Questions and Answers- OFOP0001253.docx

Questions and Answers for Women in Citizen Security

OFOP0001253

Date: November 28th, 2023

Question 1:

About eligibility information (section C), is it permissible to present a collaborative proposal wherein a foreign-based (located outside of El Salvador) non-profit/non-governmental organization is the principal applicant, partnering with a non-profit/non-governmental organization registered in El Salvador as a sub-awardee?

INL Response:

Yes, applicants can partner with local organizations that have prior experience working with the PNC and ANSP.

Question 2:

About the budget and the application ceiling, does the budget required for awarding the grants (Activity 3.2) fall within the available funding specified in this Notice of Funding Opportunity? Must we consider it as part of the application ceiling of $2,000,000.00 USD?

INL Response:

Yes, the budget required for awarding the grants in activity 3.2 is included in the $2,000,000.00 USD budget. It is expected to have small grants that facilitate recruitment and retention through the training process.

Question 3:

Could INL share the list of institutional stakeholders that were consulted in the development of the NOFO?

INL Response:

This is an INL initiative, conversations have taken place with the Civilian National Police (PNC) and National Police Academy of Public Security (ANSP).

Question 4:

Could INL describe the level of coordination that has occurred within the US Embassy, specifically between INL and USAID and other Bureaus within DOS, such as Democracy, Rights and Labor (DRL), in terms of discussing technical assistance to be provided to the El Salvadorian police?

INL Response:

INL works closely with USAID and DRL to coordinate foreign assistance programming. Currently, neither USAID nor DRL provide assistance to the PNC.

Question 5:

Could INL share past or ongoing projects that include training or technical assistance to the Salvadorian police in areas related to respect for human rights?

INL Response:

INL supports ongoing basic human rights training to the PNC.

Question 6:

Can INL provide an estimated timeline for monitoring program activities developed under Activity 3.3 after the first year?

INL Response:

Activity 3.3 requires establishing a monitoring program plan that tracks beneficiaries through the initial stages of their carriers, INL expects applicants to create the monitoring plan, it mentions initial stages of their carriers which could go from 1 to 3 years.

Question 7:

Would INL consider an extension from December 1 to December 8 given the Thanksgiving holidays in the United States?

INL will not extend the deadline to December 8 as this NOFO has been posted since October 25, 2023.

Question 8:

Are there any accounting, auditing, or compliance standards associated with administering the 250 grants specified in the NOFO that would influence the effort and cost associated with delivering that portion of the project?

INL Response:

The prime grantee should sign proper documentation to issue a sub grant and follow the appropriate accounting mechanisms to keep track of the funding. All grants and sub grants are auditable.

Question 9:

What level of engagement should awardees expect from PNC/ANSP during the project? Will INL help establish/further these relationships?

INL Response:

INL expects counterparts involvement in the project to guarantee success. INL will be able to help introducing partners to key counterparts when needed, but the grantee is responsible for developing and maintaining a productive relationship with host government counterparts.

Question 10:

Activities 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 each refer to completing a specified task “within 90 days”. Are these three activities intended to be sequential (i.e., applicants would complete 1.1 by the project's 90th day, 1.2 by the 180th day, and 1.3 by the 270th day), or are all three to be completed by the project’s 90th day?

INL Response:

The three activities mentioned above are required to be completed within 90 days, from assessment to recommendations and findings report.

Question 11:

Is there a chance for an extension of Activity 1.1's period to 120 or 180 days to ensure robust and quality data collection?

INL Response:

No, extending the time for activity 1.1 will delay objectives 2 and 3.

Question 12:

Can you confirm the 180-day period described in Activity 2.1 will begin after the period of execution for Activity 1.1?

INL Response:

It is 180 days within the project start, it is expected to have 90 days for activities 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 and 90 additional days for activities 2.1 and 2.2.

Question 13:

What is the ideal relationship between the target populations identified in Activity 2.2 and the groups/difficulties/barriers identified in Objective 1. Put differently, will the PNC/ANSP propose further target populations beyond those underrepresented groups identified in Objective 1 that should then be incorporated into the design of Objective 3 activities?

INL Response:

Activity 2.2 focuses on identifying and targeting populations for recruitment based on information obtained from the assessment, where these personnel could be found. Other target populations may be considered but should not be the primary focus of this project.

Question 14:

Should Objective 2 and 3 activities happen concurrently or sequentially?

INL Response:

They could happen concurrently or sequentially, the requirement is that within 9 months activity 3.2 is completed and within 12 months activity 3.3 is completed.

Question 15:

Should Activity 2.2 focus on groups or on individuals?

Both, the analysis should be done for underrepresented groups, for recruiting purposes the focus is on individuals.

Question 16:

Can you please inform us if you will provide a floor/ceiling for the grant program awards per participant?

INL Response:

No. The grants program should be designed by the applicant, it is expected to assign small grants that facilitate recruitment and retention through the training process.

Question 17:

Does INL expect the grants to go to organizations who would support potential applicants/current recruits, to the applicants/recruits themselves, or a mix of the two? Can grant beneficiaries include cadets already admitted at time of activity start?

INL Response:

Grants are expected to go to individuals/recruits to support recruitment and retention, therefore grants can also go to cadets already admitted at risk of desertion.

Question 18:

Could the preparation for possible applicants be related to achievement of a high school degree (as indicated in the ANSP call)?

INL Response:

Yes, as long as applicant commits to joining the ANSP upon degree completion.

Question 19:

Reviewing the Police Career Law in article 21, two basic levels are contemplated: Agent, Corporal and Sergeant, as well as the executive level (Sub Inspector-Inspector and Chief Inspector). Could the grants program benefit women and underrepresented populations as they look to move up within the profession as well (promotion courses, etc)?

As mentioned in the NOFO grants should promote recruitment and retention during the training process when entering the ANSP, promotion is not contemplated in this opportunity.