APEX Q&A 08202026.pdf
PDF 102 KB Posted
- Opportunity number
- DOS-SAU-2602
- Issued by
-
Department of State US Embassy Riyadh
About this file
This file is an Official Q&A document for Grants.gov Posting NOFO DOS-SAU-2602-PD, APEX, addressing eligibility and participation requirements for this public diplomacy grant opportunity.
The document clarifies organizational eligibility and participation structures. Non-profit organizations, including those incorporated outside the United States, are eligible as prime applicants without geographic restrictions, though applicants must demonstrate qualifications to showcase U.S. leadership in AI and emerging technology. Foreign prime recipients may deliver U.S. exchange components (including DS-2019 issuance) through U.S. subrecipients while retaining overall administrative responsibility. Non-profit subawards are permitted, but subawards cannot flow to for-profit entities. Individuals are prohibited from serving as prime recipients or receiving subawards; they may participate only as key personnel or contractors under eligible entities. For-profit entities cannot receive prime awards or subawards and may participate only as competitively procured vendors providing commercial services under eligible organizations such as universities, non-profits, or educational institutions. However, an individual who is a co-founder and CEO of a for-profit commercial entity cannot serve as key personnel, consultant, mentor, or technical lead under another applicant's proposal due to organizational conflict of interest. American mentors for post-exchange coaching are primarily intended to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with demonstrable ties to U.S. industry, academia, or government exchange alumni networks; in certain circumstances, foreign highly-skilled professionals with equivalent ties may be acceptable if they support sustainable relationships between U.S. and Saudi emerging tech professionals.
Grantor Inquiry Responses (As of Aug 20, 2026)
View the file
Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| APEX Q&A 09032026.pdf | ||
| APEX FY26 - Notice of Funding Opportunity.pdf | ||
| APEX FY26 - Notice of Funding Opportunity (1).pdf |
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Text version
Official Q&A for Grants.gov Posting
(NOFO DOS-SAU-2602-PD, APEX)
Question 1: Is a non-profit organization incorporated in Canada eligible to apply as the prime applicant?
Answer: Yes. Non-profit organizations are eligible prime applicants under Section
B.1 without geographic restrictions.
Question 2: May a foreign prime recipient deliver the U.S. exchange component (including DS-2019 issuance) through U.S. subrecipients?
Answer: Yes. The prime recipient retains overall administrative responsibility but may subaward travel logistics and visa sponsorship to a designated U.S. partner.
Question 3: Does the program prefer prime applicants based in the U.S. or
Saudi Arabia?
Answer: No. The NOFO contains no geographic preference for prime applicants;
however, the applicant should be able to demonstrate how it is qualified to showcase U.S. leadership in AI and emerging tech.
Question 4: Can a foreign non-profit participate via a U.S. fiscal sponsor or subaward?
Answer: Yes. Non-profit subawards are permitted. However, subawards cannot flow to for-profit entities.
Question 5: Can an individual apply as the prime recipient or receive a subaward?
Answer: No. Public Diplomacy Smith-Mundt funds (CFDA 19.040) prohibit prime awards to individuals or subawards/subgrants to for-profit entities. Individuals may participate as proposed key personnel or contractors under an eligible entity.
Question 6: Can a foreign or local for-profit company apply as a prime recipient or subrecipient?
Answer: No. Commercial firms cannot receive prime awards or subawards. They may only participate as competitively procured vendors providing commercial services
Question 7: Can a For-profit entity participate as an implementation partner or competitively procured vendor under an eligible university, nonprofit, or educational institution?
Answer: Yes. A For-profit entity may participate as a competitively procured commercial service vendor under an eligible university, nonprofit, or educational institution.
Question 8: Could a Co-Founder & CEO of participated procured vendor under eligible applicant be included as key personnel, a consultant, mentor, or technical program lead under an eligible applicant’s proposal?
Answer: No. An individual who is a Co-Founder and CEO of a for-profit commercial entity cannot serve as key personnel, a consultant, mentor, or technical lead under another applicant's proposal due to an inherent organizational conflict of interest under Federal Assistance Regulations.
Question 9: How is an "American mentor" defined for post-exchange coaching?
Answer: Mentors are intended to connect participants to the U.S. AI/tech ecosystem. This is primarily intended to mean U.S. citizens or permanent residents with deep, demonstrable ties to U.S. industry, academia, or U.S. government exchange alumni networks. In certain circumstances, a foreign, highly-skilled professional with the same ties would be acceptable as long at it meets the goal of creating sustainable relationships and ties between the next generation of U.S. and
Saudi emerging tech professionals.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .