U.S. Department of State U.S. Embassy Conakry Notice of Funding Opportunity Funding Opportunity Title: U.S. Embassy Conakry, Ambassador Special Self-Help Program Annual Program Statement Funding Opportunity Number: DOS-CONAK-FY22-00-01 Deadline for Applications: For proposals to be considered for funding in 2023, the deadline is October 14, 2022 Assistance Listing Number: 19.220 Total Amount Available: $55,000 A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy in Conakry, Guinea announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to support registered self-help groups, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, and certain educational institutions to develop projects that improve living conditions in their communities. Please follow all instructions below. Per 7008 restrictions, the U.S. government is prohibited from providing assistance to the Government of Guinea (including local institutions, such as schools and local government representatives) until a democratically elected government is installed. Projects cannot involve the participation of government officials or employees serving in their official capacity or occur in government-owned facilities. Program Objectives: The program is designed to improve basic economic and social conditions in local communities and support high impact, quick implementation activities that benefit a large number of people. Participating communities provide a significant contribution in cash, labor, and materials. The demand for Small Grant funds is very high and well above our funding capacity, so priority is given to projects which best meet the program’s objectives and criteria. Possible examples of U.S. Embassy Community Small Grants Program projects include: • Small construction projects – school rooms, community centers, health facilities, foot bridges, housing for community-paid nurses or teachers, workshops, community Slaughterhouse grain storage, rural airstrips for hospitals, and school dormitories for distant students. • Water-related projects – wells, latrines, pumps, bore holes, shower stalls and sinks, and fishponds. • School equipment and supplies – desks, chairs, laboratory equipment, and library items. • Communal construction equipment – brick-making machines. • Miscellaneous durable goods – stoves or refrigerators for a community-owned school or hospital, or washing machines for a community-owned clinic. • Income generating equipment – weaving looms, tools for furniture making, and rice-milling machines. Grant funds may not be used for the following expenses: personnel salaries; travel; fringe benefits; and alcoholic beverages. The budget may not exceed one (1) page in length. You should also provide pro-forma invoices for proposed expenses, such as equipment, materials, and construction supplies Participants and Audiences: The U.S. Embassy in Conakry, Guinea is soliciting proposals for small grants from registered self-help groups, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, and certain educational institutions. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 3 to 12 months Number of awards anticipated: 5 awards (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $10,000 Total available funding: $55,000 Type of Funding: Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act) Anticipated program start date: October 31, 2022 This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Grant Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed within a period of 3 to 12 months. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: Registered self-help groups, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, and certain educational institutions 2. Cost Sharing or Matching The Recipient must provide a cost sharing in cash and/or in-kind contributions. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. 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 & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations. Individuals are not required to have a unique entity identifier or be registered in SAM.gov. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required below are available at
[email protected]; https://gn.usembassy.gov/special-self-help-fund/; and grants.gov. 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 Please ensure: • The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity; • 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. The following documents are required: 1. Mandatory application forms: • SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) at
[email protected] • SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at
[email protected] • SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at
[email protected] 2. Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program. 3. Proposal (10 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below: • 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 • Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. • Program Activities: Describe 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. 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 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? • Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. 4. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section “H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions” below for further information. E. 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: Payments will be made in at least two installments as an advance or reimbursement, as needed to carry out the project activities. The recipient will request the payment via submission of the Standard Form (SF) 270 Request for Advance or Reimbursement Payments. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 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 25 - UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT • 2 CFR 170 - REPORTING SUBAWARD AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION INFORMATION • 2 CFR 175 - AWARD TERM FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS • 2 CFR 182 - GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE) • 2 CFR 183 - NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY • 2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following: • President’s September 2, 2020 memorandum, entitled Memorandum on Reviewing Funding to State and Local Government Recipients of Federal Funds that Are Permitting Anarchy, Violence, and Destruction in American Cities; • Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping (E.O. 13950); • Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues and Combating Recent Criminal Violence (E.O. 13933); and • Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 85 FR 49506 on August 13, 2020, particularly on: o Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an objective process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205), o Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 115—232) (2 CFR part 200.216), o Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O. 13864) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341), o Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR part 200.322),