Syria Education NOFO SFOP0008124 v2.pdf

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

Office of Assistance Coordination Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 19.601

Supporting Education in Syria Opportunity Number: SFOP0008124

Key Information:

Announcement Type: Revised Date Opened: May 20, 2021 Deadline for Questions: June 4, 2021 Application Deadline: July 15, 2021 Expected Date of Notification: September 30, 2021 Federal Agency Contact: NEA-Grants@state.gov

Funding Opportunity Synopsis

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) aims to support stabilization activities in the education sector in areas liberated from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in northeast Syria, as well as potentially in other non-regime-held areas of Syria, including formal and informal internally displaced person camps. Equitable access to formal, informal, and vocational education services for children, youth, and adults is vital to enable Syrians to begin to return to normalcy and pave the way for Syrians to rebuild their country following a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Education services are also vital components of reintegration and social cohesion efforts.

Matriculation and consistent access to education services, coupled with a positive learning environment, contribute to the rebuilding of communities and individual identities, providing hope for a productive future. Inclusive educational opportunities deny extremists the opportunity to inculcate the next generation of Syrians with violent extremist ideologies. Access to education also improves living conditions, helping to reduce further flow of Syrians to neighboring countries in pursuit of opportunities for their children, avoiding a lost generation of children. Continued NEA/AC support for education should build on past and current efforts to:

bolster civil society and local governance education oversight bodies; provide training in teaching methodology and psychosocial support to educational staff; and, ensure schools have adequate human capital and supplies to deliver educational services in an equitable, effective and conflict-sensitive manner. Other critical interventions in education can include but are not limited to developing teaching materials/resources as well as light non-construction refurbishment of damaged schools.

All applications must be submitted in English. Complete information on how applicants can submit proposals for this opportunity can be found in Section VI below.

Applicants should read this NOFO in its entirety before writing their proposal, and should refer to the full Evaluation Criteria provided in Section VII while drafting all materials.

Eligible Countries and Territories

In this announcement, we seek to support activities in Syria. The project should be implemented from a third country, with a strong justification for why that country was chosen. This award highly recommends a presence in Berlin, Germany for operational and donor liaison purposes.

NEA/AC requires that applicants be in sound legal standing with appropriate government authorities in the country where the project will be managed at the time of application to this funding opportunity. Key overseas personnel must be co-located, while consideration should be taken for minimizing the need for expatriate and/or Third-Country National staff and operational costs. Award recipients will be required to maintain legal standing throughout the life of the award, including for any sub-grant made under its auspices. Please note: Applications that focus on programmatic activities in countries other than Syria will NOT be considered.

Background Information about NEA/AC

Coordination (NEA/AC) offers Federal assistance to groups and individuals striving to bring about positive change in the Middle East-North Africa region. NEA/AC 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

A. PROBLEM STATEMENT

B. ACHIEVABLE OBJECTIVES

C. PROJECT DESIGN

D. GENDER INTEGRATION

MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

AWARD INFORMATION

SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT .................................................................................................................. - 11 -

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION ...................................................................................................................... - 12 -

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS ................................................................................................................................ - 12 - B. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................ - 13 - C. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS .............................................................................................. - 15 -

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

B. APPLICATION FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

C. SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

D. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

FUNDING LIMITATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

E. AWARDS TO COMMERCIAL FIRMS OR FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

F. AUDIT REQUIREMENTS

G. COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL FUNDING REGULATIONS AND DOS TERMS AND CONDITIONS ... 20

APPLICATION REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

A. APPLICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA

B. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. AWARD NOTICES

B. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

C. TRAVEL NOTIFICATIONS

D. APPLICANT VETTING AS A CONDITION OF AWARD AND RECIPIENT AND SUBRECIPIENT RESPONSIBILITIES . 24

E. BRANDING AND MARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTEES

F. UEI NUMBER REQUIREMENT FOR SUB AWARDEES

G. SUB AWARDEE REPORTING REQUIREMENT

AGENCY CONTACTS

DISCLAIMER

APPENDICES (Posted with NOFO)

APPENDIX 1— Budget Sample Template and Budget Narrative Guidance APPENDIX 2— Logic Model Template APPENDIX 3— Application Guidance

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Coordination (NEA/AC) aims to support stabilization activities in areas liberated from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as well as those in non-regime-held areas of Syria. Integral to stabilization efforts is improved equitable access for Syrians to moderate, quality education services for children and youth as well as access to technical and vocational education for out-of-work youth and young adults. Quality education services are critical to denying extremists the space to indoctrinate the next generation of Syrians with violent extremist ideologies, as well as to help reduce the flow of further Syrians to neighboring countries in pursuit of opportunities for their children in order to avoid a lost generation.

Proposals should outline approaches to continue ongoing U.S. efforts to: support and develop the capacity of the local education providers, education oversight bodies, and civil society organizations to more effectively manage education; develop innovative approaches to ensure students are recognized for their learning gains; provide teacher training to ensure quality and grade-appropriate education is provided in classrooms; support light refurbishments of damaged schools; and, provide psychosocial support and training to children, teachers, and community members to address the trauma epidemic in a country in which over 80% of children have been affected by conflict (according to UNICEF).

Current program activities are focused in northeast Syria in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor governorates.

However, previous activities included areas of northwest Syria. Project proposals should focus primarily on implementation in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor governorates, but also consider potential expansion in Hassakeh Governorate as well as other non-regime-held areas of Syria as the situation permits.

Applicants must incorporate plans on how their proposals will de-conflict and coordinate with ongoing civilian assistance efforts being undertaken by the United States and other international donors. In particular, all applicants must take into consideration that award activities will be coordinated through the Syria Transition Assistance Response Team (START) – a U.S.

government assistance coordination platform based in Turkey. Each applicant must present a plan on how it will be flexible and responsive to time-sensitive requirements; monitor and evaluate activities inside Syria; and coordinate activities with NEA/AC and other relevant U.S.

government entities, as well as international donors. 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 will be issued as a cooperative agreement, with substantial involvement from START and NEA/AC in the recipient’s implementation of this project. As such, START and NEA/AC will work closely with the recipient and provide direction regarding the design and development of programming as well as guidance on intended beneficiaries of assistance efforts; such direction will include, but not be limited to, development of program activities and the selection of subrecipient organizations.

Applicants must have experience implementing projects in conflict zones similar to Syria.

Ideally this will include a demonstrated ability to deliver cash cross-border; provide technical assistance and training in areas with volatile security conditions; manage education projects in complex political environments; produce analytical research on conflict and education dynamics;

manage monitoring and evaluation efforts; and, adapt programming based on evaluation and the market needs of the area, such as tailoring vocational training for youth to the highest demand fields.

A. PROBLEM STATEMENT

Over ten years of brutal conflict in Syria has devastated the education system in Syria– creating a lost generation of youth who have known nothing but war. The collapse in education is most profound in areas hit hardest by violence, such as Aleppo, Idlib, Deir Ezzor, Raqqa, and Hassakeh – areas which historically witnessed lower numbers of literacy rates for Syria even prior to the conflict. In addition to the decrease in the number of students enrolled, violence has impacted education infrastructure; schools have been destroyed, damaged, or turned into shelters for internally displaced people. Classrooms are overcrowded and insufficient supplies exist to accommodate student demand. A lack of reliable statistics on school-aged children also makes it difficult to reach vulnerable populations who remain out of school.

Three years after liberation from ISIS, education remains one of the top three priorities for local populations in northeast Syria. Without access to primary and secondary education, Syrian youth face increased risk for recruitment by violent extremists. Secular education and psychosocial support mechanisms are critical tools to begin to address the psychological damage incurred, as well as to prepare the next generation of citizens, leaders, and civic actors to assist in mending the country once there is a political solution to the conflict.

The protracted nature of the Syrian conflict has led to deteriorating educational and economic opportunities. Successful proposals will consider the lack of educational accreditation in Syria outside of the 9th and 12th grade exams administered by the Ministry of Education and include innovative approaches to tackle the issue despite inherent challenges. Additionally, significant numbers of students missed too many years within the educational system for resumed education services to properly prepare them to succeed. As a result, technical and vocational training programs are necessary to equip young adults with requisite skills. Market studies and assessments will be necessary to prepare these programs and should consider how apprenticeships can be incorporated to ensure students are fully prepared to take advantage of economic opportunities.

B. ACHIEVABLE OBJECTIVES

A successful proposal will demonstrate how to best set the stage for a Syria that will eventually have functioning school systems in non-regime-held areas, enabling youth to obtain an education that prepares students for higher education or the ability to access economic and vocational opportunities. Proposed project activities should achieve the following objectives:

1. Increase equitable access to educational opportunities to reduce the risk that youth will be recruited to join violent extremist groups and/or be forced to migrate outside of Syria to pursue opportunities;

2. Provide teachers and caregivers with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide psychosocial support to youth to address trauma and help overcome fear and personal security concerns;

3. Strengthen the capacity of education authorities/supervisory bodies, other education actors, and child protection officers to deliver vital education services;

4. Incorporate consideration of a unified education system (K-12) in Syria in all relevant programming in order to contribute to broader reintegration of the Syrian education system;

5. Support education that promotes inclusivity, generates safe spaces, and alternatives to radicalized education as a way to expel violent extremists from communities and effectively counter violent extremists’ ideologies;

6. Provide safe and adequate school structures for children including water, sanitation, and health facilities;

7. Provide technical and vocational education training (TVET) to out-of-school youths and out-of-work young adults, especially for women in female-headed households to secure market-driven skills to find employment;

8. Evaluate impact of all training in preparing students for higher level education, adjusting trainings as necessary; and

9. Develop pilot programs related to education, reintegration and social cohesion for youth, especially considering expansion into Hassakeh Governorate and potentially non-regime-held areas of northwest Syria if the security situation permits.

C. PROJECT DESIGN

This solicitation invites applications that support provision of quality, inclusive education in non-regime-held areas of Syria, including those liberated from ISIS. Proposals should outline approaches to: support and develop the capacity of the local education providers, education oversight bodies, and civil society organizations to more effectively manage education; ensure students are recognized for their learning gains; provide teacher training to ensure quality and grade-appropriate education is provided in classrooms; conduct light refurbishment of damaged schools; and, provide psychosocial support and training to children, teachers, and community members to address the trauma epidemic.

The successful applicant is expected to engage local contacts and authorities to better understand the statistics on out-of-school children in non-regime-controlled areas and develop materials to encourage those students to take advantage of education opportunities, where available. In addition, it is expected that activities will strengthen relevant education oversight bodies through capacity building in administration, finance, and monitoring, as well as empowering them to be respond to the educational needs of the teachers and school administrators.

Projects must include:

a. Teacher training based on local needs assessments;

b. Development of teaching materials especially related to remedial education and psychosocial training activities;

c. Psychosocial training and support activities for students in grades 1-12, teachers, parents, and community members;

d. Technical and Vocational Education Training – including market research to identify viable areas for employment, curriculum development, review of materials and employability of graduates, and linkages to apprenticeships;

e. Light, non-construction school rehabilitation (e.g. replacing windows, doors and minor repairs), with a particular focus on WASH facilities to limit the spread of infectious diseases and also encourage female students to remain in school;

f. Capacity building activities for local education authorities to better manage education;

and,

g. A rigorous results-based monitoring plan with demonstrated feedback loops to show tangible outputs and outcomes of the project.

NEA/AC will implement this project in collaboration with other international donor governments supporting education in Syria.

NEA/AC will require weekly reporting on project activities and standard quarterly reporting (at a minimum) in addition to ad hoc reporting requests.

The following activities and costs are NOT ALLOWED under this announcement:

Exchange activities with other countries or territories;

Social welfare projects;

Paying to complete activities begun with other funds;

Activities that appear partisan or that support individual or party electoral campaigns;

Academic or analytical research (if not necessary as part of a larger project);

One-time events, such as stand-alone conferences and one-off round tables;

Medical and psychological research and clinical studies;

Projects of a commercial or profit-making nature;

Cultural presentations, cultural research, cultural clubs, or festivals, etc.; and Entertainment costs (e.g., receptions, social activities, ceremonies, alcoholic beverages, guided tours).

NOTE: Applications that include any of these activities or costs above may be eliminated at the Technical Eligibility Review stage and will not advance to the Merit Review Panel.

D. GENDER INTEGRATION

NEA/AC requires that all activities fully address gender considerations, ensuring that both men and women (boys and girls) benefit from support where applicable, and that gender awareness is a built-in component of project activities. This should be documented through gender analysis in the project narrative that identifies any relevant gender gaps and ways the proposed activities will address those gaps. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing relevant gender gaps will enhance the project’s goals and objectives. Applicants who are unfamiliar with integrating gender in foreign assistance programing should view the training video located here:

https://encompassworld.com/elearningfiles/DOS/DOS_Gender_Integration_E- Course/story_html5.html

E. DEFINITIONS

“Informal education” means remedial education whether through remedial literacy and numeracy curriculum developed in collaboration with specialized INGOs or Self-Learning Program (SLP) developed by UNICEF.

“Formal education” is used to refer to education provided in formal/public schools only (to include those operated by SANES in all NES). While NEA utilizes this definition to differentiate informal and formal, public schools do use SLP in Raqqa, Tabqa, and Deir Ezzor – and SANES curriculum, or what we sometimes call the Kurdish curriculum – in Hassakeh, Manbij, and Kobani.

MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

Applicants shall provide a logic model or a 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 II. Please see Section VI below for more information.

Successful applicants will work with the NEA/AC program and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) teams to create a results monitoring plan (RMP) based on the proposed logic model/theory of change to measure qualitative and quantitative indicators as part of the award negotiations process. The 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.

Below is a list of U.S. Department of State standard education, social service, and workforce development indicators for foreign assistance that are commonly used for measuring and reporting program results. Not all of the indicators below will be applicable to the proposed project, though the applicant is encouraged to use them where relevant in the development of the logic model. NEA/AC’s M&E team will work with the successful applicant on finalizing indicators and an RMP that will be utilized for the negotiated award.

Education and Social Service Indicators ES.1-1 Percent of learners who attain a minimum grade-level proficiency in reading at the end of grade 2 with USG assistance ES.1-2 Percent of learners attaining minimum grade-level proficiency in reading at the end of primary school (or grade 6, whichever comes sooner) with USG assistance ES.1-3 Number of learners in primary schools or equivalent non-school based settings reached with USG education assistance ES.1-4 Number of learners in secondary schools or equivalent non-school based settings reached with USG education assistance

ES.1-6 Number of educators who complete professional development activities with USG assistance

ES.1-12 Number of education administrators and officials who complete professional development activities with USG assistance

ES.1-13 Number of parent teacher associations (PTAs) or community governance structures engaged in primary or secondary education supported with USG assistance

ES.1-14 Number of classrooms built or repaired with USG assistance ES.1-46 Percent of individuals who transition to further education or training following participation in USG-assisted programs ES.1-47 Percent of learners with a disability targeted for USG assistance who attain a minimum grade-level proficiency in reading at the end of grade 2 ES.1-48 Percent of learners targeted for USG assistance with an increase of at least one proficiency level in reading at the end of grade 2 ES.1-50 Number of public and private schools receiving USG assistance ES.1-51 Number of learning environments supported by USG assistance that have improved safety, according to locally-defined criteria ES.1-53 Number of learners in pre-primary schools or equivalent non-school based settings reached with USG education assistance ES.1-54 Percent of individuals with improved reading skills following participation in

USG-assisted programs ES.1-55 Percent of primary-grade learners targeted for USG assistance who have the appropriate variety of reading materials in the language of instruction with inclusive representation of diverse populations

Workforce Development Indicators EG.6.13 Percent of individuals with improved soft skills following participation in USG-assisted workforce development programs EG.6-14 Percent of individuals who complete USG-assisted workforce development programs

AWARD INFORMATION

Funding Mechanism Type: Cooperative Agreement

Estimated Number of Awards: One (1)

Estimated Total Program Funding: $18,000,000

Estimated Base Year Award Ceiling: $6,000,000

Estimated Base Year Award Floor: $3,000,000

Cost-Sharing or Matching: Encouraged; NOT Required

Estimated Length of Project Period: One to Three (1-3) years

Contingent on the availability of funds, approximately $18,000,000 in Economic Support Funds for approximately one (1) award will be awarded through this announcement. If selected to receive an award, an applicant will be awarded funds for one base year with the potential to be awarded an additional two option years, depending on the activities proposed. The estimated start date for this project is October 1, 2021.

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. Please note that this NOFO requires that applicants submit additional budget materials to plan for potential out-years of non-competing continuations. See Section VI Application and Submission Information for more details.

SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

NEA/AC and START (field team) and will be involved in the project and management performance of this cooperative agreement through consultation and technical collaboration on project activities. It is expected that the recipient will remain adaptable to the requests of both NEA/AC and START team members.

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

Collaboration in establishing annual project objectives and approval of an annual work plan;

Collaboration in identifying and developing opportunities to expand programming;

Collaboration in identifying and designing on-the-ground activities;

Collaboration in the creation and development of training materials;

Selection of local partners to implement activities and project participants; and Collaboration in identifying fields for vocational training.

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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.

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants include:

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

o For-profit organizations;

o Private, public, or state institutions of higher education;

o Public international organizations; and o Small businesses with function and regional experience in the areas of education in conflict zones in the MENA region.

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.

NEA/AC strongly encourages applications from civil society organizations headquartered in the Middle East and North Africa region. International non-governmental organizations with principal bases of operations outside the Middle East and North Africa are also encouraged to apply, but the percentage of total budget actually spent in the region through local partners will be among the elements of evaluation for this competition.

A.1. Prime Applicant To be considered for funding under this opportunity, applicants SHALL:

Have demonstrable previous experience working in the MENA region and organizational capacity to implement project components in Syria. This should be addressed within the project narrative section of your application.

Have experience in conducting risk assessments and monitoring and evaluating projects and sub-recipients in order to document and assess the short- and long-term outcomes of proposed projects.

Demonstrate the ability to effectively work through extensive partnerships with Syria-based education actors and administrative bodies, which are necessary to ensure that all project activities can be implemented quickly.

Meet ALL of the registration requirements listed below.

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Meet any requirements listed as MANDATORY in Additional Eligibility Considerations, below.

Additionally, applicants should:

Demonstrate expertise in NEA/AC’s strategic focus areas of civic engagement and a strong understanding of needs in Syria.

Demonstrate experience implementing similar projects in Syria or other conflict areas.

Demonstrate capacity to operate an assistance management project of multiple and diverse activities across Syria.

Demonstrate experience managing and monitoring a significant number of sub-recipients and/or direct assistance projects. Applications must clearly outline this experience, including total volume (total dollar amount, number of partners, and number of projects), size and length of sub-awards managed, and geographic and thematic focus. If the applicant has provided capacity-building support to sub-grantees, please indicate the type of support. A sample sub-grant risk assessment and monitoring plan, and sub-award policy/manual, must be provided as part of the proposal.

Demonstrate in the project and budget narratives how the assistance mechanism will be managed, monitored, and evaluated to ensure compliance with the project objectives and Federal regulations. The successful applicant will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of all sub-recipients, and/or other direct assistance to ensure completion of activities, programmatic efficacy, institutional strengthening, and financial propriety.

Demonstrate the ability to accomplish the required activities with minimal full-time staffing and without establishing a dedicated local office in Syria.

Demonstrate the ability to involve local partners.

Demonstrate the ability to recruit/hire education specialists, especially those working in early-childhood development, psychosocial support, curriculum development, and TVET programming, etc.

A.2. Local Partners Applicants are REQUIRED to include partnerships with local organizations as part of their project design for this NOFO. Applicants who do not incorporate local partners in their proposal will be deemed ineligible and will not advance past the Technical Eligibility Review stage. Applicants should propose partners that would work together on specific programmatic objectives or priorities and that utilize local expertise. Partnerships may, but are not required to, take the form of sub-grants.

B. 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). Applicants who do not meet all registration requirements are NOT eligible for funding under the opportunity.

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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) ( https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sic_manual.html), 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, each applicant must maintain an active account, with current information, while its application is under consideration for funding. To keep an active SAM.gov account, an applicant must renew it at least once each year. If an organization’s 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.

Log In to complete authentication and create an account. On the My SAM page, select Entity Registrations from the sub-navigation menu and select Register New Entity.

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 Quick Start Guide for Grant Registration:

https://sam.gov/SAM/transcript/Quick_Guide_for_Grants_Registrations.pdf), the online form takes approximately one hour to complete, depending upon the size and complexity of the applying entity. Because of the different steps in the process, it might take anywhere from 12 - 15 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: 866-606-8220 (U.S.) or +1-334-206-7828 (international).

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C. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

C.1 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 or matching is not an evaluation criteria of this NOFO.

C.2 Host Country Legal Compliance NEA/AC requires that applicants be in sound legal standing with appropriate host government authorities at the time of application to this funding opportunity. If the applicant is not currently based in Berlin, Germany and intends to operate from that location, they should demonstrate the ability to establish a base there in a timely manner following notification of the award. Award recipients will be required to maintain legal standing throughout the life of the award, including for any sub-grant made under its auspices.

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

All applications must include the application components detailed below. All application documents must be submitted in English. Applicants may submit only one (1) 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 stage. 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 each of these forms online to be considered for funding. The SF-424B is only required for those applicants who a) have not registered in SAM.gov or b) have not recertified their registration in SAM.gov since February 2, 2019.

If an organization has an active registration in SAM.gov that was either created or updated on or after 2/2/2019, then the applicant does NOT need to submit the SF-424B because their registration or recertification will have included the necessary information.

Guidance on how to complete the SF-424 and SF424a is provided in Appendix 3.

NOTE: In addition to following all guidance outlined below regarding application materials, applicants are strongly encouraged 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. This section may be no longer than 12 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 Detailed Line Item Budget Budget Narrative

A detailed budget for 12 months is required as well as a notional budget for two additional out (option) years, with each option period being one year. The option periods should be their own detailed tabs (one year per tab) within the budget.

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. As defined in the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions (for assistance awards, Key Personnel means, “…key professional and supervisory personnel; i.e., the members of the professional staff in a program supervisory position engaged for or assigned to duties under the award.” 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 instructions, can be found in Appendix 1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review Appendix 1 before preparing their Budget and Budget 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/Theory of Change.

This section may be no longer than 2 pages.

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. There is no page limit for this section of the application.

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 be no longer than 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 be no longer than 5 pages.

Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement NOTE: This item is required only IF applicable. Applicants proposing indirect costs in the Budget greater than a 10% de minimis rate must provide a copy of their Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). There is no page limit for this section of the application.

A.2. Optional Documents Applicants may submit additional documents for consideration with their application. These documents are not required. Some examples of additional documents an applicant may wish to submit include but are not limited to organizational chart, etc. This section of the application may be no longer than 10 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.

B. 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 VI 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.

C. SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Applicants must submit their application electronically using SAMS Domestic. Applications will NOT be accepted from grants.gov. SAMS Domestic requires that the applying organization have an account with the system and both require a UEI number and SAM.gov account as detailed in Section V. 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 https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms/, 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.

D. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

Applications must be time stamped before 17:00:00 eastern time (ET) on July 15, 2021.

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. Each applicant is encouraged to submit an application far enough in advance of the deadline so that the applicant 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

E. 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.

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.

F. 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 https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/693136.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.

G. 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 (https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/U.S.- Department-of-State-Standard-Terms-and-Conditions-10-01-2019508.pdf) and 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 600 as applicable.

APPLICATION REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

A. APPLICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA

Achievable Objectives (40 points) Each of the project objectives listed above (in Section I) are clearly addressed.

Impact and Effectiveness: The applicant describes the project’s potential contribution to solving the problem addressed in the problem statement and achieving results.

Additionally, the applicant details how the project will prioritize the objectives of providing remedial education, psychosocial support, light non-construction school rehabilitation, and TVET.

Timeframe: The applicant describes realistic results to be accomplished within the timeframe of the proposed award. Additionally, the applicant outlines how training materials, especially for TVET, will be reviewed and adapted and how often. How will the length and impact of trainings be assessed and revised?

Beneficiaries: The applicant clearly identifies the anticipated beneficiaries and explains how the project’s objectives will positively affect them.