MUM - Annual Program Statement 2022.docx

Department of State Consulate General of the United States in Mumbai, India Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Program Office: Public Diplomacy Section, U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai Funding Opportunity Title: Annual Program Statement – Public Diplomacy Small Grants Announcement Type: Annual Program Statement Funding Opportunity Number: M-NOFO-22-102 Deadline for Applications: May 22, 2023 [11:59 pm midnight Washington, DC] (Proposals reviewed on a quarterly basis) (Proposals will be downloaded for review on August 20, 2022, November 20, 2022, February 20, 2023, and May 22, 2023)

CFDA Number: 19.040 - Public Diplomacy Programs

CONTACT INFORMATION

· For questions relating to Grants.gov, please call the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726.

· For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact MumbaiGrants@state.gov

· To inquire about the process for obtaining a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) contact Donald Hunter at HunterDS@state.gov.

Authorization to submit proposals through www.Grants.gov is a multi-step process that requires prior successful registration with three separate sites: NCAGE, SAM, and www.Grants.gov. Please begin the registration processes immediately to ensure the registrations are completed well in advance of the submission deadline. The process can require up to six weeks for the registrations to be validated and confirmed. See Section D: Submission Requirements for further details.

Due to the volume of applicants and inquiries, Public Diplomacy Section (PD Mumbai) does not accept letters of intent, concept papers, or requests for meetings or phone calls prior to application.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application package has been received in its entirety. Incomplete applications will be considered ineligible. Applicants are urged to begin the application process well before the submission deadline. No exceptions will be made for organizations that have not completed the necessary steps.

A. Funding Opportunity Description Summary

Executive Summary:

Public Diplomacy (PD) Mumbai at the U.S. Consulate General Mumbai of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce a funding opportunity through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) outlines strategic themes of interest and procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Background:

PD Mumbai oversees a range of U.S government-funded initiatives in western India (defined here as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh) that aim to enhance cooperation between the U.S. and Indian civil society organizations, educational institutions, and individuals to support mutual interests.

Examples of past public diplomacy small grants programs are included below for reference, but project formats are not limited to those listed.

· Speaking tours/public talks by U.S. experts or roundtable discussions including U.S. and Indian experts;

· Activities that foster collaboration between U.S. and Indian universities/colleges;

· Cultural and arts workshops, performances, or exhibitions involving the work of American artists or American subject matter;

· Projects that feature U.S. models or best practices and consider how they could be adapted or replicated in local contexts.

Project Introduction

This funding opportunity invites project proposals in five areas: U.S.-India economic ties, U.S.-India education ties, equity and inclusion, climate change, and media/journalism. While a proposal may address multiple objectives, each proposal should clearly articulate how the project advances at least one of the objectives.

Topics and objectives:

1. Increasing India’s Role in Regional and Global Supply Chains

· Promote understanding of how India should increase its competitiveness as a potential global and Indo-Pacific supply chain hub through economic reform.

· Share expertise on why embracing international and regional best practices and standards, including those established by the OECD and APEC, is a practical necessity for attracting manufacturing investment and integration into supply chains.

· Share expertise on next steps government authorities should take to further enhance the ease-of-doing business, with particular attention to areas subject to relevant jurisdictions at the national, sub-national, and local level.

· Provide perspective on how high tariffs, especially on manufacturing inputs, and India-only standards will undermine the country’s further integration into supply chains.

2. Strengthen U.S.-India Education Ties

· Increase research collaboration between U.S. and Indian higher education institutions.

· Promote student and faculty exchanges and joint academic activities.

· Share U.S. expertise and best practices related to university administration, academic research, vocational training, university-corporate partnerships, etc. with Indian institutions.

3. Promote Equity and Inclusion

· Facilitate full access to educational opportunities, civic participation, and economic activity of all members of society, especially women and girls as well as members of marginalized communities. Projects aimed at increasing women labor force participation, entrepreneurship, supply chains, and in STEM careers will be considered favorably.

4. Address Climate Change

· Build public support for Paris Agreement implementation and inspire citizen action.

· Share expertise and promote implementation of best practices related to climate adaptation and resilience in agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, and other fields.

· Accelerate India’s transition to clean energy.

· Share expertise on how India’s financial system needs to adapt and grow in order to sufficiently fund the country’s energy transition and adoption of climate resilient infrastructure.

5. Support a Free and Fair Media Environment

· Advance high-quality reporting on topics of shared U.S.-India interest.

· Build media literacy and resilience to misinformation.

All projects must include an American element in terms of content, or involvement of an American expert, organization, or institution. The audience for all initiatives must be the Indian public in the western India region, as defined below. Proposals aimed at reaching audiences in the United States or American citizens in India will not be considered.

Project Audiences:

Targeted audiences will vary based on the nature and design of the project proposed. Potential audience segments include:

· Youth and university students;

· Civil society leaders;

· National and regional media, and digital and social media influencers;

· Business leaders and entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors;

· Cultural and/or academic institution leadership, think tank representatives, senior journalists, politicians, and policy makers.

Strong proposals will clearly segment and define the project’s target audience and provide rationale for prioritizing that group, or those groups.

Project Objectives: These should be outlined in the specific proposal submitted by the applicant. A helpful approach is using the “SMART” model: Smart, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.

· Project deliverables for each phase of the project should be defined in the proposal.

· Strong proposals include quantifiable deliverables, including the tools used for monitoring and evaluation.

B. Federal Award Information

Funding Mechanism Type: [Cooperative Agreement AND/OR Grant] Maximum (“Ceiling”) Award Amount: USD 25,000 Minimum Award Amount: USD 5,000 Total Amount Available: USD 50,000 Number of Awards Available: 2-10, depending on funding availability Length of Project Period: Not to exceed 12 months Anticipated program start date: October 1, 2022, January 1, 2023, April 1, 2023, or July 1, 2023 depending on submission date

The Public Affairs Section reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described under circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the U.S. Government, pending the availability of funds and approval of the designated grants officer.

C. Eligibility Information

1. The following organizations are eligible to apply:

· Not-for-profit organizations

· Civil society/non-governmental organizations

· Think tanks

· Public and private educational institutions

· Individual

2. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal.

3. Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity.

4. Pre-award costs are not an allowable expense for this funding opportunity.

5. This award does not allow:

· Projects relating to partisan political activity;

· Charitable or development activities;

· Construction projects;

· Projects that support specific religious activities;

· Fund-raising campaigns;

· Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;

· Scientific research or surveys;

· Commercial projects;

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

· Projects that duplicate existing projects; or

· Illegal activities.

Other Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The UEI will be generated when the organization registers in SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 below for information on how register in SAM.gov. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

NOTE: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required to apply for a federal assistance award.

D. Application and Submission Information:

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content and Form of Application Submission Please ensure:

1. Proposal clearly addresses the goals, audiences, and objectives of this notice.

2. All documents are in English.

3. All budgets are in U.S. dollars. Use USD 1 = INR 74 for conversions, where required.

4. All pages are numbered.

5. All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper.

6. All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

7. All applicant authorized signatures are provided where indicated on the various, required forms.

Application Deadline: All applications must be received by May 22, 2023 [11:59 pm midnight Washington, DC] (Proposals will be reviewed on a quarterly basis) (Proposals will be downloaded for review on August 20, 2022, November 20, 2022, February 20, 2023, and May 22, 2023). For the purposes of determining if an award is submitted on time, PAS will utilize the time-stamp provided by Grants.gov. This deadline is firm. If organizations fail to meet the deadline noted above their application will be considered ineligible and will not be considered for funding.

Application Submission Process: There are two application submissions methods available to applicants. Applicants may submit their application using Submission Method A or Submission Method B outlined below.

· Submission Method A: Submitting all application materials through Grants.gov. For those opting to apply through Grants.gov, thorough instructions on the application process are available at http://www.grants.gov. For questions relating to Grants.gov, please call the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or go to https://www.grants.gov/support.html. Please note that MumbaiGrants@state.gov will be unable to assist with technical questions or problems applicants experience with Grants.gov.

· Submission Method B: In case of technical difficulties submitting through Grants.gov, we will accept the submission of all application materials directly to the following email address: MumbaiGrants@state.gov. Applicants opting to submit applications via email must include the Funding Opportunity Title and Funding Opportunity Number in the subject line of the email.

Required Registrations

Applicants utilizing Grants.gov must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time process; however, it could take as long as two weeks to have the registration validated and confirmed. Please begin the registration process immediately to ensure that the process is completed well in advance of the deadline for applications. Until that process is complete, you will not be issued a user password for Grants.gov, which is required for application submission.

There are four steps that you must complete before you are able to register:

1. Step 1: Apply for a UEI number and an NCAGE number (these can be completed simultaneously)

a. UEI application: Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identification Number (UEI) from https://www.sam.gov, if your organization does not have one already.

b. NCAGE application: Application page here (but need to click magnifying glass and then scroll down to click new registration) https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx

i. Instructions for the NCAGE application process:https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf

1. For help from within the U.S., call 1-888-227-2423

2. For help from outside the U.S., call 1-269-961-7766

ii. Email NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil for any problems in getting an NCAGE code. After receiving the NCAGE Code, proceed to register in SAM by logging onto: https://www.sam.gov/

2. Step 2: Once NCAGE are obtained, continue to SAM registration on www.SAM.gov

3. Step 3: Once SAM registration is confirmed, continue to Grants.gov organization registration http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.Organizations must maintain an active SAM registration (www.SAM.gov) with current information at all times during which they have an active Federal award or an application under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. SAM registration must be renewed annually. Given the volume of applications, review may take up to 90 days, and we are unable to individually confirm receipt of proposals.

4. Step 4: Register yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and be authorized as an AOR by your organization on www.grants.gov

Applicants must acquire all required registrations and rights in the United States and India. All intellectual property considerations and rights must be fully met in the United States and India.

Any sub-recipient organization must also meet all the U.S. and India requirements described above.

E. Technical Requirements for Application:

When submitting a proposal, applicants are required to include the following documents and information from Sections 1–5 below, as applicable:

Section 1—Application Summary Coversheet:

Paragraph 1: Executive Summary. Please provide a general overview of the proposed project, and how, specifically, this application is responding to the NOFO prompt. What will be the focus of this project, what will be its SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely) objectives, and how will meeting these objectives contribute to NOFO’s stated Project Goal?

Paragraph 2: Summary of Grantee Expertise, Previous Experience on this subject: Detail grantee’s past work in topic area, including best practices and lessons learned. Discuss any networks or communities of practice that formed as a result of grantee’s previous activities, and how grantee would build on those networks. More details can be attached as an appendix.

Paragraph 3: Logistics, including Selection of Participants: How will applicant organize, coordinate, and execute activities in order to reach stated deliverables? How, specifically, will grantee select participants, whether event attendees, volunteers, or trainees? What is the specific selection process? What are the criteria?

Paragraph 4: Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: The Monitoring and Evaluation component of the proposal will outline in detail how the proposal’s activities will advance the program’s goals and objectives (listed above in Section A). This should be a brief overview of the M&E requirement listed below.

Section 2—Technical Proposal Applicants must submit a complete narrative proposal in a format of their choice, or they may use the attached proposal template. The proposal shall not exceed eight (8) pages. Refer to the evaluation criteria in Part G below for further detail about what makes a strong proposal. All proposals must address the following areas:

· Organizational Description and Capacity

· Project Justification, Sustainability, and Impact

· Project Goals, Audiences, Objectives, Activities, and Deliverables

· Implementation Timeline

· Monitoring and Evaluation (see note below)

Proof of Registration: A copy of the organization’s registration should be provided with the proposal application. U.S.-based organizations should submit a copy of their IRS determination letter. India-based organizations should submit a copy of their certificate of registration from the appropriate government organization.

STEP Enrollment: U.S. citizens who travel to India are encouraged to enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) available at: https://step.state.gov/step/. Enrollment enables citizens to receive security-related messages from the Embassy and makes it easier for us to locate you in an emergency. The Embassy also recommends that all travelers review the State Department's travel website at travel.state.gov for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and India Specific Information.

Monitoring & Evaluation Proposals must include a draft Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). The M&E PMP should show how applicants intend to measure and demonstrate progress towards the project’s objectives and goals. Attachment 1 of this funding opportunity contains a template that may be used to fulfill this requirement. While the grantee is free to create their own template, completing Attachment 1 will ensure a thorough PMP.

The selected applicant(s) will be required to submit an approved M&E PMP before an award is signed. The selected applicant will be required to work with PAS Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist to ensure the M&E PMP achieves an expected level of expertise and meets PAS objectives.

The key components to the PMP are as follows:

1. Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative: In narrative form, applicants should describe how they intend to monitor and evaluate the activities of their award and collect data that tracks award performance. In addition, the applicant should describe any M&E processes, including key personnel, management structure (where M&E fits into the overall program’s staff structure), technology, and as well provide a brief budget narrative explaining any line item expenditures for M&E listed in the program’s budget. This narrative is limited to two pages.

2. Theory of Change Diagram: Applicants will be expected to submit either a Theory of Change diagram or an If-Then Statement that illustrates how project activities will lead to intended outcomes. Attachment 1 includes a suggested format for these requirements.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation Datasheet: The applicant must include their proposed activities and their expected outputs and outcomes as well as the goals and objectives as written in the NOFO. The datasheet’s purpose is to explicitly illustrate how a project’s activities lead to tangible results (such as increased beneficiary skills, knowledge, or attitudes) that ultimately address a PAS objective. For more information, please see Attachment 1.1: Instructions.

Section 3—Budget A. Budget and Budget Detail: Applicants must submit a detailed budget and budget narrative justification. Applicants are encouraged to utilize the template provided with the funding opportunity, but are not required to do so (Attachment 2). Line item expenditures should be listed in the greatest possible detail. Personnel salaries should include the level of effort and the rate of pay, which should cover the percentage of time each staff member will dedicate to grant-based activities. If your organization is charging an indirect cost rate, you must apply it to the modified total budget costs (MTDC), refer to 2CFR§200.68. Budgets that are not in the provided format will not be considered. Budgets shall be submitted in U.S. dollars and final grant agreements will be conducted in U.S. dollars.

B. Audit Requirements: Please note the audit requirements for Department of State awards in the Standard Terms and Conditions https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm and 2CFR200, Subpart F – Audit Requirements. The cost of the required audits may be charged either as an allowable direct cost to the award OR included in the organization’s established indirect costs in the award’s detailed budget.

C. Visa Fees: Include all visa application and related fees in your budget as applicable. Please note DS-2019s for post-funded programs must be submitted directly by the award recipient. If you anticipate your program will include the DS-2019 visa processing, your organization must be a registered Designated Sponsoring Organization. For more information go to: https://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/become-a-sponsor/

Section 4—Key Personnel and Project Partners A. Key Personnel: A résumé, not to exceed one page in length, must be included for the proposed key staff persons, such as the Project Director and Finance Officer, as well as any speakers or trainers (if applicable). If an individual for this type of position has not been identified, the applicant may submit a 1-page position description, identifying the qualifications and skills required for that position, in lieu of a résumé.

B. Project Partners: Letters of support should be included for sub-recipients or other partners. The letters must identify the type of relationship to be entered into (formal or informal), the roles and responsibilities of each partner in relation to the proposed project activities, and the expected result of the partnership. The individual letters cannot exceed 1 page in length.

Section 5—Standard Form 424 Family All submissions must include the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance (Attachment 5) and the SF-424A Budget Information—Non-Construction (Attachment 6). These forms and the instructions for completing them are available at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html under the heading “SF-424 Family.” NOTE: The SF-424B is required only for those applicants who have not registered in SAM.gov or recertified their registration in SAM.gov since February 2, 2019 and completed the online representations and certifications. An authorized signature by the applicant must be provided on this form.

Please note:

1. Other items NOT required/requested for submission, but which may be requested if your application is approved for funding include:

a. Copies of an organization or program audit within the last two (2) years

b. Copies of relevant human resources, financial, or procurement policies

c. Copies of other relevant organizational policies or documentation that would help the Department determine your organization’s capacity to manage a federal grant award overseas.

2. The Embassy reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial information regarding the proposal.

Special Characters in Submissions Grants.gov does not accept all UTF-8 special characters in file attachment names. Applicants are able to enter all special characters from the UTF-8 character set when submitting applications and information to Grants.gov. However, if the grantor's system is not yet compatible with these special characters, the grantor system may produce garbled or missing text in the application. As a result, the application may be rejected.

F. Review and Selection Process

1. Acknowledgement of receipt. Applicants will receive acknowledgment of receipt of their proposal.

2. Review. All submissions are screened for technical eligibility. If a submission is missing any required forms/documents listed, it will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed by the grants review committee. A technical review panel will review the proposal and based upon the criteria noted in this NOFO.

3. Follow up notification. Applicants will generally be notified within 90 days after the NOFO deadline regarding the results of the review panel.

G. Application Evaluation Criteria

Criteria: Each application submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the criteria enumerated below. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success. Organizations and individuals that have not previously received U.S. federal assistance are highly encouraged to apply and are preferred.

· Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 25 points: The program idea should be clear and well developed, with sufficient detail about how project activities will be carried out. The proposals should demonstrate originality and outline clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined.

· Organizational Capacity – 25 points:

· The project proposal demonstrates that the organization has sufficient expertise, skills, and human resources to implement the project.

· The organization demonstrates that it has a clear understanding of the underlying issue that the project will address.

· The organization demonstrates capacity for successful planning and responsible fiscal management. This includes a financial management system and a bank account.

· Applicants who have received grant funds previously have been compliant with applicable rules and regulations.

· Where partners are described, the applicant details each partner’s respective role and provides curriculum vitae (CVs) for persons responsible for the project and financial administration. Proposed personnel, institutional resources, and partners are adequate and appropriate

· Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: The project plan is well developed, with sufficient detail about how activities will be carried out. The proposal specifies target audiences, participant recruitment, and geographic areas of implementation. The proposal outlines clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined.

· A media or amplification plan (if appropriate) that shows how the organization will use social or traditional media or otherwise increase the number of people who gain exposure to the issue and knowledge of the activities beyond the core participants.

· Budget – 10 points: The budget and narrative justification are sufficiently detailed. The budget demonstrates that the organization has devoted time to accurately determine expenses associated with the project instead of providing rough estimates. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The results and proposed outcomes justify the total cost of the project. Budget items are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.

· Monitoring and Evaluation - 15 points: Points for M&E will be awarded by considering three subset criteria within the narrative: (1) Technical M&E; (2) Program Design; and (3) Learning. Specifically, scoring will be based on the following:

· Technical M&E: A submission will be considered technically sound if there is a complete and thorough draft submission of a M&E Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). This will include a list of proposed project activities, corresponding milestone, output, and outcome indicators, a description of data collection methods, and a timeline for collecting such information. Use of the suggested template (Attachments 1 & 1.1) will satisfy these requirements. Funded projects will have their plans finalized during the negotiation phase, and monitoring plans may be subject to periodic updates throughout the life of the project.

· Program Design: A submission will be considered well designed if the proposal addresses a significant problem, identifies an appropriate target audience, and presents a clear theory of change on how the program will address that problem. Whether through a logical framework, theory of change diagram, or a set of if-then statements, the proposal should state in some form “If these activities are completed, then these outcomes will result”. Further, if the project requires selecting participants, or beneficiaries, the proposal should articulate how the selection will be done in an equitable way.

· Learning: A submission will satisfy the learning component by demonstrating an ability to adjust project activities based on new information. Does the design incorporate community or participant feedback to allow for adjustments? If the proposal is from a prior grantee, does the proposal discuss how the grantee has adapted, improved or otherwise modified their approach based on learning from previous experience/past performance? If this is a new grantee or new project, has the proposal demonstrated that the applicant used desk research, prior experience, or other evidence to directly inform program design?

Expenses directly associated with monitoring and evaluation are considered allowable. The suggested template includes a space to list the portion of the total budget amount directly associated with monitoring and evaluation activities.

· Innovation – 10 points: The project design is innovative in audience, content, or method.

H. Federal Award Notices The grant award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document, and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring project expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer.

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.

The Federal government is not obligated to make any Federal award as a result of the announcement. Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute 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. The U.S. government also reserves the right to make an award in excess of the award ceiling.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements Terms and Conditions: Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include: 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, Certifications and Assurances, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, all of which are available at: https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm

Reporting Recipients are required to submit quarterly program progress and financial reports throughout the project period. Progress and financial reports are due 30 days after the reporting period. Final certified programmatic and financial reports are due 90 days after the close of the project period.

All reports are to be submitted electronically.

Awardees that are deemed to be high risk may be required to submit more extensive and frequent reports until their high-risk designation has been removed.

The Awardee must also provide the Embassy on an annual basis an inventory of all the U.S. government provided equipment using the SF428 form.

I. Other Information Guidelines for Budget Justification Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the project, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the project.

Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this project, for both program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the project involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.

Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the project, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the project), and costs at least $5,000 per unit.

Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the project. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.

Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the project activities.

Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the project, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the project activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 10% of the modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68.

“Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.