Q and A June 26.docx

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) Gender-Based Violence Prevention for Ecuador’s Education System

SFOP0006943

Questions and Answers for Notice of Funding Opportunity June 25, 2020

Q1. On page 6 and page 10, the NOFO references a “Tab C” on the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document as guidance for the mandatory Gender Analysis. However, there is no Tab C on the PSI document uploaded to Grants.gov. Could WHA provide further guidance as to where to locate Tab C?

A1. The updated PSI document including Tab C is now active on grants.gov. The PSI document can also be found in the link to additional information in SAMS Domestic.

Q2. Relevant to objective 2, “Build the capacity of education and health professionals to respond to GBV issues and implement awareness-raising at the municipal level”, does WHA already have existing relationships with education/health professionals, or is it expected the performing organization will carry out this outreach to secure education/health participants?

A2. The organization is expected to carry out this outreach. The U.S. embassy may provide support.

Q3. Is there a number of target municipalities WHA expects the performing organization will benefit?

A3. As stated in the NOFO, proposals may undertake activities in one or more ‘pilot’ municipalities to establish a successful “proof of concept” in addressing GBV at the community level. Proposals will be evaluated based on this criteria.

Q4. We are unable to locate the sample risk assessment template and the guidance for the gender analysis for which we are referred to Tabs D and C respectively of the PSI document.

A4. The updated PSI document including Tab D and C is now active on grants.gov. The PSI document can also be found in the link to additional information in SAMS Domestic.

Q5. Could you kindly confirm that the PMP framework should include the elements of the results/logic framework and that the logical framework is not required as a separate attachment in addition to the PMP?

A5. The PMP should include the results/logic framework as part of the PMP. In addition to the narrative, the applicant should provide the Results/Logic Framework as a separate mandatory attachment organized by project objectives, in addition to output- and outcome-based performance indicators with baselines (if available) and quarterly and cumulative targets. The framework will include data collection tools, data sources, types of data disaggregation, if applicable, and frequency of data collection.

A sample results/logic framework can be found in the PSI document at grants.gov.

Q6. Among the required output indicators are, “Number of people reached by a USG-funded intervention providing GBV services” and “Number of people who benefit from US-funded support to GBV survivors”. However, the NOFO states that, “The project will not provide direct funding for [survivor support] services, but rather enhance the abilities of CSOs and schools to do so”. Is it the intent of DOS to include in this indicator the number of people who are reached by or benefit from services provided by CSOs, even though these services are not directly funded by the project?

A6. GBV survivor support-service providers are expected to have increased capacity in delivering support services to GBV survivors and contributed to addressing the root causes of GBV through sensitization training in the treated pilot communities.

Q7. Among the required outcome indicators is, “Change in number of GBV incidences in treated communities or schools”. As the project seeks to simultaneously engage in GBV prevention activities while also improving access to reporting and response services, the change in number of cases being reported will be unpredictable and may result in an increase in the short term as more cases are being reported before producing a decrease in incidences in the longer term. Is this indicator intended to measure the number of cases being reported and, if so, what is the expected outcome given that a reduction in GBV incidence is likely to be a longer-term impact beyond the life of the project?

A7. The indicator is intended to measure an increase in number of cases reported and, over time, a decrease in incidences. The expected outcome is that there is a change, either positive or negative, with reporting on why either is the case.

Q8. Page 2 of the PSI indicates that attachments should be a total of 5-10 pages and includes a list of four mandatory attachments. However, the NOFO lists six required attachments with no total page limit. Could DOS kindly confirm there is no page limit for attachments? Could DOS kindly confirm there is no page limit for the budget narrative?

A8. Please refer to the updated PSI document at grants.gov and SAMS.gov. The indicator is intended to measure an increase in number of cases reported and, over time, a decrease in incidences. The expected outcome is that there is a change, either positive or negative, with reporting on why either is the case.

Q9. Where we can find guidelines or more information about the Risk Assessment we are meant to include. The Terms of Reference mention that in Tab D of the PSI document we can find a risk analysis template to do the respective assessment. However, in the PSI document, we couldn't find more information regarding the mentioned Tab D.

A9. The updated PSI document including Tab D and C is now active on grants.gov. The PSI document can also be found in the link to additional information in SAMS Domestic.

Q10. Where we can find the Financial Management Survey for first-time applicants to the Department of State/or awarding Bureau?

A10. The grants office provides the survey after an applicant is selected.

Q11. We are seeking to form a consortium with a lead applicant to submit the expected proposal. For this purpose, we wonder what documents are needed to be provided by our partner? Do we need to attach the audited financial statements of this partner as well?

A11. Implementing partners are required to have a valid DUNS number.

Q12. Would it be possible to corroborate the maximum number of pages for the mandatory attachments, taking into account that the NOFO (page 9) mentions 6 mandatory attachments (Roles and Responsibilities, Timeline, PMP, Detailed Budget & Budget Narrative, Risk Assessment and Gender Analysis) and does not establish a page limit, whereas the PSI (page 2) mentions four mandatory attachments (Roles and Responsibilities, Timeline, PMP and Detailed Budget & Budget Narrative) in maximum 10 pages? Therefore, we would like to verify whether the proposal must include all six attachments mentioned in the NOFO in a maximum of 10 pages.

A12. Please refer to the updated PSI document now active on grants.gov. The PSI document can also be found in the link to additional information in SAMS Domestic.

The page limitation consist of:

Proposal Narrative: Up to 20 pages in Microsoft Word. Please note the page limit does not include the Table of Contents, Executive Summary and Attachments, such as Budget/and Budget Narrative, Audit Report, and NICRA, if applicable.

Attachments: (5-10 pages, preferably in Microsoft Word). Six mandatory attachments include the following (see Tabs A-D below for more information):

a) Roles and Responsibilities to include the names of key personnel

b) Timelines/Schedule of Activities

c) Performance Monitoring Plan With Results/Logic Framework

d) Detailed Budget & Budget Narrative

e) Risk Assessment

f) Gender Analysis (mandatory for all Gender –based violence proposals)

Q13. We would also like to check whether the Risk Assessment and Contingency Plan are part of the same document entitled Risk Assessment Annex.

A13. The Risk Assessment Annex should include a contingency plan for the various restrictions that may occur due to COVID-19 in WHA countries. More guidance on the risk assessment can be found in the PSI document in Tab D.

Q14. We are interested in applying to the "Gender-Based Violence Prevention for Ecuador’s Education System NOFO -Assistance Listings Number: 19.750" and will like to request some additional information to present our proposal based on the Terms of Reference. Specifically, we would like to know where we can find guidelines or more information about the Gender Analysis we are meant to include. This analysis is mentioned in the Terms of Reference in the Proposal Narrative Components Section and refers to the PSI document for more information. However, in the PSI document, we couldn't find more information regarding the mentioned Gender Analysis.

A14. For more guidance and information on the Gender Analysis, please see Tab C in the Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) document. There is not a general template document for applicants to fill out, applicants should review questions provided under Tab C and compose a 1-2 page narrative and gender analysis as appropriate. Not all questions need to be answered, please selects questions pertaining to the proposal and answer accordingly.

Q15. There appears to be a discrepancy between the NOFO and the grants.gov summary page regarding eligibility. Could you please confirm that the eligibility rules as outlined in the NOFO are applicable?

A15. The eligibility criteria is accurately outlined in the NOFO and includes U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code; Overseas non-governmental non-profit organizations; Foreign Public Entities and Public International Organizations; U.S.-based institutions of higher education, accredited overseas universities.

Q16. Does the reference to Municipalities refer in general to the local level including Cantons and Parishes?

A16. The reference to municipalities refers to the local level administrative units and may include Cantons and Parishes

Q17. Do you expect the objectives, expected outcomes and outputs and indicators to be phrased verbatim in line with the NOFO?

A17. The proposal should clearly outline project activities that meet the objectives stated in the NOFO and include the required output and outcome indicators.