NoFo Access Funds Teacher Training.docx

Professional Development for English Access Microscholarship and Other Educators.

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Cultural Affairs Office

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

Funding Opportunity Title: Professional Development for English Access Microscholarship and Other Educators.

Funding Opportunity Number: PAS-GUA-FY23-04 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: $105,000.00

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This Notice of Funding Opportunity seeks proposals for the implementation of a professional development project under the English Access Microscholarship (Access) program. Those interested should send a statement of interest to the Public Affairs (PAS) Grants, U.S. Embassy, Guatemala City no later than midnight CDT, Monday, July 03, 2023 (gtm-pasgrants@state.gov). PAS will follow up with requests within one week. Further steps include drafting a detailed proposal to be entered into the Access proposal portal, which is overseen by FHI-360, the U.S. Department of State's U.S.-based Access grantee. Final proposals must be submitted no later than midnight CDT, Tuesday, August 01, 2023. Interested partners should refer to the Access handbook for additional information on the Access program.

What:

The Public Affairs Section (PAS), U.S. Embassy, Guatemala City, is interested in collaborating with Access implementing partners in good standing to develop, implement, and evaluate an Access professional development project that equips Access teachers and other teachers that are part of the larger Access program community (namely former Access teachers and English teachers at schools from which Access students are recruited) with task-based, communicative learning approaches and learn service-learning appropriate pedagogical skills.

The project consists of three components:

1. Teacher Training Sessions (TTS) is English teacher training for in-service English school teachers. Via online instruction participants develop awareness of, and appreciation for, task-based, communicative learning approaches and learn service-learning appropriate pedagogical skills. TTS provides top-notch teaching tools to Guatemalan English teachers to achieve better results in their classrooms and improve the learning process for hundreds of students. TTS is facilitated by internationally certified teacher trainers. Participants receive synchronous on-line instruction, can access asynchronous instruction on the https://teachinghelp.net/ platform, and participate as part of viewing groups in the AE MOOCs. TTS participants are encouraged to participate in the OPEN programs and receive the support of TTS trainers if they are selected to participate.

2. The Teacher Assistant Certificate (TAC) program aims to provide pre-service and in-service English teachers with a solid foundation to carry out assistant teacher duties through work focused on language for class development, exposure to standard teaching principles, and application of effective lesson planning and delivery frameworks.

3. The TESOL Best Practices (TESOL BP) program, guided by World Learning trainers, helps participants enhance their abilities to deliver effective EFL instruction entirely in English with greater confidence and skill and to articulate their understanding of what helps and hinders learning in a learning-centered, communicative English language classroom. By the end of the course, participants can explain and apply principles and theories underlying effective lesson planning and teaching in learning-centered communicative classrooms and demonstrate an initial level ability to reflect on the effectiveness of their own and other’s teaching with improved skills of description, analysis, hypothesis, and planning for future lessons.

Why:

Guatemala´s education system requires English Language for secondary level. Most private schools and some public schools have also included English as mandatory for the primary level. Most English teachers who teach at this level usually have an elementary level of English and use the traditional method of teaching (using translation as the primary source of learning the language.) Task-based, communicative learning approaches and service-learning appropriate pedagogical skills are not common in Guatemala, despite the urgent need for students to understand, first-hand, community-based issues. PAS seeks to equip a core group of English language instructors with the resources, tools, and hands-on experience they need in order to improve their own practice as well as equip other teachers in their communities with the same resources, tools, and support.

TTS course will provide up to 200 educators with an opportunity to:

1. Review communicative, learner-centered approaches such as collaborative language learning, task-based learning, and project-based learning.

2. Expand their understanding of Service Learning, especially as it relates to environmental awareness.

3. Explore how to integrate the above-mentioned content focuses and approaches into their classroom practice and extracurricular activities.

4. Understand how to guide learners to create and implement local action plans.

5. Incorporate critical thinking, leadership, digital literacy, and civic awareness skills into plans, where relevant.

6. Create a range of lessons and activities in order to include basic, intermediate, and advanced level students.

All aspects of the project should model a communicative, project-based approach in order to maximize interaction among participants, in English.

TAC program aims at providing 21 beginner English Teachers with a foundation to carry out assistant teacher duties through work focused on language for the class development, exposure to teaching principles, and application of lesson planning and delivery frameworks. This objective will provide participants with opportunities to improve their social mobility and will lead them to create economic opportunities that are going to improve their communities.

TESOL BP program will give an international certification to 15 participants. They will become experts in planning, executing, and reflecting upon student centered classes with a communicative approach.

Where:

TTS synchronous on-line instruction will take place in the Zoom platform.

TTS asynchronous on-line instruction will take place in the Access alumni created https://teachinghelp.net/ platform.

TAC and TESOL BP on-line instruction will take place in World Learning’s platform.

TAC and TESOL BP in-person instruction will take place at suitable facilities for the high demanding courses. Facilities should not be further than 30 minutes away from participant’s lodgings.

Who:

TTS participants are early to mid-career Access teachers and other English language educators that are part of the larger Access program community (namely former Access teachers and English teachers at schools from which Access students are recruited). The maximum number of teachers is 200 and the minimum number is 150.

TAC participants are early to mid-career Access teachers and other English language educators that are part of the larger Access program community (namely former Access teachers and English teachers at schools from which Access students are recruited). The maximum number of teachers is 21.

TESOL BP participants are early to mid-career Access teachers and other English language educators that are part of the larger Access program community (namely former Access teachers and English teachers at schools from which Access students are recruited) who have successfully passed the TAC program. The maximum number of teachers is 15.

The team of facilitators internationally certified World Learning teacher trainers. We also recommend that the partner choose 3-5 future local Access coordinators to support with the recruitment of English teachers.

Where possible and relevant, the partner should include guest experts that can add to the overall quality of the experience and introduce new content and perspectives.

When:

TTS should run from March 2024 to October 2025.

TAC should start the last weeks of October 2024.

TESOL BP should start the last weeks of October 2025 The period of performance will begin approximately on February 1, 2024, and close on December 31, 2025.

The implementing partner will work closely with PAS on advertising and vetting participants.

Once the finalized list of participants is ready, the partner will work on the planned activities, lodging and travel cost of the programs.

How much:

PAS recommends that the TTS per participant cost not exceed $175.00, TAC $1,667.00, and TESOL BP $2,715.00. The final budget of no more than $105,000 should cover:

· Ground transportation from home to the in-person program site

· All food during the in-person programs

· Lodging costs at the in-person program site

· Administrative costs

· Materials (If necessary)

· Partners’ coordinator costs

· World Learning fees

· https://teachinghelp.net/ platform costs

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.)

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 24 months Number of awards anticipated: One (1) award.

Award amount: Award is a maximum of $105,000.

Total available funding: $105,000.

Type of Funding: FY22 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, trainers, and participants.

· 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 March 2024 to December 2025.

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 PAS-funded teacher training programs is not larger than 21 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.

Optional: Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If an organization submits more than one proposal, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

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.

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 has to 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 DUNS application, and the same with 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.