Request for Innovation Fund Proposals Supported by Instituto Colombiano de Crédito Educativo y Estudios Técnicos en el Exterior, Mariano Ospina Pérez (ICETEX) and the U.S. Department of State Issuance Date: February 26, 2018 Question/Answer Period: February 26 April 12, 2018. Submit 100kstrongamericas.org/questions Closing Date/Time: April 15, 2018 Subject: Request for Proposals for the Colombia-United States Rural Education for Peace Competition Dear Applicants, Partners of the Americas (Partners), the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and NAFSA: Association of International Educators are pleased to announce a new grant competition as part of 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund. The 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund is the dynamic public-private sector partnership between the U.S. Department of State, Embassies, Partners of the Americas, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, corporations, and foundations working together to stimulate connectivity and collaboration between higher education networks throughout the Americas. The Innovation Fund inspires U.S. universities and colleges to team up with universities and higher education institutions in the rest of the Western Hemisphere to create new partnerships to increase student exchange and training programs and opportunities. Since January 2014, the Innovation Fund has awarded 147 grants to teams of 288 higher education institutions from 25 countries in the Western Hemisphere region, and a total of 38 U.S. states benefit from Innovation Fund grant partnerships. The Colombia-United States Rural Education for Peace Competition is supported through a generous contribution from Instituto Colombiano de Crédito Educativo y Estudios Técnicos en el Exterior, Mariano Ospina Pérez (ICETEX) and the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia. This Innovation Fund competition is open to all higher education institutions in the United States, and higher education institutions and non-accredited institutions in Colombia that promote study abroad and training opportunities in the following themes: Rural Education for Peace Peace building Technology Development and/or Engineering in one of the following areas: agroindustry, ecotourism, or place marketing Social Innovation and Sustainable Entrepreneurship The 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund promotes leveraged innovation with institutions that demonstrate the greatest commitment toward increasing study abroad and training opportunities between the U.S. and Colombia. In applying for the Rural Education for
Peace Competition, higher education institutions will demonstrate how they will assert leadership in implementing proposed innovations, increase student mobility, maintain student and faculty engagement, and commit to making concrete changes to expand access to study abroad for all students as sending and/or hosting institutions. The intent of this competition is to award up to eleven (11) Innovation Grants of up to $25,000 to each selected proposals. Partners, NAFSA, ICETEX, DOS, and the U.S. Embassy in Bogota reserve the right to fund any or none of the Innovation Fund grant applications submitted. Please refer to Section I: Funding Opportunity Description, for a complete statement of goals and expected results. ICETEX is a Colombian public entity that promotes higher education through the granting of educational loans and its collection, with own resources or from third parties, populations with few economic resources and good academic performance. Since its creation, it has been the leading entity in the promotion of the internationalization of the higher education system. Through its Cooperation Policy, ICETEX has generated opportunities for Colombians abroad through offering scholarships, and for foreigners in Colombia through different international mobility programs, such as the Pacific Alliance mobility platform, the Colombia Scholarship or Colombia Fellows. Today, ICETEX leads this educational cooperation policy, through which it has co-financed projects aimed at strengthening Colombia s higher education system with national and international partners, such as the current Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition. For more information about ICETEX, visit www.icetex.gov.co/.
Table of Contents Section I: Funding Opportunity Description... 1 Section II: Award Information... 4 Section III: Eligibility Information... 5 Section IV: Application and Submission... 6 Section V: Timeline... 6 Section VI: Acceptance of Terms & Conditions... 7 Section VII: Agency Contacts... 7
Section I: Funding Opportunity Description A. Background of the Innovation Fund Many Latin American and Caribbean students do not have the English language skills or resources to succeed at U.S. institutions. Conversely, many U.S. students are unaware of the opportunities available in the hemisphere, and U.S. colleges and universities face challenges integrating study abroad into degree programs, designing programs for nontraditional students, and developing cost-effective opportunities for all students. There are approximately 49,000 U.S. students studying in Latin America and the Caribbean and 86,000 Latin American and Caribbean students studying in the U.S. each year. Canada contributes an additional 27,000 students studying in the U.S. while 1,400 U.S. students are studying in Canada. We are seeking to nearly double the number of students studying abroad in our region in less than ten years. In 2011, 100,000 Strong in the Americas was launched with the goal of increasing the annual number of students to and from the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean to 100,000 in each direction by 2020. To reach our goal, it is imperative that colleges and universities make study abroad accessible for all students, regardless of their major, socioeconomic status, or the type of institution in which they are enrolled. The central mechanism for supporting the goal of achieving 100,000 students studying abroad annually in each direction by 2020 is the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, the dynamic public-private sector partnership between the U.S. Department of State, Embassies, Partners of the Americas, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, corporations, and foundations working together to stimulate connectivity and collaboration between higher education networks throughout the Americas. Since January 2014, the Innovation Fund has awarded 147 grants to teams of 288 higher education institutions from 25 countries in the Western Hemisphere region, and a total of 38 U.S. states benefit from Innovation Fund grant partnerships. Innovation Fund grants build institutional capacity, increase student mobility, strengthen regional education cooperation, and contribute to workforce development in the Americas. B. Background of Competition Partner ICETEX is a Colombian public entity that promotes higher education through the granting of educational loans and its collection (with own resources or from third parties) to populations with few economic opportunities and good academic performance. Within the framework of its Educational Cooperation Policy (Agreement 0083/2016), it leads the internationalization of Colombia s higher education system through different strategies. Through the Office of International Relations (ORI), ICETEX facilitates access to educational opportunities offered by the international community through the administration of scholarships for Colombians abroad. In the same way, it has a broad portfolio of programs based on reciprocity with foreigners in Colombia and that aims at facilitating international mobility and contributing directly to the internationalization of Colombian universities. Page 1 of 7
During the last two years, the international management at ICETEX has focused on the promotion of international academic mobility, increasing cooperation and internationalization on campus based on the criteria of reciprocity, inclusion and quality in academic programs. In addition to increasing the number of Colombian beneficiaries abroad and foreigners in Colombia, the ORI has promoted different mechanisms so that, through co-financed programs, capacity building projects, training and international positioning are generated. In this regard, the ORI outlines the following strategies: internationalization, cooperation, and promotion of Colombia as an academic destination. In conjunction with the Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, and the Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation COLCIENCIAS, ICETEX has been a fundamental actor in the creation, development, and management of the Scientific Colombia Program. The program aims to strengthen the quality of Colombian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in research, teaching, and internationalization and close the gap in Colombia through the development of science, technology and innovation. To date, more than 300 national and international HEIs, in addition to a large participation of actors from the economic sector, have participated in its grant competitions. Currently, the ORI administers the scholarship program, Passport to Science credit, whose goal is to have Colombians study in the best universities in the world and every day strengthen the Academic Counseling Program by offering guidance in study abroad. The ORI has been increasing cooperation with international organizations, such as the Fulbright Binational Commission, positioning Colombia as an academic destination. For example, it has increased Language Assistants from Fulbright ETA (English Teaching Assistant), as well as support to co-finance U.S. scholars and specialists in Colombian universities for the third consecutive year. For this reason, ICETEX and Fulbright Colombia received the 2017 Generation Study Abroad Award from the Institute of International Education (IIE). In 2017, ICETEX signed international agreements with 31 institutions or university consortia, which have institutions that are ranked in Shanghai. During this period, in partnership with Colombian universities, 919 scholarships were granted to Colombians abroad and to 1626 Colombian Fellows (professors, researchers, experts, participants). With 175 foreign scholars in Colombia, the country has established itself as a quality academic destination, strengthening the bond and creating networks every day through the bridges that ICETEX helps to create. C. Purpose of Grant Competition The purpose of the Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition is to provide incentive grants to higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United States, and higher education institutions and non-accredited institutions in Colombia these include universities and colleges, community colleges, technical institutes, research centers, and other post-secondary institutions in order to identify innovations that increase bilateral collaboration between Colombia and the U.S., focused on the following areas: Rural Education for Peace Peace building Page 2 of 7
Technology Development and/or Engineering in one of the following areas: agroindustry, ecotourism, or place marketing Social Innovation and Sustainable Entrepreneurship Proposals with these thematic areas must justify how the program will contribute to the impact on rural education as a fundamental component for peace building. The Review Committee understands that a small institutional grant does not, in itself, create a sustainable long-term program. However, applicants should convincingly convey how this initial grant will set in motion additional plans and resources that will extend beyond the grant period and support the attainment of the goals of 100,000 Strong in the Americas. Proposals should focus on innovations in increasing academic mobility; on expanding the capacity for institutions in the U.S. and Colombia to host or send students, researchers, faculty, or administrators; or in offering models that integrate increased flow between the U.S. and Colombia. For example, applicants may propose to provide small sub-grants to students in order to have an impact on their study abroad decisions as well as their ability to find a way to follow through on their study abroad plans. Another example of an innovative idea is to incorporate variations on traditional study abroad models toward 100,000 Strong in the Americas goals, such as the engagement of student, faculty, researchers, and administrators through service learning. We envision that innovations are likely to include proposed activities that address many of the topics discussed at 100,000 Strong in the Americas capacity-building workshops and NAFSA Latin America Fora, including entrepreneurship; smart collaboration; language barriers; diversity and inclusion; alumni engagement; communications and marketing; accreditation and credit transfer; resource development; and safety and security. D. Expected Results Higher education institutions that are successful in implementing Innovation Fund grants will demonstrate increased capacity to develop and administer study abroad programs that receive and/or send students between the U.S. and Colombia. These HEIs will: Increase the rate of international academic mobility; Demonstrate increased awareness of the barriers to creating or implementing academic mobility programs or policies; Demonstrate an increase in the number of effective partnerships with U.S. and Colombia HEIs above and beyond what would have taken place without the grant. Page 3 of 7
Section II: Award Information A. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Envisioned The intent of this competition is to award up to eleven (11) 100,000 Strong Americas Innovation Grants of up to $25,000 to each selected proposals. Partners, NAFSA, ICETEX, DOS, and the U.S. Embassy in Bogota reserve the right to fund any or none of the Innovation Fund grant applications submitted. Please refer to Section I: Funding Opportunity Description, for a complete statement of goals and expected results. B. Notification of Award Recipients Winning institutions will be notified no later than June 15, 2018. The list of grant recipients will be published on www.100kstrongamericas.org. C. Period of Performance Following the announcement of Innovation Fund winners, Partners will inform grant recipients with next steps to formalizing and receiving the award. The period of performance will be from August 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019. D. Award Responsibilities 1. Grant Recipients Grant recipients will be responsible for keeping the Innovation Fund and ICETEX updated on the achievement of proposed program activities through reports on: Progress on program objectives and innovations, including mobility data; Successes, challenges, and lessons learned in program implementation and evaluation; Beneficiary testimonials; and Program expenditures and cost-sharing It is the responsibility of all implementing partners to understand and abide by the terms and conditions of the award and to comply with relevant U.S. law, including but not limited to prohibitions related to the FARC s designations under U.S. law [as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and a Significant Foreign Narcotics Trafficker], and to consult with your legal counsel when necessary. 2. Innovation Fund Staff The Innovation Fund staff, based in Washington, D.C., will be involved in the following areas: Review of the recipient s reports, including quarterly and final reports; Approval of budget changes and additional expenditures; Approval of changes in program personnel; Page 4 of 7
Approval of the recipient s Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. Approval of program extensions; and Request for regular updates on proposed program, student engagement, faculty and administrator outreach. Section III: Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants Higher education institutions located and legally registered in Colombia 1 and the U.S. are eligible to apply for grants for the Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition. This Innovation Fund competition seeks to receive applications from a diversity of public and private HEIs, including accredited institutions, non-accredited institutions 2 (in Colombia), and rural and urban institutions from both countries. As autonomous, foreign institutions dedicated to the promotion of mutual understanding between the host country and the United States, bi-national centers (BNCs) are eligible to compete; however, if a BNC is applying as prime, it must do so in partnership with at least one in-country HEI, in addition to a U.S. HEI. Proposals may involve new institutional partnerships or build on existing partnerships, but in all cases should demonstrate strong institutional support from the partners involved. Overall, proposals must include a partnership between at least HEI in the U.S. and one HEI in Colombia. However, proposals that constitute a tripartite alliance, between (1) a U.S. HEI with (2) an accredited university in Colombia and (3) a non-accredited institution in Colombia, will be found favorable during the evaluation process. In order to increase the diversity of participating institutions, the Review Committee reserves the right to give preference to institutions that have not previously received Innovation Fund grants, but all are encouraged to apply. 1 Under Colombian Law 30 of 1992 and Article 19 of the ley de marras, higher education institutions (HEIs) are: professional technical institutions, universities, and colleges. 2 Non-accredited HEIs refers to institutions in Colombia that have not undergone the accreditation process or have not met the requirements established by Colombia s National Accreditation System. The National Accreditation Commission of Colombia is the country s entity responsible for leading the evaluation process with regards to compliance with the established accreditation procedures. Page 5 of 7
Section IV: Application and Submission A. Proposal Format Applications must not exceed a total of 25 pages and must utilize 12-pt Times New Roman font, single-spaced, typed in standard 8 ½ x 11 paper with one-inch margins, and each page numbered consecutively. Keep in mind the page limitations for each section of the proposal application as listed below. Any additional pages that exceed the page limitations will not be reviewed by the Review Committee. Cover Page (1 page) Table of Contents (1 page) Technical Narrative (10 pages max) Budget (3 pages max) Annexes (10 pages max) A detailed description of the application format and requirements can be found in the following pages below.. B. Online Submission Process Applications must be submitted online through the Application Form found on the 100,000 Strong in the Americas website (www.100kstrongamericas.org/grants) by the deadline indicated on the cover page of this solicitation. Any prospective applicant desiring an explanation of this competition must request it by completing the online Inquiry Form (www.100kstrongamericas.org/questions). Before submitting questions, it is recommended that interested applicants review the questions and answers submitted in past competitions at www.100kstrongamericas.org/100k-competition-faqs. Please note that some answers in the FAQs page may not apply to the Colombia-U.S. Rural for Peace Competition due to the restrictions described in this RFP. Oral explanations or instructions given before an award is disbursed will not be binding. Applicants must comply with the instructions for submission included with this RFP. Applications that are received late or are incomplete will not be considered in the review process. No applications will be accepted via email unless otherwise instructed by Partners of the Americas. Applications may only be submitted in English. Section V: Timeline ACTIVITY TIME PERIOD/DEADLINE Launch of Grant Competition February 26, 2018 Submission of Proposals February 26 April 15, 2018 Page 6 of 7
Close of Grant Competition April 15, 2018 Proposal Evaluation Process April 15 May 31, 2018 Announcement of Winners May 31, 2018 Award of Grant Funds to Winners July 1 September 30, 2018 Period of Performance for Grantees August 1, 2018 July 31, 2019 Section VI: Acceptance of Terms & Conditions By submission of a proposal for the Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition, applicants will accept the requirements, terms, and conditions of the grant competition and the provisions listed in this RFP, the proposal guidelines and evaluation criteria. Once the proposal is submitted, it will not be possible to claim ignorance on the terms established in the RFP. Applicants will declare that the information provided in the application is true and accurate. In case of any inconsistencies in the information or documentation provided, the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, ICETEX, and the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá may, at any time, reject the application, without prejudice to corresponding legal actions. Section VII: Agency Contacts Questions concerning this solicitation must be sent via www.100kstrongamericas.org/questions prior to the deadline mentioned on the cover letter of this document. No phone calls. 100,000 Strong in the Americas is supported by the U.S. Department of State in partnership with Partners of the Americas and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Page 7 of 7
Innovation Fund Proposal Format & Design Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition Please make sure that you have read and understood the terms and requirements of this grant competition for which you are applying. You can find our current open competitions by visiting our Grants page. Proposals should be specific, concise, and complete. They should take into account and be arranged in the order described below. Also, keep in mind the page limit for each section of the proposal. Any additional pages that exceed the page limitations will not be reviewed by the Evaluation Committee. Format Requirements: o o o o 12-pt Times New Roman font Single-spaced with one-inch margins Each page numbered consecutively No more than 25 pages total Basic Contents: Cover Page (1 pg) The cover page should be a single page with the title of the proposed program and the name of the applying higher education institution (HEI), as well as the partner HEIs and other organizations involved in the program clearly identified. The cover page should provide a primary contact for the applying institution, including the individual s name, his/her signature, title/position with the department/unit, institution s address, office telephone number, and e-mail address. State whether the primary contact is the person with authority to contract for the applicant. If not, that person should also be listed with his/her contact information and signature. Table of Contents (1 pg) List all parts of the proposal, including attachments, with page numbers. Technical Narrative (10 pgs max) Budget (3 pgs max) Annexes (10 pgs max)
Technical Narrative Below are the required sections for the technical narrative of your proposal. I. Executive Summary This is a summary of how the overall project will be coordinated. It should not exceed two pages. 1. Program goals and objectives; 2. Key activities and anticipated results, including proposed number of beneficiaries traveling northbound and/or southbound; and 3. Managerial resources of the applicant HEI, including the name of the person(s) responsible for program implementation. II. Program Description This section should describe, in detail, the proposed study abroad program and innovations. Present the need for the proposed program at your institution, your partner institution and/or your respective communities, and describe how the program will help meet that need. Clearly state the overall program goal(s), objectives, and activities to achieve the goal(s). Connect the proposed program to your institution s internationalization efforts and initiatives. Describe how the program will make a significant contribution towards achieving the overall goal of 100,000 Strong in the Americas. Describe how the program will help to achieve diversity in study abroad, as well as within your institution and your partner institution/s Describe how the program will create additional capacity for your institution and your partner institution(s) to increase international academic exchanges and strengthen international networks. Describe the activities that will take place during the program, including the abroad portion. The proposed program must be credit-bearing; thus, describe the type of credit that beneficiaries will receive from their home institution. Describe how you and your partner institution(s) will engage the academic community in ongoing outreach to support study abroad. Include any coordination activities or support from civil society, government institutions, or the private sector. Format Requirements for Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition Page 2 of 9
III. Description of Partnership Innovation Fund grants are intended to finance the beginning of long-term partnerships between partnering institutions; therefore, proposals must demonstrate strong alliance between all involved institutions and organizations. If applicable, include a description of the tripartite partnership model between a higher education institution in the U.S., an accredited university and a non-accredited university in Colombia. Proposals that constitute a tripartite alliance will be found favorable in the evaluation process (please refer to the Evaluation Criteria on pages 7-9). Provide a brief history of the partnership, current programs and achievements that resulted from the partnership. Describe how your institution and partner institution(s) will work together to coordinate and implement the program and achieve its goals and objectives. Elaborate on any institutional and/or financial support and resources from your institution and partner institution(s). Describe the potential impact of the proposed program on your institution and partner institution(s). Present steps and activities to how your institution and your partner institution(s) will continue the program and/or its innovations after the grant period ends. Demonstrate the intent of your institution to collaborate with your partners and ensure sustainability of the partnership. Include convincing letters from your institution, your partner institution(s), and other outside organizations demonstrating support of your program. No formal agreement is required between partnering institutions, but the intent to collaborate must be demonstrated in the proposal. IV. Sustainability Plan The Sustainability Plan assures program longevity and the capability of generating new projects and increasing capacity for international academic exchanges over time. Demonstrate any current/future institutional & financial support and commitment from your institution and partner(s). State what the Innovation Fund grant will allow the partnership to do/achieve that they could not do without the grant. Articulate how the grant will help your institution or partnership unlock available opportunities or resources. Describe any current and/or future efforts to integrate study abroad into your institution or your partner institution s curricula; and how the proposed program will help to make study abroad the norm, not the exception. Show any additional support and resources from the institution, partner institution(s), and/or other outside partners, including the private sector. Include any future partnerships or activities you may initiate with civil society, government institutions, or private organizations as innovative strategies to program sustainability. Format Requirements for Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition Page 3 of 9
V. Institutional Capacity, Challenges, and Opportunities for Growth Institutional Capacity Brief summary of your current institutional capacity for managing study abroad programs. Highlight any current programs in the Western Hemisphere. o Institutions with minimal experience in international education programming should demonstrate a desire to increase their capacity and outline the steps to how the proposed program will address current institutional challenges to study abroad. o Institutions with more robust international programs should describe how they will build on their current success and explain any barriers to increasing study abroad opportunities at their campus that the proposed program will address. Name the person(s) who will be ultimately responsible for program implementation and reporting. Attach the CV, résumé, or bio of the person(s) identified as an annex. Challenges to Study Abroad Provide an assessment of the specific challenges/barriers at your institution and/or your partner institution(s) for increasing academic exchanges in the Americas. Opportunities for Growth Identify areas for action or innovative approaches to addressing the challenges/barriers to study abroad at your institution and/or your partner institution(s). Describe the opportunities that may arise from the proposed program that will help the partnering institutions address the challenges/barriers to study abroad. VI. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan The M&E Plan should describe the target goals, specific tools for the collection, analysis, and reporting of performance data, information and feedback, and how the data will be managed or utilized under the project. Click here for a basic template of the M&E Plan. The following provides steps on how to create a plan to help you assess your program and its impact on your institution and students. Proposals that do not include the following information have been found to be less competitive. Specify the party/ies from your institution and/or your partner institution that will be responsible for data collection. List the program s goals and objectives, including student learning objectives. Identify the project benchmarks/indicators of progress and success under each objective. Determine and quantify the baseline information (the starting point) that will be measured and target goal. List the sources of data (i.e. methods and tools for collection). Include a timeline for program implementation and assessment. Note: The Innovation Fund and ICETEX reserves the right to modify the M&E plan in consultation with the applicant at the final proposal evaluation stage. Format Requirements for Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition Page 4 of 9
Cost Proposal The budget does not count toward the 10-page limit of the technical narrative, but it carries its own 3-page limit. This budget will contain the two components below. Failure to present the budget summary and narrative in the requested format may render your application ineligible. I. Budget Summary The summary is presented in the form of a table, which outlines the cost estimates for the management and implementation of the program. Use the Budget Summary Template to help you build your budget. It should present a breakdown and the calculations of program items and activities, including but not limited to: II. Personnel, fringe, consultants Travel costs (e.g., flights, accommodations, transportation, meals, etc.) Stipends/scholarships to selected academic beneficiaries Communications, marketing materials, translation, etc. Use, rental, or purchase of equipment, software, facilities, etc. Program monitoring/evaluation tools Indirect/administrative costs. We recommend that you to keep the indirect rate charged to the grant as low as possible. Budget Narrative This is a detailed explanation and justification of each proposed line item from the summary table. Refer to the Budget Narrative Sample. Describe programmatic relevance of items and activities. Clearly identify the basis of estimate (i.e., how the costs were determined fair and reasonable) for each activity and line item. Distinguish between the activities and items that the Innovation Grant will support versus what you or your partner institution will cover as cost-share. Include the sources of funding for all costs. III. Cost-Share One form of demonstrating commitment is by providing matching resources and support (inkind, cash contributions etc.) from your institution, as well as your partners, which contribute to the management and implementation of the program. There is no minimum or maximum percentage required; however, proposals that can match the grant 1:1 are viewed more favorably by the Review Committee. In fact, cost-sharing by winning proposals of previous Innovation Fund competitions have averaged more than 1.5 to 1. Format Requirements for Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition Page 5 of 9
Note that if selected for funding, you will be obligated to comply with the budget as stipulated in your proposal. That said, the cost-share should be feasible and practical for your institution and partners. Applicants are encouraged to: Demonstrate significant cost-share (Recommended: at least 1:1 match) Have low indirect costs (Recommended less than 20%) Provide cost-sharing from diverse sources, such as your institution, partner institution(s), the local government, community, or the private sector. Institutional cost-sharing can be demonstrated through the following examples. Personnel/staff time or consultants Honorarium Equipment rental/use Course materials Student scholarships/stipends provided by the institution/partners/outside resources Tuition/fee waivers or discounts Indirect costs Travel costs: flights, lodging/homestays, meals, transportation, etc. NOTE: Expenses covered personally by academic staff (professors, researchers, administrators) and students, and resources that come from other programs financed by ICETEX cannot be counted as cost-share. Supporting Documents You may attach no more than 10 pages of supporting documents as annexes, which should at least include the following: I. Letters of support (required). Proposals must include convincing letters from your institution, your partner institution(s), and other outside organizations demonstrating support of your program. These letters are considered to be highly important for successful proposals. No formal agreement is required between partnering institutions, but the intent to collaborate must be demonstrated in the proposal. It is also encouraged that proposals include additional letters from civil society, government, or private organizations joining or supporting you on the proposed program. II. CV/résumé/bio (required). Professional background of the person(s) ultimately responsible for overall management of the program. III. Additional attachments (optional). Documents that may help to further elaborate on your program, such as agenda/itinerary, evaluation tools, marketing materials, etc. Format Requirements for Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition Page 6 of 9
Evaluation Criteria Proposals submitted by the deadline established for this Competition and that meet all the requirements and objectives established will be evaluated using the following criteria: CRITERIA 1. Technical Narrative En este componente, se evaluará el proyecto presentado de acuerdo con los objetivos establecidos en la presente convocatoria. 2. Cost Proposal/Budget The Cost Proposal will be evaluated as to how effective and realistic the proposed costs are and how the budget is linked to the activities, objectives, sustainability, and outputs reflected in the Technical Narrative. SUB-CRITERIA & VALUE Executive Summary & Program Description. 20% Description of Tri-partnership between U.S. HEI, accredited HEI and non-accredited HEI in Colombia 20% Sustainability Plan 10% Institutional Capacity, Challenges and Opportunities 15% Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Plan 10% Clear results-based budget 5% Detailed budget narrative 5% Low indirect/overhead rate to the grant 5% Cost-sharing from partnering HEIs and outside sources MAX PERCENTAGE 75% 20% 3. Special Partnerships Points (up to 5%) will be given to proposals that include at least one of the following: 5% Partnership with HEI network* from Ministry of Education s Rural Higher Education for Peace Plan in Colombia 5% HEI from the Land Grant University Colombia Consortium** TOTAL 100% Format Requirements for Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition Page 7 of 9
* These networks made up of local and national HEIs, unions, private companies, foundations were created as a result of Colombia s Ministry of Education s Rural Higher Education for Peace Plan in 2017. For a list of the 18 HEI networks, visit http://www.universidad.edu.co/index.php/noticias/14948- estas-son-las-18-alianzas-del-plan-rural-de-educacion-superior-para-la-paz. **The Land Grant University Colombia Consortium is a pioneering initiative of nine U.S. public and land grant universities committed to contributing to lasting peace in Colombia through rural and agricultural development. Created with the assistance of the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, the Consortium seeks to leverage the land grant mission and expertise in applied agriculture and extension services to collaboratively help create a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable rural economy in support of Colombia s peacebuilding efforts. For more information, visit http://lgucolombia.org/. The universities that form this Consortium are: University of California, Davis; Cornell University; University of Florida; Michigan State University; New Mexico State University; Penn State University; Purdue University; Texas A&M University; and Washington State University. Evaluation Categories Applications received by the closing date will be evaluated by an independent review panel selected by the Innovation Fund, ICETEX and the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá. Proposals will be reviewed for responsiveness and programmatic merit in accordance with the specifications outlined in the RFP and the guidelines provided in this document for this competition. All information provided in the proposals is confidential and will not be used for any purpose other than conducting the evaluation. Members of the Review Committee will be bound by confidentiality and no conflict of interest clauses. Proposals will be evaluated according to the sum of the scores of the sub-criteria, and placed in one of the following categories: Category Total Score Inccomplete 0 Poor 25 Acceptable 50 Good 70 Outstanding 100 Incomplete (0): Proposal does not address the evaluation criteria adequately. Missing major pieces of information. Unclear of RFP requirements. Poor (25): Proposal addresses some of the evaluation criteria adequately, or presents very weak argument. Needs substantial improvement. Acceptable (50): Although the proposal generally addresses all evaluation criteria satisfactorily, it presents weaknesses. Requires further development. Good (70): The proposal appropriately addresses the evaluation criteria, but some improvements/conditions are needed. Outstanding (100): Proposal fully addresses all aspects of the evaluation criteria. Format Requirements for Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition Page 8 of 9
Acceptance of Terms & Conditions By submission of a proposal for the Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition, applicants will accept the requirements, terms, and conditions of the grant competition and the provisions listed in this RFP, the proposal guidelines and evaluation criteria. Once the proposal is submitted, it will not be possible to claim ignorance on the terms established in the RFP. Applicants will declare that the information provided in the application is true and accurate. In case of any inconsistencies in the information or documentation provided, the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund, ICETEX, and the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá may, at any time, reject the application, without prejudice to corresponding legal actions It is the responsibility of all implementing partners to understand and abide by the terms and conditions of the award and to comply with relevant U.S. law, including but not limited to prohibitions related to the FARC s designations under U.S. law [as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and a Significant Foreign Narcotics Trafficker], and to consult with your legal counsel when necessary. Format Requirements for Colombia-U.S. Rural Education for Peace Competition Page 9 of 9