Opportunity Information: Apply for DRL 10 RSOI 01 CHINA 100402
Apply for DRL 10 RSOI 01 CHINA 100402
- The 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 "Request for Statements of Interest China" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345 International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 2, 2010 and posted on Apr 2, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 3, 2010 Applicants must submit proposals using www.grants.gov by 1159 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on May 3, 2010. DRL will not accept proposals submitted via email, the U.S. postal system, FedEx, UPS and similar delivery companies, or courier. Faxed documents will not be accepted at any time. Please note In order to safeguard the security of applicants electronic information, www.grants.gov utilizes a credential provider. It is the process of determining, with certainty, that someone really is who they claim to be. The credential provider for www.grants.gov is Operational Research Consultants (ORC). Applicants MUST register with ORC to receive a username and password, which you will need to register with www.grants.gov as an authorized organization representative (AOR). Once your organizations E Business point of contact has assigned these rights, you will be authorized to submit grant applications through Grants.gov on behalf of your organization. Each organization will need to be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) and you will need to have your organizations DUNS number available to complete this process. After your organization registers with the CCR, you must wait approximately 3 5 business days before you can obtain a username and password. This may delay your ability to post your proposal. Therefore, DRL strongly urges applicants to begin this process on www.grants.gov well in advance of the submission deadline. No exceptions will be made for organizations that have not completed the necessary steps to post applications on www.grants.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $16,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Organizations submitting SOIs must meet the following criteria Be a U.S. non profit organization meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3). Applicants in the process of registration must submit proof that they are seeking non profit status from the Internal Revenue Service at the time of SOI submission. Should the applicant be selected for a grant award, funding will be contingent upon 501(c)(3) status or Be a U.S. university or research institution meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c) (3) and Have demonstrated experience administering successful projects, preferably targeting the requested country and/or region, or similarly challenging program environment. DRL reserves the right to request additional background information on organizations that do not have previous experience administering federal grant awards. These applicants may be subject to limited funding on a pilot basis and Have existing, or the capacity to develop, active partnerships with organization(s) in the target country and/or region. Organizations may form consortia and submit a combined SOI. However, one organization should be designated as the lead applicant.
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Opportunity Summary:
This opportunity is a U.S. Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) Request for Statements of Interest (SOIs) for projects focused on China, with eligibility also extending to Hong Kong and, in limited circumstances, Taiwan. It is not a full proposal solicitation at this stage; instead, DRL is using short SOIs to identify the most promising concepts and capable organizations, and then plans to invite selected applicants to submit full proposals later. The funding is provided through DRL's Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF), which is framed as "venture capital" style support for innovative efforts that can produce near-term impact while driving longer-term, sustainable reforms in places that are strategically important to the United States. The overall intent is to back programs that can lead to direct, lasting impact by promoting reforms and structural changes rather than short-lived activities.
DRL is seeking ideas in four standardized U.S. government foreign assistance program areas. The first is Rule of Law and Human Rights, emphasizing work tied to constitutions, laws and legal systems, the justice system, judicial independence, and human rights. The second is Civil Society, with an explicit expectation that proposals address both civic participation and media freedom, including strengthening civil society capacity to participate in governance, improving citizen oversight, and building the professional and institutional capacity of the media sector to support freedom of information. The third is Good Governance, focused on local government and decentralization, improving constructive ties between local governments and citizens, and increasing transparency and accountability at the local level. The fourth is Political Competition and Consensus Building, including elections and political processes (especially transparency and public awareness) and political parties work specifically in Hong Kong. Across these categories, DRL signals interest in projects that promote democracy and human rights broadly, including freedom of expression and information, freedom of the press, religious freedom, minority rights, electoral reform, public participation, judicial independence, criminal and civil rule of law, labor rights (including migrant rights), and media reform. DRL also notes particular interest in capacity building for indigenous non-governmental organizations using participatory methods, efforts that strengthen the broader charitable sector and its underlying systems, and certain legal and justice-related topics such as administrative litigation assistance, civil liability, alternatives to incarceration, and involuntary detention.
Funding details are relatively clear. DRL expects to have roughly $16.4 million to $16.5 million available for China programs under this call, with an anticipated 15 awards. Individual awards are expected to range from $400,000 to $1,500,000, and SOIs outside that floor/ceiling are technically ineligible. Projects are expected to run 1 to 3 years, with the bulk of activities occurring in the target country. Taiwan-related projects are possible only if they are matched by non-U.S. government funding, meaning DRL funding alone is not intended to cover Taiwan programming without outside match.
The solicitation is equally specific about what DRL does not want. U.S.-based activities are expected to be minimal, and proposals built around study tours, scholarships, or exchanges are described as not competitive. Projects that are primarily academic research, conferences, dialogues, or similar convenings are also unlikely to compete well. DRL discourages health, technology, or scientific projects unless those are clearly in service of the democracy and human rights objectives described, and it also flags commercial law or economic development-focused projects as not competitive. DRL further states it will not consider any project that involves support of any kind for members, affiliates, or representatives of designated terrorist organizations.
Eligibility is limited to U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (or proof they are actively seeking it at the time of submission) and U.S. universities or research institutions meeting 501(c)(3) provisions. Applicants must show experience administering successful projects, ideally in China or similarly challenging environments, and they must have existing partnerships in the target country/region or the clear capacity to develop them. Consortia are permitted, but one organization must serve as the lead applicant. DRL also reserves the right to seek additional background from groups without prior federal award experience and may limit funding for such applicants on a pilot basis.
SOI submission is highly standardized and tightly constrained. Each SOI must be a two-page Word document, single-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font, 1-inch margins, formatted for 8.5 x 11 paper, with numbered pages and a header that includes the SOI title and the submitting organization. An organization may submit no more than two SOIs total. SOIs that do not meet formatting rules or that request amounts outside the allowable range may be rejected as ineligible. Within the two pages, DRL expects five core components: a brief organization description with mission statement and relevant experience (especially in China or difficult operating contexts), an explanation of how the concept fits the HRDF mandate (innovative, sustainable, non-duplicative), a project description including duration, objectives, and clearly defined outputs and outcomes with benchmarks tied to objectives and mapped to the standardized program area(s) and element(s), a brief evaluation methodology statement aligned with DRL monitoring and evaluation guidance, and an estimated budget broken into program costs, administrative/indirect costs, and any cost sharing.
Submission must be made through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 3, 2010, and DRL will not accept email, postal mail, courier deliveries, or faxes. The notice emphasizes the practical steps required to submit through Grants.gov at that time, including registration steps (credentialing through the Grants.gov credential provider, and organizational registration in CCR, plus a DUNS number), and warns applicants to start early because registration delays will not be grounds for an extension. Applicants must also submit standard federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B) following the instructions provided in the announcement, including using CFDA 19.345 and the specific funding opportunity number DRL 10 RSOI 01 CHINA 100402, and entering notional budget data in SF-424A consistent with the estimated SOI budget.
DRL indicates how it will decide which SOIs move forward to invited full proposals. A State Department review committee will evaluate submissions using standard criteria that emphasize the quality and originality of the idea, the feasibility and planning rigor of the work plan and objectives, sustainability and multiplier effect through institution building and donor leverage, the strength of the evaluation plan (with external evaluation viewed favorably), the applicant's track record and operational capacity including fiscal and compliance performance, and cost effectiveness with low overhead and minimal U.S.-based costs. DRL also notes that eligibility and compliance reviews may include legal review, and that final award authority rests with the Department's Grants Division. Finally, the notice states that after the deadline, U.S. government officials will not discuss the competition with applicants until the review process is complete, and provides DRL staff contacts for questions related to SOI submissions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) Request for Statements of Interest (SOIs) for projects focused on China. Eligibility can also extend to Hong Kong and, in limited circumstances, Taiwan.
2) Is this a full proposal solicitation?
No. This stage is only for short Statements of Interest (SOIs). DRL is using SOIs to identify the most promising concepts and capable organizations, and then plans to invite selected applicants to submit full proposals later.
3) What fund is supporting these projects, and what is the overall approach?
Funding is provided through DRL's Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF). DRL describes HRDF support as "venture capital" style, backing innovative efforts intended to produce near-term impact while driving longer-term, sustainable reforms in strategically important places.
4) What kinds of results is DRL looking for?
DRL emphasizes programs that can lead to direct, lasting impact by promoting reforms and structural changes, rather than short-lived activities.
5) What are the main program areas DRL wants SOIs to fit into?
DRL is seeking concepts aligned to four standardized U.S. government foreign assistance program areas:
- Rule of Law and Human Rights (constitutions, laws and legal systems, justice system, judicial independence, and human rights)
- Civil Society (must address both civic participation and media freedom; includes civil society capacity for governance participation and strengthening media sector capacity for freedom of information)
- Good Governance (local government and decentralization; improving ties between local governments and citizens; transparency and accountability at the local level)
- Political Competition and Consensus Building (elections and political processes, especially transparency and public awareness; political parties work specifically in Hong Kong)
6) What democracy and human rights topics does DRL specifically mention as areas of interest?
DRL signals interest in projects that promote democracy and human rights broadly, including freedom of expression and information, freedom of the press, religious freedom, minority rights, electoral reform, public participation, judicial independence, criminal and civil rule of law, labor rights (including migrant rights), and media reform.
7) Are there any particularly highlighted project approaches or subtopics?
Yes. DRL notes particular interest in:
- Capacity building for indigenous non-governmental organizations using participatory methods
- Efforts that strengthen the broader charitable sector and its underlying systems
- Legal and justice-related topics such as administrative litigation assistance, civil liability, alternatives to incarceration, and involuntary detention
8) How much funding is available overall?
DRL expects to have roughly $16.4 million to $16.5 million available for China programs under this call.
9) How many awards does DRL anticipate making?
DRL anticipates approximately 15 awards.
10) What is the expected award size?
Individual awards are expected to range from $400,000 to $1,500,000. SOIs requesting amounts outside this range are considered ineligible.
11) What is the expected project period?
Projects are expected to run from 1 to 3 years.
12) Where should most project activities take place?
DRL expects the bulk of activities to occur in the target country.
13) Are Taiwan-focused projects allowed?
Taiwan-related projects are possible only in limited circumstances and only if they are matched by non-U.S. government funding. DRL funding alone is not intended to cover Taiwan programming without outside match.
14) What types of activities are discouraged or considered not competitive?
DRL indicates several approaches are not competitive or unlikely to be competitive, including:
- Projects with more than minimal U.S.-based activities
- Study tours, scholarships, or exchanges
- Projects primarily focused on academic research
- Conferences, dialogues, or similar convenings as the primary activity
- Health, technology, or scientific projects unless clearly in service of the stated democracy and human rights objectives
- Commercial law or economic development-focused projects
15) Are there prohibited project partners or beneficiaries?
Yes. DRL states it will not consider any project that involves support of any kind for members, affiliates, or representatives of designated terrorist organizations.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to:
- U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (or proof they are actively seeking it at the time of submission)
- U.S. universities or research institutions meeting 501(c)(3) provisions
17) What experience does DRL expect applicants to demonstrate?
Applicants must show experience administering successful projects, ideally in China or similarly challenging environments. Applicants must also have existing partnerships in the target country/region or a clear capacity to develop them.
18) Are consortia or partnerships allowed?
Yes. Consortia are permitted, but one organization must serve as the lead applicant.
19) What if an organization has no prior federal award experience?
DRL reserves the right to seek additional background from groups without prior federal award experience and may limit funding for such applicants on a pilot basis.
20) How long can the SOI be?
Each SOI must be exactly a two-page Word document.
21) What are the SOI formatting requirements?
SOIs must be submitted as a two-page Word document that is single-spaced, in Times New Roman 12-point font, with 1-inch margins, formatted for 8.5 x 11 paper, and include numbered pages. The header must include the SOI title and the submitting organization.
22) How many SOIs may one organization submit?
An organization may submit no more than two SOIs total.
23) What makes an SOI ineligible?
SOIs may be rejected as ineligible if they do not meet formatting rules or if they request funding amounts outside the allowable $400,000 to $1,500,000 range.
24) What content must be included within the two-page SOI?
Within the two pages, DRL expects five core components:
- A brief organization description with mission statement and relevant experience (especially in China or difficult operating contexts)
- An explanation of how the concept fits the HRDF mandate (innovative, sustainable, non-duplicative)
- A project description including duration, objectives, and clearly defined outputs and outcomes with benchmarks tied to objectives and mapped to the standardized program area(s) and element(s)
- A brief evaluation methodology statement aligned with DRL monitoring and evaluation guidance
- An estimated budget broken into program costs, administrative/indirect costs, and any cost sharing
25) Where and how do applicants submit the SOI?
SOIs must be submitted through Grants.gov. DRL will not accept submissions by email, postal mail, courier delivery, or fax.
26) What is the SOI deadline?
The SOI must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 3, 2010.
27) What registrations or identifiers are mentioned for Grants.gov submission?
The notice highlights that submission via Grants.gov requires completing registration steps, including credentialing through the Grants.gov credential provider, organizational registration in CCR, and obtaining a DUNS number. The notice warns applicants to start early because registration delays will not be grounds for an extension.
28) What standard federal forms are required with the submission?
Applicants must submit standard federal forms SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B, following the instructions in the announcement.
29) What CFDA number and funding opportunity number should applicants use?
Applicants are instructed to use CFDA 19.345 and the funding opportunity number DRL 10 RSOI 01 CHINA 100402.
30) How should budget information be reflected in the forms?
Applicants must enter notional budget data in SF-424A consistent with the estimated SOI budget, and the SOI itself should include an estimated budget broken into program costs, administrative/indirect costs, and any cost sharing.
31) How will DRL decide which SOIs advance to the full proposal stage?
A State Department review committee will evaluate SOIs using criteria emphasizing:
- Quality and originality of the idea
- Feasibility and planning rigor of the work plan and objectives
- Sustainability and multiplier effect through institution building and donor leverage
- Strength of the evaluation plan (external evaluation is viewed favorably)
- Applicant track record and operational capacity, including fiscal and compliance performance
- Cost effectiveness, with low overhead and minimal U.S.-based costs
32) Does DRL mention compliance or legal review?
Yes. DRL notes that eligibility and compliance reviews may include legal review, and final award authority rests with the Department's Grants Division.
33) Can applicants communicate with U.S. government officials about the competition after submitting?
No. The notice states that after the deadline, U.S. government officials will not discuss the competition with applicants until the review process is complete.
34) Are there DRL contacts for questions?
Yes. The notice provides DRL staff contacts for questions related to SOI submissions.
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