Response-to NFO- clarification Questions.pdf

AMENDMENT 1 OF SOLICITATION No.7200AA18B00002 AND ANSWERS TO

CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS

NFO No. 7200AA18B00002 is hereby amended as follows:

a) In Section IV. B. 7 "Attachment 4: Application F2F Options": Change "(1 Pages)" to "(1 Page plus 9 if an Additional Regional Program is proposed)".

b) In Section IV. B. 7 "Attachment 4: Application F2F Options": Add a sub-section "c. Applicants may include a list of other regional or thematic programs in which the Applicant would be interested and able to implement a F2F program, with a listing of the potential countries. No further details are required for the Concept Note, but details may be requested in a request for a Full Application.”

c) In the “Executive Summary” (page vii): Add the following: “Applicants interested in participating in an Applicants’ Conference for the industry for summary presentation and questions on the NFO should inform Abibou Oussantidja, Agreement Officer, M/OAA/BFS (aoussantidja@usaid.gov) by 5:00 PM January 15, 2018 to obtain information as to the physical location or call-in information for the meeting.

No more than two representatives per organization may participate in the meeting.”

Responses to initial Questions on the NFO are provided below. Additional questions will be answered following the Applicants’ Conference.

Question 1. Page 30, Section IV states that “applicants should target one priority regional and may propose a second region,” and on page 34, section IV, the NFO describes Attachment 4 and states, “Applicants may include a proposal for work in a second geographic competitive region.” Can USAID please clarify (a) if offerors are expected to only submit one concept note per application (b) Would additional concept ideas be included as an Attachment within this one package? (c) Can the offeror propose more than two separate regions or themes?

Answer: The Concept Note requires a proposal for work in at least one regional or thematic program, as Part I of the Concept Note. The Concept Note also allows for a proposal describing work in a second regional or thematic program as part of an attachment (Attachment 4) to the Concept Note. The Concept Note also allows for listing in Attachment 4 of other regional or thematic programs in which the Applicant would be interested and able to work. Part I of the Concept Note should be applicable to cover all regional or thematic programs in which the applicant may propose to implement the F2F program. Part I should be explicit for the program described in Part II and should note, but need not provide details on, any differences in capacity or strategies for other programs.

Question 2. Can you confirm how many regional program applications can be submitted?

mailto:aoussantidja@usaid.gov

Answer: See response to Question 1. Applicants may submit only one Application. That Applicant can include a summary of a primary regional or thematic program (Part II) and a secondary regional or thematic program (in an Attachment). There is no specified limit to the number of regional or thematic programs in which the Applicant may indicate interest and capacity for implementation of the F2F program.

Question 3. Given the wording in the NFO, page 34: “Applicants may include a proposal for work in a second geographic competitive region… including a Concept Note Part II, Illustrative Performance and Impact Indicators, Budget, and brief description of substitution countries,” does this indicate that applicants may submit only one application, including one main concept note and one secondary concept note? Or may applicants submit multiple full applications?

Answer: Yes. See response to Question 1. Applicants may submit only one application, which may include descriptions of programs for two regional or thematic programs. USAID may, in any request for Full Application, request details for programs in other regional or thematic programs in which the Applicant has expressed interest and capacity to implement an F2F program.