Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP-2017)
Calling for Project Proposals – Large Grants Program
Information for Applicants
(DEADLINE for Abstracts Submission: Friday, December 16, 2016)
(DEADLINE for full Proposals Submission: Friday, January 20, 2017)
The U.S. Embassy, Yangon is accepting project proposals for the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP)-2017 Large Grants Competition. The deadline for submitting proposals to the U.S. Embassy is December 16, 2017.
FUNDING AREAS: 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.
FUNDING PRIORITIES: The AFCP Large Grants Program gives top priority to project activities that are appropriate and in keeping with international cultural heritage preservation standards. 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)
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: AFCP defines eligible project applicants as reputable and accountable non-commercial entities, such as non-governmental organizations, museums, ministries of culture, or similar institutions and organizations, including U.S.-based organizations subject to Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code, that are registered and active in SAM.gov and able to demonstrate that they have the requisite experience and capacity to manage projects to preserve cultural heritage. Myanmar is one of the eligible countries to participate in the program based on the country’s rank in the 2015 U.N. Human Development Index.
INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES AND UNALLOWABLE COSTS: AFCP does NOT support the following activities or costs, and applications involving the items below will be deemed ineligible:
- Preservation or purchase of privately or commercially owned cultural objects, collections, or real property, including those whose transfer from private or commercial to public ownership is envisioned, planned, or in process but not complete at the time of application;
- Preservation of natural heritage (physical and geological formations, paleontological collections, habitats of threatened species of animals and plants, fossils, etc.);
- Preservation of hominid or human remains;
- Preservation of news media (newspapers, newsreels, radio and TV programs, etc.);
- Preservation of published materials available elsewhere (books, periodicals, etc.);
- Development of curricula or educational materials for classroom use;
- Archaeological excavations or exploratory surveys for research purposes;
- Historical research, except in cases where the research is justifiable and integral to the success of the proposed project;
- Acquisition or creation of new exhibits, objects, or collections for new or existing museums;
- Construction of new buildings, building additions, or permanent coverings (over archaeological sites, for example);
- Commissions of new works of art or architecture for commemorative or economic development purposes;
- Creation of new or the modern adaptation of existing traditional dances, songs, chants, musical compositions, plays, or other performances;
- Creation of replicas or conjectural reconstructions of objects or sites that no longer exist;
- Relocation of cultural sites from one physical location to another;
- Removal of cultural objects or elements of cultural sites from the country for any reason;
- Digitization of cultural objects or collections, unless part of a larger, clearly defined conservation or documentation effort;
- Conservation plans or other studies, unless they are one component of a larger project to implement the results of those studies;
- Cash reserves, endowments, or revolving funds (funds must be expended within the award period [up to five years] and may not be used to create an endowment or revolving fund);
- Costs of fund-raising campaigns;
- Contingency, unforeseen, or miscellaneous costs or fees;
- Costs of work performed prior to announcement of the award unless allowable per 2 CFR 200.458 and approved by the grants officer;
- International travel, except in cases where travel is justifiable and integral to the success of the proposed project;
- Travel or study outside the host country for professional development;
- Independent U.S. projects overseas.
INELIGIBLE PROJECT APPLICANTS: AFCP does not award grants to individuals, commercial entities, or to past grant recipients which have not fulfilled the objectives or reporting requirements of previous AFCP grants.
APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION: The application process for the AFCP Large Grants Program takes place in two rounds: Project Abstract (Round 1) and Full Proposal (Round 2). Pending a favorable review of the Round 1 abstracts, applicants may be invited to submit full project proposals to Round 2.
ROUND 1 PROJECT ABSTRACT REQUIREMENTS:
- 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)
- Project Basics, including title, project dates, location, and site.
- Project Applicant Information, including contact information, DUNS Number, and SAM registration status.
- Special Designations (national monument, World Heritage Site, etc.).
- Law/s Protecting the Site or Collection (citations only).
- Project Purpose that summarizes the project objectives and desired results.
- Statement of Importance highlighting the historic, architectural, artistic, or cultural (non-religious) values of the site or collection.
ROUND 2 FULL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Revised project abstract, if applicable.
- Revised SF-424, if applicable.
- Proof of Official Permission to undertake the project and the full endorsement and support of the national cultural authority in the host country.
- Project Activities Description that presents the project tasks in chronological order. 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.
- 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]).
- Project Participant Information, including resumes or CVs of the proposed project director and key project participants.
- Statement of Urgency indicating the severity of the situation and explaining why the project must take place now.
- 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.
- Detailed Project Budget, demarcated in one-year budget periods (2017, 2018, 2019, etc.), that lists all costs in separate categories (Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel [including Per Diem], Equipment, Supplies, Contractual, Other Direct Costs, Indirect Costs, Cost Sharing); indicates funds from other sources; and gives a justification for any anticipated international travel costs.
- Budget Narrative explaining how the costs were estimated (quantity x unit cost, for example) and any unique line items in the budget.
- 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.).
- 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.
COST SHARING AND OTHER FORMS OF COST PARTICIPATION: 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.
DUNS NUMBER AND SAM REGISTRATION: Applicants requesting $25,000 or more in U.S. federal assistance must have a Dun & Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code, and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) prior to submitting full proposals. NOTE: This process can take weeks/months, especially for non-U.S. applicants. Applicants may acquire DUNs numbers at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNs number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or by requesting a number online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 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 collects, validates, stores, and disseminates data in support of U.S. federal agency acquisition and grant award mission. Registration in SAM.gov is free: https://www.sam.gov
REVIEW AND SELECTION CRITERIA: AFCP will review and select Round 1 project abstracts and full project proposals (Round 2) according to the program objectives, funding areas and priorities, ineligible activities and unallowable costs, and other application requirements.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS: All grants will be made with terms and conditions subject to OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200): Cost Principles, Audit, and Administrative Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR Chapter I, Chapter II, Part 200, et al.) unless otherwise specified. Potential applicants should be familiar with these requirements.
PROJECT PERFORMANCE AND DELIVERABLES: AFCP 2017 grant recipients must submit performance progress, financial status, and final reports on time as specified in the grant.
DISCLAIMER: Explanatory information that contradicts published language is not binding. Issuance of this Notice of Funding Opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. Government. AFCP reserves the right to waive program formalities and to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program and the availability of funds.
The deadline for submitting a proposal for Round 1 in English is Friday, December 18, 2016. Please read the proposal requirements carefully.
Proposals may be submitted in hard copy or electronically to:
Winnie Hofstetter
Cultural Affairs Officer
Public Affairs Section
U.S. Embassy Rangoon
110 University Avenue
Kamayut Township
Rangoon, Burma
or
Subject: The Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation 2017
