72016521RFA00004 - P4G.pdf

Issue Date: January 22, 2021 Deadline for Questions: February 15, 2021 Closing Date: March 8, 2021 Closing Time: 4pm Skopje Time

Subject: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Number: 72016521RFA00004

Program Title: Partnerships for Giving Activity

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 89.001

Ladies/Gentlemen:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the Partnerships for Giving Activity. Eligibility for this award is restricted to local entities.

USAID intends to make an award to the applicant(s) who best meets the objectives of this funding opportunity based on the merit review criteria described in this NOFO subject to a risk assessment. Eligible parties interested in submitting an application are encouraged to read this NOFO thoroughly to understand the type of program sought, application submission requirements and selection process.

To be eligible for award, the applicant must provide all information as required in this NOFO and meet eligibility standards in Section C of this NOFO. This funding opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov, and may be amended. It is the responsibility of the applicant to regularly check the website to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this notice of funding opportunity and to ensure that the NOFO has been received from the internet in its entirety. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion process. If you have difficulty registering on www.grants.gov or accessing the NOFO, please contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at support@grants.gov for technical assistance.

USAID may not award to an applicant unless the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) requirements detailed in Section D.6.f. The registration process may take many weeks to complete. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to begin registration early in the process.

Please send any questions to the point(s) of contact identified in Section D. The deadline for questions is shown above. Responses to questions received prior to the deadline will be furnished to all potential applicants through an amendment to this notice posted to www.grants.gov.

http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov

Issuance of this notice of funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in preparation or submission of comments/suggestions or an application. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.

Thank you for your interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, Patricia Siaso Agreement Officer

Notice of Funding Opportunity: 72016521RFA00004

SECTION A: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 4

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION 11

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 13

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 15

SECTION E: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 30

SECTION F: FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 32

SECTION G: FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT(S) 34

SECTION H: OTHER INFORMATION 35

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 36

Annex 1 – Summary Budget Template 36

Annex 2 - SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance 36

Annex 3 - Instructions for SF-424 36

Annex 4 - SF-424 A Budget Information 36

Annex 5 - Instructions for SF-424A 36

Annex 6 - SF-424 B Assurances (Non-construction Programs) 36

Annex 7 - Instructions for SF-424B 36

Annex 8 - Standard Provisions 36

Annex 9 - Abbreviations and Acronyms 39

SECTION A: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This funding opportunity is authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961, as amended. The resulting award will be subject to 2 CFR 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, and USAID’s supplement, 2 CFR 700, as well as the additional requirements found in Section F.

A.l INTRODUCTION

USAID is changing the way it does business to support our partner countries’ ability to finance their own journeys to self-reliance. The approach, called Financing Self-Reliance (FSR), builds on the premise that meeting a country’s financing needs requires coordinated action by the public sector, private sector, civil society, and individual citizens. Holistic financing solutions that involve all of these actors can fuel growth and catalyze greater self-reliance. Through this new Partnerships for Giving activity, USAID seeks to support philanthropy as one important tool to expand FSR in North Macedonia by increasing levels of giving by companies, communities, and private individuals to support solutions to development challenges for greater self-reliance. USAID seeks to engage a local partner to:

1) create an enabling environment for philanthropic giving using legal and tax frameworks to reward corporate, community, and individual philanthropy of entities both present in the country and from the country’s diaspora; 2) increase levels of philanthropic funding raised by local stakeholders from companies, communities, and individuals for development activities;

3) support companies to develop corporate philanthropy strategies and operational plans to implement them; and 4) catalyze the establishment of sustainable fund-raising platforms and tools that can easily be upscaled in times of emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

A.2 BACKGROUND

According to international and local data, North Macedonia has great potential to expand philanthropy. The 2018 Charity Aid Foundation’s (CAF) World Giving Index ranked North Macedonia 70th on the index of people donating money. Their data clearly indicated the high levels of individual giving that exist in the country.

The potential that philanthropy can be further attested through research conducted by the regional organization Catalyst Balkans based in Belgrade, Serbia that tracks philanthropy in the Balkan region. Their Annual Report on the State of Philanthropy for 2018 for North Macedonia indicates that approximately 2 million EUR had been donated in the country in 2018, and that the largest donor in terms of donation instances in the country were its citizens (46.1%) followed by companies (40.4%) and individuals (7.4%) .

Previous country-specific research on corporate philanthropy conducted by the Macedonian organization Konekt in 2014 found that 91% of companies that received requests for donations went on to make donations, while 71.2% of companies that did not receive requests did not donate. Based on the data collected, Konekt concluded that receiving solicitations was the single main factor behind corporate donations was receiving solicitations.1 Konekt’s

1http://konekt.org.mk/newsite/wp-content/themes/Konekt/pdf/istrazuvanje-na-stavovite-navikite-i-praktikite-za-pribiranje-res ursi.pdf http://konekt.org.mk/newsite/wp-content/themes/Konekt/pdf/istrazuvanje-na-stavovite-navikite-i-praktikite-za-pribiranje-resursi.pdf http://konekt.org.mk/newsite/wp-content/themes/Konekt/pdf/istrazuvanje-na-stavovite-navikite-i-praktikite-za-pribiranje-resursi.pdf research also found that most requests to companies came from individuals, followed by sports’ clubs, cultural institutions, and religious organizations. Civic Society Organizations (CSOs)2 and local governments were not very active in requesting donations. Furthermore, two thirds of surveyed CSOs did not consider the private sector a viable source of funding, and only a fifth of companies indicated they had received requests for donations from CSOs.

Another issue worth noting is the level of trust the private sector has in CSOs. Namely, one third of the surveyed companies indicated they trust CSOs, another third said they did not trust them, and the remaining third were not sure if they did. Yet, two thirds of the companies believed the private sector should fund community development initiatives.

During a 2019 workshop on the current state of corporate and individual philanthropy in North Macedonia organized by USAID, participants emphasized several major legal, institutional, and cultural factors that dampened donations and sponsorships. Private sector representatives indicated that under the current tax framework, companies have a difficult time seeking tax deductions for any donations. The process is burdensome, excessively bureaucratic, and particularly overwhelming for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Private sector representatives confirmed that CSOs do not approach companies, and when they do submit solicitations, these are poorly structured as they are written in language appropriate for international donor organizations rather than domestic businesses.

Lastly, many companies, particularly MSMEs, give much to communities, but lack a structure to embed a culture of giving, a philanthropy strategy, and an associated action plan.

In other USAID-sponsored workshops in 2019, CSO representatives recognized their lack of knowledge and use of IT tools for fund-raising, such as crowdfunding, block-chain, etc. They also acknowledged that they do not often reach out to companies for financial or logistical support. They shared observations that citizen-giving to CSOs is low and cited low levels of public awareness of CSOs and their mission and activities. This was further confirmed via USAID North Macedonia’s 2019 Democracy and Governance Survey, which found that almost a third of the respondents reported they were informed about the activities of NGOs in their municipalities, while almost two-thirds of respondents do not have reliable information about NGO activities in their municipalities and communities i.e. the survey reported a relatively stable base of 30% to 40% of citizens who felt they were informed about the civic sector and their activities. Findings suggest that NGOs and CSOs should improve their communication and presentation of their activities in local communities, especially in the context of (social) media development and the existence of various digital platforms that could significantly improve interaction with citizens.

Related USAID-hosted focus group discussions conducted during the preparation of USAID North Macedonia’s Country Development and Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) for the period

2 UN Reporting Guidelines define Civic Society Organizations (CSOs) as “Non-State, not-for-profit, voluntary entities formed by people in the social sphere that are separate from the State and the market. CSOs represent a wide range of interests and ties. They can include community-based organizations as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In the context of the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework, CSOs do not include business or for-profit associations”.

Available at CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS (CSOS) On the other hand, the Macedonian Law for Associations and Foundations covers [citizen] associations, foundations, unions [as in Union of the Blind, etc.] and branch offices of foreign organizations that are defined as Citizen Associations. The Law clarifies that Citizen Association while it does not cover political parties, churches, religious communities/organizations and groups, labor unions, and chambers of commerce.

Available at ЗАКОН ЗА ЗДРУЖЕНИЈА И ФОНДАЦИИ https://www.ungpreporting.org/glossary/civil-society-organizations-csos/ https://rcgo.mk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Zakon-za-zdruzhenija-i-fondacii.pdf

2020 - 2025 highlighted apathy among citizens that contributions did not result in change.

Participants also noted reports of corruption within some CSOs was a deterrent to wider public support. Low levels of giving to CSOs were also confirmed by the aforementioned USAID North Macedonia’s 2019 Democracy and Governance Survey, which found that only 9% of citizens donated money to NGOs, 13% donated goods to help people in need, 7% participated in events organized by these organizations, 5% participated in online activities for the needs of these organizations, and 4% volunteered.

A.3 STRATEGIC FOUNDATION AND DEVELOPMENT HYPOTHESIS

The Partnerships for Giving activity aims to support philanthropy as one important tool to expand FSR in North Macedonia, by increasing levels of giving by companies, communities, and private individuals to support solutions to development challenges to greater self-reliance. USAID seeks to engage a local partner to: 1) ) create an enabling environment for philanthropic giving using legal and tax frameworks to reward corporate, community, and individual philanthropy; 2) increase levels of philanthropic funding raised by local stakeholders from companies, communities, and individuals for development activities; 3) support companies to develop corporate philanthropy strategies and operational plans to implement them; and 4) catalyze the establishment of sustainable fund-raising platforms and tools.

The Partnerships for Giving activity is based on the understanding that IF there is an enabling and stimulating environment that rewards giving, IF local stakeholders are able to raise higher levels of funding from companies, communities, and individuals, IF private sector companies develop corporate philanthropy strategies and operational plans, IF sustainable fund-raising platforms and tools are operational, THEN philanthropy in North Macedonia will increase. To achieve the activity’s overall goal, the Partnerships for Giving activity (P4G) has four mutually reinforcing objectives as seen in the below results framework:

Results Framework

A.4 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The goal of the Partnerships for Giving will be achieved through four mutually reinforcing objectives.

Objective 1: Legal and tax frameworks reward corporate, community, and individual philanthropy P4G will work with government institutions to strengthen implementation of reforms that will not only reduce the burden for companies, communities, and individuals in the country and from the country’s diaspora to provide financial donations, but also stimulate giving by enabling them to apply for and receive various tax incentives or other types of recognition and non-monetary rewards when they donate resources for development initiatives.

Expected Results:

a) Improved regulatory framework for corporate, community, and individual philanthropy established.

b) Simplified procedures for individual, community, and corporate philanthropy function smoothly.

c) Enhanced capacity of relevant government ministries, the Public Revenues Office, chambers of commerce, private sector companies, and recipients of donations to implement the new legislation.

Illustrative Indicators:

- Increased satisfaction of stakeholders giving and receiving philanthropic donations with the legal and institutional support for philanthropy

- # of entities with improved capacity to implement legislation and regulations governing philanthropy

Objective 2: Increased levels of philanthropic funding raised from companies, communities, and individuals for development activities P4G will work with participating stakeholders to strengthen their commitment to philanthropic giving and to build their capacity to use it for their development activities.

Expected Results:

a) Potential recipients of philanthropic giving use a variety of approaches for securing donations.

b) Improved quality of requests for donations and sponsorship submitted to the private sector (potentially also to publicly owned companies).

c) Increased levels of funding for development activities that promote greater self-reliance raised from the public and private sectors.

Illustrative Indicators:

- Number of requests for donations submitted increases from previous year

- Amount of private and public sector funding raised for development activities increases

- Percentage change from the previous year in the amount of private and public sector funding raised for development activities

Objective 3: Companies develop corporate philanthropy strategies and operational plans to implement them To help companies develop thoughtful mid- and long-term plans for philanthropy, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies, rather than responding only to ad hoc requests, P4G will work with the private sector to help companies formulate and act on strategies to support development challenges to greater self-reliance.

Expected results:

a) Increased use of philanthropy and CSR strategic approaches by companies

b) Increased engagement of the private sector in development through philanthropic giving and CSR

Illustrative Indicators:

- Number of companies with new or updated philanthropy and/or CSR strategies

- Number of companies acting on an operational plan to implement their philanthropic/CSR strategies

- Percentage change in the number of donation requests received by companies

- Percentage change in the amount of funds donated by companies

Objective 4: Sustainable fund-raising platforms and tools are established Recognizing the importance of having a fully functioning system that would facilitate the implementation of improved legislation for personal, community, and corporate philanthropy, the P4G must create platforms and other tools that leverage new technologies and social media by either enhancing existing or establishing new platforms for giving, and increasing their use in order to raise funds from the private sector and individuals. The use of these systems will enable greater transparency and monitoring/tracking of the effectiveness of donations towards increased community self-reliance. These platforms and tools should function permanently, but have the capacity to be quickly upscaled during emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expected results:

a) Functioning crowdfunding or other types of platforms for fund-raising

b) Increased transparency of donations through use od digital platforms and systems

c) Percentage increase in the number of donors and recipients with digital systems to request and/or offer donations

Illustrative indicators:

- Amount of funds raised through crowdfunding or other fundraising platforms

- Percentage change in donation requests being made through digital systems

A.5 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Partnerships for Giving must adhere to the following principles:

1. P4G must build capacity and help catalyze, facilitate, and leverage corporate, community, and individual philanthropy, but will not finance development activities, either directly or indirectly, in part or in total.

2. P4G must align with USAID’s Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR) framework and the principles under the FSR to the maximum extent possible and promote the sustainability of activities and results, particularly any policy reforms and systems.

3. P4G must be results-oriented and foster effective partnerships that will last beyond USAID’s engagement; sustainability of results and continuation of effective interventions are key.

4. P4G must leverage existing resources, if they exist, to help achieve results.

A.6 CORE TEAM, KEY PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES

This activity includes one required key personnel position, a Project Director. The Project Director (PD) is responsible for overall management, oversight, implementation, and reporting in accordance with the award and approved work plans. S/he will ensure adherence to USAID's J2SR principles to the maximum extent possible.

S/he must possess the following experience and qualifications, verifiable from his/her CV.

(maximum 4 pages per CV).

● S/he must have experience in managing activities focusing on promoting philanthropic financing among the private sector, civic society organizations, and communities, as well as with Corporate Social Responsibility, Companies Doing Good/Social Impact, or similar.

● The PD must have at least seven years of experience leading complex projects, and managing a team of senior subject matter specialists.

● S/he must also proven ability to coordinate a broad and diverse set of stakeholders while maintaining effective working relationships with government officials, public agencies, private sector companies, CSOs, members of academia, and other development partners.

The proposed core project team should also include seasoned subject matter experts who have adequate experience and qualifications to successfully carry out the work and achieve the expected results listed in the RFA under the four project objectives i.e. (1) creating an enabling environment for philanthropic giving using legal and tax frameworks to reward corporate, community, and individual philanthropy of entities both present in the country and from the country’s diaspora; (2) increasing levels of philanthropic funding raised by local stakeholders from companies, communities, and individuals for development activities; (3) supporting companies to develop corporate philanthropy strategies and operational plans to implement them; and (4) catalyzing the establishment of sustainable fund-raising platforms and tools that can easily be upscaled in times of emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

A.7 MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND LEARNING

P4G will adopt adaptive approaches to achieving the objectives, for example by being informed through ongoing contextual analyses. P4G will continually assess the effectiveness of the interventions, evaluate whether those interventions are succeeding, apply lessons learned, and adapt work appropriately. Significant shifts within the country context may require the adaptation of approaches and desired results, including ways in which progress is assessed. P4G will regularly and at least bi-annually assess its progress and whether assumptions continue to hold, keeping abreast of new developments that may create challenges or windows of opportunity. Milestones that will indicate the activity is successful will be established on an annual basis.

P4G will establish in the first 90 days a project performance monitoring, evaluation and learning plan (MELP) that incorporates an Adaptive Management approach. The MELP will outline the systematic process of collecting and analyzing performance data and other information to track progress toward planned results and to proactively learn and adapt for future interventions. Implementation of the MELP will be based on baseline data that is determined in the first year, and it will be informed by periodic assessments that track changes in individual, corporate, and community philanthropy.

A.8 GENDER CONSIDERATIONS

In line with the USAID Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy of March 2012, which aims to reduce gender disparities and increase the capacity of girls and women to realize their rights and determine their life outcomes, P4G will utilize a gender-sensitive approach throughout its implementation. The activity will ensure that the role of women and girls is recognized and enhanced in its interventions, e.g. by partnering with private businesses owned and led by women. When gender gaps arise, they will be addressed by ensuring that both women and men, and girls and boys, benefit from P4G. P4G will be inclusive and represent the interests of both women and men and girls and boys.

End of Section A

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated

USAID intends to award one Cooperative Agreement award pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide $750,000 in total USAID funding over a four-year period.

2. Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards

The anticipated period of performance is four years. The estimated start date will be the end of May 2021.

3. Substantial Involvement

The anticipated substantial involvement is defined by the following elements and will be described in detail at the time of award:

A. Approval of the Recipient's Implementation Plans (Annual Work Plan, and Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan)

B. Approval of Specified Key Personnel. Key Personnel positions will be identified and stated in the award. The Recipient shall request prior approval from the USAID Agreement Officer for the replacement of key personnel or changes in the key personnel positions

C. Review and approval of substantive provisions of proposed subawards or contracts

D. Agency and Recipient Collaboration or Joint Participation such as when the recipient’s successful accomplishment of program objectives would benefit from USAID’s technical knowledge

E. Per 2 CFR 200.308, the Recipient is required to obtain the Agreement Officer’s prior approval for any sub-award, including external consultant’s services, transfer or contracting out of any work under the Agreement that was not specifically included in the final revised application budget submitted by the Recipient

4. Authorized Geographic Code

The geographic code for the procurement of commodities and services under this program is 937, comprised of the United States, the recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, but excluding any country that is a prohibited source.

5. Nature of the Relationship Between USAID and the Recipient

The principal purpose of the relationship with the Recipient and under the subject program is to transfer funds to accomplish a public purpose to increase levels of giving by private individuals, companies, and communities for development initiatives which is authorized by Federal Statute. This objective would be best achieved utilizing an assistance mechanism awarded through a full and open competition to a local organization with a core mission, experience, and technical expertise in the area of philanthropy. Using this approach will ensure commitment, ownership, and full alignment with USAID's Journey to Self-Reliance principles.

The successful Recipient will be responsible for ensuring the achievement of the program objectives and the efficient and effective administration of the award through the application of sound management practices. The Recipient will assume responsibility for administering Federal funds in a manner consistent with underlying agreements, program objectives, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award.

6. Title to and Use of Property

Property title under the resultant agreement shall vest with the recipient in accordance with the requirements of the standard provision M7. TITLE TO AND USE OF PROPERTY (DECEMBER 2014).

End of Section B

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligibility for applications in response to this NOFO is restricted to local entities. Given the Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR) lens, local full and open competition is foreseen to ensure local ownership for sustained philanthropic giving. Using this approach will ensure commitment, ownership, and full alignment with USAID's J2SR principles.

Only local organizations as defined below are eligible for award. USAID defines a “local entity” as an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that:

• is legally organized under the laws of North Macedonia

• has its principal place of business or operations in North Macedonia

• is majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of North

Macedonia

• is managed by a governing body, the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of North Macedonia

Entities that do not meet the above-listed “local” criteria will be considered ineligible to participate in the award process.

For purposes of this section, ‘majority owned’ and ‘managed by’ include, without limitation, beneficiary interests and the power, either directly or indirectly, whether exercised or exercisable, to control the election, appointment, or tenure of the organization's managers or a majority of the organization's governing body by any means.

In addition, awardees cannot have received more than $5 million from USAID over the last five years.

These eligibility requirements apply to only the principal applicant.

USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

There is no cost share requirement under this notice of funding opportunity.

3. Other

a) An applicant may submit only one application as a prime under this notice of funding opportunity.

b) Applicants must have established financial management, monitoring and evaluation processes, internal control systems, and policies and procedures that comply with established U.S. Government standards, laws, and regulations. The successful applicant(s) will be subject to a responsibility determination assessment (Pre-award

Survey) by the Agreement Officer. The applicant’s accounting and procurement systems, audit issues, and management capability may be reviewed as part of this process.

If notified by USAID that a pre-award survey is necessary, applicants must prepare in advance the required information and documents. Prospective NGO applicants should refer to ADS Chapter 303.3.9.1 for additional information about pre-award surveys. A pre-award survey does not commit USAID to make an award to any entity.

End of Section C

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Agency Point of Contact

Rade Knezevic Acquisition and Assistance Specialists Email: rknezevic@usaid.gov

Florentin Emini Acquisition and Assistance Specialist Email: femini@usaid.gov

In order to maintain a fair and transparent funding opportunity, USAID maintains strict guidelines on who within USAID may be contacted regarding applications or questions about the opportunity. Applicants may only contact USAID via the email address provided in this NOFO. Failure to comply with the USAID points of contact guidance mandated in the NOFO may disqualify the Applicant(s).

2. Questions and Answers

Questions regarding this NOFO should be submitted via email to rknezevic@usaid.gov and femini@usaid.gov, no later than the date and time indicated on the cover letter, as amended.

Any information given to a prospective applicant concerning this NOFO will be furnished promptly to all other prospective applicants as an amendment to this NOFO, if that information is necessary in submitting applications or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to any other prospective applicant.

3. General Content and Form of Application

Each applicant must furnish the information required by this NOFO. Applications must be submitted in two separate parts: the Technical Application and the Business (Cost) Application. This subsection addresses general content requirements applying to the full application. Please see subsections 5 and 6, below, for information on the content specific to the Technical and Business (Cost) applications. The Technical application must address technical aspects only while the Business (Cost) Application must present the costs, and address risk and other related issues.

Both the Technical and Business (Cost) Applications must include a cover page containing the following information:

● Name of the organization(s) submitting the application;

● Identification and signature of the primary contact person (by name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone number and email address) and the identification of the alternate contact person (by name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone number and email address);

● Program name (Partnership for Giving)

● Notice of Funding Opportunity number 72016521RFA00004 mailto:rknezevic@usaid.gov mailto:femini@usaid.gov mailto:rknezevic@usaid.gov mailto:femini@usaid.gov

● Name of any proposed sub-recipients or partnerships (identify if any of the organizations are local organizations, per USAID’s definition of ‘local entity’ under ADS 303 and as defined in section C.1.

Any erasures or other changes to the application must be initialed by the person signing the application. Applications signed by an agent on behalf of the applicant must be accompanied by evidence of that agent’s authority, unless that evidence has been previously furnished to the issuing office.

Applicants may choose to submit a cover letter in addition to the cover pages, but it will serve only as a transmittal letter to the Agreement Officer. The cover letter will not be reviewed as part of the merit review criteria.

Applications must comply with the following:

● Written in English

● Use standard 8 ½” x 11” (A4), 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.

● 10 point font can be used for graphs and charts. Tables, however, must comply with the 12-point Times New Roman requirement.

● Submitted via Microsoft Word or PDF formats, except budget files which must be submitted in Microsoft Excel.

● The estimated start date identified in Section B of this NOFO must be used in the cost application.

● The technical application must be a searchable and editable Word or PDF format as appropriate.

● The Cost Schedule must include an Excel spreadsheet with all cells unlocked and no hidden formulas or sheets. A PDF version of the Excel spreadsheet may be submitted in addition to the Excel version at the applicant’s discretion, however, the official cost application submission is the unlocked Excel version.

USAID will not review any pages in excess of the page limits noted in the subsequent sections. Please ensure that applications comply with the page limitations.

Applicants must review, understand, and comply with all aspects of this NOFO. Failure to do so may be considered as being non-responsive and may be evaluated accordingly. Applicants should retain a copy of the application and all enclosures for their records.

4. Application Submission Procedures

Applications in response to this NOFO must be submitted no later than the closing date and time indicated on the cover letter, as amended. Late applications will not be reviewed nor considered. Applicants must retain proof of timely delivery in the form of system generated documentation of delivery receipt date and time. Applicants are encouraged to monitor www.grants.gov for amendments and updates to this NOFO.

Applications must be submitted by email to rknezevic@usaid.gov and femini@usaid.gov.

Email submissions must include the NOFO number and applicant’s name in the subject line heading. In addition, for an application sent by multiple emails, the subject line must also indicate whether the email relates to the technical or cost application, and the desired sequence of the emails and their attachments (e.g. "No. 1 of 4", etc.). For example, if your cost application is being sent in two emails, the first email should have a subject line that states:

"[NOFO number], [organization name], Cost Application, Part 1 of 2".

USAID’s preference is that the technical application and the cost application each be submitted as consolidated email attachments, e.g. that you consolidate the various parts of a technical application into a single document before sending it. If this is not possible, please provide instructions on how to collate the attachments. USAID will not be responsible for errors in compiling electronic applications if no instructions are provided or are unclear.

After submitting an application electronically, applicants should immediately check their own email to confirm that the attachments were indeed sent. If an applicant discovers an error in transmission, please send the material again and note in the subject line of the email or indicate in the file name if submitted via grants.gov that it is a "corrected" submission. Do not send the same email more than once unless there has been a change, and if so, please note that it is a "corrected" email.

Applicants are reminded that email is NOT instantaneous, and in some cases delays of several hours occur from transmission to receipt. Therefore, applicants are requested to send the application in sufficient time ahead of the deadline. For this NOFO, the initial point of entry to the government infrastructure is the USAID mail server.

There may be a problem with the receipt of *.zip files due to anti-virus software. Therefore, applicants are discouraged from sending files in this format as USAID/North Macedonia cannot guarantee their acceptance by the internet server. File size must not exceed 25 MB.

5. Technical Application Format

The technical application should be specific, complete, and presented concisely. The application must demonstrate the applicant's capabilities and expertise with respect to achieving the goals of this program. The application should take into account the requirements of the program and merit review criteria found in this NOFO.

a. Cover Page (See Section D.3 above for requirements)

b. Table of Contents

c. Technical Approach, Management Plan, and Institutional Capability The technical application must not exceed 15 pages in length, which includes Technical Approach (10 pages maximum), the Management Plan (3 pages maximum), and Institutional Capability (2 pages maximum).

http://www.grants.gov/

Technical Approach: The technical approach must demonstrate the Applicant's capabilities and expertise with respect to achieving the goals of this program and specify the specific results to be achieved. The Technical Approach should convincingly articulate the Applicant’s proposed activities to accomplish the four stated objectives presented in the Funding Opportunity Description, focusing on what is technically and politically feasible within the duration of the activity. The Applicant should convincingly describe how the Applicant proposes to achieve the Program Objectives (See A.4), detailing the results to be achieved and methodology employed. The Applicant should articulate why the approach proposed is the most effective means to realize the Activity Objectives and how the Guiding Principles (See A.5) will be leveraged to achieve sustainable results.

Management plan must include proposal of Key personnel, Project Director, who will be evaluated according to the following criteria verifiable from his/her CV (maximum 4 pages):

● experience in managing activities focusing on promoting philanthropic financing among the private sector, civic society organizations, and communities, as well as with Corporate Social Responsibility, Companies Doing Good/Social Impact, or similar.

● at least seven years of experience leading complex projects, and managing a team of senior subject matter specialists.

● proven ability to coordinate a broad and diverse set of stakeholders while maintaining effective working relationships with government officials, public agencies, private sector companies, CSOs, members of academia, and other development partners.

The applicant may propose up to five (5) key personnel, including the Project Director.

Applicants must propose a management plan that convincingly demonstrates the Applicant’s ability to successfully implement the Activity. The Applicant must describe how the proposed Management Plan (including proposed PD) will ensure successful implementation and the approach. The Applicant must describe the division of roles and responsibilities between the applicant, subawardees and other resource organizations, if any, in implementing the activity. The Applicant shall describe staffing roles for any proposed subawardees with defined lines of management, supervisory authority, and technical responsibility. The management plan shall clearly and logically address how consultants (if any) will be used to complement full-time project staff.

Institutional Capability: The Applicant must demonstrate institutional capacity to 1) create an enabling environment for philanthropic giving using legal and tax frameworks to reward corporate, community, and individual philanthropy of entities both present in the country and from the country’s diaspora; 2) increase levels of philanthropic funding raised by local stakeholders from companies, communities, and individuals for development activities; 3) support companies to develop corporate philanthropy strategies and operational plans to implement them; and 4) catalyze the establishment of sustainable fund-raising platforms and tools that can easily be upscaled in times of emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. Business (Cost) Application Format

The Business (Cost) Application must be submitted separately from the Technical Application. While no page limit exists for the full cost application, applicants are encouraged to be as concise as possible while still providing the necessary details. The business (cost) application must illustrate the entire period of performance, using the budget format shown in the SF-424A.

Prior to award, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation deemed necessary for the Agreement Officer to assess the applicant’s risk in accordance with 2 CFR

200.205. Applicants should not submit any additional information with their initial application.

The Cost Application must contain the following sections (which are further elaborated below this listing with the letters for each requirement):

a) Cover Page (See Section D.3 above for requirements)

b) SF 424 Form(s)

The applicant must sign and submit the cost application using the SF-424 series. Standard Forms can be accessed electronically at www.grants.gov or use the forms provided as attachments:

Failure to accurately complete these forms could result in the rejection of the application.

c) Required Certifications and Assurances

The applicant must complete the following documents and submit a signed copy with their application.

(1) “Certifications, Assurances, Representations, and Other Statements of the Recipient” ADS 303mav document found at http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303mav.pdf

(2) Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B)

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) Enclosed as Annex 2

Instructions for SF-424 Enclosed as Annex 3

Budget Information (SF-424A) Enclosed as Annex 4

Instructions for SF-424A Enclosed as Annex 5

Assurances (SF-424B) Enclosed as Annex 6

Instructions for SF-424B Enclosed as Annex 7 http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303mav.pdf%20

(3) Certificate of Compliance: Please submit a copy of your Certificate of Compliance if your organization's systems have been certified by USAID/Washington's Office of Acquisition and Assistance (M/OAA).

d) Budget and Budget Narrative

The Budget must be submitted as one unprotected Excel file (MS Office 2000 or later versions) with visible formulas and references and must be broken out by project year, including itemization of the federal and non-federal (cost share) amount. Files must not contain any hidden or otherwise inaccessible cells. Budgets with hidden cells lengthen the cost analysis time required to make award, and may result in a rejection of the cost application. The Budget Narrative must contain sufficient detail to allow USAID to understand the proposed costs. The applicant must ensure the budgeted costs address any additional requirements identified in Section F, such as Branding and Marking. The Budget Narrative must be thorough, including sources for costs to support USAID’s determination that the proposed costs are fair and reasonable.

The Budget must include the following worksheets or tabs, and contents, at a minimum:

● Summary Budget, inclusive of all program costs (federal and non-federal), broken out by major budget category and by year for activities implemented by the applicant and any potential sub-applicants for the entire period of the program. See Section H, Annex 1 for Summary Budget Template

● Detailed Budget, including a breakdown by year, sufficient to allow the Agency to determine that the costs represent a realistic and efficient use of funding to implement the applicant’s program and are allowable in accordance with the cost principles found in 2 CFR 200 Subpart E.

● Detailed Budgets for each sub-recipient, for all federal funding and cost share, broken out by budget category and by year, for the entire implementation period of the project.

The Detailed Budget must contain the following budget categories and information, at a minimum:

1) Salaries and Allowances – Must be proposed consistent with 2 CFR 200.430

Compensation - Personal Services. The applicant’s budget must include position title, salary rate, level of effort, and salary escalation factors for each position. Allowances, when proposed, must be broken down by specific type and by position. Applicants must explain all assumptions in the Budget Narrative. The Budget Narrative must demonstrate that the proposed compensation is reasonable for the services rendered and consistent with what is paid for similar work in other activities of the applicant. Applicants must provide their established written policies on personnel compensation. If the applicant’s written policies do not address a specific element of compensation that is being proposed, the Budget Narrative must describe the rationale used and supporting market research.

2) Fringe Benefits – (if applicable) If the applicant has a fringe benefit rate approved by an agency of the U.S. Government, the applicant must use such rate and provide evidence of its approval. If an applicant does not have a fringe benefit rate approved, the applicant must propose a rate and explain how the applicant determined the rate. In this case, the Budget Narrative must include a detailed breakdown comprised of all items of fringe benefits (e.g., superannuation, gratuity, etc.) and the costs of each, expressed in U.S.

dollars and as a percentage of salaries.

3) Travel and Transportation – Provide details to explain the purpose of the trips, the number of trips, the origin and destination, the number of individuals traveling, and the duration of the trips. Per Diem and associated travel costs must be based on the applicant’s normal travel policies. When appropriate please provide supporting documentation as an attachment, such as company travel policy, and explain assumptions in the Budget Narrative.

4) Procurement or Rental of Goods (Equipment & Supplies), Services, and Real Property –

Must include information on estimated types of equipment, models, supplies and the cost per unit and quantity. The Budget Narrative must include the purpose of the equipment and supplies and the basis for the estimates. The Budget Narrative must support the necessity of any rental costs and reasonableness in light of such factors as: rental costs of comparable property, if any; market conditions in the area; alternatives available; and the type, life expectancy, condition, and value of the property leased.

5) Subawards – Specify the budget for the portion of the program to be passed through to any subrecipients. See 2 CFR 200 for assistance in determining whether the sub-tier entity is a subrecipient or contractor. The subrecipient budgets must align with the same requirements as the applicant’s budget, including those related to fringe and indirect costs.

6) Monitoring and Evaluation Costs - Pursuant to ADS 201.3.4.10, “Monitoring

Activities/Implementing Mechanisms,” recipients are required to provide in the budget a separate line item for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL). The line item must include costs for data collection, analysis, and reporting. This line item will be tracked during implementation of the activity.

7) Branding and Marking - The cost application must incorporate the estimated cost for Branding and Marking. Additional guidance is available in USAID Automated Directive System ADS 320 found at http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/320.pdf.

8) Other Direct Costs – This may include other costs not elsewhere specified, such as report preparation costs, passports and visas fees, medical exams and inoculations, as well as any other miscellaneous costs which directly benefit the program proposed by the applicant.

The applicant should indicate the subject, venue and duration of any proposed conferences and seminars, and their relationship to the objectives of the program, along with estimates of costs. Otherwise, the narrative should be minimal.

9) Indirect Costs – 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 2 CFR 200. The application must identify which approach they are requesting and provide the applicable supporting information. Below are the most commonly used Indirect Cost Rate methods:

http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/320.pdf

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 US Federal awards (regardless of agency) 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.