IDEAS BAA - NPI Addendum - Question and Answer.pdf

IDEAS BAA - NPI Addendum - Amendment No. 1 Q&A

Question No. 1: For this addendum to "improve delivery of essential assistance and services at the municipal level," are the solutions meant to be technical in nature, such as capacity building work targeting municipal government rather than providing them with essential services? (To better explain, the former might be a training on how to design playgrounds while the later would be actually providing the area with a playground.)

USAID Response to question No. 1: USAID anticipates that assistance might include a mixture of technical assistance as well as equipment and infrastructure support to ensure achievement of results related to improving livelihoods opportunities. However, it is up to applicants to develop compelling arguments and justifications as to why USAID should consider either one or both types of interventions.

Question No. 2: How are essential services defined? Is the following an apt description of how USAID defines these services: "public service projects, including infrastructure, kindergartens, public schools, electricity generation, vocational training centers, playgrounds, medical dispensaries, public hospitals, and public housing"?

USAID Response to question No. 2: USAID reminds applicants that the NPI addendum is focused on livelihoods; therefore proposed solutions should be focused on ways to help clusters of municipalities to create the enabling environment to generate jobs and income. This might include, but is not limited to, creating or renovating facilities such as market spaces, agro-processing facilities, and/or venues to promote tourism – hiking trails, historic sites, etc. As was noted in the initial BAA, and is still applicable, USAID clearly stated that it will not consider assistance interventions in the educational and health sectors for this solicitation.

Question No. 3: Are Municipalities eligible to apply?

USAID Response to question No. 3: Organizations interested in applying for funding under the NPI

Addendum of the IDEAS BAA must comply with the requirements described under Section VI. Eligible

Organizations. Additional information regarding eligibility requirements can be found at:

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/NPI_Key_Definitions_10-31-2019.pdf. Please refer to questions No. 8 and No. 10 below for additional information.

Question No. 4: What is the budget?

USAID Response to question No. 4: The range of funding for BAAs is not announced at this stage, as

USAID is seeking innovative ideas, and does not want to solicit concepts that are designed to budget, but instead are designed to solution. The actual number and actual size of awards under this BAA will be determined based on the content and responsiveness of the applications received in each Round, need/requirements of USAID/Lebanon, and availability of funds for the proposed activities.

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/NPI_Key_Definitions_10-31-2019.pdf

Question No. 5: Can we have more clarification about the field that we can apply for, we were confused after reading the NPI document, because in the application we read only science but in the NPI document we have more options.

USAID Response to question No. 5: There are three Areas of Interest under this BAA (solid waste management, renewable back-up electric, and livelihoods). The NPI addendum focuses specifically on the area of increasing livelihood opportunities. See USAID’s response to Question 2 for more information.

The goal of the BAA is to develop solutions for increased access to essential services to improve community livelihoods through the support of scientific evidence, technology and innovation.

Question No. 6 : Can USAID kindly confirm that organizations which submitted an EOI in response to the first round of the original solicitation are not precluded from submitting an EOI in response to the NPI addendum?

USAID Response to question No. 6: USAID confirms that organizations that submitted an EOI under

Round 1 of the BAA are not precluded from submitting an EOI in response to the NPI addendum.

Question No. 7: On page 4 of the NPI addendum USAID states, ‘Each Expression of Interest should clearly address one of the two challenge areas listed above.’ Could USAID please clarify what the two challenge areas are?

USAID Response to question No. 7: This is a typographical error. USAID apologies for any confusion.

There is only one Area of Interest under the NPI Addendum to the BAA, which is livelihoods. See the response to question 2 for more information on this topic.

Question No. 8: On page 6 of the NPI addendum USAID states, “The prime will not directly assist program or activity beneficiaries.” Could USAID kindly clarify if municipalities are considered program beneficiaries within the context of this solicitation?

USAID Response to question No. 8: Yes municipalities are considered program beneficiaries under the

IDEAS BAA and NPI Addendum. To further clarify, under the type of partnership arrangement that you are quoting on page 6 of the NPI Addendum (Mentoring Awards to organizations that provide sub-grants), “‘established partners’ ... play[a role] in advancing this vision of effective local capacity development. This modality will empower established partners to build the capacity of local and locally established partners to deliver results for the stakeholders they serve, while also providing these local partners with the direct or indirect support they need to meet the requirements associated with awards from the U.S. Government.” Under this type of partnership, municipalities may be considered the beneficiaries of the program, but not as organizations being mentored by “established partners” under a

Mentoring Award structure.

Question No. 9: On page 6 of the NPI addendum USAID states, “3a: Local Entity Sub-Awardees That

Move to Direct Awards: Prime awardees must pass a minimum percentage of the total funding of their awards, to local sub-awardees, with a goal of moving them to qualify for direct awards.” Can USAID kindly clarify what the ‘minimum percentage’ amount is for 3a?

USAID Response to question No. 9: USAID confirms there is no minimum percentage under category

3a. Local Entity Sub-Awardees That Move to Direct Awards. However, under category 3b, the set percentage is at least 50% of the total funding.

Question No. 10: Does USAID consider municipal unions to meet the definition of a local entity or locally-established partners?

USAID Response to question No. 10: No. Municipalities may be beneficiaries but not program partners.

Question No. 11: On page 10 of the NPI addendum USAID states, “The Eligibility Certification Form in

Attachment 2 must also be completed and submitted.” On page 11 the document is titled “Attachment 1:

Eligibility Certification.” Can USAID kindly confirm that Attachment 1: Eligibility Certification is the correct form to submit with the EOI application?

USAID Response to question 11: USAID confirms that Attachment 1. Eligibility Certification is the correct form to be completed and submitted by interested applicants as part of their Expression of Interest

(EOI).