Opportunity Information: Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 17 017
Apply for DRLA DRLAQM 17 017
- The Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Forensic Assistance to Address Legacies of Gross Human Rights Violations" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 30, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 02, 2016 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) at the U.S. Department of State issued a discretionary grant funding opportunity titled "Forensic Assistance to Address Legacies of Gross Human Rights Violations." The overall aim of the competition is to support project work that uses forensic assistance to help societies address the lasting consequences of large-scale or systemic human rights abuses. In practice, this kind of assistance commonly relates to efforts that clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons, support the investigation and documentation of serious violations, strengthen accountability processes, and help families and communities pursue truth, justice, and dignified handling of remains and evidence. The opportunity is positioned as a competitive call, meaning applicants are expected to propose a clearly defined project approach and demonstrate they can deliver specialized technical assistance in sensitive post-violation environments.
The funding instrument is a grant, and it is categorized under "Other" for funding activity (with the expectation that the detailed notice would clarify what DRL means by that category in terms of program content). The program is associated with CFDA number 19.345, which is a State Department assistance listing commonly used for DRL-related democracy, human rights, and labor programming. DRL anticipated making a single award under this notice, with an award ceiling of up to $700,000. That structure strongly suggests DRL was looking for one implementer (or one lead organization coordinating partners) capable of delivering a coherent package of forensic support rather than spreading smaller awards across multiple groups.
A relatively broad range of applicant types were eligible. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions), and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. The notice also included an "Others" category, indicating that additional eligibility details were likely provided in the full announcement. This wide eligibility pool implies DRL was open to receiving proposals from universities with forensic programs, specialized humanitarian or human rights NGOs, and technically capable private firms, provided they could show credible experience, appropriate safeguards, and the ability to operate responsibly in contexts involving sensitive evidence and vulnerable communities.
Timing-wise, the opportunity record shows a creation date of September 30, 2016, with an original closing date of December 2, 2016. That roughly two-month application window is typical for State Department competitive assistance calls, and it signals that applicants would need to have a fairly mature project concept, established technical capacity, and a workable plan for implementation and compliance ready within the submission period.
Although the brief source text does not list required activities or target countries, the title and description make the program intent clear: DRL was seeking projects that apply forensic methods in service of human rights outcomes, specifically addressing legacies of gross violations. Forensic assistance in this context often encompasses activities such as technical support for the search, recovery, identification, and dignified return of human remains; strengthening national or local capacity for evidence handling and chain-of-custody; training and mentoring of forensic practitioners or institutions; development of protocols aligned with international standards; and support that helps ensure forensic findings can be responsibly used by accountability mechanisms, truth-seeking processes, or reparations frameworks. Because DRL sits within a human rights bureau, proposals would typically be expected to reflect human rights principles such as a victim-centered approach, informed consent where relevant, do-no-harm risk management, protection of sensitive data, and attention to the safety of families, witnesses, and practitioners.
In short, this NOFO was a single-award, up-to-$700,000 competitive DRL grant opportunity intended to fund a focused project delivering forensic assistance that helps communities and institutions confront and resolve the human and legal aftermath of grave human rights abuses. It invited applications from a wide range of capable organizations, including universities, nonprofits, and certain for-profit entities, and it sought proposals within the late-2016 submission window.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The discretionary grant funding opportunity is titled "Forensic Assistance to Address Legacies of Gross Human Rights Violations."
2) Which U.S. government office is offering this funding?
The opportunity was issued by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) at the U.S. Department of State.
3) What is the overall aim of the competition?
The overall aim is to support project work that uses forensic assistance to help societies address the lasting consequences of large-scale or systemic human rights abuses.
4) What kinds of outcomes is DRL trying to support through forensic assistance?
Based on the description provided, the work is commonly intended to:
- Clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons
- Support investigation and documentation of serious human rights violations
- Strengthen accountability processes
- Help families and communities pursue truth and justice
- Support dignified handling of human remains and sensitive evidence
5) Is this a competitive opportunity?
Yes. This is described as a competitive call, meaning applicants are expected to propose a clearly defined project approach and show they can deliver specialized technical assistance in sensitive environments.
6) What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
7) What is the funding activity category?
The opportunity is categorized under "Other" for funding activity. The summary indicates the full announcement would typically clarify what DRL intends by that category in terms of program content.
8) What CFDA number (assistance listing) is associated with this program?
The program is associated with CFDA 19.345, a State Department assistance listing commonly used for DRL-related democracy, human rights, and labor programming.
9) How many awards did DRL anticipate making?
DRL anticipated making a single award under this notice.
10) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is up to $700,000.
11) Does the single-award structure suggest anything about the kind of applicant DRL was looking for?
Yes. The single award (up to $700,000) strongly suggests DRL was looking for one implementer (or one lead organization coordinating partners) capable of delivering a coherent package of forensic support, rather than distributing smaller awards across multiple recipients.
12) Who was eligible to apply?
The summary indicates a broad eligibility pool, including:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status
- Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- An "Others" category (with additional eligibility details likely in the full announcement)
13) What types of organizations might this eligibility list include in practice?
Given the technical and sensitive nature of forensic work in human rights contexts, this eligibility range implies DRL was open to proposals from:
- Universities with forensic programs and relevant expertise
- Humanitarian or human rights NGOs with specialized forensic capacity
- Technically capable private firms (within the eligible category) able to operate responsibly in sensitive environments
14) What does DRL appear to expect from applicants in terms of capacity?
The summary suggests applicants would need to demonstrate they can deliver specialized technical assistance in sensitive post-violation environments, with credible experience, appropriate safeguards, and responsible operating practices when working with sensitive evidence and vulnerable communities.
15) When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of September 30, 2016, with an original closing date of December 2, 2016.
16) How long was the application window?
From September 30, 2016 to December 2, 2016 is roughly a two-month submission window, which the summary notes is typical for State Department competitive assistance calls.
17) Does the provided information identify required activities or specific target countries?
No. The summary notes that the brief source text does not list required activities or target countries. However, the title and description indicate the intent is forensic methods in service of human rights outcomes addressing legacies of gross violations.
18) What kinds of project activities are commonly included under "forensic assistance" in this context?
Based on the description provided, forensic assistance in this context often encompasses activities such as:
- Technical support for the search, recovery, identification, and dignified return of human remains
- Strengthening national or local capacity for evidence handling and chain-of-custody practices
- Training and mentoring forensic practitioners or relevant institutions
- Developing protocols aligned with international standards
- Supporting responsible use of forensic findings by accountability mechanisms, truth-seeking processes, or reparations frameworks
19) What human rights principles does the summary suggest proposals would typically need to reflect?
Because DRL is a human rights bureau, proposals would typically be expected to reflect principles such as:
- A victim-centered approach
- Informed consent where relevant
- Do-no-harm risk management
- Protection of sensitive data
- Attention to the safety of families, witnesses, and practitioners
20) What is the simplest summary of what this funding was meant to support?
This was a single-award, competitive DRL grant opportunity (up to $700,000) intended to fund a focused project delivering forensic assistance to help communities and institutions address the human and legal aftermath of grave human rights abuses, with applications invited from a wide range of capable organizations during the late-2016 submission period.
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