USAID WBG MEPPA APS No. 72029425APS00001.pdf

APS Issuance Date: January 6, 2025 APS Closing Date: January 5, 2026

Round 1 Call for Applications:

Deadline for submission of questions: January 30, 2025 Deadline for receipt of Applications: March 4, 2025 (5PM, EST) Pre-Application Conferences: TBD - Detailed Information to be issued via Amendments

Subject: Notice Of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Annual Program Statement (APS) Number

72029425APS00001

Activity Title: People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund Grants Activity

To Whom It May Concern:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is announcing an APS to implement the USAID/West Bank and Gaza People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund Activity.

USAID intends to make an award to the applicant(s) who best meet the objectives of this funding opportunity based on the merit review criteria described in this APS and subject to a risk assessment. Eligible parties interested in submitting an application are encouraged to read this

APS thoroughly to understand the application submission requirements and selection process.

While multiple awards are anticipated as a result of this APS, USAID reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.

This APS is open for one year, and currently is announcing one round of call for applications. To be considered under this first round, applicants should submit their Concept Paper no later than

March 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST. Amendments to this APS will announce any changes to USAID review timelines.

USAID encourages new and local partners to apply. This funding opportunity invites applications for small awards (250,000 to 750,000 USD) as well as for larger awards of up to five (5) million USD.

For the benefit of prospective applicants, USAID/West Bank and Gaza intends to host pre-application conferences. Specific details of these conferences will be shared via an amendment to this APS. Attendance at these conferences is optional and in no way affects the consideration of applications.

To be eligible for award, the applicant must provide all information as required in this APS and meet eligibility standards in Section C of this APS. 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 APS 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 APS, please contact the

Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or via e-mail at support@grants.gov for technical assistance.

System for Award Management (SAM) registration is not required for Concept Paper submission, however USAID may not award to an applicant unless the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements detailed in Section D. SAM registration may take many weeks to complete, so applicants are encouraged to begin registration as early as possible in the process.

Please send any questions to the point(s) of contact identified in Section D. The deadline for questions is shown above. Responses to questions received prior to the 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, Deborah Perlman

Agreement Officer

USAID/West Bank and Gaza http://www.grants.gov mailto:support@grants.gov http://www.grants.gov

APS Number: 72029425APS00001 People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund Grants Activity

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

Section A – Program Description 4

Section B – Federal Award Information 13

Section C – Eligibility Information 16

Section D – Application and Submission Information 19

Section E – Application Review Information 35

Section F – Federal Award Administration Information 37

Section G – Federal Awarding Agency Contacts 49

Section H – Other Information 50

Annex 1 - Frequently Asked Questions 51

Annex 2 - APS Timeline and Communication Expectations 56

Annex 3 - Applicant Resources 58

Annex 4 – Standard Provisions 61

Annex 5 – VAT Guidance 62

Annex 6 – Mission Order 21 and Addendum No. 1 67

Annex 7 – Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership

For Peace Act of 2020 89

SECTION A: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This funding opportunity is authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961, as amended.

1. Background:

Congress enacted the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA) in

December 2020 to advance peaceful co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians and enable a sustainable two-state solution. MEPPA establishes two funds and authorizes up to $250 million over five years for programs to be implemented through the United States Agency for

International Development (USAID) and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation

(DFC).

Under the auspices of MEPPA, USAID's People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund supports

Israeli-Palestinian partnerships with funding through two initiatives: 1) the People-to-People

Partnership for Peace Fund Grants Activity and 2) the Building Regional Economic Bridges (BREB) activity. BREB promotes partnerships and linkages between regional businesses, civil society, and academia; fosters new markets; provides direct assistance to companies to expand trade; and enhances investment in the local economy. For more information on opportunities through

BREB, please contact info@wbgbreb.com. This Annual Program Statement (APS) is USAID’s third

APS solicitation issued under the parameters of USAID’s People-to-People Partnership for Peace

Fund Grant Activity.

October 7, 2023 generated a cycle of violence in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank that has had a profound impact on all lives in the region. It has created a new reality and operating context that requires the peacebuilding sector to rethink and restrategize its engagement with all stakeholders to better address emerging challenges and achieve MEPPA objectives.

As Administrator Samantha Power said regarding MEPPA, “Just as we cannot give up on peace itself, we cannot give up on important work like this.” Securing true and enduring peace is not merely a matter of ending this cycle of violence, it requires strong people-to-people connections, shared and mutually reinforcing prosperity, and understanding, empathy and care for all communities. Therefore, the future work in the peacebuilding space will be even more important in the aftermath of this recent outbreak of violence.

This APS seeks to engage people directly affected by the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and invites applicants to approach peacebuilding with a greater focus on reconciliation, advocacy, dialogue among groups with diverse views, and healing. To this end, USAID encourages applications that:

● Integrate psychosocial support to address trauma resulting from recent events as well as the long-term conflict;

● Grow the diversity of individuals and groups meaningfully engaged in the peacebuilding community;

● Strengthen civil society’s capacity and inclination to promote and pursue peacebuilding;

and

● Engage youth and women to help renew a shared commitment to peacebuilding within communities and among estranged populations.

USAID is looking for activities that introduce new and innovative approaches that build conflict mitigation and leadership skills. These efforts should aim to create a new generation of leaders and civil society actors who understand the complex and competing narratives related to the

Israeli-Palestinian conflict and who can advocate effectively for the conflict’s non-violent resolution. Activities should encourage grassroots efforts that can build popular support for negotiations between the representatives of the parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with an eye toward advancing a sustainable agreement for lasting peace.

USAID is also looking for programs that reach marginalized groups, religious communities, and communities not already served by peacebuilding programming as well as ideas on how to build a broader and more interconnected community of peacebuilders.

To ensure the proposed activities build on and contribute to the MEPPA goal and objectives, there is a need for a clear theory of change. The overall theory of change of MEPPA is that if

USAID supports civil society organizations and other institutions in promoting a culture of peace, mutual respect, and trust between Israelis and Palestinians at all levels and if working together across communities yields positive outcomes to shared challenges, then there will be an expanded population supporting a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

As called for in the MEPPA legislation, USAID will manage the People-to-People Partnership for

Peace Fund. USAID will coordinate with the Department of State and the DFC to ensure alignment with the U.S. government’s long-term policy objectives in the region.

2. Goal:

The overall goal of MEPPA is to build the foundation for peaceful co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians and enable a sustainable two-state solution. Working toward that vision, this funding opportunity seeks to strengthen people-to-people grassroots linkages to address common challenges and enhance peacebuilding momentum to affect institutional and policy change.

3. Objectives:

This funding opportunity for the MEPPA People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund Grants

Activity aims to achieve the following objectives:

● Increase partnership between Palestinians and Israelis, and Arab and Jewish Israelis, to address issues of common interest or concern.

● Bolster efforts by Palestinians and Israelis to address internal divisions that must be overcome to foster peaceful coexistence.

● Improve the enabling environment for cross-border partnership, particularly in development sectors, such that policies, procedures, and structures allow Palestinians and Israelis to engage in meaningful interactions across sectors without any barriers and fear of intimidation.

● Strengthen the resilience of peacebuilding constituencies and institutions.

4. APS Precepts:

● “People-to-People” initiatives should take advantage of the many creative opportunities that exist for meaningful exchange, relationship-building, and durable impact.

● MEPPA programs will be most successful when they demonstrate an adaptability to existing circumstances, especially the changed dynamics between Israelis and

Palestinians, and within the broader region, since October 7.

● USAID encourages new and local partners to apply. In the context of MEPPA, local partners include both Palestinian and Israeli organizations. USAID defines a new partner as an organization that has not received any funding from USAID as a prime partner over the last five years.

● USAID/West Bank and Gaza (WBG) is committed to supporting initiatives that contribute to addressing relevant development needs and promoting areas for cooperation. USAID will prioritize efforts that are coordinated with the development and policy priorities of the U.S. government.

● This APS maintains flexibility to pivot to “calls” for specific concepts targeting priority sectors and/or geographic areas, depending on the guidance of the People-to-People

Partnership for Peace Fund Advisory Board, emerging policy opportunities, and U.S.

government priorities.

5. Approach:

In developing approaches to program activities, USAID strongly encourages applicants to consider the following cross-cutting themes.

People-to-People Definition

For the purposes of this solicitation, the term “people-to-people” is broadly defined as programming designed to reduce political, social, and economic barriers to peaceful interactions between Israeli and Palestinian societies and to promote sustainable institutions and relationships for peaceful co-existence and a two-state solution. As stated in the MEPPA legislation, USAID will prioritize support to efforts that “seek to build better cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians.” Activities that connect Israelis and Palestinians from the West

Bank and Gaza to achieve these goals are strongly encouraged and will be prioritized. Initiatives within societies that contribute to peaceful co-existence, mitigate the impacts of conflict, and set foundations for a two-state solution will also be considered.

Local Capacity Strengthening

Sustainable and prosperous development depends on local actors leading efforts to improve their communities and working inclusively and collectively to see those efforts through. USAID’s

2022 Local Capacity Strengthening Policy represents a mindset and culture shift towards embracing capacity strengthening that supports local actors' ability to achieve sustainable impact.

To the greatest extent possible, USAID seeks to partner with local actors to advance MEPPA’s goals. This solicitation welcomes the engagement of local (Palestinian and Israeli) partners to serve as direct awardees, which includes engaging in co-design, setting priorities, driving implementation, and evaluating the impact of MEPPA programs. Within the context of MEPPA, it is important to design programs that take into account the imbalance and asymmetry in the capacities of Palestinian and Israeli civil society organizations and to ensure equitable interaction between the two groups.

Through the Local Capacity Strengthening Policy USAID is committing to a unified cohesive, and systemic approach in which USAID collaborates with local partners to:

● Define their own vision for success;

● Strengthen their ability to be effective and relevant actors within their local communities and contexts; and

● Elevate local ownership in sustaining development results.

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

Successful programs examine the relationship between conflict, power, and gender, which enables implementing partners and beneficiaries to obtain greater insight into sources of tension and opportunities for peacebuilding that otherwise might be missed. Successful programs also recognize that gender inequalities and power imbalances can be critical factors driving chronic poverty, food insecurity, poor health, violence against women, and violent conflict itself.

Moreover, programs that facilitate women’s participation in decision-making and promote their roles in prevention of conflict, can help lead to more effective and responsive investments to the different needs and priorities of women and men.

The USAID Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment 2023 Policy, consistent with the WEEE

Act (Public Law 115-428), requires that all USAID-funded activities address gender issues and women's challenges to promote active participation and female empowerment. MEPPA is also an opportunity to advance implementation of the United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and

Security (WPS) to ensure that women are more prepared and increasingly able to participate in efforts that promote stable and lasting peace. Applicants should integrate gender and social analysis considerations as a cross-cutting theme within the design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and learning relevant to all interventions of this activity. Applicants are also encouraged to design activities that are focused on enhancing women’s active participation, women leadership, and Gender Based Violence (GBV) mitigation as main outcomes for peacebuilding. The applicant should include methods and tools that measure women’s outcomes in the peacebuilding process or initiatives.

Youth

USAID’s 2022 updated Youth in Development Policy views young people, in this case those between the ages of 10 and 29, as agents of their own development, emphasizing access, participation, and systems in youth engagement. USAID aims to increase the meaningful participation of youth within their communities, schools, organizations, economies, peer groups, and families, enhancing their skills, providing opportunities, and fostering healthy relationships so they may build on their collective leadership. When applicable, activities should seek to integrate key principles of positive youth development (PYD), which is an evidence-based model of youth development that promotes an assets-based, rather than a problem behavior-based, approach. PYD engages youth along with their families, communities, and/or governments so that youth are empowered to reach their full potential. PYD approaches build skills, assets, and competencies; foster healthy relationships; strengthen the environment; and transform systems.

Through MEPPA, skill-building for youth in the areas of peacebuilding, empathy, and conflict resolution can help young people feel more prepared to engage effectively in joint activities and help mitigate possible conflicts and misunderstandings between participants from different communities.

Building Linkages

Activities under this APS cannot occur in a vacuum and must be accompanied by efforts to address conditions for peace at other levels. For example, engaging community leaders provides vital linkages between the grassroots and the policy or political level. Key actors who can influence policy and/or institutional change at the local or national level may include traditional and religious leaders, community leaders, prominent civil society organization representatives, and others. USAID welcomes activities that link grassroots interventions with policy-level work by engaging key actors. In addition, horizontal linkages between different people-to-people programs can strengthen organizations’ abilities to engage in peacebuilding activities and advance common interests at the community or structural levels. This APS encourages consortia and joint efforts connecting local organizations for greater impact, but it is neither required nor expected that organizations belong to any particular consortium or association to receive an award.

Integrate Conflict Sensitivity and Do No Harm

As part of a conflict-sensitive approach, applicants must ensure that activities undertaken do not worsen social conflict dynamics, but rather that activities support constructive collaboration between communities in conflict to the greatest degree possible. Activity design should incorporate conflict management and negotiation skills strengthening for staff and participants if appropriate to advance key objectives. In order to help build a foundation for peaceful coexistence, the activity design should also reflect an awareness of impacts of trauma on local staff, beneficiaries, and communities, and incorporate strategies to strengthen trauma resilience as needed.

The Do No Harm principle dictates that peacebuilding interventions must not put those living in violent contexts at greater risk than they would otherwise face without the intervention. Using the ‘Do No Harm’ approach, efforts must be gender-sensitive, highly inclusive, and participatory to the extent possible in order to ensure true community ownership of their demand-driven challenges, priorities, and solutions. Even as communities seek to improve their opportunities, efforts must also be dedicated to helping communities heal. Special attention should be afforded to women, youth, and marginalized groups.

6. Programmatic Focus Areas:

Activities under this solicitation should advance the APS goal of conflict transformation by building and expanding popular support for peaceful coexistence between Israelis and

Palestinians through a people-to-people approach. New partners are encouraged as well as partnership arrangements between organizations that will build the capacity of local sub-partners, in order to increase the potential for impact and sustainability while building the peacebuilding field. Activities may implement new and creative solutions or build upon proven techniques to address development challenges.

Competitive applications will integrate a people-to-people approach through joint activities that advance overarching MEPPA objectives, regardless of the sector. The list below provides possible focus areas for cooperation, but many other types of interventions could be considered under this APS.

● Working within Israeli and Palestinian societies to mitigate the effects of the conflict and to increase understanding of the other, in preparation for joint work supporting peacebuilding.

● Engaging faith leaders to build trust, understanding, and deepened cooperation across religious communities.

● Engaging community leaders, key figures, issue-based groups, or others to encourage structured dialogues to advance core issues of the conflict, as well as “citizen diplomacy” or the ability of citizenry to influence government policy or societal discourse.

● Approaching peacebuilding with a greater focus on reconciliation, dialogue and healing, and integrating psychosocial support that addresses trauma resulting from recent events and the long-term conflict.

● Empowering women and youth and building their leadership skills to actively take part in peacebuilding efforts beyond equal participation in interventions. Activities that focus on promoting women’s rights and meaningful participation in society and peacebuilding efforts will be prioritized,

● Leveraging non-governmental institutional relationships to lead advocacy efforts in an attempt to influence public opinion as well as negotiating parties in favor of a peaceful two-state solution.

● Supporting youth innovation or entrepreneurship, especially in disadvantaged communities.

● Engaging youth creatively and innovatively with viable alternatives to radical interests and to counter violent extremism.

● Promoting greater understanding of different lived experiences and narratives, as a way of engendering basic respect.

https://www.usaid.gov/policy/countering-violent-extremism

USAID will prioritize applications that increase accountability and evidence-based development, build local capacity, foster innovation, and maximize development impact. Successful concepts are those that demonstrate measurable results. USAID will promote activities that offer a positive return on investment – not only in the interest of peacebuilding but also in furtherance of development outcomes.

Each activity under the People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund is part of a multi-activity framework and learning agenda. Thus, all applicants will be asked to track indicators measuring collective progress. These indicators may include:

● Number of people participating in USG-supported events, trainings, or activities designed to build mass support for peace and reconciliation (disaggregated by sex and national identity). (PS.6.2-4)

● Number of USG-funded events, trainings, or activities designed to build support for peace or reconciliation on a mass scale. (PS.6.2-2)

● Percentage of targeted participants who agree that they have an improved understanding of members of other communities and willingness to engage those communities in the future due to programming created through USG assistance.

● Number of local women participating in a substantive role or position in a peacebuilding process supported with USG assistance. (Gender indicator)

A list of additional activity-specific outcome indicators will be defined in the co-design phase.

USAID will work with applicants to select, test, and refine the indicators, and, if needed, add new indicators. Performance Indicators Reference Sheets (PIRS) will be developed for the finalized indicators.

A Special Note Regarding USAID Programs in the West Bank and Gaza

Proposed programs must comply with, and take into consideration, the limitation on the use of funds in the "Taylor Force Act" (See 22 USC 2378c-1(a)(1)). The Taylor Force Act, signed into law as part of FY 2018 Appropriations Act, limits USAID’s ability to provide assistance that confers a

“direct benefit” to the Palestinian Authority (PA). Proposed programs must also take into consideration U.S. restrictions on contact with Designated Terrorist Organizations, including the parameters of existing Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) licenses, particularly with regard to proposed activities in Gaza. Vetting will be required for key individuals, sub-awardees, and beneficiaries as described further in this APS and Mission Order No. 21.

In addition to the above, Applicants are reminded that awards through this APS will be performed in an extremely politically sensitive environment, and may include certain requirements that are specific to the operating environment in Israel, West Bank and Gaza.

These may include the submission of: management plans, branding and marking plans, grant manuals, and other administrative requirements. Such materials must reflect the programmatic objectives of the recipient’s strategic communications plan.

To achieve the foregoing objectives and requirements, recipients will be expected to take reasonable measures to ensure, consistent with applicable law, that public communication by, or on behalf of, their organization and its staff be consistent with, the strategic communication objectives stated in this APS, the award-specific strategic communication objectives, and the development and policy priorities of the U.S. Government.

Recipients will be expected to apply their internal procedures and personnel policies, consistent with applicable law, to manage risks posed by public statements or other public expressions

(including on social media) made by, or found on, any source that is the manageable control of select program staff or subrecipients that are inconsistent with the ability of the organization or its personnel to deliver on the objectives of the award and/or to be a credible messenger in support of peacebuilding. Risks include adverse consequences to the efficacy or mission of this

Program, and/or achievement of the strategic communication objectives described above.

END OF SECTION A

SECTION B: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Estimate of Funds Available and Number of Awards Contemplated

Subject to funding availability, USAID anticipates executing multiple awards up to a total USAID funding amount of no more than $15 - $20M.

It is expected that awards provided through this APS will fall into two (2) categories of potential awards as follows:

1) Cooperative Agreements: These have a range from a minimum USAID-funded amount of $750,000 to a maximum USAID-funded amount of $5,000,000, excluding any cost share or matching funds, if applicable.

2) Fixed Amount Award (FAA): These have a range from a minimum USAID-funded amount of $250,000 to a maximum USAID-funded amount of $750,000 excluding any cost share or matching funds, if applicable.

USAID reserves the right to issue awards in excess of this limit, or through any type of assistance instrument it chooses. USAID reserves the right to fund any one or none of the applications submitted.

2. Start Date and Period of Performance for Federal Awards

The period of performance for the awards is estimated to range from 12 months to three years.

The estimated start date will be upon the signature of the awards.

Renewal Awards:

After the initial three-year period of performance, USAID/WBG may choose to extend the activity through a renewal award. Should USAID pursue a renewal award, it will conduct a programmatic review in the final year of the initial period of award performance. Following the programmatic review, USAID will request a renewal application including a technical and cost application. The total period of performance covered by both the initial award period and the renewal award period may be up to five years.

Any renewal periods or expansion of activities is contingent on the following: availability of funds; satisfactory progress towards meeting the award objectives; submission of required reports; and compliance with the terms and conditions of the award, including the conditions for renewal (see ADS 303.3.24(a)).

3. Accountability

The Recipient will be fully responsible for all funds disbursed to it under the award. USAID/WBG

Recipients and significant sub-recipients are subject to the audit requirements as mandated under the annual appropriation law and in accordance with the regulations. In addition, all awards for U.S. and non-U.S. recipients will be subject to annual financial audits (see section

F.7.9). Sub-recipients will also be subject to annual financial audits should the sub-recipients incur expenditures of federal funds totaling $1,000,000 or more during its fiscal year.

USAID/WBG has the discretion to audit sub-recipients at a lower threshold if deemed necessary.

The Recipient must comply with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations. Failure to comply with applicable U.S. law and regulations may result in unallowed costs and/or termination of award

4. Expected Implementing Mechanism

Awards resulting from this APS may take the form of any assistance mechanism, but primarily a fixed amount award or a cooperative agreement as stated above. Please see Section F for more information on each type of potential assistance mechanism. An acquisition mechanism will not be awarded under this APS.

5. Title to Property

Property title under the resultant award will vest with the Recipient.

6. Authorized Geographic Code

The authorized geographic code for this activity is “937”. “937” is defined as the United States, the

Cooperative Country (West Bank and Gaza, Israel), and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, and excluding prohibited sources.

7. Nature of the Relationship between USAID and the Recipient

The principal purpose of the relationship with the Recipient and under the subject program is to transfer funds to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation of the USAID/West Bank

People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund Grants Activity 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.

Extensive Partnership: Co-Creation and Shared Responsibility

To foster inclusive, sustainable, and locally led development impact in unstable or post- recovery countries, USAID/WBG/MEPPA awards shall entail extensive partnering and collaboration between USAID and the Applicant from design to implementation.

USAID/WBG will identify and define jointly with the Applicant the development problems to tackle in the program, and then collaborate to determine whether and how to solve those problems and achieve the greatest degree of measurable, sustainable impact through co-creation. USAID shares risks and responsibilities with the Applicant, and both work together to mobilize, leverage, and apply more effectively each other’s respective assets, expertise, and resources. Awards will be co-created and co-developed. This means that, rather than telling

Applicants how USAID wants to solve a problem, the Agency presents a challenge and solicits the best ideas for how to address it and works from concept to issuance and then management of awards in an iterative, participatory, and collaborative process.

END OF SECTION B

SECTION C: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Qualified U.S. or non-U.S. organizations, non-profit, or for-profit entities may apply for funding under this APS. To be eligible, all entities must be legally registered entities under applicable law and eligible under the relevant laws to receive funding from USAID. Individuals, unregistered, or informal organizations are not considered eligible applicants.

New Partners

USAID encourages applications from new partners. USAID defines a new partner as an organization that has not received any funding from USAID as a prime partner over the last five years. Resultant awards to these organizations oblige USAID to undertake necessary pre-award reviews of these organizations to determine their “responsibility” in regards to fiduciary and other oversight responsibilities of the grant/cooperative agreement. In order for an award to be made, a USAID

Agreement Officer must evaluate the risks in making the award; a positive risk assessment means that the applicant possesses or has the ability to obtain the necessary management competence to plan and carry out the assistance program to be funded, and that the applicant will practice mutually agreed upon methods of accountability for funds and other assets provided by USAID, as discussed in ADS 303.3.9 (see below).

Prior to making an award under this competition, USAID may perform a pre-award survey for organizations that are new to working with USAID or for organizations with outstanding audit findings. Accounting systems, audit issues and management capability questions may be reviewed as part of this process. If notified by USAID that a pre-award survey is necessary, applicants must prepare in advance the required information and documents. A pre-award survey does not commit

USAID to make an award to any organization.

2. Transition Awards

In addition to traditional cooperative agreements and fixed amount awards, USAID may choose to use the transition award mechanism. Applicants may propose this type of mechanism or it may be discussed during the co-creation process.

Transition Awards:

A. Guidance for Transition Awards https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/303 can be found in ADS 303. Transition awards must meet the following three criteria:

1. The recipient of the transition award is a local subrecipient that has not previously received a direct award from USAID;

2. The initial award requires the recipient to strengthen the capacity of the local subrecipient(s) to become more capable of receiving a direct award from USAID or other donors; and

3. The initial award recipient recommends the local subrecipient for a potential transition award based on explicit criteria contained in the initial award.

B. The transition award process consists of two stages:

1. The Initial Award: The award of an initial assistance award for a distinct development activity with an additional requirement to build the capacity of local subrecipients, and

2. The Transition Award: The award of a subsequent assistance award to a local subrecipient whose capacity has been developed by the initial award recipient.

3. Cost Share

USAID has established that Cost Sharing is NOT REQUIRED. For guidance on cost sharing in grants and cooperative agreements see 2 CFR 200.306.

4. Risk Assessments

For an award to be made, the USAID Agreement Officer must evaluate the risks posed by applicants as outlined in 2 CFR 200.205 and ADS 303.3.9. This means that the Applicant must possess, or must have the ability to obtain, the necessary management and technical competence to conduct the proposed activity and must agree to practice mutually agreed-upon methods of accountability for funds and other assets provided or funded by USAID.

In evaluating the risks posed by Applicants, USAID uses a risk-based approach and may consider:

i. Financial stability;

ii. Quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards prescribed in this part;

iii. History of performance. The Applicant's record in managing Federal awards, if it is a prior

Recipient of Federal awards, including timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting requirements, conformance to the terms and conditions of previous Federal awards, and if applicable, the extent to which any previously awarded amounts will be expended prior to future awards;

iv. Reports and findings from audits performed under Subpart F—Audit Requirements of this part or the reports and findings of any other available audits;

v. The Applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on non-Federal entities; and

vi. That the Applicant is otherwise qualified to receive an award under applicable laws and regulations (e.g., Nondiscrimination, Lobbying, Debarment/Suspension, Terrorist Financing, etc.).

In the absence of a positive risk assessment, an award ordinarily cannot be made. Awards to potential new Recipients may be significantly delayed if USAID must undertake necessary pre-award reviews of these organizations to make an adequate risk assessment. These organizations should take this into account and plan their implementation dates and activities accordingly.

5. Number of Applications

There is no limit to the number of applications any one entity may submit but we encourage organizations to submit their most vital concepts.

END OF SECTION C

SECTION D: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Agency Point of Contact

E-mail: wbg-ocm-submissions@usaid.gov

In order to maintain a fair and transparent funding opportunity, USAID maintains strict guidelines on who at USAID may be contacted regarding this APS. Applicants may only contact USAID via the email address provided in this APS. Failure to comply, or contacting individuals at USAID outside this email, may disqualify the applicant’s submitted application.

2. Questions and Answers

Questions regarding this APS should be submitted in writing to the e-mail address above no later than the date and time indicated on the cover letter, as amended. Questions should be submitted with "APS 72029425APS00001 Questions" in the subject line of the e-mail. Any information given to a prospective applicant concerning this APS will be furnished promptly to all other prospective applicants as an amendment to this APS, if that information is necessary in submitting applications or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to any other prospective applicant.

3. Concept Paper and Application Process

Applicants are expected to review, understand, and comply with all aspects of this APS.

a. OVERALL APPLICATION PROCESS:

This APS is open for one year, and currently is announcing one round of call for applications. To be considered under this first round, applicants should submit their Concept Paper no later than

March 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM EST. Amendments to this APS will announce any changes to USAID review timelines.

The overall application process is the same in all cases; however co-creation, and therefore the timing of each step, will be tailored depending on the type of award and the proposed program.

Therefore timing of final considerations and decisions may vary across applicants.

Phase 1: Concept Paper Submission - All concept papers received will be evaluated by a USAID

Merit Review Committee (MRC) for responsiveness to the merit review/evaluation criteria outlined in Section E.

mailto:wbg-ocm-submissions@usaid.gov

Phase 2: Co-Creation Phase - After the concept papers are evaluated, successful applicants may be invited to continue the co-creation and collaboration process to identify and jointly define with USAID the development challenges to tackle in the proposed program, and then collaborate to determine how to solve those problems to achieve the greatest degree of measurable, sustainable impact.

Phase 3: Program Description Development and Award - The apparently successful applicants will be requested to submit a full application and finalize the Program Description (with inputs from USAID/WBG) and submit a full budget application to inform the resulting Fixed Amount

Award or Cooperative Agreement. No funding will be made available prior to award. Applicants, including the organization selected to develop the Program Description, are responsible for all costs incurred prior to award, including travel and all other related costs. Costs incurred in the application phase will not be reimbursed unless explicit written authorization is provided by the

Agreement Officer.

b. SPECIFIC DETAILED PHASED PROCESS:

PHASE 1: CONCEPT PAPER SUBMISSION

Interested Applicants are invited to submit a Concept Paper based on Section A of this APS. Concept

Papers should be prepared and submitted according to the specific instructions in this APS.

Applicants should not submit any alternative document or narrative as a substitute for a Concept

Paper. Application materials in any other format than that described in Section D.4 and D.5 will not be accepted or reviewed. All Concept Papers must be in English and submitted electronically according to the instructions in this APS. Concept Papers must be submitted to the point of contact indicated in Section D.1. Concept Papers sent by any other means (including on www.grants.gov) will not be considered.

A Concept Paper is a short document of up to seven (7) pages (including cover letter) where the applicant provides an overview of their idea. Concept papers that are submitted late or are incomplete may not be considered. Additional information in the concept paper not requested under this APS may be removed and may adversely affect an applicant’s evaluation/review.

CONCEPT PAPER REVIEW

Concept Papers will be evaluated according to the criteria and considerations set forth in Section E.

USAID/WBG anticipates two (2) possible results from the Concept Paper merit review process:

Conditional Acceptance - Invited for Phase 2: Co-Creation: The Concept Paper generally meets objectives and receives a PASS when evaluated against the Concept Paper merit review criteria. At this stage, additional clarity may be needed and USAID may invite the

Applicant to engage in co-creation and/or to submit a Full Application if co-creation is determined to not be necessary. Applicants will be notified in writing with instructions for the next phase.

Note that a decision to engage in more in-depth and/or 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. There is no guarantee that participation in the co-creation phase will lead to an award from USAID. USAID also reserves the right to not conduct a co-creation phase or request full applications from successful applicants at the concept paper stage.

--OR--

Rejection: The Concept Paper was not identified as one of the highest rated concepts when evaluated against the merit review criteria and as a result has not been selected to move to

Phase 2. Not every organization that submits a concept paper will automatically be selected to participate in co-creation. Applicants whose Concept Paper is rejected will be notified by e-mail.

PHASE 2: CO-CREATION

Applicants that receive conditional acceptance may be invited for co-creation. The co-creation process with USAID only builds on a Concept Paper that meets the merit review criteria and has strength and potential; it is not intended to develop new concepts from the ground up. During this phase, applicants will work with USAID technical teams to address issues.

After concept papers have been submitted and evaluated, USAID personnel can have highly specific, detailed activity design discussions with the Applicants throughout the remainder of the process, e.g., up to and through any award that might be issued under this APS.

The goals of the co-creation phase would likely be to explore and validate key challenges and problems, and then jointly develop promising solutions or adapt and expand upon existing solutions. Ideas described within the Concept Papers may be discussed and further developed during co-creation through a meeting or series of meetings and technical exchanges. Co-creation thinking, and possible eventual full applications, may address the ideas presented within the

Concept Papers but will not be limited to these ideas. Co-creation is also intended to help identify potential consortia and partnerships to support relevant activities.

NOTE: None of USAID’s communication during the co-creation process under this APS should be interpreted as a commitment to making an award of USAID funding. Regardless of the co-creation approach, USAID envisages a product of the co-creation process to be a strong draft program description from each selected Applicant/Consortium for the full application phase, as well as quantitative and/or qualitative indicators or performance milestones.

Note on additional partners/resources: Until full applications are submitted, both the Applicant and USAID may identify and include potential additional technical partners and/or potential resource partners. All additional sub-partners may be included as part of a subsequent full application if there is an agreement to do so between the potential sub-partner, the original

Concept Paper Applicant, and USAID, but this is not guaranteed.

If an applicant does not succeed at the co-creation phase, the process ends for that applicant.

USAID reserves the right to remove any co-creation participant from award consideration should the parties fail to reach agreement on activity concept, design, award terms, conditions, or cost/price within a reasonable time, if the participant fails to provide requested additional information in a timely manner, or if the U.S. Government believes it is in its best interest.

Concept papers that are submitted late or are incomplete may not be considered under Phase 2 and Phase 3.

Additional information in the concept paper not requested under this APS may be removed and may adversely affect an applicant’s evaluation/review. USAID also reserves the right to not conduct a co-creation phase or request full applications from successful applicants at the concept paper stage.

PHASE 3: APPARENTLY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS/ PROGRAM DESCRIPTION DEVELOPMENT AND

AWARD

After the co-creation phase, USAID determines if a full application(s) is warranted, and full application instructions will be provided to the selected applicant(s) or groups of applicants that are proposing to work together. USAID/WBG will provide complete instructions for submission of a full application. The full application will detail and expand upon the concept(s) developed through co-creation. The full application also requires the applicant to complete specific U.S. Government forms and to provide additional information that USAID will need to move forward with an appropriate implementing instrument. USAID will continue to have robust communication with applicants, potential partners, and other key stakeholders regarding the technical substance of the evolving approach, as well as the identity and roles of proposed or additional partners.

During this stage, the Apparently Successful Applicant(s) and USAID can further design the technical approach, and clarify general resource requirements, additional partner involvement, and management control of the project under the guidance of the Agreement Officer. The Apparently

Successful Applicant(s) may also be asked to provide additional information about its technical approach, capacity, management and organization, proposed cost and budget application, responsibility, and representations and certifications in line with sub-section 6 below ‘Potential

Request for Additional Documentation.’

The Agreement Officer will engage in final review, negotiation, and determinations of award responsibility, and cost reasonableness, and will draft an assistance mechanism, to be reviewed by the Apparently Successful Applicant. Information regarding possible award provisions will be offered to the applicant, as well as the final award provisions when the award is drafted. USAID reserves the right to accept applications in their entirety or to select only portions of the application to award.

USAID reserves the right to make no award under this APS.

If requested to submit a full application, the applicant(s) (unless the applicant is a Federal awarding agency that is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d)), is required to:

1) Be registered in SAM (System for Award Management) before submitting its application;

2) Provide a valid UEI (Unique Entity ID) number in its application; and

3) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency.

USAID will not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time USAID is ready to make an award, USAID may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

4. Application Submission Procedures

Applications in response to this APS must be submitted no later than the closing date and time indicated on the cover letter, or as amended and subject to the availability of funds. Late applications may be considered at the discretion of the Agreement Officer.

Applicants should retain for their records one (1) copy of the application and all enclosures which accompany it.

Concept Papers must be written in English and submitted electronically via e-mail in Word and

Adobe PDF formats. The concept paper must be written in Calibri 12-point font, on standard 8.5” x 11” paper, and be single spaced with no less than one-inch margins and consecutively numbered pages. The concept paper must not exceed seven (7) pages, including the Cover Page.

Applications more than seven (7)…