Grant Opportunity: Research on Male Victims of Human Trafficking

Department of State – Global Affairs

Eligibility

Applicants may be public agencies (including state agencies, units of local government, public universities and colleges, and tribal governments) and private organizations (both nonprofit and for-profit) based either in the U.S. or abroad.

The Department encourages organizations that have not previously received international program funding from the U.S. Government to apply under this announcement. New applicants must have a demonstrated expertise in one or more of the subject areas covered by the research. The Department will consider favorably expertise and established relationships with indigenous NGOs, CBOs, and civil society in the countries in which the research will be conducted.

Contact Information

A) For questions relating to Grants.gov, please call the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726.
B) For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact Luke Goodrich, Research Consultant, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, at:
Email: Goodrichlw@state.gov
Phone: 202-216-5865

CONTENTS

I. Introduction

II. Eligibility Requirements

III. Application and Submission Information

IV. Award Selection Criteria

V. Award Administration

VI. Disclaimer

I. INTRODUCTION

The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) is the office within the U.S. Department of State charged with coordinating the U.S. Government’s anti-trafficking efforts both worldwide and domestically. G/TIP produces an annual report on the efforts of foreign governments to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons, issues several million dollars in anti-trafficking program grants each year, and funds research to gain a better understanding of the problem of human trafficking.

G/TIP is pleased to announce this open competition for assistance awards to conduct research on human trafficking. The Department expects have approximately $350,000 available to award one or more grants.

Policy Perspective
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 under this grant 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 ameliorate 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.

Research Topic
G/TIP seeks research with direct and obvious practical application to anti-trafficking policy and practice on the following subject:

• Male victims of human trafficking. Although women and children suffer disproportionately from the crime of human trafficking, a significant number of males fall victim to traffickers each year. Research on human trafficking has often overlooked these victims, and G/TIP therefore seeks proposals that will shed light on this aspect of human trafficking. In particular, G/TIP is interested in research that examines and analyzes forms or aspects of human trafficking that affect male victims and that are lesser-known or have received insufficient attention from government or NGO anti-trafficking efforts. Such research may be qualitative or quantitative; global, regional, national, or local; but it should have direct and obvious practical application to anti-trafficking policy and practice. Proposals also should make clear that the applicant understands the difference between smuggling and trafficking, and between merely exploitative labor situations and trafficking for forced labor.

II. ELIGIBILITY Requirements

Eligible applicants include public agencies (including state agencies, units of local government, public universities and colleges, and tribal governments) and private organizations (both nonprofit and for-profit) based either in the U.S. or abroad. The Department encourages organizations that have not previously received international program funding from the U.S. Government to apply under this announcement (see "Eligibility" on page 1).

Applicants are not required to include funding from other donors. However, applications that include additional in-kind and/or cash contributions from non-U.S. Government sources will be more competitive, since cost-sharing demonstrates a strong commitment to the planned activities and will be rewarded under the cost-effectiveness evaluation criterion.

In order to avoid duplication of effort, potential applicants should be aware of existing U.S. Government (USG) funded research and programs that are relevant to their research proposal.

For information on the USG’s international anti-trafficking efforts (Annual Trafficking in Persons Reports and previously-funded USG projects) please go to: http://www.state.gov/g/tip/.

III. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A) Application Submission Process: Applicants must submit applications electronically using Grants.gov. Thorough instructions on applying for grants through Grants.gov are available at http://www.grants.gov. Eligible applicants who are based abroad and have no offices or personnel in the United States may email applications to G/TIP at: goodrichlw@state.gov. However, such applicants are strongly encouraged to apply electronically using Grants.gov if at all possible. For questions relating to Grants.gov, please call the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726. For other questions about this solicitation, contact Luke Goodrich, Research Consultant, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, at:
Email: Goodrichlw@state.gov
Phone: 202-216-5865

Application Deadline: All applications must be submitted on or before August 16^th, 2006, 11:59 p.m. eastern time. Applications submitted after 11:59 p.m. on August 16^th will be ineligible for consideration. Begin the application process early—especially if you have never used Grants.gov. All applicants must register with Grants.gov before submitting an application (see above), and the registration process takes time. There will be no exceptions to this application deadline.

Award Period: Up to 24 months

Award Amount: Approximately $350,000 is available for this grant program, and individual awards generally range from $100,000 to $350,000.

B) Application Content: Applicants must follow the instructions and conditions contained herein and supply all information required. Failure to furnish all information may disqualify and applicant. Applicants must set forth full, accurate, and complete information as required by this request for proposals. The penalty for making false statements in proposals to the United States Governments is prescribed on 18 U.S.C.1001.

Page Limit: The program narrative must not exceed 15 double-spaced pages in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. All pages should be numbered. The page count excludes the abstract, table of contents, budget, required forms, curricula vitae (no more than three pages each), and other appendices. However, appendices may not be used to circumvent the page length limit. The proposal should consist of eleven sections, as outlined below.

Section 1 – Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424): SF-424 can be found on-line at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/forms.html.

Section 2 – Abstract:
The abstract should not exceed 400 words. It must describe, at a minimum, the need for the project, the question to be addressed, and the research methodology.

Section 3 – Statement of the Problem:
The statement of the problem must describe the need for the project and provide a clear statement of how the proposed project will address that need.

Section 4 – Project Goals and Objectives:
The applicant must specify the goals and objectives of the project. The goals should state the overall purpose of what is to be accomplished. The objectives should describe the steps necessary to reach the goals or how the goals should be accomplished.

Section 5 – Brief Review of Relevant Literature:
The applicant must provide a brief description of the relevant literature related to the subject matter of the project proposal.

Section 6 – Research Design and Methodology:
The applicant must provide a detailed description of the research design and methodology, explaining how the project will address the identified problems and support the goals and objectives. The research methodology must include a description of project phases, tasks, activities, proposed local partners, and staff responsibilities. It must include a time-task plan that clearly identifies objectives, major activities, and staff responsibilities.

Section 7 – Organizational Capability, Experience, and Project Management:
Applications must include a clear description of the applicant’s management structure and previous experience with trafficking-related research projects. Applicants must include a description of the proposed professional staff members’ and local partners’ unique qualifications that will enable them to fulfill their grant responsibilities.

Applicants must include information on the organization’s background and presence in any country or region where it proposes to conduct research activities, including a brief list of the organization’s other active projects in the country/region and the funding sources for those activities.

Section 8 – Practical Implications and Application of the Research:
Applicants must explain the practical implications and application they expect their research to have for anti-trafficking policy and practice.

Section 9 – Budget:
The budget must be accompanied with a budget narrative that provides, in detail, the total proposed costs for the implementation of the project. The budget shall be presented in annual increments as appropriate. Applicants must submit their budgets using the Budget Information Non-construction Programs (SF- 424a), which can be fount at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/forms.html.

The budget must also contain all necessary schedules to adequately support and explain proposed costs, including:

1. A detailed analysis of level of effort (including specific personnel, rates of compensation, and amount of time proposed);

2. Details of all other direct cost items for supplies and equipment;

3. A salary history from the past three years for each individual proposed whose labor will be charged directly (whether to the Department of State or to contributions by the applicant) under the grant. The position titles must be consistent with the applicant’s proposal. Any consulting fees must clearly specify the number of days and the day rate charged;

4. The budget must clearly differentiate between costs proposed for Department of State funding, and costs proposed for funding by other organizations, if any;

5. Items of cost should be shown as the following line items:

a. Direct Labor – In addition to direct labor costs, the budget should also indicate the number of paid absences (vacation, holiday, and sick days) and the method of recovering costs for paid absences, i.e. through direct labor charges, fridge benefits, or indirect costs.

b. Fringe Benefits – If accounted for as a separate item of costs, fringe benefits should be based on the applicant’s audited fringe benefit rate or historical cost data. If the latter is used, it should be supported by a detailed breakdown comprised of all items of fringe benefits (e.g., unemployment insurance, workers compensation, health and life insurance, retirement, FICA, etc.)

c. Supplies and Equipment – The budget must differentiate between expendable supplies and nonexpendable supplies.

d. Travel and Per Diem (in accordance with U.S. Federal Travel Regulations) – Number and cost of trips proposed.

e. Other direct costs.

f. Indirect costs – Indirect costs should be budgeted and supported as described above. If the applicant proposes to absorb some or all indirect costs as cost-sharing, this needs to be indicated.

g. Fee – No fee or profit shall be awarded under this assistance instrument.

h. Miscellaneous items – No budget line items entitled "miscellaneous items" shall be awarded under this assistance instrument.

Section 10 – Other Requirements
1. Required Forms- Applicants must include a copy of SF-424b (Assurances – Non-construction Programs). This form can be found on-line at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/forms.html

2. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars-Organizations should be familiar with OMB Circulars A-110 (Revised) 22 CFR 145 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Nonprofit Organizations); A-122/A-21 (Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations; Indirect Costs); and A-133/A-128 (Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Organizations) on cost accounting principles. These OMB circulars can be found on-line at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/index.html.

3. DUNS number- The Office of Management and Budget requires that all business and nonprofit applicants for federal funds include a DUNS (Data Universal Numeric System) number in their application for a new award or renewal of an award. Applications without a DUNS number are incomplete. A DUNS number is a unique 9-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for identifying and keeping track if entities receiving federal funds. The identifier is used for tracking purposes and to validate address and point of contact information. The DUNS number will be used throughout the grant life cycle. Obtaining a DUNS number is free, simple, one-time activity. Applicants can obtain one by calling
1-866-705-5711 or by applying online at http://www.dunandbradstreet.com. Individuals are exempt from this requirement.

4. Grantee Statement- Grantees must provide a statement that their organization does not promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution. Grantees are also required to insert the following provision in all sub-agreements under this award:

"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 under this grant 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 ameliorate 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."

Section 11 (optional) – Restrictions on Disclosure and Use of Data
Applicants, who include in their proposals data that they do not want disclosed to the public for any purpose or used by the U.S. Government except for evaluation purposes, shall:

1. Mark the title page with the following legend:

"This proposal includes data that shall not be disclosed outside the U.S. Government and shall not be duplicated, used, or disclosed-in whole or in part-for any purpose other than to evaluate this proposal.

"If, however, a grant is awarded to this Applicant as a result of, or in connection with the submission of this data, the U.S. Government shall have the right to duplicate, use, or disclose the data to the extent provided in the resulting grant. This restriction does not limit the U.S. Government’s right to use information contained in these data if it is obtained from another source without restriction. The data subject to this restriction are contained in sheets (insert numbers or other identification of sheets)"; and

2. Mark each data sheet the applicant wishes to restrict with the following legend:

"Use or disclosure of data contained on this sheet is subject to the restriction on the title page of this proposal."

IV. AWARD SELECTION CRITERIA
Consistent with the federal grant regulations, the Department reserves the right to give priority for its funds to combat trafficking to those organizations working on key U.S. Government objectives (whether in the areas of prevention protection, assistance, or prosecution) that are and have been supportive, in policy and programs, of U.S. Government policies on combating trafficking in persons and prostitution.

Evaluation Criteria: Applicants should note that the following criteria (1) serve as a standard against which all proposals will be evaluated, and (2) serve to identify the significant matters that should be addressed in all proposals.

Project narratives shall be evaluated in accordance with the criteria set forth below. Thereafter, the Budget of applicant(s) submitting a competitive proposal shall be evaluated for reasonableness, allowability, and allocability in accordance with the cost evaluation criteria, also set forth below. Negotiations will only be conducted with applicants whose proposals have a reasonable chance of being selected for award. The USG will award grants to the applicants whose offers represent the best value to the USG on the basis of the following: (a) technical merit, and (b) cost.

A) Project Narrative: Project narratives will be evaluated by a peer review committee of Department of State and other individuals, as deemed appropriate. The evaluation criteria have been tailored to the requirements of this request for proposals. To facilitate the review of proposals, the applicants should organize their project narrative in the same order as the application content, as listed above, with the curricula vitae and past performance as appendices. When applying electronically on Grants.gov, the project narrative and appendices are submitted as attachments.

• Relevance (25 points): Applicants must explain the importance and relevance of the proposal to the research topics described in Section I of this solicitation, as well as the broader U.S. Government policy objectives on human trafficking. Applicants should also explain how the research complements existing U.S. Government efforts in relevant countries or draws attention to an important gap in those efforts.
  
• Research Design and Methodology (40 points): Applicants must provide a detailed description of the research design and methodology, including how the research design will address the problem described. The methodology may include quantitative or qualitative data, and the description of the methodology may include, for example:
  • Sampling frame
  • Strategies for recruiting and retaining study participants
  • Expected response rates and follow-up procedures for non-respondents
  • Data collection strategies and instruments
  • Data analysis techniques
  • Discussion of strengths and potential weaknesses in the design proposed
  • Timeline for the study
    
• Organizational Capacity (20 points): Proposals should demonstrate the applicant’s ability to develop and implement research projects in the area of trafficking and human rights. Applicants must demonstrate how their resources, capabilities, and experience will enable them to achieve the goals and objectives. In addition, applicants should describe how and with whom they will collaborate to meet project goals. The application must distinguish all key partners and organizations that will be involved in the project.
  
• Practical Application of the Research (15 points): Applicants must explain the practical implications and application they expect their research to have for anti-trafficking policy and practice. Projects should not only advance knowledge about the phenomenon of human trafficking but also develop concrete steps the U.S. Government and others can take to combat it.

B) Budget: Costs shall be evaluated for realism, control practices, and efficiency. The Department of State must determine that the costs paid for this award are reasonable, allowable, and allocable to the proposed project activity. This will consist of a review of the Budget to determine if the overall costs are realistic for the work performed, if the costs reflect the applicant’s understanding of the requirements and if the costs are consistent with the program narrative and traceable.

V. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

Award Notices: The assistance award grant or co-operative agreement shall be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The Grants Officer is the Government official delegated the authority by the U.S. Department of State Procurement Executive to write, award, and administer grants and cooperative agreements. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the Recipient through either postal mail or facsimile transmission. Organizations whose applications will not be funded will also be notified in writing.

Anticipated Time to Award: Due to the extended requirements related to transfer and obligation of funds, applicants should expect to be notified of the recommended programs within 90 days after the submission deadline. However, the anticipated time of award distribution is 10-12 months after the submission deadline.

Issuance of this request for proposals does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government, nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the Government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

Reporting Requirements: Grantees are required to submit program progress and financial reports throughout the project period. Program progress reports 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. Program reports at a minimum should be submitted via electronic mail to an address to be provided in the award.

• Program Progress Reports: Quarterly
• Financial Reports: Quarterly

VI. Disclaimer
If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with the award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the Department of State.