FY20 NOFO (Statements of Interest) (2).pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Initial Notice of Funding Opportunity

Federal Awarding Agency: U.S. Department of State

Program Office: Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in

Persons, International Programs Section

Funding Opportunity Title: 2020 TIP Office Initial Notification of Funding

Opportunity

Announcement Type: 2020 TIP Office Initial Notification of Funding

Opportunity

Funding Opportunity: SFOP0007233

Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance Number(s): 19.019

Deadline for Applications: September 28, 2020 5:00 pm EDT

FULL TEXT OF NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

(TIP Office) announces an open competition for 2020 projects to combat trafficking in persons outside of the United States. Informed by the annual

Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report and current anti-trafficking programming, and in consultation with other offices in the U.S. government, the TIP Office has identified 17 priority country and regional priorities for funding. These priorities are listed under the 2020 Programming Objectives section starting on Page 5 below.

The TIP Office will allocate funding through an open, two-stage competitive process. In the first stage of competition, U.S.-based and foreign non-profits, non-governmental organizations (including faith-based organizations), public international organizations, institutes of higher education, and for-profit entities are invited to submit five and a half-page statements of interest (SOI) (16,500 characters) for projects designed to address the programming objectives highlighted in the funding opportunity. Upon completion of a technical and programmatic review, the TIP Office will select a limited number of SOIs for further consideration. In the second stage of competition, the TIP Office will invite those selected applicants to submit full applications that build on the concepts described in their five and a half-page SOIs.

While previous awards have typically not exceeded $1,000,000 for two to three years in duration, the TIP Office encourages applicants to consider proposing larger and longer-term bilateral and regional projects in response to this NOFO, as appropriate. The TIP Office welcomes strong applications for projects that align with U.S. government priorities, address human trafficking challenges on a significant scale, and offer the potential to have a systemic and sustainable impact, among other factors. Strong applications will also demonstrate a clear understanding of the project design standards found in the guidance posted here.

Please be advised, all awards will be made pending the availability of appropriated funds.

Please reference the Guidelines for Submitting TIP Office Statements of

Interest (SOI) (https://www.state.gov/guidelines-for-submitting-tip-office-statements-of-interest-soi/) when preparing an application. The document includes guidelines for proposed project documents as well as project design standards that must be incorporated into any project design. Applicants must review and incorporate the Guidelines for Submitting TIP Office Statements of Interest, including the project design standards. This guidance is available on the TIP

Office website, SAMS Domestic, and grants.gov.

Applications for this funding opportunity must be submitted via SAMS Domestic

(https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants) by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time

(EDT) on September 28, 2020, to be eligible for consideration. If an organization has difficulty submitting an application near the deadline, their application will only be accepted late if they open a ticket with the help desk to resolve the problem prior to the deadline. A ticket with the help desk can only be opened by calling 1

(888) 313-4567 or submitting a ticket through the ILMS Self Service Portal

(https://afsitsm.serivce-now.com/ilms/home). To be competitive under this funding opportunity, applicants must be fully responsive to all directions in this document. Please pay special attention to all font, font size, document types, and formatting requirements.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 USC 7101 et seq.), as amended (TVPA), established the TIP Office in the U.S. Department of State. The

TIP Office leads the United States’ global engagement on the fight against human https://www.state.gov/guidelines-for-submitting-tip-office-statements-of-interest-soi/ https://www.state.gov/guidelines-for-submitting-tip-office-statements-of-interest-soi/ https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants https://afsitsm.serivce-now.com/ilms/home trafficking and seeks partnerships with foreign governments, civil society organizations, and multilateral organizations to combat modern slavery through the

“3P” paradigm: prosecuting traffickers through victim-centered law enforcement, protecting trafficking victims through proactive identification and comprehensive, trauma-informed care, and preventing trafficking in persons. TIP Office programs and projects combat human trafficking in all its forms: sex trafficking and forced labor. —a crime involving the exploitation of someone for the purposes of forced labor or a commercial sex act through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Forms of human trafficking include sex trafficking, child sex trafficking, forced labor, bonded labor (also called debt bondage), domestic servitude, forced criminality, forced child labor, and the unlawful recruitment or use of child soldiers.

The U.S. government defines “trafficking in persons” as:

Sex Trafficking – when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person to engage in a commercial sex act or when a trafficker causes a child who has not attained 18 years of age to engage in a commercial sex act.

Forced Labor – when a trafficker recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains a person for labor or services by using force, fraud, or coercion.

Trafficking in persons does not require the movement of a person. Under the

TVPA and generally consistent with the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and

Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Palermo

Protocol), individuals may be trafficking victims regardless of whether they once consented, they participated in unlawful acts their traffickers compelled them to commit, someone transported them into the exploitative situation, or they were simply born into a state of servitude. The TIP Office will not support projects that use alternate definitions of trafficking.

The TVPA requires that the Department of State submit to Congress an annual report assessing the efforts of governments to address trafficking in persons. The annual TIP Report is the primary tool for the Department’s engagement with other governments on human trafficking and informs U.S. policy and assistance priorities to combat this crime. The 2020 TIP Report is available at:

https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report-2020/.

Since 2000, when the United Nations adopted the Palermo Protocol and the United

States enacted the TVPA, the number of parties to the Protocol has reached 178.

In addition, 154 countries have criminalized all forms of trafficking, and many countries have established specialized law enforcement units, set up trafficking https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report-2020/ victim assistance mechanisms, and launched public awareness campaigns.

Nonetheless, the number of victims identified and assisted and the number of traffickers investigated, prosecuted, and convicted remain low relative to the size of the problem; and governments face continued challenges in effectively implementing new anti-trafficking legal and policy frameworks.

The TIP Office works to address these challenges through its foreign assistance programs. Information on U.S. government anti-trafficking efforts is available at https://www.state.gov/j/tip/response/index.htm and a summary of international projects currently funded by the TIP Office is available at https://www.state.gov/j/tip/intprog/index.htm.

2020 GRANT COMPETITION OVERVIEW

This funding opportunity announces the beginning of the 2020 open and competitive process to award grants or cooperative agreements. In this stage, applicants submit a Statement of Interest (SOI), which is a five and a half page summary of each project proposed. Applicants must submit separate SOI applications for each country or regional priority identified in this funding opportunity if pursuing multiple awards. The required SOI project narrative template and guidelines for submitting applications are available on SAMS

Domestic and the TIP Office website. Following a technical review, each SOI will undergo a thorough substantive content review of the proposed concept.

Applicants in the second-stage whose applications are selected for potential funding will be subject to a TIP Office risk assessment process that may include a pre-award site visit. The assessment may consider a variety of risk factors, including (1) Financial stability of the applicant; (2) Quality of management systems and ability to meet prescribed management standards; (3) Past performance in managing previous federal awards, if applicable, including compliance with reporting requirements, conformance to the award’s terms and conditions, and the extent to which previously awarded amounts will be expended prior to future awards; (4) Reports and findings from available audits; and (5)

Applicant ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements applicable to non-Federal entities.

Any funds awarded under this funding opportunity will be provided through a grant or cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement provides for substantial involvement between the agency — in this case the TIP Office — and the recipient https://www.state.gov/j/tip/response/index.htm https://www.state.gov/j/tip/intprog/index.htm during the award’s period of performance. Examples of substantial involvement by the TIP Office may include, but are not limited to, reviewing and approving project materials, training curricula, and evaluation plans produced by sub-recipients. Projects funded by resources leveraged from other donors are not subject to TIP Office approval.

2020 PROGRAMMING OBJECTIVES

The TIP Office has identified 17 regional and country priorities for potential funding. These priorities are heavily informed by recommendations from the annual Trafficking in Persons Report, coordination with a broad range of anti-trafficking donors, engagement with foreign governments and local civil society, and based on current anti-trafficking efforts."

The TIP Office generally prioritizes foreign assistance in those countries assessed below Tier 1 and where governments demonstrate political will, but lack the economic resources or anti-trafficking expertise to effectively address the problem.

The 2020 programming priorities below are listed by geographic region and outline specific TIP Office project objectives by country or sub-region. Priorities were developed by reviewing recent TIP Report tier rankings and human trafficking trends; consulting with intra- and interagency policy and programming stakeholders; and considering current and planned programming from this office, other U.S. government agencies, and other public and private donors.

To be eligible, SOIs must also respond to at least one of the specific programming objectives listed in this section and address at least one activity in each proposed objective. SOIs do not need to address all of the specific programming objectives.

AFRICA (AF)

Burkina Faso

Provide assistance to child trafficking victims by improving comprehensive services, especially the development of psycho-social and reintegration assistance, for child victims targeted by violent extremist groups.

Build capacity of actors who provide protection services to these victims.

Cabo Verde

Strengthen the capacity of the anti-trafficking committee through the refinement of roles and responsibilities, development of SOPs, establishment of regular meetings, and the possible consolidation and streamlining of anti-trafficking tools, such as hotlines.

Reduce child sex tourism in popular tourist destinations, such as the islands of Sal and Santiago, by increasing victim identification investigations and prosecutions.

Kenya

Work with the government of Kenya to encourage and assist in establishing a specialized prosecution unit to focus on commercial sexual exploitation of children and online sexual exploitation of children, with embedded experienced human trafficking prosecutor(s) to provide ongoing mentoring and case consultation.

Work with all relevant partners in the Kenyan government to implement a centralized human trafficking data collection and reporting mechanism to facilitate victim assistance and investigations.

Madagascar

Reduce child sex tourism in popular tourist destinations such as Nosy Be and Antananarivo through stronger justice responses (investigations and prosecutions), victim protection, and community engagement.

Work with the government of Madagascar to encourage and assist in establishing specialized human trafficking investigation and prosecution units.

Niger

Establish and institutionalize a centralized human trafficking data collection and reporting mechanism to gather and consolidate case data to guide victim assistance and investigations.

EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS (EAP)

Malaysia

Fund a bilateral project to counter forced labor in Malaysia. Forced labor remains a major concern in a variety of Malaysian industries, such as on palm oil and other plantations; at construction sites; in domestic work; and in the electronics, textiles, and rubber product industries. Successful applications may include the following areas of focus:

Work with the Malaysian government to investigate and prosecute forced labor crimes.

Strengthen labor protection for workers in industries particularly prone to forced labor.

Philippines

Build on the successful Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC) investigatory foundation in the Philippines by increasing the government’s capacity to investigate and successfully prosecute OSEC cases. Though this project will be chiefly focused on the Philippines, applicants are encouraged to consider working to fight OSEC in one or more additional Southeast

Asian countries that receive referrals from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Successful applications will be focused on one or more of the following areas:

Improve government capacity to analyze, triage, and investigate

OSEC referrals that arrive from NCMEC, including providing relevant technical and legal training and assistance.

Assist the government in updating its agreement with NCMEC to promote more comprehensive and better filtered referrals.

Assist the government in promoting trauma-informed investigations and prosecutions, in which victims are not retraumatized.

Philippines

Enhance and improve services for victims of Online Sexual Exploitation of

Children (OSEC) in the Philippines. Victims of OSEC are faced with devastating trauma that can impact them and their families for generations.

Though some support systems are currently in place, victims would particularly benefit from specialized comprehensive protection services, aimed both at their short- and long-term needs.

EUROPE AND EURASIA (EUR)

Armenia

Improve victim-centered identification, referrals, services, and procedures to enhance human trafficking protection. Work with Armenian officials to:

o Increase proactive identification efforts, such as developing standard operating procedures for screening and protecting trafficking victims, including children in state childcare institutions.

o Improve comprehensive services for victims of trafficking.

o Improve screening for trafficking among individuals in commercial sex, migrants, refugees, and other at-risk populations.

o Facilitate victim-centered investigations and improve victim-centered approaches during court proceedings.

o Assist with the implementation of the National Action Plan.

Southeastern Europe (Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and one or more Tier 1 European Union country mentors).

To develop and sustain enhanced anti-trafficking criminal justice response, assist law enforcement, prosecutors and judges, through training, mentoring, workshops and mobilizing change agents. The majority of the project (70%) will be spent on bilateral efforts and (30%) on regional cooperation. The implementer will develop a sustainable regional system of collaboration for both transnational and internal cases, and thereby strengthen networks and communication practices. Project outcomes should incorporate change in judicial norms and practices across target countries. Bilateral priorities are listed below.

o Albania

Assist Albania to investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers under human trafficking articles more effectively.

Increase knowledge and skills of police, labor inspectors, and other front-line officials to proactively identify victims.

Assist law enforcement, prosecutors and judges, particularly in districts, to more effectively investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases, including with guidance on issues of consent and coercion.

o Moldova

Assist Moldova to investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers under human trafficking articles.

Assist Moldova to implement measures to shield trafficking investigations and prosecutions from external influence.

Assist Moldova in exempting all victims from the requirement of in-person confrontations with their accused traffickers before an investigation can begin.

o Montenegro

Assist Montenegro to investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers under trafficking articles.

Increase knowledge and skills of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement on trafficking investigations and prosecutions.

o North Macedonia

Assist North Macedonia to investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers and impose strong sentences under human trafficking articles.

Encourage North Macedonia to allocate sufficient resources for police and prosecutors to proactively investigate trafficking.

o Serbia

Assist Serbia to investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers, and sentence them with adequate penalties under human trafficking articles.

Increase knowledge and skills of prosecutors, and judges on victim-centered approaches, and establish mechanisms to refer cases to those prosecutors and judges.

Assist Serbia to fully implement written guidance to prevent penalization of trafficking victims for unlawful acts traffickers compelled them to commit.

o Tier 1 European Union mentor country or countries

Mentor selected countries to solidify and sustain best criminal justice practices for the above targets in the regional project.

NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS (NEA)

Egypt

Increase the number of human trafficking victims identified (including men and non-Egyptians) and referred for protective services; and improve comprehensive services for identified victims including increased training for staff.

Morocco

Increase knowledge and skills for investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking cases, including working with partners to provide comprehensive services for identified victims.

Tunisia

Increase number of investigations and prosecutions, improve access to justice for identified victims through the provision of legal counseling services.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA (SCA)

Kyrgyz Republic

Institutionalize victim-centered investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking cases by relevant government agencies, with a focus on labor trafficking.

Establish local, national, and regional networks empowered to combat human trafficking.

Expand comprehensive services for victims of trafficking, and ensure they are trauma informed.

WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS (WHA)

Belize

Because Belize has no human trafficking-specific shelters, work with existing shelters to develop Standard Operating Procedures for shelter staff working with trafficking victims.

Honduras

Work with the Honduran Public Ministry Training School to develop and institutionalize a human trafficking training curriculum, including forced labor elements, with a special emphasis on the Specialized Unit of

Trafficking in Persons (UTESCTP).

Regional: Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay

Establish coordination of human trafficking criminal investigations in the tri-border region.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Organizations eligible to apply include U.S.-based and foreign non-profits, non-governmental organizations (including faith-based organizations), for-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, and public international organizations (PIOs). For-profit organizations are not permitted to generate profits from grant-funded activities. U.S. government agencies may respond to this

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) with applications for projects that would be funded through an Interagency Acquisition Agreement. While foreign governments are not eligible to apply, governments may be beneficiaries of projects provided that funding does not pay salaries of government agency personnel and that such assistance is not restricted by U.S. law or policy.

Organizations currently receiving funds from the TIP Office may apply for additional funding under the present funding opportunity. The eligibility requirements for applying to this funding opportunity do not restrict applicants from receiving other sources of funding from the United States government, including funding from other bureaus within the Department of State. However, related U.S. government funding must be identified in the application.

Under this funding opportunity, applicants may partner with other organizations in submitting application(s). Applicants partnering with other organizations must identify the prime applicant, and the applicant may designate one or more partner organizations as sub-recipients. Please note, all mandatory terms and conditions for a successful applicant also apply to any sub-awards awarded.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing, cost matching, and cost participation are not required to carry out a project under this funding opportunity. While not required, applicants can propose to include voluntary cost-share. Applications that include voluntary cost share will not be evaluated differently than other applications. Applicants voluntarily proposing cost share must read the instructions below regarding budget documents that are required to be submitted under this announcement. Applicants should list the cost share amount in the SF-424 under Section C - 8b and Section D - 14.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

All applications must be submitted via SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants) by 5:00p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on September 28, 2020. The TIP Office will NOT accept applications or updated documents submitted by any other method, including email, fax, the postal system, delivery companies, couriers, or U.S. embassies. Applicants may submit more than one application to address different priorities; however, each application should only be submitted once.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to initiate electronic applications early in the application development process and to the application in advance of the deadline.

This will aid in addressing any problems with submissions prior to the application deadline. No exceptions will be made for organizations that have not completed the necessary steps to submit applications on SAMS Domestic.

Applications Submitted Through SAMS Domestic

Organizations using SAMS Domestic for the first time must register on the SAMS

Domestic site to create a New Applicant account as soon as possible. This application step must be completed before an application can be submitted.

To register with SAMS Domestic, follow the “create an account” link and complete the “SAMS Domestic User Registration Request” application form.

Users will receive an email requesting account verification. This verification step must be completed before an application can be submitted. Please contact

JTIPGrants@state.gov after the account has been created to ensure the account is associated with the correct organization. Electronic applications submitted via

SAMS Domestic must contain completed SF-424 online forms and documents specified in this funding opportunity.

To upload the application, go to SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants), select “Apply, then Funding Opportunities,” and select the

“Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Programs” funding opportunity. Select the “Apply Here” button, enter the applicant organization’s information, and click Save. Complete each section of the application in the corresponding section of the Additional Documents to Be Submitted Tab: SF 424

Information (SF-424, SF-424 A, SF-42B if applicable) and Project Narrative.

Please ensure that you select the box, “allow anyone in my organization to edit this application,” to ensure members of your organization have access to edit this application.

For assistance with SAMS Domestic, please contact the ILMS Support Desk at 1-

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

Self Service Portal (https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilms/home). Customer

Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please note support hours may change on Federal holidays. Please direct questions regarding the process of uploading applications to Customer Support. Technical difficulties not resolved by mailto:JTIPGrants@state.gov https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants) https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants) https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilms/home the Support Desk by the time of submission must be fully documented and reported to the TIP Office at JTIPGrants@state.gov only. Please do not contact any other Department of State personnel.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

To be considered for funding, all applications must address the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity. All required documents submitted must be written in the English language using documents with one-inch margins formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper only unless otherwise stated. All documents should use text that is black-colored and no less than 12 point in Times New Roman font. The required project narrative template is set to a 16,500 character limit with 12 Times

New Roman font. Any application that does not submit the required project narrative template with these font restrictions will fail the technical review. All budget figures must be in U.S. dollars.

Submission of PDF files will not be accepted and will result in automatic failure of the technical review.

Please reference the Guidance for Submitting TIP Office Applications when preparing an application. The document includes guidelines for proposed project documents, as well as project design standards that must be incorporated into any application submitted under this funding opportunity. Applicants must review and incorporate the Guidance for Submitting TIP Office Applications, including the project design standards. This guidance is available on the TIP Office website, SAMS Domestic, and grants.gov.

Complete applications must include the following documents in the required templates (on SAMS Domestic) to be considered for funding:

· Online Forms - SF 424, SF 424A, and SF 424B.

· Project Narrative – Required template available on SAMS Domestic

(16,500 character limit with font no less than 12 point in Times New Roman).

3. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)—

Required

Required Registrations:

A valid Unique Entity Identifier [formerly the Data Universal Numbering System

(DUNS)] is not required for submission of an application on SAMS Domestic;

however, a valid UEI number is required for organizations selected for an award.

mailto:JTIPGrants@state.gov

Organizations should verify their UEI number or take the steps needed to obtain one as soon as possible. Instructions for obtaining a UEI number can be found at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.

Please register with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) when submitting applications. Selected grantees will be required to have an active registration in SAM.gov. Although registration is not required prior to submitting an application via SAMS Domestic, all applicants should register at SAM.gov as soon as possible to avoid future delays. Organizations that have SAM.gov accounts must log in at least once every 13 months (395 days) to maintain an active registration. Please reactivate any accounts that have become inactive when submitting applications.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that it has an active registration in

SAMS Domestic. Applicants are required to document that the application has been received in its entirety by SAMS Domestic. The TIP Office bears no responsibility for disqualification that result from applicants not being registered before the due date, for system errors in SAMS Domestic, or other errors in the application process

4. Submission Dates and Times

Applications must be submitted via SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants) by 5:00p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on September 28, 2020, to be eligible for consideration. To be competitive under this funding opportunity, applicants must be fully responsive to all directions in this document.

5. Funding Restrictions

Construction

The TIP Office restricts the use of Federal assistance for construction purposes.

Construction costs are defined as non-major costs for rearrangement and alteration or reconversion or renovation of facilities. Construction would include ordinary or normal alterations, restoration or rehabilitation such as any work that modifies buildings and/or grounds. This includes but is not limited to adding, replacing, modifying, relocating, removing, or painting doors, walls, windows, flooring or the alterations of ceilings, adding on to or dividing existing space or work on any building utility system, electrical, plumbing, ventilation, air conditioning, controls systems, fire alarms, fire sprinklers, security systems and telecommunication http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform equipment. Federal assistance funds cannot be used for capital improvements unless specifically approved in advance by the TIP Office.

Equipment and Supplies

Equipment is herein defined as an article of non-expendable, tangible, personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost in excess of $5,000. Please note that if you include equipment costs in your application, your organization must retain ownership of all equipment obtained throughout the lifetime of the federal award. (This includes any equipment funded with cost sharing or matching funds.) At the end of the award, you must complete federal SF-428 forms in order for the TIP Office Grants Officer to evaluate whether the item(s) be retained, sold, or disposed of without any further obligation to the Department of State.

Supplies are herein defined as all tangible personal property other than those described in Equipment. Note that if there is a residual inventory of unused supplies exceeding $5,000 in total aggregate value upon completion of the project and the supplies are not needed for any other Federal award, your entity must retain the supplies for use on other activities or sell them, but must, in either case, compensate the Department of State for its share. The amount of compensation will be computed in the same manner as for Equipment.

Foreign assistance funds may not benefit countries or entities that are not eligible recipients of United States foreign assistance or for which there are applicable assistance restrictions. Applicants shall work with the Department of State to ensure that any applicable restrictions and requirements are addressed prior to awarding any sub-awards.

In addition, applicants should refer to the U.S. Department of State Policy on the

Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or

Equipment, which is described under the “Administrative and National Policy

Requirements” section of this NOFO.

6. Other Submission Requirements

All applications under this funding opportunity must be submitted via SAMS

Domestic. The TIP Office will not accept application materials by email.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria

Reviewers will evaluate applications based on their own merits. Reviewers will use the below evaluation criteria, which are based off the programming priorities and the Guidelines for Submitting TIP Office Statements of Interest and Program

Design Standards (https://www.state.gov/guidelines-for-submitting-tip-office-statements-of-interest-soi/). Applicants must review the below criteria to fully understand how applications will be reviewed and evaluated for potential funding.

The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications and are listed in order of descending priority. Parenthetical references are directly linked to the Program

Design Standards Guidelines for Submitting TIP Office Statements of Interest

(SOI).

Quality of Project Idea

The project goal fits within TIP Office policy and programming priorities

(Alignment). The application demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of the country context and problem or problems that need to be solved. Applicants demonstrate strong knowledge of human trafficking issues and the trafficking context in the country or sub-region where the project would take place. There is a logical or evidence-based connection between the program or project activities proposed and the change that is sought as well as the goal that is stated and the current context (Relevance). The goals and objective(s) reflect at least one element of systemic-level or institutional change; there is no assumption individual-level change will lead to institutional change (Maximize Contribution).

Project Planning and Ability to Make Change

The change stated is a difference external to the implementing partner (Change).

Objectives articulate one concept each (One Concept) and state the target population central to achieving change and activities engage those with the power to support/prevent the change (Target Population). As appropriate, applications obtain input and expertise from survivor employees/experts in developing the project and/or propose survivor-led organizations as sub-grantees or partners. The application incorporates the identification, assessment and management of key risk factors (included but not limited to physical safety, cyber security, programmatic operating environment, and organizational structure) (Plausibility). Ambiguous terms are clearly defined (Clarity).

https://www.state.gov/guidelines-for-submitting-tip-office-statements-of-interest-soi/ https://www.state.gov/guidelines-for-submitting-tip-office-statements-of-interest-soi/

Institutional Record and Capacity The application establishes the applicant’s ability to implement the anti-trafficking project in the specific country or sub-region. For prior recipients of both TIP

Office and other U.S. government funding, the TIP Office will consider the past performance on awards. For new applicants, the TIP Office will evaluate the organizations potential to successfully implement a project. Applicant is able to adhere to the rules and regulations that govern U.S. foreign assistance.

Sustainability

The application’s activities promote sustainable intervention practices and build the capacity of local communities, including both local government institutions and civil society, to address human trafficking challenges in the future. Applications will also be evaluated on how well they promote, strengthen, and build the capacity of local institutions and on the extent to which activities are supported by sustainable local organizations that can effectively combat trafficking beyond the life of the award.

Local Partnerships

Public International Organizations and/or applicants not based in the proposed region describe existing or proposed partnerships with in-country stakeholders.

Applications demonstrate a clear understanding of the role that local organizations and institutions play in combating human trafficking and describe how they will coordinate with local partners to increase sustainability and to ensure programming is context appropriate. In cases where an applicant chooses not to partner with a local organization the application must clearly explain why.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Applications include a theory of change that is clearly articulated (Clarity). Project narrative explains how monitoring and evaluation will be carried out and who will be responsible for monitoring and evaluation activities. External midterm and/or final evaluation or justification for why one is not included.

Coordination with Other Anti-Trafficking Stakeholders

The TIP Office encourages coordination among donors and implementers. The application identifies related projects or activities that the applicant may already be implementing or planning. Information shall include a brief description of the programming, information on its funder, and a description of how the proposed project would complement and avoid duplicating current or planned activities. .

2. Review and Selection Process

The submission deadline, all SOIs will be screened to determine whether they meet the technical requirements stated in this announcement. As a reminder, the TIP

Office will only consider SOIs for the specific program objectives listed in the

“2020 Programming Objectives” Section B; and those that meet the technical requirements set forth in the “Content and For Following m of Application” section (Section D (Application and Submission Information), sub-paragraph 2).

SOIs do not need to address all of the specific programming objectives.

SOIs will be deemed ineligible during the technical review process and will not be considered for funding if they (1) include projects in countries not listed in this

NOFO; or (2) do not meet the technical review requirements listed in Section F.

Following the technical review, a substantive content review of each SOI that passes the technical review will commence. Regional Bureaus and Embassies within the Department of State as will be asked to review and provide feedback on the SOIs.

Following the technical and formal content review, the TIP Office will invite select applicants to participate in the second stage of competition by submitting full applications under a limited competitive announcement. Selected applicants will have approximately 30 days to develop and submit a full application, which must include a monitoring and evaluation plan with an expanded theory of change. Full applications will be reviewed by members of the TIP Office and by an intra- and interagency review panel. Panel recommendations will be presented to the

Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons for consideration.

Please note, with the exception of technical submission questions during the funding process, U.S. Department of State staff in Washington and overseas shall not discuss this competition with applicants until the entire SOI review process has been completed and rejection and approval letters have been transmitted. All questions related to the funding process and content of this funding opportunity must be submitted via email to JTIPGrants@state.gov.

3. Pre-Award Risk Assessment

Second-stage applicants selected for potential funding will be subject to a TIP

Office risk assessment process that may include a pre-award site visit. The mailto:JTIPGrants@state.gov assessment may consider a variety of risk factors, including (1) Financial stability of the applicant; (2) Quality of management systems and ability to meet prescribed management standards; (3) Past performance in managing previous federal awards, if applicable, including compliance with reporting requirements, conformance to the award’s terms and conditions, and the extent to which previously awarded amounts will be expended prior to future awards; (4) Reports and findings from available audits; and (5) Applicant ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements applicable to non-Federal entities.

4. 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.

5. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

The TIP Office anticipates making a decision on SOIs submitted under this NOFO by the end of October 2020 and will notify all applicants of their application status at this time through JTIPGrants@state.gov. Applicants invited to submit full applications will receive further instructions on how to submit full applications and will have thirty days to submit their application. Shortly after full applications are selected for potential funding, Program Analysts at the TIP Office will work with the selected organization(s) to clarify aspects of their application and award the funds. Pending the availability of funds and other contingencies, the TIP Office would expect projects selected for funding to commence during the winter / spring of 2021.

All funding decisions are conditional until a final award is signed.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

Following the internal review process, applicants can expect to hear from the

Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons via email regarding the status of their statements of interest within 30 days of the application due date.

However, a letter stating that an applicant is chosen for further consideration does not constitute authorization to begin performance on the proposed project. All selected applications are conditional until the funds have officially been authorized and awarded by the grants officer.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Standard 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.statebuy.state.gov/fa/pages/home.aspx

Note the U.S Flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and

Conditions.

https://www.statebuy.state.gov/fa/pages/home.aspx

Anti-Prostitution Policy and Requirements: Grantees are required to agree to the following conditions prior to a grant being awarded:

1. None of the funds made available herein may be used to promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to preclude assistance designed to combat trafficking in persons, including projects for prevention, protection of victims, and prosecution of traffickers and others who profit from trafficking in persons, by ameliorating the suffering of, or health risks to, victims while they are being trafficked or after they are out of the situation that resulted from such victims being trafficked.

2. The recipient shall insert this provision in all sub-agreements under this award.

Training Certification: All organizations receiving funds must agree to the following:

“This organization hereby certifies that, to the extent practicable, persons or entities providing legal services, social services, health services, or other assistance have completed, or will complete, training in connection with trafficking in persons.” The recipient shall insert this provision in all sub-agreements under this award. TVPA sec. 107A(b)(1) (22 U.S.C.

7105A(b)(1)).

Special Provision for Performance in a Designated Combat Area: Each federal assistance award within areas of combat operations or future contingency operation, as designated by the Secretary of Defense, over $150,000 or providing for performance over 30 days must be registered in the Department of Defense maintained Synchronized Pre-deployment and Operational Tracker (SPOT) system. Each federal assistance award shall be registered in SPOT before personnel deployment. Requirements are fully outlined in the award agreements for recipients.

Leahy Vetting Requirement: This requirement applies to training or other assistance to be furnished to any unit or individual member of the security forces of a foreign country. Leahy vetting is required when training or assistance is provided to foreign security forces, including when such assistance is provided under a grant or cooperative agreement. Department guidance provides the following information on the type of personnel who are considered security forces and thus must be vetted under Leahy:

“The Leahy amendment refers to the ‘security forces of a foreign country.’

It makes no distinction between military and civilian. The key is whether the individual is a member of a security force unit. In broad terms, any division or entity (to include an individual) authorized by a State or political subdivision (city, county, etc.) to use force (including but not limited to the power to search, detain, and arrest) to accomplish its mission would be considered a security force. ‘Security forces’ thus could be units of law enforcement or the military. Prison guards, customs police, border police, tax police, and the coast guard would be examples of the types of units included in the category of ‘security forces.’ Members of these types of units should be considered as subject to the Leahy Amendment and be vetted either as individuals or as part of the unit being trained. Examples of persons who are not considered ‘security forces’ include: government bureaucrats, prosecutors, judges, civilian members of NGOs, international organizations or task forces and forensic lab workers.”

Leahy Vetting requirements will be fully outlined in the award agreements for recipients. The vetting process may take considerable time, and applicants should plan training activities with sufficient time for vetting to be completed. All successful applicants, including prior grantees, will be required to complete a new

Leahy Vetting training module prior to the award of new projects.

Executive Order Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in

Federal Contracts: Any applicant’s hiring process must be consistent with the

U.S. government’s regulations on preventing human trafficking among federal contractors and grantees, specifically:

U.S. law and regulations expressly prohibit federal contractors, subcontractors, grantees, subgrantees, and their agents/employees from engaging in certain trafficking-related practices, such as misleading or fraudulent recruitment practices; charging employees recruitment fees; and destroying or confiscating employees' identity documents, such as a passport or a driver’s license.

See 22 U.S.C. § 7104(g) (as amended); Federal Acquisition Regulation, 48 C.F.R.

§ 52.222-50 (Combating Trafficking in Persons); see also Federal Acquisition

Regulation, 83 FR 65466 (Dec. 20, 2018) (Combating Trafficking in Persons—

Definition of “Recruitment Fees”).

U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security: Applicants are encouraged to review the goals of the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security for their relevance to applications. In particular, Outcome 3.3 of the Plan provides guidance on efforts to combat trafficking:

“Engage with international and/or civil society organizations to ensure that standard operational procedures are in place to prevent human trafficking, especially among refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), including appropriate assistance and procedures for unaccompanied minors, to identify potential trafficked persons, and to refer survivors to appropriate service providers. As appropriate, provide support to international and civil society organizations to set up emergency care services for trafficking survivors”

And:

“Promote establishment of local coalitions or taskforces comprised of relevant government authorities and civil society organizations to combat human trafficking as part of the justice reform measures in post-conflict areas.”

U.S. Department of State Policy on Disabilities: The U.S. government has made a commitment to protect and advance human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people, including persons with disabilities. To that end, the Convention on the

Rights of Persons with…