PKG00251679-instructions.pdf

United States Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) – SAMS Domestic

Announcement Type: Request for Federal Assistance Awards Applications

Public Opportunity Title: Case-Based Training on Intel-Led Money Laundering

Investigations

NOFO Opportunity Number: SFOP0005771

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 19.705 – Transnational Crime

Funding Amount: Not to exceed the total amount of $600,000 U.S. Dollars

NOFO Issuance Date: June 4, 2019

Deadline for Receipt of Questions: July 5, 2019 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

Closing Date and Time for August 5, 2019 Submission of Applications: 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time via www.grants.gov

Program Type: INL/C

Grant Program: Transnational Organized Crime

Assistance Type: Grant

Eligibility Category: Eligible organizations, may include: (U.S. based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or overseas based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or private/state institutions. See complete eligibility criteria below.

Applicant Type: Organizations only

Award Ceiling: $600,000

Award Floor: $500,000

Cost Sharing Requirement: Not required but recommended http://www.grants.gov/

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The mission of the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is to minimize the impact of international crime and illegal drugs on the United States, its citizens, and partner nations by providing effective foreign assistance and fostering global cooperation. This mission, which centers on helping our partner nations establish a capable and accountable criminal justice sector, was expanded during the past decade to include stabilizing post-conflict societies through criminal justice sector development and reform. This mission supports peace and security by stabilizing and strengthening security institutions and by combating narco-trafficking and other transnational crimes such as money laundering and criminal gangs. It promotes just and democratic governments by strengthening justice sector institutions, good governance and respect for human rights.

INL combines forces with other U.S. Government (USG) and international agencies and takes a regional approach to widespread problems. INL also encourages more developed governments to take responsibility as equal partners in global efforts to combat transnational crime, including drug trafficking. The Bureau’s priority programs support three inter-related objectives:

• BUILDING CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS: Institutionalize rule of law by developing and expanding criminal justice systems to strengthen partner country law enforcement and judicial effectiveness, foster cooperation in legal affairs, and advance respect for human rights;

• COUNTER-NARCOTICS: Disrupt the overseas production and trafficking of illicit drugs through targeted counter-narcotics and institution-building assistance and coordination with foreign nations and international organizations, and;

• TRANSNATIONAL CRIME: Minimize the impact of transnational crime and criminal networks on the United States and its allies through enhanced international cooperation and foreign assistance.

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

The United States Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs INL is seeking applications from qualified U.S. and non-U.S. based non-governmental (NGOs)/non-profit organizations or Educational Institutions for a Grant to implement a program entitled “Case-Based Training on Intel-Led Money Laundering Investigations.” The authority for this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.400g, it is U.S. Department of State policy not to award profit under assistance instruments. All direct and indirect reasonable, allocable, and allowable expenses, however, that are related to the agreement program and are in accordance with applicable cost standards (2 CFR 200 for U.S. and overseas-based non-profit organizations, and education institutions) may be paid under the grant. NOTE: overseas-based nonprofit organizations are legally required to comply with 2 CFR 200.

Subject to the availability of funds and pending Department of State management approvals, INL intends to issue an award in an amount not to exceed $600,000 in total funding. The U.S.

Dollar amount will be funded from INL allocated funds, for an initial project period of two (2) years. INL may award up to two (2) additional years contingent on INL priorities, good performance of the recipient, Department of State management approvals, and funding availability. INL reserves the right to fund any number of applications or none of the applications submitted and will determine the resulting level of funding for each award(s).

Eligible organizations interested in submitting an application are encouraged to read this NOFO thoroughly to understand the type of project sought and the application submission requirements and evaluation process.

To be eligible for an award, the applicant must submit all required information and documents in its application through www.grants.gov including the requirements found in any attachments to this funding opportunity. This NOFO consists of the following Sections:

Contents

SECTION I – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

SECTION II – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

SECTION III – ELIGIBLITY INFORMATION ........... Error! Bookmark not defined.

SECTION IV – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

TAB A: PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

TAB B: PROGRAM MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN, LOGIC

MODEL, and PROGRAM RISK ANALYSIS

TAB C: BUDGET GUIDELINES

SECTION V – APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

SECTION VI – FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

SECTION VII – AGENCY CONTACTS

This funding opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov and may be amended. See Section IV for further details. Potential applicants should regularly check the website to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this NOFO. Applicants will need to have available or download the most updated version of the Adobe program to their computers to view and save the Adobe forms properly. If you have difficulty registering on www.grants.gov or accessing the NOFO, please contact the www.grants.gov helpdesk at: 1-800-518-4726, International callers: 1-606- 545-5035, or via email at support@grants.gov for technical assistance. The Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (except federal holidays).

See https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ for a list of federal holidays.

You may also obtain online assistance at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html or https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/GetStarted/Get_Started.htm.

Any questions concerning this NOFO should be submitted in writing to Kourtni Gonzalez via email at GonzalezKN@state.gov and Najar Washington at WashingtonND@state.gov. The deadline for submission of questions for this NOFO is July 5, 2019 5:00PM EST. Responses to questions will be made available to all potential applicants as an attachment to this NOFO and posted on www.grants.gov.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/GetStarted/Get_Started.htm mailto:GonzalezKN@state.gov mailto:WashingtonND@state.gov

INL encourages applicants to submit their applications during normal business hours (Monday

– Friday, 9:00AM- 5:00PM Eastern Standard Time). If an applicant experiences technical difficulties and has contacted the appropriate help desk, but is not receiving timely assistance, (e.g. if you have not received a response within 48 hours of contacting the help desk), you may contact the INL point of contact listed in the NOFO. The point of contact may assist in contacting the appropriate help desk, but an applicant should also document their efforts in contacting the help desk. Applicants may also contact the INL point of contact listed in the NOFO if experiencing technical issues with grants.gov that may result in a late submission.

Applicants experiencing technical difficulties should follow these three steps:

1) Contact the help desk for Grants.gov immediately.

2) Document (including screenshots) technical issues AND efforts to contact the help desk. Provide ticket number(s) and/or reference number(s) provided by the helpdesk in order to assist with the technical issue(s).

3) If there are continued difficulties submitting documents, email all of the required documents to the INL point of contact listed in the NOFO before the deadline.

Note: The INL Grants Officer will determine technical eligibility of all applications and allowability of acceptable proposal submissions if applicants experience technical difficulties without a resolution.

It is the responsibility of the recipient of this NOFO document to ensure that it has been received from www.grants.gov in its entirety. INL bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes associated with electronic or late submissions.

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 an application. In addition, final award of any resultant grant agreement cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated, allocated, and committed through internal INL procedures. While it is anticipated that these procedures will be successfully completed, potential applicants are hereby notified of these requirements and conditions for award. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant's expense.

SECTION I – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

INL is part of the Department of State’s multi-faceted response to transnational organized crime (TOC). Dedicated to strengthening criminal justice systems, countering the flow of illegal narcotics, and minimizing transnational crime, INL plays a key role in leading the development and synchronization of U.S. international drug and crime assistance. INL tailors its technical support to bolster capacities of partner countries through multilateral, regional, and country-specific programs. INL leads the Department’s efforts to combat and prevent TOC by strengthening the capacity of foreign governments’ law enforcement and criminal justice systems, combatting narcotics production and trafficking, and fighting corruption.

The United States and countries in every region of the world are affected by crime and violence perpetuated by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). Vulnerabilities present significant challenges to effectively combatting TCOs and the threat they pose to U.S. public safety and national security. Recognizing the threat posed by TCOs, the President signed Executive Order 13773 (EO 13773) on Enforcing Federal Law with Respect to Transnational Criminal Organizations and Preventing International Trafficking on February 9, 2017. The Administration has made transnational organize crime (TOC) a high priority. The United States will continue to work to build the capacity of law enforcement and upholding transparent and democratic institutions through foreign assistance and participation in anti-crime treaties, such as the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).

INL’s effort to combat transnational organized crime is informed by reliable information and expert analysis. Practitioners and researchers have long been interested in the cause and effects of transnational organized crime, and potential solutions to mitigate it. Still, transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) continue to operate illicit networks and commit violent crimes against citizens around the world. Several countries are affected by crime and violence perpetuated by transnational criminal organizations, including drug cartels, whose smuggling networks undermine border security, inflict harm in our communities, and threaten stability. To enhance both policy decision-making and foreign assistance, it is essential to better understand

1) the scope and scale of TCO operations, 2) the risk of TOC issues, and 3) the capacity and political will of countries to address TOC.

To support further progress in strengthening information and analysis of transnational organized crime at a global level, the U.S. Department of State has allocated $600,000 in FY 2016 International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) funds to do targeted training in intel-led investigations and network analysis related to money laundering.

PROJECT PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

As profits motivate Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) to increase their territory and influence, money is the common denominator in almost every form of illicit activity. INL plays a key role in combating financial crimes globally through its capacity-building programs with partner nations. This program will support INL’s work toward that goal by improving partner nation capacity in Balkans, Southeast Asia, and West Africa to investigate, prosecute, and prevent financial crimes, paying particular attention to identifying and combating ties to organized crime. Primary countries of engagement should include more than one of the following Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Benin. Additional countries in Balkans, Southeast Asia, and West Africa may also be included.

PROJECT GOALS

To bolster the defense of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) and against financial crimes by increasing capacity to conduct network-centered investigations against financial crimes involving drug trafficking and other threats from malign actors. The focus will be on countries within the specified regions that possess a technological baseline conducive to intermediate-level investigatory analysis, and trainings should include more than one country.

The project is comprised of the following objectives and corresponding activities:

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Objective 1: Build capacity of FIUs and investigators to conduct financial investigations and analyze financial data by identifying transactions and actors involved in money laundering cases.

Use open reporting and data to assist and enhance in financial crimes investigations.

Activity 1: Evaluate investigative capacity level of FIUs and investigators and determine selection of appropriate trainings.

Activity 2: Deliver on-site focused training on open-source research techniques for network-centered financial crimes investigations using existing resources, employing a realistic case study or studies throughout. Training should cover how to conduct a money laundering investigation with and without financial records.

Objective 2: Elevate investigative analysis by incorporating various types of documentation and other analysis tools, emphasizing tools that FIUs and investigators could use when conducting an investigation without financial information.

Activity 1: Train investigators on how to use social media and other types of supplementary sources to contribute to findings, including how to fill in case gaps when no financial data is available.

Activity 2: Train investigators in the use of tools that can maximize time and efficiency when conducting investigations, such as websites that can structure information and help investigators make the most of their time.

Objective 3: Oversee the application of Objectives 1 and 2 for the production of appropriate casework and documentation in line with what would be produced during financial investigations.

Activity 1: Supervise the production of investigatory and analytic documentation related to a financial criminal investigation.

CROSS-CUTTING AND ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

1. Coordination and De-conflicting of Projects (if current projects exist in-country)

Where other organizations are conducting similar capacity building for investigating financial crimes, we encourage collaboration, coordination, and de-conflicting of projects to maximize impact. Include in the proposal a description of any similar work you have performed on this topic and if there is overlap specifically with this project. If there is overlap, explain how this previous work will support the projects outlined in this NOFO.

2. Utilize Local Resources and Expertise INL values involving local community experts to help conduct research and thinks that their involvement will strengthen the analysis and enable the investigatory training to be more accurate and useful. We encourage collaborating with and using local resources and experts in the region when possible.

3. Program Expansion

In the event of a successful project, INL will consider the option of expanding the project, subject to availability of future funding. Applicants may include in their proposal a brief section outlining how additional funds could potentially be used to expand work into further activities or additional countries in future years. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate how their project might leverage funding through other organizations.

If the project is successful, INL will consider the option of expanding the project to other areas or countries in the region, subject to availability of future funding. Applicants may include in their proposal a brief section outlining how additional funds could potentially be used to expand work into additional activities or countries in future years. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate how their project might leverage funding through other organizations.

TARGET POPULATION

Applicants should identify target audiences, specific demographics, and the region(s) in which the project will be implemented. It is particularly important to specify the approximate number of beneficiaries to be directly and indirectly impacted by project activities.

DESIRED RESULTS AND ILLUSTRATIVE INDICATORS

By the end of the project, the selected applicant is expected to have built the capacity of partner nations to autonomously conduct investigations on financial crimes, with and without the availability of financial records, and ensure they understand how to produce reports and analysis that bolster the region’s ability to protect itself from the ill effects of money laundering.

The recipient will develop a project-level Performance Monitoring plan (PMP) with annual and end-of- project targets and results anticipated for key performance indicators. The following table shows indicators that will be measured, as well as illustrative targets, upon which the recipient will be responsible for monitoring and reporting during and after the project. TIP: INL Program Office may specify indicators that grantees will need to collect, if specific indicators are considered a priority.

Outcome indicators for the project are provided below. The recipient is expected to identify targets for these indicators based on what it can reasonably achieve within the performance period of the project, and based on the expected overall project results described above.

Outcome Indicators Targets:

Effective financial investigations conducted in a manner that satisfies prosecutorial requirements

TBD

Number of countries that understand how to supplement investigations with open source research and data.

TBD

Output indicators and illustrative targets for the project are provided below. The recipient should review these and either confirm the illustrative targets or propose alternative targets, as appropriate.

Output Indicators Targets:

Report and analysis on a financial crime case TBD (depends on size of training group) Number of trained investigators TBD Other output indicators, as identified by the applicant TBD

The recipient may propose additional outputs, indicators, and/or targets as appropriate. The recipient will be required to collect baseline data for all the PMP indicators during the first year of the project. In addition, certain terms included in the outcomes and indicators will need to be defined at the very beginning of the project so that it is possible to measure the change during and at the end of the project. Examples of such are “capacity”, “spread effect”, etc. Baseline information will be critical for both monitoring and evaluation of project progress and results.

[END OF SECTION I]

SECTION II – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

INL expects to award 1 (one) grant agreement(s) based on this NOFO, in an amount not to exceed the total ceiling amount noted on page 1. The anticipated total federal funding amount is not to exceed $600,000. The period of performance is two (2) years with an anticipated start date of October 2019. INL may extend the award up to two (2) additional years contingent on INL priorities, good performance of the recipient, Department of State management approval, and funding availability.

The U.S. government will issue award(s) to the responsible applicant(s) whose application(s), conforms to this NOFO, and is the most responsive to the objectives and criteria set forth in this NOFO. The U.S. government may (a) reject any or all applications, (b) accept other than the lowest cost application, (c) accept more than one application, (d) accept alternate applications, and/or (e) waive informalities and minor irregularities in applications received.

The U.S. government may make an award on the basis of the initial application received, without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, each initial application should contain the applicant's best terms from a cost and technical standpoint. The U.S. government reserves the right (but is not under obligation to do so) to enter into discussions with one or more applicant(s) to obtain clarifications, additional detail, or to suggest refinements in the program description, budget, or other aspects of an application.

Applicants please be advised that the following will be required if your organization is selected for this announcement.

State Department Leahy Amendment Vetting Requirements:

Funds provided under this award are subject to Section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, a provision titled “Limitation on Assistance to Security Forces” (the “Leahy Amendment”). Subsection (a) of that provision states: “(a) In General.—No assistance shall be furnished under this Act [the Foreign Assistance Act] or the Arms Export Control Act 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 violations of human rights.” Accordingly, none of the funds under this award may be used to provide training or other assistance to any unit or member of the security forces of a foreign country if the Department of State has credible information that such unit or individual has committed a gross violation of human rights.

In signing this agreement, the Recipient agrees to exercise due diligence to ensure compliance with the Leahy provision and State Department policy, and to cooperate with the State Department in implementation of the Leahy requirement for funds under this award. The Department implements the Leahy requirement by vetting units or individuals proposed for training or other assistance to check for credible information of a gross violation of human rights by such units or individuals. To facilitate State Department vetting, the Recipient must provide the following information for proposed participants at least sixty (60) calendar days prior to commencing award activities. This information should be submitted to the U.S. Embassy in the country where the award will be implemented in order to initiate Leahy vetting procedures:

Information needed: Full name, date of birth, country of birth, country of citizenship, gender, rank, title, and organizational affiliation. Please also include the activity and date that the activity will take place—if the person will participate throughout an extended program, please note the timeframe. Participant information should be submitted in the format attached.

Information required for “security forces” personnel: The above information is needed for each member of a foreign police or military unit (security forces, broadly defined) who will participate in any activity under this award. This includes both civilian and military employees of security forces participating in any activities funded under this award, including training, workshops or meetings, conferences, or other activities.

The Recipient must collaborate with the relevant U.S. Embassy on a case-by-case basis to determine if the Leahy requirement applies to specific activities or proposed participants.

Individuals who are not members of the security forces but who participate in activities under the award (e.g., politicians, academics, etc.) generally do not need to be vetted.

Submission Deadline: Each candidate must be cleared under Leahy vetting in advance of participation in activities funded under this award. The vetting process typically takes approximately one month, but may take longer if there are a large number of candidates or if issues arise. Thus, all information on proposed candidates must be received by the Embassy at least sixty (60) days in advance of the training event or other activity.

The Recipient agrees that it will not include any security forces candidate in training or other activities funded under this award until the State Department advises that the candidate has cleared Leahy vetting and is approved for participation.

[END OF SECTION II]

SECTION III – ELIGIBLITY INFORMATION

(1) Eligibility for this NOFO is limited to:

• Applicants that qualify to receive U.S. grants such as (U.S. based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS or overseas based non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or private/state institutions), with the ability to develop and successfully implement a project in countries listed in the proposal and meet INL’s reporting requirements. Organizations must also be able to demonstrate current (or pending) country registration in all countries listed in the proposal, if required by the country.

AND

• Applicants must have demonstrated experience implementing similar education or capacity building programs. INL reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering similar programs and/or federal grant awards.

• Applicants must have the ability to produce course materials, deliver training, and conduct evaluations in Spanish and English. The applicant’s staff should be proficient in English in order to fulfill reporting requirements.

• Applicants must have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with stakeholders in order to successfully carry out the proposed program.

• Organizations may form a consortium and submit a combined proposal. However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant and other members as sub-award partners.

• Applicants must be able to respond to the NOFO and be able to mobilize in a short period.

PLEASE NOTE: Public International Organizations (PIOs) and For-Profit Organizations are excluded from applying to this grant announcement.

To be eligible for a grant award, in addition to other conditions of this NOFO, organizations must have a commitment to non‐discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. INL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities. INL welcomes applications irrespective of an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status.

Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the legal responsibility of the recipient to ensure compliance with these Executive Orders and laws. This provision must be included in any sub‐awards issued under this grant award.

(2) INL encourages applications from potential new partners.

[END OF SECTION III]

SECTION IV – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

INL urges prospective applicants to immediately confirm their organization’s Unique Entity Identifier Number (formerly Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number) as well as a current Central Contractor Registration via www.SAM.gov.

All organizations must also continue to maintain active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which they have an active Federal award or application under consideration by a Federal award agency. SAM.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM.gov. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements at the time of application, INL may determine that the applicant is unqualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

Note: The process of obtaining a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks.

Please begin your registration as early as possible.

Important Note:

Organizations physically located OUTSIDE of the U.S. and territories and wishing to conduct business (contracts/grants) with the U.S. Government, must FIRST request a NCAGE Code, followed by a DUNS Number and then complete the registration process in SAM.gov.

U.S. based Organizations, wishing to conduct business (contracts/grants) with the U.S.

Government to include Foreign Government, please proceed directly to SAM.gov. A U.S. CAGE Code will be assigned at the end of the SAM.gov Registration process.

CAGE/NCAGE Registration

For US-based organizations, a CAGE code will automatically be assigned to your entity once you submit your entity’s registration in SAM.gov and the TIN validation has been returned.

NCAGE Codes are required for all foreign entities prior to starting a SAM registration. PLEASE NOTE: The organization’s name, address, and email information must match what you used to request your Unique Entity Identifier (DUNS Number) Please ensure that alphabets, numerical characters, symbols, etc. and spacing is the same in both systems during the registration process..

Otherwise, you will receive error messages when applying for the NCAGE code. Organizations can submit a request for an NCAGE Code using the NCAGE Request Tool at http://www.sam.gov/ https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAG E.pdf. Detailed instructions are posted at that site. For additional information, please call 1-269- 961-4623 or send an email message to NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil.

NCAGE registrations for overseas organizations can take up to 10 days (or more) to finalize once a request has been received. Please plan accordingly.

Unique Entity Identifier (DUNS Number)

All applicant organizations (foreign and domestic) must obtain a DUNS number. US-based organizations may request a DUNS number by calling 1-866-705-5711 or email:

SAMHelp@dnb.com; the DUNS number is usually provided immediately.

Foreign organizations that do not have a Unique Entity Identifier (DUNS number) will need to go to the Dun & Bradstreet website at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/CCRSearch.do?val=1 to start the process for obtaining a DUNS number. If further assistance is required, please email:

SAMHelp@dnb.com. NOTE: The organization’s name, address, and email information used to request the NCAGE Code must match what is used to request your Unique Entity Identifier (DUNS Number). Please ensure that alphabets, numerical characters, symbols, etc. and spacing is the same in both systems during the registration process.

SAM.gov Registration

SAM.gov registration is required of all INL applicants prior to registering with www.grants.gov. If your organization was previously registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR), you must still create a new Individual User Account in SAM.gov prior to receiving a future federal grant.

Applicant organizations can obtain assistance for SAM.gov registration by using the following link:

https://www.fsd.gov or by calling 1-866-606-8220 (U.S. calls)/or 1-324-206-7828 (international calls). PLEASE NOTE: The organization’s name, address, and email information used to request your organization’s Unique Entity Identifier (DUNS number) and the NCAGE Code must match what is used to request the SAM.gov validation Please ensure that alphabets, numerical characters, symbols, and spacing is the same in both systems during the registration process. Otherwise, you will receive error messages when registering in SAM.gov.

For U.S.-based organizations that already have a TIN (taxpayer identification number), your SAM registration should take approximately 3-5 business days to process. For U.S.-based organizations applying for an EIN (employer identification number), please allow up to 2 weeks.

Foreign organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier number and an NCAGE code prior to completing the SAM.gov registration process. Please follow the above listed instructions to obtain each.

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 https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf mailto:NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html mailto:SAMHelp@dnb.com http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/CCRSearch.do?val=1 mailto:SAMHelp@dnb.com http://www.fsd.gov/ to review the EPLS in SAM.gov to ensure that ineligible entities are excluded from their applications.

All organizations must also continue to maintain active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which they have an active Federal award or application under consideration by a Federal award agency. SAM.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM.gov. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements at the time of application, INL may determine that the applicant is unqualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

Please note: If your organization is registered with SAM.gov and your status is NOT listed as ACTIVE, you will need to update your registration prior to submitting an application through www.grants.gov. SAM.gov requires ALL organizations (foreign and domestic) to register on an ANNUAL basis.

In October 2017, new information was added to the www.SAM.gov website to help international registrations, including “Quick Start Guide for International Registrations” and “Helpful Hints”. Navigate to SAM.gov, click HELP in the top navigation bar, then click International Registrants in the left navigation panel.

SAMS Domestic Registration

Users who had a GrantSolutions account and were assigned to an award in GrantSolutions will already have an account set up for them in SAMS Domestic and will need to unlock their account.

All other applicants will need to create an account for the first time. Applicants using the SAMS Domestic Portal for the first time should complete their user registration as soon as possible. This process must be completed before an application can be submitted through SAMS Domestic.

For GrantSolutions users who had an account transferred to SAMS Domestic: Users who already have a SAMS Domestic account and need to activate their accounts must log in directly to SAMS Domestic https://mygrants.service-now.com and click on the “Forgot Password?” link. The username and email address will be the same as in GrantSolutions. A confirmation email will be sent once the account has been created. If users are experiencing difficulties with the registration process, please contact ILMS Support at 1-888-313-4567 or log a ticket via the ILMS Self Service Portal at: https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilms/home.

To register for the first time, log in directly to SAMS Domestic https://mygrants.service-now.com and click on the link “Create an Account” on the homepage. Users will then complete the form with the requested information and click “submit.” A confirmation email will be sent once the account has been created. If users are experiencing difficulties obtaining a user login and completing the registration process, please contact ILMS Support at 1-888-313-4567 or log a ticket via the ILMS Self Service Portal at: https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilms/home. Customer Support is available 24/7/365.

Grants.gov Registration

To apply for a grant, your organization must complete the Grants.gov registration process. The http://www.grants.gov/ https://mygrants.service-now.com/ https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilms/home https://mygrants.service-now.com/ https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilms/home registration process can take 10 business days or longer, even if all registration steps are completed in a timely manner.

Please log into http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html to obtain complete instructions on the registration process.

Foreign Registrants: Anyone residing and doing business outside of the United States is still required to complete the five steps of the Grants.gov registration process, in addition to fulfilling supplementary requirements for doing business with the United States government. Please ensure that you have obtained an NCAGE code, a UEI number (also referred to as DUNS number), and an “ACTIVE” status in SAM.gov prior to registering in Grants.gov.

Grants.gov Applications

Please refer to the Grants.gov website for definitions of various "application statuses" and the difference between a submission receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a validation e-mail from Grants.gov upon the successful submission of an application. Validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can take up to two business days.

Late applications are neither reviewed nor considered unless the INL point of contact listed in the NOFO is contacted prior to the deadline and is provided with evidence of a system error caused by Grants.gov that is outside of the applicant’s control and is the sole reason for a late submission.

Applicants should not expect a separate notification from INL upon receiving their application.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that it has an active registration in Grants.gov.

Applicants are required to document that the application has been received by Grants.gov in its entirety. INL bears no responsibility for disqualification that result from applicants not being registered before the due date, for system errors in Grants.gov, or other errors in the application process.

TECHNICAL FORMAT REQUIREMENTS

For all application documents, please ensure:

A. All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments, B. All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and C. All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

TECHNICAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Technically eligible applications are those that:

• Arrive electronically via Grants.gov by the designated due date and time noted in the NOFO.

If reasonable accommodations are granted for persons with disabilities or for security reasons, applications must still be received by INL by the designated due date and time noted in the NOFO;

• Are in English and all costs are in U.S. dollars. If an original document within the application is in another language, an English translation must be provided. If any document is provided in both English and a foreign language, the English language version is the controlling version. (Please note: the Department of State, as indicated in 2 CFR 200.111, requires that English is the official language of all award documents);

• Heed all instructions contained in the NOFO, including length and completeness of application, including all required documents; and

• Do not violate any of the guidelines stated in the NOFO.

It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all of the documents submitted in the grant application package are complete, accurate, and current. INL strongly encourages all applicants, especially foreign or first-time applicants, to submit applications before the designated due date to ensure that the application has been received and is complete.

APPLICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

Complete applications must include the following items listed below:

1. Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424A, and SF424B, submitted via www.grants.gov, as well as, if applicable (Please see Tab D for instructions for completion of Standard Forms 424, 424A, and 424B.) The SF-424B is required only for those applicants who have not registered in SAM.gov or recertified their registration in SAM.gov since February 2, 2019 and completed the online representations and certifications.

2. A copy of your organization’s most recent audit (as required per 2 CFR 200.500 – Subpart F). If an audit cannot be provided, an explanation must be submitted with the proposal submission.

3. Cover Page that includes a table with the organization name, project title, target country/countries, project synopsis, name and contact information for the application’s main point of contact, project length (period of performance),and requested funding amount in U.S.

dollars (see the award amount ceiling as stated in the NOFO)

4. Table of Contents (not to exceed one [1] page in Microsoft Word) listing all documents and attachments, with page numbers.

5. Executive Summary (not to exceed two [2] pages in Microsoft Word) that includes:

a) a statement of work or synopsis of the program, including a concise breakdown of the project’s goals, objectives, activities, and expected results, and

b) a brief statement on how the project is innovative, sustainable, and will have a demonstrated impact.

6. Proposal Narrative (not to exceed fifteen [15] pages in Microsoft Word). Please note the page limit does not include the required documents listed in items #2 - 5 and items #7 – 16 (below).

A proposal narrative should:

• Fully explain the program’s goals, objectives, and activities. Objectives should be ambitious, yet measureable, results-focused, and achievable in a reasonable time frame.

Applicant should explain the project’s significance or contribution to the INL mandate specified in the NOFO.

• Activities should be clearly developed and detailed, and the narrative should clearly articulate how the proposed activities contribute to objectives and overall project goal.

• Outline the applicant’s organizational capacity to implement the proposed program,

• Outline in detail the program approach, sustainability, potential impact, and complementarity to ongoing efforts.

• Identify target areas for activities, identify target participant groups or selection criteria for participants, address how the program will engage relevant stakeholders, and identify 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.

The proposal narrative should expand upon the risk analysis to provide greater context, operational or programmatic security concerns, and a contingency plan for overcoming potential difficulties in executing the original work plan.

7. Summary and Detailed Line-Item Budget (in Microsoft Excel) that includes the following three [3] columns: the amount requested from INL, cost sharing contributions (if any), and total budget (see below for more information on budget format). Applicants must submit a budget summary using the OMB-approved budget categories (see SF-424-A as a sample). Costs must be in U.S. dollars. (a sample template is provided as an attachment under the announcement via www.grants.gov.)

8. Budget Narrative (in Microsoft Word) that includes an explanation and justification for each line item in the detailed budget spreadsheet, as well as the source and a description of all cost-share offered. For ease of review, INL recommends applicants order the budget narrative as presented in the detailed budget. Personnel costs should include a clarification of the roles and responsibilities of key staff and percentage of time devoted to the project. Applicants that have other USG-funded projects must confirm that the total time devoted by personnel assigned to more than one project does not exceed 100%. The budget narrative should communicate to INL any information that might not be readily apparent in the budget rather than simply repeating with words what is stated numerically in the budget. (Sample template is provided as an attachment under the announcement via www.grants.gov.)

9. NICRA: If your organization has a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) and will include NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA must be included as a PDF file. This document will not be reviewed by the panelists, but rather used by program and grant staff if the submission is recommended for funding, and therefore does not count against the submission page limitations, as described above. If your proposal includes subgrants to organizations charging indirect costs, please submit the applicable NICRA also as a PDF file (see “INDIRECT COST RATE” below for more information on indirect cost rates).

If your organization does NOT have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) please specify if your organization elects to charge the de Minimis rate of 10% of the Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000.” The de Minimis rate must be included in the detailed budget and an explanation must be provided in the budget narrative.

10. Monitoring and Evaluation Plan; (see TAB B below for more information on this section);

Sample templates provided as attachments under the announcement via www.grants.gov.

11. Logic Model; (see TAB B below for more information on this section); Sample templates provided as attachments under the announcement via www.grants.gov.

12. Roles and responsibilities of key program personnel with short bios that highlight relevant professional experience. This relates to the organization’s capacity. Given the limited space, CVs are not recommended for submission.

13. Timeline of the overall proposal - Components should include activities, evaluation efforts, and program closeout http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

14. A list of previous and/or current U.S. federal assistance awards received; please include the awarding agency, point of contact, name of the project, start and end dates, and amount of the award. If a list of previous and/or current U.S. federal assistance awards received cannot be provided, an explanation must be submitted with the proposal submission.

15. Program Risk Analysis: Please provide the required risk analysis information as noted in TAB B of this NOFO. (Sample template is provided as an attachment under the announcement via www.grants.gov.)

16. INL Pre Award Annual Survey – template provided by INL that reviews the organization’s financial capacity and infrastructure. (Sample template is provided as an attachment under the announcement via www.grants.gov.)

17. Attachments (not to exceed five (5) pages total, preferably in Microsoft Word) that include the following in order:

a) Additional optional attachments. Attachments may include further timeline information, letters of support, memoranda of understanding (MOU)/agreement, etc. For applicants with a large number of letters/MOUs, it may be useful to provide a list of the organizations or government agencies that support the program rather than the actual documentation.

Applications that do not include the items listed above will be deemed technically ineligible.

Note: INL retains the right to request additional documentation for those items not included on this form.

[END OF SECTION IV]

TAB A: PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

Proposals should include the following components:

• Introduction and Problem Statement

• Planned Activities

• Indicators

Problem Statement and Rationale: Describe the problem and how the project will achieve or contribute to achieving a sustainable solution and a measurable outcome. The applicant should explain the extent of existing assistance within the particular geographic area, and how the proposed intervention may complement (or differ from) other similar interventions. The implementer should also explain, as necessary, the particular experience and qualifications they bring to the project.

The rationale should also reflect understanding of the priorities and policies of the bureau/post or program with which this agreement is associated.

Planned Activities and Indicators: Describe the planned activities, and relevant stakeholders for implementation. The implementer should highlight key stakeholders and their expected role in the project, along with any…