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04/20/2022 07:56 PM EDT
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
United States Department of StateBureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL)Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): DRL Advancing Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea)
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 19.345
Type of Solicitation: Open Competition
Application Deadline: 11:59 PM EST on June 20th, 2022
Total Funding Floor: $50,000
Total Funding Ceiling: $3,000,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: 2 – 15
Type of Award: Fixed Amount Award, Grant, or Cooperative Agreement
Period of Performance: 6 – 42 months
Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 4 – 5 months
A. Project Description
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that support the policy goal of advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea).
Nearly eight years since the release of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry (COI) report on North Korea, little progress has been made on acting on the Report’s recommendations and the situation for human rights, including fundamental freedoms, remains dire. North Korean citizens continue to face significant human rights abuses violations, including forced labor, imprisonment, murder, enforced disappearance, and persecution on political and religious grounds. Moreover, the extremely limited space for fundamental freedoms of expression, association, assembly, and belief has shrunk even further following the enactment of the Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Law in 2020 and strict border controls and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such restrictions go hand-in-hand with gross human rights violations and further constrain freedom of movement and access to basic living necessities.
DRL seeks proposals for the human rights community to reinvigorate efforts that encourage the DPRK government to improve the human rights situation in North Korea and advance U.S. priorities to promote respect for human rights, foster accountability, and increase access to independent information in the DPRK. Proposals may include activities that foster the free flow of information into, out of, and within North Korea and/or document the DPRK’s egregious human rights violations and abuses and advocate for greater international action or specific concrete actions by the DPRK to improve its human rights record. However, such activities should seek to achieve long-term, sustainable progress, such as serving as a catalyst for behavior change among North Koreans and key international stakeholders. For example, instead of solely producing new information, applicants should also propose ways to encourage target audiences to be discussing, sharing, or acting on the information developed.
Each individual application must respond to one of the four following priority focal areas:
FOSTERING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION. In the years following the release of the COI report, the human rights community has rallied around efforts to hold the North Korean government accountable for its human rights violations and abuses. Documentation efforts, primarily focused on defector testimonies and satellite imagery, have shed light on the myriad of state-sponsored human rights abuses. Alongside concerted international advocacy efforts, this information has been critically important for raising international awareness of North Korea’s grave human rights violations and has contributed to encouraging actions taken by governments to enact state and individual sanctions. In recent years, the North Korean government has taken steps to further isolate its people in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, international attention to the DPRK’s human rights record has waned due to limited access for international visitors to the closed country and fewer at-risk individuals finding safe haven abroad. In addition, the DPRK has increasingly taken steps to prevent high-profile defections among its diplomatic corps and overseas labor workers—both of which experienced higher levels of defection prior to pandemic. The human rights community requires opportunities to re-group and consider new, innovative approaches to spur momentum towards impactful actions that create concrete change inside the DPRK and for North Koreans outside of the DPRK who are subject to transnational repression.
The long-term goal under this area is that North Koreans have improved human rights and fundamental freedoms and that the North Korean government is held accountable for egregious human rights violations. Objectives of projects proposed under this area could include:
– The North Korean human rights community works to collectively and collaboratively engage international stakeholders to increase momentum towards implementation of COI recommendations and accountability actions.
– Governments and multilateral institutions take concrete steps and actions that expand opportunities for human rights monitoring and accountability in North Korea.
– Governments and multilateral institutions increasingly incorporate human rights abuses and crimes against humanity within broader North Korean policy development and diplomatic engagements.
– Governments and multilateral institutions engage in direct conversations with the DPRK government regarding international standards for prison and detention center conditions, including access and monitoring by international organizations or humanitarian organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Illustrative activities of projects proposed under this area could include:
– Collaborate and engage with the humanitarian and diplomatic communities to foster opportunities for observer access to political prisons, labor camps, detention centers, or other areas where human rights violations and abuses are common.
– Implement safe and ethical approaches to engage North Korean individuals at risk of forced repatriation or enforced disappearance and/or workers in third countries. This could include expanding documentation efforts and/or international or regional advocacy.
– Advocate to reinvigorate international attention and commitment to promoting human rights improvements in the DPRK. This could include, in the lead up to the ten-year anniversary of the COI report, advocacy for a follow-on report that details updated information and/or recommendations based upon the most recent decade of findings.
– Conduct investigative reporting and/or research that leverages open-source information to uncover perpetrators and detail systems that perpetuate the egregious abuses committed by the DPRK government at home and abroad. This could include research that identifies perpetrators tied to human rights abuses that support North Korea’s illicit activities. Research should be coupled with targeted advocacy efforts carried out in tandem with the human rights community.
– Maintain a public, online database of prisons and gulags in the DPRK, including a list of political prisoners and perpetrators.
ADVANCING THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS. Exacerbated by deeply rooted discrimination and societal and cultural stigmas, North Korean women and girls endure violations of human rights, sexual violence, discrimination, and physical and mental abuse unique to their biological sex and expected gender roles. Violence against women in labor camps and political prisons is notoriously severe with women facing not only physical and mental abuse and torture, but also gender-based violence (GBV), including sexual exploitation, rape, forced abortions, and infanticide. Women and girls also face domestic violence, discrimination, and sexual harassment in the home and workplace that stem in part from the lack of public education on women’s rights and the overall absence of empowerment and agency among women.
The long-term goal under this area is that North Korean women and girls in all their diversity face fewer instances of violations of their human rights, both outside of and within state-run facilities. Objectives of projects proposed under this area could include:
– Governments and multilateral institutions take concerted actions to influence the North Korean government to meet its obligations under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
– Governments and multilateral institutions promote accountability of North Korean officials for violations against women and girls, including corruption that facilitates violations, particularly within state institutions.
– North Koreans have improved understanding of women’s rights under international law and support the protection of the rights of women and girls in all their diversity.
Illustrative activities of projects proposed under this area could include:
– Document abuses, particularly information about perpetrators, against North Korean women and girls to advance individual accountability efforts. This should include efforts to minimize re-traumatization of survivors.
– Increase access to information to raise awareness and foster discourse among North Koreans to strengthen understanding of and support for enforcement of women’s rights under international and domestic laws. Initiatives should not only engage women and girls, but also seek to engage men and boys as allies to foster positive behavior change.
– Support civil society engagement in UPR and CEDAW reporting processes and targeted advocacy to address gaps and shortcomings with the North Korean government’s implementation of obligations.
– Promote women’s leadership, participation, empowerment, and rights within targeted segments of the population in North Korea, such as among women entrepreneurs.
PROMOTING THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. Although the DPRK amended the domestic Persons with Disabilities Protection Act in 2013 and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2016, North Koreans with disabilities remain subjected to extreme prejudice and social stigmas. Beyond the impact of discrimination on their rights and livelihoods, persons with disabilities also have little to no social safety net for enduring environmental shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately impact their well-being.
The long-term goal under this area is that North Korean persons with disabilities have increased access to rights and services as enshrined in domestic and/or international laws. Objectives of projects proposed under this area could include:
– Governments and multilateral institutions take concerted actions to influence the North Korean government to meet its obligations under the CRPD.
– North Koreans have improved understanding of disability rights under domestic and international laws and support the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.
Illustrative activities of projects proposed under this area could include:
– Document and elevate disability rights in international advocacy and engagement with governments and multilateral institutions to encourage the inclusion of persons with disabilities within diplomatic efforts.
– Increase access to information to provide North Korean persons with disabilities and their representative organizations with access to information about their rights under domestic and international law, capacity building, and opportunities to advocate for their needs and for a greater role in decision-making.
– Strengthen awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities among North Korean populations with the aim of rejecting stigmas and fostering positive behavior change and a value-based understanding of disability. (Note: A value-based approach shifts charity-based models to one that recognizes the rights and diverse talents and contributions of persons with disabilities.)
STRENGTHENING LABOR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS. In recent years, the human rights community has unearthed and documented human rights violations faced by North Koreans within the country’s notorious forced labor camps and political prisons, as well as in outside countries. While less information is available on the labor conditions faced by the general populace, the majority of average North Koreans nonetheless face some degree of forced labor, exploitation, and hazardous working conditions in their daily lives. Government control over all aspects of formal employment often results in the limited legal protections for workers being superseded by compulsory requirements, such as participating in mass mobilization activities or foregoing wages, to ultimately benefit the state or party. For example, although the law places restrictions on child labor and working hours, it has been reported that children younger than the minimum age of 16 work long hours in often hazardous conditions at farms, construction sites, and factories to fulfill government mandates. Subsequently, abuses including discrimination, wage exploitation, petty corruption and bribery, and poor and hazardous working conditions, among others, are prevalent within most working environments—both formal and informal. Few to no opportunities for recourse for abuses exist due to the absence of independent labor unions and overarching restrictions on freedom of assembly and association.
The long-term goal under this area is that North Koreans have increased methods for reporting labor rights violations and enhanced ability to support efforts to increase protections of labor rights. Objectives of projects proposed under this area could include:
– Governments and multilateral institutions take concerted actions to influence the North Korean government to pursue International Labour Organization (ILO) membership and/or take other concrete actions to improve labor rights.
– North Koreans have improved understanding of labor rights and human trafficking risks.
– Labor advocacy and human rights organizations elevate issues of forced labor to international businesses, including those currently operating within North Korea’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and encourage adherence to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Illustrative activities:
– Document human rights abuses and poor conditions faced by workers within North Korea and overseas to increase knowledge of abuses and inform international advocacy and engagement with governments and multilateral institutions.
– Conduct investigative reporting and/or research that leverages open-source information to detail SEZs, including the location and development of SEZs and information on working conditions, with a particular focus on goods produced and indicators of forced labor.
– Support coordination among labor advocacy and human rights organizations to effectively leverage information on forced labor to encourage international businesses to adhere to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
– Increase North Korean workers’ access to information on and understanding of international labor standards and workers’ rights and protections. This may include providing North Korean overseas workers with information on local labor laws in third countries and/or human trafficking indicators to protect vulnerable workers, particularly women and girls, from becoming of victims of trafficking schemes.
– Support opportunities to encourage consideration of ILO membership and foster awareness raising and dialogue on improved conditions for workers and the abolishment of child labor.
Organizations may submit no more than two (2) applications in response to the NOFO with only one (1) application per priority focus area. For example, an applicant may elect to submit two applications, one for advancing the rights of women and girls and another for one of the three remaining priority focus areas but cannot submit two applications that both focus on advancing the rights of women and girls. In the event an applicant submits more than one application per priority focus area, the last application received before the deadline will be considered the final submission and all prior applications will be rejected. All applications must explicitly state the single priority focus area it is being submitted under. Applications that do not explicitly identify one of the four priority focus areas may be rejected. DRL may fund more than one applicant under a single category depending on funding availability, the quality of applications received, and DRL priorities.
All programs should aim to have impact that leads to reforms and should have the potential for sustainability beyond DRL resources. DRL’s preference is to avoid duplicating past efforts by supporting new and creative approaches. This does not exclude from consideration projects that improve upon or expand existing successful projects in a new and complementary way. DRL is committed to advancing equity and support for underserved and underrepresented communities. Programs should seek strategies for integration and inclusion of individuals/organizations/beneficiaries that can bring perspectives based on their religion, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, national origin, age, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, political affiliation, or veteran’s status. Programs should be demand-driven and locally led to the extent possible. DRL requires all programs to be non-discriminatory and expects implementers to include strategies for nondiscrimination of individuals/organizations/beneficiaries based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, marital status, parental status, political affiliation, or veteran’s status.
Where appropriate, competitive proposals may include:
– Opportunities for beneficiaries to apply their new knowledge and skills in practical efforts;
– Solicitation of feedback and suggestions from beneficiaries when developing activities in order to strengthen the sustainability of programs and participant ownership of project outcomes;
– Input from participants on sustainability plans and systematic review of the plans throughout the life of the project, with adjustments made as necessary;
– Inclusion of vulnerable populations;
– Joint identification and definition of key concepts with relevant stakeholders and stakeholder input into project activities;
– Systematic follow up with beneficiaries at specific intervals after the completion of activities to track how beneficiaries are retaining new knowledge as well as applying their new skills.
Activities that are not typically allowed include, but are not limited to:
– The provision of humanitarian assistance;
– English language instruction;
– Development of high-tech computer or communications software and/or hardware;
– Purely academic exchanges or fellowships;
– External exchanges or fellowships lasting longer than six months;
– Off-shore activities that are not clearly linked to in-country initiatives and impact or are not necessary per security concerns;
– Theoretical explorations of human rights or democracy issues, including projects aimed primarily at research and evaluation that do not incorporate training or capacity-building for local civil society;
– Micro-loans or similar small business development initiatives;
– Initiatives directed towards a diaspora community rather than current residents of targeted countries.
This notice is subject to availability of funding.
B. Federal Award Information
Primary organizations can submit two (2) applications in response to the NOFO. If an applicant chooses to submit multiple applications to this NOFO, it is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate the competitiveness and uniqueness of each application.
The U.S. government may: (a) reject any or all applications, (b) accept other than the lowest cost application, (c) accept more than one application, and (d) waive irregularities in applications received.
The U.S. government may make award(s) on the basis of initial applications received, without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, each initial application should contain the applicant’s best terms from a cost and technical standpoint. The U.S. government reserves the right (though it is under no obligation to do so), however, to enter into discussions with one or more applicants in order to obtain clarifications, additional detail, or to suggest refinements in the project description, budget, or other aspects of an application.
DRL anticipates awarding either a grant or cooperative agreement depending on the needs and risk factors of the program. The final determination on award mechanism will be made by the Grants Officer. The distinction between grants and cooperative agreements revolves around the existence of “substantial involvement.” Cooperative agreements require greater Federal government participation in the project. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, DRL will undertake reasonable and programmatically necessary substantial involvement. Examples of substantial involvement can include, but are not limited to:
– Active participation or collaboration with the recipient in the implementation of the award;
– Review and approval of one stage of work before another can begin;
– Review and approval of substantive provisions of proposed sub-awards or contracts beyond existing Federal policy;
– Approval of the recipient’s budget or plan of work prior to the award.
For projects of $150,000 or less, DRL expects to provide a fixed amount (fixed price) award. Fixed amount awards are generally used when the work to be performed can be priced with a reasonable degree of certainty, the grantee can reliably predict costs based on similar types of work, or the grantee can easily obtain bids or quotes. Appropriate activities for fixed amount awards generally include, but are not limited to: conferences, workshops, surveys, studies, and technical assistance when costs can be separated by milestone. Fixed amount awards should be based upon milestones, which outline a verifiable product, task, deliverable, or goal. Milestones generally include three components: (1) a description of the product, task, deliverable, or goal to be accomplished; (2) a description of how the recipient will document the completion of the product, task, deliverable, or goal (e.g. survey submission, submitting training materials, toolkits or reports); and (3) the amount that DRL will pay the recipient for the deliverable. Accountability is based primarily on performance and meeting milestones.
The authority for this funding opportunity is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA).
To maximize the impact and sustainability of the award(s) that result from this NOFO, DRL retains the right to execute non-competitive continuation amendment(s). The total duration of any award, including potential non-competitive continuation amendments, shall not exceed 54 months, or four and a half years. Any non-competitive continuation is contingent on performance and pending availability of funds. A non-competitive continuation is not guaranteed, and the Department of State reserves the right to exercise or not to exercise this option.
C. Eligibility Information
For application information, please see the proposal submission instructions (PSI), updated December 2021 on our website.
C.1 Eligible Applicants
DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.
Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures.
Please see 2 CFR 200.307 for regulations regarding program income.
C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching
Providing cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not an eligibility factor or requirement for this NOFO and providing cost share will not result in a more favorable competitive ranking.
C.3 Other
Applicants should have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with thematic or in-country partners, entities, and relevant stakeholders, including private sector partners and NGOs, and have demonstrable experience in administering successful and preferably similar projects. DRL encourages applications from foreign-based NGOs headquartered in the geographic regions/countries relevant to this NOFO. Applicants may form consortia in order to bring together organizations with varied expertise to propose a comprehensive program in one proposal. However, one organization should be designated in the proposal as the lead applicant, with the other members designated as sub-award partners. DRL reserves the right to request additional background information on applicants that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards, and these applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis.
DRL is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in all of its projects and activities. DRL welcomes applications irrespective of race, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other status. DRL seeks applications that demonstrate that the recipient does not discriminate against any beneficiaries in implementation of a potential award, such as, but not limited to, by withholding, adversely impacting, or denying equitable access to the benefits provided through this award on the basis of any factor not expressly stated in the award. This includes, for example, race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, disability, age, genetic information, marital status, parental status, political affiliation, or veteran’s status. The recipient should insert this provision, including this paragraph, in all sub-grants and contracts under a potential award.
D. Application and Submission Information
D.1 Address to Request Application Package
D.2 Content and Form of Application Submission
For all application documents, please ensure:
– All documents are in English and all costs are in U.S. Dollars. If an original document within the application is in another language, an English translation must be provided (please note the Department of State, as indicated in 2 CFR 200.111, requires that English is the official language of all award documents). If any document is provided in both English and a foreign language, the English language version is the controlling version;
– All pages are numbered, including budgets and attachments;
– All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper; and,
– All documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins. Captions and footnotes may be 10-point Times New Roman font. Font sizes in charts and tables, including the budget, can be reformatted to fit within 1 page width.
D.2.1 Application Requirements
Complete applications must include the following:
– Completed and signed SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B Please see SF-424 instructions in Section 2B of the PSI.
– Organizations that engage in lobbying the U.S. government, including Congress, or pay for another entity to lobby on their behalf, are also required to complete the SF-LLL “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” form (only if applicable). Please see SF-LLL guidance in Section 2B of the PSI.
– Cover Page (not to exceed one (1) page, preferably as a Word Document) that includes a table with the organization name, project title, target country/countries, project synopsis, and name and contact information for the application’s main point of contact. Please see Cover Page Section 2C of the PSI for a template and more details.
– Executive Summary (not to exceed one (1) page, preferably as a Word Document) that outlines project goals, objectives, activities, etc.
– The Executive Summary should include a brief section that explicitly states: (1) the problem statement addressed by the project, (2) research-based evidence justifying the unique project approach, and (3) quantifiable project outcomes and impacts.
– Table of Contents (not to exceed one (1) page, preferably as a Word Document) listing all documents and attachments with page numbers.
– Proposal Narrative (not to exceed ten (10) pages, preferably as a Word Document). Please note the ten-page limit does not include the Cover Page, Executive Summary, Table of Contents, Attachments, Detailed Budget, Budget Narrative, Audit, or NICRA. Applicants are encouraged to combine multiple documents into a single Word Document or PDF (i.e. Cover Page, Table of Contents, Executive Summary, and Proposal Narrative in one file). Please see Proposal Narrative Guidelines in Section 2F of the PSI for more details.
– The Proposal Narrative should demonstrate the applicant’s commitment to ensuring the participation of all people as a strategy for implementation. Please integrate inclusion strategies in all sections of the Proposal Narrative to enhance programmatic impact.
– Budget (preferably as an Excel workbook) that includes three (3) columns containing the request to DRL, any cost sharing contribution, and the total budget. A summary budget should also be included using the OMB-approved budget categories (see SF-424A as a sample) in a separate tab. Costs must be in U.S. Dollars. Detailed line-item budgets for sub-grantees should be included as additional tabs within the Excel workbook (if available at the time of submission). Please see Budget Guidelines Section 2G of the PSI for more information.
– The programming approach should be dedicated to strengthening inclusive societies as a necessary pillar of strong democracies. Please include costs associated with this commitment in the Budget and Budget Narrative.
– Budget Narrative (preferably as a Word Document) that includes substantive explanations and justifications for each line item in the detailed budget spreadsheet, as well as the source and a description of all cost-share offered. Please see Budget Guidelines Section 2G of the PSI for more information.
– The organization’s most recent audit, if applicable. This should be a single audit, program-specific audit, or other audit in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS). Please see Audit Section 2H of the PSI for more information.
– Logic Model (preferably as a Word Document). Please see Logic Model Section 2I of the PSI for more information.
– Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative (not to exceed four (4) pages, preferably as a Word Document). Please see Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative Section 2J of the PSI for more information.
– As stated within the DRL Guide to Program Monitoring and Evaluation (p. 6): DRL strongly encourages applicants to consider whether their monitoring and evaluation systems are utilizing human rights-based approaches, applying a gender and equity lens, or include the participation of sub-grantees and project participants. Within the Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative, applicants should demonstrate their commitment to inclusive strategies and consider whether evaluation design, data collection, analysis, reporting and learning are conducted in an ethical and responsible way with all project participants (e.g. direct beneficiaries, sub-grantees). Applicants should still make adequate provisions to protect the privacy of human subjects when collecting data from individuals. For instance, when collecting data from project participants, consider whether your organization will have the necessary informed consent forms, confidentiality agreements, and data security protocols.
– Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (preferably as a Word Document or Excel Sheet). Please see Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Section 2J of the PSI for more information.
– Risk Analysis (preferably as a Word Document). Please see Risk Analysis Section 2K of the PSI for more information on this requirement, including Do No Harm principles and Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) policies/plans.
– Key Personnel (not to exceed two (2) pages, preferably as a Word Document). Please include short bios that highlight relevant professional experience. Given the limited space, CVs are not recommended for submission.
– Timeline (not to exceed one (1) page, preferably as a Word Document or Excel Sheet). The timeline of the overall proposal should include activities, evaluation efforts, and program closeout.
– Gender and Inclusion Analysis (not to exceed three (3) pages, preferably as a Word Document) that provides a concise analysis of relevant gender norms, equity and equality for underserved communities and marginalized populations, power relations, and conflict dynamics in target countries. Potential domains of analysis include institutional practices and barriers, cultural norms, gender roles, access to and control over assets and resources, and patterns of decision-making. Applicants should briefly explain how they have integrated findings from their analysis into project design and/or other proposal documents, including a plan for regularly reviewing and updating the gender and inclusion analysis with local partners/beneficiaries, and making any necessary adjustments to program implementation. A set of guiding questions can be found in Section 2L of the PSI.
– Lessons Learned (not to exceed one (1) page, preferably as a Word Document) from past North Korea human rights programs that demonstrate how the implementer has safely operated and responded to programmatic challenges, learning from both successes and failures, in the operating environment.
Applications that do not include the elements listed above will be deemed technically ineligible.
D.2.2 Additional Application Documents
Strong applications will also contain the following:
– Individual Letters of Support and/or Memorandum of Understanding. Letters of support and MOUs must be specific to the project implementation (e.g. from proposed partners or sub-award recipients) and will not count towards the page limit.
DRL reserves the right to request additional documents not included in this NOFO. Additionally, to ensure that all applications receive a balanced evaluation, the DRL review panel will review from the first page of each section up to the page limit and no further.
Note: If ultimately provided with a notification of non-binding intent to make a Federal award, applicants typically have two to three weeks to provide additional information and documents requested in the notification of intent. The deadlines may vary in each notification of intent and applicants must adhere to the stated deadline in the notification of intent.
D.2.3 Additional Information Requested For Those Receiving Notification of Intent
Successful applicants must submit, after notification of intent to make a Federal award, but prior to issuance of a Federal award:
– Written responses and revised application documents addressing conditions and recommendations from the DRL review panel;
– A copy of the applicant’s latest NICRA as a PDF file, if the applicant has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the budget;
– A completed copy of the Department’s Financial Management Survey, if receiving DRL funding for the first time;
– Submission of required documents to register in the Payment Management System managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, if receiving DRL funding for the first time (unless an exemption is provided);
– Other requested information or documents included in the notification of intent to make a Federal award or subsequent communications prior to issuance of a Federal award;
– Applicants who submit their applications through Grants.gov will be required to create a SAMS Domestic account in order to accept the final award. Accounts must be logged into to every 60 days in order to maintain an active account.
D.3 Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)
All prime organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), formerly referred to as DUNS, and an active registration with the SAM.gov before submitting an application. DRL may not review applications from or make awards to applicants that have not completed all applicable UEI and SAM.gov requirements. 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 the award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee.
Note: The process of obtaining 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), a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, 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 NATO CAGE (NCAGE) code and UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov.
All prime organizations must also continue to maintain active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which they have an active Federal award or application under consideration by a Federal award agency. SAM.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year in order to maintain an active registration status in SAM. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM.gov and to maintain that active registration. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements at the time of application, the applicant may be deemed technically ineligible to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.
Note: SAM.gov is not the same as SAMS Domestic. It is free to register in both systems, but the registration processes are different.
Information is included on the SAM.gov website to help international registrations, including “Quick Start Guide for International Registrations” and “Helpful Hints.” Navigate to http://www.SAM.gov, click “HELP” in the top navigation bar, then click “International Registrants” in the left navigation panel. Please note, guidance on SAM.gov and the guidance on GSA’s website about requirement for registering in SAM.gov is subject to change. Applicants should review the website for the most up-to-date guidance.
D.3.1 Exemptions
An exemption from these requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if:
– An applicant’s identity must be protected due to potential endangerment of their mission, their organization’s status, their employees, or individuals being served by the applicant.