Business Service Providers (BSP) Private Sector Transformation and Service Support Grant Opportunity
ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT
Consolidated list of Questions and Answers
USAID LENS has received a number of questions related to this grant opportunity through emails and
during the solicitation workshop. This is a consolidated list of questions we received with the relevant
answer. All applicants are encouraged to read this prior to submitting their application.
1- Is this grant only available to non-profit associations?
No, this grant is open to any Business Service Provider (BSP), including for-profit firms. Please refer to
section 2.1. to see how LENS defines a BSP.
2- If the applicant is not a BSP but supporting MSEs can he apply?
Yes, but please refer to LENS definition of BSPs in section 2.1. in the APS.
3- Can the applicant apply for two different grant opportunities at the same time?
Yes.
4-
How long will it take to respond to applicants?
It will take up to 20 working days to respond to applicants to let them know if their application has been
shortlisted for further consideration and/or to ask additional questions on their application.
5- If I was rejected can I apply again?
Yes.
6- Is it acceptable to buy machines under this grant opportunity?
Yes, but this is conditioned that the equipment will be procured and used to support the MSEs the BSP is
supporting and not for the direct benefit of the BSP. In addition, such equipment should benefit multiple
MSEs.
7- Does tourism within a number of HBBs that will create indirect linkages fall under your project objectives?
Yes.
8-
What is the minimum number of jobs and MSEs that should be hit under this grant?
A USAID-funded project implemented by FHI 360
The targets per indicator are listed below for reference. Please refer to section 2.5. of the APS for full
details.
Primary Indicators
Indicator
1.
Number of MSEs reached1
2.
Number of MSEs with increased revenue
3.
Number of MSEs with access to new BSP
services or resources
4.
Number of new jobs created
5.
Number of MSEs assisted that increased
vertical linkages and horizontal linkages,
including new contracts with other firms,
new agreements (formal or informal) and or
new memberships with BSPs or other
initiatives or bodies
Minimum Target Per Application
A minimum of 50 MSEs must be targeted and
‘reached’ by the
At least 30 firms with increased revenue
A minimum of 30 MSEs per application
A minimum of 20 new jobs per application
A minimum of 50 MSEs in each application
Secondary Indicators
Indicator
BSPs with increased sales
Minimum Target Per Application
The BSP is required to report information on revenue
to USAID LENS both before and after this activity to
demonstrate if revenue increased as a result of this
program
BSPs with increased clients:
The BSP is required to report information on clients to
USAID LENS both before and after this activity to
demonstrate if revenue increased as a result of this
program
Number of participants completing USG-funded
business training and/or Number of firms receiving
USG-funded technical assistance for improving
business performance
Number of women who access economically
productive resources through this activity, which
includes wages, income, and self-employment
Minimum of 50 for each grant awarded
Number of women benefitting from new or improved
USG supported social services intended to empower
women, which includes business development
No specific target but applicants are encouraged to
address this and provide a target
No specific target but applicants are encouraged to
address this and provide a target
1
Reached is defined as having been a beneficiary of a training, targeted activity, resource or recipient of technical
and/or financial assistance.
A USAID-funded project implemented by FHI 360
services, employment training, skills training, legal
assistance and counselling, networking support
9- Is ICT awareness program for women acceptable under this grant opportunity?
LENS can advise on the eligibility of specific ideas. With that said, we should emphasize that any activity
should contribute to the creation of new jobs or additional revenue with the MSEs supported. As such, to
be eligible for consideration, an awareness program would have to contribute directly to the economic
growth of women MSEs. Also LENS only supports ICT as an enabler to the industry.
10- What is the time frame for shortlisting applications until signing the grant agreement?
It usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to conduct due diligence and finalize the agreement, including all milestones,
payments, etc. However, the readiness of the grantee to submit required documentation helps shorten
this period. The maximum period to implement the grant activities is 12 months from the date of signing.
11- Does reporting to LENS extend beyond the contract duration?
Yes. Reporting requirements extend the duration of the LENS project which will go beyond the timeframe
of the grant agreement. This commitment to continued reporting is part of the grant agreement that is
signed with the grantee.
12- What is the accepted number of pages of the BSP application?
The maximum number of pages is 10 pages. Any additional pages will be excluded from the evaluation.
13- How do LENS calculate the scores for each objective?
Please refer to section 7.2.1 in APS document where criteria are listed in detail, along with the associated scoring
for each criteria.
14- Are LENS welling to move outside to other sectors?
It is preferred that the application focus on working in at least one of the USAID LENS project target
sectors: Logistics/Transportation, Food Processing, Tourism, and/or ICT as enabler. If other sectors are
proposed, and the applicant can demonstrate that their activity will make a direct contribution to LENS
target objectives, then they may be considered. However, any other sectors will also require obtaining
USAID approval.
15- The passing score is 70/100 and the score for location is 20, if the applicant gets 70/100 without location
would that be acceptable?
As indicated in section 5.1. of the APS document, Activities under the grant must be delivered within the
USAID LENS target governorates of, Irbid, Zarqa, Tafilah, Aqaba, Karak or Amman. Additional points can
be obtained for working in more than one of the target governorates.
16- If the applicant does not serve selected target locations, is that acceptable?
A USAID-funded project implemented by FHI 360
No. please refer to section 5.1. of the APS document, Activities under the grant must be delivered within
the USAID LENS target governorates of, Irbid, Zarqa, Tafilah, Aqaba, Karak or Amman. Activities that deal
with MSEs in more than one of these target Governorates may receive more points.
17- If the jobs we create are informal, will that be counted as indicators?
Yes, informal jobs and unpaid jobs like family members are counted under USAID LENS indicators.
LENS defines a full-time equivalent job is typically defined as a 40-hour work week but the definition for
part-time is less clear especially when involving family members. Both full-time and part-time jobs will be
counted and we will seek to convert to full-time equivalents in order to be counted under this
indicator. The full-time equivalent (FTE) unit will be used to measure jobs created in a way that makes
them comparable although they may work a different number of hours per week. New jobs are defined as
work, occupation or employment opportunity created and filled with employees as a result of MSEs
growth or start-up businesses. New jobs will also include informal sector jobs moving to the formal sector.
A USAID-funded project implemented by FHI 360