Human Rights and Civil Society Initiatives in Syria.

Post Date

June 21st 2010

Application Due Date

July 19th 2010

PLEASE NOTE: DRL strongly urges applicants to immediately access www.grants.gov to obtain a username and password. It may take up to a week to register with grants.gov. Please see the section titled “DEADLINE AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS” in the full

Funding Opportunity Number

DRL-10-GR-SYRIA-062110

CFDA Number(s)

19.345

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Grant

Funding Activity Categories

Other

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces a Request for Proposals (RFP) from organizations interested in submitting proposals to support the advancement of human rights and civil society in Syria. DRL announces an open competition for assistance awards from the U.S. Department of State’s Fiscal Year 2009 Economic Support Funds (ESF). Organizations replying to this opportunity should have a demonstrated capacity to work in Syria on democracy-related issues. This request for proposals does not guarantee funding and is subject to Congressional approval of DRL’s spending plan as well as approval by the Assistant Secretary of DRL and the Office of Acquisitions Management.

Number of Awards

3

Eligibility Categories

Non-Profits With 501 (c) (3) Status With The IRS (Except Higher Education Institutions)

Organizations submitting proposals must meet the following criteria: * Be a non-profit organization meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3). * Be a U.S. university or research institution meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3); and * Have demonstrated experience administering successful projects, preferably in Syria, or similarly challenging program environment. DRL reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards. These applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis; and * Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with organization(s) in Syria. * Organizations may form consortia and submit a combined proposal. However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant.

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $1250000

• Award Range:

  $500000 - $750000

Grant Description

Proposals should demonstrate organizations’ creativity, experience and sensitivity in the design and management of programs that will strengthen and promote cooperation among Syrian civil society organizations and democratic institutions, and achieve desired outcomes including non-violent expression and resolution of political differences; inclusive processes of public deliberation; and a sustainable, accountable, and responsive system of governance. To achieve these outcomes, DRL solicits proposals to advance one or more of the following objectives: •International Human Rights Issues and Obligations: Projects that promote Syria’s adherence to its international human rights obligations as well as those that foster dialogue among Syrians about human rights problems throughout the world and different means of addressing such problems. •NGO development: Projects that support networking and advocacy at the national, regional, or local level to increase the ability of Syrian civil society to advocate for Syria’s adherence to its international human rights obligations. Activities may include, but are not limited to, work with university students whose participation in clubs, campus governance, and professional/academic societies can serve as an introductory step to encourage civic participation. •Rule of Law: Projects that support greater adherence to Syria’s constitution and international human rights commitments through training and professional advancement opportunities for attorneys, mediators, or other legal advocates. In the short term, this will increase the ability of Syrian legal professionals to advance respect for the rule of law within existing frameworks. •Freedom of Expression: Projects that improve access to information, freedom of expression, and respect for human rights, using media tools other than the Internet for young journalists, enabling them to set up and use outreach tools to gain a broad audience. Projects that facilitate unbiased, comprehensive reporting on economic and social subjects through programs such as online and face-to-face journalist training and analysis of what Syrian media outlets report. Innovative ideas for working in a challenging environment are welcome. In addition to projects that may take place in-country, DRL will also consider projects that are implemented in a third country with Syrian participants or that include online training. Grantees are not required to disclose USG funding. Order of presentation does not imply order of priority for funding. Proposals to implement programs in one or more provinces are welcome. Proposals addressing interaction of Syrian citizens with all levels of Syrian government officials are welcome. Proposals should conform to DRL’s posted March 2010 Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI), available at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/p/psi_2010/index.htm. Submissions in response to this RFP must address proposed topics included in this document. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of the announcement and PSI will not be considered. For all application documents, please ensure: 1) All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments, 2) All documents are formatted to 8 _ x 11 paper, and 3) All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. Complete applications should include the following for proposal submission: 1.Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424a (Budget Summary) and SF424b (Assurances), as directed on grants.gov. 2.Table of Contents (not to exceed one [1] page in Microsoft Word) that includes a page-numbered contents page, including any attachments. 3.Executive Summary (not to exceed one [1] page in Microsoft Word) that includes: a) the country, b) name and contact information for the project’s main point of contact, c) a one-paragraph “statement of work” or synopsis of the program and its expected results, d) a concise breakdown of the project’s objectives and activities, e) the total amount of funding requested and program length, and f) a brief statement on how the project is innovative, sustainable, and will have a demonstrated impact. 4.Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten [10] pages in Microsoft Word). Please note the ten-page limit does not include the Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Attachments, Detailed Budget, Budget Narrative or NICRA. Applicants may submit multiple documents in one Microsoft Word file, i.e., Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget Narrative in one file or as separate, individually submitted files. Submissions should address the four specific criteria (Quality of Program, Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives, Multiplier Effect/Sustainability, and Institution’s Record and Capacity). Details about these criteria are described in the Review Process section below. 5.Budget Narrative (preferably in Microsoft Word) that includes an explanation/justification for each line item in the detailed budget spreadsheet, as well as the source and description of all cost-share offered. For ease of review, it is recommended that applicants order the budget narrative as presented in the detailed budget. Primarily Headquarters- and Field-based personnel costs should include a clarification on the roles and responsibilities of key staff. In addition, it is recommended that budget narratives address the overall cost-effectiveness of the proposal, including any cost-share offered (see below for more information on cost-sharing and cost-effectiveness). 6.Detailed Line-Item Budget (in Microsoft Excel or similar spreadsheet format) that includes three [3] columns including DRL request, any cost sharing contribution, and total budget (see below for more information on budget format). A summary budget should also be included using the OMB approved budget categories (see SF-424 as a sample). See the PSI for more information on budget format. Costs must be in U.S. Dollars. 7.Attachments (not to exceed seven [7] pages total, preferably in Microsoft Word) that include the following in order: a) Pages 1-2: Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (see PSI for more information on this section). b) Page 3: Roles and responsibilities of key program personnel with short bios that highlight relevant professional experience. Given the limited space, CVs are not recommended for submission. c) Page 4: Timeline of the overall proposal. Components should include activities, evaluation efforts, and program closeout. d) Page 5-7: Additional optional attachments. Attachments may include additionaltimeline information, letters of support, memorandums of understanding/agreement, etc. For applicants with a large number of letters/MOUs, it may be useful to provide a list of the organizations/government agencies that support the program rather than the actual documentation. 8.If your organization has a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be sent as a .pdf file. This document will not be reviewed by the panelists, but rather used by program and grant staff if the submission is recommended for funding. Hence, this document does not count against the submission page limitations. If your proposal involves subgrants to organizations charging indirect costs, and those organizations also have a NICRA, please submit the applicable NICRA as a .pdf file (see the PSI for more information on indirect cost rate). Organizations must also fill out and submit SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B forms as directed on www.grants.gov. Please refer to the PSI for directions on how to complete the forms. DRL will not consider proposals that reflect any type of support for any member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist organization, whether or not elected members of government. The Bureau will review all proposals for eligibility. Eligible proposals will be subject to compliance of Federal and Bureau regulations and guidelines and may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department elements. Final signatory authority for assistance awards resides with the Department’s Grants Officer. DRL and the Grants Office reserve the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial information regarding the proposal. Proposals will be funded based on an evaluation of how the proposal meets the solicitation review criteria, U.S. foreign policy objectives, and the priority needs of DRL. A Department of State Review Committee will evaluate proposals submitted under this request. Each proposal will be rated along six criteria, which will be equally weighted. Review criteria will include: 1) Quality of Program Idea -Proposals should be responsive to the solicitation and appropriate in the country/regional context, and should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's mission of promoting human rights and democracy. The bureau typically does not fund programs that continue an organization’s ongoing work (funded by the Bureau or other sources), but prioritizes innovative, stand-alone programs. In countries where similar activities are already taking place, an explanation should be provided as to how new activities will not duplicate or merely add to existing activities. 2) Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives - A strong proposal will include a clear articulation of how the proposed program activities contribute to the overall program objectives, and each activity will be clearly developed and detailed. A relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive undertakings and the logistical capacity of the organization. The work plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines described above. Objectives should be ambitious, yet measurable and achievable. For complete proposals, applicants should provide a monthly timeline of project activities. Proposals should address how the program will engage relevant stakeholders and should identify local partners as appropriate. If local partners have been identified, the Bureau strongly encourages applicants to submit letters of support from proposed in-country partners. Additionally, applicants should describe the division of labor among the direct applicant and any local partners. If applicable, proposals should identify focal areas for activities, priority participant groups or selection criteria for participants, and purpose/criteria for sub-grantees, among other pertinent details. In particularly challenging operating environments, proposals should include contingency plans for overcoming potential difficulties in executing the original work plan. 3) Multiplier Effect/Sustainability - Proposals should clearly delineate how elements of their program will have a multiplier effect and be sustainable beyond the life of the grant. A good multiplier effect may include but is not limited to, plans to build lasting networks for direct and indirect beneficiaries, follow-on training and mentoring, and continued use of project deliverables. A strong sustainability plan may include demonstrating capacity-building results or garnering other donor support after DRL funding ceases. 4) Program Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan - Programs should demonstrate the capacity for engaging in outcome-based evaluations and identify proscribed outputs and outcomes to measure how program activities will achieve the program’s strategic objectives. The M&E Plan should include output- and outcome-based indicators, baseline and goal for each indicator, disaggregation if applicable, monitoring and evaluation tools, data source, and frequency of monitoring and evaluation. For a more detailed explanation of what DRL is looking for in the M&E Plan, please see the PSI and the DRL Monitoring and Evaluation Primer (www.state.gov/g/drl/p/c12302.htm). Projects that propose an independent evaluation, including a midterm and final assessment, with a clear monitoring and evaluation plan will be viewed favorably in this category. 5) Institution’s Record and Capacity - The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record of successful programs, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting requirements for past grants. Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the project's objectives. Roles, responsibilities, and brief bios demonstrating relevant professional experience of primary staff should be provided as one of the main attachments. 6) Cost Effectiveness - The overhead and administrative components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate. Given that the majority of DRL-funded programs take place overseas, U.S.-based costs should be kept to a minimum. Cost sharing is strongly encouraged and is viewed favorably by DRL reviewers. For a more detailed description of how DRL evaluates the cost effectiveness of its proposals, please see the PSI. The bulk of project activities must focus on Syria and last between 18 and 36 months. U.S.-based activities, study tours, scholarships, or exchange projects will not be deemed competitive. Projects that have a strong academic, research, or conference focus will not be deemed competitive. DRL discourages health, technology, or scientific projects unless they have an explicit component related to the requested program objectives listed above. Projects that focus on commercial law or economic development will also not be rated as competitive. Awards are contingent on the availability of funds. The Bureau has approximately $1.25 million in ESF available for grant awards. Grants are expected to range approximately between $500,000 and $750,000. All awards will support program and administrative costs required to implement the program. DRL anticipates making grant awards in late summer 2010.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of State

• Office:

  Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor

• Agency Contact:

  Matt Hickey
  Program Analyst
  Phone 202-663-3100

• Agency Mailing Address:

  For questions related to proposal submissions, please contact Matt Hickey.

• Agency Email Address:

  hickeymb@state.gov

• More Information:

  Please visit DRL's website for the full RFP announcement.