NOFO FINAL 6 21.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

A NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Strengthen Partnerships Against Violent Extremism in Kollo

Table of Contents:

Section A. Funding Opportunity Description

A1. Background

A2. Program Goals and Objectives

A3. Expected Results

A4. Main Activities

A5. Performance Indicators

A6. Substantial Involvement

Section B. Federal Award Information

B1. Available Funding

B2. Award Management

Section C. Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants

C2. Cost Share

C3. Other Eligibility Criteria

Section D. Application and Submission Information

D1. Address to request Application Package

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D3. Unique entity identifier (DUNS) and System for Award Management (SAM)

D6. Other Submission Requirements – Proposal Format Requirements

Section E. Application Review Information

E1. Criteria

E2. Review and Selection Process

Section F. Federal Award Administration Information

F1. Federal Award Notices

F2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

F3. Reporting

Section G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact

Section H. Other Information

H1. Conflict of Interest

H2. Marking Policy

H3. Evaluation Policy

H4. Monitoring Site Visits

H5. Privacy Disclosure

Attachments:

Appendix 1: Budget Template 2: Budget Guidelines

3: Proposal Submission Instructions

4. Logic Model Template

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Strengthen Partnerships Against Violent Extremism in Kollo

Section A. Funding Opportunity Description

Announcement Type: New

Assistance Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Funding Type: Discretionary

Assistance Listing Number: 19. 222

Funding Amount: $1,500,000

Cost-Sharing Requirement: 0

Number of Awards: 1 (one)

Project Duration: 24 months

Key Dates:

1. Application must be submitted by 11.59 P.M.

Eastern Standard Time (EST) on August 5, 2021.

2. Questions must be submitted by 11:59 P.M. Eastern

Standard Time (EST) on July 22, 2021

3. Notification of project approval and award signing expected in September 2021.

Application Submission: Application must be submitted through www.grants.gov

Electronic Requirement: Yes

Eligibility Category: U.S. non-profit/nongovernmental organizations subject to section 501 (c) (3) of the U. S. tax code, foreign not-for-profit/nongovernmental organizations, U.S. and foreign educational institutions, and Public International

Organizations (PIO).

Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.400, it is a U.S. Department of State policy not to award profit under federal assistance instruments.

Type of Applicant: Organizations only. Individuals are not eligible to apply

Number of Applications: One (1) per applicant organization

Executive Summary:

The Bureau of African Affairs/ Office of Regional Peace and Security (AF/RPS) at the U.S.

Department of State (DOS), announces this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to

Strengthen Partnerships Against Violent Extremism in Kollo. A cooperative agreement for up to

$1,500,000 U.S. Dollars (USD) in FY 2020 Economic Support Funds (ESF) will be awarded, pending availability of funds, for work that will support countering violent extremism in Niger.

The period of performance is 24 months. Funding authority rests in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

This funding opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov and may be amended. Answers to questions from eligible interested organizations will be posted as attachments to this

NOFO. Applicants should regularly check the www.grants.gov website for the most recent information pertaining to this funding opportunity. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application package has been received by www.grants.gov in its entirety; there are steps that you should take immediately in order to make your submissions by the deadline.

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.

Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for additional application submission instructions, including information on required documents and format. Please follow both the PSI and the NOFO, to ensure that the proposal package submission is in full compliance with the requirements. Proposal submissions that do not meet all of the requirements outlined in this NOFO and PSI will not be considered.

Department of State bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes associated with electronic submissions via www.grants.gov. Incomplete application packages will not be considered.

A1. Background

Niger faces terrorist threats internally and on all seven of its borders. Porous borders, sparsely-populated desert regions, military fighting on multiple fronts, illicit trafficking, and climate-sensitive regions that have few economic opportunities all render the country susceptible to encroaching violent extremism challenges across several regions. In response to an increase in violent extremist organization (VEO) attacks, the Government of Niger (GoN) has imposed

States of Emergency (SoEs) in several areas that include curfews and bans on motorbike use.

This continuing crisis, which is worsened by ongoing conflict in neighboring areas, has elevated the need for increased support to the GoN in their efforts to stabilize the country.

Although the GoN, in partnership with the US Government and others, has already implemented interventions in Diffa and Tillaberi regions, the Kollo corridor, in close proximity to Niamey, is seen as an opportunity to conduct preventative VE measures. Albeit not free from attacks or incursions, the Kollo corridor has not yet reached dangerously high levels of VEO activity or recruitment. Securing the Kollo corridor against VEO activity is crucial not only for protecting the life and livelihoods of its citizens, but for securing a critical economic roadway to the capital of Niamey. Significant interest from both the international community and the GoN, combined with the opportunity to engage meaningfully with motivated communities, provides an opportunity to secure the Kollo corridor against VEO activity.

http://www.grants.gov/

A2. Program Goals and Objectives

Goal: Assist the Government of Niger and local communities in preventing VEOs from recruiting in the Kollo region, a critical economic corridor.

Objective 1: Strengthen the GoN and law enforcement’s partnership with community leaders and local organizations so that by FY 2022, a framework is adopted to prevent the spread of violent extremism in the Kollo corridor.

Objective 2: Establish a network of local leaders that engage with the community and provide an opportunity for citizens to express their concerns and perspective on the drivers of VE so that by FY 2022, members of the network are viewed as credible messengers.

A3. Expected Results

Specific results could include the following:

1. The GoN will engage with local leaders and government actors in Kollo to design and implement strategies aimed at preventing the spread of VE within the target population.

2. The GoN including law enforcement is aware and engaged on the identified risk factors from community leaders in the Kollo corridor.

3. The GoN and law enforcement are aware of the impact of security and restrictive measures on the target population

A4. Main Activities

Applicants will provide proposed activities as part of their application.

A5. Performance Indicators

Applicants must include the following indicators in their monitoring and evaluation plan.

The implementer will be responsible for progress reporting on each performance indicator stipulated in the award Agreement as well as analysis of progress or impediments to reach indicator targets.

The following are required indicators. Applicants are welcome to propose other indicators relevant to the primary objectives and expected results of the project.

Required Indicators Targets

Outcome

1.

Establish a network of community leaders for the Kollo corridor by the end of the second quarter of the project.

XX

Output 1. Language in the framework is inclusive of themes raised by community leaders.

The following are suggested indicator/s for this project:

A6. Substantial Involvement

AF/RPS anticipates awarding a cooperative agreement as a result of this NOFO. A cooperative agreement is distinguished from a grant in that it provides for substantial involvement between the Federal awarding agency and the non-Federal entity in carrying out the activity.

Examples of substantial involvement for this project may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Review and approve communes of Kollo corridor selected for the program;

• Review engagement with and operational plan with government officials;

• Review framework support plan and strategic approach outlined in objectives.

Area of substantial involvement will be outlined in the final award Agreement.

Section B. Federal Award Information

B1. Available Funding

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Output 2. Community leaders, law enforcement and GoN officials meet a minimum of once every quarter.

Output 3. Points of contact within the GoN and senior law enforcement officials are identified by the implementer within the second quarter of the project.

Output 4. Women represent at least 10% of community leaders.

Output 5. Community engagements are required to be representative of women, youth.

Output 6. Ten community engagements implemented within the first year, and fifteen implemented within the second year of the project, with geographic representation across the Kollo corridor.

Suggested Indicators Targets

Outcome

2.

Community leaders articulate and draft a vision for how law enforcement operates in their communities.

XX

Outcome

3.

Community participants report confidence in their community leader’s ability to represent them.

50%

Overall grant-making authority for this project is contained in the Foreign Assistance Act of

1961, as amended. The Department of State may consider continuing the program funded under this award beyond the initial period of performance 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 and

USG.

The Department of State reserves the right to fund any or none of the proposals submitted and reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase the budget in accordance with the needs of the project and the availability of funds.

B2. Award Management

The successful applicant awarded under this NOFO may need to routinely collaborate with the

U.S. Department of State. The Recipient must ensure that all funds are used in a manner consistent with U.S. Government laws on the use of foreign assistance funds, including any applicable restrictions on funding such as working with the host country military or regional military partners, some security forces or officials, and any government sanctioned militias.

Section C. Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants

See page 1, Eligibility Category.

Technically eligible submissions are those which: 1) arrive electronically to www.grants.gov by the designated deadline; 2) have heeded all instructions contained in the Notice of Funding

Opportunity (NOFO), including registrations, length and completeness of submission; and 3) do not violate any of the guidelines stated in the solicitation and this document.

C2. Cost Share

Not required. Providing cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an eligibility requirement for this NOFO and will not be factored in during the merit review process.

Note: If cost-share is included in the budget, the award Recipient must maintain written records to support all allowable costs that are claimed as its contribution to cost-share, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. In the event the recipient does not meet the minimum amount of cost-sharing as stipulated in the recipient’s budget, DOS’ contribution may be reduced in proportion to the Recipient’s contribution.

C3. Other Eligibility Criteria

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.

Applicants, including U.S. affiliates of international organizations must provide a valid Data

Universal Numbering System (DUNS), and completed www.sam.gov registration when submitting application on www.grants.gov in response to this NOFO. Applicants that do not have a valid DUNS number and completed www.sam.gov registration will NOT be eligible for consideration. Implementing partners/sub-recipient organizations are required to have a valid DUNS number.

Applicants listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award

Management (SAM) are 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.

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

Organizations may only submit one application per organization. If more than one application is submitted by an organization, only the first application received will be reviewed for eligibility and funding.

Section D. Application and Submission Information

D1. Address to request Application Package

Applicants can find application forms on www.grants.gov under the announcement title and funding opportunity number provided above.

Please contact the AF/RPS point of contact listed in section G if requesting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or for security reasons. Please note: reasonable accommodations do not include deadline extensions.

Please read carefully the entire announcement and follow the guidelines below before sending inquiries or submitting proposals.

Once the NOFO deadline has passed, DOS may not discuss this competition with any applicant until the proposal review process has been completed.

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Any prospective applicant who has questions concerning the contents of this NOFO should submit them by email to the contacts listed in Section G. Please refer to the funding opportunity number and title. Any updates about this NOFO will also be posted on www.grants.gov.

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.

D3. Unique entity identifier (DUNS) and System for Award Management

(SAM)

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.

In addition, if the organization plans to sub-contract or sub-grant any of the funds under an award, those sub-awardees must also have a unique entity identifier (DUNS) number. (Certain exceptions apply).

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%20NCA

GE.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.

Applicants must have an active registration in SAM (www.sam.gov) prior to submitting an application, must prove a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, formerly referred to as a http://www.grants.gov/ http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf http://www.sam.gov/

DUNS number, and must continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by the U.S. government. If an organization does not have an active registration in SAM.gov prior to submitting an application, the application will be deemed ineligible. Note: The process of obtaining a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards.

SAM.gov is the Federal government's primary database for complying with FFATA reporting requirements. OMB designated SAM.gov as the central repository to facilitate applicant and recipient use of a single public website that consolidates data on all federal financial assistance.

Under the law, it is mandatory to obtain a UEI number and register in SAM.gov

SAM.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM.gov. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM.gov and to also maintain its active registration in SAM.gov

An exemption from this requirement may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if the applicant’s identity must be protected due to possible endangerment of their mission, their organization’s status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applicant. Organizations requesting an exemption should email the point of contact listed in Section G of this NOFO.

Please note: Overseas organizations will be required to register with the NATO Support Agency

(NSPA) to receive a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code in order to register in SAM. NSPA will forward your registration request to the applicable National

Codification Bureau (NCB) if your organization is located in a NATO or Tier 2 Sponsored Non-

NATO Nation. (As of January 2015, NATO nations included Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States of America; and Tier

2 nations included Australia, Austria, Brazil, Finland, Israel, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Serbia, and Singapore.)

NSPA and/or the appropriate NCB forwards all NCAGE code information to all Allied

Committee 135 (AC/135) nations, which as of January 2015 also included Afghanistan, Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Montenegro, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South

Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates.

D4. Submission Dates and Times Please see page 3. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

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.

SAMS Domestic and Grants.gov automatically log the date and time an application submission is made, and the Department of State will use this information to determine whether an application has been submitted on time. Late applications are neither reviewed nor considered.

D5. Funding Restrictions/Unallowable Costs (not limited to)

The following activities and costs are not covered under this announcement:

• Construction is not an allowable activity under this award.

• Activities that appear partisan or that support individual or party electoral campaigns.

• Direct support or the appearance of direct support for any religious organization, to include repair or building of structures used for religious purposes.

• Military assistance of any kind, including weapons buy-back or rewards programs.

• Purchase of firearms, ammunition, or removal of unexploded ordnances.

• Para-police (i.e., militias, neighborhood watch, security guards) and prison-related projects. This restriction includes no funding of any secondary need in a law-enforcement organization.

• Payments for any partner government, military, or civilian government employee salary or pension.

• Duplication of services immediately available through municipal, provincial, or national government.

• Funds for market research, advertising (unless public service related to grant program), or other promotional expenses.

• Expenses made prior to the approval of a proposal or unreasonable expenditures will not be reimbursed.

• Charitable or development activities;

• Fund-raising campaigns;

• Lobbying for specific legislation or projects;

• Scientific research;

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

• Projects seeking funds for personal use;

• Projects that require a participation fee

• Support to foreign militaries.

Representation by Organization Regarding a Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Criminal

Conviction: In accordance with section 7073 of Division K of the Consolidated Appropriations

Act, 2014 (Public Law 113-76) none of the funds made available by that Act may be used to enter into an assistance award with any organization that –

(1) Was “convicted of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency has direct knowledge of the conviction, unless the agency has considered, in accordance with its procedures, that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government”; or

(2) Has any “unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, unless the Federal agency has considered, in accordance with its procedures, that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government.”

For the purposes of Section 7073, it is the Department of State’s policy that no award may be made to any organization covered by (1) or (2) above, unless the Procurement Executive has made a written determination that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government.

D6. Other Submission Requirements – Proposal Format Requirements

The Department of State requires proposals be submitted electronically through Grants.gov

(www.grants.gov) as specified on page 3. Applicants must follow all formatting instructions in the applicable solicitation and Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI)

Faxed, couriered, or emailed documents will not be accepted. Reasonable accommodations may, in appropriate circumstances, be provided to applicants with disabilities or for security reasons.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that it has an active registration in Grants.gov and that an application has been received by the system in its entirety. DOS bears no responsibility for disqualification that result from applicants not being registered before the due date or for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Additionally, you must save a screen shot of the checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document fails to upload successfully.

Organizations new to Grants.gov and SAMS Domestic: In order to register to use grants.gov and

SAMS Domestic, an organization must complete a number of steps, which include those registration requirements listed in D3. Completing all of these steps can take up to 4 weeks, especially for an international organization. Additionally, SAMS Domestic requires multi-factor authentication.

Section E. Application Review Information

E1. Criteria

Department of State will issue an award to the applicant whose proposal represents the best value to the U.S. Government on the basis of technical merit, efficient use of U.S. Government funds, and satisfactory organizational capacity. In addition, the organization must demonstrate adequate financial management capability to be measured by a responsibility determination.

Applications should contain the applicants’ best terms from both cost and technical standpoints. The implementing partners (sub-recipients) of the primary recipient will be subject to Department of State approval.

Eligible applications will be evaluated by an independent review panel consisting of subject matter experts from other DOS bureaus/or offices, U.S. Embassies, and/or other U.S.

Government agencies. Final approval resides with the DOS Grants Officer.

Eligible applications will be evaluated as Very Competitive; Competitive, and Not Competitive.

The following criteria will serve as a standard which all eligible applications will be evaluated against.

The review panel will apply the following criteria when rating proposals:

1. Quality of Program Idea

• The proposal is responsive to a call for P/CVE programming designed to institute partnerships and regular engagements between Government of Niger officials and to an extent law enforcement figures, and key community and women leaders in the

Kollo corridor –– and identifies relevant local and international dynamics and drivers;

• The proposal clearly states a theory of change against which programming will be designed;

• The proposal directly connects proposed activities with the desired outcomes, tying back to the project objectives; and

• The proposal addresses how the project will engage or obtain support from relevant stakeholders.

2. Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives

• The proposal provides a detailed work plan of proposed project activities and includes a clear articulation of how these activities will contribute to the overall project’s goals and objectives;

• Proposed projects should address long-term institutional and/or organizational development with an emphasis on moving towards sustainability;

• The proposal demonstrates a willingness to be flexible and an ability to adjust to the situation on the ground; and

• The proposal articulates activities that are placed in a reasonable time frame, relevant to the project, and attainable.

3. Organizational Capability and Record of Performance

• The proposal demonstrates a proven record of successful projects and past performance in Africa, preferably in Niger, in the areas of capacity-building assistance and P/CVE;

• The proposal articulates past performance and experience in working with host governments, local organizations, and communities, particularly on, and preferably in

Niger; and

• The proposal clearly defines how the applicant will manage the project, including the roles and responsibilities of primary staff under this project;

4. Cost Effectiveness

• All budget items are allocable, reasonable and necessary, and linked to program objectives and demonstrate efficient use of U.S. Government funds.

• All costs, including the administration of the proposal budget, including salaries and honoraria, are explained and justified for the work involved.

5. Project Monitoring and Evaluation

• The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan includes:

o Narrative explaining how M&E will be carried out and who will be responsible for M&E activities;

o Logical Framework listing by project objectives the output- and outcome-based performance indicators with baselines (if available) and quarterly and cumulative targets; data collection tools; data sources; types of data disaggregation, if applicable; and frequency of data collection.

6. Sustainability of Impact

• Clearly indicates how U.S. Government funding will result in long-term capacity building for PVE in Niger.

• Outlines possibilities for institutionalization of the capacity building functions with a local organizations.

• Reference other donors who may be able to lend support after the end of the life of the project.

E2. Review and Selection Process

Applications will first be reviewed to determine technical eligibility.

All technically eligible applications will move forward to the merit review panel. Applications will be reviewed against the same criteria, listed above. Applications will be scored based on the strengths and weaknesses of the aforementioned categories and for consistency with the program goals and key areas of interest as contained in this NOFO.

The Merit Review Panel may provide conditions and recommendations on applications to enhance the proposed project, which must be addressed by the applicant before further consideration of the award. To ensure effective use of USG funds, conditions or recommendations may include requests to increase, decrease, clarify, and/or justify costs and project activities.

E3. Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)

The Department of State, 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).

The 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.

The Department of State 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 §200.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

Section F. Federal Award Administration Information

F1. Federal Award Notices

The successful applicant will be notified via email. This email may include a request for the applicant respond to panel conditions and recommendations. This notification is not an authorization to begin activities and does not constitute formal approval or a funding commitment.

Additional information that successful applicants may be required to submit after notification of intent to make a Federal award, but prior to issuance of a Federal award, may include:

• Written responses and any revised application documents addressing any conditions or recommendations from the Review Panel and awarding bureau;

• Completion of the Department’s Financial Management Survey, if receiving AF/RPS funding for the first time or requested by the Grants Officer;

• Submission of required documents to register in the Payment Management System

(PMS) managed by the Department of Health and Human Services if receiving AF/RPS funding for the first time. Overseas organizations are not required to register in PMS;

• Other requested information or documents included in the notification of intent to make a

Federal award or subsequent communications prior to issuance of a Federal award.

Final approval is also contingent on Congressional Notification requirements being met and final review and approval by the Department’s warranted Grants Officer.

The award shall be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer subsequent to the panel review and selection of proposals. The Grants Officer is the Government official delegated the authority by the U.S. Department of State Procurement Executive to write, award, and administer grants and cooperative agreements. The assistance award agreement is the sole authorizing document and it will be provided to the Recipient electronically through SAMS

Domestic. Organizations whose applications will not be funded will also be notified in writing.

Issuance of this NOFO and negotiation of applications received does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government, nor does it commit the USG to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the USG reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

F2. 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: NOTE:

• President’s September 2, 2020 memorandum, entitled Memorandum on Reviewing

Funding to State and Local Government Recipients of Federal Funds that Are Permitting

Anarchy, Violence, and Destruction in American Cities;

• Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues and

Combating Recent Criminal Violence (E.O. 13933); and

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

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

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

Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 115—232) (2 CFR part 200.216), o Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with

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

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

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

CFR part 200.340).

Applicants should plan to coordinate with AF throughout the course of the agreement to ensure assistance is provided only to eligible participants.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.25&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.25&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.170&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.170&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.175&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.182&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.182&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.183&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2chapterVI.tpl https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/ https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=81a5f41de81c46a9844617d93a9db081&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5

F3. Reporting

Foreign Assistance Data Review

As required by Congress, the Department of State must make progress in its efforts to improve tracking and reporting of foreign assistance data through the Foreign Assistance Data Review

(FADR). The FADR requires tracking of foreign assistance activity data from budgeting, planning, and allocation through obligation and disbursement. Successful applicants will be required to report and draw down federal funding based on the appropriate FADR Data

Elements, indicated within their award documentation. In cases of more than one FADR Data

Element, typically program or sector and/or regions or country, the successful applicant will be required to maintain separate accounting records.

Financial Reports

The Recipient is required to submit quarterly financial reports (unless stipulated otherwise in the final Agreement) throughout the project period, using Form FFR SF-425, the Federal Financial

Report form. If payment is made through the Payment Management System, all financial reports must be submitted electronically through the Payment Management System. The Recipient is also required to upload to SAMS Domestic a pdf version of all financial reports (Federal

Financial report) they have submitted in the Payment Management System. Form FFR (SF-425) can be found here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html#sortby=1

Progress Reporting

The awardee is required to upload all progress reports to the award file in SAMS

Domestic. Progress reports must be submitted quarterly unless otherwise stipulated in the

Agreement; the frequency will be determined by DOS prior to award.

progress reports should also reflect the awardee’s continued focus on measuring the project’s impact on the overarching goals or problems the project set out to address. An assessment of the overall project impact, as appropriate, should be included in each quarterly project report.

Final Report

The final report will be due no later than 120 days after the end date of the award or termination of all project activities. The Final Report shall include the following elements: executive summary, successes, outcomes, best practices, how the project addresses gender issues and marginalized communities, how the project will be sustained, and a final financial report.

Additional guidance may be provided prior to the award end date.

Please note: delays in reporting may result in delays of payment approvals and failure to provide required reports may jeopardize the recipients’ ability to receive future U.S. government funds.

AF reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial project information during the award period of performance.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html#sortby=1 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html#sortby=1

Section G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact G1. Agency Contacts

Margot Shorey

Program Analyst

Bureau of African Affairs, Office of Regional Peace and Security (AF/RPS)

ShoreyMA@state.gov

Jeremy Malhotra

CVE Program Manager

Bureau of African Affairs, Office of Regional Peace and Security (AF/RPS)

MalhotraJ@state.gov

G2. Questions

Any prospective applicant who has questions concerning the contents of this NOFO must email them to the contacts listed above with the subject “[Applicant Name] [NOFO title].” To maintain fairness and transparency in competition, the Department will not answer substantive NOFO questions except when posting questions and answers to the announcement page as described below.

All questions must be submitted via email to contacts listed above by the deadline stated on p. 3

(AF) will periodically create a document of submitted questions with answers and upload it to the announcement page in grants.gov. Prospective applicants are advised to review the announcement page in grants.gov for any updates. Note that once the NOFO deadline has passed, DOS staff in

Washington, D.C., overseas and U.S. Embassies/Missions may not discuss this completion with applicants until the review process has been completed.

For questions about SAMS Domestic accounts and technical issues related to the system, please contact the ILMS help desk by phone at 1-888-313-4567 (toll charges for international callers) or through the Self Service online portal that can be accessed from https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilms/home. Customer Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for federal holidays.

With the exception of technical submission questions, during the solicitation period U.S.

Department of State staff in Washington and overseas shall not discuss this competition with applicants until the entire proposal review process has been completed and an award has been made.

The information in this NOFO is binding and may not be modified by any Department representative. Explanatory information provided by the Department that contradicts this language will not be binding.

Section H. Other Information

H1. Conflict of Interest

In accordance with applicable Federal awarding agency policy, applicants must disclose in writing any potential conflict of interest to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity.

H2. Marking Policy

Applicants are advised that recipients and sub-recipients of Federal assistance awards are subject to the State Department’s Marking Policy. Marking will be addressed in the final award agreement.

H3. Evaluation Policy

Applicants are advised that recipients and sub-recipients of Federal assistance awards are subject to the Department of State Evaluation Policy. More information on this policy can be found here: https://www.state.gov/foreign-assistance-resource-library/foreign-assistance-evaluations/.

Further, recipient organizations are encouraged to conduct their own and/or independent evaluations on their Department of State funded programs to assess performance and outcomes.

H4. Monitoring Site Visits

A monitoring site visit, at least once during the lifetime of a grant, may be conducted by

Department of State personnel. The site visit is conducted to gather additional information on the recipient’s ability to properly implement the project, manage DOS funds and share substantiating document for programmatic and financial reporting. Specifically, the site visit may involve the review of the programmatic progress (progress on activities, sub-recipient/consultant work, etc.)

as well as administrative and financial management and controls.

H5. Privacy Disclosure

DOS understands that some information contained in applications may be considered sensitive or proprietary and will make appropriate efforts to protect such information.

However, applicants are advised that DOS cannot guarantee that such information will not be disclosed, including pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or other similar statutes.

Attachments:

1. Budget Template for New Awards (FY2021)

2. Budget Guidelines

3. Proposal Submission Instructions

4. Logic Model Template https://www.state.gov/foreign-assistance-resource-library/foreign-assistance-evaluations/