U.S. Department of State Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement

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1 U.S. Department of State Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) Program Office: Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement Opportunity Title: 2016 DAICMA Capacity Building (Technical Adviser) - Colombia Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Funding Opportunity Number: 16.PMWRA.Colombia.TA.NOFO Deadline for Applications: Friday, March 18 at 5:00p.m. EST EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) is pleased to invite eligible organizations to submit grant applications for humanitarian demining, explosive ordnance disposal, and victims assistance programs in Colombia for fiscal year Specific goals, objectives, and technical requirements for application packages are detailed below. PM/WRA anticipates awarding up to $500,000 under this grant opportunity. PM/WRA will evaluate applications on a competitive basis using the evaluation criteria explained below, and will provide funding for the application(s) found most likely to achieve PM/WRA s goals and objectives within the stated monetary and time parameters. To be eligible for award consideration, you must submit your application via by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight/Standard Time (ED/ST) on Friday, March 18 th, PM/WRA will not accept applications submitted via , fax, the postal system, or delivery companies or couriers. Applicants may submit more than one application; however, each application should be submitted only once. BACKGROUND PM/WRA administers the U.S. Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) program to reduce the harmful worldwide effects of at-risk, illicitly-proliferated, and indiscriminately-used conventional weapons of war. PM/WRA announces competitive CWD grant opportunities as funding becomes available, and strives to award grants by the end of the same fiscal year. PM/WRA has supported CWD efforts in Colombia since To date, approximately $23 million has been obligated to support both civilian and military demining organizations. Grant awards have also provided mine risk education and assistance to landmine survivors. Ongoing projects support clearance efforts in select municipalities within Antioquia Department, although PM/WRA also contributes to the joint Government of Colombia (GOC) FARC demining operations. Throughout the FY 2016 funding cycle, PM/WRA s top priority is to strengthen Colombia s mine action centre, Dirección para la Acción Integral Contra Minas Antipersonal (DAICMA), by enhancing its institutional capacity in advance of an anticipated growth in post-conflict humanitarian demining efforts. To this end, PM/WRA is inviting eligible organizations to submit

2 applications for a phased project to build technical expertise with DAICMA personnel through an embedded Technical Adviser (TA). This phased approach will be used as a framework and details and milestones will be determined in consultations with PM/WRA, DAICMA, and the selected applicant. An initial capacity and needs assessment must be included in applicant proposals. This award may consist of a Base Period plus two Option Years; the Base Period is expected to last 16 months while each Option Year will be 12 months. PM/WRA will award up to $500, in total funding for the Base Period. Subsequent phases should estimate anticipated cost, details of which can be modified based on the outcomes of the assessment. The first 16-month period of performance (base period), pending the availability of funds, will begin 1 May GRANT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES PM/WRA Goals and Objectives: 1. Increase civilian security by protecting lives and property a. Enhance host nation s CWD program capacity 2. Promote U.S. foreign policy interests b. Demonstrate support for friends and allies c. Enhance public awareness of benefits of CWD Project Scope This NOFO will only address projects that fall in to the following category: 1. Increase civilian security by protecting lives and property Enhance host nation s CWD program capacity 2. Promote U.S. foreign policy interests a. Demonstrate support for friends and allies b. Enhance public awareness of benefits of CWD Funding is expected to be available for I/NGOs to carry out this project. Projects must be approved by and coordinated with the relevant host nation authorities. The Technical Adviser s in-country activities will be tasked by DAICMA or Government of Colombia personnel, though the recipient will be responsible to PM/WRA for the technical advisor s activities. The Technical Advisor will carry out their duties in the DAICMA headquarters, with field visits, national and international meetings, and other logistical costs supported by the grant. It is expected that the Technical Advisor will work closely with DAICMA and GOC representatives, MOD personnel, and military and civilian deminers. The goals and objectives will be met specifically through the transference of skills and technical expertise to DAICMA staff and relevant civilian and military mine action operators. DAICMA personnel will benefit from the Technical Adviser s experience, particularly as DAICMA personnel begin to assume responsibility for Quality Assurance/Quality Control and other technical responsibilities. The Technical Advisor will provide assistance and expertise to DAICMA in the course of the institution s daily operations. The Technical Advisor will advise

3 and assist with the codifying of national standard operating procedures, help facilitate the accreditation process, support the creation and standardization of national mine action standards, and otherwise support the DAICMA director s efforts to enhance organizational effectiveness and efficiency. The Technical Advisor should prioritize any effort that will strengthen DAICMA and enhance the institution s capacity to manage the international donor community. The above information is not meant to be an exclusive list, and PM/WRA will consider applications for alternative approaches to meeting the goals and objectives specified above. For information on PM/WRA, please visit: ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The award is anticipated to be issued for up to 16 months with two (2) option years each consisting of 12 months. EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD COST REALISM EVALUATION The Government may conduct a cost realism evaluation in order to determine if the overall costs proposed are (l) realistic for the work to be performed; (2) reflect a clear understanding of the requirements; and (3) are consistent with the various elements of the applicant's technical proposal. EVALUATION CRITERIA In making the award, four areas will be considered: Technical Approach, Implementation Plan and Capabilities, Experience, and Cost Effectiveness and Budget Detail. Each of the four evaluation areas shall be rated as a whole based upon the information supplied. The Best Value evaluation will be based upon an integrated assessment of the information provided in each applicant s proposal. In addition to the four areas considered, the assessment will address any mandatory Government requirements, any exceptions taken to the Government s proposed terms and conditions, and the applications proposed cost/price. Each application will be evaluated in terms of the realism and soundness of the proposed approach, as well as the demonstration of the applicant s understanding of the Project Scope. RISK ASSESSMENT As part of the assessment of realism, the Government will assess the likelihood of each applicant s proposed approach actually being accomplished. RELATIVE ORDER OF IMPORTANCE OF EVLAUATION In making the award, all factors other than cost, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price. THE COMPETITIVE REVIEW PROCESS PM/WRA will evaluate applications meeting all technical requirements as follows:

4 PM/WRA will convene an application evaluation panel comprised of individuals with knowledge and experience in humanitarian demining, explosive ordnance disposal, and victims assistance programs as well as regional expertise. The panel will assess how well the proposed project(s) meet(s) the priorities, goals, and objectives specified in this announcement. The panel may also consider bilateral, regional, and global factors, as well as any policies, restrictions, or limitations on U.S assistance that may apply to each country or region involved when making final award recommendations to the grants officer. The review panel will use the following criteria when evaluating applications, listed in descending order of importance. Note: PM/WRA reserves the right to change the priorities of the ratings for each NOFO/RSOI announcement. Each competition adjusts the ranking of the evaluation criteria based upon country and program need. Technical Approach How clearly does the applicant understand the specific issues involved in this NOFO, and how well does the applicant understand actual conditions on the ground in the proposed project area(s)? How will proposed project activities meet the goals and objectives specified in this NOFO? Are proposed activities relevant and feasible? How do proposed activities address long-term institutional and/or organizational development within the country/region, with an emphasis on moving towards independent sustainability? To what extent will proposed project impacts continue beyond the conclusion of government funding? Implementation Plan and Capabilities How will the applicant organization s resources, capabilities, and management structure enable it to achieve the goals and objectives specified in this NOFO? Are resources, capabilities, and management structure adequate to support the applicant s proposed activities? Are the applicant s project management, quality assurance, and staffing plans adequate to ensure that proposed activities are effective, efficient, and safe? What risks are involved with the applicant s technical approach and what steps will the applicant take to mitigate such risks? Are proposed subawardees/partner organizations qualified to perform their intended tasks? To the extent that the applicant proposes subawards/partnering arrangements, what are the applicant s plans for overseeing subawardee/partner organization performance? Are oversight plans adequate to ensure effective, efficient, and safe subawardee/partner organization performance that conforms to PM/WRA terms and conditions? Organizational Experience & Key Personnel: What experience does the applicant organization have with successfully implementing projects oriented towards the goals and objectives specified in this NOFO?

5 What experience does the applicant organization have with successfully implementing relevant projects in the county/region covered by this NOFO? If the applicant does not demonstrate adequate experience, is there substantial risk that the project cannot be performed to satisfaction, on time, and within budget? Are proposed key personnel qualified to perform their intended roles? Do they possess relevant experience, expertise, and education? Do they have experience overseeing/managing/implementing projects in the country/region? Do proposed subawardees/partner organizations have experience with successfully performing relevant tasks, and to what extent is that experience in the country/region covered by this NOFO? If there are subawards, has the applicant demonstrated the ability to oversee and administer all Terms and Conditions of the Federal award to the subaward and ensure proper auditing, vetting, and monitoring compliance? Cost Effectiveness and Budget Detail Does the applicant s budget proposal reflect an efficient use of U.S. Government funding to achieve the goals and objectives specified in this NOFO? Are proposed costs both reasonable and realistic for the proposed slate of activities? Are they clearly allocable to specific activities and allowable per OMB cost principals? Are all proposed costs necessary and appropriate? Are overhead, general and administrative, and other indirect cost components relatively low as compared to direct activity costs? How much funding will support the applicant s organizational infrastructure and bureaucracy versus the amount of funding that will directly support project activities? Has the applicant provided a budget for the proposed subawards/partnering arrangements that are reasonable? If not, have they demonstrated knowledge for the reasonableness of cost of the proposed subaward/partnering arrangement if they have to submit tenders to partners unknown at the time of submission? EVALUATION PROCESS The Government shall evaluate the applicant's Technical Approach, Implementation Plan and Capabilities, Experience, and Cost Effectiveness and Budget Detail, using a four color evaluation scheme. The Government shall assign a color (as defined below), based on the applicant s ability to support the Government's requirements. Once the color is assigned for each area, an overall color score will be assigned for the applicant's proposal. Applications will be ranked within each color score comparing the overall merits of each to other proposals received. Color Evaluation Scheme Blue - Outstanding. The applicant has demonstrated a strong likelihood of successful performance and has no significant weaknesses. Green - Good. The applicant has demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of successful performance and any weaknesses can be readily corrected.

6 Yellow - Marginal. The applicant has demonstrated a possibility of successful performance and any significant deficiencies may be correctable. Red- Unacceptable. The applicant has not demonstrated a possibility of successful performance and its deficiency is uncorrectable without a major revision of the proposal. APPLICANT/ORGANIZATION CRITERIA U.S.-based and foreign NGOs, and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply. Foreign governments are not eligible to apply but governments may be beneficiaries of funded programs, provided that funding does not pay salaries of government agency personnel and that such assistance is not restricted by U.S. law or policy. Organizations should have demonstrated experience administering successful CWD-related projects, preferably in the target country and/or region, or in similarly challenging security environments. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS PM/WRA will be screen all aplications to determine whether they meet the technical requirements listed below. PM/WRA will neither evaluate nor consider any application that fails to meet these technical requirements. Technical Requirements: Applications MUST include a 12-page (maximum) narrative proposal; a 3-page (maximum) budget narrative; and a detailed line-item budget (this can be in Excel or PDF format as a separate attachment). It is suggested that the budget be presented in a PDF format and that all of the columns are viewable within the constraints of the page as otherwise it is very difficult to the panel to review the budget when printed out. The line item budget is limited to 3 pages. Annexes pertaining to organizational work charts, letters of recommendation or accreditation are limited to 15 pages. With a cover page, and a 2-page table of contents, the maximum page limit for the proposal would be 36 pages plus a detailed line item budget. 1. Full and detailed narrative proposals should include, but is not limited to, the following: a. Project outcomes, deliverables, and performance indicators plan, including both the quantitative and qualitative indicators that will be used. b. Project description, including goals and objectives, and duration. (To include methodology, initial work plan, proposed summer/winter work plans if required). c. Projected geographical areas of activity d. Clearly list the number of personnel that will be employed under the project and number of teams that will be supported e. Description of how the program outcomes will be sustained after the program ends. 2. Budget narrative to include budget breakdown, brief IP historical background and Post Demining Impact Assessment Methodology-Plan (PDIA) if applicable. 3. Detailed Budget and attached as an Annex to the Proposal.

7 4. The SF-424 and SF-424B forms (online through Grantsolutions.gov). These forms must be completed in full or the application will not be reviewed. 5. Project Hazard list as per Project Title Documentation (if applicable). 6. Full Organizational Structure to include NAMED Key Personnel and Experience. List of key personnel including title, duties, and responsibilities (key personnel are generally limited to 3 to 5 personnel depending upon the project). Key Personnel are defined as individuals who contribute to the development or execution of a project in a substantive measurable way. The program director/principal investigator (PI/PD in grantsolutions.gov) is always considered to be key personnel. If Key Personnel cannot be designated at the time of award, they must be designated within 30 days of the award per the U.S. Department of State Terms and Conditions. Key Personnel The recipient shall provide the following: LABOR CATEGORY NAME [Position] TBD at Time of Award [Position] TBD at Time of Award The [position] shall [insert brief description of duties for first designated key position]. [Insert additional descriptions for additional key positions as may be necessary on a project-specific basis.] The recipient agrees that a partial basis for award of the grant or cooperative agreement is the list of key personnel proposed. Accordingly, the recipient agrees to assign to this task order those key persons whose resumes were submitted with the proposal necessary to fulfill the requirements of the award. No substitution shall be made without prior notification to and concurrence of the Grants Officer. All proposed substitutes shall meet or exceed the qualifications of the person to be replaced. The Grants Officer shall be notified in writing of any proposed substitution at least thirty days in advance of the proposed substitution. Such notification shall include: i. An explanation of the circumstances necessitating the substitution; ii. A complete resume of the proposed substitute; and iii. Any other information requested by the Grants Officer to enable him/her to judge whether or not the new key personnel is maintaining the same high quality of personnel that provided the partial basis for award. 7. Description of how the project meets PM/WRA priorities or the NOFO. Description of how the program outcomes will be sustained after the program ends. 8. Project description of activities conducted by sub-grantees and/or local partners (if using a sub-grantee). The total costs should be outlined under the Contracting in the Detailed Budget. The actual Subaward/Contract budget must be attached to the application as an attachment. If the subaward operator or budget are unknown at this time the budgets of the subawards/ subgrantees must be approved by the Grants Officer before any pass through costs are allowed. 9. Proof of Cambodian Operational and Organizational accreditation certification. 10. Inventory of proposed DOS project equipment and/or loan agreement for DOS project equipment. 11. Prior year audit submission.

8 Detailed Budget: 12. Provide a detailed line item budget which breaks-down all proposed costs in U.S. Dollars. If cost sharing is offered, include a column for the proposed amount of cost share. 13. When preparing the line item budget, headline budget categories should be as shown in the SF-424a: A - Personnel, B - Fringe Benefits, C - Travel, D Equipment, E Supplies, F Contractual, G - Construction, H - Other, I - Total Direct Charges, J - Indirect Costs [Note: Indirect Costs should follow the Grants Officer Indirect Cost Guidance provided separately ( murgiace@state.gov or kodiakt@state.gov for this guidance.) Direct Charges are NOT the sum of items A-H as specified in the SF-424a form as the Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) excludes equipment, rentals, and sub-award costs over $25,000 in calculating the indirect amounts unless allowed in your Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA)]. Please note if your organization does not have a NICRA, the maximum allowable indirect rate is 10%. 14. If there is no associated expense with a headline budget category, it may be marked as $0. Section 2A Subcategories: a. Under each of the above headline budget categories where there is an expense, applicants must provide the following line item details. b. Expatriate Personnel Subcategory: All expatriate personnel must be listed individually along with the number of hours of support they will provide. According to the OMB Circulars, Time and Effort reporting is required, thus hours are required. c. National Staff Subcategory: Please break out national staff positions where possible and list the number of hours they will allocate to the project. d. Key personnel must be listed individually based hours of support provided if they are a direct cost. e. Multiple personnel of the same category type and hours may be grouped together, but the budget layout must be in such a manner that the individual number of hours can easily be calculated by a person reviewing the budget. f. Fringe Benefits Subcategory: Personnel Insurance should be detailed. Any travel costs associated with home leave/r&r for Expatriate Personnel should be listed here, NOT in travel. The budget narrative should specify the number allowed under corporate policy. Please submit with your application a copy of your Expatriate Leave policy unless you know the Grants Officer has a copy of it. g. Travel Subcategories: International and Domestic Travel must be separate. Fuel and Lubricants should be listed in its own line item. All associated equipment repair and maintenance should be listed in its own line item. h. Equipment Subcategory: Include as many line items as required for vehicles purchased, rented, or leased. i. Other Subcategories: Training should be listed as a line item if requested. Insurance for operations may be listed as a line item. Audit cost requests should be listed here. Any professional costs must be listed here or under Contracting if applicable.

9 j. A minimal contingency expense may be allowed, and a.5% currency transaction/adjustment fee is allowable. 15. Attach any subaward or contract budget as either an addition to the detailed budget or as a separate attachment in your submission. If the operator or the budget is not known at the time of submission, the subaward/contract operator and budget must be approved by the Grants Officer before any work is performed. An approved operator may not conduct work without approval of the budget. Any costs associated with a subaward or contract without GO approval will be disallowed. Budget Narrative 16. It is encouraged that international (expatriate personnel) positions be explained in detail with justification being provided for why international staff rather local staff are needed given that it is a PM/WRA priority to move programs towards national sustainability and to build national capacity. 17. Please provide all details as to how end numbers are arrived at if not clearly understandable by the detailed line item budget. 18. List all international travel requested individually as well as the destinations and estimated costs for each flight. 19. Detail the organization s per diem and hotel policies which would be applicable to the above trips. 20. Detail the organization s home leave policies for all international staff and include the associated requested flights and estimated cost details in the budget narrative. 21. Detail all non-pm/wra equipment and vehicles that the organization intends to use on the project. You may insert the estimated time usage value or project cost savings as a footnote of the detailed line item budget if details (details should be provided in the budget narrative). Instructions for completing the SF-424 and SF-424B forms: The SF-424 and SF-424B forms must be completed online through Grantsolutions.gov or the proposals will not be reviewed. The following specific information may be helpful when completing the fields of the SF-424. Note: Only those items with a * need to filled out. Other items may be left blank. 1. Type of Submission: Application 2. Type of Application: New 3. Date Received: Leave blank. This will automatically be assigned 4. Applicant Identifier: Leave blank 5a. Federal Entity Identifier: Leave blank 5b. Federal Award Identifier: Leave blank 6. Date Received by State: Leave blank. This will automatically be assigned 7. State Application Identified: Leave blank. This will automatically be assigned 8a. Enter the legal name of the applicant organization. 8b. Employer/U.S. Taxpayer ID Number: Non-U.S. organizations may enter only if they do not have a U.S. Taxpayer ID #. 8c. Organizational DUNS: Organizations can request a DUNS number at 8d. Enter the address of the applicant

10 8e. Enter the name of the primary organizational unit (and department or division, if applicable) that will undertake the assistance activity, if applicable 8f. Enter the name, title, and contact information of person to be contacted on matters involving this application 9. Select an applicant type (type of organization) 10. Enter: Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement 11. Enter: Enter the Funding Opportunity Number and title. This number will already be entered on electronic applications. 13. Enter the Competition Identification Number and title. This number will already be entered on electronic applications. 14. Areas Affected by Project: List the country or countries where project activities will take place in alphabetical order; for projects that will take place in more than one region enter Global 15. Enter the title of the proposed project (if necessary, delete pre-printed wording) 16. Congressional districts of: Applicant; Program: Leave blank 17. Enter a start date and a projected end date 18. Enter the amount requested for the project described in the NOFO under Federal (18a); enter any cost-share under Applicant (18b). Otherwise, use zeros 19. Enter c 20. Select the appropriate box. If you answer yes to this question you will be required to provide an explanation. 21. Enter the name, title, and contact information of the individual authorized to sign for the application. On the SF-424A form complete all sections that apply and in particular Section B-Budget Categories 6. Object Class Categories. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS If PM/WRA chooses an applicant s proposal for funding, the applicant must abide by the following Terms and Conditions: a) Standard Reporting Metrics: All conventional weapons destruction and humanitarian mine action grants must fill out the standard reporting metrics annually on the progress of the grant. It is recommended that a similar format is used for quarterly reporting of progress. In addition, all Humanitarian Demining and surface and sub-surface Explosive Remnants of War activities must produce and maintain to-scale maps of these activities and record the location of all landmines and other ERW found and cleared. b) Key Personnel: Key Personnel are defined as individuals who contribute to the development or execution of a project in a substantive measurable way. The program director/principal investigator (PI/PD in grantsolutions.gov) is always considered to be key personnel. c) The recipient agrees that a partial basis for award of the grant or cooperative agreement is the list of key personnel proposed in the proposal. Accordingly, the recipient agrees to assign to this task order those key persons whose resumes were submitted with the proposal necessary to fulfill the requirements of the award. No substitution shall be made

11 without prior notification to and concurrence of the Grants Officer. All proposed substitutes shall meet or exceed the qualifications of the person to be replaced. The Grants Officer shall be notified in writing of any proposed substitution at least thirty days in advance of the proposed substitution. Such notification shall include: i. An explanation of the circumstances necessitating the substitution; ii. A complete resume of the proposed substitute; and iii. Any other information requested by the Contracting Officer to enable him to judge whether or not the Contractor is maintaining the same high quality of personnel that provided the partial basis for award. d) Gender and Age Based Reporting Requirement: Recipients shall disaggregate reporting on beneficiaries based on gender and age and report separately on the number of men and women employed in the program funded by the grant. Additionally, grantees are required to report whether non-technical and technical survey teams include female employees to ensure the voices of women and girls are included in survey results. Age based reporting will report the number of individuals under the age of 18 served and the number age 18 and over served. e) Accidents: Recipients shall inform the PM/WRA Grants Officer, Deputy Director for Programs, and relevant GOR of any and all accidents, incidents or events that result in loss of life, limb or property within 24 hours of occurrence. f) Equipment: Equipment is defined as any non-expendable personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. The recipient must provide PM/WRA with an inventory list including use requests every two years when award duration exceeds this duration or at the end of the period of performance if it is shorter than two years. When a recipient no longer needs equipment purchased under grant the recipient shall request disposition instructions from the Federal awarding agency and include its recommended disposition request. This requirement for disposition applies regardless of the current market value of the property. Only the Grants Officer may make the final determination regarding final disposition or the current market value of the equipment. g) The non-federal entity must disclose in writing any potential conflict of interest to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity if the effects of the potential or actual conflict of interest cannot be avoided, neutralized, or mitigated before award, in which the employee, officer or agent must recuse themselves or otherwise is not eligible to participate in the award. Where there is an organizational conflict, the prospective recipient is not eligible for the award. DEADLINE AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS All NOFOs must be submitted via by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Friday, March 18 th, PM/WRA will not accept applications submitted via , fax, the postal system, or delivery companies or couriers. Applicants may submit more than one application; however, each application should be submitted only once. Applicants are strongly encouraged to initiate electronic applications early in the application development process, and to submit early on the due date or before. This will aid in addressing any problems with submissions prior to the application deadline. No exceptions will be made for

12 organizations that have not completed the necessary steps to submit applications on GrantSolutions.gov Applications Applicants must submit applications via This website is available to all applicants, but PM/WRA especially encourages foreign NGOs to submit applications through this web site. Interested organizations using GrantSolutions for the first time should register on the site to create a new Applicant account as soon as possible because this process must be completed before an application can be submitted. To register with GrantSolutions follow the First Time Applicants link and complete the GrantSolutions New Applicant Sign Up application form. Organizations that have previously used do not need to register again. If an organization that has previously used is not able to access the system, please contact Customer Support for help in gaining access (see contact information below). A valid DUNS number IS required for submission of an application on GrantSolutions.gov. Organizations should verify that they have a DUNS number or take the steps needed to obtain one as soon as possible. Instructions for obtaining a DUNS number can be found at Electronic applications submitted via GrantSolutions.gov must contain the two online forms (completed) and the NOFO document (Project Narrative) specified by the application kit. No additional documents should be uploaded. The preferred document formats for the uploaded NOFO are docx or pdf. Applicants should wait until the upload shows the status as Successful before moving to the next part of the application kit. Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission, the GrantSolutions system will provide the applicant with a confirmation page indicating the date and time (Eastern Time) of the electronic application submission as well as an official Application Number. This confirmation page will also provide a listing of all items that constitute the final application submission. For assistance with GrantSolutions.gov please contact Customer Support at help@grantsolutions.gov or call (toll charges for international callers) or Customer Support is available 8 AM 6 PM EST, Monday Friday. Please note that November 11 th is a federal holiday and the help line will be closed. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This call for Statements of Interest will appear on and Anticipated Time to Award: the Office will work to execute grant awards to successful applicants pending Congressional authorization of funds in Fiscal Year 2016.

13 Reporting and Monitoring Requirements: Applicants selected for an award must meet the following reporting and policy requirements: 1. Reporting Requirements: Grantees are required to submit quarterly program progress reports and quarterly financial reports throughout the project period and final reports 90 days after the close of the project period. Access to funds may be suspended if reports are late or incomplete. 2. Grant Monitoring: The Office places emphasis on monitoring and evaluation of all funded projects. Grantees should expect to have their programs visited and reviewed by a grants and/or programs officer. On-site reviews include assessment of program and administrative effectiveness. CONTACT INFORMATION A. Please direct questions about the requirements of this Request to Chris Murguia at MurguiaCA@state.gov and Thomas Kodiak at KodiakT@state.gov. B. For assistance with GrantSolutions.gov please contact Customer Support at help@grantsolutions.gov or call (toll charges for international callers) or Customer Support is available 8 AM 6 PM EST, Monday Friday. Please note that November 11 th is a federal holiday and the help line will be closed.