FY23 DMCSP instructions.pdf

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GRANTS.GOV PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS

This document contains instructions for registering for SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and responding to the Notice of Federal Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC). The Application Workflow below pertains to Grants.gov.

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Registering for SAM.gov and Grants.gov Before responding to opportunities, users must have an account with both SAM.gov and Grants.gov.

SAM.gov SAM.gov registration can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. SAM.gov accounts must have an “Active” status with current information the entire time an organization has an active Federal award OR application. Accounts must be renewed annually.

Note: The federal government has stopped using the DUNS number to uniquely identify entities (effective April 4, 2022). Entities doing business with the federal government will use a Unique Entity Identifier (SAM) created in SAM.gov. They will no longer have to go to a third-party website to obtain their identifier. This transition allows the government to streamline the entity identification and validation process, making it easier and less burdensome for entities to do business with the federal government.

The Integrated Award Environment (IAE) manages several systems including SAM.gov, FPDS, eSRS, FSRS, CPARS and FAPIIS. Current SAM.gov registrants have already been assigned their Unique Entity Identifier (SAM) and can view it within SAM.gov. For more information, please visit: https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/office-of-systems-management/integrated-award-environment-iae/iae-systems-information-kit/unique-entity-identifier-update

If you already have an active account, verify the following information in SAM.gov before registering for Grants.gov:

EIN (Employer Identification Number) Unique Entity Identifier (SAM) Current contractor registration Correct bank account information CAGE Code o U.S. based organizations receive a Cage Code at the end of the registration process o Organizations outside of the U.S. and territories must request an NCAGE Code, then complete the SAM.gov registration

Grants.gov Follow the instructions below to create an account with grants.gov. Note that account creation can take up to 10 days.

1. Once your organization has an EIN and SAM.gov account, navigate to Grants.gov.

a. Click Login in the upper right-hand corner if an account already exists and sign in with your username and password.

2. Click Register in the upper right-hand corner to create an account.

a. This link has further details on what organizations can expect when registering:

i. http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

3. Click the red Get Registered Now button.

4. Complete the required information under the Register page.

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5. An email will arrive from Grants.gov. Open the email and follow the instructions for completing registration.

Beginning an Application on Grants.gov Follow the steps below to begin an application for a Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The SF 424 is required for the application.

1. Log into Grants.gov once the registration steps above are completed.

2. Search for the NOFO using the search bar at the top of the screen. Enter the text to search and click Go.

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3. Search results will appear in the list below.

4. Click the link under the Opportunity Number, OLDCC-23-F-0002, column.

5. The Grant Opportunity will appear on the screen with the following four tabs: Synopsis, Version

History, Related Documents, and Package. See below for more details on each tab.

a. Click the red Subscribe button on the right to be notified of any change OLDCC makes to the

NOFO.

b. The Synopsis tab contains all the main details for the Grant Opportunity.

c. See Related Documents under Additional Information in the Synopsis tab will route applicants to the Related Documents tab where the NOFO is attached.

d. The Version History tab contains a link to each version of the Grant Opportunity and the date it was updated.

e. The Related Documents tab contains a link to all relevant documents that have been uploaded, such as the full NOFO. This section will also contain the SF424.

Submitting an Application on Grants.gov Follow the steps below for completing required documents and the SF 424.

Grants.gov Submissions Please note the following about Grants.gov submissions:

Don’t change the Notice of Funding Opportunity Number (if it’s not pre-populated) There is no Package ID Number Funding Application Name can be whatever the user prefers A workspace must be created in Grants.gov before an application can be completed

Grants.gov Application Workflow

1. Create Your Workspace

a. Workspaces are created for specific funding opportunities.

b. Workspaces can only be created by users with Workspace Manager Role, Standard AOR Role, Expanded AOR Role, or a Custom Role (with Create Workspace Privileges).

i. Workspace Manager, Standard AOR, and Expanded AOR are all COR Roles.

c. Log into Grants.gov applicant account.

d. Search and locate the correct Grant Opportunity.

e. Click the red Apply button.

f. Enter the Application Filing Name on the Apply Now Using Workspace page.

g. Select the correct Profile, if there are more than one.

h. Select a user with Workspace Privileges if needed.

i. Click Create Workspace.

j. The screen will move to the newly created workspace.

2. Add Your Team Members

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a. Workspace team members must have an account on grants.gov, but they don’t have to be a member of the applicant organization. The workspace owner will add the users to any necessary forms.

b. Users with the Workspace Manager Role, Standard AOR Role, Expanded AOR Role, or Custom Role (with Own Workspace Privilege) can add users to the workspace.

c. Go to Manage Workspace page and click Participants tab.

d. Click these buttons to add users:

i. Add from Workspace Organization to search among organization’s registered users.

ii. Add by Username to search by name, including those outside your organization. A popup screen will allow you to choose the form access.

e. Click the Add box in the Actions column to add users.

f. Note: To add a single user to multiple workspaces, click Manage Applicants on the Applicant

Center page. Search for the desired user then Click Manage Workspace Access link in the Actions column. Click Add Workspaces and select the workspaces to add the user to. Click Save.

3. Complete Your Forms

a. Complete the SF424 (required – Step B) and the Attachments Form (optional – Step C).

b. SF424 (required) Instructions:

i. Type of Submission: Application

i. Type of Application: New

ii. Date Received: Leave blank. This will automatically be assigned.

iii. Applicant Identifier: Leave blank.

iv. Federal Identifiers

1. Federal Entity Identifier: Leave blank.

2. Federal Award Identifier: Leave blank.

v. Date Received by State: Leave blank. This will automatically be assigned.

vi. State Application Identifier: Leave blank. This will automatically be assigned.

vii. Applicant Information:

1. Legal Name: Enter the legal name of the applicant organization. Do NOT list abbreviations or acronyms unless they are part of the organization’s legal name.

2. Employer/Taxpayer ID Number (EIN/TIN): Entities should enter their EIN provided by the IRS.

viii. Organizational UEI: Enter the organization’s UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) number. If a UEI number is not required at time of submission, please enter 4444-44444 (without the dash).

ix. Address: Enter the address of the applicant.

x. Organizational Unit: Enter the name of the primary organizational unit (and department or division, if applicable) that will undertake the assistance activity, if applicable.

xi. Point of Contact: Enter the name, title, and all contact information of the person to be contacted on matters involving this application.

xii. Type of Applicant: Select an applicant type (type of organization).

xiii. Name of Federal Agency: Enter “Department of Defense”.

xiv. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 12.600.

xv. Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: Enter the Notice of Funding Opportunity

Number and title. This number will be automatically completed on electronic

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xvi. Competition Identification Number: Enter the Competition Identification Number and title. This number will be automatically completed on electronic applications.

xvii. Areas Affected by Project: List the regions or states expected to be affected by the project.

xviii. Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: Enter the title of your proposed program (if necessary, delete pre-printed wording). See Appendix A to find detailed instructions on how to compose and attach PART I, PART II, and PART III attachments.

1. Attach the proposal document(s). The suggested order for adding attachments is PART I Defense Manufacturing Community Designation Concept – Slide Presentation, PART II Defense Manufacturing Community Designation White Paper, PART III Supporting Documentation Attachments

2. PART I: The Defense Manufacturing Community Designation Concept may not exceed 10 single-sided pages PowerPoint presentation, including all relevant maps, drawing and diagrams.

3. PART II: The Defense Manufacturing Community Designation White Paper may not exceed 20 pages (1-inch margins, 1.5-line spacing, 11 point Times New Roman font, Microsoft Word only, and including all relevant maps/drawings/diagrams)

4. PART III: Supporting Documentation Attachments may not exceed 25 single sided pages (in Word or PDF format). Letters of support/ matching fund commitment will count toward the page limit.

5. PART IV (Optional): Defense Manufacturing Community designation renewal request may not exceed ten (10) pages (1-inch margins, 1.5-line spacing, 11-point Times New Roman font, Microsoft Word only, including all relevant maps/drawings/diagrams)

6. Note: Standard Form 424 does not count towards the application page limit.

7. Click Add Attachments.

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xix. Congressional Districts of:

1. Applicant: Please enter congressional district.

2. Program/Project: Please enter congressional district.

xx. Proposed Project:

1. Start Date: Commencing from the date of award.

2. End Date: Enter your projected end date (select the last day of the month). Note:

project end date should be no later than June 30, 2028.

xxi. Estimated Funding ($):

1. Federal: Enter the amount requested for the program described in the proposal.

2. Applicant: Enter any proposed cost-share. If none, enter “0.”

3. State: Enter any proposed cost-share. If none, enter “0.”

4. Local: Enter any proposed cost-share. If none, enter “0.”

5. Other: Enter any proposed cost-share. If none, enter “0.”

6. Program Income: Enter any proposed cost-share. If none, enter “0.”

7. TOTAL: This field will auto-populate based on the numbers in fields a-f.

xxii. E.O. 12372: Select “a. Program is covered by E.O.12372.”

xxiii. Applicant Delinquent on Any Federal Debt? Select the appropriate box. If you answer “yes” to this question you will be required to provide an explanation.

xxiv. Certification and Signature of Authorized Representative: Enter the name, title, and all contact information of the individual authorized to sign for the application on behalf of the applicant organization.

c. The Attachments Form is used to add attachments.

i. Accepted file types are Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe PDF.

ii. Attach any supporting documents.

4. Submit Your Application

a. Users with Standard AOR Role, Expanded AOR Role, or Custom Role (with Submit

Privileges) can submit the application.

b. Click Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace Page under the Forms tab.

i. This button will be available if no errors have been made.

ii. All required and optional forms must be in the “Passed” status.

iii. The workspace must have an active SAM registration.

iv. The application package’s Open Date should be today or in the past.

v. The application package’s Closing Date should be today or in the future.

c. Once an application is submitted, go to the Applicants dropdown menu and select Track My Application for status updates. Enter the tracking number then click Track.

5. Track Your Application

a. Online Submission. All applications must be received by 5:00 pm PDT on June 26, 2023. Proof

Page 10 3/15/20233/15/2023 of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. This applicant with the AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

b. When OLDCC successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by OLDCC.

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APPENDIX A: Attachment Submission Information

In addition to the Standard Form 424, “Lead Organizations” will submit the following proposal components in order for their respective consortium to be considered for designation as a Defense Manufacturing Community:

Part 1: Defense Manufacturing Community Designation Concept – Slide Presentation;

Part 2: Defense Manufacturing Community Designation White Paper; and Part 3: Any Necessary Supporting Documentation.

Part 4 (optional): Defense Manufacturing Community designation renewal request

Parts 1 and 2 are complementary of each other: The concept (slide presentation) is a summary of the white paper, and the white paper is the comprehensive narrative that fleshes out the concept. Parts 1 and 2 shall be structured similarly.

Defense Manufacturing Community designations will be competitively selected based solely on the components listed above. Below is a detailed description of the required components to be designated as a Defense Manufacturing Community. It is important for applicants to format their applications as described below, including how sections are titled and outlined, in order to streamline and make the review process effective.

Attachment 1: PART 1 - Defense Manufacturing Community Designation Concept Brief

This document should be no more than a ten (10) page PowerPoint presentation (including all relevant maps/drawings/diagrams) that outlines the following:

Slide 1: Consortium Information

- Name of proposed Defense Manufacturing Community - Consortia

- Name of “Lead Organization”

- Headquarters location (City, State)

- Website

- Contact Person (First Name, Last Name)

- Contact Email Address

- Contact Phone Number

- Additional contact, if applicable

Slide 2: Mission, Vision and Summary

- What is the consortium’s mission/vision in one sentence?

- How would you summarize your proposed project in two to three sentences?

- How would the consortium’s mission/vision enhance the defense industrial base, and complement or leverage the Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes?

Slides 3 and 4: Service Area Identification and Regional Assessment:

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- What area are you serving? This could include cities, counties, regions, states, etc.

- What are the specific defense manufacturing technologies and/or supply chains on which the consortium will focus?

- How are the identified technologies/supply chains considered top-ranked in the nation?

- How do they tie into defense technology areas (see Section C.2.)?

- What are the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) within the service area?

Slide 5: Consortium Makeup and Leadership Structure

- Who comprises the consortium and why?

- How will the project be organized and run?

- Do the leaders of the consortium have experience running projects of this scale?

Slides 6 and 7: Scope of Work / Implementation Strategy

- A scope of work of the proposed project with key milestones and deliverables, which must clearly indicate the specific activities that are part of the scope of work of the proposed project. Activities should relate to the findings of the SWOT analysis.

Slide 8: Logic Model and Proposed Performance Metrics

- A concise presentation of the resources and activities envisioned in the proposal to produce specific outputs and outcomes (short and long-term).

- A description of 3-5 performance metrics that will be used measure the proposed outcomes.

- A description of the evaluation methods, including tracking the project’s assistance to underserved populations.

Slide 9: Estimated Budget

- Estimated, high-level Federal and non-Federal budget, to include an estimate of the overall cost of the project tied to the proposed activities and staffing plan under the project. Budget must provide a detailed spend-down plan based on project schedule so staff may understand what funding will be applied to which task and/or sub-tasks. This slide should include more detail than the categories on the Standard Form 424A.

Slide 10: Sustainability Plan

- What resources/model will you leverage/follow to encourage sustainability beyond the proposed project period?

Attachment 2: PART 2 - Defense Manufacturing Community White Paper

A proposal of no more than twenty (20) pages (1-inch margins, 1.5-line spacing, 11 point Times New Roman font, Microsoft Word only, and including all relevant maps/drawings/diagrams). The white paper shall follow the same structure as Part 1 (concept) and will add clarifying detail to the concept. The white paper should include the following sections (correlation to Part 1 is identified by slide):

- Section 1 - Abstract and Executive Summary (no more than 2 pages): Abstract is a 3-4 sentence, Page 13 3/15/20233/15/2023 non-technical description of the issue the project will address, how the project will address that issue, and expected outcomes of the project. The Executive Summary should expand upon the Abstract with more detail and may address key points, which are found deeper in the application. The summary should describe how the proposed implementation strategy will enhance the defense industrial base and will complement Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.

- Section 2 - Introduction (builds upon slide 2): This section should provide an overview of the consortium; its mission, vision, goals and objectives; and key metrics on how it will enhance the defense industrial base.

- Section 3 - Defense Priority and Geographic Scope (builds upon slides 3 and 4): Description of the regional boundaries of the consortium and the basis for determining that the area’s manufacturing concentration ranks high in the nation for Key Technology or Supply Chains by either location quotient for employment or firms in the Key Technology or Supply Chain, or in terms of employment or firm numbers. Other metrics can be used to determine a top third national ranking for the proposer’s Key Technology or Supply Chain region, but data sources and methods used to calculate the top third ranking must be well-documented in the application. Explanation of why this ecosystem is important or holds the potential to address a high-priority, Department of Defense capability, key technology, or industrial base supply chain.

- Section 4 - Regional Assessment (builds upon slides 3 and 4): An integrated, evidence-based assessment of the local defense industrial ecosystem (i.e., the whole range of workforce and training, supplier network, research and innovation, infrastructure/site development, operational improvements and capital access components needed for manufacturing activities) as it exists today in the region defined by the applicant. The assessment should provide a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis as it pertains to supporting the manufacturing ecosystem of the region.

- Consortium Leadership Structure (builds upon slide 5): This section should provide a description of the leadership structure of the regional partners that comprise the consortium in order to carry out the proposed strategy. The description of the leadership structure should clearly demonstrate the specific roles and responsibilities of each member of the consortium, and how workflow, accountability, and authority will be administered. The proposer should note how consortium partners have worked together on previous or ongoing projects.

- Scope of Work / Implementation Strategy (builds upon slides 6 and 7): An evidence- based path for developing chosen components of this ecosystem (e.g., infrastructure, business development, workforce development, etc.) by making specific investments to address gaps and make a region uniquely competitive. A description of how the proposed implementation strategy will enhance the defense industrial base and will complement Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes. The scope of work must clearly indicate the specific activities and how they are linked to the project’s purpose, key milestones, and deliverables.

- Section 5 - Logic Model and Proposed Performance Metrics (builds upon slide 8): A logical flow of resources and activities envisioned in the scope of work section to produce specific outputs and outcomes of the proposed activities. A description of outcome-based performance metrics to be tracked, and evaluation methods to be used (experimental or high quality quasi-experimental designs using control groups, etc.) over the course of the implementation to gauge whether the proposed outcomes are achieved and what the impact has been on underserved populations by using regionally applicable Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) metrics.

- Section 6 - Estimated Budget (builds upon slide 9): An estimated, high-level budget and matching

Page 14 3/15/20233/15/2023 share (to include information from the Standard Form 424) of the overall cost of the project tied to the proposed activities and staffing plan under the project, spend-down plan based on the project schedule, as well as an estimate of non-Federal matching funds planned to be dedicated to the project.

The program requires a match of at least twenty percent (20%) of the total project cost from non- Federal sources. Proposers seeking a waiver of the match requirement should include any relevant information linked directly to reasons of national security that would warrant consideration of a waiver. Such information will count toward the application page limit.

- Section 7 - Sustainability Plan (builds upon slide 10): A description of resources and models to be used to encourage the sustainability of the consortium’s objectives beyond the proposed project period.

Attachment 3: PART 3 - Supporting Documentation

Supporting documentation should be no more than twenty-five (25) single sided pages in a single consolidated file, in Word or .pdf format which outlines the following:

- Submitting Official: Documentation that the Submitting Official is authorized by the applicant to submit a proposal and subsequently apply for assistance (1 page).

- A statement attesting the applicant already have obtained or have started the process to obtain a SAM registration (documentation of SAM registration or proof that SAM registration has been initiated must be submitted along with the Concept Proposal) (1 page).

- A signed letter of commitment/intent or a draft Memorandum of Understanding documenting all consortium members’ commitment to the consortium’s goals and objectives, and their respective contributions to the partnership to be signed in the event a consortium is awarded funds.

- Additional letters of support/matching fund commitment may be attached to the application as needed but will count toward the proposal’s page limit (as needed). All letters of support should be addressed to the OLDCC Director.

- A certification that the members of the consortium are not simultaneously pursuing funding from other Federal programs for the proposed activities.

- A transparent statement documenting any foreign investment within the consortium membership where direct or indirect exposure to any aspect of the project exists, and certification there are no national security conflicts linked to foreign investors.

- If a waiver for national security needs is requested, an explanation for the basis of the request and a written endorsement from either the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, or the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Evaluation.

Attachment 4: PART 4 (optional): Defense Manufacturing Community designation renewal request

Current Defense Manufacturing Communities that have completed a funded scope of work by August 31, 2023, and seek to obtain funding for a project with a performance period exceeding their current designation period can submit a request to renew their designation for up to two (2) years by submitting up to ten (10) pages (1-inch margins, 1.5-line spacing, 11-point Times New Roman font, Microsoft Word only, including all relevant maps/drawings/diagrams, describing:

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- Program impact: an explanation of the consortium’s performance with respect to the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program goals, by using applicable Program specific metrics.

- Funded project performance: an explanation of the consortium’s performance with respect to project goals, using available project-specific quantitative and qualitative performance metrics;

- Impact of changes to consortium or plan: an explanation how the changes to the composition of the consortium or revisions of the plan for the consortium through this proposed project would improve the capabilities of the defense industrial base; and

- Effectiveness of coordination with Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes: an explanation how the consortium’s past activities has leveraged the Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes.