Grant Solicitation and Management Cooperative Agreement
Read about our Grant Solicitation and Management (GSM) Program in Ethiopia| REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA): THE FLEXIBLE FUND COMMUNITY BASED ACCESS TO INJECTABLES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (CBA2I TA) PROJECT December 14th, 2011: The purpose of this announcement is to invite US based organizations/institutions to submit applications to World Learning (WL) in response to a Request for Applications (RFA) for a project which will provide technical support to advance community-based family planning with a focus on access to injectable contraceptives provided by paramedical professionals. This solicitation is issued by World Learning under the Grants Solicitation and Management (GSM) project, on behalf of USAID. It is anticipated that 1 (one) grant will be awarded under this RFA; the potential grant will be for up to $140,000 for a 8 month project. Applicants are required to propose contributing from their own, private or local sources no less than 10% percent of the amount of funds obligated by USAID for the implementation of this program over the course of the agreement. An organization should submit only one application for this funding opportunity. It is the responsibility of the organization to monitor the GSM website for any amendments that may be posted later. Applications must be submitted by January 17th, 2012 at 1 PM EST. Applications submitted after the closing date/time may not be considered. One (1) electronic copy of the Application should be sent and addressed to Bill Saur at bill.saur@worldlearning.org with a copy to Liz Allen at liz.allen@worldlearning.org. Any questions concerning this RFA should be submitted by email to Bill Saur at bill.saur@worldlearning.org with a copy to Liz Allen at liz.allen@worldlearning.org by 1 PM EST on December 21st, 2011. A list of all questions and answers will be posted on the website mentioned above on January 4th, 2012. If you encounter problems downloading the RFA off the Internet, please email Bill Saur at bill.saur@worldlearning.org with a copy to Liz Allen at liz.allen@worldlearning.org. |
The Grants Solicitation and Management Program
The goal of the Grants Solicitation and Management Program (GSM) is to provide health grants management services to USAID’s Bureau of Global Health and USAID Missions around the world. GSM streamlines health grants process in health sectors including family planning, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, and control of infectious diseases; as well as supporting community-based service delivery, training, and related activities.
Partnering with World Learning lightens the burden on USAID by assuming full responsibility for grant solicitation, review, award, management, monitoring and close-out phases, or by partnering with USAID Missions on any aspect of the grant-making process. GSM also provides technical assistance to grantees.
Benefits to USAID
- Streamlined grant solicitation and management process
- Reduced administrative/management burdens
- Involvement in application reviews and grantee selection as desired
- Optional capacity building technical assistance for grantee organizations
- Delegated monitoring of grantee compliance and reporting
- Flexible levels of grant/grantee supervision
- Cost-efficient and comprehensive support
Benefits to Grantees
- Expedient fund-advanced/cash-flow process
- Technical support on compliance with USAID and US Government regulations
- Organizational capacity building services
- Quality grant monitoring services
USAID's Responsibilities
Primary:
- Prepare the parameters of each solicitation
- Approve the solicitation package
- Approve all sub-grants
Optional:
- Write the program description and selection criteria
- Review applications and select grantees
- Provide program/technical supervision
- Others depending upon the grant programs and the desires of USAID
World Learning's Responsibilities
Optional Services:
- Prepare solicitation materials
- Advertise/outreach to potential applicants
- Receive/process/screen applications
- Coordinate review/ranking committees
- Assess capacity of applicants/grantees
- Issue/manage/monitor grant awards and perform close out
- Provide customized technical assistance, grantee site visits and compliance monitoring/reporting.
Value
The costs of administration and management will be kept at a reasonably small percentage of the entire grant program budget. This may vary in some cases, depending on size of grant and management capacity of the grantee. Ensuring the World Learning provides the best value to USAID is one of World Learning’s core priorities.
Technical Assistance to Grantees
All GSM grantees receive essential technical assistance to ensure proper funds-management and reporting. However, if desired by USAID, World Learning can deliver additional technical assistance tailored to supporting more or longer-term grantee development. The cost for this additional support can be added to the grantee budget and covered by the USAID/Mission or funding entity.
Achievements of GSM
- GSM has managed grants to US PVOs and local NGOs on behalf of USAID/W and USAID Missions with activities in Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Uganda, USA, and Zambia
- Providing trainings, workshops, and direct technical assistance to NGOs on capacity building topics including:
- Technical and financial training in grants management
- Administrative/Finance Capacity Building Assessments
- Performance Monitoring Plans
- Contracting for organization-wide external audits
- GSM developed elaborated tools and procedures for effective management of grants, including a grants management database.
- Awarded a Cooperative Agreement to implement Special Programs to Aid the Needs of Survivors (SPANS) GSM in support of USAID’s goal of improving the health and well being of specific vulnerable populations.
- GSM has permanent field staff in Ethiopia and Madagascar.
USAID Missions and GSM
USAID Mission from around the world may add funds to the GSM Agreement fro specific grant activities in their countries. The GSM Cooperative Agreement is a Leader with Associates Award. Missions can add funds to the main leader award, or create their own “Associate Award” in which case the Mission retains the Agreement Officer’s Technical Representative (AOTR) and Agreement Officer responsibilities.
Phone:
202.408.5420 Ext. 6556
TTY:
202.464.5530
Fax:
202.408.5397
Mailing Address:
1015 15th Street, NW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20005