U.S. Department of State PGO Grant for Mauritania’s Special Self-Help Socioeconomic Development

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

U.S. Embassy Nouakchott/Mauritania

Notice of Funding Opportunity: Statement of Interest

Funding Opportunity Title: PGO Request for Statements of Interest  

Funding Opportunity Number: PGO-MRT-FY2020-01 

Deadline for Applications: July 15, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. GMT      

CFDA Number: 19.700                              

Total Amount Available: $70,000             

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

U.S. Embassy Nouakchott’s Program and Grants Office (PGO) of the U.S. Department of State announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from organizations interested in applying for funding for program proposals that promote Socioeconomic Activities (Special Self Help). PGO invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit Statement of Interest (SOI) applications outlining program concepts that reflect these goals – pending funding availability. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

The submission of a SOI is the first step in a two-part process. Applicants must first submit a SOI, which is a concise, 1-3-page concept note designed to clearly communicate a program idea and its objectives before the development of a full proposal application. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants the opportunity to submit program ideas for PGO to evaluate prior to requiring the development of full proposal applications. Upon review of eligible SOIs, PGO will invite selected applicants to expand their ideas into full proposal applications. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before final funding decision are made.

Program Objectives:

The Special Self-Help Program Objectives:

The purpose of the Special Self-Help program is to fund grants for small development activities that generate public awareness of U.S. foreign assistance efforts but that fall outside the structure of other established U.S. assistance projects. The program is intended to be flexible and allow the Ambassador to respond directly to requests from local communities for assistance with small community projects that have immediate impact, and further mission policies and objectives. Equally important, the Special Self-Help program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. 

All Special Self-Help projects are community-based, initiated locally, administered at the local level, and include significant community contributions in cash, labor or materials. The implementation period for individual self-help projects is short – less than one year, and projects are small – ranging in cost from $3,000 to $10,000. 

SSH supports proposals related to the following activities:

• Small construction projects (less than 10,000 sq. ft. – 929.03 sq. m) – school rooms, community centers, health facilities, foot bridges, housing for a government or community-paid nurse or teacher, workshops, community abattoir, grain storage, rural airstrip for a hospital, and school dormitory for distant students.
• Water-related projects – wells, latrines, pumps, bore holes, shower stalls and sinks and fishponds.
• School equipment and supplies – desks, chairs, laboratory equipment and library items.
• Communal construction equipment such as a brick-making machine.
• Miscellaneous durable goods – stove or refrigerator for a school or hospital, or a washing machine for a clinic.
• Income generating equipment – weaving looms, tools for furniture making, rice-milling machine. However, care should be used to avoid the funding for the purchase of equipment that cannot be maintained by the local community.

Projects proposed should not exceed $10,000 (about 3.7 million MRU)

Participants and Audiences:

Local communities, cooperatives, associations, local NGOs, municipalities.

Project performance:

Indicators will be developed once SOIs are selected for SSH.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 06 to 12 months

Number of awards anticipated for SSH: 5-10 awards.

Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $3,000 to a maximum of $10,000.

Type of funding: FY2020 Special Self Help Fund.

Anticipated program start date: October 1, 2021.

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.

 C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

·      National NGOs, cooperatives, associations, and other local groups dully registered.

1.    Cost Sharing or Matching

N/A.

2.    Other Eligibility Requirements

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. Please see Section E.4 for more information. 

–       Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.)

–       Applicants must be registered to operate in Mauritania.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1.    Content and Form of Application Submission:

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

Content of SOI must include:

·      A brief project description summarizing goals, objectives outcomes, performance indicators, beneficiaries, and proposed timeline.

·      A clear statement of the applicant’s organizational capacity to carry out the proposed activity and manage U.S. Government funds.

·       Documents in English

·      The anticipated total budget amount (in U.S. dollars)

2.    Submission Dates and Times

SOIs are due no later than July 15, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. GMT.

3.    Funding Restrictions:

Funding can be used only in Mauritania and for the purpose of this grant.

4.    Other Submission Requirements

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

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1.    Criteria

Each SOI will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below.

Quality of Program Idea – 50 points: The SOI is responsive to program framework. The idea is communicated well and is feasible. SOI’s that promote creative approaches to address program objectives are highly encouraged.  The proposed timeline is reasonable.  

Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants –35 points: The SOI should demonstrate the organization’s expertise and previous experience in administering programs. If a local partner is identified SOI should briefly describe the partner’s role and experience.

Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: The SOI should clearly articulate proposed program activities and expected results towards achieving program objectives and goal(s).

2.    Review and Selection Process

A Grants Review Committee will evaluate all eligible SOIs.  All eligible SOIs will be reviewed against the criteria listed above. SOIs are reviewed individually against the criteria and not against competing SOIs.

3.    Following the review, any successful SOI applicants will be contacted and instructed to submit full applications. A full application will include:

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

·       SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

4.    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.

Organizations are not required to have a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number –formally referred to as DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number- nor active SAM.gov registration to apply at this stage of the solicitation. However, if a SOI is accepted for a full proposal application, the organization must obtain a UEI and have an active SAM.gov registration before submitting its full proposal application. Therefore, we recommend starting the process of obtaining a SAM.gov registration as soon as possible. The process can take several weeks. Please note there is no cost associated with UEI or SAM.gov registration.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1.     Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Terms and Conditions: Before submitting the SOI, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply if a full proposal application is requested and awarded, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include:

2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions which are available at: https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

If you have any questions about the SOI application process, please contact: Nouakchottgrants@state.gov