FINAL FY2024 Belize CARSI-ESF NOFO v2.pdf

NOFO Number: BH200-24-GR-200-WHA CARSI-ESF Grants Program: Building Stronger Governance through Civil Society Engagement

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

EMBASSY BELMOPAN

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Announcement Type: New Grant Public Opportunity Title: Building Stronger Governance through Civil Society

Engagement Funding Type: Discretionary Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CDFA) Listing: 19.750 Funding Amount: $500,000 U.S. Dollars Funding Authority: Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 as amended

Issuance Date: November 21, 2024

Deadline for Receipt of Questions: January 17, 2025

Deadline for Submission of Applications: February 4, 2025

Funding Activity Category: Governance Grant Program: Central America Regional Security Initiative Assistance Type: Grant Application Submission: Application must be submitted through grants.gov

Eligibility Category: U.S. Non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or overseas-based NGOs, U.S. and overseas-based public and private institutions of higher education, and public international organizations (PIOs); Belizean NGOs are strongly encouraged to apply.

Est. Project Start Date: June 2, 2025 Est. Project End Date: Variable Fiscal Year: FY 2024 Award Ceiling: $250,000 Award Floor: $150,000 Expected # of Awards Funded: 2 to 3 Cost Sharing Requirement: Not Required Type of Applicant: Organizations only (Individuals are not eligible to apply) Number of Applications: One (1) per applicant organizations https://www.grants.gov/

Executive Summary

The U.S. Embassy in Belmopan, Belize announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to promote democratic institutions, accountability, and good governance in Belize with up to $500,000 in Fiscal Year 2024 Economic Support Funds (ESF) for a project period between 18-24 months. The anticipated start date for this activity is June 2, 2025. Subject to the availability of funds, Embassy Belmopan intends to issue approximately two to three awards in an amount not to exceed $500,000. Each award will be for an amount between $150,000 and up to $250,000 for each selected proposal. Applications are due on February 4, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

Eastern time (Washington, D.C)

The submitted proposal should focus on Pillar II (Combating corruption, strengthening democratic governance, and advancing the rule of law) of the Root Causes Strategy. The proposals should foster collaboration between civil society and government to (1) empower or strengthen civil society to promote reform and enhance government service delivery to vulnerable, remote, and/or marginalized communities; (2) improve the capacity of government institutions to promote transparency, e-government, and anti-corruption; or (3) support access to justice. Proposals should facilitate citizens’ ability to hold the government accountable for its responsibilities, advocate for change and/or improve government transparency across all levels of governance. Post may give preference to programs that support marginalized or minority communities in Belize and participatory governmental processes; and develop resources that directly contribute to climate change mitigation and/or adaptation.

Specific objectives and indicators should be included in the proposals that allow the organization to measure and demonstrate progress. Funding awarded under this NOFO cannot be used for law enforcement, to train members of law enforcement, or to provide social services.

U.S. Embassy Belmopan invites qualified U.S. non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or overseas-based NGOs, U.S. and overseas-based public and private institutions of higher education, and public international organizations (PIOs) to apply.

U.S. Embassy Belmopan reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted and will determine the resulting level of funding for each award.

Eligible organizations interested in applying are encouraged to read this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) thoroughly to understand the scope of eligible projects, the application submission requirements, and the review process.

For more information, please contact:

U.S. Embassy Belmopan; BelmopanCARSIESF@state.gov; +501.822.4011 x4371 mailto:BelmopanCARSIESF@state.gov

Notice of Funding Opportunity The U.S. Department of State at U.S. Embassy Belmopan is seeking applications from qualified U.S. non-profit/non-governmentaloOrganizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or overseas based NGOs, U.S. and overseas-based public and private institutions of higher education and public international organizations (PIOs) of a grant proposal to implement a program entitled “Building Stronger Governance through Civil Society Engagement.” The authority for this NOFO is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.400(g), it is U.S. Department of State policy not to award profit under assistance instruments. All reasonable, allocable, and allowable expenses, however, both direct and indirect, which are related to the agreement project and are in accordance with applicable cost standards (2 CFR 200 for U.S. and overseas-based non-profit organizations and universities;

and the Mandatory Standard Provision “Allowable Costs (2 CFR 200.403)” for public international organizations), may be paid under the grant agreement.

Note: Non-U.S.-based nonprofit organizations are legally required to comply with the 2 CFR 200.

Subject to the availability of funds, U.S. Embassy Belmopan intends to issue at least two and no more than three awards in amounts not to exceed $500,000.00 in total funding. The U.S. dollar amount will be funded from U.S. Embassy Belmopan allocated funds, for a project period of between 18-24 months per award. The anticipated start date for this activity is June 2, 2025.

Contingent upon the availability of funds and quality of proposals, as many as three awards may be granted based on this NOFO. U.S. Embassy Belmopan reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted and will determine the resulting level of funding for each award.

To be eligible for an award, the applicant must submit all required information in its application through http://www.grants.gov, including the requirements found in any attachments to this opportunity. This NOFO consists of this cover letter plus the following sections:

1. Section A – Program Description and Funding Opportunity

2. Section B – Federal Award Information

3. Section C – Eligibility Information

4. Section D – Application and Submission Information

5. Section E – Application Review Information

6. Section F – Federal Award Administration Information

7. Section G – Federal Awarding Agency Contact

8. Section H – Other Information

This funding opportunity is posted on http://www.grants.gov and may be amended. See Section D for further details. Potential applicants should regularly check the website to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this NOFO. Applicants will need to have available or download the Adobe software program to their computers to view and save the Adobe forms properly. If organizations have difficulty registering on http://www.grants.gov or accessing the NOFO, please contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at support@grants.gov for technical assistance.

It is the responsibility of the recipient of this NOFO document to ensure that it has been received from http://www.grants.gov in its entirety. U.S. Embassy Belmopan bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes associated with electronic submissions. The deadline to submit applications is February 4, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (Washington, D.C.)

Please submit any questions concerning this NOFO in writing to BelmopanCARSIESF@state.gov.

The deadline for submission of questions about this NOFO is January 17, 2025. Responses to questions will be made available to all potential applicants through an amendment to this NOFO that will be posted on http://www.grants.gov.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S.

government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. In addition, final award of any resultant grant agreement cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated, allocated, and committed through internal U.S. Embassy Belmopan procedures. While it is anticipated that these procedures will be successfully completed, potential applicants are hereby notified of these requirements and conditions for award. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant.

All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.

Sincerely, Michelle Kwan Ambassador U.S. Embassy Belmopan http://www.grants.gov/

SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

A.1 Background

Belize has one of the lowest population densities in Central America and is an active participant in international fora. Estimates put Belize’s 2009 poverty levels at 41 percent, compared to 56 percent in 2021, and the government struggles to deliver services to a young and diverse population. Weak institutions, along with porous borders, isolated terrain, and an under-resourced security sector have contributed to an increase in narcotrafficking since 2018. Other factors hampering Belize’s good governance metrics include cronyism, systemic corruption, and limited local capacity across the government. It is difficult to maintain a vibrant democracy and an engaged civil society when citizens do not trust government institutions. Strong, capable, and accountable governments are vital to respond to some of these threats, and civil society organizations that work with local governments are in a strategic position to aid in improving delivery of government services to assist vulnerable and marginalized communities, particularly in rural areas.

A secure and stable Central America leads to a safer and more prosperous United States.

Through the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI), U.S. assistance seeks to secure U.S. borders and protect U.S. citizens by addressing the security, governance, and economic root causes of irregular migration and illicit trafficking, and to promote fair and reciprocal trade in Central America. To promote improved governance, U.S. assistance in Central America supports anti-corruption efforts that improve the ease of doing business; strengthen the rule of law; promote strong institutions and government accountability; reduce impunity; and improve fiscal management by promoting efficient tax collection, civil society engagement, and institutional reform. U.S. assistance enhances the capabilities of government entities and civil society organizations to build more accountable, transparent, and effective public institutions.

CARSI Economic Support Fund (ESF) small grants, such as this opportunity, provide programming to strengthen civil society’s role in improving governance and supporting a professional, non-partisan civil service.

The Root Causes Strategy (RCS), of which CARSI is a component, identifies, prioritizes, and coordinates actions to improve security, governance, human rights, and economic conditions in the region. The RCS lays out a framework to use the policy, resources, and diplomacy of the United States, and to leverage the expertise and resources of a broad group of public and private stakeholders, to build hope for citizens in the region that the life they desire can be found at home. The end goal is a democratic, prosperous, and safe Central America, where people advance economically, live, work, and learn in safety, have confidence in public institutions, and enjoy opportunities to create futures for themselves and their families at home.

Project planning and solicitations must align with Pillar II (Combating corruption, strengthening democratic governance, and advancing the rule of law of the RCS. Projects must contribute to one or more lines of effort of RCS Pillar II.

Pillar II: Combating corruption, strengthening democratic governance, and advancing the rule of law

· LOE 1 - Strengthen democratic institutions to improve governance and rule of law The United States will work with countries to promote reform agendas across all branches of government, so government better serves all citizens. This will include a focus on adequately resourcing judicial and oversight institutions, ensuring their independence, and promoting reform of personnel selection and retention processes.

· LOE 2 - Prioritize an anticorruption agenda The United States will work regionally, bilaterally, and, if we must, unilaterally to root out corruption and enhance transparency across the region.

· LOE 3 - Improve administration of public resources The United States will work with governments to establish proper budgeting, management, and use of public resources at the local and national levels to enhance service delivery for all citizens, including in underserved areas and for vulnerable populations.

This RCS pillar must meet and overlap with CARSI goal #3) support the development of strong, capable, and accountable Central America countries.

The Five Goals of CARSI in Central America:

1. Create safe streets for the citizens of the region;

2. Disrupt the movement of criminals and contraband to, within, and between the nations of Central America;

3. Support the development of strong, capable, and accountable Central American governments;

4. Re-establish effective state presence, services, and security in communities at risk; and

5. Foster enhanced levels of coordination and cooperation between the nations of the region, other international partners, and donors to combat regional security threats.

Solicitations under this NOFO must primarily reflect support for CARSI goal three. Applicants must provide governance indicators to track results that correlate with CARSI goal three and RCS pillar two. The proposal should also include a contingency plan for the various restrictions that may occur due to COVID-19 and a review of project activities that could be completed virtually if necessary.

Priority Region: Belize

A2. Program Goal and Objectives

Program Goal:

Support the development of strong, capable, and accountable Central American governments;

with Central American civil society able to demand government accountability without reprisal and with the ability to influence policy outcomes. Host nation governments uphold the values and practices of liberal democracy, and citizens hold their governments accountable for these actions.

Program Objectives:

As applicable, proposals should specify the expected results from projects benefitting from these funds, such as the number of participants trained; improvement in government transparency or e-government; and other improvements in basic government services that impact citizens and small business. All proposals should state clear objectives and show plans to measure project performance and contributions to meeting those objectives.

Proposals should highlight how they improve governance for underserved populations (sometimes referred to as “marginalized” or “vulnerable populations”) and may include, but are not limited to, women and girls, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, people of African descent, members of racial and ethnic minorities, refugees and internally displaced persons, members of religious minorities, LGBTQI+ persons, rural residents, migrants, and individuals adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

Ideal projects will focus on one or more of the following objectives:

Objective 1: Strengthen civil society organizations (CSOs) to actively promote reform and improve government service delivery, particularly to vulnerable, remote, and/or marginalized communities.

Strong democratic CSOs play a crucial role in promoting reform and improving government service delivery by advocating for marginalized communities, holding governments accountable, and fostering civic engagement. Proposals should focus on building capacity, promoting civic participation, improving public service efficiency, and enabling civil society advocacy for social and environmental balance. They should also encourage inclusive governance in environmental policies, including climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Potential activities may include, but not limited to, support for the People Constitution Commission good governance reform, youth engagement programs that support or foster advocacy and civic engagement; strengthen protocols for identifying trafficking victims, particularly children at risk of familial trafficking; empowering communities to promote climate resilient practices at the local level; creation of a National Labor Recruiters registry; support for a migration policy inclusive of preventive programs for migrant workers; and projects that equip organizations with the tools and knowledge to advocate for reforms and better services.

Objective 2: Improve the capacity of government institutions to promote transparency, e-government and anticorruption measures.

Enhancing the capacity of government institutions is essential for building public trust and improving governance effectiveness by ensuring that information is accessible and decision-making processes are transparent. Proposals should focus on implementing strong anti-corruption measures to protect public resources, creating mechanisms that enhance access to information and decision-making, and encouraging greater citizen participation in governance, thereby promoting transparency at all levels of government.

Potential activities may include, but not limited to, developing digital platforms/tools to improve the efficiency of the electoral process including tracking and monitoring voting;

Initiatives aimed at promoting accountability in public spending by providing tools for citizens to track government budgets and procurement contracts at all levels. These efforts also seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Joint Public Accounts Committee, support the independence of the Auditor General’s Office, and enhance access to open data for public governance, helping to identify solutions to combat corruption. Projects should also intend to promote civic education and anti-corruption campaigns to empower citizens.

Objective 3: Strengthen access to justice and uphold rule of law, particularly for marginalized communities.

Support initiatives that ensure all citizens, especially marginalized communities, can access justice effectively and fairly. Good governance reinforces the rule of law, which is fundamental for access to justice. Proposals should focus on initiatives that will remove barriers to justice and ensure that all citizens, particularly those from marginalized communities, can access legal support and resources effectively.

Potential activities may include, but not limited to, strengthening of the office of the ombudsman, visiting justices and justice of the peace in support to access to justice; support initiatives that enhance awareness for the Equal Opportunity bill; strengthen the regulatory framework for liquor licensing to curb human trafficking; support resource hubs to assist marginalized communities in navigating bureaucratic systems and accessing services; enhancing advocacy and awareness to shift harmful gender norms and beliefs and; empowerment programs for at-risk populations and/or survivors. Projects may also focus on strengthening protocols for identifying trafficking victims, particularly children at risk of familial trafficking.

A3. Expected Results By the end of the project, grantees should demonstrate that the project has (1) improved government services to provide public resources and publish data, (2) made government stronger, more capable, and accountable, (3) strengthened civil society organizations to promote accountability and improve their role in environmental governance, and/or (4) contributed to safer and more productive communities through improved government services.

A4. Desired Results and Required Outcome Indicators:

The applicant will develop a project-level Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) (see Tab B) with annual and end-of-project targets and results anticipated for key performance indicators. The following tables show examples of indicators that will be measured, as well as illustrative targets, upon which the recipient will be responsible for monitoring and reporting during and after the project. In addition, U.S. Embassy Belmopan will regularly monitor each project’s performance to assess whether project activities are on track and targets are being achieved.

By the end of the project, applicants must demonstrate that the project has contributed to at least one of the following three focuses: 1) strengthened policies/procedures to improve government services; 2) making government stronger, more capable, and more accountable;

and 3) enhanced engagement between government and civil society that will be sustained beyond the project timeframe.

Project feasibility, potential impact, and performance will be assessed based on potential outcomes. Outcomes are changes that take place because of your organization’s work – the differences that will have been made by delivering your objectives and achieving your outputs.

For example, an outcome could be increased rates of a vulnerable population successfully accessing government services, improved productivity of government workers in targeted agencies, or new policies/procedures instituted within your partner government agency.

Required and illustrative outcome indicators for the projects are provided below. The applicants are expected to identify targets for these indicators based on what can be reasonably achieved within the performance period of the project and based on the expected overall project results described above.

Required Outcome Indicators for U.S. Assistance in Central America

Required targets:

Number of civil society organizations (CSOs) receiving USG assistance engaged in advocacy interventions and/or policy interventions that affect their communities.

Determined by applicants

Required Outcome Indicators for Objectives: Required targets:

Number of civil society organizations (CSOs) strengthened to promote policy dialogue, advocate for change and/or serve as watchdogs on key issues.

Determined by applicants

The number of government service providers and civil society organizations actively implementing effective initiatives to minimize corruption opportunities in service delivery

Determined by applicants

Illustrative Output Indicators Output indicators are required for funded projects and some illustrative indicators are provided below. Outputs are the results of what your organization does. For example, the number of participants who successfully complete a job-training course or received job placement through your activities are outputs. Below are examples of required output indicators.

Example Output Indicators: Required targets:

Platforms developed to facilitate public requests for services.

3 platforms

Women that attend weekly individual counseling sessions.

20 women

The applicant should provide output and outcome indicators in addition to the required indicators listed above. Any data collection focused on individuals should be reported by gender, if possible.

The grantee will be required to collect baseline data for all the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation indicators during the first year of the project. In addition, certain terms included in the outcomes and indicators will need to be defined at the very beginning of the project so that it is possible to measure the change during and at the end of the project. Examples of such are “capacity,” “spread effect,” etc. Baseline information will be critical for both monitoring and evaluation of project progress and results.

Participants and Audiences:

Describe who the intended target audiences should be for the various activity categories.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B1. Available Funding This notice is subject to availability of funding. Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 as amended, (Economic Support Funds) and several funding restrictions apply, to include country-applicant restrictions.

The Department of State reserves the right to fund any or none of the proposals submitted and reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase the budget in accordance with the needs of the project and the availability of funds.

The Department of State may consider continuing the program funded under this award beyond the initial period of performance on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Government (USG).

B2. Management The successful applicant will need to routinely collaborate with U.S. Embassy Belmopan through regular meetings and conference calls to discuss progress, challenges, emerging topics, etc.

The successful applicant must ensure that all funds are used in a manner consistent with any applicable restrictions on funding. See D5 below for funding restrictions.

Section C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

C1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Entities: Applicants who are eligible to apply are U.S. Non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or overseas-based NGOs, U.S. and overseas-based public and private institutions of higher education, and international public organizations (IPOs) that can respond to the NOFO and be able to mobilize in a short period of time. Local Belizean NGOs are highly encouraged to apply.

Locally based projects involving community interaction with local civic and government leadership historically have had the best chances of success. Proposals that include the utilization of local resources and expertise are highly encouraged. Partnerships between civil society organizations also can increase the likelihood of sustainable impacts.

To be eligible for a grant award, in addition to other conditions of this NOFO, organizations must have a commitment to non‐discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. Non‐discrimination includes equal treatment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation.

Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the legal responsibility of the recipient to ensure compliance with these Executive Orders and laws. This provision must be included in any sub‐awards issued under this grant award.

The Department of State will issue an award to the Applicant whose application represents the best value to the U.S. Government based on technical merit, efficient use of U.S. Government funds, and satisfactory organizational capacity. The Department of State reserves the right to make an award based on the initial application received with or without discussion or negotiations.

U.S. Embassy Belmopan encourages applications from potential new partners.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching

The non-Federal share of costs, frequently called “cost share” or “matching costs”, refers to that portion of the project or program costs not borne by the Federal Government. This may include cash and third-party in-kind contributions. These costs must reflect the realistic capacity of the applicants and any third-party contributors.

Cost-sharing is not required. Providing cost-sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an eligibility requirement for this funding opportunity and will not be factored in during the merit review of proposals.

Note: If cost-share is included in the budget, the applicant must maintain written records to support all allowable costs that are claimed as its contribution to cost-share, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. In the event the applicant does not meet the minimum amount of cost-sharing as stipulated in the applicant’s budget, DOS contribution will be reduced.

C3. Other Eligibility Requirements

Applicants listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award Management (SAM) are 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 listed on the EPLS can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the EPLS in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included.

Organizations must have a commitment to equal opportunity employment practices and to non-discrimination practices regarding beneficiaries, without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

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

Section D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

D1. Address to Request Application Package

Applicants can find application forms on www.grants.gov under the announcement title and funding opportunity number provided above.

Once the NOFO deadline has passed, DOS may not discuss this competition with any applicant until the proposal review process has been completed.

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Please follow both, the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) and the NOFO, to ensure that the proposal package submission is in full compliance with the requirements. Please follow the guidelines in the attached PSI for additional application submission instructions, including https://www.grants.gov/ information on required documents and format. Proposal submissions that do not meet all the requirements outlined in this NOFO and the associated PSI will not be considered.

Any prospective applicant who has questions concerning the contents of this NOFO should submit them by email to the contacts listed in Section G. Please refer to the funding opportunity number and title. Any updates about this NOFO will also be posted on www.grants.gov.

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

Required Registrations:

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov (this is an official USG website and there is no cost to use this site). 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.

Note: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required for federal assistance applications.

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.

• Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.

• Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.

• Please note that as of November 2022 and February 2022 respectively, organizations based outside of the United States that do not intend to apply for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awards are no longer required to have a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code or CAGE code to apply for non- DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities. If an applicant organization is mid-registration and wishes to remove a CAGE or NCAGE code from their SAM.gov registration, the applicant should submit a help desk ticket (“incident”) with the Federal Service Desk (FSD) online at www.fsd.gov using the following language: “I do not intend to seek financial assistance from the Department of Defense. I do not http://www.grants.gov/ https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov%2Fgsafsd_sp%3Fid%3Dgsafsd_kb_articles%26sys_id%3Dc81018e71b1601d0937fa64ce54bcb57&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=W2ShcazZBQbanYGj0cLOTnUJwv%2BGL4xfwr83%2BycQY2E%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=t32ANWzgpiB93pMWoq%2BFCSHz4YJY9QF1S1iQzCsS6RM%3D&reserved=0 wish to obtain a CAGE or NCAGE code. I understand that I will need to submit my registration after this incident is resolved in order to have my registration activated.”

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO NOT plan to do business with the DoD should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Proceed to SAM.gov to obtain a UEI and complete the SAM.gov registration process. SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually.

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 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 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 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.

D4. Submission Dates and Times

Applicants are urged to begin the application process well before the submission deadline as stated on page 5. No exceptions will be made for organizations that have not completed the necessary steps. Grants.gov 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. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

D5. Restrictions

The following activities and costs are not covered under this announcement (this list is NOT exhaustive):

• Construction or renovations is not an allowable activity under this award;

https://sam.gov/content/home

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

• Projects seeking funds for personal use;

• Administration of a project that will make a profit;

• Expenses incurred before or after the specified dates of award period of performance (unless prior written approval is received);

• Projects designed to advocate policy views or positions of foreign governments or views of a particular political faction;

• Alcoholic beverages;

• Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities, and any associated costs, are unallowable, except where specific costs that might otherwise be considered entertainment have a programmatic purpose and are authorized either in the approved budget for the federal award or with prior written approval of the Grants Officer.

Representation by Organization Regarding a Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Criminal Conviction: In accordance with section 7073 of Division K of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law 113-76) none of the funds made available by that Act may be used to enter into an assistance award with any organization that –

1. Was “convicted of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency has direct knowledge of the conviction, unless the agency has considered, in accordance with its procedures, that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government”; or

2. Has any “unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, unless the Federal agency has considered, in accordance with its procedures, that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government.”

For the purposes of Section 7073, it is the Department of State’s policy that no award may be made to any organization covered by (1) or (2) above, unless the Procurement Executive has made a written determination that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the U.S. Government.

D6. Other Submission Requirements

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that it has an active registration in Grants.gov and that an application has been received by the system in its entirety. DOS bears no responsibility for disqualification that results from applicants not being registered before the due date or for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

Technical Format Requirements

For all application documents, please ensure:

1. All budgets are in U.S. dollars,

2. All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments,

3. All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and

4. All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Calibri font, with a minimum of

1-inch margins.

Complete applications must include the following for proposal submissions:

1. Completed Cover Sheet that includes a project title, name of the solicitation organization, and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). (See Tab F)

2. Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424a [and SF424b,] submitted to Grants.gov, as well as, if applicable, your organization’s most recent audit.

3. Table of Contents (not to exceed one [1] page in Microsoft Word) that includes a page-numbered contents page, including any attachments.

4. Executive Summary (not to exceed two [2] pages in Microsoft Word) that includes:

a) The target country,

b) Name and contact information for the project’s main point of contact,

c) A statement of work or synopsis of the project, including a concise breakdown of the project’s objectives, activities, and expected results,

d) The total amount of funding requested and project length, and

e) A brief statement on how the project is innovative, sustainable, and will have a demonstrated impact.

5. Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten [10] pages in Microsoft Word). Please note the ten-page limit does not include the Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Attachments, Detailed Budget, Budget Narrative, or NICRA. Applicants are encouraged to submit multiple documents in a single Microsoft Word, (i.e., Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget Narrative in one file).

6. Budget Justification Narrative (preferably in Microsoft Word) that includes an explanation and justification for each line item in the detailed budget spreadsheet, as well as the source and a description of all cost share offered. For ease of review, U.S. Embassy Belmopan recommends applicants order the budget narrative as presented in the detailed budget.

Project management and/or personnel costs should include a clarification of the roles and responsibilities of key staff and percentage of time devoted to the project. The budget narrative should communicate to U.S. Embassy Belmopan any information that might not be readily apparent in the budget, not simply repeat with words what is stated numerically in the budget.

7. Detailed Line-Item Budget (preferably in Microsoft Excel) that includes three [3] columns including the request to U.S. Embassy Belmopan, any cost-sharing contribution (not required), and total budget (see below for more information on budget format). A summary budget should also be included using the OMB-approved budget categories (see SF-424 as a sample). Costs must be in U.S. dollars.

8. Attachments (not to exceed nine [9] pages total, preferably in Microsoft Word) that include the following in order:

a) Page 1-2: Project Monitoring Plan (see below for more information on this section).

b) Page 3: Roles and responsibilities of key project personnel with short bios that highlight relevant professional experience. This relates to the organization’s capacity. Given the limited space, CVs are not recommended for submission.

c) Page 4: Timeline of the overall proposal. Components should include activities, and project closeout.

d) Page 5-7: Additional optional attachments. Attachments may include further timeline information, letters of support, memoranda of understanding (MOU)/agreement, etc.

For applicants with a large number of letters/MOUs, it may be useful to provide a list of the organizations or government agencies that support the project rather than the actual documentation.

9. Applicants with a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) must include the latest NICRA as a .pdf file if including NICRA charges in the budget. This document will not be reviewed by the panelists, but rather used by U.S Embassy Belmopan project and grant staff if the submission is recommended for funding and therefore does not count against the submission page limitations, as described above. If the applicant’s proposal involves sub-grants to organizations charging indirect costs, please submit the applicable NICRA also as a .pdf file (see below for more information on indirect cost rates). Applicants must specify if their organization instead elects to charge the de minimis rate of 15% of the modified total direct costs.

Note: U.S. Embassy Belmopan retains the right to request additional documentation for those items not included on this form.

Information on Standard Forms

Please see Tab D for instructions for completion of Standard Forms 424, 424A, and 424B.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR 200 Organizations should be familiar with 2 CFR 200 on cost accounting principles. For a copy of the 2 CFR 200, please contact Government Publications or download from http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl. Non U.S.-based nonprofit organizations are legally required to comply with 2 CFR 200.

Audits

The recipient’s proposal should include the cost of an audit that:

1. Complies with the requirements of 2 CFR 200 Subpart F “Audit Requirements;”

2. Complies with the requirements of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

(AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) No. 92-9, "Audits of Not-for-Profit Organizations Receiving Federal Awards;"

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl

3. Complies with AICPA Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards AU Section 551, "Reporting on Information Accompanying the Basic Financial Statements in Auditor- Submitted Documents," where applicable. When the U.S. Department of State is the largest direct source of Federal financial assistance (i.e., the cognizant Federal Agency) and indirect costs are charged to Federal grants, a supplemental schedule of indirect cost computation is required;

4. A non-Federal entity that expends $750,000 or more during the non-Federal entity's fiscal year in Federal awards must have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200 subpart F.

The audit costs shall be identified by 2 CFR 200.425.

Indirect Cost Rate

An organization with a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) negotiated with a cognizant Federal government agency other than the U.S. Department of State must 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. Per 2 CFR 200.414, any non-Federal entity that has never received a negotiated indirect cost rate, except for those non-Federal entities described in Appendix VII to Part 200—States and Local Government and Indian Tribe Indirect Cost Proposals, paragraph D.1.b, may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 15% of modified total direct costs (MTDC), which may be used indefinitely. As described in 2 CFR 200.403, factors affecting allowability of costs, costs must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct costs but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If chosen, this methodology once elected must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which the non-Federal entity may apply to do at any time.

All application materials must be submitted through www.Grants.gov or SAMS Domestic.

Section E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E1. Criteria

The Department of State will issue an award to the applicant whose proposal represents the best value to the U.S. Government based on technical merit, efficient use of U.S. Government funds, and satisfactory organizational capacity. In addition, the organization must demonstrate adequate financial management capability to be measured by a responsibility determination.

Applications should contain the applicant’s best terms from both cost and technical standpoints. The implementing partners (sub-recipients) of the primary Recipient will be subject to Department of State approval.

Eligible applications will be evaluated by an independent review panel consisting of subject matter experts from other DOS bureaus/or offices, U.S. Embassies, and/or other U.S.

Government agencies. Final approval resides with the DOS Grants Officer. The decision for the final eligibility and award determination rests with the Grants Officer.

The following criteria will serve as a standard, which all eligible applications will be evaluated against. Each eligible application will be evaluated and scored on the review criteria using a 100-point scale.

The review panel will apply the following criteria when rating proposals:

1. Quality and Feasibility of Project Idea (20 points)

• Responsive to the solicitation (4 points)

• Appropriate in the country/regional context (4)

• Exhibits originality, substance, and precision (4)

• Prioritizes innovation, but is feasible (4)

• In countries where similar activities are already taking place, provides an explanation as to how new activities will not duplicate or merely add to existing activities (4)

2. Organizational Capacity and Record of Performance (10 points):

• The proposal demonstrates an institutional record of successful programs in the proposed country, the content area (e.g., media, access to justice), or other (describe) (4)

• Personnel and institutional resources are adequate and appropriate to achieve the project's objectives (2)

• Roles, responsibilities, and brief bios/resumes are included for primary staff, and demonstrate relevant professional experience (2)

• Applicant is a current/past Embassy grantee where performance: (2) o Was/is on target o Showed/shows responsible fiscal management

OR

• The proposal is from a NEW APPLICANT and proposal: (2) o Demonstrates capacity for responsible fiscal management o Illustrates success in similar sized projects

3. Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives (25 points)

• Includes a clear articulation of the proposed program activities’ expected contributions to the overall program objectives (3)

• Each activity is clearly developed and detailed (3)

• Provides a comprehensive quarterly work plan for project activities that demonstrates substantive undertakings within the logistical capacity of the organization (3)

• Objectives are clear, specific, attainable, measurable, results-focused, and placed in a reasonable time frame (3)

• Addresses how the program will engage or obtain support from relevant stakeholders and identifies local partners where appropriate (3)

• Describes the division of labor among the direct applicant, any partners and any potential sub-grantees (2)

• Proposal clearly articulates understanding of the security situation/operating environment and plans for ensuring safety of participants (2)

• Includes contingency plans for potential difficulties in executing the original work plan (6)

4. Financial Capacity and Cost Effectiveness (15 points):

• The overhead and administration of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, are explained and justified for the work involved (5)

• All budget items are necessary, appropriate and linked to project objectives (5)

• Personnel costs are reasonable for the work involved (5)

• NOTE: Cost share is not required. Applicants may offer cost share, however, cost share will not be considered or factored in when proposals are…