Q&A #2 ODNI-22-FOA-01 20220523.xlsx

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ODNI-22-FOA-01 Questions and Answers #2 - Posted 23 May 2022

Question 1 - Can an accredited Graduate College be the lead institution of the consortium along with two four year undergraduate MSI/Underrepresented Universities? (lead institution and two subrecipients institutions, Objective 4, Consortium, page 9).

Answer 1 - The lead institution must be a regionally accredited college, university, or other four-year degree-granting institution in the U.S., its territories or possessions, that provides post-secondary courses of study. Two-year accredited programs to include programs leading to a higher-level degree can serve as a subrecipient. The lead institution shall be an MSI or Underrepresented Institution -or- be part of a consortium model comprised of MSI/Underrepresented Institutions. The lead institution is not required to be an MSI or Underrepresented Institution. The lead institution, whether an MSI/Underrepresented Institution or not, must be part of a consortium comprising a minimum of three entities (i.e., the lead institution and two subrecipients).

Question 2 - If we are successful in our application, we would like to extend the activities of our core institutions to include an HBCU and a state-designated historically American Indian University. Will it be possible to officially include them as IC CAE Program Schools under our consortium even if they are not direct subrecipients of grant funds? We would like, for example, to provide opportunities for their students to work toward becoming IC CAE Scholars.

Answer 2 - Objective 4: Consortium clearly outlines the requirements for the objective. Evaluation of the application is based upon those requirements and reinforced by what is specified in the Merit Evaluation Table.

Question 3 - I am writing to ask for clarification on the IC CAE - Objective 3 requirement: Mission of ethnic, cultural and geographical. Requirement for maximum points: Has a greater than 75% ethnic, cultural or geographical diverse student population across the lead institution and subrecipients. Does the 75% include all campus minority populations combined? What if students identify as Multi-race, is this considered a minority group? What if students DO NOT identify themselves as members of any of specific demographic group?

Answer 3 - The 75% requirement includes all campus minority populations combined. As noted in the FOA, ODNI uses OMB Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity, Revised 30 October 1997. The FOA also references the definitions of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), Underrepresented Institutions, and Rural-Serving Institution of Higher Education.

Question 4 - Are consortium partner schools (i.e. current sub-recipients of previous ICCAE grants) eligible to apply for this grant? The eligibility criteria document did NOT indicate the sub-recipients would be ineligible.

Answer 4 - Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 consortium partner schools who have a subagreement with a FY19 lead institution are not eligible to apply.

Question 5 - May grant funds be used for adjunct faculty salaries? May grant funds be used for speaker honorarium? In the proposal due 24 May 2022, is a Project Management Plan required for the optional award period?

Answer 5 - Grant funds may be used for adjunct faculty salaries and for speaker honorarium (Speaker's fees are allowable so long as they are in accordance with 2 CFR 200.432); however, the Government will review the proposed budget of selected applicants to determine if anticipated costs of the lead institution and subrecipients are reasonable and reflect an accurate understanding of the FOA requirements. Regarding the Project Management Plan, this should be maintained throughout the grant, however, in the optional award period, as noted on pages 12-13, a Project Management plan is part of sustainment option year requirements. The IC CAE PO will provide these requirements in the last year of the base period of the grant. The institution will then use the information to update their sustainment Program Management, Marketing and Sustainment Plans.

Question 6 - Should subrecipients provide letters of support/intent? If so, where should these letters be appended (e.g. in Vol 1)?

Answer 6 - No, subrecipients should not provide letters of support/intent. The lead institution is required to provide a signed letter in the application, included in Volume I, on official letterhead, from the institution’s President acknowledging the institution’s commitment to supporting the IC CAE program defined in this FOA. Within six months of award, the lead institution shall provide copies of all contracts with subrecipients under the consortia model.

Question 7 - Should submitters append intent letters of support from important partnerships (e.g., partnerships with IC installations to provide speakers as discussed in the submitter’s program narrative)? If yes, where should these letters be appended? To the end of Volume 1 or elsewhere?

Answer 7 - No, this is not required and should not be submitted.

Question 8 - I have an indirect cost calculation question on the ODNI-FOA-22-01 opportunity. The budget template states “MTDC excludes 1st $30K of Sub-award…”. I wanted to clarify if this meant to exclude the first 30k of each subaward, or to exclude the first 30k of combined subaward total.

Answer 8 - It has come to our attention there is an error in the IC CAE Budget Template. For clarification purposes, 2CFR 200.68 states "Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000.” At this time we are not extending the application due date to allow the applicant to make this budget adjustment. If any budget adjustments are necessary due to this update/clarification, changes will be requested prior to grant award.