U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Notification of Funding Opportunity
U.S. EMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM
Announcement Type: Grant
Funding Opportunity Title: U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo Public Affairs Small Grants Program Statement
Funding Opportunity Number: S-DR860-17-NOFO-001.
CFDA Number: 19.040 – General Department of State Assistance.
Date Opened: July 10, 2017.
Closing Date and Time for
Submission of Application: August 14, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. (Santo Domingo time). Grant Funds available for allocation. There is a limited amount of funds available in this fiscal year. Applications will be accepted and reviewed until all funds are depleted.
Eligibility Category: American and/or Dominican based committed and organized civil-society organizations, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions.
Award Ceiling: U.S. $40,000.00
Award Floor: U.S. $25,000.00
Electronic Requirement: Applications must be submitted by email to the email address listed below
Announcement Type: New Announcement
Federal Agency Contact: Grants Officer, Ruth Urry
Email: SantoDomingoGrants@state.gov
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Background Information:
The U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that limited funding is available through the Embassy’s Public Affairs Small Grants program to support activities that promote U.S.-Dominican bilateral relations in the following priority area:
- Cultural programs on youth empowerment through the arts. Presented proposals should be aligned to Mission goal on strengthening citizen security[1]. Proposals should be written to engage with at-risk youth and underserved communities in the Dominican Republic and present program proposals that provide the target audience with positive alternatives to violence or other counterproductive activities.
The U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo Public Affairs Section is located at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo. More information about the Public Affairs Section and its Grants Program can be found at: https://do.usembassy.gov/es/education-culture-es/programas-culturales/
Please follow all instructions below carefully:
Eligibility is limited to those who qualify to receive U.S. grants, and have the ability to develop and implement their proposed programs in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo and the Department of State encourage organizations that have not previously received international program funding from the U.S. Government to apply under this announcement. Applicants must have a demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following subject areas: people-to-people exchanges, cultural programming, international cooperation, and institution-to-institution partnerships.
II. Purpose of Grant
The goal of these grants is to enhance relations between Dominicans and U.S. organizations and people in the priority area described, and/or to allow Dominican audiences to better understand the United States, its culture, society, government, language, legal, economic and political systems, and values. To further these goals, proposals must include U.S. content. Examples of U.S. content include speakers who are U.S. citizens, use of U.S. training models or materials, exchanges with U.S. institutions, promotion of U.S. culture and arts, etc.
- Activities that are typically funded include, but are not limited to:
- Youth Camps
- Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances and exhibitions
- Professional lectures; public seminars and programs;
- Cultural exchanges and projects;
- Activities that are not typically funded include, but are not limited to:
- Grants to individuals
- Scientific research
- Paying to complete activities begun with other funds;
- Projects that are inherently political in nature or that contain the appearance of partisanship/support to individual or single party electoral campaigns;
- Speakers who are not U.S. citizens.
III. Award Information
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described in the absence of worthy applications or under such other circumstances as it may deem to be in the best interest of the U.S. government.
Eligible organizations interested in submitting an application are encouraged to thoroughly read this request for applications to understand the type of project sought the application submission requirements and the evaluation process.
The U.S. government may make the award on the basis of initial applications received, without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, each initial application should contain the applicant’s best terms from a cost and technical standpoint. The U.S. government reserves the right, however, to enter into discussions with one or more applicants in order to obtain clarifications, additional detail or refinements in the program description, budget, or other aspects of an application.
IV. Eligibility Information:
The U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo Public Affairs Section encourages applications U.S based organizations and from all sectors in the Dominican Republic and registered Dominican organizations: committed and organized civil-society organizations, local representatives of civil society, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions. We do not accept grant applications from third country (i.e., not registered or located in the Dominican Republic) for profit organizations or individuals, even if the project will take place in the Dominican Republic.
To be eligible for a federal assistance award, in addition to other conditions of this request for applications, organizations must have a commitment to non-discrimination with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. Non-discrimination includes equal treatment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender and political affiliation. By law, commercial firms are ineligible to receive funding through this award mechanism.
V. Application Submission
How to Apply
Proposals will be considered on a rolling basis up until August 14 at 18:00. All projects must begin before September 30, 2017. This does not mean that the activity being funded must be completed before September 30, 2017, but that preparation for the activity must begin before that date.
Proposals can be submitted at any time before August 14, 2017. All applicants are typically contacted 6-8 weeks after their proposal submission and are informed whether or not their proposal was selected.
Proposals should be entered onto the Small Grants Application template in English. Please select one of the following formats:
Proposals should be submitted online to the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo at the following email address: SantoDomingoGrants@state.gov . Applications are accepted in English and or Spanish. Final grant agreements will be concluded in English. Applicants will receive a confirmation e-mail from the Embassy to indicate that we have received your proposal.
VI. Application Documents
In the Public Affairs Small Grants application, applicants must submit a full project description in accordance with the following instructions and the specified evaluation criteria. The instructions give a broad overview of what the project description should include while the evaluation criteria provide details of more program-specific information that is needed.
Cover Sheet: The Small Grants Application includes a cover sheet which provides a summary of the project description with reference to the amount and duration of the funding request.
Narrative: In the narrative section of the Small Grants Application, outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all activities for which you are seeking funding. If appropriate, cite factors that might accelerate or decelerate the work and state reasons for taking the proposed approach rather than alternatives. Describe any unusual features of the project, such as design or technological innovations, reductions in cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement.
Provide projections of the accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such terms as the number of people to be served and the number of activities accomplished. When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them in chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments/milestones and their target dates.
Provide a list of program evaluation efforts to each function or activities listed on your project’s proposal.
Provide a list of evaluation efforts to each function or activities listed on your project proposal.
List those organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key individuals who will work on the project, along with a short description of the nature of their effort or contribution.
Applicants must complete and submit a detailed budget, with narrative explanation for each line item. Please not that translation cost of documents can be included in the budget.
Completeness of Proposal: Proposals should include all of the information requested in the application guidelines. Proposals will not be considered until all information is received in electronic form. Proposals must be completed in English and budget numbers provided in U.S. dollars. Questions should be addressed to SantoDomingoGrants@state.gov .
Technical Format Requirements: All pages must be numbered including budgets and attachments. All documents are formatted to 8.5 x 11 paper and all Microsoft Word documents, 12 point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. Proposals should be kept to a maximum of 10 pages.
VII. Review and Selection Process
Each application submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the following evaluation criteria. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success. The criteria are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application. Points are awarded only to applications that are responsive within the context of this program announcement.
Application Evaluation Criteria:
Goals and Objectives – The project is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results and the organization. The project addresses one or more of the U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo’s Public Affairs Section thematic priorities, as previously outlined. Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provide milestones to indicate progress toward Embassy goals. (30 points)
Strengths and Innovation – Applicant clearly describes how its proposal will address the requested program within the proposed time frame and articulates an innovative strategy or plan. The project builds civil society/organizational leadership and capacity, and demonstrates sustainable capacity building. (25 points)
Organizational Capacity – The organization has expertise in one or more of U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo’s thematic priorities and demonstrates the ability to perform the proposed activities. Where partners are described, the applicant details each partner’s respective role and provides curriculum vitas (CVs) for persons responsible for the project and financial administration. Each key person responsible for the proposed project and its financial administration is listed and a CV for these persons is provided. (25 points)
Budget and Budget Justification – The budget and narrative justification are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results and the plan for services is realistic and allowable (please see Department of State’s Terms and Conditions: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/271865.pdf ) (20 points)
VIII. Award Administration
Award Notices: The award agreement shall be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The Grants Officer is the U.S. government official delegated the authority by the U.S. Department of State Procurement Executive to write, award, and administer grants. In some instances, a Grants Officer Representative will be the grantee’s primary point of contact. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the recipient. Organizations whose applications will not be funded will also be notified in writing.
Anticipated Time to Award: Applicants should expect to be notified within four to six weeks after the announced deadline to receive proposals.
Reporting Requirements: All awards issued under this announcement will require both program and financial reports on a frequency specified in the award agreement. A final grant report and budget/accounting in English is due 90 days after completion of the award end date. 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 award agreement as well.
Upon Selection of Your Proposal
If your project is selected, your organization will need to:
- Obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet in order to receive a grant. The DUNS number is a unique nine-digit identifier that identifies an organization. Once an applicant organization has received its DUNS designation, then it will have to apply for an NCAGE code designation. Once these two steps are completed, your organization must also register via www.sam.gov. Applicants cannot receive grants until these steps are complete. Instructions on how to register will be provided to those who are awarded a grant.
- Fill form SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance (to be provided)
Upon Receipt of a Federal Assistance Award
Recipients of the Embassy’s Small Grant Program are required to submit a final certified Federal Financial Report (SF-425) and a Narrative Report (SF-PPR) within 90 calendar days of the end of the period of performance delineated in the award. Some grants may also require quarterly reports. Grantees will be informed of their reporting responsibilities upon the awarding of the grant. Failure to comply with the reporting requirements may jeopardize eligibility for future awards or will result in suspension of any future payments under this award until such time as this deficiency has been corrected. Some of the required forms include:
- Narrative Report Instructions SF-PPR [PDF, 269 kB]
- Federal Financial Report SF-425 [PDF, 575 kB]
- Instructions for the Federal Financial Report [PDF, 160 kB]
- Request for Advance or Reimbursement SF-270 [PDF, 192KB]
All recipients must be aware of the Standard Terms & Conditions that apply to overseas grantees and comply with all applicable terms and conditions during the project period. You can access the Standard Terms and Conditions at this link:
http://a.m.state.sbu/sites/OPE/FA/SitePages/Toolkit.aspx?&phase=Award.
Also please note that according to the U.S. government’s federal assistance policy, recipients do not receive advance payments in excess of their “immediate cash needs.” In general, up to 20% of the grant total is withheld as a final payment to ensure that final reports are submitted by the grantees.
All successful applicants will be provided with this information upon the awarding of the funds.
Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Small Grant Program.
[1] U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo Mission Statement https://do.usembassy.gov/es/embassy-es/santo-domingo-es/mision-es/
