Q and A week of April 27 and May 3 McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress.pdf

Responses to McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress Questions regarding Standing Supplemental NOFOs

Questions received April 22 to May 8, 2020

McGovern-Dole

1. Will USDA / U.S. Local Missions engage with Host Country governments, alongside partners, in pivoting programming to support program objectives in light of COVID-19 school closures?

A: USDA expects current McGovern-Dole implementing partner to be pro-active in working with their USDA Program Analyst, FAS overseas Posts, and U.S. missions to coordinate their COVID-19 responses with all project stakeholders, including host-country governments and development partners, within the parameters of the current agreements. Implementing partners must seek approval from USDA to amend the agreement for significant changes in activities or the pivoting of programming from what was agreed to under Attachment A of program agreements.

2. Does USDA have recommendations for Partners on prioritizing responses under this

Standing Supplemental NOFO to critical literacy, nutritional and health/hygiene needs of target communities in light of COVID-19 impacts?

A: USDA expects all current McGovern-Dole implementing partners to continually assess the progress of the project activities against indicator targets and whether there is a justifiable need to amend. The Standing Supplemental NOFO is essentially an administrative tool USDA can use, when funding available, to amend existing agreements to add funding.

3. Does this Standing NOFO impact FY20 NOFO funding for anticipated new awards?

A: No, the Standing Supplemental NOFO does not impact anticipated FY 20 funding for new awards.

4. Can an existing implementer re-purpose existing Title II commodities already in country, during the current period of school closures, to pivot to Take-home rations (THR)?

A: Yes, current McGovern-Dole implementing partners may distribute U.S. donated commodities as Take Home Rations in order to minimize spoilage and commodity loss, and in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, they must work through their USDA Program Analyst in order to gain pre-approval for distribution of THR.

5. Can a current implementer use the new Standing NOFO amendment budget to “re-stock” those re-purposed commodities for THR when schools re-open?

A: Yes, the Standing Supplemental NOFO would be the administrative tool used to add commodities, such as for the “re-stocking” commodities that had been used for THR in the COVID-19 response. However, this will be considered on a case-by-case basis and current McGovern-Dole implementing partners should work with their current USDA Program Analyst to discuss this option.

6. Pivoting to THR carries with it additional costs related to packaging and distribution. Can existing project funds be used for this purpose, and be replenished with additional funding from the Standing NOFO?

A: Yes, the Standing Supplemental NOFO would be the administrative tool used to provide additional funding, such as for covering additional costs associated with repacking and distributing THR. However, this will be considered on a case-by-case basis and current McGovern-Dole implementing partners should discuss this with their current USDA Program Analyst.

7. Given the closure of schools, can an implementer with existing literacy budget use additional budget to support children’s reading practice remotely? (This may mean tapping into existing distance education programming of the government, partnering with an organization doing some remote learning or creating a new remote learning component implemented by the implementer.)

A: Yes, the Standing Supplemental NOFO would be the administrative tool used to provide additional funding, such as to support distance learning during the closure of schools. However, this will be considered on a case-by-case basis and current McGovern-Dole implementing partners should discuss this with their current USDA Program Analyst.

8. Can an implementer submit under this NOFO before the Aug. 1st deadline? How quickly will

USDA be able to issue approvals to start?

A: Yes, an implementer can submit an application for an amendment request under the FY 2020 Standing Supplemental NOFO before Aug. 1, 2020. No submissions will be accepted under this FY20 Standing NOFO after Aug. 1. All McGovern-Dole formal amendment requests must be discussed with the USDA Program Analysts before a current implementing partner is invited to apply to the Standing Supplemental NOFO. USDA approvals will be issued within one month of the formal MGDAmendments@usda.gov submission under the FY 2020 Standing Supplemental

NOFO.

9. What is the expectation on the timing of release of funding under this NOFO? Are there advantages to submitting early?

A: The Standing Supplemental NOFO is essentially an administrative tool USDA can use, when funding available, to amend existing agreements to add funding. Therefore, the additional funding will be available only after the amendmen is signed by both the implementing partner mailto:MGDAmendments@usda.gov and USDA. The timing of the amendment request (early or up until Aug. 1 of this year) is dependent on the project needs, and thus project-driven.

10. Can an implementer utilize this additional funding to expand to incorporate additional schools within the McGovern-Dole targeted regions?

A: Current McGovern-Dole implementing partners are expected to stay within the scope of the agreement and approved project design to include targeted regions and schools. Strong justification would need to be provided to USDA for expanding the scope of an agreement, such as the addition of schools, and should be discussed with the current McGovern-Dole analyst.

11. Can an implementer utilize this additional funding to improve school infrastructure and

WASH infrastructure?

A: Yes, the Standing Supplemental NOFO would be the administrative tool used to provide additional funding, such as to improve school infrastructure and WASH infrastructure, if this activity was in the initial project scope or strong justification is provided. These requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and current McGovern-Dole implementing partners should discuss this with their current USDA Program Analyst.

12. Can an implementer utilize this additional funding to fill staffing gaps in the current grant?

A: Yes, the Standing Supplemental NOFO would be the administrative tool used to provide additional funding, such as to fill staffing gaps in the current agreement if it is within the scope of the proposed and approved amendment. These requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and as with any amendment, justification would need to be provided to USDA for this proposed budget realignment and this must be done in consultation with the relevant USDA Program Analyst.

13. We are interested in applying for the above program however, we have not been previously awarded any grant. Is there a possibility that we can be accepted on the program and how would we go about it?

A: Under the Standing Supplemental NOFO, only existing McGovern-Dole implementers are eligible to apply. There are opportunities for new applicants to apply under the soon-to-be-released announcement in grants.gov for the FY 2020 McGovern-Dole Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

14. Is the FY 2020 McGovern Dole Standing Notice of Funding Opportunity the only funding that will be made available for FY 2020 for McGovern-Dole programming?

A: No. The FY 2020 Standing Supplemental McGovern-Dole NOFO is distinct from the FY 2020 McGovern-Dole NOFO for new awards. The latter is pending publication. Further, as seen under the Standing NOFO, no FY2020 McGovern-Dole funds would be used and does not have an impact on the FY 2020 funding allocation for new McGovern-Dole awards.

15. Is the Standing Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity only applicable to countries on

USDA’s FY20 Priority List?

A: No. The FY2020 Standing Supplemental NOFO is distinct from the FY2020 McGovern-Dole NOFO for new awards, and therefore distinct from the FY20 McGovern-Dole priority list for new awards. Under the Supplemental NOFO, there has been no change in any existing practices or policies within USDA’s food assistance programs, and implementing partners for active/current projects from any country could be invited to apply by IFAD based once a determination that the circumstances warrant the amendment has been made.

16. Are USDA implementing partners with existing cooperative agreements in countries that are not on the FY 2020 Priority List eligible to apply for this available funding in other countries (where they do not have a cooperative agreement)?

A: Please see response above. The FY2020 Standing Supplemental NOFO is distinct from the FY2020 McGovern-Dole NOFO for new awards, and therefore distinct from the FY20 McGovern- Dole priority list for new awards. Under the Supplemental NOFO, there has been no change in any existing practices or policies within USDA’s food assistance programs, and implementing partners for active/current projects from any country could be invited to apply by IFAD based once a determination that the circumstances warrant the amendment has been made.

17. Where does/will the source of funding for the Standing Supplemental NOFO USDA-FAS-

0700-10.608-S come from?

A: Please see the appropriation authority section of the Standing Supplemental NOFO. The funding appropriation for McGovern-Dole is “no year”, and therefore allows the McGovern-Dole Program to carry over unobligated funds from previous fiscal years.

18. Please confirm that the Standing Supplemental NOFO will not displace funding for the FY20

McGovern-Dole NOFO. Please confirm that the funding level for the FY20 McGovern-Dole NOFO will remain at previously appropriated levels.

A: See response above. The Standing Supplemental NOFO does not displace the FY20 McGovern-Dole funding appropriation and funding levels for FY 2020 remain the same.

19. Does USDA have additional programming requests or is this supplemental programming intended solely to continue McGovern-Dole implementing partners’ feeding levels and activities from their current agreements?

A: The Standing Supplemental NOFO was created to provide the administrative tool for expanded transparency on the amendment process for active/current projects. USDA seeks to address the needs identified in existing projects to add commodity, freight, and/or administrative funds when circumstances warrant the action. As noted in the NOFO, eligible applicants (I.e. those implementing partners with active/current projects) will be contacted directly by the International Food Assistance Division (IFAD) to apply to this Standing Supplemental NOFO once a determination that the circumstances warrant the amendment of active/current projects has been made. Under the Standing Supplemental NOFO, there has been no change in any existing practices or policies within USDA’s food assistance programs.

20. In countries where there is more than one implementer and where both partners intend to respond to this NOFO, does USDA encourage coordination among partners in order to harmonize commodity requests and freight logistics?

A: USDA always encourages coordination among partners that are operating on the ground together. However, if each implementing partner identified a need for additional funds, they must work with their USDA Program Analyst and they will be invited to apply to the Standing Supplemental NOFO individually. Please note that, implementing partners are encouraged to coordinate call-forward requests.

21. Will/can USDA review and respond to submissions to this Standing Supplemental NOFO earlier than 30 September?

A: As noted in the Standing Supplemental NOFO, eligible applicants (I.e. those implementing partners with active/current projects) will be contacted directly by the International Food Assistance Division (IFAD) to apply to this Standing Supplemental NOFO once a determination that the circumstances warrant the amendment of active/current projects has been made.

Applicants that respond to the Standing Supplemental NOFO without prior approval from IFAD will not be considered. Subject to the availability of funding, invitations to apply will be sent out periodically between now and July 2020. The deadline for submissions on the FY2020 Standing Supplemental NOFOs is August 1, 2020. Under this NOFO, the USDA will not consider amendments requesting supplemental funding after this date. This deadline provides USDA with sufficient time to process the amendments ahead of the end of the FY2020 fiscal year (September 30, 2020). Please note that moving forward and subject to funding availability, USDA intends to issue future Standing Supplemental NOFO at the beginning of each FY as an ongoing administrative tool for expanded transparency of our current programming.

22. Does USDA anticipate releasing a second McGovern-Dole NOFO during the FY2020 window?

This NOFO is considered a “standing supplement” to existing McGovern-Dole partners. Does USDA expect to release a standard cooperative agreement, as in past cycles, for new award cycles in new or existing countries? cycles in new or existing countries?

A: Note that both the McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress NOFO posted Wednesday April 22, are “Standing Supplemental” NOFOs, and distinct from the FY2020 McGovern-Dole and FY2020 Food for Progress NOFO for new awards, which are yet to be published. The Standing

Supplemental NOFO has no impact on the FY2020 McGovern-Dole funding amount intended for new awards. If you have any further questions on the Standing Supplemental NOFO, please submit these to MGDAmendments@usda.gov.

23. Another question based on seeing both the Standing Supplemental and Food for Progress

NOFOs is the extended timeline for submission. Does USDA anticipate following a similar timeline for the FY2020 New McGovern Dole application process?

A: All submissions to USDA under existing agreements must be made prior to Aug. 1, 2020 per the Standing Supplemental NOFO language. As noted above, the Standing Supplemental NOFO is distinct from the FY 2020 McGovern-Dole NOFO, which will have its own timeline.

24. Does USDA anticipate releasing a second McGovern-Dole NOFO during the FY2020 window?

This NOFO is considered a “standing supplement” to existing McGovern-Dole partners. Does USDA expect to release a standard cooperative agreement, as in past cycles, for new award cycles in new or existing countries?

A: The FY2020 Standing Supplemental NOFO is distinct from the FY2020 McGovern-Dole NOFO for new awards. The FY2020 McGovern-Dole NOFOs will be a separate announcement, soon-to-be published on both Grants.gov and the FAIS Homepage.

25. Can an implementing partner apply for additional funding for a LRP agreement through the

McGovern-Dole standing NOFO?

A: No. Only active McGovern-Dole agreements may receive supplemental funding through the McGovern-Dole Standing Supplemental NOFO.

Food for Progress

1. Does this Standing Supplemental NOFO replace the 2020 annual FFPr NOFO? If no, when might we expect the 2020 annual FFPr NOFO to be published?

A: No, the FY2020 Standing Supplemental NOFOs are distinct from the FY2020 McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress NOFOs for new awards. The FY2020 McGovern-Dole and FY 2020 Food for Progress NOFOs will be a separate announcement, published on both Grants.gov and the FAIS Homepage.

2. The Projected Period of Performance is listed as “applicable to base award”. Is it possible to apply for this supplemental funding and a project extension?

A: Supplemental funding and an extension to the project period of performance will not be considered within the same amendment request.

mailto:MGDAmendments@usda.gov

3. Can we apply before the project has completed all rounds of monetization?

A: Each projects’ circumstances are unique. Applicants must work with their program analyst to determine if the circumstances warrant an amendment.

4. Is this type of funding expected to continue in the future? If so, can we apply more than once during the life of the project?

A: The Supplemental NOFO was created to provide the administrative tool for expanded transparency on the amendment process for active/current projects. USDA seeks to address the needs identified in existing projects to add commodity, freight, and/or administrative funds when circumstances warrant the action. Moving forward and subject to funding availability, USDA intends to issue future Standing Supplemental NOFOs at the beginning of each FY as an ongoing administrative tool for expanded transparency of our current programming. Applicants must work with their program analyst to determine if the circumstances warrant an amendment and must be invited by IFAD to apply to the Standing NOFO.

5. Does FAS prefer that we list all factors that contributed to a funding shortfall as the reason for the request (e.g. low monetization revenue + COVID-19) or choose only one?

A: Applicants invited by IFAD to submit a proposal under the Standing NOFO will work with their program analyst to determine what information is needed in the proposal.

6. Will USDA hold a virtual listening session with external stakeholders to provide clarity?

A: Yes, USDA is planning to hold a public virtual listening session for external stakeholders to provide clarity on both the Supplemental NOFO and the FY2020 Food Assistance NOFOs, shortly following the latter’s publication.

7. Please provide clarity on the Other Submission Requirements and Information section – does this mean that we need an invitation to submit?

a. “Eligible applicants will be contacted directly by the International Food Assistance Division

(IFAD) if funding is available. Applicants that respond to this solicitation without prior approval from IFAD will not be considered.”

A: Correct. Applicants must be invited by IFAD to submit an application.

8. Will the FY2020 Food for Progress Standing Notice of Funding Opportunity have an impact on amendments to existing Food for Progress programs currently being processed by USDA? Should PVOs integrate the new standing NOFO into amendments/modifications in process, or will the Standing NOFOs be separate regardless of any amendments in progress?

A: The issuance of the FY2020 Food for Progress Standing Notice of Funding Opportunity will not have a negative impact on amendments currently in process. Supplemental amendments already in clearance will continue on through the clearance process. PVOs should not integrate the new standing NOFO into amendments requests unless they are contacted directly by IFAD and invited to submit a proposal under the Standing NOFO.