Amendment 1_Q&A 72048225RFA00002_SMCHC.pdf

RFA Issuance Date: October 25, 2024 Deadline for Questions: November 6, 2024 RFA Amendment Date: November 8, 2024 Deadline for Applications: December 6, 2024, 9:00 a.m, Bangkok Time

Subject: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Request for Application (RFA) No. 72048225RFA00002 RFA Amendment No. 1

Activity Title: Strengthening Malaria Control for High-Risk Communities (SMCHC)

Dear Potential Applicants:

The purpose of this amendment to NOFO is to address questions submitted by the due date of November 6, 2024 in response to NOFO No. 72048225RFA00002.

All other terms and conditions indicated in the above-mentioned solicitation issued on October 25, 2024 remain unchanged. Thank you for your interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, -s-

Bruce Gelband Agreement Officer USAID/Burma/OAA

Amendment 01

RFA 72048225RFA00002

Strengthening Malaria Control for High-Risk Communities

Request For Application (RFA) No.: 72048225RFA00002 Strengthening Malaria Control for High-Risk Communities

Issuance Date: October 25, 2024 Closing Date/Time for Questions: November 6, 2024, 9:00 a.m. Bangkok Time Closing Date/Time for Receipt of Applications: December 6, 2024, 9:00 a.m. Bangkok Time

Section A: BASIC INFORMATION

1. How is a ‘local’ organization defined in this context? Would this include organizations based in Myanmar and Thailand? Is there any specific registration required for an organization to be considered ‘local’?

USAID: Local organization is defined below. USAID defines a “local entity” as an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that:

(1) Is legally organized under the laws of Myanmar or Thailand;

(2) Has as its principal place of business or operations in Myanmar or Thailand;

(3) Is majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of

Myanmar or Thailand; and

(4) Is managed by a governing body the majority of who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of a country receiving assistance.

For purposes of this definition, “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.

Section B: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

2. We are planning to Prime for this NOFO, with the sub partner who has an office based in Thailand, and registered in Thailand, can USAID allow for this arrangement?

USAID: The place of performance for this activity could be either Thailand or Burma, whichever is operationally optimal due to the current context in Myanmar. There are no restrictions preventing the use of a Thai subawardee.

3. Can USAID allow sub-sub-recipients (SSR) to include smaller organizations under the sub-partner?

USAID: Yes. 2 CFR 200 provides guidelines on managing federal awards, including subawards to lower-tier subrecipients. The pass-through entities, typically primary recipients of federal awards, have responsibilities in managing and overseeing subrecipients, including those that may be considered lower-tier. The Federal agency does not have a direct legal

Strengthening Malaria Control for High-Risk Communities relationship with subrecipients or contractors of any tier; however, the Federal agency is responsible for monitoring the pass-through entity's oversight of first-tier subrecipients.

Section C: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

4. Could you please provide the names of the 15 target townships located in Tanintharyi (5), Mon (1), Kayin (4), Kayah (3), Kachin (1), and South Shan (1) regions/states?

USAID: Please see below table, the names of 15 townships mentioned in the NOFO.

State Region Townships

Tanintharyi (5) Bokpyin, Dawei, Kyansu, Palaw and Tanintharyi

Mon (1) Ye

Kayin (4) Thandaunggyi, Myawaddy,Hlaingbwe, Kyainseikgyi

Kayah (3) Meso, Loikaw, Demoso

Kachin (1) Waingmaw

South Shan (1) Pekon

5. For geographies, NOFO mentions Tanintharyi Region, Mon State, Kayin State and Kayah State, as well as on the Thai side, and also 15 townships, found in Tanintharyi (5), Mon (1), Kayin (4), Kayah (3), Kachin (1), and South Shan (1) regions/states. We would like to clarify 2 townships, are both Kachin and South Shan included?

USAID: Please refer to the response above.

6. Can USAID please name the 15 townships along the Thai-Burma border where 53% of the cases were reported in 2022, as referenced on page 10 of the NOFO?

USAID: Please refer to the response above.

7. In NOFO, the state and region are mentioned but not yet for townships. Could USAID share the list of townships that is planned to implement the malaria activities.

USAID: Please refer to the response above. Please note, during the implementation, USAID may consider adjusting the targeted geographical coverage based on malaria epidemiology, service delivery gaps and resource availability to address transmission and programmatic needs effectively.

Strengthening Malaria Control for High-Risk Communities

8. Can USAID please also confirm if the geographically targeted townships will expand beyond the states and regions that are currently articulated in the NOFO?

USAID: Based on resource availability, malaria epidemiology, and malaria service delivery gaps, USAID, in consultation with other donors, may consider expanding or changing the targeted geographical coverage. This will include evaluating the need to include additional townships and affected villages, beyond those currently articulated in the NOFO, to effectively address malaria transmission, service gaps, and programmatic needs driven by the epidemic situation.

9. We would like to confirm if operational activities, including procurement and logistics, need to be conducted in Myanmar or can they be managed from Thailand?

USAID: The place of performance for this activity could be either Thailand or Burma, whichever is operationally convenient due to the current context in Myanmar. Please refer to A. 6 Authorized Geographic Code section of the NOFO. The Geographic Code 935 would allow for the procurement of quality-assured malaria commodities (pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and supplies, insecticide-treated nets, and repellents) from any area or country, including the cooperating country, but excluding any country that is a prohibited source listed in ADS 310mac List of Prohibited Source Countries.

10. Is it necessary to address all three objectives in the proposal, or is it acceptable to focus on only one objective?

USAID: As articulated in Section C: Program Description and C: 4 Activity Description of the NOFO, to achieve the purpose of SMCHC, all three interlinked objectives must be addressed in the application.

11. Can applicants propose targeting townships to implement only one of the objectives under the Activity, where other objectives are covered effectively by other USAID programs?

USAID: As articulated in Section C: Program Description and C: 4 Activity Description of the NOFO, to achieve the purpose of SMCHC, all three interlinked objectives must be addressed in the application.

12. In Section C.6.5 (page 20) USAID states that “the recipient will dedicate 70% of the award budget to local partner(s) for subawards”. Could USAID please confirm that “local partner” for the purposes of this solicitation includes Burmese and Thai organizations, as well as ethnic health organizations?

USAID: Yes. Local partners for the purposes of this NOFO may include Burmese and Thai organizations. The definition of local entity is provided in ADS Chapter 303 and in the above response to Question No. 1.

http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/310mac

Strengthening Malaria Control for High-Risk Communities

13. In Section C.6.6 (page 20) USAID establishes that SMCHC will procure malaria commodities.

Would USAID please confirm the estimated funding level allocated for malaria commodities and clarify the budget category for these procurement costs (e.g., subawards, ODCs, etc.)?

USAID: USAID encourages applicants to estimate funding levels for commodities that would reflect the proposed technical approach. If procurement is to be passed through to any subawards, the budget for that portion should be included in the subaward budget.

14. Which medicines are expected to be included in the program’s budget?

USAID: Primarily, WHO pre-qualified and Myanmar national malaria strategic plan/case management guideline recommended medicines to treat both uncomplicated P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria.

15. Where the NOFO states that procurement should be ‘local where possible,’ could you clarify the definition of ‘local’? Does this refer to Thailand, Burma, or both?

USAID: The Geographic Code 935 would allow for the procurement of quality-assured malaria commodities (pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and supplies, insecticide-treated nets, and repellents) from any area or country, including the cooperating country, but excluding any country that is a prohibited source listed in ADS 310mac List of Prohibited Source Countries. USAID seeks to better facilitate international development efforts, ensuring that program needs could be met with fewer procedural obstacles and in alignment with the Foreign Assistance Act, which emphasizes support for developing countries.

16. If procurement is conducted locally in Thailand, what is the policy for obtaining a tax waiver

USAID: There are no specific clauses granting an exemption of taxes and duties for goods and services procured under USAID programs in bilateral agreement between the USG and Thailand. Reimbursement of any taxes charged would be considered in line with 2 CFR 200.470.

17. Does this project intend to deliver services to both government-controlled and non-government-controlled areas in Burma?

USAID: Please refer to NOFO Section C: Program Description; C:2 Background and Geographic Focus. The project delivers malaria services to communities in high burden areas of the indicated states/ regions/townships/ provinces, and districts. These areas include hard-to-reach and mobile and migrant populations and communities that are at the greatest risk of malaria and lack access to effective health services.

Strengthening Malaria Control for High-Risk Communities

18. What are the specific expectations regarding activities on the Thai side of the border?

USAID: Given that malaria has no borders, the expectation is that similar activities, particularly case management and surveillance activities, would be required on the Thai side of the border to effectively address malaria transmission, service gaps, and programmatic needs driven by the epidemic situation. There will need to be strong coordination and collaboration with stakeholders on the Thai side to ensure that activities are reaching the most vulnerable and at-risk populations on the Thai side of the border as well.

19. Beyond working with Provincial and District Health Offices, what coordination with the Thai government and local authorities is expected?

USAID: It is expected that coordination with Thai government health and non-health authorities may be required. In addition to the Provincial and District Health Offices, coordination with other local stakeholders including civil society organizations, local administrative organizations (LAOs), schools, and private sector partners including hospitals and clinics providing malaria services may be warranted. It is also expected that coordination will be required with relevant provincial and local technical and coordination bodies established to respond to the malaria upsurge along the Thai-Burma border.

20. Can USAID confirm if the SMCHC Activity involves the implementation of activities on both sides of the border (Thailand and Myanmar) or only cross-border collaborations with Thailand?

USAID: Implementation of activities is expected on both sides of the border to effectively address malaria transmission, service gaps, and programmatic needs driven by the epidemic situation. The applicant should be able to operate in both Thailand and Burma and have the necessary capacity and legal standing to provide quality case management and prevention services.

21. Does USAID have a preference for where the coordinating function for activities within Myanmar will be based, e.g., Myanmar or Thailand?

USAID: The place of performance for this activity could be either Thailand or Burma, whichever is operationally effective due to the current context in Myanmar. Applicants should use good judgment for establishment of coordination functions to effectively manage and implement the proposed activities.

Strengthening Malaria Control for High-Risk Communities

22. What is USAID’s position on sharing sensitive data generated by this program with Burma’s National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) to protect the privacy and security of local health organizations?

USAID: USAID takes data privacy and security very seriously. The agency ensures that data sharing is done responsibly, with proper protections for privacy and national security.

Please refer to USAID's Development Data Policy (ADS 579) for more information.

23. Can USAID provide what levels of engagement are required with the Myanmar Ministry of Health and the National Malaria Control Program regarding this cooperative agreement?

USAID: USAID encourages applicants to thoroughly review the NOFO and identify relevant stakeholders who are essential for engagement in the planning, implementation, management, and monitoring and evaluation of the proposed activities.

24. From USAID’s perspective, what budget allocation is expected for Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) and Safeguarding?

USAID: USAID has no set minimum budget allocation for PSEAH and safeguarding. This may include costs associated with establishing and enforcing policies, staff training, reporting mechanisms, and ongoing monitoring for compliance. Applicants should ensure that resources for PSEAH and Safeguarding are adequate based on the specific activities and needs of the project.

25. Does USAID recommend using the management systems eLMIS and mSupply?

USAID: If systems like eLMIS and mSupply are effective and feasible to implement without much difficulties in the targeted geographical areas and demonstrate that those systems can achieve the intended purposes, USAID will consider their use.

26. We will conduct proper forecasting, quantification, supply planning, storage, and distribution of commodities. Due to the limitation of the cross-border transportation of commodities from Thailand to Myanmar, we will include the strategic purchasing: include the commodities cost (RDT, medicine, etc.) in the treatment cost under service providers. Let us know if that is feasible.

USAID: Applicants are encouraged to use best judgment and most effective methods for commodity planning, considering the current context in Myanmar. Adherence to USAID guidance, specifically ADS Chapter 310 Source and Nationality Requirements for Procurement of Commodities and Services Financed by USAID and ADS Chapter 312 - Eligibility of Commodities, are crucial.

Strengthening Malaria Control for High-Risk Communities

27. Can USAID please require that the implementing partner for the President’s Malaria Initiative Eliminate Malaria Activity post progress reports to the Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC). We do not see the most recent quarterly or annual reports available to the public. Would USAID also consider sharing the latest annual and/or quarterly report for Eliminate Malaria?

USAID: This NOFO pertains to a new malaria activity in different geographical areas from the Eliminate Malaria Activity. The purpose and objectives differ from those of the Eliminate Malaria Activity and the reports are not presently available.

Section D: APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORMAT

28. Section D.2 (page 24) asks for the resume and letter of commitment for the Chief of Party only.

Can USAID confirm that no additional resumes are required even if the applicant chooses to name additional key staff?

USAID: Only the resume for the Chief of Party (COP) position is required and no other individual need be identified by name in the application.

29. Please confirm that an applicant is free to determine where the Chief of Party will be based.

USAID: Yes. The applicant is free to propose where the COP will be based and should demonstrate a convincing management and staffing plan that supports the proposed technical approach and accomplishment of activity objectives.

30. Where does the USAID want the COP, the Technical Advisor and other key positions to be based

– Burma or Thailand?

USAID: The applicant is free to determine where the COP, Technical Advisor and other key positions will be based and should demonstrate a convincing management and staffing plan that supports the proposed technical approach and accomplishment of activity objectives.

31. Will the key personnel – the COP and the Technical Advisor - need to be national recruitments or can it also be international personnel/ expat positions?

USAID: Applicants should consider localization principles, to the maximum extent possible, in its recruitment and replacement of key personnel and non-key personnel positions.

32. Please confirm there are only 2 Key Personnel required for this Activity – a Chief of Party (to be named in the Concept Application submission) and a Technical Advisor for Malaria and Health Systems (to be named following co-creation)

USAID: The Chief of Party and Technical Advisor-Malaria and Health System positions are the two required key personnel positions for this award. Applicants need only propose a specific

Strengthening Malaria Control for High-Risk Communities individual for the COP position as part of the concept application. Applicants may consider proposing a maximum of up to four key personnel positions including the two mandated key personnel positions.

33. For the summary budget, are the provided examples indicative of the level of justification required for each cost category, or are they simply examples of items that could fall under each category?

USAID: They simply are both examples of items that could fall under each category and brief justification. Summary budget allows USAID to assess whether the proposed activities are financially realistic and feasible within the proposed technical approach and available funding. It helps identify any potential budgetary issues before moving to a full application.

34. For the 70% of the budget allocated to local implementers, does this need to be directly sub granted to them and itemized in the budget, or is it sufficient to demonstrate that this portion will ultimately go to local implementation by local implementers, regardless of governance structure.

USAID: Subaward costs at any tier should be demonstrated under subawards cost category. Also, Applicants must itemize those major subrecipient(s) budgeted in excess of $2,000,000 in the summary budget.

35. What is the recommended budgeting approach for local partners who do not qualify as “major subrecipients” under the NOFO guidelines? Specifically, should we itemize the budget for each partner, or is it acceptable to present a single total budget (exceeding $2 million), with an understanding that it will be divided among multiple partners?

USAID: Budgets for local partners who do not qualify as “major subrecipients” can be presented as a single total budget local subaward category. Applicants must provide budget assumptions.

36. Please confirm that the procurement of malaria commodities can be programmed under local partner budget lines.

USAID: Subawardees may procure malaria commodities.

Strengthening Malaria Control for High-Risk Communities

Section E: SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

37. Can USAID confirm if unregistered partners in Myanmar (those not formally registered with the in-country de facto authorities) are able to be considered as part of this proposal?

USAID: Entity validation documents will be required to obtain a UEI and/or SAM registration.

USAID may exempt certain applicants, recipients, and subrecipients from requirements to obtain a UEI or register in SAM, or both, in accordance with 2 CFR 25.110

38. Are all partners, including local partners, required to be registered on SAM.gov, or is this only mandatory for the Prime applicant?

USAID: The prime applicant should be registered in SAM.gov before submitting an application.

First-tier subrecipients must obtain a UEI in order to receive a subaward, but are not required to complete full SAM registration. Please see “Get a Unique Entity ID (UEI) in SAM.gov” but see Answer 37. above.

39. Our question is for Entity Registration in SAM.gov. There are two different entity registration 1) All Award 2) Financial Assistance Award. If an applicant is taking a grant from USAID and implementing the malaria activities, should it make registration under the Financial Assistance award because big procurement such as commodities will be supported by USAID as per NOFO?

Could you please provide more information about difference between All award and Financial Assistance award

USAID: An “All Award” registration allows you to bid on contracts and other procurements, as well as apply for financial assistance. This type of registration requires more information about your entity. A “Financial Assistance Awards” registration allows you to apply for financial assistance, for example grants and loans, only. Please watch this purpose of registration video.

40. Would USAID consider a two-week extension to the closing date and time to allow for more consultation with local partners considering the numerous holidays in November?

USAID: USAID is unable to change this deadline.

(End of Questions and Answers) (End of Amendment 01 of RFA No. 72048225RFA00002) https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-07496/p-amd-5 https://www.workwithusaid.gov/resource-library/get-a-unique-entity-id-in-sam-gov https://www.workwithusaid.gov/resource-library/get-a-unique-entity-id-in-sam-gov https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0070539 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0070539