Improving Community Security in Syria NOFO.pdf

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs

Office of Assistance Coordination Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 19.601

Improving Community Security in Syria

Opportunity Number: SFOP0009647

Key Information:

Announcement Type: New Date Opened: April 6, 2023 Deadline for Questions: April 20, 2023 Application Deadline: May 22, 2023 Expected Date of Notification: June 30, 2023 Federal Agency Contact: NEA-Grants@state.gov

Funding Opportunity Synopsis NEA/AC seeks proposals for targeted assistance projects to empower civilian security providers in non-regime held areas of northeast (NE) Syria to deliver effective and equitable security services in a manner that serves, and is supported by, the population. Proposals that take a holistic approach to community security and are tailored to the challenges of the Syrian conflict are encouraged. Activities should include efforts to build the capacity of security providers to deliver services in line with the principles of community policing, increase the capacity of local governance actors to fulfil their public safety responsibilities, and empower local communities to identify and respond to their security concerns. As part of NEA/AC’s portfolio of stabilization projects, proposals should advance U.S. policy, primarily ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS.

All applications must be submitted in English. Complete information on how applicants can submit proposals for this opportunity can be found in Section VI below.

Applicants should read this NOFO in its entirety before writing their proposal and should refer to the full Evaluation Criteria provided in Section VII while drafting all materials.

Eligible Countries and Territories In this announcement, we seek to specifically support programming activities in northeast Syria.

In the future, DOS might seek to potentially support programming in areas of northwest Syria outside the control of the Syrian regime, therefore applications should focus primarily on the northeast in responding to this NOFO. NEA/AC requires a presence in Berlin, Germany, for operational and donor liaison purposes throughout the award’s period of performance. NEA/AC welcomes applicants without a current presence in Berlin, Germany and who meet the eligibility criteria to apply, with the understanding that if selected, the applicant is expected to establish a presence in Berlin, Germany. NEA/AC requires that applicants be in sound legal standing with appropriate government authorities in the country where the project will be managed prior to an award being issued. Key overseas personnel must be co-located, while consideration should be taken for minimizing the need for expatriate and/or Third- Country National staff and operational costs. Award recipients will be required to maintain legal standing throughout the life of the award, including for any sub-grant made under its auspices. Please note: Applications that focus on activities for countries and territories other than those listed will NOT be considered.

Background Information about NEA/AC The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) offers Federal assistance to groups and individuals striving to bring about positive change in the Middle East-North Africa region. NEA/AC works in 20 countries and territories, partnering with governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), community leaders, youth and women activists, and private sector groups to advance their efforts.

Competitively selected projects aim to foster participatory governance, economic reform, and educational advancement in response to local interest and needs. NEA/AC is committed to advancing equity and support for minority and marginalized populations, including in Syria. All programs should consider strategies for expanding the pool of individuals/organizations/beneficiaries to afford opportunities for as diverse and inclusive a population as is feasible to bring perspectives based on religion, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, national origin, and age to implementation of the program.

Table of Contents

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROBLEM STATEMENT

B. ACHIEVABLE OBJECTIVES

C. PROJECT DESIGN

D. GENDER INTEGRATION

E. DEFINITIONS

MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

AWARD INFORMATION

SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

C. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

B. APPLICATION FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

C. SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

D. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

FUNDING LIMITATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

A. AWARDS TO COMMERCIAL FIRMS OR FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

B. AUDIT REQUIREMENTS

C. COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL FUNDING REGULATIONS AND DOS TERMS AND CONDITIONS ... 23

APPLICATION REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

A. APPLICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

C. TRAVEL NOTIFICATIONS

D. APPLICANT VETTING AS A CONDITION OF AWARD

E. SPECIAL PROVISION FOR PERFORMANCE IN A DESIGNATED COMBAT AREA (SPOT) REQUIREMENTS

F. BRANDING AND MARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTEES

G. UEI NUMBER REQUIREMENT FOR SUB AWARDEES

AGENCY CONTACTS

DISCLAIMER

APPENDICES (Posted with NOFO)

APPENDIX 1— Budget Sample Template and Budget Narrative Guidance APPENDIX 2— Logic Model Template APPENDIX 3— Results Monitoring Plan (RMP) Template APPENDIX 4— Application Guidance

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

NEA/AC seeks proposals for targeted assistance projects to empower civilian security providers in non-regime held areas of NE Syria to deliver effective and equitable security services in a manner that serves, and is supported by, the population. Proposals that take a holistic approach to community security and are tailored to the challenges of the Syrian conflict are encouraged. As part of NEA/AC’s portfolio of stabilization projects, proposals should advance U.S. policy, primarily ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS as well as advancing a political solution to the conflict in line with UNSCR 2254.

The U.S. Department of State has been supporting community security programing in Syria since 2013. Assistance was initially provided via a multi-donor project, Access to Justice and Community Security (AJACS), designed to support access to justice and community security in areas of northwest (and eventually southwest) Syria controlled by the Syrian opposition.

AJACS’ primary effort was to support the Free Syrian Police as they delivered community policing services in areas liberated from the Assad regime. AJACS closed in 2018 as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) consolidated power in the territory where the Free Syrian Police had been active.

In October 2018, in support of the U.S. objective to defeat ISIS, and in coordination with the U.S. military and Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS’s mission - Operation Inherent Resolve - NEA/AC launched the community security project, Al Rashad. The project currently works in areas liberated from ISIS and controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), primarily in the governates of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Al-Hasakah. Al Rashad has three overlapping lines of effort: 1) assistance to Internal Security Forces (ISF) to develop their capacity to deliver services in line with the principles of community policing; 2) enabling communities to be involved in the identification of, and response to, their security concerns; and 3) building the capacity of civilian governance entities to fulfil their public safety responsibilities. Activities supported by Al Rashad have included: the development of a community policing training capacity within the ISF; various forms of technical and non-lethal material assistance to increase the ISF’s capacity to deliver community policing services; programming designed to increase the accountability and responsiveness of the ISFs, such as the development and dissemination of codes of conduct; support for civil society organizations to convene dialogue sessions focused on local community security concerns; support for local governance entities to implement activities, such as the restoration of street lights and traffic safety initiatives, that respond to communities’ security concerns; and programming that addresses public safety issues, such as the establishment of an office providing information on individuals who have been detained, community engagement sessions focused on alternative dispute resolution, support for the provision of civil documentation, and assistance in responding to the COVID pandemic.

At this time, NEA/AC assesses that the only areas where community security programing can be delivered are those controlled by the SDF, i.e., SDF-controlled areas of the governates of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Al-Hasakah. Proposals should be limited to those areas; however, applicants are encouraged to detail their ability and flexibility to expand programing to new areas if opportunities arise. NEA/AC programming in northeast Syria aims to support programing that delivers assistance at the governorate level.

Applicants must incorporate plans for how their proposals will complement existing civilian assistance efforts, as well as incorporate NEA/AC in project implementation. All applicants must take into consideration that award activities will be coordinated through the Syria Regional Platform (SRP) – an interagency U.S. government team based in Turkey and Jordan advancing U.S. Syria policy through diplomacy and foreign assistance programming. Applicants should be aware that the majority of NEA/AC’s stabilization projects are currently implemented out of Berlin, Germany for political and operational reasons.

The award will be issued as a cooperative agreement with substantial involvement from SRP and NEA/AC in the recipient’s implementation of this project. As such, SRP and NEA/AC will work closely with the recipient and provide direction regarding the design, development, and implementation of programming as well as guidance on intended beneficiaries of assistance efforts. Such direction will include, but not be limited to, development of project activities and the selection of subrecipient organizations.

Each applicant must present a plan for how it will be flexible and responsive to time-sensitive requirements; monitor and evaluate activities inside Syria; and coordinate activities with NEA/AC, SRP and other relevant U.S. government entities, as well as international donors – including those who manage similar or parallel programming in northeast Syria. Proposals should explain how activities will not duplicate efforts undertaken by other donors and/or projects (and detail how any deconfliction of programming will occur), build on what has been accomplished to date, and articulate an end state appropriate to a stabilization project. It is expected that applicants will consider the context of Syria’s dynamic and challenging operating environment in their proposals, especially in terms of project implementation and monitoring.

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to conduct baseline and needs assessments of potential Syrian beneficiaries.

Applicants must have experience implementing programming related to policing, community security, and/or stabilization efforts in Syria or in conflict zones similar to Syria. This experience should include a demonstrated ability to deliver cash cross-border; provide technical assistance and training to police organizations, governance entities, and civil society organizations;

manage programming that supports the transition from the provision of security from a military to a civilian context with tact and discretion; produce analytical research on aspects of the security situation informative to a range of stakeholders including project beneficiaries, implementing partner staff, and the donor; manage strategic communications and outreach programming; manage monitoring and evaluation efforts; and adapt programming based on evaluation and learning in addition to evolving dynamics in the conflict and transition process.

Historically, NEA/AC has collaborated with other donors on community security programming in Syria and intends to do so in the future. Applicants must demonstrate the willingness and capability to facilitate such multi-donor efforts in an effective and transparent manner.

Applicants to this NOFO agree and understand that their application and subsequent award agreement, amendments, and any other documentation regarding programming may be shared with potential foreign donors – either those seeking to support the USG-funded mechanism directly or to establish their own focused on community security.

B. PROBLEM STATEMENT

The Syrian conflict began in 2011 as peaceful, popular demonstrations calling upon the oppressive Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad to reform. The Assad regime’s use of the state security services as a tool of repression was a major driver of these protests. A series of violent escalations by the regime against peaceful protestors marked the beginning of the conflict that has now stretched on for twelve years.

By 2015, Syrian opposition groups had gained control over a significant amount of Syrian territory; however, Russian intervention in September of that year enabled the Assad regime to reassert control over much of the country.

Amidst the raging conflict, ISIS emerged, capturing broad swaths of Syria and Iraq in 2014 and declaring an Islamic “caliphate.” Led by the United States, the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (the Coalition) partnered in Syria with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to pursue a military campaign that destroyed the territorial “caliphate,” liberating ISIS’s last stronghold in Baghouz, Syria, in March 2019. In areas of Al-Hasakah, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zor governorates liberated from ISIS, the Self Administration of North and East Syria (SANES) currently exercises authority. Turkey subsequently launched a series of campaigns, gaining control of portions of NE Syria and northwest (NW) Syria, either directly or through proxies. In 2023, portions of NW Syria, primarily Idlib governorate, and a wide swath of territory in NE Syria, remain outside Assad regime control. The conflict has resulted in more than half a million deaths, more than a million injured, and more than 13 million internally displaced persons and refugees.

In order to consolidate military gains made by the Coalition, as well as to maintain basic security and stability, the SDF established Internal Security Forces (ISF) - generally organizationally broken down by governorate - to hold areas that had been liberated from ISIS.

Following the conclusion of major combat operations, the ISF began transitioning to the provision of civilian security services to the population. ISIS sleeper cells, efforts by the Assad regime and its allies to destabilize the security situation, interference by regional powers, ethnic and tribal grievances, common and organized crime, and corruption all present significant security challenges.

While the security environment in NE Syria continues to present challenges that require a military response, there are a range of security challenges that require civilian solutions. It is NEA’s assessment that a continued holistic approach that delivers security services in a manner that both serves, and is supported by, the population, is necessary to ensure that ISIS does not reconstitute. Maintaining such an environment requires civilian participation, notably the development of policing capacity. Efforts to reintegrate internally displaced persons (IDP), notably the challenges posed by IDP camps where residents have had significant exposure to ISIS, present specific security challenges. In addition, a sustainable political solution to the Syrian conflict will require reform of the Syrian security apparatus, demonstrating approaches to security that respect human rights and are both responsive and accountable to the population. This NOFO seeks proposals that respond to these needs.

C. ACHIEVABLE OBJECTIVES

A successful project will result in:

Improved security in NE Syria by enabling civilian security providers to provide services in a manner that supports, and is supported, by local communities, and increases security providers’ responsiveness and accountability to local communities. This will include:

1. Development of the capacity of internal security forces to deliver policing services in line with community policing principles and practices;

2. Increasing involvement of communities in identifying, communicating, and addressing their security needs; and

3. Improvement of the capacity of local governance actors’ capacity to fulfill their responsibilities for public safety.

D. PROJECT DESIGN

This solicitation invites applications that seek to improve the security of communities in areas controlled by the SDF, i.e., the governates of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Al-Hasakah.

Demonstrations of the flexibility to expand to other parts of Syria, should the opportunity arise, are welcome. As a stabilization project, the proposal should be designed to advance U.S. policy objectives, primarily ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS. The proposal should articulate an end-state appropriate for a stabilization project that does not include longer-term goals more appropriate for a development project. As NEA seeks to collaborate with other donors to support community security, the application must demonstrate the capability to facilitate such collaboration in an efficient, transparent, cost-effective manner.

Funds are available to support projects with potential to promote the above-detailed objectives through activities that take a holistic approach to the security challenges presented by the NE Syrian environment. While addressing all elements of the security challenges in NE Syria may require military or para-military capabilities, only activities focused on the civilian elements of these challenges will be considered. The project shall be designed in a manner that facilitates the provision of security in a conflict environment in which major combat operations have decreased and a transition towards the civilian provision of security is underway, but where risks from terrorist organizations, belligerent states, and the resumption of armed conflict persist. Activities should be designed to promote respect for human rights. Development of the ISFs’ ability to provide policing services are essential to this effort, and proposed activities should incorporate best practices of community policing. Plans should also include activities designed to enable local communities to be involved in identifying and addressing their security concerns, and to support the role of local governance entities in providing public safety.

Project activities shall include:

a. Training on community policing tailored to the environment;

b. Provision of material assistance to support the delivery of community policing services;

c. Capacity-building to enable the sustainable delivery of community policing services;

d. Security-focused community engagement mechanisms;

e. Activities that enable communities to identify, and respond to, their security concerns;

f. Efforts to increase the responsiveness and accountability of security providers;

g. Capacity-building to enable local governance actors to fulfil their public safety responsibilities; and

h. Clearly articulated end-states appropriate to a stabilization project.

NEA/AC has historically collaborated with other donors on community security programing and intends to do so in the future. Applicants must demonstrate the capability and willingness to facilitate such cooperation. This shall include a commitment that in the event of a decision by NEA/AC to collaborate with another donor(s), the recipient shall: 1) provide transparent accounting of all elements of the different funding streams to all donors; 2) share documents associated with the project with donors with their consent and at their request; 3) include funds provided from another donor as a cost-share under NEA/AC’s cooperative agreements if donors make that request and if such request would be in compliance with 2 CFR 200 regulations; 4) collaborate with donors to ensure that project documents (such as theories of change, log frames, and work plans), are aligned; and 5) collaborate with any mechanisms that donors may establish to enable cooperation in the management of community security programing.

Project beneficiaries shall include:

a. The Internal Security Forces in NE Syria;

b. Individuals in the communities in the areas in which the project operates; and

c. Local council committees with responsibility for public safety.

Project activities should include:

a. Efforts to work with civil society and other stakeholders to improve the relationship between security providers and local communities;

b. Activities that address issues of civil and criminal procedure that undermine the provision of security services;

c. Mechanisms to address the security issues related to the reintegration of IDPs in northeast Syrian communities of return and/or security issues within IDP camps, such as al-Hol;

d. Activities that address the security needs of women and other marginalized populations;

e. Activities to support access to justice and dispute resolution services that address issues that undermine the security of communities;

f. Activities that address the issue of drug use and smuggling; and

g. Provision of services such as street lighting, civil documents, information on detained individuals, alternative dispute resolution that enable authorities to respond to the communities’ security concerns.

NEA/AC will require weekly reporting on project activities and standard quarterly reporting (at a minimum) in addition to ad hoc reporting requests.

The following activities and costs are NOT ALLOWED under this announcement:

Exchange activities with other countries or territories;

Social welfare projects;

Paying to complete activities begun with other funds;

Activities that appear partisan or that support individual or party electoral campaigns;

Academic or analytical research (if not necessary as part of a larger project);

Medical and psychological research and clinical studies;

Projects of a commercial or profit-making nature;

Cultural presentations, cultural research, cultural clubs, or festivals, etc.; and Entertainment costs (e.g., receptions, social activities, ceremonies, alcoholic beverages, guided tours); these are different than costs for cultural activities integral to programming.

NOTE: Applications that include any of these activities or costs above may be eliminated at the Technical Eligibility Review stage and will not advance to the Merit Review Panel.

E. GENDER AND SOCIAL INCLUSION INTEGRATION

NEA/AC requires that all activities fully address intersectional gender and inclusion considerations, ensuring that individuals of all genders, and diverse backgrounds1 benefit from support to the extent feasible, and that gender and inclusion awareness is a built-in component of project activities. This should be documented through gender and social inclusion analysis in the project narrative that identifies any relevant gender and inclusion gaps and ways the proposed activities will address those gaps. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing relevant gender and inclusion gaps will enhance the project’s goals and objectives. Applicants who are unfamiliar with integrating gender in foreign assistance programing should view the training video located here:

https://encompassworld.com/elearningfiles/DOS/DOS_Gender_Integration_E- Course/story_html5.html

F. DEFINITIONS

The following are definitions of activities and terms detailed in this announcement:

1 Consideration of diversity of race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status.

Diversity:

The term “diversity” means the practice of including the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of a community.

Equity:

The term “equity” means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as ethnic minorities, and indigenous persons, members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

Inclusion:

The term “inclusion” means the recognition, appreciation, and use of the talents and skills of persons of all backgrounds.

Accessibility:

The term “accessibility” means the design, construction, development, and maintenance of facilities, information and communication technology, programs, and services so that all people, including people with disabilities, can full and independently use them.

Underserved communities:

The term “underserved communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of “equity.”

Internal Security Forces (ISF):

The term “Internal Security Forces” is used in this document to refer to the entities established by SANES that currently fulfill the role of a police force in NE Syria.

MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

Applicants shall provide a logic model and a theory of change statement to demonstrate how the proposed project (including activities, the project design, and the surrounding context) will achieve the stated objectives. The logic model and theory of change statements can be generated using the template in Appendix 2. Please see Section VI below for more information.

Successful applicants will work with the NEA/AC program and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) teams to finalize the proposed logic model/theory of change statement and to create a plan based on the finished logic model/theory of change to measure qualitative and quantitative indicators as part of the award negotiations process. The successful applicants will be responsible for collecting data against these indicators, which will be monitored throughout the period of performance of the award to gauge necessary modifications to the project’s design and assess the results of the project’s success in meeting expected outcomes.

All projects funded as a result of this NOFO will be required to complete a final evaluation of the project at the end of the period of performance with support from the NEA/AC M&E team.

AWARD INFORMATION

Funding Mechanism Type: Cooperative Agreement

Estimated Number of Awards: One (1)

Estimated Total Project Funding: $30,000,000

Estimated Base Year Award Ceiling: $10,000,000

Estimated Base Year Award Floor: $7,000,000

Cost-Sharing or Matching: Encouraged; NOT Required

Estimated Length of Project Period: One to Three (1-3) Years

Contingent on the availability of funds, approximately $30,000,000 in International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement funds for approximately one (1) award will be issued through this announcement. If selected to receive an award, an applicant will be awarded funds for one base year with the potential to be awarded an additional two option years, depending on the activities proposed. The estimated start date for this project is July 1, 2023.

NEA/AC reserves the right to award more or less than the estimated program funding and reserves the right to award funding under this announcement for a period of up to two years after the announcement’s close date.

This request for full applications does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of the U.S. government to make any awards, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application.

Non-Competing Continuation Continuation grants funded under this award, beyond the initial budget period, will be contingent upon the availability of funds; grantee’s progress in meeting grant requirements, including timely submission of required reports and compliance with all terms and conditions of the award; timely submission of a request for additional funding; and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the Department of State.

Pending successful implementation of this project for the initial estimated length of time as indicated above, and pending the availability of funds, NEA/AC may extend this award for additional time, not to exceed a three (3) year total project period. Please note that this NOFO requires that applicants submit additional budget materials to plan for potential out-years of non-competing continuations. See Section VI Application and Submission Information for more details.

SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

NEA/AC and SRP will be involved in the management of the project under the substantial involvement clause of this cooperative agreement. This will include consultation, technical collaboration, and review and approval of project activities. It is expected that the recipient will remain adaptable to the requests of both NEA/AC and SRP team members.

NEA/AC and SRP Responsibilities Examples of NEA/AC and SRP’s substantial involvement in cooperative agreements include, but are not limited to:

Collaboration in establishing project objectives and reviewing and revising the theory of change and/or logic model;

Reviewing and approving or rejecting changes to the project’s objectives, theory of change, and/or logic model;

Participation in the development, and approval, of work plans;

Collaboration in identifying and developing opportunities to expand programming;

Collaboration in identifying and designing on-the-ground activities;

Review and approval of individual activities to be implemented under the award through activity sheets;

Collaboration in the creation and development of training and other materials;

Collaboration in the selection of local partners to implement activities;

Collaboration in the selection of participants for activities;

Collaboration in identifying stakeholders in community security focused activities;

Collaboration in the identification of candidates for staffing positions;

Facilitating coordination with other donors and related projects (including projects funded by NEA/AC and other U.S. entities);

Collaboration in the management of issues that arise during implementation; and Collaboration with the Department of State in areas which the Department of State’s technical knowledge would benefit the Recipient’s successful accomplishment of stated project objectives.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

All applicants will be screened by NEA/AC to determine whether they meet all of the eligibility requirements detailed below.

NOTE: Applications that do not demonstrate that they meet all of the eligibility requirements in Section A and Section B will not advance past the Technical Eligibility Review stage and may be deemed ineligible for funding under this announcement. Nothing can be added to an application once the competition deadline has passed.

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants include:

- U.S. or foreign o Non-profit organizations;

o For-profit organizations;

o Private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and o Small businesses with function and regional experience in the areas of community security in the MENA region.

NEA/AC is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities.

NEA/AC welcomes applications irrespective of an applicants’ race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. We encourage applications from organizations working with underserved communities, including women, people with disabilities, and youth.

NEA/AC strongly encourages applications from organizations headquartered in the Middle East and North Africa region. International non-governmental organizations with principal bases of operations outside the Middle East and North Africa are also encouraged to apply, but the percentage of total budget spent in the region through local partners may be among the elements of evaluation for this competition.

A.1. Prime Applicant To be considered for funding under this opportunity, applicants SHALL:

Have demonstrable previous experience working in Syria, the MENA region, or Afghanistan. This should be addressed within the project narrative section of your application.

Have experience in conducting risk assessments and monitoring and evaluating projects and sub-recipients in order to document and assess the short- and long-term outcomes of proposed projects.

Demonstrate the ability to advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) through a project team inclusive of Syrian nationals with previous experience managing stabilization programming in the region reflected at all levels of project management.

Meet ALL of the registration requirements listed below.

Meet any requirements listed as MANDATORY in Additional Eligibility Considerations, below.

Additionally, applicants should:

Demonstrate experience implementing similar projects in conflict areas.

Demonstrate institutional subject matter expertise in community policing and/or community security.

Demonstrate in the project and budget narratives how the assistance mechanism will be managed, monitored, and evaluated to ensure compliance with the project objectives and Federal regulations. The successful applicant will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of all sub-recipients, and/or other direct assistance to ensure completion of activities, programmatic efficacy, institutional strengthening, and financial propriety.

Demonstrate the ability to accomplish the required activities with efficient staffing and without establishing a dedicated local office in Syria.

Demonstrate the ability to recruit/hire technical staff with policing and community security subject matter expertise.

A.2. Local Partners Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit projects that include partnerships with local organizations that would work together on specific programmatic objectives or priorities and that utilize local expertise. In particular, NEA/AC strongly encourages applicants not based in the MENA region to partner with local organizations.

B. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

To apply for NEA/AC (Federal) funding, organizations, whether based in or outside the U.S., must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number and an active account with the System for Award Management (SAM). Applicants who do not meet all registration requirements are NOT eligible for funding under the opportunity.

UEI Number All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number.

On and after April 4, 2022, entities can register in SAM.gov and will be assigned their Unique Entity ID (SAM) within SAM.gov. Entities will no longer obtain or use a UEI (DUNS) for entity registration or reporting.

System for Award Management (SAM) SAM is a U.S. government wide registry of vendors doing business with the Federal government and requires annual renewal. The system centralizes information about grant applicants/recipients, and provides a central location for grant applicants/recipients to change organizational information.

Further, each applicant must maintain an active account, with current information, while its application is under consideration for funding. To keep an active SAM.gov account, an applicant must renew it at least once each year. If an organization’s account expires, the organization cannot submit a grant application until it is renewed.

To create a new SAM account, go to https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

U.S.-based organizations must have a UEI number and a CAGE number. The CAGE code will be issued by SAM.gov. Please note that as of December 2022, 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 CAGE (NCAGE) code to apply for non-DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities. If an applicant organization is mid-registration and wishes to remove an 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 to seek guidance on how to do so. Organizations based outside of the U.S. are still required to have a UEI and SAM.gov registration.

For help with SAM.gov, please visit their support page at https://www.fsd.gov or contact them at: 866-606-8220 (U.S.) or +1-334-206-7828 (international).

Note: Obtaining an active SAM.gov registration may take 12-15 business days to complete the process of creating an account in the system.

C. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

C.1 Cost-Sharing or Matching There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, NEA/AC encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.

Cost-sharing or matching is not an evaluation criteria of this NOFO.

While cost-share is not required for this application, in the event that another Donor seeks to collaborate with NEA/AC on community security programing in Syria, and the Donors agree that funding provided under that mechanism should be included as a cost share in support of this project, the applicant will be required to include such funding as a cost-share if determined to meet the requirements in 2 CFR 200.

C.2 Host Country Legal Compliance NEA/AC requires that applicants be in sound legal standing with appropriate host government authorities prior to an award being issued. If the applicant is not currently based in Berlin, Germany and intends to operate from that location, they should demonstrate the ability to establish a presence there in a timely manner following notification of the award. Award recipients will be required to maintain legal standing throughout the life of the award, including for any sub-grant made under its auspices.

VI. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

All applications must include the application components detailed below. All application documents must be submitted in English. Applicants may submit only one (1) application.

Please refer to Section B below for additional submissions guidance and requirements.

NOTE: Applications that do not include all the required documentation described in Section 1 below will not advance past the Technical Eligibility Review stage. Further, applications that exceed the allowable page limits will not be reviewed by the review panel. Applicants may not add any materials to an application once it has been submitted and the competition deadline has passed.

A.1. Required Documents Federal Assistance Application Forms (SF-424 and SF424a) Guidance on how to complete the SF-424 and SF424a is provided in Appendix 4.

NOTE: In addition to following all guidance outlined below regarding application materials, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Application Evaluation Criteria section of this NOFO closely as they prepare their proposal. The Evaluation Criteria section is the rubric by which each application will be scored.

Project Narrative The Project Narrative describes the efforts the applicant will undertake to address the priorities and goals of this announcement.

This section of the application may be no longer than 10 pages. More details on preparing the Project Narrative are provided in Appendix 4. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review Appendix 4 before preparing their Narrative.

Community Policing & Security Plan The Community Policing portion of this plan shall describe how the project will build the capacity of civilian security forces to provide policing services in line with the principles of community policing. The Community Security portion of this plan shall detail how the project will work with local governance actors, community representatives, and other stakeholders to improve the security of the communities. The Community Policing and Community Security Plan should demonstrate a holistic approach to civilian security issues that reflects best practices and knowledge of the subject matter. This section of the application may be no longer than 4 pages.

Budget & Budget Narrative Submission Applicants must provide the following three elements as part of their budget submission:

Summary Budget Detailed Line Item Budget Budget Narrative

A detailed budget for 12 months is required as well as a notional budget for two additional out (option) years, with each option period being one year. The option periods should be their own detailed tabs (one year per tab) within the budget.

There is no page limit for this section of an application. A sample fillable template can be found in Appendix 1. This template includes three tabs: The first tab includes written guidance on preparing the Budget Narrative. Applicants are strongly encouraged to create their Budget Narrative in Word and submit as either a Word Doc or PDF file. Please note that the Budget Narrative should include designations of who is considered Key Personnel for this project. As defined in the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions (for assistance awards, Key Personnel means, “…key professional and supervisory personnel; i.e., the members of the professional staff in a program supervisory position engaged for or assigned to duties under the award.” The second tab has the template for the Summary Budget. This tab will auto-fill as you complete the Detailed Line Item Budget, which can be found on the third tab. The third tab is where you can fill in the template for the Detailed Line Item Budget as stated above. NOTE:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the same format as provided in the template, and to submit summary and detailed line item budgets in Excel form, and the Budget Narrative as either a PDF or Word file. If the applicant does not use the template, the applicant must ensure that their submission includes all elements outlined in the sample. The template, which includes more detailed instructions, can be found in Appendix 1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review Appendix 1 before preparing their Budget and Budget Narrative.

Logic Model and Theory of Change Statement Applicants shall provide a logic model and a theory of change statement to demonstrate how the proposed project (including activities, the project design, and the surrounding context) will achieve the stated objectives. In the event the proposal is funded, the logic model and a broader theory of change will be reviewed and revised in collaboration with NEA/AC, who will then have the right of approval under the Substantial Involvement clause. In the event that other donors seek to collaborate with NEA/AC on community security programing, the relevant logic models and/or theories of change will be revised to support such collaboration, with NEA/AC again participating in the revision and approval of the documents. A theory of change statement should describe in 2-3 sentences how and why a project is expected to achieve its stated outcomes in support of the project objectives described in section I.B above using if-then language. The logic model and theory of change statements can be generated using the template in Appendix 2. NOTE: Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the same format as found in the sample. If the applicant does not use the template, the applicant must ensure that their submission includes all elements outlined in the sample. This section of the application may be no longer than 2 pages.

Results Monitoring Plan Applicants shall provide a Results Monitoring Plan (RMP). The RMP can be generated using the template in Appendix 3. NOTE: Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the same format as found in the sample. If the applicant does not use the template, the applicant must ensure that their submission includes all elements outlined in the sample. The RMP shall be submitted as a separate document from the Logic Model and Theory of Change statement. There is no page limit for this section of the application.

Project Timeline Applicants must provide an overall breakdown of the order and timeframe in which all project activities will take place. This item should provide a macro snapshot of what will take place from beginning to end of the project. Applicants must ensure that the timeline of activities/events corresponds with details provided in the Project Narrative and Logic Model / Theory of Change. This section of the application may not exceed 2 pages.

Security, Risk Mitigation, & Contingency Planning Summary This item should provide detail regarding the applicant’s intended due diligence to assess and mitigate risks and put in place adequate security measures to ensure the safety and well-being of project staff, participants, and partners, if applicable. This should include specific actions by the applicant to ensure risks are adequately and routinely assessed, and that security measures are commensurate with operational concerns specific to the locale. The applicant should also include a contingency plan that highlights potential challenges and limitations to project implementation in the operating environment and propose contingency plans should program activities be impacted. Please note that this section should not be limited to physical security and risk but should cover any applicable factors relevant to the given operating environment.

This section of the application may be no longer than 4 pages.

Project Organizational Chart The organizational chart outlines the clear lines of responsibility and authority in the applicant organization to include budgeted level of effort listed by each person. All proposed staff for the project shall be included, with location detailed. This section of the application may be no longer than 1 page.

Job Descriptions/Biographical Info for Key Personnel Positions For each position designated as key personnel for this project, applicants must provide the following:

1. If the position is already filled: Provide brief biographical information summarizing the person’s qualifications, as well as a brief description of the roles or responsibilities pertaining to this project.

OR

2. If the person to fill a key position has not yet been hired: Provide a brief summary of the job description, which should include a description of the roles and responsibilities pertaining to this project, as well as a description of qualifications of eligible candidates.

NOTE: If an applicant is proposing sub-grant partner(s) as part of their project design, Key Personnel/Positions of the sub-grantee must also be included. This section of the application may be no longer than 3 pages.

Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement NOTE: This item is required only IF applicable.

Applicants proposing indirect costs in the Budget greater than a 10% de minimis rate must provide a copy of their Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). This item will not be counted toward any page limits.

A.2. Optional Documents Applicants may submit additional documents for consideration with their application. These documents are not required, though if any are submitted, they will need to be submitted as one attachment. This section of the application may be no longer than 10 pages.

NOTE: Applicants must adhere to all maximum allowed page counts. Applications that exceed any of the allowable page limits will not advance past the Technical Eligibility Review stage.

B. APPLICATION FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

The required font is 12-point, Calibri. All application documents must be single spaced, with all margins (left, right, top, and bottom) of at least one inch each. Also, applicants should ensure all pages in the application package are numbered consecutively and meet the page limit requirements outlined in Section VI above. The Standard Forms 424 (SF-424, SF-424a, and SF- 424b) are excluded from the page numbering.

It is strongly recommended that applicants submit grant applications using Microsoft Office.

If applicants do not have access to Microsoft Office products, Adobe PDF files may be submitted.

C. SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Applicants must submit their application electronically using SAMS Domestic. Applications will NOT be accepted from grants.gov. SAMS Domestic requires that the applying organization have an account with the system and both require a UEI number and SAM.gov account as detailed in Section V. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they have an active account and will be able to submit its application. NEA/AC is not in a position to grant exceptions to these requirements.

The application process is not complete until the applicant receives notification that its application has been validated and forwarded to the granting agency (NEA/AC). Please allow sufficient time for entering the application into these systems. It is the responsibility of the applicant to monitor its application to ensure that it is successfully received and validated.

SAMS Domestic SAMS Domestic is a comprehensive grants management system that allows applicants to apply for, manage, and report on the use of U.S. government funds for multiple programs, accessed online at mygrants.service-now.com.

To create an account, go to https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms/, and click the “create an account” hyperlink, located above the user name prompt. Users will be directed to a page entitled “User Registration Request;” complete the online form and click the “Submit” button.