Questions Responses - SFOP0005771 – Case-Based Training on Intel-Led Money Laundering 08-01-2019.docx

Questions and responses for NOFO #SFOP0005771 – Case-Based Training on Intel-Led Money Laundering Investigations 08-01-2019

1. Page 5 of the NOFO highlights three regions (Balkans, Southeast Asia, and West Africa) where INL hopes to improve partner nation capacity to counter financial crimes, then lists suggested primary countries of engagement, of which “more than one” should be included in the project. Page 6 says that “trainings should include more than one country.”

0. Are we correct in interpreting this to mean that the project should include at least two countries? If so, do they all need to be from the list of the “primary countries of engagement”, or can an application include one primary country of engagement and one “additional country”?

0. Do the countries covered under the project all need to be from the same region?

0. If the project is to be regional in focus, should all of the countries listed in the “suggested primary countries of engagement” be included in some capacity i.e. invited to the trainings from Objectives 1 and 2?

Yes, the project should include at least two countries, and countries can be selected from the listed primary countries or additional countries. The countries do not need to be from the same region, and it is up to the applicant how they propose to structure the trainings.

1. For the purposes of this project, is Mongolia (one of the listed countries) considered part of Southeast Asia?

Yes.

1. Page 26 of the NOFO lists a number of cost elements that will not be reimbursed and are not allowable under this program.

2. Will venue costs (ex: rental of a conference room at a hotel for training sessions) be allowed under this program? If not, will there be any in-kind contributions from INL in terms of space, for example U.S.G. facilities in those countries?

2. Will training stipends for participants (namely those traveling from other country[ies) to attend a training) be permitted as a budget line item for this NOFO?

2. Is there a specific number of trainings that INL expects to be delivered under Objectives 1 and 2?

Venue and per diem costs for participants are allowed. There is not a specific number of trainings expected under Objectives 1 and 2.

1. On page 10, the third bullet point in Section III notes “applicants must have the ability to produce course materials, deliver training, and conduct evaluations in Spanish and English.” Spanish is not an official language of any of the countries covered in this NOFO. Do applicants still need to demonstrate this capacity to produce all materials in Spanish in addition to English?

No, applicants do not need to demonstrate capacity to produce materials in Spanish, though the ability to produce materials in local language will increase potential sustainability and impact.

1. Does the U.S. Department of State, via INL or local embassies, have existing agreements with governments of any of the listed countries that would provide cover for engagement in the country on this topic, or is it envisioned that the implementing partner would support the drafting of these agreements during an inception phase?

Most countries listed have INL presence, and the implementer would be expected to coordinate programmatic engagement with existing efforts and implementers that are already in country. The nature of this program is global, not bilateral, therefore it is important to demonstrate ability to coordinate programs across multiple countries with varying levels of existing engagement on this topic.

1. Would you like separate proposals for each of the target countries or should they all be in one proposal?

Please include all target countries in one proposal.

1. Page 6 of the NOFO, under Objective 3, Activity 1, calls for the grantee organization to “supervise the production of investigatory and analytic documentation related to a financial and criminal investigation.”

6. Should the activity involve supervising the production of investigatory and analytic documentation of a specific, ongoing financial criminal investigation, or should it involve supervising the production of investigatory and analytic documentation to be applied in financial in financial criminal investigations generally?

6. If it is the first, should the supervision be of a single specific and ongoing cross-border financial criminal investigation between project countries, or should there be investigation supervision in each project country?

The grantee should oversee the production of casework and documentation consistent with what would be produced during data analysis, reporting, and investigations of a money laundering crime. Participants should be able to replicate what they learn during this program in their day-to-day work.

1. Objectives 1 and 2 both refer to “FIUs and investigators.” Should activities include investigators with other governmental agencies aside from FIUs that are also involved in investigating and prosecuting financial crimes?

Activities can include all stakeholders relevant to the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes.

1. In the Project Goals, what is meant by “network-centered investigations”?

Network-centered investigations do not rely on data from one source but take into account the interplay of multiple sources.