SFOP0005002 EAP NOFO FY2018 Sustainable Seafood Business Competition.docx

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

BUREAU OF EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS (EAP)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Announcement Type: New Announcement

Funding Opportunity Title: Supporting Sustainable Seafood Private Sector Businesses in the Pacific Islands

Funding Opportunity Number: SFOP0005002

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 19.124

Total Available Funding: $197,500

NOFO Issuance Date: May 2, 2018

Application Deadline: July 2, 2018 at 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Background The U.S. Department of State Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP) announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to support Pacific Islands businesses in the fisheries/seafood sector to adopt sustainable and inclusive practices and to generate economic growth for Pacific peoples through participation in a global business plan competition. The program should leverage U.S. expertise in innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment to empower Pacific Islands businesses 1) to adopt sustainable and inclusive practices with positive social impacts (e.g., employment of disadvantaged populations including women and youth), and 2) to expand and provide jobs and income for Pacific Islanders, including through capacity building to become investment-ready, integration into regional and global supply chains, networking opportunities to learn from others and develop business and investment partnerships, as well as exposure to new technologies and innovation in the sector through participation in a global business plan competition.

Program Goals and Results The program should align with the new Department of State-USAID Strategic Plan Objectives 2.1 (Promoting American prosperity by advancing bilateral relationships and leveraging international institutions and agreements to open markets, secure commercial opportunities, and foster investment and innovation to contribute to U.S. job creation) and 2.2 ( Promote healthy, educated and productive populations in partner countries to drive inclusive and sustainable development, open new markets, and support U.S. prosperity and security objectives) by supporting sustainable and inclusive private sector-led growth in the Pacific Island countries, and by providing access to business and investment opportunities in the Pacific for U.S. partners and investors, promoting American prosperity. The business plan competition must be able to bring in experts and investors to provide guidance and network with Pacific Islands businesses, and to listen to pitches from the top Pacific Islands competitors.

Proposals that also involve investors and experts from neighboring countries in the EAP region are encouraged, but not required.

In addition to the above requirements, projects should achieve two or more of the following goals:

1) Provide guidance and mentoring to Pacific Islands businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs on making their operations sustainable (e.g., by ensuring the product is harvested in an environmentally friendly manner that is sustainable in the long term) and socially inclusive and impactful (e.g., by employing women, youth or other disadvantaged populations). This could occur through one-on-one mentoring, in person or online training, and participation in the business plan competition

2) Empower Pacific Islands businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs to grow their businesses by building capacity on topics such as marketing, business and financial management, innovations in the seafood sector, and communicating with investors—with the aim of making the businesses investment-ready. This could occur through one-on-one mentoring, in person or online training, and participation in the business plan competition

3) Provide tools and opportunities for Pacific Islands businesses to market their investment goals as well as to network and learn from other sustainable seafood businesses, industry experts, business advisors, and investors in the United States, in the EAP region, and globally. This could include through online and in-person networking, a business plan competition, workshop or training events, media exposure, etc.

4) Partner and collaborate with other governments, international organizations, and/or NGOs located in the EAP region to jointly build capacity for Pacific islands businesses through the program. Such partnerships can enable efficiencies in knowledge, outreach, and implementation and further enhance the reach of the program in the Pacific.

Scope of Activities Projects should be regional in scope, to promote connections and build an effective network of businesses across the entire Pacific region. Projects should have the potential to have an immediate impact on Pacific businesses leading to long-term improvements in private sector-led growth in the region. Projects preferably should demonstrate sustainability, such as the ability to leverage additional and/or continued funding beyond EAP resources. EAP encourages innovative and creative approaches, rather than projects that simply duplicate or add to efforts by other entities. This does not exclude projects from consideration that clearly build off existing successful projects in a new and innovative way. EAP also strives to ensure its projects advance the rights and uphold the dignity of the most vulnerable or at risk populations.

Projects are limited to Pacific Island countries eligible to receive Economic Support Funds: Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. No funds will be used to provide support directly to foreign government officials.

The authority for this funding opportunity is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA).

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

EAP anticipates having approximately $197,500 of FY17 Economic Support Funds (ESF) available to support one successful application submitted in response to this NOFO, subject to the ability of funding.

Applicants should include an anticipated start date of August2018 and the period of performance should be between 2 to 4 years.

The Department of State may make award(s) 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. The Department of State reserves the right (though it is not under obligation to do so), however, to enter into discussions with one or more applicants in order to obtain clarifications, additional detail, or to suggest refinements in the project description, budget, or other aspects of an application.

EAP anticipates awarding either a grant or cooperative agreement depending on the needs and risk factors of the program. The final determination on the funding instrument will be made by the Grants Officer. The distinction between grants and cooperative agreements revolves around the existence of “substantial involvement.” Cooperative agreements require greater involvement from the Federal government during the implementation of the award agreement. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, EAP will ensure reasonable substantial involvement during the award period. Examples of substantial involvement can include, but are not limited to:

· Approval of the Recipient’s annual work plans, including: planned activities for the following year, travel plans, planned expenditures, event planning, and changes to any activity to be carried out under the Cooperative Agreement;

· Approval of sub-award Recipients, and concurrence on the substantive provisions of the sub-awards; and coordination with other cooperating agencies (if applicable);

· Approval of Monitoring and Evaluation Plan;

· Country specific approvals (if applicable)

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1 Eligible Applicants

EAP welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO); Public International Organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit entities.

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

Please see 2 CFR 200.307 for regulations regarding program income.

C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching

Providing cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an eligibility requirement for this NOFO. If providing cost share, please outline in the budget and proposal how the additional funds will be used to further the program goals.

C.3 Other Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations.

Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System in the System for Award Management (SAM)(www.sam.gov) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR,1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR,1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” Additionally, no entity listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Excluded Parties List System in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included.

Organizations may only submit one application per organization. If more than one application is submitted by an organization, only the first application received from that institution will be reviewed for eligibility and funding.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

D.1 Address to Request Application Package

Applicants can find application forms and other materials need to apply on www.grants.gov and SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com) under the announcement title “Supporting Sustainable Seafood Private Sector Businesses in the Pacific Islands,” funding opportunity number SFOP0005002. Please contact the EAP point of contact listed in section G if requesting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or for security reasons. Please note: reasonable accommodations do not include deadline extensions.

D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Applications that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

For all submitted application documents, please ensure:

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

· All documents are in English. If an original document within the application is in another language, an English translation must be provided (please note: the Department of State, as indicated in 2 CFR 200.111, requires that English is the official language of all award documents. If any documents are provided in both English and a foreign language, the English language version is the controlling version);

· All budget costs are in U.S. dollars;

· All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments;

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

· All documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins. Captions and footnotes may be 10 point Times New Roman font. Font sizes in charts and tables, including the budget, can be reformatted to fit within 1 page width.

Complete applications must include the following required documents:

1. Mandatory application forms (available electronically via www.grants.gov and SAMS Domestic https://mygrants.service-now.com)

· SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

· SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs

· SF-424B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs

2. If your organization engages in lobbying the U.S. government including Congress, or pays for another entity to lobby on your behalf, the SF-LLL “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” form is required.

3. Your organization’s most recent audit (A-133 audit, if applicable, or standard audit).

4. Table of Contents (not to exceed one [1] page in Microsoft Word) that includes a page numbered contents page, including any attachments.

5. Executive Summary (not to exceed two [2] pages in Microsoft Word) that includes:

a) The target country/countries and thematic area;

b) Name and contact information for the project’s main point of contact;

c) The total amount of funding requested and project length;

d) A statement of work or synopsis of the project, including a concise breakdown of the project’s objectives, activities, and expected results; and,

e) A brief statement on how the project is innovative, sustainable, and will have a demonstrated impact.

6. Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten [10] pages in Microsoft Word). Please note the ten page limit does not include the Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Attachments, Audit, Detailed Budget, Budget Narrative, or Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). Applicants are encouraged to submit multiple documents in a single Microsoft Word or Adobe file, (i.e., Table of Contents, Executive Summary, and Proposal Narrative in one file).

7. Detailed Line-Item Budget (in Microsoft Excel) that includes three [3] columns including the request to EAP, any cost sharing contribution, and total budget (see below for more information on budget format). The federal share requested should not exceed the amount of funds available under section B. A summary budget should also be included using the OMB approved budget categories (see SF-424A for budget categories). Costs must be in U.S. dollars. Detailed line-item budgets for sub-awardees should be included in additional tabs within the excel workbook. A template budget is provided, but is not required, as long as the submitted budget follows OMB budget categories.

8. Budget Narrative (in Microsoft Word) that includes substantive explanations and justifications for each line item in the detailed budget spreadsheet, as well as the source and a description of all cost-share offered. For ease of review, EAP recommends applicants order the budget narrative as presented in the detailed budget. Personnel costs should include a clarification of the roles and responsibilities of all staff, base salary, and percentage of time devoted to the project. The budget narrative should support the activities described in the proposal and provide additional information that might not be readily apparent in the detailed-line item budget, not simply repeat what is represented numerically in the budget, i.e. salaries are for salaries or travel is for travel. The budget narrative should also explain any cost share provided.

9. Attachments (not to exceed thirteen [13] pages total, preferably in Microsoft Word) that include the following in order:

a) Logic model – Page 1-2

b) Narrative of Monitoring and Evaluation Plan – Pages 3-4.

c) Monitoring and Evaluation Performance Indicator Table – Pages 5-9. This section can be up to four pages long if necessary.

d) Timeline of the overall proposal – Page 10: Components should include activities, evaluation efforts, and project closeout.

e) Additional optional attachments – Page 11-13: Attachments may include further timeline information, letters of support, memorandums of understanding/agreement, etc. Letters of support and MOUs must be specific to the projects implementation (e.g. from proposed partners or sub-award recipients) and will not count towards the page limit.

10. If your organization has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your most recent NICRA should be included as a PDF file. This document will not be reviewed by the panelists, but rather used by project and grant staff if the submission is recommended for funding and therefore does not count against the submission page limitations. If your proposal involves subawards to organizations charging indirect costs, please submit the applicable NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request a de minimis indirect rate of up to10% of the modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68. The budget narrative should indicate what costs will be covered using the 10% de minimis rate. Please see 2 CFR 200. 414(f) for more information on the de minimis rate.

Note: Applications that do not include all required documents will be marked as incomplete, and will therefore be ineligible for funding.

EAP retains the right to ask for additional documents not included in this NOFO. Additionally, to ensure all applications receive a balanced evaluation, the EAP Review Panel will review the first page of the requested section up to the page limit and no further. EAP encourages organizations to use the given space effectively.

Additional information that successful applicants may be asked to submit after notification of intent to make a Federal award, but prior to issuance of a Federal award, may include:

· Written responses and any revised application documents addressing any conditions or recommendations from the Review Panel;

· Completion of the Department’s Financial Management Survey, if receiving EAP funding for the first time or requested by the Grants Officer;

· Submission of required documents to register in the Payment Management System managed by the Department of Health and Human Services if receiving EAP funding for the first time, unless an exemption is provided;

· Other requested information or documents included in the notification of intent to make a Federal award or subsequent communications prior to issuance of a Federal award.

D.3 Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

All organizations applying for grants must obtain these registrations. All are free of charge:

· Unique entity identifier from Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS number)

· NCAGE/CAGE code

· www.SAM.gov registration

Step 1: Apply for a DUNS number and an NCAGE number (these can be completed simultaneously)

DUNS application: Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet. If your organization does not have one already, you may obtain one by calling 1-866-705-5711 or visiting http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform

NCAGE application: Application page here: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx Instructions for the NCAGE application process:

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf

For NCAGE help from within the U.S., call 1-888-227-2423 For NCAGE help from outside the U.S., call 1-269-961-7766 Email NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil for any problems in getting an NCAGE code.

Step 2: After receiving the NCAGE Code, proceed to register in SAM.gov by logging onto: https://www.sam.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

Applicants must have an active registration in SAM (www.sam.gov) prior to submitting an application, must prove a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, formerly referred to as a DUNS number, and must continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by the U.S. government. If an organization does not have an active registration in SAM.gov prior to submitting an application, the application will be deemed ineligible. Note: The process of obtaining a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. SAM is the Federal government's primary database for complying with FFATA reporting requirements. OMB designated SAM as the central repository to facilitate applicant and recipient use of a single public website that consolidates data on all federal financial assistance. Under the law, it is mandatory to obtain a UEI number and register in SAM.

SAM requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM and to also maintain its active registration in SAM.

An exemption from this requirement may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if the applicant’s identity must be protected due to possible endangerment of their mission, their organization’s status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applicant. Organizations requesting an exemption should email the point of contact listed in Section G of this NOFO.

Please note: foreign organizations will be required to register with the NATO Support Agency (NSPA) to receive a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code in order to register in SAM. NSPA will forward your registration request to the applicable National Codification Bureau (NCB) if your organization is located in a NATO or Tier 2 Sponsored Non-NATO Nation. (As of January 2015, NATO nations included Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States of America; and Tier 2 nations included Australia, Austria, Brazil, Finland, Israel, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Serbia, and Singapore.)

NSPA and/or the appropriate NCB forwards all NCAGE code information to all Allied Committee 135 (AC/135) nations, which as of January 2015 also included Afghanistan, Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Montenegro, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates.

D.4 Submission Dates and Times

Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), on July 2, 2018 via www.grants.gov or SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com) under the announcement title “Supporting Sustainable Seafood Private Sector Businesses in the Pacific Islands” funding opportunity number SFOP0005002.

Grants.gov and SAMS Domestic automatically logs the date and time an application submission is made, and the Department of State will use this information to determine whether an application has been submitted on time. Late applications are neither reviewed nor considered unless the EAP point of contact listed in section G is contacted prior to the deadline and is provided with evidence of system errors caused by www.grants.gov or SAMS Domestic that is outside of the applicants’ control and is the sole reason for a late submission. Applicants should not expect a notification upon EAP receiving their application.

If ultimately provided with a notification of intent to make a Federal award, applicants typically have two to three weeks to provide additional information and documents requested in the notification of intent. The deadlines may vary in each notification of intent and applicants must adhere to the stated deadline in the notification of intent.

D.5 Funding Restrictions

EAP will not consider applications that reflect any type of support for any member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist organization. No entity listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM is eligible for any assistance.

Project activities that provide training or other assistance to foreign militaries or paramilitary groups or individuals will not be considered for EAP funding given purpose limitations on funding.

The Leahy Law prohibits Department foreign assistance funds from supporting foreign security force units if the Secretary of State has credible information that the unit has committed a gross violation of human rights. Per 22 USC §2378d(a) (2015), “No assistance shall be furnished under this chapter [FOREIGN ASSISTANCE] or the Arms Export Control Act [22 USC 2751 et seq.] to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country if the Secretary of State has credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights.” Restrictions may apply to any proposed assistance to police or other law enforcement. Among these, pursuant to section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA), no assistance provided through this funding opportunity may be furnished to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country when there is credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights. In accordance with the requirements of section 620M of the FAA, also known as the Leahy law, project beneficiaries or participants from a foreign government’s security forces may need to be vetted by the Department before the provision of any assistance.

If a proposed grant or cooperative agreement will provide assistance to foreign security forces or personnel, compliance with the Leahy Law is required. Federal awards generally will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs; however, the Grants Officer may approve pre-award costs on a case-by-case basis. Generally, construction costs are not allowed under EAP awards.

D.6 Other Submission Requirements

All application submissions must be made electronically via www.grants.gov or SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com). Both systems require registration by the applying organization. Please note: the Grants.gov registration process can take 10 business days or longer, even if all registration steps are completed in a timely manner.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that it has an active registration in Grants.gov or SAMS Domestic and that an application has been received by Grants.gov or SAMS Domestic in its entirety. EAP bears no responsibility for disqualification that result from applicants not being registered before the due date or for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Additionally, you must save a screen shot of the checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document fails to upload successfully.

Faxed, couriered, or emailed documents will not be accepted. Reasonable accommodations may, in appropriate circumstances, be provided to applicants with disabilities or for security reasons.

Applicants must follow all formatting instructions in the applicable solicitation and these instructions.

SAMS Domestic Applications:

Applicants using SAMS Domestic for the first time should complete their “New Organization Registration.” To register with SAMS Domestic, click “Login to https://mygrants.service-now.com” and follow the “create an account” link.

Organizations must remember to save a screen shot of the checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document fails to upload successfully.

SAMS Domestic Help Desk:

For assistance with SAMS Domestic accounts and technical issues related to the system, please contact the ILMS help desk by phone at 1-888-313-4567 (toll charges for international callers) or through the Self Service online portal that can be accessed from https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilms/home. Customer Support is available 24/7/365.

Grants.gov Applications

Please refer to the Grants.gov website for definitions of various "application statuses" and the difference between a submission receipt and a submission validation. Applicants will receive a validation e-mail from Grants.gov upon the successful submission of an application. Validation of an electronic submission via Grants.gov can take up to two business days.

Grants.gov Helpdesk:

For assistance with Grants.gov, please call the Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or email support@grants.gov. The Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except federal holidays.

Should an applicant experience technical issues, contacted the applicable helpdesk, and is not receiving timely assistance (e.g. if you have not received a response after 2 days of contacting the helpdesk), you may contact the EAP point of contact listed in section G, who may assist in contacting the appropriate helpdesk. Applicants should document their efforts in contacting the helpdesk.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1 Criteria

Each application will be evaluated individually against the following criteria, listed below in order of importance, and not against competing applications.

Quality of Project Idea (35 points) Applications should be responsive to the NOFO, appropriate in the country/regional context, and should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to EAP’s mission of promoting human rights and democracy. EAP prioritizes innovative and creative approaches rather than projects that simply duplicate or add to efforts by other entities. This does not exclude projects that clearly build off existing successful projects in a new and innovative way from consideration. In countries where similar activities are already taking place, an explanation should be provided as to how new activities will not duplicate or merely add to existing activities and how these efforts will be coordinated.

Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives (25 points)

Propose a clear and realistic implementation plan to significantly address the Program Goals in this solicitation. This should include an introduction and rationale of the proposal, describing the problem and how the project addresses the problem, as well as project goals, objectives and expected results and any aspects of innovation, sustainability and impact of the project.

A strong application will include a clear articulation of how the proposed project activities contribute to the overall project objectives, and each activity will be clearly developed and detailed. The proposal should further outline the expected and achievable results for the project. It should also outline the relevant and appropriate Main Activities to accomplish the goals and expected results.

Objectives should be ambitious, yet measurable results-focused and achievable in a reasonable time frame. A complete application must include a logic model to demonstrate how the project will have an impact on its proposed objectives. Applications should address how the project will engage relevant stakeholders and should identify local partners as appropriate. If local partners have been identified, EAP strongly encourages applicants to submit letters of support from proposed in-country partners. Additionally, applicants should describe the division of labor among the direct applicant and any local partners.

If applicable, applications should identify target areas for activities, target participant groups or selection criteria for participants, and the specific roles of subawardees, among other pertinent details. In particularly challenging operating environments, applications should include contingency plans for overcoming potential difficulties in executing the original work plan and address any operational or programmatic security concerns and how they will be addressed.

In table format, please present a brief, one- to two-page work plan matrix (which does count as part of the 10 page limit), with a timeline including target dates for activities for the life of the agreement, which reflects the overall program approach, and objectives. The following timeline below is provided as an example for semiannual (SA) periods. SA1 is October-March, and SA2 is April-September.

Activity 123

Etc.

Institution’s Record and Capacity (15 points) This section of the application provides information about the applicant organization. It provides evidence that the applicant has the ability to successfully carry out the program activities of the agreement.

EAP will consider the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants. Applications should demonstrate an institutional record of successful private sector and environmental capacity building projects, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past grants. Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the project's objectives.

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

• Discuss the applicant’s experience in providing private sector development in the Pacific Islands as well as supporting sustainable seafood entrepreneurs including:

· Years of experience in organizing business plan competitions and providing training to enhance businesses’ investment potential in the Pacific Islands;

· Knowledge of the sustainable seafood industry and experience in sharing best practices on sustainability and social and environmental impact;

· Experience connecting sustainable seafood entrepreneurs with investors and partners and knowledge of the challenges faced by Pacific Islands businesses in accessing available sources of public and private finance;

· A highly developed network of investors and seafood industry experts in the United States, regionally, and internationally who will engage with the business plan competition and provide advice and mentoring to competitors;

· Established networks and partners in the Pacific region that can be leveraged to advance the program’s goals.

Cost Effectiveness (10 points)

Budgeted items are necessary to the achievement of the goals and activities as presented in the proposal.

EAP strongly encourages applicants to clearly demonstrate project cost-effectiveness in their application, including examples of leveraging institutional and other resources. However, cost-sharing or other examples of leveraging other resources is not required and does not need to be included in the budget. Inclusion in the budget does not result in additional points awarded during the review process. Budgets however should have low and/or reasonable overhead and administration costs and applicants should provide clear explanations and justifications for these costs in relation to the work involved. All budget items should be clearly explained and justified to demonstrate its necessity, appropriateness, and its link to the project objectives.

Please note: If cost-share is included in the budget then the recipient must maintain written records to support all allowable costs that are claimed as its contribution to cost-share, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. In the event the recipient does not meet the minimum amount of cost-sharing as stipulated in the recipient’s budget, EAP’s contribution may be reduced in proportion to the recipient’s contribution.

Multiplier Effect/Sustainability (7 points) Applications should clearly delineate how elements of the project will have a multiplier effect with the ability to sustain the impact of the project beyond the life of the grant. An good multiplier effect will have an impact beyond the direct beneficiaries of the grant (e.g. participants trained under a grant go on to train other people, workshop participants use skills from a workshop to enhance a national level election that affects the entire populace). A strong sustainability plan may include demonstrating continuing impact beyond the life of a project or garnering other donor support after EAP funding ceases.

Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (8 points) Complete applications will include a detailed plan (both a narrative and table) of how the project’s progress and impact will be monitored and evaluated throughout the project. Incorporating a well-designed monitoring and evaluation component into a project is one of the most efficient methods of documenting the progress and results (intended and unintended) of a project. Applications should demonstrate the capacity to provide objectives with measurable outputs and outcomes and engage in robust monitoring and assessment of project activities.

The quality of the M&E plan will be judged on the narrative explaining how both monitoring and evaluation will be carried out, who will be responsible for those related activities. In particular, successful monitoring and evaluation depend on:

· Setting short-term and long-term goals that are clear, attainable, measurable, and placed in a reasonable time frame;

· Linking program activities to stated goals; and

· Developing performance indicators that are quantifiable, have realistic targets, and are categorized into outputs or outcomes.

EAP recommends that applicants describe the methodology and data collection strategies (e.g., surveys, interviews, quantitative indicators), as well as a timeline for the monitoring process. EAP expects the grantee to track participants or partners as appropriate and be able to respond to key evaluation questions, such as satisfaction with the program/training, information learned as a result of the program/training, and changes in behavior as a result of the program.

E.2 Review and Selection Process

EAP strives to ensure each application receives a balanced evaluation by an EAP Review Panel. All technically eligible applications for a given notice of funding opportunity are reviewed against the same criteria, listed above. Additionally, the EAP Review Panel will evaluate how the application addresses the NOFO request, U.S. foreign policy goals, and the priority needs of EAP overall.

The EAP Review Panel generally includes representatives from EAP, as well as other representatives from the Department of State, and may include additional panelists from U.S. embassies, other U.S. government departments, agencies, or boards, representatives from partner governments, or representatives from entities that are in a public-private partnership with EAP. All Panelists must sign non-disclosure agreements and conflicts of interest agreements.

EAP Review Panels may provide conditions and recommendations on applications to enhance the proposed project, which must be addressed by the applicant before further consideration of the award. To ensure effective use of EAP funds, conditions or recommendations may include requests to increase, decrease, clarify, and/or justify costs and project activities.

E.3 Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity Information System

The Department of State, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to 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).

The 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 SAM.

The Department of State 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 under 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.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1 Federal Award Notices

EAP will provide a separate notification to applicants on the result of their applications. Successful applicants will be notified by EAP via email. This email may include a request for the applicant respond to panel conditions and recommendations. This notification is not an authorization to begin activities and does not constitute formal approval or a funding commitment.

Final approval is contingent on the applicant successfully responding to the panel’s conditions and recommendations, being registered in required systems, including the U.S. government’s Payment Management System (PMS), unless an exemption is provided, and completing and providing any additional documentation requested by the Department of State. Final approval is also contingent on Congressional Notification requirements being met, final review and approval by the Department’s warranted grants officer, and the availability of funds.

The grant award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the warranted Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the sole authorizing document and it will be provided electronically to the recipient’s authorized signatory for review and signature. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date show on the award document signed by the Grants Officer.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is as the discretion of the Department of State.

F.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Prior to submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications that will apply to this award to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include the OMB Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, and the Department of State’s Standard Terms and Conditions. The Department’s Standard Terms and Conditions can be viewed at https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm.

F.3 Reporting

Recipients will be required to complete and upload regular financial reports and program progress reports to the grant file in SAMS Domestic. The award document will specific how often these reports must be submitted. EAP typically requests that reports are submitted on a quarterly basis. Please note that all substantiating documentation supporting reporting and data collected, including survey responses and contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and provided to the Department of State upon request. All reports must be written in English

1. Financial Reports: The recipient is required to submit quarterly financial reports through the project period. The Federal Financial Report (FFR or SF-425) is the required form for the financial reports. If the recipient will receive funds through the Payment Management System (PMS), the recipient will be required to complete financial reports in PMS. Financial reports are dues30 days after the end of the reporting period.

2. Progress Reports: The recipient is required to submit quarterly narrative progress reports in SAMS Domestic. Progress reports are due 30 days after the end of the reporting period. Narrative progress reports should reflect the focus on measuring the project’s impact on the overarching objectives and should be compiled according to the objectives, outcomes, and outputs as outlined in the award’s Scope of Work (SOW) and in the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Statement. An assessment of the overall project’s impact, should be included in each progress report. Where relevant, progress reports should include the following sections:

· Relevant contextual information (limited);

· Explanation and evaluation of significant activities of the reporting period and how the activities reflect progress toward achieving objectives, including meeting benchmarks/targets as set in the M&E plan. In addition, attach the M&E plan, comparing the target and actual numbers for the indicators;

· Any tangible impact or success stories from the project, when possible;

· Copy of mid-term and/or final evaluation report(s) conducted by an external evaluator; if applicable;

· Relevant supporting documentation or products related to the project activities (such as articles, meeting lists and agendas, participant surveys, photos, manuals, etc.) as separate attachments;

· Description of how the Recipient is pursuing sustainability, including looking for sources of follow-on funding;

· Any problems/challenges in implementing the project and a corrective action plan with an updated timeline of activities;

· Reasons why established goals were not met;

· Data for the required F Framework indicator(s) for the quarter as well as aggregate data by fiscal year using the SF-PPR-B: Project Indicators or other mutually agreed upon format approved by the Grants Officer. Evaluation indicators from the Foreign Assistance Framework can be found at http://www.state.gov/f/indicators/;

· Proposed activities for the next quarter;

· Additional pertinent information, including analysis and explanation of cost overruns or high unit costs, if applicable.

3. Final Report: A final narrative report and financial report will be required within 90 days after the completion of the award. The final narrative should include an in-depth impact assessment and/or project evaluation.

Please note: delays in reporting may result in delays of payment approvals and failure to provide required reports may jeopardize the recipients’ ability to receive future U.S. government funds.

EAP reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial project information during the award period of performance.

G. CONTACT INFORMATION

For technical submission questions related to this solicitation, please contact Garrett Barnicoat at BarnicoatGE@state.gov.

For assistance with Grants.gov accounts and technical issues related to using the system, please call the Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or email support@grants.gov. The Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except federal holidays.

For assistance with SAMS Domestic accounts and technical issues related to the system, please contact the ILMS help desk by phone at 1-888-313-4567 (toll charges for international callers) or through the Self Service online portal that can be accessed from https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilms/home. Customer Support is available 24/7/365.

With the exception of technical submission questions, during the solicitation period U.S. Department of State staff in Washington and overseas shall not discuss this competition with applicants until the entire proposal review process has been completed and an award has been made.

H. OTHER INFORMATION

Branding and Marking Strategy Applicants are advised that recipients and sub-recipients of Federal assistance awards are subject to the State Department’s Branding and Marking Strategy. More information on this policy can be found on: https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm

Evaluation Policy Applicants are advised that recipients and sub-recipients of Federal assistance awards are subject to the Department of State Evaluation Policy. More information on this policy can be found here: http://www.state.gov/s/d/rm/rls/evaluation/2015/236970.htm. Further, recipient organizations are encouraged to conduct their own and/or independent evaluations on their Department of State funded programs to assess performance and outcomes.

EAP understands that some information contained in applications may be considered sensitive or proprietary and will make appropriate efforts to protect such information. However, applicants are advised that EAP cannot guarantee that such information will not be disclosed, including pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or other similar statutes.

The information in this NOFO is binding and may not be modified by any EAP representative. Explanatory information provided by EAP that contradicts this language will not be binding. Issuance of the NOFO and negotiation of applications does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government. EAP reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the Bureau’s program needs and the availability of funds.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. The. U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

This NOFO will appear on www.grants.gov and SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com).