A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Kyiv / EUR Bureau of the U.S. Department of State announces an open grants competition under the theme of unity in Ukraine to foster mutual understanding and relationships among religious, ethnic, and linguistic groups in all regions of Ukraine. Grant projects will foster communication and sharing of information, experience and expertise among communities as well as the identification and implementation of joint projects and activities. Please follow all instructions below. Priority Region: Ukraine Program Objectives: Selected projects will work to promote a united Ukraine, inter-regional exchange of experience, consolidated project planning, and greater awareness of different regional, linguistic, and religious issues across various regions of Ukraine. The project implementers will encourage discussions at the regional and national levels on these topics to foster Ukrainian national unity. To achieve long-term and sustainable results for this initiative, partnerships are encouraged. Organizations should have a clear plan for a united Ukraine. Examples of successful proposals include, but are not limited to the following components: · Creating and reinforcing cooperation and networking between students to address social, political, environmental, health, and economic issues, which include inter-regional students’ exchange, student partnership. · Inter-faith cooperation to address social issues and promote positive change in communities · Foster cooperation, promote volunteerism, and empower and protect the rights of minorities, such as women, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, etc. throughout Ukraine. · Using interactive discussions, debates, public hearings, seminars and conferences as a tool to reach out to target audiences for promoting access to information on the topics of a national and inter-regional value. Innovative methodology and tools are encouraged. · Creating effective and sustainable inter-regional partnerships between NGOs, media, and local communities to work on cooperative inter-regional projects on such topics as diversity and inclusion, religious freedoms, rights of vulnerable groups, exploring traditions of ethnic groups residing in communities, diminishing stereotypes about ethnic, racial, religious and other groups, and combatting disinformation and segregation. · Organizing video conferences and webinars on current regional and national issues with partners in other regions of Ukraine. Other innovative ways to address these issues will also be considered. PAS strongly encourages proposals to include new and effective communication tools and demonstrate a clear target audience. Due to COVID-19, direct personal contact between project implementers and beneficiaries should be limited. Applicants should use online tools for training and meeting with beneficiaries; and visual tools such as billboards, posters, announcements with QR codes, video advertisements (print materials are discouraged). Proposals must identify the project’s target audience; concrete and achievable goals and plans to measure progress against these goals; a realistic action plan; and a reasonable cost estimate. PAS strongly supports cooperation between different stakeholders and will give preference to projects that engage state and private institutions to implement the project and ensure its sustainability. Ten percent of grant funds may be allocated for administrative needs of the organization during the period of project implementation. Participants and Audiences: Civic activists, school and university students, local and national state authorities’ representatives, educators, representatives and leaders of the vulnerable groups, religious communities, ethnic, racial and other groups, journalists, decision makers and regional or national influencers. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 5 to 12 months Number of awards anticipated: up to 15 depending on the quality of the proposals Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $50,000 Total available funding: $400,000 Type of Funding: FY22/23 AEECA Anticipated program start date: May 1, 2022 In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations. Individuals are not required to have a unique entity identifier or be registered in SAM.gov. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required below are available via the U.S Embassy in Ukraine website: https://ua.usembassy.gov/education-culture/democracy-grants/ 2. Content and Form of Application Submission Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Content of Application Please ensure: · The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity · All documents are in English (applicants may also submit applications in Ukrainian) · All budgets are in U.S. dollars · All pages are numbered · All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and · All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. The following documents are required: 1. Mandatory application forms · SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) · SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) · SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov) 2. Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program. 3. Proposal (3 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program has an application that you may use (https://ua.usembassy.gov/uk/education-culture-uk/democracy-grants-uk/ ). You may also use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. · Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. · Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies. · Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed · Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. · Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives. · Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate. · Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. · Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? · Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees. · Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the time-frame of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant? · Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. 4. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information. 5. Attachments : · 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program · Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner · If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file. · Official permission letters, if required for program activities 3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Required Registrations: Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” Additionally, no entity listed on the EPLS can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the EPLS in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included. All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations. All are free of charge: · Unique entity identifier from Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS number) · NCAGE/CAGE code · www.SAM.gov registration Step 1: Apply for a DUNS number and an NCAGE number (these can be completed simultaneously) DUNS application: Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet. If your organization does not have one already, you may obtain one by calling 1-866-705-5711 or visiting http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform NCAGE application: Application page here: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx Instructions for the NCAGE application process: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%20NSPA%20NCAGE.pdf For NCAGE help from within the U.S., call 1-888-227-2423 For NCAGE help from outside the U.S., call 1-269-961-7766 Email
[email protected] for any problems in getting an NCAGE code. Step 2: After receiving the NCAGE Code, proceed to register in SAM.gov by logging onto: https://www.sam.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 1. Criteria Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below. Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account. Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results. Budget: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities. Monitoring and evaluation plan: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators, and shows how and when those will be measured. Sustainability: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program. 2. Review and Selection Process A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications. 3. Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) For any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity, if the Federal awarding agency anticipates that the total Federal share will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold on any Federal award under a notice of funding opportunity may include, over the period of performance (see §200.88 Simplified Acquisition Threshold), this section must also inform applicants: i. That the Federal awarding agency, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313); ii. That an applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM; iii. That the Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in §200.206 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants. F. OTHER INFORMATION Guidelines for Budget Justification Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program. Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel. Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit. Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment. Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities. Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained. Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 10% of the modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68. “Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues. Alcoholic Beverages: Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.