SAMPLE RFA

REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA)

Issuance Date: November/07/2017

Pre Application Conference Ghazni & Parwan:November/12/2017

Pre Application Conference Logar:November/13/2017

Pre Application Conference Wardak: November/14/2017

Pre Application Conference Kabul & Nangarhar November/15/2017

Pre Application Conference Laghman & Kapisa:November/16/2017

Deadline for Question:November/20/2017

Closing Date: November/25/2017- 3PM

Subject:Request for Applications (RFA) Number RFA-RADP-E-17-006

Market Development Grant Program

Reference:Issued Under Regional Agriculture Development Program-East

(RADP-E) USAID Contract No. AID-306-C-16-00011

The Regional Agricultural Development Program East (RADP-E) is a five year USAID-funded program to expand sustainable agriculture-led economic growth in the eight target provinces of Ghazni, Kapisa, Laghman, Logar, Nangahar, Parwan, Wardak, and Kabul. Program activities will support the apricot, tomato, poultry and dairy value chains through the provision of training, technical assistance, and small grants targeting small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), agricultural producers, input suppliers, aggregators (exporters, wholesalers, local trader, distributors) and agro-processors. RADP-E will identify private sector actors on either end of the farmer in each value chainthe commercial vendors of the goods and services that farmers need to grow higher volumes of quality produce, and the processors and traders who purchase farmers harvests. RADP-E is seeking qualified, innovative and determined private-sector actors who are interested and committed to strengthening and expanding their business.

Based upon RADP-E assessments and coordination with provincial Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL/PAIL), RADP-E is designing the following activity to support the expansion of agriculture-led economic growth in RADP-E target provinces. This activity targets (input-suppliers/feed,producers/veterinary-services,processors/dryer, exporters/wholesalers/distributors, farmer groups, women groups, etc.) in the poultry, dairy, tomato and apricot value chains.

RADP-E will hold pre-application conferences to answer questions and provide additional information relating to the Request for Applications as following schedule:

For the purposes of this program, this RFA is being issued and consists of this cover letter and the following:

Section A Grant Application Instructions

Section B Special Grant Requirements

Section C Selection Process

Section D Program Description

Annexes

Applications must be received at the RADP-E offices in Kabul-Nangarhar-Ghazni and all Regional Agricultural directorates and indicated at the top of this cover letter at the place designated below for receipt of applications. Applications and modifications thereof shall be submitted in PDF, word or other electronic format to the RADP-E Grants Department at Grants_RADPE@dai.com or hard copy to the following address:

RADP-E Office, Darya Village Hotel and Business Park

Hawa Shinasee Road Khwaja Rawash

Kabul Afghanistan

Mob: 0789753227

Award will be made to the responsible applicant(s) whose application(s) offers the best value.

Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award commitment on the part of DAI, nor does it commit DAI to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application. Further, DAI reserves the right to reject any or all applications received. Applications are submitted at the risk of the applicant. All preparation and submission costs are at the applicant's expense.

Any questions concerning this RFA should be submitted in writing not later than the date and time specified for questions submissions to RADP-E Grants office by email to Grants_RADPE@dai.com. Applicants should retain for their records one copy of all enclosures, which accompany their application.

Pre-Application Conference

The Pre-Application Conference will be conducted by RADP-E on the below mentioned dates in kabul and other provinces to provide necessary guidance to Potential Applicants on this RFA and on the grant application. The conference venue will be circulated to potential applicants who confirm their attendance by sending the following information by email to Grants_RADPE@dai.com not later than November 9, 2017 at 12:00 PM:

(i) Name of the organization

(ii) Name and title of the attendee

(iii) Attendees phone #

(iv) Attendees email address

A maximum of two (02) persons per organization will be allowed to attend the conference. Although attendance to this pre-application conference is not mandatory, however, all potential applicants who decide to submit an application are encouraged to attend the conference. All necessary information on these conferences will be posted on the ACBAR website (http://www.acbar.org/RFP/).

Thank you for your interest in USAID RADP-E grant activities.

Sincerely,

Robert Jacobi

Chief of Party

USAID RADP-East

RADP-E Market Development Program

Table of Contents

Section A Grant Application Instructions4

1. Application Procedure4

A. Completion and submission of applications4

B. Preparation Instructions Technical5

C. Preparation Instructions Financial and Administrative Documentation5

B. Special Grant Requirements6

C. Selection Process8

D. Program Description11

Annex 1 MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANT APPLICATION FORM13

Annex 2: Mandatory Standard Provisions22

Annex 3: CV Form and BioData Form23

Annex 4: Financial Capability Questionnaire24

Annex 5: Instructions for Obtaining a DUNS Number - DAIS Vendors, Subcontractors and Grantees32

Annex 6:Self-Certification for Exemption from DUNS Requirement40

Section A Grant Application Instructions

1. Application Procedure

A. Completion and submission of applications

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for assistance, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Submit a completed Grant Application form.

Be a legally registered Afghan business.

Have branches/retailers in RADP-Es coverage areas.

For monitoring and evaluating purposes, agree to full financial records disclosure.

Agree to participate in RADP-E Basic Accounting and Marketing training.

Provide a minimum of 50% in-kind contribution as part of their activity.

Have a minimum of 2 full time employees

Be within the apricot, tomato, poultry and /or dairy Value Chains.

Demonstrate capacity to increase production and be able to implement a marketing plan upon the completion of RADP-E assistance.

Demonstrate immediate (4-6 months) and measurable impact as a result of RADP-E assistance.

Application Submission Requirements

RADP-E review committee will be responsible for reviewing all applications submitted under this RFA and management of the award and monitoring process. Applicants are required to submit a proposal of no more than fifteen (15) pages as outlined below.

Executive summary that explains the eligibility and key summary of the applicants unique ability to fulfill this scope of work. (1 page)

Program Description that details how the applicant will meet the Program Objective and each of the Key Activities. This should include a narrative program description about the methodology and approach with clear performance milestones/deliverables at which progress can be evaluated at each phase during the period of implementation. (7 pages)

Management and Staffing Plan that details how the applicant proposes to organize and conduct the development, design of the guide and field activities. This will include a brief statement on the qualifications of key staff/researchers/ designers (CVs to be attached but not counted towards the page limit). (5 pages)

Work-plan/chart that shows the key activities and outputs occurring during each phase over the period of implementation. (2 pages)

Supporting documents can include key staff CVs, training curriculum samples, documentation of registration, and other pre-existing materials that will be used as a basis for the training work.

Deadlines

Applications must be received at USAID/RADP-E Office, as indicated in the cover letter. Applications and modifications in sealed envelops shall be submitted to RADP-East boxes installed in Kabul, Nangrhar, Laghman, Wardak, Logar, Ghazni, Kapisa and Parwarn Provincial Directorates of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (PAIL) or in word/pdf (preferred) at Grants_RADPE@dai.com.

All submissions must be submitted in English, Pashto and Dari languages and budgets must be in the local currency (Afghani). Please hand delivers your application to the following address:

RADP-E Office, Darya Village Hotel and Business Park

Hawa Shinasee Road Khwaja Rawash

Kabul Afghanistan

Mob: 0789753227

Late Applications

All applications received by the deadline will be reviewed for responsiveness and programmatic merit according to the specifications outlined in these guidelines and the application format. Section C addresses the evaluation procedures for the applications. Applications, which are submitted late or are incomplete, run the risk of not being considered in the review process.

B. Preparation Instructions Technical

See application submission requirements above.

C. Preparation Instructions Financial and Admin