NOFO 2021 Quincy Virtual U.S. Higher Education Fairs FINAL.docx

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia – Embassy Riyadh Notice of Funding Opportunity

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Department of State’s Mission to Saudi Arabia announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to conduct three virtual U.S. higher education fairs for students and other education stakeholders in Saudi Arabia. Please follow all instructions below.

Program Objectives:

Maintaining Saudi student mobility and access to the U.S. higher education system is a primary strategy for promoting long-term mutual understanding between the people of Saudi Arabia and the United States. It is also a key contributor to Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for economic transformation including youth and women’s workforce development. These policies promote regional stability and greater bilateral economic opportunities.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities for Saudi students, parents, and education professionals to engage in-person with officials from U.S. higher education institutions (HEIs) have been severely restricted. The “Quincy Virtual U.S. Higher Education Fairs” program proposes to fill this gap by offering three virtual events that will allow Saudi students and other stakeholders to engage directly and individually with U.S. HEI representatives. This engagement is intended to provide education and career advising, and promote information exchange on undergraduate, graduate, and training programs available at individual institutions. The events also aim to provide virtual networking opportunities for U.S. HEIs with the leadership of Saudi government and private scholarship programs to learn about program requirements and promote diverse U.S. study opportunities for Saudi scholarship recipients. This program aims to offer three engagement opportunities in a virtual format during Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 with thematic focus on fields of study related to Saudi Arabia’s Vision2030 initiatives.

A successful proposal will include the following activities:

Program Elements

· The grantee will offer three (3) college fairs for U.S. HEIs and Saudi students/education stakeholders scheduled in the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 to include:

· A general fair for approximately 75 U.S. HEIs offering programs in diverse fields of study scheduled in conjunction with International Education Week in November.

· A sector specific fair for approximately 50 U.S. HEIs offering programs in fields of study related to tourism, hospitality management, culture and cultural preservation, arts management, and visual and performing arts practice.

· A sector specific fair for approximately 50 U.S. HEIs offering programs in allied health sciences including nursing, dentistry, physical and occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, nuclear medicine, etc.

· The grantee will offer a pre-fair program of workshops and panel discussions for each of three fairs. Topics may include:

· The 5 steps to U.S study,

· Financial aid opportunities for international students

· Making the most of a virtual college fair; navigating the online fair platform,

· Visa requirements and process,

· Roundtable discussion for HEI representatives with Saudi scholarship program managers, and

· Other topics proposed by the grantee or by HEI participants.

· The grantee should identify speakers for the proposed workshops from among the conference HEI participants or from other sources as appropriate. Some speakers may be provided by the U.S. Mission.

Technology Elements

· The grantee will maintain a system for registering participants, including U.S. HEI representatives, Saudi students and other Saudi education stakeholders, and other participants.

· The grantee will maintain a system for collecting registration fees by U.S. HEI representatives.

· The grantee will maintain and manage a conference platform(s) that allows for restricted access by registered participants; moderated group meetings and workshops; and individual interaction between HEI representatives and Saudi participants. The platform will allow HEI participants to make data files available for download to conference participants.

· Prior to each event, the grantee will schedule and manage a technical walk-through and test with conference speakers.

· The grantee will record workshops and roundtable discussions and make these available for public review on a website or other publicly accessible platform for at least three (3) months following the last fair.

Communications Elements

· The grantee will design and draft promotional announcements for each of the fairs to solicit registrations by U.S. HEIs and Saudi stakeholders. These announcements may be distributed by the grantee, the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia, the Department of State, a/o the EducationUSA program of the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs.

· The grantee will design a social media and email communications campaign to generate interest leading up to each fair and maximize participation by Saudi stakeholders. The grantee will provide draft communications materials to the U.S. Mission for distribution through their channels.

Reporting Elements

· Through the registration data and post conference surveys, the grantee will collect data for use in reporting on the outcomes and effectiveness of the activity.

· The grantee will provide short summary reports on participation following each event, and a fuller analysis report at the conclusion of the grant period.

· The grantee will provide raw data collected to the U.S. Mission, including participant contact information.

Plan for Disposition of Registration Fees

· The primary purpose of the activity is not to generate revenue. However, fees to HEI registrants are appropriate to ensure selection of a limited number of participants most committed to recruitment of Saudi students. With this in mind, the proposal should recommend a fee structure for HEI participants and indicate approximately how much in fee revenue is expected.

· Applicants may indicate brief outline ideas for how those funds may be used if they are not returned to the U.S. government.

Participants and Audiences:

· Prospective Saudi Arabian undergraduate and graduate students

· Parents of prospective students

· College counselors and advisors

· Saudi Arabian education officials

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Substantial Involvement: The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia will be substantially involved in the execution of this program in the following ways:

· Coordination and approval on the timing of the three fairs and the pre-conference workshops.

· Coordination with Saudi institutional stakeholders and conference co-sponsors.

· Approval of workshop session topics and speakers.

· Approval of promotional materials and communications prior to release, including logos and branding.

· Approval of fees assessed to HEI participants.

· Coordination on participant data to be collected and reported through registration and surveys.

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants: The following organizations are eligible to apply:

· Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations

· Public and private educational institutions

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost-sharing is not required but is highly encouraged. Any cost-share should be clearly indicated in the budget. Proposals that include substantial cost share will receive up to five (5) additional points in the merit review process.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations. Individuals are not required to have a unique entity identifier or be registered in SAM.gov.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package: Application forms required below are available at grants.gov.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

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 of Application

Please ensure:

· 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 paper, and

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

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms

· SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations)

· SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

· SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs)

2. Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

3. Proposal (8 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.

· Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact.

· Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.

· Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed

· Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.

· Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.

· Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.

· Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.

· Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?

· Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.

· Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the time-frame of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?

· Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

4. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

5. Attachments:

· 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program

· Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner

· If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file.

· Official permission letters, if required for program activities

Required Registrations:

Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” Additionally, no entity listed on the EPLS can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the EPLS in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included.

All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations. All are free of charge:

· Unique entity identifier from Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS number)

· NCAGE/CAGE code

· www.SAM.gov registration

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

DUNS application: Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet. If your organization does not have one already, you may obtain one by calling 1-866-705-5711 or visiting http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform

NCAGE application: Application page here: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx Instructions for the NCAGE application process:

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

For NCAGE help from within the U.S., call 1-888-227-2423 For NCAGE help from outside the U.S., call 1-269-961-7766 Email NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil for any problems in getting an NCAGE code.

Step 2: After receiving the NCAGE Code, proceed to register in SAM.gov by logging onto: https://www.sam.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

4. Submission Date and Time: Applications are due no later than August 23, 2021 at 12:00 a.m. (EDT).

5. Funding Restrictions

Funds cannot be used to support participation by non-U.S. accredited higher education institutions.

6. Other Submission Requirements

All application materials must be submitted by email to RiyadhGrants@state.gov.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications. Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below.

Program Alignment—25% Responsiveness to NOFO/Solicitation (15pts) Alignment with Mission Objectives (10pts)

Program Design—25% Quality and Creativity of the Proposed Activity (15pts) Probability of Success and Impact (10pts)

Organizational Capacity—25% Organizational Resources (10pts) Track Record on Previous Similar Awards (15pts)

Budget—25% Reasonableness (15pts) Alignment to Program Objectives (5pts) Level of Detail (5pts)

In addition, applications that include substantial cost share will receive up to five (5) additional points in the merit review.

Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity Information System (FAPIIS): For any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity, if the Federal awarding agency anticipates that the total Federal share will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold on any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity may include, over the period of performance (see §200.88 Simplified Acquisition Threshold), this section must also inform applicants:

i. That the Federal awarding agency, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313);

ii. That an applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM 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;

iii. That the Federal awarding agency 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 completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in §200.206 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

The 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 program 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.

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.

Payment Method: All requests for payment will be made via SF-270 to the Grants Officer and Grants Officer Representative.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

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 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)

· 2 CFR 183 - NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY

· 2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS

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

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, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following:

· 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:

· 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),

· 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 (Pub. L. No. 115—232) (2 CFR part 200.216),

· 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) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341),

· 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), and

· 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).

In accordance with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Underserved Communities, proposals should demonstrate how the program advances equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. The proposal should also demonstrate how the program will further engagement in underserved communities and with individuals from underserved communities. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing racial equity and underserved communities will enhance the program’s goals and objectives, as well as the experience of participants.

The support of underserved communities will be part of the review criteria for this opportunity. Therefore, proposals should clearly demonstrate how the program will support and advance equity and engage underserved communities in program administration, design, and implementation.

3. Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit financial reports via SF-425 as well as narrative program reports. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted. In addition, the grantee should collect data for use in reporting on the outcomes and effectiveness of the activity using registration data and post conference surveys. The grantee will provide short summary reports on participation following each event, and a fuller analysis report at the conclusion of the grant period. The grantee will also provide raw data collected to the U.S. Mission, including participant contact information.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: RiyadhGrants@state.gov. A Question and Answer session for potential applicants will be held via teleconference during the week of August 1. Please register your interest in participating by emailing RiyadhGrants@state.gov. An announcement with log-on information will be shared in advance.

H. 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 program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.

Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program 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 program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), 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 program. 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 program activities.

Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, 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 program 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.

Alcoholic Beverages: Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.