FY 2026 PEMS Annual Program Statement (1).pdf

Annual Program Statement (APS)

Program to End Modern Slavery Annual Program Statement

Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of State

Opportunity number: [DFOP0018770] Application deadline(s): September 30; December 31

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

DRL/TIP

Annual Program Statement

A. Basic Information

1. Overview

Funding Opportunity Title Program to End Modern Slavery Annual Program Statement Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0018770 Announcement Type Initial Announcement Deadline(s) for Applications September 30; December 31 Assistance Listing Number 19.019 Length of performance period 12 to 72 months Number of awards anticipated Multiple Award amounts Awards may range from a minimum of $500,000 to a maximum of $8,000,000 Total available funding $25 million pending funding availability Type of Funding FY 2026 International Narcotics Control and Law

Enforcement (INCLE)

Anticipated program start date April-July, 2027

The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons in the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that combat human trafficking under the Program to End Modern Slavery. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, strategic themes, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant or cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements are different from grants in that bureau/embassy staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation (“Substantial Involvement”).

Program Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 60 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.

2. Executive Summary Priority Region: Organizations may submit proposals for all countries and regions, as well as global programs, that are strictly aligned with the U.S. Government’s foreign policy goals.

Executive Summary The Program to End Modern Slavery (PEMS) Annual Program Statement (APS) establishes a strategic funding framework to develop, test, evaluate, and scale evidence-based anti-trafficking interventions that directly advance U.S. national security, economic competitiveness, and efforts to combat transnational crime.

Through (a) problem analysis and program development, (b) pilot testing, (c) full-scale implementation and evaluation, and (d) technology-enabled evidence consolidation—PEMS supports results-driven investments that strengthen global anti-trafficking responses and reduce prevalence of human trafficking, while ensuring U.S. resources generate measurable impact.

The target audience includes U.S. and foreign organizations and entities with proven experience in designing and implementing anti-trafficking programming. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, public international organizations, U.S. government agencies, and for-profit organizations (subject to restrictions). The program focuses on three key objectives: (1) Prosecution of trafficking offenders; (2) Protection of persons exploited by human traffickers; and (3) Prevention of the crime.

Applicants are encouraged to propose projects in countries that demonstrate strong political will to combat human trafficking and the potential for sustainability beyond TIP Office resources.

Proposals must be aligned with Administration priorities outlined in the National Security Strategy, executive orders, the FY 2026-2030 Department of State Agency Strategy, and country-specific recommendations in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

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

• For-profit organizations

• Public International Organizations

• U.S. government agencies

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing, cost matching, and cost participation are not required to apply for this funding opportunity. While not required, applicants may propose to include voluntary cost share.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/executive-orders https://www.state.gov/agency-strategic-plan https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/

Applications that include voluntary cost share will NOT be evaluated differently than other applications. Applicants that voluntarily propose cost share must read the instructions regarding required budget documents under this announcement. Applicants should list the cost share amount in the SF-424 under Section C - 8b and Section D - 14.

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

Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards to earn a profit. Profit is defined as any amount in excess of allowable direct and indirect costs. The allowability of costs incurred by commercial organizations is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR 30, Cost Accounting Standards Administration, and 48 CFR 31 Contract Cost Principles and Procedures.

Organizations currently receiving funds from the TIP Office may apply for additional funding under the present funding opportunity. The eligibility requirements for applying to this funding opportunity do not restrict applicants from receiving other sources of funding from the United States government, including from other bureaus within the Department of State.

Under this funding opportunity, applicants may form a consortium with other organizations to implement and carry out project activities. Applicants working with other organizations must clearly identify the lead applicant (prime grant recipient), and the lead applicant may designate one or more additional organizations as sub-recipients. All mandatory terms and conditions for a successful applicant also apply to any sub-awards awarded.

C. Program Description

1. Goals and Objectives The TIP Office seeks proposals for projects to combat human trafficking outside of the United States. Proposed projects may be limited to a single country or be regional or global in scale.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 USC §7101 et seq.), as amended (TVPA), established the TIP Office in the U.S. Department of State. The TIP Office leads the United States’ global engagement to combat human trafficking and seeks to work with foreign governments, civil society organizations, and other organizations utilizing the “3P” paradigm:

prosecuting traffickers, protecting victims, and preventing trafficking in persons. In most cases, applications should include a plan for how they will collaborate with local governments and civil society in the countries where they propose working.

The U.S. government defines “trafficking in persons” as:

• Sex trafficking encompasses the range of activities involved when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel another person to engage in a commercial sex act. It should be noted that when a person younger than 18 is used to perform a commercial sex act, it is a crime regardless of whether there is any force, fraud, or coercion.

• Forced labor, also referred to as labor trafficking, encompasses the range of activities involved when a person uses force, fraud, or coercion to exploit the labor or services of another person.

Trafficking in persons does not require the movement of a person. Under the TVPA and generally consistent with the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Protocol), individuals may be trafficking victims regardless of whether they once consented to provide commercial sex acts (with the exception of children, who cannot provide consent), labor, or services; whether they participated in unlawful acts their traffickers compelled them to commit; whether someone transported them into the exploitative situation; or whether they were born into a state of servitude. The TIP Office will not support projects that use alternate definitions of trafficking.

The TVPA requires that the Department of State submit to Congress an annual report assessing the efforts of governments to address trafficking in persons. The annual TIP Report is the primary tool for the Department’s engagement with other governments on human trafficking and informs U.S. policy and assistance priorities to combat this crime.

The TIP Office works to build durable capacity of recipient governments and civil society to combat human trafficking. Information on U.S. government anti-trafficking efforts is available at: https://www.state.gov/u-s-government-response-office-to-monitor-and-combat-trafficking-in-persons/ and a description of international projects currently funded by the TIP Office is available at: https://www.state.gov/tip-office-project-descriptions/.

The Program to End Modern Slavery (PEMS) Annual Program Statement (APS) provides a mechanism to solicit and support projects that combat human trafficking and reduce the prevalence of the crime by combining rigorous evaluation with targeted programming in contexts with direct links to U.S. interests. This APS focuses on developing and testing scalable models, identifying what programming works and why, and building the evidence needed to expand proven approaches with the aim of reducing prevalence. Through the following four priority areas, PEMS programs will dismantle human trafficking operations and enhance the sustainable effectiveness of recipients by identifying and scaling policies and programs, ensuring U.S.

investments directly advance American security, economic interests, and prosperity.

Priority Areas 1-3 span the continuum from developing a strong program model, to pilot testing, through scale up.

Priority area 4 leverages technological innovations from the private sector to consolidate data and evidence on effectiveness of anti-trafficking programming implemented through U.S.

Department of State grants and other efforts.

https://www.state.gov/u-s-government-response-office-to-monitor-and-combat-trafficking-in-persons/ https://www.state.gov/u-s-government-response-office-to-monitor-and-combat-trafficking-in-persons/ https://www.state.gov/tip-office-project-descriptions/

Priority Program Areas:

All applications must be firmly grounded in and aligned with the National Security Strategy, executive orders, the FY 2026-2030 Department of State Agency Strategic Plan, and country-specific recommendations in the annual TIP Report. Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed interventions directly advance America First priorities, degrading transnational criminal organizations, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring American competitiveness.

Within this framework, PEMS seeks results-focused investments that meaningfully strengthen the global anti-trafficking response and demonstrate a reduction in prevalence of the crime.

PEMS supports the development, testing, and scaling of interventions with a clear theory of change, documented outcomes, and a realistic path to broader adoption.

This APS establishes a structured funding pathway that ensures U.S. government resources generate actionable learning, credible evidence, and durable impact. Applicants must demonstrate that their proposed work addresses significant gaps in knowledge, implementation, or capacity—not duplicating existing efforts, not producing proprietary or isolated pilots, and not generating findings with limited relevance to the wider anti-trafficking field. The following four Priority Program Areas outline the types of investments PEMS will support to drive measurable improvements in outcomes for survivors and vulnerable populations.

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.

PRIORITY AREA 1: PROBLEM ANALYSIS AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Purpose: These awards support early-stage work to understand a human trafficking problem and develop a response. This is for applicants who have identified a complex trafficking problem that affects the United States and need dedicated support to better understand the problem, identify effective interventions, and develop a strong program model, with a rigorous plan to test it.

Applicants must demonstrate that the trafficking problem they are targeting is significant to the United States and that no adequate response currently exists or is accessible to the affected population. Applicants should identify what information gaps exist and how they propose to fill them.

Funding Amount: Up to $1,000,000 Period of Performance: 12–24 months

Activities supported under Priority Area 1 may include:

• Focused data collection and problem analysis to understand the scope, drivers, and context of the targeted trafficking problem.

• Development and documentation of a clear intervention concept, including a theory of change and preliminary delivery model.

• Small-scale feasibility testing to assess whether the intervention can be safely and effectively delivered to the target population.

• Identification and documentation of associated costs with intervention.

• Documentation of learning, including what approaches were considered, what was tried, what was revised, and why, to support future development.

• Consultation and coordination with affected communities, local implementing partners, service providers, and government counterparts to inform intervention design.

PRIORITY AREA 2: PILOTING & TESTING

Purpose: Priority Area 2 awards support pilot testing of an intervention concept that already has shown some evidence, including anecdotal evidence, of effectiveness. Applicants must have a clearly defined intervention model, developed either through a Priority Area 1 award or other prior work, and be ready to rigorously test it and refine the model to optimize effectiveness. Applicants must demonstrate that their intervention concept has been tested for feasibility and they have the organizational capacity, collaboration, and implementation infrastructure needed to conduct a meaningful pilot.

Funding Amount: Up to $4,000,000 Period of Performance: 24-36 months

Activities supported under Priority Area 2 may include:

• Intervention implementation with a defined target population across one or more sites.

• Outcome measurement using pre/post assessments, comparison groups, or other approaches appropriate to the context.

• Refinement of the intervention model based on pilot findings, including adaptations to delivery, content, or targeting.

• Cost analysis to document the resources required to deliver the intervention and assess value for money.

• Development and testing of a sustainability plan.

• Documentation of lessons learned and an implementation-ready intervention model suitable for further testing or replication.

• Development and testing of data collection tools and monitoring systems.

• Process evaluation to assess whether the program was delivered as intended, delivery quality, and how well the intervention reaches and serves the intended beneficiaries.

PRIORITY AREA 3: FULL-SCALE IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION

Purpose: Priority Area 3 awards support large-scale implementation of anti-trafficking interventions that have already demonstrated promising results at the pilot stage, paired with a rigorous evaluation. This is for applicants who have a well-developed, tested intervention model and are ready to apply it at scale and evaluate its effectiveness across multiple sites or contexts, produce high-quality evidence, and develop the tools and guidance needed for others to replicate or adapt the intervention. Applicants must demonstrate that their intervention has been tested at the pilot stage and produced promising outcome data, that they have the ability to scale/expand the intervention to a larger population while testing its effectiveness through a rigorous evaluation, and that they have a clear plan for disseminating and applying findings.

Funding Amount: Up to $8,000,000 Period of Performance: 24-60 months

Activities supported under Priority Area 3 may include:

• Full-scale implementation of the intervention across multiple contexts or sites.

• Development of a replication guide or implementation package, including training materials, operational protocols, and data tools, enabling others to adopt the intervention.

• Rigorous impact evaluation using the strongest feasible design, including randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental methods, contribution analysis, and other approaches that systematically assess causation and attribution.

• Comprehensive tracking and documentation that the implementation was delivered as intended, adaptation decisions, and contextual factors affecting outcomes.

• Cost-effectiveness analysis, where feasible

• Stakeholder validation of findings through workshops or structured feedback processes with implementing partners and affected communities.

• Dissemination of findings to policy and practitioner audiences, including through TIP

Office channels.

PRIORITY AREA 4: LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS AND PRIVATE

SECTOR PARTICIPATION TO CONSOLIDATE DATA AND EVIDENCE ON

EFFECTIVENESS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROGRAMMING

Purpose: Priority Area 4 requests initiatives that consolidate lessons learned from programs funded by the U.S. and other actors and identify which approaches actually work, including against emerging threats to Americans like online scams and forced criminality. These initiatives build systems and tools that maximize returns on U.S. taxpayer investments in anti-trafficking efforts, through collaboration with the private sector and/or leveraging technology to increase efficiency and reduce waste.

Funding Amount: Up to $2,500,000 Period of Performance: 12-36 months

Type of work supported under Priority 4 might include:

• Development and improvement of human trafficking prevalence estimation methods in priority locations and populations, including approaches to track changes over time.

• Actionable evidence products, including briefs, country snapshots, thematic summaries, and plain language "what works" guides identifying which interventions have demonstrated effectiveness, that translate the best available evidence into clear recommendations for practitioners, policymakers, and country leaders developing plans to address TIP Report recommendations.

• Information systems that collect, organize and identify lessons learned from past and current anti-trafficking programs. This could include, but is not limited to, AI-enabled tools to automatically collect, organize, and summarize program documents, government reports, and practitioner insights at scale and in real time.

• Structured evidence gap maps that identify where credible knowledge, tested interventions, or implementation capacity are missing, helping prioritize investment opportunities.

• Common measurement systems, including shared outcome indicators, standard reporting formats, and agreed definitions, that enable meaningful comparison of results across countries and programs, supported by technical assistance to build grantee capacity for high-quality evaluation design and learning.

• PEMS-specific knowledge management products that help the anti-trafficking community cull lessons learned.

Participants and Audiences for all Priorities: Nongovernmental organizations, not-for-profit organizations, for-profit companies, international organizations, educational institutions, and U.S. government agencies.

The following types of programs are not eligible for funding:

• Programs relating to partisan political activity;

• Charitable or development activities;

• Programs that support specific religious activities;

• Fundraising campaigns;

• Lobbying for specific legislation or programs in the United States;

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

• Programs that duplicate existing programs, produce proprietary or isolated pilots, or generate findings with limited relevance to the wider field.

2. Substantial Involvement For awards that are issued as cooperative agreements, areas of substantial U.S. Government involvement may include (but are not limited) to the following:

• Joint Programmatic Decisions: The TIP Office and the recipient collaborate on key programmatic decisions throughout the period of performance. This may include, but is not limited to, reviewing and approving work plans prior to implementation; determining when specific project components may commence; and approving the final method of delivery or implementation.

• Technical Assistance and Direction: The TIP Office provides ongoing technical assistance, guidance, and direction integral to the project's execution. Failure to follow such direction would undermine the goals and objectives of the award or otherwise render the award unsuccessful. The nature of technical assistance will be determined by the type of award.

• External Evaluator Engagement (Priority Areas 1 and 2): TIP Office may require the recipient to work with an external evaluator selected and funded by the TIP Office. In such cases, the external evaluator would provide technical assistance on the development of an implementation-focused research plan; identification and refinement of the theory of change and program model; and design of the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework. If selected for an external evaluation, the recipient must execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the external evaluator within 90 days of the award signature date.

• Review and Approval of Research and Data Products: All final products, which may include, but are not limited to, survey instruments, research and data collection tools, institutional review board (IRB) submissions, anonymized datasets, and final reports, must be submitted to The TIP Office for review and approval prior to public release or use. All such products must be made available for open-access publication prior to the end of the period of performance. Data must also be submitted to a repository designated or approved by The TIP Office.

D. 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 pages are numbered

• All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and

• All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 14-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations)

• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) (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. Summary Page (optional) Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

3. Proposal (10 pages maximum) The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.

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

ii. Introduction to the Organization: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S.

Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.

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

iv. Program Goals and Objectives: 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.

v. Project Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.

vi. Project Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.

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

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

viii. 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?

ix. Project Sub-awardees: List the names and type of involvement of key collaborating organizations and sub-awardees.

x. Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants.

Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?

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

4. Budget Justification Narrative After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section I. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Justifications below for further information.

5. Attachments

• 1-page Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program

• Letters of support from project sub-awardees describing the roles and responsibilities of each

• If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, include your latest NICRA as a PDF file.

E. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required above are available at www.grants.gov.

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

TIPGrants@state.gov.

Please see the TIP Office website (https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-funding-opportunities/) for an FAQ with additional information.

3. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Required Registrations

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the 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 the NOFO.

The 2 CFR 200 requires that subrecipients 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:

mailto:

https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-funding-opportunities/ https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-funding-opportunities/ 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

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

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO plan to do business with the DoD in addition to Department of State should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Apply for an NCAGE code by following the instructions on the NSPA NATO website linked below:

NCAGE Homepage:

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/sc/CageList.aspx NCAGE Code Request Tool (NCRT):

NCAGE Code Request Tool (nato.int)

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.

4. Submission Dates and Times

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.

• If funding is available, the Department may conduct additional reviews of applications to meet Department priorities.

• Proposals received between October 1 and December 31, 2026, will be reviewed by March 31, 2027.

• Additional reviews may occur if funding is available.

• Applicants will receive responses on a rolling basis determined by final State

Department leadership approvals and the availability of funds.

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).

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feportal.nspa.nato.int%2FAC135Public%2Fscage%2FCageList.aspx&data=05%7C01%7Cfjeldkk%40state.gov%7C0cc4e2b471f44abcd32308db093ecead%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C638113937577534024%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=v3TLT8F%2FNfk5SuTcI2zw7SMhV4HK542OhP9XDx4ln%2BY%3D&reserved=0 https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/Codification/CageTool/home https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110

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 Annual Program Statement will be within the United States, applicants are advised that they will be required to certify the following at the time of award:

1) 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;

2) 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 Regarding Compliance with 20 U.S.C. 1011f and any other applicable foreign funding disclosure requirements:

Applicants are advised that IHEs must certify the following at the time of award, and that this certification requirement must be included in any subaward agreements to IHEs:

1) Its compliance in all respects with section 1011f of title 20, United States Code, and any other applicable foreign funding disclosure requirements is material for purposes of section 3729 of title 31, United States Code, and for receipt of appropriate Federal grant funds.

v. 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 where the estimated value of services to be performed outside the United States exceeds $500,000:

• 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);

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).

• 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 their website and at the workplace. Recipients must re-certify on an annual basis for the entire award period of performance.

vi. Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manufactured or Assembled by American Security Drone Act-Covered Foreign Entities

(a) Definitions.

American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entity means an entity included on a list developed and maintained by the Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC) and published in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov.

FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled by an American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entity.

Unmanned aircraft means an aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.

Unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the unmanned https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-175 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-175 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-175 https://www.sam.gov/ aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system.

(b) Prohibition. Recipients of funding under this Annual Program Statement

(including subawards and subcontracts) will be prohibited from:

(1) delivering any FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system, which includes unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones) and associated elements;

(2) Operating a FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system in the performance of the award (section 1824 of Pub. L. 118-31, 41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.); and

(3) Using Federal funds for the purchase or operation of a FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system .

(c) Exemptions, exceptions, and waivers. The prohibitions described above will not apply if the agency determines that an exemption, exception, or waiver applies and the award indicates that such a determination has been made. [See sections 1823 through 1825 and 1832 of Public Law 118-31 ( 41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.) for statutory requirements pertaining to exemptions, exceptions, and waivers.].

vii. Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance (PHFFA)

Applicants for foreign assistance awards should be aware of requirements in 2 CFR Part 602, 603, and 604.

These policies are referred to collectively as the Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance (PHFFA) Policy.

2 CFR 602: The award term imposes certain abortion-related requirements on foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), United States NGOs, public international organizations, foreign governments, and parastatals.

2 CFR 603: The award term imposes certain requirements relating to gender ideology on foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), United States NGOs, international organizations, foreign governments, and parastatals.

2 CFR 604: The award term imposes certain requirements relating to discriminatory equity ideology on foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), United States NGOs, international organizations, foreign governments, and parastatals.

The Department recognizes there are costs associated with these policies. Potential one-time and recurring costs the Department identifies for recipients and grantees are for familiarization with the policy, development and delivery of organizational training and implementation guidance, routine compliance monitoring, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fuscode.house.gov%2Fview.xhtml%3Freq%3Dgranuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title41-section3901%26num%3D0%26edition%3Dprelim&data=05%7C02%7CCarbullidoCC%40state.gov%7C237266465ee34b736eaf08de3442d869%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C639005658853810678%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=9HxEeOJc49x2mY9%2FclnBN%2Ft3LvDuWz%2FB6CCs5bB8zPI%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fuscode.house.gov%2Fview.xhtml%3Freq%3Dgranuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title41-section3901%26num%3D0%26edition%3Dprelim&data=05%7C02%7CCarbullidoCC%40state.gov%7C237266465ee34b736eaf08de3442d869%7C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%7C0%7C0%7C639005658853841398%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vOOQC%2FqEnM0FmwOBiz0sKQU2rkL0QZZz6YPZDhMeP3o%3D&reserved=0 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/27/2026-01519/protecting-life-in-foreign-assistance https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/27/2026-01516/combating-gender-ideology-in-foreign-assistance https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/27/2026-01517/combating-discriminatory-equity-ideology-in-foreign-assistance-rules

viii. Prohibition on support for ineligible recipients:

Foreign assistance funds may not benefit countries or entities that are not eligible recipients of United States foreign assistance or for which there are applicable assistance restrictions. Applicants shall work with the Department of State to ensure that any applicable restrictions and requirements are addressed prior to awarding any sub-awards.

ix. Restriction on use for construction:

Construction, including modernization and rehabilitation, is not prohibited. Department policy restricts the use of federal awards for construction purposes and additional conditions apply.

6. Other Submission Requirements

All application materials must be submitted electronically through MyGrants.

For assistance with MyGrants contact Customer Support by calling 1 (888) 313-4567 or by creating an account on the ILMS Self Service Portal. The Support Desk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please note the hours for Federal holidays may differ. Please note, if an organization has issues submitting an application near the deadline, the only way its late application will be considered for review is if the applicant opens a ticket with the help desk to fix the problem prior to the deadline, and if the applicant emails tipgrants@state.gov before the deadline with the ILMS ticket number and an explanation of the problem and the efforts undertaken to resolve it. A ticket with the help desk can be opened by submitting a ticket through the ILMS Self Service Portal. The ILMS Help Desk utilizes a user-facing ticketing interface that allows users to submit and monitor their MyGrants tickets.

F. Application Review Information

1. Review Criteria Each application will be evaluated and rated based on the evaluation criteria outlined below.

Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 30 points: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out, and includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The proposal adheres to Administration priorities outlined in the National Security Strategy, executive orders, the FY 2026-2030 Department of State Agency Strategic Plan, and country-specific recommendations in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 20 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account. If sub-awards are proposed, applicant demonstrates experience managing sub-awards.

mailto:tipgrants@state.gov

Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.

Budget – 10 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.

Monitoring and evaluation plan – 15 points: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured.

Sustainability – 10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.

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 All proposals will be screened by the TIP Office to determine whether they meet the technical requirements as stated in this announcement. Proposals will be deemed ineligible during the technical review process and will not be considered for funding if they do not: meet the procedural eligibility requirements, respond to the priorities articulated in the program description, and include all required application components.

Following the technical review, a formal content review of each proposal that passes the technical review will commence. Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of regional and subject matter experts within the Department. Panel recommendations will be submitted to the Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, or Senior Bureau Official, for consideration.

Final award decisions will be influenced by how well the application adheres to Administration priorities outlined in the National Security Strategy, executive orders, the FY 2026-2030 Department of State Agency Strategic Plan, and country-specific recommendations in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

The U.S. government reserves the right to obtain clarifications, request additional detail, or suggest refinements in the program description, budget, or other aspects of an application.

4. Risk Review

i. Risk factors

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 requirements

ii. Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov

The Federal awarding agency, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the U.S. government designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov (see 41 U.S.C. 2313);

An applicant can review and comment on any information in the responsibility/qualification records available in SAM.gov.

Before making decisions in the risk review required by § 200.206 the Department will consider any comments by the applicant, along with information available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov.

G. Award Notices The award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The award agreement is the authorizing document, and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S.

government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

Unsuccessful applicants: Unsuccessful applicants will be notified on a rolling basis.

Payment Method: Payments under this award will be made through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Payment Management System (PMS).

Recipients may not draw down funds without the affirmative authorization of the Department of State. In addition, recipients must submit, with each PMS payment request, a detailed explanation justifying the request.

H. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

1. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and…