Amendment 0005 - APS NOFO No. 95332419N0001 - Conformed Copy - Version 6 - 05.07.20.pdf

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION (MCC)

ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT (APS)

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO) NO.: 95332419N0001

Partnerships with MCC Program

VERSION 6 / Amendment 00051

Amendment Issued: 7 May 2020

NOFO Issue Date: March 26, 2019

NOFO Closing Date: March 25, 2021

CFDA #: 85.002 MCC Foreign Assistance for Overseas Programs

Pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the authority contained in the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, as amended, the United States Government (USG), as represented by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "MCC"), is pleased to launch this Annual Program Statement (APS) No. 95332419N0001 for opportunities to support MCC in advancing our mission via partnership.

The APS facilitates a co-creative process to scope, design, and launch partnerships that leverage the unique capabilities of MCC and external entities. Partnerships enable MCC and external organizations to achieve outcomes that either party working alone could not realize. Through partnership, MCC seeks to increase the impact, scale, innovation, and sustainability of programs that advance our mission of poverty reduction through economic growth.

The purpose of this APS is to disseminate information to prospective applicants so they may develop and submit applications for MCC funding. Through this APS, MCC and external organizations can discuss their respective objectives and goals, determine how those interests align, and jointly identify ways to leverage and combine resources via partnership. This APS: (A) describes the types of activities for which applications will be considered; (B) describes the funding available and the process and requirements for submitting applications; (C) explains the criteria for evaluating applications; and (D) refers prospective applicants to relevant documentation available on the internet.

MCC is seeking concept papers for the following partnership opportunities (see Section A.6. for details related to each opportunity):

1. Empowering African Women through Data Skills – Due Date: Closed

2. Environmental Economics Partnership – Due Date: Closed

3. Women’s Entrepreneurship Partnerships – Due Date: Closed

4. Collaborative for Data Science in Africa – Due Date: Closed

5. Geospatial and Earth-Observation Analyses for Africa – Due Date: Closed

6. Strengthening Evidence and Economic Modeling Partnership – Due Date: Closed

7. Fiscal Analysis Partnership – Due Date: May 18, 2020

To be eligible for award, the applicant must provide all information and be fully responsive to all directions as required under this APS and meet eligibility standards in Section C. Eligibility Information. This funding

1 Any amendments that change the terms of this NOFO or the associated Partnership Opportunity Statements will be highlighted in an updated copy of the NOFO as part of the amendment package in grants.gov. It is MCC’s intent to ensure that the version of the NOFO posted on Grants.gov at any point in time captures all changes and updates made to date.

opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov, and may be amended. Interested applicants should check the website regularly to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this Annual Program Statement.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute a binding commitment on the part of the Government to issue an award, nor does it commit the Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of any concept papers, engagement, collaboration, co-creation, or full applications. MCC reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted under this APS.

We hope you will consider responding to the partnership opportunity statements contained in this APS.

Sincerely, Jacqueline H. Naranjo Agreement Officer http://www.grants.gov/

Table of Contents

ACRONYMS

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1. AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION

A.2. OVERVIEW OF THE MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION (MCC)

A.3. INTRODUCTION

A.4. ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT DESCRIPTION

A.5. OVERVIEW OF THE APS PROCESS

A.6. PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY STATEMENTS

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1. ANTICIPATED NUMBER AND TYPE OF AWARDS

B.2 ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE FOR NEW AWARDS

B.3. SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

B.4. ANTICIPATED AWARD BUDGETS

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

C.2. COST SHARE OR MATCHING

C.3. LEVERAGE FUNDING

C.4. PROFIT OR FEE UNDER ASSISTANCE AWARDS

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

D.1. APS DOCUMENT INFORMATION

D.2. APPLICATION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

D.3. STAGE I – CONCEPT PAPER PRE-APPLICATION SUBMISSION

D.4. STAGE III – TECHNICAL APPLICATION SUBMISSION FORMAT AND CONTENT

D.5. STAGE III – BUSINESS/COST APPLICATION AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

D.6. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM)

D.7. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1. APPLICATION EVALUATION REVIEW PROCESS

E.2. MERIT REVIEW CRITERIA

E.3. COST EVALUATION (STAGE III ONLY)

E.4. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR AWARD (STAGES I AND III)

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1. AWARD NOTICES

F.2. QUESTION SUBMISSIONS

F.3. PRE-AWARD RESPONSIBILITY DETERMINATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT

F.4. AWARD ADMINISTRATION

F.5. PROGRAM INCOME

F.6. BRANDING AND MARKING

F.7. REPORTING

G. FEDERAL AGENCY POINTS OF CONTACT

G.1. EMAIL ADDRESS FOR QUESTIONS AND APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS

G.2. MCC APS POINTS OF CONTACT (POCs)

H. OTHER INFORMATION

H.1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION REGARDING ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENTS AT MCC

H.2. KEY WEBSITES, APPLICABLE REFERENCES AND REGULATIONS

H.3. REVIEW OF APPLICATION MATERIALS BY EXTERNAL PARTIES

H.4. DISCLAIMERS TO APPLICANTS

H.5. CLOSED PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY STATEMENTS (not currently open for applications) . 34

H.6. LIST OF ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT ANNEXES

ACRONYMS

AO Agreement Officer APS Annual Program Statement CFR Code of Federal Regulations CGM Contracts and Grants Management DCO Department of Compact Operations DPE Department of Policy and Evaluation DUNS Data Universal Numbering System MCA Millennium Challenge Account MCC Millennium Challenge Corporation NOFO Notice of Funding Opportunity SAM System for Award Management USG U.S. Government

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1. AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION

The authorizing legislation is the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, as amended. The award will be subject to 2 CFR §200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards and MCC’s Standard Provisions for Assistance Awards (see Annex A).

A.2. OVERVIEW OF THE MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION (MCC)

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a government corporation as defined in section 103 of title 5, United States Code, established by the U.S. Congress in the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, 22 U.S.C. §7701, et seq. MCC’s mission is to provide assistance that will support economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected countries that demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens.

Eligible countries develop, in coordination with MCC, a program agreement (Compact) that is then implemented in five years. MCC also supports programs to assist countries seeking to attain eligibility for Compacts by supporting targeted policy and institutional reforms (“Threshold Programs”). Our model is defined by core principles of selectivity, country ownership, transparency, and a focus on results.

MCC provides selected well-performing countries with large-scale grants, in the form of compacts, to fund country-led solutions for reducing poverty through sustainable economic growth. MCC compact and threshold programs complement other U.S. and international development programs. Countries that receive MCC assistance are referred to as “MCC Partner Countries.”

The accountable entity designated by each country to oversee implementation of its MCC-funded program is often referred to as a Millennium Challenge Account (or “MCA”). During implementation of the MCC-funded program, MCC maintains an oversight role, including a rigorous and transparent program of funds control and monitoring and evaluation. For more information on MCC, please visit www.mcc.gov.

A.3. INTRODUCTION

Partnering is widely recognized as a powerful multiplier of development impact. MCC pursues a variety of co-created and co-funded partnerships at the global and country levels that align public, private, and civil sector resources and acumen to reduce poverty and drive economic growth. Partnerships with businesses enable MCC to align private sector value chains, ecosystems, and innovations with MCC and country counterpart programs. Partnerships with academic and research institutions enable technological advancement in how MCC designs, monitors, and measures the effectiveness of programs. Partnerships with foundations enable MCC to leverage the financial investments and networks of like-minded funders to reduce risk or extend the impact of MCC’s investments. Partnerships with non-governmental organizations enable MCC to align efforts to promote inclusive economic growth and strengthen national systems. MCC seeks to partner with organizations that share our goal of achieving poverty reduction through economic growth.

MCC is issuing this APS in order to develop partnerships2 with organizations that share compact and threshold program and MCC institutional goals and align with the needs of MCC’s current portfolio. MCC partnerships take many forms and benefit both MCC and our partner organizations by increasing our respective access to cutting-edge research, knowledge, data, technologies, networks and expertise, as well as co-funding. Partnerships can help open new markets, scale programs, drive innovation, and

2 MCC’s Policy Regarding MCC Partnerships defines a partnership as “A collaborative relationship between two or more entities -- governmental or nongovernmental -- in which the partners work together to achieve a common purpose or undertake a specific task and to share risks, responsibilities, resources, competencies, and benefits, and mutually determine the goals, structure, governance, roles, and responsibilities of their collaboration.” As used in this APS, the term “partnership” is not intended to mean or be construed as a partnership as defined by law.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=c3a348de5af0be1685ea7424cab2c58e&mc=true&n=pt2.1.200&r=PART&ty=HTML https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=c3a348de5af0be1685ea7424cab2c58e&mc=true&n=pt2.1.200&r=PART&ty=HTML http://www.mcc.gov/ transform the lives of people around the world. Successful partnerships are expected to involve collaboration between MCC and partner staff and support MCC’s ability to achieve its mission and programmatic goals.

Partnerships must concentrate on priority development activities which fall within MCC’s mission of poverty reduction through economic growth and align with its core principles of results, good policies, and accountability. MCC funds activities in the public sector where the government role is clear and preeminent, but through partnership hopes to draw more broadly on non-governmental partners to stimulate additional investment and innovative development practices.

MCC recognizes that partnerships offer the possibility of promoting greater effectiveness and sustainability in programming, and thus offer an opportunity to substantially increase the impact of MCC programs. Partnerships may support program priorities and objectives through every stage of the compact and threshold cycle – selection, development, implementation, and closeout – and the organizational effectiveness of the agency.

A.4. ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT DESCRIPTION

This Annual Program Statement (APS) is issued to enable MCC to advertise, receive, and consider partnership opportunities and ideas for collaboration; and to make grant and/or cooperative agreement awards in an open, fair and competitive manner for the partnership opportunity statements detailed in this announcement. The APS enables MCC and select prospective partners to co-create partnerships around shared objectives and to align effort, resources, and risk.

With this APS, MCC is soliciting interest in innovative, co-funded partnership opportunities. In determining whether to provide such funding MCC will consider the nature of the concept paper and application, available funding, and the appropriate funding mechanism.

This APS will focus on co-funded partnerships in situations where partners would require funding from MCC to engage in partnership activities. MCC aims to create partnerships via this APS that are co-created during partnership formation and highly collaborative between MCC and partner teams in their implementation. MCC encourages applicants to consider what non-financial contributions (e.g., expertise, innovations, technologies, data, networks, etc.) they would bring to a prospective partnership; as well as what forms of engagement or non-financial contributions they would need from MCC in order to make the partnership successful. Additionally, prospective partners are required to provide cost share or matching in line with 2 CFR §200.306 as part of their application. Additional details regarding cost share requirements are found in Section C.2. Applicants are also encouraged to consider additional sources of leverage in addition to the required cost share.

It is important to note that MCC is committed to country ownership, and some partnerships will be subject to concurrence by or engagement with MCC Country Partners. Where appropriate, MCC will support and facilitate this relationship to achieve effective and meaningful partnerships based on mutual interests and objectives. Therefore, applicants are hereby notified that concept papers and complete applications may potentially be shared with MCC Partner Countries during the co-creation and evaluation process.

This APS is designed to facilitate partnerships between MCC and external entities. MCC Partner Countries may also choose to utilize partnerships to facilitate the design or implementation of compact and threshold programs. MCC Partner Country-led partnerships are facilitated via a separate MCA Funded Program Partnership Solicitation process and not via this APS. Additional information about MCC and MCA partnering opportunities can be found on the “Partner With Us” page of MCC’s website (www.mcc.gov/work-with-us/partnerships).

The anticipated period for submissions under this annual program statement is 24 months. At its discretion, MCC may issue addenda or updates to this APS, such as when new partnership opportunities arise, and when existing partnership opportunities close.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=ce2eacfce6539472b87fc6cd876f3b93&mc=true&r=SECTION&n=se2.1.200_1306 http://www.mcc.gov/work-with-us/partnerships

A.5. OVERVIEW OF THE APS PROCESS

The APS uses a four-stage, competitive application process for partnership formation that fits within the parameters of USG assistance awards:

• Stage I: Concept

• Stage II: Co-Creation

• Stage III: Application

• Stage IV: Award

A.5.1. STAGE I: CONCEPT

Organizations are invited to review the partnership opportunity statements in Section A.6 and to submit a Concept Paper in response to any/all opportunities where your organization’s capabilities and resources would align to or advance MCC’s partnership goals.

Each partnership opportunity statement has a unique and defined time window for response, and MCC will review all concept papers received by the respective partnership opportunity statement due date.

Concept papers are reviewed by MCC technical teams, which are comprised of subject matter experts from MCC, and potentially other entities, including MCC Partner Country Counterparts. The technical teams will review the concept papers on a pass/fail basis and recommend to the Agreement Officer which applicant(s) should be considered for co-creation discussions (Stage II). Applicants who submit a successful Stage I – Concept Paper and who fall within the criteria set forth in this APS will be invited to participate in the next stage of the APS process. MCC may choose to advance one or more applicants (or no applicants) to co-creation for a given partnership opportunity. Details about the required format and content of the concept paper can be found under D.3. STAGE I – CONCEPT PAPER PRE-

APPLICATION SUBMISSION.

MCC will publish the organizational name, address, point of contact, and point of contact email address for all organizations that submit a Concept Paper on https://www.mcc.gov/work-with-us/partnerships.

MCC will not publish the actual Concept Papers. Best efforts will be made to notify applicants of the MCC’s decision regarding their Concept Paper within 90 days of receipt.

A.5.2. STAGE II: CO-CREATION

Successful applicants who pass the Concept stage will receive a notification letter inviting them to participate in the next stage of the process, co-creation. Co-creation is a creative and deliberative stage where relevant teams from MCC and the prospective partner organization(s) work together to mutually shape a partnership project that could meet the objectives outlined in the Partnership Opportunity Statement.

MCC conducts separate partnership co-creation discussions with each organization that successfully moves from the Concept to Co-Creation stage, and may eventually award zero, one, or more than one awards for a given partnership opportunity statement.

During Concept Paper review, MCC may determine that several concepts are worth a co-creation discussion and may contemplate combining multiple concepts. In such case, MCC may request those applicants to form a teaming arrangement (one prime and one or more subrecipients). This is not an obligatory requirement and any of the applicants may opt out of such arrangement at any time before award, at which point the funding agency will reassess how and whether to proceed with the next steps.

Once the team has been formed, MCC will invite the collective team for co-creation. If during the co-creation process, an agreeable project is not reached with the team, MCC may request a re-arrangement of the team and/or may hold individual co-creation sessions with the applicant(s) who individually meet the criteria per subsection E.2. Merit Review Criteria. At any time in the process, MCC may also decide to not move forward with either the team arrangement or the individual applicant(s).

https://www.mcc.gov/work-with-us/partnerships

During co-creation, MCC and the prospective partner(s) explore the “why,” “what,” “where,” “when,” and “how” aspects of the prospective partnership to gain a clear understanding of the shared goals and resources each party will provide or facilitate. Co-creation provides an open space for brainstorming, idea sharing, innovation, dialogue, and feedback. During the co-creation session(s), MCC and invited prospective partner(s) will map prospective approaches and challenges to addressing the needs outlined in the Partnership Opportunity Statements detailed under Section A.6. MCC and invited prospective partner(s) will discuss scope and implementation strategies, potential capabilities and contributions each partner might bring to a partnership; risks and challenges to successful implementation; funding and cost sharing expectations, and the envisioned benefits of and approaches to a potential partnership. The co-creation process may be completed in a single, day-long (or multiple days-long) workshop; or progress over a series of shorter technical conversations between MCC and the prospective partner(s). MCC prefers that co-creation include at least one in-person design session at the MCC Headquarters in Washington, DC, though co-creation may also be conducted at a prospective partner’s location, an alternate location, or virtually, as mutually agreeable to the parties.

Following co-creation, MCC will decide whether to invite one or more organizations to submit a full technical application as well as a cost application in Stage III: Application. If a mutually agreeable, compelling vision is not arrived at during the Co-Creation stage, MCC will notify the applicant accordingly and the process will end for that applicant.

MCC will publish the organizational name, address, point of contact, and point of contact email address for all organizations that are invited to co-creation on https://www.mcc.gov/work-with-us/partnerships.

MCC will not publish a summary of nor information shared during co-creation discussions.

A.5.3. STAGE III: APPLICATION

Successful applicants who pass the Co-Creation stage will be invited to submit a technical and cost application as part of Stage III. When the Agreement Officer notifies the prospective partner that they are invited to Stage III, if applicable, MCC will clarify pre-award requirements and any additional instructions and criteria for full application submissions, beyond those detailed under SECTION D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION below. After receipt of the full application package, additional clarifications/negotiations regarding the technical and cost application and/or the terms of the award may be necessary.

Applications are reviewed by MCC technical teams, which are comprised of subject matter experts from MCC, and potentially other entities including MCC Partner Country Counterparts. The technical teams will review the applications and recommend to the Agreement Officer which applicant(s) should be considered for award. The Selection Committee can recommend all, some, or no applications for award.

MCC can eventually issue more than one award if funds are available and partnership objectives align;

there does not need to be only one winner.

Though co-creation should provide ample insight for both MCC and the prospective partner(s) about the goals, governance, milestones, funding, and implementation plan for a given partnership, MCC reserves the right to invite Applicants to make pre-award oral presentations and teleconferences in support of their applications, and also may request to interview the Applicant’s proposed key personnel.

A.5.4. STAGE IV: AWARD

Once MCC has decided to proceed with the award of a cooperative agreement or grant to an external organization based on the results of the Application stage, MCC will work with counterparts from the prospective partner organization to negotiate any unique terms and conditions, finalize and sign the award agreement, and announce the partnership.

MCC will publish the organizational name, address, point of contact, and point of contact email address for all organizations that receive awards via the APS process on https://www.mcc.gov/work-with-us/partnerships. MCC will not publish the actual applications received from prospective partners. MCC https://www.mcc.gov/work-with-us/partnerships and the awardee(s) may also choose to announce or promote the partnership in other forums besides mcc.gov (e.g., via press releases, events/convening, etc.).

MCC will not reimburse prospective partners for any costs associated with developing concept papers, participating in co-creation, or submitting technical/cost applications.

A.6. PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY STATEMENTS

MCC is currently inviting Concept Papers for the following Partnership Opportunity Statements. Additional partnership opportunities may be added over the course of the APS announcement period and partnership opportunities will be closed and removed as MCC’s partnering interests are met.

A.6.1. PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT #1

Empowering African Women through Data Skills Concept Paper Due Date: CLOSED

A.6.2. PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT #2

Environmental Economics Partnership

A.6.3. PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT #3

Women’s Entrepreneurship Partnerships

A.6.4. PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT #4

Collaborative for Data Science in Africa

A.6.5. PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT #5

Geospatial and Earth-Observation Analyses for Africa

A.6.6. PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT #6

Strengthening Evidence and Economic Modeling Partnership

A.6.7. PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT #7

Fiscal Analysis Partnership Concept Paper Due Date: May 18, 2020

MCC’s mission is “Poverty Reduction through Growth.” The analytic tools that MCC deploys to advance its mission focus on relaxing the binding constraints on growth, promoting efficiency through rigorous cost-benefit analysis, and achieving a required minimum rate of return. However, absent from MCC’s standard analysis is a thorough understanding of how public policy helps to translate growth through fiscal policy mechanisms into poverty reduction.

Fiscal policy is the most powerful tool democratic governments have to reduce poverty through growth.

Through this tool, governments determine how much firms and households contribute to revenue; how to allocate expenditures to support public services such as education, health or infrastructure; and how to support transfer programs to achieve social objectives, research and development and the stimulation of private investment. Historically, MCC has not incorporated distributional impact into early analysis and decision making as compacts are designed. However, MCC recognizes that distributional outcomes at the household level are important to addressing both poverty reduction and growth objectives. Increased capacity to model fiscal performance, measure how progressive or regressive it is, and understand which policy levers improve distribution and reduce poverty without creating costly distortions would better inform project design to contribute to MCC’s mission of poverty reduction through growth.

Through partnership, MCC’s Economic Analysis division aims to (1) analyze the effects of public expenditure and revenue mobilization across income levels so that consideration of inclusiveness and poverty reduction potential can be better integrated into early project development; (2) investigate opportunities to further disaggregate analysis of effects by region, gender, and other population characteristics to better inform decision making in project design and policy choice; (3) incorporate these analyses during the project development process to ensure economic growth driven by investments is pro-poor, inclusive, and promotes gender equity; and (4) expand learning opportunities across the development community regarding incidence analysis and the impact of policy design on development outcomes.

To achieve this, MCC seeks to partner with non-governmental or academic institutions that have specialized capacity and expertise with developing and deploying advanced tools for fiscal analysis in low and lower-middle income countries. MCC would bring to the partnership the presence, funding, and business model for application of innovative fiscal incidence analysis to inform rigorous design of development investments in lower and lower-middle income partner countries. MCC would expect partners to bring to the partnership cost share, capacity to support fiscal monitoring and apply state of the art modelling on fiscal incidence analysis, and the ability to facilitate peer review, to provide ‘just in time’ expertise needs, and to undertake new technical review support for application of the fiscal modelling tools.

Together, MCC and the selected partner(s) would develop fiscal analysis models for new selected countries MCC is currently working with and potentially for countries where the program design is still in early stages and where fiscal analysis could prove to be a valuable instrument for compact design. Some of these countries may already have ‘off the shelf’ fiscal models available for use, while others may require more bottom-up design and build out together with the identified partner. Given that MCC selects new partner countries each December, it would be valuable to have capacity in place to support MCC’s Constraints to Growth Analysis (typically performed during the first 4 months after country selection) and Root Cause Analysis (typically performed 3 to 4 months thereafter) for newly selected countries in 2021.

MCC partner countries with analysis underway (e.g., Kenya, Mozambique, Indonesia) can be more flexibly approached with more targeted fiscal analysis appropriate to later stages of analysis. The types of analysis expected may include analysis of the distributional impact of specific tariffs, taxes, or policy changes planned in compact design (e.g. power sector, water and sanitation, business environment reform, etc.).

MCC has a strong reputation for rigor, staff skilled in economic analysis and applied evaluation management, diverse geographical presence, and deployment of survey instruments and economic modelling that requires strong evidence to underpin its credibility. The partnership will bring this international expertise in fiscal analysis together with the deep analysis MCC does in newly selected countries to model fiscal performance, measure how progressive or regressive it is, and understand which policy levers improve distribution and reduce poverty without creating costly distortions to contribute to MCC’s mission to reduce poverty through economic growth.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

B.1. ANTICIPATED NUMBER AND TYPE OF AWARDS

MCC expects that it will primarily issue cooperative agreements as a result of this NOFO; however, MCC reserves the right to issue grants if appropriate to the specific partnership opportunity. The actual number of assistance awards, if any, issued under this NOFO is subject to the number of partnership opportunities, the availability of funds, as well as the viability of full applications received. There is no predefined minimum or maximum number of awards MCC will issue via this APS. MCC reserves the right to not award any cooperative agreements or grants if that is determined to be in the best interest of the

USG.

B.2 ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE FOR NEW AWARDS

It is expected that awards made as a result of the APS will have a period of performance from 12 to 60 months. Concept papers must be submitted by the established due date indicated in Section A.6.

Complete applications must be submitted by the mutually agreed upon due date identified in Stage III of the APS process.

When feasible, it is MCC’s goal to make awards within the same fiscal year an opportunity statement is advertised. Concept papers and/or applications received under this APS, but unable to be negotiated and awarded prior to the end of the fiscal year in which they are received, may be considered for award within the following fiscal year, subject to continued availability of funds.

B.3. SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

Should a cooperative agreement be selected as the appropriate mechanism, MCC’s involvement during the implementation of the award will be mutually-defined during the co-creation process. In general, however, MCC’s role will be to assist the recipient in achieving the supported objectives of the agreement.

B.4. ANTICIPATED AWARD BUDGETS

The budget for each award issued under this NOFO will be discussed and negotiated during the co-creation phase based on the nature and scope of the proposed partnership opportunity. During the FY18 APS cycle, MCC made seven (7) awards ranging from approximately $30,000 to $1,500,000 in Federal funding (i.e., not including cost share); the average amount of Federal funding was approximately $600,000. MCC reasonably expects that the opportunity statements under this APS will have a similar funding profile. See Section H.1 for additional background information on MCC’s FY18 APS.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants that may participate in this NOFO include but are not limited to:

• U.S.-based organizations

• Non-U.S.-based organizations

• For-profit entities

• Non-profit entities

An individual cannot apply as an applicant for MCC funding under this APS.

U.S. Government agencies (Federal, state and local) and host country government entities are not eligible to apply for MCC funding under this APS, neither as a prime nor as a consortium member.

Furthermore, cost applications may not contain level of effort or other related costs for host country government staff.

All applicants must be legally recognized organizational entities under applicable law. In order to be eligible to receive U.S. Government funding, organizations must meet certain requirements. While these requirements do not have to be met in order to submit a concept paper under the APS, they will need to be met if the applicant is requested to submit a full application. Details of these requirements can be found under Section D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION below.

There is no limitation to the number of concept papers an applicant may submit under this APS.

C.2. COST SHARE OR MATCHING

Cost sharing or matching refers to the resources a recipient contributes to the total cost of an agreement, the portion of project or program costs not borne by the U.S. Government. Cost share may either be cash or in-kind contributions. Once committed to providing cost share and incorporation into an agreement's approved budget, the recipient is required to provide documentation showing that this obligation is met successfully. Cost Share/Matching funds proposed under this APS are pursuant to the uniform guidance under 2 CFR §200.306 – Cost sharing or matching.

Proposed cost-sharing must be used for the accomplishment of program objectives, and must consist of allowable costs under the applicable USG cost principles. Applicants invited to submit a cost application under Stage III – Application must identify in the budget submission, a separate budget category supported by detailed line items for the cost share. Information regarding the proposed cost share should be included in the SF-424 and the Budget and Budget Notes in compliance with the cost application instructions specified under Section D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION.

Cost share contributions will be reviewed as part of the cost review in Stage III – Application. Although technical criteria are paramount, cost considerations may also be a factor for award and applicants that can demonstrate a more significant cost-share contribution above the stated minimum cost share required may be considered more competitive. Applicants are reminded that committed cost share becomes a binding requirement of the award.

In order to be eligible for award, non-profit entities applying under this NOFO must commit to a minimum cost share of 25% of the Federal funding amount proposed in the cost application budget.

In order to be eligible for award, for-profit entities applying under this NOFO must commit to a minimum 1:1 match ratio based on the Federal funding amount proposed in the cost application budget (e.g., the for-profit entity must match or exceed the Federal funding amount on a dollar-for-dollar basis).

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=c16296aecfef71d582e0634cf6658cf1&node=2:1.1.2.2.1.4.29.7&rgn=div8

Below are illustrative examples of the cost share and matching eligibility requirements under this APS:

Non-Profit Applicants requesting $100,000 in federal funding must propose a minimum 25% cost share contribution of $25,000 to meet the eligibility requirement for non-profit entities – resulting in a total Federal and Non-Federal award cost of $125,000:

Non-Profit APS Applicants Cost Share Requirement 25%

Federal Share: $100,000

Non Federal Cost Share: $25,000

Total Assistance Award Amount: $125,000

For-Profit Applicants requesting $100,000 in federal funding must propose a minimum 1:1 matching contribution of $100,000 to meet the eligibility requirement for for-profit applicants – resulting in a total Federal and Non-Federal award cost of $200,000:

For-Profit APS Applicants 1:1 Matching Requirement 1:1

Federal Share: $100,000

Non Federal Cost Share: $100,000

Total Assistance Award Amount: $200,000

C.3. LEVERAGE FUNDING

MCC also encourages applicants to consider providing leverage contributions in addition to cost share/matching. Leverage contributions are third-party funding or other resources that an applicant identifies during the application process to provide additional support for program implementation under a potential MCC-funded assistance award. Specifically, applicants are encouraged to suggest creative approaches to engaging third-party entities committed to the partnership objectives as a means of securing additional program funding or in-kind contributions. For instance, MCC welcomes any third-party assets, expertise, capabilities and other resources (e.g., equipment, training, licensing fee, etc.) that further the mutually-established partnership objectives.

Leverage describes the quantifiable contributions provided by third parties to the program. Given the strategic and programmatic value that leveraged funds/resources provide to the potential assistance award, applicants are expected to identify in their applications the enhanced results expected from any leverage proposed and provide and implement a mechanism for tracking and reporting that contribution.

Any proposed resource leveraging should be accompanied by letters of commitment from sources of third-party leverage as part of the Stage III – Application cost submission. In cases where leveraged funds/resources are not yet fully confirmed, the applicant – in their cost application submission – should speak to its plans for gaining a firm commitment from the third party (or parties) after award of the agreement.

Unlike cost sharing or matching, leverage funds are not binding and are not subject to traditional audit standards, as leverage funds are not intended to be held to the same level of commitment as the required applicant cost-share or matching described in Section C.2. Leverage funding can be presented in a variety of forms, including but not limited to measurable non-federal financial cash contributions, third party in-kind contributions such as donated services, labor and tangible or intellectual property.

The entity receiving an award from MCC to implement program activities is responsible for ensuring, tracking and reporting on the mobilization and use of the leverage. MCC expects the award recipient to provide such information on a quarterly basis across the fiscal year, with an annual summary, in the quarterly technical and financial reports. Proposed leverage funding is encouraged in order to maximize the effectiveness of the program, but not required.

C.4. PROFIT OR FEE UNDER ASSISTANCE AWARDS

For-profit, or profit-making organizations, are eligible for award under this APS; however, pursuant to 2 CFR §200.400(g), profit or fee is unallowable for assistance mechanisms and will not be authorized under any award made under this APS. 2 CFR §200.101 states that, unless specifically excluded, all requirements applying to recipients also apply to subrecipients; therefore, fee/profit under assistance type awards is also prohibited for subrecipients – unless the prime recipient enters into a subcontract with a for-profit organization for the acquisition of goods or services (i.e., if a buyer-seller relationship is created), in which case fee/profit for the subcontractor is authorized. Forgone profit does not qualify as cost-sharing.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

D.1. APS DOCUMENT INFORMATION

All APS-related correspondence and submissions (e.g., questions, Stage I – Concept Papers, Stage III – Applications, etc.) must be sent to the following email address: apspartnerships@mcc.gov.

MCC distributes all official documents for this NOFO through www.grants.gov.

Information regarding the identity and status of applicants under each opportunity statement will be published at www.mcc.gov/work-with-us/partnerships.

D.2. APPLICATION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants are expected to review, understand and comply with the requirements of this APS and all subsequent amendments. Applications not conforming to the APS requirements may be considered non-responsive and eliminated from further consideration. All application documents shall be submitted in English.

The Applicant must submit all requested documents electronically to the email address and individuals listed above by the deadline noted in Section A for each partnership opportunity statement; hard copies will not be accepted. Applications submitted via www.grants.gov will not be accepted or considered. MCC reserves the right not to consider late or incomplete/non-responsive applications.

Each Applicant shall furnish only the information specifically requested, and in the format requested, when submitting required documents as described below. Do not submit unsolicited material or additional information not specifically requested as part of this NOFO.

D.3. STAGE I – CONCEPT PAPER PRE-APPLICATION SUBMISSION

As noted above under Section A.5. OVERVIEW OF THE APS PROCESS this is a four-stage, competitive application process for partnership formation which includes the following four stages:

• Stage I: Concept

• Stage II: Co-Creation

• Stage III: Application

• Stage IV: Award

Following are the formatting and content requirements for Stage I – Concept Paper submissions:

D.3.1. STAGE I – CONCEPT PAPER REQUIRED FORMAT

The applicant must submit the following documents at the prescribed page limits for the Stage I – Concept Paper Submission:

• Cover Page – (1 Page Limit);

• Organization Overview – (2 Page Limit);

• Concept Paper – (6 Page Limit); and

• Appendix – (3-5 Page Limit – see below).

mailto:apspartnerships@mcc.gov http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

A full detailed cost application is NOT required with the Stage I – Concept Paper submission.

The concept paper should be in 11-point Times New Roman font, single-spaced and not in excess of the page limits as stated above for each section. Applicants may submit both the Microsoft Word (required) and PDF (optional) files. All concept papers MUST be in English and submitted electronically via email.

Note: If any sections of the submitted concept paper exceed the designated page limit, MCC reserves the right in its sole discretion to take any appropriate action, including, but not limited to, excluding the pages in excess of the limit and/or eliminating the applicant from consideration.

D.3.2. STAGE I – CONCEPT PAPER REQUIRED CONTENT

COVER PAGE (1 page limit) must contain the following information:

i. Name and full address of applicant organization;

ii. Project Title;

iii. NOFO number (95332419N0001);

iv. Partnership Opportunity Statement number and name (ref: Section A.6);

v. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number for the Prime;

vi. Type of organization (e.g., for-profit, non-profit, etc.);

vii. Point of Contact (name, position title, phone number, e-mail address);

viii. Proposed place and period of performance;

ix. Total budget estimate (direct and indirect), with breakdown of estimated Federal contribution and applicant cost share/matching contribution (Note: Budget figures are only preliminary estimates at this stage);

x. List of proposed partners/consortium members including the contact person’s name, address, phone and email; and

xi. Signature, name and title of applicant’s authorized representative.

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW (no more than two (2) pages):

The Organization Overview should succinctly provide the following information about the Applicant:

i. Introduction to the organization, its mission, structure, summary of relevant organizational experience, and qualifications of the Applicant (Prime) and proposed consortium partners (if any).

ii. The organizational capacity, roles and responsibilities of the Applicant (Prime) and its partners to adequately manage and implement the Project with high quality and credibility; and

iii. Applicant’s consortium strategy, if applicable; and

iv. Adherence to project local content requirements, if applicable to the specific opportunity statement.

CONCEPT PAPER (no more than six (6) pages):

The Applicant’s vision for the project should be clearly described in the Concept Paper to enable MCC to distinguish the Applicant’s suitability for this opportunity. The Concept Paper should therefore describe what would be done, expected target areas, and demonstrate that the Applicant has assembled a team well-suited to achieve the project outcomes within the envisioned timeline.

The Concept Paper must include:

i. Concise title and objectives of proposed project, including the identification of country or countries of focus (if applicable).

ii. Discussion of method of approach, amount of effort to be employed, and types of resources to be contributed by the respondent. If the Partnership Opportunity Statement has identified a compact-specific issue, then the concept paper should include a distinction between the components of the partnership that can be accomplished during the design and development stage of a compact and the components that relate or extend to the compact implementation stage.

iii. Brief discussion of how the proposed partnership activities will contribute to enhancing MCC’s ability to design, oversee, and/or measure compact programs in light of MCC’s mission of poverty reduction through economic growth; this should include options for how the partnership or its results will be sustained, incorporated or scaled upon termination of MCC co-funding.

iv. Brief discussion of why the respondent considers the proposed partnership to be particularly appropriate to meet the objectives of MCC’s partnership opportunity statement.

v. Brief discussion of any elements of the partnership concept which the respondent considers to be unique, innovative, or unusual.

vi. Discussion of the envisioned division of roles, level of effort, responsibilities and contributions between MCC and the prospective partner organization(s); this should also cover how risk within the partnership will be divided. Please identify particular roles or non-monetary contributions expected of MCC to meet the partnership objectives.

vii. Proposed estimated budget, including anticipated cost share and potential leverage resources.

viii. Proposed “public purpose” to be carried out by the recipient as a result of the partnership (ref: 2

CFR §200.24(a)).

ix. Any other support being requested by the respondent (e.g., funds, facilities, equipment, materials, personnel resources, etc.), based on the preliminary description of the project.

APPENDIX for STAGE I (no more than three (3) pages for an applicant without proposed subrecipients and five (5) pages for applications with subrecipients):

Relevant past performance and past experience information (for Prime and key sub-partner organizations). Applicants should provide at least three (3) past performance references for work over the last five (5) years on awards similar in nature or relevant to this award, preferably with U.S.

government agencies, international development or donor institutions, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or the private sector.

The Government reserves the right to obtain information for use in the evaluation of past performance from any and all sources inside or outside the Government, including the references provided by the applicant.

The past performance information shall include the following matrix for each project submitted:

Award Number Period of Performance (base and options) Award Value

Technical POC

Name Email Tel. Number

Contractual POC

Name Email Tel. Number

Project Description:

Relevant experience to partnership opportunity statement:

*Note: Stage II – Co-Creation does not require the submission of any formal application documents.

Therefore, the following sections continue with the formatting and content requirements for Stage III – Application submissions.

D.4. STAGE III – TECHNICAL APPLICATION SUBMISSION FORMAT AND CONTENT

(only for applicants specifically invited by MCC)

If the selection committee’s review of the applicant’s concept paper, and the ensuing co-creation discussions, result in a decision to request a full application, the Agreement Officer will inform the https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=d099ebb3ebd3c074ee82f4b3a13a9a0c&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_124&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=d099ebb3ebd3c074ee82f4b3a13a9a0c&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_124&rgn=div8 selected applicant. The technical application should reflect the scope for the partnership as discussed and agreed upon during co-creation sessions between the applicant and MCC.

If MCC requests a full application, the Applicant shall furnish the information described in this section.

Stage III – Application shall be submitted in two separate parts: (a) Technical Application, including past performance, and (b) Cost/Business Application. All Stage III – Application documents must be in English and submitted electronically via email as instructed in Sections D.1 and D.2 above.

DO NOT SUBMIT A FULL APPLICATION UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED TO DO SO BY THE

MCC AGREEMENT OFFICER.

D.4.1. STAGE III – TECHNICAL APPLICATION SUBMISSION FORMAT

The following are page limits associated with the technical application.

• Cover Page – (1 Page Limit).

• Executive Summary – (2 Page Limit).

• Technical Application – (10 Page Limit).

• Appendix (including past performance) – (30 Page Limit).

Any charts or tables included within the technical application sections will be considered against the page limits of those sections. The requirements for the technical application sections as described below are minimum requirements that must be included with the applicant’s submission.

The Application should be in 11 point/Times New Roman font, single-spaced and not exceed the page limits as stated above for each application section. All required technical application documents must be submitted in both Microsoft Word (required) and PDF (optional) format.

DO NOT SUBMIT: Promotional literature and/or other materials regarding the Applicant as part of the technical appendices.

D.4.2 STAGE III – TECHNICAL APPLICATION REQUIRED SUBMISSION CONTENT

STAGE III – TECHNICAL APPLICATION COVER PAGE (1…