ProCON Global NOFO.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

BUREAU OF CYBERSPACE AND DIGITAL POLICY (CDP)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): ProCON Global

This is the announcement of funding opportunity number DFOP0016574

Federal Assistance Listing/Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.665

Type of Solicitation: Open Competition

Deadline for Applications: 11:59 PM EST/EDT on 15 July 2024

Total Funding: $10,000,000.00 USD

Funding Type I: Economic Support Funds (ESF) CHIPs/ITSI

FADR Data Element 1: EG.8/Global

Anticipated Number of Awards: 1

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement

Period of Performance: 24 months

Anticipated Time to Award: August 2024

Deadline for Questions: 11:59 PM EST on 20 June 2024

Eligibility Category: U.S.- based non-profit/non-governmental organizations subject to sections 501 (c)(3) and 501 (c)(6) of the U.S. tax code

U.S. For-profit organizations or businesses.

Type of Applicant: Organizations only. Individuals not eligible to apply.

Number of Applications: One (1) per applicant organization.

*This notice is subject to availability of funding

Section A: Project Description The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) announces an open competition for organizations with the capacity and interest to carry out the project outlined in this announcement.

Pending the availability of funds, CDP anticipates awarding one (1) cooperative agreement of up to $10,000,000.00 USD. CDP reserves the right to award more or less funding or make no award as is in the best interest of the US Government.

This project is intended to be implemented globally.

A1. Background

Recognizing the growing role of technology as a cross-cutting national security issue, the State Department created the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) in April 2022 to lead and coordinate U.S. diplomacy on cyber and digital policy. The bureau addresses the national security challenges and economic opportunities presented by cyberspace and digital technologies and promotes standards and norms that are fair, transparent, and support the rights-respecting use of technology. Through robust engagement in multilateral organizations, bilateral diplomacy with partners around the world, and encouragement of responsible state behavior in cyberspace, CDP empowers U.S. leadership in cyber, digital, and technology diplomacy.

CDP deploys foreign assistance to strengthen international cooperation, create new partnerships, promote economic growth and development, and assist in the defense of our foreign partners to uphold an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet.

Calibrated cyber and digital policies help form the backbone of our deeply interconnected world, are vital to U.S. national and economic security, and are required to fully harness the transformative power of technology. As citizens around the world eagerly seek increased internet connectivity to access the tremendous opportunities afforded by digital transformation, the United States is working to ensure this connectivity is secure, meaningful, governed fairly, and serves the interests of its users. Foreign assistance programs aim to advance an affirmative vision of technology as a tool that supports collective security, prosperity, and democratic values.

More information on CDP is available at https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/deputy-secretary-of-state/bureau-of-cyberspace-and-digital-policy/.

The Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP) is an interagency initiative with global reach led by CDP and the U.S. Department of State. DCCP provides foreign assistance to partner nations to promote investments in secure, trustworthy, diverse, and resilient information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure; support the adoption of https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.state.gov.mcas.ms%2Fbureaus-offices%2Fdeputy-secretary-of-state%2Fbureau-of-cyberspace-and-digital-policy%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20892&McasCSRF=9b5cb826be098bf166781c47404229b4de16d54d7f026fac64ae43e76a3c4c11&McasTsid=20892 https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.state.gov.mcas.ms%2Fbureaus-offices%2Fdeputy-secretary-of-state%2Fbureau-of-cyberspace-and-digital-policy%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20892&McasCSRF=9b5cb826be098bf166781c47404229b4de16d54d7f026fac64ae43e76a3c4c11&McasTsid=20892 inclusive, rights-respecting, multi-stakeholder models of internet governance; grow global markets for trusted ICT goods and services; and enhance cybersecurity. CDP foreign assistance programming follows these core tenets of DCCP. More information on DCCP is available at https://www.state.gov/digital-connectivity-and-cybersecurity-partnership/.

International fiber optic cable systems are critical communications infrastructure. Undersea cables carry over 99 percent of all traffic crossing the oceans and underpin trillions of dollars in economic transactions daily, supporting high-paying jobs, increasing innovation and productivity, and spurring growth in the United States and beyond. Recent trends of increased demand on dataflow are likely to continue as U.S. companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft expand their network infrastructure and digital services through the construction and operation of new undersea cable systems, cable landing stations, and the connected software. The risks of untrusted or unreliable data infrastructure affects these well-known and well-resourced companies in the same way they impact on commercial, governmental, and private data in that it is often sensitive, highly valuable, and a known target for exploitation. To counter these threats, the United States recognizes the importance of selecting trusted vendors to supply critical communications infrastructure, and highlights the proven products, technologies, capabilities, and system security offered by trusted vendors.

A2. Strategic Program Goals and Objectives

This project directly supports the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) objective in 2.3 to “Support U.S.

technological leadership, strengthen competitiveness, and enhance and protect the U.S.

innovation base while leveraging technology to improve lives around the world.” The project supports the wider objective articulated in Goal 2 of the JSP, by creating new economic opportunities, sustainable economic growth, and resilience to systemic shocks.

The project also supports CDP’s strategic goals and objectives as outlined below:

Bureau Goal 1: Advance cyber and digital policies that align with U.S. national interests and foreign policy objectives.

• Objective 1.1: Deepen relationships with existing U.S. allies and partners, forge new partnerships, and engage with a range of countries to advance a common vision for the Internet and digital technologies.

• Objective 1.2: Leverage key multilateral fora to build relationships, advance U.S. policy priorities, and guard against positions that are counter to U.S. approaches to the Internet and digital technologies.

• Objective 1.3: Identify, enhance, cultivate, and develop strategic engagements across the private sector and multistakeholder communities.

• Objective 1.4: Increase secure and open digital connectivity and access to the Internet.

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• Objective 1.5: Implement public messaging and public diplomacy programs to expand key audiences’ understanding and support of U.S. cyber and digital policies.

The project will be managed through CDP’s Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership

(DCCP) and supports DCCP’s core pillars.

DCCP Pillars:

Pillar 1: Build Connections by promoting investments in secure, diverse, and resilient ICT infrastructure.

Pillar 2: Advance an Open, Interoperable, Reliable, and Secure Internet by promoting inclusive, rights-respecting, multi-stakeholder models of internet governance and pro-competition, pro-innovation digital economy policies and regulations.

Pillar 3: Grow Global Markets for U.S. ICT goods and services, especially high-quality, interoperable, secure ICT equipment, software, and services.

Pillar 4: Enhance Cybersecurity by increasing adoption and implementation of cybersecurity best practices.

Strategic Alignment

CDP, through the ProCON Global project, seeks to advance the objectives of Section 102(c) of the CHIPS and Science Act under the Secure and Trusted ICT line of effort, and leverage the CHIPS for America International Technology Security and Innovation Fund (ITSI) to deploy secure ICT ecosystems. This programming also aligns with the Administration’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) and complements regional initiatives through consultative processes across relevant interagency and State bureaus.

Program Description

The overall goal of ProCON Global is to promote open, interoperable, reliable, and secure commercial undersea cable systems around the world. The project will provide technical assistance to key decision-makers, including policymakers, regulators, and technology companies in emerging economies, to promote evaluation processes and investment in secure and trusted vendors when establishing undersea cable network supply chains. Technology companies include telecommunications operators/carriers, major technology and security firms, innovators, and content and cloud providers.

The ProCON Global project will provide targeted regional and national-level technical advisory support to raise awareness of the security risks and quality/reliability issues with using untrusted vendors to build and maintain undersea cables globally. The project will also address the importance of redundancy and resiliency of undersea cables landing infrastructure. ProCON

Global will highlight the market ramifications of choosing untrusted vendors, including the significant commercial limitations purchasers will face in monetizing system capacity, when doing business with vendors headquartered in countries with weak rule of law. ProCON Global will identify trusted vendors for procurement of equipment and identify service opportunities associated with undersea cable deployment, operation, and maintenance. ProCON Global will provide partner government officials, industry actors, and other stakeholders with advisory support to develop undersea cables strategies, consider undersea cables as critical infrastructure, and develop policies and laws on undersea cables. ProCON Global will also provide technical assistance to improve the business and regulatory environments for undersea cables across their lifecycle.

This technical assistance will promote the use of trusted vendors for installation and maintenance of undersea cable systems, intergovernmental and commercial alliances, and diplomacy for the promotion of undersea cable routes and access that reduces overall risk. ProCON Global seeks to ensure the continued expansion of world-wide connectivity and broadband through the development of new undersea cables and ensuring that operations, repair, and maintenance of existing cables are conducted by trusted vendors. The ProCON

Global implementer will conduct an overview of current, planned, and anticipated global undersea cables to inform the Department's ongoing policies, engagements, and strategic programming direction for foreign assistance. ProCON Global will also provide current and projected country-based analysis on all aspects of undersea cables, including the use (and/or anticipated) trusted or untrusted vendors for operations and maintenance activities. This analysis will inform foreign beneficiaries and key stakeholders of connectivity opportunities and potential partnerships to maximize access to secure and trusted ICT ecosystems. Additionally, these activities should equip policymakers, regulators, and private sector stakeholders to make informed policy decisions against the security risks, vulnerabilities, quality, and reliability issues associated with using untrusted vendors for commercial undersea cable systems.

In support of expanding secure and trusted undersea connectivity efforts, this project will include a workstream via sub-awards dedicated to a ProCON Global capital expenditure (CapEx) and operating expenditure (OpEx) incubator to support existing private sector infrastructure efforts to expand undersea connectivity and associated ecosystems.

A3. Project Goals, Objectives, Expected Outcomes, Activities, Indicators, and

Sustainability

ProCON Global will promote the use of trusted vendors for installation and maintenance or repair of undersea cable systems, the use of undersea cable routes that reduce overall risk and expand connectivity and broadband Internet by promoting the development of new, trusted undersea cable systems.

ProCON Global will engage with key decision-makers including policymakers, regulators, and technology companies (to include telecommunications operators/carriers, major technology firms, and content and cloud providers), to implement processes that evaluate and select trusted vendors when establishing their undersea cable network supply chain.

Objectives

Objective 1: Increase understanding of policymakers, regulators, public and private sector stakeholders on the security risks, vulnerabilities, and quality/reliability issues with using untrusted vendors for commercial undersea cable and associated ecosystems.

Objective 2: Improve regulatory, investment and commercial environments that promote the procurement, repair, and maintenance of secure and trusted undersea cable systems.

Objective 3: Increase the use of trusted vendors for installation, repair, and maintenance of undersea cable systems and promote the use of undersea cable routes that reduce overall risk.

Objective 4: Increase trusted global undersea cable routes to ensure diversity, redundancy, and resiliency.

Expected Outcomes

ProCON Global is a direct response to telecommunications infrastructure and down-stream service needs that would enable:

• A positive and affirmative view of an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet.

• An increase in secure, trusted, reliable, connectivity in underserved communities.

• An increase in understanding of policymakers, regulators, and private sector stakeholders on the security risks, vulnerabilities and quality/reliability issues with using untrusted vendors for commercial undersea cable systems and the ability to take action to address those risks.

• Data flowing freely and securely throughout the global network of undersea cables and their connected installations and software.

• Increased global data pathways: diversity, redundancy, and resiliency.

• Governments to designate undersea cables as critical infrastructure.

• Governments to agree to land trusted undersea cables and commit to using trusted undersea cables.

• Implementation of new or improved strategies and screening procedures when selecting vendors for commercial fiber-optic undersea cable systems.

• Regulations introduced to exclude untrusted suppliers and facilitate Cabotage.

Activities

To achieve the expected project outcomes, the project must include, but not limited to, the following:

1. National and Regional Capacity Building Workshops

• Improve the understanding of and ability to take action by policymakers and private sector stakeholders on undersea cable security and the importance of trusted suppliers along the entire ICT infrastructure security continuum, which includes undersea cables, submarine landing terminal equipment (SLTE), data centers, terrestrial telecom equipment, and their connected software.

o Key audiences including regulators, policy makers, and commercial market actors including mobile network operators (MNOs).

o Capacity building events and/or trainings should be incremented with increases in the level of complexity or in unusual circumstances, developed for a specified need identified by State. (i.e. mean-time-to-repair, cabotage, alternative/contingency cable routing, and workforce development.)

• Expand and deepen knowledge base through follow-on events or bespoke trainings after the initial workshops with key country officials to meet the needs of specific audiences.

• Increase advisory support to include the development of undersea cables strategies.

• Improve the business environment for undersea cables, including by addressing technical, legal, and regulatory obstacles that undersea cable firms face (e.g. cable licenses/permits and repairs).

• Development of an alumni network based on the participants who participate in the workshops.

• Implementer will work with CDP to identify and finalize workshop locations and priority participants. At a minimum, CDP expects:

o Trainings may be in person or virtual, but at least 2 in-person multilateral workshops and 4 virtual bilateral workshops annually.

o Coordination of approach schedule in priority regions to be covered including, but not limed to: Africa, Indo-Pacific (East Asia, South Asia, Pacific, and Southeast

Asia) Western Hemisphere (Caribbean, Central America, South America) and

Middle East, with a minimum number of 10 persons trained per workshop.

• The implementer will recommend to CDP the countries of highest need based on industry trends and needs analysis. Additional workshops countries/participants will be identified by CDP based on need and opportunity.

• Amplify the importance of secure and trusted undersea cable connectivity and associated ecosystems.

2. National and Regional Technical Assistance

• The implementer will be prepared to provide technical assistance to identified partners at the direction of CDP.

• Support on vendor selections and procurement processes, screening procedures, financing and design criteria. (i.e. wet segment, fronthaul, backhaul, cable landing stations, or data centers).

• Threat briefings and technical assistance on the security and protection of undersea cables.

• Support on market dynamics, maintenance and operations, legal issues, innovations, and new technologies related to commercial undersea cable systems.

• Routine analysis on connectivity vulnerabilities and opportunities related to foreign assistance eligible countries. This analysis could include, but not limited to:

o Undersea connectivity policy developments (multilateral and bilateral) o Attacks on undersea cable infrastructure (physical or digital) o Cabotage o Licensing and permitting issues o Highlighting new or anticipated cable opportunities (not only in existing high priority countries) o Reports on specific countries (desk studies) o Identify new and emerging technologies such as Smart Cables, also known as intelligent or active cables, that include embedded electronics or additional features beyond what traditional cables offer.

o Vulnerability assessments in:

▪ Existing and proposed cable networks

▪ Operations and Management (O&M)

3. Establish a Capital Expenditure (CapEx) and Operating Expenditure (OpEx) incubator to enable the expansion and security of undersea connectivity and associated ecosystems to emerging economies.

• Provide sub-grants and/or sub-contracts as required to enable the expansion and security of undersea cables and associated ecosystems to underserved communities and emerging economies. This includes but is not limited to the acquisition and installation of physical infrastructure of branching units, spurs, cable landing stations and required terrestrial infrastructure.

• Provide sub grants and/or subcontracts to provide O&M support as required.

• Identify and leverage on-going public and private sector efforts to increase undersea connectivity.

The ProCON Global project will engage policymakers, regulators, and telecommunications companies in select regions and countries. While ProCON Global is global in nature, CDP will work with the implementer to finalize the list of targeted countries.

The project will incorporate U.S. Government experts, including but not limited to the

Department of State, the Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of

Homeland Security, Development Finance Corporation, and Export-Import Bank as well as private sector, academia, civil society, and likeminded partners. The project may also incorporate government experts and industry from likeminded countries.

Performance Indicators

The implementer will monitor and report on certain standard indicators CDP collects across all of its projects (see list below) and will also develop project-specific indicators unique to the project’s operating context and expected milestones and results. Some CDP standard indicators require reporting on disaggregates. Definition sheets for CDP indicators will be provided to implementing partners. CDP and implementers will discuss the final set of indicators for the project and ensure definitions and data collection methodologies are clear. All training delivered by implementers must include a method for assessing what knowledge or skills were gained by participants, which will be discussed and agreed upon with CDP.

For each indicator, implementers will establish, where possible, baseline data and expected performance targets. Implementers will be expected to include details on what sources of data will be used to document performance, methods for how the indicators will be measured, and data quality measures and systems in place to ensure consistent and accurate data collection and reporting to CDP.

All applicable indicators should be included in the ProCON Global proposal. The implementer will be responsible for quarterly progress reporting on each performance indicator or milestone included in the final award agreement and monitoring plan as well as analysis of progress or impediments.

In addition to project-specific indicators to monitor key milestones and progress to keep the project on track, implementers will report against relevant indicators within the performance management plan CDP established under the auspices of the Digital Connectivity and

Cybersecurity Program (DCCP). DCCP indicators for this project will include, but not limited to:

Indicator 1: (project specific) 1.1 - Number of people receiving technical assistance on secure, reliable, and trustworthy equipment and services related to undersea cables.

• a. Number of government officials

• b. Number of private sector stakeholders

• c. Number of males

• d. Number of females

• f. Country of origin of individuals

Selection of participation will be aligned with U.S. government diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility principles.

Indicator 2: DCCP 1.3 - Number of new or improved measures adopted with USG assistance to restrict the use of untrusted telecom/ICT vendors. (Outcome)

Indicator 3: DCCP 1.5 - Number of national or sub-national telecom/ICT, Internet, or digital strategies developed or improved with USG assistance (Outcome)

Indicator 4: DCCP 1.6 Number of people trained in telecom/ICT, digital, or cyber issues with USG support. (Output)

Indicator 5: DCCP 1.7 Number of people trained on telecom/ICT or digital issues who demonstrate improved knowledge or skill. (Output)

Indicator 6: DCCP 1.8 - Number of USG supported fora held to convene key stakeholders for technical assistance or to discuss telecom/ICT or digital issues or best practices. (Output)

Upon final award, CDP and the selected partner will meet to discuss a final set of DCCP standard indicators as well as project-specific indicators.

A4. Key Considerations

The following list of program considerations is provided to help applicant(s) develop a responsive, robust proposal. Strong preference will be given to applicant(s) that:

• Demonstrate administrative and technical capacity and experience in administering successful and similar projects with a global participant base.

• Demonstrate thoughtful project design to address the key objectives and activities for the target audiences described in the NOFO.

• Demonstrate thoughtful monitoring and evaluation and report results.

• Prove existing, collaborative, and successful partnerships with U.S. and foreign partners on issues and engagements related to cybersecurity and digital policy including undersea cable infrastructure and technology and related policies.

• Demonstrate adherence to ethical best practices including “do no harm” and gender equity.

All applicants will also be required to address the entirety of Sections A.3 and A.4. within this NOFO in the completion of the Draft Scope of Work attached to this NOFO (see Section D.2.1, item #5).

Section B: Federal Award Information

Organizations may submit one application per organization in response to this NOFO. If more than one application is submitted by an organization, only the first application received will be reviewed for eligibility and funding.

The U.S. government reserves the right to: (a) reject any or all applications, (b) accept other than the lowest cost application, (c) accept more than one application, and (d) waive irregularities in applications received.

The U.S. government may make award(s) based on initial applications 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 (though it is under no obligation to do so), to enter discussions with one or more applicants in order to obtain clarifications, additional detail, or to suggest refinements in the project description, budget, or other aspects of an application.

CDP anticipates awarding a cooperative agreement. The final determination on award mechanism will be made by the Grants Officer.

The authority for this funding opportunity is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), as amended. Several funding restrictions apply, to include country applicant restrictions. Must at a minimum include citations for authorizing statutes and regulations (see on Cover Page).

To maximize the impact and sustainability of the award(s) that result(s) from this NOFO, CDP reserves the right to execute a non-competitive continuation amendment(s). The total duration of any award, including potential non-competitive continuation amendments, shall not exceed 54 months, or four and a half years. Any non-competitive continuation is contingent on availability of funds, and satisfactory performance of the program. A non-competitive continuation is not guaranteed, and the Department of State reserves the right to exercise or not exercise this option.

The distinction between grants and cooperative agreements revolves around the existence of “substantial involvement.” Cooperative agreements require greater federal government participation in the project. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, CDP will undertake reasonable and programmatically necessary substantial involvement. Examples of substantial involvement could include but are not limited to:

• Active participation or collaboration with the recipient in the implementation of the award.

• Review and approval of one stage of work before another can begin.

• Collaboration on selection and/or review and approval of sub-award partnerships or sub-contracts beyond existing federal policy.

• Approval of the recipient’s budget or plan of work prior to the award.

CDP will specify the areas of substantial involvement in the final award document.

Section C: Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants CDP welcomes applications from U.S.-based non-profit organizations subject to section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) status of the U.S. tax code and U.S. for-profit organizations.

Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the Merit Review Panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures.

Please see 2 CFR 200.307 for regulations regarding program income.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching Providing cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an eligibility factor or requirement for this NOFO and providing cost share will not result in a more favorable competitive ranking.

Per 2 CFR §200.306, items that are proposed for cost share must be allowable per 2 CFR §200, Subpart E—Costs Principles.

C3. Other To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (UEI), as well as a valid registration on SAM.gov. Please see Section D3.2 for information on how to obtain these registrations.

Applicants must be organizations, and only one application will be considered for each applicant organization. If more than one application is submitted by the same organization, only the first received will be reviewed for eligibility and funding.

Please note, any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and/or has a current debt to the U.S. government 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 or person listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov to ensure that no ineligible entity or person is included in their application.

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Section D: Application and Submission Information

D1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms, and other required materials are available at Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) and MyGrants (https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com) under the announcement title “PROCON Global,” and funding opportunity number “DFOP0016574”. Once the NOFO deadline has passed, the Department of State may not discuss this competition with any applicant until the proposal review process has been completed. If requesting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or for security reasons, please contact the CDP point of contact listed in Section G. Please note that reasonable accommodations do not include deadline extensions.

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission For all application documents, please ensure:

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

• All documents are in English (original documents that are in another language must be accompanied by an English translation)

• All budgets are in U.S. dollars

• For documents subject to page limitations, all pages are numbered

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

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

• Captions and footnotes may be 10-point Calibri font

Any prospective applicant who has questions concerning the contents of this NOFO should submit them by email to the contacts listed in Section G. Any updates about this NOFO will also be posted on Grants.gov.

D2.1 Application Requirements Complete applications must include the following:

1. Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424A, as well as SF-424B, if applicable.

2. Organizations that engage in lobbying the U.S. government, including Congress, or pay for another entity to lobby on their behalf, are also required to complete the SF-LLL “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” form.

3. Cover Page and Executive Summary (not to exceed three [3] pages, preferably as a Word Document). Includes the organization name, project title, proposed target country or countries, and name and contact information for the application’s main point of contact and brief section that clearly outlines the (1) the problem statement addressed by the project (2) research-based evidence justifying the applicant’s approach, and (3) quantifiable project outcomes and impacts.

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4. Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten [10] pages, preferably as a Word Document).

Please note the ten-page limit does not include the following:

• SF-forms listed above

• Cover Page and Executive Summary

• Scope of Work

• Project Design and Logic Model

• Project Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

• Detailed Budget

• Budget Narrative – If the Budget includes subawards, please include a separate Budget Narrative for each organization.

• Timeline/Milestones

• Key Personnel Summary, CVs or Resumes (per person)

• Contingency Plan

• Additional Required Attachments (Audit, NICRA, etc.)

• Optional Sections (if applicable, see page 15)

The Proposal Narrative must include the following:

• Introduction to the Organization: Description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the project, including information on all relevant or similar type projects from previous grants from the Bureau and/or U.S.

government agencies.

• Problem Statement: Clear, concise, and well-supported statement that summarizes the problem and how the applicant’s unique project/approach will address it and support CDP’s Strategic Goals and Objectives.

• Project Goal: The goal describes the larger outcomes intended.

• Project Objectives: The intermediate accomplishments and measurable targets to achieve a goal. Objectives of the project should be SMART:

o Specific: Detailed and specifies what will be achieved o Measurable: Has associated metrics or measurements of success o Attainable: Appropriately challenging, objectives can be reasonably attained given the available resources o Relevant: Aligns with the policy/program goal and is appropriate for the country or beneficiary audience o Time-Bound: Achievable within the timeframe of the project

• Project Activities: Specific actions taken under Objective. All activities should be clearly developed and sufficiently explain the resource and time requirements (inputs) and things done or produced (outputs). Activities should detail target areas participant groups or selection criteria for participants; how relevant stakeholders will be engaged; actions taken by local partners as appropriate/relevant.

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

Include ways project activities will ensure sustainability.

• Risk Analysis: Internal and external risks associated with the proposed project, rate the likelihood of the risks, rate the potential impact of the risks on the project, and identify actions that could help mitigate the risks.

5. Scope of Work (SOW). Applicants should use the ProCON Global Draft Scope of Work

Template (See Tab 1) provided with this NOFO. The SOW should provide a summary of the applicant’s unique approach to the following as indicated in Section 4.

6. Proposal Narrative:

• Project Goal

• Project Objectives

• Project Activities

• Project Indicators: Applicants should identify key indicators and milestones to measure progress towards project goals and objectives. Methods for collecting and monitoring project indicators should be described and those responsible for doing so identified.

• Sustainability

6. Project Logic Model (preferably as a Word Document). Building out a logic model with an accompanying theory of change can be helpful when planning and designing a program, project or activity. These tools can be used to visually depict or outline how and why a project will work—i.e., the rationale behind your project approach. Detailing how a project’s planned activities lead to certain outputs and outcomes can help applicants understand any underlying assumptions within their approach. Detailing factors outside your control, such as policy shifts, within a logic model can identify areas that should be included within your project’s risk analysis. The project design and logic model will include:

• Theory of change - a description of how and why you believe the logic model will work as planned, including any evidence or data to support these assertions.

• Logic model(s) with planned activities, outputs (the immediate services or product of project activities, and outcomes (expected changes or benefits that occur after activities have been implemented). One logic model representing the entire scope of the project can be prepared, or partners may develop one logic model for each goal or objective.

Applicants are encouraged to use the provided ProCON Global Project Logic Model Template (See Tab 2) but are welcome to use their own templates as long as they provide the requisite information for thorough review of the proposed project.

7. Draft Project Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (preferably as a Word Document). This post-award document contains the indicators and milestones the implementer will use to assess progress and results toward project goals and objectives, and a description of how it will be carried out, and by whom. It:

• Explains how the project’s performance toward its objectives will be tracked over time.

• Identifies all performance indicators and milestones the project will report against, and describe the indicator type, baseline values (if known), performance targets (for output indicators), data sources, and collection methods for each indicator or milestone (e.g., surveys, site visits, sign-in sheets, etc.).

• Describes what internal systems (e.g., IT systems, databases) and personnel (who is responsible for what) the implementer has in place to ensure data quality and integrity, and how data will be collected and securely stored so accurate results can be reported to CDP.

• Identifies what, if any, external evaluations will be conducted.

A sample ProCON Global Project Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Template (see Tab 3) is provided with this NOFO. Applicants are encouraged to refer to the Defining M&E Terms in Tab 2 for concise explanations of M&E terms and definitions used by the Department of State. The final plan will be due 30 days post award for CDP approval.

8. Detailed Budget (Excel workbook strongly preferred; please do not provide as a PDF).

Include three (3) columns containing the request to CDP, any cost sharing contribution, and the total budget. A Summary Budget should also be included using the OMB-approved budget categories (see SF-424A as a sample) in a separate tab. Costs must be in U.S. Dollars. Detailed line-item budgets for sub-grantees should be included as additional tabs within the Excel workbook (if available at the time of submission). Please use provided ProCon Global Project Budget Template (See Tab 4).

9. Budget Narrative: Justify each line-item in the budget and explain how the amounts were derived, consistency with the applicants’ documented policies, as well as the source and description of all proposed costs (and cost-share, if applicable). The narrative should complement the budget rather than repeat information provided in the budget.

For example, the narrative should provide details on the purpose of costs, reasonability of costs, cost price analysis, explain allocations, explain any yearly variances, and tie expenses to project activities and/or objectives where appropriate. Sources of all cost-share offered in the application should be identified and explained in the budget narrative. Please use the provided ProCON Global Project Budget Narrative Template (See Tab 5).

10. Timeline/Milestones (not to exceed one [1] page per year of proposed performance period, preferably as a Word Document or Excel Sheet). The timeline of the overall proposal should include activities, and monitoring and evaluation efforts outlined in either a monthly or quarterly format. It should also include sufficient time for project closeout to conduct and finalize internal/external evaluations and allow any sub-recipients time for final reporting.

11. Summary of Key Personnel and Subject Matter Experts (not to exceed four [4] pages, preferably as a Word Document). This can represent staff within your organization or outside of your organization (subgrantee, consultants, contractors), who are integral to the success of the project. Provides names, titles, roles, and bios that highlight relevant experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the project.

12. Contingency Plan (not to exceed three (3) pages) for proposed activities should the originally planned activities not be able to be implemented. Applicants should demonstrate consideration of the risks identified in the submitted risk assessment and include specific alternative activities or locations as part of the Contingency Plan. Any proposed “plan” must comply with 2CFR200.433 – Contingency provisions.

13. Additional Required Attachments:

• Audit: An audit or an explanation for the lack of an audit is required. Please review the bulleted items below carefully.

• If your organization meets the threshold as defined in 2 CFR 200 Subpart F, then your organization must submit a PDF of its most recent ‘single audit’.

• If your organization does not currently meet the 2 CFR 200 requirement and has not had a ‘single audit’ within the last three fiscal years, then your organization must submit its most recent audit (within the last three years) independent financial audit, as a PDF.

• If your organization has not been independently audited within the last three years, then it must explain the reason for the lack of an audit and provide an independent confirmation of the adequacy of its internal controls.

• Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA): Your latest NICRA letter should be included as a PDF file if your organization has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the budget. This document will not be reviewed by the Merit Review Panel but will be used by project and grant team if the submission is recommended for funding. Organizations that have previously established indirect cost rates must submit timely indirect cost proposals to their cognizant agency as required by Appendix III & IV of 2 CFR 200. If indirect cost proposals have not been submitted for re-negotiation, as required, out-of-date NICRAs may not be considered. If your proposal involves subawards to organizations charging indirect costs, please submit their NICRA, if applicable.

• Letters of support from any partner or partners identified in the proposal whose role is central to the project achieving its objectives should describe the roles and responsibilities of each partner. No letter of support is required for goods or services that are widely available commercially.

Applications that do not include the elements listed above will be deemed technically ineligible. To ensure that all applications receive a balanced evaluation, the review panel will review from the first page of each section up to the page limit and no further.

D.2.2 Additional Information Requested for Those Receiving Conditional Notification Letter

Successful applicants must submit, after Conditional Notification Letter, but prior to issuance of a federal award:

• Written responses and revised application documents addressing conditions and recommendations from the review panel.

• A copy of the applicant’s latest NICRA as a PDF file, if the applicant has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the budget.

• A completed copy of the Department’s Financial Management Survey, if receiving USG funding for the first time.

• Submission of required documents to register in the Payment Management System managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, if receiving CDP funding for the first time (unless an exemption is provided).

• Other requested information or documents included in the Conditional Notification Letter or subsequent communications prior to issuance of a federal award.

• Applicants who submit their applications through Grants.gov will be required to create a MyGrants account ( MyGrants (ILMS Service Portal - ILMS Support Desk (servicenowservices.com) in order to accept the final award. Accounts must be logged into to every 60 days in order to maintain an active account. maintain an active account.

D3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with 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.

The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number. Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee.

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 and advise proposed sub-grantees to do so as well.

• 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 https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com/mygrants https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms

Service (IRS) and a UEI number issued through SAM.gov. Once the UEI number is received continue with the remainder of the SAM.gov registration.

All prime 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. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM.gov and to maintain that active registration. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements at the time of application, the applicant may be deemed technically ineligible to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

Note: SAM.gov is not the same as MyGrants. It is free to register in both systems, but the registration processes are different.

Information is included on the SAM.gov website to help international registrations:

https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0016380&sys_kb_id=1 94695221bfe4d983565ed3ce54bcbbb&spa=1

Please note, guidance on SAM.gov and the guidance on GSA’s website about requirement for registering in SAM.gov is subject to change at any time. Applicants should review the website frequently for the most up-to-date guidance.

D3.1 SAM.gov and UEI Exemptions An exemption from the UEI and sam.gov registration requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if:

• An applicant’s identity must be protected due to potential endangerment of their mission, their organization’s status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applicant.

• For an applicant, if the federal awarding agency makes a determination that there are exigent circumstances that prohibit the applicant from receiving a unique entity identifier and completing SAM.gov registration prior to receiving a federal award. In these instances, federal awarding agencies must require the recipient to obtain a unique entity identifier and complete SAM.gov registration within 30 days of the federal award date.

Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in Section G of 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.

D3.2 Registering in MyGrants and Grants.gov https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov.mcas.ms%2Fgsafsd_sp%3Fid%3Dkb_article_view%26sysparm_article%3DKB0016380%26sys_kb_id%3D194695221bfe4d983565ed3ce54bcbbb%26spa%3D1%26McasTsid%3D20892&McasCSRF=9b5cb826be098bf166781c47404229b4de16d54d7f026fac64ae43e76a3c4c11…