FY21 MWF_NOFO.pdf

Department of State

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Notice of Funding Opportunity

(NOFO): FY 2021 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement

Funding Opportunity Number: SFOP0007630

Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) Number: 19.009

Key Date/Application Deadline: April 23, 2021

Program Description/Executive Summary: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural

Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State is seeking proposal submissions for one cooperative agreement to design, implement, and oversee the Mandela Washington

Fellowship for Young African Leaders. Begun in 2014, the Mandela Washington

Fellowship has enjoyed great success in its first seven years, building and sustaining a committed network of approximately 4,400 young African leaders across critical sectors to cement stronger ties between Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States and to prepare the African participants (Fellows) for leadership roles across the continent. The Mandela

Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative

(YALI), which aims to strengthen democratic institutions and good governance, spur economic growth and prosperity, and enhance peace and security across Africa and the

United States.

The award recipient will be responsible for planning and administering all components and aspects of the Mandela Washington Fellowship including six-week Leadership

Institutes at U.S. campuses for approximately 700 Fellows, a Summit for all Fellows, Professional Development Experiences (PDEs) for approximately 100 Fellows, follow-on alumni activities, and a Reciprocal Exchange component that includes at least 100

American participants. Under this award, the first group of Fellows would travel to the

United States for the Leadership Institutes in summer 2022. The award recipient should design the Fellow application materials, develop an outreach and recruitment plan, receive and screen applications in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, and oversee the final Fellow selection and placement process. The recipient will recruit, select, and oversee the U.S. host institutions that will implement the Leadership Institutes in one of three themes: Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management.

The Leadership Institutes should be six weeks long and should take place at an accredited

U.S. college or university. The Institutes should provide groups of 25 young African leaders with an intensive academic course on one of the three themes, as well as include robust leadership development components, networking opportunities, community service activities, site visits, and cultural enrichment. Please see Overview of Leadership

Institutes, section A.2, and the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) for more information.

The Summit should take place at either the beginning or the end of the Institutes for three or four days. The PDEs are professional placements at relevant U.S. businesses, non-governmental organizations, or U.S. government agencies and should take place after the

Leadership Institute and Summit. The Reciprocal Exchange component should provide small grants to approximately 100 Americans to travel to Sub-Saharan Africa to build upon strategic partnerships and professional connections developed during the Mandela

Washington Fellowship in the United States. Please see the POGI for more information on these program components.

Applicants should submit a proposal to administer all Leadership Institutes, the Summit, the PDEs, the Reciprocal Exchange component, and follow-on alumni activities. ECA will award one cooperative agreement comprising all of these activities.

Applicants may submit only one proposal under this competition. If multiple proposals are received from the same applicant, all submissions will be declared ineligible and receive no further consideration in the review process.

It is anticipated that the total amount of funding available for this cooperative agreement will be approximately $16,950,000. Each U.S. university or college selected to host an

Institute should expect costs of approximately $250,000, inclusive of cost share. Of this total amount, the recipient should be prepared to transfer approximately $215,000 to host universities/non-governmental organizations for the administration of each Institute under sub-award agreements. ECA welcomes applications from U.S. public and private non-profit organizations, consortium of organizations, and accredited post-secondary U.S.

education institutions meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section

26 USC 501(c)(3). It is the Bureau’s intent to award one cooperative agreement (one base year plus two non-competitive continuations) for an estimated total amount of

$50,850,000, pending successful performance. Please see section B.) Federal Award

Information, below for additional details.

ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets, participant numbers, Institute themes, the number of Institutes, and/or countries based on program needs and the availability of U.S. government funding (see Eligibility Information, section C).

A. Program Description:

Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-256, as amended, also known as the

Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of the Act is “to enable the Government of the United

States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries...; to strengthen the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United States and other nations...and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States and the other countries of the world.” The funding authority for the program above is provided through legislation.

A.1. Purpose:

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African

Leaders Initiative (YALI), which also includes the YALI Africa Regional Leadership

Centers and the online YALI Network. The Fellowship aims to build the skills of young

African leaders to improve the accountability and transparency of government, start and expand their own businesses, and serve their communities. The Fellowship provides

African leaders with the opportunity to further develop their skills through six weeks of intensive Leadership Institutes at a U.S. college or university as well as other activities.

A.2. Overview of the Leadership Institutes:

Each Leadership Institute should be approximately six weeks long and held at an accredited U.S. university or college. U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions of a 501(c)3 are eligible to apply as a sub-award recipient;

however, the Leadership Institutes should take place on a U.S. college or university campus. (See section A.9 Program Administration for more information on host universities.)

The academic program of each Institute should examine American leadership in one of the three themes: Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management. Institutes should be structured to provide Fellows with exposure to American leadership approaches;

highlight challenges and successes in business, civic engagement, and public management; and enable Fellows to connect American examples to the African context.

The recipient will be responsible for providing guidelines for curricula to host institutions to promote a consistent level of quality and thematic content in each Institute. In addition to the academic coursework, the Institutes should include practical hands-on training related to the given theme. Site visits in the community should provide opportunities to observe and participate in varied aspects of American life as they relate to the Institute topic and to discuss lessons learned in the academic program.

In addition to promoting enhanced knowledge and skills in the Institute topic, an important objective of the Institutes is to develop the Fellows’ leadership skills. In this context, the academic program should include a robust universal leadership curriculum to be implemented across all three Institute tracks. The leadership component should consist of group discussions, trainings, and exercises that focus on topics such as consensus building, networking, negotiation, collective problem solving, effective communication and public speaking, and management skills. The recipient should also propose a leadership assessment that each Fellow will complete and a sample curriculum for Institutes to utilize the results of the leadership assessment.

Institutes should also include a community service component in which the Fellows experience firsthand the key role of not-for-profit organizations and volunteerism as a core value in American civil society. Institutes should highlight the importance of community service and discuss impacts of the activity in the community.

Institutes should provide Fellows with an in-depth examination of one of the themes outlined under Institute Themes. Fellows should gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Institutes should foster ECA’s mission to promote mutual understanding between citizens of other countries and citizens of the United States. Institutes should foster an inclusive environment by incorporating speakers from diverse backgrounds and encouraging open and collaborative discussions. In addition, the programs should include robust opportunities for Fellows to meet Americans from a variety of backgrounds, to interact with U.S. peers, and to engage with appropriate student and civic groups to share their experiences and life in their home communities.

ECA’s goal is to resume in-person exchanges beginning in summer 2022. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on travel and university operations, it is unclear when current travel restrictions and health advisories will allow for in-person program activities to take place. As such, proposals should include language to demonstrate maximum flexibility, creativity, and a rapid response capability for program planning and administration. Applicants should also address the steps taken to ensure continuity of services should the current situation continue for an extended period of time. The applicant should present innovative options for virtual activities to augment, and/or substitute for, in-person engagement with all program stakeholders, if exchange travel continues to not be possible.

Institute Themes:

1) Leadership in Business Institutes should provide Fellows with an overview of U.S.

entrepreneurial strategies, including those that are employed to address social issues.

The Institutes should focus on developing Fellows’ skills in business and entrepreneurship while examining the development, history, challenges, and successes of U.S. enterprises and social enterprises, in the United States and globally, with specific relevance to the African continent. Topics may include, but are not limited to, business plan development, business ethics, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, international and regional trade, infrastructure and service delivery, strategies for sustainable business development, public-private partnerships, and financial management, among others. The Institutes should encourage Fellows to elaborate innovative and practical plans to expand their engagement in business and/or entrepreneurship in their communities and to engage with others in this area.

2) Leadership in Civic Engagement Institutes should provide Fellows with an overview of how citizens both as individuals and in groups, have shaped U.S. history, government, and society, including discussion of similarities and contrasts with experiences and opportunities on the African continent. The academic program should define civic engagement; examine its development in the United States; and build skills in topics such as active citizenship, community building, economic development, grass-roots activism, social justice, political organizing and leadership, volunteerism, and the ways in which traditional and social media can be leveraged to advance civic causes. The Institutes should encourage Fellows to develop innovative and practical plans to expand their engagement as citizens in their own communities and to work with others in this area.

3) Leadership in Public Management Institutes should provide Fellows with an overview of public management and leadership including regional economic and workforce development, financial management in public and non-profit organizations, planning and the global knowledge economy, and domestic and foreign development policies. Within the broader frame of the public policy process, Institutes should expose Fellows to specific public management questions on topics such as public finance and budgeting, rule of law, education, public health, climate change and the environment, public sector accountability, transparency and good governance, wildlife trafficking, and foreign policy including multilateralism. The

Institutes should encourage Fellows to create innovative and practical plans to expand their engagement in public management in their communities and to work with others in this area.

A.3. Overview of the Professional Development Experience:

The award recipient will be responsible for arranging four-week Professional

Development Experiences (PDEs) in the United States for approximately 100 of the

Fellows. The Fellows selected for the PDEs will have distinguished records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive change in their organizations, institutions, and communities. The PDEs are intended to provide Fellows with substantive professional experiences within U.S. organizations to enhance their leadership skills, expand practical skillsets, and provide opportunities for the Fellows to form mutually beneficial long-term professional relationships with their U.S.

counterparts. For U.S. companies and organizations, the PDEs afford a unique opportunity to benefit from the insights and knowledge of dynamic young African professionals. As PDE Fellows often work in the same sector as the host U.S.

organization or company, the PDEs allow the U.S. host to build global networks and expand their work to, or throughout, Africa. PDEs should be designed to offer an engaging experience for Fellows within relevant agencies and/or organizations. The U.S.

Department of State requires one placement for the full duration of PDEs (rather than shorter successive placements) in order to allow the Fellow to get an in-depth understanding of the organization. PDE Fellows should also have the option to complete an extended virtual experience or project with the U.S. host. Host organizations should expect to host one or in some cases two Fellows per PDE. Host organizations with multiple campuses may host up to three Fellows in different cities. Proposals must discuss how the award recipient, in collaboration with ECA, will recruit and select diverse U.S. host organizations.

To ensure that each Fellow has a substantive professional experience at his/her PDE, PDEs should involve the commitment of at least one designated host supervisor/mentor who understands the goals and objectives of the Mandela Washington Fellowship. The supervisor/mentor will be able and willing to provide the Fellow professional insight in the appropriate field of expertise.

Please note that the award recipient must secure all placements of PDEs in advance of the arrival of the Fellows in the United States.

A.4. Overview of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit

The recipient will be responsible for planning and implementing a Summit either at the beginning or the end of the Leadership Institutes. Fellows will convene for a Summit to forge connections with one another and U.S. leaders from the private, public, and non-profit sectors, setting the stage for long-term engagement. The Summit will occur over the course of three to four days and should include the following aspects: interaction among Fellows and senior U.S. government officials, U.S. civic leaders, and members of the diplomatic community; interaction among Fellows and leaders in climate change and the environment, agriculture, public health, science and technology, business, and banking and finance, among others; inspirational speeches from distinguished American leaders and/or other prominent leaders; opportunities for Fellows to engage with each other formally and informally, including one networking day; workshops and seminars that further complement and reinforce academic themes explored during the Institute and the leadership curriculum; and information sharing on alumni and follow-on activities.

The Summit is also an opportunity for host Institute staff to exchange ideas for future programming. Institute staff will participate in a debriefing session with program staff.

Applicants should include a plan to recruit Summit speakers along with a timeline.

The Summit budget should include all housing and meal arrangements for Fellows and

Institute staff. The recipient must propose possible locations for the Summit, including, but not limited to, Washington, D.C. The recipient should also propose plans for virtual engagement with Fellows.

A.5. Overview of the Reciprocal Exchange Component:

The recipient will be responsible for administering the Mandela Washington Fellowship

Reciprocal Exchange component for at least 100 American professionals. The

Reciprocal Exchange component should provide funding opportunities for Americans from the private, public, and non-profit sectors to collaborate with Fellowship Alumni on projects across Sub-Saharan Africa. Through these projects, U.S. experts and leaders should work with Fellows to tackle critical issues such as climate change, good governance, public health, education, and development. Projects should also encourage lasting partnerships, contribute to market or network expansion, and other priority areas, and increase mutual understanding between the United States and countries in Sub-

Saharan Africa. The recipient is responsible for managing the application form for both the American professionals and for Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni from all cohorts since 2014 (as hosts and project partners) to compete in a merit-based open competition for a Reciprocal Exchange. Please see the POGI for more information on this component.

A.6. Overview of Alumni/Follow-on Activities:

Proposals should provide plans for continued follow-on activities that ensure that ECA-supported programs are not isolated events. Proposed follow-on activities for alumni

(Fellows and American Reciprocal Exchange participants) should include innovative ideas, must reflect the goals and objectives of the program, and must contribute to ECA’s mission to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and of other countries. The proposal should include an outline of follow-on alumni programming (including a timeline), information regarding how it will be coordinated with existing alumni efforts, and a description of how long-term linkages with alumni will be fostered and maintained.

Proposals should include plans for a small grant component encouraging project collaboration and a sharing of best practices among alumni. Proposals should also include a way to recognize outstanding alumni who have a strong record of servant leadership and advocacy on behalf of the Fellowship. Applicants are encouraged to propose ways to provide technical support to Fellowship alumni, fund event travel, and support ongoing efforts of American Reciprocal Exchange alumni. Proposals should also reserve funds for on-demand alumni activities.

The award recipient is responsible for maintaining an alumni database with updated records of all Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni since 2014. The FY 2021 award recipient will be responsible for working with the FY 2018 award recipient to transfer previous data. Each applicant must confirm that its system for collecting and storing data on participants is compatible with the Bureau’s systems. For current and future

Fellowship Alumni, the database must continue to include biographical information on all participants, track media mentions and success stories, and include functionality to easily search for notable Fellowship Alumni by name, Leadership Institute name, cohort year, professional sector, keywords, and other search criteria.

Applicants should designate at least one staff member to oversee alumni activities. The award recipient will report to ECA on the outcomes and effectiveness of all alumni activities and administer an alumni evaluation throughout the period of the cooperative agreement, as well as provide information on aggregate data and outcomes of the evaluation. ECA will collaborate with the award recipient on alumni follow-on activities.

Please see the POGI for more information.

A.7. Overview of Recruitment and Selection:

Proposals must demonstrate the capacity for the recipient to conduct a recruitment and selection process for Fellows, PDEs (including participants and host organizations), Reciprocal Exchange participants, and Institute Partners. The recipient will be responsible for developing creative and comprehensive plans for the recruitment of applicants through an open competition for all Mandela Washington Fellowship opportunities. The recruitment plans should make clear the primary purpose and audience for key messages, making sure to differentiate between recruitment and general program marketing and promotion. The recruitment plans should include the development of marketing materials including, but not limited to, print materials (flyers, fact sheets, one pagers, brochures); prerecorded content (radio advertisements, podcasts, etc.); online content (website information, social media campaigns); and outreach to stakeholders in U.S. higher education, sectors related to Fellows’ professional backgrounds, and other relevant stakeholders. Successful recruitment plans will provide specific strategies for attracting well-qualified and diverse pools of applicants, as well as the ability to translate materials into other languages such as French and Portuguese. All aspects of diversity included in ECA’s Diversity Statement should be addressed in the recruitment plans including, where applicable, institutional, geographic, racial, gender, ethnic, age, religious, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

The recipient will be responsible for creating a Fellow application form that will be posted on the program website for an open competition. Please see the POGI for more information.

Additionally, the recipient is responsible for developing and managing a viable recruitment, selection, and placement plan that allows for U.S. Department of State involvement. Applicants for the Mandela Washington Fellowship should have the option of applying for PDEs. The plan should also include the development of application forms for the Reciprocal Exchange and other alumni opportunities so that American professionals and Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni from all cohorts since 2014

(as hosts and project partners) can apply in an open competition. U.S. embassies and consulates and other U.S. government agencies throughout Sub-Saharan Africa will play a significant role in recruitment and selection. Proposals should include information about how the recipient plans to collaborate with posts in recruitment efforts. Please see the POGI for more information.

A.8. Overview of Outreach:

In addition to the recruitment plans, the proposal must include an outline to describe how the Mandela Washington Fellowship will be publicized to various audiences and media outlets, including print, online, and broadcast, to reach the widest possible audience of qualified applicants, potential U.S. host institutions, PDE host organizations, and other relevant audiences. The proposal must also include a community outreach plan to educate Americans on the Mandela Washington Fellowship, particularly those who will interact with Fellows during the Institutes, Summit, and PDEs; outreach should include print and virtual content.

Additionally, the proposal should address the recipient’s ability to maintain the Mandela

Washington Fellowship website and all of its components, including the private

Fellowship Portal. The Fellowship Portal should provide additional information about the Fellowship to alumni and selected finalists and alternates. The award recipient must regularly check the website content to ensure that all posted material is current and correct and must submit any new strategies for presenting program information or major revisions of current online materials to ECA in advance for approval. ECA may request that website content be added or removed in a timely manner. On occasion, ECA may request that the recipient assist in promoting and coordinating opportunities for

Fellowship Alumni with other elements of YALI including the YALI Network and the

YALI Africa Regional Leadership Centers.

Once an award is issued, the recipient should develop a comprehensive outreach plan designed to raise public awareness of the Mandela Washington Fellowship and to demonstrate inclusiveness, innovations, and the U.S. and international impact of the program.

Publications, program materials, the website, and all other online platforms, including social media and websites, should explain the mission of the Mandela Washington

Fellowship and emphasize the U.S. Department of State’s role as the program’s sponsor and manager. As such, all materials should note that “The Mandela Washington

Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by [award recipient].” When applicable, the note should include a link to the program website. This language should appear prominently on all print and electronic materials and should precede any language regarding the role of the award recipient in administering the program. Publications should prominently feature the Mandela Washington Fellowship logo and the U.S.

Department of State seal in accordance with established guidelines. The outreach strategy and all publication materials, including cover designs, must be submitted to ECA for approval prior to publication and dissemination.

Please see the POGI for more information.

A.9. Program Administration:

ECA is seeking detailed proposals from U.S. public and private non-profit organizations, consortia of organizations, and accredited post-secondary U.S. education institutions meeting the eligibility requirements outlined below.

ECA intends to issue one cooperative agreement and is seeking proposals from organizations with the ability to administer a complex recruitment and selection process;

develop and oversee Leadership Institutes and a robust leadership curriculum at host universities around the country; identify, coordinate, support, and monitor PDEs;

administer the Reciprocal Exchange component; develop and oversee alumni activities;

organize the Summit; and manage the program website and Fellowship Portal, among other responsibilities. Recipients may be U.S. public or private non-profit organizations, a consortium of organizations, and accredited post-secondary U.S. education institutions that will provide at least 28 sub-awards to host colleges, universities, or non-profit organizations to implement the Leadership Institutes. The majority of Institute activities should take place on a U.S. college or university campus. The recipient will serve as the lead administrator and will be responsible for the oversight of all aspects of this project, including managing and monitoring performance of all sub-award recipients. The FY

2021 award recipient will need to be prepared to work with the FY 2020 award recipient in ensuring the success of the program going forward. Please see the POGI for more

A.10. Program Guidelines:

It is essential that proposals provide a detailed and comprehensive narrative describing the objectives of the overall program; Leadership Institute content and curricula;

leadership curriculum; budgets; and plans for the Summit, the Reciprocal Exchange component, PDEs, and alumni activities. For the Leadership Institutes, the proposal should demonstrate the applicant’s ability to recruit host colleges, universities, or non-profit organizations that reflect regional and other diversity, including public, private, urban, rural, minority serving institutions, and community colleges. Leadership Institutes must take place on a U.S. college or university campus.

Overall, proposals will be reviewed on the basis of their responsiveness to NOFO criteria listed in Section E. Application Review Information. The POGI provides program-specific guidelines that all proposals must address fully.

Please note:

In a cooperative agreement, the Department is substantially involved in program activities above and beyond routine monitoring. These activities and the roles and responsibilities of the Department and your organization are outlined in the POGI.

ECA will provide advice and assistance on the Institutes as indicated in the POGI. ECA may request that the recipient make modifications to the program. The recipient will be required to obtain approval of significant program changes in advance of their implementation.

Proposal narratives should include a commitment to implement the program for the base year, plus two additional non-competitive continuations, pending successful performance.

The narrative should focus on details specific to the implementation of the base year program, with the understanding that the program design, duration, and participant numbers would be similar when/if the subsequent two non-competitive continuations are exercised. ECA will perform an annual performance evaluation/review to determine if a non-competitive continuation will be exercised. Satisfactory performance and the availability of funds is a condition of continued administration of the program and execution of all non-competitive continuations.

B. Federal Award Information:

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement

ECA’s level of involvement in this program is listed under section A. Program

Description above.

Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2021 base year, up to $16,950,000; FY 2022 Non-Competitive

Continuation year one, up to $16,950,000, pending successful performance and the availability of funds; FY 2023 Non-Competitive Continuation year two, up to

$16,950,000, pending successful performance and the availability of funds.

Approximate Total Funding: $50,850,000. This figure represents base year plus two

Non-Competitive Continuation years, pending successful performance and the availability of funds.

Approximate Number of Awards: One

Floor of Award Range: None

Ceiling of Award Range: $16,950,000 for FY 2021 base year (or $50,850,000 for the base year plus two Non-Competitive Continuation years)

Approximate Average Award: $16,950,000 for FY 2021 base year (or $50,850,000 for the base year plus two Non-Competitive Continuation years)

Anticipated Award Date: June 1, 2021

Anticipated Project Completion Date: November 30, 2025. This date reflects the anticipated duration of the award – one base year plus two non-competitive continuation years.

Additional Information: A Cooperative Agreement will be awarded for a period of 18 months (base year) with Non-Competitive Continuations for two additional 18 month periods (non-competitive continuation years one and two). ECA will notify the recipient of our intention to exercise or not to exercise a Non-Competitive Continuation at least 90 days in advance of expiration of the current year after an internal evaluation of the recipient’s performance. The decision to exercise a Non-Competitive Continuation will depend both on the satisfactory performance of the recipient and the availability of funds.

C. Eligibility Information:

C.1. Eligible applicants:

U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in

Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit applications for this competition. Applicants must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please see the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for additional

All applicants must also have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and be registered in SAM.gov (see additional information about this requirement in D.3a and D.3c below).

C.2. Other Eligibility Requirements:

a.) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchanges be limited to $130,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making one award, in an amount over $130,000, to support program and administrative costs required to implement this exchange program.

Therefore, organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition.

b.) Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the requirements stated in the NOFO, POGI, and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI); non-compliance will result in your proposal being declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review process. ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets, participant numbers, the number of Institutes, Institute themes, Institute format, and/or countries based on program needs and the availability of U.S. government funding.

Eligible applicants may not submit more than one proposal in this competition. If more than one proposal is received from the same applicant, all submissions will be declared technically ineligible and will receive no further consideration in the review process.

Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal name, and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 and additional supporting documentation outlined in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document.

C.3. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds:

There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.

When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s Guidance 2 CFR

Parts 200 and 600, entitled the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. In the event you do not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

D. Application and Submission Information:

Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals.

Once the NOFO deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.

D.1. Contact Information to Request an Application Package: Please contact

Program Officer Jessica Zanikos, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, ECA/A/E/USS, SA-5, 4th floor, U.S. Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, telephone: 202-374-6991, email: ZanikosJL@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package.

The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) document which consists of required application forms and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.

It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria, and budget instructions tailored to this competition.

Please specify Jessica Zanikos and refer to the Funding Opportunity Number located at the top of this announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.

D.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire Solicitation

Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's website at http://eca.state.gov/organizational-funding or from the Grants.gov website at http://www.grants.gov.

http://eca.state.gov/organizational-funding http://www.grants.gov/

D.2a. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation Package. The application should be submitted per the instructions under

D.3o. “Application Deadline and Method of Submission” section below.

D.3a. Unique Entity Identifier Number: You are required to have a Unique Entity

Identifier (UEI) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the U.S.

Government. This number is a nine-digit identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a UEI number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a UEI number, access http://www.dnb.com or call 1-866-705-5711. Please ensure that your UEI (Data Universal Numbering System or DUNS) number is included in the appropriate box of the SF – 424 which is part of the formal application package. For more detailed instructions for obtaining a UEI (DUNS) number, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

D.3b. Required Proposal Elements: All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal narrative, budget, and budget narrative.

D.3c. Required Registration with the System for Award Management (SAM): All federal award applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database in order to submit a proposal in response to an open competition on Grants.gov.

All federal award recipients must maintain a current registration in the SAM database.

Recipients must maintain accurate and up-to-date information in www.SAM.gov until all program and financial activity and reporting is completed on any issued award.

Recipients must review and update the information at least annually after the initial registration and more frequently if required information changes or another award is granted. There is no cost associated with registering or updating SAM.gov accounts.

Failure to register in SAM.gov will render applicants ineligible to receive funding.

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html

D.3d. Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity Information System (FAPIIS):

Prior to making a Federal Assistance award over $250,000, the Federal agency is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in FAPIIS

(see 41 U.S.C. 2313) and accessible through SAM.gov. If an Applicant is currently in

FAPIIS, they can comment on any information about its organization that a Federal awarding agency previously entered. The Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 CFR §200.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

http://www.dnb.com/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html

D.3e. Required Registration with SAMS Domestic: All ECA award recipient organizations and recipient contacts and signatories must be registered with the U.S.

Department of State’s SAMS Domestic by accessing https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com and clicking the “create an account” link.

SAMS Domestic is the U.S. Department of State’s grants management system and is supported by the Department’s Integrated Logistics Management System (ILMS).

Recipient organizations and recipient contacts and signatories that have previously used

SAMS Domestic as a U.S. Department of State award recipient do not need to register again. If the organization is not able to access the system, please contact the ILMS Help

Desk for help in gaining access.

Support for Recipient Organizations and recipient contacts and signatories is available 24 hours, 7 days a week (except federal holidays), and can be reached at 1-888-313-ILMS

(4567) or through the ILMS Self Service Portal at https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms/.

In the event the ILMS Help Desk is unable to provide you with assistance in a timely manner, please contact ECA_SAMSDomestic@state.gov and copy the program officer associated with the solicitation.

Please take into consideration the following information when preparing your proposal narrative:

D.3f. Adherence To All Regulations Governing The J Visa: The Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs places critically important emphases on the security and proper administration of the Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients and sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62, including the oversight of Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.

The award recipient will be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this

A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://j1visa.state.gov or from:

Office of Designation, Private Sector Programs Division

U.S. Department of State

SA-4E (Bldg. 3)

2430 E Street, NW

Washington, DC 20037 https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com/ https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms/ mailto:ECA_SAMSDomestic@state.gov http://j1visa.state.gov/

Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.

D.3g. Diversity, Freedom, and Democracy Guidelines: Pursuant to the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and representative of the diversity of political, social, and cultural life in the

United States and abroad. ‘Diversity’ should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass differences including race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Proposals should demonstrate how diversity will enhance the program’s goals and objectives and the participants’ exchange experience. Please refer to the review criteria under the 'Support of Diversity' section of this document as well as the

DIVERSITY, FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY section in the “Proposal Submission

Instructions” document for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity into the total proposal.

Public Law 104-319 provides that "in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy," the

Bureau "shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries." Public Law 106 -

113 requires that the governments of the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.

D.3h. Program Monitoring and Evaluation:

A performance monitoring framework is vital to tracking the performance and the direction, pace, and magnitude of change that result from ECA programs. This section pertains to performance monitoring in particular – as this type of monitoring is distinct from grants monitoring or other program monitoring discussed elsewhere in this solicitation. Performance monitoring is designed to assess progress against established goals and objectives across the Bureau and as established for each award.

The Bureau recommends the use of a Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) to establish your performance monitoring plans for each award. The PMP is an important part of any proposal, as it outlines how the applicant plans to track progress towards the proposed program’s goals and objectives through indicators and corresponding data collection questions. These corresponding data collection questions help ensure that the data is being collected in a uniform way across the entire Bureau.

For this proposal and the resulting cooperative agreement, the Bureau recommends the applicant include the programmatic objectives and indicators listed below:

Objective 1: Advance participant and beneficiary cross-cultural competence and global perspective o Sub-Objective 1.1: Promote cultural exchanges and enhance understanding between participants and their host communities

E1.1.4: Percent of foreign participants with more favorable opinions of the United States Government

FBS1.1.1a: Percent foreign participants with more favorable opinions of the American People

FBS1.1.1b: Percent of foreign participants indicating a change in understanding of United States culture and values

FBS4.2.1: Percent of foreign participants expressing support of democratic values

E1.1.9: Percent of participants who traveled abroad for the first time on an ECA exchange program

E1.1.10: Percent of foreign participants who traveled to the

United States for the first time on an ECA exchange program

E1.1.1: Percent of participants reporting that their exchange experience offered opportunities to engage with other cultures

Objective 2: Increase the impact that participants and alumni have on their communities / countries

E2.0.6: Number of hours that participants spend to volunteer or give back to their host communities o Sub-Objective 2.2: Foster participant’s belief that civic engagement benefits communities/countries

E2.2.1: Percent of participants who believe that they can have an impact on their community or country

Objective 3: Strengthen engagement among participants, alumni, beneficiaries, and institutions

E3.0.9: Percent of participants who identify as a Department of

State program alumni

E3.0.3: Percent of participants who report increasing their network of Americans

E3.0.6: Percent of participants who report increasing their network of third country stakeholders

Objective 4: Strengthen personal, professional, and technical abilities and aptitudes of participants and beneficiaries

FBS2.5.1: Percent of participants reporting increases in their job skills through training, internships, and/or mentoring they received as part of their exchange program

E4.0.03: Percent of participants reporting an increase in soft skills as a result of ECA program participation o Sub-Objective 4.1: Participants engage in language, academic, professional, and cultural exchange programs

E4.1.01: Number of total participants

E4.1.02: Number of American exchange participants in foreign countries

Objective 5: Increase the contribution of exchange programs to local economies in the United States, and engagement of U.S. businesses, non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions in ECA programming o Sub-Objective 5.3: Exchange participants support local economy during their visit

E5.3.01: Amount of U.S. dollars spent by foreign exchange participants during their exchange

FBS2.3.1: Number of educational institutions supporting ECA programs

Objective 8: Enhance the quality and effectiveness of ECA programs by leveraging the Bureau’s resources, policy, and stakeholder relationships o E8.0.01: Dollar amount ($) spent on monitoring and evaluation activities

ECA recommends that applicants use the indicators listed in this section as the minimum requirement for measurement. Applicant-designed objectives and indicators that are specific to the proposed program and this proposal should be added as necessary to sufficiently measure the relevant proposed program outputs, outcomes, and impact over the course of the proposed period of performance.

PMPs

Please see below for a sample Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) and accompanying instructions. While ECA recommends the applicant use the format provided, this is not a requirement. However, all content presented below should be included in any PMP that the applicant submits. Successful PMPs should include the following:

Programmatic objectives, are statements of the condition(s) or state(s) what the program is designed to achieve. Objectives are therefore bound by the resources and timeframe of the program and must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound (SMART). In addition to those outlined above, the applicant may propose other program objectives from the Functional Bureau

Strategy (FBS), MODE Results Framework (both found here:

https://eca.state.gov/about-bureau) or other applicant-designed program-specific objectives. For more information on SMART see the ECA Evaluation Division’s website: https://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-evaluation-division/capacity-building.

ECA recommends the proposed…