Quantifying Religious Conflict QA - 02.21.2020.docx

BUREAU OF CONFLICT AND STABILIZATION OPERATIONS

Quantifying Religious Conflict

SFOP0006066

Questions and Answers February 21, 2020

1. Would a computational/machine learning approach be appropriate for data collection?

0. ANSWER: We encourage applicants to propose and justify innovative methods for data collection. However, we would suggest applicants not rely solely on computational methods that don’t involve human interventions to ensure coding reliability, and to account for potential problems with computational methods in their proposals. This includes but is not limited to language issues and local sources in some contexts that may not be digitized.

1. The GANTT Work Plan Template begins in September. Is this when the work starts?

1. ANSWER: No, the template is just illustrative. The program will begin on March 31st 2020, and the GANTT Work Plan should be updated by applicants accordingly.

1. Can you please clarify the requirement: “Applicants should be able to legally operate in the country where they propose to work.” Does the prime contractor have to be able to legally operate in each country where data will be collected? Or, is the prime contractor still compliant if only their partners and subcontractors can legally operate in each country where the data will be collected?

0. ANSWER: Only the partners and subcontractors must be able to legally operate in the countries where the data collection and trainings are occurring, though it would be helpful if the primary grantee could do so as well.

1. Does CSO have a priority list or specific countries of interest which applicants should consider within the MENA Region? We recognize the documentation indicates that the applicants are to make recommendations, however, insights into the initial countries of interest would assist in the proposed allocation of resources.

0. ANSWER: While at this juncture we don’t have a set list of countries in mind, we recommend that applicants include justifications for their selections framed both in terms of need to generate event-level religious repression data in those specific country contexts, as well as in terms of feasibility.

1. The notice provides specific page lengths for sections of the application. Is there a page limit for the following sections: Data Collection Plan, Implementation Plan, Institutional Capabilities, and M&E?

0. ANSWER: While we are not setting a hard limit for these sections as we want applicants to feel comfortable going into detail, please keep responses within reasonable limits.

1. What do you think of (specific partner organizations)?

0. ANSWER: While we do not want to comment on specific partners, we would suggest selecting partners who have experience with this kind of research and data collection, experience working on research related to religious repression, and experience working in the countries you are proposing.

1. What do you think about my organization applying?

0. ANSWER: We will judge all applications by their proposal using the criteria listed in the NOFO.

1. Would an award come with regular (full) IDC?

0. ANSWER: Yes, applicants can include in their budget either 1) A current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) or 2) Charge a de minims rate of 10% of modified total direct costs if the entity has never received a NICRA.

1. The project’s primary scope is not on economic impact, correct?

0. ANSWER: That is correct, the focus is on the creation of an event-level dataset of religious repression in MENA region countries. Such a dataset could then of course be used to understand a variety of outcomes, which could include economic impact, but that is not the focus.

1. Would an individual-level analysis based on survey data be appropriate?

0. ANSWER: No. We are interested in event-level data, not attitudinal data and not data on the experiences of individuals with repression.

1. Can former government officials in target countries receive funding from the grant, for example, and a consultant?

10. ANSWER: There is no specific restriction on former government officials benefitting from grant funding. However, the U.S. has a number of requirements related to vetting for human rights abuses and association with terrorist organizations. After selection of the implementer, CSO will conduct a risk assessment and determine whether any vetting needs to occur. If it is determined that vetting is necessary, the associated costs will need to be incorporated into the final budget.

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