7200AA23RFA00006 FY24-28 F2F Technical & Cost Questions final.pdf

NOFO No.: 7200AA23RFA00006 NOFO Issuance Date: March 21, 2023

Q&A Issuance Date: April 10, 2023 Closing Date & Time: April 20, 2023; Received by 5:00 PM; ET

Amendment No. 001:

1. On Page 1 – Closing Time, remove Standard and replace with Eastern Time

2. On Page 22 – Remove ii. Concept Note (10 pages); and, insert the following:

ii. Table of Contents (1 Page):

Not included in page limit.

iii. Acronym List (1 Page):

Not included in page limit.

iv. Concept Note (10 Pages):

3. On Pages 23-24, remove the budget table and replace with:

Cost Category

Yr1

Yr2

Yr3

Yr4

Yr5

Total

Direct Costs Personnel Fringe Benefits Travel Equipment Supplies Contractual/Subawards Other Direct Costs Total Direct Costs Indirect Rate Total USAID Contribution Cost Share** Buy-in $1,000,000 Total Project Budget

4. On page 28 – Past Performance, remove “during the past” in the first sentence and replace with

“no older than”

5. On page 37 – i) Funding Restrictions, fourth paragraph: remove “B.4” in the first sentence and replace with “B.5”

6. On page 41 – Past Performance:, remove “or those completed during” in the first sentence and replace with “no older than”.

ALL OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS REMAIN UNCHANGED.

Matthew Case Date Agreement Officer, M/OAA/RFS

Questions & Answers (Q&A)

General Questions

1. Can prospective partner nominate Libya as a participant country?

Answer: Libya is not on our list of eligible countries due to security concerns.

2. Are applications from consortiums of organizations or applicant teams that include subaward organizations in host-countries allowable under this NOFO?

Answer: The Prime Applicant must comply with eligibility requirements. Consortium partners and sub-awardees do not have to be U.S. based entities.

3. The NOFO states on page 6 that “F2F Programs typically have between 3-6 core countries, depending on the budget.” Are applications for F2F programs covering only 2 countries allowable, or do applications need to propose programs that cover between 3 and 6 countries?

Answer: The NOFO indicates a range that is typical based on past experiences but fewer or more than indicated range may be proposed if the applicant feels that is more appropriate for their application.

4. Are concept notes proposing budgets lower than $5 million allowable?

Answer: The NOFO indicated a range of $5 to $9 million. Since these are Leader Awards, the expectation is that there is a minimum size/capacity to function in economies of scale. Therefore, $5 million is considered the minimum.

5. Are applicants expected to submit supporting materials at the concept note stage, e.g., CVs for key personnel, letters of support, letters of collaboration?

Answer: These materials are not required in the Concept Note phase.

6. NOFO page 5 describes a “support project” that “will provide program-wide technical support services for agricultural volunteer programs and finance smaller, specialized F2F volunteer projects that bring in new implementing organizations, test new approaches, and tap new sources of volunteers.” Will this “support project” be bid out under a separate NOFO?

Answer: USAID is discussing the Support Project. It is not being solicited at this time.

7. The applicant respectfully requests confirmation that this should be 5:00 Eastern Daylight Time.

Answer: Confirmed.

8. Page 16, Section B.7, Key Personnel, states, “In their application, recipients shall propose Key Personnel for at least half of their proposed core countries, as USAID realizes that some staff may not be hired until the applicant is successful and therefore these can be submitted later.” The applicant respectfully requests that USAID confirm that key personnel will only be presented during Phase II (Full Application).

Answer: Confirmed. Key Personnel should be included only in the Full Application.

9. Page 21-24, Section D.3, General Content and Form of Application under subsection A, Phase I - Concept Note, notes “USAID will not review any pages in excess of the page limits noted below” and lists Cover Page (1 Page), Concept Note (10 Pages), Summary Draft Life of Project (LOP) Work Plan (3 Pages), and Attachment – Budget (1 Page) as sections within the page count. The applicant respectfully requests confirmation from USAID that a Table of Contents and Acronym List will not count towards the page limit in the Concept Note.

Answer: If desired, applicants may include a Table of Contents and an Acronym List. They will not be counted towards the page limits listed on Pages 21-24.

10. Page 23, Section D.3, General Content and Form of Application under subsection A.iv. Attachment - Budget, requests an “overall budget breakdown that shows the following” followed by the question, “Have you received Federal Funds in the Past” and several follow-up questions. The applicant respectfully requests confirmation from USAID that only one (1) example of past receipt of Federal Funds should be included in this section, including information on period of performance, dollar value, agency, contract/agreement number, and agency POC.

Answer: Confirmed.

11. Can USAID confirm that the email address for submission of concept notes is the same as for full applications – Farmer2Farmer@usaid.gov ?

Answer: Confirmed.

12. General requirements for formatting concept notes (page 21) indicates that “tables may use small fonts and margins, however, must be easily readable” whereas requirements for full applications (page 25) indicate that “tables, however, must comply with the 12-point Times Roman requirement.” Could USAID revise to allow small font in tables in the full application (provided easily readable)?

Answer: Details and instructions related to the Full Application will be shared with Apparently Successful Applicants who advance to the next phase.

13. On page 28 and 41, USAID writes, “Applicants shall include three past performance references on relevant programs completed during the past five years.” Would USAID be amenable to changing this language to, “Applicants shall include three past performance references on relevant programs no older than five years.”?

Answer: The language is changed. Please see the updated NOFO attached to this Q&A on pages 28 and 41.

14. Can USAID provide an estimated date of notice to applicants for full applications?

Answer: Details on the Full Application phase will be provided to the Apparently Successful applicants.

mailto:Farmer2Farmer@usaid.gov

15. Can USAID provide additional guidance on the format and contents required for the 3-page Life of Project Workplan? Does USAID expect and Gantt chart at this stage?

Answer: The Work Plan should follow guidance outlined on pages 22-23 of the NOFO. A Gantt chart is not required but can be provided if desired.

16. Can you confirm USAID will accept and fund F2F programs in Burma/Myanmar for the 2023- 2028 cycle? Will USAID allow modified thresholds for Paired-Remote assignments in Burma/Myanmar?

Answer: Applicants are free to propose any eligible countries. Consideration should be given to the local operating context in a country and whether F2F can successfully operate there.

Discussions about country selection may occur during co-creation with apparently successful applicants and changes may be made at that time, if necessary. Modified thresholds are not being authorized at this time, although USAID reserves the right to make changes at any time.

17. NOFO page 1, Deadline for Question. The deadline is stated as “March 28, 2023 by 5:00PM Eastern Standard Time.” Would USAID please consider adding a second period for questions during the Phase II – Full Application Phase to address any questions that might arise through the development and submission of the concept note and USAID’s responses to applicants proceeding on to Phase II?

Answer: Dates related to the Full Application phase will be shared with the Apparently Successful Applicants who advance to that phase.

18. NOFO page 1, Closing Time. The deadline is stated as “5:00PM Eastern Standard Time.” Would USAID please confirm that the deadline is 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time on that date?

Answer: Confirmed. Please see page 1 of the amended NOFO attached to this Q&A document.

19. NOFO page 6, Section A. Program Description, Country Selection. The NOFO states, “F2F Programs are global in scope, but with core activities in a limited number of countries. These core countries can be within a given geographic region, which may allow the IP to leverage synergies in developing coordinated country programs in the region, or they can be in multiple regions and/or thematic nature.” Does USAID prefer either thematic or geographic groupings of countries and is that preference reflected in evaluation methodology?

Answer: USAID does not have a preference.

20. NOFO pages 6–7, Section A. Program Description, F2F Eligible Countries and Geographical Program Regions. NOFO pages 57–65, Annex 4. Summary of USAID Mission Input for Country F2F Activity Planning. Since there are more eligible countries on pages 6–7 than the number of Missions consulted by USAID (e.g., Antigua and Barbuda and Belize appear on the eligible countries list, but not in Annex 4), could USAID please clarify how USAID decided which countries/Missions it consulted, and if this has any relevance to application evaluation?

Answer: USAID reached out to Missions with the survey where contacts had been shared with the planning team. Antigua and Barbuda fall under the USAID/ESC Mission. Belize does not appear to have received the survey. Mission responses are just one potential source of information. Non-inclusion in the survey or non-response does not imply that certain missions are not interested in F2F and applicants are free to propose eligible countries. Applicants are also free to do their own research and/or reach out to Missions to find out their programmatic priorities.

21. NOFO page 9, Section A. Program Description, Paired-Remote Volunteer Assignments. The NOFO states, “Therefore, although in-person assignments are the core of F2F, IPs can propose specific ways they could use a limited number of paired remote assignments, up to 10% of assignments.” Would USAID consider increasing the ceiling for paired-remote volunteer assignments to 20% to maximize some of the cost, environmental, and inclusion benefits these assignments have demonstrated?

Answer: USAID is not raising the ceiling at this time but reserves the right to consider changes in the future.

22. NOFO page 13, Section B. Federal Award Information, LWA Funding Ceilings. 2. Total of Associate Awards: “The ceiling for all related Associate Awards under a given LWA will be up to four times the level of ceiling for the Leader Award.” Can USAID confirm if this is four times the amount including the $1 million buy-in amount, or whether it excludes that portion of the LWA award?

Answer: The Leader Award total estimated amount (TEA) will be the core funding plus the potential for a $1,000,000 Buy-in. The Associate Award ceiling is anticipated to be calculated at four times the level of the Leader Award TEA, which includes the Buy-in amount.

23. NOFO page 13, Section B. Federal Award Information, Leader Award budget. The NOFO states, “Leader awards will also include an additional $1.0 million ceiling for potential Buy-ins.

Although, buy-ins are not guaranteed.” NOFO page 23, Section D. Application and Submission Information, iv. Attachment - Budget (1 page). The NOFO states, “The budget should reflect the full amount including the ceiling for a potential $1.0 million Buy-in, even though that funding is not guaranteed.” Since the $1 million Buy-In is not guaranteed, we request that the indicators and targets for that portion of the program be agreed upon award of the Buy-In. For the Concept Note budget, may applicants add an additional line to the budget template to include the $1.0 million Buy-in, or will USAID provide an updated template and instructions to address this category? For the Full Application budget, likewise, will USAID please provide instructions on how to incorporate the $1.0 million Buy-in?

Answer: Please see the updated NOFO attached to this Q&A document on page 23.

24. NOFO page 15, Section B Federal Award Information, 2. Performance Indicators, Targets, Baseline Data, and Data collection. The NOFO states, “USAID will convene an IP workshop on reporting and program monitoring for Recipients funded under this NOFO soon after award of the LWA Cooperative Agreements. Successful applicants should plan to participate in an F2F Implementers’ Meeting with country F2F Program Directors and selected home office staff to review and finalize indicator definitions in the early part of FY24.” Can USAID clarify if the IP workshop on reporting is the same as the F2F Implementers’ Meeting or if they are two different meetings for which applicants should budget?

Answer: The format of these meetings is not yet finalized. The envisioned IP workshop to finalize MEL plans could be the same as or take the place of the potential FY24 Implementing Partners Meeting. If needed, a virtual meeting may be scheduled prior to the FY24 Implementing Partner’s meeting.

25. NOFO page 20, Section D. Application and Submission Information. 3. General Content and Form of Application. The NOFO states, “The competition conducted under this NOFO will be completed in two phases.” For planning purposes, will USAID provide information on the anticipated timeline for the Full Application phase of the procurement?

Answer: Details and instructions related to the Full Application will be shared with Apparently Successful Applicants who advance to that phase.

26. NOFO page 21, Section D. Application and Submission Information, A. Phase I – Concept Note.

The NOFO provides instruction on the contents of the Concept Note. In the Concept Note phase, will USAID consider accepting letters of support as an allowed annex?

Answer: Letters of support are not required at the Concept Note phase.

27. NOFO page 22, Section D. Application and Submission Information, A. Phase I – Concept Note.

iii Summary Draft Life of Project (LOP) Work Plan (3 Pages). The NOFO states, “The LOP draft plan should also briefly describe results planning and describe systematic consideration of gender issues and impacts.” Can USAID clarify the meaning of “describe results planning”? Is USAID asking the applicant to describe how it will select indicators and achieve results or is there another meaning intended?

Answer: The Summary LOP Work Plan should briefly touch on the topics mentioned and should also include the indicator table from page 23 with potential targets as part of the 3 page limit.

Applicants are free to mention how they will achieve results but given the page limit, detailed explanations are not expected.

28. NOFO pages 21–24, Section D. Application and Submission Information, A. Phase I – Concept Note. Does USAID wish for applicants to submit the one-page Attachment – Budget separately from the technical portions of the NOFO?

Answer: No.

29. NOFO pages 21–24, Section D. Application and Submission Information, A. Phase I – Concept Note. The NOFO does not request a list of acronyms for the Phase 1 Concept Note. Does USAID wish for applicants to provide a list of acronyms for the Phase I – Concept Note application and if so, can this be excluded from the page limit?

Answer: If desired, applicants may include a Table of Contents and an Acronym list, which will not count towards the page limits listed in pages 21-24.

30. NOFO page 23, Section D, Application and Submission Information, A, Phase I – Concept Note,

iv. Attachment – Budget. The NOFO asks, “Have you received Federal Funds in the past? (Y/N)

1) When? 2) Dollar Value? 3) From which agency? 4) What was the contract/agreement number

5) Provide Agency POC.”

a) If the applicant has a NICRA, is it still required to submit the information requested in section iv.a.iii on page 23?

Answer: Yes, an Applicant that has a NICRA must answer all questions on page 23.

b) If this information is required for applicants with a NICRA can USAID clarify if there is a limit to the amount of information requested in this section?

Answer: As noted in the answer to Question 10, applicants should provide just one example of Federal Funds.

c) Are applicants requested to list each instance of Federal Funding receipt in its organizational history? Or, would USAID consider the submission of a more limited amount of information, either from a three-year time period, or a specific number of instances of the receipt of Federal Funding?

Answer: As noted in the answer to Question 10, applicants should provide just one example of Federal Funds.

31. NOFO page 24, Section D, Application and Submission Information, A, Phase I – Concept Note,

iv. Attachment – Budget. The NOFO states as asterisks to the budget template provided, “*minimum mandatory leverage is the value of volunteer time, currently calculated at $522/day.

This number may change but can be used for this purpose. Other leverage (host contributions, etc.) may be included here as well. **Cost Share is not required but if proposed, please estimate it here.” Does USAID wish for applicants to propose the value of volunteer time, host contributions, etc. as leverage, or are applicants authorized to propose such costs as cost share?

Will USAID evaluate cost share more favorably than leverage, or are they seen as equivalents?

Answer: Volunteer time and host contributions are leverage, not Cost Share. Cost Share refers to the resources a recipient contributes to the total cost of an agreement and this is not required for F2F proposals. Applicants are welcome to include cost share, but as noted, it is not required.

32. NOFO pages 24–28, Section D. Application and Submission Information, B. Phase II – Full Application. The NOFO does not request a list of acronyms for the Phase II Full Application.

Does USAID wish for applicants to provide a list of acronyms for the Phase II – Full Application and if so, can this be excluded from the page limit?

Answer: Details and Instructions related to the Full Application will be shared with Apparently Successful Applicants who advance to that phase.

33. NOFO page 25, Section D. Application and Submission Information, B. Phase II – Full Application. The NOFO states “Use standard 8 1⁄2’’ 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.” Does USAID wish for the page numbering to begin from 1 in each page-limited section (i.e., Concept Note, Summary Draft Life of Project Work Plan, and Attachment – Budget)?

Answer: For the Concept Note, please follow the instructions on Page 21 of the NOFO. The applicant can number the pages how they choose as long as the page limits for each section are not exceeded.

34. NOFO page 28, Section f) Annexes. The NOFO provides instructions for Past Performance references. Can USAID please provide a page limit and/or a template for the past performance references? Can USAID please clarify if the applicant or the reference should provide the description of past performance? Can USAID please confirm that the current Farmer-to-Farmer program and the current AOR could serve as one of the three references? Can USAID please clarify if CPARS can be used as past performance references?

Answer: Past Performance is not required at the Concept Note (CN) phase. If an apparently successful applicant passes the CN phase, they will be provided with detailed instructions on submitting past performance.

35. NOFO page 37, Section D. Application and Submission Information, i) Funding Restrictions. The NOFO states, “Except as may be specifically approved in advance by the AO, all commodities and services that will be reimbursed by USAID under this award must be from the authorized geographic code specified in Section B.4 of this NOFO and must meet the source and nationality requirements set forth in 22 CFR 228.” Section B.4 is the Substantial Involvement clause. Can USAID please clarify if the correct reference is Section B.5. Authorized Geographic Code on Page 16?

Answer: Reference corrected. Please see the updated NOFO attached to this Q&A on page 37.

36. NOFO page 40, Section E. Application Review Information. Phase II – Full Application Evaluation. The NOFO states, “The Full Application will be evaluated in accordance with the Technical Evaluation Criteria set forth below on a pass/fail basis.” It also states, “The Government will evaluate responsive Full Applications on a best value basis, with technical merit more important than cost, on the following factors.” Can USAID clarify how it intends to evaluate applications using both pass/fail criteria and best value basis? Can USAID clarify how competing applicants will be judged if all sections of competing applicants are evaluated to have passed? Can USAID clarify if two applications are all judged to have passed all sections, will the only evaluation criteria be “best value”?

Answer: Details and instructions related to the Full Application will be shared with Apparently Successful Applicants who advance to that phase.

37. NOFO page 41, Section E. Application Review Information, Phase II – Full Application Evaluation. The NOFO states, “Environmental Check: (compliant Y/N)”. Also, NOFO Page 28, Section D. Application and Submission Information, 5. Technical Application Format, f) Annexes, Compliance Requirements. The NOFO states, “Recipient Work Plans should include provision for environmental screening of individual volunteer assignments and for provision of mitigation plans as indicated necessary.” Can USAID clarify if the Recipient Work Plan is the sole location in the Phase II – Full Application where the applicant should address environmental issues to be considered compliant? If not, could USAID please provide guidance on where else it should be addressed? Will USAID please advise when the IEE and PERSUAP referenced in the NOFO on Pages 12 and 28 and Annex 5 will be provided? Will USAID please provide information on what is required in the full application phase to meet the Environmental Check compliance referenced on page 41?

Answer: Apparently successful applicants from the Concept Note phase will be provided with the necessary information required under the Full Application phase. USAID provides IEE and PERSUAP information before final awards are made.

38. NOFO page 41, Section E. Application Review Information, Phase II – Full Application Evaluation. The NOFO states, “Branding & Marking: (compliant Y/N).” NOFO page 33, Section D. Application and Submission Information. H) Branding Strategy & Marking Plan. The NOFO states, “The apparently successful applicant will be asked to provide a Branding Strategy and Marking Plan to be evaluated and approved by the Agreement Officer and incorporated into any resulting award.” Can USAID please clarify when the Branding Strategy and Marking Plan will be evaluated?

Answer: The Branding and Marking Plan is required with the Full Application and additional guidance will be provided to Apparently Successful Applicants.

39. In previous Farmer-to-Farmer solicitations, applicants had the opportunity to offer alternative regions, providing more flexibility in the country selection and co-design process. Should or may alternative country suggestions be included in the Concept Note?

Answer: Applicants may propose any country that is on the list from any of the regions. During a potential co-design before the Full Application phase, USAID may discuss country options with the apparently successful applicants. Applicants are free to mention flexibility in their Concept

Note but a separate Annex with this information is not requested. Applicants are also free to submit more than one Concept Note for consideration, although only one will be awarded per applicant.

40. Evaluation criteria for both the Program Strategy and Implementation Plan include “strategies for development of country level programs” and “analysis and finalization of Country F2F Projects”, respectively. Would USAID please explain the difference or consider including this description in just one of these sections to avoid duplication?

Answer: The Program Strategy section is focused on the overall approach to country strategy development and the Implementation Plan evaluation is based on specific proposed Country F2F Projects.

41. Page 10 states, “Volunteer Logistics and Support: Logistics and support services greatly impact the effectiveness of volunteers. Logistical support includes transport, housing, interpretation/translation, compensation arrangements, and other services.” Could USAID explain what is meant by “compensation arrangements”? Is this referring to honorariums or stipends for volunteers?

Answer: Volunteers should not receive any honorariums or other payment for their time.

Compensation arrangement can mean systems for reimbursement of expenses or other pieces required to effectively manage volunteer logistics and support.

42. Can one Country Director serve as the Country Director for two small adjacent countries or is it required that each country have their own Country Director who lives in that country?

Answer: Applicants may propose a part-time Country Director if it is determined by the applicant that a full-time position is not required. Additional details will be provided to the Apparently Successful Applicants after the Concept Note phase.

43. Do any funds need to be set aside for Community of Practice activities? If so, is there a certain amount or percentage?

Answer: F2F implementing partners are expected to participate in the F2F Community of Practice (CoP). There is no specific funding amount that needs to be set aside but IPs should plan budgets needed for workshops, events, and other CoP activities.

44. Page # 7, Country Projects: Is there a maximum of number of value chains or sub-sectors that we can work with?

Answer: No.

45. Page # 30 Marketing and Branding: Is there an established percentage of the budget for the branding strategy and marketing plan based on the total requested budget?

Answer: This level of detail is not required at the Concept Note stage. Budget information will be requested from the Apparently Successful Applicants following the Concept Note stage.

46. Page 11 states: “Buy-ins or Associate Awards may expand F2F activities into additional countries within or outside of the given region.” Can USAID confirm that an implementer may seek a buy-in from a Mission in a country which is not one of its core F2F implementation countries?

Answer: Yes. Any USAID Mission can fund an Associate Award or Buy-in to any of the LWA holders in any country.

47. On page 13 it says “USAID expects to provide core funding for each Recipient F2F Program with an initial obligation in FY23 and the remaining funding in approximately equal tranches over four years (FY24-FY28).” This period of FY24-FY28 is five years, not four. And on page 15 it says “The anticipated period of performance is five (5) years. The estimated start date will be October 1, 2023.” That indicates the project begins in FY24 not in FY23. Can USAID please clarify the start date and when successful applicants should expect the obligations?

Answer: The Program dates are:

FY24 October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 FY25 October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025 FY26 October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026 FY27 October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 FY28 October 1, 2027 – September 30, 2028

The first obligation of funds will be given prior to September 30, 2023 (before the new programs commence), which falls in FY23. The remaining funds will be obligated in FY24, FY25, FY26, and FY27 to be spent in the years that follow.

48. As USAID mentioned, many Missions did not respond to the Farmer-to-Farmer survey in Annex 4 of the RFA. Is USAID still receiving or accepting Mission responses, and will Annex 4 be updated with additional information from Missions when the RFA is updated in response to these questions?

Answer: A survey was sent to Missions and responses received by a specific cut-off date are in the annex, which will not be updated. A non-response from a Mission does not imply they are not interested in F2F and applicants are free to do their own research and/or reach out to Missions to find out their programmatic priorities. The survey responses are just one potential source of information.

49. Should applicants include flex assignments in their initial concept note and budget? Do applicants who plan for flex assignments need to designate the country of those assignments at the time of application?

Answer: The budget requested at the Concept Note stage does not require a breakdown of types of assignments. Applicants are free to discuss potential flex assignments in their technical approach including countries if applicable, but a detailed discussion is not required. Specific countries for flex assignments are approved at the Work Plan stage after award.

50. [REDACTED] is interested in applying for the Farmer-to-Farmer NOFO (Funding Opportunity Number: 7200AA23RFA00006) and we want to know how we can submit the concept note.

Answer: If a new partner is interested in working with USAID, please visit www.workwithusaid.org for more information. If a new partner is interested in being a sub-awardee to a USAID project, please pay special attention to the Sub-Award section under www.workwithusaid.org.

51. As we understand, a U.S. non-profit agricultural organization 501c (5) is eligible to apply. Can you please clarify whether non-profit INGOs such as [REDACTED] which fall under the tax code 501c (3) are eligible to apply?

Answer: Confirmed. 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to apply.

52. May host country/in-country F2F program office management and staff be remunerated as subcontractors or as sub-awardees?

Answer: In their Concept Note, the applicant should describe their proposed management structure/approach and describe/justify partnering of sub-award arrangements planned to achieve objectives or address capacity needs.

53. May F2F prime awardees earn indirect on 100% of subcontract costs, and/or on the first $25K of each subaward?

Answer: This is dependent on the organization’s NICRA agreement and their organizational policies. If an organization does not currently hold a NICRA agreement with the U.S.

Government, they are required to adhere to the indirect rate policies noted at 2 CFR 200.414(f).

54. For "Paired-Remote Volunteer Assignments," is remuneration of the in-country local specialist allowed? Where may we find guidelines for this?

Answer: Local volunteers participating in a Paired-Remote Assignment cannot be paid for their time. Travel, per diem, and logistical costs may be covered based on organizational policies.

Additional guidelines will be shared with Apparently Successful Applicants.

55. We could not find progress or final reports on a bunch of past F2F projects/regions when we searched the Development Experience Clearinghouse. Are those reports publicly available somewhere else? Please advise.

http://www.workwithusaid.org/ http://www.workwithusaid.org/

Answer: Implementing Partners are responsible for posting their reports on the DEC. F2F annual reports can be found here:

• F2F Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report - https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00ZV13.pdf

• F2F Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report - https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00Z6BR.pdf

• F2F Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Report - https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00XJN7.pdf

• F2F Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report - https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00XJN5.pdf

• F2F Midterm Performance Evaluation - https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00Z8M7.pdf

56. Our project is located in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), we were wondering if the DRC has ever participated in the program and if you have a support mechanism available to cover the region.

Answer: The USAID Mission in DRC has funded an Associate Award under F2F during the current five-year cycle. DRC is an eligible country for this program.

57. We would like to provide a joined submission with 4 different entities providing different expertise, 2 Non-profits organizations registered in the USA ([REDACTED] and [REDACTED]), one private business located in the USA ([REDACTED]), and one private business ([REDACTED]) located in the host country (DRC). The private business in the DRC will serve to provide qualified volunteers and participants in the project. Will this violate the eligibility criteria?

Answer: F2F volunteers must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents of the United States and be vetted by the F2F Leader Award Implementing Partner. The prime organization in the application must meet eligibility requirements.

58. Should the Leader Award budget include country-level activities, or will all country activities be covered in Associate Award and Buy-ins?

Answer: Yes, the core funding is intended to support demand-driven volunteer assignments in countries on a wide range of agriculturally relevant work streams and technologies.

59. Is Ukraine an option as a core country if the activity is limited to paired assignments, 10% of total assignments, given that the war is largely confined to the most eastern and southern areas of the country?

Answer: Ukraine is not currently on our list of eligible countries due to security concerns.

60. The NOFO states on page 21 A. Phase I – Concept Note “Applicants should describe proposed core countries and Country F2F Project activities for implementation and provide a rationale for their selection.” The description ii. Concept Note (10 Pages) : does not include instructions to describe proposed core countries and Country F2F Project activities for implementation and provide a rationale for their selection. Should this information be provided in the 10 pages?

https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00ZV13.pdf https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00Z6BR.pdf https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00XJN7.pdf https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00XJN5.pdf https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00Z8M7.pdf

Answer: On page 22 of the NOFO, both the program strategy and implementation plan sections of the Concept Note outline reference country level strategies and plans so applicants should include any relevant information with the 10 pages.

61. Is it correct that no information on personnel is to be included in the concept note?

Answer: Personnel, to include Key Personnel, are not included in the Concept Note phase.

62. Will USAID please consider allowing Letters of Support from resource organizations and collaborating partners to be included as an annex to the Concept Note submission?

Answer: Letters of support are not required at the Concept Note phase and will not be reviewed.

63. For the Phase I Concept Note, can USAID please confirm that the extra $1M buy-in ceiling by awardee is in addition to the $65M overall USAID budget for this program that will be apportioned to successful awardees?

Answer: The $1,000,000 Buy-in ceiling is subject to expressing of interests from Missions and Operating Units and there is no guarantee that applicants will receive any buy-ins during the life of the project. The $65,000,000 referenced is the available core funding which does not include the potential Buy-in funding.

64. For the Phase I Concert Note, can USAID please confirm that the LOP section requires only LOP targets, while Phase II Full Application requires yearly targets?

Answer: Page 22 instructions state that projections of targets by year should be included in the Summary LOP Work Plan, which is an Annex to the Concept Note. Details on the Full Application will be provided to Apparently Successful Applicants.

65. Will USAID please consider allowing a page for acronyms, not to be included in the total page count?

Answer: If desired, applicants may include a Table of Contents and an Acronym List, which will not count towards the page limits listed on Pages 21-24.

66. On page 6, Country Selection, the RFA states, “Applications may cover multiple regional programs or larger thematic programs in a given region. Regional program categories are listed:

East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa, Caribbean Basin, and Other – may include Country F2F Programs in core countries in a) Middle East & North Africa; b) Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia; c) Latin America; d) Asia; or e) countries across multiple regions.” Can USAID please confirm that the thematic programs may cover countries across multiple regions.

Answer: Confirmed.