U.S. Department of State: U.S. Embassy Kuwait Offering Grants for Civic Engagement, Education, and Community Empowerment

Agency Name: U.S. Mission to Kuwait

Description:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

U.S. Embassy Kuwait

Notice of Funding Opportunity: Statement of Interest

Funding Opportunity Title: Supporting Civic Engagement, Marginalized Communities, and Education Through

Exchanges and Training

Funding Opportunity Number: KUWAIT-PAS-2023-01

Deadline for Applications: April 1, 2023

CFDA Number: 19.040

Total Amount Available: $95,000

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait announces an open competition for organizations or individuals to submit a statement of interest (SOI) to carry out a program (or programs) to the Public Affairs section at the U.S. Embassy Kuwait. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

The submission of the SOI is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a concise (1-2 pages) statement of interest designed to clearly communicate the program idea and its objectives. This is not a full proposal. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit program ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before final funding decision are made.

Program Objectives:

Grant proposals must be less than $25,000 each and seek to achieve one or more of the following goals:

1. Prepare and encourage students in Kuwait to attend U.S. universities, whether through English or college readiness training, college advising, or other means;

2. Increase local capacity to counter discrimination, harassment, and abuse against women;

3. Strengthen efforts to raise awareness of and combat trafficking in persons;

4. Improve the ability of institutions in Kuwait to prepare for and respond to cybersecurity incidents;

5. Promote people-to-people ties between the United States and Kuwait through educational, cultural, or civic activities that engage youth and young professionals in Kuwait; or

6. Strengthen the ability of marginalized communities, youth, and women to participate fully in the political process and the economy.

Interested applicants should submit a short summary of their proposal along with an estimated budget to PASKuwaitM@state.gov on or before April 1, 2023.

Participants and Audiences:

Target audiences include youth and young professionals, educators, women, stateless residents, and other underserved populations in Kuwait.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 1 to 12 months

Number of awards anticipated: approximately 10 awards (dependent on amounts)

Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $25,000

Type of Funding: FY23 Fulbright Hays or Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds

Anticipated program start date: October 2023 – September 2024

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. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

· Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations

· Educational institutions, provided they are not-for-profit

· Individuals

· Foreign Public Entities (FPE), for example: Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions

· Only Kuwait-based organizations and individuals can apply

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost share is encouraged, but not required.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section E.4 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

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 April 1, 2023.

3. Funding Restrictions

Award funds must be used to benefit target audiences within Kuwait.

4. Other Submission Requirements

All application materials must be submitted by email to PASKuwaitM@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. SOIs 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, the SOI should briefly describe the partner’s role and experience.

Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: The SOI should clearly articulate the 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. For a balanced review, all panelists will review the first page of the SOI up to the page limit and no further. The panel may provide conditions and/or recommendations on SOIs to enhance the proposed program. Conditions must be addressed, and recommendations should be addressed in a full proposal application.

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) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance –individuals)

· SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

· SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) for individual or organization exempted from registering in SAM.

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: PASKuwaitM@state.gov.