FY19_Greenland School_NOFO.docx

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

BUREAU OF ENERGY RESOURCES

Notice of Funding Opportunity

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR) of the U.S. Department of State announces an opportunity for organizations to submit applications to enter a cooperative agreement (CA) with ENR through its Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI).

The CA will focus on building capacity in Greenland to oversee Greenland’s growing mineral resource sector and bolster domestic expertise to supply mining sector workforce needs in support of better livelihood and long-term economic development. To attain this goal, the Recipient will provide appropriate Greenlandic institutions, specifically the Greenland School of Minerals and Petroleum (KTI Råstofskolen, aka Aatsitassalerinermik Ilinniarfik), training and advisory support to strengthen institutional capacity to gain knowledge of modern industry operations and develop related curricula and trainings for local faculty and students. Activities under the CA will include course curriculum development and shadowing, sub-surface mine operational and safety training and pilot program development, and technical advisory support for underground mine construction and safety.

Eligibility is limited to educational institutions, U.S. non-profit/nongovernmental organizations subject to section 501 (c) (3) of the U. S. tax code, foreign not-for-profit/nongovernmental organizations, and public international organizations.

A cooperative agreement, which will include the substantial involvement of the U.S. Department of State for up to $1,185,000 U.S. Dollars (USD) in FY 2019 Economic Support Funds (ESF) will be awarded for work that will support KTI Råstofskolen. The period of performance will be 36 months. Funding authority rests in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Contact Person: For questions on technical content:

Evan McGlaughlin

Priority Region: Greenland, Kingdom of Denmark

Program Goals and Objectives:

Working in close partnership with the Greenland government and KTI Råstofskolen, ENR assistance through this CA seeks to bolster institutional capacity at the school in Sisimiut, Greenland, leverage specialized U.S. university expertise, and expand the training curriculum to include broader English-language, vocational, business, and geoscience study tracks. Through the CA, ENR also seeks to build educational capacity within KTI Råstofskolen’s faculty to train a generation of petroleum and mining sector experts and specialists that fill niche employment needs in Greenland as the extractives sectors continue to develop.

This program supports a strengthened understanding of U.S. and leading industry standards and perspectives on how sustainable mining and energy sector projects should be undertaken and managed for the benefit of all. This effort also will seek to expand U.S. relationships on educational issues with the Greenland government.

Efforts under the CA will support ENR’s goals to:

· Promote global political stability and prosperity through energy and mineral sector development;

· Promote energy security for our allies and partners;

· Promote economic growth that benefits American interests;

· Share U.S. and leading industry experience with mineral resource development;

· Assist governments to build expertise to manage the complexities associated with critical mineral development, including unique technical, operational, health, safety, and environmental issues;

· Establish and strengthen working relationships at the technical levels between governments and other stakeholders working on mineral sector issues; and

· Encourage the embedding of international best practices in mineral sector development.

The purpose of technical assistance activities through this cooperative agreement will be to:

1. Assist in the development of an underground mine training facility at KTI Råstofskolen’s Sisimiut location;

2. Increase knowledge of technical aspects of leading industry practices in mineral resource development, including underground mine construction, explosives, above-ground operations, integrated planning and project management, supply chain and equipment management, permitting, and others as identified by the Recipient, ENR, and KTI Råstofskolen;

3. Increase knowledge and application of mining and petroleum vocational education best practices, tapping into extensive networks of academic and industry experts in the United States and elsewhere; and

4. Enhance Greenland’s workforce development strategy to provide local opportunities for employment through capacity building at Greenland’s only state-sponsored petroleum and mining vocational school.

Background Mining and energy represent two of Greenland’s largest potential economic growth sectors. Greenland holds significant undiscovered mineral and hydrocarbon resource bases. The country has legacy mining sector experience dating to the 1850s with surface and below-ground mining of zinc-lead, cryolite, coal, graphite, gold, and corundum. Greenland also holds sizable undiscovered ‘world class’ rank mineral resources.

More than 60 exploration permits and exploitation concessions are licensed along the country’s ice-free coastal area, which is roughly equivalent in area to California. Greenland remains in early mining sector development; however, industry activity and interest has grown substantially in recent years.

Many of the direct and indirect benefits of investment in these sectors will not be realized in Greenland unless local capacity is built so that needed vocational skills (particularly in English), science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) knowledge, and business management abilities can be tapped from within Greenland’s population, rather than outsourced from abroad. Building such capacity takes time, and such an effort also requires a dedicated focus given the specialized nature of the mining and energy industries.

In 2008, the Greenland government established the Greenland School of Minerals & Petroleum (KTI Råstofskolen, aka Aatsitassalerinermik Ilinniarfik) in Sisimiut. The Sisimiut school continues to strive to meet its goal of training at least 1,500 Greenlanders for the mining industry. One important aspect of advancing the school’s success is to provide technical and vocational trainings in the English language. Given this prerequisite for industry employability, a focus should be made in this area.

ENR’s Office of Energy Programs manages global energy foreign assistance programs focused on mineral, hydrocarbons, and power sector governance. This cooperative agreement would support the Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI) – a foreign assistance program that provides U.S. government and expert independent advisory services on a wide range of capacity-building programs related to hydrocarbon and mining sector governance and oversight to countries across the globe. Through EGCI, the Department of State works with governments to build capacity to improve governance by developing the institutional and human expertise needed to oversee resources and grow economies. Assistance through this program will be tailored to issues on which the Government of Greenland prioritizes and can make the strongest gains.

The Recipient shall not provide assistance to any country other than Greenland with funding under this agreement without first obtaining the prior written approval of ENR.

Activities I. Advisory Support for Subsurface Mine Construction and Safety As requested by ENR and through discussions with KTI Råstofskolen, the Recipient will provide expert engineering advice remotely and in Sisimiut on the construction and maintenance of an underground mine for vocational and professional training. The Recipient will utilize existing training mine plans acquired by the school via a U.S. academic institution. The school has existing capability for blasting and tunneling. The Recipient’s added value will be to vet existing plans from a mining engineering perspective, provide advice on implementing construction of the design, post-construction inspections and engineering advice, and answering ad hoc technical questions.

The Recipient will identify additional specific technical issues in consultation with ENR and KTI Råstofskolen and offer technical advice on these issues and the mine construction project through in-country technical advisory support, interactive short-courses or workshops, peer-to-peer academic exchanges, video conferences, and other activities as deemed appropriate. The Recipient will work closely with the School to coordinate visits to U.S. institution(s) with similar training capabilities to consult and discuss KTI Råstofskolen’s training plans. The Recipient will also coordinate trips to Sisimiut to advise on multiple steps of the planning and construction process.

II. Vocational and Engineering Curriculum Development The Recipient will work closely with KTI Råstofskolen point of contact, its faculty, and relevant government ministries through consultations to identify critical need areas and identify priorities to bolster the school’s vocational and engineering curricula. The Recipient will work in collaboration with KTI Råstofskolen faculty to develop supplemental curricula for existing vocational programs, including those focused on raw materials extraction and construction. The Recipient will also work with KTI Råstofskolen to develop new courses to advance the school’s alignment with similar institutions in other jurisdictions (e.g., Alaska, Canada, and other Nordic and Baltic Countries with developed mining sectors).

Courses will be tailored to Greenland’s unique geology and mineral and petroleum resource base. The Recipient will consider near term workforce opportunities/needs in Greenland as well as the medium-term growth trajectory of specific sectors and related workforce needs. In course development and design, the Recipient will also consider industry expectations and requirements for employment and focus recommendations to design curricula to meet those expectations (i.e. familiarize students with leading/common industry standards and conduct courses in English language).

Select course topics may include but are not limited to:

· underground mine construction (engineering and geology);

· operational health, safety and environmental best practices for underground mining;

· introduction to underground explosives;

· drone technology for mining research; and

· search and rescue operations.

During the thirty-six (36)-month term of the CA, the Recipient will work with KTI Råstofskolen to provide recommendations to advance curricula and/or develop two (2) courses per year (six (6) total over the cooperative agreement term) that will include discussion and consultation with academic and industry experts and KTI Råstofskolen counterparts.

The implementation of the consultations, including prioritizing the substance issues to be addressed through curricula development and consultations, will be discussed and vetted with ENR, KTI Råstofskolen partners, relevant Greenlandic government ministries, and other critical sources and stakeholders as necessary. Consultations, presentations, and course materials will be developed by the Recipient. Development of a search and rescue training program is a priority. Components include developing the School’s training program, including identifying necessary equipment, training facility conditions and constructions, course materials, and a notional budget.

Consultations are expected to take place in Greenland and remotely, as appropriate and as approved in advance by ENR. Through funds under this cooperative agreement the Recipient will arrange and be responsible for the costs of its travel, accommodations, and per diem to conduct overseas consultations and workshops. The Recipient will work with KTI Råstofskolen to identify the venue, food services, and materials and make necessary arrangement unless provided by the school.

III. Underground Mining Operations Search and Rescue Training The Recipient should be prepared to offer or coordinate via an appropriate U.S. institution a hands-on underground mining operation, safety, and search and rescue training for multiple KTI Råstofskolen faculty and select students. This training may be conducted at a facility managed or affiliated with the Recipient or at a third location arranged by the Recipient.

The objective of this activity is to train and certify KTI Råstofskolen faculty in select underground mining operations topics, including in safety and search and rescue (SAR) operations. Training should include all competencies typical of a SAR operation as would be expected by industry for competitive hiring and leading international regulation.

Consultations should also include anecdotal information and resources to help KTI Råstofskolen identify long-term funding for the program.

It is expected that this activity will involve travel to the United States or other overseas location. Travel should be coordinated with other travel activities associated with this cooperative agreement and ENR assistance to Greenland under separate implementing mechanisms. In close cooperation with ENR, the Recipient will coordinate and arrange travel and logistics for visits by KTI Råstofskolen faculty and possibly Government of Greenland and local officials. The Recipient may arrange for site visits and briefs by a range of stakeholders in the U.S. (or other) mining sector and to view industry operations in the United States (or other location). As appropriate, the Recipient will coordinate and fund travel, logistics, per diem, and meeting fees for KTI Råstofskolen faculty and government officials, to immerse them in the U.S. mining sector and share experience and best practices.

Expected Results Two overarching outcomes from this cooperative agreement are to:

1. Increase the capacity of KTI Råstofskolen to develop a professional workforce instilled with skills and knowledge of industry best practice in order to employ Greenland’s growing mineral sector. To reach this this result, the Recipient is expected to deploy innovative, state-of-the-art methods to help identify and develop educational materials and approaches that match Greenland’s needs and priorities.

2. Support Greenland’s domestic economic development and ability to attract world-class investment resources by demonstrating competency and the unique technical knowledge and vocational skills needed to oversee sector growth and participate in sector operations.

Participants and Audiences:

Participants are counterpart Greenlandic and local government officials and KTI Råstofskolen faculty and staff with roles in mineral sector management and corresponding education in the Priority Region. Participation will be subject to ENR concurrence and approval.

1. Performance Indicators The project should monitor and report on performance indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, and time-bound. 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. Indicators should also allow for disaggregation by key variables such as tracking the level of engagement of U.S. and international companies in all relevant indicators as well as gender disaggregation, as applicable. 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.

The implementer will be responsible for quarterly reporting on each performance indicator included in the cooperative agreement as well as analysis of progress or impediments to reach indicator targets. Indicators should be chosen or crafted carefully to reflect the key outcomes or outputs that reflect project performance. The State Department, per policy, assesses the quality of data reported by grant recipients as part of the award activities, therefore applicants should be aware that recipients will be engaged in data quality assessments.

Indicators and their disaggregates proposed below may be included in submitted proposals. Additional indicators, or edited version of the indicators below, may also be proposed. Potential indicators for this project could include:

Custom Indicator: Qualitative feedback from training participants

Government Private Sector Civil Society

Government male

Private Sector female Private Sector male

Civil Society female Civil society male

Energy sector services (identify type (e.g., engineering services))

Energy technologies (identify type (e.g., turbines, etc.))

EG 7.1-1: Number of beneficiaries with improved energy services due to U.S. government assistance Clean energy female

Clean energy male

Non-Clean energy female

Non-Clean energy male

Public, international

Private, domestic

Private, international

EG 7.3-1: Number of laws, policies, regulations, or standards to enhance energy sector governance formally proposed, adopted, or implemented as supported by U.S. government assistance National, proposed

National, adopted

National, implemented

Sub-national, proposed

Sub-national, adopted

Sub-national, implemented

Regional or international, proposed

Regional or international, adopted

Regional or international, implemented

Number of women

Number of Executive Branch Personnel

Number of Legislative Branch Personnel

Number of State Owned Enterprise (SOE) Personnel

Substantial Involvement ENR will be sustainably involved in the implementation of the program. Substantial involvement will include the following:

· Approval of the recipient’s implementation plans;

· Approval of specified key personnel;

· Agency and recipient collaboration or joint participation including;

· Concurrence on the substantive provisions of sub-awards.

· Approval of the recipient’s monitoring and evaluation plans.

· Monitor to authorize specified kinds of direction or redirection because of interrelationships with other projects. All such activities must be included in the program description, negotiated in the budget, and made part of the award.

· Advising and reviewing case studies, toolkits, and other resources.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Overall grant-making authority for this project is contained in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. ENR intends to award a Cooperative Agreement to the applicant whose application, conforming to this NOFO, offers the greatest value in furthering the goals of the program described in Section A. A Cooperative Agreement is distinguished from a grant by virtue of ENR having substantial involvement in the implementation of the program. Depending on the quality of performance and other factors, ENR may consider additional supplemental funding to continue activities and extend the period of performance, if funds are available and ENR and the Recipient mutually agree. Eligible competitive proposals may be considered for support if additional funds are made available.

Summary of Award Information

Timeline for Award Adjudication

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

· Eligibility is limited to U.S. non-profit/nongovernmental organizations subject to section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. tax code, foreign non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and public international organizations.

· Technically eligible submissions are those which: 1) arrive electronically to www.grants.gov or https://mygrants.service-now.com by the designated deadline; 2) have heeded all instructions contained in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), including registrations and length and completeness of submission; and 3) do not violate any of the guidelines stated in the solicitation and this document.

1. Cost Sharing or Matching There is no mandatory level of cost-sharing for this program.

2. Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations. Individuals are not required to have a unique entity identifier or be registered in SAM.gov.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required below are available at SAMS Domestic or grants.gov.

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

· 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 8 ½ x 11 paper, and

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

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms

· Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424A and SF424B, as directed on Grants.gov and SAMS Domestic. The Certifications and Assurances that your organization is agreeing to in signing the 424 are available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-mandatory-family.html. The SF-424B is required only for those applicants who have not registered in SAM.gov or recertified their registration in SAM.gov since February 2, 2019 and completed the online representations and certifications;

· If your organization engages in lobbying activities, a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) form is required;

· Letter of Disclosure for proposed consultants/personnel (if applicable) of potential conflicts of interest, employment with a local/state/federal government.

· Due to the work disruptions and travel restrictions caused by COVID-19, the applicant must include a contingency plan outlining how to mitigate restrictions/interruptions to the project implementation during the period of performance. Contingency plans may include project implementation through remote or virtual training tools.

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. Table of Contents that lists application contents and attachments.

3. Proposal (25 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 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 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.

· 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 agreement.

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

4. Budget Components: After filling out the Excel Budget, use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail.

a. Summary Budget in USD, in Excel, printable on letter-sized paper, using the format in the provided Excel Budget Template;

b. Detailed Budget in USD in Excel, printable on letter-sized paper, using the format in the provided Excel Budget Template;

1) The budget should be for the entire project period. Successful applicants may be asked to provide a year-by-year budget after the award is signed;

2) All sub-award costs should be listed under Line F, “Contractual,” and should also be broken out and organized according to the subcategories. All sub-awardees must be organizations with unique entity identifier (DUNS) numbers (certain exceptions apply). Individual contractors should also be listed under Line F, and should each be listed separately from sub-grantee line items.

c. Budget Narrative that includes an explanation for each line item in the spreadsheet, as well as the source and description of all cost share offered. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

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 your organization has a 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

2. Unique Entity Identifier (DUNS) and System for Award Management (SAM):

Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR §25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR §25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. The Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

In addition, if the organization plans to sub-contract or sub-grant any of the funds under an award, those sub-awardees must also have a unique entity identifier (DUNS) number. (Certain exceptions apply)

All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations. All are free of charge:

· Unique entity identifier from Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS number)

· NCAGE/CAGE code

· www.SAM.gov registration

Step 1: Apply for a DUNS number and an NCAGE number (these can be completed simultaneously)

DUNS application: Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet. 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

NCAGE application: Application page here: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx Instructions for the NCAGE application process:

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

For NCAGE help from within the U.S., call 1-888-227-2423 For NCAGE help from outside the U.S., call 1-269-961-7766 Email NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil for any problems in getting an NCAGE code.

Step 2: After receiving the NCAGE Code, proceed to register in SAM.gov by logging onto: https://www.sam.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

3. Submission Dates and Times

Applicants are urged to begin the application process well before the submission deadline. No exceptions will be made for organizations that have not completed the necessary steps. All applications must be submitted by 11:59pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on July 31, 2020. Applications received via email or after the deadline will not be considered.

4. Funding Restrictions

The Recipient must ensure that all funds are used in a manner consistent with U.S. Government laws on the use of foreign assistance funds, including any applicable restrictions on funding.

No pre-award costs are allowed.

5. Other Submission Requirements

The Department of State requires proposals be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) or SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com).

Organizations new to Grants.gov and SAMS Domestic: In order to register to use grants.gov and SAMS Domestic, an organization must complete a number of steps, which include those registration requirements listed in D3. Completing all of these steps can take up to 4 weeks, especially for an international organization. Additionally, SAMS Domestic requires multi-factor authentication.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

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

Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 25 points: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The applicant should be able to access technical expertise in hydrocarbon, mineral, and power sectors with preferred focus in the specific priority regions. The applicant should also be able to access regional and country-specific economic and political subject matter expertise. Relevant expertise can be convened from within the applicant’s organization, or through or agreements with third parties.

Specific personnel required for the development of ongoing engagements could include but are not limited to:

· Geologists, Geophysicists, and Engineers with experience in the mining industry;

· Industry experts with experience in mineral licensing and upstream and midstream mining operations;

· Health, safety, and environmental specialists with experience managing the impacts of the mineral industry and designing safety and rescue protocols and training

· Education experts with experience creating curricula to address the specific themes and activities in this statement of work.

Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Awards – 25 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds.

· Provide a description of the applicant organization – including its general purpose, goals, annual budget (including funding sources), and major past and current activities and projects undertaken.

· Discuss the applicant organization’s experience with environmental, health, and/or sustainable development studies, including:

· Experience conducting energy sector technical, policy, and/or academic in a foreign country, preferably where the applicant organization intends to implement activities;

· Experience with assessing energy sector policies and plans and providing actionable recommendations for improvement; and/or

· Experience working in cites/countries in which the applicant organization intends to implement activities.

· Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the project implementation team (prime applicant and key partners/sub-implementers/consultants.

Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results. The proposal should further outline the expected and achievable results for the project which could include suggestions in Section A. It should also outline the relevant and appropriate Main Activities to accomplish the goals and expected results, which could include those found in Section A4. Specifically, the proposal must contain indicative examples of target companies and jurisdictions and an indicative outreach plan. Explain the assumptions on which the success of the project depends, and the involvement of other stakeholders.

Budget – 10 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. Proposals keep estimated overhead and administrative costs as low as possible and have proposed expenditures that are reasonable, allowable, and allocable to the proposed project activities and reflect the applicant’s understanding of the allowable cost principles established by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 2 CFR 200. Amount of funding contributed by the applicant, sub-awardees, and other partners shows a commitment to the success of the project.

Monitoring and evaluation plan – 15 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. Proposals should discuss how progress towards the expected results will be measured, as outlined by the Performance Indicators in Section A. Identify which performance indicators will be measured and how data on these indicators will be collected, analyzed, and used for program management. Present indicators linked to specific project objectives in table format and include source of data and proposed frequency of collection, which should be no less than quarterly. Applicant should set associated targets for the indicators that it proposes to achieve. Include an explanation of how data and information will be collected, analyzed and used, and how baseline measurements will be established.

Sustainability – 10 points: Provide an outline of how program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.

2. Review and Selection Process

A Grants Review Committee will evaluate all eligible applications. Before grants are awarded, the Bureau reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the Bureau’s program needs and availability of funds.

3. 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:

i. 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);

ii. 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;

iii. 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.

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: The awardee(s) will be paid through the Payment Management System (PMS).

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/m/a/ope/index.htm Note the U.S Flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and Conditions.

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.

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.

1. Progress Reports: The recipient will provide ENR with quarterly reports, which include performance analysis that describes activities undertaken, progress toward Agreement objectives, compliance with the work plan agreed upon with ENR, challenges and responses taken/recommended responses, and proposed next steps. The recipient may propose additional strategies for monitoring results, developing communications, and disseminating lessons learned as necessary to account for the specific goals of the cooperative agreement. Quarterly reports will additionally provide a report of expenditures in the format of the sample summary budget. Quarterly reports will be submitted to ENR within 30 days after the end of a quarter and will include reporting on the following:

· Significant activities of the period and how activities reflect progress toward achieving goals;

· Evaluation of progress on goals/objectives with quantitative and qualitative data, as appropriate;

· Any problems/challenges in implementing the project and a corrective action plan;

· Evaluation of accomplishments with quantifiable information on goals and objectives to date as available, including reporting on agreed-upon indicators;

· An update on expenditures during the reporting period;

· Supporting documentation or products related to project activities (such as surveys, travel, etc.); and

· Project Spotlight highlighting a significant area of progress under the agreement as well as photos of implementation.

2. After Action Reports: The Recipient will provide ENR with an after-action report for each Recipient-organized activity, including an activity or event summary, key outcomes, lessons learned, and proposed next steps. Such reports will be submitted within 14 days of the completion of the activity or event.

3. Financial Reports: The Recipient is required to submit quarterly financial reports throughout the project period, using the Federal Financial Report form SF 425, as well as forms suggested by the Grants Officer Representative. If payment is made through the Payment Management System, all financial reports must be submitted electronically through the Payment Management System. The grantee is also required to upload to SAMS domestic a pdf version of all financial reports (Federal Financial report) they have submitted in the Payment Management System. Form FFR (SF-425) can be found on Department of State’s website here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html.

4. Final Report: The final report will be due no later than 90 days after completion or termination of all project activities. The Final Report shall include the following elements: executive summary, successes, outcomes, best practices, how the project will be sustained, and a final financial report.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

Any prospective applicant who has questions concerning the contents of this NOFO should email them to: Evan McGlaughlin McGlaughlinE@state.gov.

H. OTHER INFORMATION

H1. Conflict of Interest In accordance with applicable Federal awarding agency policy, applicants must disclose in writing any potential conflict of interest to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity.

H2. 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.

Questions about the form may be emailed to RAM@state.gov. Failure to submit information when requested, or failure to pass vetting may be grounds for rejecting your proposal.

H3. 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 on: https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm H4. Evaluation Policy Applicants are advised that recipients and sub-recipients of Federal assistance awards are subject to the Department of State Evaluation Policy. More information on this policy can be found here: http://www.state.gov/s/d/rm/rls/evaluation/2015/236970.htm Further, recipient organizations are encouraged to conduct their own and/or independent evaluations on their Department of State funded programs to assess performance and outcomes.

H.5 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 the 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.