2026.06.24_APS_EC-PD-1-Advancing-America-First-Priorities.pdf

Annual Program Statement (APS)

Public Diplomacy Grants Program:

Advancing America First Priorities

Western Hemisphere │U.S. Mission Ecuador, Department of State

Opportunity number: PDS-ECUADOR-FY26-01

Application deadline: August 6, 2026

Table of Contents

A. BASIC INFORMATION

B. ELIGIBILITY

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

D. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

G. AWARD NOTICES

H. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

I. OTHER INFORMATION

U.S Department of State U.S. Mission to Ecuador Public Diplomacy Section Annual Program Statement for Public Diplomacy

A. BASIC INFORMATION

1. Overview

Funding Opportunity Title Public Diplomacy Grants Program: Advancing America First Priorities

Funding Opportunity Number PDS-ECUADOR-FY26-01 Deadline for Applications August 6, 2026, 23:59 Ecuador Time (ECT, UTC-5) Assistance Listing Number 19.040 - Public Diplomacy Programs Length of performance period Up to 24 months Number of awards anticipated Two to five Award amounts awards may range from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $50,000 (approximately) Total available funding $100,000 pending availability of funds Type of Funding FY26 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds Anticipated project start date September 30, 2026

The U.S. Mission to Ecuador of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant, fixed amount award (FAA), or cooperative agreement.

Cooperative agreements include substantial involvement of the bureau or embassy in program implementation of the project. An FAA can also include substantial involvement. Examples of substantial involvement are included in section C below.

Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 24 months or less.

The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

This notice is subject to availability of funding. The Public Diplomacy Section reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described under circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the U.S. government, pending the availability of funds and approval of the designated grants officer.

2. Executive Summary The U.S. Mission to Ecuador announces an open competition for organizations and individuals to design and implement public diplomacy programs that advance U.S. foreign policy priorities and strengthen the partnership between the United States and Ecuador. Through this Annual Program Statement (APS), the Embassy seeks innovative, results-oriented projects that engage Ecuadorian audiences, promote mutual understanding, strengthen people-to-people ties, and increase awareness of the benefits of U.S.-Ecuador cooperation.

Proposed programs should support one or more of the following goals: (1) Advancing Security Cooperation and Countering Transnational Crime; (2) Countering Illegal Immigration; (3) Increasing Economic Prosperity, Trade, and Innovation; and (4) Celebrating U.S. Excellence and Freedom 250.

PD Grants Program projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Lectures, seminars, and speaker programs;

• Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions;

• Cultural heritage conservation and preservation projects;

• Professional, cultural or academic exchanges and projects (including virtual exchanges with U.S. experts or communities);

• Professional development workshops and training.

Target audiences may include journalists, educators, students, exchange alumni, entrepreneurs, researchers, technology professionals, civil society organizations, community leaders, media organizations, private-sector stakeholders, and other Ecuadorian audiences relevant to the proposed project.

Please follow all instructions below.

B. ELIGIBILITY

1. Eligible Applicants

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations

• Public and private educational institutions

• Individuals

• Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions

For-profit entities, even those that may fall into the categories listed above, are not eligible to apply for this NOFO. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. For more information on the difference between sub-contract and sub-recipient, please refer to 2 CFR 200.331.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but not required for this funding opportunity.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration in SAM.gov. Please see Section E.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding under this funding opportunity.

4. This opportunity will not support:

• Projects relating to partisan political activity;

• Charitable or development activities; including direct social services such as medical, psychological, and/or humanitarian support

• Construction projects;

• Projects that support specific religious activities;

• Fund-raising campaigns;

• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs

• Scientific research or surveys;

• Commercial projects;

• Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;

• Projects that duplicate existing projects; or

• Illegal activities

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Project Background, Goals, and Objectives

U.S. Mission Ecuador's Public Diplomacy Section seeks to advance American interests in Ecuador in the following areas: (1) Advancing Security Cooperation and Countering Transnational Crime;

(2) Countering Illegal Immigration; (3) Increasing Economic Prosperity, Trade, and Innovation;

and (4) Celebrating U.S. Excellence and Freedom 250.

The Public Diplomacy Section invites proposals for programs that support one of the following priority program areas. Applicants may submit a proposal to address one of the program goals below. Proposals should focus on one or more of the priority outcomes, but applicants may also recommend their own objective, as long as it addresses the Mission's priority program areas.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.331 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.331

All programs must include an American element — a connection with U.S. policy, people, values, culture, perspectives, experts, organizations, or institutions — that promotes increased understanding of the United States. Programs that do not include this element are not eligible to apply.

Priority Program Areas/Goals

Goal 1. Advancing Security Cooperation and Countering Transnational Crime

The U.S. Mission seeks programs that increase public awareness of U.S.-Ecuador security cooperation, build resilience against criminal influence, and promote informed public engagement on issues related to citizen security, narcoterrorism, and maritime security. Programs should support Ecuador's role as a key U.S. partner in the Shield of the Americas to combat narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, and criminal influence.

Project Audience(s):

• Journalists and digital content creators in violence-affected communities

• Community communicators, civil society leaders, and local stakeholders

• Educators, students, and professional associations who promote informed public dialogue on security issues

Priority Outcomes: Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address the priority program areas.

• Increased capacity of journalists and community communicators to produce accurate, locally relevant content on citizen security, narcoterrorism, and U.S.-Ecuador security cooperation.

• Strengthened professional networks and public engagement initiatives that promote accurate information on security-related issues.

Goal 2. Countering Illegal Immigration

The U.S. Mission seeks programs that provide accurate information about U.S. immigration enforcement and the serious risks and consequences of illegal immigration.

Project Audience(s):

• Youth, students, and working-age adults from areas with high rates of illegal immigration to the United States

• Educators, parents, and community leaders who support individuals and families affected by illegal immigration

• Journalists, digital content creators, and media organizations that can disseminate accurate information

Priority Outcomes: Applicants may focus on one or more of the outcomes listed below. Applicants are encouraged to propose additional objectives and innovative activities that address the priority program areas.

• Increased awareness among Ecuadorian audiences of U.S. immigration enforcement and the consequences of illegal immigration

• Increased resilience against false narratives promoted by human smuggling networks through public education, media engagement, or community dialogue.

• Reductions in illegal immigration from Ecuador to the United States through increased community awareness of the risks and consequences of illegal immigration

Goal 3. Increasing Economic Prosperity, Trade, and Innovation

The U.S. Mission seeks programs that promote U.S.-Ecuadorian economic ties, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and awareness of U.S. leadership in innovation, AI, and technology.

Project Audience(s):

• Entrepreneurs, startup founders, small business owners, and private-sector professionals

• English students, educators, and researchers at universities, technical institutes, and vocational training centers

• Technology professionals, engineers, and public- and private-sector stakeholders interested in emerging technologies and U.S.-led scientific collaboration and research partnerships program areas.

• Increased awareness of U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, and the opportunities these present for Ecuador.

• Increased application of U.S. technologies and innovation

• Increased use of English to deepen U.S.-Ecuadorian economic ties

• Expanded partnerships among educational institutions, research organizations, innovation hubs, and U.S. partners that advance economic prosperity and trade

• Increased workforce readiness in key sectors for U.S. investment through training, mentorship, exchanges, competitions, innovation challenges, hackathons, workforce development initiatives, or other capacity-building activities.

Goal 4. Celebrating U.S. Excellence and Freedom 250

The U.S. Mission seeks programs that promote the 250th anniversary of the United States, engage alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs, and celebrate U.S. excellence.

Project Audience(s):

• Alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange and training programs, including educators, entrepreneurs, journalists, and civil society leaders

• Students, emerging leaders, and community members

• Educational institutions, civil society organizations, and private-sector partners that advance shared U.S.-Ecuador goals program areas.

• Increased engagement of U.S. exchange alumni as leaders, mentors, and advocates for continued U.S.-Ecuador cooperation.

• Increased public awareness of the 250th anniversary of the United States and greater understanding of American values of freedom, opportunity, innovation, and American leadership.

• Expanded people-to-people ties and community impact through alumni-led initiatives that apply knowledge and networks gained through U.S. exchange programs to address local challenges and advance U.S. interests.

2. Limitations and Relevant Regulations

• This award is subject to the applicable provisions of 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards).

• Recipients must comply with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations governing grants and cooperative agreements administered by the U.S. Department of State, including regulations governing the use of public diplomacy funds.

• Recipients must acknowledge U.S. government funding in all program materials and public communications, in accordance with applicable branding and marking requirements.

• All technology, equipment, and services procured under this award must be sourced from trusted providers consistent with U.S. government guidance on supply chain security.

Recipients may not use grant funds to procure technology or services from vendors identified as posing national security risks.

• This program does not support activities that constitute propaganda, that direct participants to advocate for specific political positions or government narratives, or that are inconsistent with U.S. law or policy. All program content must be factually accurate and based on credible, verifiable sources.

• Activities must comply with Ecuadorian law and any applicable bilateral agreements between the United States and Ecuador.

• Recipients are responsible for ensuring that all participant and beneficiary data is collected, stored, and used in compliance with applicable privacy laws and data protection requirements.

• Proposals must demonstrate that the applicant has the legal status, organizational capacity, and relevant experience necessary to implement the proposed program. The U.S. Mission reserves the right to request additional documentation to verify applicant eligibility and capacity.

• Proposals must clearly explain how proposed activities are appropriate for public diplomacy funding and how they will engage Ecuadorian audiences in ways that advance the priority themes above.

3. Substantial Involvement

Awards issued under this APS may be structured as either a cooperative agreement or a Fixed Amount Award (FAA) with substantial involvement, in which case the U.S. Mission to Ecuador anticipates an active role in project implementation and oversight.

U.S. Mission Roles and Responsibilities

The U.S. Mission may:

• Review and approve participant recruitment and selection approaches.

• Review and approve key program themes, speakers, and technical framing.

• Provide input regarding U.S. foreign policy messaging and public diplomacy objectives.

• Review branding, visibility, and outreach materials.

• Participate in selected activities and events.

• Monitor implementation and performance throughout the award period.

• Coordinate engagement with U.S. government subject matter experts when appropriate.

Recipient Roles and Responsibilities

The recipient will:

• Design and implement all approved project activities.

• Manage logistics, outreach, participant recruitment, and activity and event coordination.

• Identify and coordinate trainers, speakers, and partners.

• Ensure technical quality and programmatic compliance. Program must be aligned with the goals of this NOFO.

• Track participant engagement and project performance.

• Submit all required programmatic and financial reports.

C. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content of Application Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity

• All documents are in English

• All budgets are in U.S. dollars

• All applicant authorized signatures are provided where indicated on the various, required forms.

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance --individuals) at grants.gov or Embassy website.

• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov or Embassy website.

• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov or Embassy website.

(note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals, organizations exempt from registration, and for organizations not required to fully register in SAM.gov)

2. Proposal (10 pages maximum) Applicants must submit a complete narrative proposal in a format of their choice, or they may use the attached proposal template if they like (Attachment 1_Proposal Template). The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. The proposal must include all the items below:

• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed project, including project objectives and anticipated impact.

• Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the State Department and/or U.S. government agencies as well as experience with and expertise in areas related to those described in the NOFO. You may use the attached Applicant Organization Information Survey form to provide this information (Attachment 2_Organization Information Survey).

• Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed

• Program Methods, Design, Activities, and Deliverables: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.

• Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities.

Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.

• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?

• Project Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees (if applicable).

https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

• Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

• Monitoring & Evaluation Plan: Proposals must include a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) that explains how the applicant plans to track project performance and measure progress toward the project’s goals and objectives. The PMP should include “If-Then” statements to illustrate how the project activities will lead to the intended results, along with a short datasheet outlining proposed project activities and the indicators that will be used to measure success. Expenses directly associated with monitoring and evaluation are considered allowable.

3. Budget Justification Narrative

• Detailed Budget - Applicants must submit a detailed line-item budget. Applicants are encouraged to utilize the template provided with the funding opportunity but are not required to do so (Attachment 3_Budget Narrative). Line-item expenditures should be listed in the greatest possible detail. The budget must identify the total amount of funding requested, with a breakdown of amounts to be spent in the following budget categories:

personnel; fringe benefits; travel; equipment; supplies; consultants/contracts; other direct costs; and indirect costs. See Annex Section I for a description of the types of costs that should be included in each category. Personnel salaries should include the level of effort and the rate of pay, which should cover the percentage of time each staff member will dedicate to grant-based activities. If an organization is charging an indirect cost rate without a NICRA, it must apply it to the modified total budget costs (MTDC), refer to 2CFR§200.1. Budgets shall be submitted in U.S. dollars and final grant agreements will be conducted in U.S. dollars.

• Budget Justification Narrative – Applicants must submit a budget justification narrative to accompany the detailed line-item budget. The purpose of the budget justification narrative is to supplement the information provided in the detailed budget spreadsheet by justifying how the budget cost elements are necessary to implement project objectives and accomplish the project goals. The budget justification narrative is a tool to help Embassy staff fully understand the budgetary needs of the applicant and is an opportunity to provide descriptive information about the requested costs beyond the constraints of the budget template. Together, the detailed budget spreadsheet, the budget justification narrative, and the SF-424A should provide a complete financial and qualitative description that supports the proposed project plan and should be directly relatable to the specific project components described in the applicant’s proposal.

Additional Budget Notes:

Allowable and Expected Budget Items

All proposed activities must be appropriate for funding through public diplomacy funds.

Public Diplomacy funds support programs for the public—including exchanges, cultural programming, media engagement, speaker programs, digital outreach, educational activities, and related public engagement efforts. Proposals that primarily support internal capacity building, infrastructure, equipment procurement, or direct service delivery https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) without a clear public engagement component are generally not appropriate for public diplomacy funding.

Budgets should reflect the actual costs of proposed activities and must be reasonable, allowable, and allocable under applicable U.S. federal cost principles (2 CFR Part 200).

Allowable costs may include, but are not limited to:

• Personnel and fringe benefits for program staff

• Consultant, facilitator, and expert fees

• Costs for public events, workshops, forums, exhibitions, and cultural programming, including venue rental, materials, and logistics

• Speaker and participant travel, lodging, and per diem, where justified by program activities

• Media production costs, including content creation, video production, graphic design, and digital distribution

• Exchange and fellowship program costs, including travel, lodging, and program fees for participants

• Outreach and communications costs, including digital platform management and advertising

• Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting costs

• Indirect costs, in accordance with the applicant's negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or the de minimis rate

Applicants should not include costs that are unallowable under 2 CFR Part 200, that are unrelated to the proposed program activities, or that are more appropriate for other funding mechanisms. Budgets should be accompanied by a narrative that justifies each line item and explains how costs are tied to program objectives and public diplomacy outcomes.

• Awards to Individuals: Please note the following budget guidelines for the Individual Award:

o Salary/Honoraria: Only the award recipient may receive salary/honoraria from this funding mechanism. The Recipient must be the primary point of contact and manage all programmatic activities.

o Contractual Costs: Additional individuals working on the award are only permissible through contracted services, as long as the services are not related to the core programmatic activities. Expenses for services such as accounting, legal support, social media management, website designer, etc., are allowable.

o Other Direct Costs: Expenses related to securing venues, managing logistics, catering, etc. are allowable.

• Audit Requirements: Please note the audit requirements for Department of State awards in the Standard Terms and Conditions https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm and 2CFR200, Subpart F – Audit Requirements. The cost of the required audits may be charged https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm%20and%202CFR200 https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm%20and%202CFR200 either as an allowable direct cost to the award OR included in the organization’s established indirect costs in the award’s detailed budget.

∉ Visa Fees: Include all visa application and related fees in your budget as applicable. Please note DS-2019s for post-funded programs must be submitted directly by the award recipient.

If you anticipate your program will include the DS-2019 visa processing, your organization must be a registered Designated Sponsoring Organization. For more information go to:

https://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/become-a-sponsor/

4. Attachments

• Key Personnel Resumes: A résumé, not to exceed one page in length, must be included for the proposed key staff persons, such as the Project Director and Finance Officer, as well as any speakers or trainers (if applicable). If an individual for this type of position has not been identified, the applicant may submit a 1-page position description, identifying the qualifications and skills required for that position, in lieu of a résumé.

• Letters of support from program partners: Letters of support should be included for sub-recipients or other partners. The letters must identify the type of relationship to be entered into (formal or informal), the roles and responsibilities of each partner in relation to the proposed project activities, and the expected result of the partnership. The individual letters cannot exceed 1 page in length.

• Indirect Costs: If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included in the application submission.

• Proof of Non-profit Status: Documentation to demonstrate the applicant’s non-profit status (e.g., U.S.-based organizations should submit a copy of their 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Service determination letter, and non-U.S. organizations should provide evidence of non-profit status issued by a government entity).

• Proof of Registration: A copy of the organization’s registration should be provided with the proposal application. U.S.-based organizations should submit a copy of their IRS determination letter. Ecuador-based organizations should submit a copy of their certificate of registration from the appropriate government organization.

• Security package: The safety and security of all participants and activities under this project are the sole responsibility of the award recipient. Due to the security climate in Ecuador, we require all proposals to include a security package to accompany appropriate programmatic elements within their proposal. The security package must include but is not limited to: secure transportation; lodging, and emergency accountability and evacuation for any non- Ecuador personnel living or working in Ecuador, as well as a copy of your organization’s security operational procedures for high-risk environments. Reasonable costs for necessary security are allowable expenses and should be included in the proposed budget. If a security company is engaged and funded under the award, it must be registered https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx by the Government of Ecuador to operate in Ecuador. We require award recipients to notify the Public Diplomacy Section in advance when U.S. citizens are traveling to Ecuador.

Other items NOT required/requested with the application submission, but which may be requested if your application is approved to move forward in the review process include:

a. Copies of an organization or program audit within the last two (2) years

b. Copies of relevant human resources, financial, or procurement policies

c. Copies of other relevant organizational policies or documentation that would help the

Department determine your organization’s capacity to manage a federal grant award overseas

d. Documentation that demonstrates the recipients’ plan and/or policy to safeguard PII of participants and beneficiaries. It is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure protection of personally identifiable information (PII) and safeguard PII when collecting, maintaining, using and disseminating such information

e. Information to determine what financial controls and standard operating procedures an organization uses to procure goods and services, hire staff and track time and attendance, pay for grant-related travel, and identify other financial transactions that may be necessary to undertake the project activities

f. The Embassy reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial information regarding the proposal.

D. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required above are available at: embassy website link:

https://ec.usembassy.gov/grants/ and www.grants.gov

2. Department of State Contacts If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact:

contactocultural@state.gov

3. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Required Registration: All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration in www.SAM.gov A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards.

An applicant must maintain an active registration while it has a proposal under review by the Department and must continue to keep the registration active for the entire duration of the period of performance of any Federal award that results from this NOFO.

https://ec.usembassy.gov/grants/ https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:ContactoCultural@state.gov https://www.sam.gov/

The 2 CFR 200 also requires subrecipients to obtain a UEI. Please note the UEI for subrecipients is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a subrecipient.

Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

• Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI prior to registering in SAM.gov.

• Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI prior to registering in SAM.gov.

• Organizations based outside of the United States that do not intend to apply for U.S.

Department of Defense (DoD) awards are no longer required to have a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code to apply for non-DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities. If an applicant organization is mid-registration and wishes to remove an NCAGE code from their SAM.gov registration, the applicant should submit a help desk ticket (“incident”) with the Federal Service Desk (FSD) online at www.fsd.gov using the following language: “I do not intend to seek financial assistance from the Department of Defense. I do not wish to obtain an NCAGE code. I understand that I will need to submit my registration after this incident is resolved in order to have my registration activated.”

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO NOT plan to do business with the DoD should follow the below instructions:

• Step 1: Proceed to SAM.gov to obtain a UEI and complete the SAM.gov registration process. SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually.

Exemptions An exemption from the UEI and sam.gov registration requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis. See 2 CFR 25.110 for a full list of exemptions.

Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the NOFO providing a justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.

Please note: Any applicant with an exclusion in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp.,

p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.”

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov%2Fgsafsd_sp%3Fid%3Dgsafsd_kb_articles%26sys_id%3Dc81018e71b1601d0937fa64ce54bcb57&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=W2ShcazZBQbanYGj0cLOTnUJwv%2BGL4xfwr83%2BycQY2E%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov%2Fgsafsd_sp%3Fid%3Dgsafsd_kb_articles%26sys_id%3Dc81018e71b1601d0937fa64ce54bcb57&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=W2ShcazZBQbanYGj0cLOTnUJwv%2BGL4xfwr83%2BycQY2E%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov%2Fgsafsd_sp%3Fid%3Dgsafsd_kb_articles%26sys_id%3Dc81018e71b1601d0937fa64ce54bcb57&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=W2ShcazZBQbanYGj0cLOTnUJwv%2BGL4xfwr83%2BycQY2E%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=t32ANWzgpiB93pMWoq%2BFCSHz4YJY9QF1S1iQzCsS6RM%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=t32ANWzgpiB93pMWoq%2BFCSHz4YJY9QF1S1iQzCsS6RM%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsd.gov%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=t32ANWzgpiB93pMWoq%2BFCSHz4YJY9QF1S1iQzCsS6RM%3D&reserved=0 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110

4. Submission Dates and Times

Submission Deadline: All applications must be received by August 6, 2026, 23:59 Ecuador Time (ECT, UTC-5) This deadline is firm and is not a rolling deadline. If organizations fail to meet the deadline noted above their application will be considered ineligible and will not be considered for funding.

Submission Method: Submitting all application materials directly to the following email address: contactocultural@state.gov. Applicants opting to submit applications via email to contactocultural@state.gov must include the Funding Opportunity title and number in the subject line of the email.

5. Funding Restrictions

i. Funding Restrictions for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA): None of the funds awarded resulting from this Notice of Funding Opportunity may be made available for subawards, direct financial support, or otherwise used to provide any payment or transfer to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

ii. Prohibition on Funding Activities that Encourage Mass-Migration Caravans towards the United States Southwest Border: None of the funds awarded under this grant may be made available to encourage, mobilize, publicize, or manage mass-migration caravans towards the United States southwest border. Funds may not be made available for legal counseling on the United States asylum process; and/or for referrals to legal representation in the United States.

Funds may only be used for cash cards for use in the country in which they are provided or to facilitate assisted voluntary returns and other purposes that do not encourage, mobilize, publicize, or manage mass migration caravans towards the United States southwest border. The provision of humanitarian assistance is permitted.

iii. Certification Regarding Compliance with Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws” If the place of performance or delivery of any award made under this NOFO will be within the United States, applicants are advised that they will be required to certify the following at the time of award:

a. Its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code and;

b. It does not operate any programs promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws. A program promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion means a program whose purpose is to promote preferences based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origins, such as in training or hiring.

iv. Certification of Trafficking in Persons Compliance and Compliance Plan: Applicants are advised that they will be required to certify the following at the time of award for awards mailto:contactocultural@state.gov where the estimated value of services to be performed outside the United States exceeds $500,000:

a. To the best of the Recipient’s knowledge, neither the Recipient, nor any subrecipient, contractor, or subcontractor of the Recipient or any agent of the recipient or of such a subrecipient, contractor, or subcontractor, is engaged in any of the activities described in 2 CFR 175.105(a);

b. The recipient has implemented a Trafficking in Persons compliance plan to prevent activities described in 2 CFR 175(a) and is compliant with this plan; and the compliance plan must follow the minimum requirements described in 2 CFR 175(b)(5).

c. That the Recipient has and will implement procedures to prevent activities described in 2 CFR 175.105(a) and to monitor, detect, and terminate any subrecipient, contractor, subcontractor, or employee of the recipient engaging in these activities.

Recipients do not need to submit a copy of the plan. However, they must provide it to the Grants Officer upon request, and as appropriate, must post the useful and relevant contents of the plan or related materials on its website and at the workplace. Recipients must re-certify on an annual basis for the entire award period of performance.

v. Prohibition of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). If your project involves the purchase or use of an UAS, see this link for requirements and information you must include in your application.

vi. Pre-Award Costs: Pre-award costs are generally not allowable under this APS unless approved in advance by the Grants Officer and justified in the proposal.

vii. Construction: Any award made as a result of this APS will not allow for construction activities or costs.

viii. Direct Social Services: Costs that cover and provide direct social services, such as welfare, charity, health or economic relief, are unallowable. Medical assistance, such as costs to include medical professionals, including but not limited to doctors, nurses, and psychiatrists to participate in the project activities are not allowed.

6. Other Submission Requirements: Copyrights and Proprietary Information

If any of the information contained in your application is proprietary, please note in the footer of the appropriate pages that the information is Confidential – Proprietary. Applicants should also note what parts of the application, program, concept, etc. are covered by copyright(s), trademark(s), or any other intellectual property rights and provide copies of the relevant documentation to support these copyrights.

https://www.state.gov/federal-assistance-policies-appeals/

Applicants must acquire all required registrations and rights in the United States and Ecuador.

All intellectual property considerations and rights must be fully met in the United States and Ecuador.

Any sub-recipient organization must also meet all the U.S. and Ecuador requirements described above.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Review Criteria Criteria: Each application submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the criteria enumerated below. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success.

• Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 30 points: The program idea should be innovative and well developed, with sufficient detail about how project activities will be carried out. The proposals should demonstrate originality and outline clear, achievable objectives that align directly with the priorities and requirements of the NOFO. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline, and the project scope is appropriate and clearly defined. Finally, the proposal aligns with the following:

ο The project clearly demonstrates a direct contribution to current U.S. foreign policy priorities.

ο The project will positively impact America’s reputation among foreign government partners.

ο The project will positively impact American’s reputation among foreign publics.

ο The proposal does not include any activities contrary to the following Executive

Orders:

� Executive Order 14173: "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring

Merit-Based Opportunity � Executive Order 14287: “Protecting American Communities from Criminal

Aliens” � Executive Order 14168: Defending Women from Gender Ideology

Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government

• Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 25 points:

o The project proposal demonstrates that the organization has sufficient expertise, skills, and human resources to implement the project, including internal controls in place to manage federal funds. If sub-awards are proposed, applicant demonstrates experience managing subawards.

o The organization demonstrates that it has a clear understanding of the underlying issue that the project will address.

o The organization demonstrates capacity for successful planning and responsible fiscal management. This includes a financial management system, a bank account, and if applicable, satisfactory audit findings.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/protecting-american-communities-from-criminal-aliens/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/protecting-american-communities-from-criminal-aliens/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/ o Applicants who have received grant funds previously have been compliant with applicable rules and regulations, including the Award Provisions and Standard Terms and Conditions.

o Where partners are described, the applicant details each partner’s respective role and provides curriculum vitae (CVs) for persons responsible for the project and financial administration. Proposed personnel, institutional resources, and partners are adequate and appropriate.

• Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 20 points: The project plan is well developed, with sufficient detail about how activities will be carried out. The proposal specifies target audiences, participant recruitment, and geographic areas of implementation. The proposal outlines clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined.

• Budget – 10 points: The budget and narrative justification are sufficiently detailed. The budget demonstrates that the organization has devoted time to accurately determine expenses associated with the project instead of providing rough estimates. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The results and proposed outcomes justify the total cost of the project. Budget items are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.

• Monitoring and Evaluation - 10 points: The project proposal includes an M&E plan. The applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals and objectives outlined in the proposal. The proposal includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured. Funded projects will have their plans finalized during the negotiation phase, and monitoring plans may be subject to periodic updates throughout the life of the project.

• Sustainability – 5 points: The project proposal describes clearly the approach that will be used to ensure maximum sustainability or advancement of project goals after the end of project activity.

2. Indirect Costs

If two or more applications receive equivalent scores based on the evaluation criteria outlined in this NOFO, preference will be given to the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate, as consistent with Executive Order 14332, Section 4(b)(iii). This preference will only be applied as a tie-breaking mechanism and does not supersede the primary evaluation criteria.

3. Review and Selection Process

a. Acknowledgement of receipt. Applicants will receive acknowledgment of receipt of their proposal.

b. Review. All submissions are screened for technical eligibility. If a submission is missing any required forms/documents listed above in Section D. Application Contents and Format, it will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed by the grants review committee. A technical review panel will review eligible proposals based upon the criteria noted in this APS.

c. Follow up notification. Applicants will generally be notified within 120 days after the APS deadline regarding the results of the review panel.

2. Risk Review

i. Under the merit review as required by 2 CFR 200.206, prior to making a Federal Award the Department will review and consider the following risk factors:

a. Financial stability

b. Management systems and standards

c. History of performance

d. Audit reports and findings

e. Ability to effectively implement project requirements

ii. High Risk Designation

Awardees that are deemed to be high risk based on the above risk factors will be held to special award conditions. At a minimum, the recipient and/or project designated as High Risk will be required to submit monthly narrative reports and/or quarterly detailed financial reports.

Recipients may also be required, upon request of the Grants Officer or Grants Officer Representative, to provide electronic copies of receipts or other supporting documentation (e.g., timesheets, travel documents) for costs incurred. The Grants Officer may withhold 10% of the award amount until final reports have been reviewed and approved by the GO. The recipient may be required to pay all salaries supported by the grant via electronic funds transfer.

Other special award conditions may also be included if deemed appropriate by the Grants Officer.

iii. Risk Analysis Management

To qualify for final consideration, certain applicants may be required to undertake the Risk Analysis Management (RAM) vetting process by providing Risk Analysis Information (RAI) about their “key individuals” (i.e., individuals with the ability to control applicant organizations’ funds), including “key individuals” from selected sub-recipients. Please note:

these individuals could be different from the key personnel listed in the section 4 of required documents. The purpose of vetting potential contractors and grantees is to reduce the risk that federal assistance funding is provided to terrorists or their supporters. Potential grantees will be notified separately if RAI is required. Applicants submit key individuals’ RAI by completing the Risk Analysis Information Form, DS-4184, through the secure web portal at https://ramportal.state.gov.