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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
States Performance from The Council of State Governments
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Grant Opportunity: Kenya Arid Lands
Kenya Arid Lands Disaster Risk Reduction-WASH Program |  |
| http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=0hBKQvGNvQLjBPMqhJKhrQH1CpcDYvs3YlyK1Ry8hqq3ZNgH3ygJ!1460891328?oppId=185653&mode=VIEW |
The synopsis for this grant opportunity is detailed below, following this paragraph. This synopsis contains all of the updates to this document that have been posted as of 07/20/2012 . If updates have been made to the opportunity synopsis, update information is provided below the synopsis.
If you would like to receive notifications of changes to the grant opportunity click send me change notification emails . The only thing you need to provide for this service is your email address. No other information is requested.
Any inconsistency between the original printed document and the disk or electronic document shall be resolved by giving precedence to the printed document.
Document Type: Grants Notice Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-623-12-000005 Opportunity Category: Discretionary Posted Date: Jul 20, 2012 Creation Date: Jul 20, 2012 Original Closing Date for Applications: Aug 31, 2012 Current Closing Date for Applications: Aug 31, 2012 Archive Date: Sep 30, 2012 Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement Category of Funding Activity: Agriculture
Disaster Prevention and Relief
Natural ResourcesCategory Explanation: Expected Number of Awards: 3 Estimated Total Program Funding: $8,000,000 Award Ceiling: $8,000,000 Award Floor: $4,000,000 CFDA Number(s): 98.001 -- USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No
Eligible Applicants
- Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"
Additional Information on Eligibility:
Agency Name
- Kenya USAID-Nairobi
Description
- The core objective of the program is to assist the Kenyan government and communities through cooperative agreements to a consortium, or consortiums of, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are not for profit and/or Public International Organizations (PIOs) to increase resilience to drought and flash floods while simultaneously increasing access to improved water supply and sanitation services, and improving hygiene behaviors, for poor and vulnerable populations in the arid counties of Turkana, Marsabit (including Moyale District), Garissa, Isiolo, and Wajir in Kenya. Through its investments, USAID proposes the following objectives: 1. Increase water storage capacity in arid lands, through improving natural and artificial storage. 2. Improve WASH conditions at health facilities and nutrition centers frequently utilized during emergency response. 3. Improve access to safe drinking water sources, improve access to and usage of point of use water treatment products, promote good hygiene behaviors and use of sanitation facilities as a means of reducing diarrheal disease in areas with recurrent emergency levels of malnutrition and around areas of improved water storage.
Link to Additional Information
If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
- Charity Igweta
Procurement Administrative Assistant
Phone +254208622408 Charity Igweta
Synopsis Modification History
There are currently no modifications for this opportunity.
Grant Opportunity: DOS. U.S. Mission to Tunisia
DOS
Department of State
U.S. Mission to Tunisia
University Partnership
Modification 3
University Partnership
The synopsis for this grant opportunity is detailed below, following this paragraph. This synopsis contains all of the updates to this document that have been posted as of 08/15/2012 . If updates have been made to the opportunity synopsis, update information is provided below the synopsis.
If you would like to receive notifications of changes to the grant opportunity click send me change notification emails . The only thing you need to provide for this service is your email address. No other information is requested.
Any inconsistency between the original printed document and the disk or electronic document shall be resolved by giving precedence to the printed document.
Description of Modification |
Document Type: Modification to Previous Grants Notice Funding Opportunity Number: TPA20120815 Opportunity Category: Discretionary Posted Date: Aug 15, 2012 Creation Date: Aug 17, 2012 Original Closing Date for Applications: Sep 17, 2012 Closing Date: Monday, September 17, 2012 Current Closing Date for Applications: Sep 17, 2012 Closing Date: Monday, September 17, 2012 Archive Date: Oct 17, 2012 Funding Instrument Type: Grant Category of Funding Activity: Other (see text field entitled "Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity" for clarification) Category Explanation: Setting up a comprehensive approach to training Diplomacy and World Affairs for the Tunisian “Diplomatic Institute for Training and Studies-IDFE” Expected Number of Awards: Estimated Total Program Funding: Award Ceiling: $350,000 Award Floor: $250,000 CFDA Number(s): 19.040 -- Public Diplomacy Programs Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes
Eligible Applicants
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional Information on Eligibility:
- The United States Embassy/Tunis is planning to support the Tunisian Diplomatic Institute in the development of a special curriculum to support on-going reforms in matter of capacity building to the benefit of Tunisian diplomats, in light of new trends and practices in diplomacy and skills required by the diplomatic profession, in fields such as Public Diplomacy, PR & Media Relations, Economic Diplomacy, Analysis and Prospective of Current International Affairs, Crisis Management, and interpersonal development. This partnership would also include the setting up of a Studies & Research Unit to investigate topics such as international relations, international law, the global economy, international conflict, terrorism and post-conflict nation building. The Tunisian Diplomatic institute reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and offers two study tracks: The first is one-year long and designed for young university graduates. Student attend classes on basic diplomacy techniques, international law, international economy and relations, etc.. At completion of the first year of study, students follow internships in various departments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before their actual assignment. The second track is aimed for in-service and mid-career professionals and offers short term training programs on various diplomacy matters. For more information about the institute, please send email to idfe.takwin@gmail.com or call the Director for Training +216 71 784 510
Agency Name
- U.S. Mission to Tunisia
Description
- This RFA is designed to support U.S. academic institutions that seek to engage with the Tunisian Diplomatic institute. (Eligible Applicants: All members of the American Council on Education (ACE), the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Association of American Universities (AAU), the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), and other regionally accredited, degree-granting, U.S. higher education institutions). Applicant institutions with previous project or exchange experience in Tunisia and/or in North Africa are preferred.Selected recipients will be responsible for ensuring achievement of program objectives that enhance mutual, fully collaborative relationships between Tunisian and U.S. education/diplomatic institutions and their public and private sector partners in both countries. It is USG policy not to award profit under assistance instruments. However, all reasonable, allocable, and allowable expenses, both direct and indirect, which are related to the program and are in accordance with applicable cost standards (22 CFR 226, OMB Circular A-21 for universities, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 31 for for-profit organizations), may be paid under the award.Subject to the availability of funds, US Embassy Tunis plans to provide up to $350,000 in Economic Support Funds (ESF) for the partnership stated above not to exceed two years, but with the possibility of no-cost limited extensions. The US Embassy reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted. For the purposes of this program, this RFA is being issued and consists of this cover letter and the Full Application including following: 1. Section A - Application Format; 2. Section B - Selection Criteria; 3. Section C - Program Description; 4. Section D - Certifications, Assurances, and Other Statements of Applicant/Recipient 5. Section E - Attachments to Program Description (attachments 1, 2, and 3)To be eligible for an award, the applicant must provide all required information in its application, including the requirements found in any attachments. Applicants must submit the full application package in compliance with the method indicated in this cover letter and in Section A of this RFA.For the purposes of this RFA, the term "Grant" is synonymous with "Cooperative Agreement"; "Grantee" is synonymous with "Recipient"; and "Grant Officer" is synonymous with "Agreement Officer".Any questions concerning this RFA should be submitted in writing via email to Kaouthar Ben Mohamed benmohamedk@state.gov . Applications must be received by the closing date and time indicated at the top of this cover letter. Faxed proposals will not be accepted. Applicants should submit their applications by e-mail attachment formatted in Microsoft Word (up to 2MB limit per email. PDF files are acceptable). Applicants will be informed that their electronic submissions (via email) were successfully received by the required due date. Awards will be made to that responsible applicant(s) whose application(s) best meets the requirements of this RFA and the selection criteria contained herein.Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award commitment on the part of US Embassy Tunis, nor does it commit the Embassy to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. Further, US Embassy Tunis reserves the right to reject any or all applications received. In addition, final award of any resultant cooperative agreement(s) cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated, allocated, and committed through internal procedures. While it is anticipated that these procedures will be successfully completed, potential applicants are hereby notified of these requirements and conditions for award. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant's expense. Applicants should retain for their records one copy of all enclosures which accompany their application.
Link to Additional Information
If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
- Kaouthar Ben Mohamed
Grants Management Assistant
Phone 0021671107266 benmohamedk@state.gov
Synopsis Modification History
The following files represent the modifications to this synopsis with the changes noted within the documents. The list of files is arranged from newest to oldest with the newest file representing the current synopsis. Changed sections from the previous document are shown in a light grey background.
| File Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Modification #2 | Aug 17, 2012 |
| Modification #1 | Aug 16, 2012 |
| Original Synopsis | Aug 15, 2012 |
=================================================================
US –Tunisian University collaboration in the field of Journalism
April 24, 2012
Issuance Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Closing Date: Friday May 25, 2012
Closing Time: 16:00 local Tunis time (11 AM EST)
Closing Date: Friday May 25, 2012
Closing Time: 16:00 local Tunis time (11 AM EST)
The United States Embassy/Tunis is planning to support the implementation of a one-year long master’s degree program on Investigative Journalism at the Tunis Journalism and Press Sciences Institute (IPSI). This program will focus on teaching the basic skills of investigative journalism to both entry-level journalists and mid-career professionals, with an emphasis on information sourcing, investigative techniques, and law. The program must include designing a curriculum, developing materials, virtual exchanges, faculty training and mentoring. The program should lead to the creation of a Center for Investigative Reporting in Tunisia Subject to the availability of funds, US Embassy Tunis plans to provide up to $250,000 in Economic Support Funds (ESF) for this partnership not to exceed two years, but with the possibility of no-cost limited extensions. The US Embassy reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.
A higher education partnership would include but is not limited to:
- Exchanges of faculty and experts
- Creation of knowledge centers
- Building a library of relevant materials
- Joint market research by collaborating faculty
- Support for student innovation projects
Eligible Applicants:
This RFA is designed to support U.S. academic institutions that seek to engage with higher education institutions in Tunisia. (Eligible Applicants: All members of the American Council on Education (ACE), the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Association of American Universities (AAU), the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), and other regionally accredited, degree-granting, U.S. higher education institutions). Applicant institutions with previous project or exchange experience in Tunisia and/or in North Africa are preferred.
Selected recipients will be responsible for ensuring achievement of program objectives that enhance mutual, fully collaborative relationships between Tunisian and U.S. higher education institutions and their public and private sector partners in both countries.
It is USG policy not to award profit under assistance instruments. However, all reasonable, allocable, and allowable expenses, both direct and indirect, which are related to the program and are in accordance with applicable cost standards (22 CFR 226, OMB Circular A-21 for universities, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 31 for for-profit organizations), may be paid under the award.
Subject to the availability of funds, US Embassy Tunis plans to provide up to $250,000 in Economic Support Funds (ESF) for each partnership stated above not to exceed two years, but with the possibility of no-cost limited extensions. The US Embassy reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.
For the purposes of this program, this RFA is being issued and consists of this cover letter and the Full Application (PDF 322KB) including following:
1. Section A - Application Format;
2. Section B - Selection Criteria;
3. Section C - Program Description;
4. Section D - Certifications, Assurances, and Other Statements of Applicant/Recipient
5. Section E - Attachments to Program Description (attachments 1, 2, and 3)
2. Section B - Selection Criteria;
3. Section C - Program Description;
4. Section D - Certifications, Assurances, and Other Statements of Applicant/Recipient
5. Section E - Attachments to Program Description (attachments 1, 2, and 3)
To be eligible for an award, the applicant must provide all required information in its application, including the requirements found in any attachments. Applicants must submit the full application package in compliance with the method indicated in this cover letter and in Section A of this RFA.
For the purposes of this RFA, the term "Grant" is synonymous with "Cooperative Agreement"; "Grantee" is synonymous with "Recipient"; and "Grant Officer" is synonymous with "Agreement Officer".
Any questions concerning this RFA should be submitted in writing to John Berry, via email to berryJF@state.gov ccing Jason KhilekhileJB@state.gov Faouzi Chaouch chaouchf@state.gov . Applications must be received by the closing date and time indicated at the top of this cover letter.
Faxed proposals will not be accepted. Applicants should submit their applications by e-mail attachment formatted in Microsoft Word (up to 2MB limit per email. PDF files are acceptable).
Applicants will be informed that their electronic submissions (via email) were successfully received by the required due date.
Awards will be made to that responsible applicant(s) whose application(s) best meets the requirements of this RFA and the selection criteria contained herein.
Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award commitment on the part of US Embassy Tunis, nor does it commit the Embassy to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. Further, US Embassy Tunis reserves the right to reject any or all applications received. In addition, final award of any resultant cooperative agreement(s) cannot be made until funds have been fully appropriated, allocated, and committed through internal procedures. While it is anticipated that these procedures will be successfully completed, potential applicants are hereby notified of these requirements and conditions for award. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant's expense. Applicants should retain for their records one copy of all enclosures which accompany their application.
Pest Control: HantaVirus Exposure
Two may have contracted hantavirus while visiting Yosemite
updated 7:25 PM EDT, Fri August 17, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Park said it disinfected 400 cabins
- Man, woman in June visited camping area in Yosemite National Park
- They may have been exposed to deadly hantavirus
- Deer mice might be to blame
The visitors contracted
hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, a rare but often fatal lung disease.
The two had stayed at the popular
Curry Village in mid-June, according to the California Department of Public
Health.
An unidentified 37-year-old man
from the San Francisco Bay area died in late July, said Dr. Vicki Kramer, chief
of the department's vector-borne disease section.
A Southern California woman in
her 40s survived and is recovering, Kramer told CNN.
The two stayed in separate
locations at the village, which contains about 400 canvas tent and wooden
cabins.
"They are very sparse but
comfortable," Yosemite ranger and spokesman Scott Gediman said of the tent
cabins where the man and woman stayed.
Officials have focused on deer
mice, common in the high-elevation eastern Sierra Nevada region. The mice are
gray or brown on top, with white bellies. Their ears have no fur.
"Rodents can infest a whole range
of these structures," Kramer said. "Deer mice can get in a hole one-quarter inch
in diameter."
In the United States, the
carriers of hantavirus are deer mice, cotton rats, rice rats and white-footed
mice, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The
virus can be present in the rodents' urine, droppings and saliva, and is spread
to people when they breathe in air contaminated with the virus, the CDC
says.
The virus is not communicable
from person to person.
Rodent control is the primary
strategy for preventing the hantavirus syndrome, according to the CDC.
California's health department
has worked with Yosemite National Park for years to reduce the risks to
visitors, Kramer said. The agency and park public health officers routinely
conduct rodent surveillance, and the park inspects buildings and facilities, it
said.
The battle begins with workers
routinely disinfecting floors and removing mouse droppings.
Once park officials learned of
the two cases, all 400 camp structures were thoroughly cleaned, Gediman said
Thursday.
Yosemite National Park has
increased routine measures to reduce the hantavirus risk, according to
officials.
"You cannot eliminate all the
mice," Kramer said. "There are a lot of people and snacks that people bring into
their tents or cabins."
Gediman said officials consider
Curry Village safe and guests have not canceled lodging reservations in the
busiest month of the year at Yosemite.
Officials urge people to clean
areas of rodent infestation with caution.
It's best not to vacuum or
sweep, because that can push hantavirus particles into the air, where they can
enter the lungs.
Rather, people should wear
gloves and use bleach where they see mouse droppings. They should let the bleach
sit for 15 minutes before using a mop or sponge to clean up.
Opening shuttered areas to air
and sunlight also is suggested.
The two recent hantavirus cases
bring the 2012 total in California to four. About one-third of the 60 cases
reported in the state since 1993 have been fatal, the department said. Yosemite
National Park saw one hantavirus case each in 2000 and 2010.
There is no specific treatment
for hantavirus infection, according to the CDC, but the earlier the patient is
brought to intensive care, the better.
Diagnosis is difficult, because
early symptoms of fever, muscle aches and fatigue often are confused with the
flu.
"However, if the individual is
experiencing fever and fatigue, and has a history of potential rural rodent
exposure, together with shortness of breath, (that) would be strongly suggestive
of HPS," the CDC says.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Army sees highest suicide rate in July
http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/16/army-sees-highest-suicide-rate-in-july/?hpt=hp_bn13
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| Post by: Filed under: Army |
By Jamie Crawford
A total of 38 confirmed or suspected suicides were counted by the Army last month in a tally that took into account both active and non-active duty soldiers who serve in the Army National Guard or Reserve. Three of those active duty soldiers were deployed at the time of their death.
Prior to the announcement, the highest monthly level suicide rate for soldiers was 33 in the months of June 2010 and July 2011 according to statistics released by the Army.
"Suicide is the toughest enemy I have faced in my 37 years in the Army. And it's an enemy that's killing not just Soldiers, but tens of thousands of Americans every year," Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army said in a written statement. "That said, I do believe suicide is preventable. To combat it effectively will require sophisticated solutions aimed at helping individuals to build resiliency and strengthen their life coping skills."
To date, the Army has confirmed 120 suicides for both active and non-active duty soldiers in 2012 with 67 other deaths suspected as suicides, but still under investigation. Twenty-five of those were attributed to soldiers who did not have any previous deployments. The Army reported 242 suicides in 2009, 305 in 2010 and 283 in 2011.
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told a Congressional committee last month that the U.S. military was facing an "epidemic" of suicides, and was in need of improvements in mental health services for active duty and returning troops.
In his statement, Austin noted that with Suicide Prevention Month in September, the Army must also continue to address the stigma associated with mental health issues in the service. "Ultimately, we want the mindset across our Force and society at large to be that behavioral health is a routine part of what we do and who we are as we strive to maintain our own physical and mental wellness," he said.
The White House lifted a ban last year on the sending of condolence letters from the president to the families of service members who commit suicide. It reversed a policy in place by previous administrations that had come under intense criticism as the country entered into its 10th year of war.
"This issue is emotional, painful, and complicated," President Barack Obama said last July when the policy was changed. "But these Americans served our nation bravely. ... We need to do everything in our power to honor their service, and to help them stay strong for themselves, for their families and for our nation."
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