Notice of Funding Opportunity 2021 March Cultural.docx

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Ljubljana, Slovenia Slovenia: Cultural Grants Program

Catalog of Federal Domestic

Anticipated Award Date May 17, 2021 Anticipated Project Completion Date May 17, 2022

Executive Summary:

The U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia announces this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Slovenian and U.S. cultural institutions and civil society organizations and individuals. The Embassy continues to offer grants for well-designed and managed projects that encourage and promote cultural and artistic cooperation, collaboration and exchange between the United States and Slovenia.

The focus of successful projects should be the presentation and promotion of American values, culture, and/or history through art, music, literature, dance, and/or other cultural mediums, to Slovenian audiences. Projects which demonstrate cultural cooperation between Slovenia and the United States that is indicative of the strong transatlantic relationship between the two nations and their people are of particular interest.

Typically grant awards range from $3,000 to $5,000 and supplement other funding, though some exceptional projects may qualify for up to $10,000. The deadline for submitting proposals is March 15, 2021. New grantees may be given priority over previous grantees. Funding for cultural grants is decided through a competitive application process, and each proposal is reviewed by an internal embassy committee.

Eligibility for this NOFO is limited to: professional artists and professionals in the cultural field who are American or Slovene citizens or residents, not-for-profit arts or cultural organizations or institutions registered in the United States of America or in Slovenia, or Slovenian educational and research institutions and public entities.

The initial period of performance will be from May 17, 2021 on. Funding authority rests in the Smith-Mundt Act and Fulbright-Hays Act, as amended.

All applicants should be familiar with OMB Circular 2 CFR Part 200, UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, COST PRINCIPLES, AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL AWARDS.

Please read the entire NOFO package before submitting an application, and follow the steps in order to submit before the deadline. Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria and do not contain all of the required information will not be considered.

PLEASE NOTE: We recognize that the requirement for all program proposals to include a significant American component may be challenging in some cases given current restrictions that preclude Americans from traveling to Slovenia. We encourage prospective grant partners to be creative about leveraging of virtual resources, and capitalizing on local expertise during the March 2021 Cultural Grants cycle. Proposals that do not require the international travel of American artists, specialists, speakers or performers, or which outline an alternative virtual component will be more competitive for the limited funding available.

EXAMPLE: A cultural program proposes a lecture series on American history for young schoolchildren. The primary program proposal envisions an American history teacher visiting Slovenia to conduct in-person lectures and teacher training for two weeks. Ideally, under the circumstances, the proposal should also include a backup plan to use video conferencing in lieu of international travel to conduct the lecture tour, in the event that COVID-19 travel restrictions make international travel impossible.

Program Description

A. Funding Opportunity Description

i. Background

The Embassy continues to offer grants for well-designed and managed projects that encourage and promote cultural and artistic cooperation, collaboration and exchange between the United States and Slovenia. The focus of successful projects should be the presentation and promotion of American values, culture, and/or history through art, music, literature, dance, and/or other cultural mediums, to Slovenian audiences. Projects which demonstrate cultural cooperation between Slovenia and the United States that is indicative of the strong transatlantic relationship between the two nations and their people are of particular interest. Typically grant awards range from $3,000 to $5,000 and supplement other funding, though some exceptional projects may qualify for up to $10,000. The deadline for submitting proposals is March 15, 2021. New grantees may be given priority over previous grantees. Funding for cultural grants is decided through a competitive application process, and each proposal is reviewed by an internal embassy committee to determine the project’s potential to advance U.S. policy priorities.

ii. Program Themes

THEMES

For this grant period, consideration will be given to project proposals focusing on promotion of American values and culture, and presentation of American history, society, art, or other culture. We are particularly interested in supporting projects that demonstrate the mutually-beneficial, productive, and successful history and/or future of cultural cooperation between Slovenia and the United States that is indicative of the strong transatlantic relationship between the two nations and their people.

iii. Available Funding and Legislative Authority

The source of this funding is D&CP (PD) under statutory authorities established by the Smith-Mundt Act and Fulbright-Hayes Act

iv. Summary of Award Information

v. Deadline

B. Eligibility Information Applications which do not meet the eligibility criteria prior to the deadline will not be reviewed.

1. Eligible Applicants: professional artists and professionals in the cultural field who are American or Slovene citizens, from not-for-profit arts or cultural organizations or institutions registered in the United States of America or in Slovenia, or Slovenian educational and research institutions and public entities.

2. Cost-Sharing or Matching: this is encouraged, but will not be a criteria for consideration in the panel review. Applicants should show any cost share in the budget proposal. If a project is done in collaboration with another organization, please provide a letter of support/commitment from the partner institution.

C. Application and Submission Information https://si.usembassy.gov/education-culture/grant-opportunities/cultural-grants/

1. Address to Request Application Package

Public Affairs Section U.S. Embassy Ljubljana Attn: Grants Program Prešernova 31 1000 Ljubljana Tel: (1) 200-55-00 Fax: (1) 426-42-84

In addition, please send one copy in electronic form to the following address: CulturalGrantsLju@state.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission Please read the entire NOFO and follow the guidelines for proposal preparation.

Applicants must include the following in the proposal submission. All submissions must be in English.

1. Table of Contents that lists application contents and attachments (if any);

2. Completed and signed SF-424 and SF-424A, as directed on www.grants.gov

3. SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov

4. If your organization engages in lobbying activities, a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) form is required;

5. Summary and detailed Budget in USD and detailed budget narrative that includes an explanation for each line item in the spreadsheet, as well as the source and description of any cost share offered;

6. Attachments may be included, (letters of commitment from the applicant institution and sub-award partners, CVs of key personnel, project experience, etc.) but should not be unreasonably lengthy; see NOFO for details on required attachments, if any;

3. Unique Entity Identifier and registration in SAM.gov The System for Award Management is a U.S.-government wide registry of vendors doing business with the U.S. federal government and requires annual renewal. The system centralizes information about grant applicants/recipients, and provides a central location for grant applicants/recipients to change organizational information. More information about SAM.gov and useful guides for setting-up a new account, updating an existing account, or renewing an expired account can be found at: https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/ Foreign-based applicants are strongly encouraged to review these guides when creating an account with SAM.gov.

Each applicant is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM.gov before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. The Department of State may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Department of State is ready to make a Federal award, DOS may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

Further, applicants must maintain an active account, with current information, while its application is under consideration for funding. To keep an active SAM.gov account, applicants must renew it at least once each year. If an organization’s account expires, the organization cannot submit a grant application until it is renewed.

4. Submission Method and Dates Completed applications should be submitted electronically through CulturalGrantsLju@state.gov and on the following address: Public Affairs Section U.S. Embassy Ljubljana, Attn: Cultural Grants Program, Prešernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana. Please follow all NOFO instructions carefully and start early to ensure you have time to collect all of the required information. All applications must be submitted by March 15, 2021. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

5. Funding Restrictions: The following activities and costs are not covered under this announcement:

· Requests by organizations and individuals who are neither Slovenian nor American;

· Those relating to partisan political activity;

· Humanitarian or charitable activities;

· Conferences and individual trips abroad;

· Trade activities;

· Fund-raising campaigns;

· Commercial projects;

· Scientific research;

· Individuals not affiliated with an organization that can provide long-term sustainability to the project;

· Book translations;

· Projects aiming only at primary institutional development of the organization;

· Projects that duplicate existing projects.

· Vehicle purchases to include motorcycles.

· Duplication of services immediately available through municipal, provincial, or national government.

6. Designated Performance and Integrity System (currently FAPIIS) The Department of State, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313).

The applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.

The Department of State will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in §200.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

D. Application review Information

1. Criteria

The following criteria will be used to evaluate proposals:

-- Program Goals/Objectives and Alignment with U.S. Embassy Objectives -- Quality of Project Proposal -- Plan for Measuring Program Effectiveness -- Organizational Capability and Record of Performance -- Summary Budget and Cost Effectiveness -- Key Personnel

2. Review and Selection Process The review will be done by The Embassy Cultural Grants Committee consisting of panelists who will conduct a review of the project applications using SWOT analysis.

E. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices The grant shall be written, signed, and awarded by the Grants Officer and administered by the Grants Officer. The Grants Officer is the Government official delegated the authority by the U.S. Department of State Procurement Executive to write, award, and administer grants. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document, and it will be provided to the Recipient through either mail or facsimile transmission. Organizations whose applications will not be funded will also be notified.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Furthermore, the Government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

2. Administrative and National Policy Prior to submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications that will apply to this award to ensure they will be able to comply. The terms and conditions are available on the State Department’s procurement website at:

https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm Applicants should also be familiar with the OMB circular that will apply to this cooperative agreement: OMB Uniform Guidance: Cost Principles, Audit, and Administrative Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR Chapter I, Chapter II, Part 200, et al.)

F. Agency Contact

Any prospective applicant who has questions concerning the contents of this NOFO should email them to CulturalGrantsLju@state.gov. Note that once the NOFO deadline has passed Department of State staff in Washington, D.C. and overseas at U.S. Embassies/Missions may not discuss this competition with applicants until the review process has been completed.

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