BER_NOFO_FY23_001 Transatlantic Democracy Innovation Fund SOI.pdf

U.S. Embassy Berlin, Public Diplomacy

February 2023

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

TRANSATL ANTIC DEMOCRACY INNOVATION FUND

STATEMENT OF INTEREST

BER-NOFO-FY23-001

A. Program Overview

The Transatlantic Democracy Fund supports collaboration and exchange between Germany and the U.S. to expand, deepen, and diversify the range of transatlantic encounters, to fully utilize our joint expertise and deep innovative potential, and to implement solutions to cooperatively shape the future of our democratic societies.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) outlines funding priorities, strategic themes, and the procedures for the submission of requests for funding. Submitted applications will be considered on a rolling basis. This document contains both general priorities for

Germany-wide projects as well as regionally-focused projects in Berlin/Brandenburg and from each of Mission Germany’s five consular districts. If your organization is considering an application for a regionally focused project, please consult the specific Consulate’s priority program areas in this document.

The submission of a concise Statement of Interest (SOI) is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a short, concise project concept (no longer than 1,000 words) designed to clearly communicate program idea and objectives. This is not a full proposal.

The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit program ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before final funding decision are made.

Eligible programs include but are not limited to workshop series and experiential learning events, speaker events, exchanges, and awareness campaigns. All proposed programs must include an American perspective, societal or cultural element, and/or connection with American experts, organizations, or institutions in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and viewpoints of American citizens. Additionally, programs must include public outreach components, such as livestreaming, traditional media, digital outreach, or events open to the public. Special consideration will be given to proposals targeting audiences with little exposure to the U.S. Applicants can request Embassy participation. Proposals must be related to thematic pillars outlined below.

General Information and Germany-Wide Priorities

Sustain, Expand, and Diversify Transatlantic Networks

• Build networks between emerging leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to intensify and deepen the level of collaboration in the coordination and collaboration on solutions to transnational challenges

• Augment and shape the bilateral discourse with diverse civil society stakeholders on shared future challenges

• Create long-term relationships with U.S. and German educational institutions in the fields of business, environment, economics, international relations, science, health, and technology

• Promote educational, cultural, and civic exchanges and enhance understanding of our shared values, traditions, and history, or promote transatlantic institutional and/or community linkages

• Engage youth on the topics of democracy, diversity, digitization, and environmental protection, to facilitate new 21st century transatlantic connections shaped by future decision-makers

Foster Vibrant and Resilient Democratic Civil Societies

• Build consensus to counter challenges from undemocratic actors by tailored engagements with relevant stakeholders, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and energy security, supply chains, and support for Ukraine.

• Deliver curricula, tools, and resources for digital and media literacy to combat disinformation, particularly in vulnerable communities and audiences

• Lend support to

• Foster proactive approaches to countering racially and ethnically motivated discrimination and terrorism, anti-Semitism, anti-

Muslim prejudice, homo- and transphobia, and forms of right-wing extremism that threaten our shared values and political stability

Build more Equitable, Innovative, and Sustainable Economies

• Promote green innovation and energy transformation technologies, policies, and infrastructure to support sustainable growth and transatlantic security.

• Foster entrepreneurship and economic prosperity, transatlantic innovation, the digital economy, and transatlantic workforce development.

• Platform voices of a diverse base of emerging future opinion leaders on questions of trade, technology, the environment, and the future of work.

Regional Priorities

Please ensure to indicate for which region you are applying by prefacing the application title with one of the codes below and carefully follow the instructions in this document. Please see the different regions listed below. The general priorities are shared among all posts, priority program areas offer additional dimensions for project applications.

Code Post States Priority Program Areas

BER Berlin Germany-wide projects, Berlin, Brandenburg

Priority program areas as outlined in section A.1. Special consideration will be given to proposals featuring an explicit Brandenburg component

DUS Düsseldorf North Rhine

Westphalia

Priority program areas as outlined in section A.1.

FRA Frankfurt Hesse, Rhineland-

Palatinate, Saarland, Baden-Württemberg

Priority program areas as outlined in section A.1.

HAM Hamburg Lower Saxony, Schleswig Holstein, Mecklenburg West

Pomerania, Hamburg, Bremen

· Create exchanges and programs in support of the Joint Declaration of Intent between the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, Education, and their German counterparts concerning cooperation on apprenticeships, vocational education and training.

· Advance the transition to greener technologies, with a focus on Northern German institutions to cooperate on producing hydrogen via renewable energy sources.

· Foster entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation via sister city partnerships, such as Hamburg-Chicago, Rostock-Raleigh, and Kiel-San Francisco.

LEI Leipzig Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia

· Create student exchanges to the United States

MUN Munich Bavaria Priority program areas as outlined in section A.1.

Participants and Audiences

• Youth, particularly from underserved communities;

• Civil society stakeholders and non-government organizations;

• Public administration professionals;

• Academic and cultural institutions;

• Entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Authorizing legislation, type, and year of funding:

Funding authority rests in Smith-Mundt and Fulbright-Hays. The source of funding is FY2023 Public Diplomacy Funding.

Diversity and Inclusion Guidelines:

Programs, speakers, and participants should be representative of the diversity of political, social, and cultural life in the United States and abroad. ‘Diversity’ should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass differences including race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Proposals should demonstrate how diversity will enhance the program’s goals and objectives.

B. Federal Award Information

Award Information

Length of performance period Up to 24 months

Number of awards anticipated Approximately 3 awards, dependent on respective amounts

Award amounts From a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $65,000

Total available funding N/A

Type of funding FY 2023 Smith-Mundt PD Funds

Anticipated program start date 2023

Funding Opportunity Title Transatlantic Democracy Innovation Fund

Funding Opportunity Number: BER-NOFO-FY23-001

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Number:

19.040

CFDA Title: Public Diplomacy Programs

Program: N/A

Announcement Type: Statement of Interest

Announcement Date: February 16, 2023

Deadline for Submission of Proposals:

Proposals will be considered on a rolling basis until July 31st, 2023, or consumption of available funding

Agency Contacts: BerlinPDNOFODL@State.gov

This notice is subject to availability of funding

Funding Instrument Type

Fixed Amount Award, Cooperative Agreement, or Grant.

Program Performance Period

Proposed programs should be completed in 24 months or less. The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation agreements funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

C. Eligibility Information

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

• One time study trips for school and university classes, travel to student conferences such as MUN

• All types of in-school programming

• Social welfare projects, charitable or development activities; fund-raising campaigns

• Any activities that appear partisan or that support individual or party electoral campaigns;

• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;

• Construction programs;

• Scientific or medical research and -studies;

• Production of long-form media such as films, art, literature, music. This excludes short-form videos for social media;

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

• Duplications of existing programs;

• Completion of activities begun with other funds (however, new activities that build from lessons learned as the result of an earlier project are acceptable);

Eligible Applicants

The Public Diplomacy Section considers applications from the United States and the EU, including:

• Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations;

• Individuals;

• Non-profit or governmental educational institutions;

• Governmental institutions

Non-German organizations must partner with a German organization or present compelling evidence of the capacity to implement programs in Germany.

Cost Sharing or Matching

Applicants are not required to include third party funding in their project proposals, but applications with cost-sharing will be given special consideration during merit review.

Other Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via SAM.gov, as well as a valid registration on that platform.

D. Application and Submission Information

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. Proposals should address succinctly, but completely, the elements described below and must follow all format requirements.

Content of SOI must include

• A brief project description summarizing goals, objectives outcomes, performance indicators, beneficiaries, and proposed timeline and how they relate to the goals and objectives outlined in this document.

• A clear statement of the applicant’s organizational capacity to carry out the proposed activity and manage U.S. Government funds.

• Documents in English

• The anticipated total budget amount (in U.S. dollars)

Please ensure:

• The SOI clearly states whether there is a regional focus and to which Consulate it is directed

• The SOI is named appropriately: [Regional Code] APS [Your Organization Name] [Descriptive Title], for instance: BER

APS U.S. Embassy Youth Exchange Project

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

Required Registrations:

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

• SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier, replacing the DUNS number, which is no longer required

• www.SAM.gov registration

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 its 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/.

Organizations need to renew its sam.gov registration annually.

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. All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations prior to issuance of the award documents. Registrations are free of charge.

If a SOI is accepted for a full proposal application, the organization must obtain a UEI and have an active SAM.gov registration before submitting its full proposal application. Therefore, we recommend starting the process of obtaining a SAM.gov registration as soon as possible. The process can take several weeks. Please note there is no cost associated with UEI or SAM.gov registration.

Submission Dates and Times

Proposals will be considered on a rolling basis until July 31st, 2023.

Submission Form

Applicants must submit their applications electronically by email to BerlinPDNOFODL@state.gov

E. Application Review Information

Criteria

Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:

Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea (20%)

The program idea is well developed, relates to our funding priorities, and contains details about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.

Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Program Objectives (20%)

Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. Objectives should be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the program’s objectives and plan.

Applicant's Record/Ability (25%)

Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record of comparable successful projects, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting requirements for cooperative agreements.

Monitoring and Evaluation (10%)

Applicant demonstrates capability to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured.

Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing (10%)

The overhead and administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All items should be necessary and appropriate.

Sustainability (10%)

Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (5%)

Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the program will support and advance equity and engage underserved communities in program administration, design, and implementation.

http://www.sam.gov/ https://login.gov/ mailto:BerlinPDNOFODL@state.gov

Review and Selection Process

Grants Review Panel

All eligible SOIs will be reviewed against the criteria listed above. SOIs are reviewed individually against the criteria and not against competing SOIs. For a balanced review all panelists will review the SOI up to the word limit and no further. The panel may provide conditions and/or recommendations on SOIs to enhance the proposed program. Conditions must be addressed, and recommendations should be addressed in a full proposal application.

Full Application

Following the review, any successful SOI applicants will be contacted and instructed to submit full applications. A full application will include:

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

• SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

• SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) for individual or organization exempted from registering in SAM.

Successful applicants will be notified in writing informing the applicant about the conditional selection for funding pending the GO’s review and evaluation of risk and pending the availability of Federal funds. PD may request a revised application or budget but may not request any changes that would fall outside of the scope of the original Notice of Funding Opportunity.

PD will inform unsuccessful applicants after the funding decision has been made. Applicants deemed ineligible will be informed as soon as the initial screening is complete. Upon request, unsuccessful applicants will be given a verbal-debrief explanation for the reason(s) for disapproval of the application. There is no appeal process for unsuccessful applicants. The unsuccessful applications will be maintained with the Department’s official records disposition schedule.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notices

The grant award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document, and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

Issuance of this NO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S.

government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

Payment Method

Recipients will receive funds via electronic funds transfer (EFT). These funds cannot be used to pay for alcoholic beverages. Any questions concerning the propriety of any particular expenditure from these grant funds should be referred to the grants officer (GO), ACAO Izaak

Martin.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

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

Reporting

Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted. There will be at least one interim reporting deadline as well as a final report.

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

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

Questions and Answers will be posted on the Embassy website. The Embassy is not offering pre-application counseling to any potential applicant as a matter of policy.

H. Disclaimer

Issuance of this Request for Proposals does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government, nor does it commit the

Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the Government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with the award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the Department of State.