Q & A FINAL FINAL 4.26.pdf

Questions and Answers – 04/26/2023

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of African Affairs

Staff Mentorship to the Somali National Army (SNA) HQ and SNA-Danab

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY #: SFOP0009525

Question #1: Line-item budget template: Would the Government provide a plug figure for the Travel and Other Direct Costs CLIN, which will assist in providing a more reasonable price/cost?

DOS Response: No. We expect applicants to propose a reasonable budget based solely on research and historical data.

Question #2: Would the government extend the application due date, due to the short timeframe between questions being due and the proposal submission date?

DOS Response: No, please review the NOFO. April 27 is the final deadline for questions. We have been posting responses on grants.gov since March.

Question #3: The objectives in A2 of the NOFO do not include the requirements outlined in Task 2; therefore, request the Government confirm that the Objectives outlined in A2 will be adjusted to reflect the mentoring support to the MOD.

DOS Response: If support is extended to the MOD, the objectives will be updated.

Question #4: NOFO pg. 9: Does the Government have a preferred timeframe for regular review and updates to the risk assessment(s)?

DOS Response: This will be an annual requirement unless conditions in Somalia demand a review.

Question #5: PSI pg. 1: If an active SAM.gov registration with completed Reps and Certs is required for proposal submission, what is the purpose of the SF-424B?

DOS Response: SF-424B is incorporated into SF-424 applications, please use the link provided by www.grants.gov under this NOFO.

Question #6: PSI pg. 2: The instructions in point 4 say that a “Summary Page” is not included in the 20-page Proposal Narrative page limits. Will the government please confirm that the 2-page Executive Summary is not included in the 20-page Proposal Narrative page limits?

DOS Response: Please abide by the PSI.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsam.gov%2F&data=05%7C01%7CStaronKA%40state.gov%7C5bbdc82d9e9a42eeab7d08db46bd6262%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638181551455098495%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=35%2FlqqowZeQOknCssQlI9SAE0Dfj61QEbxK19Cmb2IU%3D&reserved=0 http://www.grants.gov/

Question #7: PSI pg. 2: The instructions in point 4 say that a “Letter of Institutional Support” is not included in the 20-page Proposal Narrative page limits. Will the government please clarify what this Letter of Institutional Support contains, as it is not mentioned again in the PSI?

DOS Response: Letters of support are not included in the proposal narrative.

Question #8: PSI pg. 4: The government has confirmed in the Q&A that the CVs are outside of the 20-page Proposal Narrative page limits. Will the government also confirm that complete CVs for proposed personnel may be included as an attachment outside of the 10-page “Tab A:

Mandatory Attachments” page limit, in addition to the short biographies included in the “Roles and Responsibilities” section?

DOS Response: Tab A: Mandatory Attachments is limited to 10 pages total.

Question #9: Request the Government confirm that the awardee will be provided at least 30 days advance notice prior to requiring Task 2 execution.

DOS Response: Yes, the awardee will receive 30 days advance notice prior to Task 2 Execution.

Question #10: What resources will be available to the awardee and at what cost, at the Danab Brigade / MOD facility / FMS HQ to support training and mentoring; primarily space resources like a dedicated workspace or office, classroom facilities, etc.

DOS Response: The awardee will be required to secure office space and built into the award budget.

Question #11: Will State provide a liaison officer who will serve as an interlocutor to the Training Team and SNA until the relationship is established?

DOS Response: The Political-Military Team at the Embassy will provide introductions and there will be a kick-off meeting, but ultimately, the awardee will work to build the relationship.

Question #12: Will the Training Team have full access to the SNA HQs in Gaashaadhiga, as well as other SNA Staff HQs outside of Mogadishu, to include the Tactical Operations Center? Will the SNA provide office space for the Training Team at these locations. [Assuming the Training Team personnel will be badged/cleared for all access.]

DOS Response: The country team will support the awardee in getting access to SNA facilities.