BOLD Academic Fellowship Exchanges
BOLD Action Workshops on Civic Engagement
BOLD Action Economic Development Workshop
BOLD Small Grant Mentoring Program

Applications for this grant are currently closed.  Please watch for future funding opportunities.

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

U.S. EMBASSY SARAJEVO, OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Funding Opportunity Title: BOLD SMALL GRANTS MENTORING PROGRAM

Funding Opportunity Number: 008-FY2022

Deadline for Application: March 25, 2022, by close of business, COB 17:00

CFDA Number: 19.900

A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The United States Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the Office of Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), is pleased to announce a Notice of Funding Opportunity to design and implement the BOLD (BiH Omladinski Lideri, Bosnia and Herzegovina Young Leaders) Small Grants Mentoring Program. The BOLD network is a project of PDS that seeks to empower young people across BiH, age 18-35, through leadership opportunities and training, to implement projects for positive change in their communities.

This mentoring program is complementary to the BOLD Small Grants Competition, which will be announced in February and July separate from this NOFO. The Small Grants Competition will be available twice during FY 2022 to all BOLD members to compete for funds of up to $15,000 to implement projects in the areas of economic development and civic engagement over the course of a year. PDS will select the winning proposals in the Competition by early April 2022. Funding will be awarded to grantees of the small grant competition only after they work with the applicant in a mentoring workshop to fine-tune their projects (see no. 1 below).

The goal of the mentoring program is to equip awardees of the grant competition with the skills and support needed, throughout the grant year, to effectively implement their projects in their communities, and to become skilled project managers and grant administrators. The applicant will be expected to guide the winning grantees through the administrative process of receiving their award, successfully implementing their program, handling problems as they arise, and regulary reporting on the project’s progress to PDS. The most qualified applicants will have a thorough understanding of the U.S. Government’s grant process and how to be a steward of those funds for the most effective outcome. Applicants should also be willing and available to expertly impart that knowledge and experience to young grantees who are seeking to successfully make a difference in their communities.

Mandatory components:

Applicants should propose a plan to convene all BOLD grant recipients in-person or online, immediately after the notification of their selection, for a comprehensive workshop on the basics of grant management. The applicant should familiarize grantees what to expect in terms of the mandatory grants forms, which they will receive from PDS’s Grants Team prior to receiving the funds. The applicants should introduce grantees to best practice communications skills with the granting organization (PDS), including timely and effective reporting on grant activities. During this introductory workshop the applicant should inform grantees that individual sessions will be scheduled, to go through the process of making potential adjustments to the budget to ensure that the activities planned consistently support their goals and objectives, that activities are feasible and maximally effective, and that the budget is realistic and economical.  The applicant will then schedule individual sessions with grantees and work with each one on thoroughly reviewing and revising their proposals and budgets. Following the sessions , grantees will resubmit their proposals to PDS for the disbursement of funds.
Applicants should include a plan to convene a minimum of two additional group, online or in person, training sessions to ensure the most effective implementation of the proposals.  Topics of these sessions should include, but not be limited to, finding partners for community projects and how to make the most of them, how to get buy-in and public support for the grantee’s ideas for community solutions, putting together a public communications and social media campaign, troubleshooting when problems arise, and coping with disappointment when expectations are not met.
The applicant should propose a plan for ongoing personal mentoring support for each grantee throughout the grant year – whether in-person or remotely – to help them overcome hurdles in reaching their goals, identify problem areas, and encourage them to meet deadlines and keep to their plans. The applicant should be an approachable resource for grantees to go to for advice and learned experience.
The applicant will be the primary liaison between PDS and the grantees and should keep up regular communication with PDS about the progress of the projects and notify PDS in a timely manner of any problems that arise.
The applicant will report quarterly to PDS on progress of the projects, in a written format.
The applicant will attend the main and final projects’ events and write a Facebook post (accompanied with photos) about them, and share them with PDS staff for further posting and distribution.

A detailed budget should be expressed in USD, with a maximum amount of $15,000. PDS reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets, participant numbers, based on program needs and the availability of U.S. government funding.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of Performance Period: 17 months

Number of Awards Anticipated: One

Award Amounts: One award in the amount of USD 15,000

Total Available Funding: USD 15,000

Type of Funding: FY21/22 Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia (AEECA) under the Foreign Assistance Act

Anticipated Award Date: Second half of April 2022

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement or Grant

B1. Awards related to this notice is subject to availability of funding. The U.S. Embassy reserves the right to cancel this Notice of Funding Opportunity at any time without any commitment to any applicant. Awarding of non-competitive continuations in FY 2023 is contingent on the availability of funding and successful performance.

B2. PROJECT PERFORMANCE PERIOD

All activities should last for a maximum of 17 months and take place between May 2022 and September 2023.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C1. Who can apply: Non-government, non-profit organizations (including think tanks, civil society organizations) educational institutions that are based and legally registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina and individuals are eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate an ability to work in all parts of BiH, whether independently or in cooperation with a partner organization.

C2. Other eligibility requirements: All organizations must have a valid registration on www.SAM.gov before their project proposals can be funded. Organization must obtain SAM registration in order to receive funding.  Please see Section D for information on how to obtain these registrations.

D. HOW TO APPLY FOR REQUIRED REGISTRATIONS

Required Registration: 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.

D1. Who must apply? 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

D2. First, get your DUNS Number

Please use the link to obtain your DUNS number.

The system is set up to be user-friendly and we encourage you to use it to obtain your DUNS number for yourself. However, if you experience problems, you may seek further assistance from:

Bisnode BH, Vrazova 8, 71000 Sarajevo

info.ba@bisnode.com

Tel: +387 33 215 454

+387 33 215 452

www.bisnode.ba

D3. Next, get your NCAGE/CAGE code

To apply, go to this link
Instructions for the NCAGE application process are available here
For NCAGE help from outside the U.S., call 1-269-961-7766
Email ncage@nato.nspa.int for any problems in getting an NCAGE code.

D4. After you receive your NCAGE code, complete your SAM.gov registration

To register in the SAM system, go to https://www.sam.gov.
Please read the quick guide for grants registration attachment which is the part of the application package that is posted on the Embassy web site.
SAM registration must be renewed annually, so even if you are already registered in SAM from a previous grant, please check to see if your registration is still valid.
Entities registering in SAM must submit a letter appointing their authorized Entity Administrator. Please check the template of the letter which is the part of the application package.

However, if you experience any problem in registering in SAM.gov use the following link to register for live chat, so the SAM administrators can answer your questions. Working hours for this service are from Monday through Friday after 14:00.

IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!

Please be informed that DUNS is going away next April 2022. It will be replaced by UEI which will be assigned by sam.gov. UEIs are being given to organizations who register/renew this year. As a reminder sam.gov needs to be renewed yearly.

The site to obtain a UEI is the same for registrations, but when the organization answers the questions, they can select UEI only.

https://sam.gov/content/home

We recommend you start asking for your UEIs and NCAGE/CAGE in addition to DUNS. This way you start socialize the change. After April 2022 DUNS will not show in SAM.gov and the DUNS site for SAM.gov, https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/ will go away. While you can search on names in sam.gov, it is much easier to search using the NAGE/CAGE, also this number will be needed if you want to see the status of progress in sam.gov. Found here.

For instructions on UEI transition, please check the following link.

E. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

E1. Mandatory application forms: Your application cannot be reviewed without all of the below elements. All forms and instructions are available at U.S. Embassy web site under Grants and under Application Package.

Please note: Registering in the SAM system can take up to one month. We strongly encourage you to start this process as soon as possible.

SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations). Please make sure to include your DUNS number in the application.
SF-424 I (Application for Federal Assistance – Individual).
SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)
SF-424B I-(Assurances for Non-Construction Programs-Individual)
Project Proposal (6 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information so that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do.

E2. General Guidelines: Please read all instructions carefully – proposals that do not meet the requirements listed here will not be considered for funding.

All proposals must be written and submitted in English.
One organization may submit only one proposal to this NOFO.
Proposals may not exceed 6 pages in length (including budget and checklist) in Times New Roman size 12 font.
All fields in the grant application form and checklist must be completed and sent via email as one document.
Project duration may not exceed 17 months.

The deadline for submission of proposals /supporting documentation is March 25, 2022 by 17:00 p.m. Please submit your filled-in application to the following e-mail address: info@BOLD.ba .

Upon submission, please request a confirmation of the receipt of your application.

E3. Budget Guidelines: Any application not meeting the budget requirements below will not be considered for funding.

Detailed budget should be written in USD, with a maximum amount of USD 15.000.
Budget should NOT include VAT expenses; organizations will be able to be reimbursed VAT money.
Budget costs should be grouped into the following categories:
- Personnel costs (salaries for staff who already work for your organization, fees for project manager, project coordinator/assistant, and or accountant)
- Fringe (social and pension insurance contributions)
- Travel (transportation costs, lodging, meals, and incidentals)
- Supplies (office supplies and other materials for project implementation)
- Contractual (fees for trainers, moderators, experts, and educators, who do NOT normally work for your organization but who are engaged to implement certain project activities, printing of promotional materials, renting of space/equipment, broadcasting of TV and radio shows, web site development, and other contractual services needed for project implementation.)
- Other direct costs: (office rent, utilities, phone/fax/internet, office supplies, bank charges, etc.)
Alcohol, entertainment, or “miscellaneous” expenses are not allowed.
Costs incurred before the grant period start date will not be reimbursed.

Grant funds may not be used for the following:

Long-term infrastructure needs
Provision of direct social services to a population
Vocational training, for example teaching participants to weld, perform electrical work, sew, raise bees, etc.
Partisan political activity. (Note: non-partisan election education and public information activities are allowable.)
Funding of charitable activity and humanitarian aid, commercial projects, or fund-raising campaigns

E4. Application instructions: Please read carefully and complete each question as instructed. Omitting any of the requested information will delay the review of your proposal and may result in it being eliminated from consideration.

Program Type:

1. Applicant’s Contact Information

Implementing organization: Specify the officially registered name of the organization /Specify the name of individual.
Contact person and title: Name and the title of the person who is authorized to sign official documents, if different from the Project Coordinator. You may state the name of the Project Coordinator too.
Address/Postal Code and City
Phone number
E-mail: Please include both the general email address for your organization and the email address of the project coordinator or person who is authorized to sign official documents..

2. Basic Information about the Proposal

Project title:

Amount requested (USD):

Please list the amount of funding requested from the Embassy.

3. Elevator pitch: In 50 words or less, describe what your project is designed to accomplish and why it should receive support from the U.S. Embassy.

4. Project outcome: Please explain what you want to achieve by implementing your project?

5. Detailed description of activities: Please provide detailed plan of activities you want to implement. The applicants need to provide a detailed plan of the training sessions with grantees, as well as mentoring plan.

6. Monitoring and evaluation: Please indicate how you plan to measure the success of the project. This could involve pre- and post-project surveys of participants; it could be evidence that your project changed/improved a situation or contributed to change in attitude/ behavior of participants.

7 .Project schedule and timeline: Note your project duration in months and give an overview of the schedule.

8. Background of implementing organization/Individual: Briefly explain the mission of the organization, date of registration, number of employees, their work experience, number of volunteers, past and current programs implemented, as well as its technical and management capacity. Please briefly explain what internal control procedures you have put in place to manage grant funds. Please briefly explain the past experience in case individuals apply in implementing similar projects.

9. Previous U.S. Government funding: Indicate whether the implementing organization/individual has received previous funding from the U.S. Government. If so, please state the name of the project, the year and the amount of funding for each project. Please, state whether the project was successfully concluded.

10. Detailed budget: Present the budget in the form of a spreadsheet, in USD amounts, dividing the budget into the categories delineated in the application. Ensure that your stated project activities are properly budgeted based on reasonable market price for personnel, fringe, travel, contractual services, supplies, and other direct costs.

11. Budget narrative: Please explain your budget in narrative form, detail personnel duties, list names of trainers/moderators/experts and project staff and break down travel and lodging costs (i.e., how many people, how many overnights, cost per person per day, etc.)

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION:

All proposals will be evaluated by the review panel according to the below criteria:

Description of project activities. The proposal is well developed and provides a lot of details on how is going to be implemented. The proposal contains a detailed training plan for grantees as well as mentoring plan.
Outcome. Project clearly identifies goal to be achieved.
Budget is reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results.
Monitoring and evaluation. The proposal outlines how project success and impact will be determined.
Previous US government funding. Please outline the past experience you had working with USG.

G. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

G1. Federal Award Notices

The grant award will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer and the grants management team. The Recipient may only start incurring project expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grant Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email.

Funding decisions are contingent on the availability of funds. The total amount for this program may not exceed 15,000 USD. The U.S. Embassy reserves the right to cancel this Notice of Funding Opportunity at any time without any commitment to any applicant.

A Cooperative Agreement (CA) may be issued, particularly in the case that the selected applicant is a first-time recipient of Federal Funding. Elements of substantial involvement include:

Participating in the design or direction of activities, design of conference agendas, and training delivery models
Participating in the selection of key project staff and trainers
Participating in the presentation of results
Assisting in the selection and/or analyses of data
Review and approval of each press release and other public statements and publications before their release to the public

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

Payment Method: The Recipient must request payment under this award by completing form SF-270—Request for Advance or Reimbursement and submitting the form to the Grants Officer. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of this award may result in payment delays. The payment of the award amount will be effected in one installment.

G2. Terms and Conditions

Before submitting an application, applicants may wish to review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include:

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following: NOTE:

Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 85 FR 49506 on August 13, 2020, particularly on:

Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an objective process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205),
Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. No. 115—232) (2 CFR part 200.216),
Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O. 13864) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341),

Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR part 200.

Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR part 200.340

G.3. Reporting Requirements

Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify the forms and how often these reports must be submitted.

H. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For more information, please contact us by phone: + 387 33 704-331, 704-078, fax: + 387 33 704-432 or e-mail info@BOLD.ba