U.S. Embassy in Somalia

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. MISSION SOMALIA PUBLIC DIPLOMACY SECTION

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Title: 

Mission Somalia Public Diplomacy Annual Program Statement

Funding Opportunity Number:      

DOS-PAS-MOG-FY23-01

Deadline for Applications:             

Rolling through June 30, 2023 (11:59pm Eastern U.S.)

Assistance Listing                            

19.04 – Smith Mundt

Total Amount Available:                

$60,000

Maximum award amount:              

$20,000

Minimum award amount:               

$5,000

Average award amount:                  

$10,000

Contact Information

1. For questions relating to Grants.gov, please call the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726.
2. For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, please contact the U.S. Embassy Mogadishu Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) at SomaliaPublicAffairs@state.gov.

Due to the volume of applicants and inquiries, PDS will only accept applications that abide by the requirements listed in this NOFO.  PDS does not accept letters of intent or concept papers that differ from the requirements of this NOFO.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Executive Summary

The U.S. Embassy Mogadishu Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) is pleased to announce an open competition for assistance awards, contingent on funding availability, through the Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program.  The implementers will be a legally recognized non-profit, non-governmental organization, or individual that meets U.S. and Somali technical and legal requirements to develop and implement public diplomacy programs as specified in Section C. Information about the Public Diplomacy Section can be found at https://so.usembassy.gov/.

PDS Mogadishu invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural, academic, and professional ties between the United States and Somalia through programming and exchanges that highlight shared values and promote bilateral cooperation.  All programs must include an American cultural element and/or connection(s) with American expert(s), organization(s), or institution(s) that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

Proposals have a funding floor of $5,000 and an average amount of $10,000 for a project of up to one year in duration.

Background

PDS Mogadishu seeks to strengthen cultural, academic, and professional ties between the United States and Somalia through programming and exchanges that highlight shared values and promote bilateral cooperation.  The PDS Small Grants Program is designed to further the following public diplomacy goals:  1) Strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and Somalia through shared information, experiences, exchanges, and/or expertise; 2) Strengthen civil society and local organizations to build long-term, self-sustaining relationships and linkages between U.S. and Somali organizations; and 3) Promote social cohesion through positive messages and inclusive perspectives that increase social tolerance and counter extremist narratives.

1. Academic and professional lecturers, seminars, and speaker programs
2. Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions
3. Cultural heritage conservations and preservation programs

1. Professional and academic exchange programs
2. Libraries, community centers, or other institutions that are interested in becoming an American space
3. Programs developed by an alumnus/a of a US sponsored or supported educational or professional exchange program
4. Projects to promote English language teaching skills or widen access to books and other sources of information about the United States.

Audiences

The proposal must include one or more target audience(s):  youth, entrepreneurs, journalists and media professionals, human rights activists and other civil society representatives, and academics and teaching professionals.  Unless strong justification is provided, all projects should strive to achieve gender balance.  Projects can be nationwide or focused on specific geographic areas with an explanation of why the specific geographic region is relevant to the strategy.

Priority Program Areas

1. Counter Violent Extremism: Proposals focus on individuals and organizations involved in peacebuilding or anti-violent extremist efforts, especially community influencers, women, and religious leaders, to ensure they retain the skills, knowledge, and capacity necessary to take a stronger role in their areas of expertise.
2. Promote Economic Prosperity through Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Proposals focus on aspiring and newly established entrepreneurs, incubation hubs, and other private sector organizations, with a particular emphasis on women, youth, and marginalized groups, to build networks among these groups and reinforce skills related to business planning, using technology for business, securing financing, and/or navigating Somalia’s business environment.
3. Promote Equal Participation in Politics, Peacebuilding, and the Economy: Proposals focus on Somali women and/or organizations involved in women and girls’ empowerment efforts to provide capacity building, tailored training, and other support to expand leadership opportunities for women in politics, peacebuilding, and business.
4. Promote Youth Leadership and Development: Proposals offer opportunities to university students, under- or unemployed recent graduates, and other youth, including among marginalized groups, to raise awareness about youth-led organizations and build leadership skills.
5. Professionalize the Media: Proposals offer training to media professionals across radio, television, print, and online outlets to strengthen their ability to recognize and counter disinformation, generate revenue, and/or build technical skills.
6. Improve the Teaching and Learning of the English Language: Proposals support professional development initiatives for English language teachers and/or provide high-quality English language instruction to students.
7. Promote Rule of Law, Democracy, and Respect for Human Rights: Proposals support individual and institutional efforts to enhance respect for rule of law, deepen understanding of democratic principles, and encourage civic participation in Somalia.
8. Encourage Awareness of and Promote Efforts to Mitigate the Effects of Climate Change: Proposals educate the public about the effects of climate change and raise awareness about efforts to mitigate its impact.

All proposals should:

• Address how the project will contribute to one or more of the program areas listed above.
• Enumerate specific outputs and outcomes to be achieved by the end of the grant period, using the Monitoring and Evaluation Performance Monitoring Plan [Attachment 3].
• Clearly specify the audiences to be reached and the geographic locations of program activities. Programs proposed in multiple locations should explain how that will be accomplished.  The grantee must demonstrate the capacity to implement activities in the locations and with the audiences proposed.
• Describe how elements of the project will have a multiplier effect or be sustainable beyond the life of the grant.
• Include a traditional and/or social media plan for marketing or advertising program activities and outcomes.
• Demonstrate competency to manage all financial and oversight aspects of the project, including participant costs and transparent arrangements of sub-grant relationships with partner organizations, if applicable.

The Public Diplomacy Section will not support the following activities or expenses under this funding opportunity:

• The purchase of space or buildings in support of program activities
• Charitable or development projects
• Construction projects
• Individual travel to conferences
• Scholarships to support educational opportunities or study for individuals
• Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization
• Completion of activities begun with other funds
• Fundraising or fund development projects
• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs
• Projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to an individual or single party in electoral campaigns
• Political party or lobbying activities in support of political parties
• Projects that support specific religious activities
• Scientific or specific academic research
• Programs that duplicate existing programs
• Cash prizes for competitions.

*Individuals interested in educational exchange or study opportunities in the United States should visit the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at  https://exchanges.state.gov/non-us   for more information on available programs.

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period:  Six to 12 months

Number of awards anticipated:  Four (dependent on amounts)

Award amounts:  Awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $20,000

Total available funding:  $60,000

Type of funding:  FY2023 Public Diplomacy Funding

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type:  Grant or Fixed Amount Award.  PDS Mogadishu reserves the right to award less or more than the amount of funds described in the absence of worthy applications or under such other circumstances as they may deem to be in the best interest of the U.S. government.

Project and Budget Periods:  Proposed programs should be completed in one year or less.  PDS 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.

Eligible Applicants

PDS encourages applications from U.S., Somali, and international parties such as the following:

• Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience
• Non-profit educational institutions
• Individuals

For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not required.

Other Eligibility Requirements

Required Registrations:

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) All prime organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov before submitting an application. Embassy Mogadishu may not review applications from or make awards to applicants that have not completed all applicable UEI and SAM.gov requirements. A 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.

Note: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required for federal assistance applications.

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 or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

• 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), a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, and a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.
• Organizations based outside of the United States and that 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 December 2022, 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) code to apply for non-DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities. If an applicant organization is mid-registration and wishes to remove an NCAGE code from their sam.gov registration, the applicant should submit a help desk ticket (“incident”) with the Federal Service Desk (FSD) online at www.fsd.gov  to seek guidance on how to do so.

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. 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 as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

Please refer to 2 CFR 25.200 for additional information.

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

Information is included on the SAM.gov website to help international registrations. Navigate to www.SAM.gov, click “HELP” in the top navigation bar, then click, “Explore” and “New to SAM.gov?” for general information. Please note, guidance on SAM.gov and the guidance on GSA’s website is being updated to reflect the change in NCAGE requirement. Applicants should review the website frequently for the most up-to-date guidance.

Exemptions

An exemption from these requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if:

• An applicant’s identity must be protected due to potential endangerment of their mission, their organization’s status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applicant.
• 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 providing 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.

Note: As of December 2022, 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) code to apply for non-DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities.

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

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

Step 1: Register in SAM by logging onto: https://www.sam.gov .  SAM registration must be renewed annually.

Step 2: Retrieve Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number also from https://www.sam.gov .

To access SAM.gov an organization is required to have a Login.gov account. Organization can create an account at https://login.gov/ . 

Since April 2022, the UEI are assigned when an organization registers or renews its registration in SAM.gov at www.SAM.gov . Organizations should 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 SAM registration

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Technical Requirements

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 and Form of Application Submission

Please ensure:

1. The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity.
2. All documents are in English.
3. All budgets are in U.S. dollars.
4. All pages are numbered.
5. All documents are formatted to 8 ½” x 11” paper.
6. All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.
7. All applicant authorized signatures are provided where indicated on the various required forms.

When submitting a proposal, applicants are required to include the following documents and information from Sections 1–5 below, as applicable:

Section 1—Organization Information

1. Application Summary Coversheet: Applicants must complete and submit the form provided (Attachment 1).
2. Applicant Organizational Information Sheet: Applicants must complete and submit the form provided (Attachment 2).  An authorized signature by the applicant must be provided on this form.
3. Proof of Registration: A copy of the organization’s registration should be provided with the proposal application.  US.-based organizations should submit a copy of their IRS determination letter.  Somalia-based organizations should submit a copy of their certificate of registration from the appropriate government organization.

Section 2—Technical Proposal

Applicants must submit a complete narrative proposal in a format of their choice.  The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do.  The proposal shall not exceed seven (7) pages.  Refer to the evaluation criteria in Section E below for further detail about what makes a strong proposal. All proposals must address the following areas:

• Proposal Summary: A short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact
• Introduction to the Organization or Individual Applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies
• Problem Statement: A clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed
• Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve.  What aspect of the relationship between the United States and Somalia will be improved?  The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals.  These should be achievable and measurable.
• Program Activities: A description of the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives
• Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal
• Proposed Program Schedule: The proposed timeline for the program activities, including the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events
• Key Personnel:  Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?
• Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.
• Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants.  Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant? (see note below)
• Future Funding or Sustainability: A plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable

Monitoring and Evaluation

Proposals must include a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP).  Attachment 3 of this funding opportunity contains a template that should be used to fulfill this requirement.  The M&E PMP shows how applicants intend to measure and demonstrate progress towards the project’s objectives and goals.

The selected applicant(s) will be required to submit an approved M&E PMP before an award is signed.  The selected applicant will be required to work with PAS Mogadishu’s monitoring and evaluation specialist to ensure the M&E PMP achieves an expected level of expertise and meets PAS objectives.

The key components of the PMP are below:

1. Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative: Applicants should describe how they intend to monitor and evaluate the activities of their award and collect data that tracks award performance. In addition, the applicant should describe any M&E processes, including key personnel, management structure (where M&E fits into the overall program’s staff structure), and technology, and also provide a brief budget narrative explaining any line-item expenditures for M&E listed in the program’s budget.
2. Monitoring and Evaluation Datasheet: The applicant must include the proposed activities and the expected outputs and outcomes, as well as the goals and objectives as written in the NOFO. The datasheet’s purpose is to explicitly illustrate how a project’s activities lead to tangible results (such as increased beneficiary skills, knowledge, or attitudes) that ultimately address a PAS objective.  For more information, please see Attachment 3.1:  Instructions.

Section 3—Budget

Budget and Budget Detail:  Applicants must submit a detailed budget and budget narrative justification utilizing the template provided with the funding opportunity (Attachment 4). Line-item expenditures should be listed in the greatest possible detail.  Personnel salaries should include the level of effort and the rate of pay, which should cover the percentage of time each staff member will dedicate to grant-based activities.  If your organization is charging an indirect cost rate, you must apply it to the modified total budget costs (refer to 2CFR§200.68).  Budgets that are not in the provided format will not be considered.  Budgets shall be submitted in U.S. dollars, and final grant agreements will be conducted in U.S. dollars.

Audit Requirements:  Please note the audit requirements for Department of State awards in the Standard Terms and Conditions

https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm and 2CFR200  , Subpart F–Audit Requirements.  The cost of the required audits may be charged as an allowable direct cost to the award OR included in the organization’s established indirect costs in the award’s detailed budget.

Section 4—Key Personnel and Project Partners

1. Key Personnel: A résumé, not to exceed one page in length, must be included for the proposed key staff persons, such as the project director and finance officer, as well as any speakers or trainers (if applicable). If an individual for this type of position has not been identified, the applicant may submit a one-page position description, identifying the qualifications and skills required for that position, in lieu of a résumé.
2. Project Partners: Letters of support should be included for sub-recipients or other partners. The letters must identify the type of relationship to be entered into (formal or informal), the roles and responsibilities of each partner in relation to the proposed project activities, and the expected result of the partnership.  The individual letters cannot exceed one page in length.

Section 5—Standard Form 424 Family

All submissions must include the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance (Attachment 5) and the SF-424A Budget Information—Non-Construction (Attachment 5).  These forms and the instructions for completing them are available at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html   under the heading “SF-424 Family.”  The SF-424B is required only for those applicants that have not registered in SAM.gov or recertified their registration in SAM.gov since February 2, 2019, and completed the online representations and certifications.  An authorized signature by the applicant must be provided on the form.

Applications will be accepted in English only, and final grant agreements will be concluded in English.

Application Deadline

Applications may be submitted for consideration at any time before the closing date of this opportunity; however, all submissions must be received by June 30, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time.  For the purposes of determining if an award is submitted on time, officials will utilize the timestamp provided by Grants.gov.

This deadline is firm.  If organizations fail to meet the deadline noted above, their applications will not be considered for funding and will be considered ineligible.

Submission Requirements

Applicants must submit all application materials electronically through Grants.gov.

Authorization to submit proposals through www.Grants.gov   is a multi-step process that requires prior successful registration with separate sites:  SAM  , and www.Grants.gov  .  Please begin the registration process with each one immediately to ensure the process is completed well in advance of the NOFO application deadline.  The entire registration process can require up to six weeks for the registration to be validated and confirmed.  See Section D: Submission Requirements for further details.

Organizations must obtain the following:

• UEI (previously referred to as DUNS)
• SAM registration
• AOR (Authorized Organization Representative) registration on www.Grants.gov  

Note: As of December 2022, 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) code to apply for non-DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities.

How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace, a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application.  For each NOFO, individual instances of a workspace can be created.

For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities, refer to:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html  

NOTE:  Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html  

Special Characters in Submissions

Grants.gov does not accept all UTF-8 special characters in file attachment names.  Applicants are able to enter all special characters from the UTF-8 character set when submitting applications and information to Grants.gov.  However, if the grantor’s system is not yet compatible with these special characters, the grantor system may produce garbled or missing text in the application.  As a result, the application may be rejected.

Review the application instructions provided by the award-making agency for their attachment restrictions.  Also review the instructions on the required forms.  If there are no special restrictions for file names identified by the agency or in the form, then the file name restrictions are as follows:

• Please limit file names to 50 or fewer characters.
• Do not attach any documents with the same name. All attachments should have a unique name.
  • Please use only the following UTF-8 characters when naming your attachments: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore, hyphen, space, period, parenthesis, curly braces, square brackets, ampersand, tilde, exclamation point, comma, semi colon, apostrophe, at sign, number sign, dollar sign, percent sign, plus sign, and equal sign.  Attachments that do not follow this rule may cause the entire application to be rejected or cause issues during processing.

Address to Request Application Package

This funding opportunity and any amendments can be found at www.Grants.gov   (search by Opportunity Number).  If applicants require special accommodation to access any information contained in this announcement, please contact PDS Mogadishu at SomaliaPublicAffairs@state.gov.

Submission Dates and Times

The Public Diplomacy Section will accept proposals throughout the year and will review proposals according to the following schedule:

• Proposals received between January 1 and March 31 will be reviewed by April 30, with responses going out by May 15.
• Proposals received between April 1 and June 30 will be reviewed by July 17, with responses going out by July 31.

REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

Each technically eligible application submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated based on the criteria detailed below.  The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project and to determine the likelihood of its success.  The criteria are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.  Applications will be reviewed based on their fullness, coherence, clarity, and attention to detail.

Past performance on grants awarded by the U.S. Department of State, other U.S. government, or international donor agencies may also be considered.  Proposals should comply with the requirements of 2 CFR 200 relevant to the organization and the activities of the proposal.

PAS reviews all proposals for eligibility.  Eligible proposals will be subject to compliance with federal and public diplomacy regulations and guidelines and may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department of State elements.  Final technical authority for assistance awards resides with the Department of State’s Grants Division (A/OPE).

All submissions are screened for technical eligibility.  If a submission is missing any required forms/documents listed in Section D, it will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed by the grants review committee.

Proposals will be approved based on an evaluation of how the proposal meets the solicitation review criteria, U.S. foreign policy objectives, the priority needs of the Public Affairs Section, and availability of funding.  A grants review committee will evaluate all technically eligible proposals.

Review criteria will include:

1. Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea (25 points) – The project plan is well developed, with sufficient detail about how activities will be carried out. The proposal specifies target audiences, participant recruitment, and geographic areas of implementation. The proposal outlines clear, achievable objectives.  The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.  The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined.
2. Project Justification, Sustainability, and Impact on U.S. Public Diplomacy Goals (25 points) – The project is likely to provide maximum impact in furthering the U.S. Embassy’s public diplomacy policy goals. The proposal contains a compelling justification that demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the environment in Somalia and cites specific factors creating/influencing the need for the proposed project. The proposal has a sound theory of change to address the stated need.  Elements of the project will have a multiplier effect and be sustainable beyond the life of the grant.  A good multiplier effect may include but is not limited to plans to build lasting networks for direct and indirect beneficiaries, follow-on training and mentoring, and continued use of project deliverables.  Sustainability may include demonstrating capacity-building results, a plan to generate revenue, or interest and support from the private sector.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation (15 points) – Points for M&E will be awarded by considering three subset criteria within the narrative: (1) Technical M&E; (2) Program Design; and (3) Learning. Specifically, scoring will be based on the following:
4. 1. Technical M&E – A submission will be considered technically sound if there is a complete and thorough draft submission of an M&E Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP).  This will include a list of proposed project activities, intended corresponding outputs and outcomes from those activities, appropriate indicators intended to demonstrate progress, a description of data collection methods, and a timeline for collecting such information.  Use of the suggested template (Attachments 3 & 3.1) will satisfy these requirements.  Funded projects will have their plans finalized during the negotiation phase, and monitoring plans may be subject to periodic updates throughout the life of the project.

1. 1. Program Design – A submission will be considered well designed if the proposal identifies an appropriate target audience, addresses a significant problem, and presents a clear theory of change on how the program will address that problem.  Whether through a logical framework, theory of change diagram, or a set of if-then statements, the proposal should state in some form “If these activities are completed, then these outcomes will result.”  Further, if the project requires selecting participants or beneficiaries, the proposal should articulate how the selection will be done in an equitable way.

4. 1. Learning – A submission will satisfy the learning component by demonstrating an ability to adjust project activities based on new information.  Does the design incorporate community or participant feedback to allow for adjustments?  If the proposal is from a prior grantee, does the proposal discuss how the grantee has adapted, improved, or otherwise modified the approach based on learning from previous experience/past performance?  If this is a new grantee or a new project, has the proposal demonstrated that the applicant used desk research, prior experience, or other evidence to directly inform program design?
5. Organization’s Capacity and Record on Previous Grants (15 points) – The organization has expertise in the subject area and demonstrates the ability to perform the proposed activities. The organization demonstrates capacity for successful planning and responsible fiscal management. Applicants who have received grant funds previously have been compliant with applicable rules and regulations.  Where partners are described, the applicant details each partner’s respective role and provides a curriculum vitae (CV) for persons responsible for the project and financial administration.  Proposed personnel, institutional resources, and partners are adequate and appropriate.
6. Budget/Cost-Effectiveness (20 points) – The budget and narrative justification are sufficiently 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.  The results and proposed outcomes justify the total cost of the project.  Budget items are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.

FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

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 start incurring program expenses only 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:  Payments will be made in at least two installments, as needed to carry out the program activities.

Organizations whose applications will not be funded will also be notified via email.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Terms and Conditions:  Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications that will apply to this award, to ensure 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.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/  .  Note the U.S flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and Conditions.

Reporting

Reporting Requirements:  Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports.  The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted.

FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

Questions regarding the administrative and programmatic aspects of this funding opportunity may be directed to PDS Mogadishu at SomaliaPublicAffairs@state.gov.

Note:  We do not provide pre-consultation for application-related questions that are addressed in the NOFO.  Once an application has been submitted, Department of State officials and staff, both in the Department and at embassies overseas, may not discuss this competition with applicants until the entire proposal review process is completed.  For questions relating to Grants.gov, please call the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726.

OTHER INFORMATION

Guidelines for Budget Justification

Personnel:  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.  If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.

Equipment:  Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program that 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 cost 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 that do not fit in the other categories.  For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes.  All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” 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.

Cost Sharing:  This refers to contributions from the organization or entities other than the U.S. Embassy.  It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.

Alcoholic Beverages:  Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.

Copyrights and Proprietary Information

If any of the information contained in an application is proprietary, please note in the footer of the appropriate pages that the information is Confidential – Proprietary.  Applicants should also note what parts of the application, program, concept, etc. are covered by copyright(s), trademark(s), or any other intellectual property rights and provide copies of the relevant documentation to support these copyrights.