U.S. Mission to NATO Public Affairs Grant for Promoting Understanding of USNATO Policy

Funding Opportunity Title:               U.S. Mission to NATO Public Affairs Annual Program Statement

Funding Opportunity Number:        DOS-USNATO-PAA-2020-001

Deadline for Applications:               August 1, 2020                       

CFDA Number:                                  19.040 – Public Diplomacy Programs

Total Amount Available:                 To be Determined                  

Maximum for Each Award:              $100,000

A.    PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Office of the Public Affairs Advisor (PAA) at the U.S. Mission to NATO (USNATO) is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Purpose of Small Grants: PAA invites proposals for programs and initiatives that help promote an increased understanding of USNATO policy and perspectives.

Priority Program Areas:

·        Defense budgets and equitable burden sharing.

·        Countering dis and misinformation.

·        Cyber security.

·        NATO and the Middle East.

·        Counterterrorism.

Participants and Audiences:

All activities should be targeted at European and/or Canadian audiences and should take place in either Europe or Canada unless a justification is provided.

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

·        Programs relating to partisan political activity.

·        Programs that explicitly target a U.S. audience.

·        Charitable or development activities.

·        Construction programs.

·        Programs that duplicate existing programs.

Authorizing legislation, type and year of funding:

·        Funding authority: Smith-Mundt Act

·        Funding Source: FY2020 Public Diplomacy Funding. 

Grant funding cannot be used for salaries, rent, or other general support of an organization, unless these expenses are directly tied to the project. 

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 12-18 months

Number of awards anticipated: 3-5 awards (dependent on amounts)

Award amounts: minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $100,000

Total available funding: To be determined

Type of Funding: Fiscal Year 2020 Public Diplomacy Funding

Anticipated program start date: various

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant, Fixed Amount Award.

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 18 months or less.

PAA 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

1.     Eligible Applicants

The Public Affairs Section encourages applications from the U.S., Europe, and Canada for:

·        New and creative approaches that utilize digital technology.

·        Programs that seek to reflect the diversity of thought and backgrounds as well as a gender balance.

·        Incorporate evaluation components to evaluate the proposal’s effectiveness.

·        Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience.

·        Non-profit or non-governmental educational institutions

·        Governmental institutions

For-profit or commercial entities, and individuals, are not eligible to apply.

2.     Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not required.

3.     Other Eligibility Requirements

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.

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet, as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations.

Download the attached notice under “Related Documents” tab for the complete announcement and better readability.