U.S. Embassy Libya

U.S. Embassy Tripoli PAS Annual Program Statement

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

U.S. EMBASSY TRIPOLI, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

 

Funding Opportunity Title:  U.S. Embassy Tripoli PAS Annual Program Statement

Funding Opportunity Number:  PAS–Tripoli-FY2024

CFDA Number:  19.040 – Public Diplomacy Programs

Maximum for Each Award: $25,000 USD 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The U.S. Embassy Tripoli Public Affairs Section (PAS) is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding.  Please carefully follow all instructions below.

The objectives of the Public Diplomacy Grant Program are to build capacity and community, promote social good, and enhance mutual understanding between the people of Libya and the United States. The U.S. Embassy to Libya is seeking projects that: 

• Capitalize on arts initiatives to increase unity, social cohesion, and reconciliation that deepen Libyan national identity and are consistent with U.S. values. 

• Promote leadership, positive community engagement, volunteerism, entrepreneurship, and soft skills development among youth, women, and underserved communities. 
• Increase Libyan youth capabilities to help them explore and develop technological solutions for social problems through Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) programs. Projects 

that address environmental challenges to mitigate the effects of climate change are highly encouraged. 

Note: Alumni of U.S. Government funded exchange programs are encouraged to apply.  Initiatives that support diversity and inclusion of minority groups and link with U.S. universities or organizations are also welcome. 

Activities that are typically funded include, but are not limited to: 

• Cultural, sports, health, educational, and social programs that target youth and underserved communities; 
• Content creation, story-telling, film making, digital literacy, and/or social media programs and projects in support of objectives stated above;  
• Workshops, seminars, trainings, and master classes contributing to diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA), leadership development, entrepreneurship, soft skills, STEAM initiatives, or social cohesion. 

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding: 

• Programs relating to partisan political activity;
• Charitable or development activities;
• Construction programs;
• Programs that support specific religious activities;
• Fund-raising campaigns;
• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs;
• Scientific research;
• Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or
• Programs that duplicate existing programs.
• Fees and travel costs to attend conferences in the United States
• Ongoing salary costs and office equipment, 
• Paying to complete activities begun with other funds
• Projects that support specific religious activities

Authorizing legislation, type and year of funding:

Funding authority rests in the Smith-Mundt Act.  The source of funding is FY2024 Public Diplomacy Funding.   

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 1 to 12 months 

Number of awards anticipated: 10-25 awards (dependent on amounts)

Award amounts: awards may range from $500 to a maximum of $25,000

Type of Funding:  Fiscal Year 2024 Public Diplomacy Funding

Anticipated program start date:  Before September 1, 2024

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type:  Grant

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. 

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligible Applicants

The Public Affairs Office encourages applications from all sectors: committed and organized civil-society organizations, local representatives of civil society, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, cultural institutions, academic institutions, and individuals.  All grantees must have non-profit status. 

We seek proposals for geographically and demographically diverse audiences within Libya.  U.S. NGOs and individuals may apply, but preference is given to Libyan NGOs or to partnerships that develop capacity with Libyan NGOs and include plans to transfer programs to sustainable local management in Libya.  

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

Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not required.

Other Eligibility Requirements

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization per application deadline. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

To apply, please submit a Project Narrative (PD-Project-Narrative-U.S. Embassy Libya) and the Budget Proposal (PD-Budget-Proposal-Summary-U.S. Embassy Libya) and submit together in electronic format to  LibyaUSAExchanges@state.gov. Forms submitted in Arabic will not be considered. 

All applicants will receive automatic confirmation of receipt of proposals. All information must be received by the dates above.  Proposals will not be considered until all information is received. 

Content of Application

Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity
• All documents are in English
• All budgets are in U.S. dollars
• All pages are numbered
• All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and
• All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required:

1. Proposal (3 pages maximum):  The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.  

• Proposal Details: The applicant’s name and organization, proposal submission date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.
• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact.
• Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.
• Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed
• Program Goals and Objectives:  The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve.  What aspect of the relationship between the U.S. and XXX will be improved? The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.
• Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives. 
• Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. 
• Proposed Program Schedule:  The proposed timeline for the program activities.  Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.
• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program.  What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?  
• Program Partners:  List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.
• Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?
• Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

2. Budget Justification Narrative:  Use a separate Word of Excel file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail.  See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

Optional Attachments:

• 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program
• Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner
• Official permission letters, if applicable

Successful Applicants will be asked to fill out additional documents to include the following mandatory forms and will need to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with SAM.gov. 

Mandatory application forms

• SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance –individuals) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance –individuals)
• SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)
• SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) 

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

Required Registrations:

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards.

The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number.  Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee. 

 Note:  The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks.  Please begin your registration as early as possible.

• Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov. 
• Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.  

Organizations based in Libya should follow the below instructions: 

Step 1:  Proceed to SAM.gov to obtain a UEI and complete the SAM.gov registration process.  SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually. 

1. Submission Dates and Times

The Public Affairs Section will accept proposals throughout the year and will review proposals quarterly. 

2. Other Submission Requirements

All application materials must be submitted by email to LibyaUSAExchanges@state.gov

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Grant applications will be reviewed by the Public Affairs Office’s Grant Committee.  Each application submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated based on the following criteria: 

• The project’s ability to promote national unity and reconciliation as well as civic engagement; 
• Strength of U.S. component/content; 
• The degree to which the proposed project addresses one or more of the objectives of the Public Diplomacy Grant Program, as outlined above; 
• Its ability to engage youth audiences or strengthen the ability of established community leaders to engage youth audiences; 
• The extent to which it will create new ties between U.S. and Libyan universities or peer institutions, develop new connections between Americans and Libyans, or present American culture and society in an innovative manner; 
• Strength of outreach and social media component; and 
• Promotion of diversity and acceptance of minority groups, including persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged communities. 

Applicants selected for further consideration will receive official written notification and detailed information on the process of finalizing grant awards.  Applicants selected for further consideration must provide official copies of all registrations outlined in the eligibility requirements.  Failure to provide these documents will result in disqualification. 

Grant awards are contingent upon availability of U.S. Government funds and the signing of official grant documents.  Verbal or other informal communications cannot be considered official notification of an award, and applicants may not obligate expenses for a proposed project until all required administrative procedures have been completed.   

AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Award Notices

The Public Affairs Office seeks to notify applicants of funding decisions as quickly as possible.  The timing of approvals is, however, subject to the availability of funds. 

Please note: Funding for approved proposals will not be available immediately.  The allocation of funds can take up to two months once all award paperwork has been completed.  Applicants should, therefore, submit proposals well in advance of the intended project start date. 

Payment Method: Payments will be made in at least two installments, as needed to carry out the program activities.  

Organizations whose applications will not be funded will also be notified via email.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Terms and Conditions: Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply.  These include:

2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, Certifications and Assurances, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, all of which are available at:  https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/. Note the U.S Flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and Conditions.  

3. Reporting

Reporting Requirements: All awards require both program and financial reports on a frequency specified in the award agreement. The disbursement of funds may be tied to submission of these reports in a timely manner.  All other details related to award administration will be specified in the award agreement. 

INQUIRES: 

If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact PAS at: LibyaUSAExchanges@state.gov

Note:  We do not provide any pre-consultation for application related questions that are addressed in the NOFO. Once an application has been submitted, the Embassy staff — may not discuss this competition with applicants until the entire proposal review process is completed.

OTHER INFORMATION 

Guidelines for Budget Justification

Personnel: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.

Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.

Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit.

Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.

Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor.  Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities. 

Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

Indirect Costs:  These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating.  If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 10% of the modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68.  

“Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy.   It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.