Frequently Asked Questions.pdf

TRANSATLANTIC DEMOCRACY INNOVATION FUND

F R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S

1 . E L IG IB I L IT Y

Q: Can I apply for funding to conduct projects in the United States or third countries?

A: No, as the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy in Germany, our audience is the German public in Germany.

Q: Is my project eligible for funding?

A: Please refer to the programmatic priorities, audiences, and project types that are deemed eligible in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

2 . A P PL IC A T I ON L O G IS T IC S

Q: Do I need a DUNS number to apply for funding?

A: No, a DUNS number is no longer required. It has been superseded by the SAM.gov UEI number. (N)CAGE numbers are also no longer a requirement.

Q: I noticed that your grant announcement states that the program is subject to ‘funds availability’. I would like to know if funds are still available.

A: Since we have a limited amount of funding for grants, we are required to include this statement on the grant announcement. Once our grant funding runs out, we will post a notice on the grant announcement that the program is closed.

Q: When should I submit a grant proposal?

A: The Embassy Public Diplomacy Section requires at least eight weeks before the start date of a program to render a funding decision and draft relevant grant documents for awardees.

Q: What do I need to have ready before I apply for a grant?

A: Organizations will need a SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to apply (individuals do not need a UEI).

Recipient organizations must present a valid registration in www.sam.gov before they can receive government funding.

Q: Can the SAM.gov registration be obtained after the application deadline?

Yes, this is possible. However, issuance of this federal award is conditional on the applicant having an active SAM.gov registration. Applicants must obtain a valid registration before obligation of the award funds. The U.S. Embassy cannot lend any assistance in the registration process.

Q: When can I expect to hear if my grant application has been approved?

A: Once the Grant Committee has met and reviewed the submissions, you should be notified within seven working days.

Q: If I apply for the maximum amount and receive notice that my proposal has been accepted, will I get the full amount?

A: The committee evaluates each completed application based on a number of factors, including the availability of funds. However, projects accepted by the committee do not automatically receive the full amount originally requested.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of grant applications that an organization can submit?

A: We will only entertain one application per applicant at a time. Applicants may revise their concepts and applications if they have been rejected and resubmit them at a later point in time.

Q: Are there any opportunities for feedback or resubmissions for unsuccessful applicants?

A: We will provide a brief justification for each rejection to allow the applicant to revise their project concept and application documents.

Q: Is there a deadline for submitting a grant application and when is the next deadline?

A: We are accepting applications on a rolling basis. The call will close no later than July 31st, 2022 and possibly before if the available funding is exhausted.

Q: Is there any support or guidance provided for the application process?

A: The Embassy is not lending any specific support throughout the application process as a matter of policy.

We will periodically update this document to ensure it addresses pertinent questions of relevance to applicants.

3 . B UD G E T

Q: What is the maximum grant amount that can be requested?

A: Please refer to the award information outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Q: Are there any matching funds or cost-sharing requirements for grantees?

A: We require neither matching nor cost sharing. However, since these instruments significantly improve cost-effectiveness from our perspective, projects with a cost-sharing element will generally be viewed more favorably.

Q: Can you clarify which cost items are permissible?

A: Please refer to 2 CFR §200.420 to assess whether a specific cost is permissible. As part of our review process, we identify and strike out non-permissible cost items after assessing all applications' merits. Including such cost items will not disadvantage the applicant in the evaluation of their proposal provided they do not make up a majority of the funds requested.

Q: What is the currency conversion rate for conversions from local currencies to USD to be used in the budget?

A: You may select a conversion rate that is reasonably close to the current market exchange rate at the time of the submission of your application.

Q: For budget purposes, do you want my full budget for the program or only the part that I would like funding for?

A: If you are only asking us to fund partial costs please submit the full cost rundown and identify or highlight the cost items you are requesting Embassy funding for.

Q: How are indirect costs budgeted when the applicant does not have a NICRA?

A: We will budget the de minimis rate of 10% of the modified total direct cost. Modified total direct cost is the total award cost excluding equipment expenses, capital expenditures, rental costs, scholarships and fellowships, and subawards in excess of $25,000. The sum of modified total direct costs and indirect costs must not exceed the maximum award amount.

4 . A WA R D A D MIN IS T R A T I ON

Q: What is the grant period and when are funds disbursed?

A: The award period will be determined after a proposal has been accepted for funding in accordance with programmatic requirements. For the maximum length of the period of performance, please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Funds will be disbursed on a schedule tied to programmatic milestones, with some funding provided up front and later tranches released upon the receipt of performance progress reports indicating satisfying program progress.

Q: Is it possible to reallocate funds from one position to another?

A: It is possible to be flexible with award funds if the conditions necessitate. Reallocations must be reasonable and justifiable and must be communicated to the grants officer in advance.

Q: Can I request custom payment references to help locate the grant payments?

A: We cannot accommodate requests for custom payment references for technical reasons, but will help you locate the payments by sharing the payment date and exact payment amount with you upon request The payer will be GFS Financial Service Center Charleston.

Q: Can the payment process be accelerated?

A: Payments take about three week from submission of the signed SF270 to disbursal. If you foresee a cash need, ensure to fulfil the reporting requirements and submit a completed SF270 ahead of schedule.

Q: Is there a template for the progress reports?

A: We do not have a reporting template. However, please refer to the general reporting guidelines below:

Formal Criteria: Please compose any reports in English and be sure to sign them. Be sure to include the grant number (SGE210…).

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72

Substantive Criteria: There are no definitive criteria for the report content. Reports should be concise and keep inputs, outputs, and outcomes in focus.

A report compares actual to planned performance and indicates the progress made in accomplishing the goals and objectives of the program as outlined in the original proposal and the Federal Award. The report should include relevant details in a narrative summary description of the progress made. The report should describe the program’s successes and any difficulties or deficiencies identified during the reporting period.

There are five key components of measuring the progress of an award, which are generally measured by performance indicators:

(1) Inputs: Resources required for implementing the program (e.g., $65,000 in development assistance funds to support a training program in Malawi).

(2) Outputs: Product or service that was delivered via an assistance award program (e.g., the funds supported a four-day training program on promoting economic growth in rural Malawi). Inputs and outputs are two measurable aspects of any program or award.

Inputs and outputs are not the same as outcomes, results, and impact. The next level of measurement is comprised of outcomes with a description and a sample following.

(3) Outcomes: The participation/absorption of an output. This is usually a quantitative item such as the number of articles published or the number of people attending a training (e.g., 75 local government employees, civil society leaders, and business managers attended the four-day training on economic growth in rural Malawi).

(4) Results: Intended, measurable change from the benchmark (starting point) in the condition/progress in program/project. It is a measure of the extent to which a service or program has achieved its goals and objectives (e.g., as a result of the four-day training, new legislation was introduced into the local governments of Malawi to support economic growth). Result answers the question, “So what?”

(5) Impact: The cumulative or net effect of the outcomes or results (e.g., a series of 20 similar trainings over the course of several years yields an improved economic situation in rural Malawi).