The purpose of the Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) is to assist the Bureau in preparing the necessary casework for persons 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

credit: From Wikipedia

and, for those approved, to provide assistance in completing the additional requirements for refugee admission under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

In addition, the OPE forwards the necessary data on all DHS-approved cases to the Refugee Processing Center (RPC) for distribution to Reception and Placement agencies according to procedures established by the Bureau.

Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: Not available. Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

Uses and Use Restrictions

The cooperative agreement, grant or contribution provides funds to meet the organization"s objectives as approved by the Bureau.

Funding documents authorize funds based on the organization"s budget submission after Bureau approval.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

International and non-governmental organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Refugees approved under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must submit proposals for the Bureau"s consideration via Grants.gov in response to funding opportunity announcements posted by the Bureau on Grants.gov to fill critical needs, with Bureau review ocurring following the deadline of the funding announcement. International organizations submit appeals to the Bureau. (Funding announcements are also posted at http://www.state.gov/g/prm/c27111.htm.) Organizations interested in submitting applications in response to Bureau funding opportunity announcements are encouraged to communicate directly with the Bureau program officers regarding priorities and funding timelines. NGOs that have never received PRM funding must be prepared to demonstrate that their organizations meet the financial and accounting requirements of the U.S. Government before they can be eligible to receive funding.

Award Procedures

The Assistant Secretary of the Bureau makes funding decisions based on recommendations from the Bureau"s Office of Admissions and other Bureau offices. The Comptroller or Deputy Comptroller of the Bureau signs the cooperative agreement.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

The Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by the Refugee Act of 1980.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

May be renewable for up to two additional fiscal years based upon budget submissions on an annual basis, as long as there remains a need for the OPE and the organization operating the OPE provides satisfactory service, and subject to the availability of funds. At the end of three years, if the need to operate the OPE continues, the Bureau will re-compete the project, and the recipient of this award may participate in that process.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Generally, funds are awarded for a 12-month period. Funds may be renewable for up to two additional fiscal years based upon budget submissions on an annual basis, as long as there remains a need for the OPE and the organization operating the OPE provides satisfactory service, and subject to the availability of funds. At the end of three years, if the need to operate the OPE continues, the Bureau will re-compete the project, and the recipient of this award may participate in that process. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Payments will be made through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System (PMS). Recipients request funds based on immediate disbursement requirements and disburse funds as soon as possible to minimize the Federal cash on hand in accordance with the policies established by the U.S. Treasury Department and mandated by the OMB Circulars.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

A final program report is due ninety (90) days following the end of the agreement.

The submission date for program report will be written into the grant or cooperative agreement.

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 60 days of the finalization of the applicable negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA).

No progress reports are required.

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 60 days of the finalization of the applicable negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA).

The general performance of the Recipient"s operations will be evaluated and monitored to ensure that the established objectives are being successfully met and to determine whether the performance is in compliance with the terms of the award.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Bureau funds must be included in an appropriate audit or audits performed by independent public accountants in accordance with U.S. Government Auditing Standards established by the Comptroller General of the United States covering financial audits. The audit report is due 30 days after issuance or nine months after the end of the audit period.

Records

Retention and access requirements for records are set forth in 22 CFR 145.53.

Financial Information

Account Identification

19-1143-0-1-151.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $46,615,074; FY 09 est $52,313,377; FY 10 est not reported. - FY10 not available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

In FY08 under MRA, assistance for OPEs was given to 2 IOs, 3 NGOs and other entities totaling $46,615,074.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

All inquiries should be directed to the Bureau contact(s) listed below

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Kelly Gauger U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM)
2401 E Street NW, L505, Washington, District of Columbia 20522-0105 Email: GaugerKA@state.gov Phone: 202-663-1055 Fax: 202-663-1364

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The purpose of the Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) is to assist the Bureau in preparing the necessary casework for persons 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 and, for those approved, to provide assistance in completing the additional requirements for refugee admission under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. In addition, the OPE forwards the necessary data on all DHS-approved cases to the Refugee Processing Center (RPC) for distribution to Reception and Placement agencies according to procedures established by the Bureau. Organizations seeking funding to provide these services must demonstrate that they can:
a) Provide refugee processing services for all U.S. Refugee Admissions Program applicants in the location outlined in the relevant funding announcement and by the date listed in the announcement; and
b) Relate equitably to all domestic resettlement agencies. This will include sharing relevant biographic and other background information with domestic resettlement agencies working in the Reception and Placement program (to facilitate their provision of required sponsorship assurances). Specific objectives are listed in detail in the relevant funding announcement.