Self-Determination,Votingrights, Orstatehood

Self-Determination,Votingrights, Orstatehood

OFFICEOFTHESECRETARYOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA

REQUESTFORAPPLICATIONS

GranttoPromoteDistrictofColumbia

Self-Determination,VotingRights, orStatehood

ReleaseDate: Friday,May 15, 2015

Application Due Date:Friday,May 29,2015atnoon

SECTION1:FUNDINGOPPORTUNITY

TheOfficeoftheSecretaryoftheDistrictofColumbia(OS)herebyinvitesthesubmission of applications toprovidesupportforMayor Muriel E. Bowser’sinitiativestoachieveself­ determination,budgetandlegislativeautonomy,fullvotingrightsintheUnitedStates Congress,and, ultimately, statehoodfortheDistrictofColumbia.

Background

TheresidentsoftheDistrictofColumbiaservein the militaryandpayfederaltaxesbutcontinuetolackfull democracyandtherightsthat residentsofotherstates andmunicipalities enjoy,includingautonomyfromcongressional oversight,votingrepresentationinCongress,andstatehood.

TheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleActof1973 providedlimited"HomeRule"forthe DistrictbyallowingelectionofaMayorandCounciloftheDistrictofColumbia.Sincethen, theDistrict'selectedofficialsandvariousgroupshavepursued strategiestoraise awarenessandwork towards achieving voting representation intheU.S.House ofRepresentativesandU.S.Senateandautonomyfromcongressional oversight. Yet democracyfor DChasbeenderailed by the Charter itself, the courts, non-germane proposals restricting the District on must-pass Congressional legislation,riderson appropriationsbills,and insufficient supportforenactmentofvarious budget autonomy and statehood proposalsin theUnitedStatesCongress.

Foroveradecade,theDistricthasallocatedfundstononprofitorganizationsforeducating citizensaround thenationandpursuingstrategiesthathighlightthecontinuedlackoffull democracyinthenation'scapital. Inaddition,since1990,Districtresidentshaveelecteda "shadow"delegationtoCongressinordertopromotestatehood, and District residents have voted for, and the Mayor has supported, amending the Charter to allow for budget autonomy.

TheOfficeoftheSecretaryis chargedwithresponsibilityformanagingthefundsallocated forstatehood initiativesforDCresidents.TheFiscalYear2015Budgetauthorized$200,000for theOfficeoftheSecretarytoissuecompetitivegrantsto promotevotingrightsandstatehood.

Purposeof Program

Theobjectiveofthisgrantis tostrengthensupportforDistrictrepresentationinCongress andautonomyfortheDistrictofColumbia.Thiswillrequireoutreach,canvassing,and measurementofsupportofelectedofficialsandresidentsacrossthecountryandvisitorsto thenation'scapital. Theultimategoalof thisprogramisthatthegrantee(s)increase congressionalandnationwidesupportforself-determinationfortheDistrictofColumbia including,butnotlimitedto,votingrightsinCongress,legislativeand budgetautonomy,andDCstatehood.

ThisprogramisfundedwithFY2015funds,whichmustbeexpendedbySeptember30,

2015,withafullaccounting providedtotheOfficeoftheSecretarynolaterthanDecember

31, 2015.

SECTIONII:AWARDINFORMATION

$200,000 inDistrictfundswillbeavailableonacompetitivebasis.

  1. This year, 50% or $100,000.00 of the funds will be awarded on a competitive basis to an organization or organizations dedicated specifically to engaging youth (high school, college students and/or graduate students or other young adults) in civics, government, and/or voting rights in innovative ways by raising awareness through campaigns that include a branding and messaging strategy that include new media, social media and other fresh ideas. Such dedication can be evidenced by the organization’s purpose, or through dedicated programming within the organization aimed at youth engagement.
  2. The other 50% of the funds will be awarded to a non-profit organization or organizations that engage in general or targeted public education, organizing, or legal strategy to advance DC voting rights and autonomy. The release date of this Request for Applications (RFA) is 14 days after the date the Notice of Funding Availability was published in the DC Register on Friday, May 15, 2015. This grant process conforms to the guidelines established in the District’s City-Wide and Sourcebook (which is available at http:1/opgs.dc.gov).

Allfundswillbedisburseduponawardofthegrant,withareportandbudgetaccounting required July 30, September 30, and, if not already submitted in September,afinalreportduenolaterthanDecember31,2015.Allproposals mustincludeadetaileddescriptionofhowthefundswillbespent,aswellasaprojectplan. Creativeproposalsareencouraged.

SECTION III: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligibilityforthisgrantisrestrictedto:

  1. Non-profitorganizationswitha501(c)(3) certification,acurrentDistrictofColumbialicense,a"CleanHands"certificationthatthe organizationdoesnotoweanymoneytotheDistrictorFederalgovernment, and no outstanding or overdue final reports for grants received from the District government for similar purposes; and
  1. Organizations with ahistoryofadvocatingfordemocracyandself-determinationforDCincluding,butnot limitedto,DCvotingrights,legislativeandbudgetautonomy,and/orstatehood.
  1. Organizations must have a financial track record and cannot be reliant on another organization under a fiscal agent arrangement. Audited financialstatements, or other documents listed in Section VI, item 4,mustbesubmittedwiththeapplication.

SECTION IV: APPLICATION & SUBMISSION INFORMATION

ThisRequestforApplicationsispostedat RequestsforcopiesofthisRFAandinquiries maybesubmittedto: OfficeoftheSecretaryoftheDistrictofColumbia,1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,NW,Suite419,Washington,DC ,or202-727-6306.

ApplicationFormsandContent

Allapplicationswillbejudgedagainstthefollowingrequirements:

1. Allproposalsmustbewritteninclear,concise, and grammaticallycorrectlanguage.

Narrativesshallnotexceed2,500wordsandmust includeanswerstoallthe requirementsspecifiedinthisRequestforApplications.

2. Thereisnosetform onwhichapplicationsmustbewrittenbutbrevityandclarity areappreciated.

3. Thegrantapplicantshallfocuseffortson educationandoutreachtoresidentsofthe

states,notjustmembersofCongress, and funds shall not be used to lobby, directly or through grassroots advocacy, for or against particular pieces of legislation.

4. Grantapplicants’effortsshallnotconsist in large partofpaidmediaadvertisements.

5. Proposalmustbespecificastohowfundswillbeexpendedincluding:

  1. Names of all staff or consultants proposed to work on this program;
  2. Justification of the need for grant funds.
  3. Specific activities for which funds will be used.
  4. Proposed line item budget.
  5. Agreement to submit all deliverables listed in section VI.
  6. Specific performance measures and evaluation plans.

6. AllcertificationslistedintheApplicationProcesssectionmustbe included.

ApplicationProcessRequirements

Responses tothisRequestforApplicationsshallbesubmittedviaemailto rhardcopyanddiskdeliveredto the OfficeoftheSecretary,1350

Pennsylvania Avenue,NW,Suite419,Washington,DC20004.Applications deliveredtotheOfficeoftheSecretarymustbe datestampednolaterthannoonon Friday, May 29, 2015.

Thefollowingcriteriaforanapplicationmustbe met.Applicationsthatdonotmeetthe requirementsspecifiedbelowwillbedisqualified fromconsideration:

1. Allproposalsshallincludeonlywrittennarrativewithnoadditionalinput(suchas

DVDs,videos,etc.).

2. Allfilessubmittedshallbe inanyofthefollowingformats:MSWord2003or2007,

PDF,MS Excel, HTML, MSPublisheroranyformatcompatiblewiththose formats.

3. Notincludedinthe2,500wordnarrative,butalsorequiredare:

a. theEINalso calledFederalTaxIDnumberoftheorganization;

b. thewebsiteandmaincontactinformationfortheorganization;

c. alist oftheBoardofDirectorsoftheorganization(ifnotlistedonthe website);

d. one-paragraphbios ofallproposedprojectstaff;and

e. Webaddressorcopyoftheorganization'smostrecentForm990submission to theInternalRevenueService.

4. Copies(orweb linksthereto)ofitsmostrecentandcompletesetofauditedfinancial statementsavailablefortheorganization.Ifauditedfinancialstatementshave neverbeenpreparedduetothesizeornewnessofanorganization,theapplicant mustprovideanorganizationalbudget,anincomestatement(orprofit andloss statement),andabalancesheetcertifiedbyanauthorizedrepresentativeofthe organization,andanyletters,filings,etc.submittedtotheIRSwithinthethree(3) yearsbeforethedateofthegrantapplication.

5. Evidenceof501(c)(3) status, a currentbusinesslicense,and copies ofanycorrespondencereceived fromtheIRSwithinthethree(3)years precedingthegrantapplicationthatrelatestotheorganization'staxstatus(e.g. suspension,revocation,recertification,etc.).

6. Applicationnarrativeshallbeaccompaniedbya"StatementofCertification,"the

TruthofwhichisattestedtobytheExecutiveDirectorortheChairoftheBoardof

Directorsoftheapplicantorganization,whichstates:

a. Theindividuals,byname,title,address,email,andphonenumberwhoare

authorizedtonegotiatewiththeOfficeoftheSecretaryonbehalfofthe organization;

b. Thattheapplicantisabletomaintainadequatefiles,records,andcan

meetallreportingrequirements;

c. ThatallfiscalrecordsarekeptinaccordancewithGenerallyAccepted AccountingPrinciples(GAAP)andaccountforallfunds,tangibleassets, revenue,andexpenditures;thatallfiscalrecordsareaccurate, completeandcurrentatalltimes;andthattheserecordswillbemade availableforauditandinspectionasrequired;

d. Thattheapplicantiscurrenton paymentofallfederalandDistricttaxes,

includingUnemploymentInsurancetaxesandWorkers'Compensation

premiums.Thisstatementofcertificationshallbeaccompaniedbya certificatefromtheDistrictofColumbiaOfficeofTaxandRevenue(OTR) statingthattheentityhascompliedwiththefiling requirementsofDistrictof ColumbiataxlawsandhaspaidtaxesduetotheDistrictofColumbia,orisin compliance withanypaymentagreementwithOTR;

e.Thattheapplicanthasthedemonstratedadministrativeandfinancial

capabilitytoprovideandmanagetheproposedservicesandensurean adequateadministrative,performanceandaudittrail;

f.Thattheapplicantisnotproposedfordebarmentorpresentlydebarred, suspended,ordeclaredineligible,asrequiredbyExecutiveOrder12549, "DebarmentandSuspension,"andimplementedby2CFR180,for prospectiveparticipantsin primarycoveredtransactionsandisnotproposeddebarmentorpresentlydebarredasaresultofanyactionsbytheDistrict ofColumbiaContractAppealsBoard,theOfficeofContractingand Procurement,oranyotherDistrictcontractregulatingAgency;

g. Thattheapplicanthasthenecessaryorganization,experience,accountingandoperationalcontrols, andtechnicalskillstoimplementtheprogram,or theabilitytoobtainthem;

h.That theapplicanthastheabilitytocomply withtherequiredperformanceschedule,takingintoconsiderationallexistingandreasonablyexpectedcommercialandgovernmentalbusinesscommitments;

  1. Thattheapplicanthasasatisfactoryrecordperformingsimilaractivitiesasdetailedintheaward;

j.Thattheapplicanthasasatisfactoryrecordofintegrityandbusinessethics (Clean Hands Certificate);

k.ThattheapplicantisincompliancewiththeapplicableDistrictlicensingand taxlawsandregulations (Clean Hands);

l.That, if the applicant has previously won a similar award from the District of Columbia government, it has submitted all reports due and owing.

m.ThattheapplicantcomplieswithprovisionsoftheDrug-FreeWorkplaceAct;

n.Thattheapplicantmeetsallotherqualificationsandeligibilitycriteria necessarytoreceiveanawardunderapplicablelawsandregulations;

o. Theapplicantagreestoindemnify, defend,andholdharmlessthe GovernmentoftheDistrictofColumbiaanditsauthorizedofficers, employees,agents,andvolunteersfromanyandallclaims,actions,losses, damages,and/orliabilityarisingoutofthisgrantfromanycausewhatsoever,includingtheacts,errors,oromissionsofanypersonand forany costsorexpensesincurredbytheDistricton accountofanyclaimtherefore, exceptwheresuchindemnification isprohibitedbylaw;and

p.Ifanyoftheorganization'sofficers,partners,principals,members,associatesorkeyemployees,withinthelastthree(3)yearspriortothedateofthe application,has:

  1. beenindictedorhadchargesbroughtagainstthem(ifstillpending) and/orbeenconvictedof(a)anycrimeoroffensearisingdirectlyor indirectlyfromtheconductoftheapplicant'sorganizationor(b) any crimeoroffenseinvolvingfinancialmisconductorfraud,or

ii. beenthesubjectof legalproceedingsarisingdirectlyfromthe

provisionof servicesbytheorganization.Iftheresponseisinthe affirmative,theapplicantshallfullydescribeanysuchindictments, charges,convictions,orlegalproceedings(andthestatusand dispositionthereof)andsurroundingcircumstancesinwritingand providedocumentationofthecircumstances.

Timeline

Allapplicationsshallbesubmittedbyemailtoordeliveredtothe

OfficeoftheSecretary,1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,NW, Suite419,Washington,DC

20004nolaterthanNoonon Friday,May 29, 2015.TheOfficeoftheSecretary isnotresponsibleformisdirectedemailorlatedeliveries.

TermsandConditions

1. Fundingforthisawardiscontingentonthecontinuedfundingfromthegrantor, includingpossiblefundingrestrictionspursuanttothefederalAnti-DeficiencyAct, 31U.S.C.§§1341,1342,1349-51,and1511-1519(2004);theDistrictAnti­

DeficiencyAct,D.C.OfficialCode§§1-206.03(e), 47-105,and47-355.01-355.08 (2001);andSection446oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,D.C.Official Code §1-204.46(2001).NothinginthisRequestforApplicationsshallcreatean obligation oftheDistrictinanticipation ofanappropriation byCongressand/orthe CounciloftheDistrictofColumbia(the"Council")forsuchpurpose asdescribed herein. TheDistrict'slegalliabilityforanypaymentpursuanttothisRFAshallnot ariseorobtaininadvanceofthelawfulavailabilityofappropriatedfundsforthe applicable fiscal yearasapproved byCongressand/ortheCouncil,andshallbecome nullandvoiduponthelawfulunavailabilityofsuchfundsundertheseorother applicablestatutesandregulations.

2. TheOfficeoftheSecretary reservestherighttoacceptordenyanyorall applicationsif theSecretarydeterminesitisinthebestinterestofthegovernment todoso.TheSecretaryshallnotifytheapplicantifitrejectsthatapplicant's proposal.TheSecretarymaysuspend orterminateanoutstandingRFApursuantto thepoliciessetforthin theCity-WideGrantsManualandSourcebook.

3. TheOfficeoftheSecretaryreserves therighttoissueaddenda and/oramendments subsequenttotheissuanceoftheRFA,ortorescindtheRFA.

4. TheOfficeoftheSecretaryshallnotbeliableforanycostsincurredinthe preparation ofapplications inresponse totheRFA.Applicantagreesthatallcosts incurredindevelopingtheapplicationaretheapplicant'ssoleresponsibility.

5. TheOfficeoftheSecretarymayconductpre-awardon-sitevisitstoverify informationsubmittedin theapplication andtodetermineiftheapplicant's facilities areappropriatefortheservicesintended.

6. TheOfficeoftheSecretarymayenterintonegotiations withanapplicantandadopt afirmfundingamount orotherrevisionoftheapplicant'sproposalthatmayresult fromnegotiations.

7. Toreceiveanaward,theselectedgranteeshallprovideinwritingthenameofallof itsinsurancecarriersandthetypeofinsuranceprovided(e.g.,itsgeneralliability insurancecarrierandautomobileinsurancecarrier,workers'compensation insurancecarrier,fidelitybondholder(ifapplicable)),and,beforeexecutionofthe award,acopyofthebinderorcoversheetoftheircurrentpolicyforanypolicythat coversactivitiesthatmightbeundertakeninconnectionwithperformanceofthe grant,showingthelimits ofcoverageandendorsements.Allpolicies(exceptthe workers'compensation,errorsandomissions,andprofessionalliabilitypolicies) thatcoveractivitiesthatmightbeundertakeninconnectionwiththeperformance ofthegrant,shallcontainadditionalendorsements namingtheGovernmentofthe

DistrictofColumbia,andits officers,employees,agentsandvolunteersasadditional

namedinsuredwithrespecttoliabilityabilitiesarisingoutoftheperformanceof servicesundertheaward.Thegranteeshallrequiretheirinsurancecarrierofthe requiredcoveragetowaiveallrights ofsubrogationagainsttheDistrict,itsofficers, employees,agents,volunteers,contractors,andsubcontractors.

8. IfthereareanyconflictsbetweenthetermsandconditionsoftheRFAandany applicablefederalorlocallaworregulation,oranyambiguityrelatedthereto,then theprovisionsoftheapplicablelaw orregulationshallcontrolanditshallbe the responsibilityof theapplicanttoensurecompliance.

SECTION V: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Allproposalswillbe reviewedbyapanelselectedbytheExecutiveOfficeoftheMayor (EOM) and may include reviewers from EOM as well as outside reviewers. Theratingsawardedeachapplicantshallbepublicinformationandshallbemadebased onthefollowingcriteria:

1. DemonstratedabilitytomakeprogresstowardincreasingnationwidesupportforDC votingrights,budgetautonomy,orfulldemocracyfortheDistrictduringthegrant period: 50%;

2. Specificityandfeasibilityofproposedactivities: 25%;

3. Historyof effectively supportingdemocracyandstatehoodefforts: 10%;

4. Specificityofperformancemeasures: 15%;

SECTION VI: AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

Grantaward(s)willbeannouncedontheOfficeoftheSecretarywebsitenolaterthan5:00 p.m.onMonday,June 8, 2015.Unsuccessfulapplicantswillbenotifiedbyemailat theaddressfromwhichtheapplicationwassent(unlessotherwisespecified)priortothe announcementofthewinners. Disbursementofgrantfundswilloccurassoonas practicablefollowingtheannouncementoftheselectionoftheawardee(s).

Deliverables

Projectrequirementsthatmustbesubmittedon orbeforedue datesare:

  1. Aprojectplan withdetailedexpenseprojectionsfortheamountrequested.(Due within15calendardaysofgrantaward.)
  1. Progressreportsdetailingexpenditurestodateandsummaryofworkcompletedshallbedueevery90daysfromawarddate,withthefinalreportdueDecember31, 2015.
  1. ExpenditureofgrantfundsbeforeOctober1,2015.

4. Afinalreportprovidedbythegrantrecipient(s)nolaterthanDecember31,2015.The close out or finalreportshallincludedetailedaccountingof all expendituresforeachproject andsummaryofworkcompletedunderthegrant.

SECTION VII: AGENCY CONTACT

All inquiriesregardingthisRequestforApplicationsshouldbedirectedto:

Lauren C. Vaughan

SecretaryoftheDistrictofColumbia

OfficeoftheSecretaryoftheDistrictofColumbia

1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,NW,Suite419

Washington,DC20004

202-727-6306

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