Issue Date: June 1, 2018 NOFO Questions Due: June 8, 2018, 8:00 am Juba time Response to Questions: On/about June 13, 2018 Application Closing Date: July 2, 2018, 8:00 am Juba time Subject: Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: 720668-18-RFA-00001 Program Title: Conservation of Boma – Bandingilo Landscape Ladies/Gentlemen: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified U.S. and Non-U.S. organizations to provide funding in support of a program entitled Conservation of Boma – Bandingilo Landscape. Eligibility for this award is not restricted. See Section III of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for eligibility requirements. Subject to the availability of funds an award will be made to that responsible applicant(s) whose application best meets the objectives of this funding opportunity and the selection criteria contained herein. While a single award is anticipated as a result of this NOFO, USAID reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted. For the purposes of this NOFO the term "Grant" is synonymous with "Cooperative Agreement"; "Grantee" is synonymous with "Recipient"; and "Grant Officer" is synonymous with "Agreement Officer.” Eligible organizations interested in submitting an application are encouraged to read this funding opportunity thoroughly to understand the type of program sought, application submission requirements and evaluation process. To be eligible for award, the applicant must provide all information as required in this NOFO and meet eligibility standards in Section III of this NOFO. This funding opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov, and may be amended. Potential applicants should regularly check the website to ensure they have the latest information pertaining to this notice of funding opportunity. Applicants will need to have available or download Adobe program to their computers in order to view and save the Adobe forms properly. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the entire NOFO has been received from the internet in its entirety and USAID bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion process. If you have difficulty registering on www.grants.gov or accessing the NOFO, please contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800- 518-4726 or via email at [email protected] for technical assistance. The successful Applicant will be responsible for ensuring the achievement of the program objectives. Please read each section of the NOFO. Notice of Funding Opportunity: 720668-18-RFA-00001 Conservation of Boma – Bandingilo Landscape TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents ABREVIATIONS AND ACCROYNMS USED IN THIS NOFO ................................................ 4 SECTION I: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION .................................................................................... 5 SECTION II: FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION ................................................................. 19 SECTION III: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION .......................................................................... 21 SECTION IV: APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION .................................... 22 SECTION V: APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION ........................................................ 32 SECTION VI: FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION............................ 34 SECTION VII: FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT(S) ......................................... 39 SECTION VIII: OTHER INFORMATION ................................................................................. 40 ANNEX I – STANDARD PROVISIONS .................................................................................... 42 ANNEX II – SF 424 FORMS ....................................................................................................... 49 ANNEX III – CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSURANCES AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF APPLICANTS .............................................................................................................................. 50 ANNEX IV – OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS/OTHER REFERENCE MATERIALS .... 51 3 Notice of Funding Opportunity: 720668-18-RFA-00001 Conservation of Boma – Bandingilo Landscape ABREVIATIONS AND ACCROYNMS USED IN THIS NOFO AO Agreement Officer AOR Agreement Officer Representative BBL Boma Badingilo Landscape CITIES Convention on International Treaties on Endangered Species CAN Capacity Needs Assessment CA Cooperative Agreement EMMP Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan EAC East Africa Community GIS Geographic Information System IESP Integrated Essential Services Project IGAD Inter-Governmental Authority on Development NICRA Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement NGOs Non-Governmental Organizations NOFO Notice of Funding Opportunity POC Point of Contact PMP Performance Monitoring Plan SSD South Sudan SC Selection Committee TOs Transitional Objectives TBD To Be Determined USAID United States Agency for International Development USG United States Government UN United Nations 4 Notice of Funding Opportunity: 720668-18-RFA-00001 Conservation of Boma – Bandingilo Landscape SECTION I: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Conservation of Boma – Bandingilo Landscape 1. Introduction The Boma-Bandingilo landscape is home to a unique, diverse, rich set of natural resources that are at risk from persistent threats to the survival of wildlife and their habitats. The landscape is also home to approximately 200,000 people, whose livelihoods remains predominantly linked to pastoralism, and dependent on the same habitats and natural resources. Communities and livelihoods in the Boma-Bandingilo landscape are highly vulnerable to conflict, economic and climate related shocks. While conflict and poverty are key drivers of the poor management of wildlife and depletion of natural resources in the Boma-Bandingilo landscape, left unprotected and unsustainably managed, the natural resources and biodiversity in this landscape will be eroded or depleted, leading to the further deterioration of the coping capacity of the people, households and communities. The purpose of this Project/Activity is to build resilient communities and livelihoods and secure wildlife and biodiversity resources in the Boma-Bandingilo Landscape. The successful applicant will provide flexible approaches to work with local communities and Boma and Bandingilo parks’ authorities to increase / improve the capacity of communities and that of Boma and Bandingilo parks in sustainable land and natural resource management and conflict mitigation; support the conservation of wildlife; assist communities, households and people to build their resilience to economic and climate shocks; and build partnerships for natural resource management and community resilience. The Activity will build on and consolidate the Mission’s decade of achievements on biodiversity implemented in South Sudan. 2. Context South Sudan is uniquely endowed with substantial wildlife resources (both numbers and diversity) that are essential to the livelihoods of communities and the ultimate recovery of South Sudan. Conflict has placed these resources at great risk, and created space for illegal poaching, trafficking wildlife products, and has led to degradation of the basic landscapes that sustain the wildlife and people. The erosion of coping capacity of communities and households around the protected areas has put significant pressure on the wildlife, on non-forest timber products harvested from protected areas, and has been the source of significant intra and inter-communal conflict. The protection and management of these resources is a significant challenge. The dominant natural assets that have cushioned the communities and people of the Boma- Bandingilo Landscape include wildlife and other natural resources such as trees and other non- timber forest products. Natural habitats in the landscape are unsustainably used, and their ability to provide the economic and environmental services is continuously undermined by persistent threats to the survival of wildlife and their habitats. The poor management of natural resources and the concomitant poverty that accompanies this are driven by climate change, poor economic 5 Notice of Funding Opportunity: 720668-18-RFA-00001 Conservation of Boma – Bandingilo Landscape performance, conflicts over control and use of wildlife and land and natural resources, commercial poaching and resultant trafficking in wildlife products, agricultural encroachment in protected areas and wildlife migratory corridors, among others. Challenges to address these drivers that the successful applicant is expected to address include: weak capacities (for addressing threats to wildlife and their habitats, land and natural resources management and for managing natural resources linked conflicts at community level); weak stakeholder engagement in management of land, natural resources and conflict mitigation; poor access or non- application of appropriate land and natural resources technologies, including technologies for unlocking the economic potential of these resources and value addition; and, high levels of dependence of on natural resources. 3. USAID Strategy and Operational Framework USAID South Sudan’s goal is to “Build a foundation for a more stable and socially cohesive South Sudan.” In 2016, USAID’s development efforts were realigned against the vision of strengthening resilient and conflict resistant communities that will be accomplished through a USAID South Sudan Operational Framework that has two Transitional Objectives (TOs).