Support for Independent Media NOFO-SFOP0006326.pdf

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

Office of Assistance Coordination

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 19.601

Support for Independent Media in Syria Opportunity Number: SFOP0006326

Key Information:

Announcement Type: New

Date Opened: 12/20/2019 Deadline for Questions: 1/11/2020 Application Deadline: 2/28/2020 Expected Date of Notification: 4/30/2020 Federal Agency Contact: NEA-Grants@state.gov

Funding Opportunity Synopsis

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to advance the following U.S.

Government policy objectives in Syria:

• Ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and counter violent extremism, including other extremist groups in Syria;

• Achieve a political solution to the Syrian conflict under the auspices of United Nations

Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2254; and, End the presence of Iranian forces and proxies in Syria.

The Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination

(NEA/AC) aims to advance these policy objectives by supporting the following assistance objectives:

• Improve access for Syrians to unbiased, accurate, and locally relevant information as a means to empower citizens, promote accountability, and counter violent extremist narratives;

• Counter violent extremism and disinformation perpetuated by Iran-backed militias, designated terrorist organizations, and other malign actors through support for professional Syrian media outlets;

• Improve Syrian media outlets’ capabilities to counter Russian, Syrian regime, and other state-backed disinformation efforts in Syria, and enhance the ability of Syrians to recognize disinformation;

• Advance human rights and promote tolerance and dialogue between ethnic and religious communities, and ensure that religious and ethnic minority groups are represented in the

Syrian media ecosystem;

• Support coverage of the implementation of UNSCR 2254, including the Constitutional

Committee process to facilitate transparency and enhance public understanding of citizens’ engagement in the process;

• Build journalistic production and management capacity, enhance editorial standards and expand the broadcast and online reach of independent media stations in Syria.

Assistance to local media practitioners who share U.S. goals in Syria continues to be an essential component of the U.S. strategy in Syria. Since 2011, numerous local media stations and hundreds of media platforms proliferated in territory outside regime control and abroad.

Professional media organizations continue to grow organically, but support from international donors remains essential to sustain wide-ranging and impactful programming. To date, independent media stations have played a critical role to provide access for Syrians to unbiased, accurate information as means to empower citizens, hold local and national leaders accountable, and counter violent extremists’ narratives. By its very nature, media production is inherently adaptable, and transmissions can reach deep into restricted spaces. As communities liberated from ISIS control attempt to rebuild and overcome years of ISIS rule, Syrian media stations are expanding to fill the information void and support moderate, pluralistic and accurate discourse.

Eligible Countries and Territories:

In this announcement, we seek to support projects in Syria. Activities may take place in other countries, but the focus must remain on Syria. Please note: Applications that focus on activities in countries and territories other than those listed will NOT be considered.

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

Background Information about NEA/AC: NEA/AC offers assistance to groups and individuals striving to bring about positive change in the Middle East-North Africa region. The

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

Table of Contents

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

PROBLEM STATEMENT

MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

AWARD INFORMATION

SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

APPLICATION FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

FUNDING LIMITATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

APPLICATION REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

ADMINSTRATION INFORMATION

AWARD NOTICES

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

TRAVEL NOTIFICATIONS

APPLICANT VETTING AS A CONDITION OF AWARD

BRANDING AND MARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTEES

UEI NUMBER REQUIREMENT FOR SUB AWARDEES

SUB AWARDEE REPORTING REQUIREMENT

AGENCY CONTACTS

DISCLAIMER

APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1— Budget Sample Template and Budget Narrative Guidance APPENDIX 2—Logic Model/ Results Monitoring Plan Template APPENDIX 3— Application Guidance

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Since 2012, the Department of State has assisted in the development and strengthening of independent Syrian-led media by providing equipment as well as financial and technical support to independent radio and TV broadcasters and online outlets. Media partners have the capacity to reach the vast majority of Syria’s pre-war population, and 84% of respondents to a January

2019 survey in opposition areas indicated they consumed content from at least one NEA/AC-supported media outlet in the past month. Syrian media partners collectively produce and transmit approximately 100 hours of programming each day; the U.S. Department of State’s efforts to bolster independent media and counter disinformation are robust, and ongoing.

Under this new award(s), a sub-grant mechanism will be created to allow Syrian media outlets and content producers to submit proposals and compete for funding for programming and special initiatives. Calls for proposals will be developed to support the production of news and current affairs output, and around certain topics and themes, such as countering Iranian disinformation, countering Russian disinformation, multimedia content, investigative reports or programs that support religious and ethnic minorities, accountability or civic priorities, public service announcements, and short documentaries. Sub-grants will support social media, audio and visual content. This proposal solicitation process will support creativity, cost savings and healthy competition and will reward those media organizations that deliver the highest quality products.

Calls for proposals can also be used to encourage collaboration, program-sharing and wider distribution, as well as a gradual transition towards video content production.

This program will continue to assess the capabilities and needs of each selected beneficiary outlet within the Syrian media market. Successful applicants will demonstrate how their particular organizational strengths will contribute to ongoing capacity building and content production trainings for beneficiary media partners. Building journalists’ skills and training to improve editorial processes and standards will be an important feature of the capacity building.

Capacity building will include outlet-specific trainings for cross-cutting issues like editorial standards and basic journalistic practices and mixed-group trainings for a wide range of specialized technical fields, such as digital security management for information technology (IT) directors, writing to pictures or video editing for videographers. This approach will also include financial, human resources, and editorial management, as well as digital, physical, and psychosocial safety, and will provide assistance to partner outlets on developing safe standard operating procedures (SOPs), contingency plans, and psychosocial self-care support. Capacity building will include approaches to provide training remotely for journalists working inside

Syria.

Applicants should submit proposals for the media program as a whole, encompassing all of the = assistance objectives above. NEA/AC seeks proposals to carry out targeted assistance projects in partnership with local media entities to strengthen the organizational capacity of the independent media sector, provide access to accurate and reliable information, counter violent extremist narratives and disinformation, address the needs and priorities of religious and ethnic minorities, support the political transition process, amplify moderate voices and promote human rights and social cohesion. Proposals should present options for promoting professional independent media in Syria.

All applicants must take into consideration that award activities will be coordinated through

USG assistance platforms, particularly the Syria Transition Assistance Response Team (START) in Turkey and NEA/AC in Washington, D.C. Each applicant must present a plan on how it will be flexible and responsive to time-sensitive requirements as well as monitor and evaluate activities inside Syria. Applicants should consider the context of Syria’s dynamic and challenging operating environment in their proposals, especially in terms of program implementation and monitoring. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to conduct baseline and needs assessments of potential Syrian beneficiaries. The award mechanism will be a cooperative agreement, with substantial involvement from NEA/AC in the grantee’s implementation of this program. As such, NEA/AC’s DC and field staff will work closely with the grantee and provide direction regarding planned beneficiaries of assistance, including but not limited to the selection of beneficiary organizations and scope of programming.

Applicants must have experience implementing programs in conflict and closed environments, ideally including experience working on Syria, and should demonstrate they are able to secure all necessary legal paperwork and government permissions to manage activities out of either

Istanbul, Turkey or Berlin, Germany, where many other USG Syria stabilization implementing partners are based. Applicants must demonstrate their ability to: deliver cash into Syria; provide technical assistance, training and broadcast equipment inside of Syria; manage stabilization programs in complex environments; produce analytical research on conflict dynamics; and, manage monitoring and evaluation.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Decades of authoritarian rule and restrictions on political and social life outside of state-sanctioned activity severely hindered the growth and development of independent Syrian civil society and responsive local governance. In 2011 civil demonstrations and action protesting the

Syrian regime catalyzed the growth of independent and overt civil society actors and organizations, particularly in Syrian territory outside the regime’s control and among expatriate

Syrian communities in neighboring countries. Concurrently, as opposition and other actors wrested political and military control from the Assad regime, local, regional, and national governance entities emerged to administer services and preserve order, among other functions.

Nearly nine years of brutal conflict in Syria has brought enormous suffering and challenges to

Syrian civilians including: mass displacement due to violence by the regime and other armed actors; gross human rights violations and politically motivated detentions and killings; the emergence of violent extremist groups such as ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates; fragmented opposition governance and military structures; acute shortages of basic needs such as food and shelter; and a collapse of essential service infrastructure and economic opportunities, among others.

The media environment in Syria is deeply polarized and fragmented between pro-regime and opposition outlets, as well as Kurdish and Arabic-language outlets, posing challenges for independent media that seek to provide balanced coverage and build trust across divergent constituencies. Propaganda efforts by violent extremist groups and systematic disinformation operations by the Syrian regime, Russia and Iran distort understanding of the conflict, undercut the Coalition to Defeat ISIS stabilization efforts and impede progress toward achieving a peaceful political transition under UNSCR 2254. Syrians of all backgrounds continue to require access to moderate, balanced, nonsectarian sources of news and information in order to contribute effectively to a stable and peaceful outcome for Syria.

NEA/AC seeks applications which address the unique conditions found in the following areas:

1. Syria-Wide: State-backed propaganda and disinformation operations, led by the Syrian regime, Russia and Iran, are a pervasive feature of the information landscape in Syria.

These purveyors of disinformation create false narratives by distorting the reality of events on the ground, fabricating stories and misrepresenting events, locations and timelines, often through use of out of context images and videos. Examples include depicting Syrian Civil Defense, as well as moderate opposition forces, as “terrorists” and portraying chemical weapon attacks by the regime on opposition population centers as fake, staged by the opposition. These efforts seek to sow confusion, undermine

Coalition stabilization efforts in northeast Syria, erode international support for the

Syrian opposition, and weaken measures to isolate and hold the Syrian regime accountable for its crimes. The scale and predominance of these disinformation operations, and the distorted and partisan coverage from Syrian state-owned and affiliated broadcasters, threatens to drown out accurate and credible sources of information, and calls for a systemic, rigorous response.

To address this concern, NEA/AC has supported a core group of independent Syrian media outlets to provide accurate, reliable and locally relevant news and information.

While this support has enabled extensive media outlet reach across opposition controlled areas, challenges remain to strengthen audience share, deepen connections with audiences and users, extend reach into regime-controlled areas, and build trust across political fault-lines. Applicants should propose innovative solutions for delivering training, capacity building, technical assistance and operational and program support to Syrian independent media to extend reach and build audience share in opposition and regime-controlled areas, and other areas that reflect USG priorities. Furthermore, proposals should address measures to amplify moderate voices, counter violent extremist discourse, illuminate the activities that malign actors seek to obscure, and highlight strategies to educate audiences to recognize disinformation.

2. Northeast Syria: Syrian civilians in areas liberated from ISIS in Aleppo, Hassakeh, Raqqa and Deir al-Zour governorates have struggled to return to their homes and rebuild their lives. The dearth of essential services and employment opportunities, as well as a polarized information space impedes internally displaced persons and refugee returns and creates a power vacuum for ISIS and other violent extremist groups to rebuild networks and propaganda platforms. Recent activity by the Government of Turkey and Turkish-backed armed groups as part of Operation Peace Spring has triggered additional civilian displacement and heightened concerns about a power vacuum that could be exploited by

ISIS. ISIS sleeper cells and sympathizers continue to plague the region and actively seek to exploit the grievances and needs of the majority Sunni Arab population as well as fuel tensions with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to undercut Coalition stabilization efforts and build support for their resurgence. While the repressive reigns of the Syrian regime and ISIS have given way to a more favorable environment for media in some parts of the region, independent journalism is still taking root and media restrictions remain. In other areas of northeast Syria, regime, Russian and Turkish-backed forces have established a presence, prompting concern about the ability of independent media to operate safely and openly.

To address these challenges, since 2016 NEA/AC has worked to help establish and maintain a small number of local independent media outlets to provide accurate and trusted information, amplify moderate voices, promote human rights, counter violent extremist narratives and enhance understanding and dialogue between different groups.

NEA/AC seeks applications that build on and advance ongoing USG work with local independent media organizations in areas recently liberated from ISIS to develop capacity, expand audience share, and deepen audience/user engagement. This should include training, technical and capacity building support and cash awards to independent media outlets to cover production and operational costs. Applicants should propose innovative solutions for delivering training, capacity building and technical assistance in a restrictive environment. Furthermore, applicants should address measures to amplify moderate, non-sectarian discourse, provide voice to religious and ethnic minority groups, and counter violent extremist propaganda and the narratives supporting radicalization.

Proposals should also highlight opportunities for media to enhance community cohesion, civic participation and dialogue between citizens and local authorities.

3. Opposition-Held Syria: The territory controlled by armed opposition groups has steadily decreased in recent years and is now confined to the governorate of Idlib and parts of

Aleppo and northern Hama. While Idlib was designated by the Astana Process parties

(Russia, Turkey, Iran) a “de-escalation zone” in 2017, and a “demilitarization” zone was established there in 2018, the Syrian regime and Russia have continued military operations against the opposition stronghold in 2019. The humanitarian crisis, including nearly 1.5 million internally displaced persons, is compounded by the ascendance of the

Al-Qaeda affiliated designated terrorist organization, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its associates, which has extended its influence across Idlib and now dominates the region.

In addition to intimidation and violence, HTS has solidified its position in Idlib by adopting a pragmatic, long-term approach to cultivate public support and coopt local civilian institutions. The group’s determined resistance to the Syrian regime has burnished its revolutionary credentials and bolstered its proselytization activities in the region. The picture is different in northern Aleppo, which is controlled by Turkish-backed opposition groups and does not have a significant HTS presence. As such, it is relatively stable and offers a more benign operating environment for media.

In recognition of these factors, NEA/AC has supported independent Syrian media outlets that broadcast within and to the region, providing an alternative to violent extremist narratives by providing accurate and trusted information, amplifying moderate, nonsectarian voices, and countering intolerant discourse and narratives that support radicalization. As in other areas, applicants should be prepared to support media partners to develop capacity, expand audience share, and deepen audience/user engagement. This should include training, technical and capacity building support and cash awards to independent media outlets to cover production and operational costs. Applicants should propose innovative solutions for delivering training, capacity building and technical assistance in a restrictive environment.

4. Political Process Support: NEA/AC seeks applications supporting the engagement of

Syrians –civil society, independent actors, and local and national opposition bodies – in the political process under UNSCR 2254 through independent media coverage. A Syrian-led political process facilitated by the United Nations in Geneva, as called for by UNSCR

2254, remains the sole pathway towards resolving the conflict. Previously, NEA/AC supported independent media representatives to travel to Geneva to cover political negotiations in Geneva, including recent meetings of the Constitutional Committee.

NEA/AC encourages applicants to propose measures to facilitate transparency and inform

Syrian constituents, inside Syria and in the diaspora community, about the political process. Additionally, applicants should propose media-related efforts to facilitate dialogue and constructive engagement between the Syrian political opposition, civilian opposition actors, and Syrian citizens.

PROJECT DESIGN:

NEA/AC invites proposals from applicants with experience implementing media programming in closed and conflict environments, ideally in Syria. Successful proposals should describe a clear theory of change integrating all project objectives into a coherent and convincing whole that advances U.S. Syria assistance objectives and complements related programs. Applicants should also articulate approaches to identifying appropriate partners and relevant activities to advance project objectives. Additionally, proposals should explain a logical approach to delivering training and organizational capacity building support to Syrian media entities based in

Syria, Turkey or elsewhere, and describe how the impact of these effort will be assessed.

Proposals should demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the particular issues, challenges and opportunities to build capacity and enhance the market position of media entities. Furthermore, proposals should elaborate on strategies to improve the program offering of Syrian partners, enhance the resonance and appeal of content, and increase audience share. Applicants should also describe mechanisms for monitoring and providing feedback on station performance and content, both to ensure professional standards and to guide capacity building and development.

Additionally, applicants should outline how the reach and market share of Syrian partners will be assessed. NEA/AC welcomes evidence-based approaches to achieving project objectives.

Applicants should consider how to foster productive relationships between media outlets, as well as between media outlets and local governance entities and civil society organizations in Syria.

Additionally, NEA/AC requires that all activities fully address gender considerations, ensuring that both men and women benefit from support and that gender awareness is built into all project activities. This should be documented by a gender analysis that identifies relevant gender gaps and ways the activity will address those gaps. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing relevant gender gaps will enhance the program’s goals and objectives.

Support Media Subaward Activities

Assistance may include, but is not limited to, subgrants and fixed amount awards to established and emerging Syrian media outlets in order to:

• Enhance the reach and appeal of sources of accurate, trusted and locally relevant news and information for Syrian citizens;

• Support moderate voices and counter the violent extremist ideology and influence of ISIS, , HTS, and Iranian-backed proxies;

• Expose and counter state-backed disinformation operations that distort understanding of the Syrian conflict;

• Support programming to enhance social cohesion and community reconciliation in non-regime controlled areas, with a special emphasis on inclusion of religious and ethnic minority groups;

• Support programming to raise awareness, enhance understanding and support opportunities for civil engagement in the political transition process under

UNSCR 2254;

• Promote accountability and bolster the transparency of local governance entities, especially to provide an alternative to violent extremist groups;

• Improve the organizational capacity, structure, production and editorial processes and standards of Syrian independent media outlets;

• Provide equipment and technical assistance to enhance the capacity of Syrian media organizations to reach target audiences

Monitoring & Evaluation; Lessons Learned; Research

• Successful applicants will work with NEA/AC to build flexible and effective methods for monitoring and evaluating ongoing and completed program activities to ensure program interventions achieve targeted outputs and evaluate outcomes. Applicants should address how programs will incorporate best practices for lessons learned to enhance overall effectiveness of program activities and remains iterative.

• Rapidly changing conditions in Syria present ongoing challenges to programs and partners and require vigilant observations and monitoring of local conditions, conflict dynamics, security, and access. Additionally, programs must prove able to identify potential local partners based on assessments of partners, capacity, and fit to program.

Applicants should present scalable options for conducting research to enhance, complement, and monitor program activities.

• Applicants should demonstrate understanding of methodologies used to evaluate broadcast market share and the appeal and impact of the program content of Syrian partners, as well as digital analytics to assess online reach and engagement.

MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

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

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

AWARD INFORMATION

Funding Mechanism Type: Cooperative Agreement

Estimated Number of Awards: 1

Estimated Total Program Funding: $35 million

Estimated Award Ceiling: $35 million

Estimated Award Floor: $5 million

Cost-Sharing or Matching: Encouraged; NOT Required

Estimated Length of Project Period: Up to 36 months

Contingent on the availability of funds, approximately $35 million for approximately 1-2 awards will be award through this announcement. If selected to receive an award, an applicant will be awarded funds for up to three years, depending on the activities proposed. The estimated start date for this project is March 1, 2020. NEA/AC reserves the right to award more or less than the estimated program funding and reserves the right to award funding under this announcement for a period of up to two years after the announcement’s close date.

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

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

Non-Competing Continuation

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

Pending successful implementation of this project for the initial estimated length of time as indicated above and pending the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, NEA/AC may extend this grant for additional time, not to exceed a three year total project period.

SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

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

NEA/AC Responsibilities

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

a) Department of State’s concurrence with the Recipient’s Work Plan. This includes prior approval by the Grants Officer of all travel details (destination, number of participants, number of trips), to be submitted when not included in an approved

Work Plan. The Recipient will consult with the Grants Officer to ensure that all proposed travel is documented accordingly and that sufficient funds exist in the budget for such activities.

b) The Recipient will coordinate award activities closely with other DOS implementing partners, as directed by NEA. Specifically, under NEA’s lead, the Recipient will coordinate civil society and governance activities with other NEA implementing partner(s) in order to promote complementarity between these efforts. The Recipient will be expected to meet frequently with other NEA implementing partners as well as NEA staff in order to: develop coordinated activity plans; share information and assessments of local dynamics and organizations; and, discuss lessons learned, needs and project proposals. NEA will lead coordination efforts, but the Recipient will be responsible for taking initiative and playing a constructive role.

c) Department of State concurrence on the location of any activities to be held in a third country. This includes activities which are already included in an approved Work

Plan. The Recipient must notify the Grants Officer at least 30 days prior to any activities.

d) Collaboration with the Department of State in areas which the Department of State’s technical knowledge would benefit the Recipient’s successful accomplishment of stated program objectives.

e) Subawards: DOS will assume the lead in identifying areas of opportunity and introducing potential programming partners to the recipient. This does not preclude the recipient itself from identifying concepts and groups for support; however, DOS will have final approval of all sub-recipients.

Each subaward package must include a proposal narrative, budget and budget justification, monitoring and evaluation plan, risk assessment, risk mitigation plan, vetting requirements, and branding requirements, and subaward agreement template for the proposed project. The Recipient is responsible for submitting each subaward package to the Grants Officer for approval. Subaward activities may not occur until the Grants Officer has approved the package in writing and vetting has been completed for all identified personnel in accordance with Section 15(b) below.

The Recipient and its sub-grantees must comply with all relevant laws and regulations regarding United States Government (USG) vetting requirements including, but not limited to, the sanctions set forth in the Syria Accountability and

Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act and Executive Orders 13315, 13224, 13382, and 13338.

f) Activity Sheets: The Recipient will provide Activity Sheets for each specialized activity taking place under this award. Each individual Activity Sheet package must include: needs assessment, activity background, justification/ explanation of activities based on program objectives, sole source justification (if applicable), description/ demographics of activity beneficiaries, budget, monitoring and evaluation plan, risk assessment and mitigation measures, vetting requirements, branding requirements and an activity timeline. The Recipient is responsible for submitting each Activity Sheet package to the Grants Officer for approval. Activities may not occur until the Grants Officer has approved the package in writing and vetting has been completed for all activity beneficiaries.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

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

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

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

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants include:

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

o For-profit organizations;

o Private institutions of higher education;

o Public or state institutions of higher education;

o Public international organizations;

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

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

Prime Applicant

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

• Have demonstrable previous experience working in closed or conflict environments, preferably in Syria. This should be addressed within the project narrative section of the application.

• Meet ALL of the registration requirements listed in Section F below.

• Meet any requirements listed as MANDATORY in Section G, Additional Eligibility

Considerations, below.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

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

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

UEI Number

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

(D&B) to uniquely identify business entities.

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

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

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

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

System for Award Management (SAM)

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

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

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

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

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

Complete and submit the online form. If the applying organization already has the necessary information on hand (see the SAM User Guide), the online form takes approximately one hour to complete, depending upon the size and complexity of the applying entity. Because of the http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/pages/CCRSearch.jsp http://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sic_manual.html mailto:govt@dnb.com http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/sam/transcript/SAM_User_Guide_v_1.8.pdf different steps in the process, it might take anywhere from three to fourteen business days to complete the process of creating an account with the system.

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

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

Cost-Sharing or Matching

There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, NEA/AC encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.

Cost-sharing is NOT an evaluation criteria of this NOFO.

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

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

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

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

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

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

A.1. Required Documents

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

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

Project Narrative:

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

Budget & Budget Narrative Submission:

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

• Summary Budget https://www.fsd.gov/

• Detailed Line Item Budget

• Budget Narrative

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

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

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

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

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

Logic Model:

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

Project Timeline:

Applicants must provide an overall breakdown of the order and timeframe in which all project activities will take place. This item should provide a macro snapshot of what will take place from beginning to end of the project. Applicants must ensure that the timeline of activities/events corresponds with details provided in the Project Narrative and Logic Model. This section may not exceed 2 pages.

Security, Risk Mitigation, & Contingency Planning Summary:

This item should provide detail regarding the applicant’s intended due diligence to assess and mitigate risks, and put in place adequate security measures to ensure the safety and well-being of project staff, participants, and partners, if applicable. This should include specific actions by the applicant to ensure risks are adequately and routinely assessed, and that security measures are commensurate with operational concerns specific to the locale. The applicant should also include a contingency plan that highlights potential challenges and limitations to project implementation in the operating environment and propose contingency plans should program activities be impacted. Please note that this section should not be limited to physical security and risk but should cover any applicable factors relevant to the given operating environment. This section may not exceed 5 pages.

Job Descriptions / Biographical Info for Key Personnel Positions:

For each position designated as key personnel for this project, applicants must provide the following:

1. If the position is already filled: Provide brief biographical information summarizing the person’s qualifications, as well as a brief description of the roles or responsibilities pertaining to this project.

OR

2. If the person to fill a key position has not yet been hired: Provide a brief summary of the job description, which should include a description of the roles and responsibilities pertaining to this project, as well as a description of qualifications of eligible candidates.

NOTE: If an applicant is proposing sub grant partner(s) as part of their project design, Key

Personnel/Positions of the sub grantee must also be included. This section of the application may not exceed 5 pages.

Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement: Applicants proposing indirect costs in the Budget greater than the 10% de minimis must provide a copy of their Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate

Agreement (NICRA). This item will not be counted toward any page limits.

A.2. Optional Documents

Applicants may submit additional documents for consideration with their application.

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

1. Letters of Agreement or Letters of Intent: Applicants proposing partner organizations and/or government bodies should include Letters of Intent or Letters of Agreement from their proposed partners.

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

3. Sustainability Plan: The sustainability plan outlines how the proposed project will be sustained beyond the initial award period. More information on preparing the

Sustainability Plan is provided in Appendix 3. Sustainability Plans may not exceed 2 pages.

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

Review stage.

APPLICATION FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

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

It is strongly recommended that applicants submit grant applications using Microsoft

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

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Applicants must submit their application electronically using SAMS Domestic. The system requires that the applying organization have an account with the system, a UEI number, and

SAM.gov account as detailed in B.3 above. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they have an active account and will be able to submit its application. NEA/AC is not in a position to grant exceptions to these requirements.

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

SAMS Domestic

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

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

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

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

SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

Applications must be time stamped before 17:00:00 eastern time (ET) on 2/28/2020 There will be no grace period, and any application not received by the application deadline will be deemed ineligible and will not advance to be reviewed. Applicants are encouraged to submit an application far enough in advance of the deadline so it can alert NEA/AC (nea-grants@state.gov) of any technical difficulties and allow sufficient time to resolve difficulties before the deadline. Although NEA/AC will work with applicants to resolve technical issues, it is not in a position to grant exceptions to the submission requirements outlined in this announcement.

FUNDING LIMITATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND OTHER

CONSIDERATIONS

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

http://mygrants.service-now.com/ http://mygrants.service-now.com/ http://mygrants.service-now.com/ mailto:nea-grants@state.gov

Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR Part 31. Program income earned by the recipient may be:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Standard Terms and Conditions and 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 600…