UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM

The McGovern-Dole FY2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Questions and Answers clarify several key aspects for applicants. It specifies that only the Project Lead's CV is required, and the "Other Attachments" section is limited to subrecipient commitment letters and the Project Lead's CV. Manatuto, Timor-Leste, is confirmed as a priority geography, with options for smaller interventions or justification for deviation. The USDA LRP Results Framework is intentionally removed for this year. Applicants should match file types to the most appropriate labels in FAIS or use "Generic" for unaligned content. The Budget Narrative maintains a 25-page limit, and personal services compensation, including independent consultants, is capped at GS-15 rates. Applications from countries listed in Proclamation 10998 are excluded. Applicants need only include relevant standard and LRP indicators, with no justification needed for unused ones. Cost share can be cash or in-kind, including government contributions, and can earn up to two bonus points if it meets the one percent threshold of the total project operating budget. The maximum performance period is 60 months, with a multiyear minimum, and subrecipients do not need a UEI or SAM registration at submission but must have them before an award is finalized. The Project-Level Results Framework is the only required graphical representation. The 2026 versions of the M&E Policy and Indicator Handbook should be used. Salt is not an eligible agricultural commodity for LRP, and rice is only available in 50kg bags. USDA/FAS rarely funds non-priority countries, and there are no current plans to add Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) as an eligible commodity.

The McGovern-Dole FY2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Questions and Answers clarify several key aspects for applicants. It specifies that only the Project Lead's CV is required, and Manatuto remains a priority geography in Timor-Leste. The USDA LRP Results Framework is intentionally removed, and applicants should use the 2026 versions of the M&E Policy and Indicator Handbook. The document sets a 25-page limit for the Budget Narrative and a compensation ceiling at GS-15 rates for all personal services, including independent consultants. It also confirms that non-priority countries listed in Proclamation 10998, including those with partial suspension, are excluded from consideration. Cost share can be in cash or in-kind, and host-government contributions are allowable. Subrecipients do not need a UEI or SAM registration at submission but must have them before an award is finalized. The Project-Level Results Framework is the only required graphical representation of the project's theory of change, and a narrative text is not required for it. The NOFO does not provide a separate funding range for non-priority countries and rarely funds projects in them. Salt is not a qualified agricultural commodity for LRP, and rice is only available in 50kg bags. Applicants can receive up to two bonus points for a voluntary cost share of one percent or more of the Total Project Operating Budget.

The McGovern-Dole FY2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Q&A clarifies application requirements and addresses common concerns. Key clarifications include that only the Project Lead's CV is mandatory, and the "Other Attachments" section is limited to commitment letters and the Project Lead's CV. The NOFO maintains the 25-page limit for the Budget Narrative and the GS-15 compensation ceiling for all personnel, including independent consultants. It also confirms that Manatuto, Timor-Leste, remains a priority geography and that the LRP Results Framework was intentionally removed this year. Applicants should use 2026 versions of the M&E Policy and Indicator Handbook. The Project-Level Results Framework is the only required graphical representation of the project's theory of change. Cost share is voluntary but can earn bonus points if it meets specific thresholds and is deemed reasonable and feasible. Subrecipients do not need a UEI or SAM registration at submission but must have them before the award is finalized. The maximum performance period is 60 months, with a multiyear minimum, and typical awards range from $10 million to $35 million. USDA rarely funds projects in non-priority countries.

The McGovern-Dole FY2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Questions and Answers document clarifies key requirements for applicants. It specifies that only the Project Lead's CV is mandatory, and the "Other Attachments" section is limited to subrecipient commitment letters and the Project Lead's CV. USDA confirmed Manatuto as a priority geography for Timor-Leste, despite prior graduation. The LRP Results Framework was intentionally removed this year. Applicants should match file types to available labels in FAIS, using "Generic" if no match exists. The 25-page limit for the Budget Narrative remains, and the GS-15 compensation ceiling applies to all personnel, including independent consultants. Applications from countries listed in Proclamation 10998 are excluded. Applicants need only include relevant standard and LRP indicators, without justifying unused ones. Proof of 501(c)(3) status is only required as applicable for eligible organizations. The Project-Level Results Framework is the sole required graphical representation. Subrecipients do not need a UEI or SAM registration at submission but must have them before award finalization. The document also provides U.S. flag rates for specific ports and clarifies that ITSH costs can be covered by cost share. Salt is not an eligible LRP commodity, and rice is only available in 50kg bags. Cost share can be cash or in-kind, including government contributions. The minimum performance period is multi-year, with a maximum of 60 months. Past performance is still considered, and bonus points for voluntary cost share are evaluated based on reasonableness and feasibility. There is no narrative text required with the graphical results framework. Funding ranges for non-priority countries are the same as priority countries, but non-priority country applications are rarely funded. Learning Partners are not required, and applicants should use the 2026 versions of the M&E Policy and Indicator Handbook. Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation is not an eligible commodity for FY2026.

The McGovern-Dole FY2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Questions and Answers clarifies various aspects of the grant application process. Key points include personnel documentation requirements, confirming that only the Project Lead's CV is mandatory. It also confirms the specific priority geographies for Timor-Leste and the intentional removal of the LRP Results Framework this year. The document addresses file submission protocols in FAIS, emphasizes the 25-page limit for the Budget Narrative, and reiterates the GS-15 compensation ceiling for all personnel, including independent consultants. It further clarifies that non-priority countries listed in Proclamation 10998 are excluded, and applicants are not required to list all standard or LRP indicators. Other clarifications cover the 501(c)(3) status requirement, activity descriptions in the results framework, graduation timeline expectations, performance indicator table organization, and the handling of the Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations Report. The document also provides an updated link to 7 CFR 1599.9(a) and clarifies subrecipient UEI requirements. It confirms that the Project-Level Results Framework is the only required graphical representation, provides U.S. flag rates for specific ports, and outlines how Internal Transportation, Storage, and Handling (ITSH) costs can be covered by cost share. Lastly, it clarifies that salt is not a qualified agricultural commodity for LRP, rice is only available in 50kg bags, and applicants for Honduras should justify proposed target regions. It also details that cost share can be cash or in-kind, the minimum performance time is multi-year, and past performance will still be evaluated. Bonus points for voluntary cost share are explained, and a narrative text for the project-level results framework is no longer required. Funding ranges for non-priority countries are consistent with priority countries, and a Learning Partner is not required. The 2026 versions of the M&E Policy and Indicator Handbook should be used, and there are no current plans to add Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation as an eligible commodity.