Request for Proposals

General Funding Information
Current Funding Opportunities

General Funding Information

The mission of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) is to end human trafficking by prosecuting traffickers, protecting and assisting victims, and developing efforts to prevent trafficking from occurring or continuing. While G/TIP has many responsibilities with regard to this mission, one important element of G/TIP's strategy is to provide support for anti-trafficking efforts throughout the world. The financial appropriations approved by Congress and the President allow G/TIP to fund anti-trafficking programs in locations that demonstrate considerable need. In Fiscal Years 2005 and 2006, G/TIP administered approximately $17 million in funds to combat trafficking worldwide.

G/TIP's funds are used primarily to assist Tier 3 and Tier 2 Watch List countries, though organizations can apply to address identified gaps in Tier 2 countries. Priority is given to address issues or deficiencies identified in the TIP Reports and Interim Assessments. Additional factors that are considered include the severity and scope of the trafficking problem in the country, the country's financial resources or lack of resources, and the political will on the part of a country's national and/or local governments to work cooperatively to address identified TIP problems. The intent of G/TIP support, which generally lasts 18 to 36 months, is to create an environment conducive to systemic change that will have a long-term, sustainable, positive impact on combating TIP.

The following list, though not exhaustive, identifies the kinds of activities that G/TIP funds:

• Creating or enhancing cooperative efforts between the criminal justice sector and civil society, especially projects designed to improve victim protection and assistance services;
• Law enforcement-related projects, such as: technical assistance to improve anti-trafficking legislation; development of anti-TIP written polices and procedures for law enforcement agencies; implementation of improved procedures for law enforcement to identify and rescue victims, conduct investigations, protect and assist victims, and prosecute traffickers; and training for law enforcement, immigration officials, prosecutors, and judges.
• Training on trafficking and sexual exploitation/abuse prevention provided by NGOs or IOs for military personnel in peacekeeping operations;
• Assisting NGOs and/or government agencies to develop, implement, or expand comprehensive services for adult and child victims of sex trafficking or forced labor. Comprehensive services include victim protection, appropriate housing, medical and mental health services, as well as assistance with legal advocacy, immigration status, employment and/or education needs, safe repatriation or other resettlement, and coordination with law enforcement on criminal cases.
• Capacity-building and collaborative efforts between NGOs through mentoring, technical assistance, exchanges, and information-sharing.

G/TIP generally solicits for proposals via two means: (1) solicitations on www.grants.gov; and (2) a global call for proposals to U.S. Embassies abroad. Solicitations conducted via www.grants.gov involve applicants submitting their proposals through the grants.gov system. Applicants unfamiliar with the requirements of this system should review information on the www.grants.gov website. The global call for proposals is a partnership between U.S. Embassies and G/TIP, with embassies soliciting proposals and then submitting those proposals to G/TIP for consideration, and possibly funding and project monitoring. For information on when G/TIP's next solicitations will be made public, please see the Current Funding Opportunitiesand Upcoming Funding Opportunities sections.

G/TIP expects proposals to follow a standard format, outlined below, though applicants should review the requirements of specific solicitations to ensure complete compliance with technical requirements. All proposal components must be submitted in English. The proposal narrative (Sections 1 through 5 below) is often permitted to be no longer than 5 pages in length. The budget, budget narrative, resumes, and standard forms are attached to the proposal narrative.

Section 1 - Required Standard Forms

Each application must include the SF-424, SF-424a, and SF-424b. These forms, and instructions for completion, can be found on-line at: www.grants.gov.

Section 2 - Abstract

The abstract is limited to 300 words in length. It must provide a summary of the identified need, proposed activities, and expected results.

Section 3 - Problem Statement

The problem statement must describe the need for the project, with regards to: location, the extent and nature of the trafficking problem in the area, and the population or group affected by the trafficking problem. Corroboration of the perceived problem should be presented, with any available qualitative and quantitative information, such as recent research studies and baseline statistics related to the proposed project. The problem statement should identify the existing resources in the location, such as on-going anti-trafficking programs and their funding sources, as well as general internal and external support mechanisms.

Section 4 - Project Goals/Objectives/Implementation Plan

The applicant must specify the goals and objectives of the project, relative to the problem statement. The goals and objectives must be measurable, and specific to what the proposed project can achieve. The proposed activities should be clearly linked to the achievement of the goals, objectives, and targets. This section should also describe how success will be measured in terms of performance indicators and targets. Finally, this section must include a time-task plan that clearly identifies the objectives and major activities.

Section 5 - Organizational Capability

Applications must include a clear description of the applicant's previous experience with victims of trafficking and trafficking-related projects, and organizational experience and background in the country/region as they relate to the proposed activities. This section must also identify the local partners involved in the project (if applicable), and provide a brief description of their experience and capacity. The management structure and staffing plan for the proposed project must be included.

Section 6 - Appendices:

The proposal submission can only include those appendices listed in the solicitation. Most G/TIP solicitations include the following appendices:

1. Summary Budget - The budget must identify the total amount of funding requested, in U.S. dollars, with a breakdown of amounts to be spent in the following budget categories, as applicable: (a) Personnel; (b) Fringe Benefits; (c) Travel; (d) Equipment; (e) Supplies; (f) Contractual; (g) Consultant Fees; (h) Other Direct Costs; (i) Total direct charges [sum of (a) through (h)]; (j) Indirect Charges; and (k) Totals.
2. Line-Item Budget - The line-item budget should provide sufficient information for each summary category to justify the inclusion and reasonableness of the costs presented. The line-item budget should be articulated as follows:
   
   1. Personnel - Identify staffing requirements by each position title, and brief description of duties. List annual salary of each position, percentage of time and number of months devoted to project.
   2. Fringe Benefits - State benefit costs separately from salary costs and explain how benefits are computed for each category of employee. Specify the type and rate.
   3. Travel - Identify staff and participant travel, including: international airfare; in-country travel; domestic travel in the U.S.; per diem/maintenance (includes lodging, meals, and incidentals for both participant and staff travel). Please note that rates of maximum allowance for U.S. and foreign travel are available at: www.policyworks.gov. Per diem rates may not exceed the published U.S. Government allowance rates, but institutions do have the option of using lower per diem rates.
   4. Equipment - Provide justification for any equipment purchase/rental, defined as tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5000 or more.
   5. Supplies - List items separately using unit costs (and the percentage of each unit cost being charged to the grant) for photocopying, postage, telephone/fax, printing, and office supplies.
   6. Contractual - For each sub-grant/contract, provide a detailed line-item breakdown explaining specific services. In the sub-grant budgets, provide the same level of detail for personnel, fringe benefits, travel, supplies, equipment, and direct costs required of the primary applicant.
   7. Consultant Fees - If consultants will be used in the grant, provide all costs related to their activities, including travel and per diem costs.
   8. Other Direct Costs - These will vary depending on the nature of the grant. Identify each cost and provide justification.
   9. Indirect Charges - If your organization has an indirect cost rate agreement with the U.S. Government, include a copy as an addendum to the budget, and indicate how the rate is applied.
3. Budget Narrative - A budget narrative must accompany the line-item budget to sufficiently justify each identified cost.
4. Resume - A resumemust be included for the proposed key staff person, such as the Project Director. If an individual for this type of position has not been identified, the applicant may submit a 1-page position description, identifying the qualifications and skills required for that position, in lieu of a resume.

G/TIP usually convenes interagency review panels to assess the proposals and assist in making funding determinations. Applicants can expect to receive notification regarding the status of their proposals approximately 90 days after G/TIP's submission deadline. Applicants should be aware that often 8 to 12 months elapse between the completion of the panel review process and when the awards are made.

Applicants selected for an award must meet the following reporting and policy requirements:

• Reporting Requirements: Grantees are required to submit quarterly program progress and financial reports throughout the project period. Progress and financial reports are due 30 days after the reporting period. Final programmatic and financial reports are due 90 days after the close of the project period. Progress reports at a minimum should be submitted via electronic mail to an address to be provided in the award.

• Policy Requirements: Grantees are required to agree to the following special conditions prior to a grant being awarded:

• "The U.S. Government is opposed to prostitution and related activities, which are inherently harmful and dehumanizing, and contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in persons. None of the funds made available herein may be used to promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to preclude assistance designed to combat trafficking in persons, including programs for prevention, protection of victims, and prosecution of traffickers, by ameliorating the suffering of, or health risks to, victims while they are being trafficked or after they are out of the situation that resulted from such victims being trafficked. The recipient shall insert this provision in all sub-agreements under this award."

• "Recipient hereby states that it does not promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution and will not promote, support, or advocate the legalization or the practice of prostitution during the term of this grant. The recipient shall insert this provision in all sub-agreements under this award."

Current Funding Opportunities

G/TIP currently has three open solicitations, all available for viewing on www.grants.gov:

1) “Evaluability Assessments of International Anti-Trafficking Programming.” The Department will enter into two cooperative agreements with a maximum amount per award of $200,000. Eligibility is not limited under this opportunity, but significance will be placed on cost-effectiveness. All applications must be submitted via www.grants.gov on or before January 15, 2008, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

2) “International Collaborative Partnerships to Combat Trafficking.” The Department has approximately $1.2 million available for this grant program to support multiple awards with a maximum amount per award of $200,000. Eligibility is limited to not-for-profit organizations subject to 501 (c) (3) of the tax code. Each application must include at least one sub-grant to a locally-based organization as part of a mentorship model. Direct funding for non-U.S. institutions is not available under this announcement. All applications must be submitted via www.grants.gov on or before March 3, 2008, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

3) “International Programs to Combat Trafficking.” The Department has approximately $8.5 million available to fund programs across all regions, and a maximum amount per award of $500,000. Eligibility is not limited under this opportunity, but significance will be placed on cost-effectiveness. Organizations proposing projects with a regional or global scope must submit via www.grants.gov on or before February 12, 2008, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications for programs in individual countries must be submitted to U.S. Embassies in the country where the proposed program will be located. Please note that embassies will determine their own deadlines for local submission. Applicants should also note that G/TIP has requested that embassies submit up to five proposals to G/TIP by February 12, 2008.

For more information regarding these funding opportunities, including descriptions, programmatic priorities, and application requirements, please visit www.grants.gov.