Zimbabwe JG-25-0099 Questions & Answers.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity CDC-RFA-JG-25-0099 Questions and Answers

1. The NOFO states the indirect cost threshold for subawards is $25,000 but 2 CFR 200 states the threshold is $50,000. Which indirect cost threshold for subawards is correct?

o The indirect cost threshold for subawards was updated at the end of 2024 and is currently

$50,000.

2. Strategy clarification: Please provide more clarity on the difference of focus areas for the strategies.

For strategy 2 – is “treatment adherence” referring to prevention treatment (e.g. PrEP and PEP adherence) or does refer to adherence to ART? Please confirm if the following differentiation is correct: strategy 2 focuses primarily on HIV prevention, while strategy 3 focuses on HTS and ART (including retention and adherence).

o Strategy 2 focuses on HIV prevention while strategy 3 focuses on HIV treatment. HIV testing is cross cutting both strategies.

3. Strategy clarification: Is the funder’s preference to include SGBV and post violence care activities under Strategy 2 or Strategy 4, or if both, please advise on the envisioned split of the SGBV-related package of services between the 2.

o SGBV and post violence care services should be layered across all the strategies for HIV prevention, testing and treatment.

4. Attachments: Are Attachments required for sub-recipients / consortium members in addition to the Prime, e.g., an experience statement, a financial capability statement, report on overlap, documentation of PEPFAR local partner? Please list which attachments apply for subs, including whether documentation of “PEFPAR local partner” entity should be included for all local consortium members. (NOFO pgs 40-43) o Reviewers will assess and grade the capacity of your application as a whole, so each application component, including attachments, should encompass the organizational capacity of the prime applicant as well as any potential sub-recipients or consortium members.

Funding preference points do not apply to sub-recipients/sub-partners or consortium members;

thus, documentation of PEPFAR local partner should not be included for local consortium members.

5. Local Entity bonus points: Do consortium members’ entity registration status contribute to the PEPFAR local partner 30 points bonus allotment? If so, how and does budget allocation contribute to the bonus point allotment?

o The prime applicant organization listed on the SF-424 must currently meet one of the definitions of a local partner to receive the points. Funding preference points do not apply to sub-recipients/sub-partners or consortium members.

You must follow the instructions in the NOFO to ensure the required supporting documentation is correctly submitted. Only applicants fully meeting the definition and able to provide the required supporting documentation at the time of application submission are eligible to receive the funding preference points; we will not award points on a scale for partially meeting the definition.

6. Abstract: Given the mandatory Project Abstract Summary form and the NOFO guidance for one page for the abstract. Does the one-page allocation relate to the text for the project abstract text as per a Word document, or does it have a character / space limitation in the form (it looks like the standard form uses about a 1/3 of the page for other content and the text box is the size of about 1/3 of the page) o There is no character count limit for the project abstract summary. The abstract should be one page in length.

7. Key Personnel: Please provide guidance on number of key personnel to be named, and which roles are recommended to include as key personnel in the proposal.

o It is up to you how to structure your staffing plan and you can choose which positions you consider “key” for project implementation. Unless otherwise indicated under resumes and job descriptions, you can choose which resumes to include. Job titles may vary depending on your organization’s practice, and you can propose or use alternate titles for key personnel. There is no limit to the number or length of resumes you can submit but keep in mind that combined, the attachments may not be more than 90 pages, except for the PEPFAR local partner funding preference documentation, if applicable. We provide this page limit to ensure you have adequate space to meet all requirements; however, we don’t expect you to need the full 90 pages.

8. Please also advise if merit criteria score named personnel higher than described job descriptions with qualifications.

o As noted in the Application Review section under Organizational Capacity, the 4th criterion states that the applicant should provide and will be evaluated on “information on qualified technical staff with relevant and clear roles and responsibilities to manage and perform the tasks described, showing good experience in HIV/AIDS programming and innovation” to receive up to 10 points. Responses should be consistent with the Program Description Organizational Capacity section, and with the requested attachments, which for this NOFO includes (among other items), Resumes and Job Descriptions for key personnel “for positions that are filled. If a position isn’t filled, attach the job description with qualifications and plans to hire.” Merit reviewers will use any combination of these items to evaluate and provide a score of up to 10 total points for this criterion.