12 March 2012
We note that many of the questions raised to date relate to presentational issues. Whilst we have responded to all of those, we do consider that the guidance provided is sufficient and that it is for bidders to use this information to determine how best to present their bid. We do not intend to respond to any further questions on presentation, unless these raise a substantive issue.
Q. Can you confirm whether references, including any abstracts, count towards the maximum 10 page limit for the Technical Annex, please.
A. References, including abstracts, do not count towards the core 10 pages of the Technical Annex. We would expect the reference list/abstracts to be no more than a total of 6 pages in length.
Q. The guidance states that bidders may append up to 10 key references to the technical annex. Does this mean 10 complete publications or simply a list of 10 references?
A. It would be helpful if bidders included abstracts in the technical annex along with links to full publications, where possible.
Q. Does DFID have a monitoring and evaluation tool format that could be made available to applicants?
A. No, it is for organisations to determine how best to present their monitoring and evaluation plan.
Q. The guidelines for the technical annex allows for up to 10 key references to be appended. Are publications the only permissible references, or may we use these slots as appendices to supplement the information presented in the technical annex?
A. Only publications and other reference details should be appended. All technical information must be included in the core 10 page technical annex and no supplementary information will be considered.
Q. In consideration of the word count limitations in Section 1, will footnotes to the text be considered as part of the response word count limit or not?
A. Foot notes will not count in the word count limits
Q. Where footnotes are used (in the main proposal and annexes), is this limited to explanatory text or just for citations?
A. It is for you to consider how to best use footnotes, but these should not be extensive and all key information should be in the core body of the text – footnotes should not be used to supplement available space.
Q. In Section 1, given the word count in each section it only uses 1.5 of 3 pages so is it possible to include figures/visuals as long we remain within the 3 page limit and still adhere to the word count limit?
A. Yes
Q. For absolute clarity, should the information requested on financial projections at section 8.4 cover all projects currently funded within our PDP? Or should the budget breakdown only include the areas for which funds will be requested from DFID?
A. This section relates to your organisation’s overall financial projections.
Q. There is a requirement to submit the proposal in Arial 12 font size. Does this also extend to footnotes and to diagrams such as the organogram (annex 2) and Theory of Change (annex 5)? Linked to this, could we present these 2 diagrams on an A3 sized page (counting this as 2 pages) for greater clarity?
A. There is no specification on the font size for footnotes. Text in diagrams should in a font size no smaller than Arial 10. Each diagram should fit on an A4 page size.
Q. Should the information to be contained in the table requested at section 8.1: include committed and projected contributions from 1 April 2013 onwards? or is the expectation that contributions should include information as at date of proposal submission?
A. The information should reflect the position as at the date of proposal submission.
Q. Does the information requested at section 8.7 in the Finance section of the proposal, relate to changes specific to programmatic/organizational focus or specifically to financial management and related approach.
A. This section relates specifically to changes related to the financial position of the organisation (which may have had broader organisational implications) and to changes related to financial management /approach. Broader changes related to programmatic/ organisational focus should be reflected in the response to section 4 (How is the PDP organised?)
Q: What are the eligibility requirements for this competition. Are groups including international NGOs based in the US eligible to apply?
A: Any organisation is eligible to apply as long as it fulfills the requirements outlined in the call for expressions of interest document.
Q. Is a specific format to be used for the performance framework?
A. No, it is for applicants to decide how best to present this information.
Q. Are there any eligibility criteria for peer review nominations?
A. No, applicants are free to nominate any individual that can independently review their proposal.
Q. Should details of projected funding needs be included in Expressions of Interest?
A. Financial information should be provided only to the extent outlined in the section entitled “Funding of your PDP” on page 4 of the Call. Details of proposed funding from DFID should not be included at this stage.
Q. Applicants are asked to identify their 5 key achievements to date. Does this refer to achievements since the inception of their organisations or from the date of first funding from DFID, where applicable?
A. There is no link here to previous DFID funding, and applicants can include achievements dating from the inception of their organisation.
Q. Some organisations have a very diverse pipeline of products relating to numerous diseases. In these circumstances, would DFID prefer to receive a single organisational-based application or multiple applications with each being focused on a distinct product?
A. It is for organisations to decide how best to structure their application(s) in this respect.
Q. Are Public Private Partnerships, and research organisations whose research scope extends up to proof of concept in man only, eligible to apply?
A. It is for applicants to consider whether or not their specific organisational status is compliant with the eligibility criteria outlined. No more detailed guidance is available.
Q. What would be the general obligations to any future funding, especially for governance and downstream activities e.g. commercialisation?
A. The terms of DFID funding would be set out in any future funding agreement, the specific detail of which would be contingent upon several factors. It is not possible to provide further information at this stage.
Q. Does the 4 page limit for the Expressions of Interest include the cover page and/or contents page?
A. Cover and contents pages are not required and if included, will count towards the 4 page limit.
Q. Would a for profit joint venture between a University and Industry partner focusing on the development of a vaccine for a poverty related disease be considered a Product Development Partnership?
A. It is for applicants to consider whether or not their specific organisational status is compliant with the eligibility criteria outlined. No more detailed guidance is available
Q. Does the competition require multiple products in the PDP portfolio or would one product be sufficient?
A. There are no restrictions on the number of products in a portfolio
Q. Should the objective assessment (Annex 4) be an external assessment of the PDP, or should it be an internal assessment that the PDP writes of itself?
A. It is for you to determine who is best placed to write this assessment.
Q. Can you please clarify the meaning of the question under the “Potential impact of your PDP” section: “How does your work provide value for money for a development agency?”
A. DFID seeks to maximise the impact of each pound spent to improve poor people’s lives. We are interested to know how your PDP would deliver on this objective.
Q. Can you clarify, please, whether the information listed under the heading “Guidance for preparing submissions for funding” is required at the Expression of Interest stage or at Full Bid stage.
A. This information should be provided at Expression of Interest stage.
Q. Can you provide more specific guidance on the key components required as part of the “Performance Framework”, please.
A. It is for each organisation to determine how best to present the Performance Framework
Q. If a research department within a major hospital wishes to submit an application for PDP funding, should the funding information submitted relate only to the department or to the entire organisation?
A. Funding details should align with the organisation that would enter into any funding agreement with DFID.
Q. Would you accept and consider funding a proposal for health technologies from a private company?A. For a proposal to be compliant, there needs to be strong evidence of the private and public sectors working together.
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