McGovernDole Q & A week of April 4 2022.pdf

McGovern-Dole FY2022 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Questions and Answers

Week of April 4, 2022

1. Q: Upon reviewing the attachment drop-down list on FAIS, the Plan of Operation is not included in the list. Should the Plan of Operation be attached as a generic document?

Also, the content guidelines do not mention the Activity Description fields in FAIS which is mapped to the results. This content is in most cases is a duplicate of the Plan of Operations. Would you advise that applicants provide the description in the allocated fields in FAIS rather than attach a separate document with the same content named Plan of Operations?

A: Yes, the submitter should select ‘generic” when uploading documents that are not specifically named under the FAIS Proposal Attachment dropdown list menu. Applicants are then encouraged to describe the document within the associated comment section.

Applicants are not required to provide the description in Activity Description fields in FAIS if the Plan of Operations is uploaded as an attachment, but Applicants should indicate where this information can be found. For a full list of what needs to be completed in FAIS, please refer to Part D, Section 3 (e), FAIS, of the McGovern-Dole NOFO on page 40.

2. Q: Are Universities eligible to apply for the McGovern-Dole program and is it appropriate to use a community-based research approach by integrating scientific research (to see how food can help children in literacy development through evidence-based intervention) and instant community engagement to strengthen schools, parents, and community partnership in developing sustainable school feeding programs in poor communities?

A: Please see the section C, Eligibility Information, in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Universities and colleges are not listed as eligible entities to apply. In accordance with the McGovern-Dole authorizing legislation, 7 U.S.C. 1736o-1, the following entities are eligible Applicants:

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

• Cooperatives;

• Intergovernmental Organizations;

• Governments of developing countries and their agencies; and

• Other organizations https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section1736o-1&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjcgc2VjdGlvbjoxNzM2byBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelimhttps://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section1736o-1&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjcgc2VjdGlvbjoxNzM2byBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9dfff371eeaeee4cef83c4cee94eeee5&mc=true&node=pt7.10.1599&rgn=div5#se7.10.1599_12

As seen throughout the NOFO, USDA strongly supports evidence-based interventions for McGovern-Dole programs. USDA expects the Applicants to propose the approaches to project design, implementation, and evaluation that they believe are best, that can include research and evidence-backed approaches.

3. Q: Can take home rations be provided to cooks? Can take home rations be provided to other project volunteers?

A: Yes. Providing take-home rations to cooks and other project volunteers within the communities as compensation for the time contributed to the project is an allowable activity as long as it is linked to the results and outcomes of the McGovern-Dole program.

4. Q: Could USDA confirm whether relevant disaggregated targets for standard indicators are required as part of submission?

A: No, Applicants are not required to identify disaggregates for standard or custom indicators in their indicator table at the proposal stage, nor to set targets at the disaggregate level.

5. Q: In past years, letters of support from host governments have been discouraged.

Could you please clarify if letters of support from host government are accepted this year?

A: As noted under Part D section B, Required Content and Forms (page 15 and 16), letters of support from host governments are not a part of the Application materials requested in the NOFO. 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.

6. Note from USDA: The following question was previously answered and now has an updated response. Q. The Angolan Government has high restrictions on food imports.

Will steps be put in place to ensure that the implementors will be able to import food items without being taxed?

A: [Previous Response posted on March 25]. USDA is aware of concerns that the Government of Angola may only allow for a limited number of U.S. donated commodity types, focusing on nutritional supplement products. In light of a potential McGovern-Dole agreement, USDA is seeking further clarification from the Government of Angola on the commodities allowed and update the response to this question soon via Grants.gov, providing further guidance as necessary.

As noted under page 38 of the NOFO, Applicant must indicate under the Commodity Management Plan that USDA-funded commodities for direct distribution will be imported and distributed free from all customs, duties, tolls, and taxes. FAS will not pay for any customs, duties, tolls or taxes on USDA-funded commodities.

Update to response on April 8, 2022: During bilateral meetings between the U.S. Embassy and USAID missions in Angola with both the Minister of State for the Social Action and the Ministry of Education (the Angolan government agency responsible for regulating school feeding, as well as authorizing imports of U.S. commodities duty-free for the any potential McGovern-Dole project), the Government of Angola has expressed enthusiastic commitment for future McGovern-Dole programs. Both USDA and the U.S. Embassy are committed to working with a successful awardee to alleviate obstacles to a potential project, including the waiving of any import taxes.