FINAL_MERC NOFO Summer 2024.pdf

MIDDLE EAST REGIONAL COOPERATION (MERC) PROGRAM

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Funding Opportunity Title: Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC)

Funding Opportunity Number: NEAAC24MERC1001

Assistance Listing Number: 19.600

Announcement Type: New

Date Opened: May 1, 2024

Deadline for Proposals: July 31, 2024

Federal Agency Contact: merc@usaid.gov

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

SECTION A: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

I. Background

II. Achievable Objectives

III. Funding Opportunities

A. Continuation Grants

B. Travel and Workshop Grants

IV. Special Call: Research into Action

V. Overall Process and Notional Timeline

SECTION B: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

I. Eligible Applicants

A. Continuation Grants

B. Travel and Workshop Grants

II. Equitable Participation, Benefit, and Gender Integration

III. Role of the Prime Applicant

IV. Previously Declined Proposals

SECTION C: PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

I. Continuation Grants

A. Proposal Format and Requirements

B. Required Documents

C. Submitting the Proposal

II. Travel and Workshop Grants

A. Proposal Format and Requirements

B. Required Documents

C. Submitting the Proposal

Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program

SECTION D: PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION

I. Continuation Grants

II. Travel and Workshop Grants

SECTION E: FUNDING LIMITATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND OTHER

CONSIDERATIONS

I. Awards to Commercial Firms or For-Profit Organizations

II. Audit Requirements

III. Compliance with Applicable Federal Funding Regulations and Department of State

(DOS) Terms and Conditions

SECTION F: FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

I. Award Notices

II. Reporting Requirements

III. Federal Registrations

IV. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

V. Applicant Vetting as a Condition of Award

VI. Special Note Regarding Programs in the West Bank and Gaza

VII. Special Provision for Performance in a Designated Combat Area (SPOT)

Requirements

VIII. Branding and Marking Requirements for Grantees

IX. Sub Awardee Reporting Requirement

SECTION G: AGENCY CONTACTS

SECTION H: DISCLAIMER

SECTION I: BUDGET GUIDANCE

I. Personnel

II. Equipment

III. Materials and Supplies

IV. Travel

V. Other Direct Costs

VI. Indirect Costs

VII. Cost Share

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A: SF-424 INSTRUCTIONS

APPENDIX B: BUDGET TEMPLATE

SECTION A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

I. Background

Following the Camp David accords, a Congressional initiative brought about the Middle East Regional

Cooperation (MERC) Program to be implemented by the U.S. Agency for International Development

(USAID). The program began in FY 1979, was included in the Foreign Aid Bill for FY 1981 and continues to be the subject of a Congressional directive in the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related

Program Appropriations Act (SFOAA) to support cooperative projects of a scientific and technological nature between the United States, Israel, and Middle East countries. Since 1999, the MERC Program has been managed and implemented through an Inter-Agency Agreement between USAID and the U.S.

Department of State (DOS).

The MERC Program is funded as assistance to promote scientific cooperation, technology-led development, and capacity building between partners in Israel and eligible countries/territories in the Middle East and

North Africa (MENA) region. Subject to change based on U.S. federal law and country-specific restrictions on funding, those countries include: Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and the West Bank and Gaza

(hereinafter “eligible MENA partners”). Emphasis is given to research and technology subjects of regional importance and relevance to the development in the MENA. Moreover, benefits should target developing, USAID-presence countries in the MENA and resource-limited populations.

Strong, direct cooperation between Israel and the eligible MENA partners is required for proposals receiving funding under the MERC Program. Participation of partners from outside the MENA, including the United States, is not a key feature of the MERC Program, but they may be considered for modest roles in exceptional cases to meet an essential technical need that is not otherwise available among the partners.

Applicants must be prepared to provide a well justified case for the involvement of partners from outside the MENA and accept that the MERC Program may not support their participation.

The overall goal of the MERC Program is to enhance research and development cooperation between Israel and its regional neighbors – in support of achieving a comprehensive and lasting Middle East peace.

II. Achievable Objectives

1. Support applied, actionable research that generates results relevant to regional development and empowers communities, organizations, and governments to make evidence-based decisions.

2. Foster the implementation and uptake of research results and innovations, by conducting targeted outreach to public and private sector stakeholders, to improve quality of life, support economic growth, and achieve development impact in the MENA region.

3. Build the science and technology capacity of institutions and the next generation of researchers and leaders in developing countries in the MENA region.

4. Promote direct cooperation between Israel and the MENA region and establish strong working relationships that last beyond the life of the project.

III. Funding Opportunities

The MERC Program funds peer-reviewed, collaborative, scientific research projects on development topics between Israeli partners and the eligible MENA partners. As part of this Notice of Funding Opportunity

(NOFO), the MERC Program is seeking to fund proposals in the following categories:

1. Continuation grants: Funding to extend existing or recently ended MERC awards

2. Travel and workshop grants: Support for workshops, meetings, and researcher exchange

The MERC Program anticipates releasing another NOFO in September 2024 (with a January 2025 submission deadline), which will include a call for applied research grant pre-proposals.

Carefully read each section in its entirety to understand the unique requirements of each category.

Applicants (both institutions and individual investigators) may submit multiple proposals to one or more categories. Proposals to the MERC Program are not restricted to a particular technical sector; however, under this current NOFO, the program has a special interest in proposals aligned with the special call for proposals on “Research into Action” (see SECTION A, PART IV below).

This NOFO does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of the U.S. government to make any awards, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal.

A. Continuation Grants

Applicants with current or recently ended MERC awards may submit proposals to be evaluated as

“continuation grants,” where the scientific peer review process has already evaluated the technical merit.

Continuation grants provide support for the implementation, commercialization, broader dissemination, or uptake of project results from MERC Program-supported research. Depending on the type of project and results obtained, the MERC Program would favor the integration of private sector partnerships, a focus on end-user adoption of technology, or tailoring outcomes to be useful to regulators in government agencies.

This option can also be used to propose the incorporation of an additional country partner to a current award, or to propose an additional objective(s) be added to a current award as supported by preliminary findings.

Concepts proposing new objectives or methodologies that were not previously subject to scientific peer review may be required to submit a new pre-proposal to the Applied Research Grants category in the next

NOFO to be announced later in 2024. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the MERC

Program prior to submission to ensure proposals are suitable for consideration for continuation funding.

The MERC Program will review each grantee’s progress in meeting grant requirements, including timely submission of required reports, and compliance with all terms and conditions of the award; timely submission of a request for continuation funding; the availability of funds; and an evaluation of whether continued funding is in the best interest of the MERC Program.

The MERC Program places a strong emphasis on training, outreach, and dissemination of research results, with the goal of impacting management decisions, scientific capacity building, economic growth, youth engagement, private sector involvement, and policy-making in the MENA region. In support of direct regional cooperation, capacity building, and implementation of research outcomes, travel of grantees within the MENA region is expected. Additional allowable cost categories are discussed in SECTION I. BUDGET

GUIDANCE, but generally include support for personnel, equipment, materials and supplies, modest improvements to existing facilities, communications and website hosting, publications, collaboration and training-related materials, venue rental, transportation, and hospitality, and tools for the dissemination of results are supported as they directly relate to the proposal’s objectives.

The consortium of applicants must at a minimum be bi-lateral (one Israeli institution and one institution from among the eligible MENA partners) but may include partners from multiple institutions and/or multiple eligible MENA countries/territories.

The following activities and costs are NOT ALLOWED under this announcement category:

• Basic research

• Activities that appear partisan or that support individual or party electoral campaigns

• Projects which solely or predominantly represent the development of physical infrastructures, core support for organizations, or delivery of services, including:

o Construction of laboratories or clinics o Delivery of health services o Delivery of educational services o Social development programs o Establishment of private enterprises and projects of a commercial or profit-making nature

• Projects lacking an innovative approach, or primarily constitute:

o Planning studies or case studies o Operations research, surveys, evaluations, and baseline data collection o Routine geographical mapping o Literature reviews o Social welfare projects

• One-time events, such as stand-alone conferences or workshops

• Entertainment costs (e.g., recreational activities, ceremonies, galas, alcoholic beverages)

Estimated Award Ceiling: $500,000

Estimated Award Floor: None

Cost-Sharing or Matching: No minimum or maximum percentage is required for this competition;

however, institutions in Israel and other affluent countries should provide cost share in order to offset comparatively higher salaries and costs. MERC funds should be preferentially targeted to ensure the full participation of the students and research staff in participating countries that are less economically advantaged.

Estimated Length of Project: 1 to 3 years

B. Travel and Workshop Grants

Proposals to support joint cooperative workshops, meetings, or exchange of researchers may be considered under this category. The MERC Program acknowledges the relatively limited opportunities for scientific exchange between scientists from Israel and the MENA region and seeks to support forums that advance dialogue on regional scientific issues, develop new partnerships, or deliver training on a topic relevant to regional development. If a workshop or technical meeting is proposed, it is recommended to focus the topic on specific knowledge gaps or barriers, opposed to broad or general themes.

Preference will be given to proposals that cite the development of new pre-proposals to the MERC program as a key outcome, engage students and early career researchers, and meaningfully engage policymakers and stakeholders. If realistic, MERC would prefer events be organized in the MENA region; however, given the current constraints on travel alternative venues may be proposed.

It is strongly preferred that applicants propose one prime recipient/grantee and no sub-recipients under this category, and that the prime organize a collaborative activity and directly cover the associated costs for participants.

Neither USAID nor the U.S. Department of State will assist organizers or participants in obtaining travel documents or visas.

Examples of potential activities that would be considered under this category include:

● A multi-day training program focused on bringing together early career researchers to develop specific skills or know-how related to a regional development priority

● A meeting of stakeholders to discuss research gaps in a particular sector with relevance to regional development

● A workshop of researchers and stakeholders, including private sector partners, with shared interests to identify potential areas for cross-border scientific cooperation

● An Israeli institution hosting a visiting researcher from an eligible MENA partner (or vice versa) for a couple of months to learn a new technique and develop a research partnership

Estimated Award Ceiling: $100,000

Estimated Award Floor: None

Cost-Sharing or Matching: No minimum or maximum percentage is required for this competition;

however, institutions in Israel and other affluent countries should provide cost share in order to offset comparatively higher salaries and costs. MERC funds should be preferentially targeted to ensure the full participation of the students and research staff in participating countries that are less economically advantaged.

Estimated Length of Project: One activity, event, or exchange to be completed within one year of the award.

MERC anticipates advancing approximately 3 proposals from this category for funding consideration.

IV. Special Call: Research into Action

As part of this NOFO, the MERC Program aims to support researchers with high-potential research outcomes to extend the benefits of their work, and network together clusters of complementary research outcomes from multiple applied research grants to yield robust, commercializable, or replicable outcomes, or research-based training opportunities.

Applicants who wish to respond to this special call may apply for a continuation, or travel and workshop grant (as described above).

Applicants are encouraged to identify communities, stakeholder groups, vocational schools, early career researchers, students, or other key partners who are primed to receive training, or scale-up or commercialize outcomes. Potential outputs of this collaborative work may include:

• Enhancing the environment for applied research in the MENA region by inspiring market and community-driven research concepts

• Empowering and inspiring the next generation of graduates and researchers to engage in proactive research

• Preparing the next generation of qualified technicians through vocational training

• Promoting economic growth through income-generating projects that create jobs and increase the accessibility of new technologies

• Generating solutions for communities that impact lives and livelihoods

• Demonstrating the value and potential of research collaboration

This special call for proposals should not discourage applicants from submitting proposals with other eligible partners and/or on any other topic within the natural, physical, and social sciences and engineering.

Applicants who believe their proposal is responsive to this special call should include “Research into

Action” as a keyword. (No penalty will apply to proposals deemed by the MERC Program to not be responsive to the special call.)

V. Overall Process and Notional Timeline

[END OF SECTION A]

SECTION B. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Proposals will be screened to determine whether they meet the program eligibility requirements detailed below. Proposals that do not demonstrate that they meet all eligibility requirements described below may not be advanced for review and may be deemed ineligible for funding under this announcement. Proposals cannot be revised or amended once the competition deadline has passed.

Please contact merc@usaid.gov with questions about eligibility.

I. Eligible Applicants

Subject to change based on U.S. federal law and country-specific restrictions on funding, in addition to

Israel the following countries/territories are eligible to apply as MENA partners: Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and the West Bank and Gaza. Partners may come from academic, private sector, non-governmental, or governmental institutions eligible to receive U.S. foreign assistance.

A. Continuation Grants

All proposals must include at least one Israeli partner and one eligible MENA partner. Only proposals developed jointly by investigators from the partner institutions are accepted. Proposals involving three or more partners are also allowed and encouraged. The proposal may be submitted by any party in the collaboration.

MERC projects involving Israel and another relatively affluent MENA country (i.e., Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates) must include a developing country from the eligible MENA countries/territories (i.e., Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and the West Bank and Gaza) in the region as a partner and/or a beneficiary of the research outcomes.

Affluent countries must adhere to budgetary restrictions, such as cost-sharing salaries, maintain the spirit of regional cooperation opposed to primarily engaging foreign expatriates, and target benefits and outcomes of the project to developing, USAID-presence countries in the MENA region and resource-limited populations. Satellite or portal campuses of foreign (e.g., U.S., Indian) institutions are not considered eligible MENA partners.

Participation of partners from outside the MENA, including the United States, is not a key feature of the

MERC Program, but they may be considered for modest roles in exceptional cases to meet an essential technical need that is not otherwise available among the partners. Applicants must be prepared to provide a well justified case for participation of partners from outside the MENA and accept that MERC may not support their participation. The use of non-regional partners to lead or administer the overall project is discouraged.

B. Travel and Workshop Grants

To simplify the award management, it is strongly preferred that applicants to the Travel and Workshop

Grants category propose one prime recipient/grantee from Israel or one of the eligible MENA partners, and no sub-recipients. The prime must propose an activity involving participants from Israel and one or more of the eligible MENA partners.

II. Equitable Participation, Benefit, and Gender Integration

The MERC Program is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities. The

MERC Program welcomes proposals irrespective of an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability, and encourages proposals from organizations working with underserved communities, including women, people with disabilities, and youth.

Furthermore, research must meet standards of equity in access to research funds, participation in research, benefits from research findings, and safety in research efforts. Issues of gender equity are of special concern.

Assessment of equity in research programs will also include concern for ethnic and racial minorities and other disadvantaged and underrepresented groups.

Applicants are encouraged to address any potential biases inherent in their proposal. Consider any differences in how women, men, youth, those with disabilities, or other minority groups might engage with or benefit from a technology, product, or protocol under development, or how they might benefit or equitably participate in research, training, or outreach activities.

III. Role of the Prime Applicant

Under the Continuation Grants category, the preferred management structure is a prime recipient who receives the grant, issues sub-award agreements to sub-recipients, and transfers payments to sub-recipients.

Under the Travel and Workshop Grants category, the preferred management structure is one prime recipient/grantee from Israel or one of the eligible MENA partners, and no sub-recipients. The prime must propose an activity involving participants from Israel and one or more of the eligible MENA partners.

If the consortium of partners involved in the proposal requires an alternative award management structure, briefly describe those constraints within the proposal. Applicants with questions about allowable award structures are encouraged to contact merc@usaid.gov.

IV. Previously Declined Proposals

A previously declined proposal may be resubmitted, but only after it has undergone substantial revision.

The MERC Program offers consultation sessions for declined proposals. Applicants planning to re-submit a previously declined concept should use this information and the guidelines herein to submit a substantially revised proposal. The MERC Program will treat this proposal as a new submission. Resubmitted proposals that have not been substantially revised may be declined without review. Applicants with questions about resubmitting previously declined proposals are encouraged to contact merc@usaid.gov.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C. PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

Proposals that do not follow the format described in the subsequent sub-sections, or meet the eligibility requirements for applicants described in SECTION B, or are incomplete, may be declined without review.

A. Proposal Format and Requirements

The main body of the proposal (Parts 1-15, below) should be approximately 10 pages (U.S. Letter, 8.5 x 11 inches) with one-inch margins, single spaced, using a full-size font (e.g., 12 pt Times New Roman). All proposals must be prepared in English, in the following format, and contain each of the following elements.

Letters of support, CVs of newly added investigators, and other supporting documentation should be included as appendices and are not counted as part of the 10-page estimate. References may be included as footnotes or on an additional page.

The entire proposal and appendices must be saved as one PDF document.

Investigators from all participating institutions must collaborate in writing the proposal. Proposals are not binding agreements; however, to demonstrate commitment to the concept applicants are required to include a signature page (Part 15).

1. Title: Provide a concise, descriptive title for the proposed event or activity.

2. Contact information:

a. Investigators: List the full name (first and LAST name in bold font using all uppercase letters for surname only), title, affiliation, full mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address of every investigator. Clearly identify the primary investigator at the submitting institution to whom all correspondence should be addressed. If more than one investigator is listed at the other cooperating institution(s), identify the primary point of contact.

b. Institutional administrative officials: Provide the full name (first and LAST name in bold font using all uppercase letters for surname only), title, affiliation, full mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the officials at each investigator’s institution authorized to negotiate a legal agreement for that institution or organization.

3. Keywords: List 3 to 5 technical keywords or phrases that capture the scope of the pre-proposal. Single keywords or phrases up to 4 words are acceptable. Applicants who believe their proposal is responsive to the Special Call for Proposals (SECTION A. IV.) should include “Research into Action” as a keyword.

4. Technical summary: (½ page) Provide a brief technical summary of the project, similar to the abstract for a scientific paper or meeting, structured per the following outline. Summarize each of the following components in 1-2 sentences. Ensure that it is concise yet accurately summarizes the proposed work.

a. Background: An overview of the challenge the research addresses.

b. Aims: The aim and technical objectives of the project.

c. Methodology: The approach to be taken to address the project’s objectives.

d. Expected outcomes: The anticipated deliverables and/or potential scientific and development benefits of the research.

e. Implementation: Indicate how the results will be put into practice through stakeholder engagement, trainings, workshops, technology transfer, demonstration sites, etc.

5. Graphical abstract: Provide a graphical abstract highlighting the research goal and expected outcomes, focusing on outcomes with potential for uptake by the public or private sectors, and opportunities for collaboration. A few resources providing examples and tips for preparing graphical abstracts follow:

https://www.elsevier.com/researcher/author/tools-and-resources/graphical-abstract https://solutions.springernature.com/blogs/visibility/5-tips-for-creating-a-graphical-abstract https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10590498/

6. Overall aim, objectives, and hypotheses: State the overall aim of the project in one sentence or short paragraph. State the specific technical objectives (typically 3 or 4 objectives presented as a short list). The objectives should each be instrumental to achieving the overall aim of the project. For each objective, explicitly articulate the hypothesis to be tested. Additional non-technical objectives related to outreach, dissemination, capacity building, etc. may be included without an associated hypothesis.

7. Summary of prior work: (½ page) Summarize earlier studies, the technical basis and starting point for the work proposed, preliminary data if available, and citations of a few key literature references, as appropriate. Describe the outcomes under the current or recently ended MERC Program award that established the basis for this proposal.

8. Technical work plan: (approx. 3 to 5 pages) Provide a detailed description of the proposed work, outlining the specific technical activities and the experimental design proposed, and the associated data analysis in separate work packages. Relate each work package to the underlying objective(s) and scientific hypotheses. Be specific about the intended experiments, their design, data analysis, and how they relate to the research question. Specify the duration of each work package and the overall project. Describe the anticipated division of labor, capacity and capabilities, and substantive contributions of the partner institutions and investigators. Also, include the following:

a. Technical contingencies: Potential points of failure in the work plan and associated risk mitigation measures or alternatives.

b. Time chart: In a table, indicate the research milestones, project meetings, training/exchanges, outreach events.

c. Location information: Present as a map or chart, for any field plots or sampling locations involved in the proposal research.

d. Data management plan: Describe the kinds of data the project will generate, how data and/or research products will be made available to the public, industry, and scientific community, and any ethical or privacy issues associated with sharing generated data.

9. Management and cooperation (approx. 2 to 3 pages)

a. Project management: Clarify whether the overall management structure differs from the current or recently ended MERC Program award and identify which single institution would serve as the prime grantee and be responsible for technical and financial reporting.

b. Joint activities: Provide a table specifying the planned interactions and capacity building activities between Israeli and MENA region partners, including their timing within the project, duration, location(s), what would occur, and number and composition of participants to the extent they can be determined at this time. Examples of joint collaborative activities include coordination meetings, direct exchanges of personnel (e.g., scientists in residence, training of students from other countries), joint field data collection, joint publications with authors from both/all partner countries/territories, and joint conferences and workshops in the region. Describe the anticipated topics to be covered as part of any planned student exchange, training, conferences, and workshops.

Activities should be planned in one of the partner countries.

c. Facilities: Describe the institutional facilities and resources available for the proposed research.

Demonstrate that the required facilities are indeed available to accomplish the specified functions, including equipment currently in use that will be used to accomplish the goals of the proposed https://www.elsevier.com/researcher/author/tools-and-resources/graphical-abstract https://solutions.springernature.com/blogs/visibility/5-tips-for-creating-a-graphical-abstract https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10590498/ project. Justify the acquisition of any additional facilities (e.g., land leasing, rental space) if requested in the budget.

d. Staff: Indicate whether there are changes to the cooperating investigators. Specify the area of expertise and qualifications of any new personnel. Clearly state the expected engagement, roles, and tasks for early career researchers and graduate students in the project.

10. Expected benefits: (approx. ½ page) Address each of the following sub-sections:

a. Expected development outcomes: State the expected technical and development outcomes, including new scientific knowledge, information, technologies, or management practices.

b. Stakeholder engagement: Identify the primary stakeholders and intended beneficiaries of the outcomes. Describe plans (e.g., format, frequency) to engage with the identified stakeholders and beneficiaries and how the impact of these interactions would be assessed. Explicitly address how research findings will support gender empowerment and/or youth engagement, involve the private sector, inform policy-making, and/or promote regional development.

c. Institutional capacity building: Indicate how the capacity of institutions in the participating developing countries would be enhanced by the project, such as through provision of equipment, enhancement of technical capabilities, or improvement in project management or decision-making capacity.

11. Special concerns analysis: (approx. ½ page) Revisit the “Special Concerns Analysis” from the current or recently ended award and update the narrative as appropriate for this additional proposed work plan.

Specifically address any potential gender-related biases (e.g., equitable participation, benefit from the outcomes) inherent in the planned activity. Consider any difference in how women, men, youth, those with disabilities, or other minority groups might engage with, benefit from, or equitably participate in the activity.

12. Budget: (1 to 2 pages) Using the provided MS Excel Budget Template, prepare a budget table for each year of the proposed project and a summary budget table with the life-of-project budget totals. Screenshots of MS Excel Budget Template tables (see below in Part B) are appropriate to insert in this section, but the images must be legible.

13. Budget justification: (1 page) A narrative must explain how the individual items of the budget were derived and calculated. Explain the basis of the proposed costs for each line item and confirm adherence with the policies described in SECTION I. BUDGET GUIDANCE. Take great care to ensure that the budget justification matches the amounts listed in the budget spreadsheet and that those costs also match the details of the work plan and joint activities described in the proposal.

14. NCAGE and SAM registration: The submitting institution (i.e., the prime recipient/grantee) must provide both their NCAGE code and Unique Entity Identification (UEI) from SAM.gov with their proposal package. See SECTION F, Part III. Federal Registrations for more information. Sub-recipients/awardees are not required to have a UEI number prior to the submission of a proposal but must have one prior to a sub-award being issued.

15. Signature page: Include a signature page as indicated below.

a. Investigators’ signatures: Provide signatures of the primary investigator and co-investigators from each of the cooperating institutions, affirming the following declaration:

The undersigned affirm that this proposal represents their individual and collective original work, and that they individually and collectively agree to participate in the activity as described if funded.

b. Authorizing signatures: Provide signatures of authorized officials from the institution designated to be the prime grantee, and from each institution that is proposed to receive a sub-grant, affirming the following declaration:

Each of the undersigned affirms that this proposal represents an authorized submission of the institution that the undersigned represents, that it has been prepared using the appropriate accounting and other practices of that institution, and that the institution intends to devote the specified staff, facilities, and financial resources to the project if funded.

Proposal: As described above in Part A and saved as a PDF. If provisionally approved, MERC may request revisions, or additional details or clarification to the proposal.

Budget: Review SECTION I. BUDGET GUIDANCE. Applicants should use the template provided in

APPENDIX B (“Continuation” tabs) to prepare a budget based on realistic anticipated costs associated with the proposed work plan. Submit as a MS Excel file.

SF-424: The submitting institution must provide the completed Application for Federal Assistance (SF-

424). Instructions relevant to MERC applicants are included in APPENDIX A. A fillable PDF can be downloaded here: https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_4_0-V4.0.pdf

Submit the required documents in one email with attachments to merc@usaid.gov by 11:59pm EST on

July 31, 2024 with the email subject “MERC Continuation Grant Proposal - LAST NAME” including the last name of the principal investigator. MERC will acknowledge receipt of proposals by email. Hard copies are not accepted.

III. Travel and Workshop Grants

A. Proposal Format and Requirements

The main body of the proposal (Parts 1-14, below) must be no more than 6 pages (U.S. Letter, 8.5 x 11 inches) with one-inch margins, single-spaced, using a full-size font (e.g., 12 pt Times New Roman). All proposals must be prepared in English, in the following format, and contain each of the following elements.

Additional pages (such as letters of support, biographies of organizers or key individuals, or relevant workshop/training materials) may be included, but any pages beyond the 6-page limit may not be evaluated by the review committee or considered as part of the proposal. References may be included as footnotes or on an additional page.

This category is intended only for one-time events, activities, or exchanges. Applicants with more complex, multi-year concepts for research cooperation should consider applying under the Applied Research Grant category in the next NOFO (to be announced on/around September 2024).

The following three definitions apply to this category:

● Organizers include individuals employed by the submitting institution who have a substantial role in coordinating and facilitating the activity.

● Consultants include individuals not employed by the submitting institution who have a substantial role in coordinating and facilitating the activity.

● Participants include all other attendees.

https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_4_0-V4.0.pdf

Investigators from submitting institutions must collaborate in writing the proposal. Proposals are not binding agreements; however, to demonstrate commitment to the concept applicants are required to include a signature page (Part 14).

1. Title: Provide a concise, descriptive title for the proposed event or activity.

2. Contact information:

a. Organizers and consultants: List the full name (first and LAST name in bold font using all uppercase letters for surname only), title, affiliation, full mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address of every organizer and consultant. Clearly identify the primary organizer at the submitting institution to whom all correspondence should be addressed.

b. Institutional administrative official: Provide the full name (first and LAST name in bold font using all uppercase letters for surname only), title, affiliation, full mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the official at the submitting institution authorized to negotiate a legal agreement for that institution or organization.

3. Keywords: List 3 to 5 technical keywords or phrases that capture the scope of the pre-proposal. Single keywords or phrases up to 4 words are acceptable. Applicants who believe their proposal is responsive to the Special Call for Proposals (SECTION A. IV.) should include “Research into Action” as a keyword.

4. Abstract: (3 or 4 sentences) Provide a general, summary description of the activity’s overall aims and scope. Specify whether the proposal is for a workshop, meeting, training, or a researcher exchange.

Summarize the activity’s rationale, anticipated participants, and anticipated outcomes (paraphrasing the subsequent sections below).

5. Rationale: (approx. ¼ to ½ page) Define the overall aim and specific objectives. Describe the current status of the research on the topic of focus, justify why there is a need for regional cooperation on this issue, and discuss how the topic relates to development in the MENA region.

6. Agenda: (approx. ½ to 1 page) Provide an agenda for the activity, identifying the duration of the activity, topics to be covered, location, and facilities to be used. For workshops, short training sessions, or similar format events, provide a notional day-by-day agenda. Indicate whether the activity is dependent upon occurring on a specific date or in coordination with another event. Preference is given to applicants seeking support for travel and activities within Israel and the eligible MENA countries/territories.

7. Management and personnel: (approx. ½ page) Address both of the following sub-sections.

a. Project management: Identify which single institution would serve as the prime grantee and be responsible for technical and financial reporting. MERC’s preferred award structure under this category is a prime grantee who organizes the activity and covers costs for all participants, and no sub-recipients. If the concept requires an alternative structure, note those constraints here.

Applicants with questions about award structure are encouraged to reach out to MERC. Describe organizational and operational plans for managing the collaboration financially and programmatically.

b. Personnel: List all organizers and consultants (see definitions above). State their expected engagement, roles, and tasks under the proposed activity and briefly justify their qualifying expertise. If applicable, note any relevant past cooperation between the personnel.

8. Participants: (approx. ½ page) Estimate the total number of participants (not including the previously named organizers and consultants) and indicate the country(ies) they will be joining from. If applicable, describe how participants will be contacted or recruited to participate. Activities should aim to primarily benefit participants from developing, USAID-presence eligible MENA partners. Clearly state any expected engagement, roles, and tasks for early career researchers and graduate students. Travel support for individuals or institutions not among the eligible MENA partners (e.g., U.S., Europe), even if the activity is hosted in the MENA region, will not be considered.

a. Equitable participation and benefit: Specifically address any potential gender-related biases

(e.g., equitable participation, benefit from the outcomes) inherent in the planned activity. Consider any difference in how women, men, youth, those with disabilities, or other minority groups might engage with, benefit from, or equitably participate in the activity.

9. Outcomes: (approx. ¼ to ½ page) Describe the anticipated outcomes from the activity, including submission of pre-proposals to MERC or another donor, follow-on activities, publications or other deliverables, or any other intended continued contact with participants or post-activity information dissemination.

10. Contingencies: Describe any contingency plans. Consider options in the event the estimated number of participants are not able or willing to attend, or a situation in the region prevents cross-border or international travel.

11. Budget: (1 to 2 pages) Using the provided MS Excel Budget Template, prepare a budget table for the activity. Screenshots of MS Excel Budget Template tables (see below in Part B) are appropriate to insert in this section, but the images must be legible. Specific notes on the anticipated expenses under this funding opportunity follow:

● Personnel: Applicants may include costs associated with staff time for organization and travel coordination. Preferably these costs would be shared by the applicant institution(s).

● Activity costs: Individually itemize any facility rental fees, and materials and supplies for participants. Travel and transport costs of participants during a training, workshop, or seminar (e.g., hiring a bus to visit field sites as part of a meeting or workshop) may be included here.

● Travel costs: Separate into the categories below. If travelers are departing from multiple international locations, it may be helpful to duplicate the travel cost section for each set of travelers from each location. Indicate the number of travelers and number of days/nights, as applicable.

o Air travel: All U.S. federal government financed international air transportation is required by 49 U.S.C. 40118, commonly referred to as the "Fly America Act," to use U.S.

air carrier service for all air travel and cargo transportation services. Exceptions vary depending on the direction of travel and are outlined in 41 CFR 301-10.136 and 41 CFR

301-10.137. Budget accordingly. Tickets should be economy class and any exceptions must be justified and approved by MERC.

o Lodging: Rates must not exceed the U.S. Government rates.

o Per diem: Costs should be modest, and must not exceed the U.S. Government rates.

o Ground transportation: Costs associated with arrival/departure from the activity.

o Other expenses: May include border crossing fees, visa fees, etc.

● Indirect costs: See SECTION I for guidance on how to calculate indirect costs (i.e., overhead).

Note that the de minimus indirect cost rate cannot be applied to per diem. Participant travel costs may also be excluded depending on the activity proposed.

12. Budget justification: (½ to 1 page) A narrative must explain how the individual items of the budget were derived and calculated. Explain the basis of the proposed costs for each line item and confirm adherence with the policies described in SECTION I. BUDGET GUIDANCE, or justify any deviation.

Take great care to ensure that the budget justification matches the amounts listed in the budget spreadsheet, and that those costs also match the details of the proposal.

13. NCAGE and SAM registration: The submitting institution (i.e., the prime recipient/grantee) must provide both their NCAGE code and Unique Entity Identification (UEI) from SAM.gov with their proposal http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title49-section40118&num=0&edition=prelim http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title49-section40118&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-41/subtitle-F/chapter-301/subchapter-B/part-301-10/subpart-B/subject-group-ECFR70e8c685573e653/section-301-10.136 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-41/subtitle-F/chapter-301/subchapter-B/part-301-10/subpart-B/subject-group-ECFR70e8c685573e653/section-301-10.136 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-41/subtitle-F/chapter-301/subchapter-B/part-301-10/subpart-B/subject-group-ECFR70e8c685573e653/section-301-10.137 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-41/subtitle-F/chapter-301/subchapter-B/part-301-10/subpart-B/subject-group-ECFR70e8c685573e653/section-301-10.137 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-41/subtitle-F/chapter-301/subchapter-B/part-301-10/subpart-B/subject-group-ECFR70e8c685573e653/section-301-10.137 https://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp https://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp https://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp https://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp package. See SECTION F, Part III. Federal Registrations for more information. Sub-recipients/awardees are not required to have a UEI number prior to the submission of a proposal but must have one prior to a sub-award being issued.

14. Signature page: Attach a signature page as indicated below.

c. Organizers’ signatures: Provide signatures of the primary organizer and co-organizers from each of the cooperating institutions, affirming the following declaration:

The undersigned affirm that this proposal represents their individual and collective original work, and that they individually and collectively agree to participate in the activity as described if funded.

d. Authorizing signatures: Provide signatures of authorized officials from the institution designated to be the prime grantee, and from each institution that is proposed to receive a sub-grant, affirming the following declaration:

Each of the undersigned affirms that this proposal represents an authorized submission of the institution that the undersigned represents, that it has been prepared using the appropriate accounting and other practices of that institution, and that the institution intends to devote the specified staff, facilities, and financial resources to the project if funded.

Proposal: As described above in Part A and saved as a single PDF. If provisionally approved, MERC may request revisions, or additional details or clarification to the proposal.

Budget: Review SECTION I. BUDGET GUIDANCE. Applicants should use the template provided in

APPENDIX B (“Travel & Workshop” tab) to prepare a budget based on realistic anticipated costs associated with the proposed work plan. Submit as a MS Excel file.

SF-424: The submitting institution must provide the completed Application for Federal Assistance (SF-

424). Instructions relevant to MERC applicants are included in APPENDIX A. A fillable PDF can be downloaded here: https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_4_0-V4.0.pdf

Submit the required documents as one email with attachments to merc@usaid.gov by 11:59pm EST on

July 31, 2024 with the email subject “MERC Travel/Workshop Grant Proposal - LAST NAME” including the last name of the primary organizer. MERC will acknowledge receipt of proposals by email.

Hard copies are not accepted.

[END OF SECTION C]

https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_4_0-V4.0.pdf

SECTION D. PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION

MERC is committed to ensuring a competitive and standardized process for awarding funding. Proposals will be screened to determine whether they meet the eligibility requirements outlined in SECTION B and have followed the required format in SECTION C. Proposals that do not meet these requirements may not advance to review and may be deemed ineligible for funding under this NOFO.

Proposals will be reviewed by an Interagency Committee composed of U.S. Agency for International

Development and U.S. Department of State representatives from technical and regional offices. This committee meets to review each eligible proposal and decide which to advance for consideration for funding. Final award decisions will be influenced by whether the proposal meets MERC’s programmatic goals and objectives.

The MERC Interagency Committee uses the following criteria to continuation grant category:

Strength and durability of regional cooperation: The project should be a collaborative effort between

Israeli and eligible MENA partners. All partners should have full intellectual roles. The project should include joint activities such as frequent meetings, workshops and training of students through exchanges between countries. U.S. partners and support for the participation of additional individuals or institutions from outside Israel and the eligible MENA partners is not a key feature of the MERC Program, but may be considered for modest roles in exceptional cases to meet an essential technical need that is not available in the region.

Relevance to regional development: The project should advance practical applications to development in the Middle East and North Africa and address an issue of humanitarian, economic, and/or environmental importance. The proposed work should be relevant to the Middle East and North Africa region and stand to benefit from a regional approach opposed to separate local or national efforts.

Likely impact and pathway to implementation: Benefits should target developing USAID-presence countries, not primarily accrue to the more affluent partner country(ies), and potentially benefit a large number of people (for example, via jobs, health, environmental protection, etc.). Investigators must demonstrate that there is a need for the potential benefits realized from the project. There should be specific mechanisms to put the research results into practice, particularly in developing USAID-presence country(ies).

Technical merit and innovation: The project should have a sound, credible step-by-step technical work plan, supported by technical background and documentation of relevant previous work. The work should be based on clearly stated hypotheses and objectives. It should explore original concepts and either advance the state of the science or provide an innovative regional application.

Capacity building: The project should advance the research capacity of scientists, students, and institutions, for example through training, provision of equipment, and mentoring.