ACR GCD Round 2 RFA

Responses to Questions through 3/28/14

1. Es un llamado para financiar o es un premio que se entrega a la mejor presentacion?(Is this a call for funding or is it a prize that will be awarded to the best application?)

Response: There are two opportunities for funding currently available under Round 2: a grant and a prize. They are two separate competitions. The RFA includes instructions to apply for the grant, found here. The software specifications and instructions for the prize can be found here. The prize will be awarded to the best application.

2. El  monto es de  100.000 por area de proyecto o es para todos?(Is the $100,000 per project (focus) area or for everything?)

Response: Grant Competition: It is estimated that at a minimum US $2,700,000 will be made available for awards under the RFA. Approximately three awards per focus area will be made, with a total of $900,000 available under each focus area, and with the flexibility to make more or less awards. The amount of available funding is subject to change. The ACR GCD Partners reserves the right not to make any awards under this RFA.

Prize Competition: The top three finalist will be awarded $12,000 each and their software will be evaluated and tested in the field where these three semi-finalists compete for the $100,000 grand prize.

3. Se puede presentar la propuesta en español? Tendría la documentación del llamado en español?(Can a proposal be submitted in Spanish? Is documentation for the call available in Spanish?)

Response: All proposals must be submitted in English. Proposals not written in English will not be reviewed. The Application Info Sheet provides a summary of the grant and prize competition and is available in Arabic, English, French, Hindi, Mandarin, Portugese and Spanish here.

4. Will a proposal to provide girls with STEM based books in Sierra Leone eligible for submission of a concept paper? The proposal will be inclusive of disabled children and the books converted to Braille for the visually impaired.

Response: Please refer to Section 1.2 of the RFA. If the proposal includes a technology-based innovation which addresses one of the three focus areas, fits into one of the two strategies, and improves reading scores for children in grades/levels one to three then it will be eligible for submission.

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5. Page 14, section 6: Award Information – Successful applications will be funded and managed through the resources of the ACR GCD Partners. The resultant grants will be awarded and administered by World Vision and will be subject to the requirements of the particular funding organization under the grant.

This statement leads me to believe that if awarded, we must adhere to the requirements of World Vision. Is that correct or would it vary for some reason to be AusAID or USAID? If it is World Vision, how do we access those requirements prior to providing a proposal for this competition to ensure we can follow them?

Response: Please refer to the third bullet on page 15 of the RFA under "Additional Award Information":

The funding for the programs outlined within this RFA is authorized in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. All awards will be made in accordance with Chapter 303 of USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS-303), inclusive of the following as applicable:

OMB Circular A- 21 also known as 2 CFR 220, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions, found at ADS 303.4.1, section b.

OMB Circular A-122 also known as 2 CFR 230, Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations, found at ADS 304.4.1 section c.

22 CFR 226, Administration of Assistance Awards to U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations found at ADS 303.4.1 section i.

22 CFR 228, Procurement of Commodities and Services Financed by USAID Federal Program Funds, found at ADS 303.4.1 section k.

OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, found at ADS 303.4.1 section s.

Standard Provisions for U.S. Nongovernmental Organizations, found at ADS 303.4.2 section k.

Standard Provisions for Non-U.S. organizations, found at ADS 303.4.2 section l.

6. We are one of the winners, of the first round of the Grand Challenge, and are currently implementing the ACR funded project. Can we apply for the second round?

Response: Yes, Round 1 winners can apply for Round 2 funding.

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7. There are three focus areas of which applicants must choose. Moreover, each applicant must choose one of the following strategies: (1) Development and Innovation or (2) Efficacy and Replication. Is there also a budget allocation planned for these two strategies? In that case, we would like to hear how much money is allocated to strategy 1 and strategy 2.

Response: There is not a budget allocation planned for these two strategies. Per section 6.2 of the RFA, approximately three awards per focus area will be made, with a total of $900,000 available under each focus area, and with the flexibility to make more or less awards. The amount of available funding is subject to change. The ACR GCD Partners reserve the right not to make any awards under this RFA.

8. I know the project has to be in one of the focus areas, and there are also problems outlined for each of the three areas. Can a project have components for more than one problem within the focus area (for example, in Family and Community Engagement, a project that works on both readiness and remediation) or should it focus on oneproblem only?

Response: Applicants must choose one central focus area and one central problem to address. However, we do encourage submissions that cover more than one focus area.

9. How many applications can one organization submit?

Response: Up to two applications may be submitted by the same organization, but each application must be associated with a different primary contact (project manager) and propose a different project. For the purposes of this requirement, the same organization will include any parent or subsidiary organization, or other affiliated organization with any common ownership or control.

10. How many awards will be made?

Response: It is estimated that at a minimum US $2,700,000 will be made available for awards under the RFA. Approximately three awards per focus area will be made, with a total of $900,000 available under each focus area, and with the flexibility to make more or less awards. The amount of available funding is subject to change. The ACR GCD Partners reserves the right not to make any awards under this RFA.

11. Can an organization be partners on multiple submissions?

Response: Yes, organizations may partner and/or support multiple submissions. However no one organization can submit more than two applications as the prime organization. Please refer to the requirements of section 7.10 of the RFA regarding "Number of Applicants per Organization".

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12. What is the format for the Concept Note? While RFA mentions the questions to be addressed in the Abstract in the step 1 of the selection process, the term “Concept Note” is only used in the Information Sheet, and not in RFA. Is the Concept Note in the Round 2 the same as the Abstract in the Round 1? Except for the guidance on how to write an Abstract, I don’t find any guidance in RFA on what format to use to write a Concept Note. Please advise.

Response: Please see page 23 of the RFA here.Stage 1: Concept Note. The ACR GCD Partners invite all eligible Applicants to submit a Concept Note based on the format below and in response to the evaluation criteria. The closing date for the Concept Note is April 10, 2014.The Concept Note, no more than 6 pages, should be presented in the following manner:

a. Cover Page (exclusive of 6-page limit). Executive Summary (1 page): Must summarize the proposed technology-based

b. innovation; its viability, application and sustainability; and M&E. Innovation Viability (1 page): Describe the extent to which the project is innovative and potentially transformative. Application and Sustainability (1 page): Describe how the proposed innovation is

c. relevant to the context and has the potential to improve student reading scores in primary

d. grades. Monitoring and Evaluation (1 page): Describe the monitoring and evaluation plan,

e. demonstrating appropriateness, clarity, and logic of the approach to managing and

f. implementing the project. i. Annex 1 - Monitoring and Evaluation Template (excluded from page limit)

ii. Annex 2 - Theory of Change Chart (excluded from page limit) iii. Annex 3 - Work Plan Template (excluded from page limit)

Organizational Capacity (1 page): Describe past performance and organizational g. capacity to ensure potential success in this project.

Summary Budget (1 page): Please complete Annex 4 – Summary Budget

13. We are a Private Egyptian consulting firm, operating regionally and are interest to submit the concept note for the project assignment to be applied in Egypt, are we eligible to do so as a lead applicant or a partner for the project?

Response: Please refer to Section 1.2 of the RFA. If the proposal includes a technology-based innovation which addresses one of the three focus areas, fits into one of the two strategies, is implemented in an Eligible Country (Appendix 3) and improves reading scores for children in grades/levels one to three then it will be eligible for submission.

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14. What will be the project life (period) in years?

Response: See Section 6.1 on page 14 of the RFA - Period of Performance: Applicants may propose activities with a period of performance of no more than two years from the date of the award.

15. Up to how much budget one can apply?

Response: The applicant is requested to propose an appropriate budget per project design taking into account that approximately three awards per focus area will be made, with a total of $900,000 available under each focus area, and with the flexibility to make more or less awards. The amount of available funding is subject to change. The ACR GCD Partners reserve the right not to make any awards under this RFA.

16. Does the project cover only materials or schooling as well?

Response: Please see Section 3.0 on page 8 of the RFA. Focus Area 1 covers Mother Tongue Instruction and Reading Materials. This does not include school fees.

17. Does the RFA cover construction of mother tongue based primary schools for children?

Response: No, the RFA does not cover construction of schools.

18. Page 21 of the RFA, #10, states that “Applicants must include a management, implementation, and staffing plan.” However, the Application Format outlined on page 23 does not include a place in the Concept Note for this section. Can the ACR GCD Partners please confirm that applicants must include a “management, implementation, and staffing plan” other than the Work Plan Template at the Concept Stage? If yes, can the ACR GCD Partners please confirm that this section is part of Annex 3 – Work Plan Template and therefore, excluded from the page limit?

Response: The Management, Implementation and Staffing Plan must be included as part of the section titled: Organizational Capacity (1 page): Describe past performance and organizational capacity to ensure potential success in this project.

19. Given that the RFA estimates that three awards per focus area will be granted, but perhaps more or less, is there a maximum budget amount that the ACR GCD Partners have set for applicants?

Response: The applicant is requested to propose an appropriate budget per project design taking into account that approximately three awards per focus area will be made, with a total of $900,000 available under each focus area, and with the flexibility to make more or less awards. The amount of available funding is subject to change. The ACR GCD Partners reserve the right not to make any awards under this RFA.

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20. Are you open to funding television programs, carton shows, educational shows. learning shows on reading, Art, calculating etc in 30 minutes segments?

Response: Please refer to Section 1.2 of the RFA. If the proposal includes a technology-based innovation which addresses one of the three focus areas, fits into one of the two strategies, is implemented in an Eligible Country (Appendix 3) and improves reading scores for children in grades/levels one to three then it will be eligible for submission.

21. I would like to know if the ACR GCD Round 2 is for early years primary.

Response:Yes, grades/levels one to three.

22. We are unsure about it fitting into the focus areas for Round 2 and wanted to check if conforming to the focus areas is a must? If we don’t conform to them, will it negatively impact the evaluation of our application to Round 2?

Response: Applicants must choose one central focus area and one central problem to address. However, we do encourage submissions that cover more than one focus area.

23. I would like more information related to the eligible duration of the project proposalsResponse: See Section 6.1 on page 14 of the RFA - Period of Performance: Applicants may propose activities with a period of performance of no more than two years from the date of the award.

24. Is the Grand Challenge open to for profit companies? We are doing some interesting work with children’s content and want to know if we could possibly apply.

Response: For-profit companies are eligible to apply. Please refer to RFA section 7 on Eligibility as well as section 7.2. For-Profit Organizations.

7. Elibibility Information. Eligible Applicants include, but are not limited to: NGOs, faith-based organizations, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and public and private agencies and institutions, such as colleges and universities. Government entities are ineligible for this opportunity, but can be identified as partnering organizations in the application process.

7.2. For-Profit Organizations: U.S. and non-U.S. for-profit organizations may apply for funding under this RFA. Potential for-profit Applicants should note that, pursuant to 22 CFR 226.81, the payment of fee/profit to the prime recipient under grants and cooperative agreements is prohibited. Moreover, forgone profit does not qualify as cost sharing or leveraging. However, if a prime recipient has a subcontract with a for-profit organization for the acquisition of goods or services (i.e., if a buyer-seller relationship is created), fee/profit for the subcontractor is authorized.

25. Would having a current MOU in place with World Vision constitute a conflict of interest and effect the selection process?

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Response: Applicants who have MOUs or current relationships with World Vision are eligible to apply.

26. Can an applicant propose to work with World Vision National Offices if their application is selected?

Response: Applicants may propose to implement their project within World Vision geographic zones. However, World Vision cannot provide letters of support or collaborate on any proposal until after award.

27. Our Round 1 grantees encouraged to apply for funding?

Response: Yes. All applicants meeting the eligibilty criteria as outlined in Section 7 of the RFA are eligible to apply for funding.

28. Is anonymity provided in the evaluation process?

Response: Applicants’ anonymity will be maintained for the technical evaluation panel in Step 1.

29. Would the use of formative design be acceptable?

Response: Yes

30. Are the letters from partners and those who support the project due with the Concept paper or may they be submitted if invited to submit a full proposal?

Response: Letters of support are required if invited to submit a full proposal.

31. Is there a concept note template that we should be using?

Response: Please reference the guidelines provided in the RFA in Section 12.4 pages 23-24.

32. How much funding is available for a single project? Given that it is technology, we would also need to budget for computers and any other materials, is that correct?

Response: The applicant is requested to propose an appropriate budget per project design, taking into account that approximately three awards per focus area will be made, with a total of $900,000 available under each focus area, and with the flexibility to make more or less awards.

33. How much or what is the limit funding could be for a project?

Response: The applicant is requested to propose an appropriate budget per project design, taking into account that approximately three awards per focus area will be made, with a

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total of $900,000 available under each focus area, and with the flexibility to make more or less awards.

34. Are we allowed to submit one proposal across multiple sites?

Response: Yes, as long as the project implementation occurs in the eligible countries.

35. Our plan would be to develop and fine-tune the materials for the project in Year 1 conducting small design trials to test and refine the tools we will propose, and then examine the efficacy of all our tools to improve reading in Year 2. Is this plan expected or are you looking for projects that have already created all the tools needed for implementation?

Response: This approach aligns with Strategy 1: Innovation and Development as outlined in Section 4.1 page 12 of the RFA.

36. We would like to get teachers involved in our project so they can sustain the intervention after the grant ends. Is this ok, or are you looking for projects that will affect children directly?

Response: It is appropriate to work with teachers.

37. We would like to propose activities that address all the three areas of this RFA (materials for the classroom, family involvement, and children with disabilities). Can we do that or do you want projects for a specific area only?

Response: Applicants must choose one central focus area and one central problem to address. However, we do encourage submissions that cover more than one focus area.

38. All Questions below are to verify or clarify utilization of the Omnicompete online application process.

Question# 17 requests the executive summary of the innovation but has a 500 character limit. However, page 23 of the RFA states that the "Executive Summary (1 page): Must summarize the proposed technology-based innovation; its viability, application and sustainability; and M&E."

Should applicants restrict their executive summary to the 500 character limit or provide both the one page executive summary under question #24 and the 500 character synopsis of that summary in the online form?

Similarly, questions #19, #20 and #21 on the online form has a 500 character limit - but the RFA specifies a one page limit.

Which limit or both is requested? or is the upload to under question #24 sufficient?

Question #22 - Organizational Capacity permits a file to uploaded. Are we correct in presuming the RFA specifications in terms of lenght but that the

separate one page on Org capacity is meant to be uploaded here -

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Should the org capacity be uploaded both here and with the complete concept note including the cover page as requested under question #24?

Question #23 - requests a one page summary budget in the format specified by Annex 4 in the RFA. The online form only allows 500 characters with no ability to format. Nor, can a file be uploaded here in the format specified for Annex 4.

Response: Please note that the fields in Omnicompete have been updated to reflect a 500 word limit (estimated at 1 page per RFA); as well as Q22 aligns with Organization Capacity; Q23 Summary Budget upload file; Q24 - Full concept paper upload of file; Q25-27 upload of Annex 1-3 files.

39. Will the consolidated upload of pdf of all requested pages and annexes as specified in the RFA and requested under question #24 sufficient or is there another means of uploading the budget to question #23?

Response: Applicants should upload the budget summary, without Budget Notes, into the online form. The full concept note must be uploaded in pdf format as promted in the online form.

40. Is there a local or sub-regional contact that we can refer to here for further answers if needed?Response: Applicants are encouraged to reach out to the USAID Mission, World Vision National Office or Australian Government Post; however, if there are specific questions related to the RFA, they must be submitted to acrgcd@worldvision.org. However, the question and answer period specifically for the grant competition has closed.

41. Is it okay to use data from recently conducted reading projects for presentation in our proposal?

Response: Yes, Applicants must provide evidence (in terms of reading scores) as to the effectiveness of previously piloted technology-based innovations that they wish to replicate.

42. Can you let us know if we are qualified to participate as we are a Community Based Organization?

Response: Please refer to Eligibility Information on page 16 of the RFA.

43. In the Grant Competition, does the donor group give preference to supporting local organisations to international ones? Is a portion of competition funds pre-allocated for local organisations etc.?

Response: The ACR GCD Partners strongly encourage applications from Local Organizations. Please see Section 6.3 on page 14 of the RFA, Local Organization Partial Set-Aside: A minimum of half of the awards will be made to Applicants that are Local Organizations.

44. Or the quality of the proposals is the main criteria?

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Response: Please see Section 13 on page 24 of the RFA, the Application’s relevance to improving student reading scores in early primary education, innovation, and the project goal is the main criteria.

45. Can the partnership between INGO and local NGO be of added value in the evaluation process? Despite it is not explicitly mentioned among the 4 evaluation criteria.

Response: All partnerships will be evaluated based on the Application’s relevance to improving student reading scores in early primary education, innovation, and the project goal.

46. RFA 7.10 states that up to two applications may be submitted by the same organization. In the response to questions of 3/7 under question 11 “Can an organization be partners on multiple submissions”? The response says “Yes, organizations may partner and/or support multiple submissions. However, no one organization can submit more than two applications as the prime organization.” Does it mean that the same organization can submit up to two applications as prime, but can sub to other organizations and can be part of multiple applications?

Response: Yes, the same organization can submit up to two applications as prime and can sub to other organizations as part of multiple applications.

47. My university will be partnering with a local organization to enter the competition. Will the university be considered a subcontract?

Response: Applicants must identify a prime organization and subcontracts/subgrantees. Please refer to Section 7.3 Colleges and Universities and 7.7 Local Organizations.

48. Second, the university has negotiated indirect cost rates. What is the limit on indirect costs that we can submit?

Response: If invited to submit a Full Application, please see instructions in Annex 7: Budget Notes, specifically 11. Indirect Charges. Include a copy of the Applicant’s most recent negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) from the cognizant audit agency showing the overhead and/or general administrative rate. In the absence of a NICRA, all costs must be charged as direct costs.

49. Are additional annexes, outside of the required M&E Plan, Theory of Change Chart, work plan, and budget summary, permitted?

Response: No, additional annexes are not permitted at the Concept Note stage.  

50. What types of information are required for the cover page?

Response: Please include the following:a. Prime Organization Name b. Prime Organization Business Status (non-profit, for profit, PVO, etc.)

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c. Prime DUNS Number d. Prime Tax Identification Number (TIN) if a US entity e. Prime Contact Name (authorized negotiator) f. Prime Contact Email address g. Prime Contact telephone and fax number h. Prime Complete business mailing address

For Major Proposed Sub-Awardees only: a. Sub Organization Name(s) b. Sub Organization(s) Business Status (non-profit, for profit, PVO, etc.) c. Sub DUNS Number d. Sub Contact Name e. Sub Contact Email address f. Sub Contact telephone and fax number g. Sub Complete business mailing address  

51. For applications that include sub-partner(s), does ACR require any specific information about the sub-partner(s) at the Concept Note phase?

Response: Information about subs/partners should be included on the cover page (see above) and at minimum in the Organizational Capacity and Summary Budget sections.

52. Are applicants that applied in Round 1, eligible for applying to Round 2?

Response: Yes, all applicants meeting the eligibilty criteria as outlined in Section 7 of the RFA are eligible to apply for funding.

53. Fees are not allowed. Is this different for subcontractors or can they charge fees?

Response: Please refer to Section 7.2 of the RFA, if a prime recipient has a subcontract with a for-profit organization for the acquisition of goods or services (i.e., if a buyer-seller relationship is created), fee/profit for the subcontractor is authorized.

54. How do you intend to fund this year? Is this solely based off of proposals or is there an intention to fund certain countries?Response: Awards will be made according the the Evaluation Criteria listed on page 25 of the RFA.

55. Can more than 5% of the budget go to Monitoring and Evaluation?

Response: Yes. A minimum of 5 percent of the project cost should be budgeted for M&E.

56. World Vision will be the agent administering the grant. Can we see what their funding parameters are for eligibility or is the RFA already inclusive of those parameters?

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Response: The RFA is already inclusive of the funding parameters for the ACR GCD Partners: USAID, World Vision and the Australian Government.

57. Is it acceptable for activities and/or technology innovations to include some content that is related indirectly to the issue of reading, for example, content about rights or inclusion?

Response: Applications must propose a technology-based innovation focused on improving student reading in early primary education (i.e. grades/levels one to three). Additional activities must contribute to this overall goal.

58. Can additional annexes, such as one for Letters of Support, be included with the Concept Paper?

Response: Additional Annexes are not permitted at the Concept Note stage.

59. The RFA indicates that project success will be measured by improvements in reading outcomes. However, some problem areas proposed in the RFA – such as mother tongue mapping, making data available for families, or tracking data on students with disabilities – are unlikely to have direct or immediate effects on reading outcomes. Rather, initiatives in these problem areas merely provide information that could be used to promote future improvements in reading outcomes. How should applicants be considering the reading outcomes requirement for these problem areas?

Response: A clear connection must be made between the proposed technology and improvements in reading scores, whether direct or indirect. Please refer to page 19 of the RFA which states that applicants are expected to propose outcome, output, and input indicators specific to their project, while all innovations will collect data on the one standardized outcome and one standardized output indicator to measure and track the effect of the innovation on the parties involved.

60. Is there a MB limit for the electronic submission?

Response: The limit is 20MB for individual documents and 25MB for the whole submission.

61. Page 10 of the RFA references the readiness for reading of students entering the first year of primary school, as well as overage children entering primary school. On page 13 the RFP states that applications that do not focus on grades/levels 1-3 will not be funded. Will applications that focus on pre grade 1 children and/or overage children, be considered if the innovation is expected to improve reading performance and readiness to learn per reading standards for grades 1-3?

Response: ACR GCD’s goal to improve reading scores of students in early primary education (i.e. grades/levels one to three). Applications that focus on pre-grade/level one children will not be considered, however, applications that focus on overage children currently in grades/levels one to three will be considered.

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62. On Pages 23- 24 of the RFA, please clarify the ordering of the M&E components within the Concept Note per the presentation format required by the RFA. Please clarify the correct order of documents and presentation of the Monitoring and Evaluation Page and Annexes. Under Item # 5 on page 24, the description of the M&E page is followed by a list of Annexes 1, 2, and 3 described as excluded from the concept note page limit. When organizing the concept note pages should the applicant incorporate Annexes 1, 2, and 3 after the Monitoring and Evaluation page of the Concept Note and before the Organizational Capacity page so that Item # 7 - Summary Budget (Annex 4) is the last item presented as part of the Concept Note document?

Response: Yes, please incorporate Annexes 1, 2, and 3 after Section 5 - Monitoring and Evaluation and before the Organizational Capacity page so that Item # 7 - Summary Budget (Annex 4) is the last item presented as part of the Concept Note document

63. Please confirm that the Summary Budget is counted as one of the 6 pages of the Concept Note resulting in Annex 4 counting as the 6th page of the Concept Note - unlike Annexes 1, 2, and 3 which are excluded from the page limit (and possibly incorporated into the document prior to Annex 4 per the question above).

Response: Yes, the Summary Budget is counted as one of the 6 pages of the Concept Note.

64. For Stage 1, is it necessary to include Annex 4 - Summary Budgets for each identified sub-grantee?

Response: Sub-grants should be captured in the designated line item in Annex 4: Budget Summary. Budget Summaries are not required for each identified sub-grantee.

65. On Page 24: Please clarify what is included in the four pages of the full budget and notes? Item # 7 on page 24 indicates the requirement to submit a full budget AND notes with a 4 page limit as part of the full application submission, does the 4 page limit specified for the full budget and notes include the Prime’s detailed budget, budget notes, also requested under Annex 7, as well as any Summary Budgets for identified sub-grantees?

Response: Section 12, Stage 2 Full Application should be revised as follows: 1. Cover Page (exclusive of 25 page limit) 2. Executive Summary (2 page) 3. Innovation Viability (6 pages) 4. Application and Sustainability (6 pages) 5. Monitoring and Evaluation (6 pages) 6. Organizational Capacity (5 pages) 7. Full Budget (exclusive of 25 page limit) 8. Annexes 1 through 7 (exclusive of 25 page limit)

66. Could you please clarify which are the Annexes that are exclusive of the 25 pages limit? We raise this question because Annex 7, identified as one of the annexes exclusive of the

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25 page limit per Item # 8 on page 24, includes instructions for the submission of detailed budget notes to justify the costs included under the full budget.

Response: For the Full Application, Annexes 1-7 are excluded from the 25 page limit.

67. On Page 48, for the Full Application submission could you please confirm that sub-grants costs should be broken down at a summary level as indicated in Annex 4 and incorporated as part of the Prime’s budget notes in this format?

Response: Yes, for the Full Application sub-grant costs should be broken down at a summary level as indicated in Annex 4 and incorporated as part of the Prime’s Budget Notes.

68. Please confirm that for the full application submission, only Annex 4 - Budget Summaries, as indicated by Item # 10 referenced above, are required for identified sub-grantee and a full detailed budget and budget notes is only required for submission by the applicant.

Response: Annex 4 – For the Full Application, Budget Summaries are required for the prime and identified sub-grantee(s) in addition to a full detailed budget and budget notes only required for submission by the prime.

69. What is the budget frame per proposal (minimum and maximum amounts to submit for)?

Response: The applicant is requested to propose an appropriate budget per project design, taking into account that approximately three awards per focus area will be made, with a total of $900,000 available under each focus area, and with the flexibility to make more or less awards.

70. Are applications from consortia accepted?

Response: Yes.

71. Must the technology be innovative or the use of the technology?

Response: Per page 4 of the RFA, Technology-Based Innovation is defined as a broad range of information and communications technologies, audio and video media. These can include: hardware, software, and Internet and mobile applications (among other platforms) to teach, provide practice, or support the improvement of reading skills.

72. Can we submit an application with books and inovation in pedagogic terms?

Response: Please refer to Section 1.2 of the RFA. If the proposal includes a technology-based innovation which addresses one of the three focus areas, one of the problems, fits into one of the two strategies and improves reading scores for children in grades/levels one to three then it will be eligible for submission.

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73. Will the application be evaluated differently if it addresses more than one focus area?  For example Mother Tongue Instruction and Family and Community Engagement?

Response: Applicants must choose one central focus area and one central problem to address. Submissions that cover more than one focus área will not be evaluated differently.

74. Similarly, will the application be evaluated differently if it addresses more than one Problem within the Focus Area?

Response: Applicants must choose one central problem to address. Submissions that cover more than one Problem will not be evaluated differently.

75. Please provide updated link to guidance for Faith Based Organizations. (The one provided in the RFA is broken)

Response: The link to USAID’s regulations for Faith-Based Organizations can be found here .

76. Will additional points be awarded within the M&E criteria if that applicant is sub-contracting with a third party for all or part of the M&E program?

Response: No, additional points will not be awarded.

77. For the criteria on cost effective/ financial sustainability, can the program test the viability of various self-funding mechanisms including, for example, mobile micro-transactions, micro-loans, small business/school loans?

Response: if the applicants program proposal can clearly explain how viability testing as referenced in this question is linked to reading improvement, then it may be considered.

78. Will preferential treatment be given to programs that either address countries with very large mother tongue populations (Spanish, for example) versus countries with relatively small mother tongues? .

Response: No preferential treatment will be given. All applications will be evaluated based on the Evaluation Criteria listed in Section 13.1 of the RFA.

79. Is there a cap/maximum grant amount the will be awarded to one grantee?

The applicant is requested to propose an appropriate budget per project design, taking into account that approximately three awards per focus area will be made, with a total of $900,000 available under each focus area, and with the flexibility to make more or less awards.

80. Can changes be made to the M&E template or the other required submissions between the Concept Note stage and full application?

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Response: Yes, if you are invited to submit a Full Application, then changes can be made to the required submissions from the Concept Note stage.

81. Under the theme of mother tongue instruction and reading materials can we design a project for producing books in the mother tongue? 

Response: Please refer to Section 1.2 of the RFA. If the proposal includes a technology-based innovation which addresses one of the three focus areas, one of the problems, fits into one of the two strategies and improves reading scores for children in grades/levels one to three then it will be eligible for submission.

82. Is secondary education is eligible for round 2?

Response: No, Round 2 innovations must be focused on grades/levels one to three.

83. Can an institution can bid in more than one focus area?

Response: Applicants must choose one central focus area and one central problem to address.

84. If there will be three awards in each focus area at an estimated 900,000 dollars does it mean each award will be a total of 300,000 dollars?

Response: The applicant is requested to propose an appropriate budget per project design, taking into account that approximately three awards per focus area will be made, with a total of $900,000 available under each focus area, and with the flexibility to make more or less awards.

85. Is it possible to bid for this assignment as one big bid but have project activities for the different focus areas. Response: Applicants must choose one central focus area and one central problem to address. However, we do encourage submissions that cover more than one focus area.

86. For a proposal under for the ACR GCD, how many children should the proposed project reach?

Response: ACR GCD does not stipulate a target number.

87. What would be considered appropriate indicators of success?

Response: Please include indicators specific to your project and which contribute to the expected outcome of Round 2: Improved reading scores for students and Output 1: Increased use of ICT for improved reading.

88. What would be considered appropriate ancillary activities?

Response: All proposed activities must clearly link to the expected outcome of improved reading scores for students.

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89. What personnel would it be appropriate to hire specially for this project?

Response: Please refer to Section 10 – Management, Implementation and Staffing Plan, include the staffing needed to accomplish the proposed activities including: support from experts, and managing data collection, analysis, and reporting.

90. Over what period of time are measurable outcomes expected?

Response: Measureable improvements in reading scores are expected by the end of the two-year period of performance.

91. Does the use of e-readers in combination with materials downloaded from a website constitute a sufficiently “technological” approach for the purposes of this award?

Response: Please refer to Section 1.2 of the RFA. If the proposal includes a technology-based innovation which addresses one of the three focus areas, one of the problems, fits into one of the two strategies and improves reading scores for children in grades/levels one to three then it will be eligible for submission.

92. Based on paragraph 7.8 and 8.3, it is our understanding that any technology creation under this grant will be made available for anyone to copy with no limits and zero royalty for the creators?  In other words, our hardware design source files and our software source files will be made available for anyone to copy use or modify? 

Response: Please refer to the following revision of Section 8.3 Public Availability of Information: Under the terms of the Award, USAID, WV, and the Australian Government each receive a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use intangible property first produced under the award for government purposes, and to authorize others to do so. Under the government purposes rights granted by the grantees, USAID, World Vision and the Australian Government intend to provide such intangible property to the public free of charge.

Grantees are required under the Award to submit a final report demonstrating the results supported in whole or in part by the grant. Each project’s final report must include all graphics and associated supplemental materials for publication.

93. At what point in the project process are we required to make the technology source files available?  Is it during prototype, after deployment of certain number of units? 

Response: Source files should be provided to World Vision at the end of the Project along with recipient’s final report.

94. Given that the grant is looking for creative solutions, if intellectual property is not protected, what is the incentive of the creative problem solver participant?

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Response: Please see revised 8.3, Public Availability of Information, which removes the requirement for a Creative Commons license. The recipient maintains ownership of all intangible property produced under the Award, while USAID, World Vision, and the Australian Government each receive a license.

95. Can an applicant and local for-profit organization leverage existing third-party, proprietary tools to provide a freely available system for authoring and distributing public domain content/curriculum? Or is it the case that all aspects of the innovation must be made open source?

Response: See revised Section 8.3, Public Availability of Information

96. Would a proposal, using such software which cannot be freely licensed without a fee, be eligible for the proposal?  

Response: See revision to 8.3, Public Availability of Information.

97. Can a local for-profit organization leverage existing third-party, proprietary tools to provide a freely available system for authoring and distributing public domain content/curriculum? Or is it the case that all aspects of the innovation must be made open source?

Response: See revision to 8.3, Public Availability of Information.

98. Can we choose an open source license from the Open Source Initiative rather than the Creative-Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license specified in the RFA? An example of such a license is the MIT license. 

Response: Yes, see revision to 8.3, Public Availability of Information.

99. Is there a certain % for prime contractors and a certain % for subcontractors that are required for the proposal? For example, a prime contractor must complete at least 60% of the work.

Response: All project designs must appropriately articulate the roles and responsibilities of each partner and corresponding budget.

100. On Page 33. Is the submission of the required Certifications found under Annex 5 required only for the applicant? Are local sub-recipients identified in the application also required to complete and sign Annex 5?

Response: The prime applicant is only required to submit the Certifications found under Annex 5 under Step 2, Full Application. However, if an applicant is selected to receive an award, the applicant becomes a grantee and will then be responsible for submitting Certifications for approved sub-recipients. These Certifications should be maintained by the applicant/grantee in the grantees files for future reference and audit.

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101. If the grant is put through my university, is it possible to request buy-out time/course release to work on the project?

Response: This request must be made to the university.

102. The RFA states: “Applicants should identify those organizations to which they will make significant sub-awards”. Please define “significant sub-awards.” Are “significant sub-awards” those that would be constitute more than 20% of the proposed budget?

Response: All project designs must appropriately articulate the roles and responsibilities of each partner and corresponding budget according to the instructions set forth in Sections 10 and 11. “If sub-agreements are proposed, Applicants should identify those organizations to which they will make significant sub-awards or the process through which the sub-grantees will be selected. The budget should reflect the portion of the project that will be implemented through sub-agreements and Annex 4 – Summary Budget should be included for each sub-grant.”

103. What is the CFDA number for this program?

Response: The CDFA number for ACR GCD Round 2 is 98.002.

104. On Page 24: Please clarify what is included in the four pages of the full budget and notes? Item # 7 on page 24 indicates the requirement to submit a full budget AND notes with a 4 page limit as part of the full application submission, does the 4 page limit specified for the full budget and notes include the Prime’s detailed budget, budget notes, also requested under Annex 7, as well as any Summary Budgets for identified sub-grantees?

Response: Section 12, Stage 2 Full Application should be amended as followed: 1. Cover Page (exclusive of 25 page limit) 2. Executive Summary (2 pages) 3. Innovation Viability (6 pages) 4. Application and Sustainability (6 pages) 5. Monitoring and Evaluation (6 pages) 6. Organizational Capacity (5 pages) 7. Full Budget (exclusive of 25 page limit) 8. Annexes 1 through 7 (exclusive of 25 page limit)

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