NOFO # 720BHA21APS00001 Q&A.pdf

Date: May 18, 2020

Subject: Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance’s (BHA) Responses to questions received on BHA) Global

Annual Program Statement (APS) for Humanitarian Capacity and System Strengthening released on April

20, 2021 - Funding Opportunity Number: 720BHA21APS00001

Greetings:

The Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) has summarized below the questions that BHA received on the subject Annual Program Statement (Funding Opportunity number

720BHA21APS00001). In addition, BHA has revised the APS to address the questions received. BHA did not respond to comments received on the APS individually.

Summary of Questions and Answers:

1. Questions related to the number of applications possible by objective for the first round

BHA Answer: Please refer to revised Section C.3. Limit on Number of Applications in the revised Annual Program Statement (APS).

2. Questions related to teamining including subawards, number of applications per objective and consortium related questions

BHA Answer: Please refer to revised Section C.3. Limit on Number of Applications in the revised APS about subawards and number of applications. Eligibility of consortiums is also addressed in Section C.1. Eligible Applicants.

3. Questions related to eligibility of PIOs

BHA Answer: PIOs are not eligible as either prime or sub-recipients for this APS.

4. Questions related to the requirements for direct implementation

BHA Answer: BHA has removed the language related to direct implementation in the APS.

Please see the revised Section D: Application and Submission Information for information on requirements for the technical application.

5. Questions related to geographic targeting

BHA Answer: Applicants should review each objective to determine the best proposed geographic approach for their application consistent with the information provided by BHA in the APS.

6. Questions related to capability and competence including submission requirements

-- Key personnel level of effort (LOE) and CVs

BHA Answer: Applicants should review the requirements under capability and competence to determine which information is essential to meet the requirements based on your proposed activity design and implementation context. The LOE of staff to meet capability and competence requirements must be based on the activity design and implementation context.

7. Questions about specific potential proposed activities or prefered sectors

BHA Answer: BHA has identified three priority objectives for this APS and applicants must decide on the primary focus and technical design of their applications based on the information provided in the APS. However technical applications must use the sectors, sub-sectors, key words and indicators identified in the BHA Application Guidelines, as applicable [Note: Unless the information in the APS refers to additional sources of information for completing that section, the requirements in the APS is all that is required.] The listing of illustrative activities under each objective does not represent the only activities BHA will support or activities that

BHA will necessarily support; it is intended only to help guide or inform applicants.

Applicant’s summary and detailed budgets must be broken out by BHA Sector.

8. Questions related to award ceiling

BHA Answer: All applications must be for no more than the $3 million award ceiling, but applicants are free to submit applications under this ceiling.

https://www.usaid.gov/humanitarian-assistance/partner-with-us/bha-emergency-guidelines

9. Application submission requirements including forms and templates, components of the technical application, cost application and require supporting documentation.

and performance history, certifications and assurance and organigram.

BHA Answer: Please refer to the supporting documentation requirements listed in Section D of the APS for information on Application Format, components of the technical application, required supporting documentation and required cost application information. Only Apparently

Successful Applicants will submit history or performance documentation, required Pre-Award

Certifications, Assurances, and Other Statements.

Example budget and budget narrative documents, are available at the following site: BHA

Application Guidelines

10. Indirect costs and indirect costs methodology

BHA Answer: Please refer to revised Section D. In addition, as described in 2 CFR 200.403

Factors affecting allowability of costs, costs must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct costs whether an organization is a nonprofit or a for-profit organization. Whether another Federal entity does not accept the de minimis rate is a consideration the applicant must consider when selecting its indirect cost charge method, as indirect costs indeed must be applied consistently across Federal awards. If no approved federally recognized indirect cost rate negotiated between the subrecipient and the Federal Government exists, the pass-through entity must determine the appropriate rate in collaboration with the subrecipient in accordance with 2 CFR 200.332.

11. Questions related to the closing date for applications for the first round

BHA Answer: No change, the closing date and time of the APS is as indicated in Section D of the APS.

12. Questions related to the additional rounds of applications (possibility and eligibility for future rounds)

BHA Answer: BHA cannot at this point confirm any details on any future rounds. BHA may amend this APS to increase the funding availability, add or revise program objectives, or add additional rounds of applications. We recommend that prospective applicants keep monitoring grants.gov. BHA has also addressed eligibility for future rounds of applications in revised Section

B.1. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated.

13. Questions around possibilities for extension of life of award after stated 24 month maximum period of performance:

BHA Answer: Applicants should design a program that can be completed within the stated 24 month period of performance. Any no-cost extension must be reviewed and approved by the

Agreement Officer in accordance with USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) 303.

14. Questions on priorities among APS objectives

BHA Answer: All applications for each objective will be reviewed according to the

Application Review Information provided in Section E and for compliance with the requirements of the APS. Final awards will be made subject to the availability of funds.

15. Questions on involvement of other BHA offices

BHA Answer: Submissions under this APS will be reviewed carefully by relevant BHA staff.

Additional reviewers, if any, will be at the discretion of BHA. All potential awards issued under this APS will be managed by the Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, Programs and

Communication G3PC.

16. Questions around BHA’s openness to cost-share or contribution from third parties

BHA Answer: Cost share is not required. However, if an applicant proposes cost share and receives an award, cost share will be incorporated into the award budget. (Note that since cost share is not required, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.306, it will not be used as a separate factor during the merit review of applications.)

17. Questions about whether a specific organization would be considered a PIO if it has not been awarded a PIO status by USAID.

BHA Answer: A Public International Organization (PIO) is an international organization composed principally of countries, or any other organization that USAID designates as a PIO.

Please refer to ADS 308 for further details about the definition and designation of

PIOs.

18. Questions about assistance versus acquisition instruments under this APS.

BHA Answer: BHA intends to award predominantly cooperative agreements, but reserves the right to award any other form of assistance agreement.