NOFO WE Champs - Questions and Answers.pdf

Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Questions & Answers

WE-Champs: Strengthening the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem by Networking Regional Women’s

Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations

Applicant Questions and Responses

Q1: I read that all project activities must take place outside the U.S., so does this mean that no activities can take place inside the U.S at all? I'm a bit confused by that because I read something in the information about regional activities. I would think that means more local.

Please explain.

A1: Project activities must take place outside the United States. This NOFO seeks to strengthen work with Chambers of Commerce or business associations in advancement of women’s economic security in the Europe and Eurasia regions. Please refer to the priority countries listed on page 2 of the NOFO.

Q2: I understand that the grant is geared towards empowering women entrepreneurs, however, do those who empower women entrepreneurs have to be women themselves? Are males skilled in business able to be instrumental in empowering prospective women entrepreneurs?

A2: Project participants are not limited to women only. Men can also be engaged in project activities designed to meet the goals of the NOFO.

Q3: Are we required to partner with a Business Commerce entity such as the Chamber of

Commerce and can that Commerce Department be in the U.S or a foreign Commerce?

A3: The goal of the project is to strengthen women’s economic security by supporting women’s

Chambers of Commerce (Chambers) and business associations through locally designed and led responses to building gender-responsive institutions and/or responding to needs of women members of Chambers and business associations. The project’s target geographic region is

Europe and Eurasia. Please refer to the priority countries listed on page 2 of the NOFO.

Q4: Since we're required to interact with other countries, do I understand correctly that this opportunity is ONLY to mentor, educate, etc. women entrepreneurs from other countries only, not women in the U.S.?

A4: Correct. Project activities must take place outside the United States in the target regions of

Europe and Eurasia and beneficiaries of the project must be women from these target regions.

Q5: Do we need to sign up for Sam.Gov and Sams Domestic?

A5: Yes, the U.S. Department of State requires that all applicants complete the following registrations:

1. Register for an individual account for your organization with the System for Award

Management (SAM.gov): https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.

2. Register for an individual account for your organization on SAMS Domestic:

https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants.

Q6: I have some final questions, I'm aware that Applicants must be able to show that we're able to manage and handle funding as well as demonstrate our managerial skills on the level of the

SGWI Grant. If we don't have a background showing we are capable of handling large volumes of funding under a Non For Profit, are we able to present a biography, showing what we have managed from a "For Profit" perspective, regarding our skills and ability?

A6: Applicant organizations submitting applications must have demonstrable experience administering successful and preferably similar programs in size, scope, and focus. S/GWI reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering federal awards.

Q7: If the President of the Non For Profit is not able to show/demonstrate that he/she has managed a project in the capacity of the SGWI Grant, is it sufficient for one of our Board

Members to show his/her capability/skills in managing a project in the 100's to 1000's of people as well as show skills in managing funding in the $100's to $1000's of dollars?

A7: Please see answer A6.

https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants