Questions and Answers Week of 6.22.20.pdf

FAS FY 20 McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program NOFO

Questions & Answers Week of 6/22/20

1. Our organization’s operational model is to provide funding to our local implementing partners within a larger network. Given this model, we have limited relevant partners from whom we can request completion of PPR forms. However, our local implementing partner has multiple major donors in similar areas of operation. As such, we would like to confirm with USDA that in place of PPR forms from our organization directly, we can submit PPR letters that represent our main implementing partners.

Past performance reviews should be submitted representing past work implemented by the Applicant organization. If past work was completed in collaboration with a local partner, without the distinction of a contract or subrecipient agreement, this work may be referenced to fulfill past performance review requirements of this NOFO.

2. Can USDA share a relevant or recent Bellmon Analysis for Nepal? If the Bellmon is not available, what other sources of information should applicants use to assess market impact of imported USDA commodities?

FAS cannot share a recent Bellmon analysis as they are dependent upon market conditions at the time they’re developed and not relevant out of context. Assessment of current conditions by an Applicant is inherent in the development of the market impact portion of the application. Sources of information may include (but are not limited to) Trade Data Monitor, USDA GATS (for U.S.), and public GAIN reports. Port data can be gathered from the government and port authority sites and or conversations with port officials, freight forwarders, and marine surveyors.

3. With regards to the McGovern-Dole Nepal NOFO (USDA- FAS-10.608-0700-20-(367)), and specifically the 1-page registration plan for Nepal, can USDA confirm if McGovern-Dole projects fall under the bilateral agreement with the Government of Nepal that exempts USG-funded project implementers from registering with the Nepalese Social Welfare Council? USAID projects in the country are exempt from registration, please confirm if this is inclusive of all USG projects (thus including the McGovern-Dole program).

Additionally, will the bilateral agreement include provisions of duty waivers on imported food aid commodities?

FAS is not aware of the details of a bilateral agreement, however duty-free entry will still be required for donated commodities and FAS will support an award recipient in gaining duty-free entry.

4. Are current USDA staff, including MGD and LRP staff, able to serve as references for MGD Applicants and complete Past Performance Reviews?

Please refer to question 15 in the Question & Answers Week of 6/15/2020 document. Current McGovern-Dole and Local and Regional Procurement staff are able to complete Past Performance Reviews for Applicants to the FY 20 McGovern-Dole NOFO.

5. Can USDA provide clarity on what is required within the capacity section of the technical narrative pertaining to staff descriptions and/or what is required to be entered in FAIS?Page 23 of the guidelines states, “The staffing plan should include a brief description of all long-term staff positions and levels of experience.” What does USDA consider “long-term staff”? Can USDA clarify if applicants are required to provide a list of project staff that corresponds to the org chart including titles, LOE, and brief descriptions for each position?If so, should this information entered directly in FAIS, submitted as an attachment (not included in the page limit) or it this what is expected to be included in the staffing plan of the capacity section? The guidelines on page 45 indicate that “A recipient will, within 30 days after the agreement is signed, submit to FAS for approval an organizational chart identifying the names, positions, and responsibilities of all of the recipient’s key personnel…” Can UDSA confirm if this means that applicants are not required to submit a list of project staff at the time the applicant is submitted and it will be required upon award?

The organizational capacity and staffing narrative should include staffing information as described in Part D. 3. c. iv. Organizational Capacity and Staffing. FAS does not prescribe what constitutes “long-term”. FAS seeks a staffing plan that demonstrates the technical and regional or national expertise required for efficient and effective project implementation, administration, and management. The proposal organizational chart should indicate which positions are filled by key personnel. Further information on key personnel descriptions will be required in the post-award organizational chart.

No information needs to be repeated in FAIS, however, FAIS requires data entry into the rich textboxes. Applicants may choose to upload attachments and simply reference in the rich textbox the title of the relevant attachment where the information can be found. Please refer to the end of Part D. 3. c. for information on how to complete fields in FAIS.

6. For the McGovern-Dole application, does the staffing plan need to identify the staffing plan of sub-recipients, in addition to the prime applicant?

The staffing plan should identify staff of the prime Applicant. The organizational capacity and staffing section as a whole should contain a description of each subrecipient’s responsibilities at an organizational level.

7. Can USDA please confirm which documents are required to be submitted as separate attachments? Does USDA have a preference for applicants to combine attachments into one combined PDF document or combine technical narrative and attachments into one PDF document?

Please refer to Part D. 3. b. Required Content and Forms for the full list of all requirements. Additionally, a checklist of all requirements is available in Attachment A of the NOFO. FAS does not prescribe a preferred method for organizing attachments beyond that they must be in PDF.