FY22 RFA 720DD122RFA00002 - Cleared for PUBLIC COMMENT.pdf

Posted Date for Comments: 12/6/2021 Deadline for comments: 1/3/2022 by 4 pm US EST

Issue Date: TBD Deadline for Questions: TBD by 4 pm US ET Deadline for Phase 1: TBD by 4 pm US ET

Subject: The American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) Initiative Worldwide Request for Applications No. 720DD122RFA00002 for Fiscal Year 2022

Program Title: American Schools and Hospitals Abroad Initiative

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 98.006

Ladies/Gentlemen:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for cooperative agreements and grants from qualified entities to implement the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program. The ASHA Program is now being implemented as the ASHA Initiative, part of the Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation’s (DDI), Local, Faith and Transformative Partnerships (LFT) Hub. The mission of the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) Initiative is rooted in an early vision of U.S. public diplomacy as codified in the U.S. Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (“Smith-Mundt Act of 1948”). The main objective for ASHA’s programming was then and remains “to promote a better understanding of the United States in other countries, and to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries” (Sec. 2, Smith-Mundt Act of 1948). Please note that ASHA was created as a public diplomacy program that furthers development outcomes, and that proposed projects should link their activities to public diplomacy outcomes and to U.S. Government (USG) policy goals.

USAID intends to make multiple awards as a result of this Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 2022) Request for Applications (RFA). Individual awards will be made to those Applicants who best meet the objectives of this funding opportunity based on the merit review criteria described in this RFA, subject to a risk assessment. USAID reserves the right to merge multiple applications by a single USO into one award if the applicant successfully competes for more than one FY 22 ASHA award and if this approach is deemed to be mutually beneficial to all parties. Eligible parties interested in submitting an application are encouraged to read this RFA thoroughly to understand the type of program sought, application submission requirements and selection process.

Please ensure that applications respond to this year’s RFA requirements; do not assume that requirements are identical from year-to-year. Please also ensure that you provide complete information about your organization for the Selection Committee’s (SC) consideration; do not assume that SC members have any prior knowledge of your organization, work history, or mission. SC members can only utilize the information provided in the proposal and cannot include any external knowledge of country contexts or past accomplishments in their assessment. Organizations new to USAID , as well as those who have previously received1 awards from USAID, and minority serving institutions (such as HBCUs) are especially2 encouraged to apply .3

To be eligible for award, the applicant must provide all information as required in this RFA and meet the eligibility standards in Section C.1 of this RFA. This funding opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov and may be amended. It is the responsibility of the applicant to regularly check the website to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this notice of funding opportunity and to ensure that the RFA has been received from the internet in its entirety.

USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. If you have difficulty registering on www.grants.gov or accessing the RFA, please contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at support@grants.gov for technical assistance.

USAID may not award to an applicant unless the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) requirements detailed in Section D.6.g. The registration process may take many weeks to complete.

Therefore, Applicants are encouraged to begin registration early in the process.

Please send any questions to the point of contact identified in Section D.1. The deadline for questions is shown above. Responses to questions received prior to the deadline will be furnished to all potential Applicants through an amendment to this notice posted to www.grants.gov.

Issuance of this notice of funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in preparation or submission of comments/suggestions or an application. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.

Thank you for your interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, Gordon Weynand ASHA Partnership Initiative Senior Leader

3 https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/how-to-work-with-usaid 2 WorkwithUSAID.org 1 https://www.usaid.gov/npi http://www.grants.gov mailto:support@grants.gov

Contents

SECTION A: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 6

Funding Priorities and Programmatic Focus 6 Authorizing Legislation 8 Program History 8

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION 8

Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated 8 Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards 9 Substantial Involvement 9 Authorized Geographic Code 11 Nature of the Relationship between USAID and the Recipient 11

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 11

Eligible Applications: Instructions 11 Cost Sharing/Matching or Leverage 14 Other 14

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 15

Agency Point of Contact 15 Questions and Answers 15 General Content and Form of Application 16 Application Submission Procedures 17 Technical Application Format 18 Business (Cost) Application Format 20

SECTION E: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 27

Review and Selection Process 27 Merit Review Criteria 31 Management Approach Criterion (20% weight) 33 Commodity and Construction/Renovation Approach Criterion (30% weight) 34 Business (Cost) Review 36 History of Performance and Risk Assessment 37

SECTION F: FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 37

Federal Award Notices 37 Administrative & National Policy Requirements 38 Reporting Requirements 39 Program Income 41

Environmental Compliance 41

SECTION G: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED SUBSEQUENT TO

APPLICATION 41

Branding Strategy and Marking Plan (BSMP) 42 Recipient Plan 42 Activity Monitoring & Evaluation Plan (AMEP) 42 Project Implementation Plan 42 Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) 42 Climate Risk Management (CRM) Screening 44 Construction Manager Resume 44 Applications with Proprietary Data 44

ANNEXES

ANNEX 1 PHASE 1 TECHNICAL APPLICATION (Editable PDF) ANNEX 1b PHASE 1 TECHNICAL APPLICATION - CLARIFICATIONS (Editable

PDF)

ANNEX 2a PHASE 2 TECHNICAL APPLICATION COVER PAGE (Editable PDF) ANNEX 2b PHASE 2 TECHNICAL APPLICATION TEMPLATE ANNEX 3 ENVIRONMENTAL CAPABILITY STATEMENT (Editable PDF) ANNEX 4a BUSINESS (COST) APPLICATION COVER PAGE (Editable PDF) ANNEX 4b BUSINESS (COST) APPLICATION TEMPLATE (Editable Excel)

ANNEX 5 REQUIRED PHASE 2 APPLICATION DOCUMENTS LAYOUT

ANNEX 6 MANDATORY ATTACHMENTS AND MANDATORY AS APPLICABLE

ATTACHMENTS (Editable PDF)

ANNEX 7 STANDARD PROVISIONS

ANNEX 8 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1yacHXvuAZ7pga1zl8LsdhHxeOTsJH3Oq https://drive.google.com/open?id=13Ajp4qjgCaWJSNYvvUvGZDS49askPK_B https://drive.google.com/open?id=13Ajp4qjgCaWJSNYvvUvGZDS49askPK_B https://drive.google.com/open?id=1SahziQqYlolf1-QV9YcmOnP3t4Rq76xn https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1WW5Hp3CPZBX0pkcmFyA2p1lhxKcDO6ig/edit https://drive.google.com/open?id=1O4x_ghU4ci860b2uHi7ZfGdNIDPvrVRe https://drive.google.com/open?id=1lJXs_iZjDY7xUkU8b13dDg7jUkbTJgB8 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1XrDsG-LD__18irdXXt29uvfsBzXGN9bx/edit https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1KvJHd5Cgm1x4YfznTpPgss1OLjGpTbC4/edit https://drive.google.com/open?id=1qXZGKsZPL9dTjGA0sctzb_my1XkhhnBm https://drive.google.com/open?id=1qXZGKsZPL9dTjGA0sctzb_my1XkhhnBm https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kMiff4CpmPZ_OwxRk9Ro1QXD5GAbPYA9 https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/13A_n13ptq4nrII-PZmDBT7ORQ6rTaOk-/edit

SECTION A: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This funding opportunity is authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961, as amended. The resulting awards will be subject to 2 CFR 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, and USAID’s supplement, 2 CFR 700, as well as the additional requirements found in Section F.

1. Funding Priorities and Programmatic Focus

ASHA contributes to U.S. foreign policy interests by funding institutions that foster a positive image of the United States around the world. ASHA’s mandate, which is distinct from other development programs within USAID, is to focus on public diplomacy and sharing American values, ideas, technologies, and practices to increase mutual understanding and promote locally-led development. ASHA’s program is a critical component of the U.S. Government’s public diplomacy efforts, which aim to further U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives, advance national interests, and enhance national security by informing and influencing foreign publics and by expanding and strengthening the relationship between the people and Government of the United States and citizens of the rest of the world.4

ASHA provides assistance to overseas schools, libraries, hospital centers , and centers of5 excellence (see section C.1) to highlight American ideas and practices, to provide concrete6 illustrations of the generosity of the American people, to further U.S. Government public diplomacy, and to catalyze collaboration between U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries.

ASHA awards grants and cooperative agreements to existing partnerships between organizations founded or sponsored by United States citizens (“U.S. Organizations,” or “USOs”) and civil society institutions overseas (“Overseas Institutions,” or “OSIs”). These partnerships enable OSIs to benefit from the expertise and experience of USOs while ensuring projects are locally owned and sustained. These partnerships also help mitigate investment and construction risk, and allow for all parties to leverage investments to maximize the potential benefits of a project. For additional information on which partnerships are eligible to apply for ASHA funding, see Section C on Eligibility Information.

This is a worldwide program. USAID may make awards for projects in any country other than the United States, provided that USAID activities in that country are not otherwise restricted by statute, regulation, or Agency policy. No less than 30 percent of the Total Estimated Amount

6 A Center of Excellence is an institution that can demonstrate that it builds new knowledge, fosters collaboration, advances learning and understanding on issues of importance to the U.S., and models American best practices and values. A Center of Excellence’s main objective is the dissemination of information and knowledge as opposed to conferring a degree or providing medical services. See Section C: Eligibility Information for an expanded definition.

5 Hospital centers are institutions where medical education and research occur in addition to medical treatment, Sec. 214(b) of the FAA.

4 State Department Bureau of Global Public Affairs and USG Integrated Country Strategies https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-public-diplomacy-and-public-affairs/bureau-of-global-public-affairs/ https://www.state.gov/integrated-country-strategies/ allocated to this RFA will be set-aside for Applicants whose work is primarily focused on the Middle East. For purposes of this RFA, the Middle East includes the following countries and territories: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen. The 30% set-aside establishes a floor and not a cap for grants to be awarded in the Middle East.

ASHA’s Strategic Vision FY 2019-FY 2023 addresses the following goals:

(1) Aligns with two components of the vision outlined in the U.S. State Department–USAID Joint Strategic Plan (2018-2022):

a. (Goal 3.3): Increase partnerships with the private sector and civil society organizations to mobilize support and resources and shape foreign public opinion

b. (Goal 2.2): Promote healthy, educated, and productive populations in partner countries to drive inclusive and sustainable development, open new markets, and support U.S. prosperity and security objectives

(2) Emphasizes public diplomacy and mutual understanding using a more targeted approach of awareness, attitude shift, and/or action.

(3) Aligns with cross-cutting Agency priorities of Gender Equity and Inclusion ; Science,7

Technology, Innovation and Partnerships; bolstering self-reliance; Localisation ; Diversity,8

Equity, and Inclusion especially regarding underserved communities; Climate Change; and9

Private Sector Engagement.

As is illustrated in the FY 2019-2023 results framework below, ASHA’s most ambitious and mandated goal is to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of foreign countries.

9 See Executive Order 13985 and https://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/diversity-equity-inclusion 8 https://www.usaid.gov/local-faith-and-transformative-partnerships/local-works

7 Please see the White House National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality. The fact sheet is found here and the full strategy here.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SFcl3kn5MIGqipMnmmdgsa7ph5XtnU48/view?usp=sharing https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/private-sector-engagement/policy https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/10/22/fact-sheet-national-strategy-on-gender-equity-and-equality/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/National-Strategy-on-Gender-Equity-and-Equality.pdf

2. Authorizing Legislation

ASHA provides assistance to overseas schools, libraries, hospital centers, and centers of excellence founded or sponsored by U.S. citizens as authorized in Section 214 of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961, as amended. ASHA builds positive relationships abroad and supports progress in the fields of health and education worldwide. ASHA builds bridges of cooperation between the people of foreign nations and the people of the United States by providing funds to schools, hospital centers, centers of excellence, and libraries overseas that demonstrate the ideas, innovations, and best practices of the United States in health and education. ASHA directly contributes to U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy objectives by fostering partnerships and promoting the best practices in health and education.

ASHA awards are subject to requirements of 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 700 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, as well as other requirements set forth in Section B: Federal Award and Administration Information.

3. Program History

ASHA’s roots are in foreign public engagement led by private U.S. citizens throughout American history. These roots are reflected in ASHA’s focus today on strengthening private institutions overseas that are founded or sponsored by U.S. citizens. Foreign public engagement by the non-profit U.S. private sector is a central component of America’s diplomacy—that is, communicating ideas, sharing our diverse and historic national experiences, and engaging foreign communities through collaboration and exchange.

Since its inception, ASHA has achieved a visible legacy by providing assistance to approximately 300 institutions globally and aiding in the development of innovative and state-of-the-art schools, hospitals, and libraries in more than 80 countries. ASHA’s record of contributing to and building bridges with vibrant networks of civil society institutions extends through 25 U.S. Congresses and 18 presidential administrations. ASHA currently manages a worldwide portfolio of approximately 149 awards and is an invaluable complement to USAID’s wide-ranging development work.

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated

Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID/DDI/LFT/ASHA intends to provide approximately $27,000,000 in total USAID funding and issue multiple awards as a result of this FY 2022 RFA. Of that amount, no less than 30% of the Total Estimated Amount allocated to this RFA will be set aside for Applicants whose work is primarily focused on the Middle East. (See Section A.1). The maximum amount for an individual award is $2,000,000, and there is no minimum award amount. Individual funding levels will depend on the substance and quality of applications, the number of applications https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/faa.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/faa.pdf received, and availability of ASHA funding. Applications requesting more than $2,000,000 for a single OSI will be excluded from consideration for FY 2022 funding. ASHA generally awards between 30 to 40 cooperative agreements and/or grants each year. USAID reserves the right to merge multiple applications by a single USO into one award if the applicant successfully competes for more than one FY 2022 ASHA award and if this approach is deemed to be mutually beneficial to all parties.

2. Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards

Awards are expected to be made in calendar year 2023 (as soon as funds become available).

Awards for applications that include only durable commodities will have an initial period of performance of no more than two years from the start date of the award. Awards for applications that include construction or renovation will have an initial period of performance of no more than four years from the start date of the award. If the project has a combination of commodities and construction/renovations, then the initial period of performance will be no more than four years from the start date of the award.

Construction or renovation is defined in Automated Directives System (ADS) 303maw.

“Construction” for purposes of this policy means construction, alteration, or repair (including dredging and excavation) of buildings, structures, or other real property and includes, without limitation, improvements, renovation, alteration and refurbishment. The term includes, without limitation, roads, power plants, buildings, bridges, water treatment facilities, and vertical structures. “Improvements, renovation, alteration and refurbishment” for purposes of this policy includes any betterment or change to an existing property to allow its continued or more efficient use within its designed purpose (renovation), or for the use of a different purpose or function (alteration). Improvements also include improvements to or upgrading of primary mechanical, electrical, or other building systems. “Improvements, renovation, alteration and refurbishment” does NOT include non-structural, cosmetic work, including painting, floor covering, wall coverings, window replacement that does not include changing the size of the window opening, replacement of plumbing or conduits that does not affect structural elements, and non-load bearing walls or fixtures (e.g., shelves, signs, lighting, etc.).

“Durable commodities” is a category of tangible (physical) products with a significant life span that generally lasts three years or longer.

3. Substantial Involvement

Under this RFA, USAID will award both grants and cooperative agreements. A cooperative agreement allows USAID to have substantial involvement in project implementation.

“Substantial involvement” is further defined in Automated Directives System (ADS) 303.3.11.

A grant will generally be issued for projects that include only commodity procurement activities, and cooperative agreements for projects that include any construction and/or renovation activities . To complement USAID/ASHA's investment, funding may be leveraged10 from other sources to fund either commodities and/or construction/renovations.

USAID/ASHA will issue either a grant (commodities) or cooperative agreement (construction) based on the intended use of USAID/ASHA funds. The nature of ASHA’s substantial involvement varies based on the nature of the project and is spelled out for each award. In general, substantial involvement includes:

1. Review and approval of the Recipient’s Implementation Plan — The Implementation11

Plan will cover the following areas:

● Summary of competitive procurement process for Architectural & Engineering (A&E) and Construction firms

● Timeline and plan for all mandatory ASHA approval milestones for monitoring & evaluation, construction/renovation requirements including environmental and final construction documents.

● Description of planned capital investment warranties, such as bid bonds, performance bonds, retainage, etc.

● Construction Schedule (Gantt chart)

● Organizational Chart or Staffing Plan

● Timeline and plan for Operations & Maintenance (O&M) plan

2. Approval of Key Personnel — the USO Project Manager, OSI Project Manager and Construction Manager.

3. Agency and Recipient Collaboration or Joint Participation — USAID concurrence with proposed architectural and engineering (A&E) firm.

4. Agency Authority to Immediately Halt a Construction Activity — The Agreement Officer (AO) may immediately halt the construction activity if specifications, as identified in the design documents, are not met. The AO may also immediately halt construction if there are serious concerns about health, safety, environment, or work quality, as recommended by the Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) or the USAID Engineer

11 USAID approval of the Implementation Plan merely constitutes an acknowledgment of the completion of the deliverable, not a technical validation/endorsement of the Recipient’s design/construction decisions. USAID does not take responsibility for the quality of design/construction. In the event of any issues with the design or construction, USAID will hold the Recipient liable.

10 Please note that an application for commodity items that require installation (e.g., being structurally connected to an existing building) or may require evaluation of the existing construction and its ability to support new total loads (such as electrical, dead loads, snow loads, winds, seismic stressors) is considered a construction project, not a commodities project. An example of this would be solar panels being permanently affixed to a building. If such an application is submitted as a ‘commodities only’ project, it will not be considered for evaluation.

in consultation with the AOR.

4. Authorized Geographic Code

For awards resulting from this RFA of greater than $250,000, the geographic code for the procurement of commodities and services under this program is 937. This code authorizes procurement of goods with source and nationality in the United States, the recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, but excluding any country that is a prohibited source. Links for a list of prohibited sources and of advanced developing countries are available in USAID’s Automated Directive System (ADS 310).

For awards resulting from this RFA of less than or equal to $250,000, the geographic code for the procurement of commodities and services under this program is 935 . This code authorizes12 procurement of goods with source and nationality in any area or country including the recipient country, but excluding any country that is a prohibited source.

5. Nature of the Relationship between USAID and the Recipient

The principal purpose of the relationship with the Recipient and under the subject program is to transfer funds to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation of the USAID ASHA program which is authorized by Federal statute. The successful Recipient will be responsible for ensuring the achievement of the program objectives and the efficient and effective administration of the award through the application of sound management practices. The Recipient will assume responsibility for administering Federal funds in a manner consistent with underlying agreements, program objectives, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award.

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applications: Instructions

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria (the editable form is provided in Annex 1):

● Eligibility for this RFA is restricted to any U.S. not-for-profit non-governmental entity including US public colleges and universities (e.g. “NGOs,” foundations, and similar).

ASHA will not accept applications from individuals or foreign entities.

● Each application must identify whether it is an applicant whose work is primarily focused on the Middle East. For purposes of this RFA, the Middle East includes the following countries and territories: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank & Gaza, and Yemen. Applicants that do not

12 Per ADS 310.3.1.1.3.c - Code 935 applies "For procurements under a grant or cooperative agreement when the total procurement element in the award budget is $250,000 or less."

identify their work as focused in the Middle East will not receive consideration for set-aside funding under this RFA. To be eligible for the Middle East set-aside, Applicants must have ten or more years of experience in the Middle East region, and have partnered with the OSI for at least the past ten years.

● Each application must clearly identify only one USO (the applicant) and only one OSI partner (the applicant’s sub-awardee). An application cannot include more than one USO, nor more than one OSI. An application identifying multiple USOs, or multiple OSIs will be deemed ineligible. Please also note:

o One USO applicant may submit an application that requests funds to benefit multiple organizational units within a single OSI.

o One USO may submit separate applications for multiple OSIs.

o In cases where the OSI and the USO share the same name, the applicant must indicate in the Eligibility Checklist form whether they are the “same entity.” If the applicant answers “Yes” to “same entity,” the applicant must provide proof with the Phase 2 Technical Application (not Phase 1) that it is registered as a legal entity in the U.S. and that it is authorized to operate in the foreign country. The following types of documentation would be acceptable proof: 1) Letter of accreditation, 2) written statement from the Government on Government letterhead acknowledging the entity, or 3) the entity’s documentation showing a government stamp. For OSIs operating in contexts where submission of proof is not possible, please provide a separate explanation in the form provided.

● Each OSI may be included in only one proposal under this RFA. In other words, multiple USOs cannot submit separate applications for the same OSI, and one USO cannot submit multiple applications for the same OSI.

● OSIs must be founded or sponsored by U.S. citizens. Further, each USO must have a continuing and successful supportive formal relationship with its partner OSI that has lasted at least two years prior to the date of application. “Sponsored” means a continuing relationship that MUST include significant financial support from the USO;

and may also include technical support, joint ventures, exchange programs, volunteer placement programs, faculty exchanges, fundraising or other arrangements and may include in-kind contributions. Partnerships and mutual collaborations alone are insufficient.

● USOs must be actively registered and have no active exclusions or delinquent federal debt in the U.S. Government’s System for Award Management (SAM). USOs must continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times while an application is under consideration. (Note: the USO must provide verification of status in SAM on the Cover Page.)13

● USOs and OSIs must submit independently audited financial statements performed by an accredited independent audit firm for a recent operating year from 2020 or later. (See Annex 6, M1/M2 for the complete requirements concerning audits.)

● USO and OSI must not discriminate against any beneficiaries in the implementation of the award, including, but not limited to, withholding, adversely impacting, or denying equitable access to the benefits provided through this award on the basis of any factor not expressly stated in the award. This includes, for example, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, parental status, political affiliation, and veteran status.

● The OSI—even if it is the “same entity” as the USO—must be located outside the United States.

● OSIs must NOT be under the control or management of a foreign government or any of its agencies including local, regional, or national government. Control or management in this context indicates that a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are government employees or appointees or that the foreign government owns a majority interest in the organization. The receipt of financial or other assistance from a government or government agency or the observance of national educational or medical standards does not indicate the institution is under the control or management of a foreign government.

● OSIs must also meet the following eligibility requirements:

o For applications involving “schools:” The OSI must provide English language instruction or use English as the language of instruction in at least one course, and must provide post-secondary education or secondary education that serves students at the equivalent of a U.S.

sixth grade level or higher ;14 o For applications involving “hospital centers:” The OSI must15 provide medical education and/or conduct medical research, and model American best practices and values;

o For applications involving “libraries:” The OSI must demonstrate promotion of English language and literature;

o For applications involving “Centers of Excellence:” The OSI must demonstrate that it builds new knowledge, fosters collaboration, advances learning and understanding on issues of importance to the United States, and models American best practices and values. A

15 Hospitals also include Medical Centers.

14 The Application must focus on secondary education or higher-level activities.

13 Note: Applicants must also provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in the application as stated in Section D.6. “Business (Cost) Application Format,” subsection g “Dun and Bradstreet and SAM Requirements.”

Center of Excellence’s main objective is the dissemination of knowledge. That is to say, the Center of Excellence will likely not offer educational degrees or provide medical services; however, it will promulgate critical knowledge and learning in the form of research papers, publications, professional development training, interactive platforms or centers (e.g. visitation centers), etc. This list is not exhaustive and serves only to provide a differentiation between a Center of Excellence and other typical ASHA award recipients.

● If the project involves construction or renovation activities, the USO or OSI must submit an official copy of a title, lease or similar official documentation to prove the rights over the land, recognized within the country where implementation will take place. This documentation must be submitted with the Phase 2 Technical Application (not Phase 1). The official documentation must demonstrate a legal right to the land (to build, renovate, retrofit according to current building codes) ideally for a period of at least 20 years from the date of the application, as well as an English translation if the official copy is not in English. While applications involving a legal right to the land of 20 years (or more) will be given a greater preference, USAID is willing to consider applications that include a title, lease or similar official documentation covering a shorter period of time, but such applications will be given a lower preference. If an English-language copy of the title or lease is not submitted with the Phase 2 Technical Application, the proposed application will be ineligible for further consideration.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching vs. Leverage

Cost share or "matching" refers to the resources a recipient contributes to the total cost of an agreement. It becomes a condition of an award when it is part of the approved award budget. It is verifiable from the recipient's records, and it can be audited. Cost share includes all cash and in-kind contributions from the recipient or third parties. Applicants may choose to include cost share in their applications; however, recipient cost share is not required for ASHA awards .

“Leverage” refers to new, non-public resources—whether money, technologies, or expertise—brought by the private sector and other non-traditional USAID partners to a partnership. Because leveraged resources are not cost share, they cannot be audited.

Applicants that choose to include funds from other sources may include those as leveraged funds in their applications; however, leverage is not required for ASHA awards .

If Applicants choose to include either cost share or leveraged funds, they must ensure that those funds are clearly identified in the Budget tables in Annex 4b.

3. Other

Applications to support efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in countries where USAID has a Mission or other office will not be considered eligible given the availability of other international, national and U.S. Government resources available to combat these diseases.

Per Agency policy, all ASHA awards are contingent on the concurrence of the USAID Mission for the country where the award will be implemented . Proposals that do not receive Mission16 concurrence will not be eligible for funding. Missions may withhold concurrence based on security risk (e.g., for projects in high-threat or non-permissive environments) or other factors.

See ADS 201.3.3.6. In recent years, countries including Jordan, Egypt, Iraq and Sudan have withheld concurrence for various reasons. Applicants may wish to confer with these respective Missions before submitting an application.

For construction and other capital assistance projects estimated to cost in excess of $1 million, additional requirements (e.g., a certification by USAID in accordance with section 611(e) of the FAA) may be requested of Recipients.

ASHA may make awards for projects in any country other than the United States, provided that USAID activities in that country are not otherwise restricted by statute, regulation, or Agency policy.

For additional Funding Restrictions, please see Section D.6.i.

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Agency Point of Contact

Mr. Gordon Weynand U.S. Agency for International Development Ronald Reagan Building, 5.10 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20523 ASHAApplications@usaid.gov

(202) 712-4169

2. Questions and Answers

Questions regarding this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) should be submitted via email to ASHAApplications@usaid.gov no later than the date and time indicated on the cover letter, as amended. Any information given to a prospective Applicant concerning this NOFO will be furnished promptly to all other prospective Applicants as an amendment to this NOFO 16 ASHA will request concurrence from Missions for apparently successful Phase 1 Applications. Applicants should not request concurrence from USAID Missions. Feel free to contact us at ASHAApplications@usaid.gov if you have questions concerning specific countries.

mailto:GoWeynand@usaid.gov mailto:ASHAApplications@usaid.gov mailto:ASHAInfo@usaid.gov on grants.gov, if that information is necessary in submitting applications or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to any other prospective Applicant. While ASHA is available to respond to administrative questions, ASHA will not respond to technical questions about the RFA outside of this specific Q&A period.

3. General Content and Form of Application

Preparation of Applications:

Each Applicant must furnish the information required by this RFA. Use of the provided Annexes is mandatory; no modified versions of the Annexes will be accepted, except where otherwise indicated. Applications must be submitted in three separate parts: The Phase 1 Technical Application, Phase 2 Technical Application, and the Business (Cost) Application.

This subsection addresses general content requirements applying to all applications. Please see subsections 5 and 6, below, for information on the content specific to the Technical and Business (Cost) applications. The Technical Applications must address technical aspects only, while the Business (Cost) Application must present the costs and address risk and other related issues.

Any erasures or other changes to the application must be initiated by the person signing the application. Applications signed by an agent on behalf of the Applicant must be accompanied by evidence of that agent’s authority, unless that evidence has been previously furnished to the issuing office.

Both the Technical and Business (Cost) Application must include a cover page containing the information detailed in Section D.5.

If Applicants submit a cover letter in addition to the cover pages, it will serve only as a transmittal letter to the Agreement Officer. The cover letter will not be reviewed as part of the merit review criteria.

Applications must comply with the following:

● USAID will not review any pages in excess of the page limits noted in the subsequent sections. Please ensure that applications comply with the page limitations.

● Application documents must be in English or have an English translation.

● Use standard 8 ½” x 11”, single sided, single-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, 1” margins, left justification and headers and/or footers on each page including consecutive page numbers, date of submission, and Applicant’s name.

● 10 point font can be used for graphs and charts. Tables must comply with the 12 point Times New Roman requirement. The Monitoring and Evaluation section “Indicator Summary Table” in the Phase 2 Application can use a 9 point font.

● Submitted via Microsoft Word or PDF formats, except budget files, which must be submitted in Microsoft Excel.

● The estimated period of performance identified in Section B of this RFA must be used in the cost application.

● The technical application must be a searchable Word or PDF format as appropriate.

● The Cost Application must include an Excel spreadsheet with all cells unlocked and no hidden formulas or sheets.

● Use of the provided Annexes is mandatory; no modified versions of the Annexes will be accepted, except where otherwise indicated. Font requirements don't apply to provided forms that must be filled in as the font is already preset.

Applicants must review, understand, and comply with all aspects of this RFA. Applications that fail to do so will not be evaluated further and removed from further consideration.

Applicants should read this RFA thoroughly to understand the type of program sought, application submission requirements and selection process. Please ensure that applications respond to this year’s RFA requirements using the current templates; do not assume that requirements are identical from year-to-year. Applicants should also ensure that they provide complete information about their organization for the Selection Committee’s (SC) consideration. Applicants should not assume that SC members have any prior knowledge of their organization, work history, or mission.

Applicants should retain a copy of the application and all enclosures for their records.

4. Application Submission Procedures

Applications must be submitted by email to ASHAApplications@usaid.gov. Applications submitted through www.grants.gov WILL NOT be accepted.

Applications in response to this RFA must be received in the email address stated above no later than the closing date and time indicated on the cover sheet/page of this RFA. ASHA will use a system-generated email timestamp to determine whether or not application materials have been submitted by the deadline. The timestamp generated by USAID’s own email system will be the relevant criterion for this determination. All applications will receive an email confirmation of receipt. Late or incomplete applications will receive notification that they will not be reviewed or considered.

Application submissions must include the RFA number and applicant’s name in the email subject line heading. In addition, for an application sent in multiple emails, the subject line must also indicate whether the email relates to the technical or cost application, and the desired sequence of the emails and their attachments (e.g. "No. 1 of 4", etc.). For example, if your cost application is being sent in two emails, the first email should have a subject line that states:

"[RFA number], [organization name], Business (Cost) Application, Part 1 of 2".

The Phase 1 Technical Applications must submit one document labeled according to Annex 1.

By invitation only, the Phase 2 Technical Applications and Business (Cost) Applications must submit documents separately and clearly labeled according to the layout in Annex 5. The Phase 2 Technical Application and the Business (Cost) Application will be submitted at the same time.

http://www.grants.gov

After submitting an application electronically, Applicants should immediately check their own email to confirm that the attachments were indeed sent. If an applicant discovers an error in transmission, please send the material again (prior to the identified closing date/time) and note in the subject line of the email that it is a "corrected" submission. Do not send the same email more than once unless there has been a change, and if so, please note that it is a "corrected" email that replaces the previous email.

Applicants are reminded that email is NOT instantaneous, and in some cases, delays of several hours occur from transmission to receipt. Therefore, Applicants are requested to submit the application with sufficient time in advance of the deadline. For this RFA, the initial point of entry to the government infrastructure is the USAID mail server.

There may be a problem with the receipt of *.zip files due to anti-virus software. Therefore, Applicants are discouraged from sending files in this format as USAID/ASHA cannot guarantee their acceptance by the internet server. File size must not exceed 25 MB in a single email.

5. Technical Application Format

The Technical Application must be specific, complete, and presented concisely. The Application must demonstrate the Applicant’s capabilities and expertise with respect to achieving the goals of this program. The Application should take into account the requirements of the program and merit review criteria found in Section E in this RFA.

The Technical Application process is in two phases; it consists of

1) Phase 1 and

2) Phase 2 (by invitation only).

The table below outlines the phased approach of the FY 2022 Application Process .

Phases Submission Attachments

Phase 1 Phase 1 Technical Application Requirements No

Phase 2 Phase 2 Technical Application Requirements Yes: Attachments See Annex 5

Business (Cost) Application Yes: Attachments See Annex 5

1) Phase 1 Technical Application format:

Each applicant must submit a Phase 1 Technical Application (Phase 1) using the Template from Annex 1. Use of the provided Annexes is mandatory; no modified versions of the Annexes will be accepted, except where otherwise indicated. Phase 1 submissions will be reviewed by a Selection Committee (SC) according to the criteria outlined in Section E. Applicant submissions for the Middle East set-aside will be reviewed in the set-aside pool independently from the general submissions. The Phase 1 submission format is as follows (See Annex 1 for Phase 1 Technical Application Template):

(a) Use the File Name: ‘[Full name of USO] Phase1-Tech’

(b) Cover Page, see Annex 1 for content requirements (2 pages)

(c) Eligibility Checklist (4 pages): Applicants must confirm compliance with all eligibility requirements identified in Section C.1: Eligibility Information. Applicants must use the Phase 1 template in Annex 1: Eligibility to complete this section.17

(d) Applicants may wish to include a photo or sketch related to the project.

(e) Response to the Phase 1 Merit Review Criterion (Public Diplomacy, see Section E.2.a) no more than 3 pages.

(f) The following requirement is ONLY for Applicants that are applying for the 30% set-aside: Past Performance Impact Statement (see Section E.2.a), no more than 3 pages.

No other information should be included with the Phase 1 Technical Application. Any additional sections that do not respond to the requirements of Phase 1, as outlined above, will not be considered during the technical review.

Phase 1 Technical Applications must be submitted no later than the date and time specified on the cover page.

2) Phase 2 Technical Application format:

After the Phase 1 review, only Applications that were ranked Satisfactory or above (See Section E “Overall Adjectival Rating Descriptions”) will be invited to submit a Phase 2 Technical Application. Use of the provided Annexes is mandatory; no modified versions of the Annexes will be accepted, except where otherwise indicated. Phase 2 Technical Applications will be due within 60 days of the written notification by the Agreement Officer. Phase 2 submissions will be reviewed by a SC according to the two Phase 2 Merit Criteria (Management Approach and Commodities and/or Construction/Renovation Approach), outlined in Section E. Applicant submissions for the 30% set-aside will be reviewed in the set-aside pool independently from the general submissions. Please note that an invitation to submit a Phase 2 Technical Application does not guarantee issuance of an award. The Phase 2 submission must follow the requirements of “General Content and Form of Application” in Section D3. The format is as follows (see Annex 2a/2b for Phase 2 Technical Application Template):

17 Including SAM screenshot of applicant.

(a) Use the File Name: “[Full name of USO] Phase2-Tech”

(b) Cover Page (3 pages)18

(c) Table of Contents (1 page)

(d) Management Approach (up to 6 pages)

(e) Commodities and/or Construction/Renovation Information (6 pages for either, or 9 pages for both )19

● Durable Commodities Information (if applicable), (up to 6 pages)

● Construction/Renovation Information (if applicable), (up to 6 pages)

● Environmental Capability Statement (use Annex 3)

(f) Attachments: See Annex 6 for a Full list of Mandatory Attachments and Mandatory as Applicable Attachments for all Applications.

The Phase 2 Technical Application (excluding attachments) must not exceed 19 pages for a project with both Commodities plus Construction/Renovation, or 16 pages for a Commodities Only or a Construction/Renovation Only project as delineated in the above sections. Attachments do not count against the page limits. However, substantive information responding to parts (a) through (e) above should not be included in the Attachments.

Attachments must only serve as supporting documentation.

6. Business (Cost) Application Format

Applicants who have been invited to submit Phase 2 Technical Applications will also be required to submit a Business (Cost) Application at the same time as the Phase 2 Technical Application per the FY 2022 Application Process table on page 17. While no page limit exists for the full Business (Cost) Application, Applicants are encouraged to be as concise as possible while still providing the necessary details. The Business (Cost) application must include costs that cover the entire period of performance, using the budget format shown in Annex 5.

Prior to award, Applicants may be required to submit additional documentation deemed necessary for the Agreement Officer to assess the Applicant’s risk in accordance with 2 CFR

200.205. Applicants should not submit any additional information with their initial application.

1) Business (Cost) Application Documents

19 If submitting for Commodity Only, 6 pages are allowed. If submitting for Construction/Renovation Only, 6 pages are allowed. If submitting for both Commodity and Construction/Renovation then 9 pages total are allowed.

18 Including SAM screenshot of applicant.

The Business (Cost) Application must contain the following sections:

(a) Business (Cost) Application Cover Page (see Annex 4a for Cover Page requirements) - 1 page

● Use the File Name: “[Full name of USO] Phase2-Business Cost”

(b) SF-424 Form(s)

The Applicant must sign and submit the applicable SF-424 documents. Standard Forms can be accessed electronically at www.grants.gov.

Required SF-424 Series Documents for Projects involving Commodities Only

Required SF-424 Series Documents for Projects involving Construction Only

Required SF-424 Series Documents for Projects involving Both Commodities plus Construction

● SF-424

● SF-424A

● SF-424B

● SF-424

● SF-424C

● SF-424D

● SF-424

● SF-424A

● SF-424B

● SF-424C

● SF-424D

Failure to accurately complete these forms could result in the rejection of the application.

(c) Required Certifications and Assurances

The applicant must complete the following documents and submit a signed copy with their application:

(1) “Certifications, Assurances, Representations, and Other Statements of the Recipient” document found at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303mav.pdf

(2) Certificate of Compliance: Please submit a copy of your Certificate of Compliance if your organization's systems have been certified by USAID/Washington's Office of Acquisition and Assistance (M/OAA).

https://www.usaid.gov…