FY2023 McGovern-Dole NOFO.pdf

FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE

International Food Assistance Division

Global Programs

Fiscal Year 2023 Request for Applications and Instructions

MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR

EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

February 22, 2023

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is soliciting applications for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (McGovern-Dole) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. FAS expects to enter into multiple cooperative agreements under McGovern-Dole to make awards, totaling up to $230,000,000 subject to the availability of funding. These awards will be for approximately five-year projects. FAS will accept applications for projects in the following priority countries:

Cameroon, Haiti, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, and Togo. FAS will also accept applications for non-priority countries; however, it will prioritize funding applications for the identified priority countries. McGovern-Dole funds awards that leverage donated U.S.

agricultural commodities, local and regional agricultural commodities, and financial and technical assistance to carry out school feeding projects that strengthen food security, reduce the incidence of hunger, improve literacy and education, particularly with respect to girls, and support maternal, infant, and child nutrition programs. McGovern-Dole projects are implemented in low-income, food-deficit countries globally.

Applications must be submitted to FAS through the Food Aid Information System (FAIS) by the Application Submission Deadline of 5:00:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on April 28, 2023. FAS will not consider late applications. FAS advises Applicants to begin the application process early to allow time to address any information technology difficulties.

When applications received by the Application Submission Deadline are incomplete, FAS will contact the Applicant by e-mail. FAS will grant a grace period of three business days from the date of this e-mail for Applicants to submit missing content and forms via FAIS. FAS will not consider any applications that remain incomplete after the grace period. Refer to Part C Section 2 for Applicant eligibility information and Part D Section 4 for application completeness requirements. Please submit questions regarding this request for applications to ppded@usda.gov no later than 5:00:00 P.M. EDT on April 21, 2023 and include “FY23 McGovern-Dole NOFO” in the subject line of your e-mail. FAS will consider questions submitted by the deadline to the extent practicable and will post responses on a weekly basis until the Friday preceding the application deadline. Applicants may access the responses in the “Related Documents” tab of the grant opportunity page on Grants.gov.

https://www.fas.usda.gov/food-aid-information-system mailto:ppded@usda.gov

NEW IN FY2023

1. Reorganization of Introduction and Strategic Analysis and Plan of Operation under

Part D Section 4: Content Guidance

To discourage duplication, improve narrative and logical flow, and allow Applicants to cohesively explain how their proposed project meets identified needs, FAS now requires some content in Part D Section 4a: Introduction and Strategic Analysis that was previously requested in Plan of Operation section. FAS has adjusted page limits to reflect this change. FAS encourages Applicants to review and follow the guidance closely under these sections to ensure they include all necessary components in the relevant sections of their application.

2. Change to Period of Performance

FAS has changed the Period of Performance from “Approximately 48 to 60 months” to “Approximately 60 months.” FAS strongly discourages Applicants from proposing periods of performance of less than 60 months.

3. Consolidation of evaluation criteria

FAS has consolidated some evaluation criteria in Part E Section 1: Application Evaluation Criteria that was previously noted in Content Guidance.

4. Explanation for standard indicators not used

FAS may require that Applicants opting not to use standard indicators corresponding to a given result explain why in a footnote. For further details, see Part D Section 4e: Performance Indicator Table.

5. Addition of SAM.gov registration information

FAS has provided further information on SAM.gov registration, a requirement for all Applicants, in Part C Section 2b.

6. Removal of “Office” line item in Budget

FAS has removed the “Office” line item from Appendix D and Appendix E. Applicants should classify costs under Supplies, Other, or Indirect Costs in keeping with 2 CFR 200 Subpart E and the guidance provided in Appendices E and I.

7. Addition of Appendix K

FAS has provided a new Appendix K as a suggested formatting for the Plan of Operation.

8. Additional guidance for procuring local and regional commodities

FAS provided guidance in Part D Section 4f: Commodity Management to ensure Applicants do not procure commodities from actors included on Office of Foreign Assets Control lists.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRd93f2a98b1f6455/section-200.414

LIST OF ACRONYMS

BMI

CCC

Body Mass Index Commodity Credit Corporation

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

COLA

CSB

Cost of Living Adjustment Corn-Soy Blend Plus

CV Curriculum Vitae DEC Development Experience

Clearinghouse (DEC) FAIS Food Aid Information

System FAS Foreign Agricultural Service FFPr Food for Progress Program FICA Federal Insurance

Contributions Act FtF Feed the Future FY Fiscal Year

GFSS

HQ

Global Food Security Strategy Headquarters

IFAD International Food Assistance Division

IR Intermediate Results ITSH Internal Transportation, Storage, and Handling LRP Local and Regional

Procurement 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

MTDC

NATO

Metric Ton(s) Modified Total Direct Costs North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NCAGE

NATO Commercial and Government Entity Code

NICRA Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

NOFO Notice of Funding Opportunity

NTD

OFAC

Neglected Tropical Disease Office of Foreign Assets Control

OMB Office of Management and Budget

PL Public Law PMP Performance Monitoring

Plan PVO Private Voluntary

Organization R&R Rest and Recreation RF Results Framework

SAM

SF

System for Award Management Standard Form

SFP School Feeding Program SO Strategic Objective UEI Unique Entity Identifier U.N.

U.S.

USC

USG

United Nations United States United States Code United States Government

USAID United States Agency for International Development

USDA United States Department of Agriculture

USG

WASH

United States Government Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

WB World Bank WHO World Health Organization

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. ISSUED BY

2. ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER

3. ASSISTANCE LISTING TITLE

4. NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO) TITLE

5. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBERS

6. AUTHORIZING AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM

7. APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM

8. ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE

9. PROGRAM REGULATIONS

10. PROGRAM OVERVIEW, OBJECTIVES, AND PRIORITIES

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. AWARD AMOUNTS, IMPORTANT DATES, AND EXTENSIONS

2. FUNDING INSTRUMENT

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

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

2. DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION

3. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION

4. COST SHARE OR MATCH

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. KEY DATES AND TIMES

2. APPLICATION PACKAGE

3. FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

a. Application Format

b. Required Content and Forms

4. CONTENT GUIDANCE

a. Introduction and Strategic Analysis

b. Plan of Operation (Page limit: 15 pages)

c. Sustainability and Lasting Impact

d. Organizational Capacity and Staffing

e. Monitoring and Evaluation

f. Commodity Management

g. Budget

h. Food Aid Information System (FAIS)

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. APPLICATION REVIEW CRITERIA

2. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

a. Review Process

b. Selection Process

3. REVIEW OF APPLICANT INTEGRITY AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION ... 45

4. CONFIDENTIALITY AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. NOTICE OF AWARD

2. ADMINISTRATION AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

a. Domestic Entities

b. Foreign Entities

3. REPORTING

a. Federal Financial Reporting Requirements

b. Program Performance Reporting Requirements

c. Closeout Reporting Requirements

4. MONITORING

5. OTHER AGREEMENT REQUIREMENTS

a. Organizational Chart

b. Annual Work Plan

c. Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements

d. Local and Regional Commodity Procurement and Distribution Plan

e. Market Study

f. Subaward or Subcontract Requirements

g. Audit Compliance

G. AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

1. CONTACT AND RESOURCE INFORMATION

2. HOURS OF OPERATION

3. ADDRESS

4. PHONE, EMAIL, and WEBSITE

H. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. EXTENSIONS

2. PRIOR APPROVAL

3. BUDGET REVISIONS

4. PROGRAM INCOME

5. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

APPENDIX A – Application Content Checklist

APPENDIX B – Country Guidance

APPENDIX C – Global Strategies and Initiatives

APPENDIX D – Budget Summary

APPENDIX E – Budget Narrative Example

APPENDIX F – Results Framework and Illustrative Examples of Foundational Results

APPENDIX G – Past Performance Review Template

APPENDIX H – Available Commodities for FY 2023 Food Aid Solicitations

APPENDIX I – Instructions for Completing the SF-424a

APPENDIX J – SF-424A Example

APPENDIX K –Activity Description Example

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. ISSUED BY

Foreign Agricultural Service, Global Programs, International Food Assistance Division (IFAD)

2. ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER

(Formerly known as CFDA)

10.608

3. ASSISTANCE LISTING TITLE

Food for Education

4. NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO) TITLE

FY 2023 Request for Applications and Instructions

MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD

NUTRITION PROGRAM

5. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBERS

• USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(510) Cameroon

• USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(124) Haiti

• USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(558) Mozambique

• USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(646) Nepal

• USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(130) Nicaragua

• USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(688) Sri Lanka

• USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(578) Togo

• USDA-FAS-10.608-0700-23-(000) Non-priority country applications

Please refer to Appendix B for Country Guidance for each priority country.

6. AUTHORIZING AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM

McGovern-Dole is authorized by section 3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1736o-1).

7. APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM

McGovern-Dole will be funded in FY 2023 primarily through Title V of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023 (Division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law (PL) 117-328)).

https://sam.gov/fal/a3a8ff78dc1c44b79c6526fb533e1c64/view https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section1736o-1&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjcgc2VjdGlvbjoxNzM2byBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim

8. ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE

New Agreements

9. PROGRAM REGULATIONS

Awards FAS makes within this funding opportunity to Applicants other than foreign public entities (as defined in 2 CFR Part 200) will be subject to McGovern-Dole regulations, 7 CFR Part 1599. As provided in 7 CFR Part 1599, awards to Applicants other than foreign public entities will also be subject to 2 CFR Part 200, as supplemented by 2 CFR Part 400 and 7 CFR Section 1599, with the exception that Subsection F of 2 CFR Part 200 will not apply to a foreign organization (as defined in 2 CFR Part 200) or a for-profit entity.

10. PROGRAM OVERVIEW, OBJECTIVES, AND PRIORITIES

The principal objectives of the McGovern-Dole Program are to carry out: 1) preschool and 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 and funds to procure local and regional agricultural commodities, as well as financial and technical assistance, to support McGovern-Dole objectives. FAS enters into a cooperative agreement with a successful Applicant, referred to as a Recipient, to fund the project described in the Applicant’s application, following successful negotiation of the agreement. The program authorizing legislation, Section 3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, requires that McGovern-Dole agreements include provisions to achieve graduation or provide other long-term benefits to targeted populations of the country (7 U.S.C.

1736o-1(j)).

By providing school meals, teacher training, government capacity-building, and related education and nutrition support, McGovern-Dole helps boost school enrollment, increase attendance, and improve reading outcomes and literacy results. McGovern-Dole also provides support to Maternal and Child Nutrition (MCN). To improve 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 hygiene (WASH); school gardens; and curriculum-based nutrition education.

The donation of U.S. commodities is an integral part of McGovern-Dole and Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the U.S. donated commodities to maximize program reach of targeted beneficiaries in the most cost-effective manner. In addition, Applicants are strongly encouraged https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1599 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1599 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1599 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-IV https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1599 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1599 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section1736o-1&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjcgc2VjdGlvbjoxNzM2byBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section1736o-1&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjcgc2VjdGlvbjoxNzM2byBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim to allocate approximately ten percent of the total proposed federal award amount for local and regional procurement (LRP) of commodities. All activities must be consistent with the objectives of the program, as set forth in the first paragraph of this Section 10. FAS prioritizes sustainability in efforts to reduce poverty and food insecurity in vulnerable economies on their path to becoming self-sufficient. FAS is focusing on helping communities develop sustainable sources of food supplies while building resilience in their food sourcing practices.

FAS will consider applications from all eligible organizations, including current Recipients and new organizations. FAS will prioritize funding for projects in priority countries. For additional information on the priority countries for this funding opportunity, Applicants should refer to Appendix B – Country Guidance. FAS will consider funding a project in a non-priority country, but an application for a non-priority country must include sufficient justification.

FAS expects that applications will build upon the accomplishments of any existing McGovern- Dole activities in the country. Applicants should lay the foundation for a strong McGovern-Dole project, including complementing school feeding efforts already in place. Applications must focus on transition of McGovern-Dole activities to the host governments and local communities and set the path to sustainability. Applicants must work with host governments that have national action plans and are committed to or are working towards the goals of the World Declaration on Education for All’s goals1.

Furthermore, applications must align with the McGovern Dole Program Project-Level Results Framework (see Part D Section 4e: Monitoring and Evaluation). All McGovern-Dole projects are subject to independent third-party evaluations.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. AWARD AMOUNTS, IMPORTANT DATES, AND

EXTENSIONS

• Available Funding for the NOFO: Up to $230,000,000; Subject to the availability of funding

• Estimated Number of Awards: 7

• Estimated Funding per Award: $10 million – $32 million

FAS funding for all projects in this announcement is subject to availability of appropriated funding. Per Part A Section 7 Appropriation Authority for Program, FAS may award available funding from past fiscal year appropriations up to $230 million of available funding may come from FY 2023 appropriations. Issuance of this solicitation does not constitute an award or

1 To promote continued learning and evidence-based decision making, FAS publishes evaluations on the Development Experience Clearinghouse maintained by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

http://www.un-documents.net/jomtien.htm http://www.un-documents.net/jomtien.htm https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/search/SearchResults.aspx?q=RkFTVVNEQQ%3D%3D commitment on the part of the United States Government (USG) to make awards, nor does it commit the USG to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application.

• Period of Performance: Approximately 60 months

• Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 10/01/2023

• Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/30/2027

• Cost Share or Match Requirements: None/Not Required

McGovern-Dole Program awards may be eligible for extensions to their period of performance.

Refer to Part H Section 1: Extensions.

2. FUNDING INSTRUMENT

FAS will award funding in the form of cooperative agreements and will be substantially involved throughout the award period of performance. FAS involvement may include but is not limited to the following:

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

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

• Close monitoring of the successful Applicant’s performance to verify the achievement of expected results;

• Review and approval of proposed subawards and contracts, prior to award;

• Review of proposed procurement, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.325;

• Review and approval of an evaluation plan;

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

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

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

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

Recipients may award procurement contracts or subawards under this cooperative agreement.

Procurement contracts must have an operational or administrative objective and subawards must be related to achieving objectives of project activities. Please note that a Recipient may not include its own personnel costs in any contract or subaward under the cooperative agreement.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

In accordance with the McGovern-Dole authorizing legislation, 7 U.S.C. 1736o-1, the following entities are eligible Applicants:

• Private Voluntary Organizations (see 7 CFR section 1599.2 for the definition of a private voluntary organization);

• Cooperatives;

• Intergovernmental Organizations;

• Governments of developing countries and their agencies; and

• Other organizations.

a. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management

(SAM)

Unless and exception in 2 CFR section 25.110 applies, and the exception is confirmed in writing by FAS, Applicants are required to:

• Register on SAM.gov before submitting their application;

• Assent to the federal assistance certifications in the SAM platform;

• Provide a valid a UEI in its application; and

• Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times while the

Applicant has an active Federal award or while FAS is considering an application.

All Applicants who do not have a written confirmation by FAS of an exception must have an active registration in the SAM database at www.sam.gov – pending or expired registrants are not eligible. This requirement must be met by the closing date of the announcement and will not be waived. Please contact ppded@usda.gov if you have questions about this requirement. FAS will not consider Applicants without an active SAM registration.

Applicants must include a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in the organizational unit section of Block 8 of the SF-424. All subrecipients listed in the application must have a current UEI number. Organizations that do not have a UEI number can obtain a UEI number at no cost by using the web-based form available at: https://sam.directory/register.

If you have never done business with the Federal Government, you will need to register your organization in SAM.gov. SAM.gov registration requires several weeks to process and cannot be expedited; therefore, prospective applicants should ensure that registrations are submitted timely.

If you do not have a SAM.gov account, then you will create an account using login.gov to complete your SAM.gov registration. SAM.gov registration is free. The process for entity registrations includes obtaining a UEI, a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned an entity by https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section1736o-1&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjcgc2VjdGlvbjoxNzM2byBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelimhttps://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section1736o-1&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjcgc2VjdGlvbjoxNzM2byBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1599#1599.2 http://www.sam.gov/ mailto:ppded@usda.gov https://sam.directory/register https://login.gov/

SAM.gov, and requires submitting assertions, representations and certifications, and other information about your organization. Please review the Entity Registration Checklist for details on this process.

A foreign entity (defined in 2 CFR part 200.1 as a “foreign organization” or a “foreign public entity”) must obtain a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code prior to SAM.gov registration. An NCAGE is required for all foreign entities prior to registering in SAM.gov. You can complete the registration once you enter the NCAGE. You can submit your request for an NCAGE Code by going to the NATO Support Activity NCAGE Request Tool at CAGE/NCAGE Code Request, which contains detailed instructions. You can complete the SAM.gov registration once you enter your NCAGE Code.

If you have done business with the Federal Government previously, you can check your entity status using your government issued UEI to determine if your registration is active. SAM.gov requires you to renew your registration every 365 days to keep it active.

Organizations should ensure that their SAM.gov registration includes a current e-Business (EBiz) point of contact name and email address. The EBiz point of contact is critical for Grants.gov registration and system functionality.

Please note that SAM.gov registration is different than obtaining a UEI only. Obtaining an UEI only validates your organization’s legal business name and address. Please review the Frequently Asked Questions at the Federal Service Desk for additional information about the difference between registering in SAM.gov and obtaining a UEI only.

Organizations should ensure that their SAM.gov registration includes a current e-Business (EBiz) point of contact name and email address. The EBiz point of contact is critical for Grants.gov Registration and system functionality.

2. DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION

FAS will consider an Applicant ineligible to receive a McGovern-Dole award if the Applicant or one of its principals has been disbarred or suspended from USG-funded procurements or non-procurement transactions, or otherwise prohibited by applicable U.S. law or executive order or U.S. policies. See 2 CFR Parts 180 and 417. FAS will review the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) to verify that the Applicant, potential subrecipients and contractors, and their principals have not been debarred or suspended.

3. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND

INFORMATION

For FAS to consider an application complete, the Applicant must submit all required content and forms in FAIS as listed in Part D Section 3 and 4 by the Application Submission Deadline set forth in Part D Section 1. If an Applicant has submitted an application that is incomplete as of the Application Submission Deadline, FAS will notify the Applicant by e-mail that its application is incomplete and that FAS will grant a grace period of three business days, ending at https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=a03ea4461b802550fe314000f54bcb83 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c/section-200.1#p-200.1(Foreign%20organization) https://www.nato.int/structur/ac/135/welcome.htm https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0051214&sys_kb_id=dd40f4ef1b9641d0937fa64ce54bcb7a&spa=1 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0051214&sys_kb_id=dd40f4ef1b9641d0937fa64ce54bcb7a&spa=1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-180 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-IV/part-417 https://sam.gov/content/home

5:00:00 P.M. EDT on the third business day after the date of the FAS e-mail, for the Applicant to submit any omitted content and forms via FAIS. FAS will not consider applications that remain incomplete after the grace period. As specified in this NOFO, an Applicant must also submit required information to ppded@usda.gov and SAM.gov. There is no limit on the number of applications per Applicant. FAS may also review submissions from eligible Applicants for non-prioritized countries, however, FAS will prioritize applications for priority countries.

FAS will not consider an application that it determines is not in substantial compliance with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Part D Section 3 b, Required Content and Forms, and Part D Section 3 d, Content Guidance. Applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in choice of application format, including selecting a legible font type and size for use in the application.

All Applicants and subrecipients must comply with the conflict of interest requirements in 2 CFR section 400.2.

Note: FAS’s application requirements vary depending on whether an Applicant is a domestic entity, a foreign organization, or a foreign public entity. An Applicant must submit all of the forms that are required to be submitted by the category of entity to which it belongs.

4. COST SHARE OR MATCH

FAS encourages, but does not require, cost sharing or matching to maximize program impacts and engender in-country sustainability. If Applicants choose to provide cost sharing or matching, they must identify and explain any cost sharing in the budget summary and narrative (7 CFR Section 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. Applicants may not use cost share to reach the three percent minimum monitoring and evaluation budget nor the ten percent LRP budget goal. Applicants’ unrecovered indirect costs are not allowable cost share.

Food vouchers and cash-based transfers are not allowable LRP methods and thus FAS does not consider them as allowable cost share within McGovern-Dole projects.

Refer to Part E Section 1, Application Evaluation Criteria, for details on how FAS will evaluate cost share or match. FAS’s review panel will consider awarding bonus points to an application that includes a cost share.

Applicants that receive an award will be responsible for obtaining and providing any cost share and in-kind contributions that are included in the agreement. Award Recipients shall not procure these resources with FAS funding. R

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

INFORMATION

1. KEY DATES AND TIMES

https://sam.gov/content/home https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-IV/part-400/section-400.2 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-IV/part-400/section-400.2 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1599/section-1599.4 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XV/part-1599/section-1599.4

• Application Start Date: February 22, 2023

• Question Submission Deadline: April 21, 2023

FAS will consider questions regarding this NOFO to the extent practicable. Submit questions to ppded@usda.gov and include “FY23 McGovern-Dole NOFO” in the subject line of your email.

FAS will post responses to questions on grants.gov on a weekly basis.

• Application Submission Deadline: April 28, 2023 prior to 5:00:00 P.M. EDT

FAS will run a report from the FAIS system showing all submissions received prior to 5:00:00 P.M. EDT on April 28, 2023. FAS will not consider late applications. See additional submission requirements in Part C Section 4. There will be no exceptions to the application deadline.

• Anticipated Funding Selection Date: July 15, 2023

• Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2023

2. APPLICATION PACKAGE

This NOFO, including its appendices, constitutes the full application package.

Instructions for submitting the application are located on the FAIS homepage. Before you can view the FAIS homepage, you must first establish a FAIS account. See the following website for more information: https://www.fas.usda.gov/food-aid-information-system. Instructions for accessing FAIS and applying are also located on grants.gov. Applicants that do not have internet access or have trouble accessing FAIS can request a hardcopy of the full NOFO by calling (202) 713-8673 between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. EDT or by writing FAS at:

McGovern-Dole Branch Director 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 6970 Washington, DC 20250

3. FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

a. Application Format Applicants must complete the application in English.

Applicants should:

• Use 12-point font (tables and graphs may have a smaller font as appropriate);

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

• Number each page;

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

• Submit their application as a PDF; and

• Adhere to the maximum page limits in Part D Section 3b: Required Content and

Forms.

mailto:ppded@usda.gov https://www.grants.gov/ https://apps.fas.usda.gov/fais/webapp/files/Instructions%20for%20Submitting%20Proposals%20in%20the%20FAIS.pdf https://www.fas.usda.gov/food-aid-information-system

Note: If an application exceeds the page limit for any section, FAS will only review the sections within the page limit.

b. Required Content and Forms Each application must include the following content and forms within the required (bolded) page limits.

• Introduction and Strategic Analysis – 26 pages total. FAS suggests (in italics) allocating pages within the Introduction and Strategic Analysis as follows:

o Summary –1 page o Country Overview and Context – 4 pages o Strategic Objective 1: Literacy and Education – 8 pages o Strategic Objective 2: Nutrition and Health – 8 pages o Local and Regional Procurement – 3 pages o Cross-Cutting Topics – 2 pages (or integrated throughout the ISA) o Project Map (no page limit restrictions) o List of Acronyms (no page limit restrictions)

• Plan of Operation and Activities – 15 pages

• Sustainability and Lasting Impact – 5 pages

• Organizational Capacity and Staffing – 8 pages total o Capacity and Staffing – 6 pages o Organizational Chart – 1 page o In-Country Registration – 1 page o Curriculum Vitae for Project Lead (no page limit restrictions) o Project-specific Commitment Letters from anticipated subrecipients (if subrecipients are proposed) (no page limit restrictions) o Past Performance Reviews (no page limit restrictions) o Applicant’s most recent Single Audit (no page limit restrictions)

• Monitoring and Evaluation – 25 pages total o Project-Level Results Framework – 6 pages o Performance Indicators – 5 pages o Evaluation Plan – 14 pages

• Commodity Management – 6 pages

• Budget – 26 pages total o Standard Budget Summary – 1 page o Budget Narrative – 25 pages o Applicant’s most recent approved NICRA agreement (no page limit restrictions) (See Part D Section 4g: Budget for more on indirect costs) o Excel spreadsheet demonstrating how NICRA rates were applied to the budget o SF-424A (See Appendix I for instructions) o SF- 424 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html

• SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying (Required if Applicant is involved in lobbying activities)

Find additional details on the content of each section of the application below in Part D Section 4: Content Guidance. Applicants should review the content guidance to determine what sections they may submit as attachments and what information they are required to input directly into FAIS. FAS strongly discourages, and will not consider, any materials submitted by or on behalf of the Applicant other than those materials it specifically requests in this NOFO.

4. CONTENT GUIDANCE

All McGovern-Dole applications must include the following attachments:

a. Introduction and Strategic Analysis The Introduction and Strategic Analysis section communicates the need for the project and an overview of how the proposed project will address those needs. Applicants should reserve detailed activity descriptions for the Part D Section 4b: Plan of Operation. The following subsections are required in the Introduction and Strategic Analysis:

i. Summary

ii. Main Section

• Country Overview and Context;

• Strategic Objective 1: Literacy and Education;

• Strategic Objective 2: School Feeding, Nutrition, and Health;

• Local and Regional Procurement.

Applicants must include a project map and a list of all acronyms used in the application. This requirement is an attachment to the Introduction and Strategic Analysis but does not count towards the section page limits.

i. Summary (1 page)

Applicants must provide a one-page summary of the proposed project and how the proposed project meets McGovern-Dole strategic objectives and local needs. This summary must include the duration of the project, estimated costs, number of targeted school-age children, number of direct beneficiaries, number of targeted schools, and the focus of the intervention.

In the one-page summary, Applicants must include their table of estimated costs using the following format:

Table 1: Costs

Cost Type Total Budget

(USD)

Administration https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html

Activities LRP Commodity and Food Purchases

ITSH

Total Indirect Costs Sub-total FAS Cash U.S. Commodity Cost Freight Cost TOTAL PROGRAM VALUE (not including cost share)

Cost Share

All Applicants are required to include costs relating to Internal Transportation, Storage, and Handling (ITSH), the moving of commodities from designated ports or points of entry to storage and distribution sites, as well as costs of storing and distributing all commodities.

ii. Main Section (Total page limit: 25 pages)

In this section, Applicants must analyze country context, needs, challenges, opportunities, and constraints that may impact project implementation and success and then they must explain how the project will effectively and appropriately respond to these contextual factors. This section should explain the strategy behind the intervention and how the project will address the two strategic objectives (Literacy and Education; Nutrition and Health) and Local and Regional Procurement. Applicants should ensure that the strategy and analysis align with their other plans, such as Monitoring and Evaluation and Sustainability and Lasting Impact. If Applicants have been working in the target country, they should describe the challenges they have faced and how they plan to overcome or mitigate these challenges. Applicants should cite relevant sources to support country context and analysis.

Applicants should address the bulleted elements beneath each of the following four sub-sections:

Country Overview and Context, Strategic Objective 1: Literacy and Education, Strategic Objective 2: Nutrition and Health, and Local and Regional Procurement. Applicants should also address the bulleted elements beneath Cross-Cutting Topics, either in a separate sub-section or, as appropriate, included in their discussion of the other four sub-sections.

Note: “Target region” refers to the targeted area within a country where project activities will occur. When referring to Local and Regional Procurement, region refers to multi-country regions within which Applicants may procure commodities.

Country Overview and Context

Explanation of Need: Applicants must include a brief overview of the need for a McGovern-Dole project in the country and must provide information regarding the country's current school feeding operations and financial commitments if relevant, the length and sessions of a typical school year, and current funding resources.

Method of Choosing Beneficiaries: Applicants must identify the criteria and methodology used to target the geographic area(s) and participant group(s). Where FAS did not prescribe the geographic area or target population in the country specific guidance, Applicants should describe why some target areas or participant groups in the country will receive resources (funds or agricultural products) while others may not. Applicants should consider the following questions when preparing a response:

• Why did they select the geographic area(s) and participant group(s) and what methodology did they use?

• What are the proposed beneficiaries’ specific needs?

• Which sources of information did they use (e.g., government agency survey, computer database, interviews, assessments, etc.)?

• Who will they collaborate with to target particular regions, institutions, and beneficiaries?

Target Geographic Area: Applicants must list the geographic areas where they will implement activities. Applicants must include a map to illustrate the activity intervention areas. FAS does not count the map towards the section page limits.

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

Method of Educating the Public: Applicants should state the methods that the project will use to notify consumers in the target country about the project funding source.

Previous Projects: If Applicants are already implementing McGovern-Dole programming or other programming in the country, Applicants should describe challenges they have faced, opportunities they have had, and how they intend to address or mitigate challenges and build upon the opportunities in a continuation project or a new project.

Strategic Objective 1: Literacy and Education

Explanation of need: Applicants must provide context regarding education, literacy, teacher training, parent-teacher associations, and community infrastructure in the country target area.

Applicants should provide an overview of literacy- and education-specific needs, challenges, and gaps experienced by communities in vulnerable or marginalized situations, reflecting inequities related to gender or disability status and informed by the analysis of Cross-Cutting Topics.

Overview of Context: Applicants should describe any education-related programs, policies, interventions, and strategies that other stakeholders (target country government, USG and other public and private donors, private sector, etc. including those USG Agencies involved in the USG Strategy on International Basic Education) are implementing. Applicants should include information on how the project will coordinate with these stakeholders.

Coordination: USG Strategy on International Basic Education and the Memorandum of Understanding between USDA and the United States Agency for International Development (USDA-USAID MOU) (see Appendix C), Applicants must demonstrate strategic program coordination and complementarity in countries where both McGovern-Dole and USAID have active or planned activities and leverage “lessons learned” or best practices where applicable.

This could include coordination on the following:

• Geographic location, including co-location of McGovern-Dole and USAID activities where feasible (if not feasible, explain why)

• Evidence-based standards, benchmarks, policies, and curriculum

• Teaching and learning materials

• Teacher training and coaching

• School administration

• Regular assessments to inform instruction

• Extra reading practice and support outside of school

• Monitoring and evaluation

• Use of the USAID Reading MATTERS Conceptual Framework

Applicants should describe engagement with relevant education stakeholders, including but not limited to government offices and officials, school leadership, parent teacher associations, local non-governmental organizations, local book chain actors, and other donor agencies.

Commitment to Education: Applicants must verify and note the host government’s commitment to work, through a national action plan, towards 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).

Strategy: Applicants must provide an overview of their literacy implementation strategy (they should include the detailed activity description in the Plan of Operation). Strategies must:

• Adhere to evidence-based approaches and best practices that sustainably improve reading and literacy outcomes for all learners.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the local system’s reading and literacy needs and barriers and propose tailored, contextually relevant, locally advised, and evidence-based interventions.

• Ensure that they design inclusive reading and literacy approaches which are guided by Universal Design for Learning and sustain positive literacy and reading outcomes after the McGovern-Dole project ends. If feasible, Applicants should also consider co-locating with a USAID-funded education activity.

• Design activities to improve basic reading and literacy skills as part of a holistic approach to ensure that disadvantaged children are physically, nutritionally, and cognitively fit to succeed in school. For more information on local systems, see USAID’s Local Systems: A Framework for Supporting Sustained Development.

Strategic Objective 2: Nutrition and Health https://www.edu-links.org/resources/usaid-reading-matters-conceptual-framework https://bice.org/app/uploads/2014/10/unesco_world_declaration_on_education_for_all_jomtien_thailand.pdf http://www.portal.oas.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=M/7kIZ0taMw%3D#:%7E:text=The%20Dakar%20Framework%20for%20Action,for%20all%2C%20with%20lasting%20results.&text=Assessment%20of%20Education%20for%20All,been%20made%20in%20many%20countries.

https://www.usaid.gov/policy/local-systems-framework

Overview of Context: Applicants must provide information regarding health, nutrition, and WASH conditions in the target area. Country, or both. Applicants should include information on:

• The nutritional context of the target population, including typical diet and cultural feeding practices, dietary quality issues and nutrient gaps, and nutrition issues of the school children and any other beneficiaries if they propose MCN activities.

• Malnutrition and morbidity rates among school children if available.

• National and subnational nutrition strategies and policies.

• The health system and how it interacts with the school system in the proposed target area(s).

• Micronutrient fortification, biofortification and supplementation at the national level and in the proposed target area(s).

• The target population’s access to safe water and sanitation facilities as well as sanitation and hygiene practices and behaviors.

• Current efforts in the proposed target areas to mitigate the spread of parasitic disease through deworming, including helminth infection rates.

Coordination: Applicants should include a description of any nutrition programs, policies, interventions, and strategies that other stakeholders (e.g., government of target country, USG and other public and private donors, private sector, etc.) are implementing in the target country, such as activities related to school feeding, MCN, community-based nutrition, and WASH, and how they intend to coordinate with some of these stakeholders.

Strategy: Applicants should describe their implementation strategy for contributing to Strategic Objective 2.

Providing school meals must be a central part of all McGovern-Dole projects. Applicants must briefly list the U.S. and local and regionally procured (LRP) commodities they plan to use in their project and describe the nutritional and cultural appropriateness of the selected commodities. Applicants will provide further detail in the Ration Justification within Part D Section 4b: Plan of Operation.

Applicants must propose tailored, contextually relevant, and evidence-based nutrition-specific and -sensitive approaches. Examples of complementary activities that may support nutrition include but are not limited to, WASH, school gardens, micronutrient supplementation, nutrition and health education, deworming, etc. FAS encourages Applicants to collocate their nutrition and health efforts in the same communities and target areas as schools. Applicants must describe how they will coordinate these activities with the school meals component.

Applicants must analyze how requirements for households to donate foods for school feeding may affect vulnerable families’ household food security and how heavy voluntary workloads associated with running the school feeding program may affect the nutritional status of vulnerable children, women, and families.

If contextually appropriate, Applicants may address MCN. Illustrative examples of MCN activities include but are not limited to early childhood development centers; growth monitoring and promotion; take-home rations; and social and behavior change interventions. Applicants must describe how their project would align and coordinate with existing MCN policies, strategies, institutional structures, and programs at the country’s national and sub-national levels.

In areas with high helminth infection rates, i.e., 20 percent or more of the population, and where other actors are not implementing deworming activities, Applicants must describe a strategy to implement school-based deworming in target schools or describe current deworming activities that are already taking place.

Anthropometric Measurements: FAS encourages Applicants to collect anthropometric measurements to build capacity and better understand both the impact of school meals on children’s nutritional status and the utility and feasibility of anthropometry in school settings.

FAS encourages Applicants to collect anthropometric measurements for all, or a subset of, school children at the start and end of each school year. Applicants may use measurements, such as weight-for-height, weight-for-age, body mass index (BMI), BMI-for-age, or middle upper arm circumference, and should follow best practices for this age group. Applicants should explain how they will use the data from these measurements, include anthropometric indicators in the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) section, and describe how it they will implement these activities in the Plan of Operation. The health or school system may collect anthropometric measurements as appropriate, and Applicants may propose to build in-country capacity toward this end. Applicants may propose piloting anthropometric measurements in a subset of students to better understand the feasibility and utility of this activity.

Local and Regional Procurement

Applicants must include local or regional procurement of agricultural commodities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to allocate approximately ten percent of the total proposed federal award amount for local and regional procurement component.

Applicants should include information regarding:

• the availability of diverse, nutritious, and high quality local or regional agricultural commodities;

• the feasibility of procuring local or regional agricultural commodities at a reasonable market price;

• the capacity of local or regional producers or vendors to meet the increased demand for agricultural commodities; and

• existing or potential market linkages to schools in the target area(s).

Seasonality: Applicants should demonstrate that they considered the seasonality of the selected commodities and verified their availability in sufficient quantities at appropriate times in the school calendar.

Market Analysis: Applicants should demonstrate, through a market analysis, that…