SPARK Addendum_7200AA24APS00004_ITR-R.pdf

Issue Date: March 5, 2024 Deadline for Question: March 21, 2024 at 12:00 (noon) pm EDT Closing Date: April 8, 2024 Closing Time: 12:00 pm (noon) EDT

Subject: SPARK_7200AA24APS00004_Addendum

Program Title: Strategic Partnerships for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK)

CFDA #: 98.012 - USAID Development Partnerships for University Cooperation and Development

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for one or two cooperative agreement(s) from qualified entities to implement the Strategic Partnerships for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK) program.

Eligibility for this award is not restricted.

USAID intends to make an award to the applicant(s) who best meets the objectives of this funding opportunity based on the merit review criteria described in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) subject to a risk assessment. Eligible parties interested in submitting an application are encouraged to read this NOFO thoroughly to understand the type of program sought, application submission requirements, and selection process.

To be eligible for award, the applicant must provide all information as required in this NOFO and meet eligibility standards in Section C of this NOFO. This funding opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov and may be amended. It is the responsibility of the applicant to regularly check the website to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this notice of funding opportunity and to ensure that the NOFO has been received from the internet in its entirety. USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion process. If you have difficulty registering on www.grants.gov or accessing the NOFO, please contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at support@grants.gov for technical assistance.

USAID may not award to an applicant unless the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) requirements detailed in Section D.3 (also in Section D of the umbrella EXPLORE APs).

The registration process may take many weeks to complete. Therefore, Applicants are encouraged to begin registration early in the process.

Please send any questions to the point(s) of contact identified in Section D.2. The deadline for questions is shown above. Responses to questions received prior to the http://www.grants.gov mailto:support@grants.gov deadline will be furnished to all potential Applicants through an amendment to this notice posted to www.grants.gov.

Issuance of this notice of funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government nor does it commit the Government to pay for any costs incurred in preparation or submission of comments/suggestions or an application. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant’s expense.

Thank you for your interest in USAID programs.

Sincerely, Charles Jackson Agreement Officer Office of Acquisition and Assistance M/OAA/IPI

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT

CALL FOR CONCEPT NOTES

Strategic Partnerships for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK)

UNDER EXISTING

EXpanding Partnerships, Learning, and REsearch (EXPLORE) Annual Program Statement

(APS)

APS No.: 7200AA24APS00004

This Funding Opportunity is an Addendum to an existing announcement. PLEASE NOTE that all interested organizations should carefully review both this Addendum AND the broader EXPLORE APS announcement, which can be found at the following link:

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/352799

Potential Applicants are advised that important information contained in the EXPLORE

APS Announcement is not repeated in this Addendum.

This program is authorized in accordance with Part 1 of the Foreign Assistance Act of

1961, as amended.

Through this Addendum to the 2024-2029 EXpanding Partnerships, Learning and

REsearch (EXPLORE) Annual Program Statement (APS) No. 7200AA24APS00004, the U.S.

Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Innovation, Technology, and Research

Hub (ITR) seeks to engage a Prime entity or entities to source, support, and fund research partnerships between low- and middle-income country (LMIC) research institutions and U.S.-based institutions on topics important to global development.

USAID expects that activities under this Addendum will focus on three overarching priorities:

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/352799

Priority 1: Fund high-quality, locally led research, with a goal to better understand international development challenges and develop and disseminate solutions.

Priority 2: Support U.S.-local research partnerships which can persist beyond

USAID funding and produce long-term benefits for all partners.

Priority 3: Strengthen capacity at local higher education institutions for conducting and disseminating research.

Subject to the availability of funding, USAID/IPI/ITR may support up to two new

Cooperative Agreements of up to $75 million total over the course of five years. ITR/R anticipates obligating up to $2.5M in the initial obligation for Year 1 of this Award, contingent on the availability of funds. This initial obligation is envisioned to cover both core operational costs for Year 1 as well as costs for pilot subawards under the initial

Research Call(s) under SPARK. After the initial obligation, additional funds (contingent on the availability of funds, and up to the ceiling of $75M over five years) may be obligated into SPARK directly from ITR/R and other Missions and Bureaus to develop specific research calls.

USAID reserves the right to award more or fewer awards OR none at all. All terms and conditions of the 2024-2029 EXPLORE APS apply. As stated in the EXPLORE APS and1 below in this Addendum, strong Concept Notes may be placed in an eligible pool of

Applicants for the life of the EXPLORE APS, which USAID may wish to engage in further discussion should additional funds or opportunities arise.

1 EXPLORE Annual Program Statement: https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/352799

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACRONYM LIST 7

SECTION A: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 8

1. Background 8

2. Priorities 10

Priority 1: Fund high-quality, locally led research, with a goal to better understand international development challenges and develop and disseminate solutions.

Priority 2: Support U.S.-local research partnerships which can persist beyond

USAID funding and produce long-term benefits for all partners.

Priority 3: Strengthen capacity at local higher education institutions for conducting and disseminating research.

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION 14

1. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated 14

2. Expected Performance Indicators, Targets, Baseline, and Data Collection 14

3. Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards 15

4. Substantial Involvement 15

5. Authorized Geographic Code 16

6. Nature of the Relationship between USAID and the Recipient 16

7. Co-Creation, Collaboration, and Communication under SPARK 16

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 19

1. Eligible Applicants 19

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 21

1. Agency Point of Contact 21

2. Questions and Answers 21

3. General Content and Form of Application 21

a. Concept Note Submission 22

b. Concept Note Review 24

c. Co-Creation, Collaboration, and Communication 27

d. Full Application Submission 28

e. Review of Full Applications 28

f. Request for Additional Information 29

g. AO Determination 29

h. Final Review and Negotiation 29

i. Award and Implementation 30

SECTION E: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 31

1. Criteria 31

Criterion 1: Discovery - Supporting International Development-Relevant Research Generation 31

Criterion 2: Partnership - Collaboration with Research and Higher Education Institutions, and/or Other Diverse Partners 32

Criterion 3: Sustained Impact - Capacity Strengthening Support 32

2. Concept Note Budget Review 32

3. Risk Assessment 33

SECTION F: FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 34

1. Federal Award Notices 34

2. Administrative & National Policy Requirements 34

3. Reporting Requirements 35

4. Program Income 36

5. Environmental and Climate Risk Compliance 36

6. Other Requirements 37

SECTION G: FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT(S) 39

1. SPARK Addendum Points of Contact 39

2. Acquisition and Assistance Ombudsman 39

SECTION H: OTHER INFORMATION 40

APPENDIX I: SPARK Concept Note Template APPENDIX II: Budget Template

ACRONYM LIST

A&A - Acquisition and Assistance

ADS - Automated Directives Systems

AO - Agreement Officer

AOR - Agreement Officer’s Representative

APS - Annual Program Statement

BEO - Bureau Environmental Officer

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations

CRM - Climate Risk Management

DEC - Development Experience Clearinghouse

DDL - Data Development Library

EDT - Eastern Daylight Time

EXPLORE - EXpanding Partnerships, Learning, and REsearch

FAA - Foreign Assistance Act

HEI - Higher Education Institution

IPI - Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnership, and Innovation

ITR - Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub

ITR/R - Research Division of ITR

LMIC - Low- and Middle-Income Country

M/B/IO - Mission, Bureau, Independent Office

MSI - Minority-Serving Institution

NDAA - National Defense Authorization Acts

NOFO - Notice of Funding Opportunity

OAA - Office of Acquisition and Assistance

OMB - Office of Management and Budget

PIEE - Programmatic Initial Environment Evaluations

PDF - Portable Document Format

RAA - Required As Applicable

RFA - Request for Application

SAM - System for Award Management

SF - Standard Form

SPARK - Strategic Partnerships for Advancing Research and Knowledge

UEI - Unique Entity Identifier

U.S. - United States of America

USAID - United States Agency for International Development

SECTION A: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This funding opportunity is authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961, as amended. The resulting award will be subject to 2 CFR 200 – Uniform Administrative

Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, and USAID’s supplement, 2 CFR 700, as well as the additional requirements found in Section F.

1. Background

Research transforms lives. It helps us understand complex problems and create solutions across cultures, regions, and sectors. USAID has a long tradition of working with researchers, research institutes, and higher education institutions (HEIs) to harness their intellectual, research, community engagement, and capacity building expertise to address some of the world’s most complex development challenges. Since its founding, USAID has supported partnerships between United States-based (U.S.) and local/low-and middle-income country (LMIC) researchers, research institutions, and higher education institutions, to strengthen capacity and conduct research that moves international development forward.

To effect meaningful change in the world, USAID must ask questions, examine the evidence, and make discoveries. These processes are the fundamental components of the research enterprise and are key drivers of development. It is this basic approach, questioning, examination, and discovery, that generates new ideas, pushes past the status quo, and drives innovation. This approach is integral to USAID’s most central goals: “to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people progress beyond assistance.”

USAID relies on researchers, research institutions, and HEIs for their deep regional and technical expertise, rigorous methodologies, innovative solutions, and fresh perspectives to both deliver assistance and improve programs, policies, and practice. Mutually responsive and supportive partnerships between USAID and the research and higher education communities in the U.S. and throughout the countries in which USAID works are vital to achieving broad and ambitious global development objectives.

International development-relevant research helps USAID to question and understand;

examine, probe, and experiment; and, from these discoveries, disseminate and enact for meaningful change. This research is most impactful and beneficial when it is collaborative between local and/or U.S. partners: it leverages the strength and resources of U.S. or other institutions in concert with the insights and unique knowledge of LMIC researchers. Further, research conducted collaboratively with local partners is more likely to focus on issues important to local communities and governments than research conducted solely by non-local partners, and it leverages local networks to move research to action. , ,2 3 4

In recent years and in alignment with the USAID Education Policy, USAID has aimed to5 increase its engagement with HEIs, other knowledge leaders, and their partners around the world, in order to tap into the unique capabilities of HEIs, even beyond their fundamental education directive. For example, HEIs are respected for their abilities to:

test and pilot new ideas, build capacity and foster an enabling environment for innovation and research, provide trusted information, act as a convener by bringing multiple stakeholders together to address common problems, serve a critical role by training the future workforce, and utilize their alumni networks as graduates move on to pursue roles in every sector of society.

For these reasons, USAID’s Innovation, Technology, and Research (ITR) Hub, part of the

Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnership, and Innovation (IPI), (USAID/IPI/ITR) partners extensively with U.S. and international researchers, research entities, and HEIs, aiming to leverage their unique aptitudes to develop innovative and cross-sectoral solutions to development challenges across the globe. ITR’s longstanding partnerships with numerous U.S. and local researchers and HEIs has brought increased scientific rigor, new technological solutions, and methodological innovation to bear on solving complex development challenges. By grounding research in local needs, ITR takes a demand-driven approach to development. These partnerships support mutual idea sharing and they build individual and institutional capacity for development-relevant research and innovation around the world.

5 2018 USAID Education Policy, https://www.usaid.gov/documents/1865/2018-usaid-education-policy

4 Fry, C. (2023). Crisis and the Trajectory of Science: Evidence from the 2014 Ebola Outbreak. The Review of Economics and Statistics. 105(4), 1028–1038.

3 Moscona, J. & K. (2022). Inappropriate Technology: Evidence from Global Agriculture. Available at SSRN:

https://ssrn.com/abstract=3886019.

2 Wagner, C. (2006). International collaboration in science and technology: promises and pitfalls. In Science and Technology Policy for Development, Dialogues at the Interface’ Box, L. and Engelhard, R. (eds).

London: Anthem Press.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l31CGoVD9I_Td6gdvkq9CXCzRFR0g2FQ/view?usp=drive_link https://www.usaid.gov/documents/1865/2018-usaid-education-policy

If USAID is to achieve the goals of its Local Capacity Strengthening Policy, the Agency must continue to support locally led research and innovation, while also working to advance research uptake. By leveraging existing expertise from local researchers and

HEIs and cultivating strategic collaborations with host-country governments, international HEIs, private sector actors, nongovernmental organizations, civil society organizations, and other key players, USAID aims to both promote evidence-based policies and practices and advance innovative solutions to development challenges.

2. Priorities Through this Addendum, ITR aims to achieve the following interrelated and mutually reinforcing priorities:

Priority 1: Fund high-quality, locally led research, with a goal to better understand international development challenges and develop and disseminate solutions.

Priority 2: Support U.S.-local research partnerships which can persist beyond

USAID funding and produce long-term benefits for all partners.

Priority 3: Strengthen capacity at local higher education institutions for conducting and disseminating research.

Locally led research can support communities, the private sector, and governments in understanding complex challenges and implementing the programmatic and policy changes that can solve them. LMIC research institutions often have the insights and6 talent to take on crucial challenges (related to food security, education, energy, climate change, and other topics) but may require access to technology, training, and experience more readily available at U.S. higher education institutions. Collaborative research between U.S. and local partners can be mutually beneficial, leveraging the strength and resources of U.S. institutions in concert with the local insights and unique talents of

LMIC researchers.

This Addendum will support (a) Prime(s) to provide sub-awards to local and U.S.-based researchers who collaboratively identify and study development challenges and develop relevant solutions relevant. The Prime(s) and USAID will co-design/co-create research

6 Pulte Institute for Global Development. (2022). Brief: Effective partnership approaches in global research.

Evidence Gap Map to Assess the Effectiveness of Development Research. Retrieved from:

https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00ZC18.pdf.

https://www.usaid.gov/policy/local-capacity-strengthening https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00ZC18.pdf grant structures and opportunities to stimulate diverse ideas and to facilitate learning on what works in leveraging research toward development outcomes. Through this award, USAID seeks to fund collaborative, scientific (encompassing scientific disciplines, including life sciences, social sciences, mathematics, engineering, public health, and medicine) research sub-grants across technical sectors and geographic regions.

Envisioned sub-awardees supported by this activity will be encouraged to work with relevant partners (e.g., in private sector, civil society, government) to design and implement research projects that meet identified development needs and which can support decision making by these stakeholders. The potential SPARK Award(s) will be a flexible mechanism that can adapt to evolving and emerging international development research needs.

Through this award, USAID seeks to support (a) Prime Entity(ies)/Implementing

Partner(s) who, through its/their expertise, convening power, and experience will support local and U.S.-based researchers (primarily in partnership models) to conduct research and promote research utilization on issues important to development. USAID seeks to strengthen the capacity of local research teams and their affiliated HEIs or research institutions and connections between partners in local and global research systems. Capacity strengthening could be achieved via (though not limited to) funding for equipment and other research related purchases; support from U.S. research partners; strengthening of administrative capabilities; the training of students, faculty, researchers, and other staff; and activities such as networking events and international exchanges. As the envisioned sub-awards must be responsive to both the funding opportunity they are applying to (i.e., the sub-award cycle) and the individual needs and proposed research of sub-awardees, it is essential that funding flexibility is considered in design. Further, evidence suggests that flexibility of funding for research in LMICs is particularly important due to varying needs of research teams based on capacity and context.7

In designing this research grant program, the Prime should consider how to effectively structure both the administrative/contractual (sub-award) nature of this work and the

U.S.-local research partnerships that the activity will support to conduct research.

Cross-Cutting Considerations

7 Cultural Practice LLC & the QED Group LLC. (2017). Enhanced Engagement in Research: Mid-Term Evaluation of the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) Program. Washington, D.C.:

USAID.

In addition to responding to the priorities outlined above, USAID anticipates that the successful Applicant(s) will demonstrate the following in their application, as well as throughout implementation:

● ITR is committed to the use of evidence and research throughout our portfolio, including in activity design. High-quality evidence (from scholarly articles, journals, reports, similar activities, and other sources) should be used when designing and implementing this activity.

● Strong existing technical, capacity strengthening, and grants management expertise across broad technical and geographic fields with direct relevance to

USAID’s international development work and national or regional development goals. Ideal Applicants will provide evidence of contributing to or managing substantial and ongoing contributions to both technical field/sector(s), capacity strengthening, and grants administration efforts that go well beyond a single research project.

● Dedication to collaborating with multiple external partners (i.e., with researchers, research institutions, faculty, academic departments, governments, and others as appropriate) to achieve priorities; this includes building new relationships, as well as further-developing existing ones, for the purpose of achieving the stated priorities. The types of institutions and the nature of collaborations will ultimately depend on the specific technical and geographical area(s) of focus and research needs being targeted, but collaborators may include individuals, public or private research and higher education institutions, private sector organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and/or civil society organizations.

● Commitment to continuous learning and incorporation of feedback throughout the award’s implementation and between project components, research opportunities, and activities. USAID expects Applicants to thoughtfully consider and incorporate ongoing experience and learnings into future efforts.

● Commitment to ensuring the inclusion and meaningful participation in project activities by diverse, historically disadvantaged, and minority groups, including:

○ researchers from minority-serving institutions (MSI)s, USAID partner countries, and/or those that have limited experience working with U.S.

government/USAID; and

○ women, youth, people with disabilities, Indigenous people, and/or gender-diverse individuals, paying particular attention and adherence to

USAID’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment policy, ADS 205, https://www.usaid.gov/partnership-opportunities/universities/minority-serving-institutions the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence

Globally, Inclusive Development Policy, and other relevant Agency policies and strategies.

● Commitment to participation in independent, third-party research study (or studies) on the impact of funding collaborative research on relevant outputs and outcomes.

[END OF SECTION A]

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SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

The SPARK Addendum seeks to establish or further develop a Prime’s ability to provide research sub-awards and capacity strengthening support to LMIC and U.S.-based researchers who collaboratively study challenges and develop solutions relevant to priority areas and according to the priorities listed within this Addendum. The Prime and USAID will co-design/co-create grant structures (for example, but not limited to, funding for individual researchers, ideas or teams; likely via subawards and/or prizes) and capacity strengthening programs (for example, but not limited to, networking events, training for researchers and administrative staff) to stimulate diverse Applicants and ideas and to facilitate learning on what works in leveraging research toward development outcomes.

USAID envisions that the successful Applicant(s) will leverage strong existing technical expertise, as well as knowledge of and relationships with external partners, to achieve the priorities outlined in this Addendum. While the Prime will demonstrate creativity in designing grant processes, facilitating the selection of research projects, and mentoring and training research teams, it is not envisioned that the Prime will take on a primary role in conducting their own research projects under this(ese) potential award(s). However, if applicable, researchers at the Prime’s entity separate from the personnel managing this award, could be eligible to apply for sub-awards under research calls. It is anticipated that success in these efforts will require substantial and ongoing collaboration with a wide variety of researchers, institutions/organizations, and other interdisciplinary partners, both within and outside of the research and HEI community.

1. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated

USAID intends to award up to two (2) Cooperative Agreement(s) pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the

Agency, USAID intends to provide $75,000,000 in total USAID funding over a five (5) year period. ITR/R anticipates obligating up to $2.5M in the initial obligation for Year 1 of this

Award, contingent on the availability of funds. This initial obligation is envisioned to cover both core operational costs for Year 1 as well as costs for pilot subawards under the initial Research Call(s) under SPARK. After the initial obligation, additional funds

(contingent on the availability of funds, and up to the ceiling of $75M over five years) may be obligated into SPARK directly from ITR/R and other Missions and Bureaus who may co-create with the Prime to develop specific research calls.

2. Expected Performance Indicators, Targets, Baseline Data, and Data Collection

USAID, and work under the potential SPARK Award(s), is committed to adaptive management, continuous learning, and incorporation of feedback throughout the award’s implementation and between project components, research opportunities, and activities .8

In addition, as part of the ITR/Research portfolio and ITR/R Learning Agenda, the SPARK

Award(s) will be expected to provide data to the Research Division’s standard indicators, as appropriate. Further, these indicators and project-specific monitoring indicators will be developed during the co-creation process, identifying targets and baseline data needs. Reporting to USAID is expected to be bi-annual (twice a year), with Annual

Reports due on or around October 30th and Mid-Year Reports due on or around April

30th each year. Specific indicators, reporting targets, and timelines will be discussed and established during the co-creation process.

There may be additional reporting, data collection, and/or coordinating efforts to support the independent, third-party research study on the impact of funding collaborative research on relevant outputs and outcomes.

3. Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards

The anticipated period of performance is five (5) years. The estimated start date will be

August 15, 2024.

4. Substantial Involvement

As the envisioned award(s) from the SPARK Addendum is a Cooperative Agreement, it is required that there will be “substantial involvement” from USAID throughout implementation. If a Cooperative Agreement is awarded, USAID will engage in reasonable and programmatically necessary substantial involvement with the recipient(s). Examples of substantial involvement can include but are not limited to:

8 https://www.usaid.gov/evaluation/collaborating-learning-and-adapting-cla https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Am6GxRILp9jKiIqQiApNHpZVRUNxsasS/view?usp=drive_link

● Active participation or collaboration with the recipient in the determination of key personnel, staffing, and implementation of the award

● Review and approval of a stage of work before another can begin

● Review and approval of substantive provisions of proposed sub-awards or contracts beyond existing Federal policy

● Approval of the recipient’s budget and annual implementation plan prior to the award and annually thereafter (as well as as needed when/where changed contexts or new information require a pivot in the activity)

● The Agency and recipient collaboration on or joint participation in activity selection or design, such as when the recipient’s successful accomplishment of program objectives would benefit from USAID’s technical knowledge (generally related to technical areas of consideration, or geographic or other clearance or concurrence constraints that may exist related to the USAID operating environment)

● Agency monitoring to support the Prime and participating subpartners’ participation in the USAID-arranged, independent, third-party research study on the impact of funding collaborative research on relevant outputs and outcomes

5. Authorized Geographic Code

The geographic code for the procurement of commodities and services under this program is expected to be 937 but may be changed to meet expected program needs determined during co-creation. In accordance with ADS 310, code 937 refers to the

United States, the recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, but it excludes any country that is a prohibited source. Please see

ADS 310 for additional details. The authorized Geographic Code for each award afterward, if any, will be established by USAID.

6. Nature of the Relationship between USAID and the Recipient

The principal purpose of the relationship with the Recipient under the subject program is to transfer funds to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation of the priorities listed above for the SPARK Addendum which is authorized by Federal statute.

The successful Recipient will be responsible for ensuring the achievement of the program objectives and the efficient and effective administration of the award through the application of sound management practices. The Recipient will assume responsibility for administering Federal funds in a manner consistent with underlying agreements, program objectives, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award.

7. Co-Creation, Collaboration, and Communication under SPARK

A critical component of the SPARK Addendum under the EXPLORE APS is the co-creation process. Past experience demonstrates that the most successful partnerships are grounded in mutually reinforcing relationships between researchers and/or HEIs, their partner organizations, and focus on one or more of USAID’s development objectives. In order to most effectively consider whether and how researchers and/or HEIs and their partners, the broader development community, and USAID interests might align, USAID seeks extensive communication with prospective partners so we can jointly explore and define key challenges and problems, then jointly develop promising solutions to those issues.

The co-creation process is characterized by potentially extensive engagement and communication between USAID and any key project partner(s) during the Application phase (for those Applicants invited to move forward). Key project partners as well as organizations (public or private) that are interested in providing material, financial, or intellectual support to the proposed project may be invited to interact during the process.

Co-creation brings together participants to create solutions to specific development challenges. When using co-creation, USAID teams work alongside partners and potential implementers collaboratively to define the problem, identify new and existing solutions, build consensus around areas for action, and/or refine plans to move forward with programs and projects. As its name implies, co-creation relies on collaboration and power-sharing with a diverse set of actors, allowing for a more equitable distribution of both the responsibility and ownership of outputs across all partners.

Co-creation, a key component of this activity during Prime selection, will also be embedded throughout the implementation of the activity. USAID expects to co-create sub-award research cycles, for example, with the Prime on a regular basis.

NOTE: Additionally, this activity will incorporate an independent, third-party research study investigating the impact of funding collaborative research on relevant outputs and outcomes. Willingness to participate in this third-party research study will be a https://www.edu-links.org/resources/usaid-co-creation-higher-education-institutions https://www.edu-links.org/resources/usaid-co-creation-higher-education-institutions requirement for any potential Awardee(s) under the SPARK Addendum, as ITR views assessing the impact of our development research programming to be an essential element of our work.

If the Concept Note meets the criteria set forth in both the EXPLORE APS umbrella and the associated Addendum, USAID personnel can have highly specific, detailed activity design discussions with the prospective award recipient throughout the remainder of the process: e.g., up to and through any award that might be issued under this APS.

Please see Section D below for more information. These parameters provide ample room for extensive, robust discussions regarding the development problem in question, best practices, lessons learned in the relevant technical sectors, pertinent research and evaluations, and various other matters.

Once an applicant submits a Concept Note under an APS Addendum, USAID can meet with and ask the applicant (and other stated partners, if the Concept Note is proposing partnerships) extensive and highly detailed questions about the content of the Concept

Note and other considerations. Such questions may be essential to USAID’s review of the

Concept Note and USAID’s determination of whether the proposed Concept Note warrants further discussion and development. This may occur before any invitation to co-creation.

USAID cannot engage in highly specific, detailed activity design with the entity seeking an award of USAID funding until after USAID decides the Concept Note meets the minimum criteria under this APS (and any additional or changed criteria under an APS

Addendum) and warrants further consideration and development—at which point the applicant may be invited to co-creation. Submission of a qualifying Concept Note is needed.

Note: None of USAID’s communication during the co-creation process provided by this

APS should be interpreted as a commitment to making an award of USAID funding.

Applicants are advised that participation in the co-creation process under this APS is entirely at their own risk; the Government is not responsible for any cost incurred by the applicant should the applicant decide to accept the invitation to co-create with USAID. A commitment to an award of USAID funding is made only when an award agreement is signed.

[END OF SECTION B]

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligibility for the SPARK Addendum is not restricted. The Prime Applicant can be any type of organization or entity but is expected to have strong administrative/grant and contract management (sub-award) experience and expertise working with a wide array of partners across geographic and entity type. (Eligibility for envisioned sub-award opportunities to be issued after the award is created may be restricted.)

USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID. Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for federal financial assistance on the same basis as any other organization and are subject to the protections and requirements of Federal law.

Furthermore, all Applicants are restricted to submitting only one Concept Note as the

Prime Applicant. If more than one Concept Note is received with the same Prime

Applicant or proposed Project Director, USAID will seek written clarification from the relevant business development/sponsored programs office(s) regarding which Concept

Note should be considered for review. If clarification is not resolved within five business days of seeking written clarification, both Concept Notes will be deemed ineligible.

Alternatively, a signed letter from an authorizing official within the Prime Applicant’s business development/sponsored programs office(s) can be submitted with Concept

Notes at the time of submission to clarify and verify that the Applicant has the sole official support from the Prime Applicant entity/organization. The verified Concept Note will be accepted for evaluation and all other Concept Notes submitted by that Applicant will be deemed ineligible for non-compliance with the conditions of this Addendum. All

Applicants will be notified accordingly via email.

**Please note that Applicants may serve as proposed Sub-Awardees or supporting partners on multiple Concept Notes/Full Applications. The restriction noted above only applies to the Prime Concept Note/Full Application submission.

The recommendation or selection of an application for award does not in any way guarantee the award. The AO must evaluate the risks posed by Applicants before making the award. The AO must evaluate risk in accordance with the principles established by

USAID and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (see 2 CFR 200.205). In order for an award to be made, the AO must make an affirmative determination that the applicant is “responsible” as discussed in ADS 303.3.9.

Of Note: Under the EXPLORE APS, potential Prime Applicants are typically limited to one

Concept Note submission per Addendum; sub-award partners do not have limitations on the number of Concept Notes on which they can be involved, unless specified differently in a particular Addendum. USAID does not expect sub-award or other partners

(non-Prime Applicants) to be exclusive in their partnerships.

[END OF SECTION C]

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Agency Point of Contact

Name: Charles Jackson Title: Agreement Officer Email: chajackson@usaid.gov and

Name: Julia Banks Title: Agreement Specialist Email: jbanks@usaid.gov

2. Questions and Answers

Questions regarding the SPARK Addendum should be submitted to Ms. Julia Banks, jbanks@usaid.gov, no later than the date and time indicated on the cover letter, as amended. Any information given to a prospective applicant concerning the SPARK

Addendum will be furnished promptly to all other prospective Applicants as an amendment to the SPARK Addendum, if that information is necessary in submitting applications or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to any other prospective applicant.

3. General Content and Form of Application

The selection process for the SPARK Addendum will happen in three phases: (1) An open call for brief Concept Notes, (2) a series of in-person, hybrid, and/or virtual co-creation discussions and/or workshop(s) with selected Applicants (by invitation only), and (3) submission and review of Full Applications (by invitation only). USAID/ITR/R will be responsible for the review of Concept Notes, facilitation of co-creation activities, review of Full Applications, and management of any subsequent Awards issued under this

Addendum. Additional information about each phase of the Application and Review process is provided below.

Where possible, USAID encourages Prime applicant(s) to have an issued UEI, www.sam.gov registration, and for non-U.S. organizations, a NATO Commercial and

Governmental Entity (NCAGE) code as early as possible, although this is not required at the Concept Note stage. The registration process for a UEI, sam.gov, and/or NCAGE may take many weeks or even months to complete. Therefore, Applicants are encouraged to mailto:jbanks@usaid.gov begin the process as early as possible. Resources to transition from obtaining a DUNs number to a UEI can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/duns-uei.

Of note, potential Prime Applicants are limited to one Concept Note submission per9

Addendum as the Prime; sub-award partners do not have limitations on the number of

Concept Notes on which they can be involved, unless specified differently in a particular

Addendum. USAID does not expect sub-award or other partners (non-Prime Applicants) to be exclusive in their partnerships. Information on the target response time, and on any special deadlines, is available at www.grants.gov.

The application and award process under this APS has the following steps:

a. Concept Note Submission

Interested Applicants must first submit an initial five (5)-page maximum Concept Note in accordance with the instructions in this document and the SPARK Concept Note and

Budget Templates (Appendices I and II). Applicants should submit only the information and materials specified in the SPARK Addendum, and as detailed in the Concept Note

Template and Budget Template provided in Appendices I and II. Applicants should not submit any alternative document or narrative as a substitute for a Concept Note;

application materials in any other format will not be accepted or reviewed. In addition, and as noted in the SPARK Concept Note template, all Concept Notes MUST be in English and submitted electronically via email.

Instructions and Format:

Applicants are required to prepare Concept Notes using the required Concept Note

Template (See Appendix I), and to follow all instructions set forth within, especially the page limits (5 pages for Sections II-IV). Applicants should only provide the information and materials requested in the Concept Note template; additional information will not be read and may adversely affect the Applicant’s review. Concept Notes must also:

● Be written in English;

9 Consortia applications are allowed; however, one eligible entity must still be identified as the Prime Recipient. The other partners will serve as sub-awardees to the Prime Recipient (if the relationship is monetary in nature) or as thought partners/advisors to the Prime Recipient (if the relationship is non-monetary in nature). The Prime Recipient will be responsible for managing and coordinating its partners as it seeks to achieve the three priorities of SPARK.

https://sam.gov/content/duns-uei http://www.grants.gov https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r0I5WXxSWTFwkK9SaygwB-6lbL67OfCo/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=101588297269239341454&rtpof=true&sd=true https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r0I5WXxSWTFwkK9SaygwB-6lbL67OfCo/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=101588297269239341454&rtpof=true&sd=true https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uOv3QKJZjw7vlWneaBob5ARwL0lHHnjS/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=101588297269239341454&rtpof=true&sd=true

● Be submitted in PDF (preferred) or Microsoft Word format (if necessary), except budget files which must be submitted in a spreadsheet format (Microsoft Excel or similar);

● Adhere to the page limitations indicated in the Concept Note Template; and

● Be single-spaced with one inch page margins and 12 point font (Calibri). 10 point font can be used for graphs and charts.

Applicants must review, understand, and comply with all aspects of the SPARK

Addendum. Failure to do so may be considered as being non-responsive and may be evaluated accordingly. Applicants should retain a copy of the application and all enclosures for their records.

Budget Information and Format:

Applicants are required to prepare a budget, with accompanying budget narrative, using the required Budget Template (see Appendix II), and to follow all instructions set forth within. For Concept Notes that are highly ranked during the first phase of selection, their Budgets will be reviewed for completeness, reasonableness, allowability, and allocability so as to inform ongoing conversations during the co-creation stage.

The Budget, at the time of Concept Note submission, should be built at a high level;

approximations and estimates are acceptable, though such approximations and estimates should be explained in the corresponding Notes (column) or Budget Narrative

(tab) of the template, as needed.

Of note, ITR/R anticipates obligating up to $2.5M in the initial obligation for Year 1 of this Award, contingent on the availability of funds. This initial obligation is envisioned to cover both core operational costs for Year 1 as well as costs for pilot subawards under the initial Research Call(s) under SPARK. After the initial obligation, additional funds

(contingent on the availability of funds, and up to the ceiling of $75M over five years) may be obligated into SPARK directly from ITR/R and other Missions and Bureaus who may co-create with the Prime to develop specific research calls.

Applicants should only provide the information and materials requested in the Budget

Template; additional information will not be read and may adversely affect the

Applicant’s review. Budget information must also:

● Be written in English; and

● Have all equations and formulae accessible/viewable (cells unlocked and no hidden formulae or sheets) and be submitted in a machine readable format

(Microsoft Excel or similar).

Note: Organizations are encouraged to consider providing reasonable cost sharing, leverage, or other exchange of resource arrangements, and are encouraged to suggest creative approaches to resourcing projects if and as appropriate.

Concept Notes, including budget and supporting materials, must be submitted to the

Agency Point of Contact Ms. Julia Banks, jbanks@usaid.gov, listed above. Concept

Notes should be submitted as a single PDF file with an accompanying spreadsheet file for the budget information. In cases where a single PDF file is not feasible, Applicants are permitted to submit up to three (3) separate PDF files. Microsoft Word documents will be accepted only as necessary. Please use the following email subject line for all

Concept Note submissions: “[Name of Applicant Organization]_Concept Note

Submission_SPARK.” Concept Notes and all supporting information must be submitted by 12:00 pm (noon) EDT on April 8, 2024. Concept Notes, additions, or modifications submitted after the above deadline will not be evaluated. If a modification or correction needs to be made BEFORE the submission deadline noted above, please send the corrected information/version to USAID using the subject line: “[Name of Applicant

Organization]_Concept Note Submission_SPARK_REVISED VERSION.” The last Concept

Note received before the submission deadline will be the version considered; any submissions received after the deadline will not be accepted. Please note that it can take some time (transmission times can vary) for the Concept Note, submitted via email, to clear through the USAID systems; plan accordingly.

Concept Notes sent by any other means (including to grants.gov) will not be considered.

The Concept Note submission deadline is stated at the beginning of this document;

Concept Notes received after that deadline will not be considered. For questions, please contact the point of contact listed above.

USAID will strive to review Concept Notes promptly and inform Applicants as soon as feasible whether the activities proposed in the Concept Note warrant further consideration and development.

After submitting a Concept Note electronically, Applicants should immediately check their email to confirm that the attachments were indeed sent. If an Applicant discovers an error in transmission, please send the material again and note in the subject line of the email that it is a "corrected" submission. Do not send the same email more than once unless there has been a change, and, if so, please note that it is a "corrected" email. Applicants are reminded that email is NOT instantaneous, and, in some cases, delays of several hours occur from transmission to receipt. Therefore, Applicants are requested to send the Concept Note in sufficient time ahead of the deadline. For the

EXPLORE APS, the initial point of entry to the government infrastructure is the USAID mail server. Further, there may be a problem with the receipt of *.zip files due to anti-virus software. Therefore, Applicants are discouraged from sending files in this format as USAID cannot guarantee their acceptance by the internet server.

After a Concept Note is received, USAID/IPI/ITR reserves the right to request supplementary information or pose clarifying questions to any Applicant. Requesting supplementary information or posing clarifying questions to one Applicant does not obligate USAID/IPI/ITR to do so with all Applicants, nor does it guarantee an invitation to participate in subsequent co-creation or to submit a Full Application.

b. Concept Note Review

Once a Concept Note has been submitted, USAID will conduct an initial review of the

Concept Note using the criteria outlined in Section E’s “Criteria.” USAID reserves the10 right to consider additional factors in selecting finalists, including geographic diversity, technical variance, USAID Mission support, and other factors. Concept Notes that are submitted after the deadline or which do not adhere to formatting guidelines will not be evaluated.

The purpose of the initial review and related communication is to determine whether

USAID wishes to engage in further discussions regarding the proposed approach and activities. The initial review and communication will result in one of three outcomes:

1. A decision to forego further consideration of the approach proposed in the

Concept Note (red determination);

2. A decision to provide the applicant an opportunity to submit a revised Concept

Note (this is very rare) (amber determination); or

3. An invitation to engage in more in-depth and specific co-creation discussions aimed at further developing the proposed approach and determining whether to

10 Concepts Notes will be evaluated according to the criteria and considerations set forth in the SPARK Addendum, which align to the overall criteria and considerations set forth in the EXPLORE APS.

request a Full Application (green determination).

Note: A decision to engage in more in-depth and specific co-creation discussions is NOT a commitment to funding, nor is it a commitment that USAID will request a Full

Application. If an Applicant is invited to engage in co-creation and further discussions, additional guidance with respect to expectations during the co-creation process will be provided to the Applicant.