Amendment_0001_BAA_Questions_from_Industry_Responses.pdf

Questions Responses

Are there specific value chains that are intended to be a key focus for unlocking access to finance for farmers?

Please review our Global Food Secuirty Strategy (GFSS) strategy, which has a focus on maize, soybean, groundnut, cow pea, shea, high value tree crops, and marine fisheries, found here:

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1867/Ghana_Countr y_Plan_Public_Version_WS_Edits.pdf

Will the Co-creation/co-design workshop/process take place in DC or Ghana? The Co-creation/co-design workshop/process will take place in Ghana.

3 When should we expect the workshop to take place?

It is anticipated that the workshop will occur in the second quarter of FY19.

Selected organizations will be notified with the details.

Do we need to obtain a DUNS number and registration in the System for Award Management (SAM)? If so please advise on how to proceed.

It is not required at this stage, though will be required in order to receive an award.

5 Please share if {USAID has} any {more} information on the BAA/link

Please find additional information about BAA's at USAID using the following link:

https://www.usaid.gov/partnership-opportunities/respond-solicitation/broad-agency-announcements

6 To confirm, {does} the EOI has to be 2 pages as stipulated in section "X"?

Yes, per Section X of the Solicitation, EOIs should be no more than two pages in length total.

7 Is there a template for the BAA? Please follow the instructions of Solicitation No 720641119R000001.

8 Is there an attachment with FAQs about BAA? Please see response to Question 5 above.

9 Are other West African countries eligible to submit an EOI besides Ghana? Please see Solicitation No. 720641119R000001 Section VI D.

Can USAID please confirm that offerors will be able to add consortium partners throughout the co-creation and co-design phases, and are not required to name them in the initial EOI response? Yes.

Page 5 states that applicants must “…indicate what co-investment resources are available to bear on the solution” in their EOI responses. However, this is not included in the EOI requirements listed on page 9 or in the Evaluation Criteria on page 7.

EOIs and Concept Papers will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria indicated on pages 6/7 using the information submitted in accordance with the requirements in Section V/"Required Content for EOIs" and Section X./"Submission Requirements for EOIs.

Can USAID please confirm that offerors are required to indicate available co-investment resources in their EOI responses?

Please adhere to the requirements stated on page 5/Section V/"Required Content for EOIs" of the solicitation.

If this information is required for EOI submissions, can offerors reference potential sources of this co-investment based on their design rather than numerical figures? Please see response to Question 12 above.

If required, how will information on available co-investment resources be used to assess EOI responses?

Please refer to the Evaluation Criteria for EOI and Concept Papers on pages 6/7.

What is meant by “high-value coordination,” which is referenced as a source of co-investment on pages 2 and 3 of the BAA?

High value coordination is defined as coordination that would leverage private financing.

On pages 3 and 4 of the BAA, the Challenge statement states that it will target, “Smallholder farmers and microenterprises seeking financing (particularly financing on terms and conditions which can enable longer-term capital investment) in amounts under $10,000.” We kindly request that USAID clarify how it defines “longer-term” in the context of this funding range and target demographic? Longer term is defined as financing with tenures of one year or longer.

Given the short page count (2 pages including header), do you want us to include corporate qualifications or only a summary of the proposed concept?

EOIs are expected to meet the requirements in Solicitation. Please see response to Question 12 above.

Would someone from USAID/Ghana be available to discuss options with our long-term Finance Specialist in Ghana in November, prior to submission of the

EOI?

We are not currently accepting meetings with potential offerors. Per the solicitation, USAID will issue an invitation to collaborate via a co-creation workshop to all EOI's that are determined to have merit.

19 Has USAID determined a budget range for this activity? A budget range for this activity has not been established.

20 Does USAID envision one or multiple awards under this activity? Please refer to Section VII of the solicitation.

Does USAID envision this activity to focus on all regions or select regions of Ghana?

Please review USAID/Ghana's GFSS found in question 1, which defines the zone of influce for the office as Northern, Upper East, Upper West Regions and coastal areas benefiting from marine fisheries.

BAA Amendment 1_Questions from Industry

On Page 4 of the BAA, USAID lists the following agricultural sector entities “The missing middle of small and medium enterprises with financing requirements in the range of $10,000 to $500,000, and Smallholder farmers and microenterprises seeking financing (particularly financing on terms and conditions which can enable longer-term capital investment) in amounts under $10,000.” Will USAID please clarify if EOIs that address only one of the segments mentioned in the BAA are acceptable, or is USAID looking for EOIs that address both segments? USAID seeks innovative solutions for both segments.

On Page 4 of the BAA, USAID lists “innovative financing structures, support in addressing systemic challenges, technology-based solutions and other agribusiness-related possibilities” as potential solutions. Will USAID please clarify if EOIs that address only one (or a subset) of the 4 types of solutions listed in the BAA are acceptable, or if EOIs must address all four types of solutions?

Per Section III, on page 4, "solutions may include but are not limited to" what is contained in the solicitation.

On page 5 of the BAA, USAID describes Stage 2 of the Award Stages, Co- Creation Workshop and Co-Development of the Concept Paper. Will USAID please clarify when and where it is anticipated that the Co-Creation Workshop will be held? See responses 2 and 3.

Over what time frame would proposed solutions have to "be sustainable (ie generate revenues sufficient to cover costs)"?

Ideally, proposed solutions should be self sustaining after the fifth year of implementation.

How directly do proposed solutions have to generate revenue? Would revenue growth of the enterprises served by the solution be sufficient, or would partners have to directly generate their own revenue to cover program costs?

USAID seeks innovative, self-sustaining solutions to the Problem and Challenge Statement.

Is the co-creation workshop going to be held in Ghana or in the U.S.? If it will be held in Ghana, will any accommodations (e.g., webcast, conference lines) be provided for invitees based in the U.S.? The Co-creation/co-design workshop/process will take place in Ghana.

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