NOFO QA_FINAL.docx

Enhancing U.S.-Jordanian Bilateral Partnerships and Exchanges NOFO Questions Opportunity Number: SFOP0008763

General NOFO Questions

Question: How and where do we submit an application?

ANSWER: Please refer to the “Submitting an Application” section in the NOFO which says, “Applicants must submit their application electronically using either Grants.gov OR SAMS Domestic.”

Question: Are there any templates/forms we need to fill out to apply?

ANSWER: Please make sure you review the “Application and Submission Information” section in the NOFO as well as APPENDIX 3 – AC APPLICATION GUIDANCE 2022 to ensure you are filling out and submitting all appropriate forms and documents.

Question: Can you provide clarity on how to number pages of the budget, budget narrative, logic model, and supporting documents (which might include letters of support in pdf format)?

ANSWER: Please refer to APPENDIX 3 – AC APPLICATION GUIDANCE 2022 for clarity to our page numbering requirements.

Question: Regarding cooperation with other local NGOs on the proposed project, is the interest letter sufficient, or do you require other documents?

ANSWER: Applicants proposing partner organizations and/or government bodies should include Letters of Intent or Letters of Agreement from their proposed partners. You may provide other documents but be mindful of the 10-page limit for optional documents as outlined in the NOFO.

Question: Is the gender analysis (APPENDIX 5) expected under the required elements of the application as part of the 15-page Project Narrative, or would it be an attachment under A.2 Optional Documents and therefore count against the 10-page limit?

ANSWER: The Gender analysis will be part of the 15-page project narrative.

Per APPENDIX 3 – AC APPLICATION GUIDANCE 2022 Gender Considerations: The applicant includes gender analysis in the project narrative that identifies relevant gender gaps and ways the proposed activities will address those gaps. You may use APPENDIX 5 – GENDER ANALYSIS TEMPLATE.

Question: On page 17, the NOFO specifies a final evaluation will be required with support from the NEA/AC M&E team. Does NEA envision the involvement of an external evaluator for this purpose, and if so, should applicants include a provision for this in their budget?

ANSWER: The NOFO indicates 3-5% of the budget should be allocated for M&E activities. Whether this would be in-house or external can be negotiated.

Question: APPENDIX 3 – AC APPLICATION GUIDANCE 2022 notes the requirement of 12-pt. Times New Roman font, however are other fonts and font sizes permissible within tables and other graphics in the application narrative, as well as the logic model, results monitoring plan and other tables (non-narrative text)?

ANSWER: Yes, the Times New Roman 12-pt. font requirement only applies to the narrative text.

Question: How should projected revenue appear in the budget template? Can NEA provide a budget template that includes a revenue category?

ANSWER: Successful applicants will have a negotiated award condition included in the terms and conditions regarding project revenue and all recorded revenue will be integrated into the project.

Question: Noting that successful applicants will work with NEA/AC to create a Results Monitoring Plan based on the proposed logical model/theory of change (NOFO page 17), may the optional RMP include sample or illustrative indicators for each objective, or does NEA/AC expect to see a comprehensive RMP if submitted?

ANSWER: The RMP in the application should demonstrate the applicant is putting serious consideration into the likely reporting needs for the activities proposed but is not expected to be final or comprehensive. The awardee and the NEA/AC will finalize the RMP together in the pre-award phase.

Question: Does NEA prefer both pages of the Logic Model (APPENDIX 2) are completed, or should applicants select one of the two models provided within that document?

ANSWER: It is a single template. The second page is intended to provide definitions and a bit more elaboration on the headers and terminology used on the first page for applicants who may be less familiar with the RMP terminology.

Question: In APPENDIX 3 – AC APPLICATION GUIDANCE 2022 page 9, NEA requests, “The budget should be for the entire project period. Successful applicants may be asked to provide a year-by-year budget after the award is signed.” The requested budget template is not broken down by year. Could NEA confirm Applicants may present the budget in a yearly format? If Applicants may present a budget in a yearly format, are Applicants permitted to modify the sample template by adding additional rows for the total years equal to the proposed period of performance?

ANSWER: The budget template found in APPENDIX 1 is a sample template. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the same format as provided in the template, and to submit summary and detailed line-item budgets in Excel form, and the Budget Narrative as either a PDF or Word file. If the applicant does not use the template, the applicant must ensure their submission includes all elements outlined in the sample. The template, which includes more detailed instructions, can be found in APPENDIX 1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review APPENDIX 1 before preparing their Budget and Budget Narrative. Applicants may present a proposed budget in a yearly format if the format used includes all elements outlined in the sample.

Question: Page 18 of the NOFO, under the heading Non-Competing Continuation, NEA states, “this NOFO requires that applicants submit additional budget materials to plan for potential out-years of non-competing continuations. See Section VI Application and Submission Information for more details.” We did not see any further details in Section VI. Could NEA kindly confirm which additional budget materials need to be prepared for potential non-competing continuations?

ANSWER: A sample fillable template can be found in APPENDIX 1 which includes more detailed instructions. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the same format as provided in the template, and to submit summary and detailed line-item budgets in Excel form, and the Budget Narrative as either a PDF or Word file. If the applicant does not use the template, the applicant must ensure their submission includes all elements outlined in the sample. Applicants may present a proposed budget in a yearly format and plan for potential out years of possible non-competing continuations if the format used includes all elements outlined in the sample.

Priority Area 1: Leadership Exchange Program

Question: Does NEA expect that participants will include Syrian refugees?

ANSWER No.

Question: The solicitation states participants will be English-speaking, but then states project activities should include an Arabic-language option of the exchange program. Can NEA please provide more information about expectations for participants’ English language ability and Arabic-language options for the exchange program?

ANSWER: Strong proposals will include both English and Arabic versions of the exchange.

Question: It is unclear whether a project in this priority area must include all eight disciplines outlined in the achievable objectives section or if a project design could include a few of these objectives. Does NEA/AC expect the Program to result in deeper understanding of cutting-edge theory and practice in all eight disciplines listed or could applicants focus on only some of those disciplines?

ANSWER: Strong proposals will include a variety if not all of the 8 disciplines for the exchange.

Priority Area 2: American Language Centers

Question: The project design section states either a “single center” or “multiple centers” are eligible. Does this mean since the award floor is $1.5m, an organization submitting for a single center would only be considered if they reached this floor?

ANSWER: The award floor of $1.5 million is an estimated award floor.

Question: The NOFO (page 8) states the new American Language Centers will be part of a network across Jordan. To what extent does NEA envision the multiple grant recipients to coordinate on programming and other aspects of ALC grant implementation? Will the Department of State/U.S. Embassy/RELO lead or otherwise serve as a focal point for networking efforts, or are the grant recipients expected to initiate them?

ANSWER: The RELO Office in Amman looks forward to being the focal point for American Language Center Network coordination in Jordan.

Priority Area 3: Cultural Heritage Property National Inventory

Question: Is it possible to launch the platform and database concurrently with the cleansing process?

ANSWER: Yes, launching the platform and database while the cleansing process is still undergoing can be concurrent. Ultimately, though, this should be a forever-type project, so a strong application will include a permanent sustainability plan.

Question: Will the failure to produce the evidence of this partnership result in the disqualification of the applicant? Is a letter of support from the Directorate of Antiquities sufficient? And what exact points shall the letter or any other document include to be considered evidence of the “partnership”?

ANSWER: A strong application would have at a minimum, a letter of support from the Directorate of Antiquities.

Question: Is the purchase, installation and operation of the hardware needed for the setup of the database part of the requirement? Can it be assumed a governmental entity will handle the hosting, backups and maintenance of the hardware if such an arrangement can be achieved?

ANSWER: Applicants should factor into their budgets any hardware, software, maintenance costs, etc. they anticipate. No specific/named hardware or otherwise is required.

Question: What are the required capabilities of query / search needed in the database software and will searching by a photo be required?

ANSWER: Searching by a photo is not required. Applicants should present the strongest model according to their opinion/expertise in this field.

Question: For the verification of stolen or illicitly sold cultural heritage property items, is the verification process a task / event that shall occur on and through the system?

ANSWER: No.

Question: For the interception of stolen or illicitly sold cultural heritage property items, is the interception process a task / event that shall occur on and through the system?

ANSWER: No.

Question: Do all partnerships and key partners need to be identified and provided evidence for at the application stage?

ANSWER: Partnerships might not all be known at this phase, but any key partners should be known.

Question: Will the State Department provide a list and/or introductions to the relevant law enforcement agencies to assist with the “identify, intercept, and return trafficked, stolen, and illicitly sold cultural heritage property items” tasks?

ANSWER: Successful applicants/implementing partners of this project would play no role in the law enforcement aspect.

Question: What is the minimum requirement for the security elements of the software and is it required to do a physical inventory?

ANSWER: No minimum requirement and it is not required to do a physical inventory count.

Question: What are the specific eligibility requirements for applicants to this priority area?

ANSWER: Per the NOFO under Specific eligibility requirements for applicants under Priority Area 3: Cultural Heritage Property National Inventory:

1. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including not-for-profit universities, either based in Jordan or with local partner(s) in Jordan.

1. All applicants not based in Jordan must demonstrate previous experience and/or ability to operate in Jordan.

Question: What are the specifics regarding phasing and scope for establishing a database for all movable heritage items in the country with addition of newly discovered/acquired future items?

ANSWER: A comprehensive national database of moveable cultural heritage property items includes the entire country. Ultimately, a successful database would allow for the entry of newly discovered items. If someone owns items privately, whether legally or not, it is not expected any implementing partner would know that. However, museum collections, warehouses, and any other public/government-held items should be included.

Question: What does the following mean in regard to purpose and scope “…the database must have functionality to be an effective tool for law enforcement in the prevention of stolen/trafficked antiquities.”? What type of access is required and what does law enforcement need?

ANSWER: The database should be something that can be viewed/searched by authorized users (i.e., not accessible/viewable by the general public) and should include photos and detailed descriptions. The purpose of the database is not just to log moveable cultural property in Jordan, but to streamline its return if it is trafficked and to aid in the identification and return of similar/like items that have already been trafficked. This could be accomplished multiple ways, but no specific way is required.

Question: Will this project be required to tie into the King’s Digital Lab’s cultural heritage mapping program?

ANSWER: Partnership is encouraged wherever stand-alone/proprietary databases can be incorporated into a national effort. There is no specific existing database project partnership that is required.

Priority Area 4: Access to work

Question: Is the program expected to work with the same 40 individuals over two years, or could each cohort have new 20 participants totaling 80 different participants over the two-year program?

ANSWER: We can accept different time spans for the program, depending on the desired outcomes.

Priority Area 5: Government-Wide Strategic Communication Capacity Building

Question: What are the specific eligibility requirements for applicants to this priority area?

ANSWER: Per the NOFO under Specific eligibility requirements for applicants under Priority area 5: “Government-Wide Strategic Communication Capacity Building” the Specific eligibility requirements are:

a. Organizations, including for-profit entities as well as entities based outside of Jordan, with expertise in media management and experience in providing training on a wide range of topics related to developing media and communications professionals.

b. All applicants not based in Jordan must demonstrate previous experience and/or ability to operate in Jordan.

Question: How many professionals are expected to be part of each cohort?

ANSWER: Based on previous trainings, we expect between 24-48 participants per session, depending on the program contents and schedule.

Question: Should the bidder budget for logistical costs associated with trainings such as venue rental, catering and per diems, or will those be covered separately?

ANSWER: Yes. Note that the Government of Jordan often has access to training/classroom facilities.

Question: How long will each professional be able to dedicate to the training program?

ANSWER: The Government of Jordan supports the program and is committed to providing several months’ worth of training on a part time basis appropriate for working participants. To date, most trainings have been relatively brief (one to ten days in length).

Question: Has a physical space already been identified by the Government of Jordan?

ANSWER: Yes. The Prime Ministry has a dedicated media space the Government of Jordan would prefer to continue using. The Government of Jordan (office if the Media Minister) can share its initial ideas for how the space can be adequately refurbished.

Question: Is the bidder expected to budget for the physical space for the duration of the award or will this be funded separately?

ANSWER: Per above, the existing Government of Jordan space has no ongoing operational costs (e.g., rent, utilities) that need to be budgeted for. The budget portion should be focused on specific refurbishments and/or equipment.

Question: Is a list of anticipated required equipment available for budgetary purposes?

ANSWER: Please check with the Office of the Government of Jordan Media Minister. Any notional equipment list provided by the Government of Jordan should be evaluated within the broader project, including sustainability considerations.