# Presentation: 207866

## FY2008 REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

** **

- Marcus Carpenter
- November 7, 2007

## DISCUSSION TOPICS

History
RFA Statistics 
New for FY08
RFA Topics Solicited 
RFA Process
RFA Process Timeline
Grants Executive Review Board
Evaluation Criteria
Notification of Results
Recommendations

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

**DISCUSSION TOPICS**
- History
- RFA Statistics
- New for FY08
- RFA Topics Solicited
- RFA Process
- RFA Process Timeline
- Grants Executive Review Board
- Evaluation Criteria
- Notification of Results
- Recommendations

## HISTORY
Instituted competitive RFA process four years ago
Embraces use of electronic www.grants.gov mechanism
Simplification
Standardization
Centralization
Goals
Exploit innovative concepts
Expand the base of grantee partners
Improve the transparency of the process
Increase the degree of success in reaching PM/WRA goals and objectives

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

**HISTORY**
- Instituted competitive RFA process four years ago
- Embraces use of electronic _www.grants.gov _mechanism
- Simplification
- Standardization
- Centralization
- Goals
- Exploit innovative concepts
- Expand the base of grantee partners
- Improve the transparency of the process
- Increase the degree of success in reaching PM/WRA goals and objectives

## OFFICE OF WEAPONS REMOVAL AND ABATEMENT

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

## OFFICE OF WEAPONS REMOVAL AND ABATEMENT

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

## OFFICE OF WEAPONS REMOVAL AND ABATEMENT

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

## OFFICE OF WEAPONS REMOVAL AND ABATEMENT

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

## RFA STATISTICS
FY06
57 applications; 31 organizations’ 35 new grants awarded; Total = $2,455,751 
Award amounts ranged from $22,437 to $258,491
Total FY06 grants increased from 64 to 105 awards
FY07
76 applications; 37 organizations; 30 new grants awarded; Total = $2,258,994
Award amounts ranged from $11,657 to $199,897
Total FY07 grants decreased from 105 (FY06) to 94
Decrease due to budget constraints
Amount available to RFA was smaller in FY07 than in FY06
PM/WRA anticipates an increase in amount of FY08 awards
FY08 budget is ~ 50% larger than FY06 and FY07 budgets
FY08 RFA budget is ~65% larger than in FY07

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

**RFA STATISTICS**
- FY06
- 57 applications; 31 organizations’ 35 new grants awarded; Total = $2,455,751
- Award amounts ranged from $22,437 to $258,491
- Total FY06 grants increased from 64 to 105 awards
- FY07
- 76 applications; 37 organizations; 30 new grants awarded; Total = $2,258,994
- Award amounts ranged from $11,657 to $199,897
- Total FY07 grants decreased from 105 (FY06) to 94
- Decrease due to budget constraints
- Amount available to RFA was smaller in FY07 than in FY06
- PM/WRA anticipates an increase in amount of FY08 awards
- FY08 budget is ~ 50% larger than FY06 and FY07 budgets
- FY08 RFA budget is ~65% larger than in FY07

## NEW FOR FY08
Increase in minimum grant amount to $100k in order to improve return on investment.  Applies to all categories except for:
“Private Sector Engagement” ($40k-$50k) 
“Matching Grants” ($40k-$100k)
Added new category for “Destruction”, which includes SA/LW
Renewed focus on “Innovation” for creative and unique ideas and concepts
Limit of 18 months for Period of Performance

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

**NEW FOR FY08**
- Increase in minimum grant amount to $100k in order to improve return on investment.  Applies to all categories except for:
- “Private Sector Engagement” ($40k-$50k)
- “Matching Grants” ($40k-$100k)
- Added new category for “Destruction”, which includes SA/LW
- Renewed focus on “Innovation” for creative and unique ideas and concepts
- Limit of 18 months for Period of Performance

## FY08 RFA TOPICS SOLICITED
“Destruction” - Weapons destruction projects 
“Private Sector Engagement” – Increasing awareness and financial support 
“Matching Grants” – For WRA target countries 
“Retrain/Reintegration” - Of personnel from HMA activities 
“Innovation” - Unsolicited applications that further the goals and objectives of PM/WRA 
“Fusing Data” - Impact Survey, Impact Surveillance, Land Release and National Planning 

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

**FY08 RFA TOPICS SOLICITED**
**“****Destruction”** - Weapons destruction projects
**“****Private Sector Engagement”** – Increasing awareness and financial support
**“****Matching Grants”** – For WRA target countries
**“****Retrain/Reintegration”** - Of personnel from HMA activities
**“****Innovation”** - Unsolicited applications that further the goals and objectives of PM/WRA
**“****Fusing Data”** - Impact Survey, Impact Surveillance, Land Release and National Planning

## THE RFA PROCESS
Director and Deputy Directors decide on topics of interest
Solicit Applications through the http://www.grants.gov portal 
Send out email notice to our grantee partners and others
Post on PM/WRA web site
Applications due within 40 days
RMT receives and acknowledges applications
Review for Compliance with Requirement
Review for Applicability to PM/WRA goals and objectives
Distribute to Program Managers (PM) for independent review and comment
PMs present Applications to Grants Executive Review Board

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

**THE RFA PROCESS**
- Director and Deputy Directors decide on topics of interest
- Solicit Applications through the http://_www.grants.gov_ portal
- Send out email notice to our grantee partners and others
- Post on PM/WRA web site
- Applications due within 40 days
- RMT receives and acknowledges applications
- Review for Compliance with Requirement
- Review for Applicability to PM/WRA goals and objectives
- Distribute to Program Managers (PM) for independent review and comment
- PMs present Applications to Grants Executive Review Board

## RFA PROCESS TIMELINE

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

- RFA Launched

- Nov. 5, 2007

- Questions Due

- Questions & Answers Posted on www.grants.gov

- Proposals Due

- Decision Notification

- Nov. 16, 2007 (5PM EST)

- Mid Feb. 2008

- Dec. 14, 2007 (Midnight EST)

- Nov. 23, 2007

**RFA PROCESS TIMELINE**

## GRANTS EXECUTIVE REVIEW BOARD
Comprised of the three Deputy Directors 
Each Application is reviewed on its own merits with consideration of:
PM comments
PM knowledge of particular program 
Deliberations result in a rank order of Applications and, if necessary, adjustment to Statement of Work and price
Written recommendation is made to Director, PM/WRA
Final decision on award is made by Director, PM/WRA

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

**GRANTS EXECUTIVE REVIEW BOARD**
- Comprised of the three Deputy Directors
- Each Application is reviewed on its own merits with consideration of:
- PM comments
- PM knowledge of particular program
- Deliberations result in a rank order of Applications and, if necessary, adjustment to Statement of Work and price
- Written recommendation is made to Director, PM/WRA
- Final decision on award is made by Director, PM/WRA

## EVALUATION CRITERIA
Significance: How well does project link with PM/WRA goals and objectives?
Approach:  Is the design and methodology sound and adequately developed?
Innovation:  Does the project incorporate novel technologies or approaches?
Personnel:  Are key personnel experienced and capable of managing and performing the project activities?
Environment: Is the project viable and the current political and physical environment?

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

**EVALUATION CRITERIA**
- Significance: How well does project link with PM/WRA goals and objectives?
- Approach:  Is the design and methodology sound and adequately developed?
- Innovation:  Does the project incorporate novel technologies or approaches?
- Personnel:  Are key personnel experienced and capable of managing and performing the project activities?
- Environment: Is the project viable and the current political and physical environment?

## NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS

Decision letters to all Grantees in mid-February
Those selected for award will be contacted by RMT to complete processing:
Complete set of SF424s
Changes to proposal, i.e. scope, price, period of performance
Register new grantees in Payment Management System (PMS) 
Grantees not selected for award are encouraged to request an informal debriefing from the Grants Officer – Marcus Carpenter (carpenter@pmwra.org)

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

**NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS**
- Decision letters to all Grantees in mid-February
- Those selected for award will be contacted by RMT to complete processing:
- Complete set of SF424s
- Changes to proposal, i.e. scope, price, period of performance
- Register new grantees in Payment Management System (PMS)
- Grantees not selected for award are encouraged to request an informal debriefing from the Grants Officer – Marcus Carpenter (_carpenter@pmwra.org_)

## RECOMMENDATIONS
Read the entire RFA
Review the proposed outline and checklist (Attachment 7)
Follow the instructions and required formats 
New applicants should start registration process early
Be concise (11 pages total)
Link goals and objectives with those of PM/WRA
Indicate category # and abbreviated name of corresponding objective (e.g. Category: 4, Retrain/Reintegration)
Create new funding sources or engage new sectors for Category 2 “Private Sector Engagement”
Request NEW money for Category 3 “Matching Grants”
Start project by Sept. 30, 2008
With problems on www.grants.gov, refer to Attachment 5 

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

**RECOMMENDATIONS**
- Read the entire RFA
- Review the proposed outline and checklist (Attachment 7)
- Follow the instructions and required formats
- New applicants should start registration process early
- Be concise (11 pages total)
- Link goals and objectives with those of PM/WRA
- Indicate category # and abbreviated name of corresponding objective (e.g. Category: 4, Retrain/Reintegration)
- Create new funding sources or engage new sectors for Category 2 “Private Sector Engagement”
- Request _NEW_ money for Category 3 “Matching Grants”
- Start project by Sept. 30, 2008
- With problems on _[www.grants.gov](http://www.grants.gov/)_, refer to Attachment 5

- _BUREAU OF POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS_

**QUESTIONS?**