The U.S. Mission to the European Union (USEU): Grant for Strengthening U.S.-EU Foreign Policy and Economic Understanding

Summary: The U.S. Mission to the European Union (USEU) is soliciting proposals for projects aimed at EU audiences with the goal of: increasing the discussion and understanding of foreign policy and economic priorities important to the U.S.-EU relationship; supporting the U.S. goals of advancing economic growth and countering terrorism; and furthering U.S.-EU understanding and cooperation on shared cultural, political, and economic values. USEU will award 5-10 cooperative agreements or grants for projects to be carried out in Brussels and EU Member States between October 2017 and December 2018.

Application Open Date: 6/1/2017 (June 1, 2017)
Application End Date: 7/7/2017 (July 7, 2017) midnight (11:59 p.m.) European Central Time (Brussels time, UTC +1)
Point of Contact: Questions and proposals should be addressed to useupa@state.gov.

Estimated Total Program Funding: $180,000
Award Ceiling: $70,000
Award Floor: $10,000

Section A: Funding Opportunity Description

The U.S. Mission to the European Union (USEU) Public Affairs Section is soliciting proposals for projects aimed at EU audiences with the goal of: increasing the discussion and understanding of foreign policy and economic priorities important to the U.S.-EU relationship; supporting the U.S. goals of advancing economic growth and countering terrorism; and furthering U.S.-EU understanding and cooperation on shared cultural, political, and economic values.

Applicants must be legally recognized non-profit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, or academic institutions that comply with U.S. and EU requirements and have a proven track record of developing and implementing programs in the EU environment. Projects should be carried out in Brussels and in EU Member States. This notice of funding opportunity is subject to funds availability.

Section B: Federal Award Information

USEU Public Affairs Section (USEU PAS) seeks applicants to develop projects engaging EU policymakers, opinion shapers, and publics with the goals of increasing the discussion and understanding of foreign policy and economic priorities important to the U.S.-EU relationship; advancing economic growth and countering terrorism; and furthering U.S.-EU understanding and cooperation on shared cultural, political, and economic values
Projects will bring experts on the U.S. policy areas listed above to Brussels and/or EU Member States for public engagement though conferences, seminars, and workshops, as well as social media and traditional media engagements. Projects will focus on priority policy areas as identified by USEU and the partner organization. Awardees will be responsible for speaker recruitment and project development, with input from USEU. Fund permitting, awards will range from $10,000 to $70,000. Projects are to be carried out between October 2017 and December 2018. Projects cannot be carried out before the signature of the grant by both parties. Applications for renewals of existing USEU grants and cooperative agreements will be allowed.
Proposals may include but are not limited to: conferences, workshops, and seminars featuring U.S. Government (USG) officials or non-USG individuals (please note that travel costs for USG officials cannot be covered by the grant) and training workshops. Linkage to U.S. policy priorities related to the European Union is essential. USEU encourages new and creative approaches that utilize digital technology, social media, and other innovative means.

Funding types: Cooperative agreements and Grants
-Minimum (“Floor”) Award: $10,000
-Maximum (“Ceiling) Award: $70,000
Grant Recipient’s Role:
a. Design and implement a series of programs featuring U.S. experts on USEU priority goals, particularly:
o U.S.-EU economic cooperation and growth
o U.S.-EU digital policy and cooperation on data protection
o U.S.-EU cooperation on foreign policy, security and defense, migration, and humanitarian assistance, in the EU neighborhood and beyond
o U.S.-EU law enforcement and counterterrorism cooperation
o U.S.-EU policies on energy and environment
o U.S.-EU shared values, including democracy, diversity, rule of law, human rights
o U.S. society, culture, and political process
b. Recruit U.S. and EU experts for these programs, in consultation with USEU PAS. Programs should seek to reflect the diversity of thought and background in the United States as well as gender balance.
c. Coordinate with USEU throughout project period to ensure final programs meet USEU goals and USG funding regulations.
d. Manage all logistical arrangements for speaker travel and honorarium, following all guidelines provided by USEU PAS.
e. Develop and manage all public outreach events, with input from USEU PAS as needed.
f. Provide interim and final reporting to USEU PAS on the use of USG funding and program impact.

USEU PAS role:
a. Regularly identify priorities for program outreach.
b. Approve speakers and specific program elements.
c. Provide guidance on allowable uses of USG funds.
d. When appropriate, amplify programs through media and social media outreach or suggestion additional outreach opportunities.
e. When appropriate, inform and lead coordination with other U.S. Embassies and Missions of relevant programs.

Section C: Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicants must be legally recognized non-profit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, or academic institutions that comply with U.S. and EU requirements.
2. EU-based applicants must be listed in the EU Transparency Register.
https://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/ri/registering.do?locale=en
3. Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity but it is encouraged. Any cost sharing must be clearly laid out in the proposal and budget estimate.
4. All applicants must have a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number from Dun and Bradstreet and an active SAM registration before award is granted.

Section D: Application Submission

Applicants must submit a detailed proposal in English and budget estimate electronically to useupa@state.gov by July 7, 2017, 11:59 p.m. European Central Time (Brussels time, UTC +1 hour). Late or incomplete applications will not be considered for this competition. Costs incurred before the official grant period begins will not be reimbursed.

Complete applications must include:
– Completed application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)
https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_2_1-V2.1.pdf
– Project description narrative, including goals, target audience, timeline, intended impact, and follow up and evaluation (maximum four pages).
– Detailed budget estimate, in dollars (maximum one page).
– SAM registration confirmation
– EU Transparency registration confirmation
– Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or has an exception approved by the Department of State) must:
• Be registered in the System for Award management (SAM.gov) before submitting the application;
• Continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency.
• Continue to maintain an active EU Transparency registration.
• Provide a valid unique entity identifier (UEI) in the application. This number is a nine-digit identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. To obtain a UEI (DUNS) number, access http://www.dnb.com. Please ensure that your UEI (DUNS) number is included in the appropriate box of the SF – 424;

The federal award may not be made to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable Unique Entity Identifier and SAM.gov requirements.

Exemption for UEI or SAM.gov registration requirements can be considered for a foreign organization receiving an award that will be performed outside the United States valued at less than $25,000, or for an overseas school that does not currently have a UEI number.

Section E: Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria
Applicants will receive acknowledgement of receipt of their proposal.
Applications will be reviewed by USEU Public Affairs with input from subject matter specialists based on the following criteria:
-clear link to U.S. policy priorities regarding the EU
-potential impact on EU public opinion of U.S. policy priorities
-applicant organization’s past experience in successful programming and organizational capacity
-strong budget justification
-plan for monitoring and evaluating the impact of the program
For organizations with past or current awards from USEU, positive performance and timely reporting on previous awards will be taken into account in the review.
Applicants will be notified of the review panel results on August 28, 2017.

Section F: Award Administration
1. Award notices: The grant or cooperative agreement award shall be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the USEU Grants Officer, who is the U.S. government official delegated the authority by the U.S. Department of State Procurement Executive to write, award, and administer grants and cooperative agreements. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and will be provided to the recipient. The awardee will interact with a designated Grants Office Representative (GOR).
2. Reporting requirements: All awards issued under this announcement require both program and financial reports on a frequency specified in the award agreement. The disbursement of funds will be tied to the timely submission of these reports. All details related to award administration will be specified in the award agreement. The point of contact for questions or issues related to the administration of the grant/cooperative agreement will be specified in the award agreement.