C-Change is a Leader with Associates (LWA) Cooperative Agreement. Buy-ins related to health by USAID missions or bureaus may be made through either incremental funding obligated to the Leader Award or through an Associate Award. A buy-in for communication support in other sectors—such as in environment, agriculture, livelihoods, civil society, and governance—will be through an Associate Awards.
See below for more information on an eight-step process to access C-Change services and on Leader with Associates and its advantages.
Eight-Step Process to Access C-Change Services
USAID missions or bureaus wishing to access the program through an Associate Award should follow the steps below.
STEP 1: A mission or regional bureau technical officer, in consultation with their agreement officer, expresses interest via email to the leader AOTR based in Washington, DC: Gloria Coe (gcoe@usaid.gov). The email should indicate the general SOW for the activity; type of Associate Award anticipated (grant or cooperative agreement); host-country involvement; estimate of funds available; period of performance;and description of how the activity falls under the Leader Award. The AOTR can also assist in developing the program description.
STEP 2: The AOTR reviews the SOW for appropriate fit within the overall Leader program description and authorizes the mission/regional bureau to initiate negotiations with C-Change.
STEP 3: The mission/regional bureau notifies C-Change of their interest in developing an Associate Award by sending the SOW and related information in the form of a program description to C-Change Director Neill McKee (nmckee@aed.org). AED, as the prime recipient for C-Change, will prepare a response or Associate Award application that outlines the proposed approach, activities, and detailed budget for phase I (program design). Once the mission approves this response, it may obligate funds for phase I and set aside funds for phase II (implementation).
STEP 4: The mission/regional bureau may request an assessment trip as part of phase I (program design). In consultation with the mission AOTR, the C-Change team will produce an assessment and design document through a stakeholder-inclusive process.
STEP 5: The mission AOTR and AED/C-Change work together to finalize the program description for the time period of the Associate Award. The mission's contracts officer works with AED/C-Change to negotiate the budget.
STEP 6: The Washington AOTR reviews the final negotiated program description and budget and provides written USAID/Washington technical approval for the award to be finalized.
STEP 7: The mission contracting officer issues an Associate Award, which obligates funds for implementation (phase II).
STEP 8: Phase II, project implementation, begins once the implementation work plan and budget have been fully negotiate—approximately three months after initiation of the design phase.
SPECIAL AWARD CONDITIONS
The Leader Award was issued for a performance period of three years, with a two-year extension through September 24, 2012. Associate Awards may be issued until the Leader Award expires. They can be for a period of performance up to five years past the expiration date of the Leader Award.
This information is also available for download.
A Leader with Associates (LWA) Award and its Advantages
A Leader with Associates (LWA) is a cooperative agreement mechanism that covers a specified worldwide activity. It includes language that allows a USAID mission or other office to award a separate Associate Award to the Leader Award recipient without additional competition. The aw supports a distinct local or regional activity that fits within the terms and scope of the Leader Award.
The Associate Award under an LWA offers USAID unique advantages:
- Ease of access and flexibility—No need for a competitive process, as the LWA has already been competed. This allows for a quick engagement and access to world-class expertise in social and behavior change communication; simplified mission award documents, and minimal administrative effort.
- Accountability—There is direct reporting to the USAID mission on use of mission funds. The mission has its own AOTR and develops its own description of activities.
- Time—Associate Awards can be issued for a period up to five years; they can be issued at any time during the five-year life of the Leader Award.
- Expertise—C-Change's five regional partners in Africa and Asia and five U.S.-based partners have worked throughout the world in development and communications.
