NPI GH Round 2 Questions & Answers FINAL.pdf

NPI GH APS (7200AA19APS00013) Round 2:

Expanding Health Partnerships (Modality 3)

Questions and Answers

1. The Concept Note template requires applicants to already specify the amount of funding requested from USAID. Considering there is a co-creation process that will inform and influence the proposed project strategy, shape of consortiums etc, how does USAID propose applicants come up with an estimate of the funding request at this stage?

During the Concept Paper phase, applicants are asked to propose an estimated funding request associated with the type of program they are proposing in response to the Round 2 Program Description. Subject to the availability of funds, USAID anticipates making up to three (3) awards, which will not exceed a cumulative ceiling of $100,000,000 over the course of five (5) years. A significant portion of the ceiling is anticipated to be funded by USAID Missions in various countries. There are no maximum or minimum amounts established by USAID per Concept Paper.

If there is a co-creation opportunity for Round 2, USAID will notify selected applicants as to the format, time and location. Any co-creation opportunity would have to take place after the initial review of the concept papers that are due on August 2.

2. The Concept Note template requires applicants to specify ‘ Total Program Amount (in USDs)’, as well as ‘Total Amount of Funding Requested from USAID’. However, in the Round 2 document, there has been no reference made to match funding. Also, the global APS states ‘there is no requirement for cost sharing or matching in this NPI GH APS as it is not a funding opportunity itself’. Is it therefore safe to assume that match funding is not required for Round 2 and does not affect the competitiveness of a Concept Note?

There is no request for matching funding for awards under the NPI GH APS Round 2 in the Concept Paper phase. However, USAID reserves the right to request a cost-share at the Request for Full Application (RFA) phase of the selected applicants.

3. Where in the Concept Note template, applicants are supposed to specify if they are applying as a prime or sub applicant?

Given that Round 2 will be awarded to a prime recipient, there is no separate line item for indicating whether an applicant is applying as a prime or a sub awardee. As noted in the Concept Paper template in Annex A, in line item number 9, applicants must include other members of a proposed consortium. Also, in Section F of the Concept Paper template, applicants are asked to describe and define the role of other entities in the partnership/consortium.

On page 11, first paragraph, please delete “or sub-partner” from the sentence. The revised sentence will read, “To be considered as a potential prime on a full application, an organization must submit a concept paper (as a prime) to the relevant Round.”

4. Is there a preference for already firmed up consortiums at this stage or is the preference to allow for Primes and subs to identify complementarities and firm up partnerships at the co-creation stage?

There is no preference that consortiums be firmed up or a preference that primes and subs firm up before or during co-creation phase, if conducted. In Annex A of Round 2, Section F states that applicants describe and define the role of other entities in the partnership/consortium and their expected relationship with the sub-award program.

If there is a co-creation opportunity for Round 2, USAID will notify selected applicants

5. Can footnotes/ endnotes be in smaller font than Times New Roman 12? Is there a preference for footnotes or endnotes?

Footnotes and/or endnotes can be in 10-point Times New Roman. There is no preference between footnotes versus endnotes; however applicants are reminded of the five page limit for Concept Papers.

6. When is the expected date for co-creation workshop for Round 2?

If there is a co-creation opportunity for Round 2, USAID will notify selected applicants

7. Do applicants need to name in the concept note who they nominate to attend co-creation?

(I didn’t see this) as to the format, time and location. At that time, applicants will need to submit the name of any attendee. Any co-creation opportunity would have to take place after the initial review of the concept papers that are due on August 2.

8. Whereas the call states that this particular round will be utilizing modality 3, it is not clear if Local entities that have a solid financial relationship with USAID above the threshold established in the APS of $25M for the past 5 years can apply as a prime.

Any organization, U.S., international or local, that has a financial relationship with USAID above the $25M threshold over the previous five (5) years to date, can apply as a prime for Round 2. Applicants will be reviewed based on the Merit Review Criteria.

9. Is Paraguay an eligible country?

Paraguay is not one of the USAID Global Health Priority Countries.

10. Can the same organization submit concept papers for both rounds?

If an organization meets the eligibility requirements of each round, it could apply for both rounds.

11. For round 2, could you clarify if it refers to a call that involves a consolidated organization through which resources and capacities are transferred to incipient organizations?

Round 2 will be awarded to a prime(s) organization that could work through a group of partners, referred to as a consortium. The financial arrangement between the prime and the consortium members is not in the purview of a USAID determination. However, Round 2 will be utilizing Modality 3 of the NPI GH APS whereby the prime awardee will issue sub-awards, with between 50-75 percent of total funds obligated to the prime used for such sub-awards.

12. Please clarify the outline of the 5-page concept paper that USAID would like for Round 2 submissions.

a. The required sections on page 42 of the APS differ from the sections outlined in the instructions for the Round 2 concept paper (APS includes Geographic Location and Intervention Approach while Round 2 requests information on the “Technical Approach).

As noted on p. 22 of the APS, NOTE: Round documents can revise the Concept Paper Template as needed. Please follow the instructions for the Concept Paper provided in the Round 2 documentation.

b. The page allocations in the instructions on page 13 of the Round 2 document add up to 4 ½ pages. Please confirm that applicants can include another ½ page on the Intervention Approach, as described in the APS.

The page allocations are suggested lengths for each section and should total five

(5) pages. The sections can be adjusted according to an organization's needs. The total page limit for the Concept Paper is five (5) pages.

13. Please confirm that applicants can include both local entities (Modality 3a) and locally established partners (LEP-Modality 3b) in their concept papers.

a. On page 15, the overall APS states that the prime will support either local entities or LEP, but Annex A (page 13) of the Round 2 document instructs applicants to “select all that apply” regarding Modality 3a and 3b. Please confirm that Round 2 Annex A supersedes the APS instructions.

Awardee(s) for Round 2 can use either modality 3a working with local partners, or modality 3b working with locally established partners, or both.

14. In the general concept paper instructions (APS page 24-25), USAID asks applicants to describe the baselines that will be measured “before the project begins.” Please confirm that these baselines will be measured before activity implementation rather than before the project start date.

For the purposes of the Concept Paper, Section E. under the Concept Paper template is seeking a description of the type of baseline data that your project would measure before implementing a project activity. No activities, including baseline data collection, are required before the start of or issuance of a USAID award. Detailed budgeting estimates for baseline data collection and/or any other project activities may be part of the full Request for Applications.

15. Page 4 states that: “Round 1 will focus on enhancing the organizational and technical capacity of local new and underutilized partners, including those organizations and partners that are owned, managed by and/or represent the needs of diverse constituencies such as minority or women-owned businesses or youth-serving organizations.”

It is presumed that USAID is referring to “Round 2”. In this context, can USAID please confirm it considers “diverse constituencies” to include disabled persons or disabled-serving organizations.

Yes, Round 2 document should only refer to Round 2 so any reference to Round 1 is a typo. The list of diverse constituencies was illustrative but not limited to the constituents listed. Diverse constituencies may include disabled-serving organizations.

16. Can USAID please confirm if mental health and psycho-social support fall under the Agency’s definition of MCH quality health services?

Some elements of mental health are included in the USAID maternal and child health (MCH) program definitions; however, such activities should be within broader MCH programs for the direct benefit of mothers, newborns and children. Women's mental health is included along with other intermediate determinants for thriving mothers and newborns such as family planning care, infectious diseases, women's nutrition, lifestyle behaviors and underlying health conditions.

17. Can USAID please share a list of prioritized neglected tropical diseases, ideally by country as per the matrix in Annex C of the APS?

USAID targets five neglected tropical diseases: lymphatic filariasis; onchocerciasis; soil transmitted helminthiasis; schistosomiasis; and trachoma. More information is available at: https://www.neglecteddiseases.gov/

18. If health products/commodities are to be distributed, should costs be included in the prime’s core budget or rather in sub-awardee budgets?

Limited health products or commodities to be distributed may be included in either prime or sub-awardee budgets as it will depend on the program intervention in a given country.

19. Please confirm if it is necessary for local partners to register for a DUNS if they are sub-award recipients.

Yes, a DUNS is required. Each applicant (unless the applicant is excepted from the requirements under 2 CFR §25.110(b), (c), (d)) must:

● be registered in SAM before submitting its application;

● provide a valid DUNS number along with its application;

https://www.neglecteddiseases.gov/

● and maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency.

The DUNS requirement also applies to first-tier subawards. Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 1-866-705-5711.

20. Please confirm that local partners may apply the 10% di minimus indirect cost rate to all direct costs.

Local partners that have never received a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) from a United States Federal Government agency may apply a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). See 2 CFR 200.414(f) and related sections for more information.

21. If a university affiliated NGO has its own unique DUNS and Tax ID number, would they be considered an eligible organization to submit a concept paper, in addition to a separate university submission?

A single organization may not submit more than one concept paper to Round 2 as a prime.

22. On page 9 of the Round 2: EHP, it states that “established partners (defined in this APS as those organizations that already have a financial relationship with USAID above the threshold established in the APS of $25M in USAID funds in the past five years)…” Are organizations with financial relationships with other USG funders (ie. CDC, PEPFAR) above $25M eligible? If not, would USAID consider revising this requirement?

No, the $25M must be from USAID funding in the past five years. Established partners do not have funding limits and may have resources from other US government partners beyond the $25 million from USAID in the past five years.

23. The APS reads like a central-level mechanism whereby individual Missions buy-into the mechanism to establish and strengthen local organizations, is this correct? Is there room for proposing specific countries or local organizations with which we would like to work at the proposal stage?

USAID assumes the question is in reference to Round 2 rather than the APS. Round 2 is intended to serve as a central USAID/Washington-based award(s) that will be managed by the USAID Global Health Bureau, in partnership with Mission counterparts. Concept papers can include proposed countries in which an organization might work as an illustration of the proposed project. The final country selection will be determined only after an award is made and pursuant to discussions with USAID Missions and the Global Health Bureau project management team. Concept papers may include proposed local organizations through which the project might conceivably work as part of an established sub-award program but would also need to be responsive to the need for a broad, global approach that may work in multiple Global Health priority countries and seek new and interested local partners beyond an organization's current network.

24. For NPI R2, can a local sub-recipient be included in more than one Consortium led by a US/International Organization?

Yes, sub-recipient organizations may be part of a consortium on up to two different Concept Papers.

25. Would USAID please clarify if organizations submitting a concept paper as a sub can respond to a specific result instead of responding to all three results?

USAID is not seeking Concept Papers from sub-partners during this Round due to the Round’s focus on Modality 3 that will be an award(s) to a prime (with the potential for a consortium) to respond to all three (3) intermediate results in this Round.

26. Would USAID please clarify the difference between sub-awardee organizations and partners for concept paper submission?

There are two types of sub-awardees in this Round 2. First, the award will be issued to a prime organization under modality 3 (a or b or both) of the APS. A prime may submit a concept paper as part of a consortium of partners. Only one organization can be the prime and all other members of the consortium are considered sub-partners. These entities would be included and described in the concept paper.

Second, Round 2 is focused on the prime (and consortium as appropriate) establishing a sub-award program to local or locally established partners. These are the sub-awardee partners as well.

27. Given that co-creation is the next step after the concept paper stage, would USAID clarify if forming consortiums at the concept paper stage is the preferred route?

Consortiums can be formed at any time during the process.

If there is a co-creation opportunity for Round 2, USAID will notify selected applicants

28. Given the global geographic focus, would USAID please clarify if organizations need to identify specific countries in Appendix C which it will work with at the concept paper stage?

Applicants do not need to specify which countries they would work in as part of their concept paper; however, as noted in the Concept Paper template and Merit Review Criteria, applicants should be sure to include information describing how their organization will identify and work with sub-awards in multiple countries. Also, section G of the Concept Paper template asks the applicant to describe how its organization would plan to work on a global program.

29. Would USAID please clarify if the concept paper under Round 2 could focus on one specific country?

Round 2 is seeking an awardee(s) to establish a program in multiple countries. Please refer to the Concept Paper template that asks organizations to describe a multi-country approach.

30. Page 4 of round 2 states, “Round 1 will focus on enhancing the organizational and technical capacity of local new and underutilized partners, including those organizations and partners that are owned, managed by and/or represent the needs of diverse constituencies such as minority or women-owned businesses or youth-serving organizations.” Can USAID clarify if “Round 1” is a typo and whether “Round 2” was meant instead?

Thank you for the comment. The Round 2 document should refer to Round 2 and not Round 1.

31. Page 5 of Round 2 states, “Information sharing and knowledge management activities are an essential element of the Round 2: EHP award(s), which will contribute directly to each of the result areas, and ultimately to measurable progress in the achievement of the Round 1 expected results.” Can USAID clarify whether this is a typo and whether this instead means to refer to achievement of Round 2 expected results?

Thank you for the comment. The Round 2 document should refer to Round 2 and not Round 1.

32. What is the estimated amount of core funding available for Round 2?

Subject to the availability of funds, USAID anticipates making up to three (3) awards, which will not exceed a cumulative ceiling of $100 million over the course of the next five (5) years. USAID has not determined the amount of core funding for Round 2;

however, USAID Mission funding will likely be the majority of the funding.

33. What does USAID expect organizations to submit for their certificate of incorporation?

May the certificate of organization exceed the two-page page limit?

In the United States, the required "certificate of incorporation" (or, for a Limited Liability Company, articles of organization, which some states call a certificate of organization or certificate of formation) is often just one or two pages. If, instead of issuing a one or two page certificate, the state (or foreign government, if applicable) issued a longer document, the applicant may submit it with the concept paper.

34. Will there be a co-creation phase in Washington, DC or will co-creation takes place in the implementation country at the Mission buy-in stage?

as to the format, time and location.

35. When is the co-creation process anticipated to take place?

36. Will the concept papers be shared with the organizations invited to co-creation? If so, at what point in the process will they be shared?

37. Can USAID please confirm that the “Total Program Amount” and “Total Amount of Funding Requested from USAID” referenced in Annex A are budget estimates to be finalized in the full proposal?

The Total Program Amount and Funding Requested from USAID referenced in Annex A are budget estimates only. A full program budget will be required only from applicants selected to respond to a full Request for Application (RFA).

38. Considering the changes to financial reporting/tracking requirements and limitations that are now being applied to obligated funds in the DHHS Payment Management System (as announced in Implementing Partner Notice #7: LOC Payment of October 30, 2018), it would be helpful to understand the anticipated distribution of funds across the Operating Units (OU) and Program Areas (PA) for this award as we design the programmatic approach.

a. Can USAID provide the anticipated categories and amounts for each OU and PA for the life of the program, and if available, per year?

The project is intended to be funded by health resources from across USAID/Washington’s Global Health Bureau and USAID Missions working in the Global Health Priority countries listed in Annex B. While priority program areas may include child and maternal health, reproductive health, and infectious diseases, the project will be able to accept program area funds from across the health sector.

b. If USAID is unable to project the OU/PA funding designations at this time, how will USAID introduce this during implementation if proposed program descriptions are already incorporated into the award document but differ from available funding categories?

Round 2 is intended to support and strengthen partnerships with local and locally established partners that are new or underutilized by USAID in the health sector.

The technical area focus may include a broad health sector approach that could include priority areas addressing child and maternal health priorities, infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS. Proposed health programs will need to respond to the needs of individual USAID Missions and may span the health sector.

39. How will the local new and underutilized partners be selected for participation in the project? Will the grants be USAID-directed, or will the successful candidate be expected to conduct a limited competition in each country?

The sub-awards are expected to be developed, managed, awarded and supported by the prime awardee. Country selection will be based on USAID Mission interest and needs.

The approach taken to identify new and underutilized partners to participate in the sub-award program will be developed by the prime and will likely include a process for the final selection of sub-awardees based on criteria developed by the prime in coordination with USAID.

40. Under the Technical Approach section on pg. 12 of the solicitation, it states that “The concept paper must present a cohesive plan to identify innovative programs conducted by these sub-awards and how they would be scaled up.” Does this mean that the successful candidate will be expected to expand upon existing projects, or will the successful candidate be allowed to award new projects designed under this award? Or both?

Prime awardee(s) will be expected to design sub-award program(s) through which they will mentor and advise on capacity building as well as the technical focus as appropriate to the country context. Based on such programs, as described in Intermediate Result 3, the prime awardee(s) will be expected to develop an approach to identify and measure innovative or promising programs that could be scaled up or shared as lessons learned. If there are similar existing programs in-country, the awardee(s) should work with the USAID mission and coordinate rather than duplicate.

41. On pg. 1 the solicitation states, “Round 2: EHP will be utilizing modality three (3) of the NPI GH APS whereby prime award recipient(s) will issue sub-awards to advance health programs at the country level . . . “.

a. Can USAID provide clarity on what is meant by ‘country level’? Does “country level” mean that the expectation is for the selected local organizations to implement on a national scale? Or, will the successful prime under this award be expected to award grants to organizations implementing at local, regional, and/or national levels?

Sub-award programs do not need to be national in scale. The sub-awards would most likely work in local, district or regional areas within a country, based on the country needs and USAID Mission priorities. If there is a Mission seeking to support a national host government program, the prime awardee may be asked to contribute to such a national effort.

b. Please clarify whether exclusion criteria on pg. 21 of full the APS will apply to the successful applicant.

Yes, the exceptions to 2 CFR 25.110 (d) apply.

42. What are the criteria for being invited to respond to the RFA developed during co-creation?

If there is a co-creation opportunity for Round 2, USAID will notify selected applicants

43. Can USAID please confirm whether the expected award mechanism for Round 2 will be a grant or cooperative agreement?

The expected award mechanism for Round 2 will be a cooperative agreement.

44. Can USAID confirm whether LEPs selected as part of Round 1 are going to be excluded from partnerships with primes for applications/concepts notes for Round 2?

USAID welcomes Concept Papers from all applicants for Round 2 that meet the eligibility requirements. Applicants that apply to Round 1 and also meet the eligibility requirements for Round 2 are welcome to submit Concept Papers for Round 2.

45. On page 19 of the APS instructions, under Phase 2: Co-Creation, it states that applicants that have successful concept papers may be invited for co-creation, and will engage with USAID or B/IO and/or possibly other successful concept paper applicants and that if an applicant does not succeed at the co-creation phase, the process ends for that applicant.

It also states that until full applications are submitted, both the applicant and USAID may identify and include potential additional technical partners and/or resource partners.

a. Since the APS states that applicants may go through the co-creation process and has a clearly defined process map, however, the Rounds do not, should we assume that the co-creation process also applies to each of the Rounds?

The co-creation process applies to each Round; however, USAID will determine whether to proceed with co-creation after the concept papers have been received and reviewed.

b. If a prime partner is removed at any point during the co-creation process, does that also prohibit all sub-partners from moving forward through each Round’s process on another potential prime’s bid?

Sub-partners can continue to explore opportunities and partnerships throughout the process by either including their organization in up to two concept papers, i.e., with two different primes (or consortium) and/or continuing to explore with those applicants that proceed to the full Request for Application process.

c. Would USAID provide an estimated time frame for when co-creation will take place and how soon after USAID expects to issue an RFA?

If there is a co-creation opportunity for Round 2, USAID will notify selected applicants as to the format, time and location. Any co-creation opportunity would have to take place after the initial review of the concept papers that are due on August 2.

46. May an organization focus on one or two of the Results rather than all three in their submission of the concept note?

No, it is a requirement of the Concept Paper to respond to all three results.

47. The Round 2 Call makes references to Round 1 on pages 3, 4, 5, 10, and 14. Would USAID clarify if these should be references to Round 2?

Thank you for the comment. These references to Round 1 should be changed to refer to Round 2.

48. Given the broad scope of this APS and Addenda, does USAID have a preference for a design that focuses on one or two service focus areas or a design that engages versatile partners to contribute to multiple focus areas?

USAID envisioned a program that could work across the health sector(s). The applicant(s) should reference the Concept Paper template and describe not only how the applicant(s) will identify and work with a sub-award program in multiple countries but also how they will support programs across the health sector.