USAID Innovations in Feed the Future for $10,000

Summary of opportunity

USAID is interested in proposals that: Develop unique or new data collection, analytical, synthetic or mathematical methods for estimating Feed the Future indicators, or other potentially novel measures of food security or its underlying determinants; using innovative analytic, synthetic or mathematical approaches to answer key questions pertaining to food security in Feed the Future countries.

Under this APS, USAID has a strong interest in proposals that leverage remotely sensed information or other forms of digitally-generated data.

Illustrative examples of the types of proposals that are sought under this APS include:

• Leveraging digitally-generated data to measure aspects of food security and its proximate determinants:
• Pixel-level measures of crop identification and agricultural productivity in complex, smallholder farming areas (to include both cereal and leguminous crops)
• Estimation of livestock holdings or productivity using remotely sensed data
• Estimation of productivity of aquaculture activities using remotely sensed data
• Estimation of dietary diversity using remotely sensed and market data; Using mobile network data, develop proxy measures for changes in market systems, resilience, food security, or nutrition over time.
• Estimation of the level of private sector capital investment in agriculture using banking system data Construction of an open global training database to support machine-learning-based estimations of prevalence and productivity of Feed the Future value chain crops.
• Using digitally-generated data and/or innovative statistical, mathematical, or other modeling methods to answer key questions around topics like: Estimating the impact of Feed the Future on outcomes like hunger, poverty, or agricultural productivity (crops or animals).
• Estimating the impact of USAID and other food security projects on regional-scale socioeconomic change or national level agri-food system change.
• Measuring the levels and dynamics of overarching systems change as a result of Feed the Future recommended policy shifts.
• Determining how best to measure and track agriculture-led economic transformation in the countries where we work
• Assessing the role that inclusion (e.g. of women, youth) plays in ensuring sustainable agriculture-led economic growth
• Understanding how resilience at the individual and community levels support the attainment and maintenance of household, community, and district or state level food security.
• Identifying key factors and their interactions that contribute to a well-nourished population. Using innovative statistical, mathematical, or other modeling methods to make indicator measurement more time and cost efficient, such as estimation of per capita expenditures using a reduced set of variables or innovative composite measures.

Eligible Applicants

As per Title 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 200, USAID invites Concept Papers and, if later requested, Full Applications from all eligible and qualified entities including: U.S. and non-U.S., non-profit or for-profit NGOs, Institutes of Higher Education, and Public International Organizations or international organizations (PIO or IO). Further, USAID strongly encourages submissions from new and varied partners.

Responsibility Determination

USAID welcomes applications from organizations which have not previously received financial assistance from USAID; however, applicants must have established financial management, monitoring and evaluation processes, internal control systems, and policies and procedures that comply with established U.S. Government standards, laws, and regulations. The successful applicant(s) will be subject to a responsibility determination assessment (Pre-award Survey) by the Agreement Officer (AO).

The Recipient must be a responsible entity. The AO may determine if a pre-award survey is required to conduct an examination that will determine whether the prospective recipient has the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills – or ability to obtain them in order to achieve the objectives of the program and comply with the terms and conditions of the award.

In addition, before receiving an award, the applicant is required to:

• Be registered in System for Award Management (SAM) available at https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM… before receiving USAID award;
• Provide a valid Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in its full application (http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do);
• Be vetted if it is Non U.S. Entity;
• Be required to implement activities in compliance with USAID regulations on Environmental compliance.

How to apply
Overview

Application submission is a two-step process (Step one is submission of the Concept Paper. Step two will be applicable ONLY if invited). Applicants must first submit a concept paper to the addresses indicated on the cover page before the deadline set for the submission of concept papers. If the submitted concept paper is selected by the Selection Committee, the applicant will be invited to submit a full application, which is step two.

Please do not submit a full application unless invited by USAID.

Application Submission Procedure

Step One: Submission of Concept Paper

Eligible organizations interested in applying for an award under this APS are invited to submit an application consisting of a Concept Paper of no more than six (6) pages, excluding cover page, table of contents, pages for supporting information, summary budget, and page for list of acronyms if any. In developing the concept paper and submitting, the applicant should carefully consider all information contained in this APS. If an applicant does not follow the instructions in this APS, its application may not receive full credit under the applicable merit review criteria listed in Section E, or, at the discretion of the USAID Agreement Officer, be eliminated from competition for non-responsiveness or noncompliance. All concept papers must be prepared in English and submitted electronically via email to the following addresses:

Agency Points of Contact

US Agency for International Development Office of Acquisition and Assistance

Reba Dyer, Agreement Officer Email: rdyer@usaid.gov
Paul Burford, Agreement Officer Email: PBurford@usaid.gov

Link for application