AAU PDS - Supporting Access to Higher Education for Afghans.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

U.S. Mission to Afghanistan (Doha)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Funding Opportunity Title: Supporting Access to Higher Education for Afghans Funding Opportunity Number: SCAKAB-23-CA-008-SCA-06012023 Deadline for Applications: July 10, 2023 [11:59p.m., U.S. Eastern time] Deadline for Questions: June 16, 2023 (11:59p.m., U.S. Eastern time) Assistance Listing Number: 19.501 Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan Total Amount Available: $1,500,000.00 Program Office: Public Diplomacy Section, U.S. Mission to Afghanistan (Doha)

CONTACT INFORMATION

• For questions relating to Grants.gov, please call the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800- 518-4726.

• To inquire about the process for obtaining a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) contact Donald Hunter at HunterDS@state.gov.

• For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact KabulPDSProposals@state.gov.

In order to be eligible to receive an award under this NOFO, organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please begin the registration processes immediately to ensure the registrations are completed well in advance of the submission deadline. The process can require several weeks for the registrations to be validated and confirmed. See Section D:

Submission Requirements for further details.

Due to the volume of applicants and inquiries, the Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) does not accept letters of intent, concept papers, or requests for meetings or phone calls prior to application.

All application materials must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Application materials submitted via other means such as email will not be accepted.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application package is received in its entirety. Incomplete applications will be considered ineligible. 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.

mailto:HunterDS@state.gov mailto:KabulPDSProposals@state.gov http://www.sam.gov/

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan is pleased to announce an open competition for eligible organizations to submit applications to carry out a program aimed at supporting higher education opportunities for Afghans, in particular women and girls.

Successful proposals will focus on at least one of three areas of support for higher education:

1) Individual and/or series of short online courses (at least three weeks and up to six months in duration) to assist educated young professional Afghans in maintaining or developing professional skills in target fields;

2) Mentorship, coaching, and/or networking support for young professionals to further develop their skills through relationships with other Afghans in their field and/or;

3) Post-secondary “bridge” programs that prepare students who have already studied at the secondary level but may lack an internationally recognized diploma or qualification for university admissions, or to otherwise prepare them for university studies.

PDS intends to issue awards for a period of performance between 24 to 36 months. Options years may be considered depending on funding availability.

Background

More than 50% of Afghans are under the age of 35 and this young population is particularly vulnerable in the current environment in Afghanistan. Taliban edicts threaten women and girls’ access to secondary schools and higher education. Within a generation, this will result in declining levels of achievement for women, and complete marginalization of women from the workforce. Young men are also reportedly forced to curtail their education to help support their families, and professionals (both male and female) are struggling to keep their skills up to date in today’s rapidly evolving professional environment. Following the Taliban takeover in August 2021, many Afghan professionals and scholars left Afghanistan resulting in a significant loss of human capital in Afghanistan’s workforce.

Within a generation, this could result in declining levels of achievement for women, and complete marginalization of women from the workforce. It is of critical importance to U.S.

policy that educated women in Afghanistan have opportunities to maintain their knowledge and skills, and that the next generation of women retain access to higher education. Together with men, the women who are educated through our programs will be the future partners of the United States in Afghanistan, ready to rejoin the workforce, to advocate for the needs of women and families, and to support political and economic stabilization. This work will require a repositioning of new resources toward short-term virtual courses of study designed and delivered by U.S. universities—in fields such as business, information technology, law, allied health sciences, education, and other fields. Maintaining an educated workforce in these fields will be the basis for political and economic stabilization in future years.

Program Goal:

To support higher education opportunities for Afghan students and young professionals, particularly women and girls, inside Afghanistan, and to maintain an educated workforce in which will be the basis for political and economic stabilization in Afghanistan.

Project Objectives:

Objective 1: Equip Afghan professionals, primarily women, across various fields inside

Afghanistan with additional skills needed in their career fields and support them to maintain and extend existing skills in an environment in which opportunities to use them professionally is limited.

Objective 3: Increase connections between Afghan professionals inside Afghanistan and others in their field, both inside Afghanistan and in outside of Afghanistan, to share knowledge and opportunities.

Objective 2: Increase the ability of young Afghans in Afghanistan to access to higher education opportunities, in particular women and girls and those from marginalized and lower-income communities.

Target Audiences:

The primary audience for this project is Afghans ages 18 - 35 inside Afghanistan, particularly women and girls who, are able to benefit from higher education opportunities. The program should focus on supporting study and training in fields such as business/entrepreneurship, information technology, education, law, and allied health sciences and should support those who are interested in taking an active part in contributing to the social and economic future of

Afghanistan. The participants should reflect the diversity of Afghanistan and include women and men, Afghans from urban and rural areas, as well as a mix of ethnic groups.

The target audience for Objective 1 and 2 is professional Afghans (at least 80% women), ages

18-35, who have attended university, or have at least three years of work experience in their field or participated in donor-funded education programs. The program should target professionals in Afghanistan in at least three different fields (for example:

Business/Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, Education, Law, and Allied Health

Sciences) who are interested in taking an active part in contributing to the social and economic future of Afghanistan. Afghans in diaspora communities outside of Afghanistan may be included in this element of the program in limited numbers for the purpose of establishing or maintaining networks and relationships for Afghans inside Afghanistan with their counterparts outside the country.

The target audience for Objective 3 is Afghans inside of Afghanistan (at least 80% women) who have studied at the secondary level and who seek to continue with university and/or post-secondary education but need additional support to qualify for admission to university.

Project Details

The proposals should include the following:

• Clear Objectives: The proposal should clearly outline the project's objectives and how they will be achieved.

• Target Audience and Beneficiaries: The proposal should identify the primary audience and beneficiaries of the project, as described above. This should include a plan for how participants will be recruited, ensuring that the project includes a diverse group of beneficiaries from both rural and urban areas.

• Strategies and Activities: The proposal should describe the strategies and activities that will be implemented to achieve the project's objectives, including, but not limited to, virtual or in-person capacity building, mentorship and networking, and short-term certification programs. These plans should include:

o Details on the type and number of activities that will be available to the group participants.

o Key personnel or partner organizations – along with their requisite experience – who will help develop the program schedule and conduct trainings.

o For programs targeting Afghan professionals (objectives 1 and 2), activities could include short-term (at least three weeks and up to six months in duration) standalone courses or series of courses leading to undergraduate and/or graduate certificates or other professional training courses.

o For programs focused on connecting Afghan professionals (objective 2), proposals should include a plan for how to connect the Afghan professionals in specific fields; a plan for managing and encouraging connectivity via social media or other virtual platforms, in-person (when possible), or in a hybrid setting, and/or a plan for providing interactive opportunities to practice skills.

o For programs targeting secondary students (objective 3), activities could include certification and diploma programs, English-language training, preparation for academic exams leading to a high school certificate, pre-academic training, educational advising, and career readiness training.

• Media and Public Outreach: All proposals should include a plan to develop content— including text and multimedia content—that is both (1) suitable for public release in order to create awareness about U.S. government efforts to promote higher education for Afghans in Afghanistan, and (2) sensitive to the security concerns of individual participants. Content may take the form of results reports and vignettes, audio/video from online sessions and graduation ceremonies, draft social media posts, and briefings for U.S. and international journalists on the program and its outcomes.

• Participant Recruitment: All proposals should include a plan for recruiting a diverse set of participants who are likely to complete the program successfully and intend to use their knowledge in the workforce, conditions permitting. If potential awardees plan to partner with organizations inside or outside of Afghanistan, their proposals should detail which organizations they will work with and what capabilities they have in participant recruitment.

• Resource Allocation: The proposal should outline the resources needed to implement the project, including personnel, and equipment. It should also specify how these resources will be allocated to ensure that the project is efficient and effective.

• Monitoring and Evaluation: The proposal should include a plan for monitoring and evaluating the project's progress and impact. This should involve regular reporting on key performance indicators, as well as feedback from beneficiaries and other stakeholders.

• Long-term sustainability plan: The proposal should outline a sustainability plan to ensure that the project's impact is long-lasting.

Proposal narratives should include a brief commitment to implement the program for the base period of at least 24 to 36 months, plus one additional option period. The narrative should focus on details specific to the implementation of the base period program, with the understanding that the program design, duration, and number of beneficiaries would be similar when/if the subsequent one option period is exercised. PDS will conduct a performance evaluation/review to determine if an option period will be exercised. Satisfactory performance and the availability of funds is a condition of continued administration of the program and execution of all option periods.

The safety and security of all participants and activities under this project are the sole responsibility of the award recipient. Due to the changing nature of security in Afghanistan, PDS requires all applicants to include in their proposal a security plan to accompany appropriate programmatic elements within their proposal. Security packages may include, but are not limited to, secure transportation, lodging, and emergency evacuation for personnel living or working in Afghanistan. Reasonable costs for necessary security are allowable expenses and may be included in the proposed budget. Additionally, applicants should submit their organizational policy for working within high-risk environments, which should include security operational procedures.

The U.S. Mission to Afghanistan cannot stress enough that the security and safety of implementing partners and program participants is paramount. All program proposals must describe any safety precautions and measures that will be undertaken to minimize risks to implementors as well as participants. The U.S. Mission to Afghanistan also reserves the right to suspend or adjust program elements as necessary to ensure the protection of implementing partners and participants.

This project will be funded by Economic Support Funds, authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act, and is subject to the statutory limitations of such funding.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 24 to 36 months Number of awards anticipated: multiple awards (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $500,000.00 to a maximum of $1,000,000.00.

Total available funding: $1,500,000.00 Type of Funding: FY23 Economic Support Funds Anticipated programs start date: September 2023

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed between 24 to 36 months.

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.

Support for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA): All programs should consider strategies for expanding the pool of individuals/organizations/beneficiaries to afford opportunities for as diverse and inclusive population as is feasible to bring diverse perspectives based on religion, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, national origin, and age to implementation of the program.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligibility is open to all types of applicants except for individuals. Please refer to Section D for funding restrictions. Organizations may sub-award/contract with other entities, but only one entity may be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-awarding/contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

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

• Applications that fail to furnish all documents and information outlined in Section D of this notice or comply with the stated requirements will not be considered for an award.

• Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in SAM 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.

• There is no limit on the number of applications an entity may submit for this NOFO.

• Previous federal award recipients that are not/were not in compliance with the terms of the award, including the financial and program reporting requirements, are not eligible for an award under this NOFO. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure it is in compliance with all applicable terms, conditions, and Office of Management and Budget guidance and requirements.

• Applicants may be asked to submit information required by DS Form 4184 Risk Analysis Information about their organization and its principal personnel. Vetting information is also required for all sub-award and contractor performance on assistance awards identified by the Department as presenting a risk of terrorist financing. If an application is selected to move forward in the review process and when vetting information is requested by the Grants Officer, information may be submitted on the secure web portal at https://ramportal.state.gov or via email to RAM@state.gov . Questions about the form may be emailed to RAM@state.gov . Failure to submit information when requested or failure to pass Dept of State vetting may be grounds for rejecting your proposal.

• Applicants are advised that individuals proposed to participate in an award resulting from this NOFO (recipient employees, contractors, beneficiaries, etc.) are subject to vetting for involvement in corrupt practices, illicit narcotics production or trafficking, http://www.sam.gov/ https://ramportal.state.gov/ mailto:RAM@state.gov mailto:RAM@state.gov and violation of human rights. Successful vetting is a precondition to any award under this NOFO.

4. This opportunity will not support:

• Projects relating to partisan political activity;

• Charitable or development activities;

• Construction projects;

• Projects that support specific religious activities;

• Fund-raising campaigns;

• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;

• Scientific research or surveys;

• Commercial projects;

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

• Projects that duplicate existing projects; or

• Illegal activities.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Address to Request Application Package

This NOFO document and any amendments can be found at www.grants.gov and Grant

Opportunities - U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan (usembassy.gov). If you require special accommodation to access any information contained in this announcement, please contact KabulPDSProposals@state.gov (preferred method of communication)

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

Content of Application Please ensure:

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

• All documents are in English

• All budgets are in U.S. dollars

• All pages are numbered

• All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and

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

• All materials are submitted in one of the following formats: .xls, .xlsx. .doc, .docx, .pdf, or.jpeg. Other file types will likely not be reviewed.

• Grants.gov does not accept all UTF-8 special characters in file attachment names.

Applicants are able to enter all special characters from the UTF-8 character set when http://www.grants.gov/ https://af.usembassy.gov/embassy/grant-opportunities/ https://af.usembassy.gov/embassy/grant-opportunities/ submitting applications and information to Grants.gov. However, if the grantor's system is not yet compatible with these special characters, the grantor system may produce garbled or missing text in the application. As a result, the application may be rejected.

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms

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

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

• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov) All submissions must include the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance and the SF-424A Budget Information—Non-Construction. These forms and the instructions for completing them are available at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html under the heading “SF-424 Family.”

2. Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

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

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

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

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

• Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.

• 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: At a minimum the Program Manager and the Finance Officer position will be designated key personnel for this project. The proposal narrative should include names, titles, roles, and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program and communicate what proportion of their time will be devoted to this program. As a required attachment, applicants must include a 1-page CV or resume for http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html each key personnel proposed for the program. If an individual for these positions have not been identified, the applicant may submit a 1-page position description identifying the qualifications and skills required for the position in lieu of a resume.

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

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

• Support of Equity and Underserved Communities: A description of how the applicant plans on incorporating principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) and engaging underserved communities in their program’s administration, design, and implementation. For more information, please reference Section F. Federal Award Administration Information.

• Program Monitoring & Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants.

Throughout the time-frame of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant? Proposals must include a draft Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). The M&E PMP should show how applicants intend to measure and demonstrate progress towards the project’s objectives and goals. Annex 2 of this funding opportunity contains a template that may be used to fulfill this requirement. While the applicant is free to create their own template, completing Annex 2 will ensure a thorough PMP.

The required components to the PMP are as follows:

a. Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative: In narrative form, applicants should describe how they intend to monitor and evaluate the activities of their award and collect data that tracks award performance. In addition, the applicant should describe any M&E processes, including key personnel, management structure (where M&E fits into the overall program’s staff structure), technology, and as well provide a brief budget narrative explaining any line-item expenditures for M&E listed in the program’s budget.

Submission should demonstrate an ability to adjust project activities based on new information. If the proposal is from a prior grantee, the proposal discusses how the grantee has adapted, improved or otherwise modified their approach based on learning from previous experience. This narrative is limited to two pages.

b. Theory of Change Diagram: Applicants will be expected to submit either a Theory of Change diagram or an If-Then Statement that illustrates how project activities will lead to intended outcomes. Annex 2 includes a suggested format for these requirements.

c. Monitoring and Evaluation Datasheet: The applicant must include their proposed activities and their expected outputs and outcomes as well as the goals and objectives as written in the NOFO. The datasheet’s purpose is to explicitly illustrate how a project’s activities lead to tangible results (such as increased beneficiary skills, knowledge, or attitudes) that ultimately address a PDS objective. For more information, please see Annex 2.1: Instructions.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Datasheet must include the following components (depending on the proposal’s focus), which demonstrate progress toward the program objectives set out in the NOFO:

• A comparative qualitative analysis of individual participants’ entrance and exit interviews that allow demonstration and measurement of baseline and skill level progress in professional development.

• Participants surveys conducted at the start of the program and at the conclusion of each program end to track participants progress on key attitudes and skills and to measure overall satisfaction with the program, including constructive feedback on staff members supporting the Afghan participants.

• Regular reports on program/training progress throughout the program, including required narrative and financial reports that raise issues of concern as they arise and identify possible solutions.

• Evidence in routine reports documenting professional placement and academic and community achievement during the program and after graduating from the program.

• A before and after survey of participants in any capacity building/training.

The selected applicant’s M&E PMP is subject to review and approval before any award will be issued under this NOFO. The selected applicant will be required to work with PDS Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist to ensure the applicant’s M&E PMP achieves an expected level of expertise and meets PDS objectives. The potential grantee will also be required Department-mandated performance indicators, per funding regulations.

Expenses directly associated with monitoring and evaluation are considered allowable. The suggested template includes a space to list the portion of the total budget amount directly associated with monitoring and evaluation activities.

4. Detailed Line-Item Budget: Applications will not be considered complete and eligible for consideration unless they include budgets that respond to the NOFO guidelines. Complete budgets must include detailed line items outlining specific cost requirements for proposed activities. Applicants must adhere to the regulations found in 2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Costs Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR Part 30 and Part 31.

Applicants must include in their submission a detailed line-item budget for the base period and a budget category summary budget for each option period. Upon request, the recipient will be expected to present a detailed line-item budget for the option period(s).

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl

Applications must include a detailed line-item budget (in Microsoft Excel or similar spreadsheet format) that delineates funds requested from the Embassy and cost-share (see below for more information on budget format). Costs must be in U.S. dollars. The budget must identify the total amount of funding requested, with a breakdown of amounts to be spent in the following budget categories: personnel; fringe benefits; travel; equipment; supplies;

consultants/contracts; other direct costs; and indirect costs. See Annex 1 for a description of the types of costs that should be included in each category.

Additional Budget Considerations

• Please note the audit requirements for Department of State awards in the Standard Terms and Conditions https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm and 2 CFR 200, Subpart F – Audit Requirements. The cost of the required audits may be charged either as an allowable direct cost to the award OR included in the organization’s established indirect costs in the award’s detailed budget.

• Organizations claiming indirect costs should have an established Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). A copy of the NICRA should be provided with the proposal package. If sub-grantees are claiming indirect costs, they should have an established NICRA, and it should also be submitted with the proposal package. Information on how to obtain a NICRA rate is listed in Section G. If a non-profit organization does not have a NICRA and the proposal budget has a line item for indirect cost charges, those indirect charges may not exceed 10% of Modified Total Direct Costs. The 10% maximum does not apply to for-profit entities. For-profit entities that do not have a NICRA but do have a formally established General and Administrative (G&A) rate may apply the G&A rate. For-profit entities that do not have a formally established G&A rate should allocate indirect costs to the appropriate direct cost category.

• Grant funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.

5. Budget Justification Narrative: The purpose of the budget justification narrative is to supplement the information provided in the budget spreadsheet by justifying how the budget cost elements are necessary to implement project objectives and accomplish the project goals. The budget justification narrative is a tool to help PDS staff fully understand the budgetary needs of the applicant and is an opportunity to provide descriptive information about the requested costs beyond the constraints of the budget template. Together, the detailed budget spreadsheet, the budget justification narrative, and the SF-424A should provide a complete financial and qualitative description that supports the proposed project plan and should be directly relatable to the specific project components described in the applicant’s proposal.

6. Required Attachments:

https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=faafd0fce318cf3701c4ba848b603624&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1101

a. Key Personnel Resumes: A résumé, not to exceed one page in length, must be included for the proposed key staff persons, such as the Project Manager and Finance Officer, as well as any speakers or trainers (if applicable). If an individual for this type of position has not been identified, the applicant may submit a 1-page position description, identifying the qualifications and skills required for that position, in lieu of a résumé.

b. Letters of support from program partners: Letters of support should be included for sub-recipients or other partners. The letters must identify the type of relationship to be entered into (formal or informal), the roles and responsibilities of each partner in relation to the proposed project activities, and the expected result of the partnership. The individual letters cannot exceed 1 page in length.

c. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included in the application submission.

d. Proof of Non-profit Status –Documentation to demonstrate the applicant’s non-profit status (e.g., U.S.-based organizations should submit a copy of their 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Service determination letter, and non-U.S. organizations should provide evidence of non-profit status issued by a government entity).

e. Proof of Registration: A copy of the organization’s registration should be provided with the proposal application. U.S.-based organizations should submit a copy of their IRS determination letter. Afghanistan-based organizations should submit a copy of their certificate of registration from the appropriate government organization.

f. Security plan: All proposals must include a security plan. We require award recipients to notify the Public Diplomacy Section in advance of any travel by staff, program participants, or other individuals to Afghanistan in connection with the program.

g. Organizational policy for working in high-risk environments.

Other items NOT required/requested with the application submission, but which may be requested if your application is approved to move forward in the review process include:

a) Copies of an organization or program audit within the last two (2) years

b) Copies of relevant human resources, financial, or procurement policies

c) Copies of other relevant organizational policies or documentation that would help the Department determine your organization’s capacity to manage a federal grant award overseas.

d) Information to determine what financial controls and standard operating procedures an organization uses to procure goods and services, hire staff and track time and attendance, pay for grant-related travel, and identify other financial transactions that may be necessary to undertake the project activities

e) The Embassy reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial information regarding the proposal.

Applications are accepted in English only, and final grant agreements will be concluded in English. Budgets should be submitted in U.S. dollars, and final grant agreements will be conducted in U.S. dollars.

Required Registrations:

Unique Entity Identifier and registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) (NOTE:

This section is required, with no exceptions.)

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the www.SAM.gov . A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and

Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards.

Any applicant with an exclusion in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB 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.”

The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. SAM.gov is the Federal government's primary database for complying with FFATA reporting requirements. OMB designated SAM.gov as the central repository to facilitate applicant and recipient use of a single public website that consolidates data on all federal financial assistance. Under the law, it is mandatory to register in SAM.gov.

Starting April 2022, the UEI will be assigned when an organization registers or renews it’s registration in SAM.gov at www.SAM.gov. To access SAM.gov an organization is required to have a Login.gov account. Organization can create an account at https://login.gov/. As a reminder, organizations need to renew its sam.gov registration annually.

www.sam.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM.gov. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM.gov.

http://www.sam.gov/ https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sam.gov%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C8a179f425ec644553b0a08da0c446ace%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C637835785239027166%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=1O%2BquRWkk5TWZ9R%2FzeWA%2BjVqSPwgts5FKs5lUXBCVGU%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flogin.gov%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C8a179f425ec644553b0a08da0c446ace%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C637835785239027166%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=tZgLWndOJE4QfgsenOHTZxlAyGwD1%2FcsHk9zT0XqO9g%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sam.gov%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C8a179f425ec644553b0a08da0c446ace%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C637835785239027166%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=1O%2BquRWkk5TWZ9R%2FzeWA%2BjVqSPwgts5FKs5lUXBCVGU%3D&reserved=0#_blank

If an organization plans to issue a sub-contract or sub-award, those sub-awardees must also have a unique entity identifier (UEI number). Those entities can register for a UEI only at SAM.gov.

If an organization does not have an active registration in SAM.gov prior to submitting an application, the application could be deemed ineligible. All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations, the latter are free of charge.

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

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

Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from

4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

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

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

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

Submission Dates and Times

Application Deadline: All applications must be received by July 10, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. U.S.

Eastern Time. For the purposes of determining if an award is submitted on time, officials will utilize the time stamp provided by Grants.gov. This deadline is firm and is not a rolling https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov%2Fgsafsd_sp%3Fid%3Dgsafsd_kb_articles%26sys_id%3Dc81018e71b1601d0937fa64ce54bcb57&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=W2ShcazZBQbanYGj0cLOTnUJwv%2BGL4xfwr83%2BycQY2E%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=t32ANWzgpiB93pMWoq%2BFCSHz4YJY9QF1S1iQzCsS6RM%3D&reserved=0 deadline. If organizations fail to meet the deadline noted above, their applications will be considered ineligible and will not be considered for funding.

Question Deadline: For questions on this solicitation, please contact KabulPDSProposals@state.gov Questions must be received on or before June 16, 2023, at 11:59 p.m., U.S. Eastern Time. Applicants should not expect an email response to questions, as questions received before the deadline will be answered in a question and answer document and posted at http://www.grants.gov and Grant Opportunities - U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan (usembassy.gov).

Funding Restrictions

• Construction: Any award made as a result of this NOFO will not allow for construction activities or costs.

• Pre-award Costs: Any costs incurred prior to the award start date in the Federal Notice of Award are incurred at the recipient’s own risk. Approval of these costs requires authorization of the Grants Officer to be considered allowable, will only be considered on a case-by-case basis, and will only be authorized in extraordinary circumstances. Applicants should assume that any costs incurred before the start date on the Federal Notice of Award will not be authorized.

Submission Requirements This section provides the application submission and receipt instructions for program applications. Please read the following instructions carefully and completely.

Electronic delivery via www.grants.gov PDS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. PDS requires applicants to submit their applications electronically through Grants.gov. Applications submitted via any other means such as email will not be accepted.

To submit an application via Grants.gov, all organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations. All are free of charge:

1. www.SAM.gov registration (which will generate a UEI). An active SAM registration (www.SAM.gov) with current information at all times during which they have an active federal award or an application under consideration by a federal awarding agency. Applicants must be fully registered in SAM before submitting an application;

applicants that do not have an active SAM registration will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered for an award. For information on how to register with SAM, see https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html and https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx#show-video-mailto:KabulPDSProposals@state.gov http://www.grants.gov/ https://af.usembassy.gov/embassy/grant-opportunities/ https://af.usembassy.gov/embassy/grant-opportunities/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx#show-video-popup popup. Note that when SAM registration is complete the organization will be issued a SAM.gov-generated UEI. SAM registration must be renewed annually. The Department may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use this determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

2. A Grants.gov account. Instructions on how to register for a Grants.gov account can be found here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.

The registration process can take up to five weeks to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not affect your ability to meet required submission deadlines.

Grants.gov has a full set of instructions on how to apply for opportunities on its website at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.

Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

Grants.gov does not accept all UTF-8 special characters in file attachment names. Please note the file name restrictions at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/submitting-utf-8-special-characters.html.

Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package 24-48 hours prior to the submission deadline to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that disrupt the initial application submission. Grants.gov provides customer support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and via email at support@grants.gov. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact KabulPDSProposals@state.gov . Please note, PDS cannot assist with questions on or technical issues with www.grants.gov. Applicants experiencing issues with Grants.gov should contact the Grants.gov Help Desk.

Timely receipt requirements and proof of timely submission All applications must be received by the deadline communicated in this NOFO. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. Applicants will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. Applicants should print this receipt and save it as proof of timely submission.

When PDS successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt to the email address of the Authorized Organization Representative. Proof of timely submission shall be the date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding.

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx#show-video-popup https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/submitting-utf-8-special-characters.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/submitting-utf-8-special-characters.html mailto:support@grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/

Applicants using dial-up connections should be aware that transmission should take some time before Grants.gov receives it. Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission message. The Grants.gov Contact Center reports that some applicants abort the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application. Uploading and transmitting many files, particularly electronic forms with associated XML schemas, will take some time to be processed.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria: Each application submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the criteria enumerated below. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success.

• Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 25 points: The program idea should be innovative and well developed, with sufficient detail about how project activities will be carried out. The proposals should demonstrate originality and outline clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.

The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined. Proposals should also demonstrate how the program will support diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) principles and engage underserved communities in their program’s administration, design, and implementation.

• Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 25 points:

o The project proposal demonstrates that the organization has sufficient expertise, skills, and human resources to implement the project.

o The organization demonstrates that it has a clear understanding of the underlying issue that the project will address.

o The organization demonstrates…