U.S. Department of State offers the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Grant to support global heritage conservation.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announce an open competition for organizations to submit applications for funding through the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) to carry out an individual project to preserve cultural heritage in a specific priority country. Issuance of this funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government. Full implementation of this program is subject to the availability of funds. Please follow all instructions below.

Program Objectives:

The Department of State established the AFCP at the request of Congress in Conference Report

106-1005 accompanying H.R. 4942 (October 26, 2000). The Senate report on this bill noted that the preservation of cultural heritage “offers an opportunity to show a different American face to

other countries, one that is non-commercial, non-political, and non-military.”

The AFCP Grants Program supports the preservation of archaeological sites, historic buildings

and monuments, museum collections, and forms of traditional cultural expression, such as

indigenous languages and crafts. Appropriate project activities may include:

·        Anastylosis (reassembling a site from its original parts)

·        Conservation (addressing damage or deterioration to an object or site)

·        Consolidation (connecting or reconnecting elements of an object or site)

·        Documentation (recording in analog or digital format the condition and salient features of

·        an object, site, or tradition)

·        Inventory (listing of objects, sites, or traditions by location, feature, age, or other unifying

·        characteristic or state)

·        Preventive Conservation (addressing conditions that threaten or damage a site, object,

·        collection, or tradition)

·        Restoration (replacing missing elements to recreate the original appearance of an object

·        or site, usually appropriate only with fine arts, decorative arts, and historic buildings)

·        Stabilization (reducing the physical disturbance of an object or site)

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of Performance Period: 12 to 60 months

Number of Awards Anticipated: 30-40 awards per year worldwide (dependent on amounts) Award Amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $500,000

Total Available Funding: $6 million per year (estimated)

Type of Funding: Diplomatic Programs Public Diplomacy Funds

Anticipated Project Start Date: Varies by project

This notice is subject to availability of funds and an approved congressional spend plan.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant.

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 60 months or less. The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

Eligible Applicants:

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

·        Institution of Higher Education from North Macedonia

·        Non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) from North Macedonia

·        Public Entity from North Macedonia

·        U.S. Non-Profit Organization (501(c)(3))

·        U.S. Institution of Higher Education

Cost Sharing or Matching:

There is no minimum or maximum percentage of cost participation required for this competition.

 When an applicant offers cost sharing, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must

provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its application and later included in an

approved agreement. The applicant will be responsible for tracking and reporting on any cost

share or outside funding, which is subject to audit per 2 CFR 200. Cost sharing may be in the

form of allowable direct or indirect costs.

Other Eligibility Requirements:

The AFCP further defines eligible applicants as reputable and accountable entities that are able

to demonstrate that they have the requisite capacity and permission to manage projects to

preserve cultural heritage in the specified country.

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all entities must have a valid and active registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain this registration.