U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE | U.S. EMBASSY KAMPALA
Notice of Funding Opportunity
Funding Opportunity Title: Emerging Community Leaders Training Program
U.S. Funding Opportunity Number: AFKAM-FY21-04
CFDA Number: 19.040
Estimated Total Program Funding: $35,000
Award Type: Cooperative Agreement
Deadline for Applications: August 20, 2021, 11:59p.m. (UTC +3)
Email: Kampalagrants@state.gov
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The U.S. Mission in Uganda’s Public Affairs Office is pleased to announce an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a training program for emerging community leaders 19 – 24 years of age from across Uganda focused on youth development and civic engagement. This award is intended for committed and organized civil-society organizations, local representatives of civil society, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, cultural institutions, and academic institutions. Awards to individuals will also be considered on a case-by-case basis. All grantees must have a non-profit status.
Notice: For Fiscal Year 2021 all proposals submitted in response to this NOFO must include a contingency plan describing in detail how the proposed activity would be implemented in the event that COVID-19 related health restrictions are in place during the anticipated period of performance.
Objectives and Project Outcomes:
The objectives of this project are to build participants’ leadership skills and self-confidence; enhance their organizational and project management skills; to promote or enhance their community engagement and ability to positively impact other youths; and to strengthen ties between emerging Ugandan leaders 19 – 24 years of age and the U.S. Mission in Uganda.
Outcomes:
- Training design: Preparation and design of a series of engaging, interactive trainings targeting emerging community leaders. The program should include a minimum of 40 training hours. Trainings should focus on topics such as leadership, project design and management, teambuilding, communication and presentation skills, effective youth engagement strategies, and fundraising/advocacy. Conditions permitting, in person or hybrid (in person and virtual) training models are preferred but applicants should demonstrate the capacity to conduct a 100% virtual program if necessary due to COVID-19 conditions.
- Participant recruitment and selection: Advertisement and promotion of the training opportunity; development of a competitive selection process based on established participant criteria.
- Program coordination and logistics: Identification and selection of appropriate training venue(s), effective communication with project participants concerning training logistics and requirements; coordination of lodging, transport, meals and other logistics related to trainings.
- Selection of trainers, experts, and guest speakers: In conjunction with the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Mission in Uganda, identify and select expert trainers and guest speakers to deliver engaging, interactive, and inspiring content to participants.
- Engagement with the United States: Provide opportunities for project participants to improve their understanding of American society and values through engagements with representatives of the U.S. Mission in Uganda, private U.S. citizen trainers and experts, and Ugandans who have prior U.S. experience (through work, study, or participation in U.S. government exchange programs).
- Build skills and self-confidence: Provide participants with tangible skills to encourage their civic participation; make them more effective community leaders; improve their future employability; and increase their self-confidence and resilience.
FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION
Length of performance period: 12 months
Number of awards anticipated: 1
Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $20,000 to a maximum of $35,000
Total available funds: $35,000
Type of Funding: FY21 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds
Anticipated Program Start Date: November 2021
This notice is subject to availability of funding.
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
U.S. Government Role and Responsibilities
As any award resulting from this NOFO will be a cooperative agreement, the project will have significant involvement from the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Mission in Uganda. U.S. Government responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- In conjunction with awardee, develop and provide final approval for participant selection criteria
- Participate in the final selection process for project participants
- Review and approval the project training plan
- Identify personnel from the U.S. Mission in Uganda to serve as presenters, guest speakers, or workshop presenters, as appropriate
- Help identify U.S. citizens and/or Ugandans with prior academic, professional, or exchange program experience in the United States to serve as trainers, experts, or guest speakers during training sessions
- Help promote the project during the recruitment and implementation phases
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
The Public Affairs Office encourages applications from all sectors: committed and organized civil-society organizations, local representatives of civil society, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, cultural institutions, academic institutions, and individuals. All grantees must have a non-profit status. We seek proposals for activities that engage geographically and demographically diverse audiences within Uganda. U.S. NGOs and individuals may also apply, but preference is given to applicants with a successful track record implementing projects in Uganda. Partnerships between U.S. and Ugandan organizations or individuals are also possible.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application Deadline
- The deadline for application is August 20, 2021
Proposal Format
To apply, please provide the following information, in English
1. Mandatory application forms
- Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 (fill out pdf file – requires latest Adobe reader)
- Application for Federal Assistance SF 424I – Individual, if applying as an individual (fill out pdf file – requires latest Adobe reader)
- SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)
- SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) (fill out pdf file – requires latest Adobe reader)
2. Summary Cover Sheet: Cover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program. We highly recommend that in addition to this, the applicant fill out the Organizational Information template provided here.
3. Proposal (5 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with the project would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. We highly recommend that the applicant use the proposal template provided here. If the applicant elects not to use the template provided, they may use their own proposal format, but must provide all the items listed below. Project Narrative Template provided here.
Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact.
Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.
Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed.
Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. What aspect of the relationship between the U.S. and Uganda will be improved? The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.
Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.
Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal.
Proposed Program Schedule: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.
Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?
Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.
Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?
Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.
4. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (mandatory form), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information. While not required, we highly recommend that the applicant use the budget template provided here. Do remember to submit the budget with the mandatory SF424A.
Guidelines for Budget Justification
Personnel: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.
Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.
Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit.
Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.
Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities.
Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.
Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 10% of the modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68.
“Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.
Alcoholic Beverages: Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.
Attachments
- 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program
- Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner
- Official permission letters, if required for program activities
Submit all forms in electronic format to Kampalagrants@state.gov
An organization or individual may submit only one application by the application deadline. All applicants will receive confirmation of receipt of proposals. Proposals will not be considered until all information is received. Please note that all information must be received by the application deadline listed above.
Technical Requirements for Eligibility:
All organizations applying for an award must have the following registrations:
Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)number;
NATO Commercial and Government Entity(CAGE/NCAGE) code; and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) (If you have applied and have not yet received the registration number, provide proof of application).
Please apply for the D&B DUNS Number and CAGE/NCAGE Code at the same time to expedite the registration process. The Legal Business Name and Address must MATCH EXACTLY when entering it into the D&B DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM.gov websites – this includes spaces, parentheses, capitalization, small letters, punctuation, etc. Self-registration in D&B DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM.gov is free of charge.
DUN & BRADSTREET (D&B) DUNS/UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI) NUMBER
The DUNS/UEI number is a nine-digit number established and assigned by Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. (D&B) to uniquely identify business entities. Log onto the D&B website at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/searchAction.do For assistance, contact D&B at the following email address: SAMHelp@dnb.com
NATO COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT ENTITY (NCAGE) CODE
NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) codes are required for all foreign entities to create an account in SAM.gov. The Code is a five-character ID number, and can take, at a minimum, 4-5 business days to create.
Steps to register: (Please use the Internet Explorer web browser)
Foreign registrants must go to the link below to check if their entity has a valid CAGE/NCAGE code https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/CageTool/home
If the search results in no NCAGE codes found, you must click on “Request New” on the right side of the page to apply for your CAGE/NCAGE code. For assistance by telephone, please call: 1-888-227-2423 (inside the U.S.) or 001-269-961-7766 (outside the U.S.). E-mail NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil for any problems in obtaining an NCAGE code.
SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM.gov): (Please use either the Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox web browser)
SAM is a U.S.-government wide registry of vendors doing business with the U.S. federal government and requires annual renewal. The system centralizes information about grant applicants/recipients and provides them with a central location to change their organizational information. More information about SAM.gov and useful guides for setting-up a new account, updating an existing account, or renewing an expired account can be found at: . https://sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/index.jsf
Please complete ALL of the above steps before attempting to register in SAM.
Log onto https://sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/index.jsf
If you have had an active record in The Central Contractor Registration (CCR), you may already have an active record in SAM. To check for an active registration, please conduct a “search” for your record using the organization name and/or DUNS Number in SAM. If you are not registered, your organization or entity will not be found. If your organization does not have an active registration, you must create a user account and input all information in the exact manner as you have for the IRS, D&B DUNS, and NCAGE.
Complete and submit the online form.
Because of the different steps required for registration, it can take anywhere from three to fourteen business days to complete the process of creating an account with the system. If you encounter any error, please contact the SAM Federal Service Desk to report the problem at https://www.fsd.gov/clients There is a standard (not toll free) number that customers can use +1 334-206-7828.
REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS
Announcing Award Decisions:
The Public Affairs Office seeks to notify applicants of funding decisions within six to eight weeks following an application deadline. The timing of approvals is, however, subject to the availability of funds.
Please note: Funding for approved proposals will not be available immediately. The allocation of funds can take up to two months once all award paperwork has been completed.
Selection Process:
Applications will be reviewed by the Public Affairs Office’s Grant Review Committee. Each application submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated based on the following criteria:
- The degree to which the applicant presents a clear, achievable, and measurable plan for achieving the objectives of this project as stated above;
- Demonstrated plan/expertise in facilitating capacity building trainings and interactive workshops for young leaders;
- Demonstrated expertise in engaging young leaders;
- Ability to design compelling content and stimulating workshops;
- The extent to which it will create new ties between U.S. and Ugandan peer institutions, new connections between Americans and Ugandans, or strengthen the relationship between the U.S. Mission in Uganda and emerging Ugandan community leaders;
- Production of engaging content that would expand the reach of the project to digital audiences; and promotion of diversity and inclusion.
Applicants selected for further consideration will receive official written notification and detailed information on the process of finalizing awards. Applicants selected for further consideration must provide official copies of all registrations outlined in the eligibility requirements. Failure to provide these documents will result in disqualification.
Awards are contingent upon availability of U.S. Government funds and the signing of official award documents. Verbal or other informal communications cannot be considered official notification of an award, and applicants may not obligate expenses for a proposed project until all required administrative procedures have been completed.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
All awards require both program and financial reports on a frequency specified in the award agreement. The disbursement of funds may be tied to submission of these reports in a timely manner. All other details related to award administration will be specified in the award agreement.
INQUIRIES
All questions about the Public Diplomacy Grants Program should be addressed to KampalaGrants@state.gov
