Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 15 000012
Apply for RFA OAA 15 000012
- The Agency for International Development in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001 USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 18, 2015 and posted on Feb 26, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 27, 2015 The closing date for this opportunity is May 27th, 2015 at 500pm Washington, DC time. (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 $49,000,000.00 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).
- Applications in response to this RFA may only be submitted by eligible U.S. colleges and universities as defined under Section 296(d) of Title XII of the FAA.
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Opportunity Summary:
USAID issued this Request for Applications (RFA) to fund a single Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems through a cooperative agreement. The opportunity sits under USAID's broader Feed the Future initiative, which focuses on agricultural development and food security overseas, and this specific lab is intended to generate and apply practical, research-driven innovations that improve livestock systems in developing-country contexts. In plain terms, the award is meant to support a university-led program that can develop, test, and help move into use new approaches, tools, or practices that make livestock production more productive, resilient, and beneficial for smallholder farmers and the wider food system.
The funding opportunity is identified as RFA OAA 15 000012 (CFDA 98.001, USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). It is categorized as an earmark and uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, which typically means substantial USAID involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant. USAID expected to make one award, with an award ceiling of $49,000,000 and no stated minimum (award floor of $0). Cost sharing or matching was not required, which generally lowers the barrier for eligible applicants to propose an ambitious technical program without having to secure non-federal match funding.
Eligibility was limited: only eligible U.S. colleges and universities, as defined under Section 296(d) of Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA), could submit applications. That restriction signals the program is designed around the U.S. land-grant and other qualifying higher-education institutions that typically lead Feed the Future Innovation Labs, often with partner universities, host-country institutions, and implementing organizations contributing to research, training, and in-country collaboration.
Timing and key administrative details are clearly stated. The opportunity was posted on February 26, 2015, and the application deadline (both the original and current closing date) was May 27, 2015 at 5:00 pm Washington, DC time. The record shows a creation date of May 18, 2015, reflecting later administrative updates, and an archive date of June 26, 2015, meaning the solicitation period had ended and the listing was moved to archived status after closure.
Several amendments were issued during the application window, which is common for large federal solicitations and important for applicants because amendments can change how proposals are judged or what must be submitted. Amendment 01 (March 12, 2015) revised the evaluation criteria, potentially affecting how technical merit, management approach, staffing, and other elements were scored. Amendment 02 (March 25, 2015) added a webinar transcript and answers to questions received, giving applicants clearer guidance on USAID expectations. Amendment 03 (April 6, 2015) provided additional question-and-answer responses, and Amendment 04 (May 18, 2015) clarified instructions related to application file size, which can matter a lot when uploading proposal packages through government portals and ensuring submissions are compliant and accepted before the deadline.
From an applicant-support standpoint, USAID listed a point of contact for access issues with the full announcement: Kelly Miskowski, Agreement Specialist. Overall, this opportunity was a large, single-award, university-eligible cooperative agreement focused on livestock systems innovation under Feed the Future, with no cost-share requirement and a structured amendment trail that applicants needed to follow closely to stay aligned with updated evaluation and submission requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - USAID RFA OAA 15 000012: Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a USAID Request for Applications (RFA) to fund a single Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems through a cooperative agreement. The goal is to generate and apply practical, research-driven innovations that improve livestock systems in developing-country contexts.
2) What is the program trying to achieve?
The award is intended to support a university-led program that can develop, test, and help move into use new approaches, tools, or practices that make livestock production more productive, resilient, and beneficial for smallholder farmers and the wider food system.
3) What initiative is this opportunity part of?
This opportunity sits under USAID's broader Feed the Future initiative, which focuses on agricultural development and food security overseas.
4) What is the official solicitation identifier?
The funding opportunity is identified as RFA OAA 15 000012.
5) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The listing includes CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
6) What type of funding instrument does USAID plan to use?
USAID planned to use a cooperative agreement.
7) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically means substantial USAID involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant.
8) How many awards did USAID expect to make?
USAID expected to make one award.
9) What is the maximum funding amount available (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $49,000,000.
10) Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No minimum was stated; the award floor was listed as $0.
11) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching was not required for this opportunity.
12) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to eligible U.S. colleges and universities, as defined under Section 296(d) of Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA).
13) What does the eligibility restriction suggest about the intended applicants?
The restriction signals the program was designed around U.S. land-grant and other qualifying higher-education institutions that typically lead Feed the Future Innovation Labs, often working with partner universities and other institutions to support research, training, and in-country collaboration.
14) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on February 26, 2015.
15) What was the application deadline?
The application deadline (original and current closing date) was May 27, 2015 at 5:00 pm Washington, DC time.
16) Are there any other important dates noted in the listing?
Yes. The record shows a creation date of May 18, 2015 (reflecting later administrative updates) and an archive date of June 26, 2015 (indicating the listing was moved to archived status after the solicitation closed).
17) Is this opportunity still open?
No. The solicitation period ended, and the listing was archived after closure.
18) Were any amendments issued during the application window?
Yes. Several amendments were issued during the open period.
19) What did Amendment 01 change?
Amendment 01 (March 12, 2015) revised the evaluation criteria, which could affect how components such as technical merit, management approach, and staffing were scored.
20) What did Amendment 02 provide?
Amendment 02 (March 25, 2015) added a webinar transcript and answers to questions received, providing applicants additional guidance on USAID expectations.
21) What did Amendment 03 include?
Amendment 03 (April 6, 2015) provided additional question-and-answer responses.
22) What did Amendment 04 clarify?
Amendment 04 (May 18, 2015) clarified instructions related to application file size, which can be important for uploading proposal packages through government portals and ensuring submissions are compliant and accepted before the deadline.
23) Why do amendments matter for applicants?
Amendments can change how proposals are judged or what must be submitted. Applicants needed to follow the amendment trail closely to stay aligned with updated evaluation criteria and submission requirements.
24) How is the opportunity categorized?
The opportunity is categorized as an earmark.
25) Who was the point of contact listed for access issues with the full announcement?
USAID listed Kelly Miskowski, Agreement Specialist, as the point of contact for access issues with the full announcement.
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