McGovern-Dole FY21 Notice of Funding Opportunity.pdf

FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE

International Food Assistance Division

Global Programs

FY 2021 Proposal Instructions and Request for Applications

MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND

CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

April 5, 2021

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) 2021. FAS expects to enter into multiple cooperative agreements under McGovern-Dole to make awards, totaling up to $250,000,000 SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING. These awards will be for approximately three- to five-year projects. FAS will accept applications for the following priority countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. FAS will accept applications for non-priority countries, however FAS will give priority consideration to fund proposals for the identified priority countries. McGovern-Dole provides for the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities, local and regional agricultural commodities, as well as financial and technical assistance, to carry out school feeding projects that strengthen food security, reduce the incidence of hunger, and improve literacy and education, particularly with respect to girls, and maternal, infant, and child nutrition programs. Projects under McGovern-Dole are carried out in low-income, food-deficit countries around the world.

Applications must be submitted to USDA through the Food Aid Information System (FAIS) by 5:00:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on June 4, 2021. Late applications received after this date and time will not be considered. FAS advises Applicants to begin the application process early to allow time to address any information technology difficulties that may arise.

There will be no exceptions to this application deadline. Once the deadline of 5:00:00 PM EDT on June 4 has passed, incomplete applications will be rejected and will not be considered for funding. Refer to Part C Section 1 for Applicant eligibility information and Part D Section 3b for application completeness requirements. Questions regarding this request for applications will be considered to the extent practicable and should be submitted to ppded@usda.gov. Questions must be received no later than 5:00:00 P.M. EDT on May 28, 2021.

Responses to questions will be posted on Grants.gov.

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

NEW in FY21

1. Local and Regional Procurement of Commodities: 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 must propose contextually appropriate and feasible uses of locally and regionally procured commodities.

Please note that:

a. For FY21, $23 million of the $230,000,000 FY 2021 funding made available for the McGovern-Dole Program will remain available until expended to purchase locally or regionally procured commodities. Refer to the paragraph below regarding applicable costs.

b. Applicable local and regional procurement commodity component costs include the cost of the commodities and may include transportation, storage, and handling costs associated with getting such commodities to the beneficiaries, as well as staff time and benefits directly related to the procurement. Indirect costs associated with these direct costs are allowable. The local and regional commodity procurement component will not include capacity building costs (activities). Please refer to both Part D Section 3 c, vii Budget and Appendix E: Budget Narrative for more guidance on allowable costs and how FAS requires this portion of the budget to be presented.

c. Food vouchers and cash-based transfers are not allowable procurement methods under the local and regional procurement component of McGovern-Dole.

d. The donation of U.S. commodities remains an integral part of McGovern-Dole and Applicants are strongly encouraged to use U.S. donated commodities to maximize program reach of targeted beneficiaries in the most cost-effective manner.

2. Definitions: Please note, throughout the NOFO, the use of the phrase “USDA-funded commodities” includes commodities procured from the United States and those that are locally and regionally procured. Please see definitions in 7 CFR section 1599.2. For the purposes of commodities that are locally or regionally procured, a country that is included among the “Low-Income Economies,” “Lower-Middle-Income Economies,” or “Upper- Middle-Income Economies” on the World Bank Country and Lending Groups list at World Bank will meet the definition of a “developing country” in 7 CFR 1599.2.

3. Required Grants Forms: Please refer to Part D Section 3 c Required Grants Forms. FAS will verify in SAM.gov that the proper forms are completed, and if not, an applicant will be contacted and directed to complete them. An agreement will not be signed until the proper forms are completed within SAM.gov. While preferred by the closing date of the announcement, these are not required for an application to be considered complete and an Applicant may have until the time an award is signed to complete the required grants forms.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9dfff371eeaeee4cef83c4cee94eeee5&mc=true&node=pt7.10.1599&rgn=div5#se7.10.1599_12 https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519 https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519 https://sam.gov/SAM/

LIST OF ACRONYMS

CCC Commodity Credit Corporation CFR Code of Federal Regulations COLA Cost of Living Adjustment CV Curriculum Vitae DUNS Data Universal Numbering System 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 Global Food Security Strategy IFAD International Food Assistance Division IR Intermediate Results ITSH Internal Transportation, Storage, and Handling LRP Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement Program M & E Monitoring and Evaluation MCN Maternal and Child Nutrition McGovern-Dole McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program MOU Memorandum of Understanding MT Metric Ton(s) NICRA Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement NOFO Notice of Funding Opportunity NTD Neglected Tropical Disease OMB Office of Management and Budget PMP Performance Monitoring Plan PSM Propensity Score Matching PTA Parent Teacher Association PVO Private Voluntary Organization R&R Rest and Recreation RCT Randomized Control Trial ROM Results Oriented Management RF Results Framework SAM System for Award Management SFP School Feeding Program SO Strategic Objective UN United Nations USAID United States Agency for International Development USDA United States Department of Agriculture USG United States Government WB World Bank WHO World Health Organization

Table of Contents

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. ISSUED BY

2. CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER

3. CFDA TITLE

4. NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO) TITLE

5. NOFO 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

2. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

3. DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION

4. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION

5. COST SHARE OR MATCH

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. KEY DATES AND TIMES

2. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

3. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

a. Application Format

b. Required Content and Forms

c. Required Grants Forms

d. Content Guidance

e. Food Aid Information System (FAIS)

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

5. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

6. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

a. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

b. Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs

7. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. APPLICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA

2. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

a. Review Process

b. Selection Process

3. REVIEW OF APPLICANT INTEGRITY AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

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

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 – POTENTIAL AVAILABLE COMMODITIES FOR FY 2021 FOOD AID SOLICITATIONS

APPENDIX I – INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE SF-424A

APPENDIX J – SF-424A EXAMPLE

NOTE: If you are going to apply for this funding opportunity and have not obtained a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number or are not currently registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), please take immediate action to obtain a DUNS Number, if applicable, and then to register immediately in SAM at www.sam.gov. It may take 4 weeks or more after you submit your SAM registration before your registration is active in SAM. Detailed information regarding DUNS and SAM is also provided in Part C Section 2 Eligibility Criteria, and Part D Section 4, Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM).

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Issued By

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

2. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number

10.608

3. CFDA Title

Food for Education

4. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Title

FY 2021 MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD

NUTRITION PROGRAM

5. NOFO Numbers

USDA- FAS-10.608-0700-21-(680) –Benin USDA- FAS-10.608-0700-21-(686) –Burkina Faso USDA- FAS-10.608-0700-21-(520) –Guatemala USDA- FAS-10.608-0700-21-(116) –Kyrgyzstan USDA- FAS-10.608-0700-21-(439) –Laos USDA- FAS-10.608-0700-21-(669) –Liberia USDA- FAS-10.608-0700-21-(687) –Madagascar USDA- FAS-10.608-0700-21-(679) –Republic of Congo USDA- FAS-10.608-0700-21-(685) –Senegal USDA- FAS-10.608-0700-21-(636) –Sierra Leone USDA- FAS-10.608-0700-21-(000) – Non-priority country applications http://www.sam.gov/ https://beta.sam.gov/fal/d5a23b6a80e1a279d741c841a43d7ae6/view?keywords=Mc-Govern%20Dole&sort=-relevance&index=cfda&is_active=true&page=1

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

• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Public Law 116-260

• Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, Public Law 116-94

• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 PL 116-6

• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 PL 115-141

• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 PL 115-31

• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 PL 114-113

• Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 PL 113-235

• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 PL 113-76

• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2013 PL 113-6

• Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 PL 112-55

• Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 112-10

• Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related

Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, PL 111-80

• Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 PL 111-8

• Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2008 PL 110-161

• Revised Continuing Appropriations Act, 2007 110-S

• Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related

Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 PL 109-97

• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 PL 108–447

• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004 PL 108-199

• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2003 PL 108-07

8. Announcement Type

Continuation

9. Program Regulations

Awards within this funding opportunity that are made to Applicants other than foreign public entities (as defined in 2 CFR Part 200.46) will be subject to the McGovern-Dole regulations, 7 CFR Section 1599 (updated on November 26, 2019). As provided in 7 CFR Section 1599, 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://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=9fcea0ab97190b944c3407ab52e27aa2&mc=true&n=pt2.1.200&r=PART&ty=HTML#se2.1.200_146 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1128dcfc8c203ddb2ddad8cc1854a29c&node=7:10.1.3.4.8&rgn=div5#_top https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1128dcfc8c203ddb2ddad8cc1854a29c&node=7:10.1.3.4.8&rgn=div5#_top https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1128dcfc8c203ddb2ddad8cc1854a29c&node=7:10.1.3.4.8&rgn=div5#_top 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 200.47) 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 procurement of U.S.

agricultural commodities, local and regional agricultural commodities, as well as financial and technical assistance, to support McGovern-Dole objectives. Section 3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, the program authorizing legislation, requires that the agreement include provisions to achieve graduation from the program or to 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. FAS prioritizes sustainability in efforts to reduce poverty and food insecurity in fragile economies on their path to becoming self-sufficient. FAS is focusing on the most urgent challenges, helping communities develop sustainable sources of food supplies while building resilience in their food sourcing practices.

FAS will consider proposals from all eligible organizations, including current recipients and new organizations. FAS may also review submissions from eligible Applicants for non–prioritized countries, however FAS will give priority consideration to fund proposals for the identified priority countries. For additional information on the priority countries for this funding opportunity, applicants should refer to Appendix B – Country Guidance.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=9fcea0ab97190b944c3407ab52e27aa2&mc=true&n=pt2.1.200&r=PART&ty=HTML https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=b8d3f086737f4b170ffb10a5a97561cf&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2chapterIV.tpl https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1128dcfc8c203ddb2ddad8cc1854a29c&node=7:10.1.3.4.8&rgn=div5#_top https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=9fcea0ab97190b944c3407ab52e27aa2&mc=true&n=pt2.1.200&r=PART&ty=HTML https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=9fcea0ab97190b944c3407ab52e27aa2&mc=true&n=pt2.1.200&r=PART&ty=HTML#se2.1.200_147

FAS expects that proposals will build upon McGovern-Dole activities and what has been accomplished to date.1 Expansion beyond current target regions will be considered if sufficiently justified. Applications must focus on transition of McGovern-Dole activities to the host governments and set the path to sustainability. Applicants must work with countries that have a national government that is committed to or is working towards, through a national action plan, the goals of the World Declaration on Education for All. Furthermore, applications must align with the McGovern Dole Program Project-Level Results Framework (See Part D Section 3 c v Monitoring and Evaluation.).

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Award Amounts, Important Dates, and Extensions

Available Funding for the NOFO: Up to $250,000,000; Subject to the availability of funding

Estimated number of Awards: 10 Estimated Funding per Award: $10 million - $25 million

All projects in this announcement will be funded 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 will come from FY 2021 appropriations. Issuance of this solicitation does not constitute an award or 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 a concept note or full application.

Period of Performance: Approximately 36 to 60 months Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 10/01/2021 Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/30/2024 - 09/30/2026 Cost Share or Match Requirements: None/Not Required

All projects in this announcement will be funded subject to availability of appropriated funding. Issuance of this solicitation does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of the United States Government (USG) to make awards, nor does it commit the USG to pay for

1 All McGovern-Dole projects are subject to independent third-party evaluations. 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 https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/search/SearchResults.aspx?q=RkFTVVNEQQ== costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a concept note or full application.

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

Refer to Part H Section 1 Extensions.

2. Funding Instrument

All awards will be made in the form of cooperative agreements. In a cooperative agreement, FAS will be substantially involved throughout the award period of performance. Substantial involvement may include, but is not limited to, the following:

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

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

• FAS review and approval of an evaluation plan;

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

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

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

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

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

Procurement contracts or subawards may be awarded 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 no subaward or contract may include personnel costs of the prime award recipient.

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*;

• Cooperatives;

• Intergovernmental Organizations;

• Governments of developing countries and their agencies; and

• Other organizations 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

*See 7 CFR Section 1599.2 for the definition of a private voluntary organization.

2. Eligibility Criteria Each Applicant, unless exempted by FAS under 2 CFR Section 25.110 (d), is required to:

• Be registered in SAM before the closing date of this announcement;

• Provide a valid unique entity identifier (DUNS number) in its application; and

• Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which the Applicant has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by FAS.

All Applicants 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. Applicants without an active SAM registration will be found ineligible and the application will NOT be considered for funding. All subrecipient organizations must also have active SAM registrations before the subaward is signed, unless the organization has an exemption approved by FAS under 2 CFR Section 25.110(d). Contact ppded@usda.gov early if a subrecipient exemption is sought.

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

http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.

Refer to Part D Section 4, Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management, where SAM requirements are also discussed.

3. Debarment and Suspension

An Applicant will be considered ineligible to receive an award under the McGovern-Dole program if the entity or one of its principals has been debarred or suspended in 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 Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS.gov) and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) to verify that the Applicant, potential subrecipients and contractors, and their principals have not been debarred or suspended.

4. Other Submission Requirements and Information https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9dfff371eeaeee4cef83c4cee94eeee5&mc=true&node=pt7.10.1599&rgn=div5#se7.10.1599_12 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9644ed499b5db03b7b50fbc66e8fc92d&mc=true&node=pt2.1.25&rgn=div5#se2.1.25_1110 http://www.sam.gov/ mailto:ppded@usda.gov mailto:2%20CFR%20Section%2025.110 mailto:ppded@usda.gov http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/index.action https://www.sam.gov/SAM/

For an application to be considered complete, the Applicant must submit in FAIS all required content and forms as listed in Part D Section 3 b, Required Content and Forms, by the closing date of the announcement. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 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 which an Applicant may submit.

FAS may also review submissions from eligible Applicants for non–prioritized countries, however FAS will give priority consideration to proposals for identified priority countries.

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

Note: The required forms 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.

5. Cost Share or Match

Cost sharing or matching is not required for eligibility but is encouraged to maximize program impacts and engender in-country sustainability. If Applicants choose to provide cost share or matching, Applicants 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. Cost share may not be used to reach the three percent minimum monitoring and evaluation budget nor the ten percent local and regional procurement budget. Unrecovered indirect costs by the Applicant are not allowable cost share. Food vouchers and cash-based transfers are not allowable procurement methods and thus cannot be considered cost share within McGovern-Dole projects.

Cost share will be reviewed and considered for bonus points by the review panel as part of the Budget content section.

If an award is made, the Applicant 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. Refer to Part E Section 1 Application Evaluation Criteria, for details on how cost share or match will be evaluated.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Key Dates and Times

Application Start Date: April 5, 2021

Question Submission Deadline: May 28, 2021 https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=09d93ea422877b968183214c81dfed25&mc=true&node=pt2.1.400&rgn=div5#se2.1.400_12 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=09d93ea422877b968183214c81dfed25&mc=true&node=pt2.1.400&rgn=div5#se2.1.400_12 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9dfff371eeaeee4cef83c4cee94eeee5&mc=true&node=pt7.10.1599&rgn=div5#se7.10.1599_14

Questions regarding this NOFO will be considered to the extent practicable and should be submitted to ppded@usda.gov. Please include “FY21 McGovern-Dole NOFO” in the subject line of your email. Responses to questions will be posted on Grants.gov.

Application Submission Deadline: June 4, 2021 prior to 5:00:00 P.M. EDT

FAS will run a report from the FAIS system showing all submissions prior to 5:00:00 P.M. EDT on June 4, 2021. Applications received after this date and time will not be considered.

Please see Part D Section 3 b for a list of required content and forms. Applicants should begin the application process early to allow time to address any technical difficulties that may arise.

There will be no exceptions to the application deadline.

Anticipated Funding Selection Date: June 30, 2021

Anticipated Award Date: September 30, 2021

2. Address to Request Application Package

This NOFO plus the appendices constitute 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 an FAIS account. See the following website for more information: https://www.fas.usda.gov/food-aid-information-system. These documents are also located on www.grants.gov. However, all applications must be submitted via FAIS. If an Applicant does not have access to the internet or experiences trouble accessing FAIS, the Applicant can request a hardcopy of the full NOFO by calling (202) 720- 1008 between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. EDT or by contacting FAS in writing at:

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

This NOFO plus the appendices constitute the full application package.

3. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Application Format All submitted applications must:

• Be written in English;

• Be written using Times New Roman, 12-point font; tables and graphs may have a smaller font as appropriate;

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

• Be paginated with each page consecutively numbered;

mailto:ppded@usda.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 http://www.grants.gov/

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

• Be submitted in PDF; and

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

Forms.

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

b. Required Content and Forms

Any incomplete applications after 5:00:00 P.M. EDT June 4, 2021 will be considered incomplete and will be rejected and will not be considered for funding. An Application Content Checklist can be found in Appendix A.

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

• Introduction and Strategic Analysis – 21 pages o Project Map (no page limit restrictions)

• Plan of Operation and Activities – 20 pages

• Sustainability and Lasting Impact – 5 pages

• Organizational Capacity and Staffing – 8 pages 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 o Project-Level Results Framework – 6 pages o Performance Indicators – 5 pages o Evaluation Plan – 14 pages

• Commodity Management – 6 pages

• Budget – 26 pages 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 3 d vii 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)

• SF- 424

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

Additional details on the content of each section of the proposal are found below in Part D Section 3 d, Content Guidance. Applicants should review the content guidance to determine what sections may be submitted as attachments and what information is required to be 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 specifically requested in this NOFO.

c. Required Grants Forms

FAS will verify in SAM.gov that the proper forms are completed, and if not, an applicant will be contacted and directed to complete them. An agreement will not be signed until the proper forms are completed within SAM.gov.

Please be aware that OMB Memorandum 18-24: Strategies to Reduce Grant Recipient Reporting Burden has been approved. Various required forms needed to apply for Federal Financial Assistance no longer need to be completed individually at time of application. They are covered in the Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations Report.

Effective January 1, 2020, the Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations Report is a common set of certifications and representations required by Federal statutes or regulations in accordance with the grants guidance under Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR Part 200.208 Certifications and Representations). Those non-Federal entities who intend to apply for, or are already recipients of Federal grants or agreements, must read and agree to the corresponding certifications and representations. Registrants who reply yes to the question are required to keep these certifications and representations current, accurate, and complete as part of their entity registration.

All of the terms do not apply to foreign entities however all entity types receiving financial assistance from FAS must respond yes because the Lobbying Disclosure term does apply to foreign entities along with being registered in SAM. All other terms do not apply to foreign entities.

d. Content Guidance https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.gsa.gov/Forms/TrackForm/33144 https://sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=7afb0c0828c3355d943fd0de9f2fdff6&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1208&rgn=div8

All McGovern-Dole proposals must include the following as attachments:

i. Introduction and Strategic Analysis

An Applicant must provide a one-paragraph summary of the proposed project. The summary will be an introduction and should 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 a table, under the one-paragraph summary, provide the estimated administration cost, activities cost, commodity and food purchases cost, ITSH cost, total indirect costs, as well as estimate U.S. commodity costs and freight costs, and cost share. All Applicants, including foreign organizations, are required to include costs relating to 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 the commodities.

Table 1 Cost Type Total Budget (USD)

Administration

Activities

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

Proposals must include a comprehensive analysis of the potential needs, challenges, opportunities, and constraints that may impact the implementation and success of the proposed project. This section should explain the strategy behind the proposed method of intervention.

The strategic analysis will be evaluated based on the appropriateness and technical merit of the intervention strategy; how well the project is aligned with host government laws, policies, and programs; how well the proposed project will coordinate within the U.S. government, multilateral, private sector, or other stakeholder development strategies or frameworks; how the project aligns with the Appendix B Country Guidance; and how the proposed program will complement and not duplicate existing projects and programs. This section should cite any sources and provide an explanation of any analyses undertaken by the Applicant.

The following must also be included in this section:

• Explanation of Need: Applicants must include an explanation of the need for a McGovern- Dole project in the target country and how the Applicant's proposed activities would address that need. Additionally, the Applicant must provide information regarding (1) the country's current school feeding operations, and financial commitments, if they exist, the length and sessions of a typical school year, and current funding resources; and (2) teacher training, parent-teacher associations, community infrastructure, health, nutrition, water and sanitation conditions. Local Capacity Building: Applicants must explain how they will involve indigenous institutions as well as local communities and governments in the development and implementation of the activities to foster local capacity building and leadership.

• Commitment to Education: Applicants must provide a statement verifying the commitment of the government of the targeted country to work, through a national action plan, toward the goals of the World Declaration on Education for All (Jomtien Declaration, and the follow-up Dakar Framework for Action of the World Education Forum).

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

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

o What are the specific needs of the proposed beneficiaries?

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

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

• Target Geographic Area: List the targeted geographic areas where the proposed activities will take place. Applicants must include map(s) to illustrate the areas of activity intervention.

• A description of any current programs, policies, interventions, and strategies of other http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001275/127583e.pdf http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001275/127583e.pdf http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001211/121147e.pdf stakeholders (government of target country, USG and other public and private donors, private sector, etc. particularly those USG Agencies involved in the new USG International Basic Education Strategy) that are working in relevant sectors (education, school feeding, MCN, WASH, community-based nutrition, agriculture, deworming, etc.) and how the Applicant intends to coordinate with some of these stakeholders.

• Information specifically identifying opportunities to collaborate per the USG International Basic Education Strategy and USDA/USAID Memorandum of Understanding (MOU, which can be found on the FAIS homepage). This could include coordinating on policy dialogue, teacher training and coaching, reading materials, and assessments in advance of activity design. In addition, where feasible (if not, it is important to address why not), co- location in designated schools, districts, and regions is desirable to leverage resources, and to promote cost-efficiency, efficacy, and increased impact.

• The Applicant should include information regarding the feasibility of procuring the local or regional commodities; access to diverse, nutritious, and quality foods; the capacity of relevant producers and producer organizations; and market linkages to project schools in the target region(s). The Applicant should also demonstrate that the seasonality of the selected commodities has been considered, including verifying that sufficient quantities and storage (as applicable) will be available at times that align with the school calendar.

• Describe how local and regional procurement will contribute to the implementation strategy. Illustrative uses of local and regional procurement are to mitigate pipeline breaks; to enhance project sustainability; to improve dietary diversity of beneficiaries by incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables, animal proteins, etc. into the ration; and, to target specific populations, i.e. pregnant and lactating women and children under five.

Applicants are encouraged to propose contextually appropriate and feasible uses of locally and regionally procured commodities and are not limited to the above examples.

Applicants must still include U.S. donated commodities in the project proposal, which are an integral part of the McGovern-Dole program.

• Ration Justification:

o Explain how the commodity selection (both U.S. donated and locally and regionally procured) was determined and how/whether it was designed in the context of other nutrition programs in the country or project area.

o Explain how the commodity selection would be culturally and nutritionally appropriate for the local diet.

o Provide a clear explanation of how the requested commodity and ration size addresses identified dietary quality issues and nutritional deficiencies of the beneficiaries. Fortified foods should address identified nutrient gaps and complement existing micronutrient delivery policies and programs.

o Applicants must offer at least three food components, and are encouraged to add seasonal vegetables, fruits, and/or animal-sourced proteins, when feasible. This will encourage dietary diversity and teach children about nutrition and healthy eating. Applicants who do not offer at least three food components will need to justify the reason for the omission.

o Applicants must describe both pre-cooked and cooked ration (for example, 100g of CSB+ per serving per child equals about three portions of cooked porridge).

For the school-feeding ration, the goal is to meet the age appropriate 1/3 of the daily requirement if one meal is provided (breakfast or lunch) and/or 1/4 of the daily requirement if a snack is provided. Therefore, Applicants must explain the intended per serving age-appropriate nutritional contribution from the ration, including calories, protein, carbohydrates, and key micronutrients.

o If contextually appropriate, Applicants may provide rations for pregnant and lactating women and children under five who live within the communities that receive McGovern-Dole school meals. The rations offered may include USDA-funded commodities2 alone or combined with other locally available foods provided with non-USDA funds or by the community, or through school or community gardens, orchards, or local value chains, livestock and fisheries.

Applicants must also describe the ration size and nutritional contribution, including calories and nutrients.

• If the proposed project interventions include volunteer/uncompensated support from the community, the Applicant should analyze the impact and sustainability of such contributions.

• Applicants are encouraged to submit a gender-sensitive proposal and should describe how their proposed intervention will recognize gender differences and minimize gender inequalities.

• Information about current efforts in the host country to mitigate the spread of parasitic disease through school-based deworming. In areas with high helminth infection rates, i.e. 20 percent or more, Applicants must include and describe a strategy to implement school-based deworming in target schools if other actors are not currently doing so.

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

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

2 Please note, throughout the NOFO, the use of the phrase “USDA-funded commodities” includes commodities procured from the United States and those that are locally and regionally procured. Please see definitions in 7 CFR section 1599.2.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9dfff371eeaeee4cef83c4cee94eeee5&mc=true&node=pt7.10.1599&rgn=div5#se7.10.1599_12 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9dfff371eeaeee4cef83c4cee94eeee5&mc=true&node=pt7.10.1599&rgn=div5#se7.10.1599_12

• The expected method of educating the public: State the methods of notifying consumers in the Applicant country of the source of funding for program activities.

ii. Plan of Operation and Activities

This section must include a list of each of the activities to be implemented, with a brief statement of the objectives to be accomplished under each activity, the anticipated number of beneficiaries, and a detailed description of the activity, including the steps involved in its implementation, and the anticipated timeline.

Proposed activities must address the needs as identified in Part D Section 3 d i Introduction and Strategic Analysis. The activities should accurately capture the project scope, beneficiaries, and deliverables. Furthermore, this section must detail how each activity will lead to the results as stated in the Project-Level Results Framework. The activities should not only identify the project’s targeted interventions, but also demonstrate how the project will complement existing efforts. The Applicant should distinguish for each activity if it will be implemented by the Applicant or by subrecipients. If an Applicant is a current or past McGovern-Dole implementer, the Applicant should describe successes and challenges from previous experiences and efforts to improve project implementation.

The Activities section will be evaluated on the completeness, quality and technical merit of the content submitted. With respect to this, Applicants must adhere to the following technical guidance:

Proposed literacy activities, in support of McGovern-Dole Strategic Objective 1, must adhere to evidence-based approaches and best practices that sustainably improve reading and literacy outcomes for all learners. Activities designed to improve basic reading and literacy skills should be part of a holistic approach to the challenge of ensuring that disadvantaged children are physically, nutritionally, and cognitively fit to succeed in school.

The Applicant must demonstrate an understanding of the reading and literacy needs and barriers in the local system and propose tailored, contextually relevant, and evidence-based interventions to sustainably improve reading and literacy outcomes for all learners. For more information on local systems, see USAID’s Local Systems: A Framework for Supporting Sustained Development. The Applicant should consider the USAID Reading MATTERS Conceptual Framework which presents the components of the ideal system that evidence shows are critical to supporting reading acquisition for all children, including the marginalized and vulnerable.

The Applicant must ensure that all reading and literacy activities are designed and implemented to sustain positive outcomes in improved literacy and reading beyond the life of the McGovern-https://www.usaid.gov/policy/local-systems-framework https://www.usaid.gov/policy/local-systems-framework https://www.edu-links.org/resources/usaid-reading-matters-conceptual-framework https://www.edu-links.org/resources/usaid-reading-matters-conceptual-framework

Dole project. If feasible, the Applicant should also consider co-locating with a USAID-funded literacy activity.

Per the USDA-USAID MOU and USG Education Strategy, the Applicant must demonstrate strategic program coordination and complementarity in countries where both McGovern-Dole and USAID have active or planned activities, while keeping in mind the importance of seeking to leverage “lessons learned” or best practices where applicable. This could include, but is not limited to, coordinating on the following:

• Geographic location, including co-location where feasible (if not feasible, it is important to 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

In addition and as it supports McGovern-Dole Strategic Objective 2, Applicants must develop tailored, contextually relevant, and evidence-based nutrition-specific and -sensitive activities.

For example, WASH interventions, school gardens, micronutrient supplementation, nutrition and health education, deworming, etc.. Applicants are also encouraged to include community-level nutrition-specific and -sensitive activities in the same catchment areas as the schools under the proposed project and Applicants must describe how they will be coordinated with the school meals component.

Proposed school feeding activities, in support of McGovern-Dole 1.2.1.1, 1.3.1.1, must describe the ration: whether it is a snack, beverage, or meal, and specify what it will consist of, i.e. US commodities, locally and regionally procured foods, or community donated foods. The Applicant must include a clear explanation of how the requested commodities will be programmed, managed, prepared, and served, including ration size. Applicants must describe how often (per week, per month, etc.) the foods will be provided. In addition, Applicants must describe how to ensure each child receives his/her portion of food under bulk cooking situations.

Consider providing a chart as an attachment (will not be counted…