Applicant Questions and Answers 1.pdf

Applicant Questions #1:

Advisory Support for Subsurface Mine Construction and Safety

We want to make sure we understand the expectations clearly and seek clarification on: "..will provide expert engineering advice ", "..provide advice on implementing construction of the design, post-construction inspections and engineering advice.." "...offer technical advice on these issues and the mine construction project through in-country technical advisory support".

As noted in the SOW, the school has already acquired design plans for a training mine. The request is for expert advice on implementation of the design. The language in the SOW states

"The Recipient’s added value will be to vet existing plans from a mining engineering perspective, provide advice on implementing construction of the design, post-construction inspections and engineering advice, and answering ad hoc technical questions."

Vocational and Engineering Curriculum Development

It is not clear to us if the course work is intended at the vocational level or intended for engineering students. Is this something we determine after meeting with Greenlandic stakeholders?

Yes

There is mention of petroleum as well. Do we focus equally on mining and petroleum, even if the RFP seems heavily slanted to mining?

The primary focus is mining. There may be cross-sector vocational skills to support and address since the school provides training related to both industries.

Course development can mean development of a detailed syllabus or providing all teaching material. What is the expectation?

The expectation is to work closely with the counterpart and develop course outlines and draft and/or organize teaching material to address priority capacity needs at the school.

Does stakeholder consultation have to be in-person?

As stated in the NoFo, it is expected that much of the work will be done remotely as well as in-person.

Participants and Audiences:

"Participants are counterpart Greenlandic and local government officials and KTI Råstofskolen faculty and staff with roles in mineral sector management and corresponding education in the

Priority Region. " Does this refer to stakeholders who may be involved in consulting with us for various activities?

Participants are the school and Greenlandic government agencies with a role in mineral sector oversight and education.

We would expect that as the activities progress, KTI will help us connect with the right stakeholders. Is that a reasonable assumption?

Yes

Performance Indicators

Most of the performance indicators (PI) do not seem relevant to this project. For example, "Amount of Investment mobilized for energy projects", or "value of US exports". We will use some of your PI, discard others entirely, and create some new ones. Is that acceptable? Are any of the PI mandatory?

The Indicators are mandatory and may not be discarded, and an updated list may be provided by

ENR to the awardee. The Indicators may be supplemented with additional indicators.

Cost-sharing

Cost-share is not required. However, if cost-share is shown, does that help in the rating process?

Cost sharing is not required. There also is no restriction on presenting a budget that shares costs.

Evaluation criteria are listed in Section E of the Notice of Funding Opportunity document.

Additionally, When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability purposes, you must maintain written records to support all costs that are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s Circular 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600, entitled the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for

Federal Awards. In the event you do not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ISN/ECC’s contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

Applicant Organization

Would you please clarify what you by “the Organization applying” (the lead department? the university?); “information” (size, dates, descriptions of awards?) and “all previous grants.

The applicant organization is left to the applicant’s discretion. Please note that the organization must have a DUNS number. The Notice seeks examples of past experience that informs the reviewers of their ability to carry out the project. The applicant is not expected to provide a full list of all U.S. government grants and cooperative agreements.

Training Topics

The announcement states that the proposal could include other topics not mentioned in the text of the RFP. Would other topics be of interest to add to the proposed curriculum?

The applicant is welcome to propose specific topics of training they believe will advance the goals of the project. Specific training that should be proposed is referenced in the Statement of

Work.

Remote Training

Are we expected to build support in the budget for technology to deliver training remotely?

Trainings are expected to be primarily conducted in person. However, the Notice requests the applicant include a mitigation strategy for COVID-19, including disruptions and travel restrictions: “Due to the work disruptions and travel restrictions caused by COVID-19, the applicant must include a contingency plan outlining how to mitigate restrictions/interruptions to the project implementation during the period of performance. Contingency plans may include project implementation through remote or virtual training tools.”

Partnering with Outside Institutions

Are there limitations with regard to partnering with other/international institutions?

Per the Notice, “Eligibility is limited to U.S. non-profit/nongovernmental organizations subject to section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. tax code, foreign non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and public international organizations.”

If the primary agreement is with New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, the applicant may propose partnering with an international institution.