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Request for Application: Middle East Entrepreneur Training in the United States (MEET U.S.)DEPARTMENT OF STATE Funding Opportunity Description: The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) supports economic, political, and educational reform efforts in the Middle East and champions opportunity for all people of the region, especially women and youth. A critical goal in the area of economic reform is to advance business development opportunity in the region by facilitating growth in private sector incomes and increased private sector employment. The priority approach to meet this goal under this announcement is the enhancement of international networks and specific skills for senior executives and managers to grow their businesses in the MEPI region. MEPI anticipates funding the establishment of the Middle East Executive Training program (MEET U.S.) to provide skills training, professional networking, and alumni support systems and to increase the managerial and entrepreneurial skills available and the number of voices championing a larger role for the private sector in Arab economies. MEET U.S. is envisioned to consist of a U.S.-based executive seminar, at least two sector specific managerial training seminars, and at least two region-based alumni events, one in North Africa and one in the Middle East. Additional innovative components that could be added to the package such as a business mentoring element or internship programs will also be considered. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement Anticipated Total Program Funding: $1.5 million in Federal Fiscal Year 2004 Anticipated Number of Awards: 1-2 Project and Budget Periods for Awards: This announcement invites applications for project periods up to three years. Awards, on a competitive basis, will be for a one-year budget period although project periods may be for three years. Applications for continuation funds beyond the first year budget period will be entertained in subsequent years on a noncompetitive basis, subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Government. Electronic Link to Full Announcement: Go to http://www.mepi.state.gov, click on Current Opportunities, click on MEET US. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants include all non-governmental institutions, private organizations, and commercial entities. Additional Information on Eligibility: All Applicants must have Duns & Bradstreet Number. On June 27, 2003, the Office of Management and Budget published in the Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal grant applicants. The policy requires Federal grant applicants to provide a Duns and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on of after October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide electronic portal (www.Grants.gov). A DUNS number will be required for every application for a new award or renewal/continuation of an award, including applications or plans under formula, entitlement and block grant programs, submitted on or after October 1, 2003. Please ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may acquire a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number on-line at www.dnb.com Explanation of Application Due Dates:
Application/Proposal Submission and Deadline An application (Standard Form 424) with an original signature and two clearly identified copies is required. The application form (Standard Form 424) and instructions can be obtained from either: Application materials must be submitted to the U.S. Department of State, Anna Mary Portz, Grants Officer, NEA/PI, Room 4241, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC, 20520 on or before close of business (4:30 p.m. EST) February 2, 2004. Due to delays in regular mail delivery to the State Department, applicants are strongly encouraged to hand-carry or use couriers to deliver applications to NEA/PI, between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., to the attention of Anna Mary Portz. Express or overnight mail services may also be used though applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed and other delays may occur until regular mail delivery is resumed. Applicants must also provide an electronic copy of the proposal by e-mail to Anna Mary Portz, Grants Officer at e-mail address portzam@state.gov. Proposals must be submitted in both hard copy and by e-mail; proposals submitted only by e-mail, or only in hard copy, will not be considered. The Grants Officer must be aware that the proposal is on its way, or the package risks being considered late or turned away by Diplomatic Security. Applications submitted by e-mail and either (1) mail (including express mail or overnight mail services), or (2) hand-carried by applicant couriers or by other representatives of the applicant, shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before close of business (4:30 p.m. EST) February 2, 2004. Late Applications Applications received after the closing date and time will be classified as late. Applications which do not meet the criteria above are considered late applications. NEA/PI shall notify each late applicant that its application will not be considered in the current competition. Extension of Deadline: NEA/PI may extend an application deadline when circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur; or when there is widespread disruptions of the mail service, or in other rare cases. A determination to waive or extend deadline requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management Officer. Funding Opportunity Description: I. Priority Area: This announcement seeks one or more partner agencies which will use guidance and criteria provided by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Dept. of Commerce to identify and nominate approximately 35 outstanding senior executives from Middle East and North African businesses to come to the United States to participate in a 10 day executive business seminar run by the grantee. The seminar will provide business executives from the region with in-depth exposure to U.S. business practices and standards. The executive seminar ideally will provide extensive networking opportunities for participants. Businesswomen must be given equal opportunity to participate in all elements of the project. The U.S. government will make final decisions on participants based proposed nominations.Successful applications will include opportunities for interactive discussions on value-added business concepts impacting the global economy and specifically Middle Eastern executives. These discussions could include, but are not limited to: leadership and strategy, business ethics and conduct, workforce management, expansion and succession planning, finance, accounting, investor relations, alliances and strategic partnering, marketing and sales, bidding and negotiating grants, regulatory policy, manufacturing, standards and international certifications, quality control and product improvement, innovation strategies, information technology, and e-commerce. Opportunities to include practical, interaction with senior executives from both U.S. Fortune 500 businesses and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged and may be proposed to include training and site visit. This announcement also seeks one or more partner organizations to develop and implement two industry specific business seminars for manager, each lasting three weeks. Approximately twenty participants will be chosen to attend each seminar. The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Dept. of Commerce will be substantially involved in the identification of outstanding business managers in the Middle East and North Africa based on their leadership ability, business success, and their potential to promote change within their organization and surrounding business community. Individuals that normally would not have the financial ability to interact with U.S. businesses and have limited experience with American business culture, especially women and younger (age thirty-five and below) managers are a priority. Examples of an industry focus for these seminars might include, but are not limited, to: telecommunications, technology, energy, manufacturing, food processing, textile, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, construction, agriculture, and financial and other service businesses such as travel and tourism. All participants for each seminar will represent businesses in that industry or in a critical part of the industry supply chain. MEET U.S. will support two alumni events a year in the Middle East and North Africa for alumni of the executive seminars and managerial training seminars. These activities could include seminars, workshops, follow-on training, conferences, and network events featuring relevant topics for MEET U.S. alumni. Alumni events may also include business leaders throughout the Middle East and North Africa, as well as participants from other U.S. Government-sponsored programs. This will ensure that members of MEPI-supported programs forge important alliances necessary to implement positive change in the region. In order to successfully plan and execute the alumni portion of the project, successful applicants should propose methods for tracking and communicating alumni throughout the proposed project period and sharing this information with State and Commerce for other outreach programs. This element could include MEET U.S. e-mail addresses, newsletters, and / or surveys. For the alumni events to be held in North Africa and the Middle East, applicants should propose a representative conference for approximately one hundred participants, about half of whom would be alumni of the executive seminar and the sector seminars. The other invitees could include other business leaders, government officials, representatives from business organizations, academics from business schools, and the media. Plans should suggest a venue for each of the two meetings, include translation/interpretation services, and provide for the development in electronic form of event proceedings. Other programmatic elements may be proposed to strengthen the MEET U.S. program, such as longer-term mentorship programs between MEET U.S. participants and U.S. executives, formal internship programs between companies of MEET U.S. participants and U.S. business partners, or additional elements that could enhance the current seminars. If applicant is U.S.-based and proposes continuing support for participants, the plan must describe how selection of participants would be made, how fair participation for women alumnae would be ensured, how mentors would be selected, and if the alumni have returned to their homes, U.S. mentors will have access. If support would be region-based, the plan might address using outstanding alumni from the program as mentors for others and additional training they would be provided to ensure their success as mentors. Any materials provided should be in Arabic or French to share with participants, preferably through CD-ROM or electronic library, thereby creating a second tier of alumni in the Middle East and North Africa. If an E-Business Library is proposed, the application should discuss which titles and links would be included, how the library would be organized and could be searched, who would have access, and how titles would be made available, including matters of copyright and royalty.
II. Award Information Funding Instrument Type: One or more cooperative agreements will initially be funded for one year, with an option to extend for up to two additional years based on the achievement of performance metrics in the first year, availability of funds, and the best interests of the U.S. Government. Anticipated Total Priority Area Funding: $1.5 million during Federal Fiscal Year 2004. Anticipated Number of Awards: 1-2 Ceiling on amount of individual Awards: Floor of Individual Award Amounts: Average Projected Award Amount: III. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants include all non-governmental institutions, private organizations, and commercial entities.NEA encourages single applications from partnerships or consortia of more than one organization. In this context, NEA is defining partnership as a negotiated arrangement among organizations that provides for a substantive, collaborative role for each of the partners in the planning and implementation of the project. Applications that represent a coalition of providers should include a signed partnership agreement stating a commitment or intent to commit or receive resources from the prospective partner (s) contingent upon receipt of funds. The agreement should state how the partnership arrangement relates to the objectives of the project. The applicant should also include: supporting documentation identifying the resources, experience, and expertise of the partner (s); evidence that the partner (s) has been involved in the planning of the project; and a discussion of the role of the partner (s) in the implementation of the project.
Additional Information on Eligibility: All Applicants must have Duns & Bradstreet Number. On June 27, 2003, the Office of Management and Budget published in the Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal grant applicants. The policy requires Federal grant applicants to provide a Duns and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on of after October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide electronic portal (www.Grants.gov). A DUNS number will be required for every application for a new award or renewal/continuation of an award, including applications or plans under formula, entitlement and block grant programs, submitted on or after October 1, 2003. Please ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may acquire a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number on-line at www.dnb.com Other Eligibility Criteria: Projects covered by this announcement must be for countries in the Near Eastern region and not currently on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List. These are: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, West/Bank Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, and Yemen. IV. Review and Selection Process: Each applications submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of the following evaluation criteria. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success. The criteria are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application. Points are awarded only to applications that are responsive within the context of this program announcement. Assume all program activities in the United States would be conducted in English with simultaneous Arabic translation.Approach (Total -- 45 points)
The Executive Business Seminar plan (15 points) includes:
The Industry Specific Seminars for managers plan (15 points) includes:
The program for project alumni (15 points) should include:
Geographic Location (10 points) Staff and Position Data (15 points)
Organizational Profiles (15 points) The application should demonstrate organizational or coalition capacity to:
Points will be awarded based on:
Budget (35 points)
V. Award Administration Information V.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements: V.3 Reporting Requirements
VI. Agency Contacts: Grants Management Office Contact:
VI. Other Information Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13) Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 hours per overall response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information. The following information collections are included in the program announcement: The Uniform Project Description is approved under OMB control number 0970-0139, which expires 12/31/2003. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. [end] Released by the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs [also see January 22, 2003 Questions and Answers] |
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