NOFO TASHKENT-PDS-FY25-002- Democracy Commission Small Grants Program.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Democracy Commission Small Grants Program

SCA Embassy Tashkent, Department of State

Opportunity number: TASHKENT-PDS-FY25-002

Applica�on deadlines: February 28, 2025; April 7, 2025

Table of Contents

A. BASIC INFORMATION

B. ELIGIBILITY

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

D. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

G. AWARD NOTICES

H. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

I. OTHER INFORMATION

U.S Department of State SCA/ Embassy Tashkent, Public Diplomacy Section

Notice of Funding Opportunity

A. BASIC INFORMATION

1. Overview Funding Opportunity Title Democracy Commission Small Grants Program Funding Opportunity Number TASHKENT-PDS-FY25-002 Deadlines for Concept Note Submission

February 28, 2025 April 7, 2025 (11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern time)

Assistance Listing Number 19.900 – Assistance for Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia

Length of performance period 6 to 12 months Number of awards anticipated Up to 12 awards (Pending availability of funds) Award amounts Awards may range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $50,000 (approximately) Total available funding $500,000 pending availability of funds Type of Funding FY24/25 Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central

Asia under the Foreign Assistance Act

Anticipated project start date October 1, 2025

The U.S. Embassy Tashkent/ Bureau of South and Central Asia of the U.S. Department of State announces an open compe��on for organiza�ons/(or individuals) to submit a statement of interest (SOI) to carry out a project (or projects) to TashkentGrant@state.gov. Please carefully follow all instruc�ons below.

The submission of the SOI is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a concise 3-page statement of interest designed to clearly communicate projects idea and objec�ves. This is not a full proposal and will not result in a federal assistance award at this step.

The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit project ideas for evalua�on prior to requiring the development of a full proposal applica�on. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their project idea(s) by submi�ng a full proposal applica�on. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before final funding decision(s) are made.

Funding Instrument Type: Coopera�ve Agreement or Grant. Coopera�ve agreements are different from grants in that bureau/embassy staff are more ac�vely involved in the grant implementa�on. Please note that if a coopera�ve agreement is used, PDS may be involved in the selec�on of par�cipants, review of proposed publica�ons, or more.

Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 12 months or less.

The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

This notice is subject to availability of funding. The Public Diplomacy Section reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described under circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the U.S. government, pending the availability of funds and approval of the designated grants officer.

2. Executive Summary The U.S. Embassy Tashkent Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce funding is available through the Embassy’s Democracy Commission Small Grants Program. This program supports the development of Uzbekistan’s democratic institutions and civil society by competitively awarding small grants to Uzbekistan’s nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and associations, to nonprofit civil society organizations (CSOs), and to independent local media organizations.

The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) in Tashkent is soliciting proposals for grants from Uzbekistan civil society and independent media organizations that focus on one of the priority areas/themes specified below under Section C. Applicants should pay close attention to the Public Diplomacy Section’s goals, priority program areas, target audiences when developing their proposals.

B. ELIGIBILITY

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

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

• For-profit organizations

• Civil society/non-governmental organizations

For this announcement, only Uzbekistan -based organizations are eligible to apply.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration in SAM.gov. Please see Section E.3 for more information.

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organiza�on. If more than one proposal is submited from an organiza�on, all proposals from that ins�tu�on will be considered ineligible for funding under this funding opportunity.

4. This opportunity will not support:

• Projects relating to partisan political activity.

• Charitable or development activities; including direct social services such as medical, psychological, and/or humanitarian support.

• Construction projects.

• Projects that support specific religious activities.

• Fund-raising campaigns.

• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs.

• Scientific research or surveys.

• Commercial projects.

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

• Projects that duplicate existing projects; or

• Illegal activities.

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Project Background, Goals, and Objectives

TOPIC 1: Advancing Women’s Business Empowerment and Social Entrepreneurship

Background: Entrepreneurship can be an important way for women to enter the workforce and bring much needed money into rural communities. Key obstacles to entrepreneurship include: a lack of familiarity with entrepreneurship as a valid career choice, access to capital, and the need for support to develop business plans and navigate the legal hurdles required when establishing a business.

The U.S. Embassy is seeking to fund organizations that encourage and support entrepreneurship opportunities for women. Past Democracy Commission projects have included support to train women from rural areas on vocational and business skills, including how to start their own business, find a business partner, produce quality products, and write a business plan. The project trained hundreds of women in the regions of the country, resulting in them opening their own businesses, creating new jobs, and significantly increasing women’s social and economic status.

Project Audience(s): Poten�al entrepreneurs and current small-scale business owners (ages 25- 55); women, par�cularly in rural areas or from marginalized communi�es.

Project Goal: Strengthen women’s entrepreneurship and small business development by increasing knowledge and available tools that entrepreneurs and small business owners can use to make their businesses successful.

Project Objectives: (Project proposals may address one or more of these objectives).

Within 12 months:

1. Increase entrepreneurial and leadership skills for at least 50 potential and current women entrepreneurs in creative economy industries, resulting in 70% of participants demonstrating improved leadership and business management skills and 25% of participants starting or expanding (e.g., increasing the number of new customers) their businesses to increase their participation in local economy.

2. Increase technical skills (such as coding, data analysis, design thinking) of at least 20 young women from rural communities to improve access to IT professions (including web developer, network engineer, data scientist), resulting in at least 35% of participants securing internships or employment through training, mentorship support and/or internships in local leading IT companies.

3. Improve and expand public-private sector networking and collaboration between local state agencies and women-owned businesses, with a minimum of 30 people participating in at least three collaborative events by the end of the program.

4. Increase knowledge and understanding of at least 50 potential women entrepreneurs on international trade requirements and best practices for identifying new markets, resulting in at least 90% of participants demonstrating a measurable improvement in their knowledge through a pre-and post-training assessment.

5. Increase ability of at least 50 potential women entrepreneurs to use digital resources to promote their businesses through hands-on training and e-commerce platforms, resulting in at least 50% of participants setting up e-commerce platforms and 15% increase in online sales or website visitors within [6] months.

6. Improve leadership and critical thinking skills of 500 recent and future university graduates to compete and promote their experience and skills in the labor market, resulting in an 80% increase securing internships or job placements.

TOPIC 2: Comba�ng Gender-Based Violence

Background: In Uzbekistan, women, especially those in rural areas, are disenfranchised, marginalized, discriminated against, and face alarmingly high rates of gender-based violence (GBV). According to the United Na�ons Development Program, in 2023, 21,871 protec�on orders were issued to women, with 85% of perpetrators being family members. In April 2023, Uzbekistan’s Oliy Majlis criminalized domes�c violence to beter protect women and children.

Foreign assistance funding through its Democracy Commission (DemCom) enables the Public

Diplomacy Sec�on (PDS) to provide grant support for individuals and civil society organiza�ons to reduce or mi�gate against GBV. PDS is seeking proposals to help prevent GBV by raising the posi�on of women in their families and communi�es, reducing their financial dependency on spouses, raising awareness about this important issue to create a�tudinal or behavioral changes related to GBV, and suppor�ng relevant ini�a�ves.

Project Audience: Young men and boys, who could be trained to see the value in suppor�ng women’s rights and the role of women in their communi�es.

Project Goal: Reduce gender-based violence (GBV) by facilitating active participation of young men and boys to advocate for and respect women’s rights and supporting the equality of women in their communities and across Uzbekistan.

Project Objectives: Project proposals may address one or more of these objectives. PLEASE NOTE: Proposals focused on providing direct social services will not be accepted.

1. Improve women’s self-confidence through creative coaching and women’s empowerment programming. For example, in FY23, a local NGO “Nihol” enhanced legal support, self-confidence, and knowledge about legal rights, gender equality, and economic independence through training in entrepreneurship and e-commerce. It empowered rural women to protect their rights, build livelihoods, and contribute to economic growth while raising community awareness on GBV prevention and fostering reintegration. At the end of the project, the NGO achieved the following performance indicators and results:

- 82% of 30 representa�ves of state, NGOs of Tashkent province reported increased awareness on real legal issues and cases of GBV faced by women -project beneficiaries in Tashkent province." This is 12% higher than the ini�ally set target.

- 73% of 600 rural women reported an improved knowledge and skills on business planning and entrepreneurship, electronic commerce, establishing the internet market, payment system." This is 3% higher than the ini�ally set target.

2. Raise awareness and understanding among at least 50 young men and boys of gender-based violence, root causes, and harmful gender norms, resulting in 85% of participants reporting better understanding of GBV and its impact on society.

3. Increase participation of young men and boys in community initiatives that support and advocate for gender equality, resulting in 90% of participants reporting improved attitudes towards gender equality and 60% increase of young men demonstrating engagement on these issues.

TOPIC 3: Strengthening Disability Rights

Background: In Uzbekistan, people with disabilities account for 2.3% (845,000) of the population, with the majority living in rural areas. The general public has limited awareness and understanding of the disabled community resulting in misconceptions, discomfort, and discrimination when interacting with people with disabilities. This leads to low employment prospects with only 8.9% of men and only 4.4% of women with disabilities officially employed. People with disabilities also have limited opportunities to participate fully in society, with low levels of accessibility and integration in public spaces, schools, and workplaces.

To increase the capacity of CSOs and NGOs working with persons with disabilities, the Embassy seeks to fund projects that raise awareness of civil rights, advocate for the greater integration of persons with disabilities in society, monitor the implementation of human rights of people with disabilities, and support capacity development and networking for relevant civil society organizations and stakeholders.

Project Audience(s): People with disabilities and relevant stakeholders, community leaders, urban and rural NGOs, local and state government, independent media, journalists and other civil society organizations.

Project Goal: Increase the capacity of Uzbekistan’s civil society organizations (CSOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to advocate for the rights and integration of the country's disability community.

Project Objectives (Project proposals may address one or more of these objectives. PLEASE NOTE: Proposals focused on providing direct social services will not be accepted.

Within 12 months:

1. Increase public and local and state government awareness on the importance of the integration of persons with disabilities into society, resul�ng in at least five media men�ons or news stories related to disability integra�on and government policies OR at least two local and state government bodies commi�ng to discussions on disability policy.

2. Strengthen project and grants management skills of 10 of NGOs working to advance disability rights through training, mentorship, and workshops, resul�ng in at least 50% of par�cipants demonstra�ng an improvement in project and grants management skills and 40% of par�cipants developing at least one project plan within six months of comple�ng the training. Project and grants management topics may include strategic design, public relations, organizational and financial sustainability, and more.

3. Increase cooperation between rural and urban civil society organizations (CSOs) and local government on legislation to support the integration of persons with disabilities, resul�ng in at least two joint ini�a�ves aimed at advancing disability rights legisla�on.

TOPIC 4: Empowering Citizen-led Initiatives to Improve Air Quality or Apply Innovative STEAM Solutions to Address Environmental Challenges

Background: Uzbekistan is the most climate-vulnerable country in Central Asia, and in all ecological zones of the country there is a significant increase in extreme climate events, such as hydrological drought, atmospheric drought, heat waves, and dust storms. According to the World Bank, without adaptation to climate change Uzbekistan’s economy may be 10 percent smaller than it would have been by 2050. Air quality in Uzbekistan’s cities is frequently among the poorest in the world, particularly in winter months. World Bank data shows that air pollution is among the top ten factors contributing to death and disability in Uzbekistan. Within Uzbekistan, air quality and the sources of air pollution differ widely by region, with dust, traffic, industry, power generation, and construction being the primary sources of pollution. The Government of Uzbekistan is developing plans to improve air quality and public concern about this issue is growing.

This funding opportunity seeks projects that will advocate for and promote efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in Uzbekistan’s cities. The U.S. Mission seeks projects that will increase understanding of the drivers of air pollution, expand access to affordable and reliable clean energy, and promote new policy solutions to air quality. This opportunity aims to engage citizens, academics, opinion leaders, officials, businesses, and industries to produce tangible and lasting outcomes including in positive public opinion changes and the development of stronger public policy interventions in climate change mitigation.

Project Audience(s): Civil society researchers and organizations, media professionals and opinion leaders who can amplify key messages, entrepreneurs and industry practitioners, physicians and researchers who can contribute to health research, and public officials.

Project Goal: Increase public and government support for actions to improve air quality in Uzbekistan through increased government-civil society discourse on this issue.

Project Objectives: Project proposals may address one or more of these objectives.

Within 12 months:

1. Increase public understanding of the causes of poor air quality, long-term health implications associated with poor air quality, and public and private actions that can improve air quality or other environmental issues.

2. Facilitate partnerships between civil society and the Government of Uzbekistan, resulting in at least two collaborative action plans or policy recommendations to improve air quality or other environmental challenges.

3. Equip at least 50 emerging professionals in environmental and health industries with skills specific to addressing environmental challenges, especially air pollu�on mi�ga�on, through training programs and educa�onal opportuni�es, resul�ng in 95% of par�cipants demonstra�ng improved skills, as measured by pre-and post-training assessments.

4. Increase government and public support for climate friendly actions to improve air quality or improve water resource management through demonstrations of environmental and economic viability and profitability, resulting in government adoption of at least two climate friendly policies or initiatives.

3.Support for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)

All programs should consider strategies for expanding the pool of individuals/organiza�ons/beneficiaries to afford opportuni�es for as diverse and inclusive popula�on as is feasible to bring diverse perspec�ves based on religion, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orienta�on, gender iden�ty, gender expression, sex characteris�cs, na�onal origin, and age to implementa�on of the program.

D. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FIRST ROUND

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

Application Deadline: All Statements of Interest must be received by February 28, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern time. For the purposes of determining if an award is submitted on time, the Embassy will utilize the timestamp provided by Grants.gov. This deadline is firm and is not a rolling deadline. If organizations fail to meet the deadline noted above their application will be considered ineligible and will not be considered for funding.

Every Statement of Interest must:

1. Clearly indicate the grant priority area to which the SOI is being submitted for consideration.

2. Briefly explain the problem your project will address and why this project is needed.

3. Give a short summary that outlines your proposed project.

4. List your project goal and objectives. The “goal” describes what the project is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals.

These should be achievable and measurable.

5. Describe your proposed project activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.

6. Describe the expected results of the program. Provide a plan for program outcomes, including social media outreach and monitoring, where applicable; and

7. Provide a short, but clear overview of expected costs/expenses associated with the project activities.

Content and Form of Statement of Interest Submission

Please ensure:

1. The Statement of Interest clearly addresses the goals, audiences, and objectives of this notice. Applicants may choose to use the attached Statement of Interest template (Attachment SOI) to submit their concept paper application.

2. All documents are in English.

3. All budgets are in U.S. dollars. Applicants are encouraged to use the Budget Proposal template in Attachment 1 to submit the short budget proposal.

4. Statements of Interest, including the short budget proposal, cannot exceed three pages.

Proposals which exceed the three-page limit will be disqualified from consideration.

Application Submission Process: Applicants may submit their application using Submission Method outlined below.

Submission Method: Submitting all application materials directly to the following email address: TashkentGrant@state.gov. Applicants opting to submit applications via email to TashkentGrant@state.gov must include the Funding Opportunity Title and Funding Opportunity Number in the subject line of the email.

E. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT: SECOND ROUND

Embassy Tashkent will review and evaluate all Statements of Interest and invite shortlisted projects to submit full grant applications per requirements described below for the Second Round. Full proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content of Full Applica�on Please ensure:

1. The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity

2. All documents are in English

3. All budgets are in U.S. dollars

4. All pages are numbered

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

The following documents and components are required:

1. Mandatory applica�on forms

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) – at grants.gov or Embassy website Attachment 1

• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) – at grants.gov or

Embassy website Attachment 2

• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov or Embassy website (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals, organizations exempt from registration, and for organizations not required to fully register in SAM.gov) Attachment 3

2. Proposal (10 pages maximum): Attachment 4. The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below:

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

• Introduc�on to the Organiza�on or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the State Department and/or U.S.

government agencies as well as experience with and expertise in areas related to those described in the NOFO. You may use the attached Applicant Organization Information Survey form to provide this information (Attachment 5).

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

• Program Methods, Design, Activities, and Deliverables: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objec�ves” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. Describe the program ac�vi�es and how they will help achieve the objec�ves.

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

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

• Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees (if applicable).

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

• Support of Equity and Underserved Communities: A description of how the applicant plans on incorporating principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) and engaging underserved communities in their program’s administration, design, and implementation. For more information, please reference section H. Post-Award Requirements and Administration.

• Monitoring & Evaluation: Proposals must include a draft Monitoring and Evaluation

(M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). The M&E PMP should show how applicants intend to measure and demonstrate progress towards the project’s objectives and goals. Attachment 6 of this funding opportunity contains a template that may be used to fulfill this requirement. While the grantee is free to create their own template, completing Attachment 6 will ensure a thorough PMP.

The key components to the PMP are as follows:

• Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative: In narrative form, applicants should describe how they intend to monitor and evaluate the activities of their award. In addition, the applicant should describe any M&E processes, including key personnel, management structure (where M&E fits into the overall program’s staff structure), technology, and as well provide a brief budget narrative explaining any line-item expenditures for M&E listed in the program’s budget. If the proposal is from a prior grantee, the proposal discusses how the grantee has adapted, improved or otherwise modified their approach based on learning from previous experience. This narrative is limited to two pages.

• Theory of Change Diagram: Applicants are expected to submit either a Theory of Change diagram or an If-Then Statement that illustrates how project activities will lead to intended outcomes. Attachment 6 includes a suggested format for these requirements.

• Monitoring and Evaluation Datasheet: The applicant must include their proposed activities and their expected outputs and outcomes as well as the goals and objectives as written in the NOFO. The datasheet’s purpose is to explicitly illustrate how a project’s activities lead to tangible results (such as increased beneficiary skills, knowledge, or attitudes) that ultimately address a PDS objective. For more information, please see Attachment 6a: Instructions.

• The selected applicant’s M&E PMP is subject to review and approval before any award will be issued under this NOFO. The selected applicant will be required to work with Public Diplomacy Section’s Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist to ensure the applicant’s M&E PMP achieves an expected level of expertise and meets PDS objectives.

• Expenses directly associated with monitoring and evaluation are considered allowable.

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

3.Budget Justification Narrative:

• Detailed Budget - Applicants must submit a detailed line-item budget. Applicants are encouraged to utilize the template provided with the funding opportunity but are not required to do so (Attachment 7). Line-item expenditures should be listed in the greatest possible detail. The budget must identify the total amount of funding requested, with a breakdown of amounts to be spent in the following budget categories: personnel; fringe benefits; travel; equipment; supplies;

consultants/contracts; other direct costs; and indirect costs. See Annex Section I for a description of the types of costs that should be included in each category. Personnel salaries should include the level of effort and the rate of pay, which should cover the percentage of time each staff member will dedicate to grant-based activities. If an organization is charging an indirect cost rate without a NICRA, it must apply it to the modified total budget costs (MTDC), refer to 2CFR§200.1. Budgets shall be submitted in U.S. dollars and final grant agreements will be conducted in U.S.

dollars.

o Publishing short informational publications, manuals and public informational materials are allowable. All publishing should be clearly linked to the project activity, should describe the intended audience, provide a clear understanding of the material’s content, how materials will be distributed, and specify who is responsible for the distribution of the materials.

o Salaries (including income tax and social deductions), equipment, and other administrative expenses are allowable only as they relate to specific project activities. Salary or honoraria should be listed according to rate of pay and percentage of time spent on program-related activities. While salary expenses are permissible for local personnel, payment of honoraria and other expenses for foreign experts will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The Democracy Commission strongly urges applicants to consider utilizing local and regional experts.

o Expenses associated with direct social services or humanitarian programs are not allowed under this program. Costs that fund the participation of psychologists, psychiatrists, and other potential medical professionals in the program will not be accepted.

o Equipment bought with Democracy Commission grant money can only be procured locally. Any request for computer equipment must include the procurement of original, not pirated, software.

o Any equipment which is procured grant funds is loaned to the NGO and remains the property of the U.S. Embassy for a minimum of three years. This is to ensure that equipment will not be used for personal matters and that equipment will be returned to the U.S. Embassy should the NGO cease its activities. At the end of project or three years, the Democracy Commission will review the work of the NGO to determine whether 1) the loan will be extended, 2) the equipment will be given permanently to the NGO, or 3) the equipment will be returned to the U.S. Embassy.

o Coffee breaks and working lunches only will be considered on case-by-case basis and should be clearly justified and limited to a maximum of 10% of the total award amount. This includes expenses associated with individual per diems for grant-related activities.

o Lodging costs should be indicated separately from meal costs related to the project activities.

o Democracy Commission funds should not be used to pay for travel to the United States or for travel grants. Projects involving regional travel will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must have a clear justification outlining why the travel is integral to the project.

• Budget Justification Narrative – Applicants must submit a budget justification narrative to accompany the detailed line-item budget. The purpose of the budget justification narrative is to supplement the information provided in the detailed budget spreadsheet by justifying how the budget cost elements are necessary to implement project objectives and accomplish the project goals. The budget justification narrative is a tool to help Embassy staff fully understand the budgetary needs of the applicant and is an opportunity to provide descriptive information about the requested costs beyond the constraints of the budget template. Together, the detailed budget spreadsheet, the budget justification narrative, and the SF-424A should provide a complete financial and qualitative description that supports the proposed project plan and should be directly relatable to the specific project components described in the applicant’s proposal.

Additional Budget Notes:

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

• Visa Fees: Include all visa applica�on and related fees in your budget as applicable.

Please note DS-2019s for post-funded programs must be submited directly by the award recipient. If you an�cipate your program will include the DS-2019 visa processing, your organiza�on must be a registered Designated Sponsoring Organiza�on. For more informa�on go to: htps://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/become-a-sponsor/

4. Attachments:

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

• Letters of support from program partners: Letters of support should be included for sub-recipients or other partners. The letters must identify the type of relationship to be entered into (formal or informal), the roles and responsibilities of each partner in relation to the proposed project activities, and the expected result of the partnership.

The individual leters cannot exceed 1 page in length.

https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm%20and%202CFR200

• Indirect Costs: Organizations may request indirect costs of 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) as defined in 2 CFR 200.1. For more information on requesting indirect costs, applicants may reach out to contacts listed under Section E.2. Department of State Contacts.

• Proof of Non-profit Status: Documenta�on to demonstrate the applicant’s non-profit status (e.g., U.S.-based organiza�ons should submit a copy of their 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Service determina�on leter, and non-U.S. organiza�ons should provide evidence of non-profit status issued by a government en�ty).

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

• Security package: The safety and security of all participants and activities under this project are the sole responsibility of the award recipient. Due to the security climate in Uzbekistan, we require all proposals to include a security package to accompany appropriate programmatic elements within their proposal. The security package must include but is not limited to: secure transportation; lodging, and emergency accountability and evacuation for any non- Uzbekistan personnel living or working in Uzbekistan, as well as a copy of your organization’s security operational procedures for high-risk environments. Reasonable costs for necessary security are allowable expenses and should be included in the proposed budget. If a security company is engaged and funded under the award, it must be registered by the Government of Uzbekistan to operate in Uzbekistan. We require award recipients to notify the Public Diplomacy Section in advance when U.S. citizens are traveling to Uzbekistan.

Other items NOT required/requested with the application submission, but which may be requested if your application is approved to move forward in the review process include:

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

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

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

d. Documentation that demonstrates the recipients’ plan and/or policy to safeguard PII of participants and beneficiaries. It is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure protection of personally identifiable information (PII) and safeguard PII when collecting, maintaining, using and disseminating such information

e. Information to determine what financial controls and standard operating procedures an organization uses to procure goods and services, hire staff and track time and attendance, pay for grant-related travel, and identify other financial transactions that may be necessary to undertake the project activities https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC))

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

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES: SECOND ROUND

1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required above are available at: embassy website, grants.gov.

2. Department of State Contacts If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact:

tashkentgrant@state.gov

3. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

Required Registration: All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration in SAM.gov. A 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.

An applicant must maintain an active registration while it has a proposal under review by the Department and must continue to keep the registration active for the entire duration of the period of performance of any Federal award that results from this NOFO.

The 2 CFR 200 also requires subrecipients to obtain a UEI. Please note the UEI for subrecipients is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a subrecipient.

Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

• Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI prior to registering in SAM.gov.

• Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI prior to registering in SAM.gov.

Exemp�ons An exemption from the UEI and sam.gov registration requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis. See 2 CFR 25.110 for a full list of exemptions.

mailto:tashkentgrant@state.gov https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110

Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the NOFO providing a justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.

Please note: Any applicant with an exclusion 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.”

4. Submission Dates and Times for Second Round Applications

Submission Deadline: Full grant Applications must be received by April 7, 2025 (11:59 p.m.

U.S. Eastern time). This deadline is firm and is not a rolling deadline. If organizations fail to meet the deadlines noted above their statement of interest will be considered ineligible and will not be considered for funding.

Application Submission Process: Applicants may submit their application using Submission Method A outlined below.

• Submission Method A: Submitting statement of interest materials directly to the following email address: tashkentgrant@state.gov Applicants must include the Funding Opportunity Title and Funding Opportunity Number in the subject line of the email.

5. Funding Restrictions

i. Funding Restrictions for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA): None of the funds awarded resulting from this Notice of Funding Opportunity may be made available for subawards, direct financial support, or otherwise used to provide any payment or transfer to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

ii. Pre-Award Costs: Pre-award costs are not an allowable expense for this funding opportunity.

iii. Construction: Any award made as a result of this NOFO will not allow for construction activities or costs.

iv. Direct Social Services: Costs that cover and provide direct social services, such as welfare, charity, health or economic relief, are unallowable. Medical assistance, such as costs to include medical professionals, including but not limited to doctors, nurses, and psychiatrists to participate in the project activities are not allowed.

6. Other Submission Requirements: Copyrights and Proprietary Information If any of the information contained in your application is proprietary, please note in the footer of the appropriate pages that the information is Confidential – Proprietary. Applicants should mailto:tashkentgrant@state.gov also note what parts of the application, program, concept, etc. are covered by copyright(s), trademark(s), or any other intellectual property rights and provide copies of the relevant documentation to support these copyrights.

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

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

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION: FIRST ROUND & SECOND ROUND

1. Review Criteria: First Round Criteria: Each Statement of Interest submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the criteria enumerated below. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success.

• Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 10 points: The SOI should clearly articulate proposed program activities and expected results towards achieving program objectives and goal(s).

• Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 10 points: The SOI is responsive to program framework. The idea is communicated well and is feasible. The proposed timeline is reasonable.

• Budget – 5 points: Costs appear reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results.

• Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 5 points: The SOI should demonstrate the organization’s expertise and previous experience in administering programs. If a local partner is identified SOI should describe the partner’s role and experience.

Review Criteria: Second Round Criteria: Full proposals submitted for the Second Round will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the criteria enumerated below. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success.

• Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 25 points: The program idea should be innovative and well developed, with sufficient detail about how project activities will be carried out. The proposals should demonstrate originality and outline clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined. Proposals should also demonstrate how the program will support diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) principles and engage underserved communities in their program’s administration, design, and implementation.

• Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 20 points:

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

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

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

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

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

• Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 20 points: The project plan is well developed, with sufficient detail about how activities will be carried out. The proposal specifies target audiences, participant recruitment, and geographic areas of implementation. The proposal outlines clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined.

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

• Monitoring and Evaluation - 10 points: There is a complete and thorough draft submission of a M&E Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). This will include a list of proposed project activities, corresponding milestone, output, and outcome indicators, a description of data collection methods, and a timeline for collecting such information. The proposal presents a clear theory of change on how the program will address that problem. Further, if the project requires selecting participants, or beneficiaries, the proposal should articulate how the selection will be done in an equitable way. Use of the suggested template (Attachments 3 & 3.1) will satisfy these requirements. Funded projects will have their plans finalized during the negotiation phase, and monitoring plans may be subject to periodic updates throughout the life of the project.

• Sustainability – 10 points: The project proposal describes clearly the approach that will be used to ensure maximum sustainability or advancement of project goals after the end of project activity.

• Bonus – 5 points: Proposals outlining close cooperation with local mahala committees and representatives will be looked upon favorably.

2. Review and Selection Process

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

b. Review. All submissions are screened for technical eligibility. If a submission is missing any required forms/documents listed above in Section D. Application Contents and Format, it will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed by the grants review committee. A technical review panel will review eligible proposals based upon the criteria noted in this NOFO.

c. Follow up notification. Applicants will generally be notified within 120 days after the

NOFO deadline regarding the results of the review panel.

3. Risk Review

i. Under the merit review as required by 2 CFR 200.206, prior to making a Federal Award the Department will review and consider the following risk factors:

a. Financial stability

b. Management systems and standards

c. History of performance

d. Audit reports and findings

e. Ability to effectively implement project requirements

ii. High Risk Designation

Awardees that are deemed to be high risk based on the above risk factors will be held to special award conditions. At a minimum, the recipient and/or project designated as High Risk will be required to submit monthly narrative reports and/or quarterly detailed financial reports. Recipients may also be required, upon request of the Grants Officer or Grants Officer Representative, to provide electronic copies of receipts or other supporting documentation (e.g., timesheets, travel documents) for costs incurred. The Grants Officer may withhold 10% of the award amount until final reports have been reviewed and https://usdos.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/SCA-PPDGrants/Shared%20Documents/General/Notice%20of%20Funding%20Opportunity-10.1.24.docx?d=wb396511fdae042679406a77f19b9cc20&csf=1&web=1&e=fMlysk&nav=eyJoIjoiNTg5NzEwMDc4In0 https://usdos.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/sites/SCA-PPDGrants/Shared%20Documents/General/Notice%20of%20Funding%20Opportunity-10.1.24.docx?d=wb396511fdae042679406a77f19b9cc20&csf=1&web=1&e=fMlysk&nav=eyJoIjoiNTg5NzEwMDc4In0 approved by the GO. The recipient may be required to pay all salaries supported by the grant via electronic funds transfer. Other special award conditions may also be included if deemed appropriate by the Grants Officer.

iii. Risk Analysis Management

To qualify for final consideration, certain applicants must undertake the Risk Analysis Management (RAM) vetting process by providing Risk Analysis Information (RAI) about their “key individuals” (i.e., individuals with the ability to control applicant organizations’ funds), including “key individuals” from selected sub-recipients.