PKG00258148-instructions.pdf

Animal Health APS No. 7200AA20APS00001

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 4

SECTION A: BACKGROUND AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

I. Introduction 5

II. The Feed the Future Initiative and Global Initiative and Global Food Strategy 5

III. Description of the Global Food Security Research Strategy 7

IV. Livestock Programming in the Context of the GFSS and the GFSRS 8

SECTION B: DESCRIPTION OF APS SCOPE

I. Funding opportunity 9

II. Objective of APS 9

III. Geographic focus 10

IV. Environmental Safeguards 10

V. Gender Analysis and Integration 10

VI. Authorized Geographic Code 11

VII. Statutory and Regulatory Certifications 11

VIII. Branding and Marketing Plan 11

IX. Substantial Involvement 11

X. Title to Property 12

XI. Eligible Organizations 12

XII. Pre-Award Responsibility Determination and Risk Assessment 13

XIII. Information Protection and Open Data 13

XIV. Cost Sharing or Matching 14

XV. Past Experience 14

XVI. Other 14

SECTION C: APS TECHNICAL APPLICATION AND PROCESS

I. Funding Opportunity and Information 14 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eKqZGrd1owL6Kv99XU1uV6gV0760Te5m5QJmHxHoiUQ/edit#heading=h.2et92p0 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eKqZGrd1owL6Kv99XU1uV6gV0760Te5m5QJmHxHoiUQ/edit#heading=h.tyjcwt

II. Technical Objectives and Program Management Structure 15

III. Process for Concept Papers, Co-creation, Full Application and Award 17

IV. Concept Paper Submission and Format 18

V. Criteria for Concept Paper and Full Application Review 20

VI. Co-Creation, Collaboration, and Communication 23

VII. Full Application 24

VIII. Questions and Further Assistance 27

IX. Additional Information on Award Administration 27

List of Acronyms

ADS Automated Directive Services

AO Agreement Officer

AOR Agreement Officer Representative

APS Annual Program Statement

ARP Office of Agricultural Research and Policy (BFS/ARP)

ASF Animal Source Foods

BFS Bureau for Food Security

BMBL Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories

CDC Centers for Disease Control

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CGIAR Consultative Group for International Agriculture Research

DUNS Data Universal Numbering System

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment

GFSA Global Food Security Act

GFSS Global Food Security Strategy

GFSR Global Food Security Reauthorization

GFSRS Global Food Security Research Strategy

HICD Human and Institutional Capacity Development

IEE Initial Environmental Examination

ILRI International Livestock Research Institute

IP Implementing Partner

LOE Level of Effort

M/B/IO Missions, Bureaus and Independent Offices

NGO Non Governmental Organization

OAA Office of Acquisition and Assistance

OIE World Organization for Animal Health

PIO Public International Organization

SAM System for Award Management

USAID U.S. Agency for International Development

SECTION A: BACKGROUND AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

I. Introduction

In order to partner effectively with USAID in the co-creation of development approaches for animal health, Applicants must have an understanding of the broad context of the U.S. Government’s Global

Food Security Strategy (GFSS) and investments; the role of research and technology innovation in the food security agenda as it pertains to livestock and animal health.

II. The Feed the Future Initiative and Global Food Security Strategy

The Feed the Future Initiative under the GFSS1 is an integrated whole-of-government strategy accompanied by agency-specific implementation plans, as required by the Global Food Security Act of

2016 (GFSA). It charts a course for the U.S. Government to contribute to the achievement of global food security together with partners across the globe.

Right now, the world is closer than ever before to ending global hunger, undernutrition, and extreme poverty, but significant challenges remain, including human population growth, urbanization, gender inequality, instability and conflict, the effects of a changing climate, and environmental degradation.

Despite our collective progress in global food security and nutrition over recent years, a projected 702 million people still live in extreme poverty, nearly 800 million people around the world are chronically undernourished, and 159 million children under five are stunted. Food security is not just an economic and humanitarian issue; it is also a matter of security, as growing concentrations of poverty and hunger leave countries and communities vulnerable to increased instability, conflict, and violence.

The U.S. Government, in partnership with other governments, civil society, multilateral development institutions, research institutions, universities, and the private sector, will build on experience to date through Feed the Future to address these challenges, take advantage of opportunities, and advance food security and improved nutrition by focusing efforts around three interrelated and interdependent objectives:

● Inclusive and sustainable agricultural-led economic growth, as growth in the agriculture sector has been shown to be more effective than growth in other sectors at helping men and women lift themselves out of extreme poverty and hunger. It does this by increasing availability of food, generating income from production, creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities throughout value chains, and spurring growth in rural and urban economies.

● Strengthened resilience among people and systems, as increasingly frequent and intense shocks and stresses threaten the ability of men, women, and families to sustainably emerge from poverty.

● A well-nourished population, especially among women and children, as undernutrition, particularly during the 1,000 days from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday, leads to lower levels of physical and cognitive growth which in turn result in lower educational attainment, 1https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1867/USG-Global-Food-Security-Strategy-2016.pdf productivity, lifetime earnings, and economic growth rates.

In addition to these three objectives, there are multiple cross-cutting objectives in the GFSS, in addition to USAID strategic priorities, that are directly relevant to Feed the Future research programming and include:

● Strengthened global commitment to investing in food security, the GFSS emphasizes the importance of working to increase public and private investment in food security through global leadership as well as partnering with country governments, private sector companies, international organizations, leveraging other donors and development partners.

● Increase productivity sustainably, particularly through climate-smart approaches, the GFSS emphasizes the challenge of feeding growing and rapidly urbanizing populations. This will require countries to increase productivity to make more safe and nutritious food readily available and affordable. However, this will need to be accomplished in increasingly challenging environments, with changing climates and emerging plant and animal diseases threatening agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, and the broader food and agriculture system.

● Increased gender equality and female empowerment, USAID’s Gender Equality and Female

Empowerment policy2 requires that gender equality be addressed as appropriate in all USAID-funded activities. The GFSS aims to promote women’s large-scale, active participation in activities throughout all components of food and agriculture systems. While not all Feed the

Future programming will specifically emphasize gender outcomes as a topline objective, all activities must be implemented in a gender-sensitive manner3: developing knowledge, recommendations, tools, and strategies that recognize and account for the needs and multi-dimensional roles of both women and men in innovation, production and marketing systems.

● Increased youth empowerment and livelihoods, the 2012 Youth in Development Policy4 aims to integrate youth issues and engage young people across all USAID initiatives and operations.

The GFSS seeks to empower youth through education, nutrition, and employment opportunities.

While not all Feed the Future programming will specifically emphasize youth outcomes as a topline objective, all activities must be implemented in a youth-sensitive manner: developing knowledge, recommendations, tools, and strategies that recognize and account for the needs and multi-dimensional roles of youth in small-scale production and marketing systems, with youth analysis and inclusion implemented as a cross-cutting effort within all activities.

● More effective governance, policy, and institutions, USAID works with stakeholders to strengthen governance, policy, and institutions at the global, regional, national, and local levels, 2 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/GenderEqualityPolicy.pdf 3 Global Food Sechttps://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/GenderEqualityPolicy.pdfurity Strategy

Technical Guidance on Advancing Gender Equality and Female Empowerment.

4 https://www.usaid.gov/policy/youth https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/GenderEqualityPolicy.pdf https://www.feedthefuture.gov/resource/global-food-security-strategy-technical-guidance-on-advancing-gender-equality-and-female-empowerment/ https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1870/GenderEqualityPolicy.pdf https://www.feedthefuture.gov/resource/global-food-security-strategy-technical-guidance-on-advancing-gender-equality-and-female-empowerment/ https://www.feedthefuture.gov/resource/global-food-security-strategy-technical-guidance-on-advancing-gender-equality-and-female-empowerment/ https://www.usaid.gov/policy/youth while supporting the transformation of food and agricultural systems to scale and sustain our investments and impact. Improved governance includes the consistent application and enforcement of policies and regulations, respect for the enforcement of contracts, inclusive and transparent policy, resource allocation processes, and effective delivery of public services.

Institutions––the social and legal norms and rules that underlie economic activity––are the bedrock upon which good governance, effective policy systems, and inclusive food system transformations rest.

● Improved human, organizational, and system performance, the long-term sustainability of food security interventions is dependent on strong and functional organizations that are able to achieve their missions and contribute to far-reaching social change, together with a skilled workforce who effectively apply professional competencies and achieve their full potential.

USAID’s approach to improving human, organizational and system performance is rooted in local capacity development -- a process of “unleashing, strengthening, and maintaining the ability of people, organizations, and society as a whole to manage their affairs successfully.”

Through the GFSS, USAID aims to strengthen the capacity of all stakeholders throughout the food and agriculture system, paying special attention to women, the extreme poor, small-scale producers, youth, marginalized communities, and small and medium enterprises.

Additional technical guidance as to how the U.S. Government approaches global food and nutrition security in its development activities can be found on-line at feedthefuture.gov.5

III. Description of the Global Food Security Research Strategy

In order to achieve the objectives outlined in the GFSS, the GFSS highlighted that Feed the Future research investments should “ensure a pipeline of innovations, tools and approaches designed to improve agriculture, food security, resilience and nutrition priorities in the face of complex, dynamic challenges.”

Therefore, to ensure that Feed the Future investments are harnessing the benefits of agricultural science and technology innovation, The U.S. Government’s Global Food Security Research Strategy (GFSRS) was finalized in 2017 and directs research investments toward 3 major themes:

● Technologies and practices that advance the productivity frontier to drive income growth, improve diets and promote natural resource conservation;

● Technologies and practices that reduce, manage and mitigate risk to support resilient, prosperous, well-nourished individuals, households and communities; and

● Improved knowledge of how to achieve human outcomes: generating evidence on how to sustainably and equitably improve economic opportunity, nutrition and resilience.

To achieve the goals of this research strategy, centrally-funded research programs link global, regional, national research partners, and private sector research and development partners to identify and adapt promising methodologies and technologies for local farming systems where the poor and undernourished are concentrated.

5 https://www.feedthefuture.gov/guidance-and-tools-for-global-food-security-programs/ https://www.feedthefuture.gov/guidance-and-tools-for-global-food-security-programs/ https://www.feedthefuture.gov/guidance-and-tools-for-global-food-security-programs/

For more information, please visit this site for GFSRS.

IV. Livestock Programming in the Context of the GFSS and the GFSRS

Background

The world population is expected to increase from 7 to over 9 billion people by 2050. Rising incomes along with increasing population are projected to result in an increased demand for animal source foods with developing countries projected to produce 70% and 61% of the world’s meat and milk, respectively.

In Africa alone, over the next three decades, the demand for animal source foods (ASF) is expected to triple and even quadruple in some countries. In order to meet this increased demand, producers in developing countries will need to both increase animal productivity and reduce production losses. The intensification of livestock systems required to meet the demand of animal sourced foods by 2050 in developing countries will likely result in an increased frequency of livestock diseases, including zoonoses, if proper biosecurity is not in place and other investments in animal health are not made.

Livestock and Animal Source Food Market Systems

Investments in livestock production, ASF, and related market systems support the three GFSS goals of:

1) inclusive and sustainable agricultural-led economic growth; 2) strengthened resilience among people and systems; and 3) a well-nourished population, especially women and children.

Livestock are important assets to smallholder and pastoralist communities in developing countries. An estimated 60-80% of rural households keep livestock in order to supplement their dietary needs, household incomes, and use livestock as liquidable assets that can be utilized in times of need, and contribute to the overall resilience of a household. Additionally, the International Livestock Research

Institute (ILRI) estimates that women are two-thirds of poor livestock keepers. Currently, the livestock sector contributes 30% on average to the total value of agricultural production in low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, animal source foods such as meat, milk and eggs are a rich source of high quality protein and micro-nutrients that can reduce stunting, malnutrition as well as contribute to diversifying diets.

Technical Guidance on how the Global Food Security Strategy is to be implemented with livestock can be found here.

Animal Health

The OIE estimates that the production losses due to animal diseases are 20% for livestock production globally. In developing countries, it is estimated that smallholder and pastoralist livestock keepers lose up to 25% of their livestock due to disease. In addition to mortality, infectious animal diseases can cause livestock to produce less meat, milk, and eggs as well as reduce the reproductive potential of the animals.

Moreover, at a global and regional level, animal infectious diseases also affect the ability of countries to trade, market, and move animals across borders.

USAID’s investments in animal health have ranged from research for the development of new or https://agrilinks.org/sites/default/files/usg_global_food_security_research_strategy_0.pdf https://agrilinks.org/sites/default/files/usg_global_food_security_research_strategy_0.pdf https://www.feedthefuture.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/GFSS_TechnicalGuidance_InvestinginLivestockMarketSystems.pdf improved technologies and management practices to prevent disease and/or improve animal nutrition;

improved technologies to more readily diagnose animal diseases; and improved delivery of animal health interventions. Recent examples of USAID’s research investments in animal health are the Feed the

Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems, the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Genomics to

Improve Poultry, and the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Rift Valley Fever Control in Agriculture. In addition to funding research or delivery of animal health interventions, many of these programs aim to support partner countries on their journey to self-reliance by including a significant Human and

Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) component. HICD activities have included training of local

Master’s and Ph.D. students, working with local institutions and Universities to ensure the proper laboratory and research safety protocols are implemented, renovating research facilities, and providing research equipment along with appropriate training to use and maintain equipment.

SECTION B: DESCRIPTION OF APS SCOPE AND REQUIREMENTS

I. Funding Opportunity

Subject to the availability of funds, USAID/BFS anticipates making one (1) award under this APS of up to $6 million (with a potential $10 million option for buy-ins) over a five year period for a consortium-style Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Animal Health.

Concept papers submitted under this APS must be received no later than March 09, 2020 by 1:00 PM

EST.

II. Objective of APS

When USAID intends to support a variety of creative approaches towards new programs to support development objectives, the Agency may use an APS to generate competition for these awards. An APS allows for implementing partners to co-design, alongside USAID and other stakeholders (this may include government, civil society organizations, and the private sector), programmatic solutions to priority development objectives.

The goal of this APS is to provide a framework and mechanism through which BFS will engage with implementing partners to improve animal health in multiple livestock systems. BFS intends to support research for technology development and testing for new, improved animal health interventions such as vaccines, preventive or curative veterinary pharmaceuticals, and pen-side diagnostic tests. Additionally, research to develop new or improved animal health interventions listed above may be combined with appropriate market, economic, social science, epidemiologic, and operational research to determine as to how to best disseminate or scale the envisioned end product in the defined target region.

Sub-awardee engagement plan

Concept papers and subsequent applications will include a plan for identifying, managing, and partnering with sub-awardees that provides sufficient detail for USAID to review alternative approaches among applicants as well as sufficient detail to guide the prime awardee in its interaction with, support to, and management of subawards and sub-awardees. In addition, this section provides the opportunity for http://livestocklab.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://livestocklab.ifas.ufl.edu/ https://gip.ucdavis.edu/ https://gip.ucdavis.edu/ https://research.utep.edu/Default.aspx?alias=research.utep.edu/riftvalleyfeverinnovationlab

Applications to address the Title XII legislative mandate that implementing Title XII institutions partner with non-traditional partners, including Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), civil society, the private sector and local partners. This section also provides an opportunity for Applications to address USAID’s

New Partnerships Initiative by partnering with New and Underutilized Partners. The sub-awardee engagement plan will specify a plan and process for engaging with identified partners, and include letters of support and commitment for those partners already identified as well as the process they intend to undertake following award to continue to seek out these types of partners.

III. Geographic focus

This APS primarily aims to promote best management practices, research and/or application of innovations in animal health specifically in the Feed the Future target countries (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Mali, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda) or Resilience countries (Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Mali, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe).

To be successful under this APS, relevant local partners must play an active role in any research or capacity building activity or approach proposed for USAID investment. All activities must comply with the CDC Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL 5th edition), international

OIE guidelines, and applicable local partner country laws and regulations pertaining to research, biosafety, and work with live animals.

IV. Environmental Safeguards

USAID systematically addresses environmental risk in its efforts to support self-reliance and resilience and to safeguard people and resources. Intentionally focusing on environmental safeguards helps to build activities that significantly contribute to strong, sustainable, and resilient outcomes. USAID’s environmental safeguards and procedures implement the internationally recognized Environmental

Impact Assessment (EIA) process as required by 22 CFR 216.

It is critical to identify potential risks which may have adverse impacts on the environment directly or indirectly related to a proposed USAID supported activity before the activity begins. USAID promotes environmentally sound design by requiring that all USAID funded activities undergo an environmental impact assessment. This is accomplished through an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), which is the first review of the reasonably foreseeable effects of a proposed action on the environment. Its function is to provide a review of the activity with consideration of what, if any, mitigative actions may be required. All USAID funded activities are required to prepare an IEE prior to implementation.

V. Gender Analysis and Integration

In accordance with USAID Policy, each activity must identify and address any gender gaps relevant to the implementation of the activity. Applicants must submit proposed gender integration plans at the concept paper stage. Further guidance on gender integration will be available to applicants reaching the co-creation phase. Applicants invited to submit a full application must update the gender analysis for the specific development activities to be implemented, and update the gender integration plan.

https://www.cdc.gov/labs/pdf/CDC-BiosafetyMicrobiologicalBiomedicalLaboratories-2009-P.PDF

Gender analysis and plans should be consistent with the GFSS Technical Guidance on Advancing

Gender Equality and Female Empowerment and the guidelines for gender analysis in USAID's ADS 205.

Applicants should seek to promote gender balance in their staffing plans and HICD efforts.

VI. Authorized Geographic Code

Due to federal regulations, there are restrictions on the location where recipients can purchase items funded by USAID. These rules do not apply to procurement by the recipient with cost-sharing or program income funds.

The anticipated geographic code to be included in the full application for all standard assistance awards is code 937, which includes the United States, the recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, but excluding any country that is a prohibited source.

For more information on authorized geographic code, please see ADS 310.

VII. Statutory and Regulatory Certifications

Pursuant to ADS 303.3.8, an award recipient will be required to sign and provide to USAID an executed set of Certifications and Representations prior to award. The AO will request the requisite documentation from the successful Applicant at the time determined appropriate to do so. These required documents are located at ADS 303mav Certifications, Assurances, Other Statements of the Recipient and Solicitation

Standard Provisions.

VIII. Branding and Marking Plan

Applicants are requested to note in their full application that in accordance with 2 CFR 700.16, USAID requires the submission of a Branding Strategy and a Marking Plan prior to award. The Marking Plan may include a request for approval of one or more exceptions to the marking requirements in 2 CFR

700.16. The AO will request the Branding Strategy and Marking Plan from the successful applicant at the time determined appropriate to do so. The AO evaluates the Branding Strategy and Marking Plan

(including any requests for exceptions) for approval consistent with the regulations contained in 2 CFR

700.16, ADS 303 and ADS 320.

IX. Substantial Involvement

The type of award is anticipated to be a Cooperative Agreement. Substantial involvement will not exceed the limitations noted in ADS 303.3.11a-c.

USAID responsibilities under a Cooperative Agreement include USAID (via the Agreement Officer or

Agreement Officer’s Representative) provision of:

a) collaboration in establishing annual work objectives and approval of an annual work plan;

https://www.feedthefuture.gov/resource/global-food-security-strategy-technical-guidance-on-advancing-gender-equality-and-female-empowerment/ https://www.feedthefuture.gov/resource/global-food-security-strategy-technical-guidance-on-advancing-gender-equality-and-female-empowerment/ https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/200/205 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1876/310.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303mav.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/303mav.pdf https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/320.pdf

b) collaboration in assessing progress and identifying issues that arise, which may impact the success of the program;

c) collaboration in determining corrective actions, where necessary;

d) approval of key personnel and any subsequent changes in the positions during the life of the award; or

e) approval of establishment of monitoring and evaluation system for the USAID program.

f) approval of the Recipient’s Data Management Plan and Environmental Mitigation & Monitoring Plan.

g) collaborative involvement in the selection of members for any advisory body or bodies for oversight, such as oversight of the program’s research and capacity development portfolio, and membership on such body(ies).

X. Title to Property

Property title under the resulting agreement shall vest with the recipient in accordance with the requirements of 2 CFR Sec. 700.9 – Property standards:

(a) Real property. Unless the agreement provides otherwise, title to real property will vest in accordance with 2 CFR 200.311.

(b) Equipment. Unless the agreement provides otherwise, title to equipment will vest in accordance with 2

CFR 200.313

XI. Eligible Organizations

The eligibility requirements below apply only to the principal Applicant and not to other proposed consortium partners.

This program is authorized under Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.

Applications may only be submitted by eligible U.S. colleges and universities as defined under Section

296(d) of Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act, as amended:

“... those colleges or universities in each State, territory, or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, now receiving, or which may hereafter receive, benefits under the Act of July 2, 1862

(known as the First Morrill Act) or the Act of August 30, 1890 (known as the Second Morrill Act), which are commonly known as ‘land-grant’ universities; institutions now designated or which may hereafter be designated as sea-grant colleges under the Act of October 5, 1966 (known as the National Sea Grant

College and Program Act), which are commonly known as sea-grant colleges; Native American land-grant colleges as authorized under the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note); and other United States colleges and universities which— (1) have demonstrable capacity in teaching, research, and extension (including outreach) activities in the agricultural sciences; and (2) can contribute effectively to the attainment of the objectives of this title.”

As per Title 2 CFR 200, USAID invites concept papers and, if later requested, Full Applications, from all eligible and qualified entities including: U.S. land grant universities in collaboration with local in country partners, the private sector, Institutes of Higher Education, public sector entities, Public International

Organizations or international organizations (PIO or IO), NGOs, and the Consultative Group for

International Agriculture Research (CGIAR). Further, USAID strongly encourages submissions from new and varied partners.

XII. Pre-Award Responsibility Determination and Risk Assessment

USAID welcomes applications from organizations which have not previously received financial assistance from USAID; however, Applicants must have established financial management, monitoring and evaluation processes, internal control systems, and policies and procedures that comply with established U.S. Government standards, laws, and regulations. The successful Applicant(s) will be subject to a responsibility determination assessment (Pre-award Survey) by the Agreement Officer (AO).

The Applicant Recipient must be a responsible entity. The AO may determine if a pre-award survey is required to conduct an examination that will determine whether the prospective recipient has the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills – or ability to obtain them – in order to achieve the objectives of the program and comply with the terms and conditions of the award.

In addition, before receiving an award, the applicant is required to:

(i) Be registered in System for Award Management (SAM) available at https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1#1 before receiving USAID award;

(ii) Provide a valid Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in its full application

(http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do);

(iii) Be vetted if it is Non U.S. Entity;

(iv) Be required to implement activities in compliance with USAID regulations on Environmental

Compliance.

XIII. Information Protection and Open Data

USAID’s goal is to facilitate research and development that will lead to innovative, and potentially commercially viable, solutions. Understanding the sensitive nature of Applicant(s)’ information, USAID will work with organizations to protect intellectual property.

Concept papers should be free of any intellectual property that Applicant(s) wishes to protect, as the expressions of interest will be shared with USAID partners as part of the selection process. However, once Applicant(s) have been invited to advance beyond co-creation, they can work with USAID to identify proprietary information that requires protection.

Therefore, organizations making submissions under this APS grant to USAID a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to use, disclose, reproduce, and prepare derivative works, and to have or permit others to do so to any information contained in the Concept papers submitted under the APS. If https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1 http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do

USAID further engages with the organization regarding its submission, the parties can negotiate further intellectual property protection for the organization’s intellectual property.

Organizations must ensure that any submissions under this APS are free of any third party proprietary data rights that would impact the license granted to USAID herein.

While designing and co-creating a program with USAID, Applicants should consider how a program will comply with USAID’s open data policy. Data, and the information derived from data, are assets for

USAID, its partners, the academic and scientific communities, and the public at large. The value of data used in strategic planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of USAID’s programs is enhanced when those data are made available throughout the Agency and to all other interested stakeholders, in accordance with proper protection and redaction allowable by law. More information on

USAID’s Open Data Policy can be found here.

XIV. Cost Sharing or Matching

There is no mandatory level of cost-sharing (matching) for this program but USAID nevertheless encourages cost sharing to the maximum practicable extent. Cost-sharing funds or in-kind contributions may be mobilized from the recipient; other multilateral, bilateral, and foundation donors; host governments; and local organizations, communities and private businesses that contribute financially, and in-kind to implementation of activities at the country level. For guidance on cost sharing in grants and cooperative agreements, please see ADS 303.3.10, Cost Share

XV. Past Experience

Past experience of selected applicants will be reviewed as part of applicant’s risk assessment and will be reviewed at the merit review stage. Therefore, the applicant’s past performance information must demonstrate how well the applicant performed in the past in the implementation of similar/ relevant projects/programs and feedback received from references.

XVI. Other

There is no limit on the number of concept papers an Applicant – whether submitting organization, individual investigator/program director, or both – may submit under this APS.

SECTION C: APS TECHNICAL APPLICATION AND PROCESS

I. Funding Opportunity and Information

This APS is intended to describe the overarching scope of the GFSS and research strategy that pertain to animal health programming, outline the technical request for concept papers in the area of animal health, and set forth the process by which USAID will develop and award for an Animal Health Innovation Lab with activities that fall within the technical scope. Interested applicants should research the priorities, objectives, and strategies of BFS listed in Section A. Concept papers must conform to the requirements outlined and be submitted via email to mmaximilien@usaid.gov in accordance with procedures outlined below. DO NOT SUBMIT CONCEPT PAPERS VIA GRANTS.GOV AS THEY WILL NOT BE https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/500/579 mailto:mmaximilien@usaid.gov

ACCEPTED.

Applicants of the concept paper will be responsible for following Section C.II- Technical Objectives and

Program Management Structure, Section C. IV- Concept Paper Submission and Format, Section C.V-

Criteria for Concept Paper and Full Application Review. Information regarding the Full Application process and review are included; however, the Full Application process will be outlined in further details to Applicants invited to submit a full technical and cost/budget application.

II. Technical Objectives and Program Management Structure

The goal of a new Animal Health Innovation Lab will be to build capacity of local university(s) in Feed the Future or Resilience countries to do laboratory and laboratory-supported based animal health research as well as to support research for the development and testing of new or improved animal health interventions such as vaccines, preventive or curative veterinary pharmaceuticals, or pen-side diagnostic tests for one of the following livestock diseases:

● African Animal Trypanosomiasis

● East Coast Fever

● Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP)

● Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP)

All proposed research must follow the biosafety, biosecurity procedures, and good laboratory practices and the appropriate biosafety level criteria for research facilities in the CDC Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL 5th edition), or show a letter of exemption from the CDC or USDA for work at a BSL level if different from or not mentioned in the BMBL 5th edition, as well as following all appropriate in country laws and regulations. All research outside of the United States must be able to occur in a research facility of a BSL-2 or ABSL-2 or below. USAID will not support research outside of the United States that requires a BSL-3, ABSL-3, BSL-4, ABSL-4 level facilities. All research with human and/or animal pathogens must occur in the appropriate BSL or ABSL facilities as defined in

BMBL 5th edition.

The concept paper should describe the management structure and staffing which the applicant will establish for implementation of the program to ensure strong and effective management, administration, technical implementation/performance, and clerical support, and efficient use of resources. The Project

Leader should be able to dedicate no less than 50% Level of Effort (LOE) to the Animal Health

Innovation Lab. Additionally, there should be a full-time, on-site project manager for either each FTF or

Resilience country proposed or each collaborating local University.

Appropriate Partnerships with Private Sector and Public Sector Entities and Appropriate Linkages to Mission(s) Bilateral Programming

USAID/BFS seeks concept papers that include a consortium of at a minimum 1) An eligible US university as defined in Section B.XI, and 2) at least one local University in a Feed the Future or

Resilience country. Additional consortium partners are encouraged and may include private sector, public sector, CGIAR, NARS, and NGOs. In order to ensure relevance, widespread adoption and application of https://www.cdc.gov/labs/pdf/CDC-BiosafetyMicrobiologicalBiomedicalLaboratories-2009-P.PDF technologies and recommendations, and subsequent development impact, the applicants should engage with policy-makers, Mission implementing partners, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders as appropriate, even in the early stages of research design and implementation, to ensure that program activities will contribute to a pathway of significant development impact.

Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) Approach and Plan for Incorporating

Gender and Youth

While the primary goal of this program is to develop new animal health interventions, all concept papers for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Animal Health should propose a local capacity development plan specific to the local collaborating Universities and research organizations in the proposed research program. All capacity development plans should be developed with the intent of facilitating the proposed research. Local capacity development activities can include but are not limited to:

● Support the training and education of Master’s, Ph.D., and Veterinary Students at collaborating

Universities in Feed the Future or Resilience countries who are supporting research for the

Animal Health Innovation Lab

● Support collaborating Universities and research organizations to develop the institutional capacity to support laboratory based livestock disease research programs which can include but are not limited to 1.) support for developing biosafety programs; 2.) support for developing and institutionalizing biosafety trainings; 3.) support for developing standards for ethical treatment of research animals; 4.) support and training for maintaining livestock in appropriate laboratory containment facilities; and 5.) support for procuring and maintaining basic laboratory equipment

USAID’s Gender Equality and Female Empowerment policy requires that gender equality be addressed as appropriate in all USAID-funded activities. The GFSS aims to promote women’s large-scale, active participation in activities throughout all components of food and agriculture systems. All concept papers should describe how the proposed activities will be implemented in a gender sensitive manner.

All concept papers should show consideration on how youth (aged 15-29 years old) are integrated into proposed activities. The USAID Feed the Future Project Design Guide for Youth-Inclusive Agriculture &

Food Systems and the USAID Youth in Development Policy provide further resources for supporting youth integration throughout the proposed activities.

Plan for Sustainability Beyond the Life of Project and Potential for Impact

All concept papers should describe plans for sustainability through the transfer of research outputs and technical know-how to local private or public sector entities capable of continuing the research or further developing and disseminating the research products. Impact from the Animal Health Innovation Lab will most likely come from the adoption and application of technology and knowledge outputs that the research activities generate. Concept papers should adequately describe how the proposed project will increase impact, reach and efficiency by mobilizing significant new resources, ideas, technologies and/or partners to address critical food security challenges.

https://www.youthpower.org/resources/feed-future-project-design-guide-youth-inclusive-agriculture-and-food-systems-volume-i-project-design https://www.youthpower.org/resources/feed-future-project-design-guide-youth-inclusive-agriculture-and-food-systems-volume-i-project-design https://www.usaid.gov/policy/youth

Subawardee Engagement Plan

Concept papers and subsequent applications will include a plan for identifying, managing, and partnering with sub-awardees that provides sufficient detail for USAID to review alternative approaches among applicants as well as sufficient detail to guide the prime awardee in its interaction with, support to, and management of subawards and sub-awardees. In addition, this section provides the opportunity for

Applications to address the Title XII legislative mandate that implementing Title XII institutions partner with non-traditional partners, including Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), civil society, the private sector and local partners. This section also provides an opportunity for Applications to address USAID’s

New Partnerships Initiative by partnering with New and Underutilized Partners6. The sub-awardee engagement plan will specify a plan and process for engaging with identified partners, and include letters of support and commitment for those partners already identified as well as the process they intend to undertake following award to continue to seek out these types of partners.”

Integrity of the Concept Paper

All concept papers should be clearly and professionally written, with appropriate logical linkages throughout. The information provided in the concept paper must be specific, complete, and presented concisely. The applicant should ensure that any proposed highly technical approaches are clearly explained with appropriate background information.

III. Process for Concept Papers, Co-creation, Full Application and Award

Step 1: Interested Applicants should read the specific request for concept papers call carefully and draft a concept paper to the animal health development challenges outlined in Section B.III. Applicants are encouraged to identify and collaborate with other stakeholders when developing a concept note.

Step 2: The Applicant submits a concept paper, no longer than the length outlined in Section C.IV.

Concept papers must be in English. All concept papers are reviewed based upon the criteria outlined in

Section C.V of this APS.

Step 3: BFS will review all concept papers and decide to invite selected Applicants to enter a period of co-creation, in which they will collaborate on and refine approach(es) with one another.

Step 4: If selected to participate in the full application process after the co-creation event, the Applicant is contacted by an Agreement Officer (AO) from BFS and given a due date and template/instructions for the full application. Applicants will also be notified if not selected.

Step 5: The Applicant collaborates with BFS and drafts the full application.

Step 6: The Applicant submits the full application via email by the due date specified in Step 4.

6 New Partners are “an individual or organization that has not received any funding from USAID as a prime partner over the last five years” and Underutilized Partners are “an organization that has received less than $25 million in direct or indirect awards from USAID over the past five years.”

https://www.usaid.gov/npi/npi-key-definitions http://www.usaid.gov/npi https://www.usaid.gov/npi/npi-key-definitions

Step 7: The full application is reviewed by a Selection Committee.

Step 8: The Applicant is informed by the AO of the Selection Committee’s determination, which may include an “apparently successful” designation. The AO will also convey all other pre-award requirements. Additional negotiations regarding any technical and cost applications may be necessary. All first-time Applicants for USAID funding that are deemed apparently successful are subject to a pre-award survey to verify that the Applicant has proper procedures in place to receive USAID funding. Please see

ADS 303.3.8 and ADS 303.3.9. 7

Step 9: The AO sends an email to the Applicant containing the award document.

Step 10: The awardee’s representative signs the award and returns it to the AO for their signature.

IV. Concept Paper Submission and Format

Concept papers must be no more than five (5) pages, excluding cover page, table of contents, pages for supporting information and appendices, summary budget, theory of change, and page for list of acronyms if any. The Concept Paper should be in English, using 11-point Calibri or Times New Roman font, line spacing of 1.15, and standard margins, and no limit on the number of appendices or attachments.

Concept Paper format:

A. Cover page, which must include:

i. APS No. 7200AA20APS00001;

ii. The program title;

iii. Applicant organization name;

iv. Prime complete business mailing address;

v. Prime DUNS Number

vi. Prime Tax Identification Number

vii. Prime Active Sam.gov registry

viii. Prime contact email address ix.. Prime contact telephone and fax number x.. Type of organization and collaborating partners and their geographic locations (e.g., US land grant university, for-profit, nonprofit, foreign universities);

xi. Organization point of contact (i.e., lead contact name, title, telephone number, email);

xii. Total budget estimate (i.e., direct and indirect costs).

B. Concept Paper body, which should follow the format below:

i. Background

ii. Technical Approach including local capacity development component:

a. Goals and objectives; clearly articulate the problem

b. Proposed methods and approach for research, capacity development, and gender integration and plans

c. Benefits and rationale of proposed approach

d. Development results, outputs and deliverables; including a description about how activity outputs and deliverables could be sustainably scaled (i.e, what are the proposed delivery pathways to reach end users and what enabling environment factors may need to be addressed)

iii. Implementation timeline

iv. Staffing plan, personnel, collaborating partners: roles and responsibilities including why the applicants and partners are best placed to carry out this approach

v. Theory of Change

C. Appendices

Appendices may be attached to the technical application; these should be germane to the content of the application, and may include components like staff CVs, technical references, letters of commitment, etc.

Applicants should disclose any known patents or intellectual property rights

Applicants are advised not to include cost estimates within the body of the concept paper. The cost estimate must be submitted separately as described below. Only the concept paper and the supporting documents will be reviewed.

Concept Paper must also include a one (1) page proposed estimated cost breakdown organized by fiscal year, in excel. This summary budget does not fall within the 5-page limitation. USAID is requesting a high-level budget at this stage, as we understand full detailed budgets will not be known by the applicant until a full application is requested.

Concept Papers are due to USAID/BFS by no later than 1:00 p.m. EST on March 09, 2020. They should be sent to mmaximilien@usaid.gov. Concept Papers submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Note: USAID may freely share concept papers between co-creation participants under this APS, to support interaction between respondents during initial co-creation discussions and facilitate identification of potential partners. Respondents should therefore ensure that their concept paper does not include proprietary information.

Electronic Application Submission Procedures

Electronic submission is required by USAID. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all necessary documentation is complete and received on time. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes associated with electronic submissions.

Applicants must submit electronically via email. For an application sent by multiple emails, please indicate in the subject line of the email the desired sequence of multiple emails (if more than one is sent) and of attachments (e.g. "No. 1 of 4", etc.). For example, if your Concept Paper is being sent in two emails, the first email should have a subject line which says: "[organization name], Concept Paper, Part 1 of 2".

mailto:mmaximilien@usaid.gov

Our preference is that the Concept Paper and all attachments be submitted as a single email, i.e., that you consolidate the various parts into a single document before sending it. If this is not possible, please provide instructions on how to collate the attachments. USAID will not be responsible for errors in compiling electronic applications if no instructions are provided or are unclear. All applications received by the submission deadline will be reviewed for responsiveness to the APS and the application format. No additions or modifications will be accepted after the submission date.

V. Criteria for Concept Paper and Full Application Review

OVERVIEW

The criteria presented below…