DOS-PTA-202101 AFCP 2021.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

U.S. EMBASSY SOUTH AFRICA PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Funding Opportunity Title: Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation 2021

Funding Opportunity Number: DOS-PTA-202101

Announcement type: Grant

CFDA Number: 19.025

Deadline for Applications: November 16, 2020, 23:59 SAST

Total Expected Funds: $10,000 to $500,000

Contact:

For questions regarding the requirements of this solicitation, please contact the U.S. Embassy

South Africa Grants Administrator: PretoriaGrants@state.gov.

Questions and answers may be posted on the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in South Africa website at https://za.usembassy.gov/education-culture/public-diplomacy-small-grants-program-

2/.

For questions relating to Grants.gov, please call the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-

4726.

There are no applicant administrative or service provider fees associated with submitting applications under this announcement.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the Embassy of the United States of America in South

Africa, in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Center in the Bureau of Educational and

Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State, is pleased to announce the start of the

U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) 2021 Grants Program. The Embassy invites interested non-profit organizations, public international organizations, and private, public, or state institutions of higher education in South Africa and the United States to submit abstracts for Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation projects in accordance with the specifications outlined below. Please review all information in this announcement prior to submitting applications or questions.

Additional information regarding AFCP can be found at the following link:

https://eca.state.gov/cultural-heritage-center/ambassadors-fund-cultural-preservation

Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Priority Region: Project activities must take place in South Africa.

Program Objectives: The Department of State established the AFCP in 2000 at the request of

Congress (Conference Report 106-1005 accompanying H.R. 4942). At the time, the Senate noted that the preservation of cultural heritage “offers an opportunity to show a different

American face to other countries, one that is non-commercial, non-political, and non-military.”

mailto:PretoriaGrants@state.gov https://za.usembassy.gov/education-culture/public-diplomacy-small-grants-program-2/ https://za.usembassy.gov/education-culture/public-diplomacy-small-grants-program-2/ https://eca.state.gov/cultural-heritage-center/ambassadors-fund-cultural-preservation

The projects recommended for funding advance U.S. foreign policy goals and show respect for other cultures. Cultural preservation is effective public diplomacy that resonates deeply with opinion leaders and local communities, even in countries where ties may be otherwise limited.

AFCP projects strengthen civil society, encourage good governance, and promote political and economic stability around the world.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 12 to 60 months

Number of awards anticipated: Up to three separate awards

Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $500,000

Total expected funding: $500,000

Type of expected funding: Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended

(P.L. 87-256, § 102(b)(5)

Anticipated program start date: August 2021

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 60 months or less.

The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

The following entities are eligible to apply:

• Foreign Institution of Higher Education

• Foreign Organization

• Foreign Public Entity

• U.S. Non-Profit Organization (501(c)(3))

• U.S. Institution of Higher Education

Eligible project applicants may include non-governmental organizations, museums, ministries of culture, or similar institutions and organizations, including U.S.-based organizations subject to

Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code. The Embassy will vet applicants for eligibility, suitability, and reputable performance in cultural preservation or similar activities and ensure that the applicants are able to receive U.S. federal assistance. The Embassy will not award grants to individuals, commercial entities, or past award recipients that have not fulfilled the objectives or reporting requirements of previous AFCP awards.

Successful applicants must be reputable and accountable non-commercial entities that are registered and active in SAM.gov and able to demonstrate that they have the requisite experience and capacity to manage projects to preserve cultural heritage.

Applications from for-profit organizations will not be considered by the Grants Review

Committee. No exceptions can be made.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost-sharing is not required.

3. System for Award Management (SAM)

Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award

Management is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the Office of

Management and Budget guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3

CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and

Suspension.” Additionally, no entity listed on the EPLS can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the EPLS in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included.

To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Data Universal

Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet, a CAGE/NCAGE code, and a valid registration in SAM. Applications from organizations that have not applied yet for a

DUNS number and CAGE/NCAGE code will not be considered by the Grants Review

Committee.

DUNS number: If your organization does not have one already, you may obtain one by calling

1-866-705-5711 or visiting http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.

CAGE/NCAGE code: Please visit https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/CageTool/home to request a code if your organization does not have one already.

Instructions for the NCAGE application process can be found here:

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCA

GE.pdf.

For NCAGE help call 1-888-227-2423 (toll free) or 1-269-961-7766 (internationally). Email

NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil for any problems in getting an NCAGE code.

SAM registration: Once your organization has a DUNS number and NCAGE code proceed to register in the System for Award Management by logging onto: https://www.sam.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

For information about SAM registration, please contact SAM supporting Federal Service Desk at www.fsd.gov, or by telephone at 866-606-8220 (toll free) or 334-206-7828 (internationally), for free help.

SAM supporting Federal Service Desk can help with:

• Creating an account

• Assigning roles to an account https://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/ http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/CageTool/home https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf mailto:NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil https://www.sam.gov/ http://www.fsd.gov/

• Entity Registrations

• Exclusions

• Searching for data in SAM

FRAUD ALERT! DUNS, CAGE/NCAGE, and SAM registration are no-fee registration processes. No payment is required. Any website requiring payment for these registrations is

NOT endorsed or required by the U.S. Government.

The Embassy of the United States in South Africa and its Consulates are unable to provide guidance or technical support with these registration processes.

4. Number of Applications Allowed

Applicants are allowed to submit up to two proposals per organization.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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.

Applications should be emailed to PretoriaGrants@state.gov.

Applications are accepted in English only. Final grant agreements will be concluded in English.

In addition to a proposal narrative, applications must include a detailed budget spreadsheet and budgets must be submitted in U.S. dollars.

Documents submitted by disc, portable hard drive, cloud-based file sharing service, or other mechanisms will not be reviewed.

1. Content and Form of Application Submission

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Applications that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. This opportunity DOES NOT solicit full proposals and only concept notes/project abstracts are requested at this time.

Content of Application:

Applicants must ensure:

• The application clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity

• All documents are in English

• All budgets are in U.S. dollars

The concept note should contain sufficient information so that anyone not familiar with the subject of the proposed project would understand exactly what the applicant intends to do.

Applicants may use any format, but all applications must include:

a. Project basics, including working title, anticipated project length (in months), location/site, and project cost estimate in U.S. dollars;

b. Project implementer information, including name and SAM registration status;

c. Project purpose that summarizes the objectives, proposed activities, and desired results mailto:PretoriaGrants@state.gov

d. Rationale for AFCP support, explaining:

i. why it is in the interests of the U.S. government to fund the project;

ii. how the project promotes the goals of inclusive economic growth, innovative partnerships, and support for human dignity;

iii. how the project supports existing bilateral agreements or other U.S. foreign policy objectives;

iv. the projected benefits and impacts of the project;

v. how the project contributes to broader host country or community aims or objectives;

e. Five (5) high quality digital images (JPEGs) or audiovisual files that convey the nature and condition of the site, collection, or tradition and show the urgency or need for the proposed project (collapsing walls, water damage, etc.).

2. Submission Dates and Times

The 2021 AFCP selection process will occur in to steps:

1. Concept Notes, due November 16, 2020

2. Full Proposals, upon invitation only

Concept Notes are due no later than November 16, 2020, 12:00 midnight Pretoria Time.

Applications should be emailed to PretoriaGrants@state.gov.

Documents submitted by disc, portable hard drive, cloud-based file sharing service, or other mechanisms will not be reviewed. The email address above is the only acceptable manner of submission.

3. Funding Restrictions

AFCP does not support the following activities or costs, and applications involving any of the activities or costs below will be deemed ineligible:

a. Preservation or purchase of privately or commercially owned cultural objects, collections, or real property, including those whose transfer from private or commercial to public ownership is envisioned, planned, or in process but not complete at the time of application

b. Preservation of natural heritage (physical, biological, and geological formations, paleontological collections, habitats of threatened species of animals and plants, fossils, etc.)

c. Preservation of hominid or human remains

d. Preservation of news media (newspapers, newsreels, radio and TV programs, etc.)

e. Preservation of published materials available elsewhere (books, periodicals, etc.)

f. Development of curricula or educational materials for classroom use

g. Archaeological excavations or exploratory surveys for research purposes

h. Historical research, except in cases where the research is justifiable and integral to the success of the proposed project

i. Acquisition or creation of new exhibits, objects, or collections for new or existing museums

j. Construction of new buildings, building additions, or permanent coverings (over archaeological sites, for example)

k. Commissions of new works of art or architecture for commemorative or economic development purposes

l. Creation of new or the modern adaptation of existing traditional dances, songs, chants, musical compositions, plays, or other performances

m. Creation of replicas or conjectural reconstructions of cultural objects or sites that no longer exist

n. Relocation of cultural sites from one physical location to another

o. Removal of cultural objects or elements of cultural sites from the country for any reason

p. Digitization of cultural objects or collections, unless part of a larger, clearly defined conservation, documentation, or public diplomacy effort

q. Conservation plans or other studies, unless they are one component of a larger project to implement the results of those studies

r. Cash reserves, endowments, or revolving funds (funds must be expended within the award period [up to five years] and may not be used to create an endowment or revolving fund)

s. Costs of fund-raising campaigns

t. Contingency, unforeseen, or miscellaneous costs or fees

u. Costs of work performed prior to announcement of the award unless allowable per 2 CFR

200.458 and approved by the Grants Officer

v. International travel, except in cases where travel is justifiable and integral to the success of the proposed project or to provide project leaders with learning and exchange opportunities with cultural heritage experts

w. Individual projects costing less than $10,000 or more than $500,000

x. Independent U.S. and foreign projects overseas that do not have a local partner or a preexisting formal agreement with the national cultural authority in the specified country to conduct cultural heritage preservation activities

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria

Each application will be evaluated on its technical eligibility, responsiveness to the AFCP program objectives, and the quality of the application contents (Concept note, Attachments, etc., as described above).

Review panels at the embassy, AFCP program, and bureau levels within the State Department will evaluate all eligible applications and recommend projects for funding.

The guiding principle in evaluating and rating each application is: Will the desired outcomes of the program be achieved? Are the goals and objectives well understood, and is the plan of action likely to succeed? And how will this be measured?

The United States Department of State strives to ensure that its efforts reflect the diversity of

U.S. society and societies abroad. The U.S. Embassy seeks and encourages the involvement of people from traditionally underrepresented audiences in all its grants, programs and other activities and in its workforce and workplace. Opportunities are open to people regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Embassy is committed to fairness, equity and inclusion. Proposals should demonstrate substantive support of diversity and describe how diversity will be integrated into all aspects of the program. Applicants should demonstrate readiness to accommodate participants with physical disabilities.

2. Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)

For any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity, if the Federal awarding agency anticipates that the total Federal share will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold on any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity may include, over the period of performance (see §200.88 Simplified Acquisition Threshold), this section must also inform applicants:

a. That 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 designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313);

b. That an applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM;

c. That 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 §200.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

Successful recipient(s) will be notified by February 28, 2021, with anticipated award date to be by July 30, 2021.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

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.

Payment Method: Payment will be made by EFT. For South African bank accounts, the exchange rate on the date of the transaction will be used.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Terms and Conditions: 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 200, 2 CFR 600, Certifications and Assurances, and the Department of State Standard

Terms and Conditions, all of which are available at: https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/.

Note the U.S Flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and Conditions, as well as the Fly America Act guidance.

3. Reporting

Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted. It is anticipated that reports will be due within thirty days of each three month period, and within ninety days of the final completion of the award period.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For questions relating to Grants.gov, please call the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-

4726.

For questions regarding the requirements of this solicitation, please contact the U.S. Embassy

South Africa Grants Administrator: PretoriaGrants@state.gov.

https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/ https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/