DOS-Baghdad-PD-2022-007-Eastern Iraqi Universities Initiative.pdf

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

U.S. Embassy Baghdad

Public Affairs Office

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Eastern Iraqi Universities Initiative.

Announcement Type: Grant Award

Funding Opportunity: DOS-Baghdad-PD-2022-007

CFDA: 19.021

Total Amount Available: $1,000,000.00

Deadline for Applications: 09/10/2022

CONTACT INFORMATION

For information and questions about this announcement, please send all email inquiries to the

U.S. Embassy Baghdad at baghdadpdgrants@state.gov. All correspondence to baghdadpdgrants@state.gov regarding this NOFO should reference the title and Funding

Opportunity Number located at the top of this announcement when making your request. Once the NOFO closing date has passed, baghdadpdgrants@state.gov may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.

NOTIFICATION

Applicants can expect to be notified of the status of their application within thirty (30) days of the submission deadline. Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the United States Government. It does not commit the USG to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. The USG reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad 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 discretion of the Embassy.

SUMMARY

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad invites eligible organizations to submit proposals to develop and implement a program to support the University of Diyala and the University of Wasit under its

Eastern Iraqi Universities Initiative. Proposals should focus on the following areas: (1) supporting and designing advanced computer and technology programs in computer science and computer engineering departments; and (2) facilitating issuance of Information Technology certifications from certified U.S. institutions. The proposal must have a work plan for each university, including descriptions of capacity-building programs; curricula; purchases of mailto:baghdadpdgrants@state.gov mailto:baghdadpdgrants@state.gov equipment and educational materials; and linkages with American universities, including faculty exchange programs to foster collaboration and information sharing.

Applicants should have a track record of success in partnering with Iraqi and American higher education institutions and demonstrated ability to implement complex projects in post-conflict areas. Priority consideration will be given to proposals that clearly demonstrate how American academic expertise will be introduced to the target universities and that focus on preparing Iraqi students to enter the job market through internships and practical skills development.

Authority: Overall grant-making authority for this program is contained in the Mutual

Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of the Act is “to enable the Government of the United

States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries...; to strengthen the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United

States and other nations...and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations between the United States and other countries of the world.

Subject to the availability of funds, the Embassy expects to award a grant up to $1,000,000.00 to carry out the Eastern Iraqi Universities Initiative program over a Twenty-four-month time frame.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Eastern Iraqi Universities Initiative will:

1. Support the design of advanced computer and technology studies that will be implemented at the University of Diyala and the University of Wasit. The program should include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Information and Network Security

• Web Design and Development

• System Administration

• Database Management

• Cybersecurity

• Network Engineering

2. Facilitate issuance of Information Technology certifications at the University of

Diyala and the University of Wasit from certified U.S. institutions that will enhance students’ employability. The program should include, but not be limited to, the following certificates:

• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Successful proposals will include, but not be limited to, the following elements:

• Capacity-building programs

• Curriculum development and design

• U.S. university linkages, including faculty exchange programs

Applicants must have demonstrated experience and ability to provide guidance to and monitor university partnership projects that focus on the following U.S. Mission education priorities:

• Collaborative technology programs, particularly in computer science and engineering

• Faculty development and exchange, both in-person and virtual

In addition, the program implementer will:

• Foster relationships between U.S. institutions of higher learning and Iraqi universities.

• Consult with officials from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

(MOHESR), Iraqi university leaders and education experts, U.S. Embassy Public

Diplomacy Section staff, and U.S. higher education institutions and university associations on program design and implementation.

• Provide quarterly reporting and budget updates on program activities to U.S.

Embassy Baghdad’s Public Diplomacy Section.

• Serve as the primary point of contact and source of information for Iraqi universities, U.S. institutions, and U.S. Embassy Baghdad.

• Manage all logistical elements of the program, including facilitating Americans’ travel to Iraq and Iraqis’ travel to the U.S., should the proposal include such activities.

• Coordinate with public and private sector institutions to develop an internship program for university students.

• Plan and organize a closing session in Iraq or via online platforms to summarize and evaluate the program and foster ongoing collaboration between American and Iraqi university partners.

The U.S. Embassy Baghdad Public Diplomacy Office will monitor this program, including, but not limited to:

• Reviewing and approving proposals.

• Approving the selection of partner institutions, program participants, activities, and venues.

• Approving the purchase of necessary equipment and educational materials to carry out the project.

ANTICIPATED TIMELINE

Sep-October 2022: Grant is awarded.

November 2022 - April 2023: Selected program implementer works with the Iraqi government and university officials, U.S. Embassy representatives and U.S. universities and higher education partnership experts to design and develop a work plan with each university to provide capacity-building programs, linkages with American universities, and curricula that focus on advanced computer and technology studies and facilitate gaining Information Technology certifications for the students at the University of Diyala and the University of Wasit.

May 2023: Program implementer presents work plan and activity to the U.S. Embassy to secure approval for implementation of Phase II of the project.

June 2023 – September 2023: The program implementer initiates and starts working on developing advanced computer and technology studies, including university linkages, faculty exchanges, and curriculum reform projects; makes necessary purchases of equipment and educational materials; and issues Information Technology certifications.

October 2024: Project completion, evaluation exercise and final report.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

• Type of Award: Grant Agreement.

• Approximate Total Funding: $1,000,000.00, pending availability of funds

• Approximate Number of Awards: One

• Anticipated Award Date: September 30, 2022

• Anticipated Project Completion Date: October 30,2024

• Additional Information: Applicants' budget submissions should be realistic and reflect anticipated actual costs required to implement the program(s) and the varying costs specific to programming needs.

• The U.S. Embassy Baghdad Public Diplomacy Office reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described under circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the U.S. government.

Applications must be prepared and submitted using the Public Diplomacy Grants Program

Application form, available on www.grants.gov or by request from baghdadpdgrants@state.gov.

Please submit questions and completed applications to baghdadpdgrants@state.gov .

The recipient of funding under this announcement will be required to submit quarterly technical and financial reports during the term of the project, as well as a final assessment at the end of the project.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

http://www.grants.gov/

C.1 Eligible applicants: Applications must be submitted by U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC

501(c)(3).

Eligibility: Applicants must:

• Be a U.S. non-profit organization meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue

Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3).

• Have demonstrated experience developing and administering similar programs.

• Have the capacity to operate in Iraq and have active partnerships with organization(s) operating in Iraq needed to support the program.

All Federal assistance recipients must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and a CCR (CAGE) number prior to funds disbursement.

C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, Public Diplomacy Office encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.

When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved agreement.

Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in accordance with the Office of

Management and Budget’s Circular 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600, entitled the Uniform

Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. In the event you do not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, Public Diplomacy Office contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

C.3 Other Eligibility Requirements:

Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the requirements stated in the Proposal

Submission Instructions; non-compliance will result in your proposal being declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review process.

Eligible applicants may not submit more than one proposal in this competition.

If more than one proposal is received from the same applicant, all submissions will be declared technically ineligible and will receive no further consideration in the review process.

Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal name and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 and additional supporting documentation outlined in the Proposal

Submission Instructions document.

Application and Submission Information:

Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals.

Once the NOFO closing date has passed, Public Diplomacy Office staff may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.

To meet the announcement closing date, submissions must be received by on or before

Saturday, September 10, 2022.

The applicant is requested to submit a completed proposal package that includes a project narrative and all mandatory appendices, per the solicitation instructions below. Note: The applicant must provide a statement of explanation for any mandatory appendices that are not submitted with their application. Unsolicited appendices will not be read and should not be submitted for this award.

Key Registrations:

All federal award recipients must maintain current registrations in the SAM database. Recipients must maintain accurate and up-to-date information in www.SAM.gov until all program and financial activity and reporting have been completed. Recipients must review and update the information at least annually after the initial registration and more frequently if required information changes or another award is granted. Failure to register in SAM will render applicant’s ineligible to receive funding.

All applicants must complete the following registrations:

• Register for the Unique Entity ID, issued by SAM.gov.

• Obtain necessary codes: for non-U.S. organizations, an NCAGE code at https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx.

D. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPOSAL PREPARATION:

Applications must be prepared and submitted using the Public Diplomacy Grants Program

Application form, available on www.grants.gov or by request from baghdadpdgrants@state.gov.

Please submit questions and completed applications to baghdadpdgrants@state.gov .

A complete proposal package will contain (I) a proposal narrative that does not exceed ten (10) pages and (II) all mandatory appendices as listed below. The proposal must be submitted in

English, formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper in Microsoft Word document, written in size 12 font, single spaced, and have page numbers. Proposals should utilize the Proposal Template to address the issues listed below:

1. Begin with a one-page executive summary (which does not count against your page number limit) outlining the problem that describes what this project seeks to address, as well as your organization’s expertise, capacity, and experience in implementing the proposed program.

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx http://www.grants.gov/

2. Give a clear description of assumptions, short-term and long-term project goal(s), objective(s), activities, outputs and intended results linked to your project; provide matching indicators and a plan to demonstrate a baseline at project inception that measures the current status of conditions that the project seeks to affect.

3. Please describe how your organization would incorporate the proposed program into its already existing programming, and opportunities you see for growth and expansion of the program. Describe where the initiative will be physically housed, and if in multiple locations, describe how communication will be maintained among project personnel.

4. Full description of the program

5. Organizational expertise, competency, and past performance.

6. Please describe your organization’s mission and the type of programs it has.

7. Where is the organization based and does it have operations in any other countries/regions? Please describe.

8. How many communities does your organization’s work currently reach? What kind of partnerships has your organization developed?

9. Describe areas of key competency, past domestic/international experience, if any, and structure of the organization. How many people have you previously reached with prior projects? What changes have resulted from it? Please include statistics (if appropriate) and specific examples as evidence of your previous impact.

10. Work Plan and Timeline

11. Submit a detailed implementation plan and a monitoring and evaluation plan that follows the project timeline.

12. Also include a description of how the project will be sustained at the conclusion of award funds.

E. DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR REQUIRED APPENDICES:

As an appendix and in addition to the proposal, applicants must submit a budget broken down by program year(s) with an accompanying detailed budget narrative (in Word 2000 or Word 2003 text accessible) which provides in detail the total costs for implementation of the program as further detailed below. Both of these components must specify the total amount of funding requested in U.S. dollars.

Line-Item Budget

The line-item budget can be submitted in MS Excel format and should show the organization’s technical and labor cost categories as it relates to the proposed project. The line-item budget must be submitted in US dollars (USD) and include three [3] columns outlining the request to

Public Diplomacy Office staff, any cost sharing contribution, and total budget. It should include detailed information on personnel and consultants with proposed salary and salary history. In the case of sub-grantee partner organizations, a detailed line-item budget for each sub-grantee should also be included. Costs should be identified in each of the budget categories listed below, and should detail estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar points.

1. Personnel – In general, employees receiving benefits from the applicant organization are considered staff. Consultants hired to assist with the program who do not receive benefits should be included under Contractual. Identify staffing requirements by each position title and brief description of duties. Include dates the staff will be hired. Each staff member’s salary calculation should include the annual/base salary of each position, percentage of time and number of months devoted to the project. (e.g., Administrative

Director: $30,000/year x 25% x 8.5 months; calculation: $30,000/12 = $2,500 x 25% x

8.5 months = $5,312.). This can be in the budget narrative if the organization prefers.

2. Fringe Benefits – State benefit costs separately from salary costs and explain how benefits are computed for each category of employee (specify type and rate).

3. Travel – Staff and any participant travel:

a) International airfare

b) In-country travel overseas

c) Domestic travel in the United States, if any

d) Per diem/maintenance: includes lodging, meals and incidentals for both participant and staff travel. Rates of maximum allowances for U.S. and foreign travel are available from the following website: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287 and http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=184&menu_id=78.

Per diem rates may not exceed the published U.S. government allowance rates;

however, institutions may use per diem rates lower than official government rates.

Please explain differences in fares among travelers on the same routes (e.g., project staff member traveling for three weeks whose fare is higher than that of staff member traveling for four months).

Please note that all travel, where applicable, must be in compliance with the Fly

America Act. For more information see http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/103191.

Public Diplomacy Office shall approve all proposed travel under this budget.

4. Equipment – Equipment is defined as having a per-unit cost of $5,000 and a service life of more than one year. If the item meets these criteria than all federal procurement policies and procedures must be followed. If an item does not meet these criteria, it is considered a supply. Please provide justification for any equipment purchase/rental.

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287 http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=184&menu_id=78 http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/103191

5. Supplies – List items separately using unit costs (and the percentage of each unit cost being charged to the cooperative agreement for photocopying, postage, telephone/fax, printing, and office supplies (for example, Telephone: $50/month x 50% = $25/month x

12 months).

6. Contractual –

a) Sub grants – For each sub grant/contract please provide a detailed line item breakdown explaining specific services. In the sub grant budgets, provide the same level of detail for personnel, travel, supplies, equipment, direct costs, and fringe benefits required of the direct applicant. If indirect is charged on a sub grant please include a NICRA.

Please note that a sub grantee who receives equal to or more than $25,000 is required to have a Unique Entity ID number. Please visit www.fsrs.gov for more information.

Please Note: it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that proposed sub-awardees are eligible for U.S. government funding.

b) Consultant Fees – For example lecture fees, honoraria, travel, and per diem for outside speakers or external evaluators: list number of people and rates per day (for example, 2 x $150/day x 2 days).

7. Construction – Due to the nature of PA BAGHDAD programs, construction costs are generally not allowable or applicable.

8. Other Direct Costs – these will vary depending on the nature of the project. The inclusion of each should be justified in the budget narrative. A-133 audit costs can be included if they are not part of the indirect pool and only the portion of the cost associated with this program.

9. Indirect Charges – An organization with a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

(NICRA) from a cognizant federal government agency other than the U.S. Department of

State should include a copy of the cost-rate agreement. Applicants should indicate in the proposal budget how the rate is applied and if any of the rate will be cost-shared. Public

Diplomacy Office generally does not pay indirect costs against participant expenses, but each case may vary. Organizations claiming indirect costs should have an established

NICRA. If sub grantees are claiming indirect costs, they should have an established

NICRA that is also submitted with the proposal package.

If your organization does not have a NICRA, the proposal budget should not have a line item for indirect cost charges. Rather, any costs that may be considered as indirect costs should be included in specific budget line items as direct costs.

10. Cost Share or Matching Funds: This project does not require cost sharing; however, applications that include additional in-kind and/or cash contributions from third party http://www.fsrs.gov/ sources will reflect increased commitment to the overall project and demonstrates greater cost effectiveness. If the proposed project is a component of a larger program, identify other funding sources for the proposal and indicate the specific funding amount to be provided by those sources. In addition, it is recommended that the budget narrative address the overall cost-effectiveness of the proposal, including leveraging of institutional or other resources.

When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, project implementers must maintain written records to support all costs which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in accordance with the Office of Management and

Budget’s Circular 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600, entitled the Uniform Administrative

Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. In the event you do not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, Public Diplomacy Office’s contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

11. Budget Narrative: The budget narrative should provide additional information that might not be readily apparent in the detailed-line-item budget, not simply repeat what is represented numerically in the budget, i.e. salaries are for salaries or travel is for travel.

The budget narrative should briefly explain each line item to sufficiently justify each identified cost. It should include a justification for how the cost in each category is derived.

• Personnel - Identify staffing requirements by each position title with a brief description of duties, including work locations, and other justifications for these costs as they relate to the project. Include resumes for any key personnel who are listed by name in the proposal.

• Fringe Benefits - Provide an explanation of fringe costs and how they are calculated.

• Travel - Provide a description of travel costs, including the purpose of the travel and how the travel relates to the project.

• Equipment - Provide justification for any equipment purchase/rental, including computers and related hardware, and their planned use for the project.

• Supplies - Specifically describe general categories of supplies and their direct use for the project.

• Contractual - Describe each contractual or consultant cost and outline the necessity of each for the project.

• Other Direct Costs - Provide a narrative description and a justification for each cost under this category and describe how the costs specifically relate to this project.

• Indirect Costs - Provide approved NICRA for any indirect costs requested for the project.

The US Embassy Public Diplomacy Office must determine that the costs paid for this award are reasonable, allowable, and allocable to the proposed project activities. This will consist of a review of the line-item and narrative budgets to determine if the overall costs are realistic for the work to be performed. Costs shall be evaluated for realism, control practices, and efficiency. Emphasis will be placed on the cost-effectiveness of the proposal. The overhead and administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and fringe benefits, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate. Cost-sharing is strongly encouraged, but not required.

Please see Section F for information on funding restrictions. Applicants must also disclose any funding they are receiving or planning to receive from other entities [or]

[including] other agencies of the U.S government or other Department of State offices.

Applicants may be subject to a pre-award financial and capacity survey by the

Department of State.

Before a cooperative agreement is awarded, Public Diplomacy Office reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the initiative and the availability of funds.

Detailed Instructions on M&E Plan Submission

Applications must contain a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan that provides sufficient detail as to how project objectives will be achieved and how the project will further the Visiting

American Professionals Program goals. This document should clearly identify the project goal(s), objective(s), and activities, as well as the output and outcome indicators by year that will be used to measure progress towards planned results. Baselines and targets for indicators should also be specified, along with a plan to complete a baseline assessment at project inception that measures the current status of conditions that the project seeks to affect as well as prior to completion of the project to assess impact of the project since inception. Output indicators should measure the products and services delivered directly by the program activities described.

Outcome or result indicators should measure transformation and higher-level results of each activity. A recommended Public Diplomacy Office monitoring and evaluation plan template is included.

The M&E Plan shall include the following:

(i) The results to be achieved by the program.

(ii) Qualitative and quantitative indicators to be used to measure achievement of the results.

(iii) The method of data collection to be used to obtain the indicator data; and

(iv) Targets for each indicator by year.

The Recipient shall consult with the Public Diplomacy Office staff in the development of the

M&E Plan.

Risk Analysis

Applications must contain a risk analysis. Risks are unavoidable – all programs inherently contain both internal and external risks. However, with proper identification and management, risks can be prepared for, minimized or mitigated. The purpose of a risk analysis is to identify the internal and external risks associated with the proposed program in the application, rate the likelihood of the risks, rate the potential impact of the risks on the program, and identify actions that could help mitigate the risks. A risk analysis should not be considered a one-time exercise or a static document. Public Diplomacy Office defers to organizations to conduct adequate risk analysis and remediation for all of its operations and advises that risk analysis and remediation occur throughout the life of a program and should result in revisions to risk analysis documents and processes as necessary. Applicants should include all assumptions and external factors identified in the logic model in the risk analysis. Applicants should rate the likelihood of a risk and potential impact of the risk as “High,” “Medium,” or “Low.” A recommended Public

Diplomacy Office format for a risk analysis is included.

The budget narrative should detail what cost sharing, if any, will be contributed to the program.

Applicants with a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) with the USG should submit a copy of the NICRA to substantiate proposed indirect cost charges. Applicants who do not currently have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) from their cognizant agency must also submit the following information:

• Copies of the Applicant's financial reports for the previous 3-year period, which have been audited by a certified public accountant or other auditor satisfactory to Public

Diplomacy Office staff.

• Projected budget, cash flow and organizational charts; and a copy of the organization's accounting manual.

• Applicants who intend to utilize sub-awardees should indicate the extent intended and a complete cost breakdown. Extensive agreement financial plans should follow the same cost format as submitted by the primary Applicant. A breakdown of all costs according to each partner organization or sub-awardee involved in the program should be provided.

NOTE: If sub-awards are anticipated and not explained in the original application, the

Grant Officer, and Public Diplomacy Office staff approval (after award) will be required before the sub-agreement may be executed.

• Required assurances, certifications, and representations.

• Information that confirms and ensures that proposed cost sharing will materialize.

• Applicants should submit additional evidence they deem necessary for the Grant Officer and Public Diplomacy Office staff to make a risk assessment. The information submitted should substantiate that the Applicant:

• Has adequate financial resources or the ability to obtain such resources as required during the performance of the award.

• Has the ability to comply with the award conditions, considering all existing and currently prospective commitments of the applicant, non-governmental and governmental.

• Has a satisfactory record of performance, Past relevant unsatisfactory performance is ordinarily sufficient to justify a finding of non-responsibility, unless there is clear evidence of subsequent satisfactory performance.

• Has a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics; and

• Is otherwise qualified and eligible to receive a cooperative agreement under applicable laws and regulations (e.g., EEO).

Certain documents are required to be submitted by an Applicant in order for the Grant Officer and Public Diplomacy Office staff to make a risk determination. However, it is US Embassy

Baghdad policy not to burden Applicants with undue reporting requirements if that information is readily available through other sources. If the Applicant has established a consortium among its partners, the agreement should include a full discussion of the relationship between the

Applicant and Sub-Applicant(s) including identification of the Applicant with whom Public

Diplomacy Office staff will work with for purposes of Agreement administration, identity of the

Applicant which will have accounting responsibility, how Agreement effort will be allocated and the express agreement of the principals thereto to be held jointly and severely liable for the acts or omissions of the other.

POTENTIAL REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION

Upon consideration of award or during the negotiations leading to an award, Applicants may be required to submit additional documentation prior to issuance of an award. Applicants should not submit the information below with their applications. The information in this section is provided so that Applicants may become familiar with additional documentation that may be requested by

The Grant Officer and Public Diplomacy Office staff.

• Reviewed Financial Statements Report or an Audited Financial Statements Report:

Applicants who do not have a NICRA and cannot or choose not to use the 10% de

Minimis rate pursuant to 2 CFR 200.414(f) may be required to submit one of these reports during negotiations.

• Bylaws, constitution, and articles of incorporation, if applicable.

• Any other information deemed necessary by the Grant Officer and Public Diplomacy

Office staff to make an affirmative determination of responsibility (positive risk assessment determination).

F. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

The US Embassy Baghdad policy is not to award profit under assistance instruments. Pre-Award

Costs – No costs chargeable to any award resulting from this NOFO may be incurred before receipt of either a fully executed Agreement or a specific, written authorization from the Grant

Officer.

G. AUDITS

The recipient is required to maintain books, records, documents, and other evidence, in accordance with the recipient’s usual accounting procedures to sufficiently substantiate charges to the award. The recipient confirms that its program will be subject to an independent audit in accordance with the recipient’s usual auditing procedures and agrees to furnish copies of these audit reports to US Embassy Baghdad along with other related information, as may be reasonably requested by US Embassy Baghdad with respect to questions or findings arising from the audit report.

a. The recipient agrees to furnish the US Embassy Baghdad with a final report on activities carried out under the award, including accounting for award funds in sufficient detail to enable US Embassy Baghdad to liquidate the award. The report must be submitted to the address specified in the award.

b. It is understood that financial records, including documentation to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate charges against the award, will be maintained in accordance with the recipient’s usual accounting procedures, which must follow generally accepted accounting practices. The recipient must maintain such financial records for at least three years after the recipient’s final disbursement of funds under the award. The recipient agrees to make available to the US Embassy Baghdad all records and documents that support expenditures made under its program.

H. AWARD SELECTION CRITERIA

Evaluation Criteria: Applicants should note that the following criteria:

(1) Serve as a standard against which all proposals will be evaluated, and

(2) Serve to identify the significant matters that should be addressed in all proposals. The USG will award grants to the applicant whose offers represent the best value to the USG on the basis of technical merit, past performance, and cost.

Each application will be evaluated by a peer review committee of US Embassy PA and other experts, as deemed appropriate. The evaluation criteria have been tailored to the requirements of this NOFO.

• Project Goals/Implementation Plan (60 points): Applicants should describe what they propose to do and how they will do it. The proposed activities must directly relate to meeting the goals and objectives, and applicants should include information on how they will measure activities’ effectiveness and provide milestones to indicate progress toward NOFO-stipulated goals. The review panel will be viewing the implementation plan in terms of how well it addresses the goals and objectives, feasibility of the proposed activities and their timeline for completion, and the extent to which the impact of the project will continue beyond the conclusion of the funding period.

• Organizational Capability (15 points): Proposals should demonstrate the ability to develop and implement programs in the areas covered by the NOFO. Applicants must demonstrate how their resources, capabilities, and experience will enable them to achieve the stated goals and objectives.

• Appendices (25 points):

o Budget: Costs shall be evaluated for realism, control practices, and efficiency. The

Public Diplomacy Office must determine that the costs paid for this award are reasonable, allowable, and allocable to the proposed project activities. This will consist of a review of the Budget to determine if the overall costs are realistic for the work to be performed, if the costs reflect the applicant’s understanding of the allowable cost principles established by OMB Circular A-122, and if the costs are consistent with the program narrative. Applicants must submit SF 424A – “Budget Information – Non-Construction

Program” along with a comprehensive budget for the entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.

o Resume: The review panel will consider the appropriateness of the selected project key personnel; in view of the roles and responsibilities those individuals will play in guiding the project through implementation to completion. While it is preferable to name project personnel and provide their resumes, position descriptions submitted in lieu of the resumes will be reviewed for the appropriateness of the qualifications and skills identified.

DISCLAIMER

Explanatory information provided by the Public Diplomacy Office that contradicts published language is not binding. Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government. The Public Diplomacy Office reserves the right to waive program formalities and to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements as specified above and in the Notice of Award.