NOFO - Ukr IDP5m - Final.docx

United States Department of State Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO)

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW

CSO will host a call on Monday 19 April 2021 at 1:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time to answer applicant questions. Call in number: 1.877.336.1839; code: 1259160# Submission Due Date: Complete proposal packages must be submitted through www.grants.gov, or SAMS by Monday, 24 May 2021; 11:59pm Eastern Daylight Time Within approximately nine to twelve weeks of the closing of this announcement, the successful applicant will receive notification. The U.S. Department of State is under no obligation to fund any of the proposals submitted under this funding opportunity.

[Pending availability of additional funding and satisfactory performance of the recipient, the award may be extended.] This notice is subject to availability of funding.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CSO’s mission is to anticipate, prevent, and respond to conflict that undermines U.S. national interests. Our three lines of effort (LOEs) support this mission by focusing on different aspects of the conflict cycle: 1) strategic prevention; 2) conflict resolution; and 3) security sector stabilization. We implement our LOEs through three key functions; 1) deploying Stabilization Advisors; 2) harnessing data analytics; and 3) leading, informing, and implementing policy and programs on conflict prevention and stabilization.

CSO announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for programs addressing the following peace and security dynamics in Ukraine.

Pending availability of funds and satisfactory performance, including compliance with the award’s terms and conditions, CSO may consider adding funds to the award. CSO intends to support one (1) award as a result of this NOFO.

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.

The Federal award signed by the State Department Grants Officer is the only authorizing document.

This NOFO consists of the Overview and Executive Summary, plus the following sections:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

In 2014, Russia’s forces armed with heavy weapons occupied Crimea and started an armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. Since 2014, the fighting has killed more than 13,000 people and resulted in approximately 1.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). Russia continues to arm, train, fund, lead, and fight alongside its proxies in eastern Ukraine, while falsely insisting it is not a party to the conflict and only acting as mediator in an internal Ukrainian conflict.

This program will advance IDP integration, engage IDP populations' participation in integration, and take steps to limit the vulnerability of Ukraine's IDPs to exploitation. Gaps in integration, among other factors, can present an opportunity for Moscow to continue its pattern of exploiting fractures within Ukrainian society to further fuel its aggression. Throughout Europe, Moscow has sowed disinformation on marginalized populations to foment instability throughout the wider population. In Ukraine, this disinformation has included messaging demonizing IDPs, one of Russia's 18 most common disinformation narratives according to Ukrainian factchecking organization StopFake.

A 2018 CSO field assessment in Ukraine on veterans' reintegration concluded that neglect of marginalized populations affected by the conflict could worsen societal tensions and fuel destabilizing factors within Ukraine. According to 2020 data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), IDPs continue to face challenges in integration that may increase their susceptibility to exploitation or exacerbate destabilizing factors. Over 40 percent of IDPs report they have not or have only partly integrated into their local community, with fewer IDPs in Eastern oblasts reporting they have successfully integrated, according to the IOM.[footnoteRef:2] [2: International Organization for Migration. "National Monitoring System Report: On the Situation of Internally Displaced Persons." (September 2019). Retrieved from: https://displacement.iom.int/system/tdf/reports/nms_round_15_eng_screen.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=7830]

IDPs face economic integration challenges, with nearly 90 percent of IDPs actively seeking employment reported facing difficulties, which could include a lack of opportunities matching skills, discrimination, and other issues. Legislative changes, such as ensuring local voting rights, have reduced some barriers to integration. Once fully implemented and utilized, these measures could bolster integration efforts.

IDPs may face additional challenges on the path to integration. Violence against women and girls spiked approximately 76 percent in Donetsk Oblast and 158 percent in Luhansk Oblast during the conflict, according to Amnesty International. This indicates that women and girl IDPs may face additional struggles related to being the targets of violence. There may also be challenges for children and teen IDPs who have been exposed to Russia's attempts to militarize youth in the Donbas region. Programming for IDPs should take these challenges into account.

This program will build on and strengthen Ukraine’s recent efforts on integration based on the 2017 IDP integration strategy ending in 2020, its action plan,[footnoteRef:3] and recent IDP legislation. It should be informed by analysis of key actors in this space such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)[footnoteRef:4] and IOM, and should be designed to be complementary to their efforts and avoid duplication. In particular, it will complement IOM's Humanitarian Response Plan, which incorporates contributions from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. This effort identifies IDPs' needs – including safety, livelihood and vocational skills, and UNHCR's Peaceful Coexistence Projects, with local conflict resolution and counter malign influence components. It will expand and closely coordinate with current CSO programming focused on conflict resolution targeting youth IDP and USAID’s $38 million Ukraine National Identity Through Youth activity. It will also closely coordinate with CSO’s Veteran Integration program when it works with IDPs who are veterans. The selection of program locations, participants, and activities will be driven by analysis of destabilization and conflict risks relating to IDPs, and where resiliencies against destabilization and conflict that can be strengthened. [3: Ukraine Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories. "Government Adopted Implementation Plan of IDP Integration Strategy." (November 2018.) Retrieved from: https://mtot.gov.ua/en/government-adopted-implementation-plan-of-idp-integration-strategy ] [4: UNHCR. "Briefing Note: Ukraine Inclusion of Internally Displaced Persons." (January 2020.) Retrieved from: https://www.unhcr.org/ua/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2020/03/Briefing-Note-on-Inclusion-of-Internally-Displaced-Persons_2020.pdf]

PROJECT GOAL

The purpose of this program is to advance Ukraine's stabilization by fostering the integration of IDPs within Ukraine in line with the IDP integration strategy and by reducing IDP vulnerability to exploitation.

Illustrative indicators:

· Reduction in conflict between receiving communities and IDPs.

· Increased reports of confidence between IDPs and their receiving communities.

· IDPs report increased integration into communities and resilience against exploitation.

· The updated IDP integration plan provides needed benefits to IDPs, which may include prevention and response to gender based violence.

These indicators might be measured by: implementer or third-party conducted surveys; structured content analysis of social media and news articles; and/or behavioral changes of IDPs or host communities.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES

This program will address the underlying constraints on IDP integration in local communities and will seek to resolve tensions between IDPs and receiving communities that may create fissures that Russia tries to exploit. The program will also advance local-level inclusive governance and IDP integration in Ukrainian society. The proposed program should coordinate with ongoing IDP integration programs, including CSO programming in this area. Objectives and illustrative activities include:

· Objective 1: IDPs and receiving communities exhibit enhanced conflict resolution/mitigation and advocacy skills.

· Activity 1.1: Develop a baseline for monitoring and evaluation.

· Activity 1.2: Workshops with adult IDPs and receiving communities develop conflict resolution and advocacy skills. These should include activities convening sub-populations of IDPs and receiving communities that can serve as credible voices in their communities or may be under-utilized support agents. These groups should be selected with consideration of doing no harm in dividing or singling out this population. Appropriate sub-populations could include, for example:

· Capacity training specific to women IDPs and non-IDPs to support their role in conflict resolution, building networks to mitigate conflict in their communities, and advocacy.

· Workshops with senior (approximately age 60 and above) IDPs and non-IDPs, who could serve as calming voices to mitigate intercommunal tension.

· Workshops with veterans who are IDPs and non-IDPs, who could serve as credible voices within the veteran population and potentially other communities. This effort should be done in coordination with the Department’s veteran reintegration programming in Ukraine.

· Programming for children IDPs affected by Russia's attempts to militarize teens and pre-teens in the Donbas.

· Programming for IDPs affected by the spike in violence targeting women and girls in the Donbas region in conjunction with the conflict, to include opportunities to create feedback loops between affected IDPs and local and national authorities to address gaps in legislation aimed at ensuring that women and girls are safer, better protected, and have equal access to assistance programs. This can include activities to inform and engage men and boys on prevention and response to gender-based violence.

· Activity 1.3: Activities with teen and young children IDPs and receiving communities to develop conflict resolution skills. These should be developed in age-appropriate settings and could include, for example, camps, sports, the arts, digital innovation, etc.

· Activity 1.4: Training on mobilizing public opinion and advocating to officials to address gaps in IDP legislation, strategy, and plans that are exacerbating instability or local-level conflict.

· Activity 1.5: Training to identify and build resilience to Russia's malign influence campaigns, particularly those that may exploit IDPs.

· Activity 1.6: Training for local and regional officials to sensitize them to IDP needs and their role in conflict resolution in Ukraine.

· Objective 2: Conflict mitigation techniques bolster cohesion between IDPs and receiving communities.

· Activity 2.1: Participants apply the skills learned in Objective 1 to advance conflict resolution at the local level by identifying gaps, developing solutions, and articulating a post-conflict vision of Ukraine. This should include:

· Workshops in which sub-populations in Activity 1.1 (e.g. women, seniors, vets) identify gaps in conflict resolution and integration specific to their community and develop means to address them. For example, difficulties seniors face in mobility or collecting pensions that may further hamper integration.

· Teen-led activities advancing a post-conflict vision of Ukraine. This could include, for example, a hackathon-style opportunity to present participant-led proposals for projects benefitting Ukraine's integration and stability, a workshopping of ideas, and a pilot program.

· Activity 2.2: Locally-led and participant-informed small grants programs address the gaps and solutions identified in Activity 2.1.

· Objective 3a-c: (a) Locally-driven IDP integration plans and their implementation are informed by IDP input, and, where appropriate, prioritize conflict resolution and mitigation goals. (b) The program develops feedback loops between local advocates and government stakeholders on IDP integration issues. (c) IDPs are connected with resources to support existing integration efforts.

· Activity 3.1: Convene workshops between an Embassy Kyiv-approved Ukraine stakeholder and groups of globally representative IDPs displaced by Moscow's aggression in Ukraine. IDPs apply training learned in Objective 1 to advocate on behalf of IDPs and participate in the planning and management of IDP policy that advances Ukraine's stability. This should be coordinated with similar efforts in CSO's youth IDP program.

· Activity 3.2: Connect participants with IDP-related civic organizations to inform and advance IDP integration efforts supporting conflict resolution in Ukraine.

· Activity 3.3: Women IDPs apply training learned in Objective 1 to advance women's influence in formulating and shaping policy to reflect the needs of women IDPs and the IDP community as a whole, including prevention and response to gender-based violence, and to promote women IDPs' participation in conflict resolution and integration processes.

· Activity 3.4: Sub-populations identified in Activity 1.1. (e.g. seniors or veterans) advocate for the specific needs of their community in the development and implementation of local and national IDP integration and conflict resolution strategies and plans.

· Activity 3.5: Teens convene with local stakeholders to participate in IDP integration planning and participate in an advocacy and informational campaign to advance IDP interests at the local and national levels.

· Activity 3.6: Connect IDPs with civic resources. These should include resources on how IDPs can exercise their rights and connect with benefits in relation to recent legislation (e.g., the 2020 voting legislation, and anticipated forthcoming IDP-relevant legislation).

· Activity 3.7: Connect IDPs with information and resources specific to their demographic, including for pensioners seeking assistance with related government services, working-age adults seeking vocational opportunities, and other resources as appropriate to the program.

· Activity 3.8: Capacity building for Ukrainian policymakers and legislators at the local and national levels to develop and implement policies that adequately address gaps in IDP needs.

PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS

· Target groups – Beneficiaries should include IDPs who are adults (approximately but not exclusively 30 years old and above) and children (approximately but not exclusively 18 years old and under); the implementer should determine the appropriate minimum age, bearing in mind reports of Russia attempting to militarize seven-year-old children in the Donbas, according to the Atlantic Council. Beneficiaries' diversity should be representative of the IDP population displaced by Russian aggression in Ukraine, and their receiving communities. Special considerations should be made to ensure women and girls meaningfully participate in program activities. IDPs should include those displaced from Donbas, Luhansk and Crimea. Implementers should take into consideration potential language barriers and means to mitigate them.

· Geographic focus – CSO and the implementer, in cooperation with relevant Department and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) offices, will finalize the geographic target locations. Likely locations include Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovs'ka oblasts, the locations west of the Line of Contact where most IDPs have relocated (20 percent and 11 percent, respectively), and have the lowest rates of perception of integration (49 percent).

· Do no harm – The project must implement measures to minimize risks of harm, including risks:

· To implementers, participants, beneficiaries or their communities;

· To women and girls;

· To youth and children;

· To LGBTI+ implementers, participants, or beneficiaries;

· Of exacerbating conflict or creating new conflicts;

· That resources or skills provided might be misused, create grievances among non-recipients, or cause key actors to react in harmful ways.

· Of working at cross-purposes with CSO’s similar Ukraine projects for youth IDPs and veterans, if not well coordinated (risk increased if a different implementer is selected).

· Coordination and partnerships – The implementing partner must demonstrate extensive contacts within Ukrainian civil society and throughout Ukraine, to include communities in the Russia-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine and in Crimea. Applicants should partner with local organizations as sub-grantees. The implementing partner will be expected to coordinate with USAID, and other U.S. government efforts (especially CSO’s similar programs for youth IDPs and veterans) relevant offices in the Government of Ukraine (e.g. the Ministry of Reintegration and Temporarily Occupied Territories and the Ministry of Social Policy), and other donors (e.g. the Council of Europe). A successful applicant will detail its plan to coordinate with these stakeholders and how its project will build on the work of existing USG-funded IDP programs, including humanitarian assistance and projects aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based violence.

· Women, Peace, and Security – Per the U.S. Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Strategy (2019) and WPS Act of 2017, the United States is committed to: 1) advancing the meaningful participation of women in efforts to prevent and resolve conflict, and counter terrorism; and 2) promoting the protection of women and girls before, during, and after conflict, which is critical to the long-term stability of countries and regions. The Strategy also commits that U.S. government programs should improve outcomes in gender equality and the empowerment of women. This program will include women stakeholders in IDP and receiving communities. In addressing discrimination, and risks of exploitation and violence in relation to IDPs, it will take into account the disproportionate impact of conflict and displacement on women and girls. This program will ensure that women’s voices play a sustained role in its stabilizing efforts.

· Security – Ukraine is experiencing an active conflict, and this program intends to engage with stakeholders throughout Ukraine. Special consideration must be given to the security environment and feasibility of access for the program to be successful.

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

CSO expects to award one (1) cooperative agreement based on this NOFO and in an amount not to exceed the total ceiling amount of $4,937,500 USD. The period of performance is 24 months with an anticipated start date of June 30, 2021. CSO may extend the award contingent on CSO priorities, good performance of the recipient, Department of State management approval, and funding availability.

The U.S. government may make award on the basis of initial applications received, without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, each initial application should contain the applicant's best terms from a cost and technical standpoint. Applicant must have acute awareness of conflict-related sensitivities in Ukraine, through prior work in Ukraine or through thematic expertise. Applicants are encouraged to partner with relevant organizations with the ability to execute such programming throughout Ukraine.

Cooperative Agreement: This cooperative agreement will include substantial involvement by CSO. For example, CSO will work closely with successful applicants to advise on revisions to the theory-of-change (TOC), design, indicators, and data collection instruments, working to ensure an approach that benefits the wider conflict community. Additionally, CSO seeks to ensure that qualitative and quantitative information from the program is shared with CSO in ways that can feed into the broader analysis of conflict dynamics at subnational, national, and regional levels. As a result, CSO will work with the Recipient to develop a documentation and reporting plan that meets those needs.

Due to security sensitivities in Ukraine, including ongoing conflict and considerations related to coronavirus, any decisions to change the scope or purpose of activities in the statement of work, to bring in other organizations to assist with activities and to engage with media will be made in consultation with CSO, Embassy Kyiv, EUR/ACE, and with Host Nation authorities as appropriate. CSO also expects to assist with the development of in-country partners who would be interested and capable of continuing this effort beyond the duration of the cooperative agreement.

Issuance of the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government. CSO reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase application budgets in accordance with available program resources. In the event of an award, CSO reserves the right to terminate the agreement in accordance with 2 CFR 200 and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions. Specifically, an award may be terminated if the Recipient is not meeting the objectives of the program or if the program no longer is consistent with the national security or foreign policy interest of the United States.

All applicants should be familiar with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular 2 CFR Part 200.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

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

U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or education institutions having a 501(c) (3) status with the IRS; commercial entities; for profit organizations; overseas non-governmental organizations; Foreign Public Entities and Public International Organizations (PIOs).

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost share is not required. Applicants may, offer cost share, but cost share will not be considered or factored in when proposals are reviewed.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

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

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

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for more information and complete instructions on how to apply to this NOFO, including information on proposal’s content and formatting. Please use both the PSI and the NOFO to ensure that the proposal submission is in full compliance with the requirements. Proposal submissions that do not meet all of the requirements outlined in the NOFO and PSI will NOT be considered.

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

Content of Application Please ensure:

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

· All documents are in English

· All budgets are in U.S. dollars

· All pages are numbered

· All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and

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

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms

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

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

· SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Executive Summary is a succinct one-page summary containing information that the applicant believes best represents its proposed program and includes:

· the target location(s) within country;

· the program’s goal, objectives, and expected results;

· the total amount of funding requested;

· a brief description of the program’s approach and methodology, as well as how the program is innovative, sustainable, and will have a demonstrated impact; and,

· the name and contact information for the program’s main point of contact.

PROPOSAL NARRATIVE

The Proposal Narrative is a key part of the application. The Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten pages, single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font in Microsoft Word, at least one-inch margins) should be organized into the following five components:

· Approach and Methodology:

· Conflict/Context Analysis: Successful applications under this funding opportunity will describe an approach based on a context and conflict analysis that leads to a concrete program change hypothesis. In this section, please provide background on the conflict/context in which the proposed program will be operating.

· Gender Analysis of Conflict: Proposals should include a gender analysis addressing how the proposed activities in the Building Society-Based Solutions in Ukraine: Youth IDP Local Conflict Resolution and Integration Program are reflective of, and will account for and/or utilize, the role [footnoteRef:5] norms play in security in Ukraine. The gender analysis should be submitted with the proposal, and address how gender norms interact with other factors to drive or mitigate conflict, the differential impact of conflict and violence on women and girls, and how masculinity/femininity could be challenged or enhanced to promote peace. Include the actual, potential, and/or perceived roles women and girls play in perpetuating or mitigating conflict and violence. Refer to the CSO Gender Analysis of Conflict guidance for sample questions to be addressed in this section. [5: CSO defines ‘gender’ as the socially constructed set of roles, rights, responsibilities, entitlements, and behaviors associated with being a woman or a man in a society.]

· Program Goal and Objectives: In this section, please fully explain the program’s goal and objectives. The overarching goal statement should be visionary in nature, and outline what the overall activities and objectives should be building towards. It is important that the program goal aligns with (CSO/Department/U.S. government) policy. The objectives of the program should describe where you expect to be by the end of your program. The objectives should be measurable, results-focused, and achievable in within the timeframe of the program.

· Activities: All activities should be clearly developed and sufficiently detailed to understand the resource and time requirements, and how they contribute to the objectives and goal. Please identify: target areas for activities; target participant groups or selection criteria for participants; how the program will engage relevant stakeholders, including women; and local partners as appropriate, among other pertinent details. If partners are included, the narrative should clearly describe the division of labor between the direct applicant and partners.

· Theory of Change: Provide a theory of change for your program that elaborates explicit causal connections between the program’s activities, key intermediate outcomes, objectives, and the long-term goal. Generally, this should involve a chain of “if…then…because…” statements, or something similar. The program theory of change should apply and contextualize any relevant general theory about how this type of intervention works, and how to avoid negative outcomes. It should specify any key assumptions about the context (including relevant gender dynamics), the program design, or companion interventions that are required for success. It should cogently establish that the activities can reasonably be expected to be sufficient in kind, amount and timing with the resources applied, in this context. In addition, briefly explain how the program theory of change interacts with the broader system of conflict interventions by the U.S. government and others. A useful resource for guidance on developing theories of change is USAID’s Theories and Indicators of Change (THINC).

· Integration of Target Groups: It is likely that you will identify groups of individuals who may require special considerations as you develop your program. Please address how you will incorporate the needs of these target groups in your planned activities. Depending on the context, these groups may include populations at-risk of marginalization or exploitation, such as women, ethnic and/or religious minorities, persons with disabilities, or youth.

· Implementation Plan

· Resources, Key Steps and Timeline for Activities (including sequential logic): Describe the proposed activities and how they will achieve the objectives and goal of this program. In doing so, this section should demonstrate how the proposed activities build upon one another and are logically sequenced to achieve the desired outcomes, based on the proposed approach and methodology. The application must identify and address gaps in current responses to the conflict (as identified in the context and conflict analysis), including any gender dynamics that currently, or have the potential to, exacerbate or mitigate conflict (as identified in the gender analysis). The applicant must submit an illustrative first year activity plan, which sets out a realistic outline of tasks and deliverables, anticipated time frames, challenges, opportunities and due dates, and persons responsible for achieving each task. This narrative description will be complemented by a Gantt chart in the Additional Attachments.

· Do No Harm: List any significant risks of harm to implementers, participants, beneficiaries or their communities, or of exacerbating conflict or creating new conflicts, which may result from this program. Based on your gender analysis, include specific risks to women and girls. Consider how resources or skills provided might be misused, create grievances among non-recipients, or cause key actors to react in harmful ways. Explain how these risks will be minimized.

· Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA): U.S. government partners are responsible for ensuring that comprehensive protection measures are in place for preventing and addressing sexual exploitation and abuse of persons of concern and that allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by Recipient staff are reported to CSO in a timely manner. Applicants should submit copies of any organization-wide policies and procedures on Do No Harm and PSEA, or explain how the applicant organization plans to develop such policies. If not already explained in its polices and procedures, the Applicant must outline in its proposal how it will work with any sub-grantees to develop and apply PSEA policies and procedures over the course of the program

· Local Engagement and Sustainability: Strong proposals will describe strategies to sustain the outcomes beyond CSO funding and contribute to building the capacity of communities to address their own concerns in the future. This might be done through sub-grants to local organizations, although that is not a requirement; capacity-building and sustainment can be achieved indirectly as well. This section must also demonstrate a clear understanding of the role that local organizations and institutions are playing or can play in conflict mitigation and IDP integration. The conflict analysis and the program design should reflect local perspectives and explain how the program will engage with local partners, including women-led organizations, throughout its lifecycle. The proposal should describe how the applicant will work with local entities to build their organizational and technical capacities, and/or relationships to mitigate conflict. Applicants may submit signed Letters of Intent from organizations that will participate in the program. Letters of Intent should address the willingness of partner organizations to participate in the effort, and the understanding all parties have as to their unique roles and responsibilities in terms of the proposed program. In cases where an applicant (i.e., non-local) was not able to partner with a local organization or institution, does not consider it feasible to do so, or does not consider it in the program’s best interest, the applicant must clearly explain the rationale.

· Institutional Capabilities and Past Performance

· Organization: Provide a description of the applicant organization – including its general purpose, goals, annual budget (including funding sources), and major past and current activities and programs undertaken.

· Relevant Programmatic and Thematic Experience: Applications should demonstrate the ability to develop and implement programs of the kind outlined in this proposal. Previous experience designing and implementing similar programs is highly desirable and should be detailed and documented in the application. Applicants should demonstrate how organizational resources, capabilities, and experience, and lessons learned from literature on this type of endeavor, will enable the applicant to achieve the grant’s stated objectives.

· Regional/Country Experience: Applicants should specify relevant experience in the country(ies) identified in the proposal, or in similar situations in other countries. Applicants should be able to legally operate in the country where they propose to work. Identify in-country partners; the successful applicant will already have in place at least one partnership with regional institutions and/or organizations. Specify the expertise that each partner brings.

· Key Personnel: Applications should highlight key staff, their positions, percentage of time devoted to this program, and management structure for the program. The resumes of key personnel should highlight relevant educational and field experience and be included as an appendix (see additional attachments below). The person(s) principally responsible for M&E design and technical oversight should be included. The resumes should be no more than two pages and should all follow a consistent format The applicant should also clarify roles for local partners and staff.

· Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan:

· CSO considers monitoring to be essential for responsible program management. Successful applicants will submit a draft monitoring plan within 15 days of award notification. After CSO review, a final monitoring plan must be submitted within 30 days of the award notification.

· For the purposes of the application, please submit a notional logic model/PMP (use template provided). This must include notional indicators at each of the following levels: objective, intermediate outcome, and output. Provide an explanation if data will not be disaggregated by sex. Describe how any risks of harm listed above will be monitored. In addition, use this section to describe the applicant’s approach to monitoring and evaluation and why this approach is appropriate for this program and context. This may include the type of data you may collect (qualitative and/or quantitative). If possible, include applicable State Department standard gender indicators (see attachment). Describe the timing of data collection and analysis and how this information will inform midstream program management decision-making.

· Please describe the resources needed to implement your M&E plan and address these in your budget. In most cases, CSO will fund program evaluations separately. If you want to propose including specific monitoring and evaluation activities in the program budget (outside of monitoring, which is required), please specify whether you are requesting funds for a baseline, mid-term and/or final evaluation. Additionally, please elaborate on the type of evaluation (quasi-experimental, developmental, outcome harvesting, process tracing, etc.).

ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS AND BUDGET COMPONENTS

Additional attachments listed below, budget components, and the SF-424s are not part of the proposal narrative and do not count as part of the 10-page limit for the proposal narrative. Applicants must use the templates provide, where applicable.

· Additional Attachments:

· Logic Model/PMP: The logic model/PMP should include theories of change; goal and objectives; activities; output and outcome indicators; data collection tools; key definitions and risks and assumptions. Please use the Logic Model/PMP template provided.

· Timeline/Schedule of Activities: The timeline of the overall proposal should include activities, evaluation efforts, and program closeout (not to exceed one [1] page). Please use the Gantt chart template provided.

· Key Personnel/Roles and Responsibilities: Please indicate the roles and responsibilities of key program personnel and provide short CVs or biographies that highlight relevant professional experience (not to exceed two [2] pages each).

· Past Performance References (minimum of 3): When past performance information is present, applicants shall furnish award numbers and other details with contact information for no more than three similar programs funded over the past three years by the State Department, or any other government entity or third party source. The details shall include the following: name of the organization or agency which funded the program(s), award number, point of contact’s name, mailing address, email address and phone number, and the overall dollar value of the program. The applicant must include information on any problems encountered, and the applicant’s corrective action(s). Applicants must not provide general information on their performance. Applicants may describe any quality awards or certificates that indicate exceptional capacity to conduct the program described in this NOFO. Please use the PPR template provided.

· Data Collection and Reporting Plan: Describe how you will collect and share both qualitative and quantitative information from various sources, through your research, activities, and or monitoring efforts.

· Include a PDF file copy of your organization’s most recent program (A-133 /2 CFR 200) audit, if applicable. If not, please include a copy of your most recent independent audit, if available.

· NICRA/Indirect Cost Rate: If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), the most recently approved NICRA must be included as a .pdf file. If your proposal involves implementing partners charging indirect costs, please submit the applicable NICRA also as a .pdf file. Per 2 CFR 200.414, applicants that do not have a NICRA may elect to charge a de minimis rate of up to 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely.

· NOTE: DOS retains the right to request additional documentation for items not specified in this NOFO or the PSI.

· Budget Components:

· Budget Appropriateness: Budgeted items are necessary and sufficient to the achievement of the goal, objectives, activities and program monitoring as presented in the proposal. This should consist of both an Excel budget breakdown and a budget narrative attached as an annex. The budget narrative must include clear, substantive explanations for each line-item and how the amounts were derived, as well as the source and description of all cost-share offered. Refer to the Excel Budget Template for guidance on compiling a budget and associated budget narrative. Please use the Budget template provide.

· Cost-effectiveness: The Department of State must determine that the costs paid for this award are reasonable, allowable, and allocable to the proposed program activities. This will consist of a review of the Budget to determine if the overall costs are realistic for the work to be performed, if the costs reflect the applicant’s understanding of the allowable cost principles established by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 2 CFR 200 (OMB Circular A-122), and if the costs are consistent with the program narrative. Programs should seek to produce innovative and cost-effective outcomes that reach more beneficiaries. As per Section C2 of 2 CFR 200, cost-share is not required, but funding contributed by the applicant and other partners shows a commitment to the success of the program. Applicants may incorporate cost-share through leveraging existing programs, partnering, and/or providing in-kind goods and services.

Required Registrations:

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

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

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

· NCAGE/CAGE code

· www.SAM.gov registration Step 1: Apply for a DUNS number and an NCAGE number (these can be completed simultaneously)

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

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

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

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

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

V. APPLICATION EVALUATION AND SCORING:

The U.S. government may issue an award resulting from this NOFO to the responsible applicant whose application is the most responsive to the goals and objectives set forth in this NOFO. The U.S. government may (a) reject any or all applications, and/or (b) waive informalities and minor irregularities in applications received.

The U.S. government may make an award on the basis of initial applications received without discussion or negotiations. Therefore, applications should contain the applicant’s best terms from a cost and technical standpoint.

U.S. government also reserves the right, but is not obliged, to enter into discussions with an applicant in order to obtain clarification, additional detail, or to suggest refinements in the program’s description, budget, or other aspects of an application.

Applicants should note that the following criteria will serve as a standard against which all applications will be evaluated. 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 USG funds, and satisfactory organizational capacity. In addition, each application will be evaluated and scored on the Proposal Components using a 100-point scale by a peer review committee of Department of State.

CSO will conduct a merit review of all eligible applications as outlined in this NOFO. Applications will be reviewed by an independent review panel consisting of qualified representatives from other DoS bureaus, offices, and Posts. Final approval resides with the CSO relevant programming office and the Grants Officer.

The point value for each section outlined below indicates its relative importance in the application review process. Evaluation values are based on five components related to the proposal narrative and other attachments, as well as two budgetary components.

Based on eligible applications that are responsive to the requirements outlined above, the review panel will use the following criteria when rating proposals:

1. Criteria Quality of Program Idea Total Possible = 25 points

· Responsive to the solicitation and appropriate in the country context (7 points)

· Choice of locations, participants and activities target reflect analysis of destabilization and conflict risks and local resiliencies that can be strengthened against destabilization and conflict. (7)

· Clearly states theory of change articulating how the proposed program activities contribute to the overall program objectives and reflecting best practices for the types of activities proposed (7)

· Exhibits originality, prioritizes innovation, but is feasible (4) Program Planning / Ability to Achieve Objectives Total Possible = 30 points

· Activities are developed and detailed. Objectives are clear, specific, attainable, measurable results-focused and placed in a reasonable time frame (4)

· Addresses need for flexibility and ability to adapt (3)

· Provides a comprehensive quarterly work plan for program activities (3)

· Describes the division of labor among the direct applicant, any partners, and any potential sub-grantees; addresses how the program will engage or obtain support from relevant stakeholders; and identifies local partners where appropriate (3)

· Includes contingency plans for potential difficulties in executing the original work plan, including risks of exacerbating conflict or endangering participants (3)

· Applicant or partner demonstrates an institutional record of successful programs in the target areas of Ukraine (5)

· Applicant or partner demonstrates an institutional record of successful programs in local conflict resolution, countering malign influence, and any other types of activities proposed (5)

· Provides a thoughtful and appropriately detailed Gender Analysis of Conflict, and the identified dynamics are considered and integrated across activities and monitoring indicators (4) Cost Effectiveness Total Possible = 15 points

· Explains and justifies overhead and administration costs of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria. (5)

· All budget items and associated costs are reasonable, clearly explained, directly linked to program objectives and demonstrate efficient use of U.S. Government funds (10)

· Note: Cost share is not required. Applicants may, offer cost share, but cost share will not be considered or factored in when proposals are reviewed.

Program Monitoring and Evaluation Total Possible = 20 points

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

· Explains how monitoring and evaluation will be used to inform decision making and improve program management and effectiveness midstream (5)

· Robust M&E framework includes output- and outcome-based performance indicators for each program objective with baselines and (yearly and cumulative) targets; data collection tools; data sources; types of data disaggregation, including by sex, if applicable; and frequency of monitoring and evaluation (10)

· Explains who will be responsible for monitoring and evaluation activities (2)

· M&E costs are reflected in budget (3) Multiplier Effect / Sustainability of Impact Total Possible = 10 points

· Clearly delineates how elements of the program will have a multiplier effect (5)

· Clearly delineates how impact will be sustainable beyond the life of the grant (5)

2. Review and Selection Process A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications.

3. Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) For any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity, if the Federal awarding agency anticipates that the total Federal share will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold on any Federal award under a notice of…