OpportunityTitle: Public Affairs Small Grant Opportunity
CategoryExplanation: Public Affairs Small Grants focused on:  Promoting democratic values and good governance;  Countering violent extremism;  Countering trafficking in persons/forced child begging;  Increasing opportunities for youth;  Promoting women&#8217;s empowerment
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations (Foreign);  Public and private educational institutions (Foreign)
Description: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. EMBASSY DAKAR Notice of Funding Opportunity Funding Opportunity Title: Public Affairs Small Grant Funding Opportunity Number: DKR-NOFO-FY18-02 Deadline for Applications: May 16, 2018; 5:30PM GMT CFDA Number: 19.040 Total Amount Available: $50,000 For application forms, please visit: https://sn.usembassy.gov/education-culture/funding-opportunities/ A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy in Dakar of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program (or programs) to help advance democratic values, advance peace and security, and promote opportunity and development. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Priority Region: Senegal or Guinea Bissau. Program Objectives: The U.S. Embassy in Dakar works with partner organizations on a number of projects to advance shared objectives of a stable and prosperous Senegal. Suggested project topics include: - Promoting democratic values and good governance - Countering violent extremism - Countering trafficking in persons/forced child begging - Increasing opportunities for youth - Promoting women&#8217;s empowerment Participants and Audiences: Including but not limited to; youth, populations in rural regions, civil society actors, local leaders, journalists B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: Six to 12 months Number of awards anticipated: Two awards (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $25,000 Total available funding: $50,000 Type of Funding: Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Programs Anticipated program start date: September 30, 2018 This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Grant Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: &#8226; Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations (Foreign) &#8226; Public and private educational institutions (Foreign) 2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing is not required, but preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate sustainable cost sharing. 3. Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun &amp; Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations. All organizations must have a bank account, a physical address, and an accounting system. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required below are available at https://sn.usembassy.gov/education-culture/funding-opportunities/ 2. Content and Form of Application Submission Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Content of Application Required documents. For document templates, please see the &#8220;Templates&#8221; section on https://sn.usembassy.gov/education-culture/funding-opportunities/ - Form SF-424&#8212;Application for Federal Assistance; - Form SF-424A&#8212;Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs; - Form SF-424B&#8212;Assurances for Non-Construction Programs; - Project Proposal - Line item budget - One-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the project Please ensure: &#8226; The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity &#8226; The proposal has a concrete implementation plan with well-conceived objectives, a clear audience, and indicators that are specific, measurable, and achievable &#8226; All documents are in English &#8226; All budgets are in U.S. dollars &#8226; The proposal form is returned as a Word document &#8226; The line item budget form is returned as an Excel document &#8226; The SF-424, 424A, and 424B are returned as Adobe Acrobat documents 3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Required Registrations: Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award Management (SAM) 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), &#8220;Debarment and Suspension.&#8221; Additionally, no entity listed on the EPLS can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the EPLS in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included. All organizations applying for grants must obtain these registrations. All are free of charge: &#8226; Unique entity identifier from Dun &amp; Bradstreet (DUNS number) &#8226; NCAGE/CAGE code &#8226; www.SAM.gov registration Step 1: Apply for a DUNS number and an NCAGE number (these can be completed simultaneously) DUNS application: Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun &amp; Bradstreet. If your organization does not have one already, you may obtain one by calling 1-866-705-5711 or visiting http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform NCAGE application: Application page here: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx Instructions for the NCAGE application process: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf 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. Step 2: After receiving the NCAGE Code, proceed to register in SAM.gov by logging onto: https://www.sam.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. 4. Submission Dates and Times May 16, 2018; 5:30PM GMT Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot offer feedback on individual applications. 5. Funding Restrictions &#8226; Funds cannot be used for any military or paramilitary purpose &#8226; Funds are subject to a restriction on assistance to police, prisons, other law enforcement forces, and programs of internal intelligence or surveillance &#8226; All programming must be implemented in a manner consistent with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Federally-funded programs and activities must both a secular purpose and a secular effect (i.e. not a principal or primary effect of advancing religion) &#8226; Funds cannot be used for projects that are focused on development assistance &#8226; Funds cannot be used for construction projects and/or donations &#8226; Funds can only be given to an organization, not to an individual 6. Other Submission Requirements All application materials must be submitted by email to DakarNOFO@state.gov E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 1. Criteria Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below. Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea &#8211; 25 points: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants &#8211; 25 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account. Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives &#8211; 15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results. Budget &#8211; 10 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities. Monitoring and evaluation plan &#8211; 15 points: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators, and shows how and when those will be measured. Sustainability &#8211; 10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program. 2. Review and Selection Process A Grants Review Committee will evaluate all eligible applications and recommend select proposals to a further review by the U.S. Department of State. 3. Federal Awardee Performance &amp; Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) For any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity, if the Federal awarding agency anticipates that the total Federal share will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold on any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity may include, over the period of performance (see &#167;200.88 Simplified Acquisition Threshold), this section must also inform applicants: i. That the Federal awarding agency, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313); ii. That an applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM; iii. That the Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant&apos;s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in &#167;200.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants. F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 1. Federal Award Notices The grant award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer. If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State. Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. Payment Method: Bank transfer in at least two tranches (depends on the total budget and timeline of the grant). 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements Terms and Conditions: Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include: 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, Certifications and Assurances, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, all of which are available at: https://www.statebuy.state.gov/fa/pages/home.aspx Note the U.S Flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and Conditions. 3. Reporting Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit financial reports (in U.S. dollars) and program reports (in English). The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted. Applicants should be aware of the post award reporting requirements reflected in 2 CFR 200 Appendix XII&#8212;Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters. G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: DakarNOFOstate.gov. H. OTHER INFORMATION Guidelines for Budget Justification Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program. Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel. (Note: international travel to or from the United States cannot be funded). Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit. Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment. Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities. Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All &#8220;Other&#8221; or &#8220;Miscellaneous&#8221; expenses must be itemized and explained. Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. 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. &#8220;Cost Sharing&#8221; refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers&#8217; time and donated venues. Alcoholic Beverages: Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: DakarNOFO
GrantorContactText: U.S. Embassy Dakar &lt;br/&gt;Public Affairs Section