BMA-538-STIP-2016-Addendum_1.pdf

Addendum 1

USAID/ESC Science, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Broad Mission Announcement

No. BMA-538-STIP-2016 Title: “Local Capacity for Local Solutions”

PURPOSE1: USAID/Eastern and Southern Caribbean (ESC) seeks Expressions of Interest from individuals, organizations, and consortia/partnerships that would like to share innovative approaches to solving the Key Objective outlined below.

WHO MAY APPLY: Expressions of Interest may come from individuals, the public and non-governmental sectors (international or local organizations, foundations, universities, etc.), and the private sector. Please note that USAID welcomes Expressions of Interest from entities or individuals who also seek to contribute ideas to the co-creation process, but who will not necessarily obtain funding from the U.S. Government.

IMPORTANT: To participate in this opportunity, organizations must present their ideas in a manner that applies research (social or technical), analysis, technology, or innovation to help resolve the stated problem below. All Expressions of Interest shall become the property of

USAID/ESC.

KEY OBJECTIVE: Local Capacity for Local Solutions (LC4LS) USAID/ESC aims to identify unique and innovative methods to strengthen local organizations' capacity, using non-traditional methods for institutional capacity building, while also responding to the unique geographical challenges in the ESC region comprising the countries of Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago. USAID/ESC seeks to increase the likelihood of sustainable outcomes by seeking innovative and creative implementation approaches to build organizational, administrative, and management capacity and resources of selected local non-profit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs);

defined as those organizations that already have a demonstrated capacity to implement projects and activities that contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the ESC Regional Development Cooperation Strategy 2015-2019 (RDCS) yet require organizational, administrative, and managerial capacity-building to ensure longevity and sustainability. This Critical Problem Addendum invites a diverse group of organizations to brainstorm solutions together that will allow for a more robust discussion about innovative approaches to assisting local organizations across the ESC region expand and sustainably provide services throughout the region.

It is expected that capacity building will be achieved through a combination of formal, non-formal, build on-the-job, and other capacity building methodologies. Thematic areas will include but are not limited to (1) Individual Capacities (leadership and staff development); (2) Organizational Capacities; (3) Resource Mobilization Capacities; and (4) External Relations Capacities.

1 The authority to issue a Broad Mission Announcement (BMA) is provided under FAR 35.016 “Research and Development Contracting, Broad Agency Announcement.” The BMA is a competitive solicitation procedure used to obtain proposals for basic and applied research and development. The BMA process is described in detail in FAR

6.102 and FAR 35.016.

Broad Mission Announcement The USAID/Eastern and Southern Caribbean Science, Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Broad Mission Announcement Addendum 1

CHALLENGES:

Expressions of Interest must take into account how the innovative solution(s) could be impacted by these challenges:

● Collaboration and coordination of stakeholders: joining efforts among networks and coalitions of government, associations, and other stakeholders in the ESC region who are working to (1) reduce youth involvement in crime and violence; (2) reduce risks and adapt to the impacts of global climate change; and/or (3) achieve epidemic control of HIV/AIDS throughout the region, there is room to improve collaboration focused on shared interests and programming, especially in the design phase of programs;

● Access to information: Citizens, government entities, and non-governmental organizations are, in some cases, limited in their ability to analyze information and contribute to public policy solutions because they do not have access to information or capacity development resources;

● Trust: Citizens and diaspora do not necessarily trust the enabling environment (legal, social, cultural), or their sustain civil society.

● Capacity: Host governments, associations, non-governmental organizations, small-and medium-sized enterprises, and other stakeholders need greater institutional capacity to create government policies and more effectively implement their missions focused in the sectors of economic performance, energy, security and governance, education, health, the environment, and gender.

● Key sustainability factors: Assisting community members on better developing their advocacy for government services.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST: Expressions of Interest must state the research or development idea(s) that will deliver potential solutions to the Key Objective described above that are grounded in:

● scientific discoveries or improvements in technology; and/or

● the application of scientific or technical knowledge in the design, development, testing or evaluation of a potential new product or service (or an improvement in an existing product or service).

Expressions of Interest also must specify:

● the interested party’s institutional strengths;

● expected impact;

● anticipated partnerships and resource contributions;

● proposed funding requirements; and

● the specific geographic area(s) to be targeted (if applicable).

Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Broad Mission Announcement Addendum 1

Submitted Expressions of Interest must:

not exceed 2-7 pages, excluding header/footer and graphic(s);

contain a header with the following information (not included in word count);

Respondent Name/organization and contact information:

Response Title;

BMA Critical Problem Addendum Name/Number;

● be in .pdf, or docx format;

● submitted in English.

EVALUATION CRITERIA: Expressions of Interest will be evaluated consistent with USAID/ESC’s Broad Mission Announcement (BMA) dated August 26, 2016 and the following criteria being given equal consideration:

● Idea/Approach: Soundness, innovativeness and feasibility of the applicant’s idea/approach as it applies to research (social or technical), analysis, technology, or innovation (including appropriate supporting evidence) in relation to the Key Objective set forth in this Addendum.

● Organizational Strength: Organization’s strengths as a partner due to appropriate experience, established relations, skill, innovative or proven methodologies, ability to bring together key stakeholders, or other strategic qualities,

● connecting disparate communities, i.e. academia, private sector, civil society;

● innovatively addressing/harnessing challenges/opportunities to local capacity development;

● connecting with experts in non-traditional and diverse sectors;

● implementing adaptive and/or iterative programming;

● managing successful peer-to-peer networks; and

● catalyzing new ideas effectively.

SELECTION PROCESS: USAID will review and select Expressions of Interest submitted in accordance with the guidelines and criteria set forth above and in the BMA. USAID/ESC will select those Expressions of Interest that it finds best meet the requirements of this Addendum and the BMA. USAID reserves the right to reject any Expressions of Interest that do not meet the guidelines. T

State 1: this is the first stage of a four stage process. After the Expressions of Interest stage, the selected organizations will work together to collaborate, co-create, and co-design new program(s). Some approaches and activities emerging from this process may be funded by USAID. Following the review of Expressions of Interest, the following steps will occur:

Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Broad Mission Announcement Addendum 1

● Stage 2: Selected individuals or groups of organizations that have been accepted based on their Expressions of Interest will be invited to join the co-creation process. During the co-creation process, selected organizations will gather (possibly multiple days) in Barbados, both physically and virtually, to develop innovative program(s) in a collaborative manner that describe solutions to the Key Objective and that applies research (social or technical), analysis, technology, or innovation to help resolve the Key Objective set forth above. It is envisioned that this will result in one or more Concept Papers of 5-12 pages that outline the concrete programmatic plan, focus areas, notional budget, goals, indicators, and timelines, etc. Travel costs will not be reimbursed by USAID.

● Stage 3: Final Concept Papers will be submitted by groups of organizations to a “Peer and Scientific Review Board” that will consist of USAID experts, host government representatives, partners, and outside development or other experts. The Peer and Scientific Review Board will evaluate the Concept Papers using its technical expertise in accordance with the evaluation criteria specified above and based on relevant U.S.

Government procurement regulations. Approved Concept Papers may be further developed through continued co-design in collaboration with USAID.

● Stage 4: A full application/proposal will be requested by the Contracting/Agreement

Officer and an individual award(s) will be negotiated should an award be appropriate.

This Addendum is subject to all conditions specified in USAID/ESC’s BMA No. BMA-538- STIP-2016. USAID reserves the right to select one, several, or no Expressions of Interest for consideration under this Addendum. USAID is not obligated to issue a financial instrument or award as a result of this Addendum.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST DUE DATE: Individuals and institutions must submit their Expressions of Interest to dropportunities@usaid.gov and include the BMA number in the subject line. Expressions of Interest must be received by September 30, 2016. Questions about this Addendum may also be submitted to the same e-mail address, and must be received by September 16, 2016 3:00 pm EST. USAID/ESC strives to start Stage 2 of the process in November 2016 (exact date to be determined).