U.S. Mission to Nigeria: Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation

Description

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to issue a notice of funding opportunity for the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation 2019 Large Grants. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Administration of this program will be subject to the availability of funds for fiscal year (FY) 2019. Purpose of the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) and Background: The AFCP Large Grants Program supports the preservation of major ancient archaeological sites, historic buildings and monuments, and major museum collections that are accessible to the public and protected by law in the host country. Appropriate project activities may include: • preventive conservation (addressing conditions that damage or threaten the site) • stabilization (reducing the physical disturbance [settling, collapse, etc.] of a site) • conservation (addressing damage or deterioration to a collection or sites) • consolidation (connecting or reconnecting elements of a site) • anastylosis (reassembling a site from its original parts) • restoration (replacing missing elements to recreate the original appearance of a site, usually appropriate only with fine arts, decorative arts, and historic buildings Cultural heritage endures as a reminder of the contributions and historical experiences of humanity. By taking a leading role in efforts to preserve cultural heritage, the U.S. demonstrates its respect for other cultures. The Department of State established the AFCP at the request of the Congress, reflected in the Conference Report on the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2001 (P. L. 106-553). II. Award Information Funding Areas: The Department of State supports projects to preserve cultural heritage in the following three areas: A. Preventive conservation (addressing conditions that damage or threaten the site) B. Stabilization (reducing the physical disturbance [settling, collapse, etc.] of a site) C. Conservation (addressing damage or deterioration to a collection or sites) D. Consolidation (connecting or reconnecting elements of a site) E. Anastylosis (reassembling a site from its original parts) F. Restoration (replacing missing elements to recreate the original appearance of a site, usually appropriate only with fine arts, decorative arts, and historic buildings) Funding Priorities: The AFCP will recommend for funding those proposals that include project activities in adherence to the following guidelines and to international standards for the preservation of cultural heritage. These activities may include: A. Directly support U.S. treaty or bilateral agreement obligations, such as cultural property protection agreements; B. U.S. Embassy Integrated Country Strategy (ICS) goals C. Disaster risk reduction for cultural heritage in seismically active and other disaster-prone areas D. Post-disaster cultural heritage recovery E. Preservation of inscribed World Heritage sites III. Application Submission and Deadline The application process for the AFCP Large Grants Program takes place in two rounds: Project Abstract (Round 1) and Full Application (Round 2). All Round 1 project abstracts must be submitted electronically via e-mail on or before December 10, 2018, 11:59p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Applications submitted after 11:59p.m. will be ineligible for consideration. Proposals should be submitted online to the U.S. Mission to Nigeria at the following email address: PASAbujaGrants@State.gov. Applications are accepted in English only. Final grant agreements will be concluded in English. ROUND ONE PROJECT ABSTRACT REQUIREMENTS (DEADLINE: December 10, 2018): The project abstract must include the following items: A. Full and complete Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424), including Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A), Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B), and, if applicable, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) – all available at www.grants.gov B. Project basics, including title, project dates, location, and site C. Project applicant information, including contact information, DUNS Number (https://iupdate.dnb.com/iUpdate/viewiUpdateHome.htm), and SAM registration status (https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/) D. Special designations (national monument, World Heritage Site, etc.) E. Law(s) protecting the site or collection (citations only) F. Project purpose that summarizes the project objectives and desired results G. Statement of importance highlighting the historic, architectural, artistic, or cultural (non-religious) values of the site or collection Note: The DUNS/NCAGE/SAM.gov process can take weeks/months, especially for non-U.S. applicants. Non-U.S. based applicants may request a NCAGE code at https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx. SAM is the official, free on-line registration database for the U.S. government. SAM.gov replaced the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA), and the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in July 2012. SAM.gov collects, validates, stores, and disseminates data in support of federal agency acquisition and grant award mission. Registration in SAM is free: http://sam.gov ROUND TWO FULL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS (DEADLINE: February 15, 2019): The applications must fully satisfy the program objectives, funding areas and priorities, and the eligibility requirements specified above. Furthermore, to be considered complete, applicants must include: A. Revised project abstract, if applicable B. Revised SF-424, if applicable C. Proof of official permission to undertake the project and the full endorsement and support of the national cultural authority in the host country D. Project activities description that presents the project tasks in chronological order (NOTE: If the proposed project is part of a larger effort involving multiple projects supported by other entities, the plan must present the full scope of the preservation effort and the place of the proposed project within that larger effort) E. Project time frame or schedule that lists the major project phases and milestones with target dates for achieving them (Note: Applicants may propose project periods of up to 60 months [five years]; projects must begin before September 30, 2019, and conclude no later than September 30, 2024 F. Project participant information, including resumes or CVs of the proposed project director and key project participants G. Statement of urgency indicating the severity of the situation and explaining why the project must take place now H. Statement of sustainability outlining the steps or measures that will be taken to maintain the site or collection in good condition after the AFCP-supported project is complete. I. Detailed project budget, demarcated in one-year budget periods (2019, 2020, 2021, etc.), that lists all costs in separate categories (Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel [including Per Diem], Equipment, Supplies, Contractual, Other Direct Costs, Indirect Costs); indicates funds from other sources; and gives a justification for any anticipated international travel costs J. Budget narrative explaining how the costs were estimated (quantity x unit cost, for example) and any unique line items in the budget K. Ten (10) or more high quality digital images (JPEGs) or audiovisual files that convey the nature and condition of the site or museum collection and show the urgency or need for the proposed project (collapsing walls, extensive water damage, etc.) L. Relevant supporting documentation, such as historic structure reports, restoration plans and studies, conservation needs assessments and recommendations, architectural and engineering records, etc., compiled in preparation for the proposed project The U.S. Mission to Nigeria and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the U.S. Department of State will not consider proposals that do not include the above components. There is no minimum or maximum percentage of cost participation required for this competition. When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved agreement. The applicant will be responsible for tracking and reporting on any cost share or outside funding, which is subject to audit per 2 CFR 200. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. IV. Review and Selection Process The U.S. Mission to Nigeria will assess all applications based on the program funding priorities; the comprehensiveness of the proposed project and budget; the urgency of the proposed project; and the quality of the statement of pupose and importance. The Mission will then make a recommendaedtion to the ECA Cultural Heritage Center. The Center will screen and rate all project abstracts and forward the favorably rated abstracts to the relevant regional bureaus for ranking. The project abstracts may be forwarded for advisory peer review to other federal agency personnel with relevant experience as well as to other State offices. On or around December 21, 2018, the Center will invite Embassies whose project abstracts received a favorable rating and ranking to submit full project applications. For round two, the Center will review full project applications and provide a comprehensive funding recommendation to the Department of State’s Bureau of Budget and Planning (BP). All eligible applications are subject to compliance with Federal regulations and guidelines. The full project applications may be forwarded for advisory peer review to other federal agency personnel with relevant experience as well as to other State offices. The Center may consult with the Senate Committee on Appropriations prior to making the funding recommendation. V. Award A

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