Democracy, Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Freedom of Expression/Press for the Europe/Eurasia region.
Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Number: DRLA-DRLAQM-11-005
Close Date: 2011-11-01 00:00:00
Agency: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Posted Date: 10/3/2011
Creation Date: Oct 11, 2011
Original Closing Date for Applications: Nov 1, 2011
Archive Date: Dec 1, 2011
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Category of Funding Activity: Law, Justice and Legal ServicesOther (see text field entitled "Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity" for clarification)
Category Explanation: none
Expected Number of Awards: 3
Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,820,000
Award Ceiling: $770,000
Award Floor: $300,000
CFDA Number(s): 19.345 -- International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No
Eligible Applicants: Public and State controlled institutions of higher educationOthers (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)Private institutions of higher educationNonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher educationNonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Additional Information on Eligibility: Organizations
submitting proposals must meet the following criteria:
* Be a U.S. non-profit organization meeting the provisions described in
Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3) or a comparable
organization headquartered internationally, or an international
organization.
* Have demonstrated experience administering successful and preferably
similar projects. DRL reserves the right to request additional
background information on organizations that do not have previous
experience administering federal grant awards. These applicants may be
subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.
*Be a registered user of www.grants.gov and/or www.grantsolutions.gov .
* Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with
in-country entities and relevant stakeholders including industry and
non-governmental organizations.
* Organizations may form consortia and submit a combined proposal.
However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant.
* An OMB policy directive published in the Federal Register on Friday,
June 27, 2003, requires that all organizations applying for Federal
grants or cooperative agreements must provide a Dun and Bradstreet
(D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying
for all Federal grants or cooperative agreements in or after October 1,
2003. Please reference:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/062703_grant_identifier.pdf for the
complete OMB policy directive.
Description: epartment
of State
Public Notice
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Request for Proposals:
Democracy, Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Freedom of Expression/Press
for the Europe/Eurasia region.
SUMMARY
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces a
Request for Proposals from organizations interested in submitting
proposals for projects that promote democracy, human rights, rule of
law, and freedom of expression/press in Europe and Eurasia.
PLEASE NOTE: DRL strongly urges applicants to access immediately
www.grants.gov or www.grantsolutions.gov in order to obtain a username
and password. It may take two full weeks to register with
www.grants.gov. Please see the section entitled, ?DEADLINE AND
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS? below for specific instructions.
REQUESTED PROPOSAL PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
DRL invites organizations to submit proposals outlining program concepts
and capacity to manage projects targeting the following issues:
Russia:
Building the Capacity of Media to Increase Transparency and Counter
Corruption (approximately $770,000 available): DRL?s objective is to
strengthen the capacity of civil society and media to advocate against
corruption in the context of the Russian government?s anti-corruption
and transparency initiatives. DRL seeks proposals that build bridges
between the worlds of journalism and anti-corruption advocacy in Russia.
Proposals should expand the capacity of journalists, bloggers, and/or
civil society to uncover and effectively publicize reports of corruption
on the local, regional, or national levels using new and traditional
media. Proposals may focus on countering specific types of corruption
or corruption in particular social spheres, such as politics, religion,
education, health care, and law enforcement. Proposals should include a
component focusing on upcoming elections in March 2012 and building
upon lessons learned during the December 2011 elections. In addition,
proposals should include a financial sustainability component to assist
participating media outlets, bloggers, etc., to improve their long-term
viability. Proposals should address potential interference/obstacles in
regards to program implementation and offer contingency planning to
ensure the safety of participants.
Proposals that include some of the following will be viewed favorably:
conduct activities in the regions outside of Russia's major cities
and/or take a broad geographic approach; emphasize fact-checking skills;
promote "spillover" into traditional media and social media; include
ways to utilize new Freedom of Information legislation; highlight the
experiences of existing associations and civil society groups, including
religious groups, labor unions, and persons with disabilities; tap into
networks of experienced pools of trainers such as journalist
associations or regional networks; improve access to anti-corruption
information for people with disabilities; or document/package/distribute
effective anti-corruption stories and strategies in an innovative way
that appeals to mass audiences. Other creative approaches are also
welcome. Preference will be given to proposals with a large proportion
of funding to be provided directly to Russian sub-recipients to carry
out initiatives.
Improving Access to Justice in the North Caucasus (approximately
$550,000 available): DRL?s objective is to impede the cycle of human
rights abuses, violent extremism, and authoritarian responses in the
North Caucasus through support of access to justice. Proposals should
be mindful of how the cycle of repression and violence in the North
Caucausus impacts the rights of vulnerable or marginalized groups,
especially women, but also journalists, independent activists, ethnic
and religious minorities, LGBT individuals, and those with disabilities.
Proposals should address one or more of the following themes:
- Expanding civil society's capacity to facilitate access to justice for
citizens;
- Raising citizens' ability to access legal services;
- Increasing citizens' knowledge of protections provided by Russian and
international law in regards to human rights;
- Developing citizens' understanding of the role of universal human
rights in an Islamic context.
Proposals must provide a plan that addresses the security needs of the
project. Proposals from implementers with relevant experience working
in the North Caucasus are preferred, but others will be considered.
Proposals that include creative approaches are encouraged, as are
proposals that include activities that take place in more than one
republic.
Balkans:
Balkans Regional (approximately $500,000 available): DRL?s objective is
to decrease intolerance/discrimination based on identity (e.g.
ethnicity, language, religion, disabilities) among young people in the
Balkans, and to promote cross-border, interethnic understanding and
dialogue among youth in the region and within national boundaries. DRL
seeks proposals that enhance reconciliation and inclusion efforts among
various majority and minority communities affected by recent conflict;
and impart the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for effective
and responsible participation in democratic societies. Activities should
promote constructive and inclusive relations among members of ethnic,
religious, linguistic and other marginalized groups. Proposals must
include participants from three or more Balkan countries (specifically
including Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo) and include youths from a
range of ethnic, religious, cultural or other marginalized communities.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Proposals should conform to DRL?s posted Proposal Submission
Instructions (PSI), available at
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/p/october_2010/index.htm#. (For this
solicitation, applicants must use the Revised PSI dated October 2010.)
An organization may submit no more than three (3) proposals (one
proposal per theme). Proposals that do not meet the requirements of the
announcement and PSI may not be considered. Proposals that combine
target countries and/or themes may be deemed technically ineligible.
Proposals that request less than the award floor ($300,000) or more than
the award ceiling ($770,000) will be deemed technically ineligible.
For all application documents, please ensure:
1) All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments,
2) All documents are formatted to 8 x 11 paper, and
3) All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New
Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.
Complete applications should include the following for proposal
submission:
1) Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424a (Budget Summary) and SF424b
(Assurances), most recent A-133 Audit, and Certifications Regarding
Lobbying forms as directed on www.grants.gov and www.grantsolutions.gov.
2) Table of Contents (not to exceed one [1] page in Microsoft Word) that
includes a page-numbered contents page, including any attachments.
3) Executive Summary (not to exceed one [1] page in Microsoft Word) that
includes:
a) Name and contact information for the project?s main point of contact,
b) A one-paragraph ?statement of work? or synopsis of the program and
its expected results,
c) A concise breakdown of the project?s objectives and activities,
d) The total amount of funding requested and program length, and
e) A brief statement on how the project is innovative, sustainable, and
will have a demonstrated impact.
4) Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten [10] pages in Microsoft Word).
Please note the ten page limit does not include the Table of Contents,
Executive Summary, Attachments, Detailed Budget, Budget Narrative or
NICRA. Applicants may submit multiple documents in one Microsoft Word
file, i.e., Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative,
and Budget Narrative in one file or as separate, individually submitted
files. Submissions should address four specific criteria (Quality of
Program, Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives, Multiplier
Effect/Sustainability, and Institution?s Record and Capacity). Details
about these criteria are described in the Review Process section below.
5) Budget Narrative (preferably in Microsoft Word) that includes an
explanation/justification for each line item in the detailed budget
spreadsheet, as well as the source and description of all cost-share
offered. For ease of review, it is recommended that applicants order
the budget narrative as presented in the detailed budget. Primarily
Headquarters- and Field-based personnel costs should include a
clarification on the roles and responsibilities of key staff and
percentage of time devoted to the project. In addition,
cost-effectiveness is one of the key criteria for rating the
competitiveness of a program proposal. Applicants that include cost
share in their budget should note that cost share is considered a
commitment and that the grantee will be held responsible for meeting the
amount of cost share included. It is recommended that budget
narratives address the overall cost-effectiveness of the proposal,
including any cost-share offered (see the PSI for more information on
cost-sharing and cost-effectiveness).
6) Detailed Line-item Budget (in Microsoft Excel or similar spreadsheet
format) that contains three [3] columns including DRL request, any cost
sharing contribution, and total budget. A summary budget should also be
included using the OMB approved budget categories (see SF-424 as a
sample). See the PSI for more information on budget format. Costs must
be in U.S. Dollars.
7) Attachments (not to exceed seven [7] pages total, preferably in
Microsoft Word) that include the following in order:
a) Pages 1-2: Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (see PSI for more
information on this section).
b) Page 3: Roles and responsibilities of key program personnel with
short bios that highlight relevant professional experience. Given the
limited space, CVs are not recommended for submission.
c) Page 4: Timeline of the overall proposal. Components should include
activities, evaluation efforts, and program closeout.
d) Page 5-7: Additional optional attachments. Attachments may include
additional timeline information, letters of support, memorandums of
understanding/agreement, etc. For applicants with a large number of
letters/MOUs, it may be useful to provide a list of the
organizations/government agencies that support the program rather than
the actual documentation.
8) If your organization has a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement
(NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA
should be sent as a pdf file. This document will not be reviewed by the
panelists, but rather used by program and grant staff if the submission
is recommended for funding. Hence, this document does not count
against the submission page limitations. If your organization does not
have a NICRA agreement with a cognizant agency, the proposal budget
should not have a line item for indirect cost charges. Rather, any
costs that may be considered as indirect costs should be included in
specific budget line items as direct costs. Furthermore, if your
proposal involves sub-grants to organizations charging indirect costs,
and those organizations also have a NICRA, please submit the applicable
NICRA as a pdf file (see the PSI for more information on indirect cost
rate).
Note: To ensure all applications receive a balanced evaluation, the DRL
Review Committee will review the first page of the requested section up
to the page limit and no further. DRL encourages organizations to use
the given space effectively.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The bulk of funding activities should take place during a two to
three-year time frame. Programs that leverage resources from funds
internal to the organization or other sources, such as public-private
partnerships, will be highly considered. Programs that have a strong
academic or research focus will not be highly considered. Cost sharing
is strongly encouraged, and cost sharing contributions should be
outlined in the proposal, budget, and budget narrative.
DRL will not consider proposals that reflect any type of support, for
any member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist
organization, whether or not elected members of government.
The information in this solicitation is binding and may not be modified
by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information provided by the
Bureau that contradicts this language will not be binding. Issuance of
the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment on the part of
the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, revise, or
increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program
evaluation requirements.
This request for proposals will appear on www.grants.gov,
www.grantsolutions.gov, and DRL?s website, www.state.gov/g/drl.
APPLICANT/ORGANIZATION CRITERIA
Organizations submitting proposals must meet the following criteria:
* Be a U.S. non-profit organization meeting the provisions described in
Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3) or a comparable
organization headquartered internationally, or an international
organization.
* Have demonstrated experience administering successful and preferably
similar projects. DRL reserves the right to request additional
background information on organizations that do not have previous
experience administering federal grant awards. These applicants may be
subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.
*Be a registered user of www.grants.gov and/or www.grantsolutions.gov .
* Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with
in-country entities and relevant stakeholders including industry and
non-governmental organizations.
* Organizations may form consortia and submit a combined proposal.
However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant.
* An OMB policy directive published in the Federal Register on Friday,
June 27, 2003, requires that all organizations applying for Federal
grants or cooperative agreements must provide a Dun and Bradstreet
(D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying
for all Federal grants or cooperative agreements in or after October 1,
2003. Please reference:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/062703_grant_identifier.pdf for the
complete OMB policy directive.
REVIEW PROCESS
The Bureau will review all proposals for eligibility. Eligible
proposals will be subject to compliance of Federal and Bureau
regulations and guidelines and may also be reviewed by the Office of the
Legal Adviser or by other Department elements. Final signatory
authority for assistance awards resides with the Department?s Grants
Officer. DRL and the Grants Office reserve the right to request any
additional programmatic and/or financial information regarding the
proposal.
Proposals will be funded based on an evaluation of how the proposal
meets the solicitation review criteria, U.S. foreign policy objectives,
and the priority needs of DRL. A Department of State Review Committee
will evaluate proposals submitted under this request. Each proposal
will be rated along six criteria. Review criteria will include:
1) Quality of Program Idea
Proposals should be responsive to the solicitation and should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's mission
of promoting human rights and democracy.
2) Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives
A strong proposal will include a clear articulation of how the proposed
program activities contribute to the overall program objectives, and
each activity will be clearly developed and detailed. A relevant work
plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and the logistical
capacity of the organization. The work plan should adhere to the
program overview and guidelines described above. Objectives should be
ambitious, yet measurable and achievable. For complete proposals,
applicants should provide a monthly timeline of project activities.
Proposals should address how the program will engage relevant
stakeholders and should identify local partners as appropriate. If
local partners have been identified, the Bureau strongly encourages
applicants to submit letters of support from proposed in-country
partners. Organizations also should identify and address gender
considerations in all proposed program activities, and must provide
specific means, measures, and corresponding targets to address them. As
appropriate, organizations should also explain how the program plan
addresses the participation and needs of people with disabilities.
Additionally, applicants should describe the division of labor among the
direct applicant and any local partners. If applicable, proposals
should identify target areas for activities, target participant groups
or selection criteria for participants, and purpose/criteria for
sub-grantees, among other pertinent details. In particularly
challenging operating environments, proposals should include contingency
plans for overcoming potential difficulties in executing the original
work plan.
3) Multiplier Effect/Sustainability
Proposals should clearly delineate how elements of their program will
have a multiplier effect and be sustainable beyond the life of the
grant. A good multiplier effect may include but is not limited to,
plans to build lasting networks for direct and indirect beneficiaries,
follow-on training and mentoring, and continued use of project
deliverables. A strong sustainability plan may include demonstrating
capacity-building results or garnering other donor support after DRL
funding ceases.
4) Program Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan
Programs should demonstrate the capacity for engaging in outcome-based
evaluations and identify outputs and outcomes to measure how
Link to Additional Information: Democracy, Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Freedom of Expression/Press for the Europe/Eurasia region.
Contact Info: Grants.gov Contact Center
Phone Number: 1-800-518-4726
Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
support@grants.gov
Grants.gov Customer Support
Synopsis Modification History:
The following files represent the modifications to this synopsis with the changes
noted within the documents. The list of files is arranged from newest to oldest
with the newest file representing the current synopsis. Changed sections from the
previous document are shown in a light grey background.
Synopsis Version NameModification DescriptionDate ModifiedCurrent VersionOct 11, 2011Version #1Oct 11, 2011Original VersionOct 3, 2011