Funding Opportunity Announcement
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
April 27, 2017
Funding Opportunity Number: SFOP0001616
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number:
19.018 – Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs) for U.S. Refugee Resettlement
Announcement issuance date: Thursday, April 27, 2017
Proposal submission deadline: Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. noon EDT
Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered.
**ADVISORY: All applicants must submit proposals through the
website Grants.gov NOT through SAMS Domestic site. Please note that if
you apply on the SAMS Domestic site, your application will be
disqualified. PRM strongly recommends submitting your proposal early to
allow time to address any difficulties that may arise.**
If you are new to PRM funding, the Grants.gov registration process can be complicated. While PRM’s
General NGO Guidelines
are geared towards overseas assistance programming and not for refugee
admissions, you may refer to the section on “Application Process” for
information and resources on how to obtain a DUNS number, register with
SAM.gov, and register with grants.gov. PRM also strongly encourages
organizations that have received funding from PRM in the past to read
this section as a refresher.
Full Text of Notice of Funding Opportunity
A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
I. Purpose of the Resettlement Support Center
The admissions process for refugee applicants seeking resettlement in
the United States is overseen by the Bureau of Population, Refugees,
and Migration of the Department of State (the Bureau).
The purpose of Resettlement Support Centers
(RSC)
Africa, Turkey and the Middle East (TuME), and Eurasia are to assist the
Bureau in preparing the necessary casework for persons in selected
locations in sub-Saharan Africa, Turkey and Lebanon, and Europe and
Central Asia, respectively, eligible for interview by United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program
(USRAP). For those persons approved, the RSC provides assistance in
completing the additional requirements for refugee admission under
Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. These requirements
include, but are not limited to, completing the required security
checks, a medical exam, and attending cultural orientation. In addition,
the RSC forwards the necessary data on all DHS-approved cases to the
Refugee Processing Center (RPC) in Virginia for distribution to U.S.
Reception and Placement agencies according to procedures established by
the Bureau.
The Bureau will make one award each for RSC Africa, RSC TuME, and RSC
Eurasia based in Nairobi, Kenya; Istanbul, Turkey; and Moscow, Russia;
respectively, for an initial period beginning October 1, 2017, through
September 30, 2018, subject to the availability of funds. Through the
award, the Bureau will provide full financial support to the selected
organization, based on the proposal submitted in response to this
request.
The organizations selected to operate each RSC are expected to:
1) Provide regional refugee processing services for all U.S. Refugee Admissions Program applicants in:
A. Sub-Saharan Africa regardless of nationality or ethnicity,
beginning on October 1, 2017. The primary office for the RSC shall be
located in Nairobi, Kenya, with sub-offices in Kasulu, Tanzania, and
Pretoria, South Africa. The Pretoria office will manage all Southern
Africa operations from referral to departure while the Kasulu office
will aid the Nairobi office with all operations in Kigoma, Tanzania.
B. Turkey and Lebanon regardless of nationality or ethnicity,
beginning on October 1, 2017. The primary office for the RSC shall be
located in Istanbul, Turkey, with a sub-office in Beirut, Lebanon.
C. Europe and Central Asia, except Austria, regardless of
nationality or ethnicity, beginning on October 1, 2017. The primary
office for the RSC shall be located in Moscow, Russia, with a sub-office
in Kyiv, Ukraine.
2) Relate equitably to all domestic resettlement agencies (This
includes sharing relevant biographic and other background information
with domestic resettlement agencies working in the Reception and
Placement program, as appropriate, to facilitate their provision of
required sponsorship assurances).
3) Ensure that activities undertaken by the RSC effectively consider
the specific and unique protection and assistance needs of potentially
vulnerable and underserved groups among the beneficiary population
(women; children; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex
(LGBTI) individuals; older persons; the sick; persons with disabilities;
and others).
II. Refugee Processing Caseload
As the FY 2018 regional refugee admissions ceiling has not yet been
established, it is impossible to predict the precise number of refugee
applicants to be processed by each RSC. However, proposals and budgets
should be prepared based on a projection of 18,000 departures from the
countries covered by RSC Africa; 6,000 departures from the countries
covered by RSC TuME; or 2,000 departures from the countries covered by
Eurasia. If before or during the agreement period the projected number
of individuals to be processed either dramatically falls short of or
exceeds the level anticipated in this announcement and the approved
proposal, the Bureau will negotiate an amended budget with the RSC.
The following information regarding caseloads and circuit rides in FY
2017 may be helpful in formulating an organization’s proposal and
budget for RSC Africa, TuME, or Eurasia for FY 2018:
A. RSC Africa: Approximately 18,000 refugee departures from
sub-Saharan Africa. In order to admit these individuals in FY 2017, RSC
Africa will conduct circuit rides to Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda,
Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, South Africa, and other African countries.
B. RSC TuME: Approximately 6,500 departures from Turkey and 1,000
from Lebanon. RSC TuME will conduct circuit rides in Istanbul and
Beirut.
C. RSC Eurasia: Approximately 4,500 refugee departures. RSC will
conduct circuit rides to two Emergency Transit Centers (ETC) in Romania
and Slovakia, Malta, and countries in Central Asia including Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
III. Program Objectives
In an effort to strengthen the quality and integrity of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, the Bureau
has established the following standardized objectives and indicators,
which will be monitored throughout the fiscal year, for each
organization serving as RSC Africa, RSC TuME, and RSC Eurasia. In
addition to the standardized indicators below, applicants are required
to propose at least one additional outcome-based indicator for each
objective, including at least one indicator each for cultural
orientation, scheduling and coordinating medicals, and coordinating
departures under Objective #1. Applicants may include additional
objectives and indicators if they choose. In addition, PRM reserves the
right to add or change indicators in consultation with applicants during
final negotiations prior to award of the cooperative agreement.
A. RSC completes processing for refugee applicants in accordance with USRAP guidelines and the cooperative agreement.
a. Percent of target number of refugee applicants pre-screened.
b. Percent of circuit rides with an average score of 4 or 5 on the DHS Mission Support Feedback Form.
B. RSC maintains program integrity and protects
against fraud and malfeasance, in accordance with PRM Program Integrity
Guidelines and the cooperative agreement.
a. Percent compliance with required measures under Program Integrity Guidelines.
b. Percent of staff and refugee applicants aware of fraud reporting channels.
C. RSC management provides oversight and support to maintain a trained and knowledgeable workforce.
a. Number of RSC staff receiving on-boarding training, and specialized training as needed, to achieve USRAP objectives.
b. Percent of staff able to demonstrate knowledge required to fulfill their job.
D. RSC maintains professional and respectful services, environment, and communications with refugee applicants.
a. Number of refugee applicant inquiries responded to within two weeks.
b. Percent of refugee applicants reporting satisfaction with quality of interactions with RSC.
IV. Program Requirements
The Bureau has established the following requirements for each organization serving as RSC Africa, RSC TuME, and RSC Eurasia:
A. Provide refugee processing services in support of the U.S.
Refugee Admissions Program using the Worldwide Refugee Admissions
Processing System (WRAPS) and in accordance with procedures established
by the Bureau, as needs arise, in:
a.
Africa – sub-Saharan Africa;
b.
TuME – Turkey and Lebanon;
c.
Eurasia – Russia, Ukraine, Malta, two Emergency
Transit Centers (ETC) in Romania and Slovakia, and countries in Central
Asia including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan.
B. Ensure that each potential refugee applicant is screened to
determine if he/she is eligible for interview by the Department of
Homeland Security under the processing priorities established for
his/her nationality.
C. Conduct pre-screening interviews and casework in the countries
listed in section III.A so as to capture all relevant information
pertaining to the case, e.g. biographical data, cross-referencing
information, special medical needs, information about victims of
torture, etc. Ensure that all necessary security name-checks are
completed and remain in a valid status for travel in accordance with
SOP. Prepare the case file, including completion of all forms necessary
for presentation of the case to DHS/USCIS for adjudication.
D. Enter all required information into WRAPS on a timely basis in
adherence with the USRAP manual and RPC Standard Operating Procedures.
E. Remain in close contact with the RPC, cooperating fully and at
all times to ensure that collected refugee information, the WRAPS
system, and related equipment remains secure, functional, up to date,
and in compliance with State Department guidance where appropriate.
F. For applicants approved by USCIS, assist the refugees in
completing all post-adjudication steps required for admission to the
United States. This includes: coordinating with the RPC to obtain
sponsorship assurances from Reception and Placement agencies working
under cooperative agreements with the Bureau; preparing travel packets;
coordinating medical screening; conducting cultural orientation
training; and coordinating with the International Organization for
Migration on travel arrangements.
G. Correspond, as necessary, with applicants and partners on
relevant case statuses and to obtain, as necessary, information relevant
to the applicant’s qualifications for admission.
H. Provide cultural orientation to approved refugees aged 15 and
above in accordance with guidelines developed by the Bureau and
described in the publication “Welcome to the United States–A Guidebook
for Refugees” (CAL, 2012) and other materials developed by the current
Cultural Orientation Technical Assistance provider (
see http://coresourceexchange.org/cultural-orientation/teaching/)
I. Develop a formal curriculum, in consultation with the Bureau, for
cultural orientation training for refugees that will prepare them for
travel and initial adjustment to life in the United States. Develop a
training and management plan, in consultation with the Bureau, for RSC
staff who will conduct cultural orientation training. Conduct cultural
orientation in such a way as to achieve performance outcomes as
delineated by the Bureau.
The cultural orientation training will cover, at a minimum, the following subjects:
- Travel
- Role of the Resettlement Agency
- Housing
- Health
- Cultural Adjustment
- Rights and Responsibilities
- Employment
- Education
B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION
Proposed Program Start Date: October 1, 2017.
Duration of Activity: An initial period beginning October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2018, subject to the availability of funds.
This agreement may be renewable for up to two additional fiscal years
based upon budget submissions on an annual basis. Continued funding
after the initial 12-month award requires the submission of a
noncompeting single year proposal narrative and budget and will be
contingent upon available funding, strong performance, and continuing
need. At the end of three years, if the need to operate the RSC
continues, the Bureau will re-compete the project, and the recipient of
this award may participate in that process. In funding a project one
year, PRM makes no representations that it will continue to fund the
project in successive years.
Funding Limits:
For organizations competing for RSC TuME, project proposals must not
be more than $14,000,000 per year or they will be disqualified.
For organizations competing for RSC Eurasia, project proposals must
not be more than $5,500,000 per year or they will be disqualified.
For organizations competing for RSC Africa, project proposals must
not be more than $20,000,000 per year or they will be disqualified.
C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
- Eligible Applicants: Organizations eligible to
submit proposals include entities that have demonstrated satisfactory
performance working as a U.S. Department of State-funded organization
with the United State Refugee Admissions Program, domestically or
overseas, within the last five years.
Organizations must also meet the following requirements in order to be considered as candidates to operate the RSC:
(a) Be one of the following types of organization:
a. Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with IRS, other than institutions of higher education;
b. Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with IRS, other than institutions of higher education; or
c. International Organizations. International multilateral organizations should
not
submit proposals through Grants.gov in response to this Notice of
Funding Opportunity announcement. Multilateral organizations that are
seeking funding for programs relevant to this announcement should submit
their proposal by email to the relevant PRM Program Officer (as listed
below) on or before the closing date of the funding announcement.
(b) Be authorized, or eligible for authorization, by the host governments, in particular:
- Africa: Be authorized, or eligible for
authorization, by the Governments of Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa
to conduct activities relating to the processing of refugees for
eventual resettlement in the three countries. This should be understood,
when required by each government’s law, to include registration with or
receipt of project approval from any relevant country ministry, agency
or other official organ with jurisdiction over any activity to be
conducted by the RSC.
- TuME: Be authorized, or eligible for authorization,
by the Government of Turkey to conduct activities relating to the
processing of refugees for eventual resettlement of refugees in Turkey.
This should be understood, when required by Turkish law, to include
registration with or receipt of project approval from any relevant
Ministry, agency, or other official organ with jurisdiction over any
activity to be conducted by the RSC.
- Eurasia: Be authorized, or eligible for
authorization, by the Government of Russia to conduct activities related
to the processing of refugees for eventual resettlement of refugees in
Russia. In addition, all non-governmental organization applicants must
have a Certificate of Registration issued by the Federal Government per
the Federal Laws Governing Non-Profit Organizations prior to March 16, 2017.
International organizations must be accredited by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs confirming that the organization is authorized by the
government to conduct its activities as of March 16, 2017.
(c) Have evidence of effective coordination with U.S. government
agencies, non-governmental organizations, and international
organizations involved with the refugee admissions program.
(d) Possess management capacity at the agency’s headquarters sufficient to oversee the operation of the RSC.
(e) Proposals must have a concrete implementation plan with
well-conceived objectives and indicators that are specific, measurable,
achievable, relevant and reliable, time-bound, and trackable (SMART),
have established baselines, and include at least one outcome or impact
indicator per objective; objectives should originate from the Program
Objectives listed under Section III above. Applicants may include
additional objectives and indicators if they choose.
Failure to satisfy the above requirements will preclude any further consideration of a proposal.
In addition, the Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System
(WRAPS) is deployed in all refugee processing sites. The use of WRAPS is
mandatory, and the RSC must therefore establish itself as WRAPS-ready.
Equipment that will be procured by the RSC and related costs must be
included in the proposal. (See Appendix C for a list of hardware and
software items that are currently needed to access and/or operate WRAPS,
including the equipment to operate the Circuit Ride functionality.)
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not a requirement of an application in response to this funding announcement.
D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Address to Request Application Package:
Application packages may be downloaded from the website
www.Grants.gov.
2. Content and Form of Application:
Each organization requesting consideration for an award from the
Bureau must submit all information as requested below. Applicants should
report all data in terms of the federal fiscal year (i.e., October 1
through September 30).
(a) Proposal Format:
Applicants should adhere to the following guidelines when preparing proposals:
- All documents in the proposal should have the following page layout: 8.5 inch by 11 inch pages with one-inch margins.
- All documents in the proposal should be in 12-point Times New Roman font.
- All pages of the proposal should be numbered. Sections within each narrative should be sequential.
- No attachments other than those specifically requested will be considered.
Proposals that are incomplete and/or fail to respond to all specific
required elements as outlined in this proposal announcement may not be
found competitive. If the Bureau requests clarifications regarding
information included in the proposal, failure to provide this
information by the date specified may also preclude further
consideration of the proposal.
(b)_Required Documents:
Each agency interested in applying to operate RSC Africa, RSC
TuME, or RSC Eurasia from October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2018,
must submit the information specified below. Responses should be
presented in the same order as the requirements listed below, with each
section numbered to reflect the corresponding section under Required
Information. If any individual requirement is not applicable, that
should be specifically stated and explained in the proposal:
A. Signed Completed Form SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B.
B. Proof of Eligibility per sections A and C above.
C. Project Narrative for the initial year of the program period in the format described below.
D. Proposed organization chart for the RSC.
E. Budget summary and budget detail for the initial year of the
program period (using suggested format provided in Attachment A and
instructions in Appendix A).
F. Budget narrative for the initial year of the program period (see Appendix B for instructions).
G. Objectives and Indicators Chart
H. Risk Analysis (using the suggested format and instructions provided in Appendix C).
I. Copy of the organization’s Code of Conduct (required before an
award can be made). PRM strongly supports the Inter-Agency Standing
Committee’s (IASC) Plan of Action to protect beneficiaries of
humanitarian assistance from sexual exploitation and abuse. PRM partners
must have Codes of Conduct consistent with the IASC’s six core
principles signed and implemented within their organizations. Applicants
should include codes of conduct as an attachment to the proposal
application. (IASC’s core principles document can be found at:
https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/system/files/legacy_files/IASC%20english%20POA%20and%20report.pdf)
PRM further encourages NGO partners to develop clearly articulated policies to both respond to and prevent this type of abuse.
J. Copy of the organization’s Organizational Framework on
Accountability to Affected Populations (required before an award can be
made). PRM requires applicants to submit an organizational
accountability framework that discusses how the organization will ensure
collection and analysis of beneficiary feedback, and how beneficiary
feedback will be used to change programming decisions where appropriate.
We encourage partners to align their AAP frameworks with the IASC’s
Five Commitments to Accountability to Affected Populations, available
here.
PRM will consider funding activities aimed at incorporating beneficiary
feedback, as part of overall program budgets. Additional resources on
accountability to affected populations can be found at the
Core Humanitarian Standard Alliance Frequently Asked Questions on AAP resource page.
K. Copy of the organization’s Security Plan (required before an award can be made).
L. Most recent Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), if applicable.
M. NGOs that have not received PRM funding since the U.S. government
fiscal year ending September 30, 2004 must be prepared to demonstrate
that they meet the financial and accounting requirements of the U.S.
Government by submitting copies of 1) the most recent external financial
audit, 2) proof of non-profit tax status including under IRS 501
(c)(3), as applicable, 3) a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number, and 4) an Employer ID (EIN)/Federal Tax Identification number.
N. Organizations that received PRM funding in FY 2017 for activities
that are being proposed for funding under this announcement must
include the most recent quarterly program and budget report. If an
organization’s last quarterly report was submitted more than six weeks
prior to the submission of a proposal in response to this funding
announcement, the organization must include, with its most recent
quarterly report, updates that show any significant progress made on
objectives since the last report.
O. Completed PRM Award Data Sheet (required before an award can be made).
(c) Project Narrative:
The Project Narrative must contain the following sections and should adhere to the requirements listed below:
- The Project Narrative should be subtitled and numbered to correspond
with the required information sections below. If any individual section
of information is not applicable, that fact should be specifically
stated.
- Note that page numbers should be sequential for the entirety of the
Project Narrative and should not restart with each section of required
information.
- Submit the Project Narrative as an attachment by selecting the
“Project Narrative Attachment Form” in the Grant Application Package.
i) Organizational Structure & Management
- How the applicant will meet the expectations outlined in Section I
(Purpose of the Resettlement Support Center) above, including a detailed
gender analysis (see above. Required before an award can be made).
- Its organizational structure, including the number of headquarters
staff (to be described in terms of “Full Time Equivalent” positions)
that will be assigned to oversee RSC Africa, RSC TuME, or RSC Eurasia.
- The number of local and international staff to be assigned to the RSC and staffing patterns.
- Local and headquarters management and oversight policies.
ii) Processing
- How the organization will establish an operation to handle the
processing of the caseload described in Section II above and meet
program requirements as outlined in Section III. This includes the
implementation of Standard Operating Procedures at every stage of
processing.
- Its communication strategy for disseminating information to
refugees, while adhering to privacy and confidentiality guidelines. How
the applicant will respond to PRM inquiries about specific cases.
- How the applicant will collaborate with UNHCR, NGOs, IOM and others that work on resettlement issues.
iii) Cultural Orientation
- How the applicant will develop and implement a formal curriculum for
cultural orientation training for refugees that will prepare them for
travel and initial adjustment to life in the United States and meet
program requirements as outlined in Section III.
iv) Training, Monitoring & Oversight
- How the applicant will develop and implement an annual and new staff training and management plan for all RSC staff.
- How the applicant proposes internal monitoring of its processing and
cultural orientation activities under the Cooperative Agreement.
- How the applicant will establish and document procedures for fraud mitigation and response.
- How the organization will provide timely and accurate reports on processing and orientation activities.
- The organization should identify the Bureau’s point of contact at the headquarters office and at the RSC.
- In addition to PRM’s standardized indicators, what objectives and
indicators the applicant proposes to use to measure the success of its
operations. Focus on outcome or impact indicators as much as possible.
At a minimum, each objective should have one outcome or impact
indicator. Wherever possible, baselines should be established before the
start of the project.
v) Gender Analysis
PRM is committed to ensuring that RSC services are fully accessible
to potentially vulnerable and underserved individuals among the
beneficiary population (women; children; older individuals; individuals
with complex medical conditions; individuals with disabilities; lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex (LGBTI) individuals and other
minorities). The gender analysis should specifically analyze the factors
that either promote or undermine gender equality within a given program
and specifically address the needs of women and girls.
Applicants should:
- Describe the gender dynamics within the target population (i.e.,
roles, power dynamics, and different needs of men and women, girls and
boys),
- Briefly analyze the specific risks and challenges posed by gender dynamics to RSC Program implementation, and
- Explain how the program activities will mitigate these risks and be
made accessible to affected groups (particularly women and girls).
vi) Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) Framework
- PRM now requires applicants to include in their proposal an
organizational framework on accountability to affected populations prior
to an award being issued.
- The framework should be three to five pages in length, discuss
collection and analysis techniques, and explain how beneficiary feedback
will be used to change programming decisions where appropriate. We
encourage partners to align their AAP frameworks with the Inter-Agency
Standing Committee’s Five Commitments to Accountability to Affected
Populations.
- PRM will consider funding activities aimed at incorporating
beneficiary feedback as part of overall program budgets. If an
applicant’s headquarters has already submitted an organizational AAP
framework to PRM as part of a separate proposal they may submit the same
framework for this proposal.
vii)
Risk Analysis
- PRM now requires applicants to include in their proposal a risk
analysis as a separate document. The risk analysis should address any
potential programmatic or administrative risks, including that of fraud
or corruption, and should assess the level of risk that the proposed
program may inadvertently benefit terrorists or their supporters
specific to the proposed project.
- As applicable, proposals must include plans to mitigate risk
factors. Applicants are urged to submit the risk analysis in the format
of the template provided in Attachment B and on Grants.gov.
(d) Objectives and Indicators Chart:
Applicants should submit a chart (see Attachment C) detailing
proposed objectives and indicators for FY 2018. At a minimum, charts
should include the program objectives and indicators in Section III
above. Applicants are encouraged to include additional outcome or impact
indicators that reflect the way in which their organization measures
and evaluates achievement of program goals and objectives. Proposed
objectives and indicators should be specific, measurable, achievable,
relevant and reliable, time-bound, and trackable (SMART), and should be
clearly linked to the program purpose highlighted in Section A.I of this
notice of funding opportunity. Note that these objectives and
indicators will inform ongoing Bureau evaluation of agency performance,
including via quarterly program reports and annual monitoring of RSC
operations.
(e) Attachments:
The following attachments are available on
www.Grants.gov under this funding opportunity announcement:
- Attachment A: Budget Detail & Summary Template (Excel)
- Attachment B: Risk Analysis Template (Word)
- Attachment C: FY 2018 Resettlement Support Center (RSC) Objectives and Indicators (Word)
Appendix A: Budget Detail Instructions
Appendix B: Budget Narrative Instructions
Appendix C: WRAPS Equipment/Software Requirements
3. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and System for Award Management (SAM)
(a)
Each applicant is required to: (i) be registered
in SAM.gov before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid DUNS
number in its application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM
registration with current information at all times during which it has
an active PRM award or an application or plan under consideration by
PRM. No federal award may be made to an applicant until the applicant
has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements and, if an
applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the
PRM award is ready to be made, PRM may determine that the applicant is
not qualified to receive a PRM award and use that determination as a
basis for making a PRM award to another applicant.
(b)
Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov (not via SAMS Domestic).
Grants.gov registration requires a DUNS number and active SAM.gov
registration. If you are new to PRM funding, the Grants.gov registration
process can be complicated. We urge you to refer to the “Application
Process” section in PRM’s
General NGO Guidelines
for information and resources to help ensure that the application
process runs smoothly. PRM also strongly encourages organizations that
have received funding from PRM in the past to read this section as a
refresher. Applicants may also refer to the “
Applicant Resources” page on Grants.gov for complete details on requirements.).
(c)
Do not wait until the last minute to submit your application on Grants.gov. Organizations
not registered with Grants.gov should register well in advance of the
deadline as it can take up to two weeks to finalize registration
(sometimes longer for non-U.S. based NGOs to get the required
registration numbers). We also recommend that organizations,
particularly first-time applicants, submit applications via Grants.gov
no later than one week before the deadline to avoid last-minute
technical difficulties that could result in an application not being
considered.
PRM partners must maintain an active SAM
registration with current information at all times during which they
have an active federal award or an application under consideration by
PRM or any federal agency.
(d) When registering with
Grants.gov,
organizations must designate points of contact and Authorized
Organization Representatives (AORs). Organizations based outside the
United States must also request and receive an
NCAGE code prior to registering with
SAM.gov. Applicants experiencing technical difficulties with the SAM registration process should contact the
Federal Service Desk (FSD) online or at 1
–866-606-8220 (U.S.) and 1-334-206-7828 (International).
(e)
Applications must be submitted under the authority of the
Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) at the applicant
organization. Having proposals submitted by agency headquarters helps to avoid possible technical problems.
(f)
If you encounter technical difficulties with Grants.gov please contact the Grants.gov Help Desk at support@grants.gov or by calling 1-800-518-4726.
(g) It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure the
appropriate registrations are in place and active. Failure to have the
appropriate organizational registrations in place is not considered a
technical difficulty and is not justification for an alternate means of
submission.
(h) Pursuant to U.S. Code, Title 218, Section 1001, stated on OMB
Standard Form 424 (SF-424), the Department of State is authorized to
consolidate the certifications and assurances required by Federal law or
regulations for its federal assistance programs. The list of
certifications and assurances can be found
here:
(i) In accordance with 2 CFR §200.113, Mandatory disclosures, the
non-Federal entity or applicant for a Federal award must disclose, in a
timely manner, in writing to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through
entity all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery,
or gratuity violations potentially affecting the Federal award.
Non-Federal entities that have received a Federal award including the
term and condition outlined in Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition for
Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters are required to report
certain civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings to SAM. Failure
to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described
in 2 CFR §200.338 Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or
debarment. (See also 2 CFR part 180, 31 U.S.C. 3321, and 41 U.S.C.
2313.)
A few tips:
- Limit file attachment name. File attachment names longer than
approximately 50 characters can cause problems to Grants.gov processing
the application package.
- Use numbers to indicate correct sequence (example: 1_proposal.doc; 2_budgetnarrative.doc)
- Do not use any special characters (example: %, /, #) or spacing in
the file name or for word separation. The exception is an underscore,
which Grants.gov says can be used in naming attachments. (example:
my_Attached_File.pdf)
4. Submission Dates and Times
Announcement issuance date: Thursday, April 27, 2017
Proposal submission deadline: Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. noon EDT
5. Intergovernmental Review – Not Applicable.
6. Funding Restrictions
Federal awards will not allow reimbursement of Federal Award costs without prior authorization by PRM.
7. Other Submission Requirements
(a) Funding and Funding Procedures: The Bureau
intends to award a single Cooperative Agreement to a qualified
organization to provide the required services for each RSC as follows:
RSC Africa based in Nairobi, Kenya; Kasulu, Tanzania; and Pretoria,
South Africa; RSC TuME based in Istanbul, Turkey with operations in
Beirut, Lebanon; and RSC Eurasia based in Moscow, Russia with operations
in Kyiv, Ukraine. The organization with which the Bureau enters into a
Cooperative Agreement for each RSC will be funded for all approved costs
associated with providing the required processing services according to
a budget agreed upon between the Bureau and the organization (see
Appendix A and B for budget preparation instructions) and based on the
proposal submitted in response to this request.
(b) Branding and Marking Strategy: Unless exceptions
have been approved by the designated bureau Authorizing Official, at a
minimum, the following provision will be included whenever assistance is
awarded:
- The Recipient shall recognize the United States Government’s funding
for activities specified under this award at the project site with a
graphic of the U.S. flag accompanied by one of the following two phrases
based on the level of funding for the award:
- Fully funded by the award: “Gift of the United States Government”
- Partially funded by the award: “Funding provided by the United States Government”
Exemptions from this requirement may be allowable but must be agreed to in writing by the Grants Officer.
All programs, projects, assistance, activities, and public
communications to foreign audiences, partially or fully funded by the
Department, should be marked appropriately overseas with the standard
U.S. flag in a size and prominence equal to (or greater than) any other
logo or identity. The requirement does not apply to the Recipient’s own
corporate communications or in the United States.
The Recipient should ensure that all publicity and promotional
materials underscore the sponsorship by or partnership with the U.S.
Government or the U.S. Embassy. The Recipient may continue to use
existing logos or program materials; however, a standard rectangular
U.S. flag must be used in conjunction with such logos.
The U.S. flag may replace or be used in conjunction with the
Department of State seal, the U.S. embassy seal, or other DOS program
logos.
Sub non-Federal entities (sub-awardees) and subsequent tier sub-award
agreements are subject to the marking requirements and the non-Federal
entity shall include a provision in the sub non-Federal entity agreement
indicating that the standard, rectangular U.S. flag is a requirement.
In the event the non-Federal entity does not comply with the marking
requirements as established in the approved assistance agreement, the
Grants Officer Representative and the Grants Officer must initiate
corrective action with the non-Federal entity.
E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION
1. Criteria: Eligible submissions will be those
that comply with the criteria and requirements included in this
announcement. In addition, the review panel will evaluate the
applications on the following criteria:
(i) Organizational Structure and Management Capacity
(ii) Processing expertise and plan to achieve objectives
(iii) Cultural Orientation
(iv) Training, Monitoring and Oversight, including risk analysis
(v) Accountability to Affected Populations
(vi) Gender Analysis
(vii) Management and Past Performance
(viii) Budget
2. PRM will conduct a formal competitive review of all proposals
submitted in response to this funding announcement. A review panel of at
least three people will evaluate submissions and determine whether and
to what extent the applicant’s plan for refugee processing meets the RSC
objectives outlined in this NOFO; the overall refugee processing
experience of the proposing organization; and the proposal’s cost
effectiveness for providing comprehensive service provision to
applicants of all ethnic groups and in the context of available funding.
3. Department of State Review Panels may provide conditions and
recommendations on applications to enhance the proposed program, which
must be addressed by the applicant before further consideration of the
award. To ensure effective use of limited PRM funds, conditions or
recommendations may include requests to increase, decrease, clarify,
and/or justify costs and program activities.
4. New PRM Award Data Sheet: Prior to award and
upon final negotiation, PRM will ask the selected NGOs to fill out and
submit a PRM Award Data Sheet to capture a subset of information from
the proposal.
F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
1. Federal Award Administration. A successful
applicant can expect to receive a separate notice from PRM stating that
an application has been selected before PRM actually makes the federal
award. That notice is not an authorization to begin performance. Only
the notice of award signed by the grants officer is the authorizing
document. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified following completion
of the selection and award process.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
PRM awards are made consistent with the following provisions in the
following order of precedence: (a) applicable laws and statutes of the
United States, including any specific legislative provisions mandated in
the statutory authority for the award; (b) Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR); (c) Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions of the
award; (d) the award’s specific requirements; and (e) other documents
and attachments to the award.
3. Reporting.
Successful applicants will be required to submit:
(a)
Program Reports: PRM requires program reports
describing and analyzing the results of activities undertaken during the
validity period of the agreement. A program report is required within
thirty (30) days following the end of each three month period of
performance during the validity period of the agreement. The final
program report is due ninety (90) days following the end of the
agreement. The submission dates for program reports will be written into
the cooperative agreement. Partners receiving multi-year awards should
follow this same reporting schedule and should still submit a final
program report at the end of each year that summarizes the NGO’s
performance during the previous year.
The
Performance Progress Report (SF-PPR)
is a standard, government-wide performance reporting format. Recipients
of PRM funding must submit the signed SF-PPR cover page with each
program report. In addition, the Bureau suggests that NGOs receiving PRM
funding use the PRM recommended program report template and reference
this template as being attached in block 10 of the SF-PPR. This template
is designed to ease the reporting requirements while ensuring that all
required elements are addressed. The Program Report Template can be
requested by sending an email with only the phrase “PRM NGO Templates”
(without the quotation marks) in the subject line to
PRMNGOCoordinator@state.gov.
(b)
Financial Reports: Financial reports are
required within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar year
quarter during the validity period of the agreement (January 30th,
April 30th, July 30th, October 30th). The final financial report
covering the entire period of the agreement is required within ninety
(90) days after the expiration date of the agreement. For agreements
containing indirect costs, final financial reports are due within sixty
(60) days of the finalization of the applicable negotiated indirect cost
rate agreement (NICRA).
Reports reflecting expenditures for the recipient’s overseas and
United States offices should be completed in accordance with the Federal
Financial Report (FFR SF-425) and submitted electronically in the
Department of Health and Human Services’ Payment Management System
(HHS/PMS) and in accordance with other award specific requirements.
Detailed information pertaining to the Federal Financial Report
including due dates, instruction manuals and access forms, is provided
on the
HHS/PMS website at
https://pms.psc.gov/
(c)
Audit Reports: When a recipient-contracted audit
is not required because the Federal award amount is less than the
$750,000 threshold, the Department may determine that an audit must be
performed and the audit report must be submitted to the responsible
grants office(r) for review, dissemination, and resolution as
appropriate. The cost of audits required under this policy may be
charged either as an allowable direct cost to the award, or included in
the organizations established indirect costs in the award’s detailed
budget.
G. PRM CONTACTS
Applicants with technical questions related to this announcement
should contact the PRM staff listed below prior to proposal submission.
Please note that responses to technical questions from PRM do not
indicate a commitment to fund the program discussed.
RSC Africa PRM Program Officers: Sumi Siram, 202-453-9250,
SiramS@state.gov, and Cameron McGlothlin, 202-453-9263,
McGlothlinCD@state.gov; Washington, D.C.
RSC TuME PRM Program Officer: Sophie Gao, 202-453-9256,
GaoY1@state.gov, Washington, D.C.
RSC Eurasia Program Officer: Jennifer Kelley, 202-453-9258,
KelleyJA@state.gov, Washington, D.C.
Appendix A: Budget Detail Instructions
The following provides guidance for the preparation of a proposal’s budget detail using PRM’s recommended budget template.
The use of the PRM budget detail template is recommended and estimates should be rounded to the nearest dollar. (Note:
Information included in the budget detail should correspond to
information in the budget summary and be explained in greater detail in
the budget narrative.)
Budget information is required by quarter, and applicants should
provide real quarterly budgets, factoring in special events such as
conferences or training.
Applicants with current RSC Cooperative Agreements with the Bureau
should include the FY 2017 estimated actual spending per line item and
provide a rationale in the budget narrative supporting the difference
between FY 2017 estimated expenditure and FY 2018 proposed amount.
For policy guidance concerning U.S. Government regulations or
admissible expenditure limits, etc., please refer to OMB circular (2 CFR
200). The suggested budget template is provided as
Attachment A.
Personnel:
This category includes annual salaries/wages, stipends, consultant
fees, allowances, differentials, bonuses or extra months’ salary, and
any anticipated termination/severance pay for any personnel to be
charged to the proposed agreement. (Note: Headquarters personnel should
not be included here, but under Headquarters expenses below)
All positions listed should indicate the amount of time (expressed as
a percent), the rate of pay, and the associated unit measurement
(hour/month/year) anticipated to fulfill project implementation. For
applicants currently managing the RSC, indicate in the Comments section
if a position is new or proposed. For consultants, the proposed daily
rate to be paid as compensation and the number of consultant days that
are anticipated to be paid must be shown.
The Bureau will not authorize personnel positions to be charged based
on a flat monthly fee that includes salaries, benefits, travel costs,
etc.
If your organization anticipates the payment of employee termination
and/or severance pay during the proposed funding period, the Bureau will
consider such costs an allowable charge to the agreement to the extent
of the Bureau’s responsibility in accordance with each employee’s direct
relation to the Bureau’s funded activities. For example, an employee
charged to Bureau activities for one-half of their employment with the
organization shall have only one half of their termination or severance
costs charged to the agreement. Explain anticipated termination or
severance expenses in the budget narrative section.
Other types of allowances such as housing and education or
differentials must be shown separately and identified against the
position to be charged. They should be based on established policies and
should be made available to all employees of the organization in
similar situations or positions, not just to employees funded by the
U.S. government. The Bureau’s policy is to limit the payment of
allowances to amounts which do not exceed the rates approved for
government employees in similar situations.
Additionally, attach a staff roster with the above information,
indicating existing and proposed positions, staff restructuring or
reorganization from the previous year (if applicable), an organizational
chart, and show total FTE (full-time equivalency) for each type of
position in the designated column and actual number of employees
occupying each position in the comments column. Attach a copy of your
organization’s established salary schedule showing different pay levels
and step increases on which the budget is based.
Information on COLA and proposed salary increase or adjustment should
be noted in the budget narrative accompanying the budget worksheet.
The comments column of the budget worksheet should specify the number
of employees being given each service; i.e., housing for 3 employees;
education allowance for 2 children of 2 employees, etc.
Fringe Benefits:
This category should identify the total cost of fringe benefits
provided to International Hire and Local Hire employees for which the
Bureau will be charged under the agreement. While the cost of individual
benefits need not be specified, the total cost, including the
percentage of salaries, if appropriate, should be shown. The benefits
must be consistent with the organization’s established personnel
policies and practices for all of its employees, not just for those
employees who may be funded by the government.
Travel:
List local program travel by function in this category (in-country,
regional, international, etc.) and type of trip (circuit ride,
monitoring, etc.). Headquarters staff travel should be included in the
Headquarters Expenses category below. Provide one total for in-country
project travel, one total for regional travel, and one total for
furlough/home leave travel. All anticipated international trips must be
listed individually. Show only the total cost of each trip. Do not
itemize by category (airfare, per diem, etc.); rather, list general
categories as well as the number of trips included in the trip total in
the comments column for each type of travel.
It is the Bureau’s policy not to reimburse organizations for per diem
allowances, both overseas and domestic, which exceed the rates approved
for government employees. Current rates can be found at the following
link:
http://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp.
Equipment:
This category must include a complete and detailed listing of all
non-expendable equipment anticipated to be purchased for program
activities and to be charged to the agreement.
Non-expendable equipment
is that which has: 1) a useful life of one year or more and an
acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit.
However, consistent with your policy, lower limits may be used.
Your budget must identify which of the above is followed and must be
consistently applied to all U.S. government funding arrangements. PRM’s
Office of the Comptroller must be informed, in writing, of recipient’s
policy and the threshold amount if less than $5,000. Any equipment that
may be determined, after the initial budget approval, to be required to
meet the program objectives must be specifically approved by the Bureau
in writing prior to the purchase. Equipment not included in the approved
budget will be considered an unallowable cost under the agreement.
Consolidate like items of lesser value by type of equipment (i.e.,
telephones, office furniture) with quantities or types to be purchased
noted in the comments column. See Appendix C for WRAPS requirements.
List all equipment that will be leased, including vehicles.
For organizations that have
not previously received
Bureau funding: Include a summary description of your property
management procedures that are currently in place. This will be
incorporated into the Bureau’s funding arrangements with your
organization.
Supplies:
Show all tangible personal property by appropriate category (office
supplies, classroom supplies, medical supplies, etc.) that may be
purchased and charged under the agreement. The budget narrative should
describe the types of items included in each of the categories and the
proposed use.
If supplies are needed only for Cultural Orientation activities, such
as classroom books, please include as a separate line item.
Contractual Services:
List all proposed sub-contracts or sub-recipients that are
anticipated to carry out the proposed program, i.e., security guards,
additional personnel, sub-agreements with an implementing partners etc.
These agreements are subject to the regulations set forth in 22 CFR 145.
Other Direct Expenses:
Include any other direct cost not clearly covered herein. Examples
are computer use, telephone, postage, space rental (list projected
rental items), audit fees, insurance, printing/duplicating, utilities,
etc. Each item must be listed separately showing an estimated cost.
Headquarters Expenses:
Include any anticipated U.S. domestic or international travel of
headquarters staff in support of this program as well as any personnel
costs or other expenses to be directly charged by the organization to
the program (for personnel, include percentage of time dedicated to this
program).
Other Refugee Processing Expenses:
Include any anticipated costs related to refugee processing which do
not fit in any other category, such as medical exam fees for panel
physicians.
Indirect Costs:
Show the amount of indirect costs and the base amount on which it is
determined. It should be indicated whether the rate has been approved by
a government cognizant agency and the type of rate (provisional,
predetermined or fixed). A copy of the current Negotiated Indirect Cost
Rate Agreement must be submitted for the recipient and sub-recipient(s),
if applicable. Inclusion of indirect costs must be in compliance with
the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit
Requirements for Federal Awards, (OMB Circular 2 CFR Part 200).
Comments:
Comments are not required for every budget line item. This column
provides space for further identification of items included in the
budget categories. For example, under travel, total cost for each trip
should be provided under the “Proposed Budget” column, with the number
of trips and items included in the costs, e.g., airfare, per diem,
taxis, etc., specified under “Comments.” The Comments column is not
intended to replace the Narrative section.
Appendix B: Budget Narrative Instructions
The purpose of the budget narrative is to explain the costs that PRM
expects an organization to include in each budget category. Please
include all information in the budget narrative that is included in the
budget detail spreadsheet.
Applicants with current RSC Cooperative Agreements with the Bureau
should provide a justification for and clearly explain any changes made
to the prior year’s budget.
The budget narrative should include the following:
Personnel:
Identify each position and indicate its support of the project and/or
sector(s). If not provided in the budget detail, indicate the numerical
justification for the total cost.
For example, RSC Director – This individual is responsible for the
overall management of the RSC. He/she is responsible for compliance with
all the terms and conditions of the agreement including implementation,
program and financial reporting. $85,000/year x 100% of time = $85,000.
Identify consultants separately from other permanent staff. If
possible, include anticipated position title(s), the proposed daily rate
to be paid as compensation, and the number of consultant days that are
anticipated.
Fringe Benefits:
If an established NICRA includes a rate for fringe benefits, please
ensure that you utilize and/or adjust the rate appropriately.
If the fringe benefit rate is not included in the NICRA, please
provide a copy of the company policy and/or rates (as a percentage) that
are being charged per category of benefits.
Travel:
All travel must be identified via mode of travel, departure and
arrival city, purpose, unit of measurement, and duration of trip. Please
note that the movement of project participants and supplies is a
separate transportation line item.
For example, 10 in-country trips will be undertaken to conduct case
processing. Roundtrip airfare from Kinshasa to Goma for 5 employees is
anticipated. Each trip will include 5 days of per diem per employee.
- In-country Airfare – 10 trips x 5 employees x $200 = $10,000
- Lodging – 10 trips x 5 employees x 5 days x $161/day = $40,250
- Per diem – 10 trips x 5 employees x 5 days x $57 = $14,250
Equipment:
Include a detailed listing of all non-expendable equipment
anticipated to be purchased for program activities including
justification.
For example, Land Rover – Due to the challenging road conditions,
inclement weather, terrain conditions, and geographical location(s) of
project sites, it is deemed reasonable and necessary to purchase a new
vehicle. Vehicle x 1 quantity = $40,000
Supplies:
General Office supplies include the following items: pens, pencils, notebooks, printer paper, ink cartridges, etc.
For example:
- 12 months x $100/month x 3 project offices = $3,600
- Due to the opening of a new project office to support DHS circuit
rides, project supplies include the following items: 2 laptop computers,
3 desktop computers, 2 printers, etc.
- 2 laptop computers x $700 = $1,400
- 3 desktop computers x $1,200 = $3,600
- 2 printers x $400 = $800
Contractual:
Include the purpose and scope of work for contractual services as well as the budgeted amount.
Detailed budgets should be included for sub-grantees/sub-awards.
Other:
Include all other direct project expenses that are related to the
implementation of all sector activities and are proportionate based on
actual use.
For example:
- Rent of Office space in three locations – 12 months x 3 offices x $400 = $14,400
- Utilities – 12 months x 3 offices x $100 = $3,600
- Postage – 12 months x 3 offices x $50 = $1,800
- Courier – 25 trips x 2 offices x $25 = $1,250
- Communication (phone, fax, internet) = 12 months x 3 offices x $200 = $7,200
- Transportation cost of case files via ground freight = 2 trips x $3,000 = $6,000
Headquarters Expenses:
As in the budget detail spreadsheet, please identify all Headquarters expenses in a separate category.
Include headquarters positions and indicate their support of the
project and/or sector(s) as well as percentage of time dedicated to the
program. Provide a numerical justification for the cost.
Include any anticipated U.S. domestic or international travel of
headquarters staff in support of this program as well as any other
expenses such as administrative costs to be directly charged by the
organization to the program.
Other Refugee Processing Expenses:
As in the budget detail spreadsheet, please include all expenses
related to refugee processing that do not fit in any other category.
Indirect Costs:
Show the amount of indirect costs and the base amount on which it is
determined. A copy of the current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate
Agreement must be submitted for recipient and sub-recipient(s) as
applicable. Inclusion of indirect costs must be in compliance with the
Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit
Requirements for Federal Awards, (OMB Circular 2 CFR Part 200).
Appendix C: WRAPS Equipment/Software Requirements
Please note the equipment listed below is the “minimum”
requirements. The RSC may exceed any of the recommendations. Should the
RSC replace a previous RSC in the same location, and find that the
existing hardware does not meet the minimum requirements specified in
this document, the new RSC staff will be responsible for any and all
necessary upgrades.
Facility Server/IT Room
The RSC is responsible for providing and maintaining an IT server
room capable of housing all the necessary networking, computer, and
telephony hardware required to support the business operations of an
RSC. This includes space, power (minimum two-15amp circuits per device),
enterprise UPS (uninterruptible power supply) solution, cooling, and
fire suppression solution.
The RSC will hold in reserve the necessary IT server capacity (i.e.
space, power, enterprise UPS (uninterruptible power supply) solution,
and cooling) required to provide colocation services for a WRAPS on
premise solution (see WRAPS on Premise Colocation Requirements section
for details.).
Networking
- CISCO 3945 Routers – minimum 2
- U.S. manufactured commercial grade switch(es) – minimum 2
Firewall
- A pair of firewalls (with VLAN separation) and IPSec VPN tunnel to the RPC
- The RPC recommends deployment of a high availability next
generation firewall (NGFW) solution to ensure the ability to connect to
WRAPS. The RPC recommends firewalls developed by US based companies such
as Cisco, McAfee, Palo Alto Networks, etc. The RPC can assist in
reviewing firewall designs and features. NGFW allows for advance threat
protection, application protection, denial of service mitigation, and
URL filtering.
Structured Cabling (wireless access is prohibited)
- Cat 5E/6 UTP (plenum or low smoke)
- Cable run from wall jacks to patch panel in wiring closet
- RJ45 patch cables to connect PC to wall jacks
- RJ45 patch cables to connect patch panel to LAN switches
Telecommunications
The RSC must have an Internet Service Provider (ISP) with a minimum of:
- 50/50 MB dedicated link
- IP subnet with at least 14 usable host addresses
RSC Office Operations
Server Hardware to function as an RSC
The following minimum equipment/software is required to interface
with WRAPS. If not already available, it should be included in the
proposal.
Domain Controller
- 1 Dual Core Processor 64-bit
- 8 GB RAM
- 2 – 80 GB SATA Disk Drives
- CD-RW/DVD-ROM
Enterprise Level Microsoft Exchange & File Server (2 Servers)
- 2 Dual Core Processors 64-bit
- Minimum 16 GB RAM
- Minimum 2TB Storage
- CD-RW/DVD-ROM
- RAID Controller
- Tape Drive for backups
- Redundant Power Supply
- Redundant Fan Kit
Server Software
All non-WRAPS Servers
- Windows Server 2008 R2 or higher
- Commercial grade Anti-Virus Software
- Automated patch management and compliance reporting
- Backup Software
Required Peripherals
- Network Printer(s)
- Network Label Printer (Zebra LP2844 is utilized at the RPC)
- Digital Camera
- Double-sided Image Scanner
- Copy Machine(s)
- Fax Machine(s)/Service
Telephony System
All caseworkers and supervisors must have access to a telephony
solution that provides the ability to make and receive local and long
distance phone calls. This may be achieved via a third party VOIP
solution, traditional telephony provider, or a combination of both.
Workstation Desktops
Each caseworker and each supervisor at the RSC must have at least a
64-bit capable Intel or AMD desktop computer with the following minimum
requirements:
Workstation Hardware
- Minimum 8 GB RAM
- Minimum 80 GB Hard Disk
- CD/DVD-ROM Drive
- 4 USB Ports
- 17-in Monitor
Workstation Software
- Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise
- Microsoft Office 2010
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher
- Chrome
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Anti-Virus Software
Security
- Security for the WRAPS components will be provided.
- For non-WRAPS servers, routers, firewall, and switches, they should
be installed in a secure area to prevent unauthorized access to the
server consoles. Configuration and management should adhere to United
States’ Federal Information Security Act (FISMA) 800-53 controls as well
as Department of State’s Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) and Foreign
Affairs Handbook (FAH). Security guidance for an RSC will be provided.
This guidance will provide a list of security controls that should be
followed by an RSC.
Information Assurance
- RSCs should ensure all staff review and sign applicable Rules of
Behavior/Acceptable Use Policy within 30 days of receiving an account.
This policy defines the local RSC rules users must follow and acceptable
use of the system.
- RSCs should develop a formal process to ensure all processing staff
receive initial and yearly Information Awareness training. RSCs should
maintain a current roster of general users and those that maintain
elevated privileges (i.e. Administrators)
- The RPC provides the curriculum to facilitate both general training
geared towards all staff and privileged user training, which covers
advanced principles of IT Security, policies, and procedures.
Backup and disaster recovery
- The RSC is responsible for an enterprise level backup and recovery
solution that includes the backup of all servers with regular weekly
rotation full backups held offsite for a minimum of 6 months. All backup
data must be encrypted at rest.
Circuit Ride Laptops
- The Circuit Ride server itself, containing the WRAPS application,
will be provided. Include all other equipment required to use the
circuit ride server in the field.
Hardware – laptops to connect to Circuit Ride server
- Workstations/laptops, LAN equipment and switches for circuit ride processing are determined by local circuit ride requirements
- The workstations and/or laptops should have BitLocker or equivalent encryption
- Any external devices should be encrypted (for instance Ironkey Thumbdrives should be used)
- Printers, Label Printers, Scanners, Digital Cameras, etc. as needed
WRAPS Colocation Requirements (for Kenya only)
- 20U of continuous rack space
- Power and cooling for 200 amps/3500watts
- Dedicated 50/50 MB connection to internet
- Router cross connect between RSC router and WRAPS colocation router
Additional Information:
The RPC utilizes HP equipment for servers, desktops, and network
printers. Both AMD and Intel-based processors are acceptable for
desktops. Also, Cisco is the preferred manufacturer for the
networking/security infrastructure. US subscription-based
anti-malware/anti-virus products is preferred . Symantec is utilized at
the RPC and has been verified to not interfere with WRAPS operations.
