Addendum MS Morocco to STIP APS - Amendment 01.pdf

USAID MOROCCO

FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

Issue Date:

Questions Due:

Closing Date & Time Concept Notes:

Amendment:

Amendment Issue Date:

November 16, 2020

November 23, 2020 at 4:00 PM (Morocco Time)

December 15, 2020 at 4:00 PM (Morocco Time)

December 2, 2020

Subject: Science, Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (STIP) Program Annual Program Statement, APS No.: 7200AA20APS00006 APS Addendum

Opportunity Title: Inclusive Socio-Economic Development in Marrakech-Safi, Morocco.

To: All Interested Respondents/Parties:

This is an amendment to the Inclusive Socio-Economic Development in Marrakech-Safi, Morocco APS Addendum under the existing Science, Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Annual

Program Statement (APS No. 7200AA20APS00006).

The purpose of this Amendment 1 is to provide answers to the questions against the subject APS Addendum.

Response to questions arc provided in Attachment 1 of this Amendment.

Thank you for your interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, rac Miller, Regional Agreement Officer Middle East regional Platform (MERP), Frankfurt

APS Addendum under the existing Science, Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Annual Program Statement (APS No.

7200AA20APS00006) - Amendment 01

Inclusive Socio-Economic Development in Marrakech-Safi, Morocco

Attachment 1

Questions & Answers

Question 1: We would appreciate more details on the type of activities you would be open to funding. Would the call cover the establishment of a broader research fund that incubates research, and funds more specific experimental and/or non-experimental research work at a later stage?

In other words, would we have to outline the design details and implementation timeline of specific pilot projects/evaluations in the proposal stage (e.g. we will pilot a program that does x,y, and z, on implement according to the following timeline), or would you consider proposals that begin by incubating research, then decide on specific pilot projects or research evaluations at a later stage?

Answer 1: a) Yes, the program would cover the establishment of a broader research fund that incubates research and funds more specific experimental and/or non-experimental research work at a later stage. USAID/Morocco has purposefully not included illustrative results and activities in the solicitation to encourage applicants to come up with creative solutions to the socio-economic problems in the MS region and appropriate approaches and activities to ensure ownership and leadership by local institutions, including universities and researchers.

b) We do not expect a fully-fledged outline or timeline of specific activities or projects at the concept note phase. Such details would be requested at the full application phase.

Question 2: Are Concept Notes required to respond to both Objectives and all Sub-Objectives?

Answer 2: Yes, concept notes are required to respond to both objectives and all sub-objectives.USAID/Morocco sees integration of activities under the two objectives as essential to success. It is possible for several organizations with different sets of skills, ideally international and local, to coalesce in order to address the two objectives and all the sub-objectives in an integrated way.

Question 3: Can applicants propose different Sub-Objectives than those set forth in the Notice of

Funding Opportunity (NOFO)?

Answer 3: Yes, USAID/Morocco would welcome that applicants come up with appropriate sub-objectives in addition to the ones set forth in the NOFO. Key evaluation criteria concern the extent to which concept notes respond to each of the solicitation objectives and sub-objectives. Also please refer to USAID’s response to Q1.

Question 4: Should the narrative budget summary provide line items for the elements of each cost category? For example, for the Personnel category, should applicants set forth each position and the cost calculation?

APS Addendum under the existing Science, Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Annual Program Statement (APS No.

Answer 4: a) No, the narrative budget summary should not provide line items for the elements of each cost category. The budget summary narrative should only describe in general the cost category listed in the provided template.

b) The potential applicants do not need to detail each position and the cost calculation at this stage of the funding opportunity.

Question 5: Does USAID/Morocco have any limits or guidance on use and cost of subawards for this opportunity?

Answer 5: USAID/Morocco has no limit or guidance on use and cost of subawards for this opportunity.

Question 6: Does USAID/Morocco have any specific quantitative targets for results under the two objectives in this program?

Answer 6: No. USAID/Morocco has no specific quantitative targets for results under the two objectives and sub-objectives. Quantitative and qualitative targets will, however, be jointly developed with the successful applicants at a later stage.

Question 7: Will only the criteria in the NOFO be used for evaluation, or will the evaluation committee also use the evaluation criteria in the STIP APS?

Answer 7: The eligible Concept Notes will be evaluated by USAID/Morocco according to the evaluation criteria outlined in the APS Addendum only and not the ones listed in the STIP APS.

Question 8: Is there a report from USAID’s engagement workshop that could be provided to applicants?

Answer 8: Yes, a copy of the report is attached. It is noteworthy that some of the regional stakeholders that were engaged in this process as well as some of the priorities that were discussed might have changed since the engagement workshops.

Question 9: The Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC) does not appear to contain all project reports for USAID/Morocco programs. Please provide links to reports for the Civil Society

Strengthening Program (particularly the final report) and FORSATY program (particularly the most recent annual report).

Answer 9: Copies of both reports are attached.

Question 10: Can a prime applicant without NICRA rates submit a concept paper and cost proposal by submitting its audited financial statement and indirect rates reviewed by its CPA?

Answer 10: Yes, a prime applicant without NICRA rates can submit a Concept Note and Cost application by submitting its audited financial statement and indirect rates reviewed by its CPA.

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 2CFR 200.414. The application

APS Addendum under the existing Science, Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Annual Program Statement (APS No.

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 has never received a 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. If chosen, this methodology once elected must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate an indirect rate, which the non-Federal entity may apply to do at any time. The applicant must describe which cost elements it charges indirectly vs. directly. See 2 CFR 200.414(f) for further information.

● Method 4 - Indirect Costs Charged As A Fixed Amount

Eligibility: Non U.S. non-profit organizations without a NICRA may request, but approval is at the discretion of the AO Initial Application Requirements: Provide the proposed fixed amount and a worksheet that includes the following:

● Total costs incurred by the organization for the previous fiscal year and estimates for the current year.

● Indirect costs (common costs that benefit the day-to-day operations of the organization, including categories such as salaries and expenses of executive officers, personnel administration, and accounting, or that benefit and are identifiable to more than one program or activity, such as depreciation, rental costs, operations and maintenance of facilities, and telephone expenses) for the previous fiscal year and estimates for the current year

● Proposed method for prorating the indirect costs equitably and consistently across all programs and activities of using a base that measures the benefits of that particular cost to each program or activity to which the cost applies.

If the applicant does not have an approved NICRA and does not elect to utilize the 10% de minimis rate, the Agreement Officer will provide further instructions and may request additional supporting information, including financial statements and audits, should the application still be under consideration after the merit review. USAID is under no obligation to approve the applicant’s requested method.

Question 11: The APS mentions the release of the USAID/Morocco Country Development and

Cooperation Strategy in December. Will this be made available before the concept paper deadline to inform program design?

APS Addendum under the existing Science, Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Annual Program Statement (APS No.

Answer 11: No, the USAID/Morocco Country Development and Cooperation Strategy will not be available before the Concept Note submission deadline (December 15, 2020). Please note that the

ISED program objectives stated in the APS are aligned closely to the CDCS.

Question 12: The Marrakesh-Safi region represents a cross-section of different socio-economic needs and interests. The APS states up to three awards may be issued. Is USAID amenable to receiving applications that strategically focus on a particular sub-region and/or socio-economic need?

Answer 12: USAID is NOT amenable to receiving applications that strategically focus on only one particular sub-region and/or socio-economic need. The aim of this program is to implement complementary activities using the region’s full potential to enable us to achieve the program’s expected results and outcomes. USAID encourages that applicants propose approaches that achieve all objectives including through the formation of consortia bringing together the diverse expertise needed to ensure an improved socio-economic inclusion and a more participatory governance. If applications from different organizations with strong approaches to different objectives or socio-economic needs have been retained from the concept note phase, the co-creation phase might be a good opportunity for these organizations to work together, to re-compose consortia in order to come up with integrated approaches in addressing the two objectives at the full proposal phase. Also see USAID’s response to Q1.

Question 13: Would USAID be open to grants to local organizations under Objective 1? And, would USAID be open to matching funding to local businesses under Objective 2?

Answer 13: Yes, USAID/Morocco would be open to grants to local organizations under Objective

1 and would be open to matching funding to local businesses under Objective 2.