REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR KENYA EAST AFRICA - WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP INCUBATOR PROGRAM

The USAID Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) program is designed to bolster the U.S. Government’s ability to boost trade and investment to, from, and within the African continent. The continent-wide program is USAID’s flagship effort in support of the Prosper Africa initiative and will expand and accelerate two-way trade and investment between African nations and the United States.

Driven by market demand, ATI embraces innovative approaches to achieve its goals. ATI is designed as a small, core set of centrally coordinated technical and institutional support activities, and a large, flexible performance-based subcontracting and grants-under-contract facility designed to support the needs and opportunities that USAID Missions and the private sector identify.

The Women’s Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018 of the United States indicates that while women make up the majority of the world’s poor, gender inequalities prevail in incomes, wages, access to finance, ownership of assets, and control over the allocation of assets. Women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment is therefore important to achieve inclusive economic growth at all levels of society. The Act reports a lack of access to financial services that address gender specific constraints and an impediment to women’s economic inclusion. Roughly 1,000,000,000 women around the world are currently left out of the formal financial system, which causes many women to rely on informal means of saving and borrowing that are riskier and less reliable. Among other consequences, this lack of access hampers the success of women entrepreneurs, including women who are seeking to run or grow small and medium-sized enterprises. The International Finance Corporation has estimated that 70 percent of women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises in the formal sector are unserved or underserved in terms of access to financial services, resulting in a financing gap of $300,000,000,000 for women-owned small businesses.

Africa has the highest proportion of female entrepreneurs with research revealing that more than a quarter of all businesses have either been started or are run by women. Despite high levels of entrepreneurial activity, African women are often unable to grow their businesses due to a lack of financing. While venture capital (VC) investment is only part of the financial landscape, according to Asoko Insights, women founders receive less than 7 percent of all such funding on the continent, despite about 20 percent of founders being female according to evidence from Disrupt Africa. This investment gender gap is a critical barrier to the growth and development of women-owned businesses and the private sector at large.

Further, female entrepreneurs in Kenya face limited access to productive resources and assets (only 1 percent of land titles in Kenya are held by women’s businesses). Inadequate access to networks and business support services also hinders the growth of women’s businesses.

ATI, on behalf of USAID/KEA, seeks to partner with a suitable organization to support women’s entrepreneurship through promotion of incubation services which includes facilitation of business development services for Kenyan women-owned small and growing businesses (WO-SGBs) to increase trade and investment. The successful applicant will be a Kenya-based incubator/accelerator, business advisory service provider (BASP), or an international organization with local presence, experience and capacity and working in partnership with an existing Kenya-based incubator/accelerator or BASP. The objective will be to strengthen and improve the Kenyan WO-SGBs in the textile and apparel, agribusiness/agro processing, health, water and sanitation sectors through technical assistance, co-investment, and improved productivity. The Awardee will employ targeted interventions to support trade and investment as well as create a more enabled entrepreneurship ecosystem in Kenya, especially in support of women-owned enterprises.

The purpose of this engagement will be to strengthen agriculture, textile and apparel, health and WASH value chains while empowering women entrepreneurs, resulting in increased food production, processing/value addition, job creation, increased business growth/sales, and overall business-enabling environment in Kenya as well as more productive, supported, confident, capable female business owners.

Objectives and Activities

The Awardee will work towards the following overarching objectives:

• To tailor-make and package business development services for WO-SGBs in the three categories of micro, small, and medium sized businesses.
• To identify, recruit, and support WO-SGBs, incubating and accelerating their growth plans, and transferring skills and training to women-owned businesses.
• To organize, convene and carry out pitch and reverse pitch competitions to identify incubatees that are investment ready to receive small, firm fixed-price co-investment grant awards with a focus on female entrepreneurs in the agriculture, textile and apparel, health, or water and sanitation sectors that can demonstrate commercial viability, address gaps in the supply chain, deepen export capacity, and/or increase employment of Kenyans.

The Implementing Partner for this activity will issue five (5) application rounds, in which nine WO-SGBs in at each level (micro, small, and medium) will be selected for incubation and/or acceleration support. Correspondingly, a cohort from one round will consist of 27 enterprises in the three classes which will run concurrently for a period of 4 months.  It is expected that at the end of the incubation program, at least 135 (27 in 5 rounds) WO-SGBs will have received business development services and will be sustainably equipped to run profitable and competitive enterprises.

Anticipated activities to be completed by the Awardee include;

1. Recruiting the WO-SGB and female entrepreneurs to participate in the various cohorts.
2. Tailor-making and packaging business development services for micro, small, and medium sized WO-SGBs.
3. Classification of WO-SGBs and female entrepreneurs into 3 categories (micro, small, and medium).
4. Incubating/accelerating WO-SGBs with innovative ideas to target value chains.
5. Fostering WO-SGBs networking with financial service providers, business service providers, and members of the entrepreneur ecosystem.
6. Running pitch and reverse pitch competitions and facilitate access to co-investment grants for selected WO-SGBs.
7. Facilitating linkages of WO-SGBs to finance providers and business advisory service providers (BASPs).
8. Undertaking monitoring, evaluation, learning and adaption support for the women entrepreneurship incubator program.

Applicants should specify their experience running incubation programs for female entrepreneurs and demonstrate their capacity in effectively implementing interventions that unlocks the potential of female-owned enterprises. In their applications, Applicants should also demonstrate how they will recruit and select WO-SGBs, and what services and/or content will be included in their incubation/accelerators (including but not limited to business development services and socio-emotional skills and confidence building for participating entrepreneurs). The latter should focus on enhancing women’s non-cognitive skills, foster a proactive, motivated, resilient, and entrepreneurial mindset that is essential in overcoming obstacles, seizing opportunities, and ultimately achieving their goals.

Applicants should also demonstrate their understanding and experience in integrating gender- inclusive strategies into Business Development Services (BDS) content and delivery, including showing how well-suited they are to support female entrepreneurs to access networks, markets, connections to business advisers and financial providers and scale process management. They should spell out how market system approaches will be integrated in the delivery of business development to participating WO-SGBs. For example, in all the cohorts it is expected that BDS delivered will combine or bundle business training with existing financial products and services in the market while also promoting linkages with financial institutions and other market stakeholders such as aggregators.

In addition, Applicants must clearly demonstrate experience and knowledge in provision of business development services and targeted technical assistance in their incubator models to entrepreneurs in Kenyan agribusiness, textile and apparel, health and WASH sectors. Taking note of the different categories of WO-SGBs and their varying capacity needs, Applicants should also demonstrate their prior experience in supporting women-owned enterprises of different sizes to achieve their capacity building goals. In addition, Applicants are required to propose the activities that will be conducted for each category, including mode of delivery. Activities that enhance investor-readiness among participating WO-SGBs are encouraged, which may include development and refining of business models and investor pitch decks, pitch preps, linkages to finance providers, etc.

If the Applicant is an international organization, they should define activities and strategies that will be used to build the capacity of the local partnering incubator, and how to further ensure sustainability of the program.

At the conclusion of each cohort, the Awardee will host a pitch competition where three selected WO-SGBs graduates (one per size category) will be awarded grant funding to financially support their growth plan.  Grants will be in the amount of US$10,000 (micro), US$25,000 (small), and US$50,000 (medium). The Awardee will manage all pitch competitions and subgrants.  When proposing a schedule for the 30-month activity, Applicants should account for the timeframe of grants awarded, ensuring that the final grants are awarded no later than month 24, allowing 6 months for the Awardee to conclude monitoring and evaluation and learning for the overall activity and for the matching grants winners from the final cohorts to implement and start realizing changes in their businesses.

Assumptions accompanying the objectives

• The Women’s Entrepreneurship Incubator Program is expected to run for 30 months, including 5 cohorts with 9 firms per category (micro, small, and medium) selected during each call.
• Applicants are expected to propose the implementation methodology for the small grant award categories for a $1,275,000 budget over the life of the incubation program.
• Applicants will propose how this project will run:
  1. A minimum of three pitch and/or reverse competitions per cohort (15 pitch competitions in total) over the 30-month grant period,
  2. The number of subawards expected from all three categories of enterprises per pitch competition.

Technical scope of the incubator activity

Applicants are expected to propose innovative technical activities covering the women’s entrepreneurship activity components below at a minimum:

Incubator

The Awardee is expected to facilitate business development services, run pitch and reverse pitch competitions and administer a matching grant award facility to promote growth of Kenyan female entrepreneurs. The Awardee is expected to have the capacity and requisite expertise to prioritize result-oriented activities that can spur trade and investment. This may include business and technical skills training, gender specific content, socio-emotional skills training, business networking, and business linkages to business advisory service providers (BASPs) and financial service providers, and financial institutions. The Awardee is expected to facilitate and conduct small grant awards that amount to $1,275,000. The Awardee is expected to have geographical footprint coverage (or capacity to expand coverage) in all counties of Kenya. Applicants are expected to propose strategies that ensure the female entrepreneurs from hard to reach/marginalized counties are reached and participate in the incubation program.

Expected deliverables for the incubator:

• Work with ATI to develop a request for application (RFA) and support in circulating the RFA for each of the 5 cohorts.
• Develop screening criteria to prioritize new potential investments (grants) and to ensure that investments are consistent with USAID regulations and development outcomes for the grant awards and pitch competitions.
• Tailor and package a BDS framework and training resources for WO-SGBs of different categories (micro, small, and medium) to be used for the incubation program, and also replicated to target more WO-SGBs in Kenya.
• 135 WO-SGBs access BDS aimed at supporting them to improve their performance, access to markets, and its ability to
• Provide incubator services including business networking, training, capacity building, deal sourcing, business development technical assistance, development/refining of investor pitch, transaction facilitation, and linkages to the activity’s co-investment grant facility.
• Plan and implement pitch preparations and pitch competitions for each cohort.
• Run reverse pitch competitions with corporates and government departments leading to innovation awards.
• For each cohort, conduct incubator capacity-building workshops and link participants with private sector actors, business advisory service providers (BASPs), and financial service providers to create interconnections and relationships between women owned small and growing businesses and other ecosystem players.
• Provide cross learning and technical training resources of business advisory services providers, when necessary, to fill technical gaps in the Kenyan market.
• If the awardee is an international organization, they should demonstrate how they will strengthen the capacity of the Kenyan-based incubator to continue supporting more WO-SGBs.

Pitch Competitions and Matching Grants Awards

The Awardee is expected to administer competitions to scale up innovations that strengthen inclusive commercial development in Kenya in the textile and apparel, agribusiness, health and WASH sectors that includes women, youth, and other marginalized groups. The incubation awards are meant to be provided to incubation graduates selected through pitch competition to get them started off in implementing their enterprise growth activities. During the life of the incubator, at least $1,275,000 will be disbursed to small and growing enterprises with contributions from the businesses as a cash match. The pitch competition awards will be provided through the following matching grants awards categories.

Illustrative table: WO-SGBs Co-investment grants 

The Awardee is welcome to propose different enterprise award categories as long as they comply with the upper limit of $50,000 and provide for different enterprise sizes. Deliberate efforts must be made to run pitch competitions in geographically diverse counties.

Expected deliverables for pitch competitions and matching grants awards:

• 15 pitch competitions (5 cohorts x 3 categories (micro, small, and medium) with co-investment grants in category 1, category 2, and category 3.
• 45 investor ready WO-SGBs receive co-investment grants.
• If the Applicant is not an incubator, then they should submit established partnerships/business linkages with existing local business incubators or corporates to run or co-run pitch competitions and reverse pitch competitions, respectively.
• A clear monitoring system to capture incubator graduates’ performance in terms of investment and trade activities during incubation and post-graduation.
• A proof of business linkages for further access to advisory and financial services.  

Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting.

The Awardee is expected to work with the ATI Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning team to align with the relevant performance indicators and document learning experiences from the Incubation implementation. The Awardee will adapt its strategies to troubleshoot any challenges faced. This learning and iteration will be shared and included in the ATI report as part of the Learning and Adaptation report. The Awardee will be expected to provide quarterly progress reports to ATI and share learnings from the incubation processes.

Expected deliverables for collaboration, learning, and adapting:

• Development of a learning and adaptation quarterly and annual performance report.
• Quarterly two - pager success story
• Quarterly performance data collection and processing.

Final report including activity accomplishments, performance, and recommendations for future programming and replication of the intervention.

Grant Size: ATI will issue a standard grant of a maximum of $1,500,000 to establish a partnership with a firm meeting the objectives stated in the RFA. Grant value may be limited by the type of grant most appropriate for the enterprise it intends to fund—for example, U.S. organizations (both not-for-profits and for-profits) may not receive grant funding above $250,000 under any grant type.

Grant Type: Although a standard grant is the preferred grant mechanism under this RFA, ATI will conduct capacity assessments of all the applicants in which their mode of award will be determined based on the financial and administrative capabilities of the applicant. Other modalities of award may include an in- kind grant, Fixed Amount Award (FAA), simplified grant, or a combination of FAA and in-kind grants, but this is dependent on ATI’s determination of the potential grantee’s capacity. 

If ATI’s assessment identifies weaknesses or deficiencies that call into question the applicant’s ability to manage the award, ATI may elect to remove the applicant from consideration under this funding opportunity or select a mechanism more appropriate for the applicant’s current financial, administrative, and operational capacity. The applicant will agree to the metrics and verification methods of awards during the development of the full application, giving latitude on how it will accomplish the agreed objectives. DAI reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.

Applications submitted in response to this RFA must include the following information in line with ATI Objectives via the application form:

1. Project Description:

The applicant must provide a detailed description of the project, specifying its goal, activities, and results. These should be in line with the overall objective of the grant. Sections should be structured as follows: detailed description of purpose/summary, background, project goals, detailed description of anticipated activities/outcomes.

2. Monitoring (Results and Benchmarks):

ATI will work closely with the grantee to define appropriate indicators for the overall interventions based on applicable ME&L indicators as identified by ATI and the USAID stakeholders. ATI will work with the grantee to develop the ME&L plan at the kickoff, edit as needed during implementation (e.g., if additional transactions are added), and will collect and review data from the grantee for requisite reporting to USAID throughout the life of the activity. The grantee will be required to reasonably maintain and report on relevant data as part of the periodic check-in process. ATI will conduct data quality assessments, as necessary. In many cases, the grantee must be willing to share results for at least a six-month period following the completion of their grant in order for ATI and USAID to accurately capture results (e.g., an investment that closes after the period of performance but was facilitated during the contracted support).

The applicant should define, to the maximum extent possible at the application stage, results, and benchmarks for monitoring the performance towards attainment of program objectives. Please explain how your organization will monitor the implementation and performance of the project and indicate one or more indicators per activity that will be used to assess the progress and performance of the project, and the achievement of the expected results.

Upon selection and award, ATI will work closely with the awardee to determine the agreement structure including final timelines, deliverables, and associated costs. Additionally, ATI and USAID will also work closely with the awardee on the overall learning agenda, including the appropriate cadence for reporting, communications, and other general ongoing project management activities, as well as be a resource to help the awardee achieve overall objectives.

3. Sustainability: The applicant should describe how the project, or its benefits, will continue after grant funding ends. What measures are being put in place to ensure sustainability?

4. Organizational Capability: The application shall include information that demonstrates the applicant's expertise and ability to meet or exceed the goals of this program. Organizational capacity should include information on sound management systems, with regards to financial, administration, internal policies and procedures and controls that safeguard against fraud, abuse, and waste.

5. Personnel. The applicant should propose up to three key personnel and give a description of their roles and responsibilities. Each applicant demonstrates the key personnel’s ability to perform the duties outlined in the program description/statement of work and in accordance with the applicant’s approach. ATI will evaluate the CV to determine the individual’s knowledge, skills and abilities. Key personnel are those critical of implementation only and do not include administrative or support staff.

6. Past Performance: Applicants must present evidence of their experience in undertaking similar activities. Applicants may include descriptions of two (projects or other similar activities). ATI will request references that should include clients’ names and telephone numbers.

7. Budget: All applications must include a completed budget in United States dollars.

The applications will be evaluated according to the evaluation criteria set forth below. To the extent necessary (if the award is not made based on initial applications), negotiations may be conducted with each applicant whose application, after discussion and negotiation, has a reasonable chance of being selected for an award. Award will be made to the responsible applicant whose application offers the best value.

Applicants should address the following in their proposal:

• An innovative and compelling technical approach that offers quality incubator services to female entrepreneurs in the agribusiness/agro-processing, textile and apparel, health and WASH sectors.
• A Kenya-based incubator/accelerator/ or business advisory service provider (BASP) or an international organization with local presence, experience and capacity and working in partnership with an existing Kenya-based incubator/accelerator or BASP.
• Supporting and graduating entrepreneurs in Kenya —especially female entrepreneurs.
• Managing pitch and reverse pitch activities.
• Access to private and public sector ecosystem players with whom to undertake reverse pitch competitions.
• Previous experience managing co-investment grant facilities, including number of grants awarded and value of grants awards issued (average size and size range).
• Experience of Applicant or their partner operating as an innovation incubator providing business development support services and technical assistance to local enterprises, particularly women-owned enterprises.
• A management approach for this program, including the expertise of the Applicant’s management team, personnel, and/or their consortium partners.
• Access to and existing relationships with private sector, agribusiness, commercial sector players, financial institutions, off-takers, and other implementing partners in the agribusiness ecosystem (relevant stakeholders) will be an added advantage.
• Experience working with women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in one or more counties in Kenya.

Award will be made based on the ranking of applications by the review panel according to the evaluation criteria and scoring system identified below:

• Application documents must include the following

• Complete Annex A. Application Form. This annex asks for information on the project description, applicant leverage (as applicable), monitoring and results, and other activity information. Responses should be specific, complete, and presented concisely.

• Complete Annex B. Workplan. The implementation plan should be detailed and include tasks, outputs, partners, and responsible persons. It may be no more than three years or extend past March 2026. Monitoring and evaluation efforts must also be included.

• Complete Annex C. Budget and Budget Notes. In the budget, request and explain the key cost items required for the support. Full instructions on budgeting are found in the annex on the first tab called Budget Instructions. You must submit cost verification documents for each budget line item to demonstrate that the amount you budgeted is based on actual cost or market price. 

• Applications must be submitted in English

• Page Limitation: Applications should be specific, complete, presented concisely and shall not exceed 10 pages (exclusive of annexes). 

 In accordance with ADS303.6, DAI is required to establish the applicant organization’s nationality to determine its eligibility to receive the requested grant. Complete Appendix A. Grantee Nationality Self Certification Form.

Submission Instructions:

To apply for funding interested applicants must submit all applications (including all annexes) via the RFA-07-USAID KEA Women's Entrepreneurship Incubator program (Application Submission). 

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.  Applications which are submitted late or are incomplete run the risk of not being considered in the review process.

Please note that while the Grants Team will explain rules and requirements to each awardee, the
following award requirements will apply:

a) Administration of Award

Awards to U.S. organizations will be administered in accordance with 2 CFR 200 Subpart E, ADS 303 and
USAID Standard Provisions for U.S. non-governmental organizations. For non-U.S. organizations, USAID
Standard Provisions for non-U.S. non-governmental organizations apply. Applicants may obtain copies of
the referenced material at the following websites:

• 2 CFR 200 - https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=0a5b7fee6378930cce72564449dd8bb7&mc=true&node=sp2.1.200.d&rgn=div6
• Standard Provisions for US Nongovernmental Recipients - https://www.globalhealthlearning.org/sites/default/files/page-files/french-PLGHA-Standard-Provisions-US-Nongovernment-Organizations.pdf
• Standard Provisions for Non-US Nongovernmental Recipients -                https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/303mab.pdf

b) Important USAID Compliance Information

• Certifications, Assurances, Other Statements of the Recipient and Solicitation Standard Provisions - In accordance with ADS 303.3.8, ATI will require awarded grant partners to submit signed copies of required certifications and assurances. ADS 303 may be found at the following website: usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/303.pdf.
• Unique Entity ID (SAM) - Effective April 4, 2022, entities doing business with the federal government will use the Unique Entity Identifier (SAM) created in (sam.gov). The Unique Entity ID (SAM) is a 12-character alphanumeric value managed, granted, and owned by the U.S. government. This allows the government to streamline the entity identification and validation process, making it easier and less burdensome for entities to do business with the federal government. All foreign organizations which receive a grant with a value of USD 25,000 and above and all U.S. organizations which receive a grant of any value are required to obtain a Unique Entity ID (SAM) and complete full www.sam.gov registration. Organizations are exempt from this requirement if the gross income received from all sources in the previous tax year was under USD 300,000. DAI requires that grant applicants sign the self-certification statement if the applicant claims exemption for this reason.
• Branding and Marking - All USAID-sponsored assistance awards are required to adhere to branding and marking requirements in accordance with ADS 320. ADS 320 may be found at the following website: https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-300/320. ATI’s Branding and Marking Plan allows for co-branding with the grantee and USAID. The Activity must approve all communications materials produced under this grant before printing or publication. Grantees must follow the guidelines set forth in the USAID Graphic Standards Manual and accompanying Prosper Africa Graphic Standards Manual: USAID Graphic Standards Manual and Partner Co-Branding Guide | Branding | U.S. Agency for International Development and Prosper Africa Graphic Standards Manual | Prosper Africa | U.S. Agency for International Development (usaid.gov)
• Environmental Procedures - The impact of USAID’s activities on the environment and environmental sustainability must be a central consideration when designing and implementing an activity. Potential environmental impacts of the grant must be identified prior to a final decision to proceed and appropriate environmental safeguards must be adopted for all activities The grantee must comply with host country environmental regulations unless otherwise directed in writing by USAID. In case of conflict between the host country and USAID regulations, the latter will govern. No activity funded under this grant will be implemented unless an environmental threshold determination, as defined by 22 CFR 216, has been reached for the grant, is properly documented, and signed by the Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO). ADS 200 may be found at the following website: https://www.usaid.gov/environmental-procedures/laws-regulations-policies/22-cfr-216
• Reporting Requirements - Project implementation reporting will be determined based on the planned activities and the delineation of roles and responsibilities. There will be milestone reporting, quarterly progress reports, environmental reporting, and a final grant report. A Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan with indicators and targets will also be agreed upon. Grant recipients will be expected to facilitate monitoring during and beyond the life of the grant through June 2026 by making relevant information available to ATI staff.
• Payments and Use of Funds - The Activity will make grant payments in local currency. The grant recipient must use the funds provided exclusively for activities specified in the Program Description. Diversion of grant funds to other uses will result in the cancellation of award and retrieval of funds disbursed to the grant recipient.
• Permitted Uses of Program Income - The grantee will be expected to account for program income in accordance with 2 CFR 200.307. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.307 (e)(2), program income earned under this award will be added to funds committed by ATI and the recipient to the project or program and used to further eligible project or program objectives. Additionally, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.307(e)(3), program income may be used to finance the non-Federal share of the project or objectives.
• ATI funds will not support construction. All construction activities will be resourced through grantee leverage.
• Prohibited Countries - The US Government does not do business with, i.e., purchase goods or services from, prohibited source, nationality, and country of origin. The current list of countries under comprehensive sanctions include Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria.
• Ineligible Goods, Restrictions, and Unallowable Costs - The grant funds provided under the terms of this agreement must not be used to finance any of the following:
  • Goods or services which are to be used primarily to meet military requirements or to support police or other law enforcement activities,
  • Surveillance equipment,
  • Equipment, research and/or services related to involuntary sterilization or the performance of abortion as a method of family planning,
  • Gambling equipment, supplies for gambling facilities or any hotels, casinos or accommodations in which gambling facilities are or are planned to be located,
  • Activities which significantly degrade national parks or similar protected areas or introduce exotic plants or animals into such areas, or
  • Establishment or development of any export processing zone or designated area where the labor, environmental, tax, tariff, and/or safety laws of the country in which such activity takes place would not apply.
  • Pharmaceuticals or pesticides (may be allowable with written approval)
  • Logging equipment,
  • Luxury goods (including alcoholic beverages and jewelry),
  • Establishing or expanding any enterprise that will export raw materials that are likely to be in surplus in world markets at the time such production becomes effective and that are likely to cause substantial injury to U.S. producers,
  • Activities which would result in the loss of forest lands due to livestock rearing, road construction or maintenance, colonization of forest lands or construction of dams or other water control structures,
  • Activities which are likely to have a significant adverse effect on the environment, including any of the following (to the extent such activities are likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment):
    • Activities which may lead to degrading the quality or renewability of natural resources;
    • Activities which may lead to degrading the presence or health of threatened ecosystems or biodiversity;
    • Activities which may lead to degrading long-term viability of agricultural or forestry production (including through use of pesticides);
    • Activities which may lead to degrading community and social systems, including potable water supply, land administration, community health and well-being or social harmony.
  • Activities which are likely to involve the loss of jobs in the United States due to the relocation or expansion outside of the United States of an enterprise located in the United States, or
  • Activities which the Grantee is aware are reasonably likely to contribute to the violation of internationally or locally recognized rights of workers,
  • Bad debts
  • Contributions or donations
  • Deferred Research and Development Costs
  • Entertainment costs or lobbying costs
  • Fines or penalties
  • Goodwill
  • Interest (Interest on taxes, issuing stock rights, Cost of financing or refinancing capital)
  • Public Relations and Advertising Costs
  • Company holiday parties or picnics
  • Taxes (such as income/profit tax) and PROFIT
  • Bribes
  • Goods or services from vendors or individuals with active exclusions on SAM.gov
  • Goods or services with source, origin, transported through, or nationality from a Prohibited Country – currently Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Cuba.
  • Costs that are being paid for by another donor or funding source, including other US government funding, (i.e., disproportion allocation of costs amongst multiple donors)
  • Costs purchased from vendors, employees, or other sources with Conflicts of Interest.
  • Payments to government officials

Issuance of this RFA does not constitute an award commitment on the part of ATI, nor does it commit ATI to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of an application.  Further, ATI 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.