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REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

 

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR AGRIBUSINESS INCUBATOR AND CHALLENGE COMPETITION FOR WOMEN AND YOUTH IN MALI

 

Name of Project:

USAID Africa Trade Investment Activity: Feed the Future

Reference Number:

RFA-12-MALI

Date of Issue:

March 7,2024

Closing Date for Receipt of Applications:

May 7,2024 

Questions Submission Date

Submit your inquiry to RFA Questions. No later than: March 31, 2024

Question Response Date:

April 8, 2024

 

OVERVIEW OF ATI

In partnership with Prosper Africa, USAID, and Feed the Future, the Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) Activity aims to mobilize enterprise-driven solutions that increase trade and investment in Africa. ATI strengthens Africa’s markets by developing new trade and investment relationships, with a strong focus on links between the United States and Africa. ATI achieves development outcomes across all sectors in line with USAID’s Private Sector Engagement Policy, the U.S. Government Initiative Prosper Africa, and the U.S. Global Food Security Strategy. 

ATI embraces innovative private sector approaches to achieve its goals. The ATI Activity is envisioned 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. It is designed to support the needs and opportunities that USAID missions and the private sector identify. ATI mobilizes private sector resources and expertise, in conjunction with other U.S. Government interagency partners, resulting in the increased capacity, competitiveness, and availability of businesses, investors, and intermediaries that will drive future trade and investment.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Over the past decade in Mali, real gross domestic product growth has averaged 3.8 percent. This occurred despite declines in 2012, 2020, and 2021 – years in which the country experienced unrest through coups d’état. Capital investment has recovered from the decline, and domestic credit to Malian businesses has grown quite steadily from 18 percent in 2010 to over 29 percent in 2021. Moreover, Mali has not experienced significant effects of crowding out - a case where financial institutions favor lending to the government as a safer choice at the expense of private sector lending. In contrast to most of the countries on the African continent, the Malian financial sector lends more to the private sector than to the government. However, recent developments, such as the decision to pull out of ECOWAS, may have significant effects on capital flows and investment in Mali.

 

Two-thirds of Malian businesses cite access to finance as a major setback and rank it just behind the country’s political instability as a constraint to growth. Furthermore, the challenge of accessing investment and working capital is not uniformly distributed. Financing flows disproportionately favor large, well-established businesses over micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Key sectors in the economy, most notably agriculture, are underserved, incommensurate with their contribution to output, employment, and incomes.

Women face significantly higher barriers to accessing finance due to their lack of collateral, the lack of gender-specific financial products, and poor enforcement of gender-intentional land distribution policies. Evidence from microfinance institutions (MFIs) is telling. While women are a significant part of the agricultural sector that MFIs are meant to serve, men account for an estimated 80 percent of loans issued. 

Given the importance of MSMEs for economic development, USAID Mali’s ATI Activity seeks to strengthen the commercial agricultural and adjacent sectors (such as water and energy) in Mali, particularly MSMEs working with and led by women and youth. The goal of this activity is to improve investment and productivity of Malian agribusinesses and industries that are closely related to the agricultural sector either geographically or in terms of the products and services provided. To achieve this goal, ATI seeks offers that use catalytic interventions to incubate innovative ideas from promising entrepreneurs or established MSMEs, increase their access to finance, foster an improved network of business service providers (BSPs), strengthen agriculture value chains, create jobs, and improve the overall business enabling environment for MSME development in Mali. There should be a particular emphasis on women and youth entrepreneurs/MSMEs. Youth are defined as ages 15-29.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

USAID Mali and ATI are committed to supporting the growth of agribusinesses in Mali. ATI’s theory of change for this opportunity is that by providing a grant to an incubator, MSMEs and entrepreneurs will deepen their business, technical, and financial management capacity, increase productivity, be more inclusive of women and youth, and scale nationally and regionally. The main objectives of this activity are:
  • To strengthen commercial agriculture and adjacent sectors resulting in increased productivity, jobs created, and improved business capacity of MSMEs in Mali, particularly for women and youth.
  • To organize, convene, and carry out two (2) Mali Agribusiness Challenges (one in 2024 and one in 2025) with prizes awarded to businesses that demonstrate inclusive and sustainable growth potential and commercial viability, setting them up for successful collaboration and/or partnerships with private sector investors.
  • To document lessons through the incubation process, and to recommend scale-up strategies and sustained support from incubators to MSMEs in Mali.
Target Customers/Beneficiaries

Applications should address the needs of Malian MSMEs as well as farmers and individual entrepreneurs with bases of operations in the capital of Bamako and USAID Mali’s Feed the Future zone of influence (Sikasso, Bougouni, Koutiala, Mopti, Douentza, Bandiagara and Tomboctou regions). Particular emphasis should be placed on those owned and/or operated by women and youth.

Geography

The focus of this activity is services that reach Malians living, working, and operating businesses within the capital of Bamako and the Feed the Future zone of influence in the Sikasso, Bougouni, Koutiala, Mopti, Douentza, Bandiagara and Tomboctou regions. This may also include organizations registered and operating in Bamako but with presence in other regions. Applicants may provide services to both urban and rural businesses. The place of performance is required to be in Mali for the entire duration of the engagement, and applicants should anticipate the need for in-country visits and/or the ability to have a local presence. Applicants should provide detail on their approach to working in Mali as the activity requires. The selected firm(s) will report to the ATI team based in Accra, Ghana, in coordination with USAID Mali.
 
The grant will be provided to a successful applicant to undertake three main activities: providing agribusiness incubation services, conducting two Mali Agribusiness Challenges, and documenting lessons learned.
 
1. Agribusiness Incubation

The applicant is expected to upscale and facilitate business development incubator services and administer grant award management to promote investment to Malian entrepreneurs and/or established MSMEs with incubation activities that specifically promote women and youth entrepreneurship, with a target to reach 50 percent women and 30 percent youth entrepreneurs/MSMEs. The incubator must provide business and technical training competence, business networking, introductions to BSPs for advisory and investor readiness, financial service providers for access to finance, and links to off-takers for increased local and export sales. The applicant is expected to have a reputable grant award management system and established processes for financial accountability. The applicant is expected to have a geographical footprint, or the capacity to expand its reach to Bamako, and/or USAID Mali’s Feed the Future zone of influence areas as detailed above.

Expected outputs to this activity include but are not limited to:
  • Provide agribusiness incubator services to selected entrepreneurs and MSMEs in Bamako and other identified areas. Services must include business networking, strategic business and personal awareness training, capacity building, introductions to business development and technical assistance services, transaction facilitation to capital providers, and linkages to the ATI’s co-investment grant facilities.
  • Arrange and execute the two (2) Mali Agribusiness Challenges.
  • Establish an agribusiness incubator center in Bamako and/or within the Feed the Future (FTF) zone of influence of the Sikasso, Bougouni, Koutiala, Mopti, Douentza, Bandiagara and Tomboctou regions. This can include organizations that are registered and operating in Bamako, but with a presence in the regions of the zone of influence. Successful applicants should liaise with current FTF activities in Mali, particularly to Sugu Yiriwa (Prosperous Markets), in the Southern and Delta zone, to ensure collaboration amongst the applicants and avoid duplication of development efforts.
  • Organize at least three incubator capacity building workshops for potential incubatees with private sector actors, BSPs, and financial service providers.
  • Develop a screening criterion for selected BSPs to prioritize potential incubatees for selection and ensure that the screening criteria is consistent with USAID regulations to achieve the development outcomes of the Agribusiness challenges’ awards.
  • Issue a request for proposal (RFP) to solicit and invite a set of agribusiness proposals to be incubated and receive business development support services.
  • Provide potential incubatees with support to prepare them for the Mali Agribusiness Challenges.
  • Introduce the nominated incubatees to selected BSPs who will prepare the incubatees to be investor-ready and facilitate pitch-deck/teaser introductions to interested capital providers.
  • Facilitate the incubatees with linkages to potential buyers for offtake agreements.
  • Coordinate and arrange yearly ‘pause and reflect’ learning workshops mid-year within the USAID ATI grant award period (between October 2024, and March 2026). Participating agribusinesses (incubatees) and incubators will collaborate, exchange, and document their learning outcomes in these workshops.
  • In collaboration with the ATI Activity team, oversee incubatees during the implementation phase and provide required support to them to achieve the milestones and targets agreed to.
2. Mali Agribusiness Challenges

The applicant is expected to administer two agribusiness competitions (Mali Agribusiness Challenges) to scale up Malian (local or diaspora) innovations that strengthen inclusive commercial agricultural development in Mali (i.e., development that includes women, youth, and other marginalized groups). During the life of the award, the incubator will facilitate two agribusiness challenges (one in 2024 and one in 2025) to disburse at least $250,000 in small grants per year. These challenges should target commercially operational MSMEs in the agricultural and/or adjacent sectors that are closely related to the agricultural sector either geographically or in terms of the products and services it provides (i.e., energy and water), including but not limited to agro-dealers, input providers, aggregators, processors, exporters, and service providers.
Deliberate efforts must be made to run the Mali Agribusiness Challenges in Bamako given the security situation in the country.

The types of outputs expected from this activity include.
  • Award agribusiness challenges’ grants with prize money for the selected grantees.
  • Organize two Mali Agribusiness Challenges in Bamako, one in 2024 and one in 2025.
  • Liaise with USAID Mali, US Embassy Bamako, the Malian American Chamber of Commerce, and prominent Malian business leaders to ensure involvement and publicity of events.
Identify potential investors to buy equity stakes in the business incubators for expansion, growth, and sustainability.

3. Collaboration, Learning, and Adapting

The applicant is expected to work with ATI’s MEL team to align with the relevant performance indicators and document learning experiences from the incubation implementation. This will be useful when sharing evidence on best practices to promote agribusiness development in Mali. The applicant will adapt its strategies to troubleshoot any challenges faced. This learning and iteration will be shared by the incubator and included in a document called the Learning and Adaptation Report. Applicants will be expected to provide quarterly progress reports to ATI and share learnings from the incubation processes.

The types of activities and outputs expected from this activity include:
  • Development of a “Learning and Adaptation” performance report shared every quarter of the implementation period.
  • Quarterly performance data collection and processing.
  • Final report including activity accomplishments, performance, and recommendations for future programming and replication of intervention.

AWARD INFORMATION

Grant size and type: ATI will issue performance-based grants of up to $1,500,000 to establish partnerships with firms meeting the criteria as stated in the RFA funding opportunity section. This grant is inclusive of the $250,000 per year (for two years) set aside for the small-grants to be awarded to Agribusiness Challenge Award-winning incubatees by the successful applicant as described.

Performance-based grants: The grant will be a Fixed Amount Award (FAA) agreement under USAID rules (Chapter 303, ADS Rules version 2022). Payment under FAA grants are made upon accomplishment of predetermined results (milestones). Results are agreed upon between ATI and the partner prior to the grant being awarded. The duration of the grant period is 24 months.

Capacity assessment of potential grantees: ATI will conduct a capacity assessment of all selected applicants. This 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 if the applicant does not show current and sufficient financial, administrative, and operational capacity. The applicant must agree to the metrics and verification methods of awards during the co-design process, giving latitude to the partner on how it will accomplish the agreed objectives. DAI reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted.

Performance period: The performance period of grants will be no more than 24 months from the date of signing. In response to this solicitation, potential grantees may propose their own alternate timelines, work plans, and level of effort associated with the various components of the activity in line with their proposed approach.

Place of performance: The place of performance is Mali, and with preference to cover the Feed the Future Zone of Influence (Sikasso, Bougouni, Koutiala, Mopti, Douentza, Bandiagara and Tomboctou regions) and Sugu Yiriwa (Prosperous Markets) in the Southern and Delta. However, consideration will be given to organizations working in Bamako and other regions that may also include work within the Zone of Influence. Potential grantees should provide details on their ​justification for targeting and ​approach to working in relevant areas of the country as the activity requires. The selected firm (s) will report to the ATI team based in Accra, Ghana.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

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 offeror is expected to propose innovative incubation services to Malian MSMEs and entrepreneurs to support their business growth, culminating in a challenge award for the best performing businesses. It is imperative that there is targeted outreach and participation of women and youth to ensure gender and youth parity. Applicants are expected to propose approaches and activities that are both grounded in the needs of the MSMEs and entrepreneurs in light of the nascent Malian market and realistic given the country context, as outlined in the Program Description section of this RFA. Sections should be structured as follows:                                                                                

  • Summary
  • Goals/Results
  • Geography, Target Population, and Outreach (number of parties reached)
  • Product or Service provided, including pricing, terms, and conditions
  • Methodology
  • Partners (if any)
  • Financial projections of the financial services provided
2. Monitoring (Results and Benchmarks):
The applicant should define the proposed results and benchmarks for monitoring the performance towards achieving program objectives, as well as the internal controls and audit related to the proposed project.

Please explain how your organization will monitor the implementation and performance of the project and indicate additional indicators per activity that will be used to assess the progress of the project, and the achievement of expected results.

ATI will work closely with the selected partner to develop a MEL plan following existing ATI and USAID requirements for this grant. ATI will also work with the partner to use USAID’s Collaboration, Learning and Adaptation (CLA) approach to address implementation of activities and to measure results. The partners will be required to maintain all relevant data and report results on a quarterly basis as agreed with ATI. ATI will conduct data quality assessments, as necessary. Partners must be willing to share results for at least a six-month period following the completion of their grant implementation for ATI and USAID to evaluate the results of this intervention.

3. Sustainability:
The applicant should describe how the project or its benefits will continue after the agreement 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 activity. The applicant must provide the following general information:
● Full title of the applicant according to official registration documents and date of establishment. If the applicant is working closely or relying on third-party entities for the proposed project, the same information should be included for those entities.
● Indicate the name, position, and contact details (email, telephone number) of the person responsible for the project.
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, as well as their CV. 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 CVs 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. This includes documentation highlighting previous projects successfully completed and demonstrable outcomes from successful incubation 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 proposals must include a completed budget in US dollars.

8. Milestones:
The application must contain a table with milestones that the partner and ATI will track during the implementation of this program.

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 award. Award will be made to responsible applicants whose applications offer the best value.

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

Criteria

 

Demonstrated ability and commitment to reach agribusinesses and women-and/or youth owned or operated agribusiness MSMEs with appropriate products- in target regions

25%

Appropriateness and adaptability for current market conditions and within Malian private sector conditions

15%

Catalytic impact, i.e., need or opportunity created for funding per agreement

20%

Scalability and sustainability to growth in activities after 24 months

20%

Institutional capacity including partnerships that bring technical, digital, and financial resources to the project

20%

Total

100%

APPLICATION PROCESS

Who Can Apply for the grant?

Eligible applicants:

  • Applicants must demonstrate that they fall into one of the grantee categories below:
    • Private sector companies – local (within Mali) and international firms (outside of Mali). International firms must demonstrate a clear understanding of Mali’s local context and must demonstrate existing relationships with relevant local stakeholders. Malian firms will be given preference in the selection process.
    • Foreign organizations (referred to as non-U.S. NGOs (non-governmental organizations)): either non-profit or for-profit organizations that meet the definition in 2 CFR 200.47.
    • Non-profit organizations: organizations that meet the definition of 2 CFR 200.70.
  • In addition, an applicant must be organized under the laws of the country in which it has its principal place of business or operations in.

Ineligible applicants:

  • Any organization not legally organized under the laws of the country in which it has its principal place of business or operations in.
  • Any entity listed in the U.S. government Excluded Parties List.
  • Any entity unable to obtain a Unique Entity Identification number (UEI); **
  • Any entity excluded in the US Government System for Award Management.
  • Any government entity.
  • Any Public International Organization (PIO).
  • Any entity affiliated with DAI or ATI directors, officers, or employees;
  • Any projects involving involuntary resettlement, child labor, or significant environmental impacts.
  • Any military organization.
  • Any political party organization.
  • Any entity focused solely on religious activities.
  • Any labor unions; and,
  • Any individuals. 

Application submission instructions & deadline

Application  

  • 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. Work Plan. 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 to 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.
  • Complete Annex D. Milestone Table. The Activity recommends a fixed amount award (FAA) as the best grant mechanism per the anticipated program description. This means you will be paid an agreed-upon amount for completed milestones. This annex asks you to propose those milestones, means of verification, due dates, and amount per milestone.
  • Applications must be submitted in English or French. Applicants can use any translation tool or service of their preference. Applicants will not be evaluated on the quality of the translation.
  • Page Limitation: Applications should be specific, complete, presented concisely and shall not exceed 10 pages (exclusive of annexes B, C, and D).
  • In accordance with USAID 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-12- (Application Submission) on or before May 7, 2024. The application should be submitted using the templates provided in the link above labeled annex A, B, C and D.

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. Due to the number of applications, only applicants moving to the next stage will receive communication of the next steps.   Applications which are submitted late or are incomplete will not be considered in the review process.

AWARD AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Award Determination
 
ATI reserves the right to reject any or all applications at any point during the co-design and pre-award
risk assessment phase. USAID may also approve or reject applications submitted to them for review and
approval.
 
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. Applications are
submitted at the risk and the cost of the applicant.
 
2. Award and Administration Information

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:

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: https://www.usaid.gov/about-us/agency-policy/series-300/references-chapter/303mav
  • 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.ATI funds will not support construction. All construction activities will be resourced through grantee leverage. Under Chapter 12, Section 5.3g of USAID’s Automatic Directives System (ADS) on Eligibility of Commodities 2010, “With the exception of local procurement of fertilizer in the cooperating country: 1) Procurement of fertilizer is restricted to U.S. sources, unless there are, or are expected to be, significant U.S./offshore price differentials or any adverse impact on domestic availability or price; and 2) All contract awards for fertilizer and the related transportation must be approved by the Office of Procurement (M/OP), in consultation with GC/CCM and the appropriate geographic bureau”. 
  • 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.