Request for Applications (RFA): TIES U.S. – Mexico University Partnerships 2009

TIES Phase IV Cycle 1 Competition

(En Español)

Date Issued: June 12, 2009
Deadline: September 10, 2009

HED anticipates making up to (5) five awards of up to $300,000 each, incrementally funded over a three-year period, contingent on USAID funding.

• Up to 3 awards in Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change, and Competitiveness
• Up to 2 awards in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Competitiveness

For clarification or questions regarding this RFA, please contact Manny Sanchez at (202) 243-7692 or msanchez@hedprogram.org.

UPDATED -- Online Information Session: HED will hold an online information session on Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 1 p.m. EDT with the United States Agency for International Development USAID/ Mexico. Interested applicants can e-mail questions concerning this RFA prior to and during the meeting. Applicants are asked to register for the information session by Monday, July 13, 2009 by sending an e-mail to msanchez@HEDprogram.org.

Background
TIES Initiative
Partnership Descriptions
    Focus Area I: Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change, and Competiveness 
    Focus Area II: Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Competitiveness
Monitoring & Evaluation
Eligibility
Application Review Guidelines
TIES Scholarships and Mexican Partners
Application Format, Submission and Review
Terms of the Solicitation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) UPDATED! Aug. 8, 2009

Background

Higher Education for Development and the U.S. Agency for International Development

Higher Education for Development (HED) mobilizes the expertise and resources of the higher education community to address global development challenges. HED accomplishes this by administering a cooperative agreement (AEG-A-00-05-00007-00) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Under the Leader with Associate Cooperative Agreement, signed in September 2005, HED manages a competitive awards process to access expertise within the higher education community in coordination with the American Council on Education (ACE), the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Association of American Universities (AAU), the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (A.P.L.U.). 

Funding by USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, Office of Education (EGAT/ED), as well as USAID’s functional and regional Bureaus and worldwide Missions, supports higher education partnerships to advance global development through economic growth, good governance, and healthy societies. These partnerships provide training, applied research opportunities, program evaluation, policy analysis, and program implementation, which are critical to promote USAID’s foreign assistance goals. More information on USAID and its role in economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide over the past 40 years is available on our website.

Training, Internships, Exchanges, and Scholarships (TIES) Initiative

The Partnership for Prosperity, a key bilateral initiative which started in 2001, focuses on promoting economic growth and higher living standards for the citizens of both nations.  In this public-private alliance, both governments act as facilitators to leverage private sector expertise and resources to address shared development goals.  The Training, Internships, Exchanges and Scholarships (TIES) initiative is an important component of the Partnership for Prosperity.  TIES seek fully collaborative relationships between Mexican and U.S. higher education institutions and their public and private sector partners on both sides of the border.

TIES enhances the capacity of higher education institutions of both nations to examine mutual development problems, work in strategic alliances to develop solutions, and create the basis for Mexican participants to respond more effectively to development challenges and opportunities.  Development of human capital is critical to strengthening Mexico’s competitiveness in the world market.  Higher education partnerships are a vital means to strengthen Mexico’s current and future workforce and to respond to the opportunities offered by NAFTA and the global economy. Capacity building initiatives that address Mexican competitiveness, target underprivileged areas, and fully engage the private sector are particularly sought.

TIES University Partnerships have demonstrated significant results through increased capacity of faculty and administration of the Mexican partners and greater involvement and outreach to Mexican communities.  USAID/Mexico expects to support additional higher education partnerships to meet USAID/Mexico objectives during the period 2009-2015. In the TIES Phase IV Cycle 1 Competition described in this Request for Applications, as in previous partnership competitions, USAID strongly encourages inclusion and buy-in from multiple stakeholders. The strength of TIES University Partnerships has come from the collaboration of U.S. and Mexican higher education institutions with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and communities, all working together to identify and implement solutions to local, regional, and international development issues.  The most successful partnerships have been replicated beyond the initial focus area and sustained beyond the three years of USAID funding. USAID/Mexico’s continued support of this program reflects the important contributions of the Higher Education community to international development.

The spring 2009 Competition for TIES University Partnerships will provide up to five partnership awards in two focus areas.  Context and objectives for each focus area are listed below.

Partnership Descriptions

Focus Area I: Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change, and Competitiveness

Context: Mexico is considered to be one of 17 “megadiverse” countries of the world.  With a terrestrial surface of only 1.5% of the global total, it is one of the five countries with the highest variety of ecosystems, is home to about 10 to 12% of the world’s known species, many of which are found only in Mexico.

This enormous biodiversity is being lost or is seriously threatened by human activities (such as land-use change, introduction of invasive species and diseases, overexploitation and illegal extraction, freshwater and aquifer depletion and contamination) and natural disasters, particularly forest fires and hurricanes. Over the last three decades, more than ten million hectares formerly covered by natural vegetation have been converted to agricultural lands, pastures and rangelands, urban areas and other uses for human benefit.  With 348,000 hectares of forest lost every year, Mexico’s deforestation rate is one of the highest among countries with significant forest cover, although the rate has decreased lately.  Almost every year, forest fires and hurricanes affect the terrestrial ecosystems of large parts of the country.  A total of 338 high-risk, high-priority invasive species have been identified in Mexico, mostly affecting terrestrial ecosystems.  Some 897 of the Mexican native species (100 species of mammals, 54 birds, 95 reptiles, 211 amphibians, 114 fish, 62 invertebrates and 261 plants) are considered to be at risk of extinction.

Biodiversity and climate change: Higher temperatures, reduced rainfall, and the rising sea level associated with global climate change, along with the increased risks of droughts and frequency or intensity of hurricanes will likely exacerbate or impose additional threats to Mexico’s biodiversity, particularly for endemic species, tropical and temperate forests, natural grasslands, coral reefs and other coastal habitats.  Increased risks of droughts will make forests more vulnerable to pests and diseases and will increase the risk of forest fires while affecting primary economic activities such as agriculture, cattle ranching and fisheries, thus exacerbating poverty levels.

Biodiversity and competitiveness: The Government of Mexico’s National Development Plan 2007-2012 recognizes conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems as a subject of national interest, essential for alleviating poverty, achieving sustainable economic development, and enhancing the country’s competitiveness.  Sustainable management of natural resources and the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems are essential to the long-term provision of vital goods and services that underpin Mexico’s economy, support primary industries (e.g. agriculture, forestry, and tourism) and ensure the livelihoods of both urban and rural communities.

Partnership Objectives
A U.S. and Mexican higher education institution(s) will collaborate to:

• Strengthen the curricula of Mexican higher education institution(s) in biodiversity conservation so that faculty at the Mexican partner institutions and their students are better prepared to carry out research, conduct pilot and/or demonstration projects and construct case studies related to biodiversity conservation, climate change, and the promotion of alternative, sustainable economic opportunities for local communities;
• Provide scholarships for Mexican students to pursue studies and/or conduct research in the United States, leading to increased capacity of faculty at the Mexican partner institution(s) to conduct relevant research and continue the process of curriculum development in biodiversity conservation as it relates to climate change and/or economic competitiveness;
• Provide opportunities for exchange of Mexican and U.S. scientists and scholars that will build the capacity of the Mexican partner institutions(s) in research and scientific practice in these academic disciplines.
• Build capacity of the Mexican partner institution(s) to engage public, private, and non-governmental institutions through the development of experiential learning opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students in at least two of the following areas:
  • Assessment, monitoring and valuation of Mexico’s biodiversity, ecosystems or ecosystem services, at the country-wide or regional level, including marine ecosystems. Assessment of the likely impacts of climate change on high priority components (species or ecosystems) of Mexico’s biodiversity and their implications for conservation efforts.
  • Assessment of the role of ecosystems in Mexico’s vulnerability and resilience to climate change, including extreme weather events.
  • Analysis of the vulnerability, resilience and adaptation capabilities of local communities dependent on natural resources and biodiversity to climate change impacts.
  • Analysis and promotion of alternatives and policy interventions for the sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity as a means to improve competitiveness of rural producers and mitigate threats to Mexico’s biodiversity.
  • Identification of national and international markets and formulation of sustainable, improved schemes for payments for ecosystem services (including carbon storage, reduction of emissions and hydrological services, among others), as instruments for biodiversity conservation.
  • Analysis of the main constraints and opportunities for sustainably harvested timber and non-timber forest products by rural producers (such as access to markets and financial services, appropriate use of technology, legal frameworks, production costs, etc.)
  • Evaluation of Mexico’s biodiversity conservation policies and identification of opportunities to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of public policies and programs.

USAID funds applied to this program must meet USAID biodiversity attribution requirements: 1) have an explicit biodiversity conservation objective; 2) be based on analysis of threats to biodiversity; 3) monitor biodiversity conservation indicators; and 4) if site-based, must positively impact biologically significant sites.  Demonstration projects should benefit local communities, support biodiversity conservation, and lead to increased competitiveness in the sector. Find out more information about USAID’s biodiversity guidelines.

Geographic Focus: Any biologically significant sites throughout Mexico.

 

Focus Area II: Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Competitiveness

Context: Energy security is one of the central objectives of Mexico’s National Development Plan 2007-2012 and is recognized as a critical factor for the country’s competitiveness.  Mexico depends heavily on oil and natural gas for its energy supply.  In order to increase energy security and reduce local and global environmental risks associated with fossil fuels, energy sector experts have identified the need to promote public and private expansion of renewable energy resources and increased efficiency of energy use.  Energy efficient technologies and renewable energy sources allow for increased access to electricity among marginalized and remote communities, promote regional development by fostering new industrial applications and job creation, and provide additional economic benefits in the form of cost savings.  Finally, expansion of energy efficient technologies and renewable energy sources plays a critical role in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and mitigating the effects of climate change. 
USAID aims to contribute to Mexico’s competitiveness by promoting knowledge sharing, collaborative research, and demonstration projects related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change. 

Partnership Objectives
A U.S. and Mexican higher education institution(s) will collaborate to:

• Provide scholarships for Mexican students to pursue studies and/or conduct research in the United States; leading to increased capacity of faculty at the Mexican partner institution(s) to conduct research on, and contribute to curriculum development related to, renewable energy and/or energy efficiency
• Provide opportunities for exchange of Mexican and U.S. scientists and scholars that will build the capacity of the Mexican partner institution(s) in research and scientific practice related to renewable energy and/or energy efficiency.
• Increase the capacity of the Mexican partner institutions to train energy sector professionals and decision-makers to address challenges and opportunities in renewable energy and energy efficiency in Mexico.
• Strengthen the curricula of Mexican higher education institution(s) in renewable energy and energy efficiency so that faculty at the Mexican partner institutions and their students are better prepared to carry out research, conduct pilot and/or demonstration projects and construct case studies related to emergent topics such as:

o Regulatory and social barriers
o Economic incentives
o Transmission grid interconnectivity
o Rural electrification  
o Financing of small and medium-scale renewable energy applications
o Climate change impacts of renewable energy and energy efficiency

Illustrative activities

• Joint research and/or pilots that advance specific technologies related to energy efficiency and/or renewable energy sources such as wind, geothermal, and solar energy.
• Collaboration to conduct analyses of clean energy value chains, with a focus on the economic principles associated with renewable energy technologies.
• Outreach activities to build capacity among public institutions to develop and implement energy sector policies and regulations.

Potential Partners: In addition to higher education institutions, applicants are encouraged to collaborate with the Mexican Energy Network (Red Mexicana de Energía http://www.remexen.org/) and other Mexican civil society organizations that are concerned with energy issues.

Geographic Focus: There are no geographic restrictions on this focus area.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The application must describe a monitoring and reporting plan to address the partnership activities and outcomes as described in the objectives. The monitoring and reporting plan should demonstrate how progress towards objectives will be tracked, and how results of partnership activities will be summarized. The monitoring and reporting plan should include a baseline assessment of the current program needs for the appropriate focus area.

A description of an external evaluation of the partnership impact must be included in the plan, and the qualifications of the designated external evaluator described. The plan must also include a detailed description of how results will be communicated and reported to USAID/Mexico through HED.

Environmental Compliance

All projects funded by USAID must conform to U.S. regulations requiring evaluation to ensure against unmitigated environmental impacts from the projects funded.  While it is accepted that the intention of the projects are always to improve conditions, even well-intentioned activities can have unplanned impacts.  In some cases selected parts can have negative impacts while the project as a whole is positive.  Many negative impacts can be reduced through proper mitigation planning and monitoring.

 

Eligibility

HED will only consider applications from regionally accredited, degree granting, U.S. higher education institutions (2 & 4-year colleges and universities). U.S. colleges and universities may apply individually, or in partnership with other institutions. HED encourages applications from or with the participation of minority-serving institutions.

USAID has stipulated that in order to work with and strengthen local tertiary institutions, the HED program will engage U.S. institutions of post-secondary education (including universities, colleges, and community colleges) as core development partners in each of the activities funded under the program. Funding will be obligated through the U.S. institutions to the cooperating institutions and stakeholders in the target countries in a fair, transparent and open manner through program investments that will both develop and leverage the capacity of the local institutions to meet the human and institutional capacity needs of their country.

Applicants' budgets should demonstrate that award funds will be managed by the applicant and overseas partners that are qualified higher education institutions. HED cannot accept sealed applications. HED can only negotiate an award agreement with the lead U.S. higher education institution named in the application. While recipients of previous TIES awards are eligible to apply, please note that we do not offer sustainability awards for previous or current TIES partnerships.

Application Review Guidelines

Peer reviewers will use the following criteria to evaluate the applications:

I. Partnership Design and Potential Results (30 points)

• Evidence that the partnership design, planned activities and expected outcomes address the objectives in the appropriate Focus Area;
• Adequate plan for collaborative development of curricula in the appropriate academic discipline(s);
• Planned exchanges of scientists and scholars are highly likely to increase the capacity of the Mexican partner institution to address the development issue(s) identified in the Focus Area description
• The partnership design and planned activities are relevant to the needs of the beneficiaries (faculty or students, or sector professionals) identified in the appropriate Focus Area;
• Feasibility of implementation plan and timetable; and
• Overall likelihood of achieving significant, demonstrable results.

 II. Scholarships and Training for Mexicans (20 points)

• Demonstrated relevance of scholarship training to the objectives stated in the RFA;
• Plans for trainees to return to Mexico within a defined timeframe and to an established setting;
• Number of undergraduate or graduate-level scholarships (five or more) for two academic semesters of training (which may or may not lead to a degree) with award or cost share funds; and
• A fair and transparent process to select scholarship and training recipients – including Mexican nationals primarily residing in rural, poor areas of Mexico and/or of indigenous descent – with approximately half of the training opportunities and scholarships offered to women.

III. Mutuality and Sustainability of Partnerships (20 points)

• Evidence of collaboration among partners in planning, oversight and implementation of activities;
• Proposed key partnership personnel have appropriate credentials and relevant experience in Mexico;
• Strength of diverse partners, which may include the private sector, foundations, NGOs, community-based organizations, other higher education institutions, and the public sector, to assure enduring relationships and continued results from joint U.S.-Mexican efforts ; and
• Substantive plan to ensure sustainability and institutionalization of partnership activities.

 IV.  Cost Effectiveness of Overall Budget (15 points) 

• Demonstrated cost-effectiveness and accuracy of budget with a clear, detailed explanation provided in the budget narrative;
• Realistic budget in relation to the breadth and scope of the proposed collaboration with equitable distribution of funds among partners; and
• Level and quality of the cost sharing commitment from the U.S. and Mexican institutions and other partners.

V. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation Plan (15 points) 

• Clear plan for collecting information that describes outcomes to meet partnership objectives, including how progress and results will be reported to USAID/Mexico through HED;
• Specificity of monitoring and reporting plan, including methodology for collecting baseline data, tracking activities, and reporting outcomes; and,
• End-of-partnership plan for assessing impact of activities, including an external evaluation of results.

Total Points: 100 points

 

TIES Scholarships and Mexican Partners

TIES Scholarships

Applicant institutions should propose five (5) or more long-term undergraduate or graduate-level scholarships for Mexicans (which may or may not lead to a degree) to be embedded within a partnership in addition to other training, internships, and exchanges within the application budget.  These scholarship expenses may be covered by core award or cost share funds.

The following activities may be counted as a scholarship:

• Undergraduate or graduate-level training (two or more semesters that may or may not lead to a degree) in the United States;
• Undergraduate or graduate-level training (two or more semesters that may or may not lead to a degree) in Mexico with U.S. faculty or via distance education for Mexicans;
• Dual degree programs for Mexicans with training (two or more semesters that may or may not lead to a degree) in the United States or in Mexico;
• Specialty training and/or sabbaticals (two or more semesters that may or may not lead to a degree) in the United States for Mexican faculty;

Scholarships are tallied in units of two academic semesters completed by a single participant; no half scholarships may be counted. (N.B.: An individual who studies three (3) academic semesters is counted as one (1) scholarship; if an individual completes four (4) academic semesters, it is counted as two (2) scholarships, etc.)

Internships that are for academic credit may be counted toward scholarships, and summer sessions, that are equivalent to a semester at the institution where they are undertaken, may be counted toward scholarships.

Applicants should outline a fair and transparent process for selecting appropriate trainees – including Mexican nationals primarily residing in rural, poor areas of Mexico and/or of indigenous descent – with approximately half of the training opportunities and scholarships offered to women.

Mexican Partners

USAID/Mexico encourages:

• Alliances with diverse partners, including government, NGOs, and the private sector;
• Partnerships with Mexican autonomous higher education institutions; and
• Applications from institutions that seek to foster partnerships with Mexican institutions that have not received a previous TIES award.
• Partnerships between U.S. Community Colleges and Mexican Universidades Tecnológicas.

Application Format, Submission and Review

Application Format
How to Submit an Application
Peer Review

Application Format

Please provide the contents of the application in the following order:
1. Title Page (Please complete HED form in full and obtain signatures of authorized officials.)
2. Table of Contents
3. Abstract (not to exceed 3 typed, double-spaced pages, 12-point font, 1-inch margins). The abstract should contain a summary of the narrative, workplan and budget.
4. Narrative (not to exceed 20 typed, double-spaced pages, 12-point font, 1-inch margins) Address the criteria listed in Application Review Guidelines I-V (see above).
5. The 20-page application must describe a monitoring and reporting plan for the partnership, including an initial baseline assessment, that shows how progress and results will be communicated and reported to USAID through HED.
6. Appendices (Attachments beyond the stated appendices will not be read nor taken into consideration):
    * Annual workplan for the funding period (Use HED form).
    * Budget forms (Use HED form. Complete all tabs).
    * Proposed Scholarships chart (Use HED chart).
    * Résumés of the proposed U.S. institution director(s) and host institution personnel, not to exceed 2 one-sided pages per person.
    * Signed letters of support from the presidents, chancellors, or other chief executive officers of the cooperating institution in the United States.
* Signed letters of support from appropriate university leaders of the overseas partner institution as well as partnership directors. University leaders from the overseas partner may include deans, rectors, or university presidents.
    * Signed letter from appropriate official at applicant institution verifying that all costs cited conform to established institutional policies and practices.

How to Submit an Application

Applications must be received at HED by 5:00PM, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), September 10, 2009. Faxed or electronically transmitted applications will not be accepted. All elements of the application must be received by the deadline. HED recognizes that original, signed cover letters and letters of support from overseas partners may be subject to delays due to factors beyond the applicant’s control. Only in these exceptional cases, faxed or scanned copies of the application title page and letters that include all necessary signatures may be submitted in the application, provided signed originals are received at HED within seven (7) calendar days of the deadline.

Applicants should submit the original application plus seven (7) hard copies of the complete application package containing title page, table of contents, abstract, narrative, and appendices (all on loose-leaf paper, clipped together — no three-ring binders, staples, or plastic bindings), and a flash drive/thumb drive or CD (with files saved as Microsoft Word/Excel for PC) containing the entire application, including all budget forms, budget narrative, and other appendices.

Applications should be sent to: (*NOTE: This is a NEW address.)
TIES U.S. - Mexico Phase IV, Cycle 1
Higher Education for Development
1 Dupont Circle NW, Room 1B30
Washington, D.C. 20036-1193
Once an application has been received, there is to be no contact with the HED program office until the completion of the peer review process in order to ensure fairness to all parties concerned. 

Peer Review

Applications will be reviewed by panels comprised of US higher education international development experts who have experience in Mexico and/or Latin America, as well as representatives from USAID/Mexico. Awards will be made on the basis of reviewers’ recommendations of merit, and USAID. Peer review of applications is slated for mid-September.

Letters of communication from members of the U.S. Congress in support of an application are discouraged as these may be thought to prejudice the peer-review process. Such letters will not be forwarded to peer reviewers.

Notification about awards is expected following the completion of peer review. Upon final announcement of awards, the person named in the application as partnership director may submit a written request for copies of the peer reviewers’ scores for the application. No personal reviews will be granted, and no comparative score tabulations will be shared.

Terms of the Solicitation

Cost Share
Execution of Awards
Post Award Briefings
TIES Conference
TraiNet Requirements
Health and Accident Insurance
Reporting

Cost Share

The minimum suggested total cost share from all U.S. partners is 25 percent of the requested award amount. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their ability to leverage additional resources from other sources. Reported cost share must be auditable. Non-auditable contributions may not be used to meet the minimum, but can be indicated separately and attached to the budget detail form.
Partnerships among higher education institutions with private sector partners are encouraged. Applicants should itemize all cost sharing, including waivers of tuition and other academic costs, faculty release time, stipends, professional development funds, internship value, travel, supplies, equipment, other direct costs, indirect costs, etc.

Cash and in-kind contributions will be accepted as part of the applicant’s cost sharing when such contributions are: (a) verifiable from the applicant’s records; (b) not included as contributions for any other federally-assisted program; (c) reasonable for the accomplishment of partnership objectives; and (d) not paid by the federal government under another grant.

In-kind contributions may include, but are not limited to: waivers of tuition and fees for students participating in academic exchanges; donation of library and classroom materials to the partner; ICT infrastructure and Internet Service Provider subscription subsidy for the partner and exchange students; faculty salaries; travel and/or per diem for faculty and administrators to participate in professional exchange and development programs; provision of internships for students hosted by the U.S. partner(s) and U.S. students hosted by the partner(s); and, indirect costs. Contributions not meeting the terms of “cost share” should be indicated in a separate statement of contributions.

Execution of Awards

Awards will be executed as sub-agreements between the designated U.S. university, college, community college, or consortium, and the American Council on Education (ACE), through the Higher Education for Development (HED) office, under USAID Cooperative Agreement AEG-A-00-05-00007-00. The institution recommended for award will receive a draft version of the sub-agreements to review. The award recipient will be expected to submit a marking plan related to USAID/Mexico branding requirements as part of the sub-agreement that clearly indicates the support provided by USAID/Mexico for activities conducted under the award.

Please note that no award or cost share funds may be expended prior to a fully executed (i.e., signed by both parties) sub-agreement between ACE and the designated U.S. institution unless pre-award expenses have been approved as a part of the negotiation of the sub-award. Activities are expected to commence immediately after the sub-agreement is executed.

Award funds will be disbursed to the designated U.S. university, college, community college, or consortium, based on the applicant’s implementation of the work plan, stated budget, and submission to HED of financial, tax, and narrative progress reports. It is the designated U.S. institution’s responsibility to provide disbursements (reimbursements) for its collaborating partner(s) in accordance with the agreed-upon activity schedule and budget.

Post Award Briefings

Partnership directors, and/or their designees, are required to participate in two post-award briefings. The first briefing, conducted in a virtual format, will review reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements. The second briefing via a conference call will address general requirements of the award.

TIES Conference

Applicants must budget for partnership representation at the 2009 TIES conference. This 2.5-day conference will be held in Mexico from October 8-10, 2009.  Partnerships are expected to send one representative from the U.S. higher institution(s) and one representative from the Mexican higher education institution(s).  Additional partnership personnel and other partners may attend, subject to approval by HED, if they are funded by other sources.

TraiNet Requirements

To comply with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of State, and USAID regulations regarding tracking and monitoring of Exchange Visitors, foreign nationals whose costs are paid, fully or partially, directly or indirectly using USAID program funds for training, non-training, and invitational travel, must enter the U.S. on a J-1 visa (non-immigrant Exchange Visitor visa) processed under one of USAID’s two program numbers, unless otherwise waived according to the procedure in ADS 252.3. J-2 visa applications for family members are not supported per USAID policy.

USAID expects that all DS-2019 documents (paperwork needed for J visas) and in-country or third country training be processed through the USAID Training, Results and Information Network (TraiNet) system. Institutions may not directly access the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to issue DS-2019 documents internally. Administrators must adhere to the regulations detailed under TraiNet, Visa Compliance System (VCS), the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), and USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) 252-Visa Compliance for Exchange Visitors, and 253-Training for Development. U.S. institutions should allow at least 5-6 weeks for the processing of visas when planning activities in the United States.

TraiNet management requires a significant commitment of staff time and applicants are encouraged to take this into consideration when developing the program budget.

USAID Health and Accident Coverage (HAC) Insurance Program

The U.S. institution is responsible for enrolling each participant traveling to the United States or a third country in the official USAID Health and Accident Coverage (HAC) insurance program. Participants entering the United States on J-1 visas are required to obtain HAC from the official USAID vendor. Institutions may not use award funds to cover their own institutional HAC insurance. More information on the USAID HAC insurance program is available online at:  http://trainet-vcs-usaid.org/HACIns/index.htm. The cost of HAC for participants must be included in the budget.

Reporting

Awardees will be required to submit to HED:

• Financial reports are due quarterly to record expenditures for the following periods: Jan. 1-March 31, April 1-June 30, July 1-Sept. 30, and Oct. 1-Dec. 31;
• Semi-annual narrative progress reports for the following reporting periods may be sent via e-mail: April 1-September 30 and Oct. 1-March 30;
• Both financial reports and semi-annual progress reports are due within one-month after the corresponding reporting period closes: Jan. 31, April 30, July 31, and Oct. 31;
• A final narrative report (due 30 days after the conclusion of program activities); and,
• Final financial reports (due no later than 90 days after the sub-agreement closing date).

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

(En Español)

1. Is there a limit on the number of proposals that one institution may submit?

There is no limit on the number of proposals that can be submitted by a single institution.

2. Can the proposal combine both of the selected focus areas and incorporate them into one proposal?

No, each proposal must address its own focus area.  This is because the funding sources, particular the bio-diversity funding, have specific requirements that must be met.  Combining topics creates  great risk that costs might subsequently be disallowed. 

3. Is there a formal way to gain knowledge of which Mexican institutions are being or have been targeted by other U.S. institutions?

No, each institution is responsible for forming its own partnership/s.  This is best done through aggressive outreach to Mexican Institutions.

4. If Mexican institutions have won a TIES award in the past, is there a time period for when they could be eligible for another TIES award in the future?

There is no waiting period. While recipients of previous TIES awards are eligible to apply, please note that we do not offer sustainability awards for previous or current TIES partnerships.

5. If a Mexican university has multiple campuses and one campus has previously won a TIES award, is it possible to partner with one of the campuses that have not won an award?

Yes

6. Where can we find a list of previous universities and institutions that have previously won TIES awards?

 Go to the HED website (www.hedprogram.org) and click on “Where We Work.”

7. If institutions do not have students, can they partner with institutions that do?

Yes, however there must be a lead U.S. and a lead Mexican higher education institution.

8. Can a university have one Mexican partner with multiple faculty participation?

Yes.

9. Match can include federal money?

No, as stated in the RFA.

10. We are wondering if the grant can provide salary for U.S. and/or Mexican researchers, particularly for U.S. scientists to work out of a Mexican institution for a period of time or for Mexican scientists to work out of a U.S. institution for a period of time.

Yes, this is possible as there is flexibility on the part of the applicant on how the award monies are  used.

11. I see that these are university partnerships. How much is allowed for overhead costs to universities under this grant, given that overhead from most universities is about 50 percent?

Overhead rates for each institution should reflect the approved rate for that institution determined  by the Cognizant Federal Agency. Per USAID regulations, the institutional overhead included in  the budget application must conform to the applicant institution’s negotiated indirect cost rate  (NICRA) agreement with the U.S. government.

12. Is it possible to have more than 1 U.S. or Mexican institution as partners?

 Yes

13. Can funding under the TIES US-MX program be used to fund postdoctoral researchers from the United States and/or Mexico?

Yes

14. We would like more information on the USAID biodiversity attribution requirements.  What constitutes a ‘biologically significant site’? 

In the RFA click on the link “Find out more information about USAID’s biodiversity guidelines.”  

The most important biologically significant sites in Mexico have been identified through various criteria and by national as well as international organizations. These include, for example:

a. CONANP’s Natural Protected Areas (http://www.conanp.gob.mx/q_anp.html)
b. CONABIO’s Priority Regions (Terrestrial: http://www.conabio.gob.mx/conocimiento/regionalizacion/doctos/Tlistado.html; Hydrologic: http://www.conabio.gob.mx/conocimiento/regionalizacion/doctos/Hlistado.html; Marine: http://www.conabio.gob.mx/conocimiento/regionalizacion/doctos/Mlistado.html)
c. Ramsar Convention’s Wetlands of International Importance (http://www.conanp.gob.mx/ramsar4.html)
d. Birdlife International’s Endemic Bird Areas (http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/ebas/index.html?action=EbaHTMFindResults.asp&INam=&Reg=5&Cty=137)
e. CIPAMEX/CONABIO/CEC/FMCN’s Areas Importantes para la Conservacion de las Aves (http://conabioweb.conabio.gob.mx/aicas/doctos/aicasmapa.html)
f. WWF’s Global 200 Ecoregions (http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/ecoregions/global200.html)

15. Regarding clarification on TIES Scholarship page 8: It states applicant institutions should propose five (5) or more long-term undergraduate or graduate-level scholarships for Mexicans (which may or may not lead to a degree). The last bullet says “Specialty training and/or sabbaticals (two or more semesters) in the United States for Mexican faculty. Does this count as long-term undergraduate or graduate level scholarship for Mexicans?

Yes, this type of training counts as scholarships.

16. Is there any restriction for the use of the funds from the TIES U.S.-Mexico University Partnership program?

All regulations related to U.S. government funds must be adhered to including provisions such as the Fly America Act and Environmental Impact Compliance.

17. For the case of awarded projects, would the Mexican parties receive funds or will it be only the U.S. partners whom will receive the financial support?

Partners from the U.S. and Mexico can receive funding.  Funding will be obligated through the  U.S. institutions to the cooperating institutions and stakeholders in the target countries in a fair,  transparent and open manner through program investments that will both develop and leverage the  capacity of the local institutions to meet the human and institutional capacity needs of their  country.

18. In the case of participation of NGOs or any other non-academic partner, do they need to provide their funds to be accepted in the project?

No, it is not necessary for every partner to contribute financial support to the partnership; however, meeting the overall cost share requirement is required and the leveraging additional resources is encouraged.

19. I did not see much of a reference to a "Biocultural Model for Resource Management."
With out an emphasis on acceptance of local rural residents' appreciation of resource management within their cultural context, the entire issue of Biodiversity conservation or management is mute. Is this thought of in the RFP?

The request is fairly general and no particular model for resource management is promoted or requested. There is no reason why the biocultural concept may not fit within the objectives of the Biodiversity conservation, climate change, and competitiveness focus area.

20. Climate change is a very broad concept. Is climate change getting the same weight at as "competitiveness" and biodiversity?

Not necessarily. The core of the first focus area is actually Biodiversity conservation. This is not  addressed in isolation but instead in its relationship to climate change and/or competitiveness.

21. Are biodiversity and silvi-culture much the same in this RFP?

They are not.  Silviculture focuses on forest production which may not (and often does not) involve any consideration for biodiversity conservation. More recently however, silviculture aims to accomplish both objectives in certain contexts.

22. How much emphasis is being placed on wetlands in this biodiversity concept?

No particular emphasis is being placed on wetlands. In principle, the Biodiversity requirement is quite general. However, many wetlands in Mexico actually constitute biologically significant sites.

23. Can the proposal include short-term environmental leadership training with Mexican and U.S.  participants as well as Central American participants?

Such trainings may be included for U.S. and Mexican participants. Applicants should keep in mind that TIES is a bilateral initiative between the United States and Mexico.

24. How many proposals are you expecting and how many will be awarded?

Information regarding applications is confidential. HED anticipates making up to three awards in  Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change, and Competitiveness and up to two awards in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Competitiveness.

25.  Is there a possibility to collaborate with CIMAV (Chihuahua) or CINVESTAV (Mexico DF)  for collaborative work with the purpose of conducting research in the area of sustainable  energy (e.g. solar cells) and training of MS and PhD students. 

Yes, there is flexibility on the part of applicants. Alliances with diverse partners, including  government, NGOs, and the private sector are encouraged. However, each partnership must  include as a minimum a lead U.S. institution of higher education and a Mexican institution of  higher education.

26. It is possible for a Mexican Institution to be awarded a grant if previous TIES support has been received?

 Yes.

 27.  Will the notification of awards be made prior to the October 8-12 TIES Conference meeting?

 Ideally, yes.

28.  If post-docs are included, can their training count as part of the scholarship activities?

See the RFA regarding what can be counted as scholarships.  

29. Could the scholarships be used for programs shorter than one semester, e.g. summer school?

 See the RFA for scholarship requirements.

30. Can we combine topics?  [For example,] Biodiversity-Competitiveness?

Each proposal must concentrate on only one focus area. 

31. Can an institution partner with U.S. NGOs or private companies?

Yes, alliances with diverse partners such as NGOs and the private sector are encouraged.

32. We recognize that inclusion of the private sector, foundations, NGOs, community-based  organizations, and other areas are encouraged, however can you please relate the  significance of this?

Alliances with diverse partners are encouraged to further assist partnership work and to help  ensure the sustainability of the work, as well as promote community outreach and developmental  impact.

33. What should be given the most emphasis in our proposal: research or practical  applications?

This is left to the discretion of the applicants.

34. If a U.S. institution is currently funded through TIES, can we submit a new proposal?

 Yes.

35. For Renewable Energy, do all four Partnership Objectives have to be addressed, or only a few  of the four objectives?

All four must be fulfilled.

36. Can proposal activities under the theme "Evaluation of Mexico’s biodiversity conservation  policies, etc." focus on ecological and human health issues?

 Ecological and human health issues are too broad of a topic

37. In reference to scholarships, do the following activities count as scholarship: 1) training  workshops for local townspeople, 2) workshops for Mexican faculty to travel to the United States for training.

 See the RFA for scholarship requirements.

38. If a U.S. institution is currently funded through TIES, can we submit a new proposal?

Yes, as long as it is not a follow-on award.

39. Is there an "expected/recommended" dollar amount per "scholarship"? It seems that it is  difficult in current economic times to cover at least five, two-semester scholarships will  utilize the majority of awarded funds. Are there any suggestions for how to deal with this?

No, this is left open to the discretion of the applicant.

40. Do the scholarships require exchanges of students/researchers between Mexico and the United States, or can they be for students/researchers to remain in their own country to work on a overall project?

There is flexibility on the part of the applicant to propose alternative venues for the scholarship.

41. Can USAID or HED help Mexican institutions find partners in the United States.

This responsibility rests with the applicant.

 42.   Is the mission of this RFA primarily conservation education (e.g., training, scholarship) or is experimental science permitted (research with graduate students)? 
 
  Both. Experimental science should be part of an overall partnership plan for faculty and curriculum development.”

43.  Can be animal health issues such as disease transmission in wild ungulates and habitat  management/conservation be included or considered in conservation proposals?

This could be considered depending on the proposal.