The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv is offering this grant to enhance the financial stability and operational capacity of Ukrainian media outlets.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv announces a call for grant proposals for Ukrainian media outlets and media organizations to provide them with relevant and effective tools that will sustain media outlets financially and will prevent curtailing media freedoms in the future. Funded projects will сover, but will not be limited to the following areas:

·     Educating media editors and owners in effective media management by providing practical offline and online training, organizing study and experience exchange tours between different outlets.

·     Introducing media workers to different models, platforms and best practices in monetizing online content.

·     Making online media content more relevant and consumable for the audience through teaching journalists’ how to employ different formats, including podcasts, social media, infographics, live streaming, videos, storytelling, etc.

·     Sharing best practices in financial stability by introducing membership strategies, innovative ways to attract subscribers and crowdfund.

·     Promoting and strengthening cooperation between major media, local business and civil society players, especially at the regional level.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This initiative has the goal to support media outlets in pandemic and crisis times and to provide them with proper tools for optimizing their operations and increasing financial stability. Media outlets should use their acquired skills to improve and monetize online content, use innovative ways to increase their target audience, as well as create sustainable cooperation models with local businesses and civil society representatives on the regional level. In the long-term this project should enable media outlets to perform their mission in critical times and prevent censorship of media freedoms.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 6-12 months

Number of awards anticipated: pending availability of funds

Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $20,000 to a maximum of $50,000

Total available funding: $350,000

Type of Funding: FY21 Foreign Assistance Funds

Anticipated program start date: March 31, 2022

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less.

ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

Eligible Applicants

·     Ukrainian independent media organizations and media outlets.  

Cost Sharing or Matching

·     Cost sharing is not required.

Other Eligibility Requirements

·     Eligible organizations and their members may not represent any political party or serve as appointed or elected public officials at the time of application or for the duration of the grant. Non-governmental organizations, which belong to and/or are financially supported by any political party, are not eligible to apply.

·     Eligible organizations may not make any expenditures with their own funds on behalf of candidates, political parties, party coalitions, or their representatives.

·     Grant money cannot contribute to any political campaigns or offset the expense of contributing to any political campaign. 

·     Eligible organizations may not publish or communicate anything that explicitly favors or opposes any political candidate, political party, or party coalition. 

• Application to or receipt of funds from this competition does not disqualify any organization from competing for other U.S. government funds. 

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov.

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Submission Requirements

Applications are due no later than Monday, February 28 (11:59 p.m, Kyiv time)

All application materials must be submitted by email to KyivMDF@state.gov.

Content of Application

Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity
• All documents are in English

·      All budgets are in U.S. dollars

·      All pages are numbered

The following documents are required: 

1. Mandatory application forms

·      SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) 

·      SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

·      See https://ua.usembassy.gov/uk/education-culture-uk/media-development-fund-eng/

     for more information regarding the process to obtain required registrations.

1.    Proposal (5 pages maximum): MDF has a suggested application form available here (we need to add a hyperlink here). You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with the topic would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do.

·      Proposal Summary

·      Introduction to the Organization

• Problem Statement
• Program Goals and Objectives
• Program Activities
• Program Methods and Design
• Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline
• Key Personnel
• Program Partners
• Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
• Future Funding or Sustainability 

4. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

5. Attachments:

·     1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program

·     Organization registration documents

·     Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

Required Registrations:

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.

All organizations applying to receive Federal assistance must have a Dun & Bradstreet Number

(DUNS) before the application is submitted; and a CCR (NCAGE) number, and an active

account with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) before an award can be made.

Step 1: Apply for a DUNS number and an NCAGE number (these can be completed simultaneously)

DUNS application: Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet.

Be aware that both DUNS and SAM registration are free of charge!

You may start getting emails from commercial companies offering to process or extend registration for you at extra fee. It is in your organization’s discretion to choose the way of processing these registrations. U.S. Government does not commit to reimburse you these costs.

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Each application will be evaluated and rated based on the evaluation criteria outlined below.

Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea

Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants

Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives

Budget

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

A Grants Review Committee will evaluate all eligible applications. 

FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

Federal Award Notices

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

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.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

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

2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, Certifications and Assurances, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, all of which are available at: https://www.statebuy.state.gov/fa/pages/home.aspx

Note the U.S Flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and Conditions. 

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

Applicants should be aware of the post award reporting requirements reflected in 2 CFR 200 Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.