Q&A.pdf

Q: We would like to kindly inquire why there is currently no option available to apply for the project announced under the “U.S. Mission Iraq Public

Diplomacy Annual Program Statement 2026.”

We are unable to access or click the “Apply” option, and we would appreciate it if you could clarify whether this is due to a technical issue or if the application process has not yet opened.

A: Applications for the U.S. Mission Iraq Public Diplomacy Annual Program

Statement 2026 (DOS-Baghdad-PD-2026-001) are not submitted through

Grants.gov. Grants.gov is used only to announce this funding opportunity.

All applications must be submitted through MyGrants. If you experience any technical difficulties accessing or submitting through MyGrants, applications will also be accepted via email at: Baghdadpdgrants@state.gov

Q: Is the page limit 10 pages or 12 pages? In the NOFO it says 10, but in the proposal template, attachment A, it says 12.

A: Proposals between 10 and 12 pages in length will be accepted.

Q: Is it correct that costs can also be booked to team members working on the project but located outside Iraq, for example HQ personnel?

A: Yes, costs for team members working on the project but located outside of Iraq, such as HQ personnel, are allowable provided that:

• The costs are directly related to the implementation of the project and clearly justified in the budget narrative.

• Personnel salaries include the level of effort and rate of pay, reflecting the percentage of time each staff member dedicates to grant-based activities.

• All costs are reasonable, allowable, and allocable in accordance with 2 CFR

200 and the APS budget guidelines.

mailto:Baghdadpdgrants@state.gov

Q: Is it correct that we could submit an English Access proposal?

A: Yes, proposals for English Access programs are welcome under this funding opportunity, as support for English language acquisition is one of the priority program areas outlined in the APS.

Q: Is there any prohibition against submitting multiple proposals?

A: No, there is no prohibition against submitting multiple proposals under this funding opportunity.

However, please keep the following in mind:

• Each proposal must independently meet all eligibility requirements and fully address one of the priority goals and outcomes outlined in the APS.

• Each proposal will be evaluated on its own merits against the review criteria.

• We strongly encourage applicants to prioritize quality over quantity, ensuring each submission is well-developed, clearly aligned with U.S.

Mission Iraq's priorities, and includes all required documentation.

Q: Whether international travel to the United States for participants is an allowable activity under this NOFO:

A: Yes, international travel to the United States for participants is an allowable activity under this funding opportunity.

Q: Whether proposals that include a U.S.-based exchange or delegation component would be viewed favorably in the evaluation process; and

A: Proposals that include a U.S.-based exchange or delegation component are not automatically scored higher in the evaluation process.

Q: If such activities are included in a successful proposal, whether the

Embassy and/or Department of State would provide any support or facilitation regarding participant visa applications.

A: While the U.S. Mission Iraq and the Department of State are committed to supporting the success of funded programs, the Embassy will not provide direct support or facilitation regarding participant visa applications.

Please note the following:

• The safety, security, and logistical arrangements for all participants, including visa applications, are the sole responsibility of the award recipient.

• Applicants should ensure that all visa fees and related expenses are included in the proposed budget.

• If your program includes DS-2019 visa processing, your organization must be a registered Designated Sponsoring Organization. For more information, visit: https://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/become-a-sponsor/

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and account for visa processing timelines when developing their project schedule, as visa processing can take considerable time.

Q: Notification timeline and project start date: The NOFO states that applicants will generally be notified within 120 days after the August 15, 2026, deadline, yet the anticipated project start date is September 2026. How can projects start in September if notifications take up to 120 days? For applications reviewed in the August 2026 batch, when should applicants expect to receive results, and what project start date should we assume when preparing the proposed project timeline?

A: While the APS states that applicants will generally be notified within 120 days of the August 15, 2026, deadline, please note that this represents the maximum notification timeframe — not the expected one.

For applicants whose proposals are selected for funding, we will make every effort to notify successful applicants earlier so that projects can begin in September 2026.

https://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/become-a-sponsor/

Q: U.S. element and American experts: Is the U.S. cultural element or connection with American experts/organizations mandatory for eligibility, or can a project be implemented entirely with local Iraqi expertise? If it is mandatory, who is responsible for engaging the American experts or organizations - the applicant or the Embassy?

A: Is the U.S. element mandatory?

Yes, a U.S. cultural element or connection with American experts, organizations, or institutions is mandatory. As stated in the APS, all programs must include a U.S.

cultural element or connection with American expert(s), organization(s), or institution(s) in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of

American excellence, policy, or perspectives.

Who is responsible for engaging American experts or organizations?

The applicant is responsible for identifying, engaging, and incorporating the U.S.

element into their proposed project. The Embassy will not identify or provide

American experts or organizations on behalf of applicants. Applicants should clearly describe the U.S. element and the role of any American experts or organizations in their proposal narrative.

Q: Can this element be fulfilled through virtual participation (e.g., online lectures or training by American experts) or through partnership with a U.S.

institution, rather than in-person travel to Iraq?

A: Yes, the U.S. cultural element or connection with American experts can be fulfilled through virtual participation — such as online lectures, webinars, or virtual training sessions delivered by American experts — or through a formal partnership with a U.S.-based institution or organization. In-person travel to

Iraq by American experts is not required to meet this eligibility requirement.

Applicants are encouraged to be creative in designing their U.S. element, whether in-person or virtual, as long as it is clearly tied to the project's goals and priority outcomes.

Q: Finally, can the Public Diplomacy Section facilitate connections with

American experts or speaker programs, or should applicants secure these partnerships independently before submission?

A: Applicants are expected to independently identify and secure partnerships with

American experts or organizations prior to submission. The Public Diplomacy

Section does not facilitate connections with American experts or speaker programs on behalf of applicants.

Q: Relationship between priority program areas and program goals: Section

B of the NOFO lists priority program areas (e.g., lectures, workshops, support for media and digital freedom, cultural heritage) and separately lists two program goals (Goal 1 and Goal 2), each with its own priority outcomes.

Could you clarify the relationship between them? Should a proposal address one priority program area AND one program goal together, or are the program areas simply examples of activity types that serve the goals? Also, is it sufficient for a proposal to focus on a single priority outcome under one goal while adding the applicant's own complementary objectives?

A: The priority program areas (e.g., academic lectures, artistic workshops, support for media and digital freedom, cultural heritage preservation, English language acquisition, etc.) represent activity types — they describe the kinds of programming the U.S. Mission Iraq is interested in funding. They are not standalone goals in themselves.

The program goals (Goal 1 and Goal 2) represent the strategic objectives that the

U.S. Mission Iraq seeks to achieve through this funding opportunity. Each goal has its own set of priority outcomes that describe the intended results of funded projects.

Should a proposal address one priority program area AND one program goal together?

Yes. Applicants may propose activities that fall within one or more of the priority program areas and clearly demonstrate how those activities will contribute to at least one of the two program goals and their associated priority outcomes. The proposal should make this connection explicit in the narrative.

Is it sufficient to focus on a single priority outcome under one goal?

Yes. Applicants are not required to address all priority outcomes under a goal. A proposal may focus on a single priority outcome under one goal, provided it is well-developed and clearly aligned with U.S. Mission Iraq's priorities.

Additionally, as stated in the APS, applicants are encouraged to propose their own complementary objectives and innovative activities that address the priority program areas, in addition to the listed outcomes.

Q: Project personnel: Are the temporary and permanent staff working on the project required to be existing employees of the applicant organization? Or may key personnel be recruited specifically for the proposed project (with one-page position descriptions submitted in lieu of resumes where individuals have not yet been identified), and may external consultants be engaged through the consultants/contracts budget category?

A: Must project staff be existing employees of the applicant organization?

No. Project personnel are not required to be existing employees of the applicant organization. Staff may be recruited specifically for the proposed project. However, all personnel costs must be clearly justified in the budget narrative, including the level of effort and rate of pay for each staff member.

May position descriptions be submitted in lieu of resumes?

Yes. As stated in the APS, if an individual for a key position has not yet been identified, applicants may submit a one-page position description identifying the qualifications and skills required for that position, in lieu of a résumé. Where individuals have already been identified, a résumé not exceeding one page must be submitted.

May external consultants be engaged through the consultants/contracts budget category?

Yes. External consultants and contractors may be engaged and budgeted under the consultants/contracts budget category.

Q: SAM.gov Entity Administrator notarized letter: As a newly registered

Iraqi entity, we are required to submit a notarized letter designating our

Entity Administrator within 60 days of SAM.gov activation. For organizations based in Iraq, is notarization by an Iraqi notary public sufficient, or is additional authentication (e.g., by the U.S. Embassy) required?

A: The notarization requirements for the SAM.gov Entity Administrator letter are governed by SAM.gov policies administered by the General Services

Administration (GSA) and are outside the scope of this funding opportunity.

For authoritative guidance on this matter, we recommend:

• Visiting the SAM.gov Help Center at https://sam.gov

• Submitting a help desk ticket through the Federal Service Desk

(FSD) at www.fsd.gov

Please note that SAM.gov registration may take 4 to 8 weeks to process. We strongly encourage you to begin or complete your registration as early as possible to ensure your application is eligible for review before the August 15, 2026, deadline.

Q: Is Applicant permitted to apply for more than one program? If so, is the

$500,000 ceiling per application or for the institution as a whole, or per application/program? It would be great if we could clarify this?

A: May an applicant submit more than one proposal?

Yes. There is no prohibition against submitting more than one proposal under this funding opportunity. Each proposal will be evaluated independently on its own merits against the review criteria outlined in the APS.

Does the $500,000 award ceiling apply per application or per institution?

The $500,000 maximum award amount applies per application. Each proposal submitted is considered independently, and the award ceiling is not cumulative across multiple proposals submitted by the same institution.

Q: What would the Embassy consider to be required in a standard security package for a U.S. expert visiting Baghdad? How does that change in https://sam.gov/ http://www.fsd.gov/

Kurdistan or other parts of Iraq?

A: The safety and security of all participants and activities under any funded project are the sole responsibility of the award recipient. The security package accompanies appropriate programmatic elements. At a minimum, the security package must include:

• Secure transportation for any non-Iraqi personnel living or working in Iraq.

• Secure lodging for any non-Iraqi personnel living or working in Iraq.

• Emergency accountability and evacuation procedures for any non-Iraqi personnel.

• A copy of your organization's security operational procedures for high-risk environments.

• If a security company is engaged and funded under the award, it must be registered by the Government to operate in Iraq.

• Award recipients are required to notify the Public Diplomacy Section in advance when U.S. citizens are traveling to Iraq.

• Reasonable costs for necessary security are allowable expenses and should be included in the proposed budget.

Q: Can the same organization submit two proposals: one under Goal 1 and another separate proposal under Goal 2?

The NOFO requires all programs to include "a U.S. cultural element or connection with American expert(s), organization(s), or institution(s)." Does a virtual/remote American expert participation (e.g., online speaker, webinar) satisfy this requirement, or must the U.S. connection be in-person?

A: Yes, the same organization may submit two separate proposals - one under Goal

1 and another under Goal 2. There is no prohibition against submitting multiple proposals under this funding opportunity.

Please keep the following in mind:

• Each proposal must independently meet all eligibility requirements and clearly address the priority goals, outcomes, and program areas relevant to the goal it targets.

• Each proposal will be evaluated on its own merits against the review criteria outlined in the APS.

• We strongly encourage applicants to prioritize quality over quantity, ensuring each submission is well-developed, clearly aligned with U.S.

Mission Iraq's priorities, and includes all required documentation.

Q: The security package is described as required "to accompany appropriate programmatic elements." Must every proposal include a full security package

(secure transportation, lodging, evacuation plan), or only proposals involving non-Iraqi personnel traveling to Iraq? For purely local Iraqi-implemented projects with no foreign personnel in the country, what is the minimum acceptable security package?

A: The security package is only required for proposals involving non-Iraqi personnel living or working in Iraq. For proposals implemented entirely by local

Iraqi personnel with no foreign personnel, a security package is not required.

Q: Can you please confirm that the Monitoring & Evaluation Plan

(Attachment C) does not count towards the 10-page Proposal page limit?

A: Yes, we can confirm that the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Plan

(Attachment C) does not count towards the 10-to-12-page proposal page limit.

Q: Can you please clarify if applicants must submit both the Word version and Excel version of Attachment C?

A: Only one version of Attachment C is required. Applicants may submit either the

Word or Excel version of the M&E Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) template

— whichever best suits their needs.

Please note that applicants are encouraged but not required to use the provided

Attachment C template at all. As stated in the APS, applicants may use their own

M&E PMP format, provided it meets the requirements outlined in the APS.

Q: Can applicants use Times New Roman size 10 for tables?

A: The APS does not specify font type or size requirements for proposals or tables.

Applicants are free to use Times New Roman size 10 for tables, provided that the proposal remains clear, legible, and professional in presentation.

Q: Attachment B – Applicant Organization Information Survey

The NOFO states that applicants may use Attachment B ("Applicant

Organization Information Survey") to provide organizational information.

However, the Attachment B currently available appears to be titled "Proposal

Templates for Individual Awards" and does not contain the organizational survey fields referenced in the NOFO and mainly repeats what is already in

Attachment A.

Could you please confirm whether the correct Attachment B has been uploaded? If not, could you provide the Applicant Organization Information

Survey template that applicants should use? I believe it should look something like this (found on the websites for US Embassy Japan and Congo).

We have had to fill out this form for two Public Diplomacy opportunities in other countries in the past 3 years that also looks like this.

A: we can confirm that there was an error in the labeling of Attachment B. The document currently available as Attachment B is the Proposal Template for

Individual Awards, which was incorrectly labeled.

We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. The correct Applicant

Organization Information Survey will be uploaded shortly to the U.S. Embassy

Baghdad website and Grants.gov.

Q: Could you please confirm which page limit applicants should follow?

Additionally, may applicants use their own proposal template, provided that all required information identified in the NOFO is included? If so, may the organizational information required under the "Introduction to the

Organization" section be provided through the Applicant Organization

Information Survey rather than repeated within the proposal narrative?

Page Limit:

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjp.usembassy.gov%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F7%2F2026%2F01%2Fgrants-applicant-organization-survey-2026.docx&data=05%7C02%7CBaghdadpdgrants%40state.gov%7C5d879dc7b6dd4a4ac7f608dece0c61ae%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C639174749880568578%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Xx3qA0EyhsbZU5bJ2iXyGQCeMDYgWHnDqvO%2FOoF4BUo%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcg.usembassy.gov%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F119%2F2026%2F04%2FAttachment-A-Applicant-Organization-Information-Survey-form.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CBaghdadpdgrants%40state.gov%7C5d879dc7b6dd4a4ac7f608dece0c61ae%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C639174749880600106%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=njBODBK66VhOOxOMZmaiyt6f%2BGiPoEvPCqL%2BmIcDHl0%3D&reserved=0

Proposals between 10 and 12 pages in length will be accepted. We apologize for any confusion caused by the inconsistency between the APS and the proposal template (Attachment A).

May applicants use their own proposal template?

Yes. As stated in the APS, applicants must submit a complete narrative proposal in a format of their choice. The use of the provided proposal template (Attachment A) is encouraged but not required. Regardless of the format used, the proposal must include all required elements as outlined in Section C of the APS, and all documents must be submitted in English.

May the "Introduction to the Organization" section be fulfilled through the

Applicant Organization Information Survey (Attachment B)?

Yes, applicants may use the Applicant Organization Information Survey to provide the organizational information required under the "Introduction to the

Organization" section. Please note that this attachment will be made available shortly on the U.S. Embassy Baghdad website and Grants.gov, with corrected numbering. We encourage applicants to monitor both platforms for updates.

Q: Could you please confirm the correct submission platform for this opportunity and advise whether applications should instead be submitted through MyGrants?

A: We can confirm that the correct submission platform for this funding opportunity is MyGrants. Applications should not be submitted through

Grants.gov, which is used only to announce this funding opportunity.

To submit your application, please:

1. Visit the MyGrants portal to create an account and submit your complete application package.

2. Alternatively, application forms are also available on the U.S. Embassy

Baghdad website.

If you experience any technical difficulties accessing or submitting through

MyGrants, applications will also be accepted via email at:

Baghdadpdgrants@state.gov

Q: On page 8 of the solicitation, it says “You may use the attached Applicant

Organization Information Survey form to provide this information

(Attachment B)”, however, it appears as though Attachment B is a proposal template. Can U.S. Embassy Iraq please confirm this was an error and share the Applicant Organization Information Survey attachment?

mailto:Baghdadpdgrants@state.gov

A: The reference to the Applicant Organization Information Survey as Attachment

B was incorrectly numbered.

We are currently working to correct the attachment numbering and will be uploading the Applicant Organization Information Survey to the U.S. Embassy

Baghdad website and Grants.gov shortly.

In the meantime, please note that use of the Applicant Organization Information

Survey is encouraged but not required. Applicants may provide the required organizational information — including past and present operations, previous U.S.

government grants, and relevant expertise — directly within their proposal narrative under the "Introduction to the Organization" section.

Q: Can U.S. Embassy Iraq please confirm the page limit for the proposal?

Page 8 of the solicitation indicates that the proposal should not exceed 10 pages, while Attachment A references a 12-page limit. a. Additionally, could

U.S. Embassy Iraq please confirm whether Attachment C is excluded from the overall word count or page limit?

A: Proposals between 10 and 12 pages in length will be accepted.

Is Attachment C excluded from the page limit?

Yes. The M&E Performance Monitoring Plan (Attachment C) is submitted as a separate attachment and does not count towards the proposal page limit. Please note the following regarding M&E submission requirements:

• The Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative is limited to two pages and may be submitted as a separate attachment or document. It does not count towards the proposal page limit of 10 to 12 pages.

• The M&E Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) (Attachment C) is also submitted as a separate attachment and does not count towards the proposal page limit. Applicants may submit either the Word or Excel version of

Attachment C — only one is required.

• The Theory of Change Diagram and M&E Datasheet (Attachment C) are similarly submitted as separate components of the application package and do not count towards the proposal page limit.

• Applicants are encouraged but not required to use the Attachment C template provided. Applicants may use their own M&E PMP format, provided it meets all requirements outlined in the APS.

Q: Can U.S. Embassy Iraq please confirm that the Monitoring and Evaluation

(M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) listed on page 8 in the solicitation is not included in the page limit?

A: Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) does not count towards the proposal page limit. The following M&E components are all submitted as separate attachments or documents and do not count towards the proposal page limit of 10 to 12 pages:

• The M&E Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) (Attachment C) — available in both Word and Excel formats. Only one version is required.

• The Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative — limited to two pages and may be submitted as a separate attachment or document. It does not count towards the proposal page limit of 10 to 12 pages.

Please note that applicants are encouraged but not required to use the provided

Attachment C template. Applicants may use their own M&E PMP format, provided it meets all requirements outlined in the APS.

Q: In Attachment A, Proposal Template, it lists word limits and characters.

For example, page 1, question 3.2.1 refers to a “word limit 500 characters.”

Could you please confirm that the listed numbers refer to word count limits and not character count limits?

A: The limits listed in Attachment A refer to character count limits, not word count limits.

That said, we are flexible regarding the character limits listed for each section, provided that the overall proposal does not exceed the 10 to 12 page limit. Applicants should use the character limits in Attachment A as general guidance rather than strict requirements, and ensure that their responses are clear, concise, and sufficiently address all required elements outlined in the APS.

Please note that applicants are encouraged but not required to use Attachment A.

Applicants may use their own proposal format, provided all required elements outlined in the APS are included and the proposal does not exceed 10 to 12 pages.

Q: Page 11 of the solicitation indicates that a security package should be included among the required attachments. Could you please clarify whether written confirmation addressing all listed requirements would be sufficient? If additional documentation is required, we would appreciate any further detail you can provide on what should be included to meet this requirement.

A: Yes, a written security package that clearly addresses all listed requirements is sufficient. The security package does not need to take a specific format but must address the minimum requirements as outlined in the APS.

Q: In Attachment A, Proposal Template, on page 5, it requests applicants to list Past Grants. Can US Embassy Iraq please confirm the grants listed are not counted towards the page limit?

A: We can confirm that the Past Grants section (Section 8 of Attachment A) is part of the proposal template and therefore counts towards the 10 to 12 page proposal limit.

We encourage applicants to be concise and precise when completing this section, providing only the most relevant information. We recognize that some applicants may have an extensive history of previous grants. In such cases, the Embassy will be flexible regarding the page limit to accommodate a longer list of past grants, provided that the rest of the proposal remains within the 10 to 12 page limit and all required elements are clearly addressed.

Please note that applicants are encouraged but not required to use Attachment A.

Applicants may use their own proposal format, provided all required elements outlined in the APS are included.

Q: We noticed that the required components listed on pages 8 and 9 of the solicitation do not fully align with the sections outlined in Attachment A, and some elements appear to be absent. Could you kindly advise whether applicants should follow the structure provided in Attachment A, or the components listed in the solicitation narrative? a. For example, items such as the Communication Plan, Future Funding or Sustainability, Monitoring and

Evaluation Narrative, Theory of Change Diagram, and Monitoring and

Evaluation Datasheet are referenced in the solicitation but are not included in

Attachment A.

Additionally, the “Program Methods, Design, Activities, and Deliverables” section mentioned in the solicitation does not clearly correspond to specific sections within Attachment A, and there are no explicit sections for goals.

A: Attachment A is a proposal template provided for convenience and is encouraged but not required. Applicants who choose to use Attachment A should ensure that all required elements listed in the solicitation are addressed, even if they are not explicitly included as sections in the template.

Regarding the elements referenced in the APS but not included in Attachment A, please note the following:

• Communication Plan and Future Funding or Sustainability should be included as additional sections or annexes within the proposal. They count towards the 10-to-12-page proposal limit.

• The following components are submitted as separate attachments or documents and do not count towards the proposal page limit:

o Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative — limited to two pages and submitted as a separate attachment.

o Theory of Change Diagram or If-Then Statement — included as part of Attachment C (M&E PMP).

o Monitoring and Evaluation Datasheet — included as part of Attachment C (M&E PMP).

Applicants are encouraged to clearly label all separate attachments and reference them within the proposal narrative for ease of review.

The APS narrative (pages 8 and 9) takes precedence over Attachment A.

Q: Page 1 of Attachment A, under Registration Information, asks for “CVs attached in Appendix A for each staff member on the project?”. Could you confirm that CVs for key personnel would be suffice

A: Yes, CVs for key personnel are sufficient. Applicants are not required to submit

CVs for every staff member working on the project.

Please note that CVs for key personnel should be submitted as part of the required attachments to the proposal and do not count towards the 10 to 12 page proposal limit.

Q: Does the M&E Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) (M&E narrative, theory of change/logic model, and datasheet) count toward the 10-page proposal limit? Is the 2-page limit in addition to the 10 pages?

A: The M&E Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) components do not count towards the proposal page limit. Below is a breakdown of each component:

• M&E Narrative — limited to two pages and submitted as a separate attachment or document. It does not count towards the proposal page limit.

• Theory of Change Diagram or If-Then Statement — submitted as part of Attachment C (M&E PMP) and does not count towards the proposal page limit.

• M&E Datasheet — submitted as part of Attachment C (M&E PMP) and does not count towards the proposal page limit.

In summary, the full M&E package — including the M&E Narrative, Theory of

Change, and Datasheet — is submitted as separate attachments or documents and is entirely separate from the 10 to 12 page proposal limit.

Q: Are there any page limits for the theory of change/logic model and datasheet components of the PMP?

A: There are no page limits for the Theory of Change Diagram/Logic Model or the M&E Datasheet. Both components are submitted as separate attachments and do not count towards the 10 to 12 page proposal limit.

Q: Attachment C states that the M&E Narrative is limited to 1 page. However, the NOFO states that the M&E Narrative is limited to 2 pages. Could you please clarify the page limit for the M&E Narrative?

A: The APS takes precedence. The M&E Narrative is limited to 2 pages.

Please note that the M&E Narrative is submitted as a separate attachment or document and does not count towards the 10 to 12 page proposal limit.

Q: SAM.gov registration and eligibility timing. For an Iraq-based organization that holds an active UEI and SAM.gov registration, are there any additional registration steps specific to non-U.S. applicants that the Public

Diplomacy Section advises completing ahead of the August 15 deadline, beyond maintaining active registration throughout the review period?

A: For an Iraq-based organization that already holds an active UEI and SAM.gov registration, the most important requirement is to maintain an active SAM.gov registration throughout the review period and for the entire duration of any period of performance resulting from this funding opportunity. SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually.

In addition, please note the following for non-U.S. applicants:

• Organizations based outside the United States that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an Employer Identification Number

(EIN) from the IRS.

• Subrecipients are also required to obtain a UEI, though this is not required at the time of application — it will be required before an award is processed.

For any additional SAM.gov-specific technical questions, we recommend:

• Visiting the SAM.gov Help Center at https://sam.gov

• Submitting a help desk ticket through the Federal Service Desk

(FSD) at www.fsd.gov

Q: Indirect costs for non-U.S. applicants without a NICRA. The APS provides for a de minimis indirect rate of 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs for organisations that have never held a NICRA. Please confirm that this de minimis rate is available to non-U.S. applicants on the same basis as U.S.-based organisations.

A: Yes, the 15% de minimis indirect cost rate is available to non-U.S. applicants on the same basis as U.S.-based organizations, provided that the organization has never held a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).

Please note the following:

• Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC), as defined in 2 CFR 200.1.

• If your organization has a NICRA, the NICRA rate must be applied instead, and a copy of your latest NICRA must be included in your application submission.

• If an organization is charging an indirect cost rate without a NICRA, it must apply it to the Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) as defined in 2 CFR

200.1.

• All indirect costs must be clearly detailed in the budget justification narrative and directly linked to the proposed project.

Q: Assessment of geographic priority. The APS identifies projects in the

Southern and Western provinces as a priority, with Ninewa among the listed provinces. For a project whose activities and beneficiaries are located in a listed priority province, but which is coordinated by an organisation based in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, is geographic priority assessed by the location of project activities and beneficiaries, or by the location of the applicant organisation?

A: Geographic priority is assessed by the location of project activities and beneficiaries, not by the location of the applicant organization.

https://sam.gov/ http://www.fsd.gov/