Q and A 6. 9.pdf

Questions and Answers – 6/9/2022

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

BUREAU OF ENERGY RESOURCES

Accelerating Women’s Empowerment in Energy

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY #: SFOP0008965

Question #1: The PSI document indicates a Project Monitoring Plan (PMP) is required as an attachment. Would DOS consider removing the requirement for the proposal stage? From our experience, this is a very detailed and time-intensive document that is typically prepared during startup of the project. In lieu of a PMP, we would expect to include a brief summary in the

Monitoring & Evaluation section of the 20-page proposal narrative to outline our proposed plan for data collection and measurement of indicators.

DOS Response to Question #1: No requirements may be removed or revised upon request.

A brief summary of the applicant’s proposed plan for data collection and measurement of indicators should be included in the Project Monitoring Plan attachment vs. the 20-page proposal narrative. This does not have to be a complete project monitoring plan as “indicators and disaggregates will be selected after discussion with the selected Implementer. Final indicators will be outlined in the Award Agreement” as referenced on page 10 of the NOFO.

Question #2: Page 10 of the NOFO states, “Indicators and their disaggregates will be selected after discussion with the selected Implementer. Final indicators will be outlined in the award

Agreement.” Can DOS please clarify if indicators, their disaggregates, and indicator targets should be proposed within the proposal narrative?

DOS Response to Question #2: The criteria listed under #5 in Section E1 (page

18) of the NOFO should be addressed in the Project Monitoring Plan (PMP) attachment referenced in the PSI document. Additionally, as referenced on page 8 of the NOFO, applicants should include preliminary suggestions for custom performance indicators for outputs and outcomes in addition to referencing the illustrative indicators listed on page 10 of the NOFO in the Project Monitoring

Plan attachment not the proposal narrative.

Question #3: Can DOS please confirm that specific activities carried out under the cooperative agreement to achieve In-country Workforce Development (Component Two) can be implemented directly by the award Recipient as well as through small grants provided to local implementers.

DOS Response to Question #3: If the award Recipient has local field offices in the specific country/countries they may implement activities referenced on pages 7-8 with prior approval from ENR in the case that there is not another field-based local organization, university, or

NGO that can carry out the necessary activity in the quality or manner expected by the award

Recipient and/or ENR. This would be determined on a case-by-case basis. It is important to note that awarding small grants to other in-country field-based local organizations, universities, or

NGO’s is a key part of this project as “awarding small grants to these organizations allows AWEE to support action oriented organizations with broad reach across societies to fill gaps, directly engage with host countries, and build national and regional networks capable of pushing for transformational policy change in the energy sector” as referenced on page 7 of the NOFO.