Opportunity Information: Apply for MCC 16 RFA 0006
The Data-Driven Communities Project (DCLI-NOFO 3) is a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funding opportunity aimed at improving how local governments and communities in Tanzania use data to make decisions. The project is focused specifically on subnational levels, meaning districts and wards, where day-to-day service delivery and local planning happen. MCC is looking for practical, results-oriented approaches that help local stakeholders use data to set priorities, align budgets with real needs, and strengthen citizen engagement so communities have a clearer voice in decisions that affect them.
This opportunity is framed as an innovative, short-timeframe project where applicants are expected to propose a complete approach rather than simply implement a pre-designed plan. Organizations applying are expected to bring demonstrated experience, creativity, and technical know-how to define a strategy, choose target geographic areas, select an effective mix of interventions, and deliver measurable outcomes. In other words, the applicant team is responsible for designing a coherent package of activities that will increase data use for decision-making and improve local development impact, rather than only executing a fixed scope of work.
The award is offered through a cooperative agreement (MCC notes that, for this NOFO, the terms "grant" and "cooperative agreement" are used interchangeably). The funding opportunity number is MCC-16-RFA-0006, under CFDA 85.002 (MCC Foreign Assistance for Overseas Programs). The activity category is community development, reflecting the project focus on improving community-level outcomes through better governance, planning, and accountability mechanisms supported by data. The NOFO also emphasizes that this is one investment under a larger initiative called the Data Collaboratives for Local Impact Program (DCLI), suggesting MCC is building a broader portfolio of related efforts and expects applicants to contribute to that overall objective.
MCC anticipates selecting the successful applicant through a two-phase application process, and it states the process will be consistent with Open Contracting Principles, with additional timeline milestones and updates to be posted on Grants.gov. Questions and official correspondence are handled through the points of contact listed in the NOFO, and MCC will post responses publicly under the same Grants.gov listing, which is important for applicants to monitor since clarifications can shape how proposals are interpreted and scored.
Eligibility is fairly open but has a specific structural requirement: the prime applicant must be a non-U.S. Government federal entity as defined in 2 CFR 200.69, which includes state or local governments, Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Both U.S. and non-U.S. organizations, including East African regional organizations and Tanzanian local organizations, can serve as the prime applicant as long as they meet the non-federal-entity definition and comply with any budget allocation requirements described in the NOFO. There are no eligibility restrictions for subpartners or consortium members, which gives teams flexibility to assemble the technical and local implementation capacity needed.
Because the project targets subnational change, MCC explicitly points to the likelihood that competitive applications may be submitted by consortia. Multiple organizations can collaborate to cover national-level coordination, district engagement, and on-the-ground ward-level work, particularly by partnering with organizations already active in local communities to ensure ownership and practical uptake. Even in a consortium structure, MCC requires one organization to act as the prime applicant, and that prime is accountable for overall performance, compliance, and execution across the full team.
Key funding details from the listing include an award ceiling of $2,750,000 and an original closing date of October 21, 2016. MCC also makes standard federal funding disclaimers: publishing the NOFO does not commit MCC to make an award, and applicants are responsible for all proposal and submission costs. Overall, the opportunity is designed for organizations that can combine governance and citizen engagement experience with data and analytics capability, and that can move quickly to produce measurable improvements in how local Tanzanian institutions plan, budget, and respond to community priorities using data.Apply for MCC 16 RFA 0006
- The Millennium Challenge Corporation in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DCLI-NOFO 3 Data-Driven Communities Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 85.002.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-08-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-10-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,750,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Data-Driven Communities Project (DCLI-NOFO 3)?
The Data-Driven Communities Project (DCLI-NOFO 3) is a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funding opportunity focused on improving how local governments and communities in Tanzania use data to make decisions, especially around planning, prioritization, budgeting, and citizen engagement at subnational levels.
2. What is the main goal of this opportunity?
The goal is to support practical, results-oriented approaches that increase the use of data in decision-making at the district and ward levels in Tanzania, helping local stakeholders set priorities, align budgets with real needs, and strengthen citizen engagement so communities have a clearer voice in local decisions.
3. What does "subnational levels" mean in this opportunity?
4. Who is offering this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is offered by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
5. Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
The award is offered through a cooperative agreement, and MCC notes that for this NOFO the terms "grant" and "cooperative agreement" are used interchangeably.
6. What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is MCC-16-RFA-0006, under CFDA 85.002 (MCC Foreign Assistance for Overseas Programs).
7. What is the activity category for this award?
The activity category is community development, reflecting the focus on improving community-level outcomes through better governance, planning, and accountability mechanisms supported by data.
8. How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $2,750,000.
9. What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date listed is October 21, 2016.
10. What is the Data Collaboratives for Local Impact Program (DCLI)?
The NOFO describes this project as one investment under a larger initiative called the Data Collaboratives for Local Impact Program (DCLI), indicating MCC is building a broader portfolio of related efforts to strengthen data use for local impact.
11. What kind of approach is MCC looking for from applicants?
MCC is looking for innovative, short-timeframe, practical approaches that deliver measurable outcomes. Applicants are expected to propose a complete, coherent approach (a designed package of activities) rather than simply implement a pre-designed plan.
12. Are applicants expected to design the project, or just implement it?
Applicants are expected to design the approach. The applicant team is responsible for defining the strategy, selecting target geographic areas, choosing an effective mix of interventions, and delivering measurable outcomes related to improved data use and local development impact.
13. What types of outcomes is this project aiming to produce?
Based on the listing, intended outcomes include measurable improvements in how local Tanzanian institutions use data to plan, set priorities, align budgets with needs, and respond to community priorities, with stronger citizen engagement and accountability.
14. What is the application and selection process?
MCC anticipates selecting the successful applicant through a two-phase application process.
15. What principles guide the selection process?
MCC states that the process will be consistent with Open Contracting Principles, with additional timeline milestones and updates to be posted on Grants.gov.
16. Where will timeline updates and milestones be posted?
Additional timeline milestones and updates are expected to be posted on Grants.gov under the opportunity listing.
17. How should applicants submit questions or request clarifications?
Questions and official correspondence are handled through the points of contact listed in the NOFO.
18. Where will MCC publish answers to applicant questions?
MCC will post responses publicly under the same Grants.gov listing, and applicants are expected to monitor that posting because clarifications may affect how proposals are interpreted and scored.
19. Who is eligible to apply as the prime applicant?
Eligibility is fairly open with a key structural requirement: the prime applicant must be a non-U.S. Government federal entity as defined in 2 CFR 200.69. This includes state or local governments, Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations.
20. Can U.S.-based organizations apply as the prime applicant?
Yes. The listing indicates both U.S. and non-U.S. organizations can serve as the prime applicant as long as they meet the non-federal-entity definition and comply with any budget allocation requirements described in the NOFO.
21. Can non-U.S. organizations apply as the prime applicant?
Yes. Non-U.S. organizations, including East African regional organizations and Tanzanian local organizations, can serve as the prime applicant if they meet the non-federal-entity definition and comply with any budget allocation requirements described in the NOFO.
22. Are there eligibility restrictions for subpartners or consortium members?
No. The listing states there are no eligibility restrictions for subpartners or consortium members, allowing teams flexibility in assembling technical and local implementation capacity.
23. Does MCC expect consortium applications?
Yes. Because the project targets subnational change, MCC explicitly points to the likelihood that competitive applications may be submitted by consortia.
24. If applying as a consortium, does the team need a lead organization?
Yes. Even in a consortium structure, MCC requires one organization to act as the prime applicant.
25. What responsibilities does the prime applicant have in a consortium?
The prime applicant is accountable for overall performance, compliance, and execution across the full team.
26. What types of partners might be useful for a competitive consortium?
Based on the description, consortia may combine organizations capable of national-level coordination, district engagement, and ward-level implementation, especially by partnering with organizations already active in local communities to support ownership and practical uptake.
27. What kinds of organizational capabilities does this opportunity seem to favor?
The listing suggests MCC is seeking teams that combine governance and citizen engagement experience with data and analytics capability, and that can move quickly to produce measurable improvements in local planning, budgeting, and responsiveness using data.
28. Does publishing the NOFO guarantee an award will be made?
No. MCC includes a standard federal disclaimer that publishing the NOFO does not commit MCC to make an award.
29. Are applicants reimbursed for proposal preparation or submission costs?
No. MCC states applicants are responsible for all proposal and submission costs.
30. Why is it important to monitor the Grants.gov listing during the process?
Because MCC will post public responses to questions and additional updates and milestones on Grants.gov, and those clarifications may influence how proposals are interpreted and scored.
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