Program to increase participation of people with disabilities (PWDs) in USAID activities and strengthen the capacities of disabled people’s organizations (DPOs).

The purpose of this APS amendment is to provide answers to questions received regarding this APS. All other terms and conditions indicated in the APS issued on January 22, 2010 remain unchanged. _____________________________________ The purpose of this Annual Program Statement (APS) is to solicit concept papers from qualified non-governmental organizations capable of designing and implementing innovative, model projects that will increase the socio-economic participation of people with disabilities (PWDs) in Vietnam and strengthen the capacities of disabled people’s organizations (DPOs). Approved projects will be funded under USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA)/Office of Democracy and Governance (DG) Activities.Funds should be used to support projects and programs that will increase the participation of people with disabilities in USAID’s activities, enhance their participation in the decision making process that affects their lives and strengthen the capacities of disabled people organizations (DPOs). All awards (grants or cooperative agreements) under this request for concept papers will be administered through USAID/Vietnam..Program areas could include, but are not limited to, education, health, governance (policy and/or administration), civil society strengthening, rule of law, HIV/AIDS, and employment generation. Capacity building programs for DPOs may include organizational capacity, advocacy efforts, coordination of efforts that address the needs of people with disabiltiy, and leadership. Partnerships or consortiums are encouraged, where feasible, but one organization must be designated to lead the proposed effort. Project concept papers should cover an implementation period of no more than 24 months with budget ranging from $20,000-$300,000 per grant/award for the entire life of the project. Any request over $300,000 for the total project period will not be reviewed. Awards will be considered as “one time grants”, with no expectations for follow-on fundingUSAID/Vietnam expects to award one or more Cooperative Agreements/Grants under this APS and reserves the right to make no awards, at its discretion. Applications must include a budget for the entire proposed program period (not to exceed two years). Subject to the availability of funds, the total amount available for all awards worldwide under this program is approximately $2,000,000.