Round 1 APS Questions. and Answers.pdf

1. On Page 18, the instructions state that “each applicant must include the FHM APS number and FHM Round G1 number in the subject line of the email and attachment/file name(s).” Could USAID specify what is the Round G1 number? -- In addition to APS # No.7200AA21APS00005, it is sufficient to state FHM Round G1 as a reference to this Round.

2. Can USAID confirm what material should be included in the Annex? For example, may the applicant include additional narrative detail about the program’s proposed staffing and consortium structure, and about organizational policies, systems, and procedures to advance workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion. Or should this information be contained within the technical section? -- Staffing, management, and partnership approaches will be part of the evaluation criteria and applicants are expected to provide a clear and concise narrative in the technical section. Any additional and supporting documentation, including references to the policies and procedures, could be included in the annex, not to exceed 2 pages.

3. Can USAID please confirm that the organigram may be included in the Annex? -- Yes, USAID confirms that the organigram may be included in the Annex.

4. Page 18 states, “at least one illustrative activity must be proposed for each result.” Can USAID confirm if that is one illustrative activity per result area, i.e. two in total, or one per sub-result, i.e. seven in total?-- USAID is requesting at least one illustrative activity per sub-result.

5. Can USAID confirm that the applicant’s proposed staffing plan should include roles and titles, but not individual names? -- USAID confirms the staffing plan should include roles and titles, and not the individual names.

6. Would USAID allow the use of smaller font size for graphics and tables, and references?--Yes, applicants may use smaller font size for graphics, tables, and references.

7. Can the concept paper submitted contain proprietary information? Will concept papers be shared with other short-listed applicants at a later solicitation stage? -- Umbrella APS for FHM, Section IV, p. 23, states, “... organizations submitting concept papers provide USAID a royalty free, non-exclusive, and irrevocable right to use, disclose, reproduce, and prepare derivative works, and to have, or permit others to have, use of any information contained in the concept paper submitted under each Round(s) of this APS.”, USAID does not intend to share the concept papers with any other applicants at a later solicitation stage. Applicants may include proprietary information in the concept papers submitted to FHM Round G1.

8. Page 21 states that short-listed applicants will be invited to submit full applications. Can USAID provide an anticipated release date for this RFA? -- USAID anticipates inviting short-listed applicants to submit a full application in May 2021.

9. Page 15 states that “FHM Round G1 should seek to issue performance-based, capacity-building, and/or innovation sub-awards and sub-grants to local organizations.”

How does USAID define a local organization under this APS? -- The definition of the local organization will vary depending on the country context, market conditions, and anticipated health outcomes. Applicants are encouraged to propose engagement, collaboration, and/or partnership approaches with a variety of entities engaged in local health markets, including but not limited to product/service/information suppliers, distributors, marketers, innovators; for-profit and nonprofit private entities, commercial and social enterprise, faith-based and other health providers; associations, professional councils, provider networks, other organizations representing private sector entities;

health and market research, technical assistance, consultancy, financial and other business service providers.

10. Can USAID please confirm the required page size, margin size, and word spacing for the concept paper? -- Concept papers should use standard 8.5” x 11”, single-spaced, 1” margins on each page.

11. On page 14, USAID includes "fostering gender equality by increasing use of approached designed to empower vulnerable populations including women and couples, and engage men more fully in FP and other health areas" and "fostering iterative, continuous learning, and adaptive management" under the same bullet. Could USAID please confirm that these are two discrete cross-cutting principles.--Yes, these are two separate cross-cutting principles.

12. Can tables, text boxes and graphics be in Arial 9 pt font? --Yes.

13. Would USAID like to see personnel described within the page count of the management and staffing plan? --Yes. The staffing plan should be covered as part of the staffing and management of the technical section. Applicants can also utilize the annex for additional information not to exceed two pages.

14. Can the staffing plan be placed in the annex?--The staffing plan should be covered as part of the staffing and management of the technical section. Applicants can also utilize the annex for additional information (not to exceed two pages).

15. Will the concept note be followed by a co-design process or will USAID move directly from concept note to full proposal? --USAID has engaged in a co-creation process through the RFI and the Round G1 call for concept papers. USAID does not plan to hold a workshop with applicants and anticipates inviting short-listed applicants to submit a full application in May 2021.

16. What is the anticipated release date of the full proposal RFA assuming passing the concept note round?--USAID anticipates inviting short-listed applicants to submit a full application in May 2021.

17. On page 18, there is a note that says, “Annexes will not be counted in the Technical Section page limit but must be restricted to the information and specific page limits for the Annexes specified below” however, I don’t see specific information on the page limits for the annexes in the solicitation. Also on page 18, under c. staffing and management, it says, “Additional detail may --Applicants may submit additional details to support their staffing, management, and partnership approaches and references to the policies and procedures in the annex, not to exceed two pages. At this stage, USAID does not require any other information to be provided in the annex.

18. Can USAID please extend the Closing Date & Time of Concept Papers? -- Closing Date & Time for submission of Concept Papers has been extended to April 21, 2021 05:00 PM

(EDT).

We kindly ask this because:

a. In the response to APS questions #19 and #30, USAID recommended monitoring the business forecast for updates on release dates. The most recent forecast from March 26, 2021 lists an FHM anticipated release date of February 15, 2021, despite FHM Round G1 having already been released on March 24, 2021. -- USAID’s Business Forecast provides interested parties with anticipated plans and while we strive to be as accurate as possible with estimated timelines, it is not intended to communicate the actual release dates of potential solicitations.

USAID encourages applicants to register at Grants.gov and select the appropriate notification options that will allow for timely communication of FHM APS related rounds and other future opportunities.

b. The FHM “Last Updated Date” on Grants.gov still states February 25, 2021 as of today, March 31, 2021. An applicant would have needed to click on the “Related Documents” tab to see that Round G1 was released. Please see Page 1 of the attached document.-- FHM APS is the umbrella document for all rounds planned and issued under this umbrella mechanism. As such, when a round is issued, it is listed under the FHM APS and can be found by going to “Related Documents” tab or by clicking on the link. USAID encourages applicants to register at Grants.gov and select the appropriate notification options that will allow for timely communication of FHM APS related rounds and other future opportunities.

c. The public Grants.gov USAID searching page does not display the FHM Round G1 release on March 24, 2021. Please see Page 2 of the attached document.--

Grants.gov is not designed to display FHM APS Rounds separately from the APS.

Applicants are encouraged to register at Grants.gov and select the appropriate notification options that will allow for timely communication of FHM APS related rounds and other future opportunities

19. Please clarify what annexes can be included and the allowed page length for each annex.

On Page 18, USAID states "Annexes will not be counted in the Technical Section page limit but must be restricted to the information and specific page limits for the Annexes specified below." The only Annex specified below is an organogram and no page limits were provided. In addition to the specified Annex, we request USAID to allow for the Theory of Change and its narrative description to be included in an Annex.--Applicants may submit additional details to support their staffing, management, and partnership approaches and references to the policies and procedures in the annex, not to exceed two pages. At this stage, USAID does not require any other information to be provided in the annex. The Theory of Change and its narrative should be included as part of the Technical Section.

20. Can USAID please confirm that a co-creation process with a virtual or in-person meeting will not be included in this solicitation? --USAID confirms that there will not be virtual or in-person workshops with applicants. Following the concept paper stage, USAID anticipates inviting short-listed applicants to submit a full application.

21. Please confirm that key personnel do not need to be named at this stage, though key personnel positions do.-- USAID confirms that key personnel should not be named at this stage and it is sufficient to include roles and titles.

22. On Page 17, USAID states the “concept paper must be written in Times New Roman 12-point font.” Is it possible for the font in tables and graphics to be less than Times New Roman 12-point font?--Yes, applicants may use smaller font size for graphics, tables, and references.

23. On Page 18, USAID states the “cover page must include the APS number, Round number, name of applicant or consortium members, title, and results being addressed in the concept paper.” Does “results” here refer to the IRs?--USAID anticipates that concept papers will address both results. As such, there is no need to include result or sub-result names in the cover page.

24. In Section IV, p. 18, it states that, “Annexes will not be counted in the Technical Section page limit but must be restricted to the information and specific page limits for the Annexes specified below.” Would USAID please clarify what can be included in the annexes?--Applicants may submit additional details to support their staffing, management, and partnership approaches and references to the policies and procedures in the annex, not to exceed two pages. At this stage, USAID does not require any other information to be provided in the annex.

25. In the Umbrella APS for FHM, Section IV, p. 23, states, “Therefore, organizations submitting concept papers provide USAID a royalty free, non-exclusive, and irrevocable right to use, disclose, reproduce, and prepare derivative works, and to have, or permit others to have, use of any information contained in the concept paper submitted under each Round(s) of this APS.” The APS for Round G1, however, is silent on this subject.

a. Would USAID please clarify if concept papers will be shared with other offerors?

Umbrella APS for FHM, Section IV, p. 23, states, “... organizations submitting concept papers provide USAID a royalty free, non-exclusive, and irrevocable right to use, disclose, reproduce, and prepare derivative works, and to have, or permit others to have, use of any information contained in the concept paper submitted under each Round(s) of this APS.”, USAID does not intend to share the concept papers with any other applicants at a later solicitation stage. Applicants may include proprietary information in the concept papers submitted to FHM Round G1.

b. The APS for Round G1 is also silent on co-creation. Would USAID, therefore, clarify whether it is considering a co-creation stage for FHM Round G1? If so, through what format does USAID envision co-creation will take place?--USAID is not anticipating a virtual or in-person workshop with applicants. Following the concept paper stage, USAID anticipates inviting short-listed applicants to submit a full application in May 2021.

26. Would USAID please clarify the timeline between submission of concept papers and a request for full applications? --USAID anticipates inviting short-listed applicants to submit a full application in May 2021

27. Thank you for providing details on how FHM Round G1 will work with related USAID Global Health awards, pp. 4-5, APS Round G1. In that line of thinking, would USAID clarify how it envisions Activities 1 through 4 will work together? --Please refer to RFI-20-GH-FHM-01 on Grants.gov (search in closed opportunities) for a description of Activities 1-4. USAID does not have any additional information at this stage.

28. In Section IV.A.1. “Cover Page” on page 18, can USAID please clarify what is meant by “title” and results for inclusion in the Cover Page.--USAID anticipates that concept papers will address both results. As such, there is no need to include result or sub-result name in the cover page. As for the title, it’s optional and applicants can leave it blank, use Frontier Health Markets Global Technical Assistance, or a different name that best describes their concept paper.