TIP Office PEMS 5 NOFO.docx

U.S. Department of State Notice of Funding Opportunity

Catalog of Federal Domestic

FULL TEXT OF NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) announces an open competition for grant funding to support the Program to End Modern Slavery (PEMS). The goal of PEMS is to measurably and substantially reduce the prevalence of human trafficking in targeted populations in partner countries and jurisdictions through innovative interventions driven by research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and the expansion of partnerships with government, academia, civil society organizations, international organizations, and the private sector. Applicants are invited to submit proposals describing how they will advance transformational, research-integrated projects and programs that seek to achieve this goal in Brazil.

The U.S. Congress has appropriated $25 million annually since Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 for PEMS, totaling $150 million to date. This Notice of Funding Opportunity is the TIP Office’s fifth call for PEMS proposals. The TIP Office priorities are informed by the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, current anti-trafficking programming, and in consultation with other offices and bureaus in the U.S. Department of State and other U.S. government agencies. The TIP Office plans to issue one award up to $15 million with a project duration not to exceed 60 months (5 years).

PEMS Model:

Prevalence estimates are conducted and identified pre- and post-intervention:

· Prevalence estimates are conducted and identified pre-intervention. These estimates will serve as baselines for the program, and will be measured against endline prevalence estimates toward the end of the program. Baselines should also inform program/project design.

· Endline prevalence estimates are conducted and identified post-intervention. The endline prevalence estimates will measure any changes or reductions to prevalence as a result of programmatic interventions.

Research-integrated programmatic interventions are implemented after baselines are established*.

All programmatic activities should be coordinated with the aim of demonstrating a reduction of the estimated prevalence rate toward the end of the project.

*Note: Program design and activities should be informed by baseline prevalence estimate results; however, to the extent possible, program design should begin simultaneously with baseline prevalence research.

Monitoring processes are established during the program and project design phase for the purpose of measuring the effectiveness and appropriateness of project activities, and measuring progress towards the reduction of the estimated prevalence rate. These processes are distinct and separate from the prevalence estimates.

A mid-term assessment is conducted half-way through the program to take stock of progress toward goals and objectives and will capture lessons learned.

A final assessment is conducted toward the end of the program to assess outcomes and the extent to which the program contributed to the reduction of the estimated prevalence rate.

Partnerships

Partnerships with governments, academia, civil society, and international organizations are formed to improve collaboration on the reduction of the prevalence of human trafficking. Partnerships integrate advances under research, programming, and monitoring and evaluation by sharing prevalence data, research methodologies, and evidence on effective programs in multisectoral fora to advance the reduction of the prevalence of human trafficking.

PEMS-funded efforts conduct scientifically rigorous research to establish evidence on the effects of anti-trafficking programs on the reduction of the prevalence of human trafficking through the advancement of sound prevalence measurement methodologies, strong monitoring and evaluation practices, research-integrated programming, and the application of victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches.

The TIP Office welcomes strong applications for programs and projects that align with U.S. government priorities and TIP Office priorities, address human trafficking challenges on a significant scale, and offer the potential to have systemic and sustainable results, among other factors. Strong applications will also demonstrate a clear understanding of the program design standards found in the guidelines posted on the TIP Office website (https://www.state.gov/guidelines-for-submitting-full-project-proposals/).

Please pay particular attention to the Guidelines for Submitting TIP Office Full Project Proposals (https://www.state.gov/guidelines-for-submitting-full-project-proposals/) and the TIP Office Common Questions and Answers (PEMS) (https://www.state.gov/tip-office-funding-opportunity-common-questions-and-answers-pems/), which include NEW guidance on preparing proposed project documents, as well as program design standards that must be incorporated into any program and or project design. Applicants must review and incorporate PEMS-specific requirements as laid out in this NOFO, and review and incorporate the Guidelines for Submitting TIP Office Full Project Proposals, including the project design standards. The guidelines are available on the TIP Office website and System for Awards Management (SAMS) Domestic website. Applicants that do not adhere to these guidelines will not be rated as highly as those who do.

Organizations eligible to apply include U.S.-based and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs), non-profits, public international organizations (PIOs), for-profit organizations, and institutions of higher education. For-profit organizations are not permitted to generate profits from grant-funded activities. U.S. government agencies and foreign governments are not eligible to apply.

Applicants must develop a strategy under the “3P” paradigm that measurably reduces the prevalence of forced labor in Brazil, with clearly defined goals, objectives, and activities. The “3P” paradigm includes prosecuting traffickers, protecting trafficking victims, and preventing trafficking in persons (Applicants should refer to section B. for U.S. government definitions of human trafficking and trafficking in persons and “Understanding Human Trafficking.”).

PEMS Specific Requirements:

Applicants should describe all aspects of the PEMS-specific requirements in the project narrative. The PEMS-specific requirements may involve multiple parts of the narrative; however, the approach should be clear under the project description, with additional detail in the relevant annexes. The PEMS-specific requirements are as follows:

Applicants shall develop a clear strategy for how they will select and implement a scientifically sound, representative survey methodology for measuring the prevalence of forced labor in Brazil. The selection of the methodology should be grounded in existing research and experience and be applied consistently to determine a baseline prevalence estimate against which reduction will be measured. Baseline prevalence data collected from the research should underpin the nature and design of programmatic interventions, such that interventions are data-driven and changes in prevalence are measurable post-intervention. Applicants should also demonstrate a plan for contributing data, analysis, lessons learned, and promising practices related to prevalence reduction, specific to selected methodological approaches, to global efforts to combat human trafficking.

Applicants must include in their proposals a pre-identified research partner/s responsible for producing a baseline and endline prevalence estimate, as well as justification of why this research partner was chosen. The TIP Office strongly encourages selecting a research partner with expertise in quantitative research and experimental methodologies, expertise in researching vulnerable and/or hidden populations, and experience or partnerships operating in the target country. Plans for how the applicant and research partner will coordinate and communicate should also be presented, in addition to a timeline for prevalence research including the integration of this research with programming. Applicants must specify from whom Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval will be sought by the research partner. In addition to the project description in the narrative, prevalence research and prevalence reduction efforts should be described in annex M.

Applicants may serve as prime implementers of programmatic interventions, initiate and manage sub-grants to conduct interventions, or undertake a combined approach. Applicants should explain their approach under the project description in the narrative. Such interventions should not duplicate existing, promising anti-trafficking efforts and should aim to advance government and local civil society partnerships. Applicants are expected to submit proposals that reflect an understanding of and utilize victim-centered, trauma- and survivor-informed approaches to anti-trafficking. Applicants must also integrate an experimental research methodology with programming in such a way that provides specific insight on which activities contribute to a decrease in prevalence. Any PEMS grantee under this funding opportunity must obtain TIP Office approval in advance of executing any sub-grant or contract intended to administer programmatic interventions. The TIP Office encourages open, fair, and competitive processes for choosing sub-grants and contracts whenever possible.

Applicants must present a strategy outlining a rigorous monitoring and evaluation (M&E) process of activities, ensuring progress toward the grant’s stated goals are measured against baseline data. Such M&E processes must be replicated in the work of planned or future sub-grants and/or contracts of the applicant. The TIP Office encourages monitoring and evaluation practices that help build knowledge on practices and efforts that help in reducing the prevalence of human trafficking. Applicants should demonstrate detailed M&E efforts in Annex E and should provide a brief description of M&E efforts in the proposal narrative.

Applicants shall develop a clear strategy for sustainability that may include, but is not limited to, attracting other donor resources to reduce the prevalence of forced labor in the country of focus. Such a strategy should complement and build upon existing anti-trafficking efforts, develop sustainable local capacity of governments and civil society, and incorporate survivor perspectives. Applicants should outline their plan under the sustainability section of the project narrative.

Key elements shall include:

Measuring prevalence and establishing baselines. Applicants shall address how they will:

Select a scientifically sound, representative survey methodology for measuring prevalence grounded in existing research and experience;

apply the methodology consistently to determine a baseline prevalence rate in target populations to measure the reduction of prevalence; and apply the methodology to determine an endline prevalence rate.

Note: Applicants must indicate precisely how programmatic interventions will be driven by prevalence research data. More information is requested in Annex M.

Monitoring and Evaluation/Analysis and Reporting

Consistent with Section 1298(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017, any award recipient shall:

· Develop specific and detailed criteria for the monitoring and evaluation of supported projects;

· Implement a system for measuring progress against baseline data that is rigorously designed based on international corporate and nongovernmental best practices;

· Ensure that each supported project is regularly and rigorously monitored and evaluated, on a not less than biennial basis, by an independent monitoring and evaluation entity, against the specific and detailed criteria established pursuant to paragraph (1) (of Section 1298(c) of the NDAA), and that the progress of the project toward its stated goals is measured by such entity against baseline data;

· Develop a scientifically sound, representative survey methodology for measuring prevalence with reference to existing research and experience, and apply the methodology consistently to determine the baseline prevalence in target populations and outcomes in order to periodically assess progress in reducing prevalence;

· Establish, and revise on at least an annual basis, specific and detailed criteria for the suspension and termination, as appropriate, of sub-awards supported by the recipient that regularly or consistently fail to meet the criteria required by this section.

Applicants should use this section to outline their strategies for addressing the NDAA’s provisions above and include an explicit theory of change showing the causal linkage between funded activities and results. In addition, applicants should describe their systems and processes for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data to contribute new knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices to combat human trafficking. Strategies should include collaboration with other anti-trafficking actors to make their data and analysis available to the broader anti-trafficking community.

Applicants should outline their Monitoring and Evaluation Analysis and Reporting strategy in Annex E.

Prevalence Research Annex M

Applicants should provide an overview of planned prevalence quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to be applied and rationale for selection of research methods. A methodology must establish a prevalence estimate baseline and endline. Applicants should describe an example of a prevalence estimate methodology to be applied. Applicants should describe how a sample will be selected. Applicants should describe sample survey instruments and tools. Applicants should describe sample data collection and analysis processes. Applicants should describe how the methods selected are appropriate in the forced labor context in Brazil. Applicants should describe the project’s strategy to demonstrate a reduction in the prevalence of forced labor in Brazil through prevalence research-integrated programmatic interventions. Applicants should describe how the project will use baseline prevalence estimates to inform program design. Applicants should describe how the project will use the gap analysis, results performance monitoring plan indicators, mid-term assessments, and other planned assessments/learning activities to inform program design. Applicants should describe the project’s strategy to share learning through partnership. Applicants should describe any other relevant activities related to prevalence research.

REQUEST FOR COUNTRY SPECIFIC INVESTMENTS

The TIP Office requests proposals addressing human trafficking, specifically forced labor, in Brazil.

Applicants must present a strategy for measuring and reducing the prevalence of forced labor in one industry. Applicants are encouraged to focus their efforts in one of the following industries in no more than two States: textiles, agriculture, ranching, mining, or logging. Applicants may submit an application including up to two industries provided the application demonstrates the two industries are interconnected. Applications must identify and designate in the application a research partner who will be responsible for compiling a prevalence estimate at the provincial level within one of these industries prior to programmatic intervention. This will serve as a program baseline calculation. Applicants must also build in a provincial prevalence estimate towards the end of programmatic interventions that will serve as a program endline calculation.

Findings from the baseline prevalence estimate must be integrated into the program design. Within the chosen activities at the sub-provincial level, applicants must incorporate an experimental methodology that provides specific insight into which activities lead to a decrease in prevalence of forced labor in the chosen industry and state. The TIP Office encourages organizations to partner with strong professional researchers/academics with expertise in quantitative and qualitative research and experimental methodologies, as well as partners with experience working in Brazil. The TIP Office encourages organizations to partner with local research organizations when possible.

Applicants must present a strategy for reconciling the definitional differences between forced labor as outlined in the Brazilian Slave Labor Act (and other Brazilian laws relevant to forced labor) and the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) within the project, including the research and programmatic interventions. Applicants must support projects that provide assistance for forced labor criminal prosecutions that meet international legal norms for trafficking in persons pursuant to the Palermo Protocol. The project will be judged on reducing the prevalence of forced labor consistent with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which is generally consistent with the Palermo Protocol. (Applicants should refer to section B. for U.S. government definitions of human trafficking and trafficking in persons and “Understanding Human Trafficking.”) The award ceiling is $15 million.

Proposals must be submitted via SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants) by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on June 7, 2021 to be eligible for consideration. To be competitive under this funding opportunity, applicants must be fully responsive to all directions in this document. All questions must be sent to JTIPGrants@state.gov.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 USC 7101 et seq.), as amended (TVPA), established the TIP Office in the U.S. Department of State. The TIP Office leads the United States’ global engagement on the fight against human trafficking and seeks partnerships with foreign governments, civil society organizations, and multilateral organizations to combat human trafficking through the “3P” paradigm: prosecuting traffickers, protecting trafficking victims, and preventing trafficking in persons.

The U.S. government defines human trafficking or trafficking in persons as:

· Sex Trafficking – when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person to engage in a commercial sex act or when a trafficker causes a child who has not attained 18 years of age to engage in a commercial sex act.

· Forced Labor – when a trafficker recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains a person for labor or services by using force, fraud, or coercion.

Trafficking in persons does not require the movement of a person. Under both the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) and generally consistent with the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Palermo Protocol), individuals may be trafficking victims regardless of whether they once consented, they participated in unlawful acts their traffickers compelled them to commit, someone transported them into the exploitative situation, or they were simply born into a state of servitude. The TIP Office will not support projects that use alternate definitions of human trafficking.

The TVPA requires that the Department of State submit to Congress an annual report assessing the efforts of governments to address trafficking in persons. The annual TIP Report is the primary tool for the Department’s engagement with other governments on human trafficking and informs U.S. policy and assistance priorities to combat this crime. The 2020 TIP Report is available at: https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report-2020/.

Since 2000, when the United Nations adopted the Palermo Protocol and the United States enacted the TVPA, more than 170 countries have become party to the Protocol. In addition, more than 154 countries have passed anti-trafficking laws, and many countries have established specialized law enforcement units, set up trafficking victim assistance mechanisms, and launched public awareness campaigns. Nonetheless, the number of victims identified and assisted and the number of traffickers investigated, prosecuted, and convicted remain extremely low relative to the size of the problem; and governments face continued challenges in effectively implementing new anti-trafficking legal and policy frameworks.

The TIP Office works to address these challenges through its foreign assistance programs. Information on U.S. government anti-trafficking efforts is available at https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-to-monitor-and-combat-trafficking-in-persons-2/ and a summary of international projects currently funded by the TIP Office is available at https://www.state.gov/tip-office-project-descriptions/.

Applicants are expected to submit proposals that reflect an understanding of victim-centered, trauma-informed, and survivor-informed approaches to anti-trafficking activities, including comprehensive services.

Victim-Centered Approach Placing the crime victim’s priorities, needs, and interests at the center of the work with the victim; providing nonjudgmental assistance, with an emphasis on client self-determination, where appropriate, and assisting victims in making informed choices; ensuring that restoring victims’ feelings of safety and security is a priority and safeguarding against policies and practices that may inadvertently re-traumatize victims; ensuring that victims’ rights, voices, and perspectives are incorporated when developing and implementing system- and community-based efforts that impact crime victims.

Trauma-Informed Approach A trauma-informed approach includes an understanding of the vulnerabilities and experiences of trauma survivors, including the prevalence and the physical, social, and emotional impact of trauma. This approach recognizes signs of trauma in individuals and the professionals who help them and responds by integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, practices, and settings. Trauma-informed approaches place a priority on restoring the survivor’s feelings of safety, choice, and control. Programs, services, agencies, and communities can be trauma-informed.

Survivor-Informed Approach A program, policy, intervention, or product that is designed, implemented, and evaluated with intentional leadership, expertise, and input from a diverse community of survivors to ensure that the program, policy, intervention, or product accurately represents their needs, interests, and perceptions.

Comprehensive Services An array of services that should be made available to a trafficking victim. At a minimum, these services include shelter; intensive case management; safety planning; crisis intervention; victim advocacy; legal assistance; mental health treatment, including individual and group counseling; support in family reunification and community reintegration; medical care; dental care; substance abuse treatment; assistance with educational and/or vocational needs; life skills training; transportation; and other necessary services. These services should be made available for victims identified under this initiative in coordination with other existing governmental resources.

Any funds awarded under this funding opportunity will be provided through a cooperative agreement, which would provide for substantial involvement between the TIP Office and the recipient during the award’s period of performance. Substantial involvement by the TIP Office in these awards may include active participation or collaboration with the recipient in the implementation of the award; review and approval of one stage of work before another can begin; review and approval of all proposed sub-awards or contracts; joint preparation or presentation of results with the recipient; and/or involvement where the Department’s program office requires specific programmatic oversight over the award beyond normal monitoring. Other examples of substantial involvement by the TIP Office may include, but are not limited to, reviewing and approving project materials, training curricula, and evaluation plans produced by sub-recipients. Substantial involvement is in addition to routine monitoring that includes approval of key personnel; approval of the recipient’s budget and plan of work prior to award; standard oversight, monitoring, and administration of federal awards; and unanticipated actions to correct recipient performance or administrative deficiencies identified during the implementation of the award. Projects funded by resources leveraged from other donors are not subject to TIP Office approval.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Organizations eligible to apply include U.S.-based and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs), non-profits, public international organizations (PIOs), for-profit organizations, and institutions of higher education. For-profit organizations are not permitted to generate profits from grant-funded activities. U.S. government agencies and foreign governments are not eligible to apply. While foreign governments are not eligible to apply for awards under this funding opportunity, either as an applicant or as a sub-recipient, governments may be beneficiaries of programming, provided that funding does not pay salaries of government agency personnel and that such assistance is not restricted by U.S. law or policy.

Organizations currently receiving funds from the TIP Office may apply for funding under this funding opportunity. The eligibility requirements for applying for funds under this funding opportunity do not restrict applicants from receiving other sources of funding from the U.S. government, including funding from other bureaus within the Department of State. However, the applicant must identify related U.S. government programming. Applicants should demonstrate experience administering successful projects – preferably in human trafficking or related areas and in the identified country or sub-region.

Under this funding opportunity, applicants may partner with other organizations in submitting full proposal(s). All such applications must clearly identify the lead applicant, and the applicant may designate one or more partner organizations as sub-recipients. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, a partner organization is any organization that would receive sub-award funding from a successful applicant to help the applicant organization implement anti-trafficking projects. All mandatory terms and conditions for a successful applicant also apply to any sub-awards awarded.

2. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

Cost sharing, cost matching, and cost participation are not required to carry out a project under this funding opportunity. While not required, applicants may propose to include voluntary cost share. Applications that include voluntary cost share will NOT be evaluated differently than other applications. Applicants voluntarily proposing cost share must read the instructions below regarding budget documents that are required to be submitted under this announcement. Applicants should list the cost share amount in the SF-424. Funds leveraged to directly support efforts that fall within the scope of activities supported with the PEMS grant will be beholden to U.S. government rules and regulations as pertains to cost-share, including reporting requirements to the TIP Office. Funds leveraged to support broader programmatic goals, but not necessarily which fall within the scope of activities supported by the grant will not be beholden to such requirements. However, this determination will ultimately be made by the TIP Office in consultation with the prime grantee/s.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

All proposals must be submitted via SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants) by 5:00p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on June 7, 2021. All application documents must be submitted in English. The TIP Office will NOT accept proposals or updated documents submitted by any other method, including email, fax, the postal system, delivery companies, couriers, or U.S. embassies. Applicants may submit more than one application if they are requested to do so by the TIP Office; however, each application should be submitted only once.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to initiate electronic applications early in the application development process, and to submit before the due date or early on the due date. This will aid in addressing any problems with submissions prior to the application deadline. No exceptions will be made for organizations that have not completed the necessary steps to submit applications on SAMS Domestic.

Applicants who experience COVID-19 related issues that prevent them from submitting an application via SAMS must reach out to JTIP grants mailbox email (JTIPGrants@state.gov) before the deadline to work with staff on alternative submission solutions.

Applications Submitted Through SAMS Domestic

Organizations using SAMS Domestic for the first time must register on the SAMS Domestic site to create a New Applicant account as soon as possible. This application step must be completed before an application can be submitted.

To register with SAMS Domestic, follow the “create an account” link and complete the “SAMS Domestic User Registration Request” application form. Users will receive an email requesting account verification. This verification step must be completed before an application can be submitted. If the applicant has previously received funding from the Department of State please contact JTIPGrants@state.gov after the user account has been created to ensure the account is associated with the correct organization. If an applicant has not previously received funding from the Department of State, the TIP Office cannot associate a new account in SAMS Domestic to an organization. Please note a new user account does not need to be associated with an organization in order to submit an application. Electronic applications submitted via SAMS Domestic must contain completed SF-424 online forms and documents specified in this funding opportunity.

To upload the full proposal, go to SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants), select “Apply, then Funding Opportunities,” and select the “Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Programs” funding opportunity. Select the “Apply Here” button, enter the applicant organization’s information, and click Save. Complete each section of the application in the corresponding section of the Additional Documents to Be Submitted Tab: SF 424 Information (SF-424, SF-424 A, SF-424 B); Program Narrative; Logic Model; Summary Budget, Line-Item Budget, and Budget Narrative; Resumes and Qualifications for Key Positions; Certification of Training; Optional Letters of Intent to Cooperate; and Single Audit Report (if applicable); a NICRA Agreement (if applicable).

Please ensure that you select the box, “allow anyone in my organization to edit this proposal”, to ensure members of your organization have access to edit this proposal.

For assistance with SAMS Domestic please contact the ILMS Support Desk at 1-888-313-4567 (toll free for international callers) or submit a ticket using the ILMS Self Service Portal. Customer Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please note support hours may change on Federal holidays. Please direct questions regarding the process of uploading applications to Customer Support. Technical difficulties not resolved by the Support Desk by the time of submission must be fully documented and reported to the TIP Office at JTIPGrants@state.gov only. Please do not contact any other Department of State personnel.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

To be considered for funding, all applications must address the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity. All required documents submitted must be written in the English language using documents with one-inch margins formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper only, unless otherwise stated. All documents should use text that is black-colored in Times New Roman font. The required project narrative template is set to a 30,000 character limit with Times New Roman font. Spaces, footnotes, and charts are included within the character limit. Any application that does not submit the required project narrative template with these font restrictions will fail the technical review. All budget figures must be in U.S. dollars.

Submission of PDF files will not be accepted and will result in automatic failure of the technical review.

Please note there have been significant changes in this funding opportunity, including sections on risk, monitoring and evaluation, prevalence research, and the inclusion of a pre-gap analysis narrative. Applicants must reference the Guidelines for Submitting TIP Office Full Project Proposals (https://www.state.gov/guidelines-for-submitting-full-project-proposals/) and TIP Office Common Questions and Answers (PEMS) (https://www.state.gov/tip-office-funding-opportunity-common-questions-and-answers-pems/) when preparing an application. The document includes guidelines for proposed project documents, as well as program design standards that must be incorporated into any application submitted under this funding opportunity. Applicants must review and incorporate PEMS specific requirements as laid out in this NOFO, and review and incorporate the Guidelines for Submitting TIP Office Full Project Proposals. The guidelines are available on the TIP Office website and SAMS Domestic.

Complete applications must include the following documents in the required templates (found on SAMS Domestic) to be considered for funding:

· Online Forms/Standard Forms: SF 424, SF 424A and SF 424B

· Proposal Narrative: Required template available on SAMS Domestic, Microsoft Word Document (No PDF files)

· Background

· Pre-Gap Analysis

· Problem Statement

· Project Description and Theory of Change

· Gender Integration (optional)

· Sustainability

· Local Partnerships

· Coordination with Other Anti-Trafficking Stakeholders

· Security, Risk Mitigation, and Contingency Plan

· Monitoring and Evaluation

· Proposal Annexes: See the ‘Guidance for Submitting TIP Office Full Proposals’

· Annex A – Theory of Change

· Annex B – Logic Model Template

· Annex C – Results Performance Monitoring (RPM) Plan

· Annex D – Performance Monitoring Work Plan

· Annex E – Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Narrative

· Annex F – Budget Summary

· Annex G – Line-Item Budget

· Annex H – Budget Narrative

· Annex I – NICRA Agreement*

· Annex J – Resumes and Qualifications of Key Personnel – Resumes may be no longer than 5 pages, including charts, graphs, logos, and images

· Annex K – Certification of Training Requirement

· Annex L – Letters of Agreement or Letters of Intent to Cooperate in Partnership*

· Annex M – Prevalence Research Methodologies

* Required only, if applicable

Note: Applicants must use the TIP Office templates for the project narrative, logic model, results performance monitoring plan, performance monitoring work plan, monitoring and evaluation plan narrative, and summary budget, and prevalence research, which are part of the Additional Information to Be Submitted by the Applicant Tab.

3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)—Required

A valid Unique Entity Identifier (formerly the Data Universal Numbering System or DUNS) is not required for submission of an application on SAMS Domestic; however, a valid UEI number is required for organizations selected for an award. Organizations should verify their UEI number or take the steps needed to obtain one as soon as possible. Instructions for obtaining a UEI number can be found at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.

All applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov/SAM/) prior to submitting proposals. Selected grantees will be required to have an active registration in SAM.gov. Organizations that have SAM.gov accounts must log in at least once every 13 months (395 days) to maintain an active registration. Please reactivate any accounts that have become inactive when submitting proposals.

Please note that selected grantees may not make a sub-award to a sub-recipient unless that sub-recipient has obtained and provided to the recipient a UEI. A sub-recipient is not required to be registered in SAM.gov.

4. Submission Dates and Times

Proposals must be submitted via SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants) and no applications will be considered for funding after 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on June 7, 2021 to be eligible for consideration. The TIP Office will not accept application materials by email. To be competitive under this funding opportunity, applicants must be fully responsive to all directions in this document.

The application process is not complete until the applicant receives notification from SAMS Domestic that its application has been validated and forwarded to the granting agency (TIP Office). Please allow sufficient time for entering the application into these systems and to troubleshoot any issues. It is the responsibility of the applicant to monitor its application to ensure that it is successfully received and validated.

5. Funding Restrictions

Construction The TIP Office restricts the use of Federal assistance for construction purposes. Construction costs are defined as non-major costs for rearrangement and alteration or reconversion or renovation of facilities. Construction would include ordinary or normal alterations, restoration or rehabilitation such as any work that modifies buildings and/or grounds. This includes but is not limited to adding, replacing, modifying, relocating, removing, or painting doors, walls, windows, flooring or the alterations of ceilings, adding on to or dividing existing space or work on any building utility system, electrical, plumbing, ventilation, air conditioning, controls systems, fire alarms, fire sprinklers, security systems and telecommunication equipment. Federal assistance funds cannot be used for capital improvements unless specifically approved in advance by the TIP Office.

Equipment and Supplies Equipment is herein defined as an article of non-expendable, tangible, personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost in excess of $5,000. Please note that if equipment costs are included in an application, the organization must retain ownership of all equipment obtained throughout the lifetime of the federal award. This includes any equipment funded with cost sharing or matching funds. At the end of the award, you must complete federal SF-428 forms in order for the TIP Office Grants Officer to evaluate whether the item(s) be retained, sold, or disposed of without any further obligation to the Department of State.

Supplies are herein defined as all tangible personal property other than those described in Equipment. Note that if there is a residual inventory of unused supplies exceeding $5,000 in total aggregate value upon completion of the project and the supplies are not needed for any other Federal award, your entity must retain the supplies for use on other activities or sell them, but must, in either case, compensate the Department of State for its share. The amount of compensation will be computed in the same manner as for Equipment.

Applicants shall work with the Department of State to ensure that any applicable restrictions and requirements are addressed prior to awarding any sub-awards.

In addition, applicants should refer to the U.S. Department of State Policy on the Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment, which is described under the “Administrative and National Policy Requirements” section of this NOFO.

Applicants shall work with the Department of State to ensure that any applicable restrictions and requirements are addressed prior to awarding any sub-awards.

In addition, programming may not benefit countries or entities that are not eligible recipients of United States foreign assistance or for which there are applicable assistance restrictions. Recipients shall work with the Department of State to ensure that any applicable restrictions and requirements are addressed prior to awarding any sub-awards.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria

Reviewers will evaluate applications based on their own merits. Reviewers will use the below evaluation criteria, which are based off the programming priorities, Program Design Standards, PEMS specific requirements, and the Guidelines for Submitting TIP Office Full Project Proposals. Applicants must review the below criteria to fully understand how applications will be reviewed and evaluated for potential funding. The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications (unless otherwise noted) and are listed in order of descending priority. Parenthetical references are directly linked to the Guidelines for Submitting TIP Office Full Project Proposals (https://www.state.gov/guidelines-for-submitting-full-project-proposals/).

Quality of Project Idea and Definition of Problem and Context The project goal fits within TIP Office policy and programming priorities (alignment). The project narrative describes knowledge of the country context and problem or problems that need to be solved. The narrative demonstrates strong knowledge of human trafficking issues and the trafficking context in the country or sub-region where the project would take place. There is a logical or evidence-based connection between the program or project activities proposed and the change that is sought as well as the goal that is stated and the current context as illustrated in the project narrative, theory of change, and logic model (relevance). The project goal and objective(s) reflect at least one element of systemic-level or institutional change; there is no assumption that individual-level change (e.g., individual training) will lead to broad-scale institutional change within the period of performance.

The proposal offers a logical strategy that advances a transformational, research integrated program and projects that seek to achieve measurable and substantial reduction of the prevalence of forced labor in Brazil. The proposal offers a scientifically rigorous research methodology to establish evidence on the effects of anti-TIP programs on the reduction of the prevalence of human trafficking through advancing sound prevalence measurement methodologies and strong monitoring and evaluation practices, integrating data-driven programming, and applying a victim-centered and trauma-informed approach. In addition, the proposal should explain how the applicant plans to manage sub-awards effectively, if applicable.

Use of Program Design Standards The project narrative clearly incorporates elements of the program design standards highlighted in the “Guidelines for Submitting TIP Office Full Project Proposals” starting on page 53. The change required for the end state is clearly articulated in the project narrative. Objectives articulate one concept each and clearly define the target population central to achieving change, and project activities engage those with the power to support/prevent the process of change. The project idea is feasible with the funds granted and time provided. As appropriate, applications obtain input and expertise from survivor employees/experts in developing the project and/or propose survivor-led organizations as sub-grantees or partners. The application incorporates the identification, assessment, and management of key risk factors through the project security, risk mitigation, and contingency component of the proposal narrative (included but not limited to physical safety, cyber security, programmatic operating environment, and organizational structure). Ambiguous terms are clearly defined.

Institutional Record and Capacity (Experience in region and with subject matter) The application clearly establishes the applicant’s ability to implement the anti-trafficking project in the specific country or sub-region. Applicant has appropriate experience in the subject matter or lays out clearly how it will bring expertise to the project. For prior recipients of both TIP Office and other U.S. government funding, the TIP Office will consider the past performance on awards. For new applicants, the TIP Office will evaluate the organization’s potential to successfully implement a project. Applicant is able to adhere to the rules and regulations that govern U.S. foreign assistance. Applicant identifies well-qualified key personnel to manage the project and oversee implementation.

Sustainability Sustainability is imperative for the TIP Office projects and programs. Sustainability explains how the project’s specific outcomes will be sustained after the project ends. Sustainability is the ability of a local system to produce desired outcomes over time. Discrete projects contribute to sustainability when they strengthen the system’s ability to produce valued results and its ability to be both resilient and adaptive in the face of changing circumstances. To the extent possible, the application’s activities promote sustainable intervention practices and build the capacity of local communities, including both local government institutions and civil society, to address future human trafficking challenges. Where appropriate, applications will be evaluated on how well they promote, strengthen, and build the capacity of local institutions/systems and on the extent to which applicants identify replacement resources, encourage local ownership and political will, build capacity, integrate the project within existing systems, and address felt needs.

Local Partnerships Public International Organizations and/or applicants not based in the proposed country or region should describe existing or proposed partnerships with either government or civil society in-country stakeholders. Applications demonstrate a clear understanding of the role that local organizations and institutions play in combating human trafficking and describe how they will develop and cultivate relationships with local partners to increase sustainability and to ensure programming is context appropriate. In cases where an applicant chooses not to partner with a local organization or local governmental stakeholder, or chooses not to develop and cultivate relationships with local partners, the application must clearly explain why.

Coordination with Other Anti-Trafficking Stakeholders The TIP Office encourages coordination among donors and implementers. The application identifies related projects or activities that the applicant may already be implementing or planning. To the extent possible, applicants should describe on-going anti-trafficking efforts conducted by governments and other anti-trafficking stakeholders and organizations, and should describe any relevant previous anti-trafficking work implemented by these entities, and how the proposed project would complement or avoid duplicating current or planned efforts by other anti-trafficking stakeholders. In cases where an applicant chooses not to coordinate with other anti-trafficking stakeholders, the application must clearly explain why.

Monitoring and Evaluation The project narrative must summarize illustrative monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities (e.g., data collection, data analysis, data reporting, mid and final assessments), how M&E activities will be carried out, and who will be responsible for carrying out the M&E activities. Sample indicators developed in the Results Performance Monitoring Plan (RPM) must be included. The applicant is expected to collect data on relevant Common Performance Indicators (CPI) for the TIP Office. In addition, a description of mid-term assessments are included. The project narrative should also briefly describe M&E costs (ideally 3-5% of total budget). If M&E costs are under 3% of the project’s total budget, provide a justification for why M&E costs fall below 3% of the project’s total budget. If M&E costs are above 5% of the project’s total budget, please provide a justification for costs.

Gender Integration (Optional) The TIP Office encourages that all activities fully address gender considerations, ensuring that all individuals benefit from support where applicable, and that gender awareness is a built-in component of project activities. Gender integration entails the identification and subsequent treatment of gender differences and gender inequalities around human trafficking issues during project design. Where applicable, this should be documented in the project narrative, specifically by addressing any relevant gender gaps and ways the proposed activities will address those gaps. Applicants who choose to respond to gender integration should demonstrate how addressing relevant gender gaps will enhance the project’s goals and objectives. This component of the proposal narrative is optional. Applicants will not be evaluated for gender integration.

2. Review and Selection Process

Following the submission deadline, all proposals will be screened to determine whether they meet the technical requirements stated in this announcement. As a reminder, the TIP Office will only consider proposals that meet the very specific requirements outlined in the funding opportunity.