Amendment 1_NOFO72067425RFA00001_DREAMS North.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO) #72067425RFA00001 AMENDMENT 1

NOFO Number: 72067425RFA00001

NOFO Issuance Date: December 13, 2024 Deadline for Questions: January 13, 2025

Amendment No. 1 Issuance Date: January 17, 2025 Closing Date for Concept Papers: February 11, 2025, 2:00PM South Africa Time

Subject: Amendment 1 to NOFO No. 72067425RFA00001

Program Title: HIV Prevention Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women and Other Vulnerable Youth Populations - DREAMS North

Dear Prospective Applicants:

This amendment modifies the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the proposed HIV Prevention Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women and Other Vulnerable Youth Populations - DREAMS North Program to:

1) Provide answers to questions received from potential applicants, as detailed on the following pages of this document.

2) Revise Indicator 4.1.c, page 25, to delete:

“Indicator 4.1.c.

● Operational Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) and regular reporting to relevant GoSA departments o Target: MOUs with 7 provincial Health Departments”

And replace with:

“Indicator 4.1.c.

● Operational Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) and regular reporting to relevant GoSA departments o Target: MOUs with 3 provincial Health Departments”

3) Revise Section E.2 Submission Requirements, page 61, to delete:

“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/Insert Mission/Office cannot guarantee their acceptance by the internet server. File size must not exceed Insert max file size.”

And replace with:

Amendment 01 – 72067425RFA00001 HIV Prevention Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women and Other Vulnerable Youth Populations -

DREAMS North

“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/Southern Africa cannot guarantee their acceptance by the internet server. File size must not exceed 10 MB.”

Unless specifically stated herein, all other terms and conditions of the NOFO remain unchanged.

Thank you for your interest in USAID’s programs.

Sincerely, /s/ Heather Wirick

Heather Wirick Agreement Officer USAID/Southern Africa

Answers to all Questions received are provided below:

1) In Section D.2 (page 39), it is stated that “Applicants must compile and submit the concept paper, and all supporting documents as a single email attachment.” It is not clear what supporting documents are required for Phase 1 of the application, apart from the cover page, table of contents and list of acronyms. Please can you clarify if there are additional supporting documents required for the Phase 1 application. Thank you.

USAID Answer: supporting documents refers to any document (graphics, charts) included in the limited six (6) pages.

2) What period do the specified targets cover? Are these for the full five-year period of the grant?

USAID Answer: The targets are for the full five-year period of the resulting award. USAID will set annual targets during the Country Operational Plan (COP) period taking into consideration factors such as program context, performance, data, and PEPFAR priorities.

3) Will the selected implementing partner be required to fund and make provision in its budget for the procurement of the biomedical services and products such as HIV selftesting kits for the required HIV Testing and Screening (HTS), HIV Self Screening (HIVSS), Pre- Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post- Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and other Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (SRHS) or will the selected partner be expected to work in collaboration with existing clinical District Support Partners and the provincial Departments of Health for these products and services to meet the allocated targets?

USAID Answer: Implementing partners working with PEPFAR/USAID are not required to procure biomedical products such as HIV self-testing kits, PrEP, PEP, and other sexual and reproductive health commodities, as these are procured and supplied by the Department of Health.

However, the selected implementing partner must establish a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the relevant Provincial Departments of Health to facilitate access to these products through health facilities (clinics) in accordance with the NOFO. This collaboration ensures seamless service delivery, alignment with national procurement mechanisms, and efficient distribution of biomedical services to meet program targets.

4) The DREAMS primary package has traditionally included evidence- based parenting/ caregiver programmes such as Let’s Talk. However, this intervention is not included in the DREAMS Next Gen list of interventions (Appendix B), are partners allowed to utilise the Let’s Talk curriculum as part of its DREAMS interventions?

USAID Answer: While it may not be explicitly listed in Appendix B, Let’s Talk is a recognized evidence-based positive parenting curriculum supported by PEPFAR and USAID. Implementing partners are permitted to include it as part of their DREAMS interventions to strengthen caregiver-adolescent relationships.

5) Page 25: Indicator 4.1c: Target- MOUs with 7 provincial Health Departments. Is this correct or should be it be 3 provincial health departments since the activity will be implemented in 3 provinces?

USAID Answer: there is an error in the number and it should be 3 provincial health departments.

6) For objective 2, we wanted to clarify whether this new award would interact similarly to the current award with the facility partner's DREAMS activities? I.e. in the new award, would the facility partner continue to have targets for PrEP? And, therefore, would most of the work under objective 2 take place in the community?

USAID Answer: While PrEP and other SRH commodities will be accessed through health facilities, the PrEP targets under this new award are specifically community-based targets. This means the successful applicant will be responsible for achieving these targets independently of facility partners. The primary focus under Objective 2 will be on community-based interventions, demand creation, and ensuring that eligible individuals initiate and adhere to PrEP outside of facility-based settings.

7) On page 18 of the NOFO, it states the number of AGYW completing the DREAMS primary package (HIV and Violence prevention intervention, Financial Literacy and Sexual Reproductive Health information and linkages) at safe spaces. The target is 250,000. Please can USAID clarify if the 250,000 is over the duration of 5 year project or per annum.

USAID Answer: USAID estimates that the Activity will reach 250,000 program participants over the life of award. USAID will set annual targets during the Country Operational Plan (COP) period taking into consideration factors such as program context, performance, data, and PEPFAR priorities.

8) We noted in the RFI that on page 8 – CDP diagram certain curriculum such as SASA!, Let's Talk, Sinuvyo, Siyakha and No Means No are listed but they are absent in the NOFO. Please clarify if we should be using these curriculums.

USAID Answer: The successful applicant may employ any curricula that is evidence-based and supported by PEPFAR and/or USAID.

9) We greatly value the CBIMS database for DREAMS and OVC data capturing and reporting. To further enhance data-driven decision-making and program performance, we would like to inquire about the possibility of exploring complementary digital innovations, such as advanced digital client management tools, to integrate with or leverage CBIMS. Our aim is to enhance analytics capabilities and visualization outputs, providing enriched insights and dynamic reporting while aligning with existing data security and interoperability standards.

Would USAID support the exploration of such complementary tools?

USAID Answer: CBIMS is the designated platform for reporting DREAMS data to USAID and it supports the calculation of the AGYW_PREV indicator.

10) Page 3 "It is envisioned that this goal will be achieved by improving AGYW access to a comprehensive package of evidence-based/informed, age-appropriate prevention interventions that address biological, behavioral, and socio-economic determinants of HIV risk, and by prioritizing the supply of contraception, STI treatment, and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). "

a. Is Prep also to be included in this list as well as PEP?

USAID Answer: We are assuming you are referring to Page 4, under Executive Summary. Yes, PrEP and PEP are both included in the list of biomedical interventions that this activity will provide. All activities/interventions to be covered and included under this NOFO are discussed in pages 15 to 25.

11) Page 8: "This Activity will consolidate some of the DREAMS interventions"- how does USAID plan to consolidate in geographies if there are several partners implementing in one district? How will USAID consolidate DREAMS under 1 award? Will partners in Phase 2 be combined together or will the Phase 1 proposed partner (and proposed sub partners) be the option in all geographies for USAID Dreams programs.

USAID Answer: This NOFO is for a single award over a five-year period. Applications may propose sub-awards to other entities to adequately implement the proposed program.

12) Page 9: Girl Effect, Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare, and Johnson & Johnson. Are all of these partners funded by USAID for DREAMS-related work? If yes, will this partnership be continued to be funded outside of this mechanism? If these partners are part of a proposal should they be unbudgeted?

a. Should one of these partners be in a consortium, can they lead components of the work?

USAID Answer: Applications may propose sub-awards to other entities to adequately implement the proposed program.

13) Page 9 and 37: Multiple Sectors: As One Dreams model moves forward, how will USAID manage the CDC DREAMS-AGYW interventions in the same provinces?

USAID Answer: The CDC and USAID are US Government agencies to support the implementation of DREAMS interventions in South Africa and will work collaboratively to ensure the coordination, harmonization and standardization of DREAMS programming across all focus geographies to sustain the US Government response.

14) Page 9,12, 13, 3 7IX. COORDINATION WITH OTHER USAID/SOUTHERN AFRICA ACTIVITIES: Across multiple Sectors: Sustainability: Will USAID have this mechanism open for other USAID sector budget support (education, econ growth, etc.).

USAID Answer: This specific mechanism is solely focused on the DREAMS program and is not designed to, but is also not limited to, incorporate funding from other USAID sector budgets, such as education or economic growth. Potential applicants should not assume that other funding from other sectors within USAID would be available.

15) How does USAID view partnerships with government (government to government) funding or parastatal funded partners under this mechanism? Should partners plan to include these partners as non-budgeted partners?

USAID Answer: USAID does not anticipate sub-awards to South African government entities through this Activity. The successful applicant will be required to develop a memorandum of understanding with the relevant South African Government Departments to support implementation of their program.