DAC NOFO amendment 0006 to respond to questions and change the date final.pdf

Amendment 0006 for the NOFO # 95332418N0003

NOFO Name: “Data Analytics Center Project in Côte d’Ivoire”

Subject: To respond to questions and to change the applications submission date for Phase II

The purpose of this Amendment 0006 is to change the Phase II complete applications submission date from

February 15, 2018, 2.00 pm EST to February 21, 2018, 2.00 pm EST. We are extending the submission due date because we are hoping this additional time will give applicants the opportunity to further improve their applications for what we consider a complex scope, with great potential to support both the President’s

Emergency Plan for AID Relief (PEPFAR), the MCC compact as well as Côte d’Ivoire’s own national priorities to position itself as a leader in information and communication (ICT) and data technology and data use. In addition, this amendment also (1) provides a summary of the guidance relayed to applicants during the February

1, 2018 Phase II pre-application conference call; and (2) responds to questions received during and after the call.

I. Guidance to Phase II Applicants

The following guidance was given to applicants during the above-referenced conference call:

1. DAC as a Business. As conveyed in the NOFO, the DCLI program is seeking to fund an innovative, market-driven, sustainable and results-based program. The role of the prime, with support from its partners, should be based on a sustainable, profit-generating model (i.e., an entity run like a business) from the outset. Prior experience in consulting, service delivery and startups would lend itself well to the kind of effort that is expected through this NOFO.

2. Mandate for Social Good. The teams are encouraged to be explicit about the planned connections to social good for Côte d’Ivoire and development of the data ecosystem in the country, as well as ways and means to advance the mandates of the sponsor agencies – State (PEPFAR) and MCC. While the DAC needs to operate and deliver as a business, this for-profit business must be balanced against the stated outcomes of developing Côte d’Ivoire’s data science capabilities. Specifically, this funding opportunity must deliver on well-established outcomes: PEPFAR’s mandate is to eradicate HIV worldwide, and

MCC’s mandate is to reduce poverty through economic growth. The funding should not only develop the business of the Data Analytics Center and result in its ability to continue the work after the project is finished; but should explicitly be used to advance these two mandates, and to developing the overall capacity for data analysis and use in the country. The DAC project will be expected to make significant contributions of employees’ time and expertise as a technical advisor and contributor to achieve the goals of DYSC. Examples include using DAC employees for technical upgrades to the Government of Côte d’Ivoire’s data portal, developing processes with the

Government for preparation and cleaning of data for publication, and working with civil society and other organizations to publish and make use of data.

3. Data Science vs. Data Use Basics. As noted in the NOFO, the DCLI program includes several activities in Tanzania. We are not, however, looking to replicate the Tanzanian program. The Tanzania dLab has been very successful with basic data training (data literacy and visualization) but has not yet achieved a sophisticated level of “data science.” In Côte d’Ivoire our emphasis is on data science as the foremost mission of DAC, and our aim is to establish a much more sophisticated data science expertise in Côte d’Ivoire. As noted in the NOFO: “Data science” should go beyond simple data visualization, including data wrangling, cleaning/tidying, statistical analysis across multiple datasets, professional-caliber visualization, etc.” To this end, the team should, if it does not already, reflect a strong understanding of and background in these more sophisticated services. It is understood that local data science talent may be scarce – and we noted this as a risk in Section 6 of the NOFO. That said, to the extent feasible, the inclusion of lvorian and locally-based data scientists from the beginning is important to a successful sustainability strategy.

4. Training. DAC’s training service is not meant to be a broad, public-facing training on basic data skills for the general population. It is rather intended to focus on the beneficiaries of data services. That is, the training would be for users, administrators and others related to a data project to understand, make the best use of, and put into action the results of the data science services. This may, on occasion but not as a major part of the project, be extended to training targeted strategic groups. For example, training on data science and use of data products may be beneficial for a broad set of PEPFAR implementing partners – in order to facilitate progress toward outcomes of the project. One particular set of trainings for a targeted group is the training and practical experience on data handling, analysis and use for several groups of fellows, as indicated in the NOFO. The DYSC project will be responsible for the structure, organization and design of the broader fellows program. However, as the NOFO requires, the DAC would be responsible for the development of a data fellowship curriculum and for its delivery. The specifics of this training should be determined in consultation with the DYSC team but is likely to be a multi-week set of courses, including practical training, provided by the DAC project but overseen by DYSC.

5. Connection to PEPFAR and MCC Business Opportunities. It is important for applicants to learn about the opportunities afforded by the PEPFAR and MCC programs (the PEPFAR COP18 that will soon be available, the existing public PEPFAR data, as well as the MCC Côte d’Ivoire Compact which is also available at https://assets.mcc.gov/content/uploads/compact-cote-divoire.pdf). PEPFAR is funding the

DCLI program. Support to augment PEPFAR impact is therefore considered a given as part of the

DAC’s mandate – and initial opportunities to support PEPFAR in Côte d’Ivoire were laid out in Section

5.5 of the NOFO. At the same time, there is a unique synergy between the MCC and PEPFAR programs in Côte d’Ivoire. In a nutshell, a good part of the MCC compact will be to improve Ivorian outcomes related to education through the construction of schools, development of an EMIS, and building the capacity of the Ministry of Education to make evidence-based decisions. Also inherent to MCC’s process is social inclusion, a big part of which will be to ensure that more girls complete secondary education, a factor that is closely correlated with a reduction in their risk of contracting HIV/AIDS A key strategy of PEPFAR’s “DREAMS” is to provide a package of interventions that prevent or lower

HIV/AIDS, including keeping girls in school. In other words, there is an inherent connection between

PEPFAR’s and MCC operational steps in Côte d’Ivoire. Building on this from the perspective of a client base, the MCA, using MCC compact funding, will procure numerous services, including data analytics, and such funding opportunities are additive to the funding provided in this NOFO. Some of these are outlined in Section 5.4 of the NOFO. Appropriate focus on these opportunities – and therefore an understanding of the program, its scale, geographic focus and data-related opportunities between 2018 and 2023 will be material to the DAC’s sustainability strategy.

6. Social Inclusion and Women Economic Empowerment. DAC must focus on gender inclusion, youth engagement and gender equality – areas in which we believe strongly. For PEPFAR programming, https://assets.mcc.gov/content/uploads/compact-cote-divoire.pdf youth, young adolescent girls and young women represent important populations at highest risk of

HIV/AIDS infection; so having them involved and viewed as key beneficiaries of the program helps to advance PEPFAR priorities. Again, a significant aspect of the social good work that DAC should achieve is in advancing knowledge and insights into the country’s and PEPFAR’s work to greatly reduce or eliminate HIV in young people. Similarly, from a development and foreign assistance point of view, the economic empowerment of women is critical to enabling sustainable economic growth. DAC should take an active role in promoting the analysis and use of gender-disaggregated data, as well as including women in data-analytic work.

7. Past Performance. An important component of the evaluation of the Phase II application will be to ensure that the team recommended for the DAC project has a documented record of strong performance and can demonstrate its capacity to properly manage U.S. government funds. To this end, detailed and relevant past performance information of the prime partner is very important as the prime will be responsible for the fiscal integrity, financial controls and management of the program. Please include detailed information on relevant (scale and nature) past performance information including, dollar amounts of the award, description of the project, contact information for the funders, dates and other information that clearly demonstrates the respective partners’ ability to meet or exceed expectations in these areas. Please use the template provided in the NOFO (Section D).

8. Finalizing Partnerships. During Phase II, it is critical that applicants demonstrate clear work plans, put together the best possible team, and explicitly define who their team members will be. It is understood that teams are still assessing their optimal program needs and partnership requirements, and MCC will continue to facilitate a connection with other interested organizations through the EOI process. Proposed partnerships should be formalized before Phase II submission. Agreements should be in place and reflected in cost allocations for the Phase II financial application.

9. AO responsibility determination, SAM and related documents. For the prospective award winner, MCC will be requesting the following documents for the AO’s responsibility determination: the last two audited financial statements, operations and human resources policies and manuals, financial manuals, list of the key officers, and other documents. MCC also encourages teams to register in SAM, a process which can take a while. For the budget submission if you do not have NICRA, please use a rate of 10 per cent plus fringe benefits.

II. Responses to Questions.

1. The NOFO is clear that the intention is to create a sustainable entity with DAC. Part of this sustainability involves reinvestment of the program income funds generated by DAC into the project during the period of performance. Does that mandate persist beyond the period of performance?

Answer: There is no use limitation on the program income funds that will be generated after the end of the period of performance. Please follow guidance in 2 CFR 200.80 Program income and 2 CFR 200.307

Program income. The conditions for the program income during the award implementation will be stated in the award.

2. Clarification on data science versus data basics - are we targeting data science consultancy or data literacy/training services?

Answer: The intention of the NOFO is to create a data science consultancy that provides some data training to the direct beneficiaries of the data science services. The intention is NOT to create a data literacy training program. The Data Fellowship is a separate/additional consideration.

3. What is the difference between the end date of the project and the September 2020 date mentioned in the

NOFO? What implications does that have for the funds generated?

Answer: The project’s period of performance will end 24 months after the start date. The September 2020 date refers to the end of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between MCC and PEPFAR, but the 24-month clock for DAC is expected to have run out before then, consistent with implementation beginning in

March/April 2018.

4. Regarding the Technical Application appendices, what is the page limit on Letters of Intent for organizations joining the consortium?

Answer: The referenced page limit (2-3 pages) is the limit per one Letter of Intent, not the page limit for all Letters of Intent.

5. Are partnerships with educational institutions within the United States desirable?

Answer: There is no requirement for a partnership with a U.S. educational institution. The applicant should consider what capabilities its team needs to best execute the work outlined in the NOFO and in its application. Additionally, any partnership that would strengthen the DAC's sustainability is desirable.

When developing the cost application, however, all the financial guidelines on allocation of funds (Ivorian

vs. international) must be followed.

6. Is there a risk that the funding may be cut in the event of political instability, especially given elections in

2020?

Answer: Currently the Presidential elections are scheduled in October 2020. By that time the period of performance for this award will have ended. In addition, there are clauses for partial and complete termination that will be inserted in the award.

7. Will MCC provide individual feedback about strengths and weaknesses of the applications?

Answer: No, MCC will not provide individual feedback. However, the guidance provided during the Phase

II Pre-Application call before the question and answer session was developed in order to address opportunities for improvement based on the concept notes provided by applicants being invited to Phase

II.

8. Are there costs that are not eligible (such as value-added tax (VAT)) that should not be considered on the application? Both within Côte d’Ivoire and more generally?

Answer: For allowability of costs, please follow the guidelines in

2 CFR 200.403 Factors affecting allowability of costs, reasonableness of costs

2 CFR 200 404 and for allocable costs;

2 CFR 200.40, the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP); and

2 CFR 200 from 420 to 475.

Specifically, with regard to VAT, please follow the guidance in 2 CFR 200.470 Taxes (including value-added tax). MCC is investigating any applicable agreements that may impact applicability of the VAT in this project. Further information on VAT will be provided in a subsequent amendment.

9. What are the lessons learned in Tanzania so that the same mistakes aren't replicated in iterations of the

DAC?

Answer: The major lessons learned in Tanzania have been incorporated into the design and requirements of this NOFO, particularly in the program description (e.g., enabling program income and intent of sustainability from the outset, budget needs, more focused training mandate). While the overarching goal of greater capacity to use data at all levels may be the same, the proposed DCLI activities in Côte d’Ivoire are not meant to replicate programs in Tanzania. Instead the DAC and the DYSC emergence from the specific of the Ivorian data ecosystem assessment and specific country context, which resulted in a focus on data science (rather than data literacy training), the ability to generate income and a mandate for sustainability.

10. What was the rationale for having so much less funding for DAC than for the Tanzania dLab?

Answer: As noted in the answer to question 9 above, the DCLI activities in Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire are not directly comparable. The funding allocation for this project was based on the program description and counts the generation of program income during program implementation.

11. Regarding letters of commitment from partner organizations, how will the Intellectual Property Rights for the technology developed during the DAC’s period of performance be addressed by MCC?

Answer: Please follow the guidelines in 2 CFR 200.315 Intangible property (IP). It is anticipated that MCC will retain only Government Purpose Rights for any derivative IP created under this project, with any vendor retaining commercial rights to same.

Taylor Wolf Agreement Officer

End of Amendment 0006