2018 Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Large Grant

The U.S. Embassy in Amman is pleased to announce a call for proposals for the 2018 U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Large Grants Program. The floor on the Amount of Awards is U.S. $200,000. Since 2008 awards made through this program for new large-scale projects have ranged from $200,000 to $979,000 with an average award amount of $480,000. Please note that this program is separate from the AFCP small grants process. HOW TO APPLY:The application process for the AFCP Large Grants Program takes place in two rounds: Project Abstract (Round One) and Full Project Proposal (Round Two). All interested applicants must submit Project Abstracts for Round One via email to [email protected] by close of business (5 p.m.) on Thursday, January 4 , 2018. Applicants will be notified if their project abstracts received a favorable rating in which case they would be required to submit complete project proposals to Round Two.Past recipients of AFCP Large Grants Program support may submit proposals for continuation funds.This document details program guidelines, eligibility requirements and application procedures. Please adhere to all written deadlines and procedures. AFCP LARGE GRANTS FUNDING AREAS:The AFCP Large Grants Program supports the preservation of major ancient archaeological sites, historic buildings and monuments, and major museum collections that are accessible to the public and protected by law in the host country. The AFCP Large Grants Program gives top priority to project activities that are appropriate and in keeping with international cultural heritage preservation standards. An appropriate preservation activity is one that protects the values of the site, object or collection, or form of traditional cultural expression as they are understood by stakeholders. Stakeholders may include national, regional, or local cultural authorities; the local community; and others with vested interests in the site and the outcome of a project. Appropriate project activities may include: • Preventive conservation (addressing conditions that damage or threaten the site)• Stabilization (reducing the physical disturbance [settling, collapse, etc.] of a site)• conservation (addressing damage or deterioration to a collection or sites)• consolidation (connecting or reconnecting elements of a site)• Anastylosis (reassembling a site from its original parts)• Restoration (replacing missing elements to recreate the original appearance of a site, usually appropriate only with fine arts, decorative arts, and historic buildings)FUNDING PRIORITIES SPECIFIC TO THE AFCP 2018 LARGE GRANTS COMPETITION: Proposals for projects that directly support one or more of the following criteria will receive additional consideration in FY 2018:• U.S. treaty or bilateral agreement obligations, such as cultural property protection agreements• Disaster risk reduction for cultural heritage in seismically active and other disaster-prone areas• Post-disaster cultural heritage recovery• Preservation of inscribed World Heritage sitesSPECIAL NOTE REGARDING SITES AND OBJECTS THAT HAVE A RELIGIOUS CONNECTION: The establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution permits the government to include religious objects and sites within an aid program only under certain conditions. For example, an item with a religious connection (including a place of worship) may be the subject of a cultural preservation grant if the item derives its primary significance and is nominated solely on the basis of architectural, artistic, historical or other cultural (not religious) criteria. ELIGIBLE PROJECT APPLICANTS:Eligible project applicants are defined as reputable and accountable non-commercial entities, such as non-governmental organizations, museums, ministries of culture, or similar institutions and organizations, including U.S.-based organizations subject to Section 501(c) (3) of the tax code, that are able to demonstrate the requisite experience and capacity to manage large-scale multi-year projects to preserve cultural heritage. Applicants should be able to receive support from the U.S. Government and AFCP grants in accordance with AFCP program policies. Applicants who have previously received AFCP awards must have fulfilled all reporting requirements before applying for new awards. Failure to do so may adversely affect eligibility for support from AFCP in 2018. INELIGIBLE ACTIVITES AND UNALLOWABLE COSTS:The Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation large grant does NOT support the following activities or costs, and applications involving any of the activities or costs below will be deemed ineligible:• Preservation or purchase of privately or commercially owned cultural objects, collections, or real property, including those whose transfer from private or commercial to public ownership is envisioned, planned, or in process but not complete at the time of proposal submission• Preservation of natural heritage (physical, biological and geological formations, paleontological collections, habitats of threatened species of animals and plants, fossils, etc.)• Preservation of hominid or human remains.• Preservation of news media (newspapers, newsreels, radio and TV programs, etc.)• Preservation of published materials available elsewhere (books, periodicals, etc.)• Development of curricula or educational materials for classroom use.• Archaeological excavations or surveys for research purposes• Historical research, except in cases where the research is justifiable and integral to the success of the proposed project• Acquisition or creation of new exhibits or collections for new or existing museums• Construction of new buildings or permanent coverings (over archaeological sites, for example)• Commissions of new works of art or architecture for commemorative or economic development purposes• Creation of new or the modern adaptation of existing traditional dances, songs, chants, musical compositions, plays, or other performances• Creation of replicas or re-creation of cultural objects or sites that no longer exist• Relocation of cultural sites from one physical location to another• Removal of cultural objects or elements of cultural sites from the country for any reason• Digitization of cultural objects or collections, unless part of a larger, clearly defined conservation effort• Conservation plans or other studies, unless they are one component of a larger project to implement the results of those studies• Costs of fund-raising campaigns• Contingency, unforeseen, or miscellaneous costs or fees• Costs of work performed prior to announcement of the award unless allowable per 2 CFR 200.458 and approved by the grants officer• International travel, except in cases where travel is justifiable and integral to the success of the proposed project• Travel or study for professional development• Individual projects costing less than $200,000 unless they are on-going projects supported previously by the AFCP Large Grants Program• Independent U.S. Projects overseas• Cash reserves, endowments or revolving funds (funds must be expended within the award period [up to five years] and may not be used to create an endowment or revolving fund)INELIGIBLE PROJECT APPLICANTS:AFCP does not award grants to individuals, commercial entities, or to embassies or past award recipients which have not fulfilled the reporting requirements of previous AFCP awards.ABSTRACT REQUIREMENTS (ROUND ONE-DEADLINE: JANUARY 4, 2018)Applicants interested in participating in the AFCP Large Grants Program must first submit a project abstract document describing the proposed activity. The project abstract must include the following information items in the following order:A. Project TitleB. Project LocationC. Project Applicant information, including name, type of organization, address, contact information, including website address, Name of Project Director, Title of the Project Director, DUNS Number and SAM registration status (see below sections on how to obtain these)D. Law/s protecting the siteE. Special designations (national monument, World Heritage Site,…etc)F. State of accessibility (is it accessible to the public? What are costs of admission, if any…etc)G. Statement of ownership of the siteH. Project summary (purpose and description of activities)I. Project timeframe (general; maximum 5 years)J. Estimated project cost K. Qualified eligible entities and other partners (the Call for Proposals for Large Grants explains who is considered eligible)L. Statement of Importance highlighting the historic, architectural, artistic, or cultural (non-religious) values of the site or collection.In addition, the following forms are required (see attached):SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)SF-424 A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs)SF-424 B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs)And if applicable, the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)Applicants may be invited to submit full project proposals for Round 2 upon favorable review of the abstracts. If an abstract is approved, the applicant will have to submit a full proposal. FULL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS (ROUND TWO) The proposals must fully satisfy the program objectives, funding areas and priorities, and the eligibility requirements specified above. Furthermore, to be considered complete, they must include:• Revised project abstract, if applicable.• Revised SF-424 Form, if applicable• Proof of official permission to undertake the project and the full endorsement and support of the national cultural authority in the host country.• Project Activities Description that presents the project tasks in chronological order. If the proposed project is part of a larger effort involving multiple projects supported by other entities, the plan must present the full scope of the preservation effort and the place of the proposed project within that larger effort.• Project Time Frame or Schedule that lists the major project phases and milestones with target dates for achieving them (NOTE: Applicants may propose project periods of up to 60 months [five years]).• Project Participant Information, including resumes or CVs of the proposed project director and key project participants.• Statement of Urgency indicating the severity of the situation and explaining why the project must take place now.• Statement of Sustainability outlining the steps or measures that will be taken to maintain the site or collection in good condition after the AFCP-supported project is complete.• Detailed Project Budget, demarcated in one-year budget periods (2018, 2019, 2020, etc.), that lists all costs in separate categories (Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel [including Per Diem], Equipment, Supplies, Contractual, Other Direct Costs, Indirect Costs, Cost Sharing); indicates funds from other sources; and gives a justification for any anticipated international travel costs (request Excel Budget template from [email protected])• Budget Narrative explaining how the costs were estimated (quantity x unit cost, for example) and any unique line items in the budget.• Media and Outreach Plan, describing how it intends to highlight AFCP-supported activities through existing print, electronic, and social media platforms.• Ten (10) or more high quality digital images (JPEGs) or audiovisual files that convey the nature and condition of the site or museum collection and show the urgency or need for the proposed project (collapsing walls, extensive water damage, etc.).• Relevant supporting documentation (in English), such as historic structure reports, restoration plans and studies, conservation needs assessments and recommendations, architectural and engineering records, etc., compiled in preparation for the proposed project.COST SHARING AND OTHER FORMS OF COST PARTICIPATION:There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, AFCP encourages cost sharing, in-kind contributions, and other forms of cost participation. When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved agreement. The applicant will be responsible for tracking and reporting on any cost share or outside funding, which is subject to audit per 2 CFR 200. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. PROJECT SCHEDULEApplicants may propose project performance periods of up to 60 months (five years) with five budget periods of one year each; projects must begin no earlier than September 30, 2018, and conclude no later than September 30, 2023.DUNS NUMBER AND SAM REGISTRATION: All applicants must have a Dun & Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code, and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting full proposals. Applicants may acquire DUNs numbers at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNs number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or by requesting a number online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Non-U.S. based applicants may request a NCAGE code at https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspxSAM is the official, free on-line registration database for the U.S. Government. SAM.gov collects, validates, stores, and disseminates data in support of federal agency acquisition and grant award mission. Registration in SAM, required for all program applicants, Registration in SAM is free: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/NOTE: This process can take weeks/months, especially for non-U.S. applicants REVIEW AND SELECTION CRITERIA:AFCP will review and select project abstracts (Round One) and full project proposals (Round Two) according to the program objectives, funding areas and priorities, ineligible activities and unallowable costs, and other proposal requirements. PERFORMANCE AND DELIVERABLES:AFCP 2018 award recipients must submit performance progress and financial status reports and final reports on time as specified in the AFCP 2018 Notice of Award. Information on previous awards is available from the Cultural Heritage Center and the AFCP Web site: http://exchanges.state.gov/heritage/afcp.html . The Center has expertise in the preservation of cultural heritage and is available for technical guidance.DISCLAIMER: Explanatory information that contradicts published language is not binding. Issuance of this Notice of Funding Opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government. AFCP/Cultural Heritage Center reserves the right to waive program formalities and to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program and availability of funds.