2020-DRAFT-IFRP-TRANSPORT-RFA-DRAFT | 2020 DRAFT IFRP TRANSPORT RFA DRAFT

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1) What is the name/identifier of this USAID grant opportunity?

The draft opportunity is identified as 2020-DRAFT-IFRP-TRANSPORT-RFA-DRAFT. It is described as a draft Request for Applications (RFA) related to transportation support under the International Food Relief Partnership (IFRP).

2) What is the main purpose of this grant?

The purpose is to fund organizations that can move, deliver, and help distribute shelf-stable, prepackaged food commodities that will ultimately be provided as international food relief. In practice, the funding targets the logistics chain that gets packaged food from where it is staged or shipped to where it is needed, including delivery and distribution support tied to IFRP commodity assistance.

3) What activities does the opportunity focus on?

The opportunity focuses on the transportation and distribution side of IFRP. This implies activities such as organizing transport across legs (potentially international and in-country), managing delivery schedules, coordinating distribution planning with partners, and supporting last-mile delivery and handoff so commodities reach intended destinations in relief settings.

4) What type of commodities are involved?

The commodities are described as shelf-stable and prepackaged food items intended for international food relief. The scope highlights the need to keep commodities intact through handling, storage, and delivery.

5) Is this funding for purchasing food, or for logistics to move food?

Based on the description provided, the emphasis is on logistics: moving, delivering, and helping distribute IFRP food commodities. The grant is aimed at the transportation and delivery/distribution support tied to IFRP commodity assistance, rather than being described as a food procurement program.

6) What is the assistance mechanism and funding type?

This is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.

7) What activity category does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity is listed under the Food and Nutrition activity category.

8) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 98.008.

9) Who is USAID looking to fund (typical applicant types)?

USAID is looking for applications from private voluntary organizations and public international organizations. The framing suggests USAID expects implementers with demonstrated humanitarian logistics capacity and experience operating in international relief contexts where distribution planning, last-mile delivery, and coordination can be complex.

10) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as "unrestricted" (open to any type of entity), but applicants are expected to rely on the specific eligibility clarifications provided in the full funding opportunity description.

11) Why does the listing emphasize private voluntary organizations and public international organizations if eligibility is "unrestricted"?

Even with "unrestricted" eligibility noted, the emphasis on those applicant types signals the kinds of organizations USAID expects to perform well for this scope: groups with established capacity for humanitarian transport, delivery coordination, distribution support, and international operations.

12) What logistics and planning elements are implied by the scope?

The scope implies several practical elements, including:

• Organizing transport across the logistics chain (potentially across international and in-country legs)
• Managing delivery schedules and timing
• Coordinating with local or international partners for distribution
• Supporting last-mile delivery and distribution planning
• Ensuring commodities remain shelf-stable and intact through handling and storage

13) What kinds of operating contexts does this grant appear designed for?

The focus on shelf-stable, prepackaged food commodities points to rapid deployment and broad usability in emergency or vulnerable settings where cooking fuel, refrigeration, and local food availability may be limited, and where logistics constraints can be significant.

14) When was this opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?

The opportunity was created on May 19, 2020, with an original closing date of June 19, 2020, indicating a one-month application window for the draft announcement.

15) How many awards did USAID anticipate making?

USAID anticipated making around 20 awards.

16) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is listed as $200,000 per award.

17) What does the combination of ~20 awards and a $200,000 ceiling suggest about the program design?

It suggests comparatively small, targeted grants intended to support multiple implementers and potentially multiple delivery corridors or country contexts, rather than a single large logistics award.

18) Is this a final funding announcement or a draft?

This is explicitly described as a draft RFA. The listing repeatedly points applicants to the full funding opportunity description for complete requirements and final details.

19) Where should applicants look for final requirements and submission instructions?

Final requirements, allowable costs, performance periods, and submission instructions are expected to be in the complete funding opportunity description/announcement package, not only in the brief listing.

20) What key details are not confirmed in the brief listing and would require the full announcement to verify?

The brief listing indicates that items such as final requirements, allowable costs, performance periods, and submission instructions would be found in the full opportunity description rather than in the summary information provided.