Food for Progress Questions and Answers week ending April 12.2023.pdf

Food for Progress FY2022 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Questions and Answers

Questions received to PPDED@usda.gov through April 12, 2023

NOTE: Questions are answered in the order received. FFPr recommends using the document

“Find Text” function to find specific items.

The video recording of the Public Meeting is uploaded to FAIS and accessible to all FAIS registered users at this link:

https://apps.fas.usda.gov/fais/webapp/media/FY23%20IFAD%20NOFO%20Public%20Meeting%20Video %2020230323.mp4

1. Q: The NOFO has two different numbers listed for the Nepal opportunity:

o P 9: USDA-FAS-10.606-0700-23-(646) o P 64: USDA-FAS-10.606-0700-20-(681)

Can USDA please clarify the correct solicitation number for Nepal?

A: USDA-FAS-10.606-0700-23-(646) is the correct number. This will be corrected in the next amendment.

2. Q: Page 65 (top paragraph), the NOFO states “most farmers have converted centuries-old rice paddies, reservoirs, and natural waterways to fish production areas.” It goes on to mention that this is most notable in the Terai region where there are “adequate water sources that sustain seven types of carp, among other fish species.” Given this statement, does USDA expect the aquaculture projects to focus solely on the seven carp species mentioned or can projects target other indigenous species, tilapia, trout, and/or other finfish that are located outside of the Terai region (for instance, in the mid-hills and converted natural waterways)?

A: The reference to the seven carp species were examples based on the current production potential. Applicants must include the relevant market and production data to support proposed interventions. The project should target areas with commercial level potential for aquaculture production to ensure the most impact to the industry.

3. Q: Page 13 states that “All subrecipients listed in the proposal must have a current UEI number.” Considering the recent challenges identified with the UEI number process, can USDA clarify if proof of application would be acceptable in that case that a UEI number is not yet received from the system?

A: Per Section C. Eligibility Information 2. System for Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier on page 13, applicants are required to provide a UEI in their application. This requirement must be met by the closing date of the announcement and will not be waived.

https://apps.fas.usda.gov/fais/webapp/media/FY23%20IFAD%20NOFO%20Public%20Meeting%20Video%2020230323.mp4 https://apps.fas.usda.gov/fais/webapp/media/FY23%20IFAD%20NOFO%20Public%20Meeting%20Video%2020230323.mp4

4. Q: Concerning “Required Fields in FAIS,” pages 42-43 of the NOFO: It appears that of the total eleven fields therein with eight of them the applicant does not actually put any substantive information in but rather simply types in where in the separate attachments that information can be found. Can FAS please elaborate on this.

A: Applicants should make reference to where in the proposal the information is found. For example, Introduction Section: Key Personnel, applicants may state "Key Personnel are listed in the Organizational Capacity section, page 3".

5. Q: With respect to cost share assuming that FAS agrees that what the applicant has proposed is “additive” and meets other cost share requirement as per CFR 1499, how precisely does the applicant get up to three bonus points? Is this based on a formula? For example, if the total operating budget is $15.3M would the cost share have to be at least $459,000, or three percent of $15.3M, to get the three bonus points?

A: Points will be based on the percentage of the operating budget, the requirements outlined in 7 CFR section 1499.4(b)(4)(i), the potential impact on program outcomes, and are from a reliable and verifiable source.

6. Q: In the Commodity Management must the applicant propose delivery and sale to the project country, or given that several of the priority countries are quite small with thus some possible concerns about economic impact on other sales and also about number of reputable buyers can or should third country monetization be proposed?

A: Applicants may propose single-country, regional, or third-country sales (or a combination) which they determine will yield the desired monetization proceeds. The priority should focus on sales taking place within the project country and then the immediate region of project country.

7. Q: The NOFO (pg. 3) states that “Updated instructions on the Strategic Analysis section: The former Introduction and Strategic Analysis section has been replaced by the Strategic Analysis section. An Applicant must now include an introduction in the Cover Sheet” is a new change this year. Content guidance for the cover sheet (pg. 18) states that the following information must be included in the cover sheet: • Applicant organization name • Subrecipient organization(s) name(s) • Priority country • Award funding request, itemized by commodities, freight and admin, and operating budget. • Number of direct beneficiaries • A paragraph summary of the project’s technical approach. The information required in this year’s cover sheet, particularly the paragraph summary of the technical approach, does not seem equivalent to the Introduction section of former NOFOs. Can USDA please clarify if applicants can include an executive summary in the new Strategic Analysis section to introduce the project and Strategic Analysis?

A: Applicants may include an executive summary in the Strategic Analysis section.

8. Q: Why within Appendix B.7, Togo, does the goal include “expanding exports” when USDA’s own Strategic Objective on expanded trade explicitly indicates that that trade can also be “domestic” (in addition to “regional and international”)? Is USDA saying that for Togo expanded trade will be defined only as that external to the country, that is, “exports?”

A: The second strategic object of Food for Progress is to expand agricultural trade, which includes domestic, regional and international trade. The applicant is encouraged to expand exports while enhancing food security and agricultural transformation.

9. Q: Do applicants need to submit a detailed subrecipient budget? If the answer is yes, do subrecipients have to use the Detailed budget template provided or can they use their own template?

A: No, the subrecipient budget should be shown in the C-2 Budget Narrative and detailed budget worksheet, but a breakdown is not required. The agreements should be a line item, similar to other costs.

10. Q: For the upcoming proposal for Bangladesh, one options would be CDSO, of which Bangladesh imports 800,000 MT annually - plus 1,500,000 MT of Palm Oil.

Can USDA confirm that CDSO may be monetized in Bangladesh?

A: Yes, CDSO may be considered for monetization in Bangladesh.

11. Q: The budget format provided by USDA includes a category titled “Other Direct Cost” with illustrative line items included for Maintenance, Training, and Insurance. However, there is no Other Direct Cost category included in Attachment C-1. Is the inclusion of Other Direct Costs in the budget format an oversight?

A: Please see the provided template and updated instructions in Amendment 1 to the NOFO in Section D, Item 4 (g) Budget on page 30.

12. Q: Level of Effort vs. Level of Experience: The instructions for the staffing plan on p. 20 of the NOFO say “The staffing plan should include a brief description of all long-term staff positions and required levels of experience.” Please confirm if USDA is asking to include level of experience or level of effort, or both.

A: The intent is for the applicant to demonstrate that the proposed staff have the skills and experience necessary to perform the assigned tasks.

13. Q: Please confirm whether a child labor analysis is required for Mauritania proposals. Page 11 of the NOFO states “All proposals for country and priority areas in the NOFO that are identified in the U.S. Department of Labor’s report—List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or

Forced Labor—must include a child and/or forced labor analysis. The distinct NOFO Country Guidance sections will provide child and/or forced labor analysis.” The country specific guidance on Mauritania does not mention child labor, and the value chains of focus are not included in the DOL report. However, the country guidance requires working with the pastoralist population, which produces cattle and goats – both products that the DOL report indicates may be produced by child labor. While the purpose of the proposed activities under Food For Progress aim to reduce the pastoralist population’s reliance on cattle/goats, one could argue that a child labor analysis is necessary given the population involved.

A: If a value chain chosen for prioritization has not been named in the DOL report, it is not required to include a child and/or forced labor analysis in the proposal. However, we encourage applicants to incorporate established and novel methods of addressing Child Labor to prevent these issues in the proposed value chains. In the Q&A issued the week of April 5, 2023 provides similar guidance.

14. Q Please provide guidance on the expectations around level of detail, length, and location of the child labor analysis. Is it meant to be a sub-section of the proposal contained in one of the required components (for example the strategic analysis) or a standalone attachment? Is there a specific format or template that USDA prefers for the child labor analysis?

A: The Applicant is encouraged to review the Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child Labor and Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products guidelines.

15. Q: For programs focused on aquaculture, please confirm if applicants can use the standard USDA activity terminology of “agriculture” and “agrodealers”.

A: Applicants may use the standard USDA activity terminology of “agriculture” and “agrodealers”.