FY 19 MGD NOFO 3_26_2019_FINAL.pdf

FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE

Food Assistance Division

Office of Capacity Building and Development

FY 2019 Food Assistance Proposal

Guidance and Request for Applications

MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND

CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

March 26, 2019

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service

Notice of Availability of Funds and Funding Opportunity Announcement for the United

States Department of Agriculture (USDA) McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and

Child Nutrition program (McGovern-Dole)

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Request for Application

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-FAS-MCGOVERN-DOLE PROGRAM-19

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 10.608

DATES: Applications must be submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA) through the Food Aid Information System (FAIS) by 5:00:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight

Time (EDT) by May 29, 2019. Applications received after this date and time will not be considered. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Services (FAS) advises Applicants to begin the process early to allow time to address any information technology difficulties that may arise. There will be no exceptions to this application deadline. Please be advised that incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Refer to Part C Section 3 and Part D Section 2 for application requirements to make an application considered complete. Comments regarding this request for applications will be considered to the extent practicable and should be submitted to ppded@fas.usda.gov. Please include “FY19 MGD NOFO” in the subject line of your e-mail.

Questions must be received no later than 5:00:00 P.M. EDT May 22, 2019, and responses to questions will be posted on FAIS.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: FAS expects to make multiple three to five-year awards, totaling up to $191,000,000 SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING. FAS will accept applications for the following priority countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Haiti, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Malawi, Nicaragua, Mauritania, Togo, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela. The

McGovern-Dole program helps support education, child development, and food security in low-income, food-deficit countries around the world. This program provides for the donation of U.S.

agricultural commodities, as well as financial and technical assistance, to carry out school feeding programs that strengthen food security, reduce the incidence of hunger, and improve literacy and nutrition, particularly with respect to girls.

https://apps.fas.usda.gov/fais/public mailto:ppded@fas.usda.gov

NEW in Fiscal Year 2019 (FY 19)

This year’s proposal submission changes are outlined below:

• Individualized NOFOs for Each Country: This year’s solicitation is an umbrella announcement containing separate NOFOs for each country. Applicants should specify which country/NOFO they are applying to and may submit more than one application.

Application instructions, award terms and conditions, scoring criteria, etc. are the same for each NOFO contained in this announcement. NOFO numbers can be found in Part A Section

4 and Appendix B.

• Nutrition: Please refer to the nutrition section for updates. Please pay particular attention to the “Ration Composition Requirements” o Ration Justification: To meet the full nutritional requirements in this section, applicants must offer at least three food components, i.e., a combination of USDA commodities and locally available foods, especially adding seasonal vegetables, fruits, and/or animal-sourced proteins, when feasible. Applicants who do not offer additional components beyond USDA commodities will need to justify the reason for the omission. Lastly, applicants must describe how to ensure each child receives his/her portion of food under bulk cooking situations.

• Criteria: Please refer to the updated Evaluative Areas of Criteria in Table 2, Part E Section 1

Criteria. Additionally, FAS will review and score Negative Factors and Positive Factors in

FY 19. Please refer to Part E Section 6 Negative Factors can result in a maximum of five points deducted from the Applicant’s overall score. Positive factors will be scored and can result in a maximum of five points bonus to the Applicant’s overall score. In addition, the

Other Details section has been combined into the Introduction and Strategic Analysis section and the Project Level Results Framework has been combined with the Monitoring and

Evaluation section. Finally, there is a new scoring of overall application quality. More details can be found in Part E Section 1.

• Proposal Page Limits: Please adhere to the updated page limits and content guidance for each section in FY 19. Please refer to Section D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

INFORMATION - Content and Form of Application Submission. Section A. Application

Format.

• Monitoring and Evaluation: Please review updated Monitoring and Evaluation guidance in

Part D Section 2(c)(VII). Please pay particular attention to the submission format for all

Monitoring and Evaluation components.

o Project-Level Results Frameworks: Please note that in FY 19 Project-Level Results

Frameworks need to be included as part of the Monitoring and Evaluation sections.

• Feed the Future and Global Food Security Strategy: USDA Global Food Security

Council guidance commits McGovern-Dole to report on select Feed the Future indicators, particularly in nutrition and health, which are identified and defined as standard McGovern-

Dole performance indicators. Six FY 19 McGovern-Dole priority countries are Feed the

Future aligned countries: Cambodia, Haiti, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique and Nicaragua and one FY19 McGovern-Dole country is a Feed the Future target country: Bangladesh.

Proposals submitted for these countries should demonstrate alignment of the proposed

McGovern-Dole activities with Feed the Future in the country of application. Please review guidance on Section A (9).

• The U.S. Government Strategy on International Basic Education Please review the content in the strategy on Part A Section 9 Proposals must demonstrate coordination and collaboration with other USG programs that are also striving to improve reading outcomes and expand access to quality education for all. There is a strong emphasis on all project countries for improved coordination among other USG agencies. Proposals must detail how they will coordinate with other USG initiatives particularly with those who emphasize on basic education, and if it is not applicable to a region or a country, proposals must explain why.

• Potable Water Technology: USDA is making available $1,000,000 from the McGovern-

Dole funds to incorporate use of recently developed potable water technologies in two to three FY 19 McGovern-Dole school feeding projects. Applicants interested in implementing a potable water technology activity must develop a stand-alone document, as described in

Appendix C, and upload it as an attachment (labled “Attachment: Potable Water”) to their

FY 19 McGovern-Dole proposal; USDA will review the stand-alone potable water technology activities only from the successful FY 19 McGovern-Dole proposals.

LIST OF ACRONYMS

CCC Commodity Credit Corporation

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

COLA Cost of Living Adjustment

CV Curriculum Vitae

DUNS Dun & Bradstreet

FAD Food Assistance Division

FAIS Food Aid Information System

FAS Foreign Agricultural Service

FICA Federal Insurance Contributions Act

FtF Feed the Future

FY Fiscal Year

GFSS Global Food Security Strategy

IR Intermediate Results

ITSH Internal Transport, Storage, and Handling

M & E Monitoring and Evaluation

MCN Maternal and Child Nutrition

McGovern-Dole McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

MT Metric Tons

NICRA Negotiated Indirect Cost Recovery Agreement

NOFO Notice of Funding Opportunity

NTD Neglected Tropical Disease

OMB Office of Management and Budget

PEPFAR President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief

PIN Personally Identifiable Number

PMP Performance Monitoring Plan

PSM Propensity Score Matching

PTA Parent Teacher Association

PVO Private Voluntary Organization

R&R Rest and Recreation

RCT Randomized Control Trial

ROM Results Oriented Management

RF Results Framework

SAM System for Award Management

SF Standard Form

SFP School Feeding Program

SO Strategic Objective

UN United Nations

USAID United States Agency for International Development

USDA United States Department of Agriculture

USG United States Government

WB World Bank

WHO World Health Organization

Table of Contents

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. ISSUED BY

2. CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER AND TITLE

3. NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE

4. NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER

5. AUTHORIZING AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM

6. APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM

7. ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE

8. PROGRAM REGULATIONS

9. PROGRAM OVERVIEW, OBJECTIVES, AND PRIORITIES

10. US GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. AWARD AMOUNTS

2. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

3. EXTENSIONS

4. FUNDING INSTRUMENT

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

2. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

3. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION

4. COST SHARE OR MATCHING REQUIREMENTS

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

2. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

a. Application Format

b. Required Sections and Forms

c. Content Guidance

i. Introduction and Strategic Analysis

ii. Plan of Operation and Activities

iii. Sustainability and Lasting Impact

iv. Literacy

v. Nutrition

vi. Organizational Capacity and Staffing

vii. Monitoring and Evaluation

viii. Commodity Management

ix. Budget

x. In the Food Aid Information System (FAIS)

3. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM)

4. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

5. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

6. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

7. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. CRITERIA

2. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

3. REVIEW OF INTEGRITY AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

4. ANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENT AND AWARD DATE

5. NON-RESPONSIVENESS CRITERIA

6. NEGATIVE FACTORS

7. POSITIVE FACTORS

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. FEDERAL AWARD NOTICES

2. ADMINISTRATION AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

3. REPORTING

4. PRE-AWARD COSTS

5. NEGOTIATIONS

6. AUDIT COMPLIANCE

7. MONITORING

8. OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF PERFORMANCE

9. PROGRAM INCOME

G. AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

1. CONTACT AND RESOURCE INFORMATION

2. HOURS OF OPERATION

3. ADDRESS

4. PHONE, FAX, EMAIL

H. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

2. EXTENSIONS

3. PRIOR APPROVAL

4. PROGRAM INCOME

5. BUDGET REVISIONS

APPENDIX A - APPLICATION CONTENT CHECKLIST

APPENDIX B - COUNTRY SPECIFIC GUIDANCE

BANGLADESH

CAMBODIA

GUINEA BISSAU

HAITI

MALAWI

MAURITANIA

MOZAMBIQUE

NICARAGUA

TOGO

UZBEKISTAN

VENEZUELA

APPENDIX C– SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR POTABLE WATER TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..78

APPENDIX D – BUDGET SUMMARY

APPENDIX E – BUDGET NARRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

APPENDIX F – MCGOVERN-DOLE RESULTS FRAMEWORK AND ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES

OF FOUNDATIONAL RESULTS

APPENDIX G - MANUAL FOR THE USE OF RESULTS FRAMEWORKS

APPENDIX H - MCGOVERN-DOLE STANDARD INDICATORS

APPENDIX I USDA MONITORING AND EVALUATION POLICY

APPENDIX J – MCGOVERN-DOLE LEARNING AGENDA

APPENDIX K – GLOSSARY OF TERMS

APPENDIX L - USDA STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL

ORGANIZATIONS

APPENDIX M – STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR FOREIGN ORGANIZATION

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Issued By

Foreign Agricultural Service, Office of Capacity Building and Development, Food

Assistance Division

2. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number and Title

10.608 Food for Education

3. Notice of Funding Opportunity Title

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MCGOVERN-DOLE

INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM

4. Notice of Funding Opportunity Number

Country-Specific NOFO Numbers

USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-19-388 – Bangladesh

USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-19-442 – Cambodia

USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-19-657 – Guinea-Bissau

USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-19-521 – Haiti

USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-19-612 – Malawi

USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-19-682 – Mauritania

USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-19-656 – Mozambique

USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-19-524 – Nicaragua

USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-19-693 – Togo

USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-19-122 – Uzbekistan

USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-19-529 – Venezuela

Please refer to Appendix B for Country Guidance for each NOFO number

5. Authorizing Authority for Program

McGovern-Dole is authorized in section 3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment

Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1736o-1) as amended by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018

Public Law 115-334.

6. Appropriation Authority for Program

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019 Public Law 116-6.

7. Announcement Type

New

8. Program Regulations

Awards made within this funding opportunity will be subject to 7 CFR 1599 and 2 CFR

200 as adopted by 2 CFR 400. The regulations (7 CFR § 1599) supporting McGovern-

Dole were updated September 12, 2016 and are available at www.ecfr.gov. These regulations are currently being revised in accordance with the Agriculture Improvement

Act of 2018.

9. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program

(McGovern-Dole) key objectives are to carry out:1) preschool and primary school food for education programs in foreign countries to improve food security, reduce the incidence of hunger, and improve literacy and primary education, particularly with respect to girls; and,

2) maternal, infant, and child nutrition programs for pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, and children who are five years of age or younger. McGovern-Dole feeds school children and improves literacy (especially for girls) in low-income, food-deficit countries around the world. The program provides for the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities, as well as financial and technical assistance, to support school feeding, literacy, maternal and child health and nutrition projects worldwide pursuant to an agreement with USDA-

FAS. The program requires the inclusion of graduation as stipulated in the legislation.

By providing school meals, teacher training, and related education and nutrition support, McGovern-Dole helps boost school enrollment, attendance, and improve reading outcomes and literacy results. McGovern-Dole also provides support to Maternal and Child Nutrition

(MCN). To increase the use of improved health, nutrition, and dietary practices, McGovern-Dole encourages the inclusion of health- and nutrition-sensitive activities such as the use of micronutrient-fortified products, take home rations, treatments for deworming, and diarrhea, water, sanitation and health (WASH) projects, school garden projects, and curriculum-based nutrition education. McGovern-Dole sees adequate nutrition as fundamental to ending hunger and extreme poverty and as a path towards healthy growth and better educational performance.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4c2c800138711d50775161c3c22e6885&mc=true&node=pt7.10.1590&rgn=div5 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4c2c800138711d50775161c3c22e6885&mc=true&node=pt7.10.1590&rgn=div5 http://www.ecfr.gov/ https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2010-title7/pdf/USCODE-2010-title7-chap41-subchapIV-sec1736o-1.pdf

Priority countries and regions are noted below in Part A. In this solicitation, FAS will give priority consideration to proposals that implement pre- and primary school feeding, support effective literacy and nutrition activities, address the sustainability of the school feeding program through government capacity building, and implement climate resilient, context-specific food solutions. Sustainability is a priority for FAS, as it supports FAS efforts to reduce poverty and food insecurity in fragile economies on their path to becoming self-sufficient. Under McGovern-Dole, sustainability relates to the ability to transfer the school meals program to the host government for ownership.

FAS is focusing on the most urgent challenges, helping communities develop sustainable sources of food supplies while building resilience in their food sourcing practices.

FAS will consider proposals from all eligible organizations, including current recipients and new organizations. For additional information on the priority countries for this funding opportunity, applicants should refer to Appendix B – Country Specific

Guidance for a more in-depth understanding of the McGovern-Dole priorities. FAS will give priority consideration to eligible applications for the following countries and regions:

Table 1: NEW COUNTRIES

Country Region(s)

Mauritania Triangle of Hope: Gorgol, Assaba, Brakna, Guidimakha and Tagant

Togo Regions of Savanes, Kara, and Centrale

Uzbekistan

Karakalpakstan, (South Aral Sea region of

Uzbekistan), and other vulnerable regions countrywide

Venezuela Nationwide

Table 2: CONTINUING COUNTRIES

Country Region(s)

Bangladesh District of Cox’s Bazar

Cambodia Siem Reap, Kampong Chhnang, and

Kampong Thom

Guinea-Bissau Oio, Cacheu, Biombo, Quinara, Tombali, Bafata, Gabu, and Bolama

Haiti Grande’Anse, Sud, Sud-Est, Nord and Nord

Est

Malawi Central Region and Southern Region

Mozambique Muecate and Nacaroa Districts of Nampula

Province and Maputo Province

Nicaragua Estelí, Leon, Madriz, and Nueva Segovia

For continuing projects, FAS expects that proposed activities will build upon current activities and, where possible, what has been accomplished to date. Expansion to target regions, beyond the continuing project region(s), is allowable as long as this proposed programming aligns with the country guidance priorities per Appendix B – Country

Specific Guidance and the overall McGovern-Dole priorities. Applications must focus on transition of McGovern-Dole activities to the host governments and set the path to sustainability. Applicants must work with countries that have a national government that is committed to or is working towards, through a national action plan, the goals of the World Declaration on Education for All through a national school feeding law.

Furthermore, applications must align with the McGovern-Dole program level Results

Frameworks as mentioned in Part D Section 2 (c)(vii).

For a list of continuing McGovern-Dole projects, please visit:

https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/mcgovern-dole-food-education-program.

10. US Government Strategies

a. United States Government Strategy on International Basic Education

The U.S. Government Strategy on International Basic Education was launched in 2019 to demonstrate the United States Government’s commitment to helping ensure that individuals around the world have the education and skills needed to be productive members of society. The goals of the U.S. Government Strategy on International Basic

Education for Fiscal Years 2019-2023 is to achieve a world where education systems in partner countries enable all individuals to acquire the education and skills needed to be productive members of society. To accomplish these goals the U.S. Government has two principal objectives: 1. Improve learning outcomes; and 2. Expand access to quality education for all, particularly marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Proposals must coordinate and collaborate with other USG programs that are also striving to improve reading outcomes and expand access to quality education for all.

There is a strong emphasis on all project countries for improved coordination.

Proposals must detail how they will coordinate with other USG initiatives particularly http://www.un-documents.net/jomtien.htm https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/mcgovern-dole-food-education-program with their emphasis on basic education, and if it is not applicable to a region or a country, proposals must explain why.

b. USDA-USAID Memorandum of Understanding on Education

In coordination with the U.S. Government Strategy on International Basic Education, FAS will give priority consideration to eligible applications that align with USDA-

USAID Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) priorities and demonstrate evidence of collaboration, where applicable, and that meet the requirements of McGovern-Dole priority countries and regions.

Background: An MOU was signed between FAS and USAID in May of 2014 to leverage each agency’s respective strengths, experiences, technologies, methodologies, investments and resources (human, in-kind, and monetary) to facilitate, in collaboration with host country governments, improved student learning outcomes in a manner consistent with each respective agency’s mission.

The USDA McGovern-Dole program commits to the USG Strategy on International

Basic Education by aligning McGovern-Dole (Results Framework McGovern-Dole

SO1) with USAID’s investments in education and reading will maximize cost-efficiency and efficacy and create a holistic approach to the challenge of ensuring that disadvantaged children are physically, nutritionally, and cognitively fit to succeed in school. A strong USDA-USAID collaboration is likely to increase the impact of U.S.

government (USG) investments in education and thereby contribute more significantly to the attainment of the education sector’s goals. It is suggested that proposals include or address, at minimum, the following components in the solicitation and evaluation criteria:

Program Coordination: Programming must be well-coordinated and complementary in countries where McGovern-Dole and USAID both have current programming, keeping in mind where they are located, and seeking to leverage existing materials, lessons learned, or best practices where applicable and appropriate. Where feasible, co-location in designated schools, districts, and regions is desirable in order to leverage resources, to promote cost-efficiency and efficacy, and to increase impact.

Frameworks for Enhancing Program Design: There are several frameworks for enhancing literacy programs design and quality in improving reading outcomes for all students. USDA focuses on the 5 of the Ts: texts, tongue, testing, teachers, and time.

Applicants should pay special attention to the 5 Ts and incorporate in their literacy programs as appropriate and applicable. Applicants must provide a clear analysis of the status of the 5Ts in the relevant context and how their proposed activities will build upon existing strengths and address on-going challenges. They should not be implemented in isolation of the system.

• Texts: provide ample decodable and leveled materials for reading instruction and practice in languages children use and understand.

• Tongue: provide reading instruction in languages children use and understand utilizing appropriate scope and sequence of skills and speech-to-print strategies;

• Testing: use continuous assessment such as brief letter and word reading tests and progress monitoring assessments such as adaptations of the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) or the Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA);

• Teachers: use an evidence-based approach to read instruction that includes the following instructional routines: structured pedagogy, scripted lessons, used of decodables and level reader, use of universal design principles, and frequent feedback loops on student performance. For pedagogical approaches, the use of synthetic phonic is recommended. And

• Time: ensure that children receive at least 60 minutes per day on reading instruction and practice.

c. Feed the Future and Global Food Security Strategy

In October 2018, the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act (GFSRA) was signed into law and reaffirmed the U.S. Government’s commitment to ending global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.1

The GFSRA ensures continued implementation of the U.S. Government’s 2017-2021

Global Food Security Strategy and Feed the Future Initiative.2

USDA Global Food Security Council guidance commits McGovern-Dole to report on select Feed the Future indicators, particularly in nutrition and health, which are identified and defined as standard McGovern-Dole performance indicators. Six FY19

McGovern-Dole priority countries are Feed the Future Aligned Countries: Cambodia, Haiti, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique and Nicaragua and one FY19 McGovern-Dole country is a Feed the Future Target Country: Bangladesh. Proposals submitted for these countries should demonstrate alignment of the proposed McGovern-Dole activities with Feed the Future in the country of application.

1 https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/oct-12-2018-administrator-green-reauthorization-global-food-security-act

2 https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/us-government-global-food-security-strategy https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/oct-12-2018-administrator-green-reauthorization-global-food-security-act https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/oct-12-2018-administrator-green-reauthorization-global-food-security-act https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/us-government-global-food-security-strategy

d. Deworming

Applicants should describe current efforts underway on the part of host country governments, international organizations or other actors to mitigate the spread of parasitic disease through school-based deworming. In areas of high prevalence, i.e. 20 percent or more, applicants must include a plan to implement school-based deworming in all McGovern-Dole schools if other actors are not currently doing so, and the deworming plan must be coordinated with the Ministry of Health or the competent technical host-country government entity. Applicants must clarify whether they are directly implementing deworming themselves or coordinating with another stakeholder’s program, and report on McGovern-Dole standard indicator 24: Number of students receiving deworming medication(s), also in coordination with other actors if necessary.

Applicants must verify Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) prevalence rates in targeted intervention areas through sources such as the Global Atlas on Helminth Infections, Ministry of Health data, World Health Organization sources, U.S. government sources on NTDs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and USAID, etc.

USDA anticipates that applicants will address the McGovern-Dole intermediate results, especially “Reduced Health-Related Absences (McGovern-Dole 1.3.2)” and its contribution to “Improved Student Attendance (McGovern-Dole 1.3).” FAS encourages applicants to include information on the prevalence of NTDs transmitted by worms, such as guinea worm disease, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminths, in targeted intervention regions or areas.

Parasitic worm infections interfere with nutrient uptake and may lead to anemia, malnutrition, and impaired mental and physical development. They pose a serious threat to children’s long-term health, education, and productivity, as infected children may be too sick or lethargic to concentrate at school, or to attend at all. Research indicates that school-based deworming has positive impacts on child education and health, and it may improve nutrition.3

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Award Amounts

3 https://www.evidenceaction.org/blog-full/evidence-action-welcomes-new-rigorous-meta-analysis-showing-benefits-of-mass-deworming-for-children https://www.evidenceaction.org/blog-full/evidence-action-welcomes-new-rigorous-meta-analysis-showing-benefits-of-mass-deworming-for-children https://www.evidenceaction.org/blog-full/evidence-action-welcomes-new-rigorous-meta-analysis-showing-benefits-of-mass-deworming-for-children

Anticipated Funding: Up to $191,000,000 (total) in FY2019. The McGovern-Dole

International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program anticipates making ten to eleven awards between $10 and $35 million each. USDA will also award up to $1 million from McGovern-Dole funds for the use of recently developed potable water technologies in two to three FY 19 McGovern-Dole projects (see Appendix C). All projects in this announcement will be funded subject to availability of appropriated funding. Issuance of this solicitation does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of the USG to make awards, nor does it commit the USG to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a concept note or full application.

2. Period of Performance

All awards will be fully funded up front. FAS seeks proposals for ranging from a three to a five-year implementation period, except if indicated otherwise under Country Specific

Guidance.

Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 10/01/2019

Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/30/2022 - 09/30/2024

3. Extensions

McGovern-Dole Program awards may be eligible for extensions to their period of performance. Refer to Part H Section 2 Extensions.

4. Funding Instrument

All awards will be made in the form of cooperative agreements as a result of this solicitation (2 CFR § 200.24). In a cooperative agreement, FAS will be substantially involved throughout the award implementation period. Substantial involvement may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• FAS specifies the manner, method, performance, or timing of the work in an approved work plan;

• FAS review and approval of one stage of work before a subsequent stage may begin during the performance period;

• FAS review and approval of an evaluation plan;

• FAS review and approval of proposed sub-grants and contracts, prior to award;

• FAS participation in the selection and approval of the individuals or organizations that will conduct all required evaluations;

• FAS participation in data collection and analysis for required evaluations and other performance reports;

• FAS approval of an organizational chart identifying the names, roles and responsibilities of all the Applicant’s key personnel and any subsequent changes or absences; and

• FAS provision of specific direction or redirection of the work during the period of performance.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

In accordance with McGovern-Dole regulations (7 CFR 1599.3) and legislation (7 USC

1736o-1), private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations, governments of developing countries and their agencies, and other organizations are eligible to apply to become an Applicant under McGovern-Dole. See 7 CFR 1599.3 for the definition of a private voluntary organization.

2. Eligibility Criteria

a. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

Refer to Part D Section 3 where SAM requirements are also discussed.

Each Applicant, unless excepted under 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by USDA-FAS under 2 CFR § 25.110(d), is required to: (i) be registered in

SAM before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in the application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which the Applicant has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by FAS. Applicants without an active SAM registration will be found ineligible and the application will not be considered for funding. All subrecipient organizations must also have active SAM registrations before the subaward is signed.

Applicants must include a valid data universal number system (DUNS) number in the organizational unit section of Block 8 of the SF-424. All subrecipients listed in the proposal must have a current DUNS number. Organizations that do not have a DUNS number can obtain a DUNS number at no cost by using the web-based form available at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.

Instructions for registering in SAM can be found at https://www.sam.gov. After initial registration in SAM the Applicant is required to review and update the registration http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://www.sam.gov/ every 12 months from the date of initial registration to ensure the information is accurate.

Applicants registering in SAM are encouraged to register early. The registration process can take approximately four weeks to be completed.

Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines.

Effective as of June 2017, you can no longer access the System for Award Management

(SAM) using Internet Explorer (IE) Versions older than IE11. You either need to upgrade to an Internet Explorer version of IE11 or higher, or access SAM with another supported browser type (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.).

Each Applicant must have an active registration in SAM prior to the closing date of the announcement.

b. Debarment and Suspension

An entity (including subcontractors, sub applicants and key personnel) will be considered ineligible if the entity has been designated by the United States Government

(USG) as debarred or suspended in USG funded procurements or otherwise prohibited by applicable U.S. law or executive order or U.S. policies. FAS will review, inter alia:

i. U.S. State Department, Terrorist Exclusion List:

http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123086.htm

ii. U.S. Department of Treasury, Specially Designated Nationals List:

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx

iii. General Services Administration, System for Award Management (SAM):

http://www.sam.gov

iv. All Applicants and sub-Applicants must comply with the conflict of interest requirements in 2 CFR § 400.2.

3. Other Submission Requirements and Information

An Applicant must submit all required sections and forms as listed in Part D Section2 (b)

Required Sections and Forms to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be considered. There is no limit on the number of applications which an Applicant may submit.

4. Cost Share or Matching Requirements

Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not required for eligibility, but is encouraged to maximize program impacts and engender in-country sustainability.

Applicants must identify and explain any cost sharing in the budget summary and narrative http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123086.htm http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx http://www.sam.gov/

(7 CFR § 1599.4(b)(4)(i)). Applicants should include cost share and in-kind contributions as part of the total award value on the SF-424 and other required budget documents. If an award is made, the Applicant will be responsible for obtaining these resources. Award

Applicants shall not procure these resources with FAS funding.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

This NOFO and instructions for submitting the application can be located on the FAIS home page https://apps.fas.usda.gov/fais/public. This document is also located on

Grants.gov at: www.grants.gov. However, your application must be submitted via

FAIS. If an Applicant does not have access to the Internet or experiences trouble accessing the home page, the Applicant should contact FAS in writing at 1400

Independence Ave. SW Washington, DC 20250 or by calling (202) 720-2637 between

9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. EDT to request the NOFO application and instructions via mail.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Application Format

The application must:

• Be written in English;

• Be written using Times New Roman, 12-point font;

• Be typed on standard 8.5” x 11” sized paper with 1-inch margins;

• Be paginated with each page consecutively numbered;

• Cite source information and/or provide an explanation of the analysis undertaken;

• Be submitted in PDF;

o Not exceed one hundred (100) pages, excluding the cover page and appendices; and adhering to the following page limit guidelines:Introduction and Strategic Analysis – a maximum of 16 pages o Plan of Operation and Activities – a maximum of 15 pages o Graduation and Sustainability – a maximum of 5 pages o Literacy – a maximum of 5 pages o Nutrition – a maximum of 5 pages o Organizational Capacity and Staffing – a maximum of 8 pages o Monitoring and Evaluation – a maximum of 20 pages

• Project-Level Results Frameworks – a maximum of 4 pages https://apps.fas.usda.gov/fais/public http://www.grants.gov/

• Performance Indicators – a maximum of 4 pages

• Evaluation Plan – a maximum of 12 pages o Commodity Management – a maximum of 5 pages o Budget – a maximum of 21 pages

• Budget Summary – a maximum of 1 page

• Budget Narrative – a maximum of 20 pages o Attachments not included in page limits include:

• Cover Page

• Table of Contents

• Acronyms List

• Visuals (maps, graphic organizers, etc.) (Not Required)

• Letters of Support (Not Required)

• Organizational and Key Personnel Chart

• Curriculum Vitae for Project Lead

• Past Performance Records

• AD-3030

• SF-424

• Applicant’s most recent single audit

Note: If an application exceeds the limit for any section, the application will be reviewed, but the review will be restricted to the section’s page limit.

b. Required Sections and Forms

Each application must include the following sections and forms to be considered complete:

• Introduction and Strategic Analysis

• Plan of Operation and Activities

• Graduation and Sustainability

• Literacy

• Nutrition

• Organizational Capacity and Staffing o Organizational Chart o Curriculum Vitae for Project Lead o In-Country Registration o Past Performance Records o Audited Financial Statement

• Monitoring and Evaluation o Project-Level Results Framework o Performance Indicators o Evaluation Plan

• Commodity Management

• Budget o Budget Summary o Budget Narrative o Applicant’s most recent Single Audit (outside of page limit restrictions) o Applicant’s most recent approved NICRA agreement (outside of page limit restrictions)

• USDA AD-3030

• USDA AD-3031

• USDA AD-1047 or USDA AD-1048 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension (depending on organization type)

• USDA AD-1049, USDA AD-1050, or USDA AD-1052 Certificate Regarding

Drug Free Workplace Requirements (depending on organization type)

• SF- 424 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

• SF-424B https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

• The Certification Regarding Lobbying. If paragraph two of the certification applies, then complete and submit the SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying.

• Project-Specific commitment letters from anticipated subrecipients (if subrecipients are proposed).

Applications that do not provide the required information outlined within this

NOFO will be considered incomplete and will not be considered for funding. All

Applicants must refer to and follow the McGovern-Dole regulations, 7 CFR § 1599.4, as well as the guidance within this notice. Further details can be found in Content

Guidance section below. An Application Content Checklist can be found in Appendix

A.

Applicants should review the FAS guidance for each of these sections, which requires data input directly into FAIS or submission as an attachment.

Please be aware that OMB Memorandum 18-24: Strategies to Reduce Grant Recipient

Reporting Burden has been approved. After January 1, 2020, the following forms will need to be completed in SAM on an annual basis and will no longer be required to be submitted as part of your application package:

• USDA AD-3030

• USDA AD-3031

https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad3030 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad3031 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad3031 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-1047 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-1048 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-1049 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-1050 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-1052 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5413566.pdf https://www.gsa.gov/Forms/TrackForm/33144 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad3030 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad3030 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad3031

• USDA AD-1047 or USDA AD-1048 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension (depending on organization type)

• USDA AD-1049, USDA AD-1050, or USDA AD-1052 Certificate Regarding

Drug Free Workplace Requirements (depending on organization type)

• SF-424B https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

• The Certification Regarding Lobbying. If paragraph two of the certification applies, then complete and submit the SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying.

c. Content Guidance

All McGovern-Dole proposals must include the following, either entered FAIS or included as an attachment:

i. Introduction and Strategic Analysis

Under this sub-section, provide the estimated commodity cost; estimated freight cost, ITSH; administration; and, activity costs.

Cost Type Total Budget (USD)

Administration

ITSH*

Activities

Sub-total FAS Cash

Estimated Commodities

Estimated Ocean Freight

TOTAL PROGRAM VALUE

Provide a one-paragraph summary of the proposed project. The summary should include the duration of the project, estimated costs, number of direct beneficiaries and the focus of the intervention.

Under this sub-section, provide the estimated commodity cost, estimated ocean freight cost, ITSH, administration, and activity costs. All Applicants, including international organizations, are required to include costs relating to ITSH: the https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-1047 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-1048 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-1049 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-1050 https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-1052 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5413566.pdf https://www.gsa.gov/Forms/TrackForm/33144 moving of commodities from designated ports or points of entry to storage and distribution sites as well as costs of storing and distributing the commodities.

Proposals must include a comprehensive analysis of the potential needs, challenges, risks, opportunities, and constraints that may impact the implementation and success of a project in the recipient country. This section should explain the strategy behind the proposed method of intervention and describe how the project will implement this strategy through proposed activities, including a theory of change to achieve the highest-level strategic objectives. The specific activities proposed should be described according to the guidance in the Plan of Operations and Activities. The strategic analysis will be evaluated based on how well the project is aligned with host government laws, policies, and programs; how well the proposed project will coordinate within the U.S. government, multilateral, private sector, or other stakeholder development strategies or frameworks; and how the proposed program will complement and not duplicate existing projects and programs. This section should cite sources and/or provide an explanation of the analyses undertaken.

The following must be included in this section:

• Explanation of the goals and objectives and identification of the targeted beneficiaries, regions, and specific needs of the targeted population, and the rationale for why they were chosen; Applicants must sufficiently justify the chosen regions, particularly if the target country is not a GFSS focus country.

• Describe any current programs, policies, interventions, and strategies of other stakeholders (recipient government, USG, other donors, private sector, etc. particularly those USG Agencies involved in the new USG

International Basic Education Strategy) that are working to promote primary education and literacy and reduce the incidence of hunger through school feeding.

• Include information specifically identifying opportunities to collaborate with USAID per the USDA/USAID MOU. This could include coordinating on policy dialogue, teacher training and coaching, reading materials, and assessments in advance of activity design.

• Include information about Maternal Child Nutrition (MCN) activities taking place in the proposed countries and how the Applicant will coordinate with other stakeholders in carrying out MCN activities.

• Include information about the target population’s access to water and sanitation facilities as well as sanitation and hygiene practices and behaviors.

• Explain the working relationship with and support from the recipient government, and the collaboration done to develop the proposed project, as well as how the project would leverage other development resources to achieve their results.

• Identify specific in-country constraints, including the potential risks related to weather variability and water availability that could obstruct the project’s efforts to address the identified needs.

• Method of Educating the Public: State the methods of notifying consumers in the Applicant country of the source of funding for program activities;

• Method of Choosing Beneficiaries: Briefly identify the criteria and methodology used to target the geographic area(s) and the beneficiary group(s). Criteria and methodology should help to distinguish why some regions or beneficiary groups will receive resources (funds or agricultural products) while others may not. Applicants should consider the following questions when preparing a response:

o Why and with what methodology did the Applicant select the particular geographic area(s), institutions, and beneficiaries?

o Which sources of information did the Applicant use (i.e. government agency survey, computer database, interviews, assessments, etc.)?

o With whom did the Applicant collaborate to target particular regions, institutions, and beneficiaries?

• Target Geographic Area: List the targeted geographic areas where the proposed activities will take place; the inclusion of maps for illustration is encouraged and can be uploaded in FAIS as an attachment.

Additionally, Applicants are required to address the following points per 7 CFR

1599.4 under this section:

Explanation of Need: FAS requires Applicants to include an explanation of the need for food aid in the targeted country and how the Applicant's proposed activities would address that need, as well as an explanation of the need for a school feeding program in the targeted country. Additionally, the Applicant must provide information regarding (1) the country's current school feeding operations, if they exist, the length and sessions of a typical school year, and current funding resources;

and (2) Teacher training, parent-teacher associations, community infrastructure, health, nutrition, water and sanitation conditions.

Local Capacity Building: Applicants must explain how they will involve indigenous institutions as well as local communities and governments in the development and implementation of the activities to foster local capacity building and leadership.

Commitment to Education: Applicants must provide a statement verifying the commitment of the government of the targeted country to work, through a national action plan, toward the goals of the World Declaration on Education for

All (Jomtien Declaration, and the follow-up Dakar Framework for Action of the

World Education Forum).

ii. Plan of Operation and Activities

The Plan of Operation must include a list of each of the activities that would be implemented, with a brief statement of the objectives to be accomplished under each activity and a detailed description of the activity, including the steps involved in its implementation and the anticipated completion date.

The Activities section is evaluated based on the quality and technical merit of the content submitted, including in-depth description of each activity, and how each activity will be implemented. Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed activities will address the needs as identified in the Strategic Analysis section (see above – section i – Introduction and Strategic Analysis). The activities should accurately capture the project scope, beneficiaries, and deliverables. Furthermore, this section must detail how these activities will lead to the results as stated in the project-level RF. The activities should not only identify the project’s targeted interventions, but also demonstrate how the project will complement existing efforts. Thus, the section should distinguish which activities will be implemented only by the Applicant, and those that will be implemented in coordination with other partners. Applicants must provide a brief description of the capacity of all subrecipients and their role in project implementation.

iii. Sustainability and Lasting Impact

According to 7 CFR 1599.4 (c) (8), Applicants must explain (1) how the benefits of education, enrollment, and attendance of children in schools in the targeted communities will be sustained when assistance under McGovern-Dole terminates and (2) the estimated period of time required until the targeted country or the

Applicant would be able to sustain the program without additional assistance under

McGovern-Dole.

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001275/127583e.pdf http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001211/121147e.pdf

Applications should include a detailed timeline that shows the project’s progression towards graduation with measurable and achievable targets at each stage, including work with public, private, and/or local partners. If the graduation of a school feeding activity to the recipient country or eligible organization is not imminent, the

Applicant must explain the barriers to graduation, and how proposed activities will sustain other program benefits to targeted communities of the recipient country once the provision of commodities and assistance to the recipient country ends.

If an Applicant is proposing to continue an existing project, it must be clear if the proposed project will carry forward activities with the same beneficiaries towards the same long-term goals as the prior project, and build upon previous results, demonstrating progression towards sustainability and graduation. Furthermore, the

Applicant should demonstrate any prior successes regarding graduation of food assistance or education projects, especially those funded by USG agencies.

Applicants should include information on their collaboration with the host government and their efforts to build governments capacity to take over the school feeding activities.