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

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATEU.S. EMBASSY SARAJEVO, OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRSNOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Funding Opportunity Title: YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM – U.S. PARTNER

Funding Opportunity Number: 010-FY2021

CFDA Number: 19.900

Deadline for Application: July 30, 2021

A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Office of Public Affairs (OPA), invites proposal submissions from U.S. public and private non-profit organizations and accredited U.S. post-secondary and secondary educational institutions (community colleges, liberal arts colleges, public and private universities) meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) (see section III. Eligibility Information) to design and implement the Youth Leadership Program, pending the availability of FY 2021 AEECA funds.

This NOFO is for the design and implementation of the U.S. component of the Youth Leadership Program

Mandatory components:

The Youth Leadership Program should be organized for 18 high school students aged 15-19, and 3 teachers from three communities in BiH to reflect the country’s diversity and administrative divisions, for a total of 21 participants in one program
The Youth Leadership Program should be a substantive three- to four-week exchange in the United States, in at least two different cities. The program should incorporate a homestay experience as part of the program.
The program in the United States should include group discussions, experiential learning activities, and exercises that focus on the themes outlined below and include aspects of leadership, teambuilding, collective problem-solving skills, effective communication, appreciation of diversity, and management skills. Therefore, participants should gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
The program should ensure a balance of speakers and perspectives throughout the program schedule, representing diverse U.S. political viewpoints, as well as other aspects of diversity. The program should foster the Embassy’s mission to promote mutual understanding between citizens of other countries and citizens of the United States. Thus, the program should include robust opportunities for participants to meet Americans from a variety of backgrounds, to interact with their U.S. peers, and to speak to appropriate student and civic groups about their experiences and life in their home countries.
The program should include requirements of continued follow-on engagement and project implementation once participants return home.

In addition to developing participants’ leadership skills, the program should provide participants with an in-depth examination of one of the themes outlined below.

Youth Leadership Program themes:

The Youth Leadership Program will introduce participants to a comprehensive survey of civic education, community service, and youth leadership development. Activities will focus on building their knowledge and skill levels in these areas. The students and educators will participate in workshops, community service activities, meetings with community leaders, and discussion groups and will have opportunities for substantive interaction with each other and their American peers. The program should explore topics such as citizenship, community building, economic development, grassroots activism, political leadership, and volunteerism in the modern age. Program should require participants to develop innovative and practical plans to become engaged citizens in their own communities and to implement an action plan to address a particular need.

Detailed Outline of Award Recipient’s Responsibilities:

1. Preparation

- In cooperation with the Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), contact participants before the program to provide them with program information, pre-departure materials, and to gather information about their specific interests.
- Travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in a pre-departure session with program participants, in cooperation with the in-country partner and OPA.
- Enroll participants in the Bureau’s Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) health benefits plan for the duration of the exchange and assist with claims as necessary.
- Hire and train staff, as needed, to accompany participants during the exchange period. Criminal background checks, including a search of the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Registry, must be conducted for all program staff and for new staff prior to hiring.
- Make housing arrangements. Carefully recruit, screen, and select diverse local host families to offer homestays (including lodging and meals) to the participants for the majority of the exchange period. Criminal background checks, including a search of the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Registry, must be conducted for all members of host families and others living in the home who are 18 years or older.
- Monitor housing arrangements to ensure the health and safety of participants.
- Orient participating organizations, staff, and host families to the goals of the program and to the cultures and sensitivities of the visitors.

2. Exchange Activities

- Design, plan, and implement a three- to four-week exchange program on the stated themes. Exchange activities must promote program goals. Activities will be school and community-based, as appropriate to the project, and will enable the exchange participants to engage with American teenagers.
- Provide opportunities for the adult participants to work with their peers and other professionals, volunteers, and youth advocates with whom they can discuss the support of youth development.
- Arrange appropriate community, cultural, social, and civic activities.
- Engage participants in at least two community service activities during the exchange. The program should provide context for the participants – identifying community needs, volunteerism, charitable giving, etc. – and a debriefing so that the service activity is not an isolated event and helps participants see how to apply the experience at home.
- Provide day-to-day monitoring of the participants’ well-being, preventing and dealing with any misunderstandings or adjustment issues that may arise in a timely manner. Inform PDS about any significant health or safety issues affecting program participants.
- Provide a closing session to summarize project activities, prepare participants to implement their follow-on activities, and for their return home.

3. Follow-on activities

- In cooperation with PDS, provide guidance and instruction on how to design and implement follow-on projects that reinforce the values and skills imparted during the exchange program and help them apply what they have learned to serve their schools and communities. Participants should design school- or community-based projects that will be implemented in groups.
- Present creative and effective ways to address project themes, for both program participants and their peers, as a means to amplify program impact.
- In addition to follow-on projects, support alumni in making presentations or preparing articles to share their experiences in other ways once they return home.
- Travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina to monitor follow-up activities

4. Design and implement an evaluation plan that assesses the impact of the program.

5. Work in consultation with PDS in the implementation of the program, provide timely reporting of progress, and comply with financial and program reporting requirements.

6. Manage all financial aspects of the cooperative agreement, including stipend disbursements to the participants and management of sub-award relationships with partner organizations.

Detailed Outline of the PDS’s Responsibilities:

Selecting the in-country partner to manage the recruitment and selection of the participants.
Making the final decision on program participants.
Providing advice and assistance in the execution of all program components.
Arranging international travel with in-country partner
Facilitating interaction within the Department of State, to include ECA, the regional bureaus, and overseas post.
Arranging meetings with Department of State/Embassy officials if necessary.
Approving host family applications, publicity materials, and the calendar of exchange activities.
Monitoring and evaluating the program, through regular communication with the award recipient and possibly one or more site visits.
Performing an annual performance evaluation/review. Satisfactory performance and the availability of funds is a condition of continued administration of the program and execution of all option years.

B. PROGRAM SPECIFIC GUIDELINES

Below are the profiles of the youth and adult participants that the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo will be seeking for participation in this program.

Youth participants will be high school students between the ages of 15 and 19 years old at the start of the exchange; demonstrate leadership aptitude, an interest in community service, and an interest in the project themes; exhibit flexibility, maturity, integrity, good social skills, and open-mindedness; have the motivation necessary to be active and successful exchange participants; be proficient in English; and will return for at least one semester of high school after the exchange to the United States.

The adult participants will be teachers or school administrators/educators who demonstrate an interest in assisting youth to become productive and responsible members of society; exhibit maturity and open-mindedness; are supportive of the teenage participants; are proficient in English; and expect to remain in teaching positions or other positions of influence on young leaders.

The adults will need to be thoroughly briefed on their roles during the project. Although they are to be full exchange participants, they will also serve as chaperones. They will have program sessions with the youth, as well as separate program activities designed just for them. It is important that they be prepared to allow the students to be vocal, candid, and active participants. At the same time, their shared experience with the students will allow them to serve as adult advocates for the alumni once they return home.

Orientations: The award recipient will, in cooperation with the local partner and PDS, introduce the participants to their host community and will provide a general introduction to the United States, information related specifically to the objectives and themes of the program, and administrative information.

Exchange Program: The program should consist primarily of interactive activities, practical experiences, and other opportunities that provide an introduction to the civic, cultural, and educational institutions of the United States. Activities should use hands-on methods to help the participants learn about the fundamentals of civil society and community activism, build their leadership skills, and develop similar activities for their peers back home. PDS urges applicants to present innovative, resourceful, and effective programming ideas. Applicants should justify their choices by explaining how their program outputs will meet the stated outcomes.

The activities could include a mix of workshops or training sessions, simulations and role-playing, teambuilding exercises, case studies, volunteer service, leadership training, meetings, classroom visits, site visits, and social time among peers. Many of these should be planned in conjunction with school and community activities that create educational opportunities for both the exchange participants and their hosts/peers. Exchange participants should not attend classes in a school for more than a few days. Cultural and recreational activities will balance the schedule.

Programming must include opportunities for the participants to have substantive engagement with American teenagers throughout the exchange. This may include community service, cultural activities, workshops, homestays, and/or school visits.

The program will also provide opportunities for the adult educators to work with their peers and other professionals to learn about new topics and methods in education and support for youth activism.

Examples of the kinds of program activities that may be included:

Community service/volunteer activities
Peer training/education workshops
Training in project planning
Teambuilding exercises
Leadership development with workshop trainers or organizations
Meetings with government, community, and business leaders
Computer training that emphasizes research, critical thinking and analysis, and the use of the computer and the internet as resources in education and business
Exercises related to increasing tolerance and developing strategies for future collaboration and cooperation among participants
Dialogues, simulations, role plays, and other activities aimed at helping participants articulate their thoughts about the project’s themes
Visits to historical sites, government and community centers, museums and landmarks that combine learning about principals of government, history, and society with tourism
Sports, drama, fine arts, musical and other extracurricular activities which provide opportunities for participants to work and play together

Exchanges will end with a closing session that focuses on summarizing the experience, developing action plans for activities at home, and preparing for re-entry. The ideas and action plans to be implemented at home should spring from the participants, but the project staff should be prepared to encourage, assist and direct the participants in developing these plans both during the exchange and during the follow-on period.

Sites: The delegation should spend time in no more than two or three locations so that the participants have time to familiarize themselves with a community. Applicant organizations should describe the rationale for their location selections. PDS encourages applicants to consider proximity to sites of historical or cultural interest, access to organizations that can conduct appropriate workshops, and representation of the diversity of the United States. If the group will travel to Washington, DC, PDS may arrange a meeting with State Department officials.

Accommodations: Homestays with local families must be arranged for the majority of the exchange period. A dormitory, hotel, or other housing with appropriate adult supervision is an acceptable arrangement for other segments of the program.

Applicants must have a clear and detailed recruitment, screening, and selection process for host families. They must also provide the families with an orientation prior to the arrival of their exchange participants, emphasizing the goals of the program. Screening needs to include a visit to the home to meet all members of the household to ensure that the host family is capable of providing a comfortable and nurturing home environment. Criminal background checks, including a search of the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Registry, must be conducted for all members of host families (and others living in the home) who are 18 years or older. The orientation will provide families with detailed information on the exchange program, the parameters of their participation, duties and obligations, and information on cultural differences and practices.

PDS encourages diversity in the recruitment and selection of host families. They may represent diversity in family size and structure, race and ethnicity, socio-economic status, religion, and geography. Exchange participants must be afforded private space in the home. While exchange participants may share a room with someone of a similar age and the same gender, they must have their own bed. Participants may be placed with host families as singles or together with other exchange participants. Host families need to have adequate financial resources to undertake hosting obligations.

Follow-on Activities: The award recipient(s), in cooperation with PDS, will facilitate the exchange participants’ design and implementation of follow-on projects that serve a need in their home communities and provide them with an opportunity to employ their new project planning skills. With the assistance of the adult alumni, the recipient will guide the youth in these activities. PDS seeks creative ideas to ensure that alumni can effectively pursue the remaining activities of the program, particularly ideas that amplify the program impact through peers.

Applicants should develop an action plan for their projects that they will present to PDS and the local implementing partner following the conclusion of the program. etc.

Evaluation: The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 requires that federal agencies measure the results of their programs in meeting performance goals. The proposal should demonstrate the applicant’s plan to measure the short- and medium-term impact of the program. The follow-on activities will provide an opportunity to assess the impact of the exchanges on the participants, to determine how their attitudes have changed, and to evaluate the acquisition of knowledge and skills associated with program themes.

Other notes: The recipient organization is responsible for all components of the program outlined in this document. In addition, PDS requires recipient organizations to communicate with PDS on a regular basis about program activities, including participant selection and orientations, publicity, international travel, exchange activities, and follow-on activities. The organization must also inform the Grant Officer and Grant Officer Representative from PDS of their progress at each stage of the project’s implementation in a timely fashion and will be required to obtain approval of any significant program changes in advance of their implementation. All materials and correspondence related to the program will acknowledge this as a program of the Public Diplomacy Section. PDS retains copyright use of and can distribute materials related to this program as it sees fit.

PDS intends to award a Cooperative Agreement (one base year with a possibility of one noncompetitive continuations) for an estimated amount of $120,000 pending availability of funds and successful performance.

The awarding of a Cooperative Agreement for this program is contingent upon the availability of FY 2021 funds. The awarding of the non-competitive continuation in FY 2022 is contingent on the availability of funding and successful performance.

Please see Section VI. Federal Award Administration Information below for additional details. OPA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets, participant numbers, based on program needs and the availability of U.S. government funding.

C. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of Performance Period: 18 months

Number of Awards Anticipated: One

Award Amounts: Awards may range from USD 60,000 to USD 120,000

Total Available Funding: USD 120,000

Type of Funding: FY20/21 Assistance to Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia (AEECA) under the Foreign Assistance Act

Anticipated Award Date: August/September 2021

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

C1. 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 continuation in FY 2022 is contingent on the availability of funding and successful performance.

C2. Project performance period. All activities should last for a maximum of 18 months and take place between January 2022 and July 2023.

D. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

D1. Who can apply: U.S. public and private non-profit organizations and accredited secondary U.S. or higher education institutions (community colleges, liberal arts colleges, public and private universities) meeting the eligibility requirements outlined in this section 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.

D2. Other eligibility requirements: All organizations must have a DUNS unique entity identifier and a valid registration on www.SAM.gov before their project proposals can be funded. Organization must obtain a DUNS number and SAM registration in order to receive funding. Please see Section E for information on how to obtain these registrations.

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 https://ba.usembassy.gov/ under Grants and under Application package.

Please note: Obtaining the DUNS number and 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.
SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)
Project Proposal (10 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information 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 10 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 18 months.
Please submit your filled-in application to the following e-mail address: YLPBiH@state.gov

The deadline for submission of proposals /supporting documentation is July 30, 2021 by 17:00 p.m.

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 120,000.
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.)
- Indirect cost ( NICRA or de minimis 10 %)
Alcohol, entertainment, or “miscellaneous” expenses are not
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.

Applicant’s Contact Information

Implementing organization: Specify the officially registered name of the organization.
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 e-mail address for your organization and the e-mail address of the project coordinator or person who is authorized to sign official documents.

Basic Information about the Proposal

Project title:
Amount requested (USD)/Amount of cost share (USD)/Total cost (USD):

Please list the amount of funding requested from the Embassy. If there is a cost share (another organization covering part of the total cost of the project), please list the amount here. Please list the total cost of the project which you get when you sum the amount you request from U.S. Embassy and amount of co-share.

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.

Definition of situation

Clearly identify the problem your project will address. Please explain what causes the problem, and what aspect of this cause you are addressing.

Project outcomes

Please explain how you want to solve this problem by explaining the outcomes of your project. An outcome is defined as the impact or change in a participant’s knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes as well as the longer-term effect on their organization or community.

Following the above example, a project outcome might be “Youth will gain the skills and experience to improve their communities and themselves and improve the future of BiH.”

Description of project activities

Explain the activities you plan to implement in the scope of your project and how those activities will achieve the projected outcome(s).

Activity locations:

List the cities/towns/communities where the project activities will take place.

Project beneficiaries:

Describe the anticipated beneficiaries of your project, including estimated number and age range.

Project schedule and timeline:

Note your project duration in months and give an overview of the schedule. If you have a specific timeframe, please list the dates and explain why your project must take place within that timeframe. Please note that grant money could be received any time between September and January 2022, depending on the U.S. budget cycle.

Project partners:

If you are implementing your project jointly with any other organizations, please list the names and type of involvement of those partner organizations. A partner organization is an organization with which you work to develop and implement the project. Partner organizations also need to obtain DUNS numbers. Please note: contractors you engage to deliver goods or services such as trainers, web developers or suppliers are NOT partner organizations.

Anticipated outputs of the project:

An output is defined as the direct and tangible results of the project activities, which can usually be measured (number of people trained, number of public advocacy campaigns conducted, number of media articles or social media posts published, etc.)

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan:

Monitoring and Evaluation plan: The proposal should outline in detail how project success and impact will be determined. Please include how you intend 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.

We encourage you to consider the following examples of indicators to use when evaluating your project

Participant satisfaction with the program.
Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
Participant behavior, such as concrete actions to apply knowledge in community; greater participation and responsibility in municipalities; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new knowledge and experience gained; continued contacts between participants, community members, and others.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate timing of data collection for each level of outcome.

Project sustainability:

Please explain your plans for follow-on activities after the grant period ends to ensure project impact continues. Example: “After the workshop series, the participants will continue to meet and serve as a support network to each other, as well as mentor other young people.”

Background of implementing organization:

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.

Key personnel:

List the names, titles and roles of key personnel involved in the project, including organization staff and any experts or trainers you will engage to implement the project. Give a brief overview (1-2 sentences) of their experience/qualifications. What proportion of their time will be used in support for your project?

Previous U.S. Government funding:

Indicate whether the implementing organization 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.

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.

The ratio between administrative costs (personnel, fringe and other direct costs) and program costs (travel, supplies and contractual) will have impact to project evaluation.

Cost sharing is not required. However, the Recipient may present cost-sharing on voluntary basis including in-kind contributions. The absence of cost sharing will not in any way impact evaluation of the project. However, if the Recipient includes cost sharing in the project proposal, then the Recipient is accountable for providing it. In the event the Recipient does not provide the minimum amount of cost-sharing as stipulated in the Recipient’s approved budget, the government contribution may be reduced in kind.

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.)

E. 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.

E1. 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
SAM.gov registration

E.2 First, get your DUNS Number

Please use the link http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/CCRSearch.do?val=1/ 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

E.3 Next, get your NCAGE/CAGE code

To apply, go to CAGE/NCAGE Code Request page
Instructions for the NCAGE application process are available here.
For NCAGE help from outside the U.S., call 1-269-961-7766
Email: NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil for any problems in getting an NCAGE code.

E.4 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.

E5. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION:

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

Quality and feasibility of the project idea. The proposal is well developed, innovative and offers creative solutions with all necessary details about how project activities will be carried out (location, events to organize, media coverage etc.) (25 points)
Project clearly identifies goals and objectives of the project and is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving proposed results. (15 points)
Organizational capacity and record on previous grants. The organization demonstrates expertise and the ability to perform the proposed activities. (25 points)
Budget and narrative justification are completed and reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. (10 points)
Monitoring and evaluation. The proposal outlines in detail how project success and impact will be determined. This will include methods to measure project impact and/or indicators/milestones to indicate project progress towards achieving the outcomes outlined in the proposal. (15 points)
The proposal needs to contain information about sustainability of the project. Project activities should continue to have a positive impact after the end of the project. Proposals should explain this future impact and/or sustainability of the project. (10 points)

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F1. 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 250,000 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 payment of the award amount will be made in multiple installments. A certain percentage of the total award amount up to 50% of the total will be paid immediately after signing the grant and submission of the valid bank account by Recipient. However, if the project implementation requires a higher percentage of advance payment than 50%, the Office of Public Affairs will require justification. The rest will be paid upon submission of the interim final program and financial reports by Recipient. Each award document will contain detailed payment information. The USG reserves the right to retain the last payment up to 10 % of the award amount until all project activities are completed and the final program and financial reports are submitted by the Recipient and approved by the Grant Officer and the Grant Officer Representative.

F2. 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:

President’s September 2, 2020 memorandum, entitled Memorandum on Reviewing Funding to State and Local Government Recipients of Federal Funds that Are Permitting Anarchy, Violence, and Destruction in American Cities;
Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping (E.O. 13950);
Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues and Combating Recent Criminal Violence (E.O. 13933); and
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

F.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.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For more information, please contact us by phone: + 387 33 704-331,704-078, 704-285, fax: + 387 33 704-432 or e-mail at YLPBiH@state.gov