Michigan State University
Global Center for Food Systems Innovation (GCFSI)
2014/2015 Food Systems Innovation Grants
Request for Applications (RFA)
Table of Contents
I.
COMPETITION SNAPSHOT ............................................................................................................................. 2
II.
PURPOSE ....................................................................................................................................................... 2
III.
TIMELINE ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
IV.
GCFSI OVERVIEW........................................................................................................................................... 3
V.
CRDF GLOBAL OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................................. 4
VI.
GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS ..................................................................................................................................... 4
VII. GCFSI 2014/15 FOOD SYSTEMS INNOVATION GRANTS COMPETITION OVERVIEW ........................................ 5
VIII. THEMATIC AREAS .......................................................................................................................................... 5
THEME 1. WEATHER DATA FOR CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE ...............................................................................................6
THEME 2. IMPROVED ABILITY OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE ....................................6
THEME 3. IMPROVED ABILITY OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCHERS TO PROVIDE AGRONOMIC RECOMMENDATIONS ................................6
THEME 4. ASSISTANCE TO SMALL ENTREPRENEURS IN FOOD PROCESSING ..................................................................................6
THEME 5. INNOVATIONS IN THE INFORMAL URBAN FOOD SECTOR ............................................................................................6
THEME 6. GENDER-SENSITIVE ICT-BASED APPROACHES TO IMPROVING WOMEN’S ACCESS TO URBAN MARKETS................................6
THEME 7. MARKETING MEAT AND DAIRY PRODUCTS WITHOUT EXTENSIVE COLD CHAIN DEVELOPMENT ...........................................7
THEME 8. PROJECTING LABOR MARKET AND SKILL NEEDS FOR AGRI-FOOD BUSINESSES ................................................................7
THEME 9. IMPROVING EFFECTIVE USE OF MOBILE PHONE-BASED AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BY SMALL FARMERS .................................7
THEME 10. PROMOTING GENDER EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PROFITABLE MARKETS ..........................................................................7
IX.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS ........................................................................................................................ 7
X.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................................. 11
XI.
SELECTION PROCESS .................................................................................................................................... 11
XII. DEFINITIVE VERSION OF THIS RFA ............................................................................................................... 12
XIII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND SUPPORT ................................................................................................ 12
XIV. POLICY AND STANDARDS FOR PLAGIARISM POLICY .................................................................................... 13
XV. PROPOSAL CHECKLIST ................................................................................................................................. 15
XVI. APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................ 16
APPENDIX 1: SELECTED BACKGROUND INFORMATION RECOMMENDED FOR REVIEW .................................................................16
APPENDIX 2: SAMPLE INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT LETTER................................................................................................17
APPENDIX 3: SAMPLE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT LETTER .....................................................................................................18
APPENDIX 4: SAMPLE TEAM MEMBERS’ CAPABILITIES MATRIX .............................................................................................19
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
1
I.
Competition Snapshot
Competition Opens
Application Deadline
General Area Basic
Eligibility
January 5, 2015
March 16, 2015
Proposals that demonstrate innovative science-based solutions to
challenges in global food systems
Applicant Eligibility
Universities, government or private laboratories or research
organizations, for-profit and non-profit companies. Individuals may
apply if able to meet the requirements of this RFA.
Please submit proposals to 2014/2015 Food Systems Innovation
Grants
How to Apply
Award Amount
Innovation Scalability Grants (maximum $500,000 each, with a
required 1:1 match)
Innovation Evaluation Grants (maximum $250,000 each)
Award Duration
Early Stage Innovation Grants (maximum $100,000 each)
Innovation Scalability Grants: 24-36 months
Innovation Evaluation Grants: 18-24 months
Early Stage Innovation Grants: 18-24 months
Award Announcement
II.
Expected no later than July 2015
Purpose
This request for applications (RFA) is seeking applicants who can help create innovation1 in the
global food system by finding, incubating and evaluating new and potentially game-changing
knowledge and technology based solutions to development challenges, especially those related
to population growth, climate change and urbanization.
1
Innovation refers to technologies, products, or services, business or organizational models or
institutional arrangements, or operational or production processes, that lead to substantial
improvements in productivity or other solutions to development challenges. Innovations are not always
something completely new or different, but may represent an important refinement that improves the
performance of an existing technology, system, or methodology.
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
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III.
Timeline
Competition opens
RFA informational webinar with Q & A
session
Application deadline
Application review period
January 5, 2015
January 26, 2015
Award announcement
Expected no later than July, 2015
IV.
March 16, 2015
March 16 – June 15, 2015
GCFSI Overview
The Global Center for Food Systems Innovation (GCFSI) Lab is a consortium led by Michigan State
University (MSU) in partnership with Wageningen University, The Netherlands; The Energy and
Resources Institute, India; and Lincoln University, Pennsylvania. GCFSI is one of eight
development labs funded by the USAID Global Development Lab under the Higher Education
Solutions Network (HESN). The goal of the GCFSI is to create, test and enable the scaling of
innovations in the food system, using an approach that is multi-disciplinary, focused on the
entire food system, and forward-looking—considering major trends that will impact future food
system performance. The medium-run strategy of the GCFSI to accomplish this is through a
combination of innovation grants and core-funded projects. The long-run GCFSI strategy is to
build a network of innovation-focused development institutions and to engage students in ways
that will create a new generation of development scholars and practitioners. GCFSI works closely
with USAID Bureau for Food Security (BFS) and with the USAID Global Development Lab (GDL).
GCFSI collaborates with many academic units and projects within MSU, with GCFSI consortium
partners, and with other HESN labs to create a global network of development problem solvers.
The GCFSI Approach to Innovation
The GCFSI takes a broad view of innovation that encompasses technology, policy, markets,
management techniques, analytics and combinations of these tools. Broadly conceived
innovations are needed to overcome the problems of shrinking farm land, population growth,
and urbanization in developing countries, to help under-resourced farmers adapt to the
anticipated effects of climate change, and to meet the food security needs of urban populations.
This will require investment in productivity improvements throughout the food system, including
food production, storage, processing, packaging, transportation and distribution. Thus an overall
systems approach is necessary, rather than a focus on single components of the food system.
Thematic Focus of the GCFSI
GCFSI activities draw on contributions from a diverse mix of agricultural scientists, economists,
engineers, geographers, supply chain experts, urban planners and others. Their expertise is
brought to bear on assessing the effects on future food system performance of the following
three main thematic areas:
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
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
Population Growth, Climate Change and Pressure on the Land tasks researchers to develop
innovations that increase food availability and food system resilience in Africa and Asia in the
face of global climate change.

Rapid Urbanization and Transformation of Food Systems focuses on understanding the
transformations currently underway in developing country food systems and engaging
farmers, business, communities and governments in the design of policies, programs, and
targeted interventions to assure access to plentiful, safe, nutritious, and affordable food for
all citizens.

Evolution in Skills Required by Food Systems looks at upgrading skills in the food system in
order to adapt the food system workforce to global trends.
Two cross-cutting themes are also addressed by the GCFSI, as important considerations in
seeking innovations in the food system that will improve food security and alleviate poverty:

Information and Communication Technology: The role of information and communication
technologies (ICT) in improving food system performance and helping to accelerate the
adoption of technologies.

Gender: The role of gender as a factor affecting the design and implementation of
innovations in the food system. Global food systems are embedded in a social context and
gender relations often determine who owns what critical assets of production; influence
participation decisions as well as the allocation of benefits.
For more information on the GCFSI, please see www.gcfsi.msu.edu.
V.
CRDF Global Overview
CRDF Global is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes international scientific and
technical collaboration through grants, technical resources, training and services. CRDF Global is
based in Arlington, Virginia with offices in Moscow, Russia; Kyiv, Ukraine; Almaty, Kazakhstan;
and Amman, Jordan. CRDF Global is managing this competition for GCFSI.
VI.
Geographic Focus
Innovations, proposals and ideas can come from any country. However, in order for
proposals to be considered they must propose implementation (testing/piloting, evaluation,
scaling) to occur in one of the following Feed the Future (FTF) focus countries or the Science,
Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (STIP) focus countries, shown in the table below:
FTF Focus Countries
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Rwanda,
Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
STIP Focus Countries
Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kenya,
Mozambique, Philippines, Uganda.
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
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While GCFSI will also accept applications that propose implementation in the West African Feed
the Future Countries of Ghana, Mali and Senegal, priority will be given to proposals that involve
implementation in the Asia and East Africa FTF or STIP countries listed above.
VII. GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants Competition
Overview
Early Stage Innovation Grants ($100,000 each) - These are meant to fund innovators with ideas
that align with the goal of GCFSI, which is to create, test and enable the scaling of innovations in
the food system. This grant is designed to enable the development of early stage innovations
and include activities such as prototyping, idea development, small scale testing and refinement.
Innovation Evaluation Grants ($250,000 each) - these represent stage two in the GCFSI
investment strategy and are targeted at innovations that are developed but have not been fully
deployed or rigorously tested in the field. Activities could include field trials, stakeholder focus
groups, refinement of the innovation design, and market assessments.
Innovation Scalability Grants ($500,000 with $500,000 match requirement) - the last phase of the
GCFSI grants cycle is for innovations that have proven themselves functional and potentially
feasible for broader deployment. The focus of these efforts is to assess the potential for scaling
innovations across larger populations and broader geographic regions. A one-to-one private
sector or non-USG funding match is required to help ensure that innovations are of interest to
multiple stakeholders and relevant to local development conditions.
VIII. Thematic Areas
The specific thematic areas outlined as the focus for this round of GCFSI innovation grants
have been identified based on background research by core GCFSI faculty. Published GCFSI
white papers are available from:



Population Growth / Climate Change / Pressure on the Land:
http://gcfsi.isp.msu.edu/downloads/white_papers/GCFSI_10_2013_MT1_White_Pa
per_Population_Growth_Climate_Change_and_Pressure_on_Land.pdf
Rapid Urbanization:
http://gcfsi.isp.msu.edu/downloads/white_papers/GCFSI_20_2013_MT2_White_Pa
per_Africa's_Emerging_Food_System_Transformation.pdf
Information and Communication Technology:
http://gcfsi.isp.msu.edu/downloads/white_papers/GCFSI_30_2013_ICTD_White_Pa
per_Information_and_Communication_Tools_for_Development.pdf
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
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Ten thematic areas have been identified by GCFSI for this RFA. Proposals should address one or
more of the following ten themes. Please review the detailed objective and background
information for each theme at this link. Applicants are strongly advised to read the background
information thoroughly for any theme of interest.
Theme 1. Weather data for climate-smart agriculture
Objective: GCFSI is seeking proposals for creating inexpensive weather data networks at a
national scale, which would include data collection, tools for crop management such as
fertilizer application, an education program to guide farmers and other end-users, and
improvement of agricultural services for farmers including irrigation scheduling, pest
information, fertilizer application guidance, monitoring of water stress, crop maturity date,
and other data to aid in improving yields.
Theme 2. Improved ability of smallholder farmers to adapt to climate variability and
change
Objective: GCFSI is seeking proposals that would help to reduce the vulnerability and increase
capacity of smallholder farmers to adapt to climate variability and climate change in waterstressed regions in developing countries.
Theme 3. Improved ability of agricultural researchers to provide agronomic
recommendations
Objective: GCFSI is seeking proposals that would improve the ability of agricultural
researchers and planners to provide agronomic recommendations for increasing crop
productivity and reducing vulnerability to climate change.
Theme 4. Assistance to small entrepreneurs in food processing
Objective: GCFSI requests proposals for piloting, evaluating, or scaling innovations that
address key constraints related to either:
a. Alternative packages of assistance to local micro- and small entrepreneurs attempting to
anticipate and exploit the growing market for processed and perishable foods.
b. Small-scale food processing technology.
Theme 5. Innovations in the informal urban food sector
Objective: GCFSI solicits proposals for innovations in urban food systems that take into
account climate change and resource scarcities, and which focus primarily on conditions in
urban food markets.
Theme 6. Gender-sensitive ICT-based approaches to improving women’s access to
urban markets
Objective: GCFSI seeks proposals for innovative, gender-sensitive approaches for increasing
farmer income through improved access to markets across a broad set of outputs. We
especially encourage proposals that provide innovative approaches to promoting:
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
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a. Group-based access to markets (factor and output markets)
b. Gender-equitable benefit sharing mechanisms, and
c. Use of established ICT-based market platforms.
Theme 7. Marketing meat and dairy products without extensive cold chain
development
Objective: GCFSI seeks proposals that would develop innovations in infrastructure, policy,
market practice or cultural practice that could simultaneously accommodate the increasing
demand for safe meat, poultry and dairy products in urban areas in developing nations
without large-scale implementation of cold chain logistics.
Theme 8. Projecting labor market and skill needs for agri-food businesses
Objective: GCFSI is seeking proposals for cost-effective methods to systematically project
labor market and skills needs and subsequently to identify training and other workforce
development programs that would equip local workers with the needed skills.
Theme 9. Improving effective use of mobile phone-based agricultural services by small
farmers
Objective: GCFSI seeks proposals for innovations that help to solve the mobile last-mile
problem in delivering agricultural information and supporting market participation by
smallholder farmers.
Theme 10. Promoting gender equitable access to profitable markets
Objective: GCFSI is seeking innovative and gender-sensitive approaches that boost
production/marketing/commercialization while also stimulate household consumption and
promoting women’s access to legume markets.
IX.
Application Instructions
Full proposals must be received no later than 5 pm Eastern Time of the United States (GMT -5)
on March 16, 2015 (“proposal deadline”). Applicants should note the following general rules for
this competition:
1. Only applications submitted to CRDF Global’s Electronic Proposal Submission website will
be accepted. Applicants with inadequate or slow Internet connection can send email to
GCFSI@CRDFGlobal.org for an alternate application submission process.
2. Proposals should be typed in 12pt Times New Roman font, single-spaced with margins of
2.5 cm on the sides, top and bottom. All applications must be complete by the proposal
deadline. Applications that do not have all required elements as indicated in this RFA by
the proposal deadline will be ineligible.
3. Applicants may submit modifications to their applications as long as they are complete by
the proposal deadline.
4. If applicant’s circumstances change significantly after application submission such that
the project can no longer be carried out as proposed, the applicant must notify CRDF
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
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Global in writing to GCFSI@CRDFGlobal.org and indicate that they are withdrawing the
application from the competition.
5. MSU and CRDF Global reserve the right to request additional information from applicants
if necessary.
Proposals must contain the following elements:
1. Abstract. Summarize all relevant aspects of the proposed innovation work, with special
attention to its objectives and methods (4,000 characters, about half a page).
2. Proposed Work. Guidelines for this section are listed below. Page limits are 20 pages for
Innovation Scalability grants, 15 pages for Innovation Evaluation Grants, and 12 pages for
Innovation grants.
a. Purpose of the project. Explain the proposed work and how it relates to GCFSI’s goal,
which is to create, test and enable the scaling of innovations in the food system.
b. Indicate the GCFSI 2014/2015 Food Systems Innovation theme(s) from this RFA that
are addressed.
c. What is the broad problem or systems context into which your proposal fits? Describe
your specific innovation. Who are your beneficiaries? How will your innovation
address the problem?
d. Briefly document other work that has been or is being done in this area by others and
explain how this proposal is innovative and adds value to the body of research and
technology testing in this area. Applicants must demonstrate their knowledge and
understanding of the literature, evidence base, and current and existing USAID or
other donor-funded projects in their problem area.
e. What are the activities, deliverables, outputs, and results of your project during the
project period? What impact area (geographically and number of participants) could
your technology have within 5 years? What assumptions inform these projections?
f. How will your innovation be sustained and scaled to achieve greater impact? How will
your new work be adopted and integrated by other public and private sector
stakeholders? What conditions would need to be met to ensure the sustainability of
your innovation?2
g. Explain the implications of your proposal for gender issues and women’s
empowerment. Show how your proposal could be of unique value to women and
2
For purposes of this RFA, a technology that is “scalable” is one where the proposed innovation has the potential
to be broadly applied geographically and to reach a significant number of ultimate beneficiaries (which could
include consumers). For purposes of this RFA, a technology that is “sustainable” is one that would be financially
viable in the long term, would continue to provide benefits in the absence of further development intervention or
investment, and would not threaten the fundamental viability of social, economic, or environmental systems.
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
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discuss any possible negative side effects that scaling your approach may have on
gender dynamics.
h. What are the relevant indicators you will use to judge the success of this grant?
Applications should identify, as appropriate, indicators that could be used in
measuring and differentiating the impact of the proposed innovative solution by
gender and other relevant categories.
i.
Applicants should take into account what may be accomplished given the funding
available and period of performance.
j.
Applicants in the Information and Communication Technologies for Development
(ICT4D) area should specify both the technology they will focus on and the
agricultural tool or service (e.g. a phone app that will assist in applying the right
amount of fertilizer, or a radio program that will assist with growing the right crops).
3. Team Composition and Curriculum Vitae (CV). Describe the team composition and
rationale/expertise for team members, and their proposed level of effort. The application
must contain a curriculum vitae for each of the project directors or key technical staff (up
to 4 CVs). The CV should include information on the applicant’s education, relevant prior
and current employment (if any), honors received, and long-term professional goals.
Include summary of qualifications for team members, see attached sample team
capabilities matrix in appendix 4 (maximum 10 pages including up to four 2-page CVs).
4. Project Timeline. The application must include a timeline for the proposed project (up to
2 pages). All projects are requested to be 18 to 36 months in duration, depending on the
type of grant.
5. Past Performance. Applicants shall briefly describe their organizational past performance,
their past performance on similar activities (size and scope), and the past performance
records of major subcontractors or subrecipients. If Applicant or their proposed
subcontractors encountered problems on any of the referenced projects, they may
provide a short explanation and the corrective action taken (2 pages).
6. Letter(s) of Support. Letters from team members, collaborating or host institutions and
USAID mission or programmatic staff that support the approach and the proposed
deliverables. Multiple letters documenting commitment to collaborate or provide
leveraged resources may be submitted but are not required (3 letters maximum, 2 pages
each; see sample letter in appendix 2).
7. Budget. The budget must detail all estimated expenses for the grant period, including
direct research implementation costs, international and domestic travel costs, ground
transportation, meals and incidentals calculated based on the published rates of the
United States Department of State for the relevant location, emergency health insurance
(required), and indirect costs. Budgets should include a page with all costs summarized
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
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by year and cost category, using the template here. Grant funds must be used to carry
out the project within a period of 18 to 36 months (depending on grant type) from the
date of contract signing. Organizations without a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate
Agreement (NICRA) with a USG agency will not be permitted to charge an indirect cost
rate but must instead directly budget for all administrative, support, and overhead costs.
MSU reserves the right to negotiate budget items before entering into a contract. Air
travel to and from the U.S. must comply with the provisions of the Fly America Act as
amended by the Open Skies Agreement. Specifically, air tickets must be purchased from a
U.S. carrier or from a U.S. or EU carrier if the traveler will transit an EU country. For travel
of two weeks or less, living allowances should follow U.S. government per diem
guidelines. Applicants should refer to the following website:
http://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp. Applicants should propose reduced per
diem rates for all in-country travel or travel to rural areas not specifically listed in the
USDOS travel allowance website.
8. Other Financial Contribution: Include all other cost-share for the proposed work (both inkind and cash contributions from non-US Federal Government sources), and include costshare amount in the budget form. Any cost-share should be included by year and cost
category using the budget template provided. The only expense categories acceptable for
cost-shares are participant salaries and fringe, travel costs, subcontract expenses, project
supplies, and related indirect costs. Leveraged investments should be documented in a
separate table by technical or program area. All budget information should be
accompanied by a Word document with detailed budget notes in a narrative format.
Please see the following USAID guidelines for acceptable cost-share or leveraged
investments:
Cost-share: Resources contributed by the recipient to the total cost of the approved
award budget. Cost-share is subject to the United States Code of Federal Regulations 2
CFR 200.306.
Leverage: all of the non-US federal government resources that are expected to be applied
to a program, including resources from cost-share and from third parties.
Resources are considered “applied to a program” in the following cases:



Resources are committed explicitly for the purpose of supporting or advancing the
project objectives.
Previously committed resources are explicitly re-directed for the purpose of
supporting or advancing the project objectives.
Previously committed resources are utilized by the project for the purpose of
supporting or advancing the objectives. Resources are formally re-directed for the
purpose of supporting or advancing the project objectives.
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
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9. Environmental Impact: Please identify any reasonably foreseeable environmental
consequences of your proposed activities, both positive and negative. If applicable,
please describe environmental safeguards that will be adopted. Please indicate if you
believe your project would qualify for one or more of the categorical exclusions detailed
in 22 CFR 216.2, list which categorical exclusion(s) are applicable, and provide a short
rationale for your determination (maximum 1 page).
X.
Special Requirements
Conflict of Interest: Recipients will be required to disclose any real or potential conflicts of
interest during the post award process as per MSU conflict of interest policy, see:
https://coi.msu.edu/.
Research involving Human Subjects: If the research involves human subjects the applicant must
show approval by an IRB review board or certify that the research will comply with MSU IRB
policy. Found at: http://www.humanresearch.msu.edu/
Export Control: Funds provided pursuant to this RFA process may not be expended by the
Recipient in violation of the U.S. Government‘s Export Administration Regulation (EAR) found in
15 CFR 730, et seq. The Recipient shall comply with any and all requirements and provisions of
the EAR.
Environmental Compliance: The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, Section 117
requires that the impact of USAID’s activities on the environment be considered and that USAID
include environmental sustainability as a central consideration in designing and carrying out its
development programs including those that could derive from the activities implemented under
this RFA. This mandate is codified in Federal Regulations (22 CFR 216) and in USAID’s Automated
Directives System (ADS) Parts 201.5.10g and 204 (http://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/200/200),
which, in part, require that the potential environmental impacts of USAID-financed activities are
identified prior to a final decision to proceed and that appropriate environmental safeguards are
adopted for all activities. Potential awardees under this RFA are required to comply with
environmental obligations under these regulations as applicable. In addition, potential awardees
must comply with host country environmental regulations unless otherwise directed in writing
by USAID. In case of conflict between host country and USAID regulations, the latter must
govern.
XI.
Selection Process
Each proposal will be screened for eligibility and completeness upon receipt by CRDF Global. All
applicants will be notified about the results of the eligibility screening by e-mail. Applications
under this program will go through a three-stage scientific merit selection process. First, all
applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to their technical merit by subject matter
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
11
experts. Second, a panel with relevant expertise will identify top proposals for funding. Third, the
final decision will be made by USAID and GCFSI after a careful evaluation of the scientific panel
recommendations.
Review of eligible applications will follow the criteria listed below:
1. Quality of idea/innovation (40%): Clear understanding of the area of the food system
being addressed, and clear explanation of how the project would result in an innovation
that would address an important problem affecting food system performance. How
would the project add value to the existing set of technologies or development
interventions?
2. Innovation Development, Testing, or Scaling Plan (25%): The technical soundness of the
proposed approach, the clarity and rationale for the stated goals of the project, the
adequacy of technical resources available to accomplish the work, and the soundness of
the plan to develop, test, or scale the innovation within the time allotted.
3. Alignment with GCFSI Goal (20%): Relevance of the proposed work to the goal of GCFSI
(to create, test and enable the scaling of innovations in the food system) potential for
proposed work to facilitate new collaborations and innovation, and the likelihood that
the work will facilitate scaling-up of the innovation within the global food system.
4. Personnel Capacity (15%): The expertise of the applicant(s) in carrying out the proposed
work.
The competition results are expected to be announced in July 2015.
XII.
Definitive Version of This RFA
In the case that MSU amends or makes corrections and clarifications to this announcement,
amendments will be posted at www.gcfsi.isp.msu.edu, www.crdfglobal.org and Newton’s List
www.newtonslist.org.
XIII. Additional Information and Support
Inquiries regarding this Request for Applications should be directed in English to CRDF Global’s
Program Manager at GCFSI@CRDFGlobal.org. Applicants are requested to identify themselves in
all correspondence and put the phrase “GCFSI Applicant [applicant name]” in the email subject
line. GCFSI at its sole discretion may choose not to disclose certain information in a response to
any question or query, if in our view such details would affect the fairness or transparency of the
competition or convey an undue advantage to an applicant. GCFSI also reserves the right to
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
12
disclose to all other applicants an answer or clarification to a question from an applicant in the
interest of fairness, objectivity, and transparency of this competition.
XIV. Policy and Standards for Plagiarism Policy
A. GCFSI will not provide funding to an application in which plagiarism exists.
B. All applications for funding submitted to CRDF Global’s EPS will be thoroughly screened for
plagiarism against a large number of sources including published research papers, books,
conference abstracts, and websites.
C. When plagiarism is detected, a specific action will be taken. Action taken may include, but is
not limited to a) informing the applicant that plagiarism has been discovered; b) excluding
the applicant from the funding opportunity; c) informing the applicant’s institution; d)
informing reviewers; e) informing organizations collaborating with CRDF Global and GCFSI on
the funding opportunity; f) barring the applicant from participation in future funding
opportunities.
Standards
A. Definition: Plagiarism is the incorporation of published writing or another person’s original
writing into your document without clear formatting and accurate attribution of the source.
Academic writing such as a funding proposal must be original work, written by the stated
applicant(s). Any text derived from another published source, or from an author not named
in the proposal, must be formatted to clearly indicate that it is not original writing of the
applicant(s), and the correct citation to the original source must be given. Proper formatting
is either the use of quotation marks around all of the borrowed text or indentation of the
borrowed text to clearly set it off from your own writing.
B. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to, the following cases.
a. Using your own previously published text in the proposal without proper formatting
and attribution. This is a common error. Even if you wrote the text, you cannot re-use
text that you have published in any publicly available form, such as in a research
paper, on a website, or in a conference abstract. Even your own previously published
text must be formatted and a correct citation to the source must be given.
b. Making minor alterations to previously published text and presenting it without
proper formatting and citation. Simply changing some of the words within previously
published text does not make it your original writing. To avoid plagiarism, the writing
must be your original words, sentence structure, and organization. This is another
common error.
c. Presenting the original writing of another person, even if it hasn’t been previously
published, as the work of the applicant(s). If someone contributes writing to your
proposal, that person must be one of the listed participants (principal investigator or
named team member) in the proposal. Even if another person agrees to write text for
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
13
your proposal and agrees not to be named in the proposal, the use of that person’s
writing as if it is your own is plagiarism.
d. Copying a sentence or obviously unique phrases from another source without
formatting and attribution. Stealing a little bit is still stealing. If the text is clearly
recognizable as derived from a previously published source then it must be formatted
with proper attribution.
e. Giving the correct attribution (citation) at the end of copied text but not formatting
the text to clearly indicate that it is taken from the cited source. In the sciences and
engineering, it is not sufficient to simply give the citation—if the text is from another
source it must be clearly formatted to show that.
As a part of the proposal application, applicants will be required to affirm that they have read
and understand the above policy and standards for plagiarism.
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XV. Proposal Checklist
APPLICATION CONTENTS
WHERE TO SUBMIT
Technical – Proposal
1. Proposal, consisting of
Online through the electronic proposal submission
(EPS) system provided in this RFA
A. Abstract
part of proposal
B. Project Narrative
part of proposal
C. Past Performance
part of proposal
D. Project Timeline
part of proposal
E. List of Sources (if applicable)
part of proposal
Personal Information
2. PI Curriculum Vitae (CV) and LinkedIn
Profile link (if available)
EPS, separate document
3. Second PI (if applicable) and team
members’ capabilities matrix and LinkedIn
profile link (if available)
EPS, separate document
Technical – budget
4. Budget and Budget Narrative
EPS, separate document
Required Supporting Documents
5. Letter(s) of Support
EPS, separate document
6. Invitation Letter from Host University or
Institution (if applicable)
EPS, separate document
7. Enviromental Compliance (if applicable)
EPS, separate document
Other Supporting Documents
8. Private sector contribution document or
proof of any additional financial or in-kind
support (if applicable)
EPS, separate document
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XVI. Appendices
Appendix 1: Selected Background Information Recommended for Review
 Global Center for Food Systems Innovation
 Global Center for Food Systems Innovation White Papers
 Feed the Future (FTF)
 USAID Global Development Labs
 Science, Technology, Innovation and Partnership (STIP)
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Appendix 2: Sample Institutional Commitment Letter
[University/Institution Letter Head]
[DATE]
[Name]
[University/Institution Name]
[Full Address]
[Phone, Email]
GCFSI 2014/2015 Food Systems Innovation Grants
Michigan State University
Global Center for Food Systems Innovation
Manly Miles Building
1405 S Harrison Rd., Office 308
East Lansing, MI 48842
USA
Dear Dr. Eric Crawford:
This letter represents a commitment by [name of university/ institution] to provide all the necessary
support to the project titled [Project Title] led by [name of applicant] submitted to the GCFSI 2014/2015
Food Systems Innovation Grants Program.
Sincerely,
____________________________
[name]
[title]
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
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Appendix 3: Sample Financial Commitment Letter
[University/Institution/Company Letter Head]
[DATE]
[Name - Authorized Financial Officer]
[Title]
[University/Institution Name]
[Full Address]
[Phone, Email]
GCFSI 2014/2015 Food Systems Innovation Grants
Michigan State University
Global Center for Food Systems Innovation
Manly Miles Building
1405 S Harrison Rd., Office 308
East Lansing, MI 48842
USA
Dear Dr. Eric Crawford:
This letter represents a financial commitment by [cost-sharing institution] to provide [$X] to the project
entitled [Project Title] led by [name of applicant] submitted to the GCFSI 2014/2015 Food Systems
Innovation Grants Program.
Sincerely,
___________________________
[name]
[title]
GCFSI 2014/15 Food Systems Innovation Grants
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Appendix 4: Sample Team Members’ Capabilities Matrix
Number Team Member
Name
1
2
Alexander Ivanov
Mary Kim
Specialty/Major Role in
Proposed
Project
Information
Co- Principal
Technology
Investigator
Management
Project
years of
Relevant
experience
LinkedIn Profile Link
(If any)
10
8
Collaborator
3
Daniel Abebe
Engineer
Support Staff
4
4
Maria Smith
Physics
Project Assistant
2
5
John Jones
Information
Student Intern
1
Technology
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