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| The | U.S. | Department | of | State, | Bureau | of | Intelligence | and | Research, | Notice | of | Funding | Opportunity: | | |
| Program | for | the | Study | of | Eastern | Europe | and | the | Independent | States | of | the | Former | Soviet | Union |
| (Title | VIII). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Federal | Awarding | Agency: | Department | of | State, |
| Bureau | of | Intelligence | & | Research | (INR) |
| Program | Office: | INR’s | Office | of | Analytic | Outreach | | | | | |
| Funding | Opportunity | Title: | Program | for | the | Study | of | Eastern | Europe | and | the |
| Independent | States | of | the | Former | Soviet | Union |
| (Title | VIII) | | | | | |
| Funding | Opportunity | Number: | SFOP0008790 | | | | | | | | | |
| CFDA | Number: | 19.300 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Application | Deadline | (Due | Date): | Submit | through | SAMS | Domestic | or | Grants.gov | by | 11.59 | PM |
| Eastern | Standard | Time, | Monday, | May | 23, | 2022 | | |
| Total | Amount | Available: | $2,000,000 | pending | the | availability | of | funds |
| Please | read | the | entire | announcement | before | addressing | inquiries | to | the | Office | of | Analytic | Outreach. | | |
| If | you | have | responded | to | previous | notices | of | Title | VIII | funding | opportunities, | we | encourage | you | to |
| read | this | entire | announcement | since | application | requirements | may | have | changed. | | | | | | |
| The | Department | of | State | invites | applications | from | U.S. | organizations | with | interest | and | expertise | in | | |
| conducting | research | and | training | to | implement | programs | concerning | the | countries | of | Eastern | | | | |
| Europe | and | the | independent | states | of | the | former | Soviet | Union. | | Institutions | of | higher | education | or |
| U.S.-based | non-profit | organizations | that | meet | the | provisions | outlined | in | Internal | Revenue | Code | | | | |
| section | 26 | USC | (501) | (c) | (3) | may | apply. | | | | | | | | |
| The | purpose | of | this | Notice | of | Funding | Opportunity | (NOFO) | is | to | inform | potential | applicant | | |
| organizations | of | programmatic, | procedural, | and | funding | information | for | the | annual | grant | | | | | |
| competition | for | the | Program | for | the | Study | of | Eastern | Europe | and | the | Independent | States | of | the |
| Former | Soviet | Union | (Title | VIII). | | The | grantor | expects | funds | appropriated | under | the | Assistance | for | |
| Europe, | Eurasia, | and | Central | Asia | (AEECA) | heading | of | the | Department | of | State, | Foreign | Operations, | | |
| and | Related | Programs | Appropriations | Act, | 2021 | (Div. | K, | P.L. | 116-260) | (FY | 2021 | SFOAA) | for | this | |
| funding | opportunity. | Grantees | will | receive | funds | before | September | 30, | 2022. | | This | notice | is | subject | |
| to | the | availability | of | funding. | | | | | | | | | | | |
| This | notice | contains | seven | parts: | | Part | I-Statement | of | Purpose, | Part | II-Federal | Award | Information, |
| Part | III-Eligibility, | Part | IV-Application | Instructions, | Part | V-Forms, | Part | VI-Review | Process | and | | | |
| Criteria, | and | Part | VII-Award | Notification. | | | | | | | | | |
Part I - Statement of Purpose
Authority:
| Grant-making | authority | for | the | Program | for | Research | and | Training | on | Eastern | Europe | and | the |
| Independent | States | of | the | Former | Soviet | Union | (Title | VIII) | is | contained | in | the | Soviet-Eastern |
| European | Research | and | Training | Act | of | 1983, | as | amended | (22 | U.S.C. | 4501-4508) | (“the | Act”). |
Purpose:
| In | the | Act, | Congress | declared | its | finding | that | independently | verified, | factual | knowledge | about | the | | | |
| countries | of | Eastern | Europe | and | the | independent | states | of | the | former | Soviet | Union | is | critical | to | the |
| national | security | of | the | United | States, | the | furtherance | of | U.S. | national | interests | in | the | conduct | of | |
| foreign | relations, | and | the | prudent | management | of | U.S. | domestic | affairs. | | Furthermore, | Congress | | | | |
| found | that | the | development | and | maintenance | of | U.S. | expertise | in | these | regions | depends | upon | a | | |
| national | capability | for | advanced | research | by | highly | trained | specialists. | | Such | specialists | constitute | a | | | |
| national | resource | potentially | available | for | service | in | and | out | of | government. | | In | the | Act, | Congress | |
| also | declared | that | providing | a | stable | and | dedicated | source | of | financial | support | for | Title | VIII | | |
| functions, | beyond | federal, | state, | local, | regional, | and | private | sector | funding, | is | critical | to | maintaining | | | |
| this | important | research | and | training | on | a | long-term, | national | scale. | | | | | | | |
| Through | the | Title | VIII | Program, | the | U.S. | government, | in | the | interest | of | national | security, | funds |
| organizations | to | help | develop | and | maintain | this | critical | expertise. | | | | | | |
Program Goals:
| The | State | Department | administers | the | Title | VIII | Program | to | attain | the | following | goals | in | alignment |
| with | the | legislation: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| a. Develop, | support, | and | deepen | American | expertise | in | the | countries | of | Eastern |
| Europe | and | the | independent | states | of | the | former | Soviet | Union. | |
| b. Develop | American | proficiency | in | the | critical | languages | of | Eastern | Europe | and | the |
| independent | states | of | the | former | Soviet | Union. | | | | | |
| c. Bring | regional | and | foreign | language | expertise | to | the | service | of | the | U.S. | government |
| and | contribute | to | U.S. | knowledge | and | national | capability. | | | | | |
d. Advance U.S. foreign policy goals and foster international collaboration and understanding.
| Through | open, | merit-based | competitions, | the | Title | VIII | Program | awards | grants | to | American | | |
| universities, | institutions | of | higher | education, | and | non-governmental | organizations. | | Project | | | | |
| proposals | must | be | national | in | scope | and | involve | an | open, | merit-based | recruitment | of | fellowship |
| recipients. | | All | research | proposals | must | explicitly | support | U.S. | foreign | policy | and | should | promote |
| analytic | outreach | and | engagement | with | State | Department | policymakers | and | intelligence | | | | |
| community | analysts. | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Russia’s | ongoing | hostilities | in | Ukraine | and | the | COVID-19 | pandemic | may | impact | domestic | and | |
| study-abroad | research | and | foreign | language | study | programs. | Many | travel | advisories | and | social | | |
| distancing | restrictions | remain. | Due | to | the | evolving | nature | of | the | COVID-19 | pandemic, | and | the |
| uncertainty | of | the | Russia/Ukraine | conflict, | applicants | should | ensure | proposals | and | budgets | address | | |
| online | and | in-person | programs, | personnel, | and | operating | costs | necessary | to | implement | the | award | |
| for | the | entire | period | of | performance. | | | | | | | | |
Eligible Research Programs:
| The | Title | VIII | Program | supports | research | that | addresses | U.S. | policy | interests | in | the | region, | broadly | |
| defined. | | Research | on | the | following | countries | is | eligible | for | funding | under | this | NOFO: | | Albania, |
| Armenia, | Azerbaijan, | Belarus, | Bosnia | and | Herzegovina, | Bulgaria, | Croatia, | Czech | Republic, | Estonia, | | | | | |
| Georgia, | Hungary, | Kazakhstan, | Kosovo, | Kyrgyzstan, | Latvia, | Lithuania, | North | Macedonia, | Moldova, | | | | | | |
| Montenegro, | Poland, | Romania, | Russia, | Serbia, | Slovakia, | Slovenia, | Tajikistan, | Turkmenistan, | Ukraine, | | | | | | |
| and | Uzbekistan. | | (Travel | to | certain | countries | may | be | subject | to | restrictions | due | to | unforeseen | world |
| events, | statutory | restrictions, | U.S. | embassy | requirements, | or | general | security | concerns.) | | | | | | |
| The | Title | VIII | review | committees | will | give | the | highest | priority | to | research | programs | that | focus | on |
| current | political, | economic, | security, | democratic, | or | governance | challenges | relevant | to | U.S. | foreign | | | | |
| policy. | | Historical | or | cultural | research | that | promotes | understanding | of | current | events | in | the | region | |
| and | makes | an | explicit | connection | to | policy-relevant | issues, | broadly | defined, | may | be | competitive. | | | |
Critical Language Training:
| The | National | Security | Language | Initiative | (NSLI) | is | a | U.S. | government | interagency | effort | to | | |
| significantly | increase | the | number | of | Americans | studying | and | mastering | critical | foreign | languages. | | | |
| In | furtherance | of | the | NSLI, | Title | VIII | supports | funding | for | U.S. | graduate | students | to | pursue |
| advanced | Russian | language | study | and | as | appropriate, | studies | of | other | languages | of | Central | and | |
| Eastern | Europe | and | Eurasia. | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commitment to Government Service:
| The | Title | VIII | Program | does | not | require | a | commitment | to | federal | service | from | fellowship | recipients |
| (language | scholars, | researchers); | however, | competitive | proposals | may | include | innovative | | | | | | |
| initiatives | that | promote | collaboration | and | information | sharing | with | the | U.S. | government | and/or | | | |
| encourage | the | pursuit | of | U.S. | government | career | opportunities | and | internships. | | | | | |
Part II. Federal Award Information
| Total | amount | of | funding | the | grantor |
| expects | to | award | through | this | |
announcement
Approximately $2,000,000
Anticipated number of awards 1-10
| Expected | amounts | of | individual | awards | Awards | depend | upon | the | availability | of |
| funding, | scope | of | work, | number | of | proposed | | | | |
| fellowships, | and | volume | of | activities. | | Awards | | | | |
| granted | in | 2021 | ranged | from | $150,000 | to | | | | |
$500,000.
Anticipated start dates for new awards September 2022, pending availability of funds
Anticipated period of performance Project activities may extend from 1 – 3 years.
Funding Instrument Type Grant
| Type | of | Funding | Fiscal | Year | 2021 | Assistance | for | Europe, | Eurasia, |
| and | Central | Asia | | | | | | | |
Table 1-Federal Award Information
Federal Award General Conditions:
1. Title VIII funds will support U.S. citizens and U.S. institutions, only.
| 2. | Title | VIII | funds | will | support | and | sustain | American | expertise | in | the | countries | of | Eastern |
| Europe | and | the | independent | states | of | the | former | Soviet | Union | through | foreign | language | | |
| training | and/or | comprehensive | research | opportunities | focused | on | U.S. | foreign | policy- | | | | | |
| relevant | topics. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3. | Title | VIII | funds | will | support | graduate-level | and | post-doctoral | advanced | study/research. | |
| Students | completing | a | bachelor’s | degree | may | receive | funds | for | foreign | language | training, |
| provided | they | intend | to | pursue | a | graduate | degree. | | | | |
| 4. | Title | VIII | funds | will | support | training | in | advanced | Russian | language | and | as | appropriate, |
| studies | of | other | languages | of | the | independent | states | of | the | former | Soviet | Union. | |
| 5. | Title | VIII | grant | recipients | are | encouraged | to | serve | as | speakers | in | analytic | exchanges | and |
| other | similar | seminars | and | events | organized | by | INR’s | Office | of | Analytic | Outreach | to | share | |
| their | expertise | and | facilitate | collaboration | between | U.S. | government | and | non-government | | | | | |
| specialists | on | the | countries | of | Eastern | Europe, | the | independent | states | of | the | former | Soviet | |
| Union, | and | related | cross-border | areas | and | issues. | | | | | | | | |
| 6. | Title | VIII | grantee | institutions | will | vet | proposed | research | topics | with | organizations | and |
| individuals | with | U.S. | foreign | policy | expertise | within | and | outside | the | U.S. | government | to |
| ensure | U.S. | foreign | policy | relevance. | | | | | | | | |
7. Title VIII funds will not support journals, newsletters, or other periodical publications.
| 8. | Title | VIII | grant | recipients | will | facilitate | access | for | U.S. | scholars | to | research | institutions, |
| personnel, | archives, | documentation, | and | other | research | and | training | resources | located | in | | | |
| Eastern | Europe | and | the | independent | states | of | the | former | Soviet | Union | (where | applicable). | |
| 9. | Title | VIII | grantee | institutions | will | communicate | regularly | with | the | Department | of | State |
| through | formal | program | reports, | financial | reports, | and | quarterly | updates, | as | stated | in | this |
NOFO.
| 10. | Title | VIII | grantee | institutions | will | inform | all | end-users | (scholars) | of | the | Title | VIII | program’s |
| authority | and | purpose | and | will | acknowledge | the | U.S. | Department | of | State | as | the | funding | |
| source. | | The | Department | of | State | allows | grantees | to | exercise | judgment | in | cases | where | |
| publicly | acknowledging | the | funding | source | could | hamper | research | efforts | or | jeopardize | the | | | |
| personal | safety | of | scholars. | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11. | Title | VIII | grantee | institutions | will | provide | data | on | end-users | and | activities | in | an |
| electronically | accessible | format | for | the | Title | VIII | Alumni | Database. | | | | | |
| All | applicants | must | explicitly | state | in | writing | their | understanding | of | and | commitment | to | the |
| Title | VIII | purpose, | objectives, | and | conditions. | | | | | | | | |
Funding Acknowledgement and Marketing Policy:
| The | Department | of | State | wants | to | ensure | that | programs | implemented | through | grants | suitably | | | | |
| recognize | U.S. | government | support | and, | to | the | extent | practicable, | incorporate | the | U.S. | flag | and/or | | | |
| the | Department | of | State | logo. | | Grantee | institutions | must | make | all | end-users | aware | of | the | purpose | of |
| the | Title | VIII | program, | source | of | the | funds, | and | acknowledge | the | U.S. | Department | of | State, | Bureau | of |
| Intelligence | and | Research | as | the | program’s | sponsor. | | In | addition, | Title | VIII-supported | research | | | | |
| products, | advertising, | recruitment | tools, | announcements, | and | other | related | electronic | or | written | | | | | | |
| communications | must | include | the | Department | of | State | logo. | | The | Department | allows | grantees | to | | | |
| exercise | judgment | in | cases | where | publicly | acknowledging | the | funding | source | could | hamper | | | | | |
| research | or | jeopardize | the | personal | safety | of | end-users. | | The | Grants | Officer | must | approve | any | | |
| exceptions | to | waive | the | branding | requirement. | | | | | | | | | | | |
John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 115-232)
| Non-Federal | entities | are | prohibited | from | obligating | or | expending | grant | funds | for | covered | |
| telecommunications | equipment | or | services | to: | | | | | | | | |
| (1) | procure | or | obtain, | extend, | or | renew | a | contract | to | procure | or | obtain, |
| (2) | enter | a | contract | (or | extend | or | renew | a | contract) | to | procure; | or |
| (3) | Obtain | the | equipment, | services, | or | systems. | | | | | | |
| Covered | telecommunications | equipment | and | services | mean | any | of | the | following: | | |
| (i) | Telecommunications | equipment | produced | by | AVENTURA | Technologies, | Huawei | Technologies | | | |
| Company, | or | ZTE | Corporation | (or | any | subsidiary | or | affiliate | of | such | entities). |
| (ii) | For | the | purpose | of | public | safety, | security | of | government | facilities, | physical | security | surveillance |
| of | critical | infrastructure, | and | other | national | security | purposes, | video | surveillance | and | | | |
| telecommunications | equipment | produced | by | Hytera | Communications | Corporation, | Hangzhou | | | | | | |
| Hikvision | Digital | Technology | Company, | or | Dahua | Technology | Company | (or | any | subsidiary | or | | |
| affiliate | of | such | entities). | | | | | | | | | | |
(iii) Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment.
| (iv) | Telecommunications | or | video | surveillance | equipment | or | services | produced | or | provided | by | an | | | |
| entity | that | the | Secretary | of | Defense, | in | consultation | with | the | Director | of | the | National | Intelligence | or |
| the | Director | of | the | Federal | Bureau | of | Investigation, | reasonably | believes | to | be | an | entity | owned | or |
| controlled | by, | or | otherwise | connected | to, | the | government | of | a | covered | foreign | country. | | | |
Availability of Funds:
| INR’s | financial | management | officer | must | allocate | and | commit | funds | through | all | applicable | | |
| authorities | before | successful | proposals | receive | award | funds. | | INR | and | the | Office | of | Acquisitions |
| Management | (AQM) | Grants | Officer | will | ensure | grantees | meet | all | applicable | requirements | prior | to | |
| authorizing | the | commitment | of | funds. | | | | | | | | | |
| The | Department | of | State | cannot | commit | funds | from | future | appropriations. | | However, | a | single | year’s | | |
| appropriation | may | fund | a | multiple-year | project. | | This | NOFO | allows | for | periods | of | performance | from | | |
| 1-3 | years. | | No | grantee | may | extend | the | period | of | performance | beyond | the | period | specified | under | the |
| terms | of | the | grant | award | without | the | AQM | Grants | Officer’s | approval. | | | | | | |
| Successful | applicants | will | receive | a | Form | DS_1909 | Federal | Assistance | Award | (FAA) | coversheet | | | | |
| from | the | Grants | Officer. | | The | FAA | will | include | the | award | specifics | that | accompany | Department | of |
| State | federal | assistance. The | FAA | and | the | original | proposal, | with | any | subsequent | modifications, | | | | |
| shall | be | the | only | binding | authorizing | documents | between | the | recipient | and | the | U.S. | government. | |
| The | Grants | Officer | will | sign | the | FAA | and | send | it | electronically | to | the | grantee’s | authorizing |
| represented | listed | on | the | SF | 424. | | | | | | | | | |
III. Eligibility
| U.S. | Institutions | of | higher | education | or | non-profit | organizations | that | meet | the | provisions | outlined |
| in | Internal | Revenue | Code | section | 26 | USC | (501) | (c) | (3) | may | apply. | |
| An | organization | may | submit | more | than | one | response | to | this | NOFO; | however, | the | proposed |
| programs | must | differ | in | scope. | | | | | | | | | |
| Current | Title | VIII | grantees | are | eligible | to | respond | to | this | NOFO | as | a | new | funding | opportunity. |
| Grantees | may | not | request | cost | amendments, | no-cost | amendments, | or | extension | for | current | awards | | | |
| via | this | announcement. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
IV. Application Instructions
Submission:
Applicants will need access to three systems to respond to this NOFO:
| 1. Domestic | State | Assistance | Management | System | (SAMS | Domestic) | is | a | Department | of | State |
| federal | assistance | management | system. | | | | | | | | |
| 2. Grants.gov | is | an | official | website | of | the | U.S. | government. | | | | | |
| 3. The | System | for | Award | Management | (SAM.gov) | is | an | official | website | of | the | U.S. | Government. |
| The | Department | of | State | manages | federal | assistance | awards | via | the | Domestic | State | Assistance | | | | | |
| Management | System | (SAMS | Domestic). | | Applicants | may | submit | proposals | electronically | via | SAMS | | | | | | |
| Domestic | (https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com) | or | via | Grants.gov | (www.grants.gov) | by | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11.59 | p.m. | EST, | Monday, | May | 23, | 2022. | | INR | will | not | accept | proposals | submitted | via | email, | fax, | the |
| postal | system, | delivery | companies, | or | couriers. | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Applicants | using | SAMS | Domestic | for | the | first | time | should | complete | a | “user | organization |
| registration.” | | To | register | with | SAMS | Domestic, | go | to | https://mygrants.service-now.com | and | follow | |
| the | “create | an | account” | link. | | | | | | | | |
| Applicants | must | have | a | current | System | for | Award | Management | (SAM.gov) | registration | before | you |
| may | apply | to | this | funding | opportunity. | | | | | | | |
| To | obtain | a | new | SAM.gov | registration | go | to | https://sam.gov/content/home | and | select | “Register |
| Your | Entity | or | Get | a | Unique | Entity | I.D.” | | | | |
| The | official | Unique | Entity | I.D. | (UEI) | for | entities | registered | in | SAM | is | currently | the | D-U-N-S® | | | | | |
| number | UEI | (DUNS), | which | is | obtained | from | Dun | & | Bradstreet | outside | of | the | SAM | registration | | | | | |
| process. | The | | UEI | (DUNS) | will | remain | the | official | UEI | in | SAM | until | April | 4, | 2022. | After | April | 4, | 2022, |
| organizations | will | go | to | SAM.gov, | not | Dun | & | Bradstreet, | to | obtain | their | Unique | Entity | ID. | | | | | |
The transition from UEI (DUNS) to UEI (SAM) is a federal, government-wide initiative.
If your organization was previously registered in SAM, you were assigned a new UEI as part of this transition.
| Any | applicant | listed | on | the | SAM | Excluded | Parties | List | System | is | not | eligible | to | apply | for | an | award | in |
| accordance | with | the | OMB | guidelines | at | 2 | CFR | 180 | OMB | - | Guidelines | to | Agencies | on | | | | |
| Governmentwide | Debarment | and | Suspension. | | Verify | registrations | well | in | advance | of | the | | | | | | | |
| application | deadline | to | ensure | that | they | are | active | and | accurate. | | Applicants | must | maintain | an | | | | |
| active | SAM.gov | registration | with | current | information | for | the | duration | of | an | active | Federal | award | or | | | | |
| an | application | or | plan | under | consideration | by | a | federal | awarding | agency. | | | | | | | | |
| We | strongly | encourage | applicants | to | initiate | the | electronic | application | process | early | and | to | submit | | | |
| proposals | well | before | the | due | date. | | This | will | help | address | any | problems | with | submissions | prior | to |
| the | application | deadline. | | INR | will | not | make | exceptions | for | organizations | that | have | not | completed | | |
| the | necessary | steps | to | submit | applications | to | SAMS | Domestic | or | www.grants.gov. | | | | | | |
For assistance with Grants.gov, please call the Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or email support@grants.gov.
| For | assistance | with | SAMS | Domestic, | please | contact | the | ILMS | help | desk | at | 1-888-313-4567 | or |
| through | the | ILMS | Self | Service | Portal | (https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilms/home). | | | | | | | |
For assistance with SAM.gov go to https://sam.gov/content/help.
Consultation period:
| This | NOFO | offers | a | consultation | period | during | which | applicants | may | address | technical | questions | | | |
| regarding | their | application. | | The | consultation | period | for | this | announcement | is | April | 18-24, | 2022. | | |
| During | the | consultation | period, | applicants | may | list | all | questions | in | a | single | email | and | submit | them |
| to | TitleVIII@state.gov. | | The | subject | line | should | read, | “Title | VIII | 2022 | NOFO | Consultation | Questions”. | | |
| Please | note | that | once | the | NOFO | deadline | has | passed, | State | Department | staff | may | not | discuss | this |
| competition | with | applicants | until | the | proposal | review | process | is | complete. | | | | | | |
Before you submit your application:
| - Check | the | submission | package, | ensure | all | required | forms | and | necessary | attachments | are | | | |
| present, | page | number | and | font | size | requirements | are | correct, | and | all | documents | are | in | the |
| order | described | in | the | checklist | below | (see | Table | #4). | | | | | | |
| - Check | spelling, | check | budget | calculations, | and | confirm | due | dates. | Budgets | must | reflect | whole |
| dollar | amounts, | no | cents. | | | | | | | | | |
Formatting and Additional Documents:
| Please | submit | all | forms | in | PDF | format | and | upload | them | individually | to | Grants.gov | or | SAMS- | | | | | | |
| Domestic. | | (Do | not | submit | the | forms | as | a | single | document.) | | Please | number | all | pages, | including | | | | |
| budgets | and | attachments. | | Format | all | documents | for | printing | to | 8½” | x | 11” | paper. | | Refer | to | the | | | |
| required | document | checklist | (table | 4) | and | adhere | to | the | page-limits. | | Double-space | all | documents, | | | | | | | |
| except | where | noted. | Please | use | Times | New | Roman | (TNR) | 12-point | font | with | 1-inch | margins. | | | | | | | |
| (Captions | and | footnotes | may | be | 10-point | TNR | font.) | | Round | costs | and | budget | figures | to | whole | | | | | |
| dollars, | no | cents. | Exceeding | the | page | limit | will | not | improve | the | competitiveness | of | your | application. | | | | | | |
| To | ensure | that | all | applications | receive | an | equal | evaluation, | the | review | committees | will | review | from | | | | | | |
| the | first | page | of | each | section | up | to | the | page | limit, | and | no | further. | | INR | reserves | the | right | to | request |
| additional | supporting | documentation. | | Applications | that | are | incomplete | or | do | not | adhere | to | the | | | | | | | |
| stated | guidelines | will | be | ineligible | for | further | review. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
V. Forms:
- Mandatory Standard Forms: SF-424; SF-424A, and SF-LLL
| - SF-424: | | Must | include | EIN | and | D-U-N-S | Number. | | Please | note | – | the | authorized | representative |
| designated | on | the | SF-424 | will | have | sole | signatory | authorization | to | accept | funds | for | this | grant. |
| Applicants | can | find | instructions | for | completing | the | standard | forms | on | Grants.gov | | | | |
(https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/form-instructions.html).
- SF-424A – Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs
- SF-424B – Not required - do not submit.
| - SF-424 | (R&R): | Mandatory | for | all | foreign | and | domestic | non-Federal | entities | applying | for |
| Research | & | Research-Related | Programs. | | (Not | required | for | language | programs.) | | |
| - SF-LLL: | | If | your | organization | engages | in | lobbying | the | U.S. | government, | or | pays | another | entity | to |
| lobby | on | your | behalf, | you | must | complete | form | SF-LLL | - | Disclosure | of | Lobbying | Activities. | | |
- Project Narrative: INR strongly suggests that applicants structure the proposal to address all the review criteria outlined in Part VI.
| - Executive | Summary: | | This | is | the | narrative | summary | of | the | proposal | and | must | include | an |
| overview | of | proposed | work, | the | funds | the | applicant | is | requesting | from | the | Department | of | State, |
| and | any | funds | or | other | support | (cost | sharing) | the | applicant | and/or | third | party | intends | to |
| provide, | if | applicable. | | Please | note: | Applicants | must | name | third | parties | supporting | the | proposed | |
| program. | | The | narrative | must | also | include | an | estimated | aggregate | total | of | end-users, | breaking | |
| out, | as | appropriate, | the | number | of | end-users | in | the | following | three | categories: | Research, | | |
| Foreign | Language | Training, | and | Combined | Research | and | Foreign | Language | Training. | | | | | |
- Financial Management Survey: The review committees will use the financial management survey to assess the organization’s capacity to manage federal grant funds.
| - Negotiated | Indirect | Cost | Rate | Agreement | (NICRA): | | If | your | organization | has | a | NICRA | and | | | |
| includes | NICRA | charges | in | the | budget, | attach | the | current | agreement. | | Organizations | that | have | | | |
| never | had | a | NICRA | may | request | indirect | costs | of | 10% | of | the | modified | total | direct | costs | as |
| defined | in | 2 | CFR | 200.68. | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - Scope | of | Work/Timeline: | | This | section | must | describe | all | proposed | program | components, | | | |
| linking | each | to | the | specific | Title | VIII | goal(s). | | It | should | contain | any | milestones, | reports, |
| deliverables, | and | products | that | the | grantee | recipient | will | provide. | | | | | | |
| - Key | Personnel: | | Include | short | bios | that | demonstrate | relevant | professional | experience. | | Do | not | |
| include | full | CVs | in | this | section. | | Applicants | must | include | contact | info | for | the | primary |
| investigator | (PI), | assistant | PI | (if | applicable), | program | managers | (if | applicable), | and | the | | | |
| authorizing | official. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| - Budget | Line | Item: | | Budgets | must | reflect | whole | dollar | amounts, | no | cents. | The | line-item | budget | | |
| will | in | Microsoft | Excel | or | similar | spreadsheet | format | will | outline | specific | costs | under | each | of | the | |
| nine | main | categories | of | the | SF424A: | | Personnel, | Fringe | Benefits, | Travel, | Equipment, | Supplies, | | | | |
| Contractual, | Construction, | Other, | and | Indirect. | | The | budget | must | be | responsive | to | the | | | | |
| solicitation | guidelines | and | reflect, | as | accurately | as | possible, | costs | associated | with | program | | | | | |
| activities | outlined | in | the | proposal. | | Additionally, | provide | any | cost | sharing | and | matching | funds | | | |
| with | the | same | level | of | detail | as | the | federal | funds | (where | applicable). | | Applicants | must | use | the |
| following | OMB | approved | categories | for | line-item | budgets: | | | | | | | | | | |
Table 2 Line-item budget, OMB format, Excel spreadsheet
| - Budget | Narrative: | The | budget | narrative | should | elaborate | on | the | detailed | budget, | not | simply | | | | |
| repeat | with | words | what | is | in | the | numerical | budget | and | communicate | any | information | that | | | |
| might | not | be | readily | apparent | in | the | budget. | If | the | program | requests | a | multiple | year | period | of |
| performance, | you | must | provide | a | budget | and | budget | narrative | for | each | year. | | | | | |
| - Budget | Overview: The | overview | will | depict | program | costs, | administrative | costs, | number | of | | | | |
| participants, | and | costs | per | participant; | to | include | any | third-party | cost | sharing | (if | applicable). | | |
| Round | costs | to | whole | dollars, | no | cents. | Use | the | format | of | the | following | sample | table: |
Cost-share by Applicant
Program Total
| A | Personnel | - | Salaries | 0.00 | | 0.00 | |
| B | Fringe | Benefits | 0.00 | | 0.00 | | |
| C | Travel | 0.00 | | 0.00 | | | |
| D | Equipment | 0.00 | | 0.00 | | | |
| E | Supplies | 0.00 | | 0.00 | | | |
| F | Contractual | 0.00 | | 0.00 | | | |
| G | Construction | 0.00 | | 0.00 | | | |
| H | Other | Direct | Costs | 0.00 | | 0.00 | |
| I | Total | Direct | Costs | 0.00 | | 0.00 | |
| J | Total | Indirect | Costs | 0.00 | | 0.00 | |
| K | Total | Project | Costs | 0.00 | | 0.00 | |
| L | Cost | Share | (If | applicable) | | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Title | VIII | Cost | Sharing | 3rd | Party |
| Cost | Sharing | | | | |
Total
| I. | Program | Costs | 400,000 | 150,000 | 0 | 550,000 | |
| Program | Cost | Per | Participant | 5,333 | 2,000 | 0 | 7,333 |
| II. | Administrative | Costs | 125,000 | 7,5000 | 0 | 200,000 | |
| Admin. | Cost | Per | Participant | 1,666 | 1,000 | 0 | 2,666 |
| III. | Total | Costs | 525,000 | 225,000 | 0 | 750,000 | |
| Approx. | cost | per | participant | 7,000 | 3,000 | 0 | 10,000 |
| Approx. | number | of | | | | | |
participants
Table 3 – Sample Budget Overview
Table 4 - Required documents checklist
Required Documents Checklist
Required documents in submission order Format File name
SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance Grants.
gov form
SF424.pdf
SF-424A Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs “ SF424A.pdf
| SF-424 | R&R | Research | & | Research-Related | Programs | | |
| (Mandatory | for | research | programs, | not | required | for | language |
programs)
“ SF424RR.pdf
SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (If applicable) " SFLLL.pdf
| Project | Narrative | - | 15-pages | maximum | – | double-spaced | Times | New |
| Roman | font. | | | PDF | Proposal.pdf | | | |
Monitoring Plan – 1-page maximum, double-spaced PDF Monitor.pdf
Evaluation Plan – 1-page maximum, double-spaced PDF Evaluation.pdf
Executive Summary – 2-pages maximum, double-spaced PDF ExecSum.pdf
Financial Management Survey PDF Finance.pdf
| Scope | of | Work, | double-spaced | and | | | | | | |
| Project | Timeline | (Table | or | Bullet | format) | - | 2-pages | maximum | PDF | SOW.pdf |
| Budget | – | Line-Item | w/OMB | approved | budget | categories. | Whole | | | | |
| dollars, | no | cents. | (See | Table#2 | for | categories) | (Excel | spreadsheet) | Excel | Budget | Line |
Budget Narrative – (Table or Bullet format) PDF Budget_Nar.pdf
Budget Overview – Whole dollars, no cents (See Table #3) PDF Budget_View.pdf
Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) PDF NICRA.pdf
Single or A-133 Audit (Current) PDF Audit.pdf
Key Personnel – 2-pages maximum, single-spaced PDF Bios.pdf
| Appendix | – | The | appendix | may | include | letters | of | support, | safety | and | security | plans, | additional | CV’s, |
| organization | charts, | etc. | | Applicants | may | consolidate | these | documents | into | one | appendix | with | an | |
| accompanying | table | of | contents | and | numbered | pages. | | | | | | | | |
VI Review Process and Criteria
Review Process:
| Title | VIII, | as | amended | (codified | at | 22 | U.S.C. | 4501-4508) | established | within | the | Department | of | State | |
| an | Advisory | Committee, | composed | of | the | Secretaries | of | State | (Chair), | Defense, | and | Education, | and | | |
| the | Presidents | of | the | Association | of | American | Universities | and | the | Association | for | Slavic, | East | | |
| European, | and | Eurasian | Studies. | | The | Advisory | Committee | recommends | grants | for | proposals | that | | | |
| will | advance | the | purpose | and | objectives | of | the | Title | VIII | Program. | | The | Advisory | Committee | gives |
| the | highest | priority | to | organizations | with | demonstrated | expertise | in | conducting | research | and | | | | |
| foreign | language | training | on | the | countries | of | Eastern | Europe | and | the | Independent | States | of | the | |
| Former | Soviet | Union | and | in | disseminating | the | results | of | such | research. | | In | making | its | |
| recommendations, | the | Advisory | Committee | emphasizes | the | development | of | stable, | long-term | | | | | | |
| research | and | foreign | language | training | programs. | | | | | | | | | | |
| The | Program | Office | will | screen | all | proposals | for | technical | eligibility | at | the | close | of | this | funding |
| opportunity. | | Proposals | that | are | incomplete | or | do | not | adhere | to | the | stated | guidelines | will | be |
| ineligible | for | further | review. | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| The | Program | Office, | a | Department | of | State | grant | review | panel, | and | the | Title | VIII | Advisory |
| Committee | will | review | all | eligible | proposals. | | The | State | Department’s | Office | of | the | Legal | Adviser |
| and/or | other | Department | entities | may | also | review | proposals. | | The | Advisory | Committee | will | make | |
| funding | recommendations | to | the | Assistant | Secretary | for | the | Bureau | of | Intelligence | and | Research. | | |
| The | Assistant | Secretary | for | INR | has | the | final | authority | to | approve | an | applicant | for | funding. |
| Signatory | authority | for | grants | resides | with | the | Grants | Officer. | | | | | | |
Review Criteria:
| The | application | review | panels | will | evaluate | how | well | the | proposals | respond | to | the | purpose, | | | |
| objectives, | and | guidelines | in | this | NOFO, | the | overall | quality | of | the | proposal, | the | applicant | | | |
| organization’s | capacity | to | implement | the | award, | and | the | effectiveness | and | reasonableness | of | the | | | | |
| proposed | budget. | | The | panelists | will | also | evaluate | the | strength | of | the | monitoring | and | evaluation | | |
| plans. | | Competitive | applications | will | be | technically | accurate | and | adhere | to | the | NOFO | submission | | | |
| guidelines. | | The | review | panels | will | use | the | following | criteria | to | assess | the | Title | VIII | proposals | and |
applications:
1. Overall Quality of Program Plan:
| Competitive | proposals | will | state | the | proposed | program | goals | clearly | and | link | them | to | the | Title | VIII |
| purpose | and | objectives. | | Proposals | will | describe | the | research, | foreign | language | training, | or | | | |
| combined | research | and | foreign | language | program; | the | number | of | anticipated | scholars | and/or | | | | |
| students; | the | recruitment | process; | and | the | anticipated | results. | | The | proposal | must | provide | a | | |
| calendar | or | timeline | of | major | program | activities, | and | clearly | describe | the | roles | and | responsibilities | | |
| of | partner | organizations. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
2. Institutional Capacity:
| Competitive | proposals | will | reflect | the | applicant’s | expertise | and | knowledge | in | managing | federal | | |
| grants | and | in | conducting | nationwide | competitive | award | programs. | | To | ensure | the | academic | quality |
| and | the | policy | relevance | of | the | research | and | foreign | language | training | programs, | personnel | and |
| selection | committees | should | have | the | appropriate | level | of | expertise | to | achieve | the | proposed | |
| program’s | goals | and | include | representatives | from | the | academic | community | and | experts | in | the | |
| fields | of | U.S. | foreign | policy | and | national | security. | | Do | not | include | CVs | in | this | section. | Please | refer | to |
| the | required | document | checklist | in | Part | V | – | Forms. | | | | | | | | | | |
3. Cost-Effectiveness:
| Competitive | proposals | will | ensure | that | direct | administrative | costs | in | the | proposal | budget | are | | | | | | | | |
| reasonable, | allowable, | allocable, | and | relative | to | the | scope | of | the | proposed | program. | | If | cost | sharing | | | | | |
| is | part | of | the | applicant’s | proposal, | the | applicant | must | provide | the | sources | of | the | match | and | the | | | | |
| amount | of | the | cost | share, | and | it | will | be | included | in | the | grant | agreement. | | Cost | sharing | may | be | in | the |
| form | of | allowable | direct | or | indirect | costs. | | For | accountability, | the | grantee | must | provide | | | | | | | |
| documentation | of | any | expenses | claimed | as | contributions | or | paid | by | the | federal | government. | | | | | | | | |
| Applicants | should | justify | all | items | deemed | necessary | and | appropriate | in | the | Budget | Narrative. | | | | | | | | |
| Refer | to | 2 | CFR | §200 | for | applicable | administrative | requirements | and | cost | principles. | | | | | | | | | |
4. Monitoring Plan:
| Proposals | must | include | a | sound | plan | to | monitor | the | program’s | effectiveness. | | The | proposal | must | | |
| specify | the | methodology | used | to | measure | the | degree | to | which | the | outputs | and | outcomes | fulfill | Title | |
| VIII | objectives. | | Grantees | will | submit | monitoring | results | in | the | quarterly | financial | and | program | | | |
| reports | and | as | part | of | the | final | report | upon | completion | of | the | program. | | Monitoring | should | describe |
| successes | and | challenges | in | the | program’s | operating | environment, | and | any | project | setbacks | or | | | | |
| failures. | | Honest | and | accurate | reporting | of | success | and | failure | provides | the | Program | Office | an | | |
| opportunity | to | learn | and | understand | the | trends | that | could | influence | future | Title | VIII | Programs. | | | |
| Successful | monitoring | depends | heavily | on | each | grantee | setting | clear | and | measurable | milestones | | | | | |
| and | benchmarks | that | will | help | the | applicant | achieve | the | Title | VIII’s | objectives. | | Program | monitoring | | |
| includes | ensuring | end-users | receive | adequate | support | throughout | the | course | of | their | fellowships | to | | | | |
| meet | Title | VIII | goals. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
5. Evaluation Plan:
| Proposals | must | include | a | sound | plan | for | evaluating | success | in | achieving | Title | VIII | Program’s | goals |
| and | objectives. | | Evaluation | mechanisms | should | track | scholar | progress | before, | during, | and | after | the | |
| program | to | assess | effectiveness. | | Evaluation | techniques | may | be | in | any | form; | however, | | |
| comprehensive | assessments | will | use | both | quantitative | (e.g., | hard | data, | statistics) | and | qualitative | | | |
| (e.g., | interviews, | surveys, | and | observations) | data, | as | appropriate, | to | measure | and | report | results. | | |
| Foreign | language | study | programs | should | provide | criteria | for | evaluation, | including | levels | of | | | |
| instruction, | degrees | of | intensiveness, | facilities | provided, | and | proficiency | measures | (including | pre- | | | | |
| and | post-testing); | instructors' | qualifications; | and | per | capita | costs. | | Indicators | should | provide | a | clear | |
| means | of | measuring | achievement | to | help | assess | performance | or | to | reflect | changes. | | The | evaluation |
| plan | and | narrative | should | provide | detailed | timelines | for | collecting | data | and | reporting | short | and | |
| long-term | outcomes. | | Competitive | proposals | will | provide | evaluation | plans | that | assess | all | levels | of | |
| outcomes | and | impacts. | | Applicants | should | consider | employing | independent | evaluators | not | | | | |
| associated | with | the | program | to | conduct | evaluations. | | Applicants | should | include | a | description | of | |
| their | evaluation | methodologies | along | with | their | evaluation | plans. | | | | | | | |
6. Reporting:
| The | Department | of | State | requires | that | grantees | submit | quarterly | financial | and | performance | | | | |
| reports, | as | well | as | final | financial | and | performance | reports | within | 90 | days | after | the | grant | period |
| ends. | | Reporting | will | include | scholars’ | activities, | recruiting | and | selection | methods, | program | | | | |
| evaluations, | and | scholar | research | papers. | | Grantees | should | structure | the | collection | of | recruitment | | | |
and scholarship data to capture and provide demographic overviews of Title VIII recipients (end-users).
| Grantees | will | immediately | report | to | the | Grants | Officer | any | problems, | delays, | or | adverse | conditions | | | | |
| that | may | materially | impair | the | ability | to | meet | the | objective | of | the | award. | | Grantees | are | not | limited |
| to | quarterly | reporting | and | may | report | favorable | developments | that | enable | meeting | time | schedules | | | | | |
| and | objectives | sooner | or | at | a | lower | cost | than | anticipated | or | producing | more | or | different | beneficial | | |
| results | than | originally | planned. Proposals | should | identify | the | individual | who | would | be | responsible | | | | | | |
| for | quarterly | reporting. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Grantees | will | provide | the | Program | Office | with | data | on | end-users | and | activities | in | an | electronically |
| accessible | format | for | the | Title | VIII | Alumni | Database. | | | | | | | |
The Grants Officer will provide directions to successful applicants for any additional reporting requirements.
VII. Award Notification
Notification of Successful Awards or Unsuccessful Applications:
| Upon | completing | the | application | review, | the | Title | VIII | Advisory | Committee | will | make | funding | | | | | |
| recommendations | to | the | Assistant | Secretary | for | the | Bureau | of | Intelligence | and | Research. | | Awards | | | | |
| are | contingent | upon | his | approval. | | The | Advisory | Committee | will | hold | a | virtual | public | meeting | to | | |
| announce | its | funding | recommendations. | The | Program | Office | will | publish | the | date, | time, | and | | | | | |
| location | of | the | public | meeting, | along | with | registration | instructions | in | the | Federal | Register, | 14 | days | | | |
| in | advance | of | the | meeting. | The | meeting | is | open | to | the | public | and | interested | parties | must | register | in |
advance.
| The | Program | Office | will | provide | the | Advisory | Committees’ | funding | recommendations | via | email | to |
| any | applicant | unable | to | attend | the | public | meeting. | | | | | |
The Grants Officer will write, sign, award, and administer the ensuing grants.
To access the Federal Register, go to https://www.federalregister.gov/.
Disclaimer:
| Issuance | of | this | NOFO | does | not | constitute | an | award | commitment | on | the | part | of | the | Department | of | |
| State, | nor | does | it | commit | the | Department | of | State | to | pay | for | costs | incurred | in | the | preparation | and |
| submission | of | proposals. | | Further, | the | Department | of | State | reserves | the | right | to | reject | any | or | all | |
| proposals | received. | | If | INR | selects | a | proposal | for | funding, | the | Department | of | State | has | no | obligation | |
| to | provide | any | additional | future | funding | in | connection | with | the | award. | | | | | | | |
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