FY23 RESI NOFO.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

Office of Policy Planning Coordination (WHA/PPC) Notice of Funding Opportunity

Announcement Type: New Funding Opportunity Title: Project to Support the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Race, Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion (RESI) Goals Funding Opportunity Number: SFOP0010239 Funding Type: Discretionary Assistance Listings Number: 19.750 Funding Amount: $1,973,359.00 U.S. Dollars Funding Authority: Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 as amended Funding Activity Category: Race, Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion Issuance Date: February 12, 2024 Deadline for Receipt of Questions: March 28, 2024 Deadline for Submission of Applications: April 12, 2024 Assistance Type: Grant Application Submission: Application must be submitted through Grants.gov Electronic Requirement: Yes Eligibility Category: U.S. Non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or overseas based NGOs, institutions of higher education, and public international organizations (PIOs); locally based NGOs are strongly encouraged to apply.

Est. Project Start Date: July 2024 Est. Project Duration: 36 months Fiscal Year: FY 2023 Award Ceiling: $1,973,359.00 U.S. Dollars Expected # of Awards Funded: 1 Cost Sharing Requirement: No (not required) Type of Applicant: Organizations only (Individuals are not eligible to apply) Number of Applications: One (1) per applicant organization(s) https://www.grants.gov/

Executive Summary

The U.S. Department of State (DoS) announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) Race, Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion (RESI) Goals with up to $1,973,359.00 in Fiscal Year 2023 Economic Support Funds (ESF) for a project period of 36 months. The anticipated start date for this activity is July 2024. Subject to the availability of funds, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Office of Policy Planning and Coordination (WHA/PPC) at DoS intends to issue one award for $1,973,359.00 in FY2023 ESF. Applications are due on or before April 12, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (Washington, D.C.)

Activities will support WHA’s RESI policy goals in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico to advance reforms that promote equity and equality, eliminate barriers to inclusion, and create equal access and opportunities for members of marginalized and underserved communities.

Specific objectives and indicators should be included in the proposals that allow the organization to measure and demonstrate progress. Funding awarded under this NOFO cannot be used for law enforcement, military forces, or training for police or military.

WHA/PPC invites qualified U.S. Non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or overseas based NGOs, institutions of higher education, and public international organizations (PIOs) to apply. Locally based NGOs are strongly encouraged to apply.

WHA/PPC reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted and will determine the resulting level of funding for each award. The authority for this NOFO is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

Eligible organizations interested in applying are encouraged to read this NOFO thoroughly to understand the scope of eligible projects, the application submission requirements, and the review process.

For more information, please contact:

WHA/PPC; email: WHAGrants@State.gov mailto:WHAGrants@state.gov

Notice of Funding Opportunity WHA/PPC is seeking applications for a grant to implement a project entitled “Project to Support the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Race, Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion (RESI) Goals.”

The authority for this NOFO is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

Subject to the availability of funds, WHA/PPC intends to issue an award in an amount not to exceed $1,973,359.00 in total funding. The U.S. dollar amount will be funded from FY2023 ESF allocated funds, for a project period of 36 months. The anticipated start date for this activity is July 2024. Contingent upon the availability of funds and quality of proposals, one award may be granted based on this NOFO. WHA/PPC reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted and will determine the resulting level of funding for the award.

To be eligible for an award, the applicant must submit all required information in its application through http://www.grants.gov, including the requirements found in any attachments to this opportunity. This NOFO consists of this cover letter plus the following sections:

1. Section A – Program Description and Funding Opportunity

2. Section B – Federal Award Information

3. Section C – Eligibility Information

4. Section D – Application and Submission Information

5. Section E – Application Review Information

6. Section F – Federal Award Administration Information

7. Section G – Federal Awarding Agency Contact

8. Section H – Other Information

This funding opportunity is posted on http://www.grants.gov and may be amended. See Section D for further details. Potential applicants should regularly check the website to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this NOFO. Applicants will need to have available or download the Adobe software program to their computers to view and save the Adobe forms properly. If organizations have difficulty registering on http://www.grants.gov or accessing the NOFO, please contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at support@grants.gov for technical assistance or email WHAGrants@state.gov for difficulty accessing the NOFO.

It is the responsibility of the recipient of this NOFO document to ensure that it has been received by http://www.grants.gov in its entirety. WHA/PPC bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes associated with electronic submissions. The deadline to submit applications is April 12, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (Washington, D.C.)

Please submit any questions concerning this NOFO in writing to WHAGrants@State.gov. The deadline for submission of questions about this NOFO is March 28, 2024. Responses to questions will be made available to all potential applicants through an amendment to this NOFO that will be posted on http://www.grants.gov.

mailto:WHAGrants@State.gov http://www.grants.gov/

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S.

Government (USG), nor does it commit the USG to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. In addition, final award of any resultant grant agreement cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated, allocated, and committed through internal WHA/PPC procedures. While it is anticipated that these procedures will be successfully completed, potential applicants are hereby notified of these requirements and conditions for award and all preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

WHA/PPC announces an open competition to support WHA’s Race, Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion (RESI) policy goals in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico to advance reforms that promote equity and equality, eliminate barriers to inclusion, and create equal access and opportunities for members of marginalized and underserved communities.

A.1. Background

WHA champions equity and equality and the social inclusion of marginalized populations to help democracies deliver for all individuals and advance U.S. national interests. Marginalized populations may include, but are not limited to, women and girls, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, people of African descent, members of marginalized racial and ethnic communities, refugees and internally displaced persons, members of religious minorities, LGBTQI+ persons, rural residents, migrants, and individuals adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

People of African descent in Latin America and the Caribbean comprise one third of the population, or approximately 200 million people, yet make up nearly 50 percent of its poor.

Indigenous peoples represent between 47 and 71 million persons, yet often suffer from political, economic, and social marginalization, and violence affects them disproportionately.

Civil society leadership training and dialogue between governments and civil society remain the key components of strengthening cooperation on programs and activities that promote inclusion.

WHA supports our partners in advancing inclusive, citizen-centered democratic governance and respect for human rights throughout the Western Hemisphere. The Western Hemisphere boasts a large young adult population and rich cultural, social, economic, and geographic diversity. Countries in the region could build stronger, more equitable, and dynamic societies, if they leverage diversity through the deliberate social, economic, and political inclusion of marginalized populations. Inclusive development provides the fundamental sense of progress underpinning the hopes of the people of the Western Hemisphere for a better future.

Target beneficiaries should include members of marginalized groups and the civil society organizations that represent them. Programs should aim to build a more equitable, inclusive Western Hemisphere, with democracies that deliver benefits and respect the human dignity of all people.

Required Priority Countries: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico

A.2. Program Goal and Objectives

Program Goal:

This project aims to increase collaboration and strengthen networks among host country civil society partners in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico to advance reforms that promote equity and equality, eliminate barriers to inclusion, and create equal access and opportunities for members of marginalized and underserved communities. Through training of diverse civil society leaders and capacity building of civil society and community networks, this project seeks to further WHA’s RESI goals.

Program Objectives:

Activities must focus on equal access and opportunities for members of marginalized and underserved communities, focused on the following priority areas for each country:

• Brazil: Activities must focus on access to higher education and higher education policy for Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous populations in support of the U.S. - Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality (JAPER).

• Chile: Activities must focus on access to employment opportunities for Chilean citizens and residents of African descent and Indigenous and immigrant communities.

• Colombia: Activities must address access to academic opportunities for Indigenous and Afro-Colombian populations from rural communities in the Pacific and Atlantic regions in support of the U.S. - Colombia Action Plan on Racial and Ethnic Equality (CAPREE).

• Costa Rica: Activities must focus on economic opportunities, including digital economic workforce development, for Indigenous and Afro-descendent populations, particularly in areas outside of the capital.

• Mexico: Activities must focus on workforce development for marginalized communities and should include a focus on the tech sector in southern states in Mexico, particularly in Oaxaca and Veracruz. Project beneficiaries must include underserved communities and marginalized populations, particularly women and girls, Indigenous communities, and Afro-Mexican communities.

Project activities must support at least one of the selected RESI policy objectives below:

• Promote reforms that advance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility within communities and governments and strengthen democratic institutions to the equitable benefit of all peoples. Open an inclusive space to foster strong partnerships among underserved communities and their allies as they advocate for social and policy change.

• Advance equitable and inclusive access to public sector, community, and political engagement, higher education policy issues and discussions, and social and economic systems for members of marginalized groups, including African descendant, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQI+ persons, persons with disabilities, and women and girls.

• Advance consistent and equitable application of laws, policies, and practices to improve access to justice and protect the human rights of underserved communities and to reduce the criminalization of advocates for marginalized groups.

• Support inclusive and sustainable economic growth, including by building local capacity to provide employment, entrepreneurship, participation in the digital economy and remote work, and job training opportunities to marginalized groups.

Project Components: Project proposals should include, at a minimum, each of the following activities:

1. Stakeholder mapping: Implementor should identify key stakeholders to engage with in the public, private, civil society, and academic sectors to advance the project goals and objectives.

2. Capacity building and advocacy training for marginalized population community leaders in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico: Training should build the capacity of civil society leaders working on identified priority areas in each country on advocacy and management strategies for effective organizing. This should include train the trainer activities for youth, civil society leaders from marginalized racial and ethnic communities, and civil society organizations, including from rural areas, to engage on RESI-focused projects in their local communities.

3. Fellowship program for young leaders in each country: The fellowship program should include young leaders (20-35 years of age) and, at minimum, 50% should be young women leaders. Fellowships may take place within government institutions or legislative entities, civil society organizations, or private sector organizations, depending on feasibility and availability. Fellowships should last two to six months. Upon completion of the fellowship, the implementing organization should provide advocacy training for fellows that includes up to a year of additional mentoring, webinar, and/or workshop trainings. The focus of the fellowships should be on the RESI policy goals and selected priority areas for each country listed in this NOFO. Implementer will formalize a RESI Fellows Alumni Network to include previous RESI programming alumni and to continue engagement on RESI goals beyond the period performance of the award.

4. Capstone and/or small grant funding: Project should include funding for capstone projects for fellows and small grant funding for locally based CSOs working on identified priority areas in each country. At least 15% of the budget should be used for capstone and small grant funding.

5. Consensus building and social and public advocacy for fellows and community leaders:

Implementing organization must develop a mechanism for the fellowship cohort and civil society leaders to advocate on issues identified by fellows and relevant stakeholders. This mechanism should include civil society dialogues, round tables, working groups, and/or the establishment of networks or forums, if appropriate and where overarching structures may be missing. The fellow cohort and the civil society leaders should meet and set agendas and goals separately before coming together for a final meeting. Fellows and civil society leaders should meet periodically prior to, and throughout, the duration of the fellowship program and the final meeting should be in the form of a RESI summit to finalize a collective agenda to address next steps in achieving RESI goals beyond the period of performance of the award and should include RESI alumni.

As applicable, proposals should specify the expected results from projects benefitting from these funds, such as the number of participants trained; improvement in government transparency or e-government; and other improvements in basic government services that impact citizens and small business. All proposals should state clear objectives and show plans to measure project performance and contributions to meeting those objectives.

Proposals should include specific objectives and indicators that allow the organization to measure and demonstrate progress.

Utilize Local Resources and Expertise Local-based projects that prioritize community interaction and engagement with local civic and government leadership historically have had the best chances of success. Proposals that include the utilization of local resources and expertise are highly encouraged. Partnerships between civil society organizations can also increase the likelihood of sustainable impacts.

A.3. Expected Results By the end of the project, grantees should demonstrate that the project has achieved the following:

Desired Outputs:

• Implementer completes stakeholder mapping to identify relevant civil society organizations (CSOs), community leaders, local/national government bodies to engage with on RESI priority areas.

• Project facilitates fellowships and provides stipends for individuals from historically marginalized communities (type and length dependent on opportunities within institutions and age of participant). Fellowships may take place within government institutions or legislative entities, civil society organizations, or private sector organizations, depending on feasibility and availability and should last two to six months.

• Formalized RESI Fellows Alumni Network and FY22 RESI alumni involved on the new award (participation in the summit, webinars, info sessions, etc.).

• Capstone projects for fellows and small grant funding for locally based CSOs working on desired RESI issue areas.

• A regional RESI branded summit with workshops and technical experts to help train project beneficiaries and help connect civil society in each of the countries selected.

• Virtual and in person workshops and training in each country for civil society leaders and CSOs, including virtual roundtable discussions and workshops to include technical experts on a monthly or quarterly basis.

• Education and job training opportunities for marginalized communities.

Desired Outcomes:

• Civil society leaders develop and implement action plans that seek to influence government policies in their respective countries to advance RESI goals.

• Civil society leaders develop and implement action plans aimed at influencing government policies in their respective countries to align with RESI goals and priorities.

• Fellows who complete internships with government institutions, civil society organizations, or private sector institutions gain skills, knowledge, and experience that empower them to become effective advocates and leaders in advancing RESI goals.

• Fellows and locally-based CSOs working on RESI issue areas leverage capstone projects and small grant funding to implement practical initiatives aimed at advancing RESI goals.

• Fellows who complete internships with various institutions become influential members of the alumni network, assuming leadership roles in driving RESI issues forward.

A.4. Desired Results and Required Indicators:

The applicant will develop a project-level Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) (see Tab B) with annual and end-of-project targets and results anticipated for key performance indicators. The following tables show examples of indicators that will be measured, as well as illustrative targets, upon which the recipient will be responsible for monitoring and reporting during and after the project. Grantees must capture and measure data that demonstrates progress toward achieving the specific objectives of the proposed project and WHA/PPC will regularly monitor each project’s performance to assess whether project activities are on track and targets are being achieved.

Project feasibility, potential impact, and performance will be assessed based on potential outcomes. Outcomes are changes that take place because of your organization’s work – the differences that will have been made by delivering your objectives and achieving your outputs.

For example, an outcome could be increased rates of a vulnerable population successfully accessing government services, improved productivity of government workers in targeted agencies, or new policies/procedures instituted within your partner government agency.

Required and illustrative outcome indicators for the projects are provided below. The applicants are expected to identify targets for these indicators based on what can be reasonably achieved within the performance period of the project and based on the expected overall project results described above.

Required Indicators Required targets:

Output: DR.3.1-1 Number of USG-assisted consensus-building processes resulting in an agreement.

Determined by applicants

Output: DR.4.2-4 Number of civil society organizations (CSOs) receiving USG assistance engaged in advocacy interventions.

Determined by applicants

Illustrative Output Indicators Illustrative output indicators for funded projects are provided below. Outputs are the results of what your organization does. For example, the number of participants who successfully complete a job-training course or received job placement through your activities are outputs.

Below are examples of required output indicators.

Example Output Indicators: Required targets:

(Sample) Platforms developed to facilitate public requests for services.

(Determined by applicants)

(Sample) Women that attend weekly individual counseling sessions.

(Determined by applicants)

The applicant should provide output and outcome indicators in addition to the required indicators listed above. Any data collection focused on individuals should be reported by gender, if possible.

The grantee will be required to collect baseline data for all the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation indicators during the first year of the project. In addition, certain terms included in the outcomes and indicators will need to be defined at the very beginning of the project so that it is possible to measure the change during and at the end of the project. Examples of such are “capacity,” “spread effect,” etc. Baseline information will be critical for both monitoring and evaluation of project progress and results.

Participants and Audiences:

The target population will be youth, ages 20-35, and civil society leaders with a focus on marginalized communities, including from rural and conflict-affected communities.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B1. Available Funding This notice is subject to availability of funding. Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 as amended (Economic Support Funds) and several funding restrictions apply, to include country-applicant restrictions.

The DoS reserves the right to fund any or none of the proposals submitted and reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase the budget in accordance with the needs of the project and the availability of funds.

The DoS may consider continuing the program funded under this award beyond the initial period of performance on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the DoS and USG.

Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.400(g), the recipient may not earn or keep any profit resulting from federal assistance instruments. However, all reasonable, allocable, and allowable expenses, both direct and indirect, which are related to the agreement project and are in accordance with applicable cost standards (2 CFR 200 for U.S. and overseas-based non-profit organizations and universities; and the Mandatory Standard Provision “Allowable Costs (2 CFR 200.403)” for public international organizations) may be paid under the grant agreement.

Note: Non-U.S.-based nonprofit organizations are legally required to comply with the 2 CFR 200.

B2. Award Management The successful applicant will need to routinely collaborate with WHA/PPC through regular meetings and conference calls to discuss progress, challenges, emerging topics, etc.

The successful applicant must ensure that all funds are used in a manner consistent with any applicable restrictions on funding. See D5 below for funding restrictions.

Section C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

C1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Entities: U.S. Non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or overseas based NGOs, institutions of higher education, and public international organizations (PIOs). Locally based NGOs are strongly encouraged to apply.

To be eligible for a grant award, in addition to other conditions of this NOFO, organizations must have a commitment to non-discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. Non-discrimination includes equal treatment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation.

Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the legal responsibility of the recipient to ensure compliance with these Executive Orders and laws. This provision must be included in any sub-awards issued under this grant award.

The DoS will issue an award to the Applicant whose application represents the best value to the USG based on technical merit, efficient use of USG funds, and satisfactory organizational capacity. The DoS reserves the right to make an award based on the initial application received with or without discussion or negotiations.

WHA/PPC encourages applications from potential new partners.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching

The non-Federal share of costs, frequently called “cost share” or “matching costs”, refers to that portion of the project or program costs not borne by the Federal Government. This may include cash and third-party in-kind contributions. These costs must reflect the realistic capacity of the applicants and any third-party contributors.

Cost-sharing is not required. Providing cost-sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an eligibility requirement for this funding opportunity and will not be factored in during the merit review of proposals.

Note: If cost-share is included in the budget, the applicant must maintain written records to support all allowable costs that are claimed as its contribution to cost-share, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. In the event the applicant does not meet the minimum amount of cost-sharing as stipulated in the applicant’s budget, DoS contribution may be reduced in proportion to the recipient’s contribution.

C3. Other Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier

(UEI), as well as a valid registration on www.sam.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations.

Applicants, including U.S. affiliates of international organizations must provide a valid Unique

Entity Identification (UEI), and completed www.sam.gov registration when submitting application on www.grants.gov in response to this NOFO. Applicants that do not have a valid

UEI and completed www.sam.gov registration will NOT be eligible for consideration.

Implementing partners/sub-recipient organizations are required to have a valid UEI number.

Applicants listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award Management (SAM) are 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 listed on the EPLS can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the EPLS in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included.

Organizations must have a commitment to equal opportunity employment practices and to non-discrimination practices regarding beneficiaries, without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

Organizations may only submit one application per organization. If more than one application is submitted by an organization, only the first application received will be reviewed for eligibility and funding.

Section D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

D1. Address to Request Application Package

Applicants can find application forms on www.grants.gov under the announcement title and funding opportunity number provided above.

Once the NOFO deadline has passed, DoS may not discuss this competition with any applicant until the proposal review process has been completed.

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Please follow both the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) and the NOFO to ensure that the proposal package submission is in full compliance with the requirements. Please follow the guidelines in the attached PSI for additional application submission instructions, including information on required documents and format. Proposal submissions that do not meet all the requirements outlined in this NOFO and the associated PSI will not be considered.

Any prospective applicant who has questions concerning the contents of this NOFO should submit them by email to the contacts listed in Section G. Please refer to the funding opportunity number and title. Any updates about this NOFO will also be posted on www.grants.gov.

D3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

Required Registrations:

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with SAM.gov (this is an official USG website and there is no cost to use this site). 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: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required for federal assistance applications.

http://www.grants.gov/

The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number. Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee.

Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

• Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.

• Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.

• Please note that as of November 2022 and February 2022 respectively, organizations based outside of the United States that do not intend to apply for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awards are no longer required to have a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code or CAGE code to apply for non- DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities. If an applicant organization is in mid-registration and wishes to remove a CAGE or NCAGE code from their SAM.gov registration, the applicant should submit a help desk ticket (“incident”) with the Federal Service Desk (FSD) online at www.fsd.gov using the following language: “I do not intend to seek financial assistance from the Department of Defense. I do not wish to obtain a CAGE or NCAGE code. I understand that I will need to submit my registration after this incident is resolved in order to have my registration activated.”

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO NOT plan to do business with the DoD should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Proceed to SAM.gov to obtain a UEI and complete the SAM.gov registration process. SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually.

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DoS plan to do business with the DoD in addition to DoS should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Apply for an NCAGE code by following the instructions on the NSPA NATO website linked below:

NCAGE Homepage:

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/sc/CageList.aspx https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov%2Fgsafsd_sp%3Fid%3Dgsafsd_kb_articles%26sys_id%3Dc81018e71b1601d0937fa64ce54bcb57&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=W2ShcazZBQbanYGj0cLOTnUJwv%2BGL4xfwr83%2BycQY2E%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=t32ANWzgpiB93pMWoq%2BFCSHz4YJY9QF1S1iQzCsS6RM%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feportal.nspa.nato.int%2FAC135Public%2Fscage%2FCageList.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=v3TLT8F%2FNfk5SuTcI2zw7SMhV4HK542OhP9XDx4ln%2BY%3D&reserved=0

NCAGE Code Request Tool (NCRT):

Exemptions

An exemption from the UEI and sam.gov registration 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.

• For an applicant, if the Federal awarding agency makes a determination that there are exigent circumstances that prohibit the applicant from receiving a unique entity identifier and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a Federal award. In these instances, Federal awarding agencies must require the recipient to obtain a unique entity identifier and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the Federal award date.

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 Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.

D4. Submission Dates and Times

Applicants are urged to begin the application process well before the submission deadline as stated on page 3. No exceptions will be made for organizations that have not completed the necessary steps. Grants.gov automatically log the date and time an application submission is made, and the DoS will use this information to determine whether an application has been submitted on time. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

D5. Funding Restrictions

Funding awarded under this NOFO cannot be used for law enforcement or to train members of law enforcement.

The following activities and costs are not covered under this announcement (this list is NOT exhaustive):

• Construction or renovations is not an allowable activity under this award;

• Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the applicant organization;

• Projects seeking funds for personal use;

• Administration of a project that will make a profit;

• Expenses incurred before or after the specified dates of award period of performance (unless prior written approval is received);

• Projects designed to advocate policy views or positions of foreign governments or

• views of a particular political faction;

• Alcoholic beverages;

• Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities, and any associated costs, are unallowable, except where specific costs that might otherwise be considered entertainment have a programmatic purpose and are authorized either in the approved budget for the federal award or with prior written approval of the Grants Officer.

Representation by Organization Regarding a Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Criminal Conviction: In accordance with section 7073 of Division K of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law 113-76) none of the funds made available by that Act may be used to enter into an assistance award with any organization that –

(1) Was “convicted of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency has direct knowledge of the conviction, unless the agency has considered, in accordance with its procedures, that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government”; or

(2) Has any “unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, unless the Federal agency has considered, in accordance with its procedures, that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government.”

For the purposes of Section 7073, it is the DoS’s policy that no award may be made to any organization covered by (1) or (2) above, unless the Procurement Executive has made a written determination that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the

USG.

D6. Other Submission Requirements

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that it has an active registration in Grants.gov and that an application has been received by the system in its entirety. DoS bears no responsibility for disqualification that results from applicants not being registered before the due date or for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

Technical Format Requirements

For all application documents, please ensure:

1. All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments,

2. All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and

3. All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

Complete applications must include the following for proposal submissions:

1. Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424a [and SF424b,] submitted to Grants.gov, as well as, if applicable, your organization’s most recent audit.

2. Table of Contents (not to exceed one [1] page in Microsoft Word) that includes a page-numbered contents page, including any attachments.

3. Executive Summary (not to exceed two [2] pages in Microsoft Word) that includes:

a) The target countries,

b) Name and contact information for the project’s main point of contact,

c) A statement of work or synopsis of the project, including a concise breakdown of the project’s objectives, activities, and expected results,

d) The total amount of funding requested and project length, and

e) A brief statement on how the project is innovative, sustainable, and will have a demonstrated impact.

4. Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten [10] pages in Microsoft Word). Please note the ten-page limit does not include the Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Attachments, Detailed Budget, Budget Narrative, or NICRA. Applicants are encouraged to submit multiple documents in a single Microsoft Word, (i.e., Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget Narrative in one file).

5. Budget Narrative (preferably in Microsoft Word) that includes an explanation and justification for each line item in the detailed budget spreadsheet, as well as the source and a description of all cost share offered. For ease of review, WHA/PPC recommends applicants order the budget narrative as presented in the detailed budget. Project management and/or personnel costs should include a clarification of the roles and responsibilities of key staff and percentage of time devoted to the project. The budget narrative should communicate to WHA/PPC any information that might not be readily apparent in the budget, not simply repeat with words what is stated numerically in the budget.

6. Detailed Line-Item Budget (preferably in Microsoft Excel) that includes three [3] columns including the request to WHA/PPC, any cost-sharing contribution (not required), and total budget (see below for more information on budget format). A summary budget should also be included using the OMB-approved budget categories (see SF-424 as a sample). Costs must be in U.S. dollars.

7. Attachments (not to exceed nine [9] pages total, preferably in Microsoft Word) that include the following in order:

a) Page 1-2: Project Monitoring Plan (see below for more information on this section).

b) Page 3: Roles and responsibilities of key project personnel with short bios that highlight relevant professional experience. This relates to the organization’s capacity. Given the limited space, CVs are not recommended for submission.

c) Page 4: Timeline of the overall proposal. Components should include activities, and project closeout.

d) Page 5: Gender Analysis S: A gender analysis helps consider the different ways in which project activities might impact and be impacted by the community/country/region where the activities and participants are or will be. Guidance is provided in the PSI document. (TAB C)

e) Page 6-8: Additional optional attachments. Attachments may include further timeline information, letters of support, memoranda of understanding (MOU)/agreement, etc.

For applicants with a large number of letters/MOUs, it may be useful to provide a list of the organizations or government agencies that support the project rather than the actual documentation.

8. Applicants with a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) must include the latest NICRA as a .pdf file if including NICRA charges in the budget. This document will not be reviewed by the panelists, but rather used by WHA/PPC project and grant staff if the submission is recommended for funding and therefore does not count against the submission page limitations, as described above. If the applicant’s proposal involves sub-grants to organizations charging indirect costs, please submit the applicable NICRA also as a .pdf file (see below for more information on indirect cost rates). Applicants must specify if their organization instead elects to charge the de minimis rate of 10% of the modified total direct costs.

Note: WHA/PPC retains the right to request additional documentation for those items not included on this form.

Information on Standard Forms

Please see Tab D for instructions for completion of Standard Forms 424, 424A, and 424B.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR 200 Organizations should be familiar with 2 CFR 200 on cost accounting principles. For a copy of the 2 CFR 200, please contact Government Publications or download from http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl. Non U.S.-based nonprofit organizations are legally required to comply with 2 CFR 200.

Audits

The recipient’s proposal should include the cost of an audit that:

1. Complies with the requirements of 2 CFR 200 Subpart F “Audit Requirements;”

2. Complies with the requirements of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

(AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) No. 92-9, "Audits of Not-for-Profit Organizations Receiving Federal Awards;"

3. Complies with AICPA Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards AU Section 551, "Reporting on Information Accompanying the Basic Financial Statements in Auditor- Submitted Documents," where applicable. When the DoS is the largest direct source of Federal financial assistance (i.e., the cognizant Federal Agency) and indirect costs are http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl charged to Federal grants, a supplemental schedule of indirect cost computation is required;

4. A non-Federal entity that expends $750,000 or more during the non-Federal entity's fiscal year in Federal awards must have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200 subpart F.

The audit costs shall be identified by 2 CFR 200.425.

Indirect Cost Rate

An organization with a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) negotiated with a cognizant Federal government agency other than the DoS must include a copy of the cost-rate agreement. Applicants should indicate in the proposal budget how the rate is applied and if any of the rate will be cost-shared. Per 2 CFR 200.414, any non-Federal entity that has never received a negotiated indirect cost rate, except for those non-Federal entities described in Appendix VII to Part 200—States and Local Government and Indian Tribe Indirect Cost Proposals, paragraph D.1.b, may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC), which may be used indefinitely. As described in 2 CFR 200.403, factors affecting allowability of costs, costs must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct costs but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If chosen, this methodology once elected must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which the non-Federal entity may apply to do at any time.

All application materials must be submitted through www.Grants.gov or SAMS Domestic.

Section E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E1. Criteria

The DoS will issue an award to the applicant whose proposal represents the best value to the USG based on technical merit, efficient use of USG funds, and satisfactory organizational capacity. In addition, the organization must demonstrate adequate financial management capability to be measured by a responsibility determination.

Applications should contain the applicant’s best terms from both cost and technical standpoints. The implementing partners (sub-recipients) of the primary Recipient will be subject to DoS approval.

Eligible applications will be evaluated by an independent review panel consisting of subject matter experts from other DoS bureaus/or offices, U.S. Embassies, and/or other USG agencies.

Final approval resides with the DoS Grants Officer. The decision for the final eligibility and award determination rests with the Grants Officer.

The following criteria will serve as a standard, which all eligible applications will be evaluated against. Each eligible application will be evaluated and scored on the review criteria using a 100-point scale.

The review panel will apply the following criteria when rating proposals:

1. Quality and Feasibility of Project Idea (20 points)

• Responsive to the solicitation (4 points)

• Appropriate in the country/regional context (4)

• Exhibits originality, substance, and precision (4)

• Prioritizes innovation, but is feasible (4)

• In countries where similar activities are already taking place, provides an explanation as to how new activities will not duplicate or merely add to existing activities (4)

2. Organizational Capacity and Record of Performance (10 points):

• The proposal demonstrates an institutional record of successful programs in the proposed country, the content area (e.g., media, access to justice), or other (describe) (4)

• Personnel and institutional resources are adequate and appropriate to achieve the project's objectives (2)

• Roles, responsibilities, and brief bios/resumes are included for primary staff, and demonstrate relevant professional experience (2)

• Applicant is a current/past grantee where performance: (2) o Was/is on target o Showed/shows responsible fiscal management

OR

• The proposal is from a NEW APPLICANT and proposal: (2) o Demonstrates capacity for responsible fiscal management o Illustrates success in similar sized projects

3. Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives (25 points)

• Includes a clear articulation of the proposed program activities’ expected contributions to the overall program objectives (3)

• Each activity is clearly developed and detailed (3)

• Provides a comprehensive quarterly work plan for project activities that demonstrates substantive undertakings within the logistical capacity of the organization (3)

• Objectives are clear, specific, attainable, measurable, results-focused, and placed in a reasonable time frame (3)

• Addresses how the program will engage or obtain support from relevant stakeholders and identifies local partners where appropriate (3)

• Describes the division of labor among the direct applicant, any partners and any potential sub-grantees (2)

• Proposal clearly articulates understanding of the security situation/operating environment and plans for ensuring safety of participants (2)

• Includes contingency plans for potential difficulties in executing the original work plan (6)

4. Financial Capacity and Cost Effectiveness (15 points):

• The overhead and administration of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, are explained and justified for the work involved (5)

• All budget items are necessary, appropriate and linked to project objectives (5)

• Personnel costs are reasonable for the work involved (5)

• NOTE: Cost share is not required. Applicants may offer cost share, however, cost share will not be considered or factored in when proposals are reviewed.

5. Performance Monitoring, Evaluating, and Learning (MEL) (20 points):

• The Project Monitoring Plan includes:

o Narrative explaining how monitoring and evaluation will be carried out and who will be responsible for monitoring and…