South and Central Asia: FY 2014 Funding Opportunity Announcement for NGO Programs Benefiting Tibetan Refugees in South Asia

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: 19.519 - Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Near East and South Asia

Announcement issuance date: Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Proposal submission deadline: Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. noon EDT. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

**ADVISORY: All applicants must submit proposals through the website Grants.gov. PRM strongly recommends submitting your proposal early to allow time to address any difficulties that may arise.**

If you are new to PRM funding, the Grants.gov registration process can be complicated. We urge you to refer to PRM’s General NGO Guidelines “New to PRM Funding” section for information and resources to help ensure that the application process runs smoothly. PRM also strongly encourages organizations that have received funding from PRM in the past to read this section as a refresher.

Proposed Program Start Dates: July 1 – September 1, 2014

Eligible Applicants: (1) Nonprofits having 501(c)(3) status with IRS, other than institutions of higher education; (2) Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with IRS, other than institutions of higher education; and (3) International Organizations. International Organizations (IOs) should not submit proposals through Grants.gov in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. Rather IOs such as UN agencies and other Public International Organizations (PIOs) that are seeking funding for programs relevant to this announcement should contact the PRM Program Officer (as listed below) on or before the closing date of the funding announcement.

Duration of Activity: 12 months

Current Funding Priorities for Tibetan Refugees in South Asia:

PRM will prioritize funding for proposed NGO activities that best meet the Bureau’s priorities for Tibetan refugees in South Asia as identified below.

(a) Proposed activities should primarily support Tibetan refugees in South Asia. Successful proposals will seek to address the needs of the most vulnerable Tibetan refugees in both India and Nepal, although applicants may also submit proposals targeted to one country. Because of PRM's mandate to provide protection, assistance, and sustainable solutions for refugees and victims of conflict, PRM will consider funding only those projects that include a target beneficiary base of at least 50% refugees.

(b) Proposals must focus on at least one of the following sectors:

• Health, including reproductive health
• Livelihoods
• Education

For country specific instructions, see item (g).

(c) PRM Standardized Indicator Initiative:

Health: Proposals focusing on health in camp-based settings should include a minimum of one of the four following indicators, and include as many of the other indicators as are relevant:

• Number of consultations/clinician/day – Target: Fewer than 50 patients per clinician per day.
• Measles vaccination rate for children under five – Target: 95% coverage.
• Percentage of deliveries attended by a skilled birth attendant in a health care facility – Target: 100%.
• Percentage of reporting rape survivors given post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within 72 hours – Target: 100% .

Proposals focusing on health in urban settings must include a minimum of one of the six following indicators and should try to include as many of the other indicators as are relevant:

• Capacity-building: # of health care professionals/administrators trained on providing health services to refugee populations.
• Referrals: # of refugees referred to appropriate services, and % of those referred who were able to get needed services.
• Community Outreach: # of refugees who received targeted messages on their rights and health-related services available to them.
• Health Staffing: # of total consultations per health care provider, disaggregated by refugee/national, sex, and age.
• Patient Satisfaction: % of refugee patients receiving primary and emergency care who express satisfaction with services received.
• Post Exposure Prophylaxis: % of reporting refugee rape survivors given PEP within 72 hours – Target: 100%

NGO proposals may also include the following indicators as appropriate:

• Primary Care: # and % of refugee patients, by sex and age, receiving primary health care assistance.
• Emergency Care: # and % of refugee patients, by sex and age, receiving care for trauma or sudden illness.

Proposals should also include their own custom indicators in addition to the standard health indicator(s), if appropriate.

Key Resources – Health

Livelihoods: Proposals focusing on livelihoods in camp based/returnee settings must include a minimum of one of the three following indicators and should try to include as many of the other indicators as are relevant:

Camp-Based/Returnee Settings:

• Number of project beneficiaries, disaggregated by gender and population (refugee, national) receiving training on appropriate skills as determined by market and livelihood assessments. This may include language and skills training, entrepreneurship building, financial literacy, business support services, job placement and apprenticeship schemes, and/or legal aid.
• Number and percentage of program participants, disaggregated by gender and population (refugee, national) reporting higher household income level by end of project period as compared to the pre-project baseline assessment.
• (Temporary Employment) Number of beneficiaries, disaggregated by gender and population (refugee, national) participating in cash or food for work programs.

Proposals focusing on livelihoods in urban settings must include a minimum of one of the eight following indicators and should try to include as many of the other indicators as are relevant:

Urban:

• Number of project beneficiaries, disaggregated by gender and population (refugee, national) receiving training on appropriate skills as determined by market and livelihood assessments. This may include language and skills training, entrepreneurship building, financial literacy, business support services, job placement and apprenticeship schemes, and/or legal aid.
• Number and percentage of program participants, disaggregated by gender and population (refugee, national) reporting higher household income level by end of project period as compared to the pre-project baseline assessment.
• Number and percentage of program participants, disaggregated by gender and population (refugee, national) in urban settings who are placed in jobs by completion of the project period. Note: A chart should be provided reflecting the length of employment for program participants.
• (Temporary Employment) Number of beneficiaries, disaggregated by gender and population (refugee, national) participating in cash or food for work programs.
• The percentage of sampled host community employers who are able to identify at least two skill-sets (e.g., carpentry, embroidery) among program beneficiaries living in their municipality.
• The percentage of sampled host community employers who are able to describe accurately the procedures for hiring program beneficiaries.
• The percentage of sampled urban program beneficiaries who:
  • Are able to describe accurately the procedures for receiving permits to conduct business.
  • Apply for and receive for business permits.
• The percentage of sampled urban program beneficiaries who are economically self-reliant, as measured by self-reporting of household consumption and income sources.

Proposals should include custom livelihoods indicators in addition to the relevant standardized indicator(s).

Key Resources – Livelihoods

(d) Proposals must have a concrete implementation plan with well-conceived objectives and indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and reliable, time-bound and trackable (SMART), have established baselines, and include at least one outcome or impact indicator per objective; objectives should be clearly linked to the sectors.

(e) Proposals must adhere to relevant international standards for humanitarian assistance. See PRM’s General NGO Guidelines for a complete list of sector-specific standards including new guidance on proposal for projects in urban areas.

(f) PRM strongly encourages programs that target the needs of potentially vulnerable and underserved groups among the beneficiary population (women; children; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex (LGBTI) individuals; older persons; the sick; persons with disabilities; and other minorities) and can demonstrate what steps have been taken to meet the specific and unique protection and assistance needs of these vulnerable groups effectively. NOTE: PRM partners must now complete a gender analysis (see PRM proposal template, section 3a) that briefly analyzes (1) gender dynamics within the target population (i.e., roles, power dynamics, and different needs of men and women, girls and boys); (2) associated risks and implementation challenges for the project posed by those dynamics; and (3) how program activities will mitigate these protection risks and be made accessible to vulnerable groups (particularly women and girls). A gender analysis is a requirement prior to PRM making a final funding award.

(g) PRM will accept proposals from any NGO working in the above mentioned sectors although, given budgetary constraints, priority will be given to proposals from organizations that can demonstrate:

• in Nepal, a working relationship with UNHCR, and/or current UNHCR funding;
• a proven track record in providing proposed assistance both in the sector and specified location;
• evidence of coordination with international organizations (IOs), other NGOs working in the same area or sector, as well as – where possible – local authorities including Tibetan settlement officers, and appropriate agencies of the host government, and, in India, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Evidence of community level participation in development of proposals and setting activity priorities is strongly encouraged. NGOs are encouraged to submit letters of support for the proposed activities and/or overall program.
• programming not duplicative of other USG-funded projects. NGOs are encouraged to submit proposals that complement existing protection and assistance activities for Tibetan refugees in South Asia, including ongoing and planned USAID programs benefitting Tibetan refugees. Successful proposals will clearly state how overlap is being avoided and the mechanisms they will use to coordinate their ongoing activities with other organizations serving the same population;
• a strong transition plan, where feasible, involving local capacity-building;
• where applicable, adherence to PRM’s Principles for Refugee Protection in Urban Areas available online at http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/187237.pdf;
• a budget that demonstrates co–funding by non-US government sources.

(h) Country Specific Instructions: The following activities are priority areas for PRM in FY 2014.

• India:
  • Health: PRM will consider proposals for the provision of and/or improved access to priority health activities. Activities should not duplicate services provided to Tibetans by local Indian health systems. Proposals should consider how to effectively provide health care and/or access to health care, and how to address priority public health issues including reproductive health, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and substance abuse. Health care proposals should seek to: (1) assist the CTA and its partners in collecting, analyzing, and applying health information; (2) build the capacity of the CTA and its partners to prevent, detect, and treat infectious diseases and other priority public health issues; (3) develop the skill sets of health care providers, including awareness and implementation of treatment protocols, throughout the settlements; (4) assist Tibetan refugees to access and utilize the national health care system such as through support for the use of interpreters, facilitators, or vouchers; and/or (5) assist the CTA and health care providers to coordinate with the national Indian health system, particularly on priority public health issues. Note: proposals should consider the length of time between submission of receipts and reimbursement for expenses for obtaining health care.
  • Livelihoods: Projects are encouraged to include a livelihoods support and youth motivation component. Proposed livelihoods activities should be coordinated with other relevant livelihood programming, be based upon market assessments and analyses, and consider protection issues related to the proposed livelihood activities. PRM will consider vocational training and/or livelihoods/business development programs linked to job opportunities; however, stand-alone vocational training not linked to income-generating activities will not be considered for funding. Proposals that assist Tibetan refugees to access pre-existing skills training programs provided to nationals will be considered.
  • Education: PRM will consider proposals for the provision of or improved access to quality primary, secondary, and non-formal education services. Proposal must state how the proposed projects are value-added and do not duplicate other USG or other donor-funded education projects. Post-secondary education assistance will not be considered.
  • Protection: Protection activities include provision of reception services to incoming refugees. All programming should be age – and gender – sensitive.
  • Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): PRM will consider additional activities that seek to address WASH needs in both rural and urban Tibetan refugee settlements.
  • Shelter: PRM will consider additional activities that seek to address shelter needs for the most vulnerable rural and/or urban Tibetan refugees. This may include transitional shelter and/or repair or reconstruction of existing shelter.
• Nepal:
  • Health: PRM will consider proposals for the provision of and/or improved access to health care. Proposals should consider how to effectively provide health care or access to health care. PRM is particularly interested in proposals that build the capacity of the Tibetan community to conduct outreach and prevention programs on priority public health issues, including reproductive health care, tuberculosis, HIV, and substance abuse over the long-term. Activities should not duplicate services provided to Tibetans by local Nepali health systems. Proposals should consider access and utilization of the national health system, and coordination with the Nepali health system. PRM will consider support for the use of interpreters, facilitators, or vouchers to promote use of the local Nepali health facilities. As appropriate, activities may seek to assist the Tibetan community in Nepal with the implementation of a sustainable and effective health information system that is compatible with ongoing efforts in the Tibetan settlements in India. Note: proposals should consider the length of time between submission of receipts and reimbursement for expenses for obtaining health care.
  • Livelihoods: Projects are encouraged to include a livelihoods support and youth motivation component. Proposed livelihoods activities should be coordinated with other relevant livelihood programming, be based upon market assessments and analyses, and consider protection issues related to the proposed livelihood activities. PRM will consider vocational training and/or livelihoods/business development programs linked to job opportunities; however, stand-alone vocational training not linked to income-generating activities will not be considered for funding. Proposals that assist Tibetan refugees to access pre-existing skills training programs provided to nationals will be considered.
  • Education: PRM will consider proposals for the provision of or improved access to quality primary, secondary, and non-formal education services. Proposal must state how the proposed projects are value-added and do not duplicate other USG or other donor-funded education projects. Post-secondary education assistance will not be considered. .
  • Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): PRM will consider additional activities that seek to address WASH needs in both rural and urban Tibetan refugee settlements.
  • Shelter: PRM will consider additional activities that seek to address shelter needs for the most vulnerable rural and/or urban Tibetan refugees this may include transitional shelter and/or repair or reconstruction of existing shelter.
  • NGO Capacity Building: PRM will consider additional activities that help to build greater capacity of NGOs in Nepal working with the Tibetan refugee community. Activities may include strategic planning, staff development, coordination, and other mechanisms.

Funding Limits: In FY 2013, PRM anticipates providing approximately $2.8 million to fund NGO programs in South Asia. Project proposals must not be less than $250,000 and not more than $2.7 million or they will be disqualified. As stated in PRM’s General NGO Guidelines, PRM looks favorably on cost-sharing efforts and seeks to support projects with a diverse donor base and/or resources from the submitting organization.

Proposal Submission Requirements: Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov. If you are new to PRM funding, the Grants.gov registration process can be complicated. We urge you to refer to PRM’s General NGO Guidelines “New to PRM Funding” section for information and resources to help ensure that the application process runs smoothly. PRM also strongly encourages organizations that have received funding from PRM in the past to read this section as a refresher. Applicants may also refer to the “Applicant Resources” page on Grants.gov for complete details on requirements (http://test.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-resources.html).

• Do not wait until the last minute to submit your application on Grants.gov. Organizations not registered with Grants.gov should register well in advance of the deadline as it can take up to two weeks to finalize registration (sometimes longer for non-U.S. based NGOs to get the required registration numbers). To register with Grants.gov, organizations must first receive a DUNS number and register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov which can take weeks and sometimes months. We recommend that organizations, particularly first-time applicants, submit applications via Grants.gov no later than one week before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical difficulties that could result in an application not being considered. PRM partners must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which they have an active federal award or an application under consideration by PRM or any federal agency.
• Applications must be submitted under the authority of the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) at the applicant organization. Having proposals submitted by agency headquarters helps to avoid possible technical problems.
• If you encounter technical difficulties with Grants.gov please contact the Grants.gov Help Desk at support@grants.gov or by calling 1-800-518-4726. Applicants who are unable to submit applications via Grants.gov due to Grants.gov technical difficulties and who have reported the problem to the Grants.gov help desk, received a case number, and had a service request opened to research the problem, should contact the relevant PRM Program Officer to determine whether an alternative method of submission is appropriate.
• Pursuant to U.S. Code, Title 218, Section 1001, stated on OMB Standard Form 424 (SF-424), the Department of State is authorized to consolidate the certifications and assurances required by Federal law or regulations for its federal assistance programs. The list of certifications and assurances can be found at: http://fa.statebuy.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=161menu_id=68 )

Proposal Content, Formatting and Template: This announcement is designed to accompany PRM’s General NGO Guidelines, which contain additional administrative information on proposal content and formatting, and explain in detail PRM’s NGO funding strategy and priorities. Please use both the General NGO Guidelines and this announcement to ensure that your proposal submission is in full compliance with PRM requirements and that the proposed activities are in line with PRM’s priorities. Proposal submissions that do not meet all of the requirements outlined in these guidelines will not be considered.

PRM strongly recommends using the proposal and budget templates that are available upon email request from PRM's NGO Coordinator. Please send an email, with the phrase “PRM NGO Templates” in the subject line, to PRM's NGO Coordinator. Single-year proposals using PRM’s templates must be no more than 20 pages in length (Times New Roman 12 point font, one inch margins on all sides). If the applicant does not use PRM’s recommended templates, proposals must not exceed 15 pages in length. Organizations may choose to attach work plans, activity calendars, and/or logical frameworks as addendums/appendices to the proposal. These attachments do not count toward the page limit total however annexes cannot be relied upon as a key source of program information. The proposal narrative must be able to stand on its own in the application process.

To be considered for PRM funding, organizations must submit a complete application package including:

• Proposal reflecting objectives and indicators for each year of the program period.
• Budget and budget narrative for each year of the program period.
• Signed completed SF-424.

In addition, proposal submissions to PRM should include the following information:

• Focus on outcome or impact indicators as much as possible. At a minimum, each objective should have one outcome or impact indicator. Wherever possible, baselines should be established before the start of the project.
• To increase PRM’s ability to track the impact of PRM funding, include specific information on locations of projects and beneficiaries (GPS coordinates if possible).
• Proposals should outline how the NGO will acknowledge PRM funding. If an organization believes that publicly acknowledging the receipt of USG funding for a particular PRM-funded project could potentially endanger the lives of the beneficiaries and/or the organization staff, invite suspicion about the organization's motives, or alienate the organization from the population it is trying to help, it must provide a brief explanation in its proposal as to why it should be exempted from this requirement.
• The budget should include a specific breakdown of funds being provided by UNHCR, other USG agencies, other donors, and your own organization. PRM strongly encourages multilateral support for humanitarian programs.
• Proposals and budgets should include details of any sub-agreements associated with the program.
• In FY 2014, PRM is asking applicants whose proposals address gender-based violence (GBV) through their projects to estimate the total cost of these activities as a separate line item in their proposed budgets. PRM’s budget template document has been updated to reflect this new requirement.
• Gender analysis (See above. Required before an award can be made).
• Copy of the organization’s Code of Conduct (required before an award can be made).
• Copy of the organization’s Security Plan (required before an award can be made).
• Proposals and budgets should include details of any sub-agreements associated with the program.
• Most recent Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), if applicable.
• NGOs that have not received PRM funding since the U.S. Government fiscal year ending September 30, 2004 must be prepared to demonstrate that they meet the financial and accounting requirements of the U.S. Government by submitting copies of 1) the most recent external financial audit, 2) proof of non-profit tax status including under IRS 501 (c)(3), as applicable, 3) a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, and 4) an Employer ID (EIN)/Federal Tax Identification number.
• Organizations that received PRM funding in FY 2013 for activities that are being proposed for funding under this announcement must include the most recent quarterly progress report against indicators outlined in the cooperative agreement. If an organization’s last quarterly report was submitted more than six weeks prior to the submission of a proposal in response to this funding announcement, the organization must include, with its most recent quarterly report, updates that show any significant progress made on objectives since the last report.

Reports and Reporting Requirements:

Program reporting: PRM requires quarterly and final program reports describing and analyzing the results of activities undertaken during the validity period of the agreement. It is highly suggested that NGOs receiving PRM funding use the PRM recommended program report template. To request this template, send an email with the phrase “PRM NGO Templates” in the subject line to PRM's NGO Coordinator.

Financial Reports: Financial reports are required within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar year quarter during the validity period of the agreement; a final financial report covering the entire period of the agreement is required within ninety (90) days after the expiration date of the agreement.

For more details regarding reporting requirements please see PRM’s General NGO Guidelines.

Proposal Review Process: PRM will conduct a formal competitive review of all proposals submitted in response to this funding announcement. A review panel will evaluate submissions based on the above-referenced proposal evaluation criteria and PRM priorities in the context of available funding.

PRM may request revised proposals and/or budgets based on feedback from the panel. PRM will provide formal notifications to NGOs of final decisions taken by Bureau management.

Branding and Marking Strategy: Unless exceptions have been approved by the designated bureau Authorizing Official as described in the proposal templates that are available upon email request from PRM's NGO Coordinator, at a minimum, the following provision will be included whenever assistance is awarded:

• As a condition of receipt of this assistance award, all materials produced pursuant to the award, including training materials, materials for recipients or materials to communicate or promote with foreign audiences a program, event, project, or some other activity under this agreement, including but not limited to invitations to events, press materials, event backdrops, podium signs, etc. must be marked appropriately with the standard U.S. flag in a size and prominence equal to (or greater than) any other logo or identity. Subrecipients and subsequent tier sub-award agreements are subject to the marking requirements and the recipient shall include a provision in the subrecipient agreement indicating that the standard, rectangular U.S. flag is a requirement. In the event the recipient does not comply with the marking requirements as established in the approved assistance agreement, the Grants Officer Representative and the Grants Officer must initiate corrective action.

PRM Points of Contact: Should NGOs have technical questions related to this announcement, they should contact the PRM staff listed below prior to proposal submission. Please note that responses to technical questions from PRM do not indicate a commitment to fund the program discussed.

PRM Program Officer: Jenn Handog, 202-453-9286, handogjg@state.gov, Washington, D.C.

Regional Refugee Coordinator: Jessica Munson, +977-1-400-7200, munsonjn@state.gov, U.S. Embassy, Kathmandu.