[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 25, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 28230-28233] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-13212] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 3052] Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; Anti-Domestic Violence and Trafficking in Women and Children; Training and Technical Assistance Program AGENCY: Office of Europe, NIS, and Training; Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, State. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: State Department's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) began an anti-domestic violence and trafficking in women and children program in 1997 to provide training and technical assistance in consultation with counterparts in Russia and the New Independent States (NIS). The goal of the program is to increase professionalism and improve the technical capabilities of law enforcement institutions to develop prevention and early intervention strategies to combat domestic violence and trafficking in women and children while protecting the human rights of victims. This program includes the participation of non-Federal agencies (e.g., universities, state/local government agencies, private non- profit organizations, etc.) in the delivery of law enforcement training and technical assistance to Russia, and the NIS. This non-Federal component of the INL program has a timeframe of 1999-2001. DATES: Full proposals must be received at INL no later than 30 days following the announcement date. We anticipate that review of full proposals will occur during July 1999 and funding should begin during September. September 27, 1999 should be used as the proposed start date on proposals, unless otherwise directed by the Grants Officer. All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the guidelines below. Failure to heed these guidelines may result in proposals being returned without review. ADDRESSES: Submit proposals to: Linda Gower, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, 2430 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520, TEL: 202-776-8774. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Funding Availability This Program Announcement is for projects to be conducted by agencies/programs outside the Federal government, over a period of up to two years. Current plans are for up to a total of $2.8 million to be available for new (or renewing) INL awards. The funding instrument for awards will be a grant. Funding for non-U.S. institutions and contractual arrangements for services and products for delivery to INL are not available under this announcement. Matching share, though encouraged, is not required by this program. [[Page 28231]] Program Authority Authority: Section 635(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act, as amended. Program Objectives One of the goals of the INL program is to institute democratic practices by increasing the technical capabilities of foreign country law enforcement institutions. The INL program has been designed to generate assistance to foreign governments which will complement the training and assistance provided by Federal agencies on a range of crime issues. All training and assistance of the INL anti-domestic violence and trafficking in women and children program should be focused on city or local police forces, the procuracy and advocacy/non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Program Priorities The FY 1999 INL Program Announcement invites training and technical assistance program proposals for Russia and the Newly Independent States in the following areas: (1) Domestic Violence; and (2) Trafficking in Women and Children. All training conducted under this program must utilize a multi- disciplinary training format that encourages law enforcement cooperation with prosecutors, judges, social workers, medical personnel, psychologists, crisis centers and other relevant NGOs. This training format should address the elements of ``prevention,'' ``enforcement and prosecution,'' and ``protection/assistance for victims''. As much as possible, training programs should also have a regional focus targeting cities where there are crisis centers and other relevant NGOs. Any grant applicants who will be working with Russian and NIS crisis centers or other relevant foreign NGOs to implement the proposed training program may sub-grant or sub-contract services and provide equipment and supplies to assist in fulfilling program objectives. Government Involvement The Department of State will exercise normal federal stewardship responsibilities during the implementation of programs. Department of State involvement will include, but is not limited to: site visits, review and response to performance, technical or subject matter, review of financial reports, and audit of programs to ensure that the objectives, terms, and conditions of a grant award are accomplished. Grant recipients will also be required to provide information to the Department of State on proposed meetings, trainees or organizations intended to receive technical assistance. The Department of State has the right to approve or deny any such meetings, trainees or organizations. Eligibility Eligibility is limited to non-Federal agencies and organizations, and is encouraged with the objective of developing a strong partnership with the state/local law enforcement community. Non-law enforcement proposers are urged to seek collaboration with state/local law enforcement institutions, crisis centers and other relevant NGOs. Experience of U.S. trainers related to combating domestic violence and/ or trafficking in women and children is required. State and local governments, universities, and non-profit organizations are included among entities eligible for funding under this announcement. Direct funding for non-U.S. institutions is not available under this announcement. Evaluation Criteria Consideration for financial assistance will be given to those proposals which address one or both of the program priorities identified above and meet the following evaluation criteria: (1) Relevance (20%): Importance and relevance to the goal and objectives of the INL Anti-Domestic Violence and Trafficking in Women and Children program. (2) Methodology (25%): Adequacy of the proposed approach and activities, including development of relevant training curricula, training methods proposed, project evaluation methodology, project milestones, and final products. (3) Readiness (25%): Relevant history and experience in conducting training/technical assistance in the program priority areas identified above, strength of proposed training/technical assistance, past performance record of proposers. (4) Linkages (15%): Connections to existing law enforcement agencies and NGOs in Russia and the NIS, in addition to previous training or related assistance experience in these countries. (5) Costs (15%): Adequacy/efficiency of the proposed resources; appropriate share of total available resources; prospects for joint funding. Selection Procedures All proposals will be evaluated and ranked in accordance with the assigned weights of the above evaluation criteria by independent peer panel review composed of INL and other Federal USG agency experts. Their recommendations and evaluations will be considered by INL in final selections. Those ranked by the panel and program as not recommended for funding will not be given further consideration and will be notified of non-selection. For the proposals rated for possible funding, the program managers will: (a) ascertain which proposals meet the objectives, fit the criteria posted, and do not duplicate other projects that are currently funded by INL, other USG agencies or foreign governments, or international organizations (note: proposals or elements that duplicate existing activities of USG agencies will not receive awards. end note); (b) select the proposals to be funded; (c) determine the total duration of funding for each proposal; and (d) determine the amount of funds available for each proposal. Unsatisfactory performance by a recipient under prior Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for funding. Proposal Submission The guidelines for proposal preparation provided below are mandatory. Failure to heed these guidelines may result in proposals being returned without review. (a) Full Proposals (1) Proposals submitted to INL must include the original and three unbound copies of the proposal. (2) Proposals must be limited to 30 pages (numbered), including budget, personnel vitae, and all appendices, and should be limited to funding requests for one to two year duration. Appended information may not be used to circumvent the page length limit. Federally mandated forms are not included within the page count. (3) Proposals should be sent to INL at the above address. (4) Facsimile transmissions of full proposals will not be accepted. (b) Required Elements (1) Signed title page: The title page should be signed by the Project Director (PD) and the institutional representative and should clearly indicate which project area is being addressed. The PD and institutional representative should be identified by full name, title, organization, telephone number and address. The total amount of Federal funds being requested should be listed for each budget period. (2) Abstract: An abstract must be included and should contain an introduction of the problem, rationale and a brief summary of work to be [[Page 28232]] completed. The abstract should appear as a separate page, headed with the proposal title, institution(s) name, investigator(s), total proposed cost and budget period. (3) Prior training experience: A summary of prior law enforcement training experience should be described, including training related to program priorities identified above and/or conducted in Russia and the NIS. Reference to each prior training award should include the title, agency, award number, period of award and total award. The section should be a brief summary and should not exceed two pages total. (4) Statement of work: The proposed project must be completely described, including identification of the problem, project objectives, proposed training and evaluation methodology, relevance to the goal and objectives of the INL Anti-Domestic Violence and Trafficking in Women and Children program, and the program priorities listed above. Benefits of the proposed project to U.S. law enforcement efforts should be discussed. A year-by-year summary of proposed work must be included clearly indicating that each year's proposed work is severable and can easily be separated into annual increments of meaningful work. The statement of work, including figures and other visual materials, must not exceed 15 pages of length. (5) Budget: Applicants must submit a Standard Form 424 (4-92) ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' including a detailed budget using the Standard Form 424a (4-92), ``Budget Information--Non- Construction Programs.'' The proposal must include total and annual budgets corresponding with the descriptions provided in the statement of work. Additional text to justify expenses should be included (i.e., salaries and benefits by each proposed staff person; direct costs such as travel (airfare, per diem, miscellaneous travel costs); equipment, supplies, contractual, and indirect costs). Indicate if indirect rates are DCAA or other Federal agency approved or proposed rates and provide a copy of the current rate agreement. In addition, furnish the same level of information regarding subgrantee costs, if applicable, and submit a copy of your most recent A-110 audit report. (6) Vitae: Abbreviated curriculum vitae are sought with each proposal. Vitae for each project staff person should not exceed three pages in length. (c) Other Requirements Primary Applicant Certification--All primary applicants must submit a completed Form CD-511, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying.'' Applicants are also hereby notified of the following: 1. Non procurement Debarment and Suspension--Prospective participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, section 105) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, ``Non procurement Debarment and Suspension,'' and the related section of the certification form prescribed above applies; 2. Drug Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Government wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section of the certification form prescribed above applies; 3. Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, section 105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids for grants of more than $100,000; and 4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosures--Any applicant that has paid or will pay for lobbying using any funds must submit SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, appendix B. Lower Tier Certifications (1) Recipients must require applicants/bidders for subgrants or lower tier covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure Form SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be transmitted to Department of State (DOS). SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to DOS in accordance with the instructions contained in the award document. (2) Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all applicable Federal laws and Federal and Department of State policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards. (3) Preaward Activities--If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government. Notwithstanding any verbal assurance that may have been received, there is no obligation to the applicant on the part of Department of State to cover preaward costs. (4) This program is subject to the requirements of OMB Circular No. A-110, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations,'' OMB Circular No. A-133, ``Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Non-Profit Institutions,'' and 15 CFR Part 24, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments,'' as applicable. Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' (5) All non-profit applicants are subject to a name check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of, or are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or other matters which significantly reflect on the applicant's management, honesty, or financial integrity. (6) A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001. (7) No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either: (i) The delinquent account is paid in full, (ii) a negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one payment is received, or (iii) Other arrangements satisfactory to the Department of State are made. (8) Buy American-Made Equipment or Products--Applicants are encouraged that any equipment or products authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program must be American-made to the maximum extent feasible. (9) The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an application under this program must not exceed the indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent of the total proposed direct cost dollar amount in the application, whichever is less. (d) If an application is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with the award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of [[Page 28233]] performance is at the total discretion of the Department of State. (e) In accordance with Federal statutes and regulations, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability shall be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving assistance from the INL Anti-Domestic Violence and Trafficking in Women and Children program. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a current valid OMB control number. The standard forms have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act under OMB approval number 0348-0043, 0348-0044, and 0348-0046. Classification: This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. Dated: May 19, 1999. James Puleo, Director, Office of Europe, NIS, and Training, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. Department of State. [FR Doc. 99-13212 Filed 5-24-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710-17-U