Opportunity Information: Apply for 72DFFP20RFA00001
This opportunity is a draft Request for Applications (RFA) issued by USAID's Office of Food for Peace (FFP) for a Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) in Mali. The notice is being shared specifically for review and comment, not for immediate application submission. USAID emphasizes that the content is still subject to change, and potential applicants are strongly encouraged to wait for the final RFA before investing significant effort in proposal development. All preparation and submission costs would be borne by applicants, and anything submitted early would be at the applicant's own risk.
The activity is expected to be funded through a cooperative agreement, and it falls under the Food and Nutrition assistance category (CFDA 98.007). The opportunity number is 72DFFP20RFA00001. USAID anticipates making a single award, with an award ceiling listed at up to USD 60,000,000. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility clarification expected in the full text of the RFA, meaning interested organizations would need to consult the final solicitation language to confirm they qualify and to understand any partner, consortium, or registration requirements that may apply.
A central feature of this Mali DFSA is the proposed three-phase merit review process, which USAID links directly to the operational realities and conflict-related challenges in the intended target areas. In Phase 1, applicants would submit written Initial Applications that are reviewed and scored; only the stronger submissions would advance. Phase 2 involves oral presentations by those selected from Phase 1, which USAID will evaluate to determine the leading contender. Phase 3 is a co-creation stage, where the single Apparently Successful Applicant (ASA) works collaboratively with USAID/FFP to develop a Final Application for USAID's consideration. This structure signals that USAID expects to refine technical design details with the top-ranked applicant rather than relying only on a fully developed proposal at the outset, which can be particularly relevant when access, security, and implementation feasibility are uncertain.
To gather practical input from the field and from prospective implementers, the draft RFA includes a temporary appendix titled "APPENDIX VII RFA Questions to Potential Applicants and Interested Stakeholders." USAID notes that this appendix will be removed from the final RFA, and its purpose is to collect feedback on technical and programmatic challenges of operating in Mali's target geographies, especially given the conflict environment. USAID also indicates that it intends to add more background material in the final RFA, including a Food Security Desk Review, a Food Security Political Economy Analysis, and a Stakeholder Analysis. The absence of a separate country-specific information (CSI) document is explicitly mentioned; instead, applicants are expected to rely on the RFA and its attachments for contextual and programmatic guidance.
The public engagement window for this draft is clear and structured. Written comments and questions on the draft were due by Friday, November 15, 2019 at 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, although USAID also invited rolling submissions and encouraged stakeholders not to wait until the last day. All inquiries and feedback were to be sent to a single email address, FACG@usaid.gov, and USAID explicitly instructs potential applicants not to contact USAID/FFP country backstop officers or field representatives about the draft materials. In parallel, USAID planned stakeholder consultations both in Washington, DC and in Bamako, Mali while the RFA remained in draft form, with dates and locations to be communicated to interested parties.
Overall, the draft announcement communicates a large, single-award food security and nutrition-focused cooperative agreement for Mali, designed with a competitive down-select process that moves from written concepts to oral defenses and then to co-creation with the leading applicant. It also underscores that the solicitation is not yet open for full applications, that details may change in the final release (including number of awards and funding levels), and that USAID is actively seeking stakeholder input to shape a final RFA that is realistic for implementation in conflict-affected areas. The draft materials were made available through USAID's food assistance development activities webpage at https://www.usaid.gov/food-assistance/what-we-do/development-activities.Apply for 72DFFP20RFA00001
- The Agency for International Development in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Applications for Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) in Mali" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.007.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 07, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 15, 2019 Comments on the FY 2020 draft RFA for Mali are due on Friday, November 15, 2019 at 1200 PM (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 $60,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: USAID Food for Peace Mali Development Food Security Activity (Draft RFA)
1. Is this opportunity open right now for proposal submission?
No. This is a draft Request for Applications (RFA) shared for review and comment only. USAID specifically advises organizations to wait for the final RFA before investing significant effort in developing an application.
2. What is the purpose of releasing a draft RFA?
The draft is intended to gather practical feedback from potential applicants and other stakeholders. USAID is using comments to improve the final RFA, especially because the intended target areas have conflict-related and operational constraints that affect feasibility and design.
3. Can organizations submit anything early (before the final RFA)?
USAID indicates that anything submitted early would be at the applicant's own risk. The draft is not presented as a solicitation for immediate application submission, and details may change in the final RFA.
4. Will the content in the draft RFA definitely remain the same in the final RFA?
No. USAID emphasizes the draft content is subject to change. The final RFA may revise key details, including technical requirements and potentially even the number of awards or funding levels.
5. What agency and office are issuing this draft RFA?
USAID's Office of Food for Peace (FFP) issued the draft RFA.
6. What is the program/activity being solicited?
The draft RFA describes a Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) in Mali with a food security and nutrition focus.
7. What type of award is USAID expecting to use?
USAID expects to fund the activity through a cooperative agreement.
8. What is the assistance category and CFDA number?
The opportunity falls under Food and Nutrition assistance and lists CFDA 98.007.
9. What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number provided is 72DFFP20RFA00001.
10. How many awards does USAID anticipate making?
USAID anticipates making a single award, based on the draft announcement. USAID also notes that details may change in the final RFA.
11. What is the maximum funding level for this opportunity?
The draft lists an award ceiling of up to USD 60,000,000. USAID cautions that funding levels could change in the final RFA.
12. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" in the draft. Additional eligibility clarification is expected in the full text of the RFA, so organizations would need to consult the final solicitation language to confirm eligibility and any conditions that apply.
13. Should an organization assume it qualifies based on the draft alone?
No. Because the draft indicates eligibility details will be clarified in the final RFA, interested organizations should rely on the final solicitation language to confirm they qualify and to understand any requirements related to partners, consortia, or registrations.
14. What is notable about the review and selection process for this Mali DFSA?
The draft proposes a three-phase merit review process that moves from written submissions to oral presentations and then to co-creation with the leading applicant. USAID links this approach to the operational realities and conflict-related challenges in the target areas.
15. What happens in Phase 1 of the proposed merit review process?
Phase 1 involves written Initial Applications. USAID will review and score them, and only stronger submissions would advance to the next phase.
16. What happens in Phase 2 of the proposed process?
Phase 2 involves oral presentations by those selected from Phase 1. USAID will evaluate these presentations to identify the leading contender.
17. What happens in Phase 3, and what is co-creation in this context?
Phase 3 is a co-creation stage. The single Apparently Successful Applicant (ASA) works collaboratively with USAID/FFP to develop a Final Application for USAID's consideration. This signals that USAID expects to refine technical design details with the top-ranked applicant rather than requiring a fully developed proposal at the outset.
18. What does "Apparently Successful Applicant (ASA)" mean here?
In the draft description, the ASA is the single top contender selected after Phase 2, who then proceeds into Phase 3 co-creation with USAID/FFP to develop the Final Application.
19. Why is the phased approach especially relevant for this opportunity?
USAID ties the approach to uncertainty around access, security, and implementation feasibility in conflict-affected areas. The structure allows technical design details to be refined later with the leading applicant.
20. Does the draft RFA include a way for stakeholders to provide targeted input?
Yes. The draft includes a temporary appendix titled "APPENDIX VII RFA Questions to Potential Applicants and Interested Stakeholders" specifically to collect feedback on technical and programmatic challenges of operating in the target geographies in Mali.
21. Will Appendix VII remain in the final RFA?
No. USAID states that Appendix VII will be removed from the final RFA and is included only to collect feedback during the draft stage.
22. What additional background materials does USAID plan to add to the final RFA?
USAID indicates it intends to add more background material, including a Food Security Desk Review, a Food Security Political Economy Analysis, and a Stakeholder Analysis.
23. Is there a separate Country Specific Information (CSI) document for this opportunity?
No. The draft explicitly notes there is no separate country-specific information (CSI) document. Applicants are expected to rely on the RFA and its attachments for contextual and programmatic guidance.
24. When were comments and questions on the draft due?
Written comments and questions on the draft were due by Friday, November 15, 2019 at 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. USAID also invited rolling submissions and encouraged stakeholders not to wait until the last day.
25. How were stakeholders instructed to submit comments or questions on the draft?
All inquiries and feedback were to be sent to FACG@usaid.gov.
26. Who should stakeholders NOT contact about the draft materials?
USAID explicitly instructs potential applicants not to contact USAID/FFP country backstop officers or field representatives about the draft materials.
27. Were any consultations planned while the RFA was in draft form?
Yes. USAID planned stakeholder consultations both in Washington, DC and in Bamako, Mali while the RFA remained in draft form, with dates and locations to be communicated to interested parties.
28. Where were the draft materials made available online?
USAID made the draft materials available through its food assistance development activities webpage at https://www.usaid.gov/food-assistance/what-we-do/development-activities.
29. Should organizations budget for proposal preparation costs at this stage?
USAID notes that all preparation and submission costs are borne by applicants. Because the RFA is still a draft and subject to change, USAID encourages organizations to wait for the final RFA before investing significant effort.
30. If the final RFA changes key details, what does that mean for early planning?
It means early planning should be treated as tentative. USAID highlights that the draft is for comment and that the final RFA may adjust requirements, funding, or other elements, so organizations should rely on the final RFA for definitive guidance.
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