NOFO-Youth Leadership Program - LOCAL -Fy 2024 FINAL CLEARED A.docx

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

U.S. EMBASSY SARAJEVO, PUBLIC DIPLOMACY SECTION

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Funding Opportunity Title: YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM – LOCAL PARTNER

Funding Opportunity Number: BH-008-FY2024

Deadline for Applications: June 28, 2024

Assistance Listing Number: 19.900

Total Amount Available: USD 130,000

A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) invites proposal submissions from public and private non-profit organizations that are based and legally registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to implement the BiH component of the 2025-2026 Youth Leadership and Teacher Professional Development Program, pending the availability of Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Assistance to Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia (AEECA) funds.

Mandatory Components:

1. The Youth Leadership Program (YLP) should be organized for 18 high school students aged 15-19, and three teachers from three communities in BiH to reflect the country’s diversity and administrative divisions, for a total of 21 participants in one program.

2. At the core of YLP is a substantive three-to-four-week program in the United States that takes place in at least two different cities during which time the BiH participants exchange information and experiences with peers in the United States. The United States-based program will be executed by a U.S. implementing partner. The BiH component of the program (“The program”) should incorporate a pre-departure orientation in Sarajevo and an eight-month period during which participants conduct a Community Action Project (CAP) in their hometowns.

3. The program should include group discussions, experiential learning activities, and exercises that focus on the themes outlined below and include aspects of leadership, teambuilding, collective problem-solving skills, effective communication, appreciation of diversity, and management skills. Participants should gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

4. The program activities and content should represent diverse BiH political and social viewpoints, as well as other aspects of diversity. The program should advance the Embassy’s mission to promote mutual understanding between citizens of other countries and citizens of the United States.

5. The program should include a plan to guide and oversee follow-on engagement and project implementation once participants return home from the U.S. component of the project.

In addition to developing participants’ leadership skills, the program should provide participants with an in-depth examination of one of the themes outlined below.

Youth Leadership Program Themes:

YLP (to include both the U.S.- and BiH-based components) will introduce participants to a comprehensive survey of civic education, community service, and youth leadership development. Activities will focus on building their knowledge and skill levels in these areas. The students and educators will participate in workshops, community service activities, meetings with community leaders, and discussion groups, and will have opportunities for substantive interaction with each other and their American peers. The program should explore topics such as citizenship, community building, economic development, grassroots activism, political leadership, and volunteerism. The program should require participants to develop innovative and practical plans to become engaged citizens in their own communities and to implement an action plan to address a particular need.

Detailed Outline of Award Recipient’s Responsibilities:

1) Preparation

a) In cooperation with Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), participate in the recruitment and selection of the program’s participants.

b) In consultation with PDS, hire psychologists and other staff necessary for project implementation.

c) In cooperation with PDS, and the American implementing partner, conduct a pre-departure orientation for participants in Sarajevo, providing general and program-specific information, as well as intercultural training.

d) Administer the booking of flights and purchasing plane tickets for participants’ travel to the United States.

e) Administer per diem and travel allowances for the participants for pre-departure, departure, and arrival.

f) Provide logistical support for the program’s participants (renting of conference rooms, hotels, organization of local transportation for pre-departure orientation, departure, and arrival, etc.)

g) Optional: One to two team members travel to the United States to participate in 7 days of activities with program participants and the U.S. partner, in cooperation with the U.S. partner and PDS.

2) Follow-on Activities

a) In cooperation with PDS, provide additional follow-on instruction and practical skills training to implement their projects after the conclusion of the program.

b) Provide logistical support for the program’s participants in participating cities (renting of conference rooms, hotels, organization of the local transportation for follow-on activities, etc.)

c) Provide a closing session to summarize project activities, prepare participants to present their follow-on activities to U.S. partners and the U.S. Embassy.

d) In cooperation with PDS, organize follow-up gatherings with program participants and their parents in participating cities and Sarajevo.

3) Alumni Activities

a) In cooperation with PDS, organize a reunion of YLP alumni participants from previous years.

4) Design and implement an evaluation plan that assesses the impact of the program.

5) Work in consultation with PDS in the implementation of the program, provide timely reporting of progress, and comply with financial and program reporting requirements.

6) Manage all financial aspects of the cooperative agreement, including per-diem disbursements to the participants and management of sub-award relationships with partner organizations.

Detailed Outline of the Public Diplomacy Section’s Responsibilities:

1) Provide assistance in managing the recruitment and selection of the participants.

2) Make the final decision on program participants.

3) Provide advice and assistance in the execution of all program components.

4) Provide assistance in scheduling, administrative support, and transportation for visa interviews for the participants.

5) Facilitate interaction within the Department of State and the Embassy.

6) Arrange meetings with Department of State/Embassy officials if necessary.

7) Approve U.S. host family applications, publicity materials, and the calendar of exchange activities.

8) Monitor and evaluate the program, through regular communication with the award recipient and possibly one or more site visits.

9) Perform an annual performance evaluation/review. The period of performance will be for approximately one year and a half. Pending satisfactory performance and availability of funding, a second year of funding may be added for an additional cycle of the program.

B. PROGRAM-SPECIFIC GUIDELINES

Below are the profiles of the youth and adult participants that the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo will be seeking for participation in this program.

Youth participants will be high school students between the ages of 15 and 19 years old at the time of application; demonstrate leadership aptitude, an interest in community service, and an interest in the project themes; exhibit flexibility, maturity, integrity, good social skills, and open-mindedness; have the motivation necessary to be active and successful exchange participants; be proficient in English; and will return for at least one semester of high school after the exchange in the United States.

The adult participants will be teachers or school administrators/educators who demonstrate an interest in assisting youth to become productive and responsible members of society; exhibit maturity and open-mindedness; are supportive of the teenage participants; are proficient in English; and expect to remain in teaching positions or other positions of influence on young leaders.

The adults will need to be thoroughly briefed on their roles during the project. Although they are to be full exchange participants, they will also serve as chaperones. They will have program sessions with the youth, as well as separate program activities designed just for them. It is important that they be prepared to allow the students to be vocal, candid, and active participants. At the same time, their shared experience with the students will allow them to serve as adult advocates for the alumni once they return home.

Orientations: The award recipient will, in cooperation with the U.S. partner and PDS, introduce the participants to the program. The award recipient will work with PDS to conduct a pre-departure orientation in Sarajevo several weeks before the U.S. visit to prepare the participants for the activities ahead. The pre-departure orientation, in conjunction with a welcome orientation, will introduce the participants to their host community and will provide a general introduction to the United States, information related specifically to the objectives and themes of the program, and administrative information.

U.S. Visit Program: The award recipient in cooperation with PDS will: explore and book flights to the United States and purchase the tickets for the 21 YLP participants in accordance with the Fly America Act; provide information and facilitate applying for U.S. B1 visas; and provide in-county transportation and per-diem in the amount of 100 USD for international travel.

Follow-on Activities: The award recipient(s), in cooperation with PDS, will facilitate the exchange participants’ implementation of follow-on projects that serve a need in their home communities. The recipient will guide the participants in these activities. Participants should develop an action plan for their projects that they will present to PDS and the local implementing partner following the conclusion of the program, etc. The award recipient(s), in cooperation with PDS, will design and implement a reunion of the alumni program participants.

Evaluation: The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 requires that federal agencies measure the results of their programs in meeting performance goals. The proposal should demonstrate the applicant’s plan to measure the short- and medium-term impact of the program. The follow-on activities will provide an opportunity to assess the impact of the exchange on the participants to determine how their attitudes have changed, and to evaluate the acquisition of knowledge and skills associated with program themes.

Other notes: The recipient organization is responsible for all components of the program outlined in this document. In addition, PDS requires recipient organizations to communicate with PDS on a regular basis about program activities, including participant selection and orientations, publicity, international travel, and follow-on activities. The organization must also inform the Grant Officer and Grant Officer Representative from PDS of their progress at each stage of the project’s implementation in a timely fashion and will be required to obtain approval of any significant program changes in advance of their implementation. All materials and correspondence related to the program will acknowledge this as a program of the Public Diplomacy Section. PDS retains copyright use of and can distribute materials related to this program as it sees fit.

C. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of Performance Period: 18 months

Number of Awards Anticipated: One award

Award Amounts: Awards may range from USD 60,000 to USD 130,000

Total Available Funding: USD 130,000

Anticipated Award Date: August/September 2024

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

C1. PDS intends to award a Cooperative Agreement (one base year with a possibility of one noncompetitive continuation) for an estimated amount of $130,000 pending availability of funds and successful performance. The awarding of a Cooperative Agreement for this program is contingent upon the availability of FY 2023/2024 funds. The awarding of the non-competitive continuation in FY 2025 is contingent on the availability of funding and successful performance.

The U.S. Embassy reserves the right to cancel this Notice of Funding Opportunity at any time without any commitment to any applicant.

Please see Section H. Federal Award Administration Information below for additional details. PDS reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets and participant numbers, based on program needs and the availability of U.S. government funding.

C2. Project performance period. All activities should last for a maximum of 18 months and take place between January 2025 and July 2026.

D. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

D1. Who can apply: BIH public and private non-profit organizations that are based and legally registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina are eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate an ability to work in all parts of BiH, whether independently or in cooperation with a partner organization.

D2. Other eligibility requirements: In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section F for more information.

E. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

E1. Mandatory application forms: Your application cannot be reviewed without all the below elements. All forms and instructions are available at https://ba.usembassy.gov/ under Grants and under Application package.

Please note: Obtaining the UEI and registering in the SAM system can take up to one month. We strongly encourage you to start this process as soon as possible.

· SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations). Please make sure to include your UEI in the application.

· SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

· Project Proposal (10 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do.

E2. General Guidelines: Please read all instructions carefully – proposals that do not meet the requirements listed here will not be considered for funding.

· All proposals must be written and submitted in English.

· One organization may submit only one proposal to this NOFO.

· Proposals may not exceed 10 pages in length (including budget and checklist) in Calibri Size 12 font.

· All fields in the grant application form and checklist must be completed and sent via email as one document.

· Project duration may not exceed 18 months.

· Please submit your filled-in application to the following email address: YLPBiH@state.gov

The deadline for submission of proposals /supporting documentation is June 28, 2024, by COB (close of business) 17:00 (GMT + 1).

Upon submission, please request a confirmation of the receipt of your application.

E3. Budget Guidelines: Any application not meeting the budget requirements below will not be considered for funding.

· Detailed budget should be written in USD, with a maximum amount of USD 130,000.

· Applicant organizations should NOT include Value-Added Tax (VAT) expenses; organizations will be able to reimburse VAT based on bilateral agreements signed between the U.S. government and BiH government.

· Budget costs should be grouped into the following categories:

· Personnel costs (salaries for staff who already work for your organization, fees for project manager, project coordinator/assistant, and or accountant)

· Fringe (social and pension insurance contributions)

· Travel (transportation costs, lodging, meals, and incidentals)

· Supplies (office supplies and other materials for project implementation)

· Contractual (fees for trainers, moderators, experts, and educators, who do NOT normally work for your organization but who are engaged to implement certain project activities, printing of promotional materials, renting of space/equipment, broadcasting of TV and radio shows, web site development, and other contractual services needed for project implementation.)

· Other direct costs: (office rent, utilities, phone/fax/internet, office supplies, bank charges, etc.)

· Alcohol, entertainment, or “miscellaneous” expenses are not allowed.

· Costs incurred before the grant period start date will not be reimbursed.

Grant funds may not be used for the following:

· Long-term infrastructure needs

· Provision of direct social services to a population

· Vocational training, for example teaching participants to weld, perform electrical work, sew, engage in beekeeping, etc.

· Partisan political activity (Note: non-partisan election education and public information activities are allowable.)

· Funding of charitable activity and humanitarian aid, commercial projects, or fund-raising campaigns

E4. Application Instructions: Please read carefully and complete each question as instructed. Omitting any of the requested information will delay the review of your proposal and may result in it being eliminated from consideration.

1. Applicant’s Contact Information

a. Implementing organization: Specify the officially registered name of the organization.

b. Contact person and title: Name and the title of the person who is authorized to sign official documents, if different from the Project Coordinator. You may state the name of the Project Coordinator too.

c. Address/Postal Code and City

d. Phone number.

e. Email: Please include both the general email address for your organization and the email address of the project coordinator or person who is authorized to sign official documents.

2. Basic Information about the Proposal

a. Project title:

b. Amount requested (USD)/Amount of cost share (USD)/Total cost (USD):

Please list the amount of funding requested from the Embassy. If there is a cost share (another organization covering part of the total cost of the project), please list the amount here. Please list the total cost of the project which you get when you sum the amount you request from U.S. Embassy and amount of co-share.

3. Elevator pitch

In 50 words or less, describe what your project is designed to accomplish and why it should receive support from the U.S. Embassy.

4. Definition of situation

Clearly identify the problem your project will address. Please explain what causes the problem, and what aspect of this cause you are addressing.

5. Project outcomes

Please explain how you want to solve this problem by explaining the outcomes of your project. An outcome is defined as the impact or change in a participant’s knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes as well as the longer-term effect on their organization or community.

· Following the above example, a project outcome might be “Youth will gain the skills and experience to improve their communities and themselves and improve the future of BiH.”

6. Description of project activities

Explain the activities you plan to implement in the scope of your project and how those activities will achieve the projected outcome(s).

7. Activity locations:

You may leave this field blank. The U.S. Embassy will determine the cities/towns/communities where the project activities will take place.

8. Project beneficiaries:

Describe the anticipated beneficiaries of your project, including estimated number and age range.

9. Project schedule and timeline:

Note your project duration in months and give an overview of the schedule. If you have a specific timeframe, please list the dates, and explain why your project must take place within that timeframe. Please note that grant money could be received any time between September 2024 and January 2025, depending on the U.S. budget cycle.

10. Project partners:

The U.S.-based implementer of the YLP will be selected separately. For this BiH component, if you are implementing your project jointly with any other organizations, please list the names and type of involvement of those partner organizations. A partner organization is an organization with which you work to develop and implement the project. Partner organizations also need to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. Please note that contractors you engage to deliver goods or services such as trainers, web developers, or suppliers are NOT partner organizations.

11. Anticipated outputs of the project:

An output is defined as the direct and tangible results of the project activities, which can usually be measured (number of people trained, number of public advocacy campaigns conducted, number of media articles or social media posts published, etc.)

12. Monitoring and Evaluation Plan:

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: The proposal should outline in detail how project success and impact will be determined. Please include how you intend to measure the success of the project – this could involve pre- and post-project surveys of participants; it could be evidence that your project changed/improved a situation.

We encourage you to consider the following examples of indicators to use when evaluating your project.

· Participant satisfaction with the program.

· Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.

· Participant behavior, such as concrete actions to apply knowledge in community; greater participation and responsibility in municipalities; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new knowledge and experience gained; continued contacts between participants, community members, and others.

· Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate timing of data collection for each level of outcome.

13. Project publicity:

Please describe if and how you plan to publicize the project through traditional media and/or social media.

14. Project sustainability:

Please explain your plans for follow-on activities after the grant period ends to ensure project impact continues. Example: “After the workshop series, the participants will continue to meet and serve as a support network to each other, as well as mentor other young people.”

15. Background of implementing organization:

Briefly explain the mission of the organization, date of registration, number of employees, their work experience, number of volunteers, past and current programs implemented, as well as its technical and management capacity. Please briefly explain what internal control procedures you have put in place to manage grant funds.

16. Key personnel:

List the names, titles and roles of key personnel involved in the project, including organization staff and any experts or trainers you will engage to implement the project. Give a brief overview (1-2 sentences) of their experience/qualifications. What proportion of their time will be used in support of your project?

17. Previous U.S. government funding:

Indicate whether the implementing organization has received previous funding from the U.S. government. If so, please state the name of the project, the year, and the amount of funding for each project.

18. Detailed budget:

Present the budget in the form of a spreadsheet, in USD amounts, dividing the budget into the categories delineated in the application. Ensure that your stated project activities are properly budgeted based on reasonable market price for personnel, fringe, travel, contractual services, supplies, and other direct costs.

The ratio between administrative costs (personnel, fringe, and other direct costs) and program costs (travel, supplies and contractual) will have impact to project evaluation.

Cost sharing is not required. However, the award recipient may present cost-sharing on voluntary basis including in-kind contributions. The absence of cost sharing will not in any way impact evaluation of the project. However, if the recipient includes cost sharing in the project proposal, then the recipient is accountable for providing it. In the event the recipient does not provide the minimum amount of cost-sharing as stipulated in the recipient’s approved budget, the government contribution may be reduced in kind.

19. Budget narrative:

Please explain your budget in narrative form, detail personnel duties, list names of trainers/moderators/experts and project staff and break down travel and lodging costs (i.e., how many people, how many overnights, cost per person per day, etc.)

F. HOW TO APPLY FOR REQUIRED REGISTRATIONS

All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain the following registration which is free of charge:

· www.SAM.gov registration which will generate a UEI.

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.”

The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. SAM.gov is the Federal government's primary database for complying with FFATA reporting requirements. OMB designated SAM.gov as the central repository to facilitate applicant and recipient use of a single public website that consolidates data on all federal financial assistance. Under the law, it is mandatory to register in SAM.gov.

The UEI will be assigned when an organization registers or renews its SAM registration. To access SAM.gov an organization is required to have a Login.gov account. Organization can create an account at https://login.gov/. As a reminder, www.sam.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year to maintain an active registration status in SAM.gov. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM.gov.

If an organization plans to issue a sub-contract or sub-award, those sub-awardees must also have a unique entity identifier (UEI number). Those entities can register for a UEI only at SAM.gov.

If an organization does not have an active registration in SAM.gov the grant/cooperative agreement will not be signed with that organization. If you experience difficulties in registering in SAM during the process of applying, you may send us the screenshot as the proof that you already started the SAM registering process. All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations, the latter are free of charge.

However, if you experience any problem in registering in SAM.gov use the following link to register for live chat, so the SAM administrators can answer your questions. Working hours for this service are from Monday through Friday after 14:00.

IMPORTANT: Please be informed that DUNS was replaced by UEI which will be assigned by sam.gov.

A CAGE/NCAGE number is no longer needed to register in SAM.gov! * *Only organizations which plan to do business with the Department of Defense (DOD) will be issued a CAGE code or be required to obtain an NCAGE number. When registering in SAM.gov, organization must self-select whether it plans to submit proposals to DOD. Only if an organization indicates “yes” will it be issued a CAGE code or be prompted to enter its NCAGE number.

If you are planning to respond to this call, please carefully follow instructions how to register in SAM and select “NO” if asked whether you plan to submit proposal to Department of Defense (DOD.)

G5. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION:

All proposals will be evaluated by the review panel according to the below criteria:

· Quality and feasibility of the project idea. The proposal is well developed, innovative and offers creative solutions with all necessary details about how project activities will be carried out (location, events to organize, media coverage etc.)

· Outcomes. Project clearly identifies goals and objectives of the project and is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving proposed results.

· Organizational capacity and record on previous grants. The organization demonstrates expertise and the ability to perform the proposed activities.

· Budget and narrative justification are completed and reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results.

· Monitoring and evaluation. The proposal outlines in detail how project success and impact will be determined. This will include methods to measure project impact and/or indicators/milestones to indicate project progress towards achieving the outcomes outlined in the proposal.

· Sustainability. The proposal needs to contain information about sustainability of the project. Project activities should continue to have a positive impact after the end of the project. Proposals should explain this future impact and/or sustainability of the project.

H. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

H1. Federal Award Notices

The cooperative agreement award will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer and the grants management team. The Award Recipient may only start incurring project expenses beginning on the start date shown on the cooperative agreement award document signed by the Grant Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document, and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email.

Funding decisions are contingent on the availability of funds. The total amount for this program may not exceed 130,000 USD. The U.S. Embassy reserves the right to cancel this Notice of Funding Opportunity at any time without any commitment to any applicant.

A Cooperative Agreement (CA) entails substantial involvement on the part of the recipient, including:

a. Participating in the design or direction of activities, design of conference agendas, and training delivery models

b. Participating in the selection of key project staff and trainers

c. Participating in the presentation of results

d. Assisting in the selection and/or analyses of data

e. Review and approval of each press release and other public statements and publications before their release to the public.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

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

Payment Method: The payment of the award amount will be made in multiple installments. A certain percentage of the total award amount up to 50% of the total will be paid immediately after signing the agreement and submission of the valid bank account by Award Recipient. However, if the project implementation requires a higher percentage of advance payment than 50%, the Public Diplomacy Section will require justification. The rest will be paid upon submission of the interim final program and financial reports by the recipient. Each award document will contain detailed payment information. The U.S. government reserves the right to retain the last payment up to 10% of the award amount until all project activities are completed and the final program and financial reports are submitted by the recipient and approved by the Grant Officer and the Grant Officer Representative.

H2. Terms and Conditions

Before submitting an application, applicants may wish to review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include:

· 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, Certifications and Assurances, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, all of which are available at: https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/. Note the U.S Flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and Conditions.

H3. Reporting Requirements

Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify the forms and how often these reports must be submitted.

FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For more information, please contact us by phone: + 387 33 704-333, 704-298, or email at ylpbih@state.gov.