USAID/Colombia Resilient Communities (Somos Comunidad) Activity | 72051420RFA00008

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72051420RFA00008

USAID/Colombia Resilient Communities (Somos Comunidad) Activity is a U.S. Agency for International Development funding opportunity issued by the USAID Mission in Bogota under Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Request for Applications (RFA) number 72051420RFA00008. The opportunity was released on February 27, 2020, with a deadline to submit questions by March 9, 2020, and a deadline to submit Phase 1 concept papers by March 24, 2020 at 1700 local time (UTC -05). USAID frames the award as a Cooperative Agreement, meaning the selected implementer should expect substantial USAID involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant, consistent with how USAID typically structures assistance when it anticipates close collaboration on program direction and oversight.

The solicitation is open eligibility (unrestricted), so a wide range of qualified entities can apply, subject to the specific standards and requirements described in Section C of the RFA. USAID indicates it plans to make a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1) with an award ceiling of $39,200,000. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 98.001 and is categorized in the funding activity area of Law, Justice and Legal Services, signaling that the activity is likely designed to support community resilience through governance, justice access, rule of law, violence prevention, conflict mitigation, or related stabilization outcomes, even though the short notice text does not lay out a full technical scope.

The application process is explicitly multi-tiered (a two-step process) in line with USAID policy referenced as ADS 303.3.6.1(c). In Phase 1, any eligible organization may submit a concept paper. USAID will review those concept papers using the Merit Review Criteria described in the RFA and will also apply a Risk Assessment. Only the strongest concept paper applicants will be invited to Phase 2, where they will submit a full application. This structure is designed to reduce the burden on both applicants and the government by limiting full proposal development to a smaller pool of competitive applicants.

USAID emphasizes several compliance and administrative requirements that can affect eligibility for an eventual award. Applicants must submit all information required by the NOFO and meet the eligibility standards in Section C. In addition, USAID notes it may not make an award unless the applicant has completed unique entity identifier requirements and System for Award Management (SAM) registration requirements (referenced in Section D.6). Because SAM registration and related validations can take weeks, applicants are encouraged to begin those steps early rather than waiting until shortly before submission deadlines.

Questions about the solicitation must be directed to the point of contact identified in Section D, and USAID states that responses to timely questions will be shared with all potential applicants through an amendment posted to Grants.gov. The notice also includes the standard federal disclaimer that publication of the NOFO does not obligate the U.S. Government to make an award or to reimburse any costs associated with preparing or submitting a concept paper or application. All submission costs are borne by the applicant, and submissions are made at the applicant's risk. The RFA is signed by the Agreement Officer for USAID/Colombia, Jessica Faber, underscoring that this is a formal competitive assistance solicitation managed by the Mission's agreements function.

• The Agency for International Development, Colombia USAID-Bogota in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USAID/Colombia Resilient Communities (Somos Comunidad) Activity" 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 Feb 27, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 24, 2020. (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 $39,200,000.00 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 72051420RFA00008

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