USAID: Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Climate Resilient Sustainable Intensification

Deadline: 12-Jul-2024

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a Leader with Associates Cooperative Agreement from qualified entities to implement the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Climate Resilient Sustainable Intensification.

The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Climate Resilient Sustainable Intensification (CRSI) will be a five-year Leader with Associates (LWA) Cooperative Agreement, awarded to an eligible U.S. university to develop a global portfolio of research for development activities to conduct integrated research. As described below in Section B.I, the award’s Total Estimated Amount (TEA) allows a maximum award ceiling of up to $50 million structured as follows:

• A $25 million Leader Award will support the successful U.S. university Applicant to act as the Management Entity (ME) of the CRSI. In this capacity, the Awardee’s primary responsibility will be to develop, select, and manage a portfolio of research and capacity development activities focused on integrated approaches that minimizes trade-offs and maximizes synergies across productivity, environment, economic, human and social outcomes to drive agriculture-led growth. The Leader Award is intended to support ME costs associated with managing and implementing the portfolio of CRSI activities, with a majority of Leader Award funds to be allocated to sub-awarded (or subcontracted) research and capacity development activities. These subawards are expected to include a mix of competitively procured activities and may include commissioned (i.e. non-competed) activities with proper justification
• $25 million of potential additional funding, through buy-ins (up to $13 million) and associate awards (up to $12 million), may be awarded noncompetitively by USAID Missions or other Offices to support additional activities that fall within the technical scope of the award.

This activity will focus on key production crop and livestock agronomic systems on the large ‘food-baskets’ of the world that support large populations at risk of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition and where improved agricultural productivity can significantly reduce these risks. The primary objective of this activity is to conduct integrated research on the development and adaptation of SI technologies and research on enabling approaches for scaling SI technologies out to the field level. Integrated research could include research on crop, soil, and water technologies in cereal-based and mixed cropping systems to develop and enhance the utility of these tools, for inclusive agriculture-led growth, nutrition, and resilience.

Funding Information

• Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, the Bureau for Resilience, Environment and Food Security (REFS) intends to provide $25 million in total USAID core funding over a five (5) year period. The ceiling for this program is up to $50 million. It is estimated that $3 million will be obligated to the Leader Award in the first year as core funding from REFS, and up to $5.5 million per year thereafter, for a total of up to $25 million in core funding from REFS. Actual funding amounts are subject to availability of funds.
• Furthermore, pending demand and funds availability from USAID Missions and other Bureaus or OUs, USAID will allow up to an additional $25 million as a pool for potential Associate Awards and buy-ins during the life of the project to the holder of the Leader Award.
• For the purposes of this NOFO, applicants must prepare a budget for the $25 million core funding from REFS.
• The anticipated period of performance is five (5) years. The estimated start date will be on or about September 2024. The estimated end date will be on or about September 2029.

Results Framework

• The ultimate purpose of the CRSI is to conduct integrated research that minimizes tradeoffs and maximizes synergies across productivity, environment, economic, human and social outcomes to drive agriculture-led growth through a research and capacity building approach that:
  • Develops and adapts keystone technologies and approaches that maximize systems benefits and minimize trade-offs across food production, environment, economic, human and social outcome
  • Generates evidence on agronomic technologies and approaches that increase resilience and climate adaptation and where appropriate mitigation; including both biophysical and socioeconomic technologies and approaches
  • Development of “leapfrog” technologies that enable tailored scaling
  • Building related institutional and human capacity
• CRSI’s purpose and approach is designed to reflect the results frameworks of the Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS). The research outputs are intended to directly contribute to achieving Objective 1. Inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth and Objective 2. Strengthened resilience among people and systems of the GFSS. They will also indirectly contribute to achieving Objective 3. A well-nourished population, especially among women and children. They will support the following intermediate results:
  • IR1 Strengthened inclusive agriculture systems that are productive and profitable
  • IR2 Strengthened and expanded access to markets and trade
  • IR3 Increased employment and entrepreneurship
  • IR4 Increased sustainable productivity, particularly through climate-smart approaches
  • IR5 Improved proactive risk reduction, mitigation and management
  • IR6 Improved adaptation to and recovery from shocks and stresses
  • IR7 Increased consumption of nutritious and safe diets
  • CC IR1 Strengthened global commitment to investing in food security
  • CC IR2 Improved climate risk, land, marine, and other natural resource management
  • CC IR3 Increased gender equality and female empowerment
  • CC IR4 Increased youth empowerment and livelihoods
  • CC IR5 Improved natural resource management
  • CC IR6 Improved water resources management
  • CC IR8 Improved human, organizational and systems performanc
• This innovation lab will also contribute to the Global Food Security Research Strategy11 by supporting a methodology for conducting integrated research and simultaneous benefits in productivity and climate; USAID’s Climate Strategy12 though prioritization of producing more food more sustainably, with emphasis on adaptation and resilience; USAID’s Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy13 through secondary contributions to the production and consumption of nutritious foods hrough systems pathways (e.g., crop diversity, increased income, nutrient dense foods); USAID’s Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment Policy14 by increasing women’s empowerment through integrated, multidisciplinary research (Gender scientists included throughout) and the development of gender suitable approaches; USAID’s Localization Agenda15 by directly increasing local capacity of students and researchers in local universities and National Agricultural Research Services; and the U.S. Global Water Strategy16 by supporting better agricultural water management for dual purposes including productivity, climate resilience, and water resources management.
• The sustainable intensification of food systems supports food security and livelihoods for smallholder farmers. Minimizing systems trade-offs and maximizing synergies encourages a more stable food supply, and greater opportunities for agriculture-led economic growth. The Innovation Lab’s purpose and approach will also support two additional intermediate results:
  • IR 2.1 Field Services – supporting greater delivery of agricultural programming to USAID Missions and through broad consultation and a centralized mechanism, giving an opportunity to have a united USG approach to SI.
  • IR 2.2 USG coordination – coherent intra-agency and interagency efforts that leverage the unique capabilities of each bureau, department and agency.

Geographic Focus

• Research outputs of CRSI must be primarily focused on achieving global and regional impacts, rather than focusing more narrowly on national or subnational areas. As a key component of the proposed program description, Applicants must select focus production systems and target countries in which to conduct research and capacity-development activities funded under the Leader Award. Additionally, the ME must be able to expand activities into other countries in which USAID invests agriculture, nutrition and resilience resources in response to additional buy-in or Associate Award funding opportunities that may arise. The ME and researchers are encouraged to engage with USAID Mission staff, Mission implementing partners, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders as appropriate, including in the early stages of research design and implementation, to ensure that program activities will contribute to a pathway of significant development impact. (However, Applicants must not contact any USAID Mission or Office staff, other than the contact person identified in this NOFO, during the application phase.)

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility is restricted. The eligibility requirements below apply only to the principal Applicant.
• This program is authorized under Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. Applications must only be submitted by eligible U.S. colleges and universities as defined under Section 296(d) of Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act, as amended:
  • “those colleges or universities in each State, territory, or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, now receiving, or which must hereafter receive, benefits under the Act of July 2, 1862 (known as the First Morrill Act) or the Act of August 30, 1890 (known as the Second Morrill Act), which are commonly known as ‘land-grant’ universities; institutions now designated or which must hereafter be designated as sea-grant colleges under the Act of October 5, 1966 (known as the National Sea Grant College and Program Act), which are commonly known as sea-grant colleges; Native American land-grant colleges as authorized under the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note); and other United States colleges and universities which— (1) have demonstrable capacity in teaching, research, and extension (including outreach) activities in the agricultural sciences; and (2) can contribute effectively to the attainment of the objectives of this title.”
• The Title XII university-led FTF IL programs involve multiple partners, principal of which are U.S. universities, working in collaboration with scientists in developing country universities, national and international research centers, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to jointly pursue scientific investigations to overcome critical agricultural constraints facing today’s global food systems. All types of U.S. and non-U.S. entities are eligible as collaborating partners (i.e. sub-recipients or contractors at various tiers), provided that they are not excluded from U.S. Government acquisition and assistance awards (this may be verified through beta.SAM.gov). In preparing the application, it is the Applicant’s responsibility to ensure that no individuals or organizations proposed for participation in the program are excluded by the U.S. Government. After award, it is the Recipient’s responsibility to ensure that no transactions are conducted with excluded parties.
• USAID encourages Applicants to include qualified Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) including, but not limited to, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Predominantly Black Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Asian American Native Alaskan and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions.
• Collaborating partners may be contractors or sub-recipients, and Applicants must be aware of the distinction between procurement contracts (acquisition) and sub-awards (assistance). Contracts are subject to 2 CFR 200.318-326 and the USAID standard provision entitled “USAID Eligibility Rules for Goods and Services”. Sub-awards are subject to 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 700 and the USAID standard provision entitled “Applicability of 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 700.” The recipient’s and sub-recipients’ contractors and subcontractors at all tiers must also meet USAID’s supplier nationality requirements described in Section D.IV.
• USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.