Malawi JG-25-0048 Questions and Answers.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity CDC-RFA-JG-25-0048 Questions and Answers

1. The NOFO states the indirect cost threshold for subawards is $25,000 but 2 CFR 200 states the threshold is $50,000. Which indirect cost threshold for subawards is correct?

o The indirect cost threshold for subawards was updated at the end of 2024 and is currently

$50,000.

2. How can an organization apply to the NOFO?

o The grants.gov platform includes all of the guidance and resources necessary to develop your proposal. The published NOFO document contains the information necessary to apply, including the necessary documents and instructions for how to submit a complete application on http://www.grants.gov. Applicants may view the published NOFO document by viewing the attachments under the “Related Documents” tab. Alternatively, applicants may also access the NOFO document by clicking on the “Package” tab, clicking the “Preview” button under the “Actions” column of the Opportunity Package, and then clicking on the “Download Instructions” button.

3. I would like to confirm the districts targeted for the HIV preventive services to be implemented under this opportunity. The notice mentions that Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) services will focus on Lilongwe City and two sites within Lilongwe District. Could you please provide further details about these locations or clarify whether additional districts will also be covered under the grant's scope? // Could CDC kindly clarify the geographical coverage of this opportunity? What are the districts envisioned?

o Voluntary medical male circumcision services will be implemented in the Lilongwe district.

Health facilities within the city will be prioritized because of the high number of new infections occurring within the city. This NOFO will also cover other districts for the other prevention interventions. The DREAMS program supported by CDC is currently implemented in Blantyre and Chiradzulu districts while the key populations program is implemented in Chiradzulu, Mwanza, Chikwawa and Mzimba south. Activities may cover additional districts in the future based on programmatic priorities.

4. What is the distribution of budget across technical areas and/or across strategies?

o The distribution of budget across technical areas or strategies is at your discretion.

5. How will this project interact with the existing CDC-funded DREAMS and KP projects? Could CDC clarify the end dates for those existing projects? Is it intended that this new project will operate in different districts than those projects? // Could CDC clarify the expected roles and relationships between the existing CDC-funded projects (DREAMS and KPs) and this project?

o This NOFO will collaborate with other CDC funded projects including those implementing KP and

DREAMS programs. The NOFO will be a follow on to the existing DREAMS and KP projects once their cooperative agreements come to an end. This NOFO is expected to completely take over the other prevention programs in the third year of implementation.

6. There are five strategies outlined in this NOFO but there are only targets for VMMC and HTS. Are applicants expected to provide other illustrative indicators, or only budget for these?

o The proposal and budget are at your discretion. The targets provided in this NOFO are for the first year of the project. The other strategies will be carried out in subsequent years. You should provide a detailed budget and work plan for the first year and a high-level budget and work plan for later years.

7. Could CDC provide additional guidance on the expectations for the number and types of key personnel that applicants should provide? Are the positions listed on page 41 illustrative?

o It is up to you how to structure your staffing plan and you can choose which positions you consider “key” for project implementation. Unless otherwise indicated under resumes and job descriptions, you can choose which resumes to include. Job titles may vary depending on your organization’s practice, and you can propose or use alternate titles for key personnel.

Below is a list of the typical roles and the responsibilities for each:

i. The Country Director is the individual that oversees the project and staff and ensures that funding is allocated and activities are implemented to achieve the goals described in the application.

ii. The Principal Investigator is the individual you designate as responsible for the scientific, technical, or programmatic aspects of the cooperative agreement and for day-to-day project management.

iii. The Chief of Party provides overall leadership of project implementation in all aspects and serves as the project representative to government and partners.

iv. The Business Official is either an in-country or headquarters position that serves as the signatory for the cooperative agreement who is also the key person directly responsible for oversight of day-to-day, in-country fiscal and administrative matters relative to the cooperative agreement. They are typically responsible for overseeing administrative and management operations functions required to implement the work plan activities as outlined in the NOFO.

v. The Technical Lead positions serve as subject matter experts and provide technical support to supported sites to ensure program implementation is in accordance with the strategic direction of the project. They lead program oversight and evaluation and refine approaches to ensure program goals are achieved.

8. Are all key personnel positions name expected to have 100% effort on the proposed project?

o No, not all key personnel are expected to be on 100%.

9. Could USAID kindly clarify the extent to which “HIV services” listed under Strategy 3 and Strategy 4 will include HIV care and treatment services as part of this comprehensive prevention NOFO?

o The proposal is at your discretion. The activities for each of the strategies are listed in the strategies and activities section. The section below the logic model provides additional information on the outcomes.