FY18 Iraq NOFO - Final.docx

United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): DRL Democracy, Human Rights, and Rule of Law in Iraq

This is the announcement of funding opportunity number SFOP0005572

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.016

Type of Solicitation: Open Competition

Application Deadline: Friday, April 26, 2019

Funding Floor (lowest $$ value): $500,000 (with the exception of the Community of Practice Resource Development and Coordination category)

Funding Ceiling (highest $$ value): $3,000,000 (with the exception of the Community of Practice Resource Development and Coordination and Marla Ruzicka War Victims Fund, detailed below)

Anticipated Number of Awards: 12

Type of Award: Grant and Cooperative Agreement

Period of Performance: 18-24 months (with the exception of the Community of Practice Resource Development and Coordination)

Anticipated Time to Award (pending availability of funds): 8 months

A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that will contribute to stabilization in Iraq by advancing human rights and rule of law; promoting reconciliation, accountability, and atrocities prevention; strengthening effective governance and increasing political participation; and empowering Iraqis.

REQUESTED PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

U.S. human rights and democracy assistance will be tailored to contribute to stabilizing Iraq by promoting governance based on democratic principles, respect for human rights, post-conflict recovery, and peaceful coexistence and reconciliation. It will also provide for the protection of and advocacy for the rights of the most vulnerable, including youth, women, and religious and ethnic minorities, and mitigate the impact of conflict on Iraqi communities.

Proposed programming must be responsive to immediate needs on the ground; should contribute to and support Iraqi efforts; and must be in line with the U.S. Government’s democracy, governance, and human rights goals for Iraq. Helpful resources for applicants include the annual Iraq Human Rights Report (http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/) and International Religious Freedom Report (http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/).

With the above in mind, DRL invites organizations to submit proposals for programs in the following areas:

Promoting Good Governance and Increasing Political Participation: Programming should promote a more inclusive, responsible, transparent, and responsive government and should focus on one or more of the following areas:

· Support increased political engagement at the local and national level, with particular focus on representative governance for marginalized groups. Programs should strengthen Iraqi citizens’ ability to engage their elected provincial and federal representatives on social, political, and economic issues. Applicants should facilitate and sustain coalition-building efforts within Iraqi civil society to aggregate and more effectively vocalize citizen concerns.

· Empower elected officials, at the national and local levels, to engage on and be responsive to human rights, religious freedom, and minority rights. Increase the capacity and awareness of government institutions to engage with and address the needs of diverse segments of Iraqi society.

· Promote the participation and leadership of women and minorities in decision-making institutions, including federal, provincial, and local government, as well as cross-cutting institutional bodies working on reconciliation and stabilization efforts. Program areas may include engagement with the Government of Iraq (GOI) and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on enhancing women and minority representation at the national level. Programs must include dedicated efforts to engage political parties so that party structures and cultures become more supportive of minority and women’s participation and leadership.

· Provide youth with pathways to engage in governance, including: expanding opportunities for youth in public service, community engagement, or volunteerism; developing soft skills such as leadership, the ability to work independently and in teams, problem solving, and effective communication; promoting constructive engagement by youth in their communities, including advocacy with local government; and developing capacities of local institutions and NGOs to respond to the needs of youth. Programs should target both urban and rural youth, ages 15-30, inclusive of both girls and boys.

· Support to targeted anti-corruption efforts, with emphasis on transparency in business registration and licensing.

Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability, and Atrocities Prevention: Programming should support grassroots reconciliation efforts that focus on addressing both immediate and long-term tension and grievances such as poor governance, distrust in security forces, historic marginalization of communities, and perceptions of betrayal that could lead to reprisal violence. Programs must demonstrate an awareness of existing/ongoing reconciliation efforts in target areas and clearly explain how proposals will complement or build on lessons learned and/or results from those efforts. Programming should focus on one or more of the following areas and may include (note: programs limited to dialogue activities will not be deemed competitive):

· Dispute resolution, conflict management, and targeted reconciliation programs. Programs may include efforts to rebuild trust and relationships across and within communities, including non-humanitarian support to help displaced persons integrate in host communities and/or reintegrate should they voluntarily return home; and advocate for acknowledgment and recognition of atrocities. Programs must, to the extent possible, promote reconciliation efforts that include those who are negatively impacted by perceived affiliations based on family, tribe, religious or ethnic identity, or area of origin.

· Reinforce non-sectarianism, tolerance, respect for Iraq’s multi-cultural society, and provide human rights and non-violent conflict resolution training and education. (Please note: curriculum reform efforts will not be deemed competitive).

· Strengthen and engage traditional/informal/tribal justice and reconciliation mechanisms in support of the rights and interests of women, youth, and minorities, increasing coordination with governmental efforts where possible.

· Support civil society efforts to advocate for inclusion that is equitable, representative, and promotes protection of marginalized populations, including religious and ethnic minorities, with police and other security entities. Activities may include: civil society engagement with relevant government institutions and elected officials on security policy development; monitoring of and following up on conditions in detention facilities; and combating impunity for human rights violations through legal advocacy and other channels.

· Promote accountability for human rights abuses. Activities may include: advocating for measures to increase accountability for human rights abuses; providing technical assistance to bolster local civil society organizations’ capacity to monitor and document human rights abuses for justice and accountability processes; and establishing a secure, accessible database housing multiple sources of documentation.

Promoting Human Rights and Rule of Law: Programming should advance human rights and rule of law in Iraq and should include marginalized populations, such as religious and ethnic minorities, women, and youth. Programming should focus on one or more of the following areas:

· Support freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and independent media frameworks in Iraq, particularly in the IKR. Programs should strengthen capacity within Iraqi civil society to advocate with the government as well as citizenry at large to support and protect freedom of expression, both online and offline, and may include support and training to journalists and civil society activists reporting on political processes, corruption, human rights abuses, and other sensitive issues.

· Protect and support journalist, citizen, and civil society organizations’ right to political engagement. Programs may include digital/cybersecurity training for journalists, activists, and citizens in order to enhance their safety and privacy online, as well as provide security and technology training to enable them to safely and freely exercise their right to civic engagement.

· Address problematic legislation through advocacy and reform efforts, as well as support implementation of existing laws that promote equitable status and rights. Examples may include the following: implementation of elements of personal status laws that allow women the right to confer citizenship or religious affiliation to children, regardless of paternity; safe marriage age; land ownership for single female-headed households; the so-called “marry your rapist law” expounded by Article 398; child protection; privacy and respect for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in legislative processes and evidence collection; legislation to criminalize genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity; and processes for birth registration and documentation. Programming should include raising awareness within communities on human rights according to Iraqi law. Programming may also include support to lawyers targeted for their casework and advocacy on human rights issues.

· Promote the rehabilitation, reintegration, and protection of radicalized children, including former ISIS child soldiers. Programs may include community-reintegration, protection of civil rights, provision of or access to legal assistance, psychosocial support, and advocacy with government on juvenile detention issues.

Marla Ruzicka War Victims Fund ($7.5 million; Note: this is a different funding ceiling than the one listed below for the remainder of this solicitation): DRL is seeking an implementing partner or consortium of partners to implement the Marla Ruzicka War Victims Fund. The fund aims to support civilian victims of conflict in Iraq. Program approaches must address both systemic issues related to good governance as well as provision of and access to services, and ensure civilian victims of conflict are better able to receive support and protection. Program approaches must include at least one of the following:

· Improving/reforming compensation processes and promoting more equitable access to existing compensation mechanisms, including providing legal assistance and guidance on accessing such mechanisms; navigating bureaucratic processes; dispute resolution; and addressing housing, land, and property issues.

· Promote and advocate for equitable access to government support and/or public services. Program efforts may include establishing public/private service delivery partnerships; establishing effective referral networks, including follow-up to ensure referrals result in improved access to services; increasing the capacity of civil society to advocate for reform; and improving public understanding and sensitivity to the needs of the vulnerable.

· Strengthen the capacity of families, communities, and the government to provide protection for and ensure the rights of children affected by conflict, including advocacy on child rights; the ability to establish citizenship without identification of the father; family reunification and community reintegration, particularly for ISIS survivors; and juvenile justice.

· Access to protection and service provision, including psychosocial support and support to survivors of torture/GBV.

· Promote economic opportunities and provide livelihoods support.

The successful implementer of the Marla Ruzicka War Victims Fund must demonstrate a strong in-country presence in Iraq and ability to sub-grant to local organization(s); a comprehensive knowledge of the issues faced by victims of conflict; and the lessons learned from previous attempts to address their vulnerabilities. The implementer must be able to engage constructively with the GOI and KRG on issues related to compensation, property restitution, and livelihoods support; and must demonstrate an ability to safely and responsibly identify, access, and engage civilian victims of conflict, particularly the most vulnerable, including developing appropriate service protocols and methods for screening prospective recipients.

Community of Practice Resource Development and Coordination: DRL seeks an organization to nurture a community of practice of local and international organizations implementing democracy, human rights, and governance programs in Iraq, to include developing resources and convening periodic coordination meetings.

The successful applicant will be responsible for creating, maintaining, distributing, and publicizing resources that can be utilized by the community of practice. One such resource DRL seeks is a mapping of services and efforts, not limited to those funded by DRL, for use by other implementing organizations operating in Iraq. Services to be mapped should include efforts related to gender-based violence; legal, psychosocial, and economic support; and potentially other areas. Note: mapping is not meant to duplicate existing mechanisms coordinating humanitarian assistance. The applicant may propose additional resources that would be of use to the community of practice and should utilize existing platforms. Website development will not be deemed competitive. The implementer will coordinate with and build on existing DRL efforts to foster better coordination and complementarity among programs.

The successful applicant will also coordinate various convenings of the community of practice to include DRL stakeholders and partners (ranging from approximately 25-40 international and local organizations). DRL is not seeking new programming under this component; instead, activities will focus on the management of logistics for specific meetings. The successful applicant will be responsible for the logistics and coordination of the following meetings on a yearly basis, which must include robust local partner participation:

· One in-person stakeholder meeting for both international and local partners in a third country with USG participation (approximately thirty participants).

· Two to four in-person partner meetings in Baghdad and Erbil (approximately 20 participants each).

· Quarterly conference call meetings among partners.

· Several small-group, thematic-focused conference calls or in-person meetings.

With the exception of the third-country stakeholder meeting, costs associated with other coordination activities should be minimal, utilizing existing office space and locations. Costs for the third-country stakeholder meeting should not exceed $65,000. Iraq-based partner meetings should involve only Iraq-based staff.

This programming stream must stand alone, i.e., it may not be one component of a larger proposal. The funding ceiling for this objective is $300,000 and the target period of performance must be between 12 and 24 months. (Note: this is a different ceiling and duration than the one listed below for the remainder of this solicitation).

OTHER PROGRAM INFORMATION

For all programs, projects should aim to have impact that leads to reforms and should have the potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources. DRL’s preference is to avoid duplicating past efforts by supporting new and creative approaches. This does not exclude from consideration projects that improve upon or expand existing successful projects in a new and complementary way. Programs should seek to include groups that can bring perspectives based on their religion, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation and gender identity. Programs should demand-driven and locally led to the extent possible. DRL also requires all of its programming to be non-discriminatory and expects implementers to include strategies for integration of individuals/organizations regardless of religion, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, Project activities must take place in Iraq. Applicants may plan to conduct program activities throughout Iraq, including within the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR); however, projects that propose activities requiring disproportionate travel to the IKR from other areas of the country will not be deemed competitive. Where security conditions allow, activities should take place within the beneficiaries’ communities. Proposals that include the southern provinces will be viewed favorably. Programs that propose participant travel outside of Iraq will not be deemed competitive. Programs proposing activities inside IDP/refugee camps or targeting Syrian refugees in Iraq will not be deemed competitive.

A proven ability to implement programs in Iraq must be demonstrated. All proposed program objectives must impact Iraqis inside the country. DRL strongly encourages partnering with local organizations, including organizations who have not previously received DRL funding. DRL also requires all of its programming to be inclusive and expects implementers to include strategies for deliberate analysis, integration, and investment in at-risk or vulnerable individuals.

Training or workshops may be used as a tool to a larger goal, but should not be the main focus of a program. Projects for which assessments have already been completed that support certain targeted activities or interventions will be viewed favorably. Projects that have a strong academic, research, or conference focus will not be deemed competitive.

Where proposals include the involvement of security forces, Leahy vetting may be required, and proposals must address how organizations will meet this requirement in Iraq.

Where appropriate, competitive proposals may include:

· Opportunities for beneficiaries to apply their new knowledge and skills in practical efforts.

· Solicitation of feedback and suggestions from beneficiaries when developing activities in order to strengthen the sustainability of programs and participant ownership of project outcomes.

· Input from participants on sustainability plans and systematic review of the plans throughout the life of the project with adjustments made as necessary.

· Inclusion of vulnerable populations in needs and/or rapid assessments in order to identify challenges, gaps, and opportunities among these groups.

· Joint identification and definition of key concepts with relevant stakeholders and stakeholder input into project activities.

· Systematic follow up with beneficiaries at specific intervals (3 months, 6 months, etc.) after the completion of activities to track how beneficiaries are retaining new knowledge as well as applying their new skills.

Activities that are not typically allowed include, but are not limited to:

· The provision of humanitarian assistance;

· English language instruction;

· Development of high-tech computer or communications software and/or hardware;

· Purely academic exchanges or fellowships;

· External exchanges or fellowships lasting longer than six months;

· Off-shore activities that are not clearly linked to in-country initiatives and impact or are not necessary per security concerns;

· Theoretical explorations of human rights or democracy issues, including projects aimed primarily at research and evaluation that do not incorporate training or capacity-building for local civil society;

· Micro-loans or similar small business development initiatives;

· Initiatives directed towards a diaspora community rather than current residents of targeted countries.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Primary organizations can submit three applications in response to the NOFO. If an applicant chooses to submit multiple applications to this NOFO, it is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate the competitiveness and uniqueness of each application.

The U.S. government may (a) reject any or all applications, (b) accept other than the lowest cost application, (c) accept more than one application, and (d) waive irregularities in applications received.

The U.S. government may make award(s) on the basis of initial applications received, without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, each initial application should contain the applicant's best terms from a cost and technical standpoint. The U.S. government reserves the right (though it is under no obligation to do so), however, to enter into discussions with one or more applicants in order to obtain clarifications, additional detail, or to suggest refinements in the project description, budget, or other aspects of an application.

DRL anticipates awarding either a grant or cooperative agreement depending on the needs and risk factors of the program. The final determination on award mechanism will be made by the Grants Officer. The distinction between grants and cooperative agreements revolves around the existence of “substantial involvement.” Cooperative agreements require greater Federal government participation in the project. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, DRL will undertake reasonable and programmatically necessary substantial involvement. Examples of substantial involvement can include, but are not limited to:

1) Active participation or collaboration with the recipient in the implementation of the award.

2) Review and approval of one stage of work before another can begin.

3) Review and approval of substantive provisions of proposed subawards or contracts.

4) Approval of the recipient’s budget or plan of work prior to the award.

The authority for this funding opportunity is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA).

To maximize the impact and sustainability of the award(s) that result from this NOFO, DRL retains the right to execute non-competitive continuation amendment(s). The total duration of any award, including potential non-competitive continuation amendments, shall not exceed 60 months or five years. Any non-competitive continuation is contingent on performance and pending availability of funds. A non-competitive continuation is not guaranteed and the Department of State reserves the right to exercise or not to exercise this option.

DRL may require successful applicant(s) to incorporate coordination of an implementer and stakeholder meeting into the Scope of Work of the final project. DRL will discuss this possibility with particular applicant(s) during the proposal negotiation phase and may include, but not limited to the following:

· Additional funding to cover cost of the stakeholder meeting;

· Coordinating all logistics and hosting the meeting;

· Assisting applicants with visas;

· Drafting the agenda in coordination with DRL;

· Preparing all materials for the meeting;

· Securing outside speakers for the conference; and

· Hosting a networking event outside of the meeting space.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

FOR APPLICATION INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE THE PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS (PSI) ON OUR WEBSITE.

C.1 Eligible Applicants

DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.

Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures.

Please see 2 CFR 200.307 for regulations regarding program income.

C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching

Providing cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an eligibility factor or requirement for this NOFO, and providing cost share will not result in a more favorable competitive ranking.

C.3 Other

Applicants should have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with thematic or in-country partners, entities, and relevant stakeholders, including private sector partners and NGOs, and have demonstrable experience in administering successful and preferably similar projects. DRL encourages applications from foreign-based NGOs headquartered in the geographic regions/countries relevant to this NOFO. Applicants may form consortia in order to bring together organizations with varied expertise to propose a comprehensive program in one proposal. However, one organization should be designated in the proposal as the lead applicant, with the other members designated as sub-award partners. DRL reserves the right to request additional background information on applicants that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards, and these applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.

DRL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its projects and activities. DRL welcomes applications irrespective of race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status.

Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System in the System for Award Management (SAM)(www.sam.gov) and/or has a current debt to the United Stated Government is 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 or person listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov to ensure that no ineligible entity or person is included in their application.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

D.1 Address to Request Application Package

Applicants can find application forms, kits, or other materials needed to apply on www.grants.gov and SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com) under the announcement title “DRL Democracy, Human Rights, and Rule of Law in Iraq” funding opportunity number “SFOP0005572.” Please contact the DRL point of contact listed in Section G if requesting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or for security reasons. Please note that reasonable accommodations do not include deadline extensions.

D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission

For all application documents, please ensure:

1) All documents are in English and all costs are in U.S. dollars. If an original document within the application is in another language, an English translation must be provided (please note the Department of State, as indicated in 2 CFR 200.111, requires that English is the official language of all award documents. If any document is provided in both English and a foreign language, the English language version is the controlling version);

2) All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments;

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

4) All documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins. Captions and footnotes may be 10-point Times New Roman font. Font sizes in charts and tables, including the budget, can be reformatted to fit within 1 page width.

D.2.1 Application Requirements

Complete applications must include the following:

1) Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B forms. Please see SF-424 instructions in Section 2B of the PSI.

2) If your organization engages in lobbying the U.S. government, including Congress, or pays another entity to lobby on your behalf, the SF-LLL “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” form is also required (only if applicable). Please see SF-LLL guidance in Section 2B of the PSI.

3) Cover Page (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably as a Word Document) that includes a table with the organization name, project title, target country/countries, project synopsis, and name and contact information for the application’s main point of contact. Please see Cover Page section 2C of the PSI for a template and more details.

4) Executive Summary (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably as a Word Document) that outlines project goals, objectives, activities, etc.

5) Table of Contents (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably as a Word Document) listing all documents and attachments with page numbers.

6) Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten [10] pages, preferably as a Word Document). Please note the ten-page limit does not include the Cover Page, Executive Summary, Table of Contents, Attachments, Detailed Budget, Budget Narrative, Audit, or NICRA. Applicants are encouraged to combine multiple documents in a single Word Document or PDF (i.e. Cover Page, Table of Contents, Executive Summary, and Proposal Narrative in one file). Please see Proposal Narrative Guidelines in Section 2E of the PSI for more details.

· DRL requests a Proposal Narrative that demonstrates the Applicant’s commitment to ensuring the participation of all people as a strategy for implementation. Please integrate inclusion strategies in all sections of the Proposal Narrative to enhance programmatic impact.

7) Budget (preferably as an Excel workbook) that includes three [3] columns containing the request to DRL, any cost sharing contribution, and the total budget. A summary budget should also be included using the OMB-approved budget categories (see SF-424A as a sample) in a separate tab. Costs must be in U.S. dollars. Detailed line-item budgets for subgrantees should be included as additional tabs within the Excel workbook (if available at the time of submission). Please see Budget Guidelines Section 2F of the PSI for more information.

· DRL requests a programming approach dedicated to strengthening inclusive societies as a necessary pillar of strong democracies. Please include costs associated with this commitment in the budget and budget narrative.

8) Budget Narrative (preferably as a Word Document) that includes substantive explanations and justifications for each line-item in the detailed budget spreadsheet, as well as the source and a description of all cost-share offered. Please see Budget Guidelines Section 2F of the PSI for more information.

9) Your organization’s most recent audit, if applicable. This should be a single audit, program-specific audit, or other audit in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS). Please see Audit Section 2G of the PSI for more information.

10) Logic Model (preferably as a Word Document). Please see Logic Model Section 2H of the PSI for more information.

11) Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative (not to exceed four [4] pages, preferably as a Word Document). Please see Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative Section 2I of the PSI for more information.

· As stated within the DRL Guide to Program Monitoring and Evaluation (p. 6): DRL strongly encourages applicants to consider whether their monitoring and evaluation systems are utilizing human rights-based approaches, applying a gender and equity lens, or include the participation of sub-grantees and project participants. Within the Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative, applicants should demonstrate their commitment to inclusive strategies and consider whether evaluation design, data collection, analysis, reporting and learning are conducted in an ethical and responsible way with all project participants (e.g. direct beneficiaries, sub-grantees). Applicants should still make adequate provisions to protect the privacy of human subjects when collecting data from individuals. For instance, when collecting data from project participants, consider whether your organization will have the necessary informed consent forms, confidentiality agreements, and data security protocols.

12) Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (preferably as a Word Document or Excel Sheet). Please see Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Section 2I of the PSI for more information.

13) Risk Analysis (preferably as a Word Document). Please see Risk Analysis Section 2J of the PSI for more information.

14) Key Personnel (not to exceed two [2] pages, preferably as a Word Document). Please include short bios that highlight relevant professional experience. Given the limited space, CVs are not recommended for submission.

15) Timeline (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably as a Word Document or Excel Sheet). The timeline of the overall proposal should include activities, evaluation efforts, and program closeout.

16) Security Plan addressing any issues involving in-person events and recruitment for said events, and safety for any online programs or communications, including independent IT security audits (to include a vulnerability assessment) of any proposed web application or platform. Organization’s security plan should demonstrate consideration of the risks identified in the submitted risk assessment. Costs may also be identified within the budget and budget narrative. Applicants are also encouraged to include contingency plans for in-person or online activities.

17) Contingency Plan for proposed activities should the originally planned activities not be able to be implemented. The contingency plan should be submitted as an additional annex. Applicants should demonstrate consideration of the risks identified in the submitted risk assessment and include specific alternative activities or locations as part of the contingency plan. Any proposed “plan” must comply with 2CFR200.433 – Contingency provisions. Plans must not include unallocable or unallowable expenses, and must not result in a larger Total Award Value than the identified as the “competition ceiling”. DRL/GP requires prior approval by the Grants Officer of the “plan” before any activities can take place, or costs can be incurred against the “plan”.

18) Lessons Learned (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably as a Word Document) from past programs (insert country or theme) that demonstrate how the implementer has safely operated and responded to programmatic challenges, learning from both successes and failures, in the operating environment. To be incorporated into the ten [10] pages allowed for “Proposal Narrative.” (Internal DRL Guidance: Remove this if your team does not require)

19) Psychosocial Assistance. A section in the proposal, budget, and budget narrative to reflect appropriate resources and support for the psychosocial health of staff (i.e., activities can range from access to educational materials and training opportunities to counseling services to other contextually-relevant support). To be incorporated into the ten [10] pages allowed for “Proposal Narrative,” and into “Budget” and “Budget Narrative”. (Internal DRL Guidance: Remove this if your team does not require)

· References: For reference to international guidance, please see the following: Core Humanitarian Standard Commitment 8.9 (http://redirect.state.sbu/?url=http://www.corehumanitarianstandard.org/files/files/CHS-Guidance-Notes-and-Indicators.pdf); and IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings Action Sheet 4.4 (http://redirect.state.sbu/?url=http://www.who.int/mental_health/emergencies/guidelines_iasc_mental_health_psychosocial_june_2007.pdf.

20) Gender Analysis of Conflict. Proposals should also include a gender analysis of conflict to address how the program will identify the relevance of gender norms and power relations in Iraq. This includes institutional practices, cultural norms, gender roles, access to and control over assets and resources, and patterns of decision-making. The gender analysis should present how gender norms interact with other factors to drive or mitigate conflict, the differential impact of conflict on women and men, and an understanding of the roles of women and men in conflict and peacebuilding.

21) Safeguarding Federal Funds. Applicants are required to demonstrate their ability to safeguard federal funding from fraud, waste, and abuse through security practices, financial oversight, and administrative controls they have or will put in place.

Applications that do not include the elements listed above will be deemed technically ineligible.

D.2.2 Additional Application Documents

Strong applications will also contain the following:

· Individual Letters of Support and/or Memorandum of Understanding. Letters of support and MOUs must be specific to the project implementation (e.g. from proposed partners or sub-award recipients) and will not count towards the page limit.

Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instructions on DRL’s website for detailed guidance on the documents above: https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/286844.pdf. For an application checklist and sample templates please see the Resources page on DRL’s website: http://www.state.gov/j/drl/p/c72333.htm. The sample templates provided on the DRL website are suggested, but not mandatory.

DRL reserves the right to request additional documents not included in this NOFO. Additionally, to ensure that all applications receive a balanced evaluation, the DRL Review Panel will review from the first page of each section up to the page limit and no further.

Note: If ultimately provided with a notification of non-binding intent to make a Federal award, applicants typically have two to three weeks to provide additional information and documents requested in the notification of intent. The deadlines may vary in each notification of intent and applicants must adhere to the stated deadline in the notification of intent.

D.2.3 Additional Information Requested For Those Receiving Notification of Intent

Successful applicants must submit after notification of intent to make a Federal award, but prior to issuance of a Federal award:

· Written responses and revised application documents addressing conditions and recommendations from the DRL Review Panel;

· If your organization has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA as a PDF file;

· Completion of the Department’s Financial Management Survey, if receiving DRL funding for the first time;

· Submission of required documents to register in the Payment Management System managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, if receiving DRL funding for the first time (unless an exemption is provided); and,

· Other requested information or documents included in the notification of intent to make a Federal award or subsequent communications prior to issuance of a Federal award.

D.3 Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

All prime organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), formerly referred to as DUNS, and an active registration with the SAM.gov before submitting an application. DRL may not review applications from or make awards to applicants that have not completed all applicable UEI and SAM.gov requirements. 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: The process of obtaining a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

· If you are based in the United States or pay employees within the United States, prior to registering in SAM.gov you will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code.

· If you are based outside of the United States and do not pay employees within the United States, you do not need an EIN from the IRS. However, you will need a NATO CAGE (NCAGE) code before you can have an active registration in SAM.gov.

All prime organizations must also continue to maintain active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which they have an active Federal award or application under consideration by a Federal award agency. SAM.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM.gov and to maintain that active registration. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements at the time of application, the applicant may be deemed unqualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

For further guidance on the registration process, please see the SAM.gov Registration Guide on DRL’s website: http://www.state.gov/j/drl/p/c72333.htm. Please refer to 2 CFR 25.200 for additional information. Also, please refer to Section D.5 - Funding Restriction of the NOFO.

Note: SAM.gov is not the same as SAMS Domestic. It is free to register in both systems, but the registration processes are different.

In October 2017, new information was added to the www.SAM.gov website to help international registrations, including “Quick Start Guide for International Registrations” and “Helpful Hints.” Navigate to SAM.gov, click HELP in the top navigation bar, then click International Registrants in the left navigation panel. Please note, guidance on SAM.gov and the guidance on GSA’s website about requirement for registering in SAM.gov is subject to change. Applicants should review the website for the most up-to-date guidance.

D.3.1 Exemptions

An exemption from these 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.

** 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 Grant Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review. **

Note: Foreign organizations will be required to register with the NATO Support Agency (NSPA) to receive a NCAGE code in order to register in SAM.gov. NSPA will forward your registration request to the applicable National Codification Bureau (NCB) if your organization is located in a NATO or Tier 2 Sponsored Non-NATO Nation. As of March 2016, NATO nations included Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States of America; and Tier 2 nations included Australia, Austria, Brazil, Finland, Israel, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Serbia, and Singapore.

NSPA and/or the appropriate NCB forwards all NCAGE code information to all Allied Committee 135 (AC/135) nations, which as of March 2016 also included Afghanistan, Argentina, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Montenegro, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates. All organizations are strongly advised to take this into consideration when assessing whether registration may result in possible endangerment.

D.4 Submission Dates and Times

Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), on Friday, April 26, 2019 on www.grants.gov or SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com) under the announcement title “DRL Democracy, Human Rights, and Rule of Law in Iraq” funding opportunity number “SFOP0005572.”

Grants.gov and SAMS Domestic 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. Late applications are neither reviewed nor considered unless the DRL point of contact listed in Section G is contacted prior to the deadline and is provided with evidence of system errors caused by www.grants.gov or SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com) that is outside of the applicant’s control and is the sole reason for a late submission. Applicants should not expect a notification upon DRL receiving their application.

D.5 Funding Restrictions

DRL will not consider applications that reflect any type of support for any member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist organization. Please refer the link for Foreign Terrorist Organizations: https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm Project activities whose direct beneficiaries are foreign militaries or paramilitary groups or individuals will not be considered for DRL funding given purpose limitations on funding.

The Leahy Law prohibits Department foreign assistance funds from supporting foreign security force units if the Secretary of State has credible information that the unit has committed a gross violation of human rights. Per 22 USC §2378d(a) (2015), “No assistance shall be furnished under this chapter [FOREIGN ASSISTANCE] or the Arms Export Control Act [22 USC 2751 et seq.] to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country if the Secretary of State has credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights.” Restrictions may apply to any proposed assistance to police or other law enforcement. Among these, pursuant to section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA), no assistance provided through this funding opportunity may be furnished to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country when there is credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights. In accordance with the requirements of section 620M of the FAA, also known as the Leahy law, project beneficiaries or participants from a foreign government’s security forces may need to be vetted by the Department before the provision of any assistance. If a proposed grant or cooperative agreement will provide assistance to foreign security forces or personnel, compliance with the Leahy Law is required.

Federal awards generally will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs; however, the Grants Officer may approve pre-award costs on a case-by-case basis. Generally, construction costs are not allowed under DRL awards. For additional information, please see the DRL Proposal Submission Instructions for Applications Updated October 2018: https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/286844.pdf.

D.6 Application Submission

All application submissions must be made electronically via www.grants.gov or SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com). Both systems require registration by the applying organization. Please note: the Grants.gov registration process can take ten [10] business days or longer, even if all registration steps are completed in a timely manner.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that it has an active registration in SAMS Domestic or Grants.gov. Applicants are required to document that the application has been received by SAMS Domestic or Grants.gov in its entirety. DRL bears no responsibility for disqualification that result from applicants not being registered before the due date, for system errors in either SAMS Domestic or Grants.gov, or other errors in the application process. Additionally you must save a screen shot of the checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document fails to upload successfully.

Faxed, couriered, or emailed documents will not be accepted. Reasonable accommodations may, in appropriate circumstances, be provided to applicants with disabilities or for security reasons. Applicants must follow all formatting instructions in the applicable NOFO and these instructions.

DRL encourages organizations to submit applications during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)). If an applicant experiences technical difficulties and has contacted the appropriate helpdesk but is not receiving timely assistance (e.g. if you have not received a response within 48 hours of contacting the helpdesk), you may contact the DRL point of contact listed in the NOFO in Section G. The point of contact may assist in contacting the appropriate helpdesk, but an applicant should also document their efforts in contacting the helpdesk. Applicants may also contact the DRL point of contact listed in the NOFO if experiencing technical issues with Grants.gov or SAMS Domestic that may result in a late submission.

Applicants experiencing technical difficulties should follow these three steps:

1. Contact the helpdesk for either Grants.gov or SAMS Domestic immediately.

2. Document (including screenshots) technical issues AND efforts to contact the helpdesk.

3. Submit all of the required documents to the DRL point of contact listed in the NOFO before the deadline.

Note: The Procurement Office/Grant Office will determine technical eligibility of all applications.

SAMS Domestic Applications:

Applicants using SAMS Domestic for the first time should complete their “New Organization Registration.” To register with SAMS Domestic, click “Login to https://mygrants.service-now.com” and follow the “create an account” link.

Organizations must remember to save a screen shot of the checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document fails to upload successfully.

SAMS Domestic Help Desk:

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