at the TIP Office, U.S.

embassies, and regional bureaus, and final decisions are made by TIP Office leadership.

2. Where may I find additional advice about preparing the SOI or full application?

The TIP Office must ensure a fair, transparent, competitive grants process. No one from the Office or other Department of State personnel, including Embassy personnel, is permitted to advise you on the content of your application. Persons with additional questions about the requirements of the funding opportunity may contact JTIPGrants@state.gov. Responses to questions will be answered via email and included in the FAQ Document. The FAQ Document will be updated regularly and posted online with the opportunity package on Grants.gov and MyGrants.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

1. Can you clarify what type of external guidance and support for awardees will be provided by the TIP Office?

The TIP Office may provide awardees with external guidance and support in areas such as helping to refine intervention designs for effective implementation alongside an evaluation and/or evaluative activities. This support will focus on strengthening the intervention’s approach, ensuring it is well-prepared for evaluation to help validate the intervention’s effectiveness, and that there is sufficient adaptive management as the intervention is being implemented and evaluated.

Awardees will be expected to engage in the conversations, remain open to refining their intervention models, and incorporate learnings throughout their project. All proposed projects should begin with a thorough review of the mailto:JTIPGrants@state.gov intervention’s evidence and theory of change to identify and implement any necessary modifications to enhance effectiveness and prepare for evaluation.

2. Where can I find specifics regarding projects previously funded by the TIP

Office?

Applicants are encouraged to look to our website, https://www.state.gov/tip-office-project-descriptions/, for information on TIP Office-funded projects from prior years.

https://www.state.gov/tip-office-project-descriptions/ https://www.state.gov/tip-office-project-descriptions/