Food for Progress Questions and Answers week ending April 19.2023.pdf

Food for Progress FY2022 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Questions and Answers

Questions received to PPDED@usda.gov through April 19, 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: Questions and Answers Received Through March 23, 2020, Response to Q28 states: “The ‘Admin’ tab would be only the detailed line items allocated to Admin, with one copy of this sheet for Admin-Monetization costs and another for Admin-CCC/Cash costs.” Questions and Answers Received Through April 5, 2023, Response to Q3 states: “The "detailed budget" should aggregate the totals from the Admin and Activity tabs. This should detail the CCC provided admin funds and monetization proceed funds.”

Question: As the “Detail” and “Admin” budget tabs focus on the project expenses, rather than the revenue source for financing the project, will USDA please confirm that Applicants are only required to show the funding source (Monetization vs CCC funds) on the Summary tab?

A: Yes, applicants should follow the template as outlined in the instructions on page 30 of Amendment 1, applicants need to show funding source as Monetization, cost share and CCC funds.

2. Q: In USDA’s round of answers dated April 5, 2023 to Applicants’ questions, the answer to Q2 states that "The budget template has been updated with additional instructions" and the answer to Q26 states that "Amendment 1 has been posted to Grants.gov as of April 5, 2023."

However, we were unable to find the updated budget template on Grants.gov issued on or after April 5, 2023 as part of Amendment 1. Can USDA confirm whether there is an updated budget template which was to be issued with Amendment 1, or if Applicants should use the Excel budget template issued on March 16, 2023 instead?

A: The Applicant should use the Excel budget template issued on March 16, 2023. USDA updated guidance in Amendment 1 but did not update the template. The updated instructions can be found in the amendment uploaded April 5, 2023.

3. Q: Based on the NOFO Content Guidance, USDA is requesting the Applicant to explain the subrecipient' role in both Section c. Plan of Operation, "Explain Subrecipients’ Roles – Clearly state subrecipients’ roles and responsibilities in these activities and provide justification for their inclusion in the project" and Section d. Organizational Capacity and Staffing, "Applicants must also identify any proposed subrecipients and provide a description of each subrecipient’s responsibilities and capabilities." Could USDA please confirm that the Plan of Operations should 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 explain the subrecipients' roles and responsibilities, while the Organizational Capacity and Staffing section should focus on the subrecipients' capabilities?

A: Correct. Applicants should explain the subrecipient roles and responsibilities in the Plan of Operations and should explain subrecipient capabilities under the Organizational Capacity and Staffing.

4. Q: Are there any geographic restrictions for this NOFO in Bangladesh? USAID has a Zone of Influence in southwestern districts including in Khulna and Barisal Divisions. We note the NOFO emphasizes that coordination with USAID Feed the Future will be key to selection of beneficiaries and geographic areas of focus. Is the NOFO open to implementation in all locations relevant to livestock, regardless of USAID Zones of Influence; or does USDA prefer that we implement outside of the current USAID Zone of Influence?

A: The Applicant is encouraged to suggest any location that is relevant to livestock but also build on successes of other projects such as the World Bank, FAO, the Asian Development Bank and USAID Feed the future.

5.Q. The response to Question #3 for the week ending 4/20/23 states that “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.” We as the Prime offeror are the applicant; our partners are not applicants. Can you please confirm that only we as the prime offeror must provide a UEI in our application?

A: As outlined in the NOFO on page 13 “All subrecipients listed in the proposal must have a current UEI number”. Applicants are encouraged to refer to 2 CFR 200.331 for additional information.

6. Q. Can USDA confirm that bidders may add additional budget tabs for each activity?

A: Yes, a new tab may be created for each activity. Please see the provided template and updated instructions in Amendment 1 to the NOFO in Section D, Item 4 (g) Budget on page 30.

7.Q. Will USDA please consider including the organizational chart as a full-page annex uncounted toward the page limit for attachment D?

A: Per the instructions in section D. Application and Submission Information 4. Content Guidance d. Organizational Capacity and Staffing (4 pages) on page 21, the Organizational Chart and Key Personnel and In-Country Registration should be included within those 4 pages.

8.Q. Would USDA confirm that bidders should not engage local partners on an exclusive basis given the need for any successful offeror to work with key local private sector organizations in the implementation of the scope of the project?

A: Applicants are encouraged to engage local partners as resource partners; however, it is the decision of the Applicants as to the type of working relationship that is undertaken.

9.Q. Question number 28 of the Questions and Answers released for the week of Mar 22 indicates there is no need to have separate tabs for the admin-monetization costs and the administration-CCC costs. However, the USDA summary budget tab requires, in cells B17 through C25, applicants to split administrative costs funded by monetization (B17:B25) from those funded by CCC funds (C17:C25) per expense type. This level of detail will be nearly impossible to provide, while maintaining budget integrity, without separate tabs for Admin- Monetization costs and Admin-CCC costs. Would USDA kindly consider allowing applicants to submit budgets with three Administrative tabs, one tab for Admin-Monetization costs, one tab for Admin-CCC costs, and one tab that consolidates both?

A: The Applicant should use the Excel budget template issued on March 16, 2023. USDA updated guidance in Amendment 1 but did not update the template.