WHA_CUWEE_FY23 GEEA Funded NOFO_SFOP0010296.pdf

United States Department of State

Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO):

Caribbean United for Women’s Economic Empowerment (CUWEE)

Funding Opportunity Number: SFOP0010296

Assistance Listing Number: 19.750

Solicitation Type: Open Competition

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement

Application Deadline: 11:59 PM EST on Monday, 13 May 2024

Total Funding Ceiling: $1,973,359

Cost Sharing: Not Required

Anticipated Number of Awards: 1

Period of Performance: 36 months

Question Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM EST on Friday, 12 April 2024

Eligibility Applicants: U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations with

501(c) (3) status of the U.S. tax code; foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO); Public International

Organizations; U.S.-based private, public, or State institutions of higher education;

and Foreign-based institutions of higher education.

Table of Contents

SECTION A: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A.1. Background

A.2. Problem Statement

A.3. Project Goals

A.4. Objectives

A.5. Expected Outcomes

A.6. Performance Indicators

A.7. Key Considerations

A.8. Substantial Involvement

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1. Available Funding

B.2. Award Management

SECTION C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1 Eligible Applicants

C.2. Cost-Sharing or Matching

C.3. Other Eligibility Criteria

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

D.1. Address to request Application Package

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (sam.gov)18

D.3.1 Exemptions

D.4. Submission Dates and Times

D.5. Funding Limitations, Restrictions, and Other Considerations

SECTION E: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E1. Proposal Review Criteria

E.2. Review and Selection Process

E.3. Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov (formerly FAPIIS)

SECTION F: FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1. Federal Award Notices

SECTION G: FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT

G.1. Contacts

G.2. Question Submission Deadline

SECTION H: OTHER INFORMATION

H.1. Conflict of Interest

H.2. Freedom of Information Act

H.5. Monitoring Site Visits

H.6. Privacy Disclosure

H.8. Background Information on the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

SECTION A: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A.1. Background

Gender Equity and Equality Action (GEEA) Fund Overview: The GEEA Fund advances gender equity and equality globally through a focus on enhancing the economic security of women and girls, including from marginalized and underserved populations. This fund supports the goals of the U.S. Global Women’s Economic Security Strategy, which aligns with the U.S. National

Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality. The GEEA Fund is centrally managed and housed in the

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Hub within the Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI/GenDev) at USAID.

Strategic Priorities and Context: The GEEA Fund will focus on five strategic priorities for FY 2023 resources: (1) promoting economic competitiveness through well-paying, quality jobs; (2) expanding care infrastructure and valuing domestic work; (3) securing women’s economic future through green jobs and building resilience to climate change; (4) promoting entrepreneurship, and financial and digital inclusion, including through trade and investment; and (5) dismantling systemic gender barriers. In addition, the GEEA Fund will address the nexus of women’s economic security with the disproportionate impact on women and girls of COVID-19, climate-change, conflict, and crisis.

The Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues (S/GWI) is responsible for coordinating a call for proposals to select projects that align with GEEA Fund strategic priorities established by the

Steering Committee. WHA was selected for such a project through that open call, and this NOFO outlines the responsibilities of participants with respect to the GEEA Fund resources to be programmed by WHA.

This WHA programmed GEEA project will align with WHA-Latin America and Caribbean’s (LAC)

Joint Regional Strategies (JRS) objectives 2.2 Advance racial and gender equity and 4.3 Support inclusive and sustainable growth. Additionally, this project supports the Joint Strategic Plan’s

(JSP) objectives 2.2 Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth and 3.2 Equity and Inclusion.

WHA Project Announcement: WHA announces an open competition for an organization (see eligibility information in C.1) interested in submitting an application to implement a project aimed at addressing systemic barriers and socio-cultural attitudes that hinder gender equity and equality in the Caribbean economy, as well as build the economic resilience and skills capacity of women and adolescent girls aged 16 and older to enable them to participate in the labor force and obtain economic security. For the purposes of this project, the Caribbean countries that will be included are: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the https://www.state.gov/reports/united-states-strategy-on-global-womens-economic-security/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-Equality.pdf?_gl=1*2orvkk*_gcl_au*NTQ0MTI5NjU2LjE3MDE5ODA3ODM.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-Equality.pdf?_gl=1*2orvkk*_gcl_au*NTQ0MTI5NjU2LjE3MDE5ODA3ODM.

Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Applications that focus on activities in countries and territories other than those listed will NOT be considered.

WHA’s Caribbean United for Women’s Economic Empowerment (CUWEE) project seeks proposals that demonstrate how the potential grantee will strengthen local civil society support actors engaged in advancing women’s economic security in the region to help provide economic gender equity and equality in the Caribbean region. The project should include plans to first identify problematic country-specific and/or regional systemic barriers and socio-cultural attitudes, and then work with local civil society organizations (CSO)s to address those barriers.

The CUWEE project intends to support a competition that will promote local CSOs to develop and implement pioneering solutions to overcome the local systemic barriers to economic security for women in their country/region. Additionally, the project should provide a training curriculum that builds the capacity of and strengthens the regional Caribbean network of local

CSOs engaged in women’s economic security. This training could include, but should not be limited to, understanding women, business, and the law in each of their respective Caribbean countries; advancing human rights for women, Indigenous, African Descendants, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ employees in the workplace; preventing gender-based violence (GBV) in the workplace; building CSOs’ capacity regarding report writing, formulating project budgets, and identifying and reporting on project indicators; bolstering how the CSOs can carry out effective and relevant trainings in their countries/region to local stakeholders; etc.

The CUWEE project should provide two overlapping rounds of 6-8 small grants of $50,000-

75,000 per grant (12 months in length per round) for locally based CSOs, educational institutions, and private sector firms to support innovative solutions for inclusive economic growth in the Caribbean region. The total of the small grant funding should be approximately

$600,000 -$1,200,000 million of the total available award.

The overall funding requested for the proposal should total the exact amount of $1,973,359 in whole dollars. The project should start in October 2024, exact start dates to be determined. It is anticipated that the award will be executed through a cooperative agreement. Subject to the availability of funds, the project will be funded from S/GWI’s 2023 Gender Equity and Equality

Action Fund and administered by WHA’s Office of Policy Planning and Coordination (PPC).

The Department of State reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase the proposal budget in accordance with the needs of the project and the availability of funds. Please note that this invitation to submit a proposal does NOT constitute formal approval of the proposal or a funding commitment, nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense. The federal award signed by the Grants Officer is the only authorizing document.

A.2. Problem Statement

WHA/PPC seeks to address systemic barriers in the Caribbean that hinder women’s economic empowerment. Women’s economic empowerment in the Caribbean has suffered significantly since the pandemic. The UN Women’s Summary Status of Women and Men Report – the

Impacts of COVID-19 found that, while everyone has suffered, COVID-19 has forced women into greater social, economic, and physical insecurity than men in Caribbean countries. The socio-cultural attitudes that support male dominance and place women and girls primarily responsible for household chores and caregiving further amplify these setbacks, leaving women and girls facing challenges in pursuing higher education or opportunities for viable livelihoods. Left unchallenged, these attitudes and other traditional systemic barriers to equal economic opportunity will continue to limit women’s ability -- particularly those who are disabled, low income, Indigenous, from migrant communities, LGBTQI+, of color, or from rural areas -- to obtain economic security.

A.3. Project Goals

The projects goals are 1) to address systemic barriers and socio-cultural attitudes that challenge gender equity and equality in the Caribbean economy, and 2) to build the economic resilience and skills capacity of women and adolescent girls aged 16 and older to enable them to enter the labor force and obtain economic security.

A.4. Objectives

Project objective 1: Identify barriers to women’s participation in the economy by using relevant published reports from international sources (such as World Policy Analysis Center’s Gender Equality in the Economy Public Use Data Dictionary and the World Bank Group’s Women, Business and the Law 2023 report) and conducting a knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) survey and a Gender Analysis in the twelve (12) identified Caribbean countries (see section A.1 for country names) within the first nine (9) months of the project.

• Activity 1: Create country-specific findings based on relevant published reports (to include, but not limited to the two reports mentioned in the paragraph above) that will serve as a comparative road map to other countries in the region, help identify the most needed interventions to focus on thereby creating more efficient, tailored local approaches (findings will influence round one of the women’s economic empowerment small grant challenge, see objective 2).

• Activity 2: Conduct a KAP survey and a Gender Analysis in each country that identifies the greatest barriers to women’s economic security. Use those results to identify country specific or overarching regional existing strengths and weaknesses regarding women’s opportunities for equal and equitable participation in the economy (findings will influence round two of the women’s economic empowerment small grant challenge, see objective 2).

Project objective 2: Based on barriers identified through the activities associated with objective 1, create a standalone women’s economic empowerment small grant challenge in the covered Caribbean region, promoting local CSOs to provide local and/or regional sustainable solutions for improving gender equity and equality.

o Activity 1: Through the small grants challenge, address the intersecting identities and experiences of these diverse groups of women to create inclusive and effective solutions.

For example, one of the topics to be addressed by small grant applications could be to address equal pay for equal work and protections against gender-based discrimination in their country/region (assuming this was a barrier identified).

o Activity 2: Create two rounds of calls for innovative, small-grant projects (funded at $50,000 to $75,000 per project) that will last for up to 12 months per round, with a recommended 4-6 months of overlap of the two rounds (this overlap helps objective 3 trainings and networking). The first round’s CSOs will be based off the barriers to women’s participation in the economy identified using relevant published reports from international sources. The second round small-grant recipients will be based off the barriers to women’s participation in the economy identified using the results from the KAP surveys and the Gender Analyses.

o Activity 3: Have small grant projects a) address and reduce the identified barriers to gender equity and equality in their economies; b) advocate for at-risk female populations, particularly those who are disabled, low-income, Indigenous, from migrant communities, LGBTQI+, of color, or from rural areas; and c) support women and adolescent girls aged 16 and older experiencing economic insecurity.

Project objective 3: Develop a support network of CSOs and local government organizations in the Caribbean to assist women and raise awareness of their legal rights in the workplace and to advance policies that promote gender equality.

o Activity 1: Provide capacity building training and support for civil society groups (this training could include, but should not be limited to, understanding women, business, and the law in each of their respective Caribbean countries; advancing human rights for women, Indigenous, African Descendants, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ employees in the workplace; preventing gender-based violence (GBV) in the workplace;

building CSOs’ capacity regarding report writing, formulating project budgets, and identifying and reporting on project indicators; bolstering how the CSOs can carry out effective and relevant trainings in their countries/region to local stakeholders; etc.) – starting with training the winning recipients of the small grant challenge and building their presentation skills to reproduce that training to other relevant CSOs in their country/region.

o Activity 2: Complete a mapping exercise focused on fostering a community of practice and support network that identifies existing groups in this space, providing paths for civil society to identify and fill support gaps. Including mapping and linking this network to ensure growth and sustainability of this project.

A.5. Expected Outcomes

• Dismantling of the main systemic gender barriers identified in Objective 1 for the countries that participated.

• Increased capacity and networking of the public and private sectors and civil society involved in this project, such as women’s groups, labor and worker organizations, academia, and faith-based groups.

• Build the economic resilience and skills capacity of women and adolescent girls aged 16 and older to allow them to obtain economic security.

A.6. Performance Indicators

All projects should consider the following Standard FA indicators as well as qualitative and quantitative custom indicators as relevant to the project design:

• DR.4-1 Number of USG-supported activities designed to promote or strengthen the civic participation of women;

• DR.4.2-2 Number of civil society organizations (CSOs) receiving USG assistance engaged in advocacy interventions;

• GNDR-1 Number of legal instruments drafted, proposed or adopted with USG assistance designed to promote gender equality or non-discrimination against women or girls at the national or sub-national level;

• GNDR-2 Percentage of female participants in USG-assisted programs designed to increase access to productive economic resources (assets, credit, income, or employment);

• GNDR-4 Percentage of participants reporting increased agreement with the concept that males and females should have equal access to social, economic, and political resources and opportunities;

• GNDR-8: Number of persons trained with USG assistance to advance outcomes consistent with gender equality or female empowerment through their roles in public or private sector and/or civil society institutions or organizations (sex disaggregated).

A.7. Key Considerations

N/A

A.8. Substantial Involvement

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs anticipates awarding a cooperative agreement. The distinction between grants and cooperative agreements revolves around the existence of

“substantial involvement.” Cooperative agreements require greater federal government participation in the project. The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs will undertake reasonable and programmatically necessary substantial involvement. Substantial involvement areas can include, but are not limited to:

• Active participation or collaboration with the recipient on certain aspects of award implementation.

• Reviewal and approval of one stage of work before another can begin.

• Collaboration on selection and/or review of project beneficiaries.

• Collaboration in the creation of any training materials.

• Collaboration in establishing annual program objectives and approval of an annual workplan.

• Approval of key personnel and any subsequent changes in the positions during the life of the award.

Specific areas of substantial involvement will be dependent upon the objectives of the proposal and outlined in the final Agreement. The final determination on award mechanism will be made by the Grants Officer.

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1. Available Funding

This notice is subject to availability of funding. The authority for this funding opportunity is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, amended (Economic Support Funds) and several funding restrictions apply, to include country-applicant restrictions.

Applicants can submit one application in response to the NOFO. If more than one application is submitted by an organization, only the first application received, and time stamped by either grants.gov or SAMS/MyGrants will be reviewed for eligibility.

Organizations may form a consortium and submit a combined proposal. However, only one organization must be designated as the lead applicant, with the remaining organizations designated as sub-awardees. The lead applicant must meet the eligibility criteria listed in Section

C.

The Department of State reserves the right to (a) fund any or none of the applications received;

(b) reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase the budget in accordance with bureau proprieties and the availability of funds; (c) accept other than the lowest cost application.

The U.S. government may make award(s) based on initial applications received, without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, each initial application should contain the applicant's best terms from a cost and technical standpoint. The U.S. government reserves the right (though it is under no obligation to do so), however, to enter discussions with one or more applicants to obtain clarifications, additional detail, or to suggest refinements in the project description, budget, or other aspects of an application.

B.2. Award Management

The successful applicant will need to routinely collaborate with the Bureau of Western

Hemisphere Affairs through regular meetings and conference calls to discuss progress, challenges, emerging topics, etc. The successful applicant must ensure that all funds are used in a manner consistent with any applicable restrictions on funding. See D.5 below for funding restrictions.

SECTION C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1 Eligible Applicants

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs welcomes applications from U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations with 501(c) (3) status of the U.S. tax code; foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO); Public International

Organizations; U.S.-based private, public, or State institutions of higher education; and Foreign-based institutions of higher education.

Please see 2 CFR 200.307 for regulations regarding program income.

To be eligible for a grant award, in addition to other conditions of this NOFO, organizations must have a commitment to non‐discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. Non‐discrimination includes equal treatment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation.

We encourage applications from organizations working with underserved communities, including women, people with disabilities, and youth.

C.2. Cost-Sharing or Matching

The non-Federal share of costs, frequently called “cost share” or “matching costs”, refers to that portion of the project or program costs not borne by the Federal Government. This may include cash and third-party in-kind contributions. These costs must reflect the realistic capacity of the applicants and any third-party contributors.

Providing cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an eligibility factor or requirement for this NOFO and providing cost share will not result in a more favorable competitive ranking.

Per 2 CFR §200.306, items that are proposed for cost share must be allowable per 2 CFR §200, Subpart E—Costs Principles.

Voluntary cost-share: Should the applicant choose to contribute voluntary cost-share but does not meet the minimum amount of the voluntary cost-sharing stipulated in the applicant’s budget, DOS’ contribution may be reduced in proportion to the applicant’s contribution.

C.3. Other Eligibility Criteria

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

• Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships, local in-country partners, entities, and relevant stakeholders and have demonstrable experience in administering successful and preferably similar projects.

• Have demonstrable previous experience working in the Caribbean region. This should be addressed within the project narrative section of your application.

• Have demonstrable previous experience working with inclusive and diverse populations.

This should be addressed within the project narrative section of your application.

• Meet all the requirements listed in section D2 below.

• Meet all the registration requirements listed in section D3 below.

Any applicant with an exclusion in the Exclusions section of the System for Award Management

(SAM.gov) and/or has a current debt to the U.S. government is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive

Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” Additionally, no entity or person listed in the Exclusions section of SAM.gov can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Exclusions section in Sam.gov to ensure that no ineligible entity or person is included in their application.

https://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

INFORMATION

D.1. Address to request Application Package

Applicants can find application forms, kits, or other materials needed to apply on grants.gov and

SAMS/MyGrants under the announcement title “Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO):

Caribbean United for Women’s Economic Empowerment (CUWEE),” funding opportunity number “SFOP0010296.” Please contact the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs point of contact listed in Section G if requesting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or for security reasons. Please note that reasonable accommodations do not include deadline extensions.

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

To ensure that all applications receive a balanced evaluation, the review panel will review from the first page of each section up to the page limit and no further. For all application documents, please ensure:

• All documents are in English, and all costs are in U.S. dollars. If an original document within the application is in another language, an English translation must be provided

(please note the Department of State, as indicated in 2 CFR 200.111, requires that English is the official language of all award documents). If any document is provided in both

English and a foreign language, the English language version is the controlling version;

• All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments;

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

• All documents are single-spaced, 14-point Calibri font, with 1-inch margins. Captions and footnotes may be 10-point Calibri font. Font sizes in charts and tables, including the budget, can be reformatted to fit within 1 page width.

Complete applications must include the following, where applicable:

1) Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B forms [OPTIONAL but strongly encouraged for Foreign Public Entities/Public International Organizations (FPEs/PIOs)].

2) Organizations that engage in lobbying the U.S. government, including Congress, or pay for another entity to lobby on their behalf, are also required to complete the SF-LLL

“Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” form (only if applicable).

http://www.grants.gov/ https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants/portal_login.do

3) Cover Page/Executive Summary [not to exceed one (1) page, preferably as a Word document] that includes a table with the organization name, project title, target country/countries, name and contact information for the application’s main point of contact, and brief section that clearly outlines the (1) the problem statement addressed by the project, (2) research-based evidence justifying the applicant’s approach, and (3) quantifiable project outcomes.

4) Proposal Narrative [not to exceed fifteen (15) pages, as a Word document]. Please note the fifteen-page limit does not include the Cover Page/Executive Summary, Detailed

Budget, Budget Narrative, Logic Model, Key Personnel, Timeline or Attachments.

Applicants are encouraged to combine multiple documents into a single Word document

(i.e. Cover Page/Executive Summary, and Proposal Narrative into one file). The Proposal

Narrative must include the following:

o Introduction to the Organization: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the project, including information on relevant or similar type projects from previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.

o Problem Statement: Clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed.

o Project Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal.

o Program Goal: The goal describes the broader, long-range outcome or concept intended. Goals do not include timelines or methods for achievement. Rather, goals are general statements of a desired result. Programs generally have one goal that is only one sentence.

o Program Objective(s): Objectives unlike goals, are brief, clear statements that describe what will be done within a specific timeframe to help achieve or advance a goal. Objectives are applicant focused, and should be SMART:

▪ Specific: Detailed and specifies what will be achieved

▪ Measurable: have associated metrics or measurements of success

▪ Attainable: appropriately challenging, objectives can be reasonably attained given the available resources

▪ Relevant: align with the policy/program goal and appropriate within the country or beneficiary audience

▪ Time-Bound: achievable within the timeframe of the program o Program Activities: Describe how the activities or actions under objective(s) will be carried out. Should be clearly developed and sufficiently explain the resources and time requirements identified (inputs) and things done or produced (outputs). Where appropriate, identify target areas, or where actions are happening, participant groups or selection criteria for participants; how relevant stakeholders will be engaged; actions taken by consultants, sub-recipients, or vendors as appropriate/relevant. Demonstrate how the activity will support and advance equity and engage underserved communities in program administration, design, and implementation.

o Outcomes: The results or effects of the objective(s). What are the detailed, measurable statements that outline the end results? Outcomes are target-audience focused. What will the benefitting individuals, countries or audiences have learned, accomplished or be able to do after the project has been completed? Collectively, outcomes advance or further the program goal.

o Risk Analysis and Mitigation Plan: Risk assessment and mitigation planning should occur throughout the life of a project, resulting in revisions to risk analysis documents and processes as necessary but, at minimum, on an annual basis. Applicants should include all assumptions and external factors in the risk analysis, including and especially safety and security of staff, participants, and beneficiaries. This includes providing information on applicant’s internal policies with regards to safeguarding and protection of implementer staff, sub-implementer staff, and project beneficiaries from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). Applicants should rate the likelihood of a risk and potential impact of the risk as “High,” “Medium,” or “Low.” Risks are unavoidable – all projects inherently contain both internal and external risks.

However, with proper identification and management, risks can be prepared for, minimized, or mitigated. The purpose of a risk analysis is to identify the internal and external risks associated with the proposed project in the application, rate the likelihood of the risks, rate the potential impact of the risks on the project, and identify actions that could help mitigate the risks.

o Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicants’ plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. Include ways program activities will ensure sustainability.

5) Budget Documents: This is a two (2) component submission requirement.

o (1) Detailed Line-Item Budget: Entities and organizations not recognized as FPEs or PIOs are required to submit detailed budget information according to the OMB cost categories (see SF-424A as an example). Budget expenses should be submitted preferably as one Excel workbook and include three (3) columns describing the request to the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, any required or voluntary cost sharing, and the total budget. Costs must be in whole U.S.

dollars. The attached “Budget Guidance Template for Multi-Year Awards (FY24)” see Attachment A) is the preferred format for submission. Detailed line-item budgets for sub-grantees should be included as additional tabs within the Excel workbook (if available at the time of submission). Note: Applicants are welcome to delete columns associated with multiple years if submitting a proposal that will only extend to one year. Alternatively, applicants are welcome to add columns for additional years.

o (2) Budget Narrative: Entities and organizations not recognized as FPEs or PIOs are required to submit narrative information, preferably as a Word document, that explain the methodology considerations for each specific line identified in the Excel document. The budget narrative should support the activities described in the proposal and provide additional information that might not be readily apparent in the detailed line-item budget. Do not simply repeat what is represented numerically in the budget, i.e. salaries are for salaries or travel is for travel. If the detailed budget includes sub-awards, please include a separate budget narrative for each sub-award budget. Provide details on the purpose of costs, reasonability of costs, cost price analysis, allocation methodology, explain any yearly variances in unit prices, and tie expenses to program activities and/or objectives where appropriate. Information should describe prices used when costs have been averaged for the purposes of the calculation; when or if there is a reduction in a typical cost due to leveraging other resources; when costs are inflated due to specific considerations; or when untypical costs are included due to special circumstances. Provide information on considerations such as translations, multi-media approaches as also described in the proposal narrative, procurement by local vendors, or the need to import due to unavailability, specific needs of different audiences, costs related to country limitations, etc.

o Budget Documents for FPEs/PIOs: Entities and organizations recognized as FPEs or PIOs are not required to submit detailed budget information according to the

OMB cost categories. (1) A detailed budget, preferably as an Excel document broken down by activity may be provided instead. Costs must be in U.S. dollars.

(2) A budget narrative, preferably as a Word document, an activity based detailed budget with information identifying lines associated with labor (inclusive of contractual or consultancy staff), participant support costs, travel, and other activity related expenses as appropriate for each activity identified. While 2 CFR

200, Subpart E—Costs Principles does not apply to FPEs and PIOs, it should be used as a guide to assist in determining reasonableness. Budget narrative information, preferably as a Word document, should explain the methodology considerations for each activity and other cost considerations or special circumstances that are helpful in determining reasonableness.

6) Program Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative and Plan/Tracker: This is a two (2) component submission requirement.

o (1) Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative: Preferably a one-page Word document, the narrative outlines how a project’s M&E system will be carried out and by whom. It details how you will track your project’s performance toward its objectives over time and provides a clear description of the approach and data collection strategies and tools to be employed (e.g., pre- and post-test surveys, interviews, focus groups). The description should include how the applicant will track and document whether activities occurred (outputs) and the results or changes caused by these activities (outcomes). If the project includes work with local partners or sub-partners, explain how M&E efforts will be coordinated amongst these organizations. Explain if an external evaluation will be included

(WHA/PPC strongly recommends budgeting for independent evaluations).

Evaluations, internal or external, should be systematic studies that use research methods to address specific questions about project performance. They should provide a valuable supplement to ongoing monitoring activities. Evaluation activities generally include baseline assessments, mid-term, and final evaluations.

o (2) Monitoring and Evaluation Plan/Tracker - Preferably as an Excel workbook, the tracker contains the M&E plan that should draw on the objectives, activities, and expected changes from the logic model, and link those areas to indicators. The

M&E plan is generally structured as a table with output- and outcome-based indicators. It explains how data will be collected (data collection methods) to show that certain changes occurred. It outlines baselines (where your project is starting) and quarterly targets (what you would like to achieve) for each indicator.

Please see “Sample Monitoring Indicator Tracker” included as Attachment B to the NOFO.

Note: If recommended for funding, the panel and/or bureau may negotiate the inclusion of additional Department of State Foreign Assistance indicators. These https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-E https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-E indicators assist the bureau in tying projects to larger bureau program objectives for Department’s Managing for Results framework. More information on this policy framework and access to the foreign assistance master indicator list is on the Foreign Assistance Resource Library. After award issuance, the M&E plan will accompany performance reports to document progress on indicators.

7) Key Personnel [not to exceed two (2) pages, preferably as a Word document]:

Represents staff within your organization or outside of your organization (subgrantee, consultants, contractors), carrying out administrative and/or technical responsibilities, who are integral to the success of the program. Includes short bios that highlight relevant professional experience. Provides names, titles, roles, and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. Given the limited space, inserting CVs are not recommended but may be submitted in as an attachment.

Generally key staff consists of no more than 3-5 individuals (noting there may be more non-key staff listed in the proposal).

8) Timeline [not to exceed one (1) page, preferably as a Word document or Excel sheet]:

The timeline of the overall proposal should include activities, evaluation efforts, and program closeout. Sufficient time should be included to conduct and finalize internal/external evaluations and allow any sub-recipients time for final reporting, as applicable. Please see “Sample Timeline” included as Attachment C to the NOFO.

9) Gender Analysis [not to exceed five (5) pages preferably as a Word document], identifying relevant gender gaps for the Caribbean region (flagging for future grantee that detailed, country-specific Gender Analyses will be required as part of Objective 1) and opportunities and ways the work will address those gaps and opportunities. The analysis should also demonstrate sound approaches to social inclusion (including but not limited to ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTQI+ individuals, people with disabilities, and other groups often discriminated against or excluded from decision-making).

Proposals should demonstrate how addressing relevant gender gaps enhance the project’s goals and objectives and how the gender analysis will be revisited, updated, and adapted throughout implementation. In addition to being weaved into the proposal narrative, this should also be a standalone document and attached to the application.

Please review the “Gender Analysis Sample Questions for NOFO Applicants” included as

Attachment D.

In addition, in accordance with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and

Underserved Communities, proposals must demonstrate how the program advances equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. The proposal must also demonstrate how the program https://www.state.gov/foreign-assistance-resource-library/ https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fbriefing-room%2Fpresidential-actions%2F2021%2F01%2F20%2Fexecutive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government%2F&data=04%7C01%7CReisigAR%40state.gov%7C0dbdd75a0a664b32ef2508d8fb59f8f5%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C637535711126807160%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Hk82GX1SCF8LaoHg%2B2vrmdCRK6gGWYwQXU9CB6cLb5E%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fbriefing-room%2Fpresidential-actions%2F2021%2F01%2F20%2Fexecutive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government%2F&data=04%7C01%7CReisigAR%40state.gov%7C0dbdd75a0a664b32ef2508d8fb59f8f5%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C637535711126807160%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Hk82GX1SCF8LaoHg%2B2vrmdCRK6gGWYwQXU9CB6cLb5E%3D&reserved=0 will further engagement in underserved communities and with individuals from underserved communities. Proposals should demonstrate how addressing racial equity and underserved communities will enhance the programs’ goals and objectives, as well as the experience of participants. The support of underserved communities will be part of the review criteria for this opportunity. Therefore, proposals should clearly demonstrate how the program will support and advance equity and engage underserved communities in program administration, design, and implementation.

10) Attachments (if applicable):

• CVs or resumes (required for all project defined key staff)

• Official permission letters, if required for project activities

• Contingency Plan, optional

• Organizational Chart, optional

• Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner, optional

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (sam.gov)

The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all federal awards. the federal government's primary database for complying with FFATA reporting requirements is www.sam.gov . OMB designated www.sam.gov as the central repository to facilitate applicant and recipient use of a single public website that consolidates data on all federal financial assistance. Under the law, it is mandatory to obtain a UEI number and register in sam.gov before submitting an application. The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs may not review applications from or make awards to applicants that have not completed all applicable UEI and

SAM.gov requirements.

The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number. Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before the award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee.

Note: The process of obtaining a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks.

Please begin your registration as early as possible. Numerous errors require correction, such as an address mismatch, and can delay final registration. If the application is not corrected within

90 calendar days of original registration/or renewal submission, it will be automatically deleted and the organization will need to re-start the process.

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/

● Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service

(IRS). Also, a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code and UEI number is required and issued through SAM.gov. Once received continue with the remainder of the

SAM.gov registration.

● Organizations based outside of the United States and do not pay employees within the

United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov. Please note that as of November 2022 and February 2023 respectively, newly registering organizations based outside of the United States that do not intend to apply for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awards are no longer required to have a NATO CAGE (NCAGE).

All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations. All are free of charge:

• NCAGE/CAGE code (if applicable)

• www.SAM.gov UEI and registration

If you are an organization based outside the U.S. and DO NOT plan to do business with the

Department of Defense:

Step 1: Proceed to SAM.gov to obtain a UEI and complete the registration. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

If you are an organization based outside the U.S. and plan to do business with the Department of

Defense:

Step 1: Apply for an NCAGE number

NCAGE Homepage:

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/sc/CageList.aspx

NCAGE Code Request Tool (NCRT):

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/Codification/CageTool/home

For NCAGE help from within the U.S., call 1-888-227-2423

For NCAGE help from outside the U.S., call 1-269-961-7766

Email NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil for any problems in getting an NCAGE code.

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/Codification/CageTool/home

Step 2: After receiving the NCAGE/CAGE Code, proceed to SAM.gov to obtain a UEI an complete registration.

All prime organizations must also continue to maintain active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which they have an active federal award or application under consideration by a federal award agency. SAM.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM.gov. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM.gov and to maintain that active registration. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements at the time of application, the applicant may be deemed technically ineligible to receive an award and use that determination will be used as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

Note: SAM.gov is not the same as SAMS/MyGrants. It is free to register in both systems, but the registration processes are different.

Information is included on the SAM.gov website to help international registrations: Please note, guidance on SAM.gov and the guidance on GSA’s website about requirement for registering in SAM.gov is subject to change and currently being updated. Applicants should review the website frequently for the most up-to-date guidance.

The attached “UEI and SAM.gov FAQ updated 013124” (see Attachment E) is a resource provided by the grants policy office. Any content shown from SAM.gov is not owned by the

Department of State. This guidance and instruction are to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting this solicitation. Where guidance in this attachment differs from the SAM.gov website, SAM.gov prevails and the applicant is encouraged to seek and document clarity provided by the SAM.gov helpdesk.

D.3.1 Exemptions

An exemption from the requirements listed above may be permitted under the following circumstances:

• For any applicant or recipient: if the federal awarding agency determines that it must protect information about the entity from disclosure if it is in the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States, or to avoid jeopardizing the personal safety of the applicant or recipient's staff or clients.

• For a foreign organization or foreign public entity applying for or receiving a federal award or subaward for a project or program performed outside the United States valued at less than $25,000: if the federal awarding agency deems it to be impractical for the entity to comply with the requirement(s). This exemption must be determined by the federal awarding agency on a case-by-case basis while utilizing a risk-based approach and does not apply if subawards are anticipated.

• For an applicant: if the federal awarding agency makes a determination that there are exigent circumstances that prohibit the applicant from receiving a unique entity identifier and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a federal award. In these instances, federal awarding agencies must require the recipient to obtain a unique entity identifier and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the federal award date.

Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or sam.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the NOFO and provide a justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.

D.4. Submission Dates and Times

Applications are due no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), on MONDAY, 13

May 2024, on grants.gov or SAMS/MyGrants under the announcement title “Caribbean United for Women’s Economic Empowerment (CUWEE),” funding opportunity number “SFOP0010296.”

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

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that it has an active registration in grants.gov or

SAMS/MyGrants and that an application has been received by the system in its entirety.

Application submissions are automatically logged by date and time when made in Grants.gov and SAMS/MyGrants, and the Department of State will use this information to determine whether an application has been submitted on time. Late applications are neither reviewed nor considered. Applicants should not expect a notification upon the Bureau of Western

Hemisphere Affairs receiving their application.

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs bears no responsibility for disqualification that results from applicants not being registered before the due date, for registration errors in either system, or other errors in the application process.

D.5. Funding Limitations, Restrictions, and Other Considerations

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs will not consider applications that reflect any type of support for any member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist organization.

Please refer to the link for Foreign Terrorist Organizations: https://www.state.gov/foreign-http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://mygrants.service-now.com/grants/portal_login.do https://www.grants.gov/ https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com/ https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/ terrorist-organizations/. Consistent with Department guidance on State Funding and the Risks of

Terrorist Financing for all State Department funded programs and requirements, Department bureaus must assess the likelihood that the funds or Department funded activities, goods, services, training, expert advice or assistance, or other benefits to be provided, could inadvertently or incidentally benefit terrorist organizations or their members…