FAQ for Annual Program Statements_Final.docx

Annual Program Statement Frequently Asked Questions

· Each of the APS documents references the annual TIP Report. Can the TIP Office confirm when the 2026 TIP Report is expected to be released?

· We are unable to confirm the date of the TIP Report release at this time, but please look at our website. Until the 2026 TIP Report is released, please continue to refer to the 2025 TIP Report.

· Opportunities DFOP0018775 and DFOP0018770 each reference how many individual concept notes an entity can submit. Can the TIP Office confirm that organizations can submit multiple responses to TIP Office International Programs to Combat Human Trafficking Annual Program Statement (DFOP0018774)?

· An organization may submit proposals under each Annual Program Statement.

· For the CPC APS: Applicants are encouraged to submit one application per proposed country and up to three applications to this APS in total per year (see Section E.4). Therefore, an organization can submit up to three applications to this APS.

· For the PEMS APS: Applicants may propose projects working in one or more identified priority areas. Applicants may submit a total of no more than four applications as a prime.

· For the TIP Office APS: An organization may submit multiple proposals.

· Each APS includes the following language: “Proposals received between June 19, and September 30 will be prioritized and will be reviewed by December 31.” Can the TIP Office clarify if proposals submitted prior to September 30 will be reviewed first? Or are all proposals submitted between June 19, and September 30 reviewed after the September 30th deadline?

· The TIP Office will conduct a first review after September 30th, and it will not matter what date the proposal was submitted as long as it is before September 30.

· Contingent upon the availability of funds, the TIP Office may conduct a second review of proposals received between October 1 and December 31. This review will take place after January 1, 2027.

· Each APS requires a 14-point Times New Roman font. Can the TIP Office please confirm if 12-point Times New Roman font is acceptable?

· No. As stated in the “Content of Application” section, all Microsoft Word documents are single spaced, 14-point font, and a minimum of one-inch margins.

· Can the TIP Office please confirm that 10-point Times New Roman font is acceptable for tables, graphs, chart, and graphics?

· No. As stated in the “Content of Application” section, all Microsoft Word documents are single spaced, 14-point font, and a minimum of one-inch margins.

· Eligibility - The email announcement states that foreign NGOs are eligible to apply. However, the public listings for DFOP0018774 and DFOP0018775 appear to list “Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)” as the eligible applicant type. As 501(c)(3) is a U.S.-specific status, can you confirm whether a Belgian non-profit organization may apply as prime applicant under DFOP0018774 and/or DFOP0018775? And for DFOP0018770 specifically, the listing refers to not-for-profit organizations and civil society/non-governmental organizations. Can you confirm whether this includes foreign NGOs such as Belgian non-profit organizations?

· Yes, foreign NGOs are eligible to apply for funding. Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations; public and private educational institutions, for-profit organizations, public international organizations, and U.S. government agencies are eligible to apply for funding.

· Geographic and policy scope - Would a project implemented in Belgium and/or in cross-border cooperation with EU partners be eligible and potentially competitive, particularly if focused on child victims, forced criminality, victim identification, non-punishment, victim-witness support, and multidisciplinary referral mechanisms?

· To ensure a fair process, the TIP Office cannot confirm the competitiveness of a potential project proposal, that will depend upon the quality of the proposal, alignment to Administration priorities, adherence to TIP Report recommendations, etc.

· Child Protection Compact - For DFOP0018775, we understand that a Child Protection Compact involves a multi-year plan between the United States and a recipient country. Would an NGO-led application from Belgium require prior formal commitment from the Belgian federal government, or could this be explored during the application/review process?

· No, applications to this APS do not require formal commitment to a CPC with the U.S. government. The letter should indicate that the government is willing to cooperate with the applicant to implement a future project in collaboration with the U.S. government.

· Award terms and organizational independence - Could you confirm which award terms, including PHFFA-related terms, would apply to a foreign NGO recipient or subrecipient under these opportunities?

· Yes, all Terms and Conditions apply to the recipient organization and any/all subgrantees. This includes the Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance policy, or PHFFA.

· Project language and beneficiary protection - Would applicants remain free to use terminology grounded in international human rights law, EU anti-trafficking standards, victim autonomy, trauma-informed care, survivor-informed practice, and inclusive access to services, provided that the proposed project directly combats trafficking in persons?

· Applications must respond to priorities articulated in the U.S. National Security Strategy, the State Department FY 2026-2030 Agency Strategy, U.S. Executive Orders, and the annual Trafficking in Persons Report. Applications perceived to be unaligned to these documents may be deemed technically ineligible.

· Subrecipients and partners - Would the same award terms apply to Belgian or EU-based subrecipients and project partners? If so, could you clarify whether these obligations are limited to U.S.-funded project activities or apply more broadly to the recipient/subrecipient organization during the award period?

· No, the award Terms and Conditions are not limited to the US-funded project activities.

· Application process - The public listings currently state that no documents are available and refer applicants to MyGrants. Could you confirm where applicants can access the full APS documents, including applicable award terms and conditions for foreign NGO recipients and subrecipients? Will the TIP Office organize a public Q&A, webinar, or clarification process for these APS opportunities? If yes, could you indicate where applicants should monitor updates and whether answers will be published for all potential applicants?

· Each APS is publicly available; there are no additional attachments. The organization must have a MyGrants account to access and apply. The TIP Office will not organize a public webinar but will release a FAQ document in July. For any questions, please reach out to TIPGrants@State.gov.

· Child Protection Compact Annual Program Statement (DFOP0018775)

· Program to End Modern Slavery Annual Program Statement (DFOP0018770)

· TIP Office International Programs to Combat Human Trafficking Annual Program Statement (DFOP0018774)

· The three new APSs do not specify priority areas of program activities. Will more detailed Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) be issued and posted on Grants.gov and MyGrants?

· No, there will not be a separate NOFO issued. The TIP Office APS states: “Western Hemisphere and East Asia Pacific preferred, though organizations may submit proposals for all countries and regions, as well as global programs, where there is a clear connection to U.S. foreign policy goals.”

· Can an NGO serve as a sub-recipient partner in another organization's CPC application while also submitting our own lead applications for other countries? Does being a sub-recipient count against our 3-application limit?

· An NGO may serve as a sub-recipient in another organization’s application while also submitting their own application(s) as prime. The three-application limit applies to the number of applications submitted by an organization as prime. There is no limit to the number of applications an organization can be a sub-recipient on.

· Our organization is reviewing the Annual Program Statements for Opportunity Numbers DFOP0018774, DFOP0018775, and DFOP0018770. In each solicitation, under Section E.4. Submission Dates and Times, the APS states:

"Proposals will be accepted throughout the year. Proposals will be reviewed according to the following schedule: Proposals received between June 19 and September 30 will be prioritized and will be reviewed by December 31." Could you please clarify the review process for applications submitted between June 19 and September 30? Specifically, are applications reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received, with final decisions expected by December 31, or does the formal review process begin only after the September 30 submission period closes.

· The formal review process will begin after September 30.