AFINAL Amendment No 1 NOFO 72067423RFA00008 Signed.pdf

Issue Date: April 25, 2023

Concept Paper Submission Due Date May 8, 2023, 5:00PM South African Standard

Time (SAST)- Revised

Full Application Submission Due Date: TO BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE

Subject: Notice of Funding Opportunity Number.:

72067423RFA00008, Amendment No. 1

ENCLOSURE: (1) Amendment to the NOFO

(2) USAID Responses to Questions

The United States Agency for International Development Mission to Southern Africa (USAID/SA) hereby issues Amendment No. 01 to Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) No.72067423RFA00008, South Africa Power to the People Design Services. Under this amendment, the following changes are being made to the NOFO:

1. Revise the deadline for submission of Concept Papers; and

2. Provide responses to questions on the NOFO that were received in writing by the submission deadline.

Please see enclosures for details.

Sincerely, Lealie M. Perry Agreement Officer Southern Africa Regional Mission

NOFO NO.72067423RFA00008

SOUTH AFRICA POWER TO THE PEOPLE DESIGN SERVICES

ENCLOSURE (1): Amendment No. 2 to NOFO No. 72067423RFA00008

Below please find the specific changes that are incorporated into the NOFO through this Amendment No. 1:

1. Cover page

Amend the Submission deadline, which has been extended to May 8, 2023, 5:00PM South African Standard Time (SAST).

[END OF ENCLOSURE 1]

ENCLOSURE (2): USAID Responses to Questions Received Under NOFO NO. 72067423RFA00008.

No. Questions USAID Responses

1 Other than the document attached to this e-mail, are there any more documentation available to be submitted with the proposal, and lastly how does one submit an application for the relevant funding?

I was unable to electronically access the full announcement details about the call for design services for the USAID Power to the People program. I am interested in applying for the call if you could please provide me with further details.

The only documentation related to the subject funding opportunity is the one you have attached.

Go to Grants.gov linked here, and click on the blue tab at the top of the page “Related Documents”. You will find the full Notice of Funding Opportunity there.

Concept Notes must be submitted in English, via email as a Microsoft Word attachment. The submission instructions can be found on page 12 of the NOFO, under "Application Instructions" of the funding opportunity document for further information.

A full Application is not requested at this time, only 5-page Concept Notes (see instructions on Page 12).

2 I am requesting for the application forms.

There are no application forms. Kindly refer to the “Related Documents” tab on the Funding Opportunity, and go through the Applications Instructions on the submission requirements.

3 I'm applying for the Usaid power to the people grant, but I can't complete registration because my number isn't American, it keeps saying my phone number doesn't match.

Please help

Kindly note that if you are referring to the SAM registration process, Applicants do not need to be registered in SAM when submitting a Concept Paper at this stage.

However, the SAMs registration process may take several weeks or even months to complete.

Therefore, Organizations are encouraged to begin the SAMs registration as early in the process as possible.

Please make use of the "Help" tab on the Sam.gov website to make use of the federal service desk for any registration related queries.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=347263

4 1. Is there a current workflow with USAID that is working on this or not?

2. Can I partner with local NGO as I respond to the RFP?

3. Deadlines and non-negotiables?

1. You can learn more about USAID/Southern Africa’s current programming on our website here: https://www.usaid.gov/southern-africa-regional

2. USAID has been supporting regional energy programming through the Southern Africa Energy Program to advance energy policy and regulatory reform and accelerate investment to increase power generation and access to electricity throughout the region. USAID has supported socio-economic development in South Africa’s energy sector previously through support for the Initiative for Social Performance in Renewable Energy Online Dialogues Project, and support for a dedicated Learning Event for Renewable Energy Socio-Economic Development Stakeholders in February 2020.

3. Your organization is welcome to collaborate and partner with any organization and/or local NGO you deem appropriate.

4. Concept Notes are due on May 8, 2023, 5:00PM

South African Standard Time (SAST).

5 1. Page 4: Based on an opportunity mapping analysis conducted by the USAID and IPPO, which looked specifically at opportunities for community engagement and the greatest potential impact of socioeconomic investment given baseline conditions and resources present in a given community, all activities will focus on specified municipalities in the Northern Cape

1. The opportunity mapping has been done. This initial mapping assisted in narrowing the focus of the new program. Initial municipalities within the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape provinces were identified; however municipalities will be finalized based on input from the new USAID partner, as well as government officials and leadership.

https://www.usaid.gov/southern-africa-regional https://www.usaid.gov/southern-africa-regional https://www.linkedin.com/company/usaid-southern-africa-energy-program-a-power-africa-initiative?originalSubdomain=za https://www.linkedin.com/company/usaid-southern-africa-energy-program-a-power-africa-initiative?originalSubdomain=za https://inspire-excellence.net/knowledge/ https://inspire-excellence.net/knowledge/ and Eastern Cape provinces.

Question – Has the opportunity mapping analysis been done, or will it be done based on the results of the Listening Sessions?

Question – At what point will the specific municipalities be selected in the process?

2. Page 5: The NOFO states that “We anticipate working in up to three municipalities in Northern Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. The specific municipalities of study in the Political Economy Analysis (PEA) will be identified by USAID and the IPPO, in collaboration with the recipient.

Question – Will the PEA be limited to the selected municipalities?

3. Page 4 & 6: The second activity is to conduct listening sessions.

Overlapping with the PEA research, the recipient will organize and facilitate a series of community listening sessions in the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. The purpose of the listening sessions is to hear the concerns and problems of communities and understand how they prioritize those; understand how local people perceive, define, and address the development challenges that they are faced with, and learn how they work together to seize and meet available opportunities in the localities (Page 6). After that, a series of program design workshops will be held, including USAID, key stakeholders, and local organizations (Page 4).

2. Yes, the PEA will be limited to the selected municipalities. The goal is to narrow and focus the political economy analysis to ensure that the analysis and findings focus on the specific context of municipalities where the new program would be implemented.

3. The listening sessions would be done within the selected municipalities to narrow and focus our work and ensure that any program designed based on the findings from the listening sessions would be tailored and applicable to the needs of those specific municipalities.

Question – Will the listening sessions be done at a Provincial or selected Municipalities only level?

6 If I do not meet the institutional experience and past performance criteria.

I would like to know - if I put together a team of people

1) someone with political experience

2) businessman

3) social experience

Would you consider us putting a proposal together?

Yes, your Concept Note would be considered and evaluated accordingly. USAID/South Africa recognizes that one local organization may not have experience in all of the needed capabilities.

Teaming arrangements in which one local organization partners with other local organizations and/or individuals are strongly encouraged. Refer to page 10 of NOFO “Desired Experience and Skill Sets”.

7 1. Will USAID require that the CVs for the proposed team be submitted as annexes for the concept paper submission and is there a page limit for each CV?

2. How many annexures are permitted for this submission?

3. Does USAID and IPPO have an idea of which three municipalities in the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape may be focused on for this study?

4. How many participants do you hope to participate in the 12-18 listening sessions as part of the community listening activity?

5. Would you prefer the programme design workshops to be hosted virtually or in person in each of the three selected municipalities?

6. Will the selected consultancy be responsible for the logistics of the

1. The submission of CVs as annexes is not required at this time. Only a 5-page concept note.

2. No additional information is expected or required at this stage, either than what we have indicated on page 12 of the NOFO, under "Application Instructions" of the funding opportunity document.

3. Initial municipalities within the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape provinces were identified based on the opportunity mapping; however municipalities will be finalized based on input from the new USAID partner, as well as government officials and leadership.

4. USAID will look to the guidance and expertise of the applicant/new partner to determine the appropriate number of participants for the listening sessions. The structure and participants for the listening sessions will likely vary depending on the specific local context. It may be possible that the applicant/partner will want to have a greater number of listening sessions with smaller, more specific audiences; this will largely depend programme design workshops (e.g., booking a venue (if appropriate), sharing invitations/agendas)?

7. Would you prefer the Activity 5 internal knowledge-sharing session to be hosted virtually or in person? If in person, where would this be held?

8. Are there any internal or external events/deadlines that may affect when any or all of the activities should be completed?

on the dynamics and needs of each community.

5. USAID strongly prefers that the programme design workshops are hosted in person. The format and location will be decided with input from the applicant/partner.

6. Yes, the selected consultancy will be responsible for organizing all of the logistics of the programme design workshops.

7. The internal knowledge sharing sessions can be hosted virtually or in personUSAID does not have a strong preference.

8. No. USAID does not have any internal or external events or deadlines that may affect activities. It is possible that South African partners, companies, and others may have preferences on the timing of events. USAID will consult with IPPO and the new applicant/partner to determine any circumstances that may affect timing of activities.

8 1. Is it acceptable for parties to be represented in more than one consortium applying for this grant?

2. Is it acceptable to submit the 5 page concept note with an appendix for additional information and documentation in support of the application? Or do you wish the overall application to not exceed 5 pages?

3. What time (and what time zone) is the concept note submission due on the 1st May?

4. Can we assume that the direct costs for e.g. venues, travel etc to realize in person engagements (e.g. listening sessions) will need to come from this grant budget?

5. Can we assume that USAID and IPPO will

1. Yes, it is acceptable. Note that USAID will only make an award to a prime organization, but encourages eligible Local Entities interested in this opportunity to network and/or form implementing consortia with other capable entities (local or international) that can enhance and add value to their concept. USAID/South Africa recognizes that one local organization may not have experience in all of the needed capabilities. Teaming arrangements in which one local organization partners with other local organizations and/or individuals are strongly encouraged. Refer to page 10 of NOFO “Desired Experience and Skill Sets”.

2. The overall submission of the concept note should not exceed 5 pages.

3. The submission date for the Concept Note has been revised to May 8, 2023, 5:00PM South African Standard Time (SAST).

cover their own costs, time as well as travel costs, especially for in person engagement?

4. Yes, you can assume that the direct costs for e.g.

venues, travel etc to realize in person engagements (e.g. listening sessions) will need to come from this grant budget. All grant related activities should be covered by the grant budget.

5. Yes, you can assume that USAID and IPPO will cover their own costs, time, and travel costs for in person meetings.

[END OF ENCLOSURE 2]