nofo amendment 0002 mcc-16-rfa-0001.pdf

Amendment 0002 for the NOFO # MCC-16-RFA-0001 NOFO Name: “Data for Local Impact Innovation Challenge Project”

Subject: responses to questions received and call for information

The purpose of this Amendment 0002 is to:

A. Provide responses to the questions received so far before and during the pre-application conference;

B. Issue call for information for collaboration and partnering.

MCC encourages applicants to continue to submit questions related to this NOFO through December 4, 2015, 5:00 pm (Tanzania, Dar es Salaam time) by emailing Nataliya Holl at hollna@mcc.gov.

MCC will continue to issue responses in a separate amendment.

A. Responses to the questions.

1. Do we need the have the DUNS and SAM registration for the pre-application conference under Phase I?

A - MCC will need the DUNS number and SAM registration for the actual award under phase II. If your organization will be invited by MCC to participate in Phase II, you will need to have DUNS and SAM at the time of submitting the application for Phase II on January 25, 2016.

2. We just learned about these opportunities, can we still submit pre-bid?

A – Yes, interested and eligible organizations may still submit an application for Phase I. The critical deadline for submission of the concept paper is on December 9, 2015. All other steps before the Phase I concept paper submission are optional. MCC encourages you to participate at the pre-application conference and submit questions by Friday December 4th. Responses to questions will be issued in one or more amendments.

3. Can we apply to both or only one NOFO?

A – Eligible organizations can apply to one or the other, or both opportunities depending on their interest, qualifications and capacity to manage the work.

mailto:hollna@mcc.gov

4. Is this opportunity open for European companies?

A - All organizations that meet the criteria in Section C are welcome to apply. Also, please note that this NOFO envisages the possibility of partnerships so long as these add value to the specified goals outlined in Section A Program Description. Following the bidders’ call on December 3rd, we would also like to invite those organizations that are not eligible to serve as the “prime” applicant, but are interested in partnering with eligible organizations, to express their interest as soon as possible by sending an email to Nataliya Holl at hollna@mcc.gov, see the needed information below. MCC will publish the list of names and contact information of those organizations that are interested in partnering. Consortia can continue forming throughout the Phase II application process – and agreements between the prime and sub or sub-partner do not need to be exclusive.

5. Our organization is now undergoing registration in Kenya, if the process is not completed by the time the concept papers are due on December 9, may we still submit a paper?

A – All organizations seeking to be considered as the principal partner must meet the eligibility criteria by December 9, 2015 while submitting the concept paper. However, please note that this NOFO envisages the possibility of partnerships so long as these add value to the specified goals outlined in Section A Program Description. As noted in the response to question 4 above, those organizations that are interested in participating in this opportunity in ways other than being the “prime” should express their interest by sending an email to Nataliya Holl at hollna@mcc.gov, see the needed information below by December 9, 2015 at 5 pm Tanzania time.

6. When do you expect the Data Roadmap project to be released? Will it be on the same timeline as the Data for Local Impact Innovation Challenge and Tanzania Data Collaborative (Co-Lab) projects?

A – There are currently two funding opportunities available for applicants consideration at www.grants.gov under the Data Collaboratives for Local Impact Program: the Data for Local Impact Innovation Challenge, NOFO # MCC-16-RFA-0001, and the Tanzania Data Collaborative, NOFO # MCC-16-RFA-0002. The additional funding opportunities associated with additional projects under the program are still in the scoping phase. We anticipate the Sub National Data Collaboratives Project to be on a slight early timeline, possibly followed by the Data Roadmap Project. We expect to launch a solicitation process for the Sub National Data Collaborative Project during the first quarter of 2016. These projects will be bound by the same operational timeline as the overall program.

7. Is the Tanzania Data Collaborative project the main project? Is it a DevEx project?

A – The Tanzania Data Collaborative (Co-Lab) project represents a core investment under the Data Collaboratives for Local Impact program. This project is being implemented under the MCC- PEPFAR Partnership, and is not affiliated with DevEx. Another core investment will be the Sub National Data Collaborative Project.

8. In order to ensure consistency and coordination be assured for the various projects: do you prefer the programs to be managed a single contractor or multiple contractors?

A – The two current opportunities were posted on www.grants.gov to ensure full and open competition for the awards. We are looking for the best applications to respond to the program desriptions under each project – including ideas from interested organizations on how to ensure mailto:hollna@mcc.gov mailto:hollna@mcc.gov http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ effective and efficient coordination among the “prime” applicants leading the different projects, which is fully consistent with the intent of this program, namely data “collaboratives” to achieve local impact. We do not have an a priori preference for having the programs to be managed by a single or multiple prime organizations. Provisions have been made in the program description in Section A, for example monthly coordination teleconferences between project leads, similar reporting requirements, etc., but as noted, additional ideas that leverage existing technologies and are relevant are welcome will be implemented.

9. Is the eligibility criteria applicable to only the lead organization or to all those within the consortium?

A – The eligibility criteria specified in Section C applies only to the prime organization.

Organizations who would like to partner with the prime under a subaward or subcontract will have no restrictions. According to Section D page 10, Cost/Business application, Subawards, subaward or subcontract shall not exceed 45% of the total program amount estimated at $1,000,000. Also, please note as specified above, that those organizations that are interested in participating in this opportunity in ways other than being the “prime” should express their interest by sending an email to Nataliya Holl at hollna@mcc.gov by December 9, 2015 at 5 pm Tanzania time.

10. What is the December 9 deadline?

A – The deadline for Phase I Applications are due on December 9. Those applications for Phase I include only a fairly straightforward applications (“concept paper”) which provide background on the organization, its mission, capacity, relevant experience as well as its strategy to maximize local content. Submission with the details specified in Section D pages 3-4. The certifications, assurances and representations in Section D pages 13 – 20 are only required for Phase II submission. Also, in Phase I applications, if consortia are still being considered (but have not been finalized) please indicate your intent to partner and indicate the organizations during Phase II.

11. Would you see lead organizations only responding to the December 9 or partner organizations also responding (as part of a consortium)?

A – Only the prime applicants need to respond to the Phase I Concept paper requirements and include their potential consortium partners (or intent to partner). However, in response to the inquiries during the call – those organizations that do not meet eligibility criteria, but are interested in partnering with eligible organizations, should to express this interest as soon as possible, see the specifics below in the call for information. MCC will publish the list of names and contact information of those organizations that are interested in partnering. Consortia can continue forming throughout the Phase II application process – and agreements between the prime and sub or sub-partner do not need to be exclusive.

12. If an international organization is not eligible to be a lead, can it still submit an application or are you expecting applications only from eligible leads?

A – Please see response to question 6 above.

13. How will coordination occur between various organizations that are partnering together?

A – Organizations may partner with one another through those means that best serve the purpose of their proposal. These partnerships may be through multiple mechanisms, to include memoranda of agreement, letters of commitment, and/or any other contractual obligation. The awardee may sub-grant and/or sub-contract to its partner organizations in accordance with the terms of the cooperative agreement, and the notice of funding opportunity.

14. How is an organization supposed to explicitly illustrate experience in liaising with government officials?

A – Provide a summary of organization’s past interactions with the national, subnational and /or local government institutions and demonstrate especially where this strategic consultation resulted in collaborative initiatives, participation and engagement. This request seeks to gage an institution’s external stakeholder engagement capacity and experience, not limited to the government, but also to that of other sectors (e.g. non-government organizations, institutes, relevant private sector organizations, etc.), to achieve a mutual goal.

15. Can you please provide more details about the last section of the concept paper: strategy for "maximizing local content"?

A - A key approach taken as part of this NOFO to maximize local content has been to solicit technical assistance implementing this work through a Cooperative Agreement and restricting eligibility of prime applicants to local/regional organizations that already have existing programs in the countries of interest. As part of this section, you may also wish to describe:

• The local, sub national and country-based networks and resources that you will leverage to ensure that the activities undertaken as part of this project – including the capacity that is built, remains in the country and contributes to strengthening the country data (including open data) systems.

• How the partners / consortia members (if relevant) that you are proposing to partner with will also contribute to maximizing local content.

16. Are there any thoughts to converting this to be a contract (versus a cooperative agreement)?

A – MCC had seriously considered acquisition planning phase and examined all potential scenarios for this program; and made a decision to move forward with the assistance instrument that allows ability to give subgrants to local organizations and have a substantial involvement element. Based on the feedback that we have received and given the nature of this work, this instrument has the best chance of identifying organizations rooted and based in East Africa - and whose mission and focus are alignment with the objective of the program, namely supporting/building in-country capacity, ownership, and sustainability for greater use of data in decision-making.

17. Any chance you could share the names of participants on the call this morning? I know the organization list is on the website, but is it possible to share the individual names as well?

A – Since MCC had not requested and planned in advance to publish the names of the participants in advance, and considering some sensitivity to sharing the names of the individuals that participated in the bid conference, MCC only provided the organizations’ names and websites. MCC will publish the list of names and contact information of those organizations that express their interest in partnering in response to the call for information below. Consortia can continue forming throughout the Phase II application process – and agreements between the prime and sub or sub-partner do not need to be exclusive.

B. Call for Information for subawardees or subcontractors.

MCC is calling for additional information for organizations that are interested in participating in this NOFO as “partners” to the prime recipient(s). There are no eligibility restrictions for subawardees or subcontractors, however, the total amount of the value of the work which the prime recipient cedes to a partner is limited to 45% of the value of the work as specified under Section D, page 10. If your organization is interested to be a sub partner for this opportunity, please provide the following information to Nataliya Holl at hollna@mcc.gov as soon as possible and no later than December 9, 2015 5:00 pm (Tanzania, Dar es Salaam time). MCC will make publically available a list of all organizations, contract names and information to enable collaboration and provide information for prime applicants seeking to partner with subpartners.

Information to provide:

1. Organization name

2. Contact person name and title

3. Contract phone and e-mail address

4. Short (max 2 pages) description of particular area of expertise and potential value added to the partnership.

End of Amendment 0002