Return-Path: Delivered-To: louk@transocean.com Received: from vps.transocean.com by vps.transocean.com with LMTP id KPNTHZY8xlq1KAAAInt2oQ for ; Thu, 05 Apr 2018 08:11:18 -0700 Return-path: Envelope-to: louk@transocean.com Delivery-date: Thu, 05 Apr 2018 08:11:18 -0700 Received: from mailer190219.service.govdelivery.com ([208.42.190.219]:63418) by vps.transocean.com with esmtp (Exim 4.89_1) (envelope-from ) id 1f46X4-0002ua-LB for louk@transocean.com; Thu, 05 Apr 2018 08:11:18 -0700 X-VirtualServer: VSG001, mailer190219.service.govdelivery.com, 172.25.0.219 X-VirtualServerGroup: VSG001 X-MailingID: 17262549::20180405.87972131::1001::MDB-PRD-BUL-20180405.87972131::louk@transocean.com::9580_0 X-SMHeaderMap: mid="X-MailingID" X-Destination-ID: louk@transocean.com X-SMFBL: bG91a0B0cmFuc29jZWFuLmNvbQ== DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha1; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=public.govdelivery.com; s=13q2; i=@public.govdelivery.com; h=Content-Transfer-Encoding: Content-Type:x-subscriber:X-Accountcode:Errors-To:Reply-To: MIME-Version:Message-ID:X-ReportingKey:Subject:Date:To:From; bh=FKo6G1j7bdA+R/D4Q15cVtytG0A=; b=Bo8wW+/xPbl+BBmntoYKUhro7FrOD 8ts+CVwi4g9wRU8ACNysxETbwyZ4qdLFduIsK+Cou6CeZIX7uItoE68ZUD0k9E2f BQIL6sfz6u+83VFR+mPUIKTsd/c1b0M5yN+wiVTRIGRTpknfQDtqUqZhVcpAgYVg WqfDb7CjIP6bYdOjZ0jep3cQf6sX2F+LJPMMq4IZBpimz8xLHTvbvsw8D+MQuhgp lFUIJMyrjT6ae9HJGt9m61l/pHWfFAhBbpZG4VW6Agw/jB8Q6mJCoGYO76nYsEec 15Hau+gJDbsQGXMFaS0ftBeRxlxk7ZmGUkzPKugp55LcjtR9vS7oj91Zw== Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_604_8335_4A70F124.3808D817" x-subscriber: 3.xSFis9Xrt0eGMsbl9xOmw8H5dZpRsLo63rWt9Yopefv4XlVZvJuZQRseplmaNCvpg7QDmskdDakqPo7e3prbWwKmlVz44GEya7GrWNcdpN1RT/jSogSJ1lLVgD+5wCbA2Sru86alCbsrCGflnvx2Gg== X-Accountcode: USSTATEBPA Errors-To: messages@public.govdelivery.com Reply-To: usstatebpa@public.govdelivery.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Message-ID: <17262549.9580@public.govdelivery.com> X-ReportingKey: LJJJ2EWJK3DE7ZJJ17ANJJ::louk@transocean.com::louk@transocean.com Subject: =?US-ASCII?Q?Democracy,_Human_Rights,_and_Labor:_Bureau_of_Democr?= =?US-ASCII?Q?acy,_Human_Rights_and_Labor_(DRL)_Notice_of_Funding_O?= =?US-ASCII?Q?pportunity_(NOFO):_Supporting_Democracy,_Good_Govern?= =?US-ASCII?Q?ance,_Religious_Freedoms_and_Human_Rights_in_Pakistan?= Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2018 10:09:50 -0500 To: louk@transocean.com From: "=?US-ASCII?Q?U.S._Department_of_State?=" X-Spam-Status: No, score=-10.2 X-Spam-Score: -101 X-Spam-Bar: ---------- X-Ham-Report: Spam detection software, running on the system "vps.transocean.com", has NOT identified this incoming email as spam. The original message has been attached to this so you can view it or label similar future email. If you have any questions, see root\@localhost for details. Content preview: You are subscribed to Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Supporting Democracy, Good Governance, Religious Freedoms and Human Rights in Pakistan [ http://www.state.gov/j/drl/p/280237.htm ] 04/05/2018 10:38 AM EDT April 5, 2018 [...] Content analysis details: (-10.2 points, 3.0 required) pts rule name description ---- ---------------------- -------------------------------------------------- 0.0 URIBL_BLOCKED ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE: The query to URIBL was blocked. See http://wiki.apache.org/spamassassin/DnsBlocklists#dnsbl-block for more information. [URIs: statedept.tumblr.com] -7.5 USER_IN_DEF_DKIM_WL From: address is in the default DKIM white-list -7.5 USER_IN_DEF_SPF_WL From: address is in the default SPF white-list -0.0 SPF_PASS SPF: sender matches SPF record -0.0 T_RP_MATCHES_RCVD Envelope sender domain matches handover relay domain 0.0 US_DOLLARS_3 BODY: Mentions millions of $ ($NN,NNN,NNN.NN) 0.5 URI_TRY_3LD URI: "Try it" URI, suspicious hostname 0.8 BAYES_50 BODY: Bayes spam probability is 40 to 60% [score: 0.5000] 0.0 HTML_MESSAGE BODY: HTML included in message 1.1 KAM_REALLYHUGEIMGSRC RAW: Spam with image tags with ridiculously huge http urls -0.1 DKIM_VALID Message has at least one valid DKIM or DK signature -0.1 DKIM_VALID_AU Message has a valid DKIM or DK signature from author's domain 0.1 DKIM_SIGNED Message has a DKIM or DK signature, not necessarily valid 0.0 TVD_PH_BODY_ACCOUNTS_PRE The body matches phrases such as "accounts suspended", "account credited", "account verification" 0.0 LOTS_OF_MONEY Huge... sums of money 2.5 KAM_NIGERIAN Nigerian Scam and Variants 0.0 TVD_PH_BODY_META_ALL No description available. 0.0 T_FILL_THIS_FORM_SHORT Fill in a short form with personal information X-Spam-Flag: NO ------=_NextPart_604_8335_4A70F124.3808D817 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Cp1252" Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable You are subscribed to Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor for U.S. Departm= ent of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now avai= lable. Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and= Labor (DRL) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Supporting Democracy, = Good Governance, Religious Freedoms and Human Rights in Pakistan [ http:/= /www.state.gov/j/drl/p/280237.htm ] 04/05/2018 10:38 AM EDT=20 April 5, 2018=20 ________________________________________________________________________ This is the announcement of funding opportunity number SFOP0004235.=20 *Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number:* 19.345=20 *Application Deadline:* June 1, 2018=20 *_For new application submission instructions, see Section D below._*=20 *A. Project Description*=20 The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor= (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in subm= itting applications for projects that support democracy, good governance,= religious freedoms and human rights in Pakistan.=20 **=20 DRL invites organizations to submit proposals in response to the followin= g project. Each organization can submit up to three (3) proposals in resp= onse to this NOFO. DRL aims to fund one organization for each project, pe= nding availability of funding.=20 *"Supporting womens participation in Baluchistan and FATA (approximately = $900,000)"*=20 DRLs objective is to further opportunities for womens empowerment while p= romoting womens rights in Pakistans Baluchistan Province and the Federall= y Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The bureau seeks proposals for a prog= ram that will 1) promote the effective political and civic participation = of women in Baluchistan and FATA, 2) increase awareness of womens politic= al rights and amplify womens voices in governance discussion, and 3) comb= at violence against women. Activities could include: identifying barriers= to political participation; creating networks with civil society and pol= itical leaders to advance womens rights, protections, and participation; = encouraging women to engage in advocacy and outreach in their communities= and providing necessary training; and harnessing local networks for prev= ention and reporting of violence against women. The project timeline shou= ld be at least 24 months.=20 *"Improving protections against violence and discrimination for targeted = minority groups in Pakistan (approximately $700,000)"*=20 Violence and discrimination against any group, especially when met with i= mpunity, undermines rule of law and basic freedoms and subsequently threa= tens global security and American values. Global stability is strengthene= d when all persons are protected on the basis of equality and with dignit= y. DRLs objective is to use existing or proposed legislation to increase = mutual understanding, protection, and respect for people of all sexual or= ientations and gender identities. The bureau seeks proposals that will 1)= educate members of sexual and gender minority communities about existing= laws that serve to protect their rights, 2) educate the general populati= on about existing and proposed laws that protect the rights of sexual and= gender minorities, and 3) support advocacy toward improved implementatio= n of existing laws and improved legislation for further protections, incl= uding a focus on laws and policies addressing discrimination and bias-mot= ivated violence; the rights of transgender persons and khawaja sira to ac= cess education, medical care and employment free from discrimination; and= other related issues. Activities to support the first component could in= clude awareness raising campaigns for civil society on how communities ca= n use existing laws to increase community protections, training on how to= document violations, and creation of databases that capture these violat= ions at the grassroots level. Activities that focus on the second compone= nt could include targeted analysis of proposed legislative reform, propos= als for changes from relevant stakeholders, and awareness raising campaig= ns building support for these reforms among minority and majority communi= ties, and policy advocacy with law makers and political leadership. The p= roject timeline should be at least 24 months.=20 *"Supporting Childrens Rights in Pakistan (approximately $900,000)"*=20 DRLs goal is to strengthen prevention of and response to child sexual abu= se in Pakistan. The bureau seeks proposals for a program that will 1) sup= port ongoing or establish community awareness/advocacy campaigns about ha= rmful practices that lead to child sexual abuse, 2) promote active invest= igation and prosecution of perpetrators of child sexual abuse by national= and local Pakistani authorities, 3) advocate for new child rights laws, = as needed, and/or reforms or implementation of existing laws, and align t= hem with Pakistans obligations under the UNs Convention on the Rights of = the Child, and 4) facilitate provision of victim support activities and r= esources for children and their families. Potential approaches may includ= e, but are not limited to: arranging community dialogues to discuss the p= revalence, reasons, and solutions to child sexual abuse; training media p= rofessionals and other civil society actors to document, report, and expo= se child sexual abuse, including investigating its causes and potential r= esponses and remedies; engaging the appropriate provincial law enforcemen= t agencies to develop standard procedures for active investigation and pr= osecution of perpetrators; and convening stakeholders at the local level = such as civil society organizations, local government officials, and sec= urity sector institutions to discuss specific strategies for addressing = and preventing child sexual abuse, with the aim of developing local-level= action plans for implementation. Victim support activities may include: = engaging respected community leaders to speak against child sexual abuse = and to promote child protection in general, particularly in areas where t= he abuse is most prevalent; providing or referring victims and their fami= lies to appropriate servicessuch as psychological counseling, legal aid, = and other relevant forms of support through support and promotion of emer= gency response centers and/or other existing resources to ensure effectiv= e provision of resources to victims. The project timeline should be at le= ast 24 months.=20 *"Faith-based womens rights initiative in Pakistan (approximately $1,000,= 000)"*=20 DRLs objective is to engage with religious leaders and educators to advan= ce women's rights and protections in a manner consistent with Pakistans i= nternational obligations and commitments, and to build support for these = goals within Pakistans faith communities. The bureau seeks proposals for = a program that will 1) develop a network of influential leaders and insti= tutions, including religious leaders and religious educators, that will p= rotect and promote women's rights and promote access to justice for women= , and 2) promote greater understanding of womens rights within the contex= ts of Pakistans predominant faiths as a way to build respect for womens r= ights and roles in society and to improve womens access to justice. Activ= ities could include: training religious leaders to facilitate community d= ialogues to promote womens rights; training influential women to engage w= ith religious leaders and lead community dialogues; empowering women to a= ssume leadership roles within their faith communities; training religious= leaders and religious educators to advocate for women's rights and acces= s to justice within their respective faith communities; designing materia= ls or curricula focusing on womens rights within religious contexts that = can be used in community, educational, or media activities; and using mas= s media to increase awareness of and support for women's rights and other= related community issues. Applicants are encouraged to include conservat= ive regions, where there are greater challenges to womens rights, includi= ng incidence of gender-based violence and limited access to justice, amon= g the target areas for this projects activities. The project timeline sho= uld be at least 24 months.=20 *_Key Program Considerations_**:*=20 This list of considerations is provided as a guide to help applicants dev= elop responsive, robust program strategies.=20 * Consistent with DRLs venture-capital style approach to programming, p= rojects should have a model for long-term *sustainability* beyond the lif= e of the grant.=20 * DRL encourages applicants to foster *collaborative partnerships*, esp= ecially with local organization(s) in target countries and/or regions, wh= ere applicable. When appropriate, applicants are encouraged to form *cons= ortia* for submitting a combined proposal, but the primary organization t= hat is developing and deploying the measurement system must be the lead (= prime) applicant.=20 * DRL strives to ensure its programs advance the rights and uphold the = dignity of the most *at-risk and vulnerable populations*. At-risk populat= ions may include women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex= (LGBTI) individuals, members of religious and ethnic minority groups, an= d people with disabilities. To the extent possible, organizations should = identify and address considerations to support these populations. Additio= nally, where appropriate, programs targeting at-risk populations should s= trive to build their leadership in these thematic areas.=20 **=20 Projects should aim to have impact that leads to democratic reforms, and = should have the potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources. DRLs p= reference is to avoid duplicating past efforts by supporting new and crea= tive approaches. This does not exclude from consideration projects that i= mprove upon or expand existing successful projects in a new and complemen= tary way.=20 To maximize the impact and sustainability of the award(s) that result(s) = from this NOFO, DRL reserves the right to execute a non-competitive conti= nuation amendment(s). Any non-competitive continuation is contingent on p= erformance and availability of funds. A non-competitive continuation is n= ot guaranteed; the Department of State reserves the right to exercise or = not exercise the option to issue non-competitive continuation amendment(s= ).=20 Activities that are *not* typically considered competitive include, but a= re not limited to:=20 * The provision of large amounts of humanitarian assistance;=20 * English language instruction;=20 * Development of high-tech computer or communications software and/or h= ardware;=20 * Purely academic exchanges or fellowships;=20 * External exchanges or fellowships lasting longer than six months;=20 * Off-shore activities that are not clearly linked to in-country initia= tives and impact or are not necessary for security concerns;=20 * Theoretical explorations of human rights or democracy issues, includi= ng projects aimed primarily at research and evaluation that do not incorp= orate training or capacity-building for local civil society;=20 * Micro-loans or similar small business development initiatives;=20 * Initiatives directed towards a diaspora community rather than current= residents of targeted countries.=20 DRL may ask successful applicant(s) to incorporate coordination of an imp= lementer and stakeholder meeting into the Scope of Work of the final proj= ect. DRL will discuss this possibility with particular applicant(s) durin= g the proposal negotiation phase.=20 *B. Federal Award Information*=20 DRL anticipates having approximately $3,500,000 of FY17 ESF available to = support approximately four successful applications submitted in response = to this NOFO, subject to the availability of funding. Applicants can subm= it 3 applications in response to the NOFO.=20 Applicants should not request less than $500,000 and no more than the cei= ling (as specified in the project description). Applicants should include= an anticipated start date between August 2018 October 2018 and the peri= od of performance should be between 24-30 months.=20 The U.S. government may (a) reject any or all applications, (b) accept ot= her than the lowest cost application, (c) accept more than one applicatio= n, and (d) waive informalities and minor irregularities in applications r= eceived.=20 The U.S. government may make award(s) on the basis of initial application= s received, without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, each initial = application should contain the applicant's best terms from a cost and tec= hnical standpoint. The U.S. government reserves the right (though it is n= ot under obligation to do so), however, to enter into discussions with on= e or more applicants in order to obtain clarifications, additional detail= , or to suggest refinements in the project description, budget, or other = aspects of an application.=20 DRL anticipates awarding either a grant or cooperative agreement dependin= g on the needs and risk factors of the program. The final determination o= n mechanism will be made by the Grants Officer. The distinction between g= rants and cooperative agreements revolves around the existence of substan= tial involvement. Cooperative agreements require greater Federal governme= nt participation in the project. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, D= RL will undertake reasonable and programmatically necessary substantial i= nvolvement. Examples of substantial involvement can include, but are not = limited to:=20 1) Active participation or collaboration with the recipient in the implem= entation of the award.=20 2) Review and approval of one stage of work before another can begin.=20 3) Review and approval of substantive provisions of proposed subawards or= contracts.=20 4) Approval of the recipients budget or plan of work prior to the award.=20= The authority for this funding opportunity is found in the Foreign Assist= ance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA).=20 *C. Eligibility Information*=20 *_For application information, please see the proposal submission instruc= tions on our website._*=20 *"C.1 Eligible Applicants"*=20 DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit or= ganizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international or= ganizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; = and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRLs preference is to work wi= th non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-p= rofit entity is best suited.=20 Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additiona= l review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Departm= ent of State generally prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organ= izations under its assistance awards. Profit is defined as any amount in = excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of costs = incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the= provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cos= t Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Princi= ples and Procedures.=20 Please see 2 CFR 200.307 for regulations regarding program income.=20 *"C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching"*=20 Providing cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an eligibi= lity factor or requirement for this NOFO, and providing cost share will n= ot result in a more favorable competitive ranking.=20 *"C.3 Other"*=20 Applicants should have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partn= erships with thematic or in-country partners, entities and relevant stake= holders, including private sector partners and NGOs, and have demonstrabl= e experience in administering successful and preferably similar projects.= DRL encourages applications from foreign-based NGOs headquartered in the= geographic regions/countries relevant to this NOFO. Applicants may form = consortia and submit a combined application. However, one organization sh= ould be designated as the lead applicant with the other members as sub-aw= ard partners. DRL reserves the right to request additional background inf= ormation on applicants that do not have previous experience administering= federal grant awards, and these applicants may be subject to limited fun= ding on a pilot basis.=20 DRL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its projects = and activities. DRL welcomes applications irrespective of race, ethnicity= , color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender ident= ity, disability, or other status.=20 Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System in the System fo= r Award Management (SAM)(www.sam.gov) is not eligible to apply for an ass= istance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that imp= lement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR,1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR= ,1989 Comp., p. 235), Debarment and Suspension. Additionally no entity li= sted on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov can participate in an= y activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to re= view the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov to ensure that no inelig= ible entity is included in their application.=20 *D. Application and Submission Information*=20 *"D.1 "**"Address to Request Application Package"*=20 Applicants can find application forms, kits, or other materials needed to= apply on www.grants.gov and SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.= com) under the announcement title Supporting Democracy, Good Governance, = Religious Freedoms and Human Rights in Pakistan, funding opportunity numb= er SFOP0004235. Please contact the DRL point of contact listed in section= G if requesting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities = or for security reasons. Please note: reasonable accommodations do not in= clude deadline extensions.=20 *"D.2"** "Content and Form of Application Submission"*=20 For all application documents, please ensure:=20 1) 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 Engli= sh translation must be provided (please note: the Department of State, as= indicated in 2 CFR 200.111, requires that English is the official langua= ge of all award documents. If any document is provided in both English an= d a foreign language, the English language version is the controlling ver= sion);=20 2) All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments;=20 3) All documents are formatted to 8 x 11 paper; and,=20 4) All documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with 1= -inch margins. Captions and footnotes may be 10 point Times New Roman fon= t. Font sizes in charts and tables, including the budget, can be reformat= ted to fit within 1 page width.=20 *"D.2.1 Application Requirements"*=20 Complete applications _must_ include the following:=20 1. Completed and signed *SF-424*,* SF-424A*, and *SF-424B* forms.=20 2. If your organization engages in lobbying the U.S. government including= Congress, or pays for another entity to lobby on your behalf, the *SF-LL= L* Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form is also required.=20 3. *Cover Page* (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably in Microsoft Word= ) that includes a table with the name of the organization, project title,= target country/countries, thematic area, project synopsis, and name and = contact information for the applications main point of contact.=20 4. *Executive Summary* (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably in Microso= ft Word) that outlines project goals, objectives, and activities.=20 5. *Table of Contents* (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably in Microso= ft Word) listing all documents and attachments, with page numbers.=20 6. *Proposal Narrative* (not to exceed ten [10] pages, preferably in Micr= osoft Word). Please note the ten page limit does not include the Table of= Contents, Cover Page, Attachments, Detailed Budget, Budget Narrative, or= Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). Applicants are encourag= ed to combine multiple documents in a single Word Document or PDF (i.e., = Cover Page, Table of Contents, Executive Summary, and Proposal Narrative = in one file).=20 7. *Budget* (preferably as an Excel workbook) that includes three [3] col= umns containing the request to DRL, any cost sharing contribution, and th= e total budget. A summary budget should also be included using the OMB-ap= proved budget categories (see SF-424A as a sample) in a separate tab. Cos= ts must be in U.S. dollars. Detailed line-item budgets for subgrantees sh= ould be included as additional tabs within the Excel workbook (if availab= le at the time of submission).=20 8. *Budget Narrative* (preferably as a Word Document) that includes subst= antive explanations and justifications for each line-item in the detailed= budget spreadsheet, as well as the source and a description of all cost-= share offered.=20 9. Your organizations most recent A-133* audit* (if applicable), F Audit,= or standard audit. Please see "Audit" section 2F below for more informat= ion.=20 10. *Logic Model* (not to exceed two [2] pages, preferably in Microsoft W= ord).=20 11. *Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative* (not to exceed two [2] pages).=20= 12. *Monitoring and Evaluation Performance Indicator Table* (not to excee= d four [4] pages in Microsoft Word).=20 13. *Risk Analysis* (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably in Microsoft = Word).=20 14. *Key Personnel* (not to exceed one [1] page total, preferably as a Wo= rd Document): Please include short bios that demonstrate relevant profess= ional experience. Given the limited space, CVs are not recommended for su= bmission.=20 15. *Timeline* (not to exceed one [1] page): The timeline of the overall = proposal should include activities, evaluation efforts, and program close= out.=20 *Applications that do not include the elements listed above will be deeme= d technically ineligible. *=20 *"D.2.2 Additional Application Documents"*=20 Strong applications will also contain the following:=20 * Individual Letters of Support and/or Memorandum of Understanding. Let= ters of support and MOUs must be specific to the project implementation (= e.g. from proposed partners or sub-award recipients) and will not count t= owards the page limit.=20 *"Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instructions on DRLs website fo= r detailed guidance on the documents above:"* *"http://www.state.gov/docu= ments/organization/275216.pdf"* [ http://www.state.gov/documents/organiza= tion/275216.pdf ]*". For an application checklist and sample templates pl= ease see the Resources page on DRLs website:"**"http://www.state.gov/j/dr= l/p/c72333.htm"* [ http://www.state.gov/j/drl/p/c72333.htm ]*". "**"The s= ample templates provided on the DRL website are suggested, but not mandat= ory."*=20 DRL reserves the right to request additional documents not included in th= is NOFO. Additionally, to ensure that all applications receive a balanced= evaluation, the DRL Review Panel will review from the first page of each= section up to the page limit and no further.=20 Note: If ultimately provided with a notification of non-binding intent to= make a Federal award, applicants typically have two to three weeks to pr= ovide additional information and documents requested in the notification = of intent. The deadlines may vary in each notification of intent and appl= icants must adhere to the stated deadline in the notification of intent.=20= *"D.2.3 Additional Information Requested For Those Receiving Notification= of Intent"*=20 Successful applicants must submit after notification of intent to make a = Federal award, but prior to issuance of a Federal award:=20 * Written responses and revised application documents addressing condit= ions and recommendations from the DRL Review Panel;=20 * If your organization has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the bu= dget, your latest NICRA as a PDF file.=20 * Completion of the Departments Financial Management Survey, if receivi= ng DRL funding for the first time;=20 * Submission of required documents to register in the Payment Managemen= t System managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, if recei= ving DRL funding for the first time (unless an exemption is provided);=20= * Other requested information or documents included in the notification= of intent to make a Federal award or subsequent communications prior to = issuance of a Federal award.=20 *"D.3 Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)"*=20= All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another count= ry, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), formerly referred to as D= UNS, and an active registration with the SAM.gov *before submitting an ap= plication*. DRL may _not_ review applications from or make awards to appl= icants that have not completed all applicable UEI and SAM.gov requirement= s. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the = Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Fede= ral awards.=20 *"Note: The process of obtaining a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere= from 4-8 weeks. _Please begin your registration as early as possible_."*= =20 * If you are based* in the United States* or pay employees within the U= nited States, prior to registering in SAM.gov you will need an Employer I= dentification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a = Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code.=20 * If you are based *outside of the United States* and do not pay employ= ees within the United States, you do not need an EIN from the IRS. Howeve= r, you will need a NATO CAGE (NCAGE) code before you can have an active r= egistration in SAM.gov.=20 All organizations must also continue to maintain active SAM.gov registrat= ion with current information at all times during which they have an activ= e Federal award or application under consideration by a Federal award age= ncy. SAM.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a yea= r in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM. It is the re= sponsibility 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 app= licant may be deemed unqualified to receive an award and use that determi= nation as a basis for making an award to another applicant.=20 For further guidance on the registration process, please see the SAM.gov = Registration Guide on DRLs website: [ http://www.state.gov/j/drl/p/c7233= 3.htm ]http://www.state.gov/j/drl/p/c72333.htm. Please refer to 2 CFR 25.= 200 for additional information.=20 Please note the registration process for SAM.gov is free.=20 *"In October 2017, new information was added to the www.SAM.gov website t= o help international registrations, including Quick Start Guide for Inter= national Registrations and Helpful Hints. Navigate to SAM.gov, click HELP= in the top navigation bar, then click International Registrants in the l= eft navigation panel."*=20 *"D.3.1 Exemptions"*=20 An exemption from these requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case b= asis if:=20 * An applicants identity must be protected due to potential endangermen= t of their mission, their organizations status, their employees, or indiv= iduals being served by the applicant.=20 ** Organizations requesting exemption from SAM.gov, NCAGE, and UEI should= email the point of contact in the NOFO". "If establishing your SAM.gov a= ccount as private rather than public view, please notify DRL at the time = of submission.*=20 "Note: Foreign organizations will be required to register with the NATO S= upport Agency (NSPA) to receive a NCAGE code in order to register in SAM.= gov. NSPA will forward your registration request to the applicable Nation= al Codification Bureau (NCB) if your organization is located in a NATO or= Tier 2 Sponsored Non-NATO Nation. As of March 2016, NATO nations include= d Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, E= stonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuan= ia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,= Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States of Americ= a; and Tier 2 nations included Australia, Austria, Brazil, Finland, Israe= l, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Serbia, and Singapo= re."=20 "NSPA"" and/or the appropriate NCB forwards all NCAGE code information to= all Allied Committee 135 (AC/135) nations, which as of March 2016 also i= ncluded Afghanistan, Argentina, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brunei Dar= ussalam, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan= , Montenegro, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, S= weden, Thailand, Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emir= ates. *_All organizations are strongly advised to take this into consider= ation when assessing whether registration may result in possible endanger= ment_.*"=20 *"D.4 Submission Dates and Times "*=20 *Applications are due no later than_ 11:59 p.m_. Eastern Standard Time (E= ST), on Friday, June 1, 2018 on www.grants.gov or SAMS Domestic *(https:/= /mygrants.service-now.com)* under the announcement title Supporting Democ= racy, Good Governance, Religious Freedoms and Human Rights in Pakistan, f= unding opportunity number SFOP0004235.*=20 Grants.gov and SAMS Domestic automatically log the date and time an appli= cation submission is made, and the Department of State will use this info= rmation to determine whether an application has been submitted on time. L= ate applications are neither reviewed nor considered unless the DRL point= of contact listed in section G is contacted prior to the deadline and is= provided with evidence of system errors caused by www.grants.gov or SAMS= Domestic that is outside of the applicants control and is the sole reaso= n for a late submission. Applicants should not expect a notification upon= DRL receiving their application.=20 *"D.5 Funding Restrictions"*=20 DRL will not consider applications that reflect any type of support for a= ny member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist organiz= ation.=20 Project activities whose direct beneficiaries are foreign militaries or p= aramilitary groups or individuals will not be considered for DRL funding = given purpose limitations on funding.=20 DRL requires U.S. government Risk Analysis Management (RAM) vetting of al= l organizations and individuals programming in Pakistan, which may includ= e the board of directors from grantee and sub-award organizations, progra= m staff, and any program participants receiving direct assistance through= grant funds. Prime recipients may be required to perform vetting through= the RAM portal on subrecipients. The purpose of such vetting is to mitig= ate the risk that U.S. government funding is provided to terrorists or th= eir supporters. Depending on the type of vetting, the required informatio= n requested may include for each individual: full name, date of birth, pl= ace of birth, nationality, a government issued ID number (drivers license= s are not accepted for any country; if the individual is a U.S. citizen/p= ermanent residents, a SSN is required), and contact information (phone nu= mber, email address, or Skype account (if Skype is submitted an email mus= t accompany it)). If the vetting procedure results in the discovery of de= rogatory information, the Grants Officer will use this information in mak= ing a final determination of award as part of the risk assessment. *Pleas= e keep these vetting requirements in mind when designing each program.*=20= The Leahy Law prohibits Department foreign assistance funds from supporti= ng foreign security force units if the Secretary of State has credible in= formation that the unit has committed a gross violation of human rights. = Per 22 USC 2378d(a) (2015), [ https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2015-t= itle22/html/USCODE-2015-title22-chap32-subchapIII-partI-sec2378d.htm ] No= assistance shall be furnished under this chapter [FOREIGN ASSISTANCE] or= the Arms Export Control Act [22 USC 2751 et seq.] to any unit of the sec= urity forces of a foreign country if the Secretary of State has credible = information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human right= s. Restrictions may apply to any proposed assistance to police or other l= aw enforcement. Among these, pursuant to section 620M of the Foreign Assi= stance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA), no assistance provided through this= funding opportunity may be furnished to any unit of the security forces = of a foreign country when there is credible information that such unit ha= s committed a gross violation of human rights. In accordance with the req= uirements of section 620M of the FAA, also known as the Leahy law, projec= t beneficiaries or participants from a foreign governments security force= s may need to be vetted by the Department before the provision of any ass= istance.=20 If a proposed grant or cooperative agreement will provide assistance to f= oreign security forces or personnel, compliance with the Leahy Law is req= uired. Federal awards generally will not allow reimbursement of pre-award= costs; however, the Grants Officer may approve pre-award costs on a case= -by-case basis. Generally, construction costs are not allowed under DRL a= wards. For additional information, please see the DRL Proposal Submission= Instructions for Applications using SAMS Domestic Updated October 2017: = *"http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/275216.pdf"* [ http://www.s= tate.gov/documents/organization/275216.pdf ]=20 *"D.6 Application Submission"*=20 All application submissions must be made electronically via www.grants.go= v or SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com). Both systems requi= re registration by the applying organization. Please note: the Grants.gov= registration process can take 10 business days or longer, even if all re= gistration steps are completed in a timely manner.=20 It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that it has an active= registration in SAMS Domestic or Grants.gov. Applicants are required to = document that the application has been received by SAMS Domestic or Grant= s.gov in its entirety. DRL bears no responsibility for disqualification t= hat result from applicants not being registered before the due date, for = system errors in either SAMS Domestic or Grants.gov, or other errors in t= he application process. Additionally you _must _save a screen shot of the= checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document fails to = upload successfully.=20 Faxed, couriered, or emailed documents will *_not_* be accepted. Reasonab= le accommodations may, in appropriate circumstances, be provided to appli= cants with disabilities or for security reasons. Applicants must follow a= ll formatting instructions in the applicable NOFO and these instructions.= =20 DRL encourages organizations to *_submit applications during normal busin= ess hours_* (Monday Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00PM Eastern Time). If an applica= nt experiences technical difficulties and has contacted the appropriate h= elpdesk but is not receiving timely assistance (e.g. if you have not rece= ived a response within 48 hours of contacting the helpdesk), you may cont= act the DRL point of contact listed in the NOFO in section G. The point o= f contact may assist in contacting the appropriate helpdesk, but an appli= cant should also document their efforts in contacting the helpdesk. Appli= cants may also contact the DRL point of contact listed in the NOFO if exp= eriencing technical issues with grants.gov or SAMS Domestic that may resu= lt in a late submission.=20 Applicants experiencing technical difficulties should follow these three = steps:=20 1. Contact the helpdesk for either Grants.gov or SAMS Domestic immediatel= y.=20 2. Document (including screenshots) technical issues AND efforts to conta= ct the helpdesk.=20 3. Submit all of the required documents to the DRL point of contact liste= d in the NOFO before the deadline.=20 "Note: The Procurement Office/Grant Office will determine technical eligi= bility of all applications."=20 *SAMS** Domestic Applications:*=20 Applicants using SAMS Domestic for the first time should complete their N= ew Organization Registration. To register with SAMS Domestic, click Login= to https://mygrants.service-now.com and follow the create an account lin= k.=20 Organizations *_must _*remember to save a screen shot of the checklist sh= owing all documents submitted in case any document fails to upload succes= sfully.=20 *SAMS** Domestic Help Desk*: For assistance with SAMS Domestic accounts and technical issues related t= o the system, please contact the ILMS help desk by phone at 1-888-313-456= 7 (toll charges for international callers) or through the Self Service on= line portal that can be accessed from https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilm= s/home. Customer Support is available 24/7/365.=20 *Grants.gov Applications* Applicants who do not submit applications via SAMS Domestic may submit vi= a www.grants.gov.=20 Please be advised that completing all the necessary registration steps fo= r obtaining a username and password from Grants.gov *can take more than t= wo weeks.*=20 Please refer to the Grants.gov website for definitions of various "applic= ation statuses" and the difference between a submission receipt and a sub= mission validation. Applicants will receive a validation e-mail from Gran= ts.gov upon the successful submission of an application. Validation of an= electronic submission via Grants.gov can take up to two business days. A= dditionally you *_must_ *remember to save a screenshot of the checklist s= howing all documents submitted in case any document fails to upload succe= ssfully.=20 *Grants.gov Helpdesk:*=20 For assistance with Grants.gov, please call the Contact Center at 1-800-5= 18-4726 or email support@grants.gov. The Contact Center is available 24 h= ours a day, seven days a week, except federal holidays.=20 See https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/f= ederal-holidays/ for a list of federal holidays.=20 *E. Application Review Information*=20 *"E.1 Proposal Review Criteria"*=20 The DRL Review Panel will evaluate each application individually against = the following criteria, listed below in order of importance, and not agai= nst competing applications. Please use the below criteria as a reference = but *do not structure your application according to the sub-sections*.=20= _Quality of Project Idea_=20 Applications should be responsive to the program framework and policy obj= ectives identified in the NOFO, appropriate in the country/regional conte= xt, and should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance t= o DRLsmission of promoting human rights and democracy. Projects should ha= ve the potential to have an immediate impact leading to long-term sustain= able reforms. DRL prefers new approaches that do not duplicate efforts by= other entities. This does not exclude from consideration projects that i= mprove upon or expand existing successful projects in a new and complemen= tary way. In countries where similar activities are already taking place,= an explanation should be provided as to how new activities will not dupl= icate or merely add to existing activities and how these efforts will be = coordinated. Proposals that promote creative approaches to recognized ong= oing challenges are highly encouraged. DRL prioritizes project proposals = with inclusive approaches for advancing these rights.=20 _Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives_=20 A strong application will include a clear articulation of how the propose= d project activities contribute to the overall project objectives, and ea= ch activity will be clearly developed and detailed. A comprehensive month= ly work plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and the logistic= al capacity of the organization. Objectives should be ambitious yet measu= rable, results-focused and achievable in a reasonable time frame. A compl= ete application must include a logic model to demonstrate how the project= activities will have an impact on its proposed objectives. The logic mod= el should match the objectives, outcomes, key activities and outputs desc= ribed in the narrative. Applications should address how the project will = engage relevant stakeholders and should identify local partners as approp= riate.=20 If local partners have been identified, DRL strongly encourages applicant= s to submit letters of support from proposed in-country partners. Additio= nally, applicants should describe the division of labor among the direct = applicant and any local partners. If applicable, applications should iden= tify target geographic areas for activities, target participant groups or= selection criteria for participants, and the specific roles of sub-award= ees, among other pertinent details.=20 DRL recognizes that all programs have some level of risk due to internal/= external variables that have the potential to adversely affect a program.= Risk management should address how the program design incorporates the i= dentification, assessment, and management of key risk factors. DRL will r= eview the risk analysis based on the organizations ability to identify ri= sks that could have an impact on the overall program as well as how the o= rganization will manage these risks.=20 _Institutions Record and Capacity_=20 DRL will consider the past performance of prior recipients and the demons= trated potential of new applicants. Applications should demonstrate an in= stitutional record of successful democracy and human rights programs, inc= luding responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporti= ng requirements for past grants. Proposed personnel and institutional res= ources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the project's object= ives. Projects should have potential for continued funding beyond DRL res= ources.=20 _Inclusivity of Marginalized Populations_=20 DRL strives to ensure its projects advance the rights and uphold the dign= ity of all persons. The Bureau requests an inclusive programming approach= , which should encompass marginalized populations, especially those facin= g discrimination and violence that undermines societys collective securit= y. To the extent possible, applicants should identify and support margina= lized populations in all proposed project activities and objectives, and = should provide specific analysis, measures, and corresponding targets to = include them as appropriate. It assumes that interventions will not affec= t all segments of society in the same way. It requires stakeholders to id= entify and address the difference between the opportunities and barriers = to equality and to design programs in a way that does not perpetuate ineq= uality.=20 _Cost Effectiveness_=20 DRL strongly encourages applicants to clearly demonstrate project cost-ef= fectiveness in their application, including examples of leveraging instit= utional and other resources. However, cost-sharing or other examples of l= everaging other resources are not required. Inclusion of cost-sharing in = the budget does not result in additional points awarded during the review= process. Budgets should have low and/or reasonable overhead and administ= ration costs, and applicants should provide clear explanations and justif= ications for these costs in relation to the work involved. All budget ite= ms should be clearly explained and justified to demonstrate necessity, ap= propriateness, and connection to the project objectives.=20 "Please note: If cost-share is included in the budget, the recipient must= maintain written records to support all allowable costs that are claimed= as its contribution to cost-share, as well as costs to be paid by the Fe= deral government. Such records are subject to audit. In the event the rec= ipient does not meet the minimum amount of cost-sharing as stipulated in = the recipients budget, DRLs contribution may be reduced in proportion to = the recipients contribution."=20 _Multiplier Effect/Sustainability_=20 Applications should clearly delineate how elements of the project will ha= ve a multiplier effect and be sustainable beyond the life of the grant. A= good multiplier effect will have an impact beyond the direct beneficiari= es of the grant (e.g. participants trained under a grant go on to train o= ther people; workshop participants use skills from a workshop to enhance = a national level election that affects the entire populace). A strong sus= tainability plan may include demonstrating continuing impact beyond the l= ife of a project or garnering other donor support after DRL funding cease= s.=20 _Project Monitoring and Evaluation_=20 Complete applications will include a detailed M&E Narrative and M&E Plan,= which detail how the projects progress will be monitored and evaluated. = Incorporating well-designed monitoring and evaluation processes into a pr= oject is an efficient method for documenting the change (intended and uni= ntended) that a project seeks. Applications should demonstrate the capaci= ty to provide objectives with measurable outputs and outcomes.=20 The quality of the M&E sections will be judged on the narrative explainin= g how both monitoring and evaluation will be carried out and who will be = responsible for those related activities. The M&E Narrative should explai= n how an external evaluation will be incorporated into the project implem= entation plan or how the project will be systematically assessed in the a= bsence of one. Please see the section on "Monitoring and Evaluation Narra= tive" in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for more information = on what is required in the narrative.=20 The output and outcome-based performance indicators should not only be se= parated by project objectives but also should match the objectives, outco= mes, and outputs detailed in the logic model and proposal narrative. Perf= ormance indicators should be clearly defined (i.e., explained how the ind= icators will be measured and reported) either within the table or with a = separate Performance Indicator Reference Sheet (PIRS). For each performan= ce indicator, the table should also include baselines and quarterly and c= umulative targets, data collection tools, data sources, types of data dis= aggregation, and frequency of monitoring and evaluation. There should als= o be metrics to capture how project activities target those discriminated= against or marginalized populations or addresses their concerns, where a= pplicable. Please see the section on "Monitoring and Evaluation Plan" in = the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for more information on what i= s required in the plan.=20 *"E.2 Review and Selection Process"*=20 DRL strives to ensure that each application receives a balanced evaluatio= n by a DRL Review Panel. The Departments Office of Acquisitions Managemen= t (AQM) will determine technical eligibility for all applications. All te= chnically eligible applications for a given NOFO are reviewed against the= same seven criteria, which include quality of project idea, project plan= ning/ability to achieve objectives, institutional record and capacity, in= clusive programming, cost effectiveness, multiplier effect/sustainability= , and project monitoring and evaluation.=20 Additionally, the DRL Review Panel will evaluate how the application addr= esses the NOFO request, U.S. foreign policy goals, and the priority needs= of DRL overall. DRL may also take into consideration the balance of the = current portfolio of active projects, including geographic or thematic di= versity, if needed.=20 In most cases, the DRL Review Panel includes representatives from DRL, th= e appropriate Department of State regional bureau (to include feedback fr= om U.S. embassies), and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)= (to include feedback from USAID missions). In some cases, additional pan= elists may participate, including from other Department of State bureaus = or offices, U.S. government departments, agencies, or boards, representat= ives from partner governments, or representatives from entities that are = in a public-private partnership with DRL. At the end of the panels discus= sion about an application, the Panel votes on recommending the applicatio= n for approval by the DRL Assistant Secretary. If more applications are u= ltimately recommended for approval than DRL can fund, the Panel will rank= the recommended applications in priority order for consideration by the = DRL Assistant Secretary. The Grants Officer Representative (GOR) for the = eventual award does not vote on the panel. All Panelists must sign non-di= sclosure agreements and conflicts of interest agreements.=20 DRL Review Panels may provide conditions and recommendations on applicati= ons to enhance the proposed project, which must be addressed by the appli= cant before further consideration of the award. To ensure effective use o= f DRLfunds, conditions or recommendations may include requests to increas= e, decrease, clarify, and/or justify costs and project activities.=20 *F. Federal Award Administration Information*=20 *"F.1 Federal Award Notices"*=20 DRL will provide a separate notification to applicants on the result of t= heir applications. Successful applicants will receive a letter electronic= ally via email requesting that the applicant respond to Panel conditions = and recommendations. This notification is not an authorization to begin a= ctivities and does not constitute formal approval or a funding commitment= .=20 Final approval is contingent on the applicant successfully responding to = the Panels conditions and recommendations, being registered in required s= ystems, including the U.S. governments Payment Management System (PMS), u= nless an exemption is provided, and completing and providing any addition= al documentation requested by DRL or AQM. Final approval is also continge= nt on Congressional notification requirements being met and final review = and approval by the Departments warranted Grants Officer.=20 The notice of Federal award signed by the Departments warranted Grants Of= ficers is the sole authorizing document. If awarded, the notice of Federa= l award will be provided to the applicants designated Authorizing Officia= l via SAMSDomestic to be electronically counter-signed in the system.=20 *"F.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements"*=20 The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requir= ements for Federal Awards set forth in 2 CFR Chapter 200 (Sub-Chapters A = through F) shall apply to all non-Federal entities, except for assistance= awards to Individuals and Foreign Public Entities. Sub-Chapters A throug= h E shall apply to all foreign organizations, and Sub-Chapters A through = D shall apply to all U.S. and foreign for-profit entities.=20 The applicant/recipient of the award and any sub-recipient under the awar= d must comply with all applicable terms and conditions, in addition to th= e assurance and certifications made part of the Notice of Award. The Depa= rtments Standard Terms and Conditions can be viewed at [ http://www.stat= e.gov/j/drl/p/c72333.htm ]https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm.=20 *"F.3 Reporting"*=20 Applicants should be aware that DRL awards will require that all reports = (financial and progress) are uploaded to the grant file in SAMS Domestic = on a quarterly basis. The Federal Financial Report (FFR or SF-425) is the= required form for the financial reports and must be submitted in PMS as = well as a copy from PMS then uploaded to the grant file in SAMS Domestic.= The progress reports uploaded to the grant file in SAMS Domestic must a = narrative as described below; and Project Indicators (or other mutually a= greed upon format approved by the Grants Officer) for the F Framework ind= icators.=20 Narrative progress reports should reflect the focus on measuring the proj= ects impact on the overarching objectives and should be compiled accordin= g to the objectives, outcomes, and outputs as outlined in the awards Scop= e of Work (SOW) and in the Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative. An assess= ment of the overall projects impact should be included in each progress r= eport. Where relevant, progress reports should include the following sect= ions:=20 * Relevant contextual information (limited);=20 * Explanation and evaluation of significant activities of the reporting= period and how the activities reflect progress toward achieving objectiv= es, including meeting benchmarks/targets as set in the M&E plan. In addit= ion, attach the M&E plan, comparing the target and actual numbers for the= indicators;=20 * Any tangible impact or success stories from the project, when possibl= e;=20 * Copy of mid-term and/or final evaluation report(s) conducted by an ex= ternal evaluator; if applicable;=20 * Relevant supporting documentation or products related to the project = activities (such as articles, meeting lists and agendas, participant surv= eys, photos, manuals, etc.) as separate attachments;=20 * Description of how the Recipient is pursuing sustainability, includin= g looking for sources of follow-on funding;=20 * Any problems/challenges in implementing the project and a corrective = action plan with an updated timeline of activities;=20 * Reasons why established goals were not met;=20 * Data for the required F Framework indicator(s) for the quarter as wel= l as aggregate data by fiscal year: Program Indicators or other mutually = agreed upon format approved by the Grants Officer.=20 * Proposed activities for the next quarter;=20 * Additional pertinent information, including analysis and explanation = of cost overruns or high unit costs, if applicable.=20 A final narrative and financial report must also be submitted within 90 d= ays after the expiration of the award.=20 Please note: Delays in reporting may result in delays of payment approval= s and failure to provide required reports may jeopardize the recipient's = ability to receive future U.S. government funds.=20 DRL reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or fina= ncial project information during the award period.=20 *G. Contact Information*=20 For technical submission questions related to this NOFO, please contact D= RL-SCA-ProgramInfo@state.gov.=20 For assistance with SAMS Domestic accounts and technical issues related t= o the system, please contact the ILMS help desk by phone at 1-888-313-456= 7 (toll charges for international callers) or through the Self Service on= line portal that can be accessed from https://afsitsm.service-now.com/ilm= s/home. Customer Support is available 24/7/365.=20 Please note, establishing an account in SAMS Domestic may require the use= of smartphone for multi-factor authentication (MFA). If an applicant doe= s not have accessibility to a smartphone during the time of creating an a= ccount, please contact the helpdesk and request and instructions on MFA f= or Windows PC.=20 For assistance with Grants.gov accounts and technical issues related to u= sing the system, please call the Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or emai= l support@grants.gov. The Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, sev= en days a week, except federal holidays.=20 For a list of federal holidays visit:=20 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/feder= al-holidays/=20 With the exception of technical submission questions, during the NOFO per= iod U.S. Department of State staff in Washington and overseas shall not d= iscuss this competition with applicants until the entire proposal review = process has been completed and rejection and approval letters have been t= ransmitted.=20 *H. Other Information*=20 Applicants should be aware that DRL understands that some information con= tained in applications may be considered sensitive or proprietary and wil= l make appropriate efforts to protect such information. However, applican= ts are advised that DRL cannot guarantee that such information will not b= e disclosed, including pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) = or other similar statutes.=20 The information in this NOFO and DRLs Proposal Submission Instructions fo= r Applications using SAMS Domestic Updated October 2017 is binding and ma= y not be modified by any DRL representative. Explanatory information prov= ided by DRL that contradicts this language will not be binding. Issuance = of the NOFO and negotiation of applications does not constitute an award = commitment on the part of the U.S. government. DRL reserves the right to = reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets.=20 This NOFO will appear on www.grants.gov, SAMS Domestic and DRLs website h= ttp://www.state.gov/j/drl/p/c12302.htm.=20 _Background Information on DRL and general DRL funding_=20 DRL has the mission of promoting democracy and protecting human rights gl= obally. DRL supports projects that uphold democratic principles, support = and strengthen democratic institutions, promote human rights, prevent atr= ocities, combat and prevent violent extremism, and build civil society ar= ound the world. DRL typically focuses its work in countries with egregiou= s human rights violations, where democracy and human rights advocates are= under pressure and where governments are undemocratic or in transition.=20= Additional background information on DRL and its efforts can be found on = www.state.gov/j/drl [ http://www.state.gov/j/drl ].=20 "The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this= site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endo= rsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein." body { font-size: 1em; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weig= ht: normal; font-style: normal; color: #333333; } _______________________= _________________________________________________ Stay connected with the State Department: State Dept website [ http://www.state.gov ]DipNote Blog [ http://blogs.st= ate.gov/ ]Twitter [ http://twitter.com/StateDept ]Tumblr [ http://statede= pt.tumblr.com/ ]RSS Feed [ http://www.state.gov/misc/echannels/66791.htm = ]Facebook [ http://www.facebook.com/usdos ]Flickr [ http://www.flickr.com= /photos/statephotos ]YouTube [ http://www.youtube.com/user/statevideo ]Go= ogle Plus [ https://plus.google.com/u/0/102630068213960289352#10263006821= 3960289352/posts ]Instagram [ http://instagram.com/statedept ] ________________________________________________________________________ External links found in this content or on Department of State websites t= hat go to other non-Department websites should not be construed as an end= orsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. 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This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of State = [ http://www.state.gov/ ]. ________________________________________________________________________ This email was sent to louk@transocean.com using GovDelivery Communicatio= ns Cloud on behalf of: U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washing= ton, DC 20520 GovDelivery logo [ https://insights.govdelivery.com/Communi= cations/Subscriber_Help_Center ] =0A ------=_NextPart_604_8335_4A70F124.3808D817 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Cp1252" Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable = Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: Bureau of Democracy, Human= Rights and Labor (DRL) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Supporting = Democracy, Good Governance, Religious Freedoms and Human Rights in Pakist= an
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Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor: Bu= reau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) Notice of Funding Opportu= nity (NOFO): Supporting Democracy, Good Governance, Religious Freedoms an= d Human Rights in Pakistan
04/05/2018 10:38 AM EDT
April 5, 2018

=09This is the announcement of funding opportunity number SFOP0004235.

=09Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.345

=09Application Deadline: June 1, 2018

=09For new application submission instructions, see Section D below= .

=09A. Project Description

=09The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and La= bor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in s= ubmitting applications for projects that support democracy, good governan= ce, religious freedoms and human rights in Pakistan.

=09**

=09DRL invites organizations to submit proposals in response to the follo= wing project. Each organization can submit up to three (3) proposals in r= esponse to this NOFO. DRL aims to fund one organization for each project,= pending availability of funding.

=09Supporting women=92s participation in Baluchistan and FATA (appr= oximately $900,000)

=09DRL=92s objective is to further opportunities for women=92s empowermen= t while promoting women=92s rights in Pakistan=92s Baluchistan Province a= nd the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The bureau seeks propo= sals for a program that will 1) promote the effective political and civic= participation of women in Baluchistan and FATA, 2) increase awareness of= women=92s political rights and amplify women=92s voices in governance di= scussion, and 3) combat violence against women. Activities could include:= identifying barriers to political participation; creating networks with = civil society and political leaders to advance women=92s rights, protecti= ons, and participation; encouraging women to engage in advocacy and outre= ach in their communities and providing necessary training; and harnessing= local networks for prevention and reporting of violence against women. T= he project timeline should be at least 24 months.

=09Improving protections against violence and discrimination for ta= rgeted minority groups in Pakistan (approximately $700,000)

=09Violence and discrimination against any group, especially when met wit= h impunity, undermines rule of law and basic freedoms and subsequently th= reatens global security and American values. Global stability is strength= ened when all persons are protected on the basis of equality and with dig= nity. DRL=92s objective is to use existing or proposed legislation to inc= rease mutual understanding, protection, and respect for people of all sex= ual orientations and gender identities. The bureau seeks proposals that w= ill 1) educate members of sexual and gender minority communities about ex= isting laws that serve to protect their rights, 2) educate the general po= pulation about existing and proposed laws that protect the rights of sexu= al and gender minorities, and 3) support advocacy toward improved impleme= ntation of existing laws and improved legislation for further protections= , including a focus on laws and policies addressing discrimination and bi= as-motivated violence; the rights of transgender persons and khawaja sira= to access education, medical care and employment free from discriminatio= n; and other related issues. Activities to support the first component co= uld include awareness raising campaigns for civil society on how communit= ies can use existing laws to increase community protections, training on = how to document violations, and creation of databases that capture these = violations at the grassroots level. Activities that focus on the second c= omponent could include targeted analysis of proposed legislative reform, = proposals for changes from relevant stakeholders, and awareness raising c= ampaigns building support for these reforms among minority and majority c= ommunities, and policy advocacy with law makers and political leadership.= The project timeline should be at least 24 months.

=09Supporting Children=92s Rights in Pakistan (approximately $900,0= 00)

=09DRL=92s goal is to strengthen prevention of and response to child sexu= al abuse in Pakistan. The bureau seeks proposals for a program that will = 1) support ongoing or establish community awareness/advocacy campaigns ab= out harmful practices that lead to child sexual abuse, 2) promote active = investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of child sexual abuse by na= tional and local Pakistani authorities, 3) advocate for new child rights = laws, as needed, and/or reforms or implementation of existing laws, and a= lign them with Pakistan=92s obligations under the UN=92s Convention on th= e Rights of the Child, and 4) facilitate provision of victim support acti= vities and resources for children and their families. Potential approache= s may include, but are not limited to: arranging community dialogues to d= iscuss the prevalence, reasons, and solutions to child sexual abuse; trai= ning media professionals and other civil society actors to document, repo= rt, and expose child sexual abuse, including investigating its causes and= potential responses and remedies; engaging the appropriate provincial la= w enforcement agencies to develop standard procedures for active investig= ation and prosecution of perpetrators; and convening stakeholders at the = local level =96 such as civil society organizations, local government off= icials, and security sector institutions =96 to discuss specific strategi= es for addressing and preventing child sexual abuse, with the aim of deve= loping local-level action plans for implementation. Victim support activi= ties may include: engaging respected community leaders to speak against c= hild sexual abuse and to promote child protection in general, particularl= y in areas where the abuse is most prevalent; providing or referring vict= ims and their families to appropriate services=96such as psychological co= unseling, legal aid, and other relevant forms of support=96 through suppo= rt and promotion of emergency response centers and/or other existing reso= urces to ensure effective provision of resources to victims. The project = timeline should be at least 24 months.

=09Faith-based women=92s rights initiative in Pakistan (approximate= ly $1,000,000)

=09DRL=92s objective is to engage with religious leaders and educators to= advance women's rights and protections in a manner consistent with Pakis= tan=92s international obligations and commitments, and to build support f= or these goals within Pakistan=92s faith communities. The bureau seeks pr= oposals for a program that will 1) develop a network of influential leade= rs and institutions, including religious leaders and religious educators,= that will protect and promote women's rights and promote access to justi= ce for women, and 2) promote greater understanding of women=92s rights wi= thin the contexts of Pakistan=92s predominant faiths as a way to build re= spect for women=92s rights and roles in society and to improve women=92s = access to justice. Activities could include: training religious leaders t= o facilitate community dialogues to promote women=92s rights; training in= fluential women to engage with religious leaders and lead community dialo= gues; empowering women to assume leadership roles within their faith comm= unities; training religious leaders and religious educators to advocate f= or women's rights and access to justice within their respective faith com= munities; designing materials or curricula focusing on women=92s rights w= ithin religious contexts that can be used in community, educational, or m= edia activities; and using mass media to increase awareness of and suppor= t for women's rights and other related community issues. Applicants are e= ncouraged to include conservative regions, where there are greater challe= nges to women=92s rights, including incidence of gender-based violence an= d limited access to justice, among the target areas for this project=92s = activities. The project timeline should be at least 24 months.

=09Key Program Considerations:

=09This list of considerations is provided as a guide to help applicants = develop responsive, robust program strategies.

    =09
  • Consistent with DRL=92s venture-capit= al style approach to programming, projects should have a model for long-t= erm sustainability beyond the life of the grant.
    • =09
  • DRL encourages applicants to foster <= b>collaborative partnerships, especially with local organization(s) i= n target countries and/or regions, where applicable. When appropriate, ap= plicants are encouraged to form consortia for submitting a combine= d proposal, but the primary organization that is developing and deploying= the measurement system must be the lead (=93prime=94) applicant.
    • =09
  • DRL strives to ensure its programs ad= vance the rights and uphold the dignity of the most at-risk and vulner= able populations. At-risk populations may include women, lesbian, gay= , bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals, members of rel= igious and ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities. To the e= xtent possible, organizations should identify and address considerations = to support these populations. Additionally, where appropriate, programs t= argeting at-risk populations should strive to build their leadership in t= hese thematic areas.

=09**

=09Projects should aim to have impact that leads to democratic reforms, a= nd should have the potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources. DRL= =92s preference is to avoid duplicating past efforts by supporting new an= d creative approaches. This does not exclude from consideration projects = that improve upon or expand existing successful projects in a new and com= plementary way.

=09To maximize the impact and sustainability of the award(s) that result(= s) from this NOFO, DRL reserves the right to execute a non-competitive co= ntinuation amendment(s). Any non-competitive continuation is contingent o= n performance and availability of funds. A non-competitive continuation i= s not guaranteed; the Department of State reserves the right to exercise = or not exercise the option to issue non-competitive continuation amendmen= t(s).

=09Activities that are not typically considered competitive includ= e, but are not limited to:

    =09
  • The provision of large amounts of hum= anitarian assistance;
    • =09
  • English language instruction;
    • =09
  • Development of high-tech computer or = communications software and/or hardware;
    • =09
  • Purely academic exchanges or fellowsh= ips;
    • =09
  • External exchanges or fellowships las= ting longer than six months;
    • =09
  • Off-shore activities that are not cle= arly linked to in-country initiatives and impact or are not necessary for= security concerns;
    • =09
  • Theoretical explorations of human rig= hts or democracy issues, including projects aimed primarily at research a= nd evaluation that do not incorporate training or capacity-building for l= ocal civil society;
    • =09
  • Micro-loans or similar small business= development initiatives;
    • =09
  • Initiatives directed towards a diaspo= ra community rather than current residents of targeted countries.

=09DRL may ask successful applicant(s) to incorporate coordination of an = implementer and stakeholder meeting into the Scope of Work of the final p= roject. DRL will discuss this possibility with particular applicant(s) du= ring the proposal negotiation phase.

=09B. Federal Award Information

=09DRL anticipates having approximately $3,500,000 of FY17 ESF available = to support approximately four successful applications submitted in respon= se to this NOFO, subject to the availability of funding. Applicants can s= ubmit 3 applications in response to the NOFO.

=09Applicants should not request less than $500,000 and no more than the = ceiling (as specified in the project description). Applicants should incl= ude an anticipated start date between August 2018 =96 October 2018 and th= e period of performance should be between 24-30 months.

=09The U.S. government may (a) reject any or all applications, (b) accept= other than the lowest cost application, (c) accept more than one applica= tion, and (d) waive informalities and minor irregularities in application= s received.

=09The U.S. government may make award(s) on the basis of initial applicat= ions received, without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, each initi= al application should contain the applicant's best terms from a cost and = technical standpoint. The U.S. government reserves the right (though it i= s not under obligation to do so), however, to enter into discussions with= one or more applicants in order to obtain clarifications, additional det= ail, or to suggest refinements in the project description, budget, or oth= er aspects of an application.

=09DRL anticipates awarding either a grant or cooperative agreement depen= ding on the needs and risk factors of the program. The final determinatio= n on mechanism will be made by the Grants Officer. The distinction betwee= n grants and cooperative agreements revolves around the existence of =93s= ubstantial involvement.=94 Cooperative agreements require greater Federal= government participation in the project. If a cooperative agreement is a= warded, DRL will undertake reasonable and programmatically necessary subs= tantial involvement. Examples of substantial involvement can include, but= are not limited to:

=091) Active participation or collaboration with the recipient in the imp= lementation of the award.

=092) Review and approval of one stage of work before another can begin.

=093) Review and approval of substantive provisions of proposed subawards= or contracts.

=094) Approval of the recipient=92s budget or plan of work prior to the a= ward.

=09The authority for this funding opportunity is found in the Foreign Ass= istance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA).

=09C. Eligibility Information

=09For application information, please see the proposal submission = instructions on our website.

=09C.1 Eligible Applicants

=09DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit= organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international= organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher educatio= n; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL=92s preference is to w= ork with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a= for-profit entity is best suited.

=09Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additi= onal review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Depa= rtment of State generally prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial or= ganizations under its assistance awards. Profit is defined as any amount = in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of cos= ts incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with = the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, = Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Pri= nciples and Procedures.

=09Please see 2 CFR 200.307 for regulations regarding program income.

=09C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching

=09Providing cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an elig= ibility factor or requirement for this NOFO, and providing cost share wil= l not result in a more favorable competitive ranking.

=09C.3 Other

=09Applicants should have existing, or the capacity to develop, active pa= rtnerships with thematic or in-country partners, entities and relevant st= akeholders, including private sector partners and NGOs, and have demonstr= able experience in administering successful and preferably similar projec= ts. DRL encourages applications from foreign-based NGOs headquartered in = the geographic regions/countries relevant to this NOFO. Applicants may fo= rm consortia and submit a combined application. However, one organization= should be designated as the lead applicant with the other members as sub= -award partners. DRL reserves the right to request additional background = information on applicants that do not have previous experience administer= ing federal grant awards, and these applicants may be subject to limited = funding on a pilot basis.

=09DRL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its projec= ts and activities. DRL welcomes applications irrespective of race, ethnic= ity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender id= entity, disability, or other status.

=09Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System in the System= for Award Management (SAM)(www.sam.gov) 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), =93Debarment and Suspension.=94 Additionally no = entity listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov can particip= ate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encoura= ged to review the Excluded Parties List System in SAM.gov to ensure that = no ineligible entity is included in their application.

=09D. Application and Submission Information

=09D.1 Address to Request Application Package=

=09Applicants can find application forms, kits, or other materials needed= to apply on www.grants.gov and SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-n= ow.com) under the announcement title =93Supporting Democracy, Good Govern= ance, Religious Freedoms and Human Rights in Pakistan,=94 funding opportu= nity number =93SFOP0004235.=94 Please contact the DRL point of contact li= sted in section G if requesting reasonable accommodations for persons wit= h disabilities or for security reasons. Please note: reasonable accommoda= tions do not include deadline extensions.

=09D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission=

=09For all application documents, please ensure:

=091) 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 En= glish translation must be provided (please note: the Department of State,= as indicated in 2 CFR 200.111, requires that English is the official lan= guage of all award documents. If any document is provided in both English= and a foreign language, the English language version is the controlling = version);

=092) All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments;

=093) All documents are formatted to 8 =BD x 11 paper; and,

=094) All documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, wit= h 1-inch margins. Captions and footnotes may be 10 point Times New Roman = font. Font sizes in charts and tables, including the budget, can be refor= matted to fit within 1 page width.

=09D.2.1 Application Requirements

=09Complete applications must include the following:

=091. Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B<= /b> forms.

=092. If your organization engages in lobbying the U.S. government includ= ing Congress, or pays for another entity to lobby on your behalf, the = SF-LLL =93Disclosure of Lobbying Activities=94 form is also required.=

=093. Cover Page (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably in Micros= oft Word) that includes a table with the name of the organization, projec= t title, target country/countries, thematic area, project synopsis, and n= ame and contact information for the application=92s main point of contact= .

=094. Executive Summary (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably in= Microsoft Word) that outlines project goals, objectives, and activities.=

=095. Table of Contents (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably in= Microsoft Word) listing all documents and attachments, with page numbers= .

=096. Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten [10] pages, preferably= in Microsoft Word). Please note the ten page limit does not include the = Table of Contents, Cover Page, Attachments, Detailed Budget, Budget Narra= tive, or Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). Applicants are = encouraged to combine multiple documents in a single Word Document or PDF= (i.e., Cover Page, Table of Contents, Executive Summary, and Proposal Na= rrative in one file).

=097. Budget (preferably as an Excel workbook) that includes three= [3] columns containing the request to DRL, any cost sharing contribution= , and the total budget. A summary budget should also be included using th= e OMB-approved budget categories (see SF-424A as a sample) in a separate = tab. Costs must be in U.S. dollars. Detailed line-item budgets for subgra= ntees should be included as additional tabs within the Excel workbook (if= available at the time of submission).

=098. Budget Narrative (preferably as a Word Document) that includ= es substantive explanations and justifications for each line-item in the = detailed budget spreadsheet, as well as the source and a description of a= ll cost-share offered.

=099. Your organization=92s most recent A-133 audit (if applicable= ), F Audit, or standard audit. Please see Audit section 2F below f= or more information.

=0910. Logic Model (not to exceed two [2] pages, preferably in Mic= rosoft Word).

=0911. Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative (not to exceed two [2] = pages).

=0912. Monitoring and Evaluation Performance Indicator Table (not = to exceed four [4] pages in Microsoft Word).

=0913. Risk Analysis (not to exceed one [1] page, preferably in Mi= crosoft Word).

=0914. Key Personnel (not to exceed one [1] page total, preferably= as a Word Document): Please include short bios that demonstrate relevant= professional experience. Given the limited space, CVs are not recommende= d for submission.

=0915. Timeline (not to exceed one [1] page): The timeline of the = overall proposal should include activities, evaluation efforts, and progr= am closeout.

=09Applications that do not include the elements listed above will be = deemed technically ineligible.

=09D.2.2 Additional Application Documents

=09Strong applications will also contain the following:

    =09
  • Individual Letters of Support and/or = Memorandum of Understanding. Letters of support and MOUs must be specific= to the project implementation (e.g. from proposed partners or sub-award = recipients) and will not count towards the page limit.

=09Please refer to the Proposal Submission Instructions on DRL=92s = website for detailed guidance on the documents above: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/275216.pdf. For an application checklist and sample templates please= see the Resources page on DRL=92s website:http://www= .state.gov/j/drl/p/c72333.htm. The sample= templates provided on the DRL website are suggested, but not mandatory.<= /i>

=09DRL reserves the right to request additional documents not included in= this NOFO. Additionally, to ensure that all applications receive a balan= ced evaluation, the DRL Review Panel will review from the first page of e= ach section up to the page limit and no further.

=09Note: If ultimately provided with a notification of non-binding intent= to make a Federal award, applicants typically have two to three weeks to= provide additional information and documents requested in the notificati= on of intent. The deadlines may vary in each notification of intent and a= pplicants must adhere to the stated deadline in the notification of inten= t.

=09D.2.3 Additional Information Requested For Those Receiving Notif= ication of Intent

=09Successful applicants must submit after notification of intent to make= a Federal award, but prior to issuance of a Federal award:

    =09
  • Written responses and revised applica= tion documents addressing conditions and recommendations from the DRL Rev= iew Panel;
    • =09
  • If your organization has a NICRA and = includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA as a PDF file. =09
  • Completion of the Department=92s Fina= ncial Management Survey, if receiving DRL funding for the first time; =09
  • Submission of required documents to r= egister in the Payment Management System managed by the Department of Hea= lth and Human Services, if receiving DRL funding for the first time (unle= ss an exemption is provided);
    • =09
  • Other requested information or docume= nts included in the notification of intent to make a Federal award or sub= sequent communications prior to issuance of a Federal award.

=09D.3 Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SA= M)

=09All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another co= untry, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), formerly referred to a= s DUNS, and an active registration with the SAM.gov before submitting = an application. DRL may not review applications from or make a= wards to applicants that have not completed all applicable UEI and SAM.go= v 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.

=09Note: The process of obtaining a SAM.gov registration may take a= nywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as pos= sible.

    =09
  • If you are based in the United Sta= tes or pay employees within the United States, prior to registering i= n SAM.gov you will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the = Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a Commercial and Government Entity (CA= GE) code.
    • =09
  • If you are based outside of the Un= ited States and do not pay employees within the United States, you do= not need an EIN from the IRS. However, you will need a NATO CAGE (NCAGE)= code before you can have an active registration in SAM.gov.

=09All organizations must also continue to maintain active SAM.gov regist= ration with current information at all times during which they have an ac= tive 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 unqualified to receive an award and use that dete= rmination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

=09For further guidance on the registration process, please see the SAM.g= ov Registration Guide on DRL=92s website: http://www.stat= e.gov/j/drl/p/c72333.htm. Please refer to 2 CFR 25.200 for additional= information.

=09Please note the registration process for SAM.gov is free.

=09In October 2017, new information was added to the www.SAM.gov we= bsite to help international registrations, including =93Quick Start Guide= for International Registrations=94 and =93Helpful Hints=94. Navigate to = SAM.gov, click HELP in the top navigation bar, then click International R= egistrants in the left navigation panel.

=09D.3.1 Exemptions

=09An exemption from these requirements may be permitted on a case-by-cas= e basis if:

    =09
  • An applicant=92s identity must be pro= tected due to potential endangerment of their mission, their organization= =92s status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applican= t.

=09* Organizations requesting exemption from SAM.gov, NCAGE, and UEI s= hould email the point of contact in the NOFO. If establishing your= SAM.gov account as private rather than public view, please notify DRL at= the time of submission.

=09Note: Foreign organizations will be required to register with the N= ATO Support Agency (NSPA) to receive a NCAGE code in order to register in= SAM.gov. NSPA will forward your registration request to the applicable N= ational Codification Bureau (NCB) if your organization is located in a NA= TO or Tier 2 Sponsored Non-NATO Nation. As of March 2016, NATO nations in= cluded Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denma= rk, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Li= thuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slov= akia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States of A= merica; and Tier 2 nations included Australia, Austria, Brazil, Finland, = Israel, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Serbia, and Si= ngapore.

=09NSPA and/or the appropriate NCB forwards all NCAGE code info= rmation to all Allied Committee 135 (AC/135) nations, which as of March 2= 016 also included Afghanistan, Argentina, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovi= na, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia,= Japan, Jordan, Montenegro, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Saudi Arabia, S= outh Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, and the Un= ited Arab Emirates. All organizations are strongly advised to take = this into consideration when assessing whether registration may result in= possible endangerment.

=09D.4 Submission Dates and Times

=09Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standa= rd Time (EST), on Friday, June 1, 2018 on www.grants.gov or SAMS Domestic= (https://mygrants.service-now.com) under the announcement title =93= Supporting Democracy, Good Governance, Religious Freedoms and Human Right= s in Pakistan,=94 funding opportunity number =93SFOP0004235.=94

=09Grants.gov and SAMS Domestic automatically log the date and time an ap= plication submission is made, and the Department of State will use this i= nformation to determine whether an application has been submitted on time= . Late applications are neither reviewed nor considered unless the DRL po= int of contact listed in section G is contacted prior to the deadline and= is provided with evidence of system errors caused by www.grants.gov or S= AMS Domestic that is outside of the applicant=92s control and is the sole= reason for a late submission. Applicants should not expect a notificatio= n upon DRL receiving their application.

=09D.5 Funding Restrictions

=09DRL will not consider applications that reflect any type of support fo= r any member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist orga= nization.

=09Project activities whose direct beneficiaries are foreign militaries o= r paramilitary groups or individuals will not be considered for DRL fundi= ng given purpose limitations on funding.

=09DRL requires U.S. government Risk Analysis Management (RAM) vetting of= all organizations and individuals programming in Pakistan, which may inc= lude the board of directors from grantee and sub-award organizations, pro= gram staff, and any program participants receiving direct assistance thro= ugh grant funds. Prime recipients may be required to perform vetting thro= ugh the RAM portal on subrecipients. The purpose of such vetting is to mi= tigate the risk that U.S. government funding is provided to terrorists or= their supporters. Depending on the type of vetting, the required informa= tion requested may include for each individual: full name, date of birth,= place of birth, nationality, a government issued ID number (drivers lice= nses are not accepted for any country; if the individual is a U.S. citize= n/permanent residents, a SSN is required), and contact information (phone= number, email address, or Skype account (if Skype is submitted an email = must accompany it)). If the vetting procedure results in the discovery of= derogatory information, the Grants Officer will use this information in = making a final determination of award as part of the risk assessment. = Please keep these vetting requirements in mind when designing each progra= m.

=09The Leahy Law prohibits Department foreign assistance funds from suppo= rting foreign security force units if the Secretary of State has credible= information that the unit has committed a gross violation of human right= s. Per 22 USC =A72378d(a) (2015), =93No assistance shall be furn= ished under this chapter [FOREIGN ASSISTANCE] or the Arms Export Control = Act [22 USC 2751 et seq.] to any unit of the security forces of a foreign= country if the Secretary of State has credible information that such uni= t has committed a gross violation of human rights.=94 Restrictions may ap= ply to any proposed assistance to police or other law enforcement. Among = these, pursuant to section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as= amended (FAA), no assistance provided through this funding opportunity m= ay be furnished to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country w= hen there is credible information that such unit has committed a gross vi= olation of human rights. In accordance with the requirements of section 6= 20M of the FAA, also known as the Leahy law, project beneficiaries or par= ticipants from a foreign government=92s security forces may need to be ve= tted by the Department before the provision of any assistance.

=09If a proposed grant or cooperative agreement will provide assistance t= o foreign security forces or personnel, compliance with the Leahy Law is = required. Federal awards generally will not allow reimbursement of pre-aw= ard costs; however, the Grants Officer may approve pre-award costs on a c= ase-by-case basis. Generally, construction costs are not allowed under DR= L awards. For additional information, please see the DRL Proposal Submiss= ion Instructions for Applications using SAMS Domestic Updated October 201= 7: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization= /275216.pdf

=09D.6 Application Submission

=09All application submissions must be made electronically via www.grants= .gov or SAMS Domestic (https://mygrants.service-now.com). Both systems re= quire registration by the applying organization. Please note: the Grants.= gov registration process can take 10 business days or longer, even if all= registration steps are completed in a timely manner.

=09It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that it has an act= ive registration in SAMS Domestic or Grants.gov. Applicants are required = to document that the application has been received by SAMS Domestic or Gr= ants.gov in its entirety. DRL bears no responsibility for disqualificatio= n that result from applicants not being registered before the due date, f= or system errors in either SAMS Domestic or Grants.gov, or other errors i= n the application process. Additionally you must save a screen sho= t of the checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document f= ails to upload successfully.

=09Faxed, couriered, or emailed documents will not be accep= ted. Reasonable accommodations may, in appropriate circumstances, be prov= ided to applicants with disabilities or for security reasons. Applicants = must follow all formatting instructions in the applicable NOFO and these = instructions.

=09DRL encourages organizations to submit applications during norma= l business hours (Monday =96 Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00PM Eastern Time= ). If an applicant experiences technical difficulties and has contacted t= he appropriate helpdesk but is not receiving timely assistance (e.g. if y= ou have not received a response within 48 hours of contacting the helpdes= k), you may contact the DRL point of contact listed in the NOFO in sectio= n G. The point of contact may assist in contacting the appropriate helpde= sk, but an applicant should also document their efforts in contacting the= helpdesk. Applicants may also contact the DRL point of contact listed in= the NOFO if experiencing technical issues with grants.gov or SAMS Domest= ic that may result in a late submission.

=09Applicants experiencing technical difficulties should follow these thr= ee steps:

=091. Contact the helpdesk for either Grants.gov or SAMS Domestic immedia= tely.

=092. Document (including screenshots) technical issues AND efforts to co= ntact the helpdesk.

=093. Submit all of the required documents to the DRL point of contact li= sted in the NOFO before the deadline.

=09Note: The Procurement Office/Grant Office will determine technical = eligibility of all applications.

=09SAMS Domestic Applications:

=09Applicants using SAMS Domestic for the first time should complete thei= r =93New Organization Registration.=94 To register with SAMS Domestic, cl= ick =93Login to https://mygrants.service-now.com=94 and follow the =93cre= ate an account=94 link.

=09Organizations must remember to save a screen shot of the= checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document fails to = upload successfully.

=09SAMS Domestic Help Desk:
=09For assistance with SAMS Domestic accounts and technical issues relate= d to the system, please contact the ILMS help desk by phone at 1-888-313-= 4567 (toll charges for international callers) or through the Self Service= online portal that can be accessed from https://afsitsm.service-now.com/= ilms/home. Customer Support is available 24/7/365.

=09Grants.gov Applications
=09Applicants who do not submit applications via SAMS Domestic may submit= via www.grants.gov.

=09Please be advised that completing all the necessary registration steps= for obtaining a username and password from Grants.gov can take more t= han two weeks.

=09Please refer to the Grants.gov website for definitions of various "app= lication statuses" and the difference between a submission receipt and a = submission validation. Applicants will receive a validation e-mail from G= rants.gov upon the successful submission of an application. Validation of= an electronic submission via Grants.gov can take up to two business days= . Additionally you must remember to save a screenshot of th= e checklist showing all documents submitted in case any document fails to= upload successfully.

=09Grants.gov Helpdesk:

=09For assistance with Grants.gov, please call the Contact Center at 1-80= 0-518-4726 or email support@grants.gov. The Contact Center is available 2= 4 hours a day, seven days a week, except federal holidays.

=09See https://www.op= m.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ for a list of federal holidays.

=09E. Application Review Information

=09E.1 Proposal Review Criteria

=09The DRL Review Panel will evaluate each application individually again= st the following criteria, listed below in order of importance, and not a= gainst competing applications. Please use the below criteria as a referen= ce but do not structure your application according to the sub-sections= .

=09Quality of Project Idea

=09Applications should be responsive to the program framework and policy = objectives identified in the NOFO, appropriate in the country/regional co= ntext, and should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevanc= e to DRL=92smission of promoting human rights and democracy. Projects sho= uld have the potential to have an immediate impact leading to long-term s= ustainable reforms. DRL prefers new approaches that do not duplicate effo= rts by other entities. This does not exclude from consideration projects = that improve upon or expand existing successful projects in a new and com= plementary way. In countries where similar activities are already taking = place, an explanation should be provided as to how new activities will no= t duplicate or merely add to existing activities and how these efforts wi= ll be coordinated. Proposals that promote creative approaches to recogniz= ed ongoing challenges are highly encouraged. DRL prioritizes project prop= osals with inclusive approaches for advancing these rights.

=09Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives

=09A strong application will include a clear articulation of how the prop= osed project activities contribute to the overall project objectives, and= each activity will be clearly developed and detailed. A comprehensive mo= nthly work plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and the logis= tical capacity of the organization. Objectives should be ambitious yet me= asurable, results-focused and achievable in a reasonable time frame. A co= mplete application must include a logic model to demonstrate how the proj= ect activities will have an impact on its proposed objectives. The logic = model should match the objectives, outcomes, key activities and outputs d= escribed in the narrative. Applications should address how the project wi= ll engage relevant stakeholders and should identify local partners as app= ropriate.

=09If local partners have been identified, DRL strongly encourages applic= ants to submit letters of support from proposed in-country partners. Addi= tionally, applicants should describe the division of labor among the dire= ct applicant and any local partners. If applicable, applications should i= dentify target geographic areas for activities, target participant groups= or selection criteria for participants, and the specific roles of sub-aw= ardees, among other pertinent details.

=09DRL recognizes that all programs have some level of risk due to intern= al/external variables that have the potential to adversely affect a progr= am. Risk management should address how the program design incorporates th= e identification, assessment, and management of key risk factors. DRL wil= l review the risk analysis based on the organization=92s ability to ident= ify risks that could have an impact on the overall program as well as how= the organization will manage these risks.

=09Institution=92s Record and Capacity

=09DRL will consider the past performance of prior recipients and the dem= onstrated potential of new applicants. Applications should demonstrate an= institutional record of successful democracy and human rights programs, = including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all repo= rting requirements for past grants. Proposed personnel and institutional = resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the project's obj= ectives. Projects should have potential for continued funding beyond DRL = resources.

=09Inclusivity of Marginalized Populations

=09DRL strives to ensure its projects advance the rights and uphold the d= ignity of all persons. The Bureau requests an inclusive programming appro= ach, which should encompass marginalized populations, especially those fa= cing discrimination and violence that undermines society=92s collective s= ecurity. To the extent possible, applicants should identify and support m= arginalized populations in all proposed project activities and objectives= , and should provide specific analysis, measures, and corresponding targe= ts to include them as appropriate. It assumes that interventions will not= affect all segments of society in the same way. It requires stakeholders= to identify and address the difference between the opportunities and bar= riers to equality and to design programs in a way that does not perpetuat= e inequality.

=09Cost Effectiveness

=09DRL strongly encourages applicants to clearly demonstrate project cost= -effectiveness in their application, including examples of leveraging ins= titutional and other resources. However, cost-sharing or other examples o= f leveraging other resources are not required. Inclusion of cost-sharing = in the budget does not result in additional points awarded during the rev= iew process. Budgets should have low and/or reasonable overhead and admin= istration costs, and applicants should provide clear explanations and jus= tifications for these costs in relation to the work involved. All budget = items should be clearly explained and justified to demonstrate necessity,= appropriateness, and connection to the project objectives.

=09Please note: If cost-share is included in the budget, the recipient= must maintain written records to support all allowable costs that are cl= aimed as its contribution to cost-share, as well as costs to be paid by t= he Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. In the event th= e recipient does not meet the minimum amount of cost-sharing as stipulate= d in the recipient=92s budget, DRL=92s contribution may be reduced in pro= portion to the recipient=92s contribution.

=09Multiplier Effect/Sustainability

=09Applications should clearly delineate how elements of the project will= have a multiplier effect and be sustainable beyond the life of the grant= . A good multiplier effect will have an impact beyond the direct benefici= aries of the grant (e.g. participants trained under a grant go on to trai= n other people; workshop participants use skills from a workshop to enhan= ce a national level election that affects the entire populace). A strong = sustainability plan may include demonstrating continuing impact beyond th= e life of a project or garnering other donor support after DRL funding ce= ases.

=09Project Monitoring and Evaluation

=09Complete applications will include a detailed M&E Narrative and M&= amp;E Plan, which detail how the project=92s progress will be monitored a= nd evaluated. Incorporating well-designed monitoring and evaluation proce= sses into a project is an efficient method for documenting the change (in= tended and unintended) that a project seeks. Applications should demonstr= ate the capacity to provide objectives with measurable outputs and outcom= es.

=09The quality of the M&E sections will be judged on the narrative ex= plaining how both monitoring and evaluation will be carried out and who w= ill be responsible for those related activities. The M&E Narrative sh= ould explain how an external evaluation will be incorporated into the pro= ject implementation plan or how the project will be systematically assess= ed in the absence of one. Please see the section on Monitoring and Eva= luation Narrative in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for m= ore information on what is required in the narrative.

=09The output and outcome-based performance indicators should not only be= separated by project objectives but also should match the objectives, ou= tcomes, and outputs detailed in the logic model and proposal narrative. P= erformance indicators should be clearly defined (i.e., explained how the = indicators will be measured and reported) either within the table or with= a separate Performance Indicator Reference Sheet (PIRS). For each perfor= mance indicator, the table should also include baselines and quarterly an= d cumulative targets, data collection tools, data sources, types of data = disaggregation, and frequency of monitoring and evaluation. There should = also be metrics to capture how project activities target those discrimina= ted against or marginalized populations or addresses their concerns, wher= e applicable. Please see the section on Monitoring and Evaluation Plan= in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for more information o= n what is required in the plan.

=09E.2 Review and Selection Process

=09DRL strives to ensure that each application receives a balanced evalua= tion by a DRL Review Panel. The Department=92s Office of Acquisitions Man= agement (AQM) will determine technical eligibility for all applications. = All technically eligible applications for a given NOFO are reviewed again= st the same seven criteria, which include quality of project idea, projec= t planning/ability to achieve objectives, institutional record and capaci= ty, inclusive programming, cost effectiveness, multiplier effect/sustaina= bility, and project monitoring and evaluation.

=09Additionally, the DRL Review Panel will evaluate how the application a= ddresses the NOFO request, U.S. foreign policy goals, and the priority ne= eds of DRL overall. DRL may also take into consideration the balance of t= he current portfolio of active projects, including geographic or thematic= diversity, if needed.

=09In most cases, the DRL Review Panel includes representatives from DRL,= the appropriate Department of State regional bureau (to include feedback= from U.S. embassies), and U.S. Agency for International Development (USA= ID) (to include feedback from USAID missions). In some cases, additional = panelists may participate, including from other Department of State burea= us or offices, U.S. government departments, agencies, or boards, represen= tatives from partner governments, or representatives from entities that a= re in a public-private partnership with DRL. At the end of the panel=92s = discussion about an application, the Panel votes on recommending the appl= ication for approval by the DRL Assistant Secretary. If more applications= are ultimately recommended for approval than DRL can fund, the Panel wil= l rank the recommended applications in priority order for consideration b= y the DRL Assistant Secretary. The Grants Officer Representative (GOR) fo= r the eventual award does not vote on the panel. All Panelists must sign = non-disclosure agreements and conflicts of interest agreements.

=09DRL Review Panels may provide conditions and recommendations on applic= ations to enhance the proposed project, which must be addressed by the ap= plicant before further consideration of the award. To ensure effective us= e of DRLfunds, conditions or recommendations may include requests to incr= ease, decrease, clarify, and/or justify costs and project activities.

=09F. Federal Award Administration Information

=09F.1 Federal Award Notices

=09DRL will provide a separate notification to applicants on the result o= f their applications. Successful applicants will receive a letter electro= nically via email requesting that the applicant respond to Panel conditio= ns and recommendations. This notification is not an authorization to begi= n activities and does not constitute formal approval or a funding commitm= ent.

=09Final approval is contingent on the applicant successfully responding = to the Panel=92s conditions and recommendations, being registered in requ= ired systems, including the U.S. government=92s Payment Management System= (PMS), unless an exemption is provided, and completing and providing any= additional documentation requested by DRL or AQM. Final approval is also= contingent on Congressional notification requirements being met and fina= l review and approval by the Department=92s warranted Grants Officer.

=09The notice of Federal award signed by the Department=92s warranted Gra= nts Officers is the sole authorizing document. If awarded, the notice of = Federal award will be provided to the applicant=92s designated Authorizin= g Official via SAMSDomestic to be electronically counter-signed in the sy= stem.

=09F.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

=09The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Req= uirements for Federal Awards set forth in 2 CFR Chapter 200 (Sub-Chapters= A through F) shall apply to all non-Federal entities, except for assista= nce awards to Individuals and Foreign Public Entities. Sub-Chapters A thr= ough E shall apply to all foreign organizations, and Sub-Chapters A throu= gh D shall apply to all U.S. and foreign for-profit entities.

=09The applicant/recipient of the award and any sub-recipient under the a= ward must comply with all applicable terms and conditions, in addition to= the assurance and certifications made part of the Notice of Award. The D= epartment=92s Standard Terms and Conditions can be viewed at https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm.

=09F.3 Reporting

=09Applicants should be aware that DRL awards will require that all repor= ts (financial and progress) are uploaded to the grant file in SAMS Domest= ic on a quarterly basis. The Federal Financial Report (FFR or SF-425) is = the required form for the financial reports and must be submitted in PMS = as well as a copy from PMS then uploaded to the grant file in SAMS Domest= ic. The progress reports uploaded to the grant file in SAMS Domestic must= a narrative as described below; and Project Indicators (or other mutuall= y agreed upon format approved by the Grants Officer) for the F Framework = indicators.

=09Narrative progress reports should reflect the focus on measuring the p= roject=92s impact on the overarching objectives and should be compiled ac= cording to the objectives, outcomes, and outputs as outlined in the award= =92s Scope of Work (SOW) and in the Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative. = An assessment of the overall project=92s impact should be included in eac= h progress report. Where relevant, progress reports should include the fo= llowing sections:

    =09
  • Relevant contextual information (limi= ted);
    • =09
  • Explanation and evaluation of signifi= cant activities of the reporting period and how the activities reflect pr= ogress toward achieving objectives, including meeting benchmarks/targets = as set in the M&E plan. In addition, attach the M&E plan, compari= ng the target and actual numbers for the indicators;
    • =09
  • Any tangible impact or success storie= s from the project, when possible;
    • =09
  • Copy of mid-term and/or final evaluat= ion report(s) conducted by an external evaluator; if applicable;
    • =09
  • Relevant supporting documentation or = products related to the project activities (such as articles, meeting lis= ts and agendas, participant surveys, photos, manuals, etc.) as separate a= ttachments;
    • =09
  • Description of how the Recipient is p= ursuing sustainability, including looking for sources of follow-on fundin= g;
    • =09
  • Any problems/challenges in implementi= ng the project and a corrective action plan with an updated timeline of a= ctivities;
    • =09
  • Reasons why established goals were no= t met;
    • =09
  • Data for the required F Framework ind= icator(s) for the quarter as well as aggregate data by fiscal year: Progr= am Indicators or other mutually agreed upon format approved by the Grants= Officer.
    • =09
  • Proposed activities for the next quar= ter;
    • =09
  • Additional pertinent information, inc= luding analysis and explanation of cost overruns or high unit costs, if a= pplicable.

=09A final narrative and financial report must also be submitted within 9= 0 days after the expiration of the award.

=09Please note: Delays in reporting may result in delays of payment appro= vals and failure to provide required reports may jeopardize the recipient= 's=92 ability to receive future U.S. government funds.

=09DRL reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or f= inancial project information during the award period.

=09G. Contact Information

=09For technical submission questions related to this NOFO, please contac= t DRL-SCA-ProgramInfo@st= ate.gov.

=09For assistance with SAMS Domestic accounts and technical issues relate= d to the system, please contact the ILMS help desk by phone at 1-888-313-= 4567 (toll charges for international callers) or through the Self Service= online portal that can be accessed from https://afsitsm.service-now.com/= ilms/home. Customer Support is available 24/7/365.

=09Please note, establishing an account in SAMS Domestic may require the = use of smartphone for multi-factor authentication (MFA). If an applicant = does not have accessibility to a smartphone during the time of creating a= n account, please contact the helpdesk and request and instructions on MF= A for Windows PC.

=09For assistance with Grants.gov accounts and technical issues related t= o using the system, please call the Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or e= mail support@grants.gov. The Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, = seven days a week, except federal holidays.

=09For a list of federal holidays visit:

=09https://www.opm.go= v/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/

=09With the exception of technical submission questions, during the NOFO = period U.S. Department of State staff in Washington and overseas shall no= t discuss this competition with applicants until the entire proposal revi= ew process has been completed and rejection and approval letters have bee= n transmitted.

=09H. Other Information

=09Applicants should be aware that DRL understands that some information = contained in applications may be considered sensitive or proprietary and = will make appropriate efforts to protect such information. However, appli= cants are advised that DRL cannot guarantee that such information will no= t be disclosed, including pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOI= A) or other similar statutes.

=09The information in this NOFO and =93DRL=92s Proposal Submission Instru= ctions for Applications using SAMS Domestic Updated October 2017=94 is bi= nding and may not be modified by any DRL representative. Explanatory info= rmation provided by DRL that contradicts this language will not be bindin= g. Issuance of the NOFO and negotiation of applications does not constitu= te an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government. DRL reserves t= he right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets.

=09This NOFO will appear on www.grants.gov, SAMS Domestic and DRL=92s web= site http://www.state.gov/j/drl/p/c12302.htm.

=09Background Information on DRL and general DRL funding

=09DRL has the mission of promoting democracy and protecting human rights= globally. DRL supports projects that uphold democratic principles, suppo= rt and strengthen democratic institutions, promote human rights, prevent = atrocities, combat and prevent violent extremism, and build civil society= around the world. DRL typically focuses its work in countries with egreg= ious human rights violations, where democracy and human rights advocates = are under pressure and where governments are undemocratic or in transitio= n.

=09Additional background information on DRL and its efforts can be found = on www.= state.gov/j/drl.


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