NOFO FINAL Amended II 4 20.docx

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)

Bureau of Counterterrorism U.S. Department of State

Announcement Type: New Announcement

Funding Opportunity Title: West Africa Counterterrorism Finance Initiative

Assistance Listing: 19.701

Funding Amount: $1, 975,000

Number of Awards: One (1)

Cost Sharing Requirement: Not Required

Assistance Type: Cooperative Agreement

Funding Type: Discretionary

Authority: Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 as amended

Source of Funding: FY19 Counterterrorism Finance

Funding Activity Category: Other

Closing Date for Submission of Complete proposal packages must be submitted through Applications: www.grants.gov by May 18, 11:59 pm EST

Electronic Requirement: Yes E-mailed, faxed or mailed proposal packages, or individual documents, that failed to transmit through www.grants.gov, will NOT be considered.

Deadline for Receipt of Questions: May 8, 5:00 pm, EST

Eligibility Category: U.S. - based non-profit/non-governmental organizations having a 501(c) (3) status with the IRS; overseas non-governmental non-profit organizations; Foreign Public Entities (FPEs) and Public International Organizations (PIOs). For-profit and commercial firms are not eligible to apply. No exceptions.

Type of Applicant: Organizations. Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Number of Applications: One (1) per applicant organization

Note: Organizations may form consortia and submit a combined proposal. However, only one organization may be designated as the lead applicant. The lead applicant must meet the eligibility criteria listed in this NOFO.

Anticipated Award Date: The successful applicant will receive notification within approximately four to five weeks of the closing of this announcement. The U.S. Department of State is under no obligation to fund any of the proposals submitted under this funding opportunity.

Est. Project Start Date: September 2020

Est. Project End Date: September 2022

Project Duration: 24 months

This funding opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov and may be amended. Answers to questions from potential applicants will be posted as an attachment to this NOFO. Applicants should regularly check the www.grants.gov website for the most recent information pertaining to this NOFO. Department of State bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes associated with electronic submissions via www.grants.gov. Incomplete application packages will not be considered. Missing e-mailed, faxed or mailed documents will NOT be considered.

Applicants, including U.S. affiliates of international organizations incorporated in the U.S., must provide a Unique Entity Identifier, or Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS), and completed www.sam.gov registration when submitting application on www.grants.gov in response to this NOFO.

Applicants that do not have a valid DUNS number and completed www.sam.gov registration will NOT be eligible for consideration.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application package has been received by Grants.gov in its entirety. Incomplete applications will be considered ineligible. Individual e-mailed or faxed documents that failed to transmit during application submission will not be considered.

The decision for the final eligibility and award determination rests with the Grants Officer.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The United States Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support counterterrorism finance programming in West Africa that addresses new and evolving typologies of terrorism financing and gaps and vulnerabilities of West African countries and promotes compliance with international anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) standards. Subject to the availability of funds, CT intends to issue an award of up to $987,500 in FY19 funds for project periods of up to two years with an anticipated start date of September 2020.

Pending availability of funds and satisfactory performance, including compliance with the award’s terms and conditions, CT may consider adding funds to the award. CT intends to support one award as a result of this NOFO.

Department of State reserves the right to fund any or none of the proposals submitted and reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase the budget in accordance with the needs of the project and the availability of funds.

The Federal award signed by the State Department Grants Officer is the only authorizing document.

This NOFO consists of the following sections:

1. Funding Opportunity Description

1. Award Information and Application Evaluation and Scoring

1. Eligibility Information

1. Agency Contacts

Eligible organizations interested in submitting an application are encouraged to review this NOFO thoroughly to understand the type of project sought and the application submission requirements and review process as outlined in this NOFO.

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The Sahel has seen an alarming increase in terrorist activities over the last year, with a sharp increase in attacks in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. JNIM, an al-Qa’ida affiliate operating in West Africa, has claimed responsibility for recent attacks on Malian military bases resulting in the deaths of dozens of soldiers. On January 26, JNIM claimed responsibility for an assault on a military base near Sokolo, which followed a January 22 attack on a base in Mali’s Mopti Region. ISIS affiliates in West Africa are also increasing their activities, with ISIS-West Africa and ISIS-Greater Sahara claiming a number of recent violent attacks. On December 12, 2019, ISIS-West Africa claimed responsibility for an attack on a military camp in Niger near the border with Mali, which killed 71 Nigerien soldiers. This attack was followed by a second, larger attack near the Nigerien border with Burkina Faso on January 9th, 2020 that killed over 80 Nigerien soldiers. The attack has been considered the deadliest raid against the Nigerien military in living memory.

Identifying and disrupting the financing of terrorist groups is a vital element of counterterrorism. Terrorist groups and other criminal organizations utilize a multitude of tactics to generate, move, and conceal funds. Terrorist groups operating in West Africa utilize extortion, self-imposed coercive taxation systems, proceeds from smuggling, kidnapping for ransom, abuse of charitable donations, graft from non-profit organizations, and other means. The phenomenon is underpinned by several factors, including the presence of large, informal, cash-based economies, political instability, ethnic and communal violence, pervasive corruption, widespread poverty, gross unemployment, and underemployment. Terrorist groups and their financiers derive funds from both licit and illicit activities, and move them through formal and informal channels to support their activities. Alliances and cooperation between terrorist groups operating in West Africa and global terrorist networks is an additional source of terrorism financing. All of these factors have adverse effects on peace, security, and development in the sub-region.

Defeating terrorism in this environment cannot be accomplished by military force alone. It requires a holistic response encompassing civilian law enforcement, judicial elements, and border security efforts, among other lines of effort. Efforts to counter the financing of terrorism are instrumental to disrupting, dismantling, and eventually containing terrorist organizations. Financial investigations, forensic accounting, and financial network analysis can deepen the understanding of the terrorist and criminal organizations, and can uncover evidence and provide actionable intelligence to national security agencies on the scope, scale, and practical operations of groups as well as help identify members and associates. Multi-agency cooperation and information sharing among relevant financial sector, regulatory, supervisory, law enforcement, and other justice sector actors are also critical to closing intelligence gaps and advancing a comprehensive counterterrorism and AML/CFT response.

PROJECT’S GOALS

CT seeks proposals to strengthen West African countries’ AML/CFT regimes by promoting compliance with international standards and implementing best practices to increase effectiveness, with a particular focus on increasing governmental capacity to investigate and prosecute terrorism financing cases. Proposals should prioritize working with relevant law enforcement and judicial agencies with AML/CFT responsibilities through training, dedicated mentorship, and possibly the provision of equipment, and could include building the capacity of financial intelligence units (FIUs) to support efforts to investigate and prosecute terrorism financing. Additionally, the project aims to strengthen domestic coordination and collaboration between FIUs and law enforcement agencies, as well as to promote regional and international cooperation. Proposals should include provisions to build the capacity of justice sector actors to investigate and prosecute terrorism financing cases, emphasizing coordination and information-sharing between investigators, prosecutors, and judges across West Africa.

Primary focus countries include all Member States of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). The project should seek to support GIABA member states to promote compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards and increase the effectiveness of jurisdictions’ AML/CFT systems, focusing on criminalizing terrorist financing offences as well as building the capabilities of justice sector actors to investigate and prosecute such offences. The proposal should identify which GIABA country or countries will be prioritized for project support.

PROJECT’S DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

West Africa Counterterrorism Finance Initiative has three key objectives:

· Increase core capacities among AML/CFT stakeholders to investigate and prosecute terrorism financing cases.

· Establish and foster linkages among institutions with AML/CFT responsibilities to strengthen domestic coordination and cooperation.

· Facilitate regional cooperation and information sharing among AML/CFT stakeholders though a regional mutual legal assistance (MLA) framework.

II. AWARD INFORMATION AND APPLICATION EVALUATION AND SCORING

The Department of State will issue an award to the applicant whose proposal represents the best value to the U.S. Government on the basis of technical merit, efficient use of U.S. Government funds, and satisfactory organizational capacity.

The Department of State reserves the right to make an award on the basis of initial application received with or without discussion or negotiations. Therefore, applications should contain the applicants’ best terms from both cost and technical standpoints.

It is Department of State policy that English is the official language and U.S. dollar is the controlling currency. Proposal and related supporting documents must be in English and accompanying budget in U.S. dollars.

Eligible applications will be evaluated by an independent review panel consisting of subject matter experts from other DOS bureaus/offices or other USG agencies.

Bureau will conduct a merit review of all eligible applications as outlined in this NOFO. Applications will be reviewed by an independent review panel consisting of qualified subject matter experts from other DOS bureaus and offices, U.S. Embassies, or other USG agencies. Final approval resides with the DOS Grants Office.

The independent review panel will evaluate each application individually against the following criteria, listed below in order of importance.

The review panel will apply the following criteria when rating proposals:

1. Quality of Project Idea

· The proposal responds to the NOFO and is appropriate in the country context;

· The proposal exhibits originality but is feasible;

· The proposal directly connects proposed activities with the desired outcomes (goals and objectives).

2. Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives

· The proposal provides a detailed work plan of proposed project activities and includes a clear articulation of how these activities will contribute to the overall project’s goals and objectives;

· The proposal demonstrates that project activities are specific, measurable, attainable, and placed in a reasonable time frame (SMART).

3. Organizational Capability and Record of Performance

· The proposal demonstrates an institutional record of previous successfully-implemented projects in target regions outlined in this NOFO;

· The proposal articulates past performance and experience in working with relevant host governments, local organizations, and communities. The proposal clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of primary staff under this project;

· The proposal describes the division of labor among the recipient organization and potential implementing partner organization(s) and identifies local partner organization(s) that would assist with implementation, where appropriate;

· Proposal addresses how the project will engage or obtain support from relevant stakeholders.

4. Cost Effectiveness

· The administration of the proposal budget, including salaries and honoraria, are explained and justified for the work involved;

· Proposed costs are reasonable and necessary and linked to program objectives and demonstrate efficient use of U.S. Government funds.

NOTE: This NOFO does not require cost-share. Applicants may voluntarily offer cost share; however, cost share will not be factored in during proposal review.

5. Project Monitoring and Evaluation

· The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan includes narrative explaining how monitoring and evaluation will be carried out and who will be responsible for monitoring and evaluation activities (including potential contracted M&E experts, if applicable).

6. Sustainability of Impact

· Clearly delineates how impact will be sustainable beyond the life of the grant.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION INFORMATION:

Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for additional application submission instructions, including information on required documents and format.

Please follow both, the PSI and the NOFO, to ensure that the proposal package submission is in full compliance with the requirements. Proposal submissions that do not meet all of the requirements outlined in this NOFO and PSI will not be considered.

FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION:

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute a commitment on the part of the Department of State to issue an award nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. Furthermore, award cannot be issued until funds have been fully appropriated, allocated, and committed through internal DOS procedures. While it is anticipated that these procedures will be successfully completed, potential applicants are hereby notified of these requirements. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.

Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.400 g, it is U.S. Department of State policy not to award profit under assistance instruments.

2 CFR §200.501 requires domestic/US non-federal entities that expend $750,000, or more, in federal assistance during organization’s fiscal year to have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year. In addition, the entity must report the collected audit data elements on the form SF-SAC and submit it to the FAC. Any findings such as material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, or material noncompliance are reported on the SF-SAC.

The Federal award signed by the Grants Officer is the only authorizing document.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:

Recipient will be required to submit Quarterly Progress and Quarterly Financial Reports (SF-425), unless special conditions apply, describing key activities undertaken during the reporting period towards accomplishment of the stated objectives. Financial Reports provide a means of monitoring expenditures.

NOTE: It is Department of State policy that English is the official language of all award documents. If reports or any other supporting documents are provided in both English and a foreign language, it must be stated in each version that the English language version is the controlling version. U.S. dollar is the controlling currency. Financial reports must be submitted in U.S. dollars.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Mandatory disclosures (2 CFR 200.113) Non-federal entity, recipient or applicant for a federal award must disclose, in a timely manner, in writing to the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity all violations of federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the federal award. Non-federal entities that have received a Federal award including the term and condition outlined in Appendix XII of the 2 CFR 200—Award Terms and Conditions for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters -- are required to report certain civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings to www.sam.gov.

Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in §200.338 Remedies for Noncompliance, including suspension or debarment.

Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) A federal awarding agency, prior to making a federal award, will review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through www.sam.gov (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313). Applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through www.sam.gov 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 www.sam.gov. Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance Applicant organizations must demonstrate adherence to equal opportunity employment practices and commitment to non-discrimination with respect to beneficiaries. Non-discrimination includes equal treatment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation. Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with or support to individuals or organizations associated with terrorism.

Proposals that reflect any type of support for any member, affiliate, or representative or a designate to terrorist organization or narcotics trafficker, including elected members of government, will NOT be considered. This provision must be included in any sub‐awards/sub-contracts issued under this award.

III. ELIGIBLITY INFORMATION

See the cover page, Eligibility Category.

Applicants should demonstrate training expertise in anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) practices in compliance with international standards and best practices. Applicants should also demonstrate an in-depth understanding of terrorism in West Africa, including how terrorist groups and their financiers derive funds from both licit and illicit activities, and move funds through formal and informal channels to support their activities.

IV. AGENCY CONTACTS

Any prospective applicant desiring an explanation or interpretation of this NOFO must request it in writing by the deadline for questions specified on page 1 (cover page). Information given to a prospective applicant concerning this NOFO will be furnished promptly to all other prospective applicants as a ‘Questions and Answers’ attachment to this NOFO.

Any questions concerning this NOFO should be submitted in writing, by email, to Hunter Watts, WattsHA@state.gov, along with the project’s title as outlined in the NOFO; the funding opportunity number; and applicant’s legal name and organizational status.