U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. EMBASSY MOZAMBIQUE
Notice of Funding Opportunity
Funding Opportunity Title: Alumni Rapid Response to COVID-19
Funding Opportunity Number: AF-MAP-FY20-06
Deadline for Applications: June 5, 2020, 17:30
CFDA Number: 19.040
The U.S. Embassy Mozambique of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for U.S.G alumni to submit applications through an organization to carry out a program to combat disinformation, by promoting press freedom that improves the quality of investigative journalism and transparency as related to COVID-19. Please carefully follow all instructions below.
- Programs relating to partisan political activity;
- Development projects/programs;
- Infrastructure/construction programs;
- Individual scholarships;
- Personal development;
- Programs that support specific religious activities;
- Fund-raising campaigns;
- Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;
- Scientific research;
- Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;
- Programs that duplicate existing programs;
- Social travel/visits;
- Venture capital; and
- For-profit endeavors.
Number of awards anticipated: 5 awards (dependent on amounts)
Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $5,000.00 to a maximum of $10,000.00
Cooperative agreements are different from grants in that bureau/embassy staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation.
- Have initial meeting with the selected grantee(s) to set dates, deliverables and expectations
- Approve the participant list provided by the grantee
- All created content should receive approval from the U.S Embassy
- Graphic designs should also be approved by the Embassy before being displayed publicly or to the target audience
Alumni can apply through the following organizations:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Public and private educational institutions
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
Please ensure:
- The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity
- The proposal includes an “American” component;
- All documents are in English;
- All budgets are in U.S. dollars;
- All pages are numbered;
- All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and
- All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.
1. Mandatory application forms
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) at www.grants.gov
- SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at www.grants.gov
- SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at www.grants.gov
- Proposal Summary: 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: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed.
- Primary Target Audience: Concise, specific description of whom the project seeks to influence. Indicate the number of individuals in this audience. Do not mention more than one Primary Target Audience.
- Behavioral Objective for the Primary Target Audience: Clear, specific description of the desired action/output from members of the primary target audience. What do you want the individual members of the primary target audience to do or achieve? How will the objective be measured?
- Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help the primary target audience achieve the behavioral objective.
- American Content: U.S. Embassy Mozambique public diplomacy projects must include information about the United States and/or encourage communication or connections between Americans and Mozambicans. Describe the American content of the proposed project in a sentence.
- Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.
- Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include 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 time-frame 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?
- Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.
- 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program
- Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner
- If your organization has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file.
- Official permission letters, if required for program activities
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), “Debarment and Suspension.” 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.
- Unique entity identifier from Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS number)
- NCAGE/CAGE code
- www.SAM.gov registration
Instructions for the NCAGE application process:
https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf
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.
4. Submission Dates and Times
- Large items of durable equipment or construction programs;
- Alcohol, excessive meals, refreshments, or entertainment;
- Programs relating to partisan political activity;
- Infrastructure/construction programs;
- Individual scholarships;
- Personal development;
- Programs that support specific religious activities;
- Fund-raising campaigns;
- Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;
- Scientific research;
- Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;
- Programs that duplicate existing programs;
- Social travel/visits;
- Venture capital; and
- For-profit endeavors or charging a fee for participation in the project.
E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION
Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 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 – 15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.
Budget – 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 – 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 – 10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.
F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions 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.
Applicants should be aware of the post award reporting requirements reflected in 2 CFR 200 Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.
G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS
Guidelines for Budget Justification