AIYA NOFO No. 72030624RFA00002_executed.pdf

Issue Date: May 30, 2024

Deadline for Question: June 10, 2024 5:00PM EST

Closing Date: July 12, 2024

Closing Time: 5:00PM EST

Subject: Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: 72030624RFA00002

Program Title: Afghanistan Integrated Youth Activity (AIYA)

Federal Assistance Listing Number: 98.001-- USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas

Ladies/Gentlemen:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the Afghanistan Integrated Youth

Activity (AIYA) program. Eligibility for this award is not restricted.

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.g. 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 G. 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, Margaret R. Benavente

Agreement Officer

USAID/Afghanistan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION A: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

SECTION E: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

SECTION F: FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

SECTION G: FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT(S)

SECTION H: OTHER INFORMATION

ANNEX 1 - SUMMARY BUDGET TEMPLATE (See attached budget Excel Sheet)

ANNEX 2 - STANDARD PROVISIONS (Also see attachment 3)

ANNEX 3 - ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

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.

See the attachment 1_AIYA Program Description

[END OF SECTION A]

THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY.

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated

USAID intends to award one (1) Cooperative Agreement pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide $62,000,000 in total USAID funding over a five (5) year period.

2. Expected Performance Indicators, Targets, Baseline Data, and Data Collection

This funding opportunity is issued based on 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, and the additional requirements found in Section F. USAID will not require programmatic progress reports that exceed reporting requirements in 2 CFR 200.239.

3. Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards

The anticipated period of performance is five (5) years. The estimated start date will be October 1, 2024.

4. Substantial Involvement

The award will be a Cooperative Agreement and in accordance with ADS 303.3.11, the intended areas of substantial involvement are:

1. Agency’s approval of the recipient’s implementation plans during performance.

2. Agency’s ability to immediately halt an activity if the recipient does not meet detailed performance specifications (for example, meeting the established time bound deliverables).

3. Agency’s review and approval of one stage of work, before work can begin on a subsequent stage during the period covered by the cooperative agreement.

4. Agency’s review and approval of substantive provisions of proposed sub-awards or contracts (see definitions in 2 CFR 200). 2 CFR 200.308 requires the recipient to obtain the AO’s prior approval for the subaward, transfer, or contracting out of any work under an award.

5. Agency’s involvement in the selection of key recipient personnel.

6. Agency and Recipient collaboration or joint participation when the recipient’s successful accomplishment of program objectives would benefit from USAID’s technical knowledge, including but not limited to joint collaboration and participation in sector coordination groups.

7. Agency monitoring to permit specific kinds of direction or redirection of the work because of the interrelationships with other projects or activities, or as the result of contextual changes, to include risk management and/or mitigation.

8. Direct agency operational involvement or participation to ensure compliance with statutory requirements such as civil rights, environmental and gender protections, and provisions for the handicapped.

9. Agency’s concurrence and approval should Recipient seek use of funds reserved for crisis adaptation and response described in the Program Description (PD).

10. Highly prescriptive Agency requirements established prior to award that limit the recipient’s discretion with respect to the scope of services offered, organizational structure, staffing, mode of operation, and other management processes coupled with close monitoring or operational involvement during performance over and above the normal exercise of Federal stewardship responsibilities to ensure compliance with these requirements.

5. Authorized Geographic Code

The geographic code for the procurement of commodities and services under this program is code

935, which includes the United States, the recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, but excluding any country that is a prohibited source.

6. 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 of support or stimulation of the Afghanistan

Integrated Youth Activity (AIYA), which is authorized by Federal statute. 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.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligibility for this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is not restricted.

USAID/Afghanistan welcomes an approach that demonstrates flexibility to being responsive to youth-identified development challenges and constraints. Given the multi-faceted nature of the

Activity, a consortium approach is welcome and encouraged, including both local and international partners with expertise in relevant programmatic areas, such as basic education, higher education, youth empowerment, agriculture, economic growth, and/or democracy and governance.

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

Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for federal financial assistance on the same basis as any other organization and are subject to the protections and requirements of Federal law.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not required for this activity, however, if the recipient would like to propose a contribution, it may do so. Whether or not the applicant proposes cost share will not have an impact on the evaluation of its technical and cost applications.

[END OF SECTION C]

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Agency Point of Contact

Amanullah Baheer

Sr. Acquisition & Assistance Specialist

Email: abaheer@usaid.gov

Margaret Rose Benavente

U.S. Agency for International Development

Email: mabenavente@usaid.gov

2. Questions and Answers

Questions regarding this NOFO should be submitted in writing via e-mail to abaheer@usaid.gov with a courtesy copy to mabenavente@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

Preparation of Applications:

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

● Notice of Funding Opportunity number

● 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).

mailto:agarcia@usaid.gov mailto:abaheer@usaid.gov mailto:mabenavente@usaid.gov mailto:abaheer@usaid.gov mailto:mabenavente@usaid.gov

● Name and Signature of Individuals authorized to negotiate terms, conditions and countersigns the award (title/ position, email address, telephone number)

● Unique Entity ID numbers of the applicant and sub-awardees/ partners. Tax identification number, and Letter of Credit (LOC) number for the applicant, if available.

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:

● 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.

● Written in English.

● Use standard 8 ½” x 11”, 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.

● A Budget Narrative/Justification in Microsoft Word or PDF must accompany the Cost

Application.

● Each page must be numbered sequentially, and the application must not be password protected and must not be zipped.

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.

If the Applicant includes data that it does not want disclosed to the public for any purpose or used by the U.S. Government except for evaluation purpose, it should mark the cover page with the following legend:

“This application includes data that shall not be disclosed outside the U.S. Government and shall not be duplicated, used, or disclosed other than to evaluate this application. If, however, a grant is awarded to this Applicant as a result of the submission of this data, the

U.S. Government shall have the right to duplicate, use, or disclose the data to the extent provided in the resulting award. This restriction does not limit the U.S. Government’s right to use information contained in this data if it is obtained from another source without restriction. The data subject to this restriction are contained in sheets (insert sheet numbers) and, mark each sheet of data it wished to restrict with the following legend:

‘Use or disclosure of data contained on this sheet is subject to the restriction on the title page of this application.’”

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 or confirmation from the receiving office.

Applications must be submitted by email to abaheer@usaid.gov and mabenavente@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/Afghanistan cannot guarantee their acceptance by the internet server. File size must not exceed 25MB.

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 (not to exceed one page) and not included in the 25-page limit. The Applicant must provide the title of the proposed activity, name and address of prime applicant, and names of proposed partners and proposed subawards, as applicable on the cover page.

(b) Table of Contents (not to exceed one page) and not included in the 25-page limit. The table of contents must include at a minimum section titles (or brief description) with a corresponding page number for major sections to easily cross-reference and identify merit review criteria.

(c) List of Acronyms (optional) and not included in the 25-page limit.

(d) Executive Summary (not to exceed one page) and not included in the 25-page limit. The

Executive Summary must provide a high-level overview of key elements of the Technical

Application.

(e) Technical Approach (maximum of 25 pages). The Applicant must describe the overall technical approach and implementation strategies and interventions to achieve the stated

Activity Purpose and each Objective. The technical approach must include:

● Brief description of the specific barriers and challenges the program seeks to address.

● Contextually relevant theory of change that articulates how proposed interventions will achieve each of the objectives and demonstrates any interlinkages, ensuring conflict-sensitivity and complexity awareness.

● Innovative and integrated approaches that take into consideration the anticipated funding allocations within the AIYA budget: basic education (42 percent), higher education (49 percent), agriculture (6 percent), and democracy (3 percent). Prospective applicants must be able to demonstrate how they plan to effectively manage and account for these funds, including following applicable reporting and earmark guidance.

● Applicants should demonstrate how USG priorities and guiding principles from

Section A are integrated into their approach

● The proposed process for selection of target geographic areas, including suggested criteria, collaboration plans, and illustrative timeline for decision-making. Applicants are encouraged to propose a process for geographic targeting that leverages existing activity geographic focus (see Coordination and Complementarity section). Applicants are not required to submit specific geographic focus areas as part of their Application.

● The approach to scenario-based planning and implementation. Describe in some detail how the implementation strategy will adapt and pivot to three possible scenarios during the life of the Activity: (1) Security and access to affected populations deteriorates and young women are faced with increased restrictions (2) Security and access to affected populations remains unchanged and access to secondary school and higher education and livelihood opportunities for young women remains restricted, and (3) Security and access to affected populations improves and access to secondary school and higher education for girls improves, either due to secondary schools or higher education for girls reopening or girls’ being allowed to resume some type of schooling. The Applicant must describe the key assumptions for each scenario, and must describe how they will respond to acute crises during the period of performance and seek approval for use of the crisis response budget line.

● Systematically consider PYD aspects and implications of specific interventions and build a PYD approach into the work plan in accordance with USAID Youth in

Development Policy. Plan for applying positive youth development domains and features in activity implementation, including engaging youth in decision making.

● Plan for advancing USAID's localization initiative in Afghanistan.

● A brief and clear description of the overall Monitoring Evaluation and Learning

(MEL) approach, including approaches to programmatic and contextual risk analysis, management, and mitigation; and compliance with USG Office of Foreign Assets

Control (OFAC) sanctions.

The technical approach must clearly and adequately show how the proposed approach can achieve the Program Description and describe the relevance of the cost share activities proposed, if any.

The technical approach also must address the following:

● Environment

The Applicant must identify the potential environmental impacts of the proposed activity to be financed by USAID and plan to develop appropriate environmental safeguards to any issues identified in response to the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE). Please refer to ADS 204 available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/204.pdf for USAID’s

Environmental procedures. In addition, the Applicant must comply with host country environmental regulations. The Applicant shall be responsible for training their staff, grantees, subcontractors, and counterparts on the agreements’ environmental requirements and for ensuring they are in compliance with these requirements. In the case the activity has environmental impact, it is the responsibility of the Applicant to budget for effective monitoring and mitigation to ensure compliance with 22 CFR 216 throughout the life of an activity.

● Gender https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/204.pdf

The application should include how and to what extent their proposed activities will impact gender equality (More information can be found here: Gender Equality and Female

Empowerment Policy).

(f) Management and Staffing Approach (maximum five (5) pages) and not included in the 25-page limit.

The Applicant must describe the overall management approach, including:

● Brief discussion of how an agile management approach allows for flexibility and adaptability.

● Key Personnel: Applicants must propose a minimum of four Key Personnel (one of which must be the Project Director/Chief of Party), with some detail on roles and responsibilities, location, and nationality. Applicants may propose what other positions will be designated as Key Personnel based on their approach.

● Overall Staffing Plan: A brief discussion on the overall staffing plan, identifying critical staff, above and beyond Key Personnel, and their roles and responsibilities.

● An Organizational Chart/Organogram must be included as an Annex.

● Sub-Recipients, if applicable: Description of major sub-recipients, including the roles and areas of authority, particularly local partner sub-recipients.

● Inception Phase Workplan (as an Annex, not included in page count): Describe approaches, recommendations, and activities for an inception phase needed to begin interventions no later than March 2025.

▪ The inception phase work plan may include conducting additional analyses, test design assumptions, pilot initial activities, and collaboration with

USAID/Afghanistan to hone the technical approach prior to submitting the initial work plan.

▪ Applicants should plan for a “pause and reflect” workshop in or around the

Washington, DC area with USAID during the inception phase to refine interventions, identify key targets, define geographic focus, and provide input in the final activity road map plan or activity approach paper.

(g) Institutional Capability (maximum two (2) pages). Not included in the 25-page limit. The

Applicant must:

o Discuss in detail applicant and/or sub-recipient capability and experience and how that experience is relevant to successfully implementing the program.

o Describe past experience working in Afghanistan and/or similar non-permissive, crisis and conflict environments.

(h) Annexes (Not included in 25-page limit). All Annexes are Mandatory unless otherwise noted.

o Inception Phase Workplan: Please supplement the technical narrative with an Inception

Phase Work Plan formatted as a Gantt chart in Excel. May also include a narrative in

Word/PDF format.

o o Past performance: Information for (3) three assistance and/or contracts of similar size and scope (not to exceed one page) per activity/award.

https://www.usaid.gov/document/2023-gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment-policy https://www.usaid.gov/document/2023-gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment-policy

i. The Applicant must 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. For any non-USAID reference, please include contact information for at least two individuals associated with the award. Please use the template provided under Attachment 4 for the submission of past performance information.

ii. Organizational Chart/Organogram (one page): Organizational chart for the management of the implementation of the proposed program. An organizational chart(s) or organogram(s) must depict a comprehensive organizational plan, with clearly delineated lines of authority to plan, implement, and oversee the Activity, including major sub-award partners and geographic locations.

iii. Curriculum Vitae (CV) of proposed Key Personnel, (maximum two (2) pages per CV)

1. The Applicant is required to propose a minimum of four Key Personnel positions and provide a current and complete CV for each of the Key

Personnel proposed using a standard format. CVs must not exceed two (2) pages for each proposed Key Personnel. A CV should clearly detail the individual’s requisite qualifications and experience demonstrating how the individual meets the requirements for professional aptitude, technical expertise and experience. The CV must also include a minimum of three

(3) professional references within the last ten (10) years, with current contact information including email addresses and telephone numbers.

USAID may contact references other than those provided in the application.

2. Signed letter of commitment from proposed Key Personnel–One (1) page for each. The letter of commitment must indicate (a) the availability of the proposed Key Personnel to serve in the stated position, in terms of the number of days after award; and (b) intention to serve for a specified duration. Applicants are strongly discouraged from requiring key personnel to sign exclusivity agreements.

(i) Proposed Partners/Sub-Awardees: Letter of commitment of proposed partner(s) and sub-awardee(s) which must not exceed one (1) page for each. In addition, a brief high-level summary of the partner/sub-awardee’s, a) role in contributing to achieving the goals of this award, and b) their managerial approach and the resources they will bring to bear on the overall management of the AIYA activity.

(j) Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan to Prevent Diversion or Misuse of USG Resources

(RAMP): No page limit for RAMP. RAMP will be requested only from the apparently successful applicant to be reviewed before the award. USAID will provide additional guidance to the apparently successful applicant for the preparation of RAMP. Please do not submit a RAMP with the initial application

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.

In addition, the Applicant must provide a budget spreadsheet/workbook and budget narrative/justification, with adequate cost, and historical or unit pricing data to establish that the proposed budget is fair and reasonable. The Business (Cost) Application is to be submitted under a separate cover page from the Technical Application. The Cost Application is also to be submitted electronically by email. It must include a budget in Microsoft Excel. Calculations must be done by formula and not manually entered. Formulas used must not be locked or password protected. The budget narrative must be submitted in searchable PDF or in Microsoft Word which must provide a detailed description of the total costs for implementation of the program.

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 200.206.

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

If the Applicant has established a consortium or other legal relationship among its partners, the

Cost Application must include a copy of the legal relationship between the parties. The agreement should include a full discussion of the relationship between the Applicant and Sub-Applicant(s) including identification of the Applicant with whom USAID will work.

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 provide a budget for each program year with an accompanying detailed budget narrative which provides in detail the total costs for implementation of the program. The applicant must sign and submit the cost application using the SF-424 series. Standard Forms can be accessed electronically at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family.

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 https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/303mav

(2) Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B) https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/303mav

(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) Unlocked Excel Spreadsheet which contains summary and a detailed budget by cost line item and year. See Attachment 2, for Summary Budget Template.

e) 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

● Please summarize the proposed budget of the Activity by Intermediate Results and year.

● 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) Construction – If applicable (See ADS 303.3.30)

7) 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.

8) 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:

Method 1 - Direct Charge Only

Eligibility: Any applicant https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/303.pdf

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 does not have a current 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 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.

f) Prior Approvals in accordance with 2 CFR 200.407 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/OCC_A_Guidefor_NonProfit_Indirect_CostRate_Oct31_16_Version1.01.pdf

Inclusion of an item of cost in the detailed application budget does not satisfy any requirements for prior approval by the Agency. If the applicant would like the award to reflect approval of any cost elements for which prior written approval is specifically required for allowability, the applicant must specify and justify that cost. See 2 CFR 200.407 for information regarding which cost elements require prior written approval.

g) Approval of Subawards

The applicant must submit information for all subawards that it wishes to have approved at the time of award. For each proposed subaward the applicant must provide the following:

● Name of organization

● Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

● Confirmation that the subrecipient does not appear on the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list

● Confirmation that the subrecipient does not have active exclusions in the System for

Award Management (SAM)

● Confirmation that the subrecipient is not listed in the United Nations Security designation list

● Confirmation that the subrecipient is not suspended or debarred

● Confirmation that the applicant has completed a risk assessment of the subrecipient, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.332(b)

● Any negative findings as a result of the risk assessment and the applicant’s plan for mitigation.

h) Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and SAM Registration

Applicants must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and register in the System for Award

Management (SAM) (https://sam.gov/) in order to be eligible to receive federal assistance, such as grants and cooperative agreements. Unless an exemption applies (see ADS 303maz), applicants must be registered in SAM prior to submitting an application for award for USAID’s consideration. Recipients must maintain an active SAM registration while they have an active award. Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or entity that is exempted from

UEI/SAM requirements under 2 CFR 25.110) is required to:

1. Provide a valid UEI for the applicant and all proposed sub-recipients;

2. Be registered in SAM before submitting its application.

3. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency.

The registration process may take many weeks to complete. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to begin the process early. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements above by the time USAID is ready to make an award, USAID may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

https://sam.gov/

Applicants can find additional resources for registering in SAM, including a Quick Start Guide and a video, on https://sam.gov/.

i) History of Performance

The applicant must provide information regarding its recent history of performance for all its cost-reimbursement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements involving similar or related programs, not to exceed five (5) awards as follows:

• Name of the Awarding Organization;

• Award Number;

• Activity Title;

• A brief description of the activity;

• Period of Performance;

• Award Amount;

• Reports and findings from any audits performed in the last two (2) years; and

• Name of at least two (2) updated professional contacts who most directly observed the work at the organization for which the service was performed with complete current contact information including telephone number, and e-mail address for each proposed individual.

If the applicant encountered problems on any of the referenced Awards, it may provide a short explanation and the corrective action taken. The applicant should not provide general information on its performance. USAID reserves the right to obtain relevant information concerning an applicant’s history of performance from any sources and may consider such information in its review of the applicant’s risk. The Agency may request additional information and conduct a pre-award survey if it determines that it is necessary to inform the risk assessment.

j) Branding Strategy & Marking Plan

The apparently successful applicant will be asked to provide a Branding Strategy and Marking

Plan to be evaluated and approved by the Agreement Officer and incorporated into any resulting award. Please do not submit Branding Strategy and Marketing Plan with the initial application.

The applicant must review the Pre-award Terms found in ADS 303mba entitled “Branding

Strategy – Assistance (June 2012)”, and “Marking Plan – Assistance (June 2012)”. See http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/303mba.

k) Funding Restrictions

Profit is not allowable for recipients or subrecipients under this award. See 2 CFR 200.331 for assistance in determining whether a sub-tier entity is a subrecipient or contractor.

Construction will not be authorized under this award.

https://sam.gov/ https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-300/references-chapter/303mba http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/303mba

USAID will not allow the reimbursement of pre-award costs under this award without the explicit written approval of the Agreement Officer.

Except as may be specifically approved in advance by the AO, all commodities and services that will be reimbursed by USAID under this award must be from the authorized geographic code specified in Section B.4 of this NOFO and must meet the source and nationality requirements set forth in 22 CFR 228.

Per ADS 303.3.35.2, Covered Telecommunication and Video Surveillance Equipment or

Services, effective August 13, 2020, a recipient may not procure covered telecommunication equipment or services for the implementation of this program using award funds.

l) Conflict of Interest Pre-Award Term

a. Personal Conflict of Interest (August 2018)

1. An actual or appearance of a conflict of interest exists when an applicant organization or an employee of the organization has a relationship with an Agency official involved in the competitive award decision-making process that could affect that Agency official’s impartiality. The term “conflict of interest” includes situations in which financial or other personal considerations may compromise, or have the appearance of compromising, the obligations and duties of a USAID employee or recipient employee.

2. The applicant must provide conflict of interest disclosures when it submits an SF-424.

Should the applicant discover a previously undisclosed conflict of interest after submitting the application, the applicant must disclose the conflict of interest to the

AO no later than ten (10) calendar days following discovery.

b. Organizational Conflict of Interest

The applicant must notify USAID of any actual or potential conflict of interest that they are aware of that may provide the applicant with an unfair competitive advantage in competing for this financial assistance award. Examples of an unfair competitive advantage include but are not limited to situations in which an applicant or the applicant’s employee gained access to non-public information regarding a federal assistance funding opportunity, or an applicant or applicant’s employee was substantially involved in the preparation of a federal assistance funding opportunity. USAID will promptly take appropriate action upon receiving any such notification from the applicant.

[END OF SECTION D]

SECTION E: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria

The merit review criteria prescribed here are tailored to the requirements of this particular NOFO.

Applicants should note that these criteria serve to: (a) identify the significant matters which the applicants should address in their applications, and (b) set the standard against which all applications will be evaluated.

Technical and other factors will be evaluated relative to each other, as described here and prescribed by the Technical Application Format. The Technical Application will be scored by a

Merit Review Committee (MRC) using the criteria described in this section.

2. Review and Selection Process

a) Merit Review

USAID will conduct a merit review of all applications received that comply with the instructions in this NOFO. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated in accordance with the following criteria shown in descending order of importance as noted below:

Merit Review Criteria #1: Technical Approach (Most Important)

The extent to which the Technical Approach demonstrates a clear understanding of the NOFO, and outlines a technically sound, context-appropriate, evidence-based, and sustainable approach to achieving the Activity goal, objectives, and characteristics of a successful program described in

Section A, including its proposed approach to rapidly mobilizing interventions and scenario planning for potential programming pivots.

Merit Review Criteria #2: Institutional Capacity (Most Important)

Extent to which the Applicant demonstrates capability and experience in developing and sustaining relevant…