Notice of Funding Opportunity-FTIF-Mauritania.docx

FISCAL TRANSPARENCY INNOVATION FUND (FTIF)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Promote Transparency by Enhancing Citizens’ Access to Information on Public Revenues.

Embassy Nouakchott, U.S. Department of State Opportunity number: PGO-FY2024-FTIF-01 Application deadline: September 8, 2025

Contents

U.S Department of State Embassy Nouakchott Notice of Funding Opportunity

A. Basic Information

1. Overview

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative agreements.

Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 24 months or less.

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

2. Executive Summary Priority Region: N/A Executive Summary This is a request for two-year projects to work with public institutions, the media, and civil society organizations (CSOs) to solidify gains on budget transparency and promote accountability to make Mauritania a more predictable business environment. Projects will build upon the achievements of past successful FTIF interventions and introduce innovative activities under one or more of three areas recommended by the 2024 Fiscal Transparency Report (FTR):

1. Transparent management of natural resources: Improve oversight of income generated through natural resources (natural gas, mining, fisheries).

2. Media or third-party amplification of fiscal and budget data, including making available to the public information on government debt obligations, including major state-owned enterprise debt.

3. Transparent formulation of national public expenditure budgets: by making available for public inspection the citizens’ budget through the creation of a web-based application with AI chatbot capabilities and dissemination of reliable and accessible budget information to Mauritanian citizens and the private sector.

By fostering fiscal transparency and regulatory predictability in Mauritania, particularly in critical sectors like natural gas, mining, and fisheries, this project will make Mauritanian a more attractive investment climate.

Formulation of transparent budgets and involvement of media channels will lead to a better-informed citizenry and more transparent government.

The Department of State noted in its 2024 Fiscal Transparency Report (FTR) that Mauritania made significant progress by releasing its executive budget proposal before the start of the fiscal year, ensuring the Supreme Audit Institution met international standards of independence and published timely and substantial audit reports, released the first ever citizens’ budget, and established a sound legal framework for its sovereign wealth fund. The report further suggested that Mauritania could improve fiscal transparency by publishing information on government debt obligations, including major state-owned enterprise debt and debt composition. Proposed program will address this area of improvement.

Theory of Change: If the Mauritanian government manages income from natural resources transparently, allows its departments and the media to publicly amplify fiscal and budget data, and public budgets are accessible, then Mauritanians and partners, including the United States and the U.S. private sector, will have greater trust in government accountability and decision-making. This will create a transparent environment, enable oversight by civil society, media, and the public that will strengthen governance, ensure equitable resource allocation, and foster private sector led economic development.

Mauritania’s mining sector holds significant, underexplored potential for critical minerals. By promoting a transparent investment environment and improving fiscal oversight in the mining sector, the project strengthens Mauritania’s potential to attract U.S. investment in mineral extraction and exploration.

B. Eligibility

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

· U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations subject to section 501(c) (3) of the U.S. tax code

· Foreign-based non-profit organizations/non-government organizations (NGO)

· Public International Organizations

· Foreign Public Organizations

· Private, public, or state institutions of higher education.

· Governmental institutions

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Not required.

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 D.3 for more information.

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.

Organization or institution must be based in Mauritania.

C. Program Description

1. Goals and Objectives Goal: Promote Transparency by Enhancing Citizens’ Access to Information on Public Revenues.

Objective One:

By September 30, 2027, ensure the existence of a centralized and accessible platform in Mauritania for monitoring and reporting revenues from natural gas, mines, and fisheries, that is accessible to all Mauritanian citizens, local organizations, and interested private sector investors.

Activities:

1. Support the design of a digital platform to collect, monitor, and publish user-friendly data on revenue from natural resources.

2. Conduct training sessions for relevant Mauritanian government officials, members of parastatal organizations, private sector, and civil society actors on transparency regulations and the importance of data submission methods and processes.

3. Collaborate with relevant stakeholders such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, relevant United Nations agencies, and other similar entities to verify reported income, publish findings, and share them publicly to ensure information reaches even the most remote regions of the country.

Objective Two:

By September 30, 2027, ensure the public availability of Mauritanian government and state-owned enterprise debt, through a dedicated platform, like the one that monitors natural resources income, and through credible and accessible media channels. This is intended to increase public awareness and engagement on the status of Mauritanian government and state-owned enterprise debt by 50 percent.

Activities:

1. Partner with media outlets based in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Kiffa, Nema, Kaedi, and Rosso to create and disseminate user-friendly and multilingual content on fiscal data, including infographics, videos, and articles.

2. Publish reports on government debt, including state-owned enterprise debt, on an open-access website and promote them through articles and on social media.

3. Implement in-person training for journalists and bloggers on understanding the concept of government and state-owned enterprise debt.

4. Hold public forums with journalists, bloggers, academics, private sector associations like the Union Nationale du Patronat Mauritanien (UNPM) and the U.S. Mauritania Business Council, and civil society organizations to discuss and amplify fiscal and budget data.

Objective Three:

By September 2027, operationalize Mauritania’s Citizens' Budget through a user-friendly, multilingual web and WhatsApp-based application with chatbot capacity, making 80 percent of budgetary data accessible and understandable to the public and engaging at least 60,000 people annually.

Activities:

1. Develop and launch a multilingual web- and WhatsApp-based application with a chatbot to provide real-time, simplified responses to public questions on national expenditure budgets, including government debt.

2. Regularly update and disseminate reliable budgetary information through the application in close coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Accounting Court.

3. Conduct public outreach campaigns to promote the application and educate citizens on how to use it effectively; also link it to the U.S. Embassy business page so interested companies can see how the Mauritanian government allocates funding.

2. Substantial Involvement Validation of platforms Validation of campaign content Validation of web and WhatsApp-based applications Selection of government and non-government partners Selection of government and non-government direct beneficiaries Selection of media outlets

D. Application Contents and Format 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 fit 8 ½ x 11 paper, and

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

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms

· SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) at www.grants.gov

· SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) www.grants.gov

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

2. Summary Page (optional) Cover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

3. Proposal (10 pages maximum)

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

· Introduction to the Organization 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.

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

· Project Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.

· Project Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.

· Project Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.

· Proposed Project 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?

· Project Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.

· Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?

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

4. Budget Justification Narrative After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section I. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

5. Attachments

· 1-page Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program

· Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner

· If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, include your latest NICRA as a PDF file.

· Official permission letters, if required for program activities.

E. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required above are available at www.grants.gov and MyGrants.

2. Department of State/Embassy Contacts If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: DiakiteCA@state.gov

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

· Organizations based outside of the United States that do not intend to apply for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awards are no longer required to have a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code to apply for non-DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities. If an applicant organization is mid-registration and wishes to remove an NCAGE code from their SAM.gov registration, the applicant should submit a help desk ticket (“incident”) with the Federal Service Desk (FSD) online at www.fsd.gov using the following language: “I do not intend to seek financial assistance from the Department of Defense. I do not wish to obtain an NCAGE code. I understand that I will need to submit my registration after this incident is resolved in order to have my registration activated.”

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO NOT plan to do business with the DoD should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Proceed to SAM.gov to obtain a UEI and complete the SAM.gov registration process. SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually.

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO plan to do business with the DoD in addition to Department of State should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Apply for an NCAGE code by following the instructions on the NSPA NATO website linked below:

NCAGE Homepage:

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/sc/CageList.aspx NCAGE Code Request Tool (NCRT):

NCAGE Code Request Tool (nato.int)

Exemptions 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.

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.

4. Submission Dates and Times Applications are due no later than Monday, September 8, 2025, 08:00 A.M. Local Time.

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. Certification Regarding Compliance with applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws

If the place of performance or delivery of any award made under this NOFO will be within the United States, applicants are advised that they will be required to certify the following at the time of award:

1) Its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code and;

2) It does not operate any programs promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws. A program promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion means a program whose purpose is to promote preferences based on race, color religion, sex, or national origin, such as in training or hiring.

iii. Certification Regarding Compliance with 20 U.S.C. 1011f and any other applicable foreign funding disclosure requirements (only include in NOFOs and solicitations in which Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs) are an eligible applicant type)

Applicants are advised that IHEs must certify the following at the time of award, and that this certification requirement must be included in any subaward agreements to IHEs:

1) Its compliance in all respects with section 1011f of title 20, United States Code, and any other applicable foreign funding disclosure requirements is material for purposes of section 3729 of title 31, United States Code, and for receipt of appropriate Federal grant funds.

iv. U.S. Embassy Nouakchott will not consider applications that reflect any type of support for any member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist organization. Please refer the link for Foreign Terrorist Organizations: https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/. Project activities whose direct beneficiaries are foreign militaries or paramilitary groups or individuals will not be considered for U.S. Embassy Nouakchott funding given purpose limitations on funding.

v. The Leahy Law prohibits Department foreign assistance funds from supporting foreign security force units if the Secretary of State has credible information that the unit has committed a gross violation of human rights. Per 22 USC §2378d(a) (2017), “No assistance shall be furnished under this chapter [FOREIGN ASSISTANCE] or the Arms Export Control Act [22 USC 2751 et seq.] to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country if the Secretary of State has credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights.” Restrictions may apply to any proposed assistance to police or other law enforcement. Among these, pursuant to section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA), no assistance provided through this funding opportunity may be furnished to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country when there is credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights. In accordance with the requirements of section 620M of the FAA, also known as the Leahy law, project beneficiaries or participants from a foreign government’s security forces may need to be vetted by the Department before the provision of any assistance. If a proposed grant or cooperative agreement will provide assistance to foreign security forces or personnel, compliance with the Leahy Law is required.

vi. Funds cannot be made available to any individual or organization that has committed serious human rights abuse(s).

Organizations should be cognizant of these restrictions when developing project proposals as these restrictions will require appropriate due diligence of program beneficiaries and collaboration with U.S. Embassy Nouakchott to ensure compliance with these restrictions. Program beneficiaries subject to due diligence vetting will include any individuals or entities that are beneficiaries of foreign assistance funding or support.

6. Other Submission Requirements All application materials must be submitted by email to Nouakchottgrants@state.gov

If an applicant experiences technical difficulties and has contacted the appropriate helpdesk but is not receiving timely assistance (e.g., if applicant has not received a response within 48 hours of contacting the helpdesk), the applicant may contact the U.S. Embassy Nouakchott’s point of contact listed in the NOFO in Section E.

F. Application Review Information

1. Review Criteria Each application will be evaluated and rated based on the evaluation criteria outlined below.

Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 30 points: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.

Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 20 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account.

Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.

Monitoring and evaluation plan – 15 points: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured.

Budget – 10 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.

Sustainability – 10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.

2. Review and Selection Process A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications. Applications will be screened initially in a Technical Eligibility Review stage to determine whether applicants meet the eligibility requirements outlined in section C and have submitted all required documents outlined in section D. Applications that do not meet these requirements will not advance beyond the Technical Eligibility Review stage and will be deemed ineligible for funding under this NOFO.

All applications that are deemed eligible will proceed to the Merit Review Panel consisting of U.S. Government subject matter and/or country-specific experts and will be rated on a 100-point scale. U.S. Embassy Nouakchott reserves the right to request the assistance of non-U.S. Government Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), if appropriate to the solicitation. Point values for individual elements of the application are presented Section E.1 Proposal Review Criteria. Merit Review Panel Reviewers’ ratings, and any resulting recommendations, are advisory. Merit Review Panel Reviewers may provide conditions and recommendations on applications to enhance the proposed project, which must be addressed by the applicant before further consideration of the award.

The Merit Review Panel’s recommendations may be subject to a final review and high-level approval at the discretion of the U.S. Embassy Nouakchott’s senior level official and will be influenced by whether the application meets the Department of State’s programmatic goals and objectives, how it supports the Department’s overarching foreign policy priorities, and the geographic distribution of the top-ranking applications. The decision for the final award determination rests with the Grants Officer.

3. Risk Review

i. Risk factors 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 requirements

ii. Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov The Federal awarding agency, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the U.S. government designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov (see 41 U.S.C. 2313)

An applicant can review and comment on any information in the responsibility/qualification records available in SAM.gov.

Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 CFR 200.206, the Department will consider any comments by the applicant, along with information available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov.

G. Award Notices

The award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The award agreement is the authorizing document, and it will be provided to the recipient for review and counter-signature. The recipient may only start incurring project expenses beginning on the start date shown on the award document signed by the Grants Officer.

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.

Unsuccessful applicants: Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by September 26, 2025, via email.

Payment Method: Recipients will be required to request payments by completing form SF-270—Request for Advance or Reimbursement and submitting the form to the Grants Officer. Unless otherwise stipulated, the Recipient may request payments on a reimbursement or advance basis. Advance payments must be limited to the minimum amounts needed and be timed to be in accordance with the actual, immediate cash requirements of the Recipient in carrying out the purpose of this award. The timing and amount of advance payments must be as close as is administratively feasible to the actual disbursements by the Recipient for direct program or project costs and the proportionate share of any allowable indirect costs.

H. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

1. Administrative and National Policy Requirements Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply.

These include:

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following:

· Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 89 FR 30046 on April 22, 2024, particularly on:

· Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an impartial process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205),

· Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O. 13864) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341),

· Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR part 200.322), and

· Terminating agreements pursuant to the U.S. Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, including, to the greatest extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR part 200.340).

· 2 CFR 25 - UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

· 2 CFR 170 - REPORTING SUBAWARD AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION INFORMATION

· 2 CFR 175 - AWARD TERM FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

· 2 CFR 182 - GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE)

· 2 CFR 183 - NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY

· 2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS

· U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

2. Reporting Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify what reports are required and how often these reports must be submitted. Recipients should be aware that U.S. Embassy Nouakchott awards will require that all reports (financial and performance progress) be submitted via email to the Grants Officer and Grants Officer Representative on a quarterly basis. The Federal Financial Report (FFR or SF-425) is the required form for the financial reports. The performance progress reports must: include a narrative as described below; reflect the focus on measuring the project’s progress on the overarching objectives; and be compiled according to the objectives, outcomes, and outputs as outlined in the awards Project Activities (PA) and Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (PMEP). An assessment of the overall project’s impact should be included in each performance progress report. Where relevant, performance progress reports should include the following sections:

· Relevant contextual information (limited).

· Explanation and evaluation of significant activities of the reporting period and how the activities reflect progress toward achieving objectives, including meeting benchmarks/targets as set in the PA and PMEP.

· Any tangible impact or success stories from the project, when possible.

· Copy of mid-term and/or final evaluation report(s) conducted by an external evaluator, if applicable.

· Relevant supporting documentation or products related to the project activities (such as articles, meeting lists and agendas, participant surveys, photos, manuals, etc.) as separate attachments.

· Description of how the recipient is pursuing sustainability, including looking for sources of follow-on funding.

· Any problems/challenges in implementing the project and a corrective action plan with an updated timeline of activities.

· Reasons why established goals were not met.

· Data for the required indicator(s) for the quarter as well as aggregate data by fiscal year.

· Proposed activities for the next quarter; and,

· Additional pertinent information, including analysis and explanation of cost overruns or high unit costs, if applicable.

Recipient is responsible for monitoring the activities, performance, and expenditures of any subrecipient(s). Recipients must have monitoring tools in place to ensure that subaward(s) is used for authorized purposes, and that the subrecipient(s) is complying with applicable regulations and the terms and conditions of the subaward (2 CFR §200.332).

Applicants should be aware of the post award reporting requirements reflected in 2 CFR 200 Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.

A final narrative and financial report must also be submitted within 120 days after the expiration of the award.

Please note: Delays in reporting may result in delays of payment approvals and failure to provide required reports may jeopardize the recipient's’ ability to receive future U.S. Government funds. U.S. Embassy Nouakchott reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial project information during the award period.

Foreign Assistance Data Review: As required by Congress, the Department of State must make progress in its efforts to improve tracking and reporting of foreign assistance data through the Foreign Assistance Data Review (FADR). The FADR requires tracking of foreign assistance activity data from budgeting, planning, and allocation through obligation and disbursement. Successful applicants will be required to report and draw down federal funding based on the appropriate FADR Data Elements, indicated within their award documentation. In cases of more than one FADR Data Element, typically program or sector and/or regions or country, the successful applicant will be required to maintain separate accounting records.

I. Other Information

Guidelines for Budget Justification

Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.

Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.

Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $10,000 per unit.

Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $10,000 per unit, then list it in the budget under Equipment.

Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities.

Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.1.

“Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.

Alcoholic Beverages: Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.