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Annex A - Concept Paper Application (*.docx file)
Annex C - Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (*.docx file)
Azerbaijan Building Local Capacity for Development Project
Contract No. AID-112-C-12-0000l
Request for Application RFA 001
Name of the RFA:
Strengthening CSO Resource Centers in Azerbaijan
Date of Issue: July 29, 2013
Closing Date for Application: September 2, 2013 at 17:00 pm Baku time
E-mail: info@azerbaijanblcd.com
Contact number: (+994 12) 497 10 94
Request For Applications
USAID/Azerbaijan Building Local Capacity for Development project
Request for Applications (RFA) No. 001
Issuance Date: July 29, 2013
Dear Applicant:
The Building Local Capacity for Development (BLCD) project is seeking concept papers from civil society organizations (CSOs) that serve as CSO resource centers outside of Baku to strengthen their organizational capacity and improve range and quality of services they provide to local civil society organizations in their regions within the Republic of Azerbaijan. The grants will be awarded and implemented in accordance with USAID and US Government regulations governing grants under contracts and BLCD Project’s internal grant management policies.
The BLCD project will hold a pre-application workshop on August 14, 2013 at BLCD office from 15.00 to 17.00. This workshop will allow eligible and interested applicants the chance to ask questions about this RFA and receive guidance on how to complete the application form. Interested applicants that meet the eligibility requirements defined in Section III below and would like to attend this workshop must confirm their attendance by sending the participant’s name and the organization’s name to info@azerbaijanblcd.com.
Annexes included with this Request for Applications:
- Annex A – Concept Paper Application (Attached to the RFA)
- Annex B – Implementation Timeline (Should be prepared and submitted to BLCD by the applicant)
- Annex C – Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (Attached to the RFA)
SECTION I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
IA. OBJECTIVE
The BLCD project is considering awarding grants to up to two (2) CSO resource centers located outside of Baku to develop their capacity to serve the community of local CSOs working in their regions and enhance the development and sustainability of those CSOs. The CSO resource centers supported by BLCD will serve the community of local CSOs working in the Republic of Azerbaijan through a set of services described under section IC.
IB. BACKGROUND
The BLCD project is a four-year project funded by USAID and implemented by Chemonics International Inc. Azerbaijan Representative Office. The goal of the project is to strengthen the organizational and technical capacities of key CSOs, develop at least two existing CSO resource centers, and improve legal and regulatory frameworks to enhance the development and sustainability of CSOs. Critical BLCD tasks within the activities related to CSO resource centers include:
• Select two CSO resource center partners
• Provide technical assistance to selected CSO resource center partners
• Manage a capacity-building fund to support selected CSO resource center partners
• Determine alternatives to CSO resource center services
IC. DETAILED PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Over the last decade and beyond, a variety of programs have created CSO resource centers for supporting the CSOs in the country. Many of them benefitted from extensive training and capacity building activities funded by different international donors. However, currently CSOs in Azerbaijan have limited means for improving their services and achieving their missions. While CSO resource centers exist, they don’t have stable financial resources to provide consistent services. To address this issue, BLCD is awarding grants up to two existing CSO resource centers to improve their capacity to provide leadership, mentoring, and guidance services to CSOs.
The grant program will help the CSO resource centers implement innovative activities that improve their capacity and promote enhanced overall capacity of the CSO sector in their regions, promote partnerships and consensus-building among stakeholders, and strengthen advocacy efforts aimed at improving the enabling environment for CSOs. Activities covered by the grant program will be oriented on technical, organizational and service delivery development of the resource centers in order for them to become strong and sustainable.
BLCD intends to offer grants to CSO resource centers to develop their capacity and better serve the local CSOs working in their regions. The Applicants might propose all or some of the following illustrative activities or other actions that contribute to the stronger CSOs in regions. The number and the scope of proposed activities will depend on the needs of the CSOs in the region, and the applicant’s expertise and available resources.
Develop the communication and information hub for local CSOs by creating and maintaining the website, contact lists, newsletter or any other updates on CSO environment in the country.
Training and capacity building services: Based on the needs of local CSOs, the resource center may train, provide mentorship and hands-on assistance to CSOs and other stakeholder groups on wide range of CSO management topics.
Donor information, and/or grants management support: Provide continuous information service on available funding opportunities for local CSOs, , research and update on call for applications, grant notifications. And inform CSOs on donor requirements. , Consult on grants management, reporting and mentor CSOs on how to manage grants.
Assistance in connecting and building partnership of local CSOs with specific constituencies and/or local authorities Organize and coordinate CSOs to advocate or lobby on their issues, such as: production of white papers, community advocacy, social marketing, and etc.
Facilities and/or equipment: Provide temporary space for CSOs’ work or meetings (rented or free), provide long-term ‘incubator’ space and facilities, loan or rent computer and technical equipment (on site or off), IT services and Internet access (fee-based or free), provide access to copy machine, phone or other office equipment (fee-based or free) and etc.
Fiscal and administrative services: Advise on accounting and compliance with federal or local regulations, advice on employer regulations and payroll/benefits plans and taxes, full-charge bookkeeping and accounting services for CSOs (fee-based), copy and distribution of materials for CSOs (fee-based) and etc.
Coordination between NGOs/CSOs and/or between other stakeholders to support the local development initiatives and social work in regions.
Applicants may propose additional activities within the scope of the program description.
BLCD recognizes that some applicants may need technical assistance to more effectively carry out the activity. Consequently applicants are encouraged to specify their needs for technical assistance and/or training in their application.
ID. AUTHORITY/GOVERNING REGULATIONS
BLCD grant awards are made under the authority of the U.S. Foreign Affairs Act and USAID’s Advanced Directive System (ADS) 302.3.5.6, “Grants Under Contracts.” Awards made to non-U.S. organizations will adhere to guidance provided under ADS Chapter 303, “Grants and Cooperative Agreements to Non-Governmental Organizations” and will be within the terms of the USAID Standard Provisions for Non-U.S. Non-Governmental Recipients, as well as the BLCD grants procedures.
ADS 303 references three additional regulatory documents issued by the U.S. Government’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Agency for International Development:
22 CFR 226: Administration of Assistance Awards to U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations
OMB Circular A-122: Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations
OMB Circular A-133: Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations
Full text of the OMB circulars can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/. The BLCD Project is required to ensure that all organizations receiving USAID grant funds comply with the guidance found in these circulars, as applicable to the respective terms and conditions of their grant awards.
Under the BLCD project USAID retains the right at all times to terminate, in whole or in part, BLCD grant-making authorities.
SECTION II. AWARD INFORMATION
The BLCD project anticipates awarding up to of 39,000 Azerbaijani New Manat (AZN) through no more than two grant awards. Each grant award will be up to 19,500 AZN. The duration of any grant award under this solicitation is expected to be no more than 24 months. The approximate start date of grants awarded under this solicitation is November, 2013.
SECTION III. ELIGIBILITY
IIIA. ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS
The BLCD grant support may be extended to:
CSO resource centers located and operating in regions outside of Baku. The CSO resource centers must be legally registered and recognized under the laws of the Azerbaijan Republic and have local bank accounts.
Conditions of eligibility:
Applicants must be a nonprofit organization registered as the CSO/Public Union in Republic of Azerbaijan and must be in compliance with all applicable civil and fiscal regulations.
Applicants must have a proven track record of past performance as currently functioning CSO resource center and must have been active during the last 3 years. Applicants must be able to demonstrate successful past 3 years performance in implementation of integrated development programs. . Please attach a list of implemented projects and donors.
Applicants must display sound management in the form of financial, administrative, and technical policies and procedures and present a system of internal controls that safeguard assets; protect against fraud, waste, and abuse; and support the achievement of program goals and objectives. The BLCD project will assess this capability prior to awarding a grant.
The proposed activity must respond to the goals and objectives of the BLCD Project described in Section I and contain expected outcomes and results consistent with and linked to BLCD’s results framework
Faith-based and community groups will receive equal opportunity for funding in accordance with the mandated guidelines laid out in Annex C of this RFA except for faith-based organizations whose objectives are for discriminatory and religious purposes, and whose main objective of the grant is of a religious nature.
Applicants will be requested to sign required certifications prior to receiving a grant. The certifications will be provided to the selected grantees as attachment and BLCD project will review them with applicants.
Applicants must have established outreach capabilities with linkages to the beneficiary group(s) identified in the program description.
Applicants must agree to comply with USAID Branding and Marking requirements.
The BLCD project will work with the successful applicants to draft a marking and branding plan which will be annexed to the grant agreement. BLCD will make a determination that applicants meet these criteria as a condition to considering a concept paper.
SECTION IV – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION
IVA INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS
Applicants must propose strategies for the implementation of the program description described above, introducing innovations that are appropriate to their organizational strengths.
IVA1. APPLICANT SELF-ASSESSMENT
All organizations selected for award are subject to a pre-award responsibility determination conducted by the BLCD project, to ascertain whether the organization has the minimum management capabilities required to handle US government funds. The applicant self-assessment is the first step in the pre-award responsibility determination process. The Applicant Self-Assessment Form will be provided to selected organizations.
Instructions and a template for the grant concept paper form are in Annex A. Applicants that submit grant concept papers that meet or exceed the evaluation criteria will be notified of next steps in the application process.
IV.A.2. GRANT APPLICATION
Templates to be utilized when developing the concept paper are provided in Annex A. Applicants shall present their concept paper application in the format provided and shall follow the instructions and guidelines listed in the Annex A. The concept paper application must be submitted along with the implementation timeline provided in Annex B.
All grant activity costs must be within the normal operating practices of the Applicant and in accordance with its written policies and procedures. The budget should include direct costs that will be incurred by the Applicant to provide identifiable administrative and management costs that can be directly attributable to supporting the grant objective.
The application must be signed by an authorized contact person of the Applicant.
IV.A.3 INELIGIBLE EXPENSES
The BLCD grant funds may not be utilized for the following:
Construction or infrastructure activities of any kind
Ceremonies, parties, celebrations, or “representation” expenses
Purchases of restricted goods, such as certain agricultural commodities, motor vehicles (including motorcycles), pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, contraceptive products, used equipmentwithout the previous approval of BLCD Project
Prohibited goods, under USAID regulations, including but not limited to: military and surveillance equipment, police or law enforcement equipment, luxury goods and gambling equipment.
Purchases of goods or services restricted or prohibited under the prevailing USAID source/ nationality Burma (Myanmar), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, (North) Sudan, and Syria.
Any purchase or activities deemed unnecessary to accomplish grant purposes as determined by Chemonics, including any grantee headquarters expenses that are not directly linked to the implementation of the proposed project.
Previous obligations and/or bad debts, fines, and penalties.
Creation of endowments.
Other costs unallowable under USAID and/or federal regulations such as alcoholic beverages.
No sub-grants are allowed
IV. B. Application and Submission Information
Concept papers shall be submitted in English or Azerbaijani and may not be more than 5 pages.
Concept papers including technical and budget proposals as well as supporting documentation should be submitted in electronic copy to the BLCD email address below and should reference RFA No. 001. Applications must be submitted to info@azerbaijanblcd.com no later than 17:00 pm local time, on September 2, 2013.
In addition to the concept paper, applicants should submit the following to BLCD Project:
A copy of the applicant’s valid legal registration
A copy of applicant’s latest audited financial statements.
A copy of the implementation plan
Please submit all questions concerning this solicitation to the attention of BLCD, via email to info@azerbaijanblcd.com or by the following contact number (+994 12) 497 10 94. BLCD will assist applicants in understanding the application process, and can provide coaching in application development at the request of applicants.
SECTION V. APPLICATION EVALUATION
VA1 EVALUATION CRITERIA
Applications will be evaluated in a two-step evaluation process:
The first step is for applicants to submit a concept paper in accordance with the requirements listed in this RFA and in the annexed documents.
If the concept paper is accepted, you will be asked to submit a more detailed application.
All concept papers and detailed applications will be reviewed by the technical evaluation committee.
Concept papers will be evaluated against the criteria below.
Does the organization meet the eligibility requirements?
Does the organization’s concept paper highlight relevant past performance in the area of resource centers?
Does the proposed activity fit within the BLCD project objectives described in the RFA?
Is the request for funding commensurate with the potential impact?
Is the product or service sustainable?
LIST ANNEXES
- Annex A – Concept Paper Application (Attached to the RFA)
- Annex B – Implementation Timeline (Should be prepared and submitted to BLCD by the applicant)
- Annex C – Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants (Attached to the RFA)