CE3 NOFO.docx

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

BUREAU OF CYBERSPACE AND DIGITAL POLICY (CDP)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Cyber Exercises and Experiential Education (CE3)

This is the announcement of funding opportunity number DFOP0016659.

Federal Assistance Listing/Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.665

Type of Solicitation: Open Competition

Deadline for Applications: 11:59 PM EDT on Friday 9 August 2024

Total Funding: $1,000,000

Funding Type: Economic Support Funds (ESF)

FADR Data Element 1: P.S. 4 / Peace and Security

Anticipated Number of Awards: 1

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement

Period of Performance: 24 months

Anticipated Time to Award: August 2024

Deadline for Questions: 11:59 PM EST on Friday 19 July 2024

Eligibility Category: U.S.- based non-profit/non-governmental organizations subject to sections 501 (c)(3) and 501(c)(6) of the U.S. tax code, other than institutions of higher education.

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

Number of Applications: One (1) per applicant organization.

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Section A: Project Description The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) announces an open competition for organizations with the capacity and interest to carry out the project outlined in this announcement.

Pending the availability of funds, CDP anticipates awarding 1 grant or cooperative agreement of up to $1,000,000 USD. CDP reserves the right to award more or less funding or make no award as is in the best interest of the US Government.

A1. Background on CDP and the State Department’s Cyber Mission Recognizing the growing role of technology as a cross-cutting national security issue, the State Department created CDP in April 2022 to lead and coordinate U.S. diplomacy on cyber and digital policy. The bureau addresses the national security challenges and economic opportunities presented by cyberspace and digital technologies and promotes standards and norms that are fair, transparent, and support the rights-respecting use of technology. Through robust engagement in multilateral organizations, bilateral diplomacy with partners round the world, and encouragement of responsible state behavior in cyberspace, CDP empowers U.S. leadership in cyber, digital, and technology diplomacy.

CDP deploys foreign assistance to strengthen international cooperation, create new partnerships, promote economic growth and development, and assist in the defense of our foreign partners to uphold an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet.

Calibrated cyber and digital policies help form the backbone of our deeply interconnected world, are vital to U.S. national and economic security, and are required to fully harness the transformative power of technology. As citizens around the world eagerly seek increased Internet connectivity to access the tremendous opportunities afforded by digital transformation, the United States is working to ensure this connectivity is secure, meaningful, governed fairly, and serves the interests of its users. Foreign assistance programs aim to advance an affirmative vision of technology as a tool that supports collective security, prosperity, and democratic values.

More information on CDP is available at https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/deputy-secretary-of-state/bureau-of-cyberspace-and-digital-policy/.

The Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP) is a global, interagency initiative led by CDP and the U.S. Department of State to promote an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable internet. DCCP provides foreign assistance to partner nations to promote investments in secure, diverse, and resilient information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure; support the adoption of inclusive, rights-respecting, multi-stakeholder models of internet governance; grow global markets for trusted ICT goods and services; and enhance cybersecurity. CDP foreign assistance programming follows these core tenets of DCCP. More information on DCCP is available at https://www.state.gov/digital-connectivity-and-cybersecurity-partnership/.

A2. Strategic Program Goals and Objectives – Cyber Exercises and Experiential Education (CE3) Recognizing that a trained, diverse, and robust cybersecurity workforce is central to any country’s ability to implement and maintain its national cybersecurity and digital security strategies, the CE3 Cyber Exercises and Experiential Education (CE3) program is intended to bolster low-to-middle-income countries’ cybersecurity workforce. CE3 programming must be tailored toward two key groups – university students and current regional policy professionals – and must rely on non-traditional, scenario-based, and/or other highly creative and interactive methods of teaching: examples might include scenario-based programming, competitions, technical challenges, table-top scenarios, and more.

CE3 will build on the legacy of the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP) workforce development initiatives, which are targeted toward a broad array of stakeholders. CE3 will distinguish itself by its specific focus on student recruitment, training, and retention and its non-traditional pedagogical methods.

This project should contribute to the following CDP strategic goal and objectives outlined in the Functional Bureau Strategy:

Bureau Goal 1: Advance cyber and digital policies that align with U.S. national interests and foreign policy objectives.

Objective 1.1: Deepen relationships with existing U.S. allies and partners, forge new partnerships, and engage with a range of countries to advance a common vision for the Internet and digital technologies.

Objective 1.2: Leverage key multilateral fora to build relationships, advance U.S. policy priorities, and guard against positions that are counter to U.S. approaches to the Internet and digital technologies.

Objective 1.5: Implement public messaging and public diplomacy programs to expand key audiences’ understanding and support of U.S. cyber and digital policies.

This project should contribute to the following DCCP Pillar:

Pillar 4: Enhance Cybersecurity by increasing adoption and implementation of cybersecurity best practices.

A3. Project Goals, Objectives, Expected Outcomes, Activities, Indicators, and Sustainability The section below identifies the project goal and objectives and details how the project will achieve its objectives through activities designed to achieve specific outcomes in accordance with overarching CDP and DCCP strategic goals and objectives. In awarding funds for this project, CDP expects that the activities and milestones listed below will be accomplished within the project’s period of performance.

This project should be designed to achieve the following high-level goal:

Bolstering the cybersecurity workforce of host beneficiary countries by targeting non-traditional and innovative methods of instruction toward students; providing opportunities for continuing education for current cybersecurity policy leaders; and creating networking opportunities to foster connections between key stakeholder groups across the country and region.

Project Objective 1: The creation of five or six (5-6: please specify in project application) in-person engagements that offer a hands-on, immersive / scenario-based cybersecurity policy-learning experience. These engagements should feature sessions that simulate a cyber crisis or event, offering participants the chance to develop their skills in policy analysis, decision-making, and crisis management. These 5-6 engagements should be distributed over the course of the next 2 years and targeted at university students or young professionals (under age 30).

Expected Outcomes Achievement of Project Objective 1 is expected to result in the following outcomes:

· Increased participant awareness of challenges in cyberspace / cybersecurity policy and governance by means of direct opportunities for student research, study, practice, or other personal investment into cybersecurity problems and solutions.

· Increased student interest in, awareness of, and access to viable pathways into careers in cybersecurity.

· Increased student understanding of the role that effective cybersecurity plays in advancing economic prosperity and human security and wellbeing in their region and globally.

· Improved knowledge and skillsets for current professionals and additional exposure to new best practices, including international norms for responsible behavior in cyberspace, best practices for strategy and policymaking, and standards-setting

Activities To achieve the expected project outcomes, the project must include the following:

· Engagements targeted specifically at local and regional university students, and that are designed and conducted in coordination with local governments, academia, industry, and civil society – the goal is to bolster the capability of the local society to develop and sustain future opportunities after the period of performance ends.

· Knowledge and skill-building opportunities for mid-career professionals and practitioners – such that current policymakers are exposed to what the students are learning and/or receive their own development opportunities. (For example, policy professionals may serve as advisors, observers, teachers, facilitators. They may also benefit from continuing education, training, research opportunities, etc.)

Project Objective 2: Offer or facilitate access for all participants to fora and/or opportunities for professional connection, alumni engagement, communication, socialization, research, and networking amongst relevant personnel on a regional basis.

Expected Outcomes Achievement of Project Objective 2 is expected to result in the following outcomes:

· Professional growth opportunities and improved knowledge of how to access or apply for cyber career opportunities.

· Catalyzation of affinity groups or other closely networked groups throughout target regions.

· Opportunities for participants in other CDP-funded initiatives (e.g., Global Emerging Leaders in International Cyberspace Security (GEL-ICS) and Women in Cyber (WiC) fellowships) to get involved in events taking place in those participants’ home countries or regions.

Activities To achieve the expected project outcomes, the project must include the following:

· Build and maintain an alumni network of participants for follow-up coordination.

· Establish communication channels to facilitate ongoing engagement and collaboration among alumni, such as social media groups, online forums, and/or newsletters. These channels can also be used to share information on upcoming events, training opportunities.

· Ensure personnel development opportunities in conjunction with the 5-6 specified engagements, such as industry fairs or networking opportunities.

Performance Indicators:

In addition to project-specific indicators to monitor key milestones and progress to keep the project on track, implementers will report against relevant indicators within the performance management plan CDP established under the auspices of the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Program (DCCP).

Please note that the implementing partner will be required to track these milestones and indicators, and to provide a qualitative description of each forum / event / workshop and document the names, countries, and organizational affiliations of each attendee.

DCCP indicators for this project will include:

· DCCP indicator 4.3: Number of USG supported fora held to convene key stakeholders for technical assistance or to discuss cybersecurity or cyberspace security issues or best practices.

· DCCP indicator 4.7: Number of institutions with improved awareness of or capacity for developing cybersecurity workforce development programs due to USG assistance.

· DCCP indicator 4.12: Number of institutions with new or improved cybersecurity or cyberspace security capacity, policies, or procedures due to USG assistance.

Example of Project Specific Milestones:

· CE3 Milestone: Create a list of potential partner countries and universities in coordination with CDP. Work with CDP and other stakeholders to refine and finalize that list and design forthcoming student engagements.

· CE3 Milestone: Coordinate and implement student engagements, in coordination with CDP and other stakeholders.

· CE3 Milestone: Design and coordinate mid-career and cyber-professional learning opportunities associated with programming.

· CE3 Milestone: Establish networking forum(s) for CE3 participants to continue connecting and sharing information post-CE3.

Example of Project-Specific Indicators:

· CE3 Indicator: Number of CE3 participants who enroll in student engagements.

· CE3 Indicator: Number of CE3 participants who enroll in the networking forum.

· CE3 Indicator: Number of CE3 participants who apply for cybersecurity or cyberspace -related policy or governance job opportunities.

· CE3 Indicator: Number of CE3 participants and/or alumni who are employed in cybersecurity or cyberspace-related policy or governance positions.

Upon final award, CDP and the selected partner will meet to discuss a final set of DCCP standard indicators as well as project-specific indicators.

Additional Program Requirements:

Experience and Capacity: Applicants must have existing – or the capacity to develop – active partnerships with local in-country partners, entities, and relevant stakeholders. They must also have demonstrable experience in administering successful and preferably similar projects.

Sustainability: Applicants must address how their activities will or will not be able to be sustained by beneficiaries.

Budget: Applicant should assume six (6) regional engagements for approximately 50 regional participants each for budget development. Some engagements should be in-person; others may be virtual or hybrid (please specify in project application). Applicants must include estimated budgets for participant travel. Further budget assumptions can be explained or detailed in the Budget Narrative.

A4. Key Considerations The following list of program considerations is provided to help applicant(s) develop a responsive, robust proposal. Strong preference will be given to applicant(s) that:

· Demonstrate administrative and technical capacity and experience in administering successful and similar projects with a global participant base.

· Demonstrate thoughtful project design to address the key objectives and activities for the target audiences described in the NOFO.

· Demonstrate thoughtful monitoring and evaluation and report results.

· Prove existing, collaborative, and successful partnerships with U.S. and foreign partners on issues and engagements related to cybersecurity and digital policy.

· Demonstrate adherence to ethical best practices including “do no harm” and gender equity.

All applicants will also be required to address the entirety of Section A.3 within this NOFO in their submission (see Section D.2.1, items #4 and #5).

Section B: Federal Award Information

Organizations may submit one application per organization in response to this NOFO. If more than one application is submitted by an organization, only the first application received will be reviewed for eligibility and funding.

The U.S. government reserves the right to: (a) reject any or all applications, (b) accept other than the lowest cost application, (c) accept more than one application, and (d) waive irregularities in applications received.

The U.S. government may make award(s) based on initial applications received, without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, each initial application should contain the applicant's best terms from a cost and technical standpoint. The U.S. government reserves the right (though it is under no obligation to do so), to enter discussions with one or more applicants in order to obtain clarifications, additional detail, or to suggest refinements in the project description, budget, or other aspects of an application.

CDP anticipates awarding a cooperative agreement. The final determination on award mechanism will be made by the Grants Officer.

The authority for this funding opportunity is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), as amended. Funds were appropriated under the Title III of the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023 (Div. K, P.L. 117-328) (FY 2023 SFOAA) under the heading “Economic Support Funds”. Several funding restrictions apply and may vary from year to year. CDP reserved the right to adjust proposed beneficiaries.

To maximize the impact and sustainability of the award(s) that result(s) from this NOFO, CDP reserves the right to execute a non-competitive continuation amendment(s). The total duration of any award, including potential non-competitive continuation amendments, shall not exceed 54 months, or four and a half years. Any non-competitive continuation is contingent on availability of funds, and satisfactory performance of the program. A non-competitive continuation is not guaranteed, and the Department of State reserves the right to exercise or not exercise this option.

Section C: Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants

CDP welcomes applications from U.S.-based non-profit organizations subject to section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) status of the U.S. tax code.

Please see 2 CFR 200.307 for regulations regarding program income.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Providing cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an eligibility factor or requirement for this NOFO and providing cost share will not result in a more favorable competitive ranking.

Per 2 CFR §200.306, items that are proposed for cost share must be allowable per 2 CFR §200, Subpart E—Costs Principles.

C3. Other To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (UEI), as well as a valid registration on SAM.gov. Please see Section D3.2 for information on how to obtain these registrations.

Applicants must be organizations, and only one application will be considered for each applicant organization. If more than one application is submitted by the same organization, only the first received will be reviewed for eligibility and funding.

Please note, any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and/or has a current debt to the U.S. government 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.” Additionally, no entity or person listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov to ensure that no ineligible entity or person is included in their application.

Section D: Application and Submission Information

D1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms, and other required materials are available at Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) and MyGrants (https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com) under the announcement title “CE3,” and funding opportunity number “DFOP0016659”. Once the NOFO deadline has passed, the Department of State may not discuss this competition with any applicant until the proposal review process has been completed. If requesting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or for security reasons, please contact the CDP point of contact listed in Section G. Please note that reasonable accommodations do not include deadline extensions.

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission For all application documents, please ensure:

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

· All documents are in English (original documents that are in another language must be accompanied by an English translation)

· All budgets are in U.S. dollars

· For documents subject to page limitations, 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

· Captions and footnotes may be 10-point Calibri font

Any prospective applicant who has questions concerning the contents of this NOFO should submit them by email to the contacts listed in Section G. Any updates about this NOFO will also be posted on Grants.gov.

D2.1 Application Requirements Complete applications must include the following:

1. Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424A, as well as SF-424B, if applicable.

2. Organizations that engage in lobbying the U.S. government, including Congress, or pay for another entity to lobby on their behalf, are also required to complete the SF-LLL “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” form.

3. Cover Page (one page, preferably as a Word Document). Includes the organization name, project title, target country or countries, and name and contact information for the application’s main point of contact.

4. Proposal Narrative (not to exceed five [5] pages, preferably as a Word Document). The Proposal Narrative must include the following:

· Introduction to the Organization: Description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the project, including information on all relevant or similar type projects from previous grants from the Bureau and/or U.S. government agencies.

· Statement of Intent: Clear, concise, and well-supported statement that summarizes how the applicant’s unique project/approach will address the needs of the NOFO and support CDP’s Strategic Goals and Objectives.

· Statement of Expertise: A short overview of applicant’s expertise and value-add to this space, as well as their ability to carry out the activities in furtherance of all objectives laid out in A3. (Specific detail can be added in CE3 Draft Scope of Work – below – using the SOW template in TAB 1.)

· Statement of Capacity: A short overview of applicant’s logistical, administrative, financial, and managerial capabilities, and how they will contribute to the applicant’s ability to carry out all activities related to the program. Please note that applicants will be responsible for carrying out all logistics associated with the program, including but not limited to securing local venues, acquiring materials and equipment, and forging local partnerships.

· Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the project, or elements of the project, beyond the grant period, via beneficiaries or the availability of other resources, if applicable. Include ways project activities will ensure sustainability.

· Risk Analysis: An assessment of any internal and external risks associated with the proposed project. Applicant should rate the likelihood of the risks and the potential impact of the risks on the project and should identify actions that could help mitigate the risks.

Please note the five-page limit does not include the following:

· SF-forms listed above

· Cover Page

· Scope of Work (see below)

· Project Design and Logic Model (see below)

· Project Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (see below)

· Detailed Budget

· Budget Narrative – If the Budget includes subawards, please include a separate Budget Narrative for each organization.

· Timeline

· Key Personnel Summary, CVs or Resumes (per person)

· Contingency Plan

· Additional Required Attachments (Audit, NICRA, etc.)

· Optional Sections (if applicable, see page 15)

5. Scope of Work (SOW). Applicants should use TAB 1 - CE3 Draft Scope of Work Template provided and attached to this NOFO. The SOW should provide a summary of the applicant’s unique approach to the following:

· Project Goal

· Project Objectives

· Project Activities

· Project Indicators: Applicants should identify key indicators and milestones to measure progress towards program goals and project objectives. Methods for collecting and monitoring project indicators should be described and those responsible for doing so identified.

· Sustainability

6. Project and Logic Model (preferably as a Word Document). Detail planned activities, the immediate services or product of project activities (outputs), and the expected changes or benefits that occur after activities have been implemented (outcomes). Applicants should specify objectives, identify what resources (inputs) are needed, outline proposed activities (outputs) and beneficiaries, and illustrate how activities lead to desired results in the theory of change. Applicants are encouraged to use TAB 2 - CE3 Project Design and Logic Model template but are not required.

7. Draft Project Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (preferably as a Word Document). This document details how a project’s performance monitoring and evaluation system will be carried out and by whom. It:

· Explains how the project’s performance toward its objectives will be tracked over time.

· Identifies which performance indicators the project will report against, the indicator type, baseline values, performance targets, and data sources or collection methods.

· Provides a clear description of the approach and data collection strategies and tools to be employed (e.g., pre- and post-test surveys, interviews, focus groups).

· Identifies what, if any, external evaluations will be conducted.

A sample TAB 3 – CE3 Project Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Template is provided as an attachment to this NOFO.

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the Defining M&E Terms in the Project Design and Logic Model template for concise explanations of M&E terms and definitions used by the Department of State. The final will be due 30 days post award.

8. Detailed Budget (Excel workbook strongly preferred; please do not provide as a PDF). Include three (3) columns containing the request to CDP, any cost sharing contribution, and the total budget. A Summary Budget should also be included using the OMB-approved budget categories (see SF-424A as a sample) in a separate tab. Costs must be in U.S. Dollars. Detailed line-item budgets for sub-grantees should be included as additional tabs within the Excel workbook (if available at the time of submission). See TAB 4 – CE3 Detailed Budget Template.

9. Budget Narrative (preferably as a Word Document). Justify each line-item in the budget and explain how the amounts were derived, consistency with the applicants’ documented policies, as well as the source and description of all proposed costs (and cost-share, if applicable). The narrative should complement the budget rather than repeat information provided in the budget. For example, the narrative should provide details on the purpose of costs, reasonability of costs, cost price analysis, explain allocations, explain any yearly variances, and tie expenses to project activities and/or objectives where appropriate. Sources of all cost-share offered in the application should be identified and explained in the budget narrative. See TAB 5 – CE3 Budget Narrative Template.

10. Timeline (not to exceed one [1] page per year of proposed performance period, preferably as a Word Document or Excel Sheet). The timeline of the overall proposal should include activities, and monitoring and evaluation efforts outlined in either a monthly or quarterly format. It should also include sufficient time for project closeout to conduct and finalize internal/external evaluations and allow any sub-recipients time for final reporting.

11. Summary of Key Personnel and Subject Matter Experts (not to exceed two [2] pages, preferably as a Word Document). This can represent staff within your organization or outside of your organization (subgrantee, consultants, contractors), who are integral to the success of the project. Provides names, titles, roles, and bios that highlight relevant experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the project.

12. Proposed Security Plan (not to exceed two (2) pages) addressing any issues involving in-person events and recruitment for said events, and safety for any online programs or communications. Applicants should identify the costs of the proposed security precautions and are also encouraged to include contingency plans for in-person or online activities.

13. Gender and Inclusion Analysis (not to exceed 1 page, preferably as a Word Document) that provides a concise analysis of relevant gender norms, equity and equality for underserved communities and marginalized populations, power relations, and conflict dynamics in target countries. Potential domains of analysis include institutional practices and barriers, cultural norms, gender roles, access to and control over assets and resources, and patterns of decision-making. Applicants should briefly explain how they have integrated findings from their analysis into project design and/or other proposal documents, including a plan for regularly reviewing and updating the gender and inclusion analysis with local partners/beneficiaries, and making any necessary adjustments to project implementation.

14. Additional Required Attachments:

· Audit An audit or an explanation for the lack of an audit is required. Please review the bulleted items below carefully.

· If your organization meets the threshold as defined in 2 CFR 200 Subpart F, then your organization must submit a pdf of its most recent single audit.

· If your organization does not currently meet the 2 CFR 200 requirement and has not had a single audit within its most recent three fiscal years, then your organization must submit its most recent (within the preceding three fiscal years) independent financial audit, preferably a pdf.

· If your organization has not been independently audited within its three most recent fiscal years, then it must explain the reason for the lack of an audit and provide an independent confirmation of the adequacy of its internal controls.

· NICRA If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA letter should be included as a PDF file. This document will not be reviewed by the Merit Review Panel but will be used by project and grant team if the submission is recommended for funding. Organizations that have previously established indirect cost rates must submit timely indirect cost proposals to their cognizant agency as required by Appendix III & IV of 2 CFR 200. If indirect cost proposals have not been submitted for re-negotiation, as required, out-of-date NICRAs may not be considered. If your proposal involves subawards to organizations charging indirect costs, please submit their NICRA, if applicable.

· Letters of support or official permission letters from project partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner, for any partner or partners identified in the proposal whose role is central to the project achieving its objectives. No letter of support is required for goods or services that are widely available commercially unless an identified provider is offering no-cost or uniquely favorable terms that will not be available commercially.

Applications that do not include the elements listed above will be deemed technically ineligible. To ensure that all applications receive a balanced evaluation, the review panel will review from the first page of each section up to the page limit and no further.

D.2.2 Additional Information Requested for Those Receiving Conditional Notification Letter Successful applicants must submit, after Conditional Notification Letter, but prior to issuance of a federal award:

· Written responses and revised application documents addressing conditions and recommendations from the review panel.

· A copy of the applicant’s latest NICRA as a PDF file, if the applicant has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the budget.

· A completed copy of the Department’s Financial Management Survey, if receiving USG funding for the first time.

· Submission of required documents to register in the Payment Management System managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, if receiving CDP funding for the first time (unless an exemption is provided).

· Other requested information or documents included in the Conditional Notification Letter or subsequent communications prior to issuance of a federal award.

· Applicants who submit their applications through Grants.gov will be required to create a MyGrants account in order to accept the final award. Accounts must be logged into to every 60 days in order to maintain an active account.

D3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with 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.

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 and advise proposed sub-grantees to do so as well.

Organizations based in the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI number issued through SAM.gov. Once the UEI number is received continue with the remainder of the SAM.gov registration.

Note: SAM.gov is not the same as MyGrants. It is free to register in both systems, but the registration processes are different.

Please note, guidance on SAM.gov and the guidance on GSA’s website about requirement for registering in SAM.gov is subject to change at any time. Applicants should review the website frequently for the most up-to-date guidance.

D3.1 SAM.gov and UEI Exemptions

An exemption from the UEI and sam.gov registration requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if:

· An applicant’s identity must be protected due to potential endangerment of their mission, their organization’s status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applicant.

· For an applicant, if the federal awarding agency makes a determination that there are exigent circumstances that prohibit the applicant from receiving a unique entity identifier and completing SAM.gov registration prior to receiving a federal award. In these instances, federal awarding agencies must require the recipient to obtain a unique entity identifier and complete SAM.gov registration within 30 days of the federal award date.

Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in Section G of the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the NOFO providing a justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.

D3.2 Registering in MyGrants and Grants.gov

All application submissions must be made electronically via Grants.gov or MyGrants (https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com/ilms/). Both systems require registration by the applying organization. Please note that the Grants.gov registration process can take ten (10) business days or longer, even if all registration steps are completed in a timely manner. Instructions for registering and submitting applications in each system are provided below.

MyGrants:

Applicants using MyGrants for the first time should complete their “New Organization Registration.” To register with MyGrants, go to: https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com and click “create an account”.

Please note that establishing an account in MyGrants may require the use of smartphone for multi-factor authentication (MFA). If an applicant does not have accessibility to a smartphone during the time of creating an account, please contact the helpdesk and request instructions on MFA for Windows PC.

Organizations must remember to save a screen shot of the checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document fails to upload successfully.

MyGrants Help Desk:

For assistance with MyGrants accounts and technical issues related to the system, please contact the ILMS help desk by phone at +1 (888) 313-4567 (toll charges apply for international callers) or through the Self-Service online portal that can be accessed from https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com. Customer support is available 24/7.

Grants.gov:

Applicants who do not submit applications via MyGrants may submit via Grants.gov. Please be advised that completing all the necessary registration steps for obtaining a username and password from Grants.gov can take ten (10) business days or longer.

Please refer to the Grants.gov website for definitions of various “application statuses” and the difference between a submission receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a validation e-mail from Grants.gov upon the successful submission of an application. Validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can take up to two business days. Additionally, organizations must remember to save a screenshot of the checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document fails to upload successfully.

Grants.gov Helpdesk:

For assistance with Grants.gov, please call the Contact Center at +1 (800) 518-4726 or email support@grants.gov. The Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except federal holidays. A full list of federal holidays can be found here.

D4. Submission Dates and Times Applications are due no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), on Friday 9 August 2024 on Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov/), or MyGrants (https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com), under the announcement title “CE3,” and funding opportunity number “DFOP0016659”.

Grants.gov and MyGrants automatically log the date and time an application submission is made, and the Department of State will use this information to determine whether an application has been submitted on time. Late applications are neither reviewed nor considered. Known system errors caused by Grants.gov or MyGrants. Applicants should not expect a notification upon CDP receiving their application.

D5. Funding Limitations, Restrictions, and other Considerations CDP will not consider applications that reflect any type of support for any member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist organization. Please refer the link for Foreign Terrorist Organizations: https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/

Project activities whose direct beneficiaries are foreign militaries or paramilitary groups, or individuals will not be considered for CDP funding given purpose limitations on funding.

The Leahy Law prohibits Department foreign assistance funds from supporting foreign security force units if the Secretary of State has credible information that the unit has committed a gross violation of human rights. Per 22 USC §2378d(a) (2017), “No assistance shall be furnished under this chapter [FOREIGN ASSISTANCE] or the Arms Export Control Act [22 USC 2751 et seq.] to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country if the Secretary of State has credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights.” Restrictions may apply to any proposed assistance to police or other law enforcement. Among these, pursuant to section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA), no assistance provided through this funding opportunity may be furnished to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country when there is credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights. In accordance with the requirements of section 620M of the FAA, also known as the Leahy law, project beneficiaries or participants from a foreign government’s security forces may need to be vetted by the Department before the provision of any assistance. If a proposed grant or cooperative agreement will provide assistance to foreign security forces or personnel, compliance with the Leahy Law is required.

Organizations should be cognizant of these restrictions when developing project proposals as these restrictions will require appropriate due diligence of project beneficiaries and collaboration with CDP to ensure compliance with these restrictions. Project beneficiaries subject to due diligence vetting will include any individuals or entities that are beneficiaries of foreign assistance funding or support. Due diligence vetting will include a review of open-source materials.

D6. Other Submission Requirements It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that it has an active registration in MyGrants or Grants.gov. Applicants are required to document that the application has been received by MyGrants or Grants.gov in its entirety. CDP bears no responsibility for disqualification that result from applicants not being registered before the due date, for system errors in either MyGrants or Grants.gov, or other errors in the application process.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to save a screen shot of the checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document fails to upload successfully.

Faxed, couriered, or emailed documents will not be accepted. Reasonable accommodations may, in appropriate circumstances, be provided to applicants with disabilities or for security reasons. Applicants must follow all formatting instructions in the CE3 NOFO and these instructions.

CDP encourages organizations to submit applications during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00AM-5:00PM Eastern Time (EST or EDT as case may be)). If an applicant experiences technical difficulties and has contacted the appropriate helpdesk but is not receiving timely assistance (i.e., if you have not received a response within 48 hours of contacting the helpdesk), you may contact the CDP point of contact listed in in Section G for further assistance.

Section E: Application Review Information

E1. Proposal Review Criteria The selected CDP review panel will evaluate each application individually against the following criteria, listed below in order of importance, and not against competing applications. Please use the below criteria as a reference, but do not structure your application according to the sub-sections.

Quality of Project Design (30 points)

· The project idea is well developed and responsive to the policy and program objective(s) in the NOFO.

· The applicant clearly defines the problem; its causes; stakeholders; and existing research/data; the approach taken to solve the problem; realistic milestones to indicate progress.

· The project’s potential contribution to solving the problem is addressed in the problem statement.

Organizational Capacity (20 points)

· The application demonstrates an institutional record of successful projects in the content area proposed and relevant experience in the proposed country/territory/region.

· The organization has expertise in its stated field and has adequate staffing to manage the proposed project.

· The application demonstrates the organization’s capacity for responsible fiscal management of donor funding.

Project Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives (20 points)

· Goals and objectives are clearly stated, and project approach illustrates logical and plausible pathways to achieving project outcomes.

· Proposed project activities are feasible, practical, and/or experiential in nature to encourage innovation.

· Key assumptions and risks have been identified and their potential influences described.

· If similar activities have taken place, the applicant explains how proposed activities will produce new impact and not simply duplicate past efforts.

Monitoring & Evaluation Plan (10 points)

· The proposal demonstrates a sound plan for monitoring appropriate indicators to oversee the project’s timely progress toward stated objectives, capture key project results, and to assess and mitigate any challenges encountered in implementation.

· Includes output and outcome indicators, explains how and when those will be measured, and by whom.

Budget & Budget Narrative (10 points)

· The budget justification is a detailed and realistic financial expression of the proposed project and does not include estimated costs that are not allocable, reasonable, or allowable.

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

· Proposal budget, including salaries and honoraria, are explained, and justified for the work involved.

Sustainability of Impact/Multiplier Effect (10 points)

· The proposal clearly details how project activities will produce benefits and impact lasting beyond the funding period.

· Methods to ensure sustainability of project impact beyond the life of the award are clearly delineated.

E2. Review and Selection Process The Department of State is committed to ensuring a competitive and standardized process for awarding funding. Applications will be screened initially in a Technical Eligibility Review stage to determine whether applicants meet the eligibility requirements outlined in section C and have submitted all required documents outlined in section D. Applications that do not meet these requirements will not advance beyond the Technical Eligibility Review stage and will be deemed ineligible for funding under this NOFO.

All applications that are deemed technically eligible will proceed to the Merit Review Panel consisting of U.S. government subject matter and/or country-specific experts and will be rated on a 100-point scale. CDP reserves the right to request the assistance of non-US government Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), if appropriate to the solicitation. Point values for individual elements of the application are presented in Section E.1. Panel Reviewers’ ratings, and any resulting recommendations, are advisory. Panel Reviewers may provide conditions and recommendations on applications to enhance the proposed project, which must be addressed by the applicant before further consideration of the award.

Final selection authority resides with CDP’s senior level official. Final award decisions will be influenced by whether the application meets the Department of State’s programmatic goals and objectives, how it supports the Department’s overarching foreign policy priorities, and the geographic distribution of the top-ranking applications.

E3. Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov (formerly, 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 over the period of performance (see §200.01 Simplified Acquisition Threshold), this section must also inform applicants that:

Section F: Federal Award Administration Information

F1. Federal Award Notices The Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) will provide a separate notification to applicants on the result of their applications. Successful applicants will receive a letter electronically via email including a request for the applicant respond to panel conditions and recommendations. This notification is not an authorization to begin activities and does not constitute formal approval or a funding commitment.

Final approval is contingent on the applicant successfully responding to the merit review panel’s conditions and recommendations; being registered in required systems; and providing any additional completed documentation requested by CDP or the Grants Officer. Final approval is also contingent on Congressional Notification requirements being met and final review and approval by the Department’s warranted Grants Officer.

The Notice of Award signed by the Department’s warranted Grants Officers is the sole authorizing document. The recipient may only start incurring project expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer. If awarded, the Notice of Award will be provided to the applicant’s designated Authorizing Official via MyGrants to be electronically counter signed in the system.

Payments under this award will be made through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Payment Management System (PMS). Unless otherwise stipulated, the Recipient may request payments on a reimbursement or advance basis. Instructions for requesting payments are available at: https://pms.psc.gov/.

Advance payments must be limited to the minimum amounts needed and be timed to be in accordance with the actual, immediate cash requirements of the Recipient in carrying out the purpose of this award.