REVISED WPSI NOFO FINAL - 08.12.2019.docx

United States Department of State Notice Funding Opportunity for Opportunity Number SFOP0006023 Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO)

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW

Catalog of Federal Domestic

5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Please submit questions to Amanda Van Dort at VanDortAJ@state.gov. Responses will be posted online after the call. CSO will also host a call on Day of week, July 29 at 11:00 EST to answer applicant questions. Call in number: # 1-877-336-1280, Code 4537082#

Submission Due Date: Complete proposal packages must be submitted through SAMS by August 19, 2019; 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time

This funding opportunity is posted on SAMS Domestic and grants.gov and may be amended. Answers to questions from potential applicants will be posted as an attachment to this NOFO. Applicants should regularly check the websites for the most recent information pertaining to this NOFO. Department of State bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes associated with electronic submissions. Incomplete application packages will not be considered. E-mailed, faxed or mailed documents will NOT be considered.

Applicants must provide a Unique Entity Identifier, or Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS), when submitting application in response to this NOFO.

SAM.gov registration (www.sam.gov) is required. Applicants that do not have a valid DUNS number and completed www.sam.gov registration will NOT be eligible for consideration.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application package has been received in SAMS Domestic in its entirety. Incomplete applications will be considered ineligible. Individual e-mailed or faxed documents will not be considered.

The decision for the final eligibility and award determination rests with the Grants Officer.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CSO’s mission is to anticipate, prevent, and respond to conflict that undermines U.S. national interests. The bureau implements this mission in two complementary ways: through data-driven analysis and forward deploying stabilization advisors to conflict zones. The objective is to inform U.S. strategy, policy, and programs on conflict prevention and stabilization.

CSO announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for programs addressing the lack of indicators related to women and girls for early warning systems (EWS) globally. This funding opportunity aims to enhance the predictive capabilities of global risk analyses and EWS, thereby strengthening their ability to monitor, mitigate, and respond to violence or the threat of violence, through the development of a publicly available set of Women, Peace, and Security Indicators (WPSI).

Pending availability of funds and satisfactory performance, including compliance with the award’s terms and conditions the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) may consider adding funds to the award. CSO intends to support one (1) award as a result of this NOFO.

Department of State reserves the right to fund any or none of the proposals submitted and reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase the budget in accordance with the needs of the project and the availability of funds.

The Federal award signed by the State Department Grants Officer is the only authorizing document.

This NOFO consists of the Overview and Executive Summary, plus the following sections:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The United States National Security Strategy (NSS) and State-USAID Joint Strategic Plan clearly assert women’s important roles in promoting peace and prosperity. The NSS notes that “governments that fail to treat women equally do not allow their societies to reach their potential… [while] societies that empower women to participate fully in civic and economic life are more prosperous and peaceful.” When President Trump signed the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Act of 2017, he made the United States the first country in the world with comprehensive WPS legislation. This codified the U.S. commitment to the inclusion of women as equal partners in preventing and responding to conflict, and that the protection of women from violence is critical to their meaningful participation in promoting security.

A growing body of quantitative evidence demonstrates that women’s empowerment and equality are positively associated with peace and stability in society.[endnoteRef:1] Equality between men and women is a better indicator of a state’s peacefulness than other factors like democracy, religion, or GDP.[endnoteRef:2] Similarly, inequality between men and women has been revealed as a predictor of armed conflict in a number of empirical studies, whether measuring conflict between states or within states.[endnoteRef:3] [1: Mary Caprioli, “Gendered Conflict,” Journal of Peace Research 37, no. 1 (2000): 53-68; Mary Caprioli and Mark Boyer, “Gender, Violence, and International Crisis,” Journal of Conflict Resolution 45 (August 2001): 503-518; Patrick M. Regan and Aida Paskeviciute, “Women’s Access to Politics and Peaceful States,” Journal of Peace Research 40, no. 3 (2003): 287-302.] [2: ibid.] [3: Mary Caprioli, “Primed for violence: the role of gender inequality in predicting internal conflict,” International Studies Quarterly 49, no. 2 (2005): 161–178; Erik Melander, “Gender equality and intrastate armed conflict,” International Studies Quarterly 49, no. 4 (2005): 695–714.]

The WPS Act of 2017 and the President’s 2019 WPS Strategy recognizes this link and states that as a matter of policy, the United States shall “adjust policies and programs to improve outcomes in gender equality and the empowerment of women” and “collect and analyze gender data for the purpose of developing and enhancing early warning systems (EWS)[endnoteRef:4] of conflict and violence”. Recent research has also identified a link between violence against women and more generalized violence within communities or political systems[endnoteRef:5], and that conflict-related sexual violence[endnoteRef:6] in particular can be an early warning sign for atrocities.[endnoteRef:7] [4: Gender-sensitive EWS are grouped into two categories. Those that monitor: (1) root causes or underlying trends that forewarn of the likelihood of violent conflict or indicate state fragility, such as the prevalence of social norms that condone violence against women; and (2) more proximate causes and indicators that reflect rising tension, such as rape.] [5: UN Team of Experts. (2017). Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Annual Report.] [6: ‘Conflict-related sexual violence’ refers to incidents or patterns of sexual violence, that is rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, or any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity, against women, men, girls or boys, including as a tactic of war or tool of political intimidation. Such incidents or patterns occur in conflict or post-conflict settings or other situations of concern (e.g., political strife).] [7: Matrix: Early Warning Indicators of Conflict-related Sexual Violence. https://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/MatrixEarlyWarningIndicatorsCSV_UNAction2011.pdf]

However, out of a 2008 compilation of 30 early warning and assessment frameworks that included 832 indicators, only 11 indicators made any reference to women.[endnoteRef:8] Therefore, to advance the President’s 2019 WPS Strategy, it is critical that the U.S. government (USG) and partner governments/civil society’s efforts to track and predict conflict and instability include WPS indicators (WPSI). A publicly available report identifying a list of WPSI and their respective advantages and disadvantages, including examples, would enable civil society, the USG and partner government decision-makers to better anticipate and respond to early warning signs of violence. [8: According to a review conducted in 2009 by UNIFEM’s Ending Violence Against Women section, based on the publication of Barton, Frederick, von Hippel, Karin, Sequeira, Sabina and Irvine, Mark. (2008). “Early Warning? A Review of Conflict Prediction Models and Systems.” Center for Strategic and International Studies.]

PROJECT GOAL

The goal of this program is to enhance the predictive capabilities of global risk analyses and EWS, thereby strengthening their ability to monitor, mitigate, and respond to violence or the threat of violence, through the development of a publicly available set of qualitative and quantitative WPSI (to be hosted on a public website and freely available for government, nonprofit, and public purposes). To achieve this goal, the program seeks to contribute to the development of more effective EWS in direct support of President Trump’s 2019 WPS Strategy.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES

Objective 1: Develop WPSI, to include violence against women and girls, both qualitative/quantitative metrics that can be used to identify where instability/violent conflict is likely to occur.

Illustrative activities could include:

· Propose and evaluate indicators and data collection mechanisms for WPSI, aligned with the four lines of effort in the President’s 2019 WPS strategy[endnoteRef:9], for conflict, including incidents of violence against women that correlate with increased risk of instability; [9: The United States 2019 Women, Peace, and Security Strategy has four Lines of Effort: 1) Seek and support the preparation and meaningful participation of women around the world in decision-making processes related to conflict and crises; 2) Promote the protection of women and girls’ human rights; access to humanitarian assistance; and safety from violence, abuse, and exploitation around the world; 3) Adjust United States international programs to improve outcomes in equality for, and the empowerment of, women; and

4) Encourage partner governments to adopt policies, plans, and capacity to improve the meaningful participation of women in processes connected to peace and security and decision-making institutions.

· Identify past uses of WPSI in practice including their successes and shortfalls;

· Develop guidelines on integrating WPSI into existing EWS frameworks by identifying in-country partners and mechanisms that are already operating EWS.

Objective 2: Validate the effectiveness of the proposed WPSI at predicting instability and violent conflict using mixed method approaches.

Illustrative activities could include:

· Collect data on WPSI to test the predictive capacity of the gender-sensitive EWS in multiple countries during different political events (such as during a referendum, constitution-making process, a political transition, or national level elections), aligned with the four lines of effort in the President’s 2019 WPS strategy;

· Convene expert workshop with key stakeholders from relevant sectors, including appropriate CSO staff, to review findings and lessons learned to refine the WPSI and framework for integration into EWS;

· Publish a public set of WPSI and example data, along with a guidance document with lessons learned and tools for integrating the WPSI in EWS in different political contexts and moments.

PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS

· Target Groups – The target population for the use of the developed WPSI are civil society and community-based organizations currently running early warning systems, and USG and partner governments tracking data on violence and instability. When developing and testing indicators, all activities should be accessible, inclusive, and reflective of the needs of women and girls.

· Geographic Focus – The end goal of the development of WPSI is global applicability to local EWS, but the WPSI should be piloted in approximately six countries with geographic diversity.

· Coordination and Partnerships – The chosen implementer should have a plan to engage with an organization that is already managing an EWS to test the developed WPSI. CSO will be involved in the proposed methodology of the testing, to validate the effectiveness of the WPSI, prior to its public release. Selection of the partner organization will be subject to CSO approval.

· Women, Peace, and Security – Per the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Act of 2017 and the 2019 WPS Strategy, the United States is committed to the meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention, management, and resolution which is critical to the long-term stability of countries and regions. This includes promoting the physical safety of women and girls, collecting and analyzing sex-disaggregated data for the purpose of developing and enhancing early warning systems for conflict and violence, and integrating the perspectives and interests of affected women into conflict-prevention activities and strategies. U.S. government programs should improve outcomes in equality for, and the empowerment of, women.

· Sustainability – The set of WPSI should be able to be easily integrated into any existing EWS, and made publicly available online, along with a toolkit on how to integrate them. Follow-on programming efforts could include the development of effective rapid response mechanisms to WPSI.

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

CSO expects to award one (1) cooperative agreement based on this NOFO and in an amount not to exceed the total ceiling amount of $246,875. The period of performance is 12 Months with an anticipated start date of September 2, 2019. CSO may extend the award contingent on CSO priorities, alignment with U.S. policy objectives, good performance of the recipient, Department of State management approval, and funding availability.

The U.S. government may make award on the basis of initial applications received, without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, each initial application should contain the applicant's best terms from a cost and technical standpoint.

Cooperative Agreement: This cooperative agreement will include substantial involvement by CSO, including WPS specialists and conflict political scientists. For example, CSO will work closely with successful applicants to advise on revisions to the theory-of-change (TOC), design, indicators, and data collection instruments, working to ensure an approach that benefits the wider conflict community. Monthly check-ins will be expected as appropriate. [Additionally, CSO seeks to ensure that qualitative and quantitative information from the program is shared with CSO in ways that can feed into the broader analysis of conflict dynamics at subnational, national, and regional levels. As a result, CSO will work with the Recipient to develop a documentation and reporting plan that meets those needs.] CSO will be involved in the proposed methodology of the testing of the WPSI, to validate their effectiveness – prior to its public release.

Any decisions to change the scope or purpose of activities in the statement of work, to bring in other organizations to assist with activities and to engage with media will be made in consultation with CSO. CSO also expects to assist with the development of in-country partners who would be interested and capable of continuing this effort beyond the duration of the cooperative agreement.

Issuance of the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government. CSO reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase application budgets in accordance with program evaluation requirements. In the event of an award, CSO reserves the right to terminate the agreement in accordance with 2 CFR 200 and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions. Specifically, an award may be terminated if the Recipient is not meeting the objectives of the program or if the program no longer is consistent with the national security or foreign policy interest of the United States.

All applicants should be familiar with OMB Circular 2 CFR Part 200.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Applicant must have extensive knowledge of existing early warning systems and thematic expertise in gender equality and women’s empowerment. Applicants should have relationships with key political actors and institutions, are encouraged to partner with relevant organizations with the ability to execute such programming in countries where the WPSI are piloted. Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods in conflict strongly preferred.

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for more information and complete instructions on how to apply to this NOFO, including information on proposal’s content and formatting. Please use both the PSI and the NOFO to ensure that the proposal submission is in full compliance with the requirements. Proposal submissions that do not meet all of the requirements outlined in the NOFO and PSI will NOT be considered.

PROPOSAL NARRATIVE

The Proposal Narrative is a key part of the application. The Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten pages, single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font in Microsoft Word, at least one-inch margins) should be organized into the following five components:

Executive Summary:

· A succinct one-page summary containing information that the applicant believes best represents its proposed program and includes: the name and contact information for the program’s main point of contact; the program’s goal and objectives; program’s approach and methodology; and program’s expected outcomes.

Approach and Methodology:

· Conflict/Context Analysis: Successful applications under this funding opportunity will describe an approach based on a context and conflict analysis that leads to a concrete program change hypothesis. In this section, please provide background on the conflict/context in which the proposed program will be operating.

· Gender Analysis of Conflict: Proposals should also include a brief gender analysis of conflict to address how the program will identify the role that norms around masculinity and femininity, as well as power relations between men and women play, when developing indicators for early warning systems. This includes how the following categories impact women and girls: institutional practices, cultural norms, societal expectations, access to and control over assets and resources, and patterns of decision-making. The gender analysis should be undertaken prior to the commencement of program activities, and address how indicators related to women and girls are integrated into existing early warning systems as well as current gaps. Refer to the CSO Gender Analysis of Conflict guidance for sample questions.

· Program Goal and Objectives: In this section, please fully explain the program’s goal and objectives. The overarching goal statement should be visionary in nature, and outline what the overall activities and objectives should be building towards. It is important that the program goal aligns with (CSO/Department/U.S. government) policy. The objectives of the program should describe where you expect to be by the end of your program. The objectives should be measureable, results-focused, and achievable in within the timeframe of the program.

· Activities: All activities should be clearly developed and sufficiently detailed to understand the resource and time requirements, and how they contribute to the objectives and goal. Please identify: target areas for activities; target participant groups or selection criteria for participants; how the program will engage relevant stakeholders, including women; and local partners as appropriate, among other pertinent details. If partners are included, the narrative should clearly describe the division of labor between the direct applicant and partners.

· Theory of Change: Provide a theory of change for your program that elaborates explicit causal connections between the program’s activities, key intermediate outcomes, objectives, and the long-term goal. Generally, this should involve a chain of “if…then…because…” statements, or something similar. The program theory of change should apply and contextualize any relevant general theory about how this type of intervention works, and how to avoid negative outcomes. It should specify any key assumptions about the context (including relevant gender dynamics), the program design, or companion interventions that are required for success. It should cogently establish that the activities can reasonably be expected to be sufficient in kind, amount and timing with the resources applied, in this context. In addition, briefly explain how the program theory of change interacts with the broader system of conflict interventions by the U.S. government and others. A useful resource for guidance on developing theories of change is USAID’s Theories and Indicators of Change (THINC).

· Integration of Target Groups: It is likely that you will identify groups of individuals who will need special consideration as you develop your program. Please address how you will incorporate these target groups in your planned activities. These groups may include at-risk populations, such as women, ethnic and/or religious minorities, persons with disabilities, or youth.

Implementation Plan

· Resources, Key Steps and Timeline for Activities (including sequential logic): Describe the proposed activities and how they will achieve the objectives and goal of this program. In doing so, this section should demonstrate how the proposed activities build upon one another and are logically sequenced to achieve the desired outcomes, based on the proposed approach and methodology. The application must identify and address gaps in current responses to the conflict (as identified in the context and conflict analysis), including the roles women play that currently, or have the potential to, exacerbate or mitigate conflict. The applicant must submit an illustrative first year activity plan, which sets out a realistic outline of tasks and deliverables, anticipated time frames, challenges, opportunities and due dates, and persons responsible for achieving each task. This narrative description will be complemented by a Gantt chart in the Additional Attachments.

· Do No Harm: List any significant risks of harm to implementers, participants, beneficiaries or their communities, or of exacerbating conflict or creating new conflicts, which may result from this program – particularly specific risks to women and girls. Consider how resources or skills provided might be misused, create grievances among non-recipients, or cause key actors to react in harmful ways. Explain how these risks will be minimized.

· Local Engagement and Sustainability: Strong proposals will describe strategies to sustain the outcomes beyond CSO funding, and contribute to building the capacity of communities to address their own concerns in the future. This might be done through sub-grants to local organizations, although that is not a requirement; capacity-building and sustainment can be achieved indirectly as well. This section must also demonstrate a clear understanding of the role that local organizations and institutions are playing or can play in conflict mitigation and peacebuilding. The conflict analysis and the program design should reflect local perspectives, and explain how the program will engage with local partners, including women-led organizations, throughout its lifecycle. The proposal should describe how the applicant will work with local entities to build their organizational and technical capacities, and/or relationships to mitigate conflict. Applicants may submit signed Letters of Intent from organizations that will participate in the program. Letters of Intent should address the willingness of partner organizations to participate in the effort, and the understanding all parties have as to their unique roles and responsibilities in terms of the proposed program. In cases where an applicant (i.e., non-local) was not able to partner with a local organization or institution, does not consider it feasible to do so, or does not consider it in the program’s best interest, the applicant must clearly explain the rationale.

Institutional Capabilities and Past Performance

· Organization: Provide a description of the applicant organization – including its general purpose, goals, annual budget (including funding sources), and major past and current activities and programs undertaken.

· Relevant Programmatic and Thematic Experience: Applications should demonstrate the ability to develop and implement programs of the kind outlined in this proposal. Previous experience designing and implementing similar programs is highly desirable and should be detailed and documented in the application. Applicants should demonstrate how organizational resources, capabilities, and experience, and lessons learned from literature on this type of endeavor, will enable the applicant to achieve the grant’s stated objectives.

· Regional/Country Experience: Applicants should specify relevant experience in the pilot countries identified in the proposal, or in similar situations in other countries. Applicants should be able to legally operate in the country where they propose to work. Identify in-country partners; the successful applicant will already have in place at least one partnership with regional institutions and/or organizations. Specify the expertise that each partner brings.

· Key Program Staff: Applications should highlight key staff, their positions, percentage of time devoted to this program, and management structure for the program. The resumes of key staff should highlight relevant educational and field experience and be included as an appendix (see additional attachments below). The person(s) principally responsible for M&E design and technical oversight should be included. The resumes should be no more than two pages and should all follow a consistent format. The applicant should also clarify roles for local partners and staff.

Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan:

· CSO considers monitoring to be essential for responsible program management. Successful applicants will submit a draft monitoring plan within 15 days of award notification. After CSO review, a final monitoring plan must be submitted within 30 days of the award notification.

· For the purposes of the application, please submit a notional logic model/PMP (use template provided). This must include notional indicators at each of the following levels: objective, intermediate outcome, and output. Provide an explanation if data will not be disaggregated by sex. Describe how any risks of harm listed above will be monitored. In addition, use this section to describe the applicant’s approach to monitoring and evaluation and why this approach is appropriate for this program and context. This may include the type of data you may collect (qualitative and/or quantitative). If possible, include applicable State Department standard gender indicators (see attachment). Describe the timing of data collection and analysis and how this information will inform midstream program management decision-making.

· Please describe the resources needed to implement your M&E plan and address these in your budget. In most cases, CSO will fund program evaluations separately. If you want to propose including specific monitoring and evaluation activities in the program budget (outside of monitoring, which is required), please specify whether you are requesting funds for a baseline, mid-term and/or final evaluation. Additionally, please elaborate on the type of evaluation (quasi-experimental, developmental, outcome harvesting, process tracing, etc.).

ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS AND BUDGET COMPONENTS

Additional attachments listed below, budget components, and the SF-424s are not part of the proposal narrative and do not count as part of the 10-page limit for the proposal narrative.

Additional Attachments:

· Logic Model/PMP: The logic model/PMP should include theories of change; goal and objectives; activities; output and outcome indicators; data collection tools; key definitions and risks and assumptions.

· Timeline: The timeline of the overall proposal should include activities, evaluation efforts, and program closeout (not to exceed one [1] page). Please use the GANTT chart template provided.

· Key Personnel: Please include CVs of key personnel that highlight relevant professional experience (not to exceed two [2] pages each).

· Past Performance References (ideally 3 minimum): When past performance information is present, applicants shall furnish award numbers and other details with contact information for no more than three similar programs funded over the past three years by the State Department, or any other government entity or third party source, if possible. The details shall include the following: name of the organization or agency which funded the program(s), award number, point of contact‘s name, mailing address, email address and phone number, and the overall dollar value of the program. The applicant must include information on any problems encountered, and the applicant’s corrective action(s). Applicants must not provide general information on their performance. Applicants may describe any quality awards or certificates that indicate exceptional capacity to conduct the program described in this NOFO. Please use the PPR template provided.

· Data Collection and Reporting Plan: Describe how you will collect and share both qualitative and quantitative information from various sources, through your research, activities, and or monitoring efforts.

Budget Components:

· Budget Appropriateness: Budgeted items are necessary and sufficient to the achievement of the goal, objectives, activities and program monitoring as presented in the proposal. This should consist of both an Excel budget breakdown and a budget narrative attached as an annex. The budget narrative must include clear, substantive explanations for each line-item and how the amounts were derived, as well as the source and description of all cost-share offered. Refer to the Excel Budget Template for guidance on compiling a budget and associated budget narrative.

· Cost-effectiveness: The Department of State must determine that the costs paid for this award are reasonable, allowable, and allocable to the proposed program activities. This will consist of a review of the Budget to determine if the overall costs are realistic for the work to be performed, if the costs reflect the applicant’s understanding of the allowable cost principles established by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 2 CFR 200 (OMB Circular A-122), and if the costs are consistent with the program narrative. Programs should seek to produce innovative and cost-effective outcomes that reach more beneficiaries. As per Section C2 of 2 CFR 200, cost-share is not required, but funding contributed by the applicant and other partners shows a commitment to the success of the program. Applicants may incorporate cost-share through leveraging existing programs, partnering, and/or providing in-kind goods and services.

Include a PDF file copy of your organization’s most recent program (A-133 /2 CFR 200) audit, if applicable. If not, please include a copy of your most recent independent audit, if available.

V. APPLICATION EVALUATION AND SCORING

The U.S. government may issue an award resulting from this NOFO to the responsible applicant whose application is the most responsive to the goals and objectives set forth in this NOFO. The U.S. government may (a) reject any or all applications, and/or (b) waive informalities and minor irregularities in applications received.

The U.S. government may make an award on the basis of initial applications received without discussion or negotiations. Therefore, applications should contain the applicant’s best terms from a cost and technical standpoint.

U.S. government also reserves the right, but is not obliged, to enter into discussions with an applicant in order to obtain clarification, additional detail, or to suggest refinements in the program’s description, budget, or other aspects of an application.

Applicants should note that the following criteria will serve as a standard against which all applications will be evaluated. Department of State will issue an award to the applicant whose proposal represents the best value to the U.S. Government on the basis of technical merit, efficient use of USG funds, and satisfactory organizational capacity. In addition, each application will be evaluated and scored on the Proposal Components using a 100-point scale by a peer review committee of Department of State.

CSO will conduct a merit review of all eligible applications as outlined in this NOFO. Applications will be reviewed by an independent review panel consisting of qualified representatives from other DoS bureaus, offices, and Posts. Final approval resides with the CSO relevant programming office.

The point value for each section outlined below indicates its relative importance in the application review process. Evaluation values are based on five narrative components and two budget components.

Based on eligible applications that are responsive to the requirements outlined above, the review panel will use the following criteria when rating proposals:

Quality of Program Idea Total Possible = 25 points

· Responsive to the solicitation and appropriate in the country context (10 points)

· Clearly states theory of change (5)

· Establishes direct connection between proposed activities and the desired results (5)

· Exhibits originality, prioritizes innovation, but is feasible (5) Program Planning / Ability to Achieve Objectives Total Possible = 30 points

· Includes a clear articulation of how the proposed program activities contribute to the overall program objectives (5)

· Activities are developed and detailed. Objectives are clear, specific, attainable, measurable results-focused and placed in a reasonable time frame (4)

· Addresses need for flexibility and ability to adapt (4)

· Provides a comprehensive quarterly work plan for program activities (3)

· Describes the division of labor among the direct applicant, any partners, and any potential sub-grantees; addresses how the program will engage or obtain support from relevant stakeholders; and identifies local partners where appropriate (3)

· Includes contingency plans for potential difficulties in executing the original work plan (3)

· Demonstrates an institutional record of successful programs in the target country or content area (4)

· Provides a thoughtful and appropriately detailed Gender Analysis of Conflict, and the identified dynamics are considered and integrated across activities and indicators (3) Cost Effectiveness Total Possible = 15 points

· Explains and justifies overhead and administration costs of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria. (5)

· All budget items are reasonable, appropriate and linked to program objectives and demonstrate efficient use of U.S. Government funds (10)

· Note: Cost share is not required. Applicants may offer cost share, but cost share will not be considered or factored in when proposals are reviewed.

Program Monitoring and Evaluation Total Possible = 20 points The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan includes:

· Explains how monitoring and evaluation will be carried out and who will be responsible for monitoring and evaluation activities (5)

· Robust M&E framework includes output- and outcome-based performance indicators for each program objective with baselines and (yearly and cumulative) targets; data collection tools; data sources; types of data disaggregation, including by sex, if applicable; and frequency of monitoring and evaluation (15) Multiplier Effect / Sustainability of Impact Total Possible = 10 points

· Clearly delineates how elements of the program will have a multiplier effect (5)

· Clearly delineates how impact will be sustainable beyond the life of the grant (5)

VI. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION:

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute a commitment on the part of the Department of State to issue an award nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. Furthermore, award cannot be issued until funds have been fully appropriated, allocated, and committed through internal DOS procedures. While it is anticipated that these procedures will be successfully completed, potential applicants are hereby notified of these requirements. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.

Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.400 g, it is U.S. Department of State policy not to award profit under assistance instruments.

2 CFR §200.501 requires domestic/US non-federal entities that expend $750,000, or more, in federal assistance during organization’s fiscal year to have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year. In addition, the entity must report the collected audit data elements on the form SF-SAC and submit it to the FAC. Any findings such as material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, or material noncompliance are reported on the SF-SAC.

The Federal award signed by the Grants Officer is the only authorizing document.

Reporting Requirements Recipients will, at a minimum, be required to submit Quarterly Progress Reports and Quarterly Financial Reports (SF-425) describing key activities undertaken during the preceding month towards accomplishment of the stated objectives. Progress Reports will compare actual to planned performance and indicate the progress made in accomplishing each assistance award task/goal noted in the grant agreement and will contain analysis and summary of findings, both quantitative and qualitative, for key indicators. Financial Reports will provide a means of monitoring expenditures and comparing costs incurred with progress. In difficult environments, CSO may require additional reporting and briefings in order to monitor program developments. Applicants should account for this in their M&E staffing plans.

NOTE: It is Department of State policy that English is the official language of all documents. If reports or any supporting documents are provided in both English and a foreign language, it must be stated in each version that the English language version is the controlling version.

U.S. dollar is the controlling currency.

Mandatory Disclosures (2 CFR 200.113) The non-federal entity or applicant for a federal award must disclose, in a timely manner, in writing to the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity all violations of federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the federal award. Non-federal entities that have received a Federal award including the term and condition outlined in Appendix XII of the 2 CFR 200 – Award Terms and Conditions for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters – are required to report certain civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings to SAM (www.sam.gov). Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in §200.338 Remedies for Noncompliance, including suspension or debarment.

Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) A federal awarding agency, prior to making a federal award, will review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313). Applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through www.sam.gov. Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance.

Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in §200.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

Other Information Applicant organizations must demonstrate adherence to equal opportunity employment practices and commitment to non-discrimination with respect to beneficiaries. Non-discrimination includes equal treatment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation. Applicants are reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with or support to individuals or organizations associated with terrorism.

Proposals that reflect any type of support for any member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist organization or narcotics trafficker, including elected members of government, will NOT be considered. This provision must be included in any sub‐awards/sub-contracts issued under this award.

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

Any prospective applicant desiring an explanation or interpretation of this NOFO must request it in writing by the deadline for questions specified in the cover letter to allow a reply to reach all prospective applicants before the submission of their applications. Any information given to a prospective applicant concerning this NOFO will be furnished promptly to all other prospective applicants as a Questions and Answers attachment to this NOFO, if that information is necessary in submitting applications or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to any other prospective applicants.

Any questions concerning this NOFO must be submitted in writing by email to:

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) c/o Amanda Van Dort VanDortAJ@state.gov 202-472-8547

UNCLASSIFIED