AIYA NOFO No. 72030624RFA00002 AMENDMENT No. 2.pdf

June 27, 2024

Reference: Notice of Funding Opportunity Number NOFO No. 72030624RFA00002;

Afghanistan Integrated Youth Activity (AIYA)

Subject: Amendment 02

Dear Interested Applicants:

The following Amendment 02 to Notice of Funding Opportunity Number 72030624RFA00002 provides responses to questions received. This Amendment does not revise the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Please note that the Application closing date has not been extended.

Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant; all preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense. 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 costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application.

Thank you for your interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, /S/ Margaret R. Benavente Agreement Officer USAID/Afghanistan

Amendment No. 02 NOFO No. 72030624RFA00002

Answers to Questions:

1. Question: Would USAID consider extending the submission date to July 26, given that key staff have scheduled travel and/or time off around Eid-ul-Adha and U.S. federal holidays during the bid preparation period?

USAID Response: USAID is unable to extend the application deadline for AIYA.

2. Question: We respectfully request that the Mission share any relevant 889 information to support the compliant implementation of this regulation and/or creation of a laydown plan, if necessary.

USAID Response: We recommend you review the latest guidance on section 889 available on USAID webpage entitled “Section 889 Partner Information” or https://www.usaid.gov/section-889-partner-information and Revisions to 2 CFR implementing the Section 889 Prohibitions.

3. Question: We respectfully request that the Mission provide any active bi-lateral agreements and/or procedural insight relevant to the processing and reimbursement of VAT in Afghanistan.

USAID Response: USAID currently does not have any active bi-lateral agreements with the host interim government. Implementing Partners (IPs) must continue to seek tax exemption per their award requirements. If no tax exemption is available and the IP is assessed against any such charges, they must bring the proposed assessment to the immediate attention of their AOR/COR and AO/CO. USAID will review these requests on a case-by-case basis.

4. Question: Does the Mission have any information on housing market surveys available to provide to assist in determining LQA/housing allowance limit reasonability?

USAID Response: We do not have a housing market survey to share. Applicants are encouraged to adhere to the standard applicable USAID provisions, specifically 2 CFR 200.

5. Question: p. 9: Will USAID allow 10 point font to be used for tables instead of 12 point?

USAID Response: Please see response to question 14 on amendment 01.

6. Question: p. 9: Will USAID allow 10 point font to be used for textboxes in addition to graphs and charts?

USAID Response: Please see response to question 15 on amendment 01.

https://www.usaid.gov/section-889-partner-information https://www.usaid.gov/section-889-partner-information https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/08/13/2020-17468/guidance-for-grants-and-agreements https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/08/13/2020-17468/guidance-for-grants-and-agreements

7. Question: p. 11: Section D lists content in the following order: (e) Technical Approach, (f) Management and Staffing, and (g) Institutional Capacity. However, Section E.2.a (Application Review Information, Merit Review) lists merit criteria in the following order: 1.

Technical Approach (Most Important), 2. Institutional Capacity (Most Important), and 3.

Management Approach and Staffing (Very Important). Can USAID confirm that Applicants should follow the order of the Merit Criteria to format their Technical Applications?

USAID Response: Applicants should use the order for the technical application as presented in Section D of the NOFO.

8. Question: p.12: USAID asks for an Inception Phase Workplan. Can USAID confirm how long the Inception Phase is?

USAID Response: Applicants should review the TAKING THE TIME TO FINE-TUNE: REFINEMENT PERIODS. USAID/Afghanistan has not pre-determined the length of time for AIYA’s inception phase, but anticipate it will fall within the guidelines of 3 to 12 months, as stated in the guide.

9. Question: p.13: USAID states that Applicants should provide a one-page list of references for three to five on-going or completed awards from the past three (3) years that demonstrate performance relevant to the Activity Intermediate Results. However, it also states: “Please use the template provided under attachment 4 for the submission of past performance information.

● Can USAID confirm that Applicants should provide past performance information in the template provided in Attachment 4 and not in the form of a list?

● Given that USG pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021 and USAID funding in country has been limited in the last three (3) years, would USAID consider allowing Applicants to provide references from the last five (5) years.

USAID Response: Applicants should provide past performance information in the template provided, one page per award. Applicants should provide past performance examples from the last three years.

10. Question: p. 16: The NOFO asks Applicants to, “Please summarize the proposed budget of the Activity by Intermediate Results and year.” Can USAID confirm that the information provided in the budget template fulfills this requirement?

USAID Response: Please see response to questions 35, 62, and 77 on amendment 01.

11. Question: p. 26: The NOFO states: “USAID may require the recipient to include or address a location-specific Safety and Security Plan or Risk Mitigation Plan as part of the implementation plan,” which indicates a post-award action. However, in Attachment 3 A.17.1 Security Requirements, the solicitation states: “The Recipient must prepare a https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/USAID_NPI_RefinementGuide_FINAL.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/USAID_NPI_RefinementGuide_FINAL.pdf comprehensive Security Plan” and “The Recipient must have submitted its security plan along with its application,” which indicates the Security Plan should be submitted as part of the overall proposal. Can USAID clarify whether a Security Plan is required as part of the application or if this will be required post-award?

USAID Response: This will only be required of the successful applicant, post-award.

12. Question: p. 3: USAID provides the following link meant to provide more information on SPOT: http://www.dod.mil/bta/products/spot.html. However, this link does not automatically direct to information on SPOT. Can USAID provide an updated link for SPOT?

USAID Response: Here is the link to SPOT System: https://spot.dmdc.mil/my.policy

Register for SPOT Access - Quick Guide:

https://www.acq.osd.mil/log/LOG_CSD/.spot.html/SPOT%20Register%20for%20SPOT%20Ac cess%20Quick%20Guide.pdf

Note: More information on how to use the Synchronized Pre-deployment and Operational Tracker (SPOT) will be provided at the time of award.

13. Question: p. 8: USAID states: The project must not have separate agreements (i.e. MOU) with the “interim government” unless USAID is a party or witness to the agreement.

Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation (MAIL) requires a signed MOU between the project and MAIL using a MAIL template to register the project prior to any project staff or operations permitted to undertake activities in the provinces. Can USAID confirm if USAID has obtained any permissions from the “interim government” for a waiver of this MOU requirement, or will USAID be amenable to witness or to sign the MAIL MOU?

This would be one of the initial ‘start-up’ activities on a new program.

USAID Response: Registering the project with relevant "interim government" authority is the responsibility of the implementing partner and USAID has not received any waiver from the "Interim Government". If a Recipient believes an agreement with the “interim government” announced by the Taliban may be beneficial to the implementation of activities funded by USAID, Recipient must coordinate with its AOR. Such an agreement would be subject to prior approval by USAID.

[End of Amendment 02] https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dod.mil%2Fbta%2Fproducts%2Fspot.html&data=05%7C02%7CJaneP%40creativedc.com%7C5a0b9c357e0040368e1f08dc84c35b83%7C8395b8e4d017486ba04e7e46b2103d4b%7C0%7C0%7C638531221804815943%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2Bj8Hpq5KibfTzn5Ud%2BVh8N0sv9NHm7TZKlelxD0fjlY%3D&reserved=0 https://spot.dmdc.mil/my.policy https://www.acq.osd.mil/log/LOG_CSD/.spot.html/SPOT%20Register%20for%20SPOT%20Access%20Quick%20Guide.pdf https://www.acq.osd.mil/log/LOG_CSD/.spot.html/SPOT%20Register%20for%20SPOT%20Access%20Quick%20Guide.pdf https://www.acq.osd.mil/log/LOG_CSD/.spot.html/SPOT%20Register%20for%20SPOT%20Access%20Quick%20Guide.pdf https://www.acq.osd.mil/log/LOG_CSD/.spot.html/SPOT%20Register%20for%20SPOT%20Access%20Quick%20Guide.pdf https://www.acq.osd.mil/log/LOG_CSD/.spot.html/SPOT%20Register%20for%20SPOT%20Access%20Quick%20Guide.pdf https://www.acq.osd.mil/log/LOG_CSD/.spot.html/SPOT%20Register%20for%20SPOT%20Access%20Quick%20Guide.pdf