Haiti Disaster Risk Reduction Project: Repair and Upgrading of Evacuation Centers | 720FDA19RFA00001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Haiti Disaster Risk Reduction Project: Repair and Upgrading of Evacuation Centers."

2) Who is issuing this opportunity?

The opportunity is issued by USAID (the U.S. Agency for International Development).

3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 720FDA19RFA00001.

4) What type of award is being offered?

USAID is offering a cooperative agreement under a discretionary funding opportunity.

5) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, applicants should expect substantial involvement by USAID during implementation. This typically means close coordination with USAID staff on planning, technical decisions, monitoring, and other key aspects of executing the project.

6) What is the main purpose of the project?

The project focuses on repairing and upgrading evacuation centers in Haiti to strengthen disaster readiness and response capacity by improving facilities used to shelter and protect people during emergencies.

7) What category does this activity fall under?

The activity falls under the Disaster Prevention and Relief category, CFDA 98.001.

8) What specific work is this opportunity focused on?

The focus is specifically on the repair and upgrading of evacuation centers. The synopsis does not list detailed technical requirements, but it indicates improving facilities used as shelters to make them more functional, safer, and better suited to support communities before, during, and after disasters.

9) What kinds of improvements are implied for evacuation centers?

While specific standards and scopes are not listed in the synopsis, the framing implies work such as structural repairs, upgrades to basic services and safety features, and enhancements that increase the centers' reliability and usability as shelters during extreme weather and other emergencies.

10) What is the expected outcome or goal?

The overall goal is to reduce disaster impacts by ensuring evacuation sites are usable and resilient when they are most needed, contributing to broader preparedness and disaster risk reduction efforts in Haiti.

11) How many awards does USAID expect to make?

USAID anticipates making a single award.

12) What is the maximum funding amount available?

The estimated maximum funding level (award ceiling) is USD 4,800,000.

13) When was this opportunity posted?

The creation/posting date is May 22, 2019.

14) What is the application deadline?

The application closing date is June 21, 2019.

15) When were questions from prospective applicants due?

Questions were due by May 30, 2019 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

16) How competitive is the timeline for preparing an application?

The schedule indicates a short turnaround between posting and submission, suggesting applicants would need to move quickly to assemble compliant technical and cost applications, form any necessary partnerships, and prepare an approach aligned with USAID expectations for disaster risk reduction infrastructure improvements.

17) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the solicitation is broadly open to any type of qualified entity, unless additional limits are described elsewhere in the full notice (referenced as the "Additional Information on Eligibility" text field).

18) What kinds of organizations might be able to apply under unrestricted eligibility?

In practical terms, unrestricted eligibility generally allows a wide range of organizations to apply, including NGOs, for-profit firms, universities, and other institutions, as long as they can meet USAID requirements and demonstrate technical and managerial capacity to complete construction-related rehabilitation work tied to humanitarian and disaster risk reduction outcomes.

19) Does the synopsis list any additional eligibility restrictions?

No additional eligibility restrictions are provided in the synopsis. It notes that applicants should refer to the "Additional Information on Eligibility" section in the full notice for any further limitations.

20) Is this opportunity specifically tied to Haiti?

Yes. The activity is focused on strengthening disaster readiness and response capacity in Haiti through improvements to evacuation centers.

21) What does USAID involvement likely look like during implementation?

The synopsis indicates substantial involvement by USAID, which commonly includes collaboration on planning, technical decision-making, monitoring progress, and other core execution activities to ensure the project aligns with objectives and requirements.

22) Does the synopsis specify exact construction standards or design requirements?

No. The brief synopsis does not list specific construction standards or a detailed technical scope; it provides the project focus and intended outcomes at a high level.

23) What should applicants be prepared to demonstrate based on the synopsis?

Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate technical and managerial capacity to deliver construction-related rehabilitation work that supports humanitarian shelter needs and disaster risk reduction outcomes, and to coordinate closely with USAID due to the cooperative agreement structure.