Deadline: 16-Apr-21
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA).
Purpose
Enhanced capacity of higher education institutions and systems to develop employable graduates:
- Sub-Purpose 1: Strengthened institutional capacity and self-reliance of Pakistani HEIs through links to U.S. institutions of higher education.
- Sub-Purpose 2: Improved access, quality, and relevance of higher education programs (particularly for marginalized communities).
- Sub-Purpose 3: Improved skills and pathways to connect graduates to market-led, demand-driven employment (including self-employment and entrepreneurship and jobs).
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $19,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $19,000,000
- The anticipated period of performance is 5 Years. The estimated start date is July xx, 2021.
Geographic Scope
The geographic code for the procurement of commodities and services under this program is 937 for Pakistan.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for this NOFO is restricted. The eligibility to implement the HESSA is open only to United States (U.S.) Higher Education Institutes, or HEIs (including, but not limited to, U.S. universities) and U.S. HEI associations/consortia. Applications will not be accepted from any other types of organizations or individuals.
- The following paragraphs document the programmatic rationale for restricting eligibility:
- The limited competition is made pursuant to the authority “Eligibility and Preference for Maximum Competition,” which states that “USAID encourages unrestricted competition in the award of discretionary grants and cooperative agreements. USAID expects unrestricted competition in the award of discretionary grants and cooperative agreements”
- The HESSA is designed to create Pakistani and United States HEI-to-HEI linkages for knowledge transfer and technical assistance as a means to raise academic excellence and strengthen Pakistani HEIs and their systems, resulting in stronger HEI graduates and workforce capacity in Pakistan. Therefore, it is critical to the success of the project that the implementer has a thorough and intimate knowledge of higher education in the United States and robust first-hand experience in creating educational links.
- To be eligible for award of a Cooperative Agreement, in addition to other conditions of this NOFO, organizations must have a politically neutral humanitarian mandate, a commitment to non-discrimination and inclusion with respect to beneficiaries and adherence to equal opportunity employment practices. Non-discrimination includes equal treatment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation.
- Applicants must have established financial management, monitoring and evaluation processes, internal control systems, and policies and procedures that comply with established U.S. Government standards, laws, and regulations. The successful applicant(s) will be subject to a responsibility determination assessment (Pre-award Survey, if applicable) by the Agreement Officer (AO).
- The Recipient must be a responsible entity. The AO may determine a pre-award survey is required to conduct an examination that will determine whether the prospective recipient has the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills – or ability to obtain them – in order to achieve the objectives of the program and comply with the terms and conditions of the award.
- The applicant is reminded that U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=331869