Continuity of Learning | 72052121RFA00003

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72052121RFA00003

USAID/Haiti released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for its Continuity of Learning Program under NOFO number 72052121RFA00003. The opportunity was issued on August 25, 2021, with a deadline for submitting applicant questions by September 8, 2021, and a final application closing deadline of September 24, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. EST. The award will be made as a Cooperative Agreement (the NOFO notes that the terms "grant" and "cooperative agreement" are being used interchangeably for this opportunity), under CFDA 98.001, in the education sector. The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Haiti Mission (USAID/Haiti), based in Port-au-Prince.

The core purpose of the NOFO is to solicit applications from qualified organizations to implement the Continuity of Learning Program, as described in the program description section of the full solicitation. Eligibility is unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity, as long as applicants meet the specific eligibility and submission requirements laid out in the NOFO (including the standards in Section C and the submission instructions in Section D). USAID indicates it expects to make one award, with an estimated award ceiling of $23,100,000, but it also clearly reserves broad discretion to fund some, all, or none of the applications received, or to cancel the NOFO at any point in the process without cost to the U.S. Government.

A key feature of this competition is that USAID intends to run it as a structured, three-phase process. Phase 1 consists of the evaluation of full applications. Phase 2 is the identification of an apparently successful applicant based on the merit review criteria and a risk assessment. Phase 3 involves refining the proposed technical approach through co-creation discussions with the apparently successful applicant, and USAID notes it may request modifications to documents submitted during the application stage as part of that co-creation process. This signals that applicants should be prepared not only to submit a complete proposal by the deadline, but also to engage in a collaborative design and refinement period if selected as the leading candidate.

For administration and compliance, the NOFO emphasizes that applications must be submitted through Grants.gov and that the announcement may be amended, so applicants are responsible for checking the posting regularly to ensure they are working from the most current version and have all documents in full. It also highlights the practical reality that registration requirements can take time: applicants must comply with unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) requirements, and USAID warns that these steps may take many weeks, so organizations should start registration early. Questions had to be submitted by email to usaidhaitioaa@usaid.gov by the stated deadline, and USAID planned to share answers received by the cutoff with all potential applicants through an amendment posted on Grants.gov to keep the competition fair and consistent.

Finally, the NOFO includes standard federal disclaimers that matter for planning and budgeting. USAID/Haiti will not accept late applications after the stated closing date and time. The issuance of the NOFO is not an award commitment and does not obligate the U.S. Government to reimburse any proposal preparation or submission costs. Applicants apply at their own risk, and USAID retains the right to make no awards. The solicitation is signed by the Agreement Officer for USAID/Haiti, reflecting that the award will be managed under the cooperative agreement framework, which typically involves substantial involvement by the agency during implementation compared to a more hands-off grant structure.

• The Agency for International Development, Haiti USAID-Port Au Prince in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Continuity of Learning" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 25, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 24, 2021 Closing Date and Time September 24, 2021 - 330 P.M. EST. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $23,100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for 72052121RFA00003

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