DFOP0018712_Regional_APS_FAQ_Round_Three.pdf

DFOP0018712

Regional Annual Program Statement

Frequently Asked Questions

(Posted September 24, 2026)

Question 1:

I am writing regarding opportunity DFOP0018712 and the West Bank eligibility requirement for a “locally registered organization.”

PIP, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in the United States and Israel, with approximately

90% of our beneficiaries based in the West Bank. We have an established track record of implementing workforce and economic development programming for Palestinians and are currently partnering with SDC

Ramallah.

Would PIP be eligible to apply directly under the West Bank opportunity with our current registration? If not, would we be eligible to apply in partnership with a locally registered Palestinian organization?

Answer 1:

All applicants must be able to operate legally in the West Bank to carry out proposed activities. Per the Annual

Program Statement instructions for the West Bank, the recipient organization must be registered in the West

Bank to be eligible for selection. If your organization is not registered locally (within the West Bank), you may partner with a locally registered organization; however, please note that the local organization must be the lead applicant or recipient, and your organization must be a partner or sub-awardee. You may have a pending registration within the West Bank as of the application submission; Applicants are not required to have completed their own local registration prior to submission but must obtain all necessary registrations and legal authorizations before commencing project activities.

Question 2:

Could you please confirm whether a Tunisian for-profit company can apply independently under

DFOP0018712 while proposing a technology and innovation project that is outside the company's current core commercial activity?

Answer 2:

If the project is outside the company’s current core commercial activity, we recommend that the application should meet all applicable eligibility requirements as outlined in the APS and ensure the proposal is independently responsive to the requirements of the APS. For-profit organizations, such as corporations and commercial firms, are eligible to apply; Please review Section C for ‘Out of Scope Program Activities’ which references projects exclusively of a commercial or profit-making nature.

Question 3:

As the current opening unusually requires the sending of a short Statement of Interest (SOI) of 1 to 3 pages

(not a full proposal), we are seeking to know the way(s) to send our proposal (which email address or other).

Answer 3:

As outlined on page 4 of the APS document, applications should be submitted on the Department of State

MyGrants system. Please review the APS for additional information.

Question 4:

We are an established FinTech company based in Tunisia. We wanted to apply for the opportunity

DFOP0018712.

We have created an account on the grant's portal, however, we noticed that the “Apply” button is greyed out and we are therefore unable to proceed with the application.

Could you kindly advise on how to activate the application or whether there are any additional steps required before we may apply?

Answer 4:

Please refer technical questions or issues to MyGrants the helpdesk at +1 (888) 313-4567 (toll charges apply for international callers) or through the self-service online portal that can be accessed from ILMS Self Service

Portal. Customer support is available 24/7.

Question 5:

I am writing regarding the Regional Annual Program Statement, reference DFOP0018712, to ask two questions before finalizing my Statement of Interest (SOI).

1. ELIGIBILITY QUESTION

I am currently in the process of establishing a company in Tunisia, which would serve as the applicant entity for this program. This entity is not yet fully registered.

I understand from the published FAQ that individuals are not eligible to apply under this opportunity. Could you please confirm:

- Whether an application may be submitted with the entity's registration in progress, provided registration is completed by a specified milestone (e.g., prior to award, per SOI stage vs. full proposal stage); and

- Whether there is a minimum registration status (e.g., legal incorporation only, vs. full UEI/SAM.gov registration) required at the Statement of Interest stage specifically, as opposed to the full proposal stage.

2. TECHNICAL QUESTION — SOI SUBMISSION

I have successfully created an account. However, I have not been able to identify where or how to upload the

Statement of Interest document within the platform.

https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms/home https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms/home

Could you kindly confirm the exact steps to locate the DFOP0018712 announcement and submit the SOI, or redirect me to the appropriate technical support channel if this falls outside NEA/AC's direct purview?

Thank you very much for your guidance. I remain available should any clarification be needed, and I look forward to your response given the September 30, 2026, deadline.

Answer 5:

1. Eligibility Question: All applicants, whether foreign or domestic, must be able to operate legally in

Tunisia to carry out proposed activities. Applicants are not required to have completed their own local registration prior to submission but must obtain all necessary registrations and legal authorizations before commencing project activities. As outlined in page 5 of the APS, all organizations must have a

UEI issued via SAM.gov, as well as a valid registration in SAM.gov before they submit a full application in phase 2 of the application process.

2. Technical Question: Please refer technical questions or issues to MyGrants the helpdesk at +1 (888)

313-4567 (toll charges apply for international callers) or through the self-service online portal that can be accessed from ILMS Self Service Portal. Customer support is available 24/7.

Question 6:

Could you please confirm whether the same organization may participate in more than one Statement of

Interest submitted under APS DFOP0018712, either as the main applicant in one SOI and a proposed subrecipient in another, or as a proposed subrecipient in multiple SOIs?

We understand that each application must present distinct roles, activities and budgets and that no costs may be duplicated.

Answer 6:

Yes, An organization may submit a proposal as a prime applicant and also participate as a subrecipient on another proposal under the same APS program area, provided it meets all applicable eligibility requirements and each proposal is independently responsive to the requirements of the APS.

Question 7:

To ensure full compliance with the U.S Department of state's administrative and technical standards, we would appreciate your guidance on the following queries:

1) Full announcement and detailed specifications: could you please provide the comprehensive Notice of funding Opportunity (NOFO) package or direct us to complete technical guidelines detailing the evaluation criteria and submission requirements?

2) Standard Application Forms and Mandatory Templates: Are there specific standardized grant application forms required for this specific solicitation?

3) Statement of Interest (SOI) format and submission model: regarding the statement of interest (SOI) should applicants draft a customized narrative adhering to specific page limits and structural guidelines, or does your office prescribe a mandatory standardized template?

Answer 7:

1. The APS document includes the technical guidelines, evaluation criteria, and submission requirements for this opportunity. Please refer to the APS as it relates to Phase 1 of the application opportunity; we will confirm additional details if necessary if the application is selected to continue.

2. The APS document lists any required information that must be included in the application document for Phase 1. Additional documents necessary for additional phases of the application process (Phase 2 and beyond) may be found on page 22 of the APS document.

3. While there is no specific template required to submit the SOI, please reference the guidelines and restrictions outlined in the APS, beginning on page 13 of the APS document.

Question 8:

Our organization is currently preparing a Statement of Interest (SOI) focused on developing Data Center and digital infrastructure capabilities in Tunisia.

Could you please confirm whether projects centered on data center infrastructure development fall within the eligible scope of this program—specifically under the digital economy, technology promotion, and commercial capacity-building priorities?

Answer 8:

Per the APS, the Department welcomes proposals that address priority sectors in Tunisia including but are not limited to energy; ICT and digital infrastructure; agribusiness and food technology; port and transport logistics; and financial services. Proposed projects should support activities in these sectors while also increasing U.S. exports of goods and services, reducing barriers to market access for U.S. firms, and promoting the adoption of U.S.-aligned technology standards and frameworks in critical sectors.

Question 9:

Are we able to propose more than one project (3 projects from [company] with different partners each time?

Answer 9:

Yes, your organization may propose more than one project with different partners.

Question 10:

I represent a Tunisian for-profit company organized as a SUARL. Could you please clarify what should be entered as the “Applicant Legal Name” in the application? Should we use the company’s official legal name as registered in Tunisia?

Answer 10:

Please provide the legal name for the organization that is legally authorized to operate in Tunisia.