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| 98.003 OCEAN FREIGHT REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM (OFR) |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPOMENT |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, Section 123(b). |
| OBJECTIVES |
| Reimburses registered U.S. private voluntary organizations (PVOs) to ship commodities overseas for use in privately funded development and humanitarian assistance programs. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Grant funds may be used to pay transportation charges on shipments by PVOs registered with USAID to further the efficient use of U.S. voluntary contributions for development, relief, and the rehabilitation of friendly people. Participating PVOs are responsible for ancillary costs such as commodity acquisition, warehousing, insurance, local transportation and distribution. OFR awards will not exceed $150,000 per year. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Applicants must be a U.S. PVO registered with USAID's Office of Private and Voluntary Cooperation; receive at least 20 percent of its total annual financial support for its international programs from non-U.S. government sources; ship only those commodities and only to those countries approved by USAID; have staff or consignees in-country to ensure proper pick-up and distribution of commodities; and provide Duty-Free Certification with the application for each country to which commodities will be shipped. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Registered PVOs in the United States, as well as people located in USAID eligible countries who are in need of humanitarian assistance or relief, benefit from these grants. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Evidence of legal capacity, economic feasibility, and financial responsibility relative to the activity for which assistance is requested. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| As may be specified in a published Request for Application (RFA). This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| As specified in a published Request for Applications. This would include the applicant organization's name, address, contact person and information; project objectives; funding and budget; proposed partners; executive summary, organizational overview, program description, program management and structure; monitoring and consignee receiving distribution system. |
| Award Procedure |
| Awards are made on the basis of competitive Technical Evaluation Committee review of applications. Each application is scored using criteria incorporated in the Request for Applications. Awards are given based on relative scores. |
| Deadlines |
| Specified in the published Request for Application which appears on the DCHA/PVC web site and in the Federal Register. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Approximately five to seven months from the receipt of applications. |
| Appeals |
| If an application is rejected, the reasons for rejection are fully stated. Applicants may request a debriefing of the RFA on the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal. Such requests will be routed to the OFR program officer. |
| Renewals |
| OFR Program grant agreements are for a period of two years. Once awarded, projects will not compete for funding the second year. Funding for projects beyond the first year is contingent upon the availability of program funds, the extent to which the recipient meets program objectives and the recipients ability to utilize OFR funds in a timely manner. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| Not applicable. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| OFR Program grant agreements are for a period of two years. |
| Reports |
| Each award recipient is required to provide on a quarterly basis, the Voluntary Agency Quarterly Report of Shipping Activity which provides data on the actual destination of shipments, types of commodities shipped and subsequent drawdown of program funds. Additional reporting may be required to support congressional requests for information. |
| Audits |
| OFR grant awards will not exceed $150,000 for each year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133 (Revised June 27, 2003 in Federal Register). |
| Records |
| The grantee shall maintain adequate records and accounts to assure that grant funds are used for authorized purposes. |
| Account Identification |
| 12-2278-0-1-151. |
| Obligations |
| (Grants) FY 06 $2,000,000; FY 07 est $2.700,000; and FY 08 est not available. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| From $2,500 to $150,000 each year. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| For fiscal year 2004, 59 grants were awarded. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| The awards made pursuant to the OFR RFA will be subject to the requirements of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 226, Administration of Assistance Awards to U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations, Part 202, Overseas Support of Supplies by Voluntary Non-Profit Relief Agencies, and the applicable Standard Provisions for U.S. Non-Governmental Grantees. The Standard Provisions and 22 CRF Parts 226 and 202 are available on the USAID website at http://www.usaid.gov and http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/cfr.html#22. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| Not applicable. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Ocean Freight Program Officer, Office of Private and Voluntary Cooperation, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC 20523. Telephone: (202) 712-4795. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.usaid.gov. USAID keyword: ofr |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| The OFR Program provides small competitive grants to approximately 50 U.S. PVOs each year. PVOs are reimbursed for the costs to transport donated commodities, such as medical supplies, agricultural equipment, educational supplies and building equipment to developing countries. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Preference is given to applicants that have conformed to the evaluation criteria stated in the Request for Application. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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