Request for Additional Information or Debriefings Sample Clauses

Request for Additional Information or Debriefings. Effective Date: 06/01/2006 Within 10 working days after an applicant receives notice that USAID will not fund its application, the unsuccessful applicant may send a written request for additional information to the USAID Bureau/Independent Office (B/IO) that issued the Request For Applications (RFA) or Annual Program Statement (APS). USAID’s responses must be limited to the Agency’s interest in supporting the applicant’s program as described in the application. In general, comparing one application to another is neither advisable nor helpful to the applicant. The Agency encourages the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) chair and the AO to give additional information that would be useful to the applicant in preparing future applications. Debriefings may be provided at the discretion of the AO. USAID may respond orally, in writing, or electronically. If responding orally, the AO or the technical representative from the B/IO must make a written summary of the response for the agreement file. The AO must be present at and should lead any oral debriefing. If responding in writing, staff members must obtain the AO’s approval for any written communication before it is sent. The cognizant B/IO has 30 days to respond to the request or inform the applicant that more time is necessary. If the applicant has questions about the program or about the technical evaluation, the TEC chair will provide constructive feedback that may assist the applicant when developing proposals in the future. The TEC chair explains the basis for the decision and the strengths and weaknesses of the technical application in terms of the published evaluation and review criteria. When the applicant has questions about process, accountability, and business considerations, the AO will respond. The TEC chair and the AO will jointly respond when the applicant raises both types of questions.