Executive Summary:The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) Office of Environmental Policy at the Department of State announces the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Results Focused Monitoring and Evaluation of Work Implementing Environmental Cooperation Mechanisms.

credit: PAUL SAKUMA/ASSOCIATED PRESS

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The agreement awarded will use FY11 Economic Support Funds.

The United States has free trade agreements (FTAs) in force with 18 countries.

In association with most of these FTAs, the United States has established environmental cooperation mechanisms (ECMs) that provide a framework for cooperation on environmental activities.

The Department of State (DOS), Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) coordinate the implementation of activities under the ECMs for the U. S. government.

OES also funds foreign assistance projects in conjunction with these activities to assist selected countries strengthen and enforce their environmental laws and generally improve, conserve, and protect their environments in the context of achieving sustainable development goals.

Through implementation of ECMs, the United States and its ECM partners are striving to achieve the following long-term goals:
Compliance with the FTA Environment Chapter obligations to:
(1) ensure that Parties? environmental laws and policies provide for and encourage high levels of environmental protection; (2) effectively enforce their environmental laws; and (3) to ensure that judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative proceedings are available to sanction or remedy violations of environmental laws; Improved protection and conservation of the environment, including natural resources; Transparency and public participation in environmental decision-making; and? An improved culture of environmental protection and compliance with environmental laws through, among other things, the promotion of economic opportunities, voluntary measures to enhance environmental performance, and job creation.OES seeks an independent entity to evaluate foreign assistance programs funded in conjunction with activities related to implementing ECMs and their related Work Programs.

Prospective applicants may include a wide range of organizations - non-governmental organization (NGOs), commercial firms, and international and regional organizations.Eligibility is limited to non-profit/nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U. S. tax code, or similar entities, foreign not-for-profit organizations, commercial firms, educational institutions, and to public international organizations.

Applicants must have significant experience doing results oriented monitoring and evaluation of environmental cooperation.

Proposals should demonstrate creativity, substance, and relevance to OES?s goal of demonstrating the results of OES managed trade-related environmental cooperation.A cooperative agreement of up to $198,000 U. S. Dollars (USD) in FY 2011 Economic Support Funds (ESF) will be awarded for Results Focused Monitoring and Evaluation of Work Implementing Environmental Cooperation Mechanisms.

The initial period of performance will be for 2 years.

Funding authority rests in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

(Optional:
Future funding may be available for further results focused monitoring and evaluation work, and competitive applications received but not selected as a result of this RFA may be considered for future funding).

Contact Person:
Lauren McCulloch Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs McCullochLC@state.gov +1 202-647-4833 (T)+1 202-647-5947 (F)Please read carefully the entire solicitation package including Proposal Submission Instructions if you plan to submit an application; there are steps that you should take immediately in order to make your submissions by the deadline.