2024.10.29_Notice of Funding Opportunity_72052125RFA00001.pdf

Issue Date: October 29, 2024

Deadline for Question: November 11, 2024

Closing Date and Time: December 13, 2024, 10:00 A.M. Local Time

Subject: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) No.72052125RFA00001

Program Title: USAID Investment, Jobs and Income Activity (IJI)

Ladies/Gentlemen:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a

Cooperative Agreement from qualified entities to implement the USAID Investment, Jobs and Income (IJI) program. Eligibility for this award is not restricted.

USAID intends to make an award to the applicant who best meets the objectives of this funding Opportunity based on the merit review criteria described in this NOFO. Eligible parties interested in submitting an application are encouraged to read this NOFO thoroughly to understand the type of program sought, application submission requirements and selection process.

To be eligible for award, the applicant must provide all information as required in this NOFO and meet eligibility standards in Section C of this NOFO. This funding opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov, and may be amended. It is the responsibility of the applicant to regularly check the website to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this notice of funding opportunity and to ensure that the NOFO has been received from the internet in its entirety. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion process. If you have difficulty registering on www.grants.gov or accessing the NOFO, please contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at support@grants.gov for technical assistance.

USAID may not award to an applicant unless the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) requirements. The registration process may take many weeks to complete. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to begin registration early in the process.

Please send any questions to the point(s) of contact identified in Section D. The deadline for questions is shown above. Responses to questions received prior to the deadline will be furnished to all potential applicants through an amendment to this notice posted to www.grants.gov.

Issuance of this notice of funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the

Government nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in preparation or submission of comments/suggestions or an application. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.

http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) No.72052125RFA00001

USAID Investment, Jobs and Income (IJI)

Thank you for your interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, Alina Menicucci

Agreement Officer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated

2. Expected Performance Indicators, Targets, Baseline Data, and Data Collection

3. Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards

4. Place of Performance

5. Substantial Involvement

6. Authorized Geographic Code

7. Nature of the Relationship between USAID and the Recipient

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Agency Point of Contact

2. Questions and Answers

3. General Content and Form of Application

4. Application Submission Procedures

5. Technical Application Format

6. Business (Cost) Application Format

SECTION E: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

SECTION F: FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

2. Administrative & National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting Requirements

A. Performance Reporting:

B. Financial Reporting

C. Other Requirements

SECTION G: OTHER INFORMATION

ANNEX 1 - SUMMARY BUDGET TEMPLATE

ANNEX 2 - STANDARD PROVISIONS

ANNEX 3 – DEFINITIONS

SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

I. BACKGROUND

National Context - Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest countries in the world. A significant portion of its population lives in poverty, and political instability has weakened investor appetite and confidence in the rule of law. Its infrastructure is poor, and much of what it consumes must be imported. Crime and violence are increasing, unemployment is high, and a large portion of its population relies on subsistence agriculture.

But Haiti perseveres. The governments and international community continue to strengthen and diversify the economy, as well as attract foreign investment. And as in all underdeveloped countries, there are investment opportunities which can produce attractive returns.

Access to Finance - Unmet demand for finance is huge. Quantifying the unmet financing requirements of

Haitian businesses is difficult. But using the Dominican Republic (private sector credit to GDP of 28%) for comparison, it implies unmet demand of billions of dollars. The International Finance Corporation in

2019 estimated that about half of Haiti’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have unmet financing needs, with a total gap estimated at $2.5 billion. What makes this a particular challenge is that

MSMEs account for over 80% of employment in Haiti.

Haitian Commercial Banks - The Haitian banking sector is strong, profitable and very conservative. As of the end of FY2023, there were eight commercial banks in Haiti with total banking sector assets of $4.9 billion and loans to the private sector of around $1.2 billion. Bankers attribute the low level of lending to a lack of ‘bankable’ deals (loans which meet the banks’ lending requirements) along with overly stringent reserve requirements. Non-bankers elicited the view that “credit is concentrated in the hands of a few families in Port-au-Prince” and that banks are too risk averse.

Other Finance Sources - Other financing sources are limited. The Industrial Development Fund (FDI) is an institution formed by the Central Bank for the purpose of financing industrially focused small and medium businesses. The FDI can offer a range of financial products, including venture funding and partial guarantees. SOFIHDES is a private Haitian development finance corporation (primarily funded by Haitian banks) focused on providing short- and medium-term loans to Haitian businesses (including start-up ventures). Groupe ProFin is a financial service company that specializes in investment promotion, banking, and mutual funds services.

Haiti – INVEST, recently ended, was an activity being conducted under the USAID INVEST mechanism which focused on mobilizing capital to drive inclusive economic growth in emerging markets.

II. PROBLEM STATEMENT

Haiti faces many challenges in reinvigorating its economy, but key among them is limited access to the financing which high-potential small and medium enterprises (SMEs) need to invest and grow. Banks continue to dominate the Haitian financial sector, but they are highly risk averse and generally uninterested in other than the ‘blue-chip’ clients with whom they have long relationships. Credit to the private sector as a percent of GDP has declined steadily over the past decade and is now exceptionally low at just over 8%

- on a par with Malawi and well below the average of 57% for the Caribbean and Latin America. This creates a substantial deterrence to economic recovery, as well as job creation.

Conditions for investment in Haiti are poor. The lack of strong government and a perception that the rule of law is weak or even missing is a large deterrent. And Haiti is a poor country (poorest in the Western

Hemisphere) with GDP per capita of only $1,746.

And yet - it is a market economy with an entrepreneurial spirit. The economy is driven by the private sector, and there are abundant businesses seeking to grow, as well as Haitians seeking to launch new businesses.

Labor costs are low, and Haiti is favorably situated between the economies of Latin America and Eastern and Southern Caribbean and the U.S. It has a large diaspora to draw upon which is eager to invest in viable business opportunities. In short, Haiti has many advantages.

Haiti INVEST has demonstrated that investment facilitation activities can successfully catalyze financing for investment. The Investment, Jobs and Income Project will build upon and expand Haiti INVEST. It will continue to facilitate financing for Haitian businesses seeking to grow. But it will also support stronger supply-chain and trade network linkages - with the ultimate goal of facilitating job creation and overall economic growth.

III. PURPOSE

The purpose for the Activity is to advance the United States’ goal of a more prosperous and democratic

Haiti by helping to strengthen the Haitian private sector, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises

(SMEs), to improve their managerial and operating performance and access the financing they need to grow, thereby creating jobs and fostering inclusive economic growth in Haiti. This will support Haiti to take charge of its own development and provide a better standard of living for its citizens. The activity will create a project that aims to build up the capacity of Haitian and other finance providers to serve local

SMEs, strengthen the network of local Transaction Advisors capacity to identify and prepare high potential

SMEs for capital while creating trade and supply chain linkages in these SMEs’ targeted sectors.

IV. GOAL

The goal of the Investment, Jobs and Income Project is to produce:

● A significant amount of new, additional financing catalyzed for Haitian businesses

● A significant amount of businesses demonstrating performance improvement due to improved collaboration and linkages within their supply chains and trade networks

● A significant amount of new jobs created

Illustrative activities have been identified, are provided herein, and may include:

● Developing and supporting a finance provider network through a combination of lending incentives/risk buy-down and/or technical assistance, building upon and expanding the Haiti

INVEST activity’s network;

● Engaging a pay-for-performance based network of transaction originators and business advisory services providers, building upon and expanding the Haiti INVEST network;

● Providing support for supply chain integration and trade linkages with the objective of demonstrable performance improvement;

● Developing a public-private Advisory Council to provide guidance and serve as a sounding board for enabling environment and other issues constraining business performance and a reference source for policy makers

● Encouraging legacy Haitian investment facilitation capacity and/or investment facilitation entity;

Indicative Activity One - Finance Provider Network: As noted there are eight banks in Haiti as well as a number of non-bank financial institutions. There are also a number of external investors (to include diaspora) and funds which may be interested in providing financing in Haiti. Implementers may wish to assemble a network of potential financing providers to consider a pipeline of potential transactions.

Potential engagement with a finance provider network may include some level of technical assistance

(possibly on a cost sharing basis). It may also include an incentive pool of catalytic capital to de-risk and/or improve yield on transactions with strong economic returns but slightly shy financial returns.

Indicative Activity Two - Transaction Originator Network: Transaction advisors have been successful in

Haiti INVEST as well as other USAID projects in identifying and teeing up SME potential transactions -building a pipeline of possible transactions for finance providers. Implementers may wish to develop such a network, building on the Haiti INVEST activity, with payment based primarily on financing catalyzed.

Indicative Activity Three - Supply Chain Integration and Trade Linkages: Strengthening supply chain integration and increasing trade linkages should improve firm performance leading to growth and job creation. Applicants may wish to propose activities - where possible based upon successful models deployed elsewhere.

Indicative Activity Four - Advisory Council: The project will take a central role facilitating finance in Haiti and may benefit from council and input from a public-private Advisory Council. This group may also be helpful in conveying the constraints to finance to policy makers.

Indicative Activity Five - Legacy Investment Facilitation Capacity/Entity: Other projects in other countries have played key roles in facilitating finance gaining experience in playing an intermediary role between finance seeker and finance providers. Applicants may propose how some sort of legacy financial intermediation entity might be established to provide legacy transaction support services on a sustainable basis at project end.

V. ASSUMPTIONS

The following assumptions are embedded in this Program Description for the Activity:

● Access to finance in Haiti for high-potential SMEs is expected to remain a challenge.

● Political instability and gang violence are not expected to abate in the near- to medium-term.

VI. THEORY OF CHANGE

IF high-potential Haitian enterprises can access the financing they need to invest in growth:

AND strengthen their supply chain, capacity, and trade networks and linkages

THEN those enterprises will grow and create jobs and contribute to overall economic growth in Haiti.

VII. USAID/HAITI STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

USAID/Haiti’s Strategic Framework (2020-2022) calls for redirecting aid toward activities that facilitate

Haiti’s participation in its own development. The document calls for Haitian citizens to be more engaged in creating and sustaining a more resilient, prosperous, and democratic future that supports broader U.S.

Government (USG) objectives related to health and infectious disease control, crime and violence, market-https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Strategic_Framework_-_Haiti_-_December_2020-2022.pdf based solutions, and engagement with new and underutilized partners. Inefficiencies in governance in Haiti have exacerbated natural, economic, and human vulnerabilities; repelled investment; and stifled economic growth. This Strategic Framework represents a significant strategic and tactical change, emphasizing a resilience-based approach and refocusing GOH engagement toward the local level.

USAID/Haiti’s Strategic Framework: The Activity will advance USAID/Haiti’s overarching objectives under the following development objectives (DOs):

● DO1: Haiti is more resilient to environmental, political, and economic shocks and stresses

● DO2: More inclusive, locally-driven economic growth and social development advanced.

Specifically, the Activity will address the following intermediate goals:

● IR 1.1: People and households better able to weather shocks and stresses.

● IR 2.2: Economic opportunities expanded.

VIII. OTHER RELEVANT DONOR ACTIVITIES

Relevant Past-Current USAID/Haiti Activities:

a) Haiti INVEST

Haiti INVEST was six-year, $7.8 million USAID Haiti activity that aimed to stimulate private sector investment in Haiti. Using a pay-for-performance compensation model to incentivize financial intermediaries and other actors, the activity facilitated investment in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

(SMEs) by bridging the gap between companies’ needs and the supply of capital.

Haiti INVEST supported SMEs in a variety of economic sectors including agriculture, renewable energy, financial inclusion, consumer products, manufacturing, and more. Haiti INVEST mobilized $37 million into both Haitian SMEs and nonbank financial institutions and a Haiti-focused fund, closing investment transactions for 20 SMEs, and created and supported about 1,100 jobs.

The activity’s three main objectives aimed at amplifying the flow of capital into Haitian businesses: (1)

Support and guide Transaction Advisors (TA) and Capital Fundraising Advisors (CF) to assist SMEs in identifying sources of capital; (2) Facilitate investor engagement and supporting the flow of financing to

SMEs; and (3) Strengthen local ecosystems.

b) ATTAIN

ATTEINDRE (ATTAIN) is a $16.9 million six-year activity funded by the U.S. Agency for International

Development (USAID) and implemented by Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA). In partnership with local organizations, and using pay-for-results incentives when appropriate, Atteindre aims to strengthen unserved and underserved high-potential MSMEs, to increase economic opportunities and jobs, particularly for vulnerable households. ATTEINDRE provides support to MSMEs to access entrepreneurship, business advisory and workforce development services to unlock finance to create and support economic activities, particularly in unserved and underserved areas.

ATTEINDRE initially focused on supporting MSMEs in USAID-zones of resilience, North, South and

Central Plateau. Starting August 2024, while ATTEINDRE will continue to support some key high potential

SMEs in the three (3) aforementioned resilience zones, ATTEINDRE will prioritize assistance to MSMEs in the Port-au-Prince area that can be rapidly created or reopened to provide essential goods and services to their communities to create livelihood and economic opportunities in this area. Additionally, ATTEINDRE will also support workforce skills in selected trades and sectors.

c) LEVE

The Local Enterprise and Value Chain Enhancement (LEVE) was a six-year $33.9 million project launched in 2013 to increase food and economic security. LEVE was designed to create jobs in target industries and sectors in the Port-au-Prince, Saint-Marc, and Cap-Haïtien development corridors by creating more inclusive and productive value chains. LEVE’s main objective was were to facilitate more productive and inclusive value chains, which would contribute to broad-based economic growth and increase employment in Haiti.

d) LEAD

The LEAD (Leveraging Effective Applications of Direct Investments) project was a $16.9 million program implemented by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) from 2011 to 2017. It was conceived as a pilot project in the objective of stimulating growth and employment by supporting Haitian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and social enterprises (SEs). LEAD provided matching funds to 45 SMEs and these successful entrepreneurs have created over 18,000 jobs and generated more than $33 million in sales while leveraging the project’s capital contributions by a ratio of nearly 2:1 with private equity or debt.

By supporting SMEs and promoting impactful diaspora engagement the project has meaningfully contributed to Haiti’s recovery and economic growth.

IX. TARGET BENEFICIARIES

The target beneficiaries include Haitian enterprises and Haitian citizens. Selection criteria will be determined in development of the final Program Description, but it is envisaged that they will include:

● SMEs with strong growth potential but needing financing to invest in that growth

● SMEs with the capacity to strengthen supply chains and trade networks (with attention to support for the garment sector seeking to recuperate).

● Haitian citizens seeking employment and organizations and partners interested in job creation, retention and improvement

Note: The Implementer will as a first step undertake (and deliver within 30 working days of project start) a rapid assessment of the economic landscape to identify high-potential and high-value sectors (including the garment industry) for the purpose of identifying key finance facilitation targets.

X. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

a) PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENT

USAID is committed to collaborating with the private sector in alignment with the USAID Private Sector

Engagement Policy. This solicitation seeks to foster activities that are characterized by extensive collaboration with the private sector, to include private finance providers, private enterprises, private transaction advisors and private business advisory services providers. The Implementer is expected to nurture and facilitate partnerships necessary to create and sustain the activities to be undertaken in the

Project, promoting leveraging measures to help assure long-term sustainability. The Implementer is https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/usaid_psepolicy_final.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/usaid_psepolicy_final.pdf expected to link and scale up existing resources and foster results-oriented partnerships between the public and private sectors (for example, through an Advisory Council).

b) INNOVATION

Innovation: Sustainably advancing access to finance and strengthening supply chains and trade linkages for

Haitian enterprises will require innovation and out-of-the box thinking and approaches adapted to the local context. Innovation refers to new technologies, new ways of delivering goods and services, more cost-effective adaptations to existing solutions, new ways of implementation of existing proven solutions, policy changes, social or behavioral innovations. The implementer is expected to leverage resources from stakeholders (especially the private sector) and development partners to use innovative approaches for improving access to finance and performance improvement - leading to job creation - as outlined in the above Objectives.

c) PAY-FOR-RESULTS

USAID/Haiti has been at the forefront of the use of pay-for-results in its programming. In the Finance

Network and Transaction Advisory/Business Advisory Services network, the use of pay-for-results (outputs accomplished rather than efforts to accomplish them) by the implementer may be useful in incentivizing and/or buying down risk to obtain the intended results. In conjunction with this, the implementer may consider the use of a catalytic facility to be used on a pay-for-results basis through grants.

d) GENDER AND SOCIAL INCLUSION

The Implementing Partner is responsible for complying with USAID’s 2020 policy on Gender Equality and

Women’s Empowerment, and integrating gender into all relevant aspects of the Activity. Further research can be obtained in USAID/Haiti’s Strategic Framework Gender Analysis (Nov. 2020).

e) SHOCK RESPONSIVE AND ADAPTIVE MECHANISMS

Programmatic and operational flexibility that allow quick response to unanticipated challenges is a critical component to any activity in Haiti. The inclusion of crisis modifiers that allow for an integrated crisis response between the humanitarian and development sectors are encouraged. The implementer should refer to the USAID’s Shock Responsive Programming Guidance.

f) COLLABORATION, LEARNING AND ADAPTING

The outcome of an activity is enhanced when the programming is coordinated, grounded in evidence, and adapted throughout implementation to improve effectiveness and performance. The implementer should demonstrate how Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) practices will be incorporated into the activity.

The implementer must propose a thorough Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan that will contribute to the Mission-wide Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). The final activity MEL plan shall include required (as applicable) indicators from both the PMP and Project MEL Plan. Close monitoring based on USAID best practices, including a balanced set of outcome and output indicators, will be required for this activity. Proposed indicators must meet Agency reporting requirements. The implementer shall take into consideration the need for continued monitoring and evaluation of activities in instances where there might be constraints to in-person site visits, such as in instances of political unrest. The Implementer must indicate the monitoring approaches it plans to utilize for safe execution of the MEL plan.

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USAID_GenderEquality_Policy_MT_WEB_single_508.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USAID_GenderEquality_Policy_MT_WEB_single_508.pdf https://banyanglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/USAID-Haiti-Strategic-Framework-Gender-Analysis.pdf

g) SUSTAINABILITY AND LOCAL SYSTEMS

The project is expected to engage Haitian finance providers, through Haitian transaction advisors, to increase access to finance by Haitian businesses and thereby to create Haitian jobs.

Sustainability will be accomplished in part by the impact of the financing and jobs generated from this activity, as well as support to strengthen and deepen supply chains and trade linkages. But in large measure, sustainability will be increased appetite and capability within Haitian finance providers to financing to

Haitian SMEs for the long term, as well as a cadre of transaction advisors and business advisory services providers.

h) RESEARCH

Non-comprehensive list of documents with potential relevance to the new activity:

● USAID/Haiti Strategic Framework.

● Mission-wide Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). PMP- 2020-2022

● US Department of State 2023 Investment Climate Statements - Haiti

i) CONSTRAINTS TO IMPLEMENTATION

For the past year, Haiti has faced an increasing level of insecurity, mainly gang violence in the metropolitan

Port-au-Prince area, with the situation significantly deteriorating from February 7, 2024. About 80% of the capital is under gang control, with hundreds of MSMEs closing. In 2022, the domestic credit (from Haitian

Banks) to the private sector as a percentage of GDP was 8 percent in Haiti vs. 28 percent in the Dominican

Republic. Due to the socio-political conditions of the past two years, the flow of local capital is very limited.

Businesses providing critical products and services and businesses in growth sectors such as renewable energy, food products need capital to continue to operate. Thus, there is an increasing need to find capital outside of Haiti to support job creation and economic opportunities.

[END OF SECTION A]

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https://www.usaid.gov/documents/strategic-framework-haiti https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s5zH2V1MGfh8iNMjuDVEwe4oFDK7JYYH/view?usp=sharingzH2V1MGfh8iNMjuDVEwe4oFDK7JYYH/view?usp=sharing https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-investment-climate-statements/haiti

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated

USAID intends to award one (1) Cooperative Agreement pursuant to this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide $15 million in total USAID funding over a five (5) year period.

2. Expected Performance Indicators, Targets, Baseline Data, and Data Collection

USAID/Haiti will leverage the project award to achieve its overarching objective of enabling Haitian businesses to grow, thereby creating jobs and fostering overall economic growth.

Indicators listed below illustrate the type of activities and results that USAID/Haiti expects to achieve from the project.

Objective One: A significant amount of new, additional financing catalyzed for Haitian businesses.

Targets will be established in consultation with the implementer and incorporated into the activity’s final

Program Description and will be modified periodically based on experience and learning. We anticipate minimum leverage of 6:1 on total project cost and financing mobilized which would be $90M in additional financing.

Objective Two: A significant number of businesses demonstrating performance improvement due to improved collaboration and linkages within their supply chains and trade networks.

Targets will be established in consultation with the implementer and incorporated into the activity’s final

Program Description and will be modified periodically based on experience and learning. But we anticipate that the implementer (through its agents) will engage with at least 300 Haitian enterprises, of which at least

80% will report and demonstrate significant performance improvement attributable to improvement in supply chain and trade network linkages.

The results of these two objectives will be a significant number of jobs created.

Targets will be established in consultation with the implementer and incorporated into the activity’s final

Program Description and will be modified periodically based on experience and learning. But we anticipate that each $50,000 in additional financing catalyzed will equate to one new job, and thus $90M will result in 1,800 new jobs.

3. Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards

The anticipated period of performance is five (5) years. The estimated start date will be at the signature of this award.

4. Place of Performance

The place of performance for the “Investment, Jobs and Income” activity is Haiti. The main office of the activity and Key Personnel designated to work under this project must also be located in Port-au-Prince.

5. Substantial Involvement

The following constitute USAID areas of Substantial Involvement:

a. Approval of the Recipient’s Annual Implementation Plans and Monitoring, Evaluation and

Learning Plans (AMELP). USAID generally only requires approval of these plans annually;

however, where changed contexts or new information require a pivot in the Activity, USAID may consider changes to an implementation plan.

b. Renew and approval of substantive provisions or proposed subawards or contracts. 2CFR

200.308 already requires the Recipient to obtain the AO’s prior approval for the subaward, transfer, or contracting out of any work under an award. The AOR’s concurrence on the substantive provisions are limited to the technical and programmatic matters only; such concurrence must not extend to contractual/administrative/financial provisions, which must be according to the terms and conditions of the Award and ADS 303.

c. Selection or change to Key Personnel. Pursuant to the procedures set forth in 2 CFR 200.308, changes to Key Personnel must be approved by USAID.

d. Ability to immediately halt an activity if the Recipient does not meet detailed performance specifications. USAID may immediately halt this activity, or any components thereof, when 1) there is a significant documented gap in progress that obviously hinders fulfillment of pursued objectives; 2) implemented interventions are not aligned with the scope of the Activity as outlined in the Program Description; and 3) implementation violates 22 CFR 216 requirements.

e. Technical Directions. USAID may monitor implementation progress of the Activity to permit specific kinds of direction or redirection of the work because of the interrelations.

f. Only the AO may change or amend the Program Description, Period of Award, Total estimated amount or budget, and/or other terms and conditions of the Award; however, the AO may delegate certain elements of substantial involvement to the AOR.

6. Authorized Geographic Code

The geographic code for the procurement of commodities and services under this program is 937. Code 937 includes the United States, the Recipient Country, and Developing Countries other than Advanced

Developing Countries, but excluding any country that is a prohibited source. See ADS 310.

7. Nature of the Relationship between USAID and the Recipient

The principal purpose of the relationship with the Recipient and under the subject program is to transfer funds to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation of the “Investment, Jobs and Income” which is authorized by Federal statute. The successful Recipient will be responsible for ensuring the achievement of the program objectives and the efficient and effective administration of the award through the application of sound management practices. The Recipient will assume responsibility for administering

Federal funds in a manner consistent with underlying agreements, program objectives, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligibility for this NOFO is not restricted. USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.

Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for federal financial assistance on the same basis as any other organization and are subject to the protections and requirements of Federal Law.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost Sharing is not required in this activity.

[END OF SECTION C]

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Agency Point of Contact

Name: Alina Menicucci

Title: Supervisory Agreement Officer

Email: atmenicucci@usaid.gov

Name: Agnès Léon

Title: Acquisition & Assistance Specialist

Email: aleon@usaid.gov

Name: Ernst Laurent Raymond

Title: Acquisition & Assistance Specialist

Email: erraymond@usaid.gov

2. Questions and Answers

Questions regarding this NOFO should be submitted electronically to usaidhaitioaa@usaid.gov no later than the date and time indicated on the cover letter, as amended. Any information given to a prospective applicant concerning this NOFO will be furnished promptly to all other prospective applicants as an amendment to this NOFO, if that information is necessary in submitting applications or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to any other prospective applicant.

3. General Content and Form of Application

Each applicant must furnish the information required by this NOFO. Applications must be submitted in two (2) separate parts: the Technical Application and the Business (Cost) Application. This subsection addresses general content requirements applying to the full application. Please see subsections 5 and 6, below, for information on the content specific to the Technical and Business (Cost) applications. The

Technical application must address technical aspects only while the Business (Cost) Application must present the costs, and address risk and other related issues.

Both the Technical and Business (Cost) Applications must include a cover page containing the following information:

● Name of the organization(s) submitting the application;

● Identification and signature of the primary contact person (by name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone number and email address) and the identification of the alternate contact person

(by name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone number and email address);

● Program name

● Notice of Funding Opportunity number

● Name of any proposed sub-recipients or partnerships (identify if any of the organizations are local organizations, per USAID’s definition of ‘local entity’ under ADS 303.

mailto:atmenicucci@usaid.gov mailto:aleon@usaid.gov mailto:erraymond@usaid.gov mailto:usaidhaitioaa@usaid.gov

Any erasures or other changes to the application must be initialed by the person signing the application. Applications signed by an agent on behalf of the applicant must be accompanied by evidence of that agent’s authority, unless that evidence has been previously furnished to the issuing office.

Applications must comply with the following:

● USAID will not review any pages in excess of the page limits noted in the subsequent sections.

Please ensure that applications comply with the page limitations.

● Written in English.

● Use standard 8 ½” x 11”, single sided, single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1” margins, left justification and headers and/or footers on each page including consecutive page numbers, date of submission, and applicant’s name.

● 10-point font must be used for graphs, charts and tables.

● Submitted via Microsoft Word and PDF formats, except budget files which must be submitted in

Microsoft Excel.

● The estimated start date identified in Section B of this NOFO must be used in the cost application.

● The technical application must be a searchable and editable Word or PDF format as appropriate.

● The Cost Schedule must include an Excel spreadsheet with all cells unlocked and no hidden formulas or sheets. A PDF version of the Excel spreadsheet may be submitted in addition to the

Excel version at the applicant’s discretion, however, the official cost application submission is the unlocked Excel version.

Applicants must review, understand, and comply with all aspects of this NOFO. Failure to do so may be considered as being non-responsive and may be evaluated accordingly. Applicants should retain a copy of the application and all enclosures for their records.

4. Application Submission Procedures

Applications must be submitted by email to usaidhaitioaa@usaid.gov. Email submissions must include the

NOFO number and applicant’s name in the subject line heading. In addition, for an application sent by multiple emails, the subject line must also indicate whether the email relates to the technical or cost application, and the desired sequence of the emails and their attachments (e.g. "No. 1 of 4", etc.). For example, if your cost application is being sent in two emails, the first email should have a subject line that states:

Notice of Funding Opportunity Number 72052125RFAXXXX – Organization Name – Technical

Application – Email Number X of X

Notice of Funding Opportunity Number 72052125RFAXXXX – Organization Name – Cost

Application – Email Number X of X

After submitting an application electronically, applicants should immediately check their own email to confirm that the attachments were indeed sent. If an applicant discovers an error in transmission, please send the material again and note in the subject line of the email or indicate in the file name if submitted via grants.gov that it is a "corrected" submission. Do not send the same email more than once unless there has been a change, and if so, please note that it is a "corrected" email.

mailto:usaidhaitioaa@usaid.gov

Applicants are reminded that email is NOT instantaneous, and in some cases delays of several hours occur from transmission to receipt. Therefore, applicants are requested to send the application in sufficient time ahead of the deadline. For this NOFO, the initial point of entry to the government infrastructure is the

USAID mail server.

5. Technical Application Format

The technical application should be specific, complete, and presented concisely. Applicants must develop a Program Description that demonstrates an understanding of the challenges and the proposed approach and articulate how the applicant will accomplish the goals and objectives outlined in the Program

Description. The primary objective is to sustainably increase mobilization of financing for Haitian enterprises, and a secondary objective is to enhance supply chain and market linkages between anchor enterprises and Small and Medium Sized-Enterprises (SMEs). The application should take into account the requirements of the program and merit review criteria found in this NOFO.

Applicants are invited to submit a Technical Application not to exceed twelve (12) pages. The following items must be included in the Technical Application:

a. Cover Page (not included in the 12-page limit): In one page, the cover page should include: a) the RFA

Number; b) activity title: USAID Investment, Jobs and Income activity; c) applicant name; d) applicant address; e) UEI; f) point of contact of information for the Technical Volume (names, titles, telephone number; email addresses).

b. Table of Contents (not included in the 12-page limit): Table of Contents section must be used to list all page numbers and necessary attachments.

c. List of Acronyms (not included in the 12-page limit)

d. Executive Summary: is limited to two (2) pages. This section should allow the technical reviewers to quickly understand the critical elements of the application including the most salient features of the applicant’s technical vision and approach to accomplish the desired results.

e. Technical Approach: is limited to eight (8) pages. The Applicant must provide a Program Description describing what the Applicant commits to do to achieve the expected results. The Applicant must propose an approach for monitoring the activities as well as indicators and quarterly targets that will allow USAID to measure the Applicant’s performance in implementing the activities.

f. Key Personnel/Management Plan: is limited to two (2) pages. USAID/Haiti recommends that the

Applicant describe the positions that the Applicant believes to be key for the success of the Activity. The

Applicant must propose individuals that they deem appropriate for the duties and responsibilities of each position, with the requisite skills, knowledge and experience. All Key Personnel must be located in Port-au-Prince. The applicant must provide the resumes of each key personnel. These resumes should be included as an Annex to the Full Application.

However, USAID/Haiti requires a Local Finance Lead Position, described as follows:

Local Finance Lead – the Local Finance Lead will be based in Haiti with significant experience in mobilizing finance (in Haiti and internationally) and demonstrated ability to structure and oversee the finance provider and transaction advisor/business services provider networks proposed.

g. Annexes (not included in the 12-page limit): The Applicant is requested to include a) staffing plan organizational chart; b) resumes of Key Personnel.

6. Business (Cost) Application Format

The Business (Cost) Application must be submitted separately from the Technical Application. While no page limit exists for the full cost application, applicants are encouraged to be as concise as possible while still providing the necessary details. The business (cost) application must illustrate the entire period of performance, using the budget format shown in the SF-424A.

Prior to award, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation deemed necessary for the

Agreement Officer to assess the applicant’s risk in accordance with 2 CFR 200.206. Applicants should not submit any additional information with their initial application.

The Cost Application must contain the following sections (which are further elaborated below this listing with the letters for each requirement):

a. Cover Page: In one page, the cover page should include: a) the RFA Number; b) activity title: USAID

Investment, Jobs and Income activity; c) applicant name; d) applicant address; e) UEI; f) point of contact of information for the Cost Volume (names, titles, telephone number; email addresses).

b. SF 424 Form(s): The applicant must sign and submit the cost application using the SF-424 series. Standard Forms can be accessed electronically at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html. Failure to accurately complete these forms could result in the rejection of the application.

c. Required Certifications and Assurances: The applicant must complete the following documents and submit a signed copy with their application:

i. “Certifications, Assurances, Representations, and Other Statements of the Recipient” ADS 303mav document found at https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/303mav

ii. Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B)

iii. Certificate of Compliance: Please submit a copy of your Certificate of Compliance if your organization's systems have been certified by USAID/Washington's Office of Acquisition and

Assistance (M/OAA).

d. Budget and Budget Narrative: The Budget must be submitted as one unprotected Excel file (MS Office

2000 or later versions) with visible formulas and references and must be broken out by project year, including itemization of the federal and non-federal (cost share) amount. Files must not contain any hidden or otherwise inaccessible cells. Budgets with hidden cells lengthen the cost analysis time required to make award and may result in a rejection of the cost application. The Budget Narrative must contain sufficient detail to allow USAID to understand the proposed costs. The applicant must ensure the budgeted costs address any additional requirements identified in Section F, such as Branding and Marking. The Budget

Narrative must be thorough, including sources for costs to support USAID’s determination that the proposed costs are fair and reasonable.

The Budget must include the following worksheets or tabs, and contents, at a minimum:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/303mav

● Summary Budget, inclusive of all program costs (federal and non-federal), broken out by major budget category and by year for activities implemented by the applicant and any potential sub-applicants for the entire period of the program. See Section H, Annex 1 for Summary Budget

Template

● Detailed Budget, including a breakdown by year, sufficient to allow the Agency to determine that the costs represent a realistic and efficient use of funding to implement the applicant’s program and are allowable in accordance with the cost principles found in 2 CFR 200 Subpart E.

● Detailed Budgets for each sub-recipient, for all federal funding and cost share, broken out by budget category and by year, for the entire implementation period of the project.

The Detailed Budget must contain the following budget categories and information, at a minimum:

i. Salaries and Allowances – Must be proposed consistent with 2 CFR 200.430 Compensation -

Personal Services. The applicant’s budget must include position title, salary rate, level of effort, and salary escalation factors for each position. Allowances, when proposed, must be broken down by specific type and by position. Applicants must explain all assumptions in the Budget Narrative.

The Budget Narrative must demonstrate that the proposed compensation is reasonable for the services rendered and consistent with what is paid for similar work in other activities of the applicant. Applicants must provide their established written policies on personnel compensation. If the applicant’s written policies do not address a specific element of compensation that is being proposed, the Budget Narrative must describe the rationale used and supporting market research.

ii. Fringe Benefits – (if applicable) If the applicant has a fringe benefit rate approved by an agency of the U.S. Government, the applicant must use such rate and provide evidence of its approval. If an applicant does not have a fringe benefit rate approved, the applicant must propose a rate and explain how the applicant determined the rate. In this case, the Budget Narrative must include a detailed breakdown comprised of all items of fringe benefits (e.g., superannuation, gratuity, etc.)

and the costs of each, expressed in U.S. dollars and as a percentage of salaries.

iii. Travel and Transportation – Provide details to explain the purpose of the trips, the number of trips, the origin and destination, the number of individuals traveling, and the duration of the trips. Per

Diem and associated travel costs must be based on the applicant’s normal travel policies. When appropriate please provide supporting documentation as an attachment, such as company travel policy, and explain assumptions in the Budget Narrative.

iv. Procurement or Rental of Goods (Equipment & Supplies), Services, and Real Property – Must include information on estimated types of equipment, models, supplies and the cost per unit and quantity. The Budget Narrative must include the purpose of the equipment and supplies and the basis for the estimates. The Budget Narrative must support the necessity of any rental costs and reasonableness in light of such factors as: rental costs of comparable property, if any; market conditions in the area; alternatives available; and the type, life expectancy, condition, and value of the property leased.

v. Subawards – Specify the budget for the portion of the program to be passed through to any subrecipients. See 2 CFR 200 for assistance in determining whether the sub-tier entity is a subrecipient or contractor. The subrecipient budgets must align with the same requirements as the applicant’s budget, including those related to fringe and indirect costs.

vi. Construction – If applicable (See ADS 303.3.30) https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/303.pdf

vii. Other Direct Costs – This may include other costs not elsewhere specified, such as report preparation costs, passports and visas fees, medical exams and inoculations, as well as any other miscellaneous costs which directly benefit the program proposed by the applicant. The applicant should indicate the subject, venue and duration of any proposed conferences and seminars, and their relationship to the objectives of the program, along with estimates of costs. Otherwise, the narrative should be minimal.

viii. Indirect Costs – Applicants must indicate whether they are proposing indirect costs or will charge all costs directly. In order to better understand indirect costs please see Subpart E of 2 CFR 200.

The application must identify which approach they are requesting and provide the applicable supporting information. Below are the most commonly used Indirect Cost Rate methods:

Method 1 - Direct Charge Only

Eligibility: Any applicant

Initial Application Requirements: See above on direct costs

Method 2 - Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA)

Eligibility: Any applicant with a NICRA issued by a USG Agency must use that NICRA

Initial Application Requirements: If the applicant has a current NICRA, submit your approved NICRA and the associated disclosed practices. If your NICRA was issued by an

Agency other than USAID, provide the contact information for the approving

Agency. Additionally, at the Agency’s discretion, a provisional rate may be set forth in the award subject to audit and finalization. See USAID’s Indirect Cost Rate Guide for Non

Profit Organizations for further guidance.

Method 3 - De minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC)

Eligibility: Any applicant that does not have a current NICRA

Initial Application Requirements: Costs must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct costs but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both.