Promoting eSports Industry NOFO.pdf

-1-

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs

Office of Assistance Coordination Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 19.500

Promoting the eSports Industry in the MENA region Opportunity Number:SFOP0005222

Key Information:

Announcement Type: New

Date Opened: 6/19/2018 Deadline for Questions & Notification of Intent to Apply:

7/10/2018

Application Deadline: 8/1/2018 Expected Date of Notification: 9/28/2018 Federal Agency Contact: Seema Matin

NEA-Grants@state.gov

-2-

Funding Opportunity Synopsis

Electronic sports (eSports) refers to organized video gaming events or tournaments that culminate in championships at a regional and/or international level, with professional and amateur players competing against one another. eSports is an emerging market poised for great potential in the Middle East and North Africa region. Shared revenue of the video gaming industry in the Middle East was conservatively valuated at $3 billion in 2017, with the largest markets including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, according to

Statista. The eSports industry has already generated $1.5 billion in revenue in 2017 and is projected to bring in $2.3 billion by 2022, according to SuperData. In 2017, Middle East and

Africa were estimated to have 587 million online gamers. The MENA market is currently growing at a rate of 25 percent yearly, and the region is ahead of other fast growing markets such as Latin America at 13.9 percent growth and East Asia/ Pacific region at 9.2 percent growth. The

MENA market also contrasts with larger markets where growth is slowly stagnating - such as

North America (4 percent) and Western Europe (4.8 percent).

Through this funding opportunity, NEA/AC seeks to develop this emerging market and promote

U.S. economic interests by encouraging the U.S. private sector to both invest in and facilitate partnerships in the nascent eSports industry in the MENA region. Activities may include but are not limited to: introducing new ways of monetizing teams, players, and sponsorships; media rights/promotion, regular competitions and platform development, locally-developed games, league infrastructure, etc. This initiative will spur the growth of eSports in the region and help address some hurdles to making it a financially viable career option for the region’s youth.

Eligible Countries and Territories:

In this announcement, we seek to support projects with activities in Algeria, Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. Locations of activities and project beneficiaries will be determined through program design and implementation. No activities may physically take place in United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Yemen, Syria or Iraq. As a program intended to benefit MENA stakeholders, the majority of activities should take place in the

MENA region.

All applications must be submitted in English. Applicants may submit only one (1) application. Complete information on how applicants can submit proposals for this opportunity can be found in Section VI below.

Background Information about NEA/AC: The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of

Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) offers Economic Support

Fund (ESF) assistance to groups and individuals striving to bring about positive change in the

Middle East-North Africa region. The Assistance Coordination Office works in 20 countries and territories, partnering with governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), community leaders, youth and women activists and private sector groups to advance their efforts. Competitively selected projects aim to foster participatory governance, economic reform, and educational advancement in response to local interest and needs.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/500046/gaming-revenue-countries-middle-east-africa/

-3-

Table of Contents

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. PROBLEM STATEMENT

B. ACHIEVABLE OBJECTIVES

C. PROJECT DESIGN

D. DEFINITIONS

MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

AWARD INFORMATION

SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT ............................................................................................................... - 9 -

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION ....................................................................................................................... - 9 -

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS ................................................................................................................................ - 10 - B. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................ - 10 - C. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS .............................................................................................. - 12 -

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

B. APPLICATION FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

C. SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

D. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

FUNDING LIMITATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

APPLICATION REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

A. APPLICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

ADMINSTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

C. TRAVEL NOTIFICATIONS

D. BRANDING AND MARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTEES

E. UEI NUMBER REQUIREMENT FOR SUB AWARDEES

F. SUB AWARDEE REPORTING REQUIREMENT

AGENCY CONTACTS

DISCLAIMER

-4-

APPENDICES (Posted with NOFO)

APPENDIX 1— Budget Sample Template and Budget Narrative Guidance APPENDIX 2— Logic Model Template APPENDIX 3— Application Guidance

-5-

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Aligned with the U.S. Government’s Economic Reform objective, this funding opportunity seeks to advance U.S. economic interests in the MENA region while bolstering the nascent eSports industry. This initiative will advance and promote the industry to become a part of the mainstream private sector, encouraging formalization of business development and economic growth. Through partnerships, technical assistance, and joint ventures with the private sector from the U.S. and other regions, this initiative will develop and implement business strategies and models to monetize the industry. Further, it will create a viable career option for youth in the region by participating on teams or by producing innovative regional and local gaming and eSports content.

Many governments in the MENA are now focusing on and highlighting eSports through independent associations, notably in Egypt, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia, according to Saeed

Sharaf, the CEO of eSports Middle East. In fact, Saudi Arabia has recently designated an official governmental representation for competitive gaming.

In the United States, major brands associated with traditional sports see the market potential of digital gaming. Companies from diverse sectors such as Audi, Mercedes Benz, Coca-Cola, Red

Bull, T-Mobil, Intel, Arby’s, and Gillette are lured by the largely male demographic in their twenties who normally are difficult to reach via traditional media and advertising. Traditional sports organizations (Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, etc.) as well as the overall NBA franchise have also started to invest in the U.S. eSports industry by acquiring teams or setting up leagues. Media giants such as ESPN and NBC Sports have included eSports as part of content and news they cover. All of these investment trends have increased global awareness and acceptance of eSports.

A. PROBLEM STATEMENT

Electronic sports (eSports) refers to organized video gaming events or tournaments that culminate in championships at a regional and/or international level, with professional and amateur players competing against one another. The rapidly growing phenomenon surrounding eSports continues to gather steam, as the intersection of gaming and sports offers an innovative wave of branding opportunities, engaging content, and user activations for millions around the world. eSports is an emerging market poised for great potential in the Middle East and North

Africa (MENA) region. Shared revenue of the video gaming industry in the Middle East was conservatively valuated at $3 billion in 2017, with the biggest markets including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, according to Statista. It is not a surprise considering the fact that both UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the countries with the highest smartphone penetrations in the world, standing at 80.6 percent and 65.2 percent, respectively. In addition, Saudi Arabia is the largest gaming market in the region, with gaming revenue reaching $651 million. Last year, Saudi Arabia made it on the list of top 20 countries by game revenue, according to SuperData. In fact, the eSports industry has already generated $1.5 billion of revenue in 2017 and projected to bring in $2.3 billion by 2022. As the youngest region in the world, people ages 15-29 make up at least 25 percent of the MENA population.

-6-

The U.S. private sector is interested in engaging this market. In 2017, the Middle East and Africa were estimated to have 587 million online gamers. While that population accounts for only 3.6 percent of the $108.9 billion gaming market, it is the region with the highest growth rate globally according to Lara Noujaim, director of publishing of Game Cooks. The MENA market is currently growing at a rate of 25 percent annually, and the region is ahead of other fast growing markets such as Latin America at 13.9 percent growth and East Asia/Pacific region at 9.2 percent growth. It also contrasts with larger markets where growth is slowly stagnating - such as North

America (4 percent) and Western Europe (4.8 percent).

There are still challenges in wide adoption of the idea of eSports in the region such as the perception that gaming is a recreational activity or a luxury. Most importantly, it is perceived to have a lack of financial stability for professional players in the region. Therefore, supporting and promoting an ecosystem of professional teams and competitions can greatly assist in defusing these perceptions, while pushing the eSports industry into the mainstream.

Thus, the MENA emerging market requires expertise to introduce new ways of monetizing teams, players, sponsorships, media rights/promotion, regular competitions and platform development, locally-developed games, league infrastructure, etc. Such an initiative would push the growth of eSports in the region and help address some hurdles to making it a financially viable career option for the region’s youth. There is an opportunity for the U.S. private sector to engage with local partners to gain a foothold in this nascent yet emerging market. U.S. gaming and tech companies could provide support through but not limited to: assistance in game development for local and regional content, eSports management, and/or other frontier technologies.

B. ACHIEVABLE OBJECTIVES

Through this funding opportunity, NEA/AC seeks to develop the emerging market of electronic sports (eSports) and promote U.S. economic interests by encouraging the U.S. private sector to invest in and facilitate partnerships in the nascent eSports industry in the MENA region.

A successful project will result in:

1) Promotion and formation of partnerships between the U.S. private sector and local gaming and eSports industry practitioners, businesses, backers, local and regional governments, and teams for increased collaboration in an emerging media market in the MENA.

2) Improve the potential of the nascent eSports industry by increasing business and investments in the eSports industry and by leveraging the United States’ status as a leader in the eSports industry.

C. PROJECT DESIGN

NEA/AC seeks to support projects that will encourage the U.S. private sector to invest in and facilitate partnerships and investment in the nascent eSports industry. Funds are available to

-7-support projects with potential to promote this objective through activities that seek to do the following:

Building Industry

1. Create and implement strategies to move eSports into a mainstream component of the MENA private sector by partnering with MENA stakeholders and implementing business models to monetize the industry.

2. Create or facilitate regional collaboration between MENA countries who are at different stages of the eSports/Gaming industry.

Partnership with U.S.

3. Facilitate matchmaking and form partnerships between MENA gaming and eSports industry entities and the U.S. market and other regions.

4. Engage the U.S. private sector in continuous collaboration to identify (and potentially address) areas for improvement to make the MENA eSports industry more attractive for investment and partnerships.

Technical Assistance

5. Provide technical assistance and other resources for local or regional gaming and eSports content development.

6. Work with private sector/industry partners to provide expertise or technical assistance on managing eSports teams and businesses, mentoring local talent, and leveraging a network of business sponsors and industry experts.

Note: Applicants should read this NOFO in its entirety before writing their proposal, and should refer to the full Evaluation Criteria provided in Section VII while drafting all materials.

The following activities and costs are NOT ALLOWED under this announcement:

Exchange activities with other countries or territories;

Online gambling;

Social welfare projects: Paying to complete activities begun with other funds;

Activities that appear partisan or that support individual or party electoral campaigns;

Academic or analytical research (if not necessary as part of a larger project);

One-time events, such as stand-alone conferences and one-off round tables;

Medical and psychological research and clinical studies;

Cultural presentations, cultural research, cultural clubs, or festivals, etc.; and

Entertainment costs (e.g., receptions, social activities, ceremonies, alcoholic beverages, guided tours).

NOTE: Applications that include any of these activities or costs above may be eliminated at

-8-the Technical Eligibility Review stage and will not advance to the Merit Review Panel.

D. DEFINITIONS

The following are definitions of activities accepted under this announcement:

eSports: Electronic sports (eSports) refers to organized video gaming events or tournaments that culminate in championships at a regional and/or international level, with professional and amateur players competing against one another. Online gambling platforms are not included as a part of this activity and are not allowable.

MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

Applicants shall provide a logic model to demonstrate how the proposed project (including activities, the project design, and the surrounding context) will achieve the stated objectives. The logic model statements can be generated using the template in Appendix II.

Successful applicants will work with the NEA/AC program and monitoring and evaluation

(M&E) teams to create a plan based on the proposed logic model to measure qualitative and quantitative indicators as part of the award negotiations process. The successful applicants will be responsible for collecting data against these indicators, which will be monitored throughout the period of performance of the award to gauge necessary modifications to the project’s design, and assess the results of the project’s success in meeting expected outcomes.

AWARD INFORMATION

Funding Mechanism Type: Cooperative Agreement

Estimated Number of Awards: 1

Estimated Total Program Funding: $300,000

Estimated Award Ceiling: $300,000

Estimated Award Floor: $150,000

Cost-Sharing or Matching: Required

Estimated Length of Project Period: 12-24 months

Contingent on the availability of funds, up to approximately $300,000 in Economic Support

Funds for approximately 1 award will be awarded through this announcement. If selected to receive an award, an applicant will be awarded funds for up to two (2) years, depending on the activities and countries proposed. The estimated start date for this project is October 1, 2018.

NEA/AC reserves the right to award more or less than the estimated program funding, and reserves the right to award funding under this announcement for a period of up to two years after the announcement’s close date.

- 9 -

This request for full applications does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of the

U.S. government to make any awards, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application.

Non-Competing Continuation

Continuation grants funded under these awards, beyond the initial budget period, will be contingent upon the availability of funds; grantee’s progress in meeting grant requirements, including timely submission of required reports and compliance with all terms and conditions of the award; timely submission of a request for additional funding; and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the Department of State.

Pending successful implementation of this project for the initial estimated length of time as indicated above, and pending the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, NEA/AC may extend this grant for additional time, not to exceed a five (5) year total project period. Please note that this NOFO requires that applicants submit additional budget materials to plan for potential out-years per non-competing continuation. See Section VII Application and

Submission Information for more details.

SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

NEA/AC shall be involved in the program and management performance of these cooperative agreements through consultation and technical collaboration on specified program activities.

NEA/AC Responsibilities Examples of NEA/AC responsibilities for a cooperative agreement may include:

Collaboration in establishing annual project objectives and approval of an annual work plan;

Collaboration in assessing progress and identifying issues that might affect the success of the project;

Collaboration in determining corrective actions, when necessary;

Collaboration in the creation of any training materials;

Collaboration on development and production materials; and

Collaboration on proposed partners for development, production, and/or technical assistance.

USG will convene an advisory committee (in collaboration with grantee) to advise and approve on content, markets, platforms and other aspects of eSports partnerships

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

All applicants will be screened by NEA/AC to determine whether they meet all of the program eligibility requirements detailed below.

NOTE: Applications that do not demonstrate that they meet all of the eligibility requirements in Section A and Section B will not advance past the Technical Eligibility

- 10 -

Review stage and may be deemed ineligible for funding under this announcement. Nothing can be added to an application once the competition deadline has passed.

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants include:

- U.S. or foreign o non-profit organizations;

o For-profit organizations; or o Small businesses with function and regional experience in the areas of technology, eSports, and/or social-media or digitally-based gaming.

NEA/AC is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its programs and activities.

NEA/AC welcomes applications irrespective of an applicants’ race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. We encourage applications from organizations working with underserved communities, including women, people with disabilities, and youth.

A.1. Prime Applicant

To be considered for funding under this opportunity, applicants SHALL:

Meet ALL of the registration requirements listed in Section B below.

Meet any requirements listed as MANDATORY in Section C, Additional Eligibility

Considerations, below.

Demonstrate experience working in the MENA region.

Demonstrate ability to form existing relationships/partnerships with MENA-based eSports organizations and premier U.S. private sector entities (e.g. Facebook, EA Sports, etc.) to ensure that all project activities can be implemented effectively and efficiently.

Additionally, applicants should:

Demonstrate capacity to operate an assistance management project of multiple and diverse activities across the MENA region.

Demonstrate the ability to accomplish the required activities with minimal full-time staffing and without establishing a dedicated local office in the MENA region.

Demonstrate experience in conducting monitoring and evaluation to document and assess the short- and long-term outcomes of proposed projects.

A.2. Local Partners

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit projects that include partnerships with local organizations that would work together on specific programmatic objectives or priorities and that utilize local expertise. In particular, NEA/AC strongly encourages applicants not based in the MENA region to partner with local organizations.

B. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

- 11 -

To apply for NEA/AC (Federal) funding – organizations – whether based in or outside the

U.S., must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, currently referred to as a DUNS number, and an active account with the System for Award Management (SAM). This applies to BOTH prime applicants and any local partners receiving federally funded sub-awards. Applicants who do not meet all registration requirements are NOT eligible for funding under the opportunity.

UEI Number

The UEI number is a nine-digit number established and assigned by Dun and Bradstreet, Inc.

(D&B) to uniquely identify business entities.

All applicants must have a UEI number. To obtain a UEI number, please follow the steps below:

Go to http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/pages/CCRSearch.jsp.

Select the country or territory where your organization is physically located. Complete and submit the form. Organizations will need to provide basic information, including physical and mailing addresses, name and title of the chief executive, primary Standard Industrial Code (SIC), and annual revenue.

For technical difficulties in obtaining this number, please contact D&B at: govt@dnb.com.

System for Award Management (SAM)

SAM is a U.S. government wide registry of vendors doing business with the Federal government and requires annual renewal. The system centralizes information about grant applicants/recipients, and provides a central location for grant applicants/recipients to change organizational information.

Further, applicants must maintain an active account, with current information, while its application is under consideration for funding. To keep an active SAM.gov account, applicants must renew it at least once each year. If an organizations account expires, the organization cannot submit a grant application until it is renewed.

To create a new account, please follow the steps below:

Go to http://www.sam.gov.

Select Create User Account, and then select Create an Account on the left-hand side of the screen under Individual Account Details. Organizations must have a UEI number and a CAGE number (US Domestic Organizations) or a NCAGE number (Foreign Organizations), to create an account.

Complete and submit the online form. If the applying organization already has the necessary information on hand (see the SAM User Guide), the online form takes approximately one hour to complete, depending upon the size and complexity of the applying entity. Because of the different steps in the process, it might take anywhere from three to fourteen business days to complete the process of creating an account with the system.

http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/pages/CCRSearch.jsp http://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sic_manual.html mailto:govt@dnb.com http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/sam/transcript/SAM_User_Guide_v_1.8.pdf

- 12 -

For help with SAM.gov, please visit their support page at https://www.fsd.gov or contact them at: 001-334-206-7828.

C. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

C.1. Cost-Sharing or Matching

As an initiative focused on public-private-partnerships, cost-sharing is required as a component of this NOFO.

Cost-sharing or matching IS an evaluation criteria of this NOFO.

All cost-sharing or matching must be included in detail in the line item budget and noted in the budget narrative. In addition to secured cost-share, NEA would like potential applicants to include in their proposal estimated but likely cost-share, including the identification of the likely sources (e.g. partners) and type of cost-share (e.g. financial contribution, pro-bono services, donated space, etc.). Cost-share actuals and budget agreements will be finalized during the negotiation and award phase, and may be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the agreement during implementation.

When cost-sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved agreement.

Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, recipients must maintain written records to support all costs that are claimed as their contribution, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in accordance with OMB 2 CFR 200.306 – Cost Sharing and Matching.

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

All applications must include the application components detailed below. All application documents must be submitted in English. Applicants may submit only one (1) application.

Please refer to Section B below for additional submissions guidance and requirements.

NOTE: Applications that do not include all the required documentation described in

Section 1 below will not advance past the Technical Eligibility Review state. Further, applications that exceed the allowable page limits will not be reviewed by the review panel.

Applicants may not add any materials to an application once it has been submitted and the competition deadline has passed.

A.1. Required Documents

Federal Assistance Application Forms (SF-424, SF424a, and SF-424b):

Applicants must complete all three forms online to be considered for funding. Guidance on how to complete the SF-424 and SF424a is provided in Appendix 3. NOTE: In addition to https://www.fsd.gov/ following all guidance outlines below regarding application materials, applicants are strongly encourage to review the Application Evaluation Criteria section of this NOFO closely as they prepare their proposal. The Evaluation Criteria section is the rubric by which each application will be scored.

Project Narrative:

The Project Narrative describes the efforts the applicant will undertake to address the priorities and goals of this announcement. It may be no longer than 15 pages. More details on preparing the Project Narrative are provided in Appendix 3. Applicants are strong encouraged to review

Appendix 3 before preparing their Narrative.

Budget & Budget Narrative Submission:

Applicants must provide the following three elements as part of their budget submission:

Summary Budget

Detailed Line Item Budget

Budget Narrative

*A detailed budget for three years is required as well as a notional budget for out years four, and five.

There is no page limit for this section of an application. A sample fillable template can be found in Appendix 1. This template includes three tabs: The first tab includes written guidance on preparing the Budget Narrative. Applicants are strongly encouraged to create their

Budget Narrative in Word and submit as either a Word Doc or PDF file. Please note that the

Budget Narrative should include designations of who is considered Key Personnel for this project. The second tab has the template for the Summary Budget. This tab will auto-fill as you complete the Detailed Line Item Budget, which can be found on the third tab. The third tab is where you can fill in the template for the Detailed Line Item Budget as stated above. NOTE:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the same format as provided in the template, and to submit summary and detailed line item budgets in Excel form, and the Budget

Narrative as either a PDF or Word file. If the applicant does not use the template, the applicant must ensure that their submission includes all elements outlined in the sample. The template, which includes more detailed instruction, can be found in Appendix 1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review Appendix 1 before preparing their Narrative.

In addition to the detailed budget for up to three (3) years, applicants shall submit a notional budget for up to two (2) out years.

Logic Model:

Applicants shall provide a logic model to demonstrate how the proposed project (including activities, the project design, and the surrounding context) will achieve the stated objectives. The logic model statements can be generated using the template in Appendix 2. NOTE: Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the same format as found in the sample. If the applicant does not use the template, the applicant must ensure that their submission includes all elements outlined in the sample. This section may be no longer than 3 pages.

Professional bios for lead project personnel in application and partner organizations:

Summary professional information must be included within the project narrative or as a separate document included in the application. Maximum of 5 pages

List of U.S. and International Business Partners:

As an initiative designed to leverage private sector entities, provide a listing of all partners, noting what level of involvement and whether partnership is secured (i.e. letter of intent) or potential/prospective. Maximum of 5 pages.

List of Potential Advisors/Technical Assistance Providers:

This can include examples of previous instances of providing technical assistance in the eSports industry context. Maximum of 5 pages

Work Plans, Project Timeline, and/or Calendar of Activities:

A work plan is a detailed list of proposed activities, milestones, and approximate dates.

Applicants may choose to include a work plan, project timeline, and/or calendar of proposed activities. Maximum of 5 pages.

Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement: NOTE: This item is required only IF applicable.

Applicants proposing indirect costs in the Budget greater than the 10% de minimis must provide a copy of their Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). This item will not be counted toward any page limits.

A.2. Optional Documents

Applicants may submit additional documents for consideration with their application.

These documents are not required and there is a 10 page limit for this section of the application. Below are examples of some additional documents an applicant may wish to submit.

1. Contingency Plan: The Contingency Plan should highlight potential challenges and limitations to project implementation in the operating environment and propose contingency plans should program activities be impacted. Plans should not focus solely on security risks, rather also include plans for logistics and other environmental hurdles that may impact programmatic results.

2. Organizational Chart: The organizational chart outlines the clear lines of responsibility and authority in the applicant organization to include budgeted level of effort listed by each person.

NOTE: Applicants must adhere to all maximum allowed page counts. Applications that exceed any of the allowable page limits will not advance past the Technical Eligibility

Review stage.

B. APPLICATION FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

The required font is 12-point, Times New Roman. All application documents must be single spaced, with all margins (left, right, top, and bottom) of at least one inch each. Also, applicants should ensure all pages in the application package are numbered consecutively and meet the page limit requirements outlined in Section A.1 and A.2 above. The Standard Forms 424 (SF-424, SF-424a, and SF-424b) are excluded from the page numbering.

It is strongly recommended that applicants submit grant applications using Microsoft

Office. If applicants do not have access to Microsoft Office products, Adobe PDF files may be submitted.

C. SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Applicants must submit their application electronically using either Grants.gov OR SAMS

Domestic. Both systems require that the applying organization have an account with the system and both require a UEI number and SAM.gov account as detailed in B.3 above. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they have an active account and will be able to submit its application. Applicants must select one of these systems to submit their application; do not submit an application through both systems. NEA/AC is not in a position to grant exceptions to these requirements.

The application process is not complete until the applicant receives notification that its application has been validated and forwarded to the granting agency (NEA/AC). Please allow sufficient time for entering the application into these systems. It is the responsibility of the applicant to monitor its application to ensure that it is successfully received and validated.

C.1. Grants.gov

Grants.gov is a single portal for applicants to find and apply to U.S. government funding opportunities. Creating an account with this system is a five-step process: 1) obtain a UEI number; 2) create an account with the System for Award Management; 3) create a profile, including username and password; 4) obtain Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) authorization; and 5) track AOR status. This process can take 10 business days or longer, even if all the steps are completed in a timely manner. To create an account, go to www.grants.gov and click on the “Register” link, located at the top, right-hand side of the page.

C.2. SAMS Domestic

SAMS Domestic is a comprehensive grants management system that allows applicants to apply for, manage, and report on the use of U.S. government funds for multiple programs, accessed online at mygrants.service-now.com.

To create an account, go to http://mygrants.service-now.com, and click the “create an account” hyperlink, located above the user name prompt. Users will be directed to a page entitled “User Registration Request;” complete the online form and click the “Submit” button.

Users will receive an activation email entitled “Verify Your Grants Account Registration;” click the activation link within the email to receive a username and password.

SAMS Domestic has Quick Tours available to educate users about the system. These documents can be found on the Support tab upon logging into the system.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=299178 http://mygrants.service-now.com/ http://mygrants.service-now.com/ http://www.grants.gov/

D. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

Applications must be time stamped before 17:00:00 eastern time (ET) on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. There will be no grace period, and any application not received by the application deadline will be deemed ineligible and will not advance to be reviewed. Applicants are encouraged to submit an application far enough in advance of the deadline so it can alert NEA/AC (nea-grants@state.gov) of any technical difficulties and allow sufficient time to resolve difficulties before the deadline. Although NEA/AC will work with applicants to resolve technical issues, it is not in a position to grant exceptions to the submission requirements outlined in this announcement.

FUNDING LIMITATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND OTHER

CONSIDERATIONS

1. Awards to Commercial Firms or For-Profit Organizations The Department of State prohibits profit under its assistance awards to commercial organizations. No funds will be paid as profit to any recipient that is a commercial organization.

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 Part 31. Program income earned by the recipient may be:

added to the total of the amount of this award, including the required cost sharing or matching, and use it to further eligible project objectives;

used to meet the Recipient’s cost sharing or matching requirement;

OR deducted from the total project or program allowable cost in determining the net allowable costs on which the federal share of costs is based.

2. Audit Requirements Domestic and foreign organizations that expend $750,000 or more in a fiscal year in federal assistance must perform an independent, recipient-contracted Single Audit or Program Specific

Audit. (Program-specific Audit means an audit of one Federal award program. Single Audit means an audit which includes both the entity’s financial statements and the Federal Awards to be conducted in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards

(GAGAS). The audits must be independently and professionally executed in accordance with

GAGAS either prescribed by a government’s Supreme Audit Institution with auditing standards approved by the Comptroller General of the United States, or the host country’s laws or adopted by the host country’s public accountants or associations of public accountants, together with generally accepted international auditing standards. However, foreign entity audits consistent with International Standards for Auditing or other auditing standards are acceptable with the

Grants Officer’s approval. More information can be found at http://gao.gov/assets/590/587281.pdf

For sub-non-Federal entities expending $750,000 or more in Department of State award funding during their fiscal year, Department of State standard audit provisions require that Prime non-

Federal entities certify that audits of sub-non-Federal entities are performed annually and according to the standards described above. The cost of audits required under this policy may be charged either as an allowable direct cost to the award, OR included in the organizations established indirect costs in the award’s detailed budget.

mailto:nea-grants@state.gov http://gao.gov/assets/590/587281.pdf

3. Compliance with Applicable Federal Funding Regulations and DOS Terms and Conditions Payment of funds awarded under this Notice of Funding Opportunity will not be disbursed until the DOS has been assured that the Recipient’s financial management system will provide effective control over and accountability for all Federal funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200 and

2 CFR 600 as applicable. Awards issued under this NOFO are subject to the Department of State

Standard Terms and Conditions and 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 600 as applicable.

APPLICATION REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

A. APPLICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA

Achievable Objectives (25 points)

Each of the project objectives listed above (in Section I) are clearly addressed.

Impact and Effectiveness: The applicant describes the project’s potential contribution to solving the problem addressed in the problem statement and achieving results.

Timeframe: The applicant describes realistic results to be accomplished within the timeframe of the proposed award.

Milestones: The applicant provides realistic milestones to indicate progress toward goals and objectives as described in the program announcement.

M&E: The applicant explains how monitoring and evaluation activities will be carried out throughout the award’s period of performance and who will be responsible for them.

Project Design (35 points)

The applicant clearly describes how each proposed project activity will address each of the objectives outlined in the requested priority area above (Section I).

Responsiveness to NOFO: The applicant explains how the proposed activities respond to the objectives listed in the NOFO.

Rationale: The applicant justifies how the proposed activities will achieve the above objectives in this context.

Innovation: The applicant details an overall approach that is innovative, including interactive activities that do not duplicate or merely add to existing/recent initiatives.

Project Management and Workplan: The applicant explains how activities will be implemented successfully (e.g. criteria and process for participant selection, rationale for implementation locations proposed, methodologies for partnerships and co-financing/cost-share, division of labor among partners, etc.).

Partnerships and Buy-ins: The applicant addresses how the project will engage or obtain support from relevant stakeholders and identifies local partners. The applicant will demonstrate experience and/or strong connections in eSports, such as with Silicon

Valley.

Feasibility: The applicant proposes activities that are feasible, practical, and/or experiential in nature to encourage innovation.

Marginalized Populations: The applicant identifies and addresses support for marginalized populations in all proposed activities and objectives and provides specific means for their inclusion.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=69f0738c44f722bba1c963a29d0087ba&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2tab_02.tpl https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=69f0738c44f722bba1c963a29d0087ba&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfrv1_02.tpl#600 http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/271865.pdf http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/271865.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=69f0738c44f722bba1c963a29d0087ba&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2tab_02.tpl https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=69f0738c44f722bba1c963a29d0087ba&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfrv1_02.tpl#600

Organizational Capacity (25 points)

The applicant demonstrates extensive MENA and eSports industry experience/track record (e.g. institutional record of successful programs in the content area proposed, rolodex of partners in the U.S. and international eSports industry, operating context knowledge such as understanding of local laws and censorship guides, track record developing tailored content, demonstrated ability to obtain private sector financing for

USG-backed initiatives, etc.).

The applicant demonstrates capacity for responsible fiscal management of donor funding

(e.g., successful management of a previous sub-award or grant).

The applicant demonstrates the ability to meet monitoring and evaluation requirements.

Staff and Position Specifications (10 points)

The applicant details substantial staffing with appropriate qualifications to launch the project with minimal start-up time. Applicant demonstrates the capacity to manage the proposed project.

The applicant has pre-identified key staff members and/or partners, including volunteers, who demonstrate experience working in the region and industry proposed, as well as with participants from that area (e.g., language skills, cultural understanding).

The applicant details the roles and qualifications of each key person – whether staff, partner, consultant, or volunteer – in a biographical sketch.

The applicant has provided a job description, including hiring criteria, for proposed project positions that are vacant.

Cost Effectiveness (5 points)

The applicant has provided a detailed budget with costs proposed reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results, which are clearly explained in the budget narrative.

The applicant has provided a detailed budget that provides details of calculations, including estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated.

The applicant has provided a detailed budget that demonstrates the preponderance of the budget is spent on supporting the project participants/activities in country.

The applicant has provided a detailed budget that includes costs dedicated to management, monitoring, and evaluation.

The applicant has provided a detailed budget that demonstrates adequate travel costs are proposed.

The applicant has provided additional sources of funding (cost-share or matching) for the project, as well as an explanation of how those additional sources will be used.

The applicant has provided a detailed budget that demonstrates a reasonable cost per participant.

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

NEA/AC is committed to ensuring a competitive and standardized process for awarding funding.

Applications will be screened initially in a Technical Eligibility Review stage to determine whether applicants meet the eligibility requirements outlined in Part V and have submitted all required documents outlined in Part VI. Applications that do not meet these requirements will not advance beyond the Technical Eligibility Review stage and will be deemed ineligible for funding under this NOFO.

NEA/AC reserves the right to have all applications deemed to be eligible undergo a Subject

Matter Expert (SME) review prior to the Merit Review Panel. Applications that do not pass SME review will not proceed to the Merit Review Panel.

All applications that proceed to the Merit Review Panel will be evaluated by U.S. government and non-governmental subject matter and/or country-specific experts and will be rated on a 100-point scale. Point values for individual elements of the application are presented in Part VII, Section A. Panel Reviewers’ ratings, and any resulting recommendations, are advisory.

Final award decisions will be influenced by whether the application meets NEA/AC’s programmatic goals and objectives, how it supports the Department’s overarching foreign policy priorities, and the geographic distribution of the top-ranking applications.

ADMINSTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

Applicants who do not advance beyond the Technical Eligibility Review stage will be notified 30 business days after the closing of the announcement. The authorized representative and program point of contact listed on the SF-424 will receive the notification via email. If an applicant does not receive such a notification, their submission was put forward for review.

NEA/AC expects to notify applicants who proceeded past the Technical Eligibility Review stage about the status of their application by September 28, 2018. Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive a Federal Assistance Award (FAA) from the bureau’s Grants Office. The FAA and the original proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S.

Government. The FAA will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and transmitted to the recipient’s responsible officer identified in the application. NEA/AC reserves the right to award funding to applicants under this announcement for a period of up to two years after the announcement’s close date.

B. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Reporting is critical to effective program management and oversight. Reports are required as a means of evaluating the recipient’s progress and utilization of resources. They are divided between a performance progress report and a financial status report.

Recipients will, at a minimum, be required to submit Quarterly Performance Reports (QPR) and a Quarterly Financial Report (QFR). The QPRs will compare actual to planned performance and indicates the progress made in accomplishing each assistance award tasks/goals noted in the grant agreement and will contain analysis and summary of findings, both quantitative and qualitative, for key indicators. The QFRs provide a means of monitoring expenditures and comparing costs incurred with progress.

Recipients must report immediately when a program faces unplanned delays in implementation, fails to meet program targets or milestones, or costs increase. Any changes or revisions to the approved budget require prior approval from the NEA/AC Grants Officer.

Recipients are required to report program and beneficiary achievements on a quarterly basis (or provide written confirmation that there is no related news for the given quarter) beginning with second quarter’s program report.

C. TRAVEL NOTIFICATIONS

Selected applicants will be required to provide prior notification of all international travel as a requirement of their agreement. This includes travel which is already included in the approved budget and Scope of Work. The purpose of this notification is to enable NEA/AC to inform the relevant U.S. Embassy or post of the recipient’s intent to travel. The recipient must notify the

Grants Officer at least three (3) business days prior to any travel. The Grants Officer reserves the right to advise against specific travel arrangements for security-related reasons.

D. BRANDING AND MARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTEES

Grantees awarded under this announcement will be required to make all materials produced under the award with the standard U.S. flag in a size and prominence equal to

(or greater than) any other logo or identity. Materials are defined as but not limited to:

training materials, materials for recipients, or materials to communicate or promote with foreign audiences a program, event, project, or some other activity under this award, including but not limited to invitations to events, press materials, event backdrops, podium signs, etc. In addition, sub-recipients or sub-awardees are subject to the marking requirements and the grantee shall include a provision in the sub-recipient or sub-awardee’s agreement indicating that the standard, rectangular U.S. flag is a requirement. Exceptions to this requirement can be discussed with

NEA/AC when negotiating an award. Waivers may be considered on a case by case basis depending on the circumstances, projects, and activities

E. UEI NUMBER REQUIREMENT FOR SUB AWARDEES

All sub-awardees are required to have a UEI number. For information on obtaining a UEI number, please see Part III, Section B.1. Proposed sub-awardees are not required to have a

UEI number prior to the submission of an application but must have one prior to a sub-award being issued.

F. SUB AWARDEE REPORTING REQUIREMENT

Grantees awarded under this announcement will be required to report all sub-awardees receiving funds of $25,000 or more to http://www.fsrs.gov.