Dear colleagues in the WASH sector:
Below please find a funding opportunity announcement for
Afghanistan and Pakistan. This includes safe drinking water and sanitation.
Good luck and please keep me posted!
John
FY 2013 Funding
Opportunity Announcement for NGO Programs Benefiting Afghan Returnees and
Refugees in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Funding Opportunity Announcement
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and
Migration
March 1, 2013
Funding Opportunity Number: PRM-PRMOAPNE-13-003
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: 19.519
- Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Near East and South Asia
Announcement issuance date: Friday, March 1, 2013
Proposal submission deadline: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at
12:00 p.m. noon
EDT. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be
considered.
**ADVISORY: PRM strongly recommends submitting your proposal early
to allow time to address any difficulties that may arise.**
Proposed Program Start Dates: July 1 through September 30,
2013
Eligible Applicants: (1) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3)
status with IRS, other than institutions of higher education; (2) Nonprofits
without 501(c)(3) status with IRS, other than institutions of higher education;
and (3) International Organizations. International Organizations (IOs) should
not submit proposals through Grants.gov in response to this Funding Opportunity
Announcement. Rather IOs such as UN agencies and other Public International
Organizations (PIOs) that are seeking funding for programs relevant to this
announcement should contact the relevant PRM Program Officer (as listed below)
on or before the closing date of the funding announcement.
Duration of Activity: Up to 36 months. Program plans up to
36 months will be considered, except for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
projects, which are limited to 12 months. Applicants may submit multi-year
proposals with activities and budgets that do not exceed 36 months from the
proposed start date. Actual awards will not exceed 12 months in duration and
activities and budgets submitted in year one can be revised/updated the
following year. Continued funding after the initial 12-month award requires the
submission of a noncompeting continuation application and will be contingent
upon available funding, strong performance, and continuing need. In funding a
project one year, PRM makes no representations that it will continue to fund
the project in successive years and encourages applicants to seek a wide array
of donors to ensure long-term funding possibilities. Please see Multi-Year
Funding section below for additional information.
Current Funding Priorities:
PRM will prioritize funding for proposed NGO activities that best meet the
Bureau’s priorities for Afghan returnees and refugees in Afghanistan and
Pakistan as identified below.
(a) Proposed activities should primarily support Afghan refugee returnees in
Afghanistan and registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Because of PRM's
mandate to provide protection, assistance, and sustainable solutions for
refugees and victims of conflict, PRM will consider funding only those projects
that include a target beneficiary base of at least 50% Afghan refugee returnees
and/or registered Afghan refugees.
(b) Proposals must focus on the following sectors:
Programs in Afghanistan:
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): PRM will
consider interventions that focus on WASH-related education or
infrastructure improvement that are in line with Ministry of Rural
Rehabilitation and Development guidelines and internationally recognized
standards. All proposals in this sector must demonstrate how WASH systems
will be maintained by the community beyond the 12-month project timeline.
(In this sector, PRM will not consider projects with a duration longer
than 12 months.)
- Livelihoods: PRM will consider vocational training
and/or livelihoods/business development programs linked to job
opportunities. Proposals may include complementary training in fields such
as adult literacy; however, standalone vocational training not linked to
income generation will not be considered for funding. Proposals from PRM
partners who implemented PRM-funded livelihoods programs in FY2012 must
include information on previous program beneficiaries’ income and
employment status.
- Protection: PRM will consider activities to support
extremely vulnerable individuals including projects that seek to prevent
gender-based violence (GBV). Strong proposals will incorporate men and
boys in GBV prevention and response programs.
Programs in Pakistan:
- Health: PRM will consider proposals that promote the
transition of health services in Pishin, Balochistan; Quetta, Balochistan;
Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Swabi, Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa; and Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to governmental authorities,
local NGOs, and/or development partners. Partners may propose continuing
to provide basic health services only if proposals demonstrate a clear and
measurable plan for transition away from direct service provision with
benchmarks that demonstrate complete transition by the end of the project
period. For programs that include basic health service provision including
reproductive health, particular attention should be paid to relevant Pilot
Health Indicators in the General
NGO Guidelines. PRM will consider proposals up to
36 months in this sector to facilitate complete transition of projects.
- Livelihoods: PRM will consider proposals for vocational
training and/or livelihoods/business development programs linked to job
opportunities. Proposals may include complementary training in fields such
as adult literacy; however, standalone vocational training not linked to
income generation will not be considered for funding. Proposals from PRM
partners who implemented PRM-funded livelihoods programs in FY2012 must
include information on previous program beneficiaries’ current income and
employment status.
- Education: PRM will consider provision of or improved
access to quality primary and secondary education services. Projects
should focus on enrolment of out-of-school refugee children and
strengthening community involvement, particularly in the maintenance and
repair of the schools, and sustainability. Coursework should support
eventual repatriation/reintegration in Afghanistan and/or help
beneficiaries earn a livelihood in Pakistan. Strong proposals will also
prioritize the enrollment and retention of girls.
- Protection: PRM will consider protection activities
that increase registered refugees’ access to basic services, legal
assistance and rights awareness-raising activities, gender equality and
protection of women (such as combating GBV, working inclusively with men
and boys, economic empowerment and livelihoods for women, etc.), and
activities to support extremely vulnerable individuals.
Cross-Border Programs:
- Livelihoods: PRM will consider integrated programming
that supports employment, self-reliance, and successful reintegration of
refugees returning from Pakistan to Afghanistan as well as vocational
training and/or livelihoods/business development programs linked to job
opportunities. Proposals may include complementary training in fields such
as adult literacy; however, standalone vocational training not linked to
income generation will not be considered for funding. Proposals should
demonstrate an understanding of actual market needs and include indicators
and benchmarks that will adequately track increases in revenue upon return
to Afghanistan. PRM will consider proposals up to 36 months in this
sector.
(c) Proposals must have a concrete implementation plan with well-conceived
objectives and indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant
and reliable, time-bound and trackable (SMART), have established baselines, and
include at least one outcome or impact indicator per objective; objectives
should be clearly linked to the sectors.
(d) Proposals must adhere to relevant international standards for
humanitarian assistance. See PRM’s
General NGO
Guidelines for a complete list of sector-specific standards.
(e) PRM will accept proposals from any NGO working in the above mentioned
sectors although, given budgetary constraints, priority will be given to
proposals from organizations that can demonstrate:
- a working relationship with UNHCR, current UNHCR
funding, and/or a letter of support from UNHCR for the proposed activities
and/or overall country program (this letter should highlight the gap in
services the proposed program is designed to address);
- a proven track record in providing proposed assistance
both in the sector and specified location;
- evidence of coordination with international
organizations (IOs) and other NGOs working in the same area or sector as
well as – where possible – local authorities;
- a strong transition plan, where feasible, involving
local capacity-building;
- a budget that demonstrates co-funding by non-US
government sources.
Funding Limits: In FY 2013, PRM anticipates providing
approximately $14 million to fund NGO programs in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Project proposals must be not more than $1,500,000 (per year) for
single-country projects and $2,000,000 (per year) for cross-border proposals or
they will be disqualified. As stated in PRM’s
General NGO
Guidelines, PRM looks favorably on cost-sharing efforts and seeks to
support projects with a diverse donor base and/or resources from the submitting
organization.
Proposal Submission Requirements: Proposals must be
submitted via Grants.gov. See “Applicant Resources” page on Grants.gov for
complete details on requirements (
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/app_help_reso.jsp).
Please also note the following highlights:
- Do not wait until the
last minute to submit your application on Grants.gov. Organizations not
registered with Grants.gov should register well in advance of the deadline
as it can take up to two weeks to finalize registration (sometimes longer
for non-U.S. based NGOs to get the required registration numbers). To
register with Grants.gov, organizations must first receive a DUNS number
and register with the System for Award Management (SAM) which can take
weeks and sometimes months. We recommend that organizations, particularly
first-time applicants, submit applications via Grants.gov no later than
one week before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical difficulties
that could result in an application not being considered. PRM partners
must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all
times during which they have an active federal award or an application
under consideration by PRM or any federal agency.
- Applications must be
submitted under the authority of the Authorized Organization
Representative (AOR) at the applicant organization. Having proposals
submitted by agency headquarters helps to avoid possible technical
problems.
- If you encounter
technical difficulties with Grants.gov please contact the Grants.gov Help
Desk at support@grants.gov or by
calling 1-800-518-4726. Applicants who are unable to submit
applications via Grants.gov due to Grants.gov technical difficulties and
who have reported the problem to the Grants.gov help desk, received a case
number, and had a service request opened to research the problem, should
contact the relevant PRM Program Officer to determine whether an
alternative method of submission is appropriate.
- International
Organizations (IOs) should not submit proposals through Grants.gov in
response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. Rather IOs such as UN
agencies and other Public International Organizations (PIOs) that are
seeking funding for programs relevant to this announcement should contact
the relevant PRM Program Officer (as stated below) on or before the
closing date of the funding announcement.
- Pursuant to U.S. Code, Title 218, Section 1001, stated
on OMB Standard Form 424 (SF-424), the Department of State is authorized
to consolidate the certifications and assurances required by Federal law
or regulations for its federal assistance programs. The list of
certifications and assurances can be found at: http://fa.statebuy.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=161&menu_id=68
)
Proposal Content, Formatting and Template: This
announcement is designed to accompany PRM’s
General NGO
Guidelines, which contain additional administrative information on proposal
content and formatting, and explain in detail PRM’s NGO funding strategy and
priorities. Please use both the
General NGO
Guidelines and this announcement to ensure that your proposal submission is
in full compliance with PRM requirements and that the proposed activities are
in line with PRM’s priorities. Proposal submissions that do not meet all of the
requirements outlined in these guidelines will not be considered.
PRM strongly recommends using the proposal and budget templates that are
available upon email request from
PRM's
NGO Coordinator. Please send an email, with the phrase
“PRM NGO Templates” in the subject line, to PRM's NGO Coordinator
. Single-year
proposals using PRM’s templates must be no more than 20 pages in length (Times
New Roman 12 point font, one inch margins on all sides). If the applicant does
not use PRM’s recommended templates, proposals must not exceed 15 pages in
length. Organizations may choose to attach work plans, activity calendars,
and/or logical frameworks as addendums/appendices to the proposal. These
attachments do not count toward the page limit total.
To be considered for PRM funding, organizations must submit a complete
application package including:
- Proposal reflecting objectives and indicators for all
years of the program period.
- Budget and budget narrative for each year of the
program period.
- Signed completed SF-424.
In addition, proposal submissions to PRM should include the following
information:
- Focus on outcome or impact indicators as much as
possible. At a minimum, each objective should have one outcome or impact
indicator. Wherever possible, baselines should be established before the
start of the project.
- To increase PRM’s ability to track the impact of PRM
funding, include specific information on locations of projects and
beneficiaries (GPS coordinates if possible).
- Proposals should outline how the NGO will acknowledge
PRM funding. If an organization believes that publicly acknowledging the
receipt of USG funding for a particular PRM-funded project could
potentially endanger the lives of the beneficiaries and/or the
organization staff, invite suspicion about the organization's motives, or
alienate the organization from the population it is trying to help, it
must provide a brief explanation in its proposal as to why it should be
exempted from this requirement.
- The budget should include a specific breakdown of funds
being provided by UNHCR, other USG agencies, other donors, and your own
organization. PRM strongly encourages multilateral support for
humanitarian programs.
- Proposals and budgets should include details of any
sub-agreements associated with the program.
- Copy of the organization’s Code of Conduct (required
before an award can be made).
- Copy of the organization’s Security Plan (required
before an award can be made).
- Most recent Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement
(NICRA), if applicable.
- NGOs that have not received PRM funding since the U.S.
Government fiscal year ending September 30, 2004 must be prepared to
demonstrate that they meet the financial and accounting requirements of
the U.S. Government by submitting copies of 1) the most recent external
financial audit, 2) proof of non-profit tax status including under IRS 501
(c)(3), as applicable, 3) a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number,
and 4) an Employer ID (EIN)/Federal Tax Identification number.
- Organizations that received PRM funding in FY 2012 for
activities that are being proposed for funding under this announcement
must include the most recent quarterly progress report against indicators
outlined in the cooperative agreement. If an organization’s last quarterly
report was submitted more than six weeks prior to the submission of a proposal
in response to this funding announcement, the organization must include,
with its most recent quarterly report, updates that show any significant
progress made on objectives since the last report.
Multi-Year Funding: Applicants proposing multi-year programs
should adhere to the following guidance:
Applicants may submit proposals that include multi-year strategies presented
in 12-month cycles for a period not to exceed or 36 months from the proposed
start date. Fully developed programs with detailed budgets, objectives and
indicators are required for each year of activities.
These can be
updated yearly upon submission of continuation applications. Applicants
should note that they may use PRM’s recommended multi-year proposal template
for this application, which is different from the single year template.
Multi-year funding applicants may also use PRM’s standard budget template and
should submit a separate budget sheet for each project year. Multi-year
proposals using PRM’s templates must be no more than 30 pages in length (Times
New Roman 12 point font, one inch margins on all sides). If the applicant does
not use PRM’s recommended templates, proposals must not exceed 25 pages in
length. Organizations may choose to attach work plans, activity calendars, and/or
logical frameworks as addendums/appendices to the proposal. These attachments
do not count toward the page limit total.
Multi-year applications selected for funding by PRM will be funded in 12-
month increments based on the proposal submitted in the initial application as
approved by PRM. Continued funding after the initial 12- month award requires
the submission of a noncompeting continuation application and will be
contingent upon available funding, strong performance, and continuing need.
Continuation applications must be submitted by the organization no later than
90 days before the proposed start date of the new award (e.g., if the next
project period is to begin on September 1, submit your application by June 1).
Continuation applications are submitted in lieu of responding to PRM’s
published call for proposals for those activities. Late continuation
applications will jeopardize continued funding.
Organizations can request multi-year funding and continuation application
templates by emailing
PRM's NGO
Coordinator with the phrase “PRM NGO Templates” in the
subject line
.
Reports and Reporting Requirements:
Program reporting: PRM requires quarterly and final program
reports describing and analyzing the results of activities undertaken during
the validity period of the agreement. It is highly suggested that NGOs
receiving PRM funding use the PRM recommended program report template. To
request this template, send an email with the phrase “PRM NGO Templates” in the
subject line to
PRM's NGO
Coordinator.
Financial Reports: Financial reports are required within
thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar year quarter during the
validity period of the agreement; a final financial report covering the entire
period of the agreement is required within ninety (90) days after the
expiration date of the agreement.
For more details regarding reporting requirements please see PRM’s
General NGO
Guidelines.
Proposal Review Process: PRM will conduct a formal
competitive review of all proposals submitted in response to this funding
announcement. A review panel will evaluate submissions based on the
above-referenced proposal evaluation criteria and PRM priorities in the context
of available funding.
PRM may request revised proposals and/or budgets based on feedback from the
panel. PRM will provide formal notifications to NGOs of final decisions taken
by Bureau management.
Assistance Award Provision – SPOT: The following provisions
will be included in the Bureau specific component of the Notice of Award for
performance in a designated combat area (currently Iraq and Afghanistan).
Recipients are required to include this provision in any sub-grant awards or
agreements.
SPECIAL PROVISION FOR PERFORMANCE
IN A DESIGNATED COMBAT AREA (CURRENTLY IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN)
(Revised January 2011)
All recipient personnel deploying to areas of combat operations, as
designated by the Secretary of Defense (currently Iraq and Afghanistan), under
grants over $100,000 or performance over 30 days must register in the
Department of Defense maintained Synchronized Pre-deployment and Operational
Tracker (SPOT) system. Recipients of federal assistance awards shall register
in SPOT before deployment, or if already in the designated operational area,
register upon becoming an employee under the assistance award and maintain
current data in SPOT. Information on how to register in SPOT is available from
your Grants Officer or Grants Officer Representative.
Recipients must enter all U.S. and Third Country National (TCN) personnel
into SPOT. If the Recipient has concerns about the safety of locally hired
Iraqi or Afghan personnel because of personal data entered into SPOT,
arrangements may be made with the Grants Officer or the Grants Officer
Representative to report anonymous aggregate data.
Locally-hired Iraqi or Afghan personnel can be added anonymously through the
use of the aggregate count template except as noted in the following paragraph.
Recipients utilizing personnel who are performing a private security
function; are performing duties as a translator or interpreter; require access
to U.S. facilities, services, or support; or desire consideration for refugee
or special immigrant status under the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act of 2007
(subtitle C of title XII of Public Law 110–181) must be entered into SPOT
individually with all required personal information. If a locally-hired Iraqi
or Afghan national falls into one of these categories, the Recipient must enter
all of the required identification data into SPOT.
When the Grantee is ready to enter locally-hired individuals using the
Aggregate Count method, the Grantee will notify the Grants Officer who will
contact the Department SPOT Program Manager (A/LM/AQM) to obtain the “Aggregate
Count” template. The Grantee will complete the “Aggregate Count” template and
return to the SPOT Program Manager who will ensure that aggregate counts are
loaded into SPOT. The Grantee SPOT Administrator is responsible for updating
the aggregate locally hired national count on a quarterly basis by providing
updated information via the “Aggregate Count” As template to the GOR/GO for
each award who will forward to the Department SPOT Program Manager for SPOT
entry.
Recipient performance may require the use of armed private security
personnel. To the extent that such private security contractors (PSCs) are
required, grantees are required to ensure they adhere to Chief of Mission (COM)
policies and procedures regarding the operation, oversight, and accountability
of PSCs. In a designated area of combat operations, the term PSC includes any
personnel providing protection of the personnel, facilities, property of a
grantee or subgrantee at any level, or performing any other activity for which
personnel are required to carry weapons in the performance of their duties.
As specific COM policies and procedures may differ in scope and
applicability, recipients of federal assistance awards are advised to review
post policies and procedures carefully in this regard and direct any questions
to the Embassy Regional Security Office (RSO) via the Grants Officer
Representative (GOR). Any exclusion to these policies must be granted by the
COM via the RSO. COM policies and procedures may be obtained from the RSO via
the GOR. Recipients of federal assistance awards are also advised that these
policies and procedures may be amended from time to time at the post in
response to changing circumstances.
Recipients of federal assistance awards are advised that adherence to these
policies and procedures are considered to be a material requirement of their grant.
Recipients of federal assistance awards are reminded that only the Grants
Officer has the authority to modify the Notice of Award. Recipients shall
proceed with any security guidance provided by the RSO, but shall advise the
Grants Officer and the GOR of the guidance received and any potential cost or
schedule impact.
Applicant Vetting as a Condition of Award: Applicants for programs in
Afghanistan are advised that successful passing of vetting to evaluate the risk
that funds may benefit terrorists or their supporters is a condition of award.
Applicants may be asked to submit information required by DS Form 4184,
Risk
Analysis Information about their company and its principal personnel.
Vetting information is also required for all subaward performance on assistance
awards identified by DOS as presenting a risk of terrorist financing. When
vetting information is requested by the Grants Officer, information may be
submitted on the secure web portal at
https://ramportal.state.gov,
via Email to
RAM@state.gov, or hardcopy to
the Grants Officer. Questions the form may be emailed to
RAM@state.gov. Failure to submit information
when requested, or failure to pass vetting, may be grounds for rejecting your
proposal. The following clause shall be included in Section 9,
Special Award
Conditions, or as an addendum to the solicitation, whenever assistance is
awarded after vetting:
- Recipient Vetting After Award: Recipients shall advise
the Grants Officer of any changes in personnel listed in the DS Form 4184,
Risk Analysis Information, and shall provide vetting information on
new individuals. The government reserves the right to vet these personnel
changes and to terminate assistance awards for convenience based on
vetting results.
Branding and Marking Strategy: Unless requests for exceptions have
been approved by the designated bureau Authorizing Official as described in the
proposal templates that are available upon email request from
PRM's NGO Coordinator, at a
minimum, the following provision will be included whenever assistance is
awarded:
As a condition of receipt of this assistance award, all materials produced
pursuant to the award, including training materials, materials for recipients
or materials to communicate or promote with foreign audiences a program, event,
project, or some other activity under this agreement, including but not limited
to invitations to events, press materials, event backdrops, podium signs, etc.
must be marked appropriately with the standard U.S. flag in a size and
prominence equal to (or greater than) any other logo or identity. Subrecipients
and subsequent tier sub-award agreements are subject to the marking
requirements and the recipient shall include a provision in the subrecipient
agreement indicating that the standard, rectangular U.S. flag is a requirement.
In the event the recipient does not comply with the marking requirements as
established in the approved assistance agreement, the Grants Officer
Representative and the Grants Officer must initiate corrective action.
PRM Points of Contact: Should NGOs have technical questions
related to this announcement, they should contact the PRM staff listed below
prior to proposal submission. Please note that responses to technical questions
from PRM do not indicate a commitment to fund the program discussed.
PRM Program Officers: Emily Mestetsky (
MestetskyEA@state.gov 202-453-9282) and
Mark Thornburg (
ThornburgMH@state.gov
202-453-9284) in Washington, D.C.
Regional Refugee Coordinators: Simone Jackson (
GravesSL@state.gov, U.S. Embassy,
Islamabad) and Ted Jasik (
JasikT@state.gov,
U.S. Embassy, Kabul).
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