FY2020 SOI NOFO Common Questions and Answers - Updated 9.8.2020.docx

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Questions to and Answers from the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) about its 2020 Programming Solicitation: Request for Statements of Interest (SOI)

ELIGIBILITY

Q. Who is eligible to apply for funding?

A. U.S.-based and foreign non-profits, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), for-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, and public international organizations (PIOs) are eligible to apply for funding under this solicitation.

For-profit organizations are not permitted to generate profits from grant-funded activities.

The Department of State’s Office of the Procurement Executive must provide additional approval for grants awarded to for-profit entities.

Foreign governments are not eligible to apply, although governments may be beneficiaries of funded programs, provided that funding does not pay salaries of government agency personnel and that such assistance is not restricted by U.S. law or policy.

LOGISTICS

Q. How much funding does the TIP Office have for 2020?

A. All awards under this announcement are pending the availability of funds.

Q. How much money will be allocated to each region or country?

A. The final amount allocated for each country and region will depend on many factors, including the quality of applications received and the nature of the proposed activities.

Q. What is the maximum number of awards?

A. The number of awards depends on the availability of funds and the quality of applications received.

Q. Where can I find the Notice of Funding Opportunity?

A. The funding opportunity is available on https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=trafficking.

Q. From the solicitation it is unclear whether the full SF-424 package and specifically if SF424-A is required by the deadline at this SOI stage.

A. Yes, the SF-424 and SF-424-A are required with the SOI submission. The total amount of funds requested and the amount of any other funds the applicant will receive towards this project should be listed in section A of form SF-424A.

If you are unable to attach a document once the forms are completed please contact the ILMS Support Desk at 1 (888) 313-4567 or submitting a ticket through the ILMS Self Service Portal (https://afsitsm.service-now.com/grants)

CONTENT

Q. Is it required that SOIs address all of the objectives listed below each programming objective heading?

A. No. SOIs are required to address a minimum of one objective under each heading, but are encouraged to address each programming objective if possible.

Q. May applicants propose projects in countries not listed in the funding opportunity?

A. No. The TIP Office will only accept applications for the priority countries listed in the funding opportunity.

Q. Do we need to address all bullet points under a country in our SOI or may we select one or two? Is there a limit to the number of applications we may submit? Is it possible to apply jointly with another organization?

A. SOIs are required to address a minimum of one objective under each heading but are encouraged to address each programming objective if possible.

Organizations are permitted to submit multiple applications, but each application should be tailored to the organization’s particular strengths and experience.

While applicants may designate one or more partner organizations as sub-grantees, there can only be one prime award recipient. And when applying to the funding opportunity, there must be a single or primary applicant.

Q. May an organization submit one proposal as the prime applicant and submit another proposal as a sub-grantee?

A. Yes.

Q. For regional objectives, do we need to propose a project for all of the countries listed in the funding opportunity or can we select only a few?

A. An applicant may propose a regional project only for a select number of countries listed or for all of the countries listed in the funding opportunity.

Q. Kindly inform whether a project proposal to combat trafficking in persons for the removal of organs would be considered or if this fund will not include this form of trafficking in persons.

A. Statements of interest must address at least one of the programming objectives identified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity as a TIP Office priority. Trafficking for the purposes of organ removal is not a stated objective for FY 2020 and is not a form of trafficking recognized under the U.S. Trafficking in Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000.

Q. Does the TIP Office allow for local providers whose parent agency is headquartered outside said country to apply? For example, XX is headquartered in the U.S., however it has a regional Africa headquarters/office where it is registered as an agency.

A. Organizations with a parent agency headquartered outside of the country are welcome to apply to the solicitation.

Q. When can applicants expect a decision from the TIP Office on its SOI?

A. Applicants should receive word on the status of their SOIs within about 60 days of the deadline for submitting applications. If an applicant is invited to submit a full proposal, it will have approximately 30 days to complete their full proposals.

Q. Is there any restriction with regard to the cost share (e.g. max. amount)?

A. No, there is no cap on cost share, but applicants must be able to clearly justify the quantity of funding they plan to allocate to a sub-grantee and explain why that funding is being allocated.

Q. May an applicant propose a budget over $1,000,000?

A. Yes, an applicant may propose a budget over $1,000,000. However, if the applicant is selected, the final funding amount is dependent upon a panel review of merit of the proposal and the amount of available funds.

Q. May we submit additional attachments in our application?

A. No. An applicant may only submit the documents requested: project narrative and the online forms SF424 and SF 424A. Any additional attachments will not be reviewed.

COMPETITIVE REVIEW

Q. How will the TIP Office decide which SOIs to fund?

A. All SOIs received will first undergo a technical review to ensure they meet the technical requirements. SOIs which pass the technical review are reviewed by TIP Office colleagues and are forwarded to the relevant U.S. embassy and regional bureau for review and comment. Recommendations are compiled and reviewed by the TIP Office staff, which then recommends selected SOIs for full proposals to TIP Office leadership Q. Where may I find additional advice about preparing the SOI or full application?

A. The TIP Office must ensure a fair, transparent, competitive grants process.

No one from the Office or other Department of State personnel, including Embassy personnel, is permitted to advise you on the content of your application.

Persons with additional questions about the requirements of the solicitation may contact JTIPGrants@state.gov.