INL Investigative Journalism Project NOFO - FINAL 12-14-2021.pdf

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.U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Announcement Type: Request for Federal Assistance Award Applications

Funding Opportunity Title:

Combatting Crime through Investigative Journalism in

Cyprus and Malta

Funding Opportunity Number: INL22GR0003-Cyprus-Malta

Program: Europe and Eurasia Regional Program

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

(CFDA) Number:

19.704 - Counternarcotics

Total Funding Available: $1,000,000 U.S. Dollars

Application Ceiling: Up to $1,000,000 U.S. Dollars

Application Floor: At least $500,000 U.S. Dollars

Anticipated Number of Awards: 1 award

Initial Project Implementation Length: 24 months

Estimated Project Start: May 1, 2022

NOFO Issuance Date: December 14, 2021

Deadline for Submission of Questions: January 14, 2022 by 11:59 PM EST via email

Deadline for Submission of Applications:

February 14, 2022 by 11:59 PM EST via www.grants.gov

Assistance Type: Grant

Applicant Type: Organizations only – See Section C

Eligibility Categories:

Refer to Section C: Eligibility Information for more information. Public International Organizations (PIOs) and Private For-Profit Organizations are excluded from applying to this grant announcement. – If you are unsure about your eligibility status, please consult the

INL POCs during the Q&A period.

INL Points of Contact: Najar Starr (StarrND@state.gov) http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:StarrND@state.gov

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Andrew Riedy (Riedyao@state.gov)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The mission of the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement

Affairs (INL) is to keep Americans safe by countering criminal activity abroad, alongside allies and partners. The U.S. government works hand-in-hand with allies and partners to combat transnational crime as a threat to public safety, national security, and good democratic governance. The

Administration’s strategic approach recognizes that international security depends on the cooperation of strong, sovereign nations that respect the rights of their citizens while advancing safety and security. INL is at the forefront of responding to these challenges through foreign assistance programs and diplomatic engagement.

INL works closely with allies and partners to strengthen their criminal justice sector capacity to combat transnational threats. INL’s work promotes a rule- and norms-based international order grounded in the rule of law. INL leads U.S. government efforts to develop new, and implement existing, international standards on drug supply and drug demand reduction and against corruption and organized crime. INL draws from a wide range of expertise in implementing criminal justice capacity-building programs and through promoting international cooperation, common standards, and interoperability, INL’s work contributes to effective criminal investigations. INL works closely with U.S. law enforcement agencies to develop and deliver both foundational reform and provide advanced skills ranging from basic police training to complex cybercrime and money laundering investigations. This work enhances critical relationships between U.S. law enforcement entities and foreign counterparts.

INL’s foreign assistance programs and diplomatic engagement are critical tools in advancing U.S.

policy objectives. INL prioritizes foreign assistance around three strategic goals.

1. Disrupt or deter significant illicit drug trafficking and other transnational criminal activity that threatens U.S. national security, public safety, or drives irregular migration to the

United States.

2. Reduce instability in strategically vital regions and strengthen the resilience of partners facing malign influence.

3. Drive global action through international engagement that promotes interoperable criminal justice systems and common standards to combat shared criminal threats.

INL’s priority programs support three inter-related objectives:

• BUILDING CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS: Institutionalize the rule of law by developing and expanding criminal justice systems to strengthen partner country law enforcement and judicial effectiveness, foster cooperation in legal affairs, and advance respect for human rights;

• COUNTER-NARCOTICS: Disrupt the overseas production and trafficking of illicit drugs through targeted counter-narcotics and institution-building assistance and coordination with foreign nations and international organizations, and;

• TRANSNATIONAL CRIME: Minimize the impact of transnational crime and criminal networks on the United States and its allies through enhanced international cooperation and mailto:Riedyao@state.gov

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

F. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

APPENDIX A: PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

APPENDIX B: PROJECT MONITORING PLAN AND PROJECT RISK ANALYSIS

APPENDIX C: BUDGET AND BUDGET NARRATIVE

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A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a pilot project to strengthen investigative journalism in Malta and Cyprus to uncover crime and corruption. If successful, the pilot may be expanded to the other countries in Europe.

Democracies across the globe are increasingly under siege. Free societies have been challenged from within by corruption, inequality, polarization, populism, and illiberal threats to the rule of law.

Democratic nations are increasingly challenged from outside by antagonistic authoritarian powers.

Anti-democratic forces use misinformation, disinformation, and weaponized corruption to exploit perceived weaknesses and sow division within and among free nations, erode existing international rules, and promote alternative models of authoritarian governance. Corruption threatens security and stability, creates obstacles to economic growth, facilitates transnational criminal activity, and siphons away public and private resources, often costing lives and livelihoods.

The most effective antidote to corruption is transparent and accountable democratic institutions held to account by an informed and engaged public. Investigative journalists equipped with the right tools and training are essential to keeping society informed by uncovering corruption through meticulous research and presenting the information in a format that is easy to understand. Investigative journalists unravel complex corruption schemes hidden in the darkness of offshore corporate entities, obscured by opaque nameless and faceless transactions, and agreed to in encrypted conversations outside of the public view.

In addition to the work of governments to prevent and combat corruption, civil society and investigative journalists play an important role in exposing corruption and scrutinizing government.

In this context, the U.S. government has identified combating corruption as a national security priority within the March 2021 Interim U.S. National Security Strategy. INL leads the Department of State’s efforts to prevent and combat corruption globally by strengthening justice sector institutions, supporting criminal justice reform, and empowering citizen advocates to hold governments accountable to anti-corruption standards. INL tailors its technical support to bolster capacities of partner countries through multilateral, regional, and country-specific programs.

Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region are a priority for anti-corruption action and reform.

To that end, two countries from the region have been chosen as the focus of a pilot program. In

Malta, murky energy deals involving offshore companies enriching connected political figures are emblematic of the corrosiveness of corruption. Investigating corruption cost one intrepid journalist her life. In Cyprus, an investigation by Al Jazeera uncovered an extensive corruption scheme involving bribes for Cypriot citizenship by criminals and politically exposed persons, including U.S.

sanctioned Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolimoisky.

Cyprus and Malta are both signatories to the UN Convention Against Corruption, obliging them to promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption, and promote integrity, accountability, and proper management of public affairs and public property, critical issues at odds with corrupt energy deals and murky citizenship-by-investment schemes. Corruption in the programs was brought to light by investigative journalists.

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To ensure effective and democratic governance and empower justice systems to fight corruption, it is important that journalists have the capacity to uncover illicit activity and the resources to disseminate their reporting to a broad audience.

In Malta, independent media proved instrumental in revealing corrupt deals involving high-level officials, but journalistic standards are limited by a lack of resources, staffing, and professional training. Journalists are vulnerable to libel suits and especially Strategic Lawsuit against Public

Participation (SLAPP) suits, which further compromises their ability to investigate important issues. A handful of local independent media groups are empowered by their connection to Forbidden

Stories, an international network of journalists that continues and publishes the work of other journalists facing threats, prison, or murder. The Institute of Maltese Journalists and local NGOs are making efforts to set up data platforms for independent newsrooms to collaborate on investigative journalism, but struggle with lack of funding and expertise to maintain them. Recently introduced regulations threaten to cripple the non-governmental organizations’ fundraising efforts and compromise their ability to hold the authorities to account.

Since 1974 the island of Cyprus has been de facto divided between the internationally-recognized

Republic of Cyprus (ROC), which controls the southern two-thirds of the island, and the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, which controls the northern third. The northern part of Cyprus proclaimed itself the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)” in 1983. The United States does not recognize the “TRNC” nor does any country other than Turkey. The two sides are separated by a UN-patrolled Buffer Zone, and there are also two British Sovereign Base Areas.

Investigative journalism is an underdeveloped skill in the ROC. Journalists are not taught to ask insightful or challenging questions of their subjects and rarely have the training, resources of high-level support necessary to investigate and uncover corruption in the private or public sector activity. While the media environment is generally free and fair, the educated class in the country of less than 1,000,000 people is very small and interconnected, complicating matters. The largest corruption stories of the last few years were all broken by international news organizations such as

Reuters, Al-Jazeera, and non-profit Organized Crime and Reporting Project (OCCRP) and not by local news organizations.

Despite the proliferating number of universities in the north, "TRNC" residents suffer from a lack of easy access to training in best practices for journalists. There is also a disturbing history of journalists either self-censoring or being rebuked by "government" authorities for writing anything deemed too harsh towards Turkey, on which the "TRNC" is politically and economically dependent. Turkish

Cypriot press has also historically been reliant on government subsidies for at least some of their operating expenses. Additional training in investigative journalism and in English language skills, which would give these journalists better access to internet resources, would help advance U.S.

interests in the Turkish Cypriot area.

In addition to building the long-term investigative capacity of journalists, there is a need to provide them with the tools and resources they need to undertake their important work. Domestic crime and corruption often have an international nexus. For example, transnational criminal organizations have money and properties in other countries, but Cypriot and Maltese journalists often lack the resources and knowledge to follow the money or gain information on the bank accounts or properties. They need access to international databases where the money or properties are registered in order to determine from where the funds are coming and if money laundering or tax fraud is occurring. Thus, 7 | P a g e building linkages between journalists and regional and/or international networks is critical to enable them to undertake thorough and comprehensive investigations.

To support investigative journalism on the topic of crime and corruption, the U.S. Department of

State has allocated $1,000,000 in FY 2020 International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INCLE) funds to this grant opportunity. Foreign assistance will support work in Cyprus, Malta, and other locations as needed to provide journalists with investigative capacity building assistance. Assistance provided through this program will help keep the public informed of possible corruption, bolstering democracy and enhancing transparency. This project may serve as a pilot for future programming in other countries in the region.

1. Priority Countries

Cyprus and Malta

2. Project Goal(s)

Investigative journalists and outlets in Cyprus and Malta can uncover crime and corruption in the region and globally and report the information in easy-to-understand formats and to multiple audiences. Investigative journalism units work on long-term investigative reporting and utilize links to international and regional networks and a range of open-source data to enhance their reporting. Investigative journalists in Cyprus and Malta take necessary precautions to protect their electronic, data, and personal security. They serve as a resource for investigating and corroborating information requested by journalists outside of the region, including on issues related to property and assets maintained by foreign persons. In turn, investigative journalists and criminal justice sector officials in Cyprus and Malta have open lines of communication and officials are aware of relevant information uncovered by journalists.

3. Project Objectives

Objective 1:

Investigative journalists and media houses in Cyprus and Malta possess the skills and access to information necessary to uncover suspected crime and corruption in their countries, the region, and potentially globally. The journalists can uncover suspected corruption linked to government contracting and procurement, and other programs. Where applicable, journalists can link possible crimes with offshore entities and determine the real ownership of companies linked to government purchases. Investigative journalists can scrutinize the declared property and assets of politically exposed persons and uncover any discrepancies with real assets. They are able to assist non-resident journalists in verifying information on assets and property in their countries owned by foreign persons and entities. Investigative journalists take steps to ensure their personal security and safety, as well as the security, safety, and integrity of their data, including on confidential and other sources.

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Establishing and funding investigative reporting units within existing media houses for at least two years;

• Training and developing investigative skills and techniques to uncover possible crime and corrupt activities, including those related to government procurements and programs.

• Educating and training on the nexus between corruption and transnational organized crime, including practical tools and resources that would assist in identifying possible links.

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• Training on how to determine the beneficial ownership of companies linked to government procurements and programs.

• Training on scrutinizing the declared assets of politically exposed persons and assisting foreign journalists in verifying the real ownership of foreign-owned property and assets in

Malta and Cyprus.

• Networking and awareness raising between journalists and civil society to ensure civil society is aware of investigative reporting and can take action to hold government accountable.

• Journalist protection training focused on journalist security and proper steps to ensure protection of their physical person, investigative information, and digital presence throughout investigations.

• Establish tools to assist journalists in emergencies connected to their reporting, such as emergency safety and relocation services.

• Provide tools and resources to assist journalists facing lawsuits due to their reporting.

• Conduct legal and institutional analyses of laws and policies related to journalist freedoms and protections, including defamation laws, as these are especially relevant and useful in the local context.

• Establish and fund the use of tools or platforms for independent newsrooms to collaborate on investigative journalism.

Objective 2: Investigative journalists in Malta and Cyprus possess strong connections with regional and international networks and maintain regular contact.

• Establish and fund tools or platforms for independent newsrooms to collaborate on investigative journalism.

• Connect journalists to international and regional networks

• Supporting investigative journalists’ participation in international conferences (e.g., International Anticorruption Conference).

• Starting a regional chapter of an investigative journalism network.

Objective 3: Criminal justice sector officials in Cyprus and Malta readily use open-source information and journalism products to develop leads and conduct research on complex crimes.

Officials are aware of relevant information produced by investigative journalists and other media sources and regularly use the information to improve their understanding of criminal activity and emerging challenges.

• Training for law enforcement and other justice sector actors on where and how to access available reporting and other publicly available information on corruption and how to use that information to pursue case leads (i.e. tips or actionable reports).

• Activities designed to increase awareness among justice sector actors and other stakeholders of ways in which they might engage each other, where possible and helpful.

Objective 4: Investigative journalists in Cyprus and Malta can communicate their findings in an easy-to-understand manner utilizing contemporary media and long-form journalism.

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• Training on producing multimedia products using free tools on contemporary platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and others as appropriate.

• Training to produce high-quality web pages, vlogs, blogs, informational clips, and other tools to publish content.

4. Participants and Audiences

Investigative Journalists in Cyprus and Malta

Criminal justice sector officials in Cyprus and Malta

Foreign criminal justice sector officials and government regulators

Regulatory officials in Cyprus and Malta

Civil society in Cyprus and Malta

Non-resident journalists and civil society in Cyprus and Malta

Independent subject matter experts

Citizens of Cyprus and Malta

5. Project Expansion

If the pilot project is successful, INL will consider the option of expanding the project to other areas or countries in the region, subject to availability of future funding. Applicants may include in their proposal a brief section outlining how additional funds could potentially be used to expand work into additional activities or countries in future years. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate how their project might leverage funding through other organizations.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Applicants are encouraged to reference the table on the first page(s) of this NOFO to determine the basic federal award information (e.g., project length, amount of funding available, anticipated number of awards, assistance type, etc.). Additional award information is included in this section, although specific aspects of the award(s) issued from this NOFO may differ from program to program.

1. Project Implementation Period

The initial project implementation length is the amount of time (e.g., months) applicants should plan to implement the project. If a range of months is listed, applicants should propose a realistic project length within that range.

INL may extend the project implementation period, contingent on INL priorities, good performance of the recipient, Department of State management approvals, and funding availability. INL projects shall not exceed five (5) total years of project implementation.

2. Assistance Type: Cooperative Agreement

3. Funding Notices

This award will be supported with International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement

(INCLE) funds under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Length of performance period: 24 months

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Number of awards anticipated: One (1) award

Award amounts: $500,000 - $1,000,000

Total available funding: $1,000,000

Type of Funding: FY 2020 INCLE

Anticipated program start date: May 1, 2022

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicant Types

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);

• U.S.-based educational institutions subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code;

• Foreign-based non-profits/non-governmental organizations (NGOs);

• Foreign-based educational institutions

Note: Public International Organizations (PIOs) and For-Profit Organizations are excluded from applying to this grant announcement. – If you are unsure about your eligibility status, please consult the INL POCs during the Q&A period.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost share is the portion of project costs not borne by the U.S. government. Cost share is recommended but not required for this project.

Any cost share proposed must be appropriately captured within the SF-424A, budget, and budget narrative.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

• In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (also known as UEI or DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Individuals are not required to have a unique entity identifier or be registered in SAM.gov. Refer to Section D for additional guidance.

• Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. Organizations may form a consortium and submit a combined proposal, however one organization should be designated as the lead applicant and other organization(s) listed as sub-recipient partner(s).

• To be eligible to receive a federal assistance award, organizations must have a commitment to non‐discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. INL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities. INL welcomes applications irrespective of an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status.

• 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

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D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Applicants should carefully follow all instructions in this section to ensure their application is formatted properly and includes all required documents. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be deemed ineligible for review.

1. How to Apply and Submit Questions

This opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov, along with all required application forms and, where applicable, templates for application documents. Applications and all supporting documents must be submitted via www.grants.gov. INL reserves the right to reject any applications submitted through improper channels.

Applicants are encouraged to closely review the NOFO and email questions to the INL points of contact by the deadline listed on the first page(s) of this document. After the question deadline has passed, INL will respond to all questions publicly through a Questions & Answers document uploaded to the Related Documents tab of this opportunity.

2. Required Application Documents

All documents in the following list must be included in your application, unless explicitly listed as optional. If a document includes a page limit, please adhere to that limit in your application.

Applicants that do not submit all required documents will be notified via email of their ineligibility after the application deadline.

Standard Application Forms

SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – Organizations)

Must be signed by an authorized signatory of the applicant’s organization.

SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs)

SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs) – Optional

The SF-424B is only required for applicants who are not registered in SAM.gov.

Project Proposal

The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant is proposing to do. The following documents may be submitted separately or combined into one document. If combined, please be sure to adhere to the page limits for each section.

Proposal Narrative – Maximum 10 pages

Applicants may use their own proposal template, but it must include all the sections below.

Refer to Appendix A for additional guidance on drafting a proposal narrative.

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Cover Page: include organization name, project title, requested number of months, target country(ies), point(s) of contact, and requested funding amount.

Table of Contents: list all documents and attachments with page numbers.

Executive Summary: include a synopsis of the project, including a breakdown of the goals, objectives, and activities. Include a brief statement on why the project is likely to achieve the goal and how it will be sustainable.

Timeline: outline key milestones in the project, project start-up, and closeout, programmatic activities, and monitoring and evaluation activities (e.g., monitoring trips or semi-annual reviews).

Activity Map: outline the goal, objectives, sub-objectives (if applicable), activities, and indicators. Refer to the table in Appendix A for additional guidance.

Future Funding Plan/Sustainability: briefly discuss the plan for ensuring the sustainability of the project (i.e., that the project continues to have impact beyond the grant period). Applicants may also include a brief section outlining how additional funds could potentially be used to expand work into additional activities or countries beyond the initial project period.

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

This document outlines how activities will be monitored to ensure they are executed in a timely manner, and how the project will be evaluated to ensure the goals are met. A template is included under the Related Documents section of this NOFO announcement on www.grants.gov. Refer to Appendix B for additional guidance on drafting a

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.

Project Risk Analysis

A template is included under the Related Documents section of this NOFO announcement on www.grants.gov. Refer to Appendix B for additional guidance on drafting a Project

Risk Analysis.

Organization, Staff, and Partners

The following documents may be submitted separately or combined into one document. If combined, please be sure to adhere to the page limits for each section.

Biographical Information of Applicant Organization – Maximum 4 pages

(Recommended page limit: 4)

Introduce the applicant organization, including biographical information such as mission statement, organization size, relevant office location(s), etc.

Provide a summary description of past and present operations, demonstrating the applicant’s ability to carry out the project

Describe any experience the organization has in the target country or region

Confirm whether the organization is a registered business entity within the target country or region

List of Key Personnel – Maximum 3 pages (Recommended page limit: 3)

Names, titles, responsibilities, and relevant experience or qualifications of key personnel involved in the management of the project

Partner Information – Maximum 3 pages (Recommended page limit: 3)

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Introduce and provide relevant information about key partner organizations and sub-awardees

Briefly describe the division of labor and/or distinct roles and responsibilities among the applicant organization and its partners

If proposing a sub-grantee, please briefly describe the applicant organization’s experience related to managing sub-recipients

Letters of Support – Optional

If desired, applicants may submit letters of support from project partners, host government entities, or other relevant stakeholders

Project Budget and Cost Documents

Summary and Detailed Budgets

A proposal budget must be submitted in spreadsheet format (e.g., Microsoft Excel). A template is included under the Related Documents section of this NOFO announcement on www.grants.gov. Refer to Appendix C for additional guidance on drafting a proposal budget.

One tab of the spreadsheet shall contain the Summary Budget, which lists the

OMB-approved budget categories and total estimated cost per category

One tab of the spreadsheet shall contain the Detailed Budget, which breaks down the OMB-approved budget categories into individual line items and provides detailed cost estimates per line item

If applicable, federal costs and recipient cost share must be reported in separate columns

Budget Narrative

The Budget Narrative is a companion document to the summary and detailed budgets, and must be submitted in word document format. A template is included under the Related

Documents section of this NOFO announcement on www.grants.gov. Refer to Appendix

C for additional guidance on drafting a Budget Narrative.

The Budget Narrative should communicate to INL any budgetary information that is not readily apparent in the detailed budget. Rather than simply repeating with words what is stated numerically in the budget, the Budget Narrative should explain the logic behind the amount budgeted for each line item

If applicable, proposed recipient cost share must be included in the Budget

Narrative, including reference to the source of the cost share

NICRA – Optional

If the applicant has an approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

(NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, a copy of the organization’s most-recent NICRA must be included in the application

If the applicant is proposing a sub-grantee that has an approved NICRA, and includes NICRA charges in the sub-award budget, a copy of the sub-grantee organization’s most-recent NICRA must be included in the application

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Applicant Management Capabilities

INL must assess each potential applicant for organizational risks related to the financial and programmatic management of a federal assistance project.

History of U.S. Government Federal Assistance Awards

This document outlines the applicant organization’s experience with implementing U.S.

government-funded federal assistance awards, including current and completed projects.

The list should include the awarding agency, point of contact, name of the project, start and end dates, and amount of the award.

If the applicant has never received a U.S. federal assistance award, please list other projects the organization has implemented, including the information requested in the bullet above.

Organizational Audit

If the applicant organization is required to undergo an audit (per regulations outlined in 2 CFR 200.500 – Subpart F), a complete copy of the organization’s most-recent audit must be submitted

If the applicant organization is not required to undergo an audit (per the regulation cited above), a brief explanation must be submitted, via a separate word/pdf document, with the application. This explanation shall include confirmation that the organization is under the threshold for which an audit is required and/or plans for the organization to undergo an audit in the future.

INL Applicant Pre-Award Risk Survey

This risk survey reviews the applicant organization’s financial capacity, policies, and infrastructure. A template is included under the Related Documents section of this NOFO announcement on www.grants.gov.

Please take note of the questions within the survey that request additional documentation. These documents must be included in the application.

3. Document Formatting

Applicants must ensure that their application documents conform to the following requirements:

The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity

All documents are in English

All budgets are in U.S. dollars

All pages are numbered

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

All Word documents are, at minimum, single-spaced with 12 point Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins

4. Required Entity and Account Registrations for Applicants

All prospective applicant organizations must register and/or maintain active registration in the systems outlined below in order to submit an application to this NOFO.

Organizations that are first-time applicants may need to register and/or create accounts in these systems. INL encourages prospective applicants to initiate these registrations as soon as possible.

Applicants that have previously applied to other opportunities may already have registrations

15 | P a g e and/or accounts in the necessary systems, though applicants should ensure their registrations are active.

Registration in these systems is free of charge; Applicants will never be asked to pay a fee to register or submit an application in these systems.

Unique Entity Identifier (DUNS Number)

Organizations must have a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet.

• If your organization does not have a DUNS Number already, you may obtain one by calling 1-866-705-5711 or submitting a request at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.

Effective April 4, 2022, the DUNS Number will be replaced by the Unique Entity Number (UEI) as the primary means of entity identification for all federal awards U.S. government wide.

NCAGE Code

Organizations physically located outside the United States and its territories must also register for an NCAGE code. This request can be completed simultaneously with a DUNS Number request.

• NCAGE application: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx

• NCAGE application instructions:

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%

20NCAGE.pdf

Help with NCAGE Code registration issues:

• Call 1-888-227-2423 (callers within the U.S.)

• Call 1-269-961-7766 (callers outside the U.S.)

• Email NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil

System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

Prior to submitting an application in grants.gov, organizations must register in SAM.gov and/or ensure that their SAM.gov registration is active. Organizations are required to renew their

SAM.gov registration annually.

• Initiate the registration or renewal process at https://www.SAM.gov. Select “Entity

Registration” to begin the registration or renewal request.

• First-time applicants should initiate the SAM.gov registration after receiving their DUNS

Number and, if applicable, NCAGE Code.

NOTE: As of April 2021, any new or renewed SAM.gov registrations were given a Unique Entity

Number (UEI). UEI do not expire, however you must renew your SAM.gov registration annually.

For more information regarding the transition from UEI(DUNS) to UEI(SAM), please click on the following link: GSAFSD Tier 0 Knowledge Base - Help For the Transition from UEI (DUNS) to UEI (SAM).

Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in SAM.gov is not eligible to apply for an assistance award. 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.gov to ensure that no ineligible entity is included in their proposal.

http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf mailto:NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0046482&sys_kb_id=adc80b98dbffb410060d5425f39619a4&spa=1 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0046482&sys_kb_id=adc80b98dbffb410060d5425f39619a4&spa=1

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Grants.gov

To submit an application to this NOFO, applicants must register in grants.gov.

• Go to www.grants.gov and select “Register” from the banner at the top of the page.

• This should be the last step of the entity registration processes, completed after obtaining a DUNS Number, NCAGE Code (if applicable), and SAM.gov registration.

Help with grants.gov registrations and application submission:

• Go to the grant.gov support page at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html

• Call +1 800-518-4726

• Email support@grants.gov

It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that its application was submitted in www.grants.gov correctly. INL bears no responsibility for errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes associated with application submissions. If applicants are unable to resolve technical issues in the system, they should email the INL points of contact listed on the first page(s) of this NOFO with an explanation of the issue and proof of attempts to resolve it (e.g., emails with grants.gov support). INL Grants Office will then determine whether the applicant is allowed to submit application materials via email.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Technical Evaluation Criteria

A technical evaluation committee, using the criteria shown in this Section, will evaluate the applications. The various functional elements of the technical criteria are assigned weighted scores, so that the applicants will know which areas require emphasis in the preparation of applications.

Where technical applications are considered essentially equal, cost may be the determining factor.

Applicants should note that these criteria serve as the standard against which all applications will be evaluated and serve to identify the significant matters which applicants should address in their applications.

The relative importance of each criterion is indicated by the number of points assigned. A total of 100 points is possible.

Project Analysis & Design – Total Possible Points: 44

• Analysis enables proposal reviewers to determine:

o if objectives are necessary and sufficient to reach the goal;

o if activities are engaging the right people to achieve the project’s goal and objectives; and o if activity dosage is sufficient (i.e., will the activities engage enough people for enough time for it to be reasonable to expect to achieve the objectives?) (15)

• The goal aligns to INL policy and is clear and feasible (3)

• Objectives are clear, necessary, and address systemic barriers to reaching the goal, including one concept, and specifying a target population (2) http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html mailto:support@grants.gov

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• Activities are likely to bring about the change described in their related objectives/sub-objectives. The effectiveness of the activities at catalyzing the desired change is based in evidence, where possible (8)

• Activities engage enough people for enough time to be likely to achieve the desired change and engage people with the power to support or block achieving the desired change (8)

• Objectives and activities include approaches to mitigate the risk of the project failing to meet its goal and/or causing inadvertent harm (8)

Program Monitoring and Risk – Total Possible Points: 12

• Proposes indicators that are useful for decision making, accurate in measuring the intended result, reliable, and timely (4)

• Monitoring plan demonstrates a focus on collecting useful monitoring data and understanding of how to link that to real project management decision making (4)

• Risk assessment is thorough and realistic, addresses challenges in the operating environment, and proposes adequate strategies to mitigate risks to the project (4)

Institution’s Record and Capacity Rating – Total Possible Points: 32

• The applicant demonstrates an institutional record of successful programs in the program area (12)

• Professional experience of staff and institutional resources are adequate and appropriate to achieve the project's objectives (10)

• The roles and responsibilities are clearly delineated among staff and partners (10)

Cost Effectiveness – Total Possible Points: 12

• Activity-related costs are realistic, appropriate, and clearly linked to project objectives (4)

• Personnel costs (e.g., staff salaries, contractor rates, and honoraria) are reasonable given the amount of work and oversight needed to manage the project (4)

• Administrative costs (e.g., staff travel, supplies, office costs) are necessary, justified, and in good proportion to direct activity costs (4)

2. Review and Selection Process

INL first reviews all submitted applications for technical eligibility, based on the list of required documents in Section D: Application and Submission Information. All technically eligible applications are then passed to a review committee, which will evaluate the applications against the Technical Evaluation Criteria listed in the previous sub-section. The application(s) selected by the review committee are then presented to INL management and the Grants Officer for approval.

INL will notify successful applicant(s) via email and pass along any conditions, recommendations, or questions from the review committee. INL will notify unsuccessful applicants via email after an award has been issued to the successful applicant(s); therefore, this notification process may take several months.

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INL reserves the right to fund any number of applications or none of the applications submitted and will determine the resulting level of funding for each award(s).

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

For all awards with a federal total exceeding $150,000, INL is required to review and consider any information about the applicant in FAPIIS.

Organizations are able to review and comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system, accessible through SAM.gov. INL will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when conducting pre-award due diligence.

F. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

The grant award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The DS-1909 award agreement is the authorizing document and will be provided to the recipient for review and signature via email or SAMS Domestic. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the official project start date, unless pre-award costs are authorized in the award agreement.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

Issuance of this NOFO neither constitutes an award commitment on the part of the U.S.

government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and that will apply to this award to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include, but may not be limited to:

• 2 CFR 25 - UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD

MANAGEMENT

• 2 CFR 170 - REPORTING SUBAWARD AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

INFORMATION

• 2 CFR 175 - AWARD TERM FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

• 2 CFR 182 - GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-FREE

WORKPLACE (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE)

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• 2 CFR 183 - NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY

• 2 CFR 200 – UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, COST PRINCIPLES,

AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL AWARDS

• 2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS

• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

INL will review and consider applications in accordance with the Office of Management and

Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2

CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 85 FR 49506 on August 13, 2020, particularly on:

o Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an objective process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205) o Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the National Defense

Authorization Act of 2019 (2 CFR part 200.216) o Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with

Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free

Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O.

13864) (2 CFR parts 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341) o Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR part 200.322) o Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2

CFR part 200.340)

3. Program-Specific Requirements

State Department Leahy Amendment Vetting Requirements

Funds provided under this award will be subject to Section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, a provision titled “Limitation on Assistance to Security Forces” (the “Leahy

Amendment”). Subsection (a) of that provision states: “(a) In General.—No assistance shall be furnished under this Act [the Foreign Assistance Act] or the Arms Export Control Act to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country if the Secretary of State has credible information that such unit has committed a gross violations of human rights.” Accordingly, none of the funds under this award may be used to provide training or other assistance to any unit or member of the security forces of a foreign country if the Department of State has credible information that such unit or individual has committed a gross violation of human rights.

The recipient will be required to exercise due diligence to ensure compliance with the Leahy provision and State Department policy, and to cooperate with the State Department in implementation of the Leahy requirement for funds under this award. The Department implements the Leahy requirement by vetting units or individuals proposed for training or other https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.183&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=a363a071d9b62ad7f4b21566c542cd7a&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=a363a071d9b62ad7f4b21566c542cd7a&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2chapterVI.tpl https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/

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4. Reporting Requirements

Recipient Reports

Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program narrative reports. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted.

Applicants should be aware of the post-award reporting requirements reflected in 2 CFR 200

Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.

Foreign Assistance Data…