Opportunity Information: Apply for USAID M OAA DCHA FFP 09 00001
Apply for USAID M OAA DCHA FFP 09 00001
- The Agency for International Development in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Technical and Operational Performance Support (TOPS) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 22, 2009 and posted on Aug 28, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 24, 2009 Amendment One extends the closing date from 10/27/2009 to 11/24/2009.. (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 $20,000,000.00 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Technical and Operational Performance Support (TOPS) Program is a USAID Office of Food for Peace (DCHA/FFP) grant opportunity designed to strengthen how Title II food aid programs are planned, managed, and delivered around the world. The central goal is to make Title II programs more effective and more efficient by improving both technical quality and operational performance. In practical terms, USAID is looking for a partner that can help current and future Title II awardees apply proven approaches, build institutional capacity, and standardize or spread best practices related to food aid and food aid commodity programming, so that implementing organizations can deliver stronger results with fewer operational weaknesses.
USAID intends to fund this work through one award structured as a "Leader with Associates" Cooperative Agreement. This structure signals that USAID expects a central, globally scoped "Leader" agreement that can then be complemented by additional "Associate" awards or activities, typically to address country, regional, or thematic needs as they arise. Because it is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, substantial USAID involvement is implied, meaning the selected organization would likely coordinate closely with USAID on priorities, work plans, and delivery of support. The program is categorized under Food and Nutrition and sits within USAID's broader humanitarian and food assistance portfolio.
The core deliverable is coordination and delivery of institutional strengthening and capacity building support. That includes improving technical knowledge, strengthening operational systems, and promoting best practices in food aid commodity programs. The target audience is global: both current Title II awardees and organizations that may seek Title II funding in the future. In other words, the program is meant to function as an enabling platform that raises performance across the Title II community, not just within a single project or a single country. By focusing on knowledge and operations, USAID is emphasizing that program quality depends not only on good technical design, but also on strong systems for procurement, logistics, compliance, management, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
From a funding perspective, USAID anticipated making a single award, with an estimated funding range indicated by an award floor of $4,000,000 and an award ceiling of $20,000,000. The opportunity includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning the applicant would need to contribute resources in addition to USAID funds, consistent with the terms described in the full solicitation. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, indicating that the competition is open to a broad range of entity types as long as they meet any conditions or clarifications provided in the full announcement.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted on August 28, 2009, and later amended to extend the closing date. The original closing date was October 27, 2009, and Amendment One extended the deadline to November 24, 2009. The funding opportunity number is USAID-M-OAA-DCHA-FFP-09-00001, and the official title is "Technical and Operational Performance Support (TOPS) Program." Questions or access issues were directed to the Agreement Officer, Lance Butler III, at (202) 712-4248.
Overall, TOPS is best understood as a global support mechanism intended to professionalize and strengthen Title II implementation through shared learning, coordinated technical assistance, and operational improvements, ultimately helping USAID food assistance programs achieve better outcomes and use resources more efficiently.
TOPS Program (USAID Office of Food for Peace) FAQs
1) What is the TOPS Program?
The Technical and Operational Performance Support (TOPS) Program is a USAID Office of Food for Peace (DCHA/FFP) grant opportunity focused on strengthening how Title II food aid programs are planned, managed, and delivered globally. The emphasis is on improving both technical quality and operational performance so Title II programs can be more effective and more efficient.
2) What is the main goal of the TOPS Program?
The central goal is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Title II food aid programs by helping awardees apply proven approaches, build institutional capacity, and standardize or spread best practices for food aid and food aid commodity programming.
3) Who is USAID looking for as an applicant or implementer?
USAID is looking for a partner organization that can serve as a global support platform for the Title II community, coordinating and delivering institutional strengthening and capacity building support. This includes helping current and future Title II awardees strengthen technical know-how and operational systems.
4) What type of award is USAID planning to make?
USAID intends to fund TOPS through one award structured as a "Leader with Associates" Cooperative Agreement.
5) What does "Leader with Associates" mean in this opportunity?
This structure indicates there would be a central, globally scoped "Leader" agreement, which can be complemented over time by additional "Associate" awards or activities. Those associate activities are typically used to address country, regional, or thematic needs as they arise.
6) Is this a standard grant or something else?
It is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant. The description notes that substantial USAID involvement is implied, meaning the selected organization would likely coordinate closely with USAID on priorities, work plans, and how support is delivered.
7) What technical area or sector is this program under?
The program is categorized under Food and Nutrition and sits within USAID's broader humanitarian and food assistance portfolio.
8) What activities or deliverables are expected under TOPS?
The core deliverable is the coordination and delivery of institutional strengthening and capacity building support. This includes improving technical knowledge, strengthening operational systems, and promoting best practices in food aid commodity programs.
9) Who is the intended audience or beneficiaries of the support?
The target audience is global and includes both current Title II awardees and organizations that may seek Title II funding in the future. The program is designed to raise performance across the Title II community, not just within a single project or country.
10) What kinds of operational issues is TOPS intended to improve?
Based on the opportunity description, USAID is emphasizing operational performance areas such as procurement, logistics, compliance, management, monitoring, and continuous improvement, alongside improvements in technical program design and quality.
11) What is meant by "food aid commodity programming" in this context?
In this opportunity, "food aid commodity programming" refers to the programming and operational practices that support Title II food aid delivery and performance, including the systems and processes that help implementing organizations manage commodities effectively and deliver results.
12) How many awards does USAID anticipate making?
USAID anticipated making a single award for this opportunity.
13) What is the estimated funding range for the award?
The estimated funding range is listed with an award floor of $4,000,000 and an award ceiling of $20,000,000.
14) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity states there is a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning the applicant would need to contribute resources in addition to USAID funds, consistent with the terms described in the full solicitation.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition is open to a broad range of entity types, subject to any conditions or clarifications included in the full announcement.
16) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on August 28, 2009.
17) What was the application deadline, and was it extended?
The original closing date was October 27, 2009. Amendment One extended the deadline to November 24, 2009.
18) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USAID-M-OAA-DCHA-FFP-09-00001.
19) What is the official title of the opportunity?
The official title is "Technical and Operational Performance Support (TOPS) Program."
20) Who should be contacted for questions or access issues?
Questions or access issues were directed to the Agreement Officer, Lance Butler III, at (202) 712-4248.
21) What is the overall purpose of TOPS in plain terms?
Overall, TOPS is described as a global support mechanism meant to professionalize and strengthen Title II implementation through shared learning, coordinated technical assistance, and operational improvements, helping USAID food assistance programs achieve better outcomes and use resources more efficiently.
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