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Request for Assistance (RFA) FY16 American English (AE) E-Teacher Course RFA02 RFA #: FY16-AECD-RFA02 Issued on: May 5, 2017 For: Development and delivery of university-level online courses for non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) outside the United States related to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), under the American English (AE) E-Teacher Program Estimated Period of Performance: October 2, 2017 - September 28, 2018 Application Deadline: July 3, 2017 ______________________________________________________________ _____ FHI 360 Brief Background: FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research and technology, creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries and all U.S. states and territories. Page 1

Transcript of Note to Applicants - solicitations.fhi360.orgsolicitations.fhi360.org/Files/FY16 AE...

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Request for Assistance (RFA)

FY16 American English (AE) E-Teacher Course RFA02

RFA #: FY16-AECD-RFA02

Issued on: May 5, 2017

For: Development and delivery of university-level online courses for non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) outside the United States related to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), under the American English (AE) E-Teacher Program

Estimated Period of Performance: October 2, 2017 - September 28, 2018

Application Deadline: July 3, 2017

___________________________________________________________________FHI 360 Brief Background:FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research and technology, creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries and all U.S. states and territories.

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Table of Contents

Note to Applicants 3Purpose 3Description 3Course Adaptation 5

Guidelines and Standards 5Intellectual Property 5Course Design 5Technical Requirements 7

Period of Performance 8Scope of Work (SOW) and Deliverables 8Budget 8Instructions to Applicants 9

RFA Response Information 9Submission Requirements 9Eligibility 12Criteria/Qualifications for Evaluation 12

Terms and Conditions 13Certification of Independent Price Determination 13Withdrawal of Applications 14Right to Select/Reject 14Disclaimer 14Request for Application Firm Guarantee 14Offer Verification 14False Statements in Offer 14Conflict of Interest 14Reserved Rights 15

Attachments 15

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Note to ApplicantsThank you for your interest in working with the American English (AE) E-Teacher Program. Please read this RFA carefully, as some information, such as submission requirements, have changed significantly from previous RFPs and RFAs issued under the E-Teacher Scholarship and AE E-Teacher Programs. Applications that do not respond to the specific requirements and submission instructions included in this RFA will be disqualified.

PurposeFHI 360 is soliciting applications for partners to adapt and deliver online courses for English language teaching professionals worldwide under the AE E-Teacher Program, sponsored and funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/A/L). Selected courses will be developed and delivered as Global Online Courses (GOCs) with cohorts of up to 25 students per section, and then adapted for delivery as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) with unlimited enrollment. Following a scheduled and instructed MOOC delivery, the MOOC courses will undergo a final adaptation to be offered as on-demand courses. Both GOCs and MOOCs will introduce participants to the most current methods and evidence-based approaches to teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language (ESL/EFL)

DescriptionThe AE E-Teacher Program offers a variety of online professional development opportunities in addition to GOCs and MOOCs, including Webinars, Scheduled Online Events (SOLEs), a Community of Practice (COP), and Open Educational Resources (OER). Resources are made available to participants online via the AE E-Teacher portal, and are delivered by a network of providers. This network provides direct access to experts with whom participants might not otherwise have the opportunity to interact. Program resources expose participants to the latest educational technology, U.S. student-centered teaching techniques, and American culture and values. Participants are selected through U.S. Embassies, and nomination, program registration and course enrollment is managed by FHI 360.

AE E-Teacher Program participants are expected to become agents of change by sharing the knowledge they gain from the program with their colleagues. Courses incorporate lessons related to “Cascading New Knowledge” to support participants in this effort. A Practice Group related to this theme and moderated by FHI 360’s TESOL Technical Officer provides further opportunities to explore strategies for sharing experiences, methods, and techniques within wider teaching and learning communities.

The E-Teacher Scholarship Program was piloted in 2004, offering five courses, and expanded over the years to offer a variety of courses to participants in over 155 countries. The AE E-Teacher Program is currently offering the following courses, delivered by a consortium of academic partners: Integrating Critical Thinking Skills into the Exploration of Culture, Teaching Grammar Communicatively, and Using Educational Technology in the English Language Classroom. Courses in development include Teaching English to Young Learners and Professional Development for Teacher Trainers. Selected participants are enrolled in the American English (AE) E-Teacher Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by FHI 360. Participants are not considered to be enrolled in or students of any partner institution providing course content or instruction under grants funded by the Program.  

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This RFA supports adaptation of existing online course content and design to meet the needs of the target audience. Applicants must be able to offer courses on a flexible schedule, regardless of the institution’s academic calendar. The following is an illustrative calendar of tentative term dates during 2018.

Term Begin End Winter 2018 Tuesday, January 9 Tuesday, March 6Spring 2018 Tuesday, April 3 Tuesday, May 29Summer 2018 Tuesday, July 3 Tuesday, August 28Fall 2018 Tuesday, September 25 Tuesday, November 20.

Applications submitted for topics already being offered by the AE E-Teacher Program (Critical Thinking, Teaching Grammar, Educational Technology, Professional Development and Teaching Young Learners) will be disqualified. Only one submission per applicant will be reviewed; please choose one topic from the list below and prepare your application after carefully reading this RFA. If more than one submission is received from the same applicant, the submission received first will be reviewed, and all others disqualified. If the submission addresses the development of more than one of the topics below, it will be disqualified. Applications for topics other than those listed below will be disqualified. 1. Techniques of Teaching Reading and Writing

Tools and techniques discussed in this course will include selecting and adapting materials, promoting reading fluency and comprehension through pre-, during, and post-reading activities, building vocabulary, teaching the steps of the writing process, everyday writing activities and different types of essays, and reading and writing assessment.

2. English for Specific Purposes (ESP) - The goal of this course is to give teachers the tools they need to prepare their students for working in specific professional environments. Participants will be exposed to tools and techniques for finding and adapting authentic materials and developing their students’ communication skills through content- and task-based activities relevant to their professional sphere.

3. Content Based Instruction (CBI) -This course will explore methods and tools for teaching content courses (science, history, etc.) in English, focusing on making both academic content and language accessible for all students.

4. TESOL MethodologyThis comprehensive course will include theory and practice in Communicative Language Teaching methods, including teaching using contextual examples, designing collaborative classroom activities, and promoting fluency over grammatical accuracy.

5. Special NeedsThis course explores strategies and best practices for supporting ELLs with special educational and physical needs. Participants in this course will gain experience with identifying learners’ needs and learning styles, and practice differentiated instruction techniques for reaching students of different learning and language abilities.

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All awards are contingent upon availability of funding, and FHI 360 reserves the right to award for the development of as many or as few courses as are determined to meet the needs of the program.

Course AdaptationGuidelines and StandardsProgram-specific and ECA-approved guidelines and standards will be included as part of the grant agreement, and must be used throughout the period of performance to ensure that adapted courses and corresponding resources meet the requirements of the funder. Some of these guidelines and standards include TESOL Content Standards, Instructional Design & Online Learning Standards, and Materials Content Best Practices. Additionally, FHI 360 will provide Creative Commons Guidelines and a Creative Commons Manual related to the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY) licensing requirement described in the next section.

Intellectual PropertyThe AE E-Teacher Program represents an investment in the next generation of open educational resources (OER) by requiring that all new intellectual property, including all digital content, be openly licensed for free use, adaptation, and improvement by others. OER are teaching, learning, and research materials in any medium that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license that permits their free use and re-purposing by others. “Educational materials” can be but are not limited to the following:

Courses, course materials or modules, textbooks, handouts, videos, assessments, multimedia applications, audio, games, lesson plans, curriculum maps, teaching guides, training and certification materials, and any other explanatory materials used to support access to knowledge.

All materials and resources built or revised with grant funds must be openly licensed and made publicly available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (CC BY). The purpose of the CC BY licensing requirement is to extend the reach of the AE E-Teacher Program. CC BY licensing allows participants to retain, reuse, revise, and remix course materials as fits their teaching contexts, as well as redistribute materials within their classes or teaching networks. For more information about Creative Commons licensing, please visit https://creativecommons.org/.

Course DesignGOC and MOOC design should reflect basic pedagogical and andragogical strategies that are effective for a global, asynchronous audience of adult learners, as well as account for specific characteristics of the target audience.

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AE E-TEACHER PARTICIPANT PROFILE

CHARACTERISTICS APPROACHES

Language Level

➢ TOEFL iBT 70-80/IELTS 6 -6.5/CEFR B2

➢ May be higher or lower➢ Language level is not verified by

the AE E-Teacher Program

- Target course materials to CEFR B1- Provide extension materials/activities for

higher level participants- Scaffold instruction to reach lower level

participants

Educational Background

➢ Most hold a BA➢ May not have advanced degrees➢ Degrees may not be related to

English or Education

- Do not assume prerequisite knowledge- Use needs assessments to gauge

participants’ background knowledge and experience

Technical Environment

➢ Asynchronous environment➢ Low bandwidth constraints limit

the reliability and frequency of Internet access

➢ Participants in low-resource environments (including refugee camps) may not have consistent access to equipment, internet connection, or commonly used applications

- Structure course activities so that participants can interact with materials on a schedule that works for them locally

- Do not design course such that daily login is required; provide downloadable packets of course materials

- Keep video segments short and provide transcripts as backup for low-bandwidth participants

Learning Environment

➢ Global audience with varied teaching contexts and goals

➢ Significant work/family commitments may impact ability to devote time to coursework

- Emphasize EFL- specific outcomes and use participants’ experience as a springboard for activities

- Limit median time required to complete weekly coursework

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BEST PRACTICES FOR AE E-TEACHER COURSE DESIGN

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS COMMENTS

Hours of instruction: +/-3 hours of presentation, +/-5 to 7 hours per week of activities

The combination of presentation and interaction (reviewing course instruction, reading course materials, participating in course activities, and completing productive activities) should not exceed 10 hours per week.

Assessment:Pre- and post-course knowledge

Diagnostic and post-course assessment must be included and aligned to learning objectives.

Retention Strategies The first two weeks are a critical period. Retention strategies, above and beyond outreach to participants who have not logged into the course, is critical.

“Cascading New Knowledge” lesson/module

Incorporate project-based design to embed aspects of “Cascading New Knowledge” requirement throughout the course. An Action Plan should be required as a culminating assessment.

Existing Department of State teaching resources (americanenglish.state.gov)

Encourage participants to interact with and adapt existing resources.

American culture Provide participants with relevant information about the American education system, and highlight pertinent American Culture resources available on American English.

Digital literacy skills Provide instruction and practice in identifying reliable online sources and examples of adapting web-based materials to the classroom.

Intellectual property rights Explicitly define and teach intellectual property rights. Draw attention to the CC BY licensing of course materials and explore how they can be used by participants.

Independent learning strategies and critical and creative thinking skills

Course content and activities should encourage analysis, synthesis and evaluation of a variety of input; participants should ultimately arrive at a plan for both amending their teaching approach and acting as a catalyst for change in their community.

Technical RequirementsBoth GOCs and MOOCs will be delivered using the AE E-Teacher Program’s Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) platform. For more information about Canvas, please visit http://www.canvaslms.com/. Course content must be fully downloadable, accessible to users with limited bandwidth, universally adaptable and transferable between various platforms and learning management systems, compliant with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and completely accessible to FHI 360 and ECA/A/L at all times.

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Period of PerformanceThe Estimated Period of Performance is October 1, 2017 to September 28, 2018. The selection of courses to be offered each quarter and the number of sections required will be determined during on-going post-award conversations with FHI 360, in collaboration with ECA/A/L.

Scope of Work (SOW) and DeliverablesThe agreement(s) negotiated under this award will be issued as cost-reimbursable grants or Fixed Amount Awards (FAA). Detailed work statements, reporting guidelines and invoicing requirements will be provided in grant agreements.

WORK ORDERS SCOPE OF WORK DELIVERABLES

Global Online Course (GOC) Adaptation

Adapt existing course material following guidelines provided by the program and in consultation with FHI 360 and ECA/A/L

- CC BY licensed 8-week, university level online course, including all related materials and resources, built into a Canvas course shell provided by FHI 360.

Instructed and On-Demand Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Adaptation

Adapt GOC course following guidelines provided by the program and in consultation with FHI 360 and ECA/A/L for delivery as an instructed MOOC. Adapt instructed MOOC for on-demand delivery.

- CC BY licensed 5-week, university level online courses designed for delivery to an unlimited number of participants.

Global Online Course Delivery

GOC instruction, assessment and feedback, provided by a qualified instructor, on an as needed basis (refer to Attachment A for an illustrative schedule of terms).

Assessment and feedback; course grades and certificates (for GOCs). Digital badges will be provided by FHI 360 to MOOC participants.Identification of high-performing alumni for mentoring for MOOC and COP roles.

Instructed MOOC Delivery

Instruction of the facilitated MOOC by a graduate teaching assistant.

- Initial report- Final Report

The awardee(s) must designate a main point of contact (POC) to interact with FHI 360’s project manager to discuss design, development, implementation and evaluation of all components of the course(s). All inquiries must be answered in a timely fashion and within no longer than two working days. The awardee(s) must collaborate with FHI 360 to develop a detailed Work Plan for each Work Order. FHI 360 will provide final approval of all Work Plans, and all instructors associated with course delivery. Any changes, if required, will be negotiated with all parties.

BudgetFHI 360 will issue awards with a maximum award ceiling of $200,000. Global Online Course (GOC) and Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) development will be awarded as cost-reimbursable grants. Course delivery will be awarded as Fixed Amount Awards (FAA). Awards will be administered in accordance with the applicable donor regulations.

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Development Costs – GOC, Instructed MOOC and Stand-alone MOOC Adaptation GOC Delivery

Instructed MOOC Delivery

Total Award Ceiling

$ 60,000.00 $ 15,000 $ 5,000

$ 200,0008 sections of additional Fixed Award GOC Delivery as needed throughout the period of performance: $ 120,000

Applicants should present their costs in as much detail as possible, including budget calculations. Please use the budget template provided as Attachment D and submit your budget as an Excel document, including a detailed budget narrative which should clearly explain how the costs reflected in the budget were derived.

Instructions to Applicants

RFA Response InformationThe key dates for this RFA process are shown below:

May 5 RFA released to potential Applicants.

May 15, 2017 Questions or requests for clarification need to be submitted in writing via email to [email protected].

Please note that inquiries and answers to inquiries will be shared with all Applicants. Please do not contact any FHI 360 employees regarding this RFA. Applicants contacting individual employees will be disqualified.

No Telephone Inquiries Will Be Answered.

May 22, 2017 FHI 360’s response to all submitted questions will be posted.

July 3 2017 Submission of Applications due by 5:00 pm Washington, DC (EDT) via email to [email protected]. Applications received after this time will not be considered.

Please note FHI 360 shall, as a courtesy, reply via email confirming receipt of all applications received prior to the closing date. This receipt response shall ONLY be notification that an application email has been received by FHI 360 and is in no way to be construed as suggesting or acknowledging receipt of a valid, complete or otherwise acceptable proposal file.

Submission RequirementsPlease use the following checklist to ensure that your application responds to all submission requirements.

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Submission Requirement

Format Page Limit Components

Application Cover Sheet/Capability Assessment

Use Microsoft Word Template (Attachment C) and submit in PDF Format

N/A

Program Narrative

Submit in PDF Format

7 - 12 pages total; see limits for individual sections under Components

● 1 - 2 page description of existing online course: audience, number of weeks, goals, number of times course has previously been offered, how course has been adapted over time, LMS used for course delivery.

● 3 - 5 page description of your understanding of low-bandwidth and low-resource environments, how the existing course (materials presentation and activities) will need to be adapted to be accessible in these environments, and how strategies for effective engagement and interaction can be maintained in these environments. Description of how the course will be adapted to be delivered over an 8-week period, requiring no more than 10 hours of work per week.

● 1 - 2 page description of your understanding of the purpose of Open Educational Resources (OER) and how non-CC BY or public domain resources can be replaced or supplemented with them to meet the CC BY licensing requirement. This description should go above and beyond a commitment to CC BY licensing and reflect some understanding of how copyrighted material may or may not be used.

● 1 page description of how American culture will be incorporated into the course explicitly.

● 1 - 2 page description of what “Cascading New Knowledge” means in the context of the program, how you will incorporate the concept into the course, and the structure of the “Action Plan” requirement.

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Submission Requirement

Format Page Limit Components

Existing Course Syllabus

Submit in PDF Format

N/A The submitted syllabus must be the syllabus for the existing course that will be adapted for the program. Applicants who submit a proposed syllabus will be disqualified. Screenshots from the existing course that illustrate elements of the syllabus may be included. We do not need to see screenshots of every aspect of the course; please limit those included to a few representative examples that illustrate either pertinent aspects of online course design or scaffolding of content and activities.

Activity Template

Submit PDF Template (Attachment B)

N/A Follow the instructions in Attachment C.

Timeline Submit in PDF Format

1 page Detailed timeline/calendar for executing development activities.

Staffing Submit PDF Template (Attachment A)

No more than 3 pages each.

Follow the instructions in Attachment D.1. Principal Investigator (no more than 2

resumes)2. Curriculum Developers (no more than 3

resumes)3. TESOL Content Specialists/Instructors (no

more than 3 resumes)It is not necessary to submit resumes for finance or support staff.

Prior Performance Report

Submit in PDF Format

1 page Summary of previous, similar grants related to TESOL teacher training curriculum development and/or online course development, funded by U.S. government agencies. Submit name of grant, funding agency, amount, and brief description of project. Submit no more than 3 projects.

Indirect rate Agreement

Submit in PDF Format

N/A NICRA, F&A Cost Rate Agreement

Budget Submit Excel Template (Attachment E)

N/A See below, and instructions tab in budget template (Attachment E).

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Cost Application: Please provide a detailed budget using the template provided in Attachment D, as well as budget narratives that reflect as accurately as possible the real costs for the above scope of work. This must be submitted using the provided Microsoft Excel template.

● Proposed budget should provide sufficient detail to allow evaluation of elements of costs proposed.

● Proposed budget should be broken down by labor costs; please include the names of the people who will do the work and unit costs; travel, per diems, logistics, training and supervision costs, overhead or agency fees, indirect and direct costs etc.

● All fees must be clearly stated including the basis on which they will be applied. For example, if your organization has a set fee or price list for these activities, please indicate it; also any agency or overhead fees if applicable. If your organization has a set fee for stand-alone professional development courses, please provide the schedule of fees.

● The proposal must contain the signature of a duly authorized officer or agent of the company submitting the proposal.

● The price you quote should be all-inclusive. If the price excludes certain taxes, fees or charges, you must provide a detailed list of excluded fees with a complete explanation of the nature of those fees.

● If the execution of work to be performed by your company requires the hiring of subcontractors, you must clearly state this in your proposal. Subcontractors must be identified and the work they will perform must be defined. In your proposal, please provide the name, address, and EIN of the subcontractor. FHI 360 and ECA/A/L will not refuse a proposal based upon the use of subcontractors; however, we retain the right to refuse the subcontractors you have selected.

EligibilityThis competition is open to any non-governmental organization, non-profit or for-profit entity. To be minimally eligible for funding, applicants must comply with the following conditions:

● Organizations must be legally registered or otherwise authorized to conduct business in their country or countries of operation

● Organizations must have a DUNS number● Organizations must submit their application in English

Criteria/Qualifications for EvaluationApplications will be reviewed according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are weighted as follows:

● Organization’s Capability – demonstrated current capacity of the applicant to provide online courses, including MOOCs. Representative online course syllabus and activity template, flexibility to offer courses according to the proposed schedule, development timeline, and successful completion of past projects will be taken into consideration. (30%)

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● Program Narrative and Timeline – demonstrated understanding of the program and participants it serves, with a discussion of issues related to course design for the described audience, approach to “Cascading New Knowledge,” incorporating American culture, and complying with CC BY requirements. (30%)

● Staff and Qualifications – staffing qualification and level of effort to cost-effectively provide required material goods and services. (20%)

● Cost and Budget – with appropriate breakdown and unit prices and costs that are in line with industry standards. (20%)

Terms and Conditions Applicants are responsible for review of the terms and conditions described below:

Certification of Independent Price Determination The applicant certifies that—

1. The prices in this offer have been arrived at independently, without, for the purpose of restricting competition, any consultation, communication, or agreement with any other applicant, including but not limited to subsidiaries or other entities in which applicant has any ownership or other interests, or any competitor relating to (i) those prices, (ii) the intention to submit an offer, or (iii) the methods or factors used to calculate the prices offered;

2. The prices in this offer have not been and will not be knowingly disclosed by the applicant, directly or indirectly, to any other applicant, including but not limited to subsidiaries or other entities in which applicant has any ownership or other interests, or any competitor before bid opening (in the case of a sealed bid solicitation) or contract award (in the case of a negotiated or competitive solicitation) unless otherwise required by law; and

3. No attempt has been made or will be made by the applicant to induce any other concern or individual to submit or not to submit an offer for the purpose of restricting competition or influencing the competitive environment.

4. Each signature on the offer is considered to be a certification by the signatory that the signatory—

a. Is the person in the applicant's organization responsible for determining the prices being offered in this bid or proposal, and that the signatory has not participated and will not participate in any action contrary to subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) above; or

(i) Has been authorized, in writing, to act as agent for the principals of the applicant in certifying that those principals have not participated, and will not participate in any action contrary to subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) above;

(ii) As an authorized agent, does certify that the principals of the applicant have not participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) above; and(iii) As an agent, has not personally participated, and will not participate, in any action contrary to subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) above.

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5. Applicant understands and agrees that — (1) violation of this certification will result in immediate disqualification from this

solicitation without recourse and may result in disqualification from future solicitations; and

(2) discovery of any violation after award to the applicant will result in the termination of the award for default.

Withdrawal of Applications Applicants may withdraw applications by written notice via email received at any time before award. Applications may be withdrawn in person by an applicant’s authorized representative, if the representative’s identity is made known and the representative signs a receipt for the proposal before award.

Right to Select/Reject FHI 360 reserves the right to select and negotiate with those firms it determines, in its sole discretion, to be qualified for competitive proposals and to terminate negotiations without incurring any liability. FHI 360 also reserves the right to reject any or all applications received without explanation.

Disclaimer This RFA represents only a definition of requirements. It is merely an invitation for submission of applications and does not legally obligate FHI 360 to accept any of the submitted applications in whole or in part, nor is FHI 360 obligated to select the lowest priced proposal. FHI 360 reserves the right to negotiate with any or all firms, both with respect to price, cost and/or scope of services. FHI 360 has no contractual obligations with any firms based upon issuance of this RFA. It is not an offer to an agreement. Only the execution of a written/signed agreement shall obligate FHI 360 in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in such contract.

Request for Application Firm Guarantee All information submitted in connection with this RFA will be valid for three (3) months from the RFA due date. This includes, but is not limited to, cost, pricing, terms and conditions, service levels, and all other information. If your firm is awarded the contract, all information in the RFA and negotiation process is contractually binding.

Offer Verification FHI 360 may contact sub-recipients to confirm contact person, address, bid amount and that the bid was submitted for this solicitation.

False Statements in Offer Sub-recipients must provide full, accurate and complete information as required by this solicitation and its attachments.

Conflict of Interest Sub-recipients must provide disclosure of any past, present or future relationships with any parties associated with the issuance, review or management of this solicitation and

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anticipated award. Failure to provide full and open disclosure may result in FHI 360 having to re-evaluate selection of a potential subcontractor.

Reserved Rights All RFA responses become the property of FHI 360 and FHI 360 reserves the right in its sole discretion to: ● Disqualify any offer based on subcontractor failure to follow solicitation instructions. ● Waive any deviations by subcontractors from the requirements of this solicitation that in

FHI 360's opinion are considered not to be material defects requiring rejection or disqualification; or where such a waiver will promote increased competition.

● Extend the time for submission of all RFA responses after notification to all subcontractors.

● Terminate or modify the RFA process at any time and re-issue the RFA to whomever FHI 360 deems appropriate.

● Issue an award based on the initial evaluation of offers without discussion. ● Award only part of the activities in the solicitation or issue multiple awards based on

solicitation activities. ● FHI 360 will not be able to compensate subcontractors for preparation of their response to

this RFA. ● Issuing this RFA is not a guarantee that FHI 360 will award a purchase order. ● FHI 360 may choose to award a purchase order to more than one subcontractor for

specific parts of the activities in the RFA.

AttachmentsAttachment A – Resume TemplateAttachment B – Activity TemplateAttachment C – Capability Assessment/Cover Sheet FormAttachment D – Budget Template

– END OF RFA –

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