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Capacity Building for Morocco NGOs and the Department of Environment

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Overview

I. Funding Opportunity Description
II. Award Information
III. Eligibility Information
IV. Initial Proposal and Submission Information
V. Proposal Review Information
VI. Award Administration Information
VII. Agency Contact

Capacity Building for Morocco NGOs and the Department of Environment (PDF) (7 pp., 44K  About PDF Files)

Overview Information

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of International Affairs

Funding Opportunity Title: Capacity Building for Morocco NGOs and the Department of Environment

Announcement Type: Initial announcement

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 66.931 – International Financial Assistance Projects sponsored by EPA’s Office of International Affairs

Dates: August 6, 2004, deadline for all proposals to be submitted.

All dates listed are by midnight, Eastern Standard Time.

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Overview: This document is to announce a Request For Initial Proposals (RFIP) through an open competition for EPA funds. The anticipated total award for the one-year period of performance is $87,000. The purpose of the grant is to provide capacity building training to Moroccan NGOs and the Moroccan Department of Environment in order to strengthen their role to implement and support the sound environment policy in Morocco. The awarding instrument will be a cooperative agreement. There is no cost share or matching requirement for these funds. EPA reserves the right to reject all applicants and make no award from this competition.

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Full Text

  1. Funding Opportunity Description

    2. The objective of this cooperative agreement is to enhance environmental protection activities in the Kingdom of Morocco in support of the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement.

    In order to support the FTA, EPA plans to provide technical assistance and capacity building programs to the Moroccan Department of Environment and Moroccan NGOs in order to build capacity to protect their environment and enhance their environmental enforcement regimes.

    Proposals for this project should focus on two areas:
    1. NGO capacity building portion, which would provide training to Moroccan environment, health and other NGOs in order to strengthen their role to implement and support the Government of Morocco’s environment policy. Most of the Moroccan NGOs need institutional/capacity building to sensitize decision/policy makers as well as the population to protect, preserve the environment and enforce environmental legislation. The selected cooperator may consider conducting workshops/ consultative sessions with United States, regional European, and International environmental NGOs and develop relationships with US counterparts that can be used in the future as an ongoing resource for the Moroccan NGOs to use as they work to improve their ability to support environmental protection in Morocco.

    2. Promoting environmental cooperation through a study tour to the United States for Moroccan officials from the Department of Environment and other interested agencies. The purpose of this study tour would be to build professional relationships between the United States (including state and local government) and Moroccan officials and technical experts that will support future cooperation and create an ongoing resource for the Moroccan Ministry of Environment and other participants to use as it works to improve its environmental protection capability. Through this study tour, the participants will become familiar with the methods, procedures, practices and information sources used in the United States at the federal, state and local level to develop and implement environmental protection programs.

    Under this Cooperative Agreement, the selected cooperator will use their experience and knowledge to build upon EPA efforts that began in October, 2003 to assist the Moroccan environment community to identify problems and create improvements for environmental protection in Morocco.

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  2. Award Information

    3. EPA anticipates one award, for a total amount of $87,000. EPA anticipates that the start date of this project would be no later than October 2004, and the period of performance would not exceed 12 months.

    This award will be funded through a cooperative agreement and will include substantial involvement by EPA. Substantial involvement will include EPA approval of specific phases of the project before the recipient proceeds to the next phase; EPA will approve key personnel; EPA will assist in some of the project activities; EPA will approve the workplan prior to the award agreement; EPA will address deficiencies in performance; EPA will review project results after completion of the work; and EPA will ensure recipient compliance with statutes, regulations, policies and all requirements in the agreement, and review progress reports.

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  3. Eligibility Information

    4. Eligible Applicants

    State governments
    County governments
    City or township governments
    Special district governments
    State and Private institutions of higher education
    Foreign Governments
    Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Foreign governments
    International nonprofit organizations
    Individuals

    Cost Sharing or Matching

    There are no cost sharing or matching requirements for this project.

    Other Eligibility Requirements

    EPA expects to award this grant under the following seven grant authorities: Clean Air Act section 103(b)(3); Clean Water Act section 104 (b)(3); Resource Conservation and Recovery Act section 8001; Toxics Substances Control Act section 10; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act section 20; Safe Drinking Water Act sections 1442(a) and (c); and National Environmental Policy Act section 102(2)(F)

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  4. Initial Proposal and Submission Information

    5. Step 1 - Submit a proposal not to exceed ten pages postmarked by midnight on August 6th, 2004, Eastern Standard Time (EST). The information should provide EPA with a profile of the applicant, the purpose and anticipated results of your project, an explanation of how you plan to accomplish your project, and an estimate of the time and money needed to complete your project (see format below). During the review of proposals, EPA may request clarification on submitted information. Proposals that are inconsistent with the program goals or that contain unallowable costs and activities will be screened out of the review process.

    Proposal Format

    Proposals must be postmarked by 12 midnight (EST) on August 6th, 2004, (No fax submissions) to:

    Marianne Bailey, Office of International Affairs U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W. (M.C. 2650R) Washington, D.C. 20460-0001
    Email: bailey.marianne@epa.gov

    Step 2 - EPA Notifies Selectee: After the proposal is selected by EPA, we will notify the selectee within 30 days and request submission of a full grant application. An application package is available at the following web address: http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/contents.htm

    Submission Dates and Times

    August 6, 2004, deadline for all proposals to be submitted. Must be postmarked by midnight, EST on August 6, 2004.
    Late applications will not be reviewed or considered for funding.

    Intergovernmental Review (Required)

    Not applicable

    Funding Restrictions

    Not applicable

    Other Submission Requirements

    Once selectee is notified, submission of grant application will be requested.

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  5. Proposal Review Information

    6. Criteria

    EPA will evaluate and rank proposals for funding recommendations using the following criteria (100 points total).

    1. Proposal Concept – Preference will be given to the proposal that demonstrates the likelihood of improving Morocco’s capacity towards environmental protection. Points will be awarded based on the proposal's description of the approaches that will be used and how those approaches will: improve their knowledge of various environmental management issues and solutions (including sustainable development and environmental/ trade linkages); improve their ability to access environmental and other relevant information; improve NGO management structures (as appropriate), as well as strengthening partnerships among NGOs, academia and national and local governmental entities. (50 points)
    2. Proposal Methodology - Proposal clearly demonstrates a logical and meritorious method of conducting the work of the proposed project, the partners that will be used, and specific responsibilities of each entity participating in the proposed project. Work describes accomplishment dates that make sense and are achievable within the parameters of this announcement. (10 points)
    3. Technical Experience - Proposal demonstrates organization has qualified technical capacity for carrying out work. Proposal includes convincing information that the proposer has experience working with international NGOs relative to developing a variety of capacity building programs. (20 points)
    4. Proposal Cost-effectiveness - Proposal includes a cost-effective budget to achieve project goals. Work described is achievable with available funding. (10 points)
    5. Country Experience - The proposal should demonstrate that the proposer either has successful experience or the high potential for establishing such experience, in working with Moroccan NGOs. (10 points)

    Maximum score: 100 points

    Review and Selection Process

    The review and selection of proposals will be conducted by a panel of EPA employees familiar with the Morocco program.

    Any disputes will be resolved in accordance with 40 CFR Part 31, subpart F.

    EPA reserves the right to reject all proposals and to not make any awards.

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  6. Award Administration Information

    7. Award Notification

    After the deadline for the initial proposals has passed, EPA will acknowledge receipt of proposals by postal mail. Once proposals are reviewed, evaluated and ranked, a final selection will be made. The successful applicant will complete and submit an application for federal assistance. All other applicants will be notified within 30 days after award. The notification will be made electronically via postal service depending on how the application was submitted to EPA.

    Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    An applicant whose proposal is selected for federal funding must complete an application for federal assistance, available at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/contents.htm , prior to award (see 40 CFR 30.12 and 31.10). In addition, the successful applicant will be required to certify that they have not been Debarred or Suspended from participation in federal assistance awards in accordance with 40 CFR 32.

    Confidentiality

    Applicants must clearly mark information they consider confidential. EPA will make final confidentiality decisions in accordance with Agency Regulations at 40 CFR Part 2, Subpart B.

    Reporting Requirements

    Quarterly project status reports, a final project report, and final Financial Status Report will be required. Quarterly reports should describe project activities and provide EPA with information about project development and cost. The Financial Status Report must accurately account for federal funds expended and identify appropriate use of federal funds.

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  7. Agency Contact

    8. Marianne Bailey
    Office of International Affairs
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    1200 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W. (M.C. 2650R)
    Washington, D.C. 20460-0001
    Email: bailey.marianne@epa.gov

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