U.S. Department of State Grant: Youth Outreach for U.S. Legation in Tangier Bicentennial

 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

U.S. EMBASSY RABAT

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Title:           “Youth Outreach for Bicentennial of U.S. Legation in Tangier” Cooperative Agreement 2020

Funding Opportunity Number:     PAS-MOROCCO-FY20-08

Date of Posting Award:                  August 15, 2020

Deadline for Applications:             September 13, 2020

CFDA Number:                              19.040

Total Amount Available:               $75,000 – $85,000

Number of Awards:                        One

A.   PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Mission in Morocco’s Public Affairs Office is pleased to announce a competition to award a cooperative agreement in connection with planned youth outreach in key Moroccan cities celebrating the bicentennial of the U.S. Legation in Tangier. The Public Affairs Office invites proposals from Moroccan or American non-profit organizations operating in Morocco to organize a series of innovative activities, outlined below, to engage Moroccan university students and young professionals in target locations around the themes of prosperity, security, and cultural exchange. Activities should emphasize the shared history, values, and mutual benefits of the U.S.-Moroccan relationship. The awardee will work in close cooperation with the U.S. Embassy to plan and execute this program.

The year 2021 will mark the 200-year anniversary of the founding of the American Legation at Tangier, the oldest U.S. diplomatic property in the world. The bicentennial celebration will serve as the catalyst for a year-long campaign entitled 200 Years of Friendship: Prosperity, Security, and Cultural Exchange” which will highlight the history, strength, and mutual benefit of the U.S.-Moroccan partnership and the reach of our economic, security, and cultural cooperation. 

The capstone of these bicentennial activities will be a U.S.-Government sponsored museum exhibit focusing on the U.S.-Moroccan partnership, which will be on display at the National Library in Rabat beginning from mid-May and then move to Casablanca from mid-September through the end of 2021. The exhibition itself will be broken into 4 topic areas: U.S.-Moroccan diplomatic history, American artists influenced by Morocco, Operation Torch and the WWII years in the Legation, and Moroccan influences on U.S. popular culture. The awardee will not be responsible for organizing this museum exhibit, but will incorporate its themes into outreach activities. 

The awardee will develop and implement, in close cooperation with the Embassy, youth-focused bicentennial outreach that is tied to museum exhibit themes and encompasses the following activities:

·        “Bicentennial Talks”: A series of four speaker programs/lectures/workshops aimed at youth audience that showcase the U.S.-Moroccan economic, security, and cultural partnership in fresh and engaging ways. Each speaker program should take place at the museum exhibit venue in Rabat or Casablanca, as well as at least two additional cities, with a focus on Tangier, Marrakech, and Oujda (the location, respectively, of the U.S. Legation and American Spaces). The awardee should incorporate one visiting U.S. speaker (to be selected and contacted by the Embassy) as the keynote speaker for each program and should consider the participation of additional Moroccan experts on panels and in workshops.

·        Two youth-focused competitions tied to the theme “200 Years of Friendship.” These could take the form of a debate, essay, photography, short film, or other contest. 

·        Three receptions held at the museum exhibit venues which will connect Embassy personnel and visiting speakers with different groups of emerging Moroccan leaders. 

·        Promotion of the museum exhibit and related bicentennial activities to target youth groups via social media and billboard advertising.

All activities should take place between May 2021 and January 2022 and should include contingency plans in case of restrictions due to health conditions

All proposals must be submitted to the U.S. Embassy by September 13, 2020 to this email address Rabatgrants@state.gov – no late proposals will be considered.

·        Number of awards anticipated: One.

·        Type of Funding: FY20 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds

·        Approximate award amount: The amount may range from a minimum of $75,000 to a maximum of $85,000. Projects for lesser or greater values will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Funding may be renewed for up to an additional two years on a non-competitive basis pending successful performance and availability of funds.

·        All applicants must have the following registrations: (please see guidance at the end of the document)

1.     Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;

2.     NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code; and

3.     System for Award Management (SAM.gov) (If you have applied and have not yet received the registration number, provide proof of application).

Eligible applicants include Moroccan non-profit organizations or U.S. non-profit organizations with an established office in Morocco.

·        The following documents must be submitted to Rabatgrants@state.gov no later than September 13, 2020. 

o   Project Narrative Form (in English) 

o   Applicant Organizational Information Form

o   Budget Proposal (in USD) 

o SF424 – Application for Federal Assistance 

o SF424A – Budget Information

o SF424B – Assurances

For full details of this funding opportunity please download and read the NOFO on the documents section.

For any questions, please contact: Rabatgrants@state.gov