NoFo Access Funds SEAL-BEAR.docx

Service Learning, English Usage, Alumni Engagement, and Leadership (SEAL) program: Basic Teacher Training for English Access Microscholarship Alumni

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Cultural Affairs Office Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Guatemala City, Guatemala

Funding Opportunity Title: Service Learning, English Usage, Alumni Engagement, and Leadership (SEAL) program Funding Opportunity Number: PAS-GUA-FY23-03 Statement of Interest Deadline: July 03, 2023 Proposal Deadline: August 01, 2023 CFDA Number: 19.421 Academic Exchange Programs – English Language Programs Total Amount Available: $196,000.00

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Since 2012, the Service Learning, English Usage, Alumni Engagement, and Leadership (SEAL) program has been preparing outstanding Access graduates with foundational English language teaching skills. SEAL builds on the Access experience and cultivates stronger ties with Access alumni. More than 1,000 young Guatemalan SEAL graduates have worked as teachers to pay for university studies and help support their families. As part of their teacher training, SEAL students become teachers in the Basic English for Access Recruitment (BEAR) course, a funnel program for future Access programs. BEAR students learn basic English, with a focus on communication skills. BEAR is part of the SEAL second-year internship.

What:

The Public Affairs Section (PAS), U.S. Embassy, Guatemala City, is interested in collaborating with English Access Microscholarship (Access) implementing partners in good standing to develop, implement, and evaluate an Access alumni activity that brings together deserving alumni.

SEAL Teaching focuses on developing English teaching skills to help graduates find job opportunities in educational institutions or start entrepreneurial ventures such as English academies and private tutoring. There are three main components: 1) Service-Learning Projects: As a class, the students research and plan a project, including investigation, planning and preparation, action, reflection and presenting results. Students discuss real community problems, propose solutions and create and implement action plans. Service learning helps students to combine classroom instruction with meaningful community service. 2) Teaching methodology workshops: students learn to teach English as a second language. They learn how to prepare a class, select material, and use different strategies to teach grammar, writing, speaking, listening and reading. 3) Teaching Internships: students engage in a six-month internship to practice teaching English in the BEAR program.

SEAL teaching Objectives:

1) By the end of the program, students will achieve English language proficiency at the B2 level in the Common European Framework.

2) Throughout the program, students will strengthen their leadership and entrepreneurship capacity through problem-solving and teamwork experiences.

3) Throughout the program, participants will increase their sense of civic responsibility and create bonds with their community by engaging in guided teaching practice (BEAR program) and other service-learning activities and projects.

4) Throughout the program, students will increase professional and life skills such as critical thinking, hard work, collaboration, and the use of technology. They will engage in a variety of real-life experiences such as the BEAR program and other activities.

5) Throughout the program, the provider organization will enhance and strengthen their English language education network, to include other providers of U.S. Embassy English language programs and the Guatemalan Ministry of Education.

SEAL expected impacts:

1) Participants will become youth leaders with greater social awareness, promoters of civic values in schools where they teach classes.

2) Participants will achieve social mobility and equity for them and their families, due to the newly acquired, enabling them to choose jobs with a better economic remuneration or to establish their own entrepreneurial ventures.

3) SEAL-BEAR programs will provide the participants with a broader network with different institutions in their community. Consequently, they will have better local job opportunities mitigating the possibilities for irregular migration to the United States.

BEAR is a six-month after-school program for an introductory English language learning experience. Upon completing BEAR, the most promising graduates are recruited into the Access program. This foundational experience increases the probability of success and retention rates in the two-year program.

BEAR Objectives:

1) By the end of the program, students will achieve English language proficiency at the A1 level in the Common European Framework.

2) By the end of the program, high-potential participants will be identified through detailed assessments and recommended for participation in the Access Program.

3) Throughout the program, participants will increase their sense of civic responsibility and create stronger bonds with their community by engaging in community service projects.

4) Throughout the program, the provider organization will enhance and strengthen their English language education network, to include other providers of U.S. Embassy English language programs and the Guatemala Ministry of Education.

Participants will receive workshops/speeches regarding to preparation of US culture to increase their knowledge and awareness. Students will have skits and talent shows related to events in the U.S. They will also have special guests to talk about aspects of life in the U.S.A such as food, traditions, ethnic diversity, tolerance, environmental issues, etc. English language usage classes will have a blended objective with a target language used in an American context role play contrasted to a similar Guatemalan context.

Why:

English language is a mandatory component in the Guatemalan elementary and secondary level of formal education. Public school English teachers usually have an elementary level of English and use the translation method as the basis for their classes. Students spend up to 10 years studying the language and never become proficient in speaking, listening, writing or reading. Through SEAL Teaching - BEAR program, SEAL students will have access to top-notch teaching tools, serving-learning projects, teaching methodology, teaching internships to achieve better results in their classrooms while BEAR students will access to top notch introductory English language learning experience that will give them the foundation for further English programs.

Where:

Proposals will be accepted for the following seven (7) sites:

· Huehuetenango, Huehuetenango

· Quetzaltenango, Quetzaltenango

· Solola, Solola

· Chichicastenango, Quiche

· Guatemala City, Guatemala

· Coban, Alta Verapaz

· Esquipulas, Chiquimula

Implementation Location and Space:

Proposals should include sites where the partner is confident it can provide an easily accessible, safe, and healthy space with a qualified administrative and teaching staff, over the duration of the program. The classrooms must have seating for at least 20 students spaced up to 1.5 meters from one another, at moments when a resurgence of the pandemic requires such an approach. Mobile seating that allows for pair and group work is highly recommended, as is breakout space that allows students to move freely while working on drama projects or other activities that necessitate physical movement. Classrooms must also have a blackboard/whiteboard, power outlet, and nearby bathrooms. The space should also have internet capability, provided by the facility or the partner (through a portable modem, for example). Partners are encouraged to seek additional spaces on the premises that add to the overall experience (theater, garden, sports facility, etc.). The partner must specify the sites and spaces that will be used for the classes and activities. The partner must either provide verification that the space belongs to the grantee or a written agreement with the holder of the space.

Who:

Partner Capacity:

Potential partners should have a background in creating, implementing, and monitoring quality English language teaching programs. While there is no “standard” partner, most are educational institutions and/or NGOs. It is important that partners show a history of embracing the values of the Access program, through a track record of professional development for its instructors, incorporating environmental awareness and social responsibility concepts and practices into the curriculum, building a wider network of stakeholders, and addressing digital and critical media literacy. While potential partners might not have a history with all of these themes, it is important that they show a commitment to addressing all of them in the proposal.

Teacher Selection:

Partners are responsible for identifying and, if necessary, recruiting highly competent SEAL teachers. PAS representatives will often be involved in teacher selection.

SEAL teachers must have:

· At least a C1 proficiency in the CEFR and be comfortable and fluent in English with proof.

Access teachers should have:

· Progressive views about methodology, employing interactive, learning-centered approaches that focus on tasks and projects

· Experience teaching teens

· First-hand experience with American culture

· Experience in designing and carrying out service-learning activities

· The ability to organize and participate in enhancement and out-of-class activities

· Confidence engaging students online and working with an LMS

· A willingness and availability to attend Access training courses offered by the partner and PAS Student Selection:

The partner is responsible for demonstrating that students enrolled in the program fit the target audience, which is:

· Economically disadvantaged youth (demonstrated by documents such as an electric bill)

· Academically strong students (demonstrated by official school transcript from previous year and/or aptitude and attitude in interview)

· Students with a strong motivated to learn English and help their communities (demonstrated in an application and interview)

· BEAR: Teens ages 13-15 at time of recruitment; exceptions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis

· SEAL: Teens ages 16+ at time of recruitment; exceptions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis

· PAS does not accept children from families of partner administrative or teaching staff.

When:

SEAL programs should run from February 2024 to December 2025. BEAR programs should run from March 2025 to August 2025.

The start date of the program will depend largely on the length of the time needed to finalize an agreement and on the student selection process. The course of study should last no less than 20 months and no longer than 24 months for the SEAL program and 6 months for the BEAR program. Once the course calendar is finalized, opening and graduation ceremony dates will be coordinated with PAS so that Embassy officials can participate. Note that partners should be sensitive to major changes in participants’ schools. PAS does not recommend choosing students who may need to move from básico to diversificado level or from diversificado level to university. Partners should also include breaks when needed, and especially during the holidays when participants and staff might travel. PAS does not recommend suspending classes for an entire summer and appreciates creative efforts to ensure students continue learning and practicing English when their normal school year is interrupted.

How much:

Partners should prepare a representative budget for an in-person SEAL class and eight (8) hybrid BEAR classes in each site that they can serve. The following guidelines must be considered as implementing partners prepare budgets:

· No more than 20 students per class

· One (1) SEAL class per site

· Eight (8) hybrid BEAR classes per class

· SEAL participants will receive a minimum of 480 hours of instruction; no maximum number of hours; plus a minimum of 100 hours of teaching internship; for a total for 580 hours

· BEAR participants will receive a minimum of 100 hours of instruction; no maximum number of hours.

· All amounts should be in U.S. dollars.

· SEAL teachers’ salaries must be a minimum of $8 per effective hour of teaching.

· Per SEAL student costs should be no greater than $1,400 per student; for example, ALL costs for one class of 20 students should not exceed $28,000.

· Administrative costs must not exceed 15% of the total budget.

· Other costs can include enhancement activities, service-learning activities, student transportation, branding (t-shirts), opening and closing ceremonies, exams at the start and end of the program, and off-site immersion programs.

· When books (e.g. textbook, dictionary, easy readers) are purchased, they should be new and available to all students; upon the completion of the program, books should become the property of the student

· T-shirts, banners and publications (Branding should feature the U.S. Embassy logo, and it must be the most prominent if displayed with other logos. PAS will work with partners to ensure they have the necessary logos.)

Health precautions:

Implementing partners need to take into consideration health-related issues, such as the ongoing pandemic and take the necessary steps to minimize the risk of an outbreak. Such steps include taking precautionary measures (masks, social distancing, testing) and troubleshooting symptoms (isolation, medical treatment, transportation, etc.)

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 24 months Number of awards anticipated: Seven (7) awards.

Award amount: Award is a maximum of $28,000.

Total available funding: $196,000.

Type of Funding: FY23 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds Anticipated program start date: February 2024

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative agreement. PAS will provide significant involvement in the following aspects:

· Approval of recruiting and selection of program staff, teachers, and students.

· Curriculum oversight, to ensure compliance with standardized curriculum.

· Approval of books and materials, to ensure compliance with standardized curriculum.

· Approval of program partners (other institutions providing support to, or receiving benefit from, program).

· Approval of selected enhancement activities.

· Coordination of graduation planning.

· Approval of press engagements related to the programs.

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 24 months or less. The actual instruction period runs from February 2024 to December 2025.

The scholarship must be announced widely in the target community via newspaper, radio, social media, other local media, and posters in schools. The process should provide an opportunity for the implementing partner to reach out to and begin nurturing stronger ties with local schools, and especially with the administrators and English teachers in those schools. Partners should conduct an initial vetting of the applicant pool and interview a number of semi-finalists that allows for a competitive selection of students. Applications and interviews should be in Spanish. PAS encourages parents or responsible adults to be involved in some step of the vetting in order to gauge commitment.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

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

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

· Local public and private educational institutions

For-profit or commercial entities are NOT eligible to apply.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

· Cost sharing, whether in-kind or direct program support, is encouraged and will be viewed favorably during the grant review process.

· Required class size for the USG-funded English language instruction programs is not larger than 20 participants, but applicants are encouraged to consider including and self-funding up to four more students as a form of cost share.

· Grantee organizations are also encouraged to cover the costs of opening and closing ceremonies as a form of cost share.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain this registration. Individuals are not required to be registered in SAM.gov.

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

In order to be eligible, potential SEAL-BEAR partners must be able to…

1. …legally operate within the country where the proposed SEAL-BEAR Program will be implemented. (“Legally operate” means the Applicant Organization is incorporated, registered, or licensed as a legal entity in the country where the SEAL-BEAR Program will be implemented)

2. …open a separate bank account that accepts wire transfers in U.S. Dollars.

3. …follow a reporting schedule and submit well-written and detailed program and financial reports on time and in English.

4. …fulfill the mandatory minimum of 580 program hours over 20-24 months.

5. …acquire a suitable room or space to accommodate the classes.

6. …retain teachers, administration, and students that can devote extended periods of time (6-8 hours) for Enhancement activities, Intensive Sessions, and teacher training events (for Access teachers) that can occur on weekends.

7. …acquire and use Microsoft Excel 2010 (or newer) for reporting purposes.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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

1. Suggested application forms

· PAS Guatemala Small Grant Proposal Template 2023-PAS-Guatemala Proposal Template

· PAS Guatemala English Language Programs Budget Template 2023-PAS-Guatemala Budget Template

· SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) Download at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1

2. Proposal (10 pages, maximum): We highly recommend using the PAS Guatemala Small Grant Proposal Template. Be sure to include all items below. The proposal should contain sufficient information so that anyone unfamiliar with it may understand exactly what the applicant wants to do.

· Proposal Summary: Short narrative outlining 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 about any/all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or other U.S. government agencies.

· Problem Statement: Clear, concise, 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 achieving the goals. Objectives 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 stated goal(s).

· Proposed Program Schedule: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include 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 portion of their time is expected to 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 timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are occurring in a timely manner? 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 and/or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

3. Budget Justification Narrative: Make sure to describe each of the budget expenses in detail, including any cost share.

Guidelines for Budget Justification Personnel: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will work directly for the applicant on the program.

Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for said travel. Please note that any international travel between the United States and the host country must be done via a U.S. Flag carrier.

Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property 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 items and materials, including any computer devices, needed for the program. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then itemize it in the budget under “Equipment.”

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

Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program which do not fit into other available 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. As this is an Access grant, indirect cost does not apply. Any administrative cost must be well described under the other line items.

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

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

4. 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 must obtain the following registrations before submitting the proposal for funding. All are free of charge:

· NCAGE/CAGE code

· www.SAM.gov registration

Step 1: Apply for NCAGE. Application page here:

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

Step 2: A quick guide can be downloaded from: https://www.sam.gov/sam/transcript/Quick_Guide_for_International_Entity_Registration.pdf

SAM at this link: https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/##11#1.

Note: SAM registration must be renewed annually.

These databases interface with each other, so the information in your NCAGE must match exactly with what you put in your SAM. It is advisable to print a screenshot of the NCAGE information that is entered.

5. Submission Dates and Times

Statement of Interest Deadline: July 03, 2023 Proposal Deadline: August 01, 2023

Funding Restrictions

Award funds cannot be used for construction, vehicle purchases, and/or property rental.

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

Other Submission Requirements

All application materials must be submitted by email to GTM-PASGrants@state.gov. Materials submitted by cloud-sharing service, portable hard drive, disk, or other shared media will not be reviewed.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria

Each application will be evaluated and rated based on the evaluation criteria outlined below. The criteria listed are closely related and considered holistically in judging the overall quality of an application.

Embassy priorities: Applicant has clearly described how stated goals are related to and support U.S. Embassy Guatemala’s priority areas or target audiences, including ethnic, gender, and geographic diversity.

Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea: The program idea is well developed and details how program activities will be executed. The proposal includes a reasonable timeline for implementation.

Goals and objectives: Goals and objectives are stated clearly, and the program approach is likely to have maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.

Budget: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic and accounts for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.

Organizational capacity and record on previous grants: The organization has expertise in its stated field, and PAS Guatemala is confident of its ability to undertake the program. Organizational capacity includes a reasonable financial management system and bank account.

Monitoring and evaluation plan: Applicant demonstrates it can measure program success against key indicators and provide milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators, showing how and when those will be measured.

Sustainability: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.

Review and Selection Process

A Grants Review Committee will evaluate all eligible applications.

PAS Guatemala reserves the right to request modifications or adjustments to proposed activities and budget based on Embassy goals and other relevant factors.

Applicants will be informed of decisions by October 15, 2023, by email. Grants to selected applicant organizations will be awarded by December 15, 2023. Organizations whose applications have not been selected for funding will also be notified via email.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

The cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The authorizing document, the assistance award agreement, will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses on or after 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 solely 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: Payments will be made in at least two installments, as needed to carry out the program activities.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Terms and Conditions: Before applying, it important to review all terms and conditions and required certifications which apply to this award, to ensure ability 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.statebuy.state.gov/fa/pages/home.aspx.

Note the U.S Flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and Conditions.

3. Reporting

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

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: GTM-PASGrants@state.gov.