Funding for New Counter-Disinformation Game

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. EMBASSY THE HAGUE PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION Notice of Funding Opportunity Funding Opportunity Title:  Funding for New Counter-Disinformation Game Funding Opportunity Number:  S-NL800-20-GR-3011 Deadline for Applications: August 19, 2021 6PM Local Time CFDA Number:  19.040 – Public Diplomacy Programs Total Amount Available: $275,000 A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy The Hague Public Affairs Section announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to 1) produce an English- and Dutch-language pilot version of a counter-disinformation game (requirements below), 2) produce a French version of the game, 3) produce one additional translation into a European, Asian, and/or African language, to be determined at a later date 4) host the game on the company's own servers, and 5) develop and implement data collection and analysis methodologies to demonstrate the project’s achievement of expected results, and 6) promote games to target audiences. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Digital games have proven to be an effective tool in building cognitive resistance to disinformation across diverse environments and cultural contexts. The U.S. Embassy in The Hague is accepting proposals for the development of a digital game that incorporates active inoculation theory1 along with other digital media literacy education methods in a fun, interactive experience targeting global internet users ages 15 and up. Primary gameplay should simulate the experience of engaging in common disinformation and propaganda activities, while educating the user on digital literacy applicable in the real world. Successful proposals will incorporate active inoculation theory and address current disinformation and propaganda tactics. The delivered product should be modular, scalable, and expandable so that later iterations could address additional problem sets, such as violent extremism and health misinformation. The game will be piloted simultaneously with players in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and lessons learned from these pilots will inform the final version of the game intended ultimately for global audiences. The next translation will be produced for French speakers in Europe and Africa, followed by one more translation into a European, Asian, or African language to be determined later. Ideally, the...

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: • Both US and foreign organizations • Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations • Public and private educational institutions • For Profit Commercial Entities • 2. Cost Sharing or Matching N/A 3. Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (Data Universal Numbering System/DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D for information on how to obtain these registrations. • Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization.