Jefferson Science Fellowship_ DETERMINATION TO RESTRICT ELIGIBILITY.pdf

DETERMINATION TO RESTRICT ELIGIBILITY

TO: Michael Metzler, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation (IPI)

FROM: Amanda Nataro, Program Officer, IPI/ITR/R

SUBJECT: Determination to Restrict Eligibility (DRE) for Jefferson Science Fellowship

This document sets forth the facts and rationale justifying a determination to restrict eligibility (DRE) on the basis of programmatic purposes under ADS 303.3.6.5(d). As described below, the benefits to USAID of restricted eligibility for the Jefferson Science Fellowship outweigh USAID’s policy preference for, and the benefits of, an unrestricted competitive process.

Approval:

Based on my authority as Senior Bureau Official, I have made the determination to restrict eligibility based on programmatic purposes as described in this Determination to Restrict Eligibility pursuant to ADS 303.3.6.5(d).

__/S/ Michael Metzler_______ Signature __________________ Date ___12/5/2024___

1. Background and Description of Activity

The Jefferson Science Fellowship was established in direct response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to help bolster the international response to new threats and create new intersections between tenured academic scientists, policy makers, and policy implementers at the U.S. Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It was designed and defined at its creation as a tripartite partnership between the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), the Department of State, and USAID. Recognizing the unique identity and role of NASEM, the program was formed by the Secretary of State in 2003 to provide technical, science, and research capability to the USG.

The Jefferson Science Fellowship program is an innovative model for engaging faculty in the U.S.

foreign policy and international development process through a one-year immersive, applied experience in the U.S. Department of State or USAID. Open to tenured, or similarly ranked, faculty from U.S. institutions of higher learning who are U.S. citizens, Fellows are embedded at

State or USAID where they become conversant in operations and processes while contributing their technical expertise to policy formulation and implementation. Faculty return with a deeper understanding of policy, diplomacy, and international development to augment their research and teaching. Jefferson Science Fellowships are a mutually beneficial partnership between government and participating U.S. academic institutions. Since 2003, the Department of State and USAID have hosted nearly 200 Jefferson Science Fellows (50 at USAID).

The Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub’s Research Division (ITR/R) seeks to award a cooperative agreement to NASEM in FY2025 for the implementation of the Jefferson Science Fellowship program, for five years and up to $4,500,000.

The program is included in ITR/R’s annual Operating Plan, and the majority of the minimal fellow costs (stipend and travel) are paid by USAID/Washington host offices who buy-in to the program. Under this proposed new action, NASEM will manage the joint USAID and Department of State Jefferson Science Fellowship program. This predominant capability was not gained under the current or another USG-funded award, as the fellowship program was established prior to direct funding from USAID or the State Department.

2. Determination of the Basis for the DRE Action

Per ADS 303.3.6.5.d, IPI/ITR/R seeks approval of a DRE action to support the continuation of the Jefferson Science Fellowship program at USAID. The NASEM is the exclusive provider of the Jefferson Science program, and is currently in partnership with USAID and the State Department to manage the fellowship program for both agencies. USAID continues to benefit from the contributions of Jefferson Science Fellows, and as partnership with NASEM is the only way to access this program, it is within the Agency’s best interest to continue to partner directly with NASEM. Importantly, USAID and the State Department benefit from significant cost savings in the management of this program, as all core management and operational costs are shared among Agencies. While other technical fellows cost approximately $250K per year/per fellow, a Jefferson Science Fellow currently only costs USAID approximately $70K per year/per fellow representing a remarkably cost-efficient staffing alternative.

The Jefferson Science Fellowship relies on the predominant capability of NASEM to offer this specific fellowship program that is offered only to USAID and the Department of State.

Leveraging the unique cost-sharing model, NAESM recruits qualified applicants from U.S.

institutions of higher education, bringing senior faculty and highly recognized experts in a wide variety of technical, science, engineering, and medicine fields. They are able to accomplish this through reliance on their wide connections with experts and academia across the country, Memoranda of Understanding with U.S. universities, and through direct recruitment from the NASEM membership. Further, partnership with NASEM ensures that the Jefferson Science Fellowship is highly prestigious and recognized as such across higher education institution leadership, supporting the program and the fellows that participate to transition to the program and back to their home universities as needed each year.

NASEM, USAID, and the State Department work in partnership to create an adaptive fellowship program to harness the expertise, innovative thinking, and scholarship of academia with university leadership and private sector backgrounds. The Agency benefits from faculty committing one year of service to the federal government. NASEM provides in-demand expertise and knowledge to assist Washington based operating units in the use of science and technology addressing continuing development challenges. Jefferson Science Fellows have a distinct focus and capability whereby they energetically seek ways to contribute meaningfully to the priorities of their host offices during their outcome-oriented fellowship.

The program has been an invaluable way for USAID and the Department of State to engage higher education institutions and embed tenured faculty with technical expertise and experience into our programming. The program sees high demand; each year there are more position descriptions submitted by State and USAID staff to recruit a fellow than fellows available for placement. Jefferson Science Fellows have worked on many Agency priorities, including climate change, food security, global health, and catalyzing innovation and partnership.

3. Will this action extend the award 10 years or more beyond its original award date? If so, state the justification: Not applicable

Submitted:

____________________ _____11/12/2024 Amanda Nataro, Program Officer, IPI/ITR/R Date