Notice of Funding Opportunity

English Language Teaching and Learning

Program

U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Tashkent, Public Diplomacy Section

Opportunity number: Tashkent-PDS-FY26-003

Application deadline: August 15, 2026

Table of 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 U.S. Embassy Tashkent, Public Diplomacy Section

Regional English Language Office

Notice of Funding Opportunity

A. BASIC INFORMATION

1. Overview

Funding Opportunity Title English Language Teaching and Learning Program

Funding Opportunity Number Tashkent-PDS-FY26-003

Announcement Type NOFO

Deadline for Applications August 15, 2026, 11:59 PM (Tashkent Time)

Assistance Listing Number 19.022

Length of performance period 12 months

Number of awards anticipated 2-3 awards

Award amounts Minimum of $200,000 to $500,000 maximum

Total available funding $500,000 pending availability of funds

Type of Funding FY26 Fulbright Hays Public Diplomacy Funds

Anticipated project start date October 1, 2026

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative agreement

Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 12 months.

This notice is subject to availability of funding. The Public Diplomacy Section reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described under circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the U.S. government, pending the availability of funds and approval of the designated grants officer.

2. Executive Summary

The U.S. Department of State announces an open competition to deliver in-person, specialized

English language teacher training and direct student instruction aligned with priority sectors such as space, critical minerals, rare earths, energy, high technology, business and trade, agriculture, media, and security. As U.S. engagement with Uzbekistan increases, English proficiency has become a strategic asset — enabling business and trade professionals, government officials, journalists, security personnel, agribusiness practitioners, and technology specialists to engage directly with Americans, access English-language resources, and generate opportunities that advance U.S. commercial and strategic interests.

A shortage of highly proficient English teachers in Uzbekistan limits learners' access to functional, sector-specific English instruction. This program addresses that gap by training teachers to deliver specialized language instruction while simultaneously providing direct instruction to students and emerging professionals in key sectors. Program activities will promote enhanced knowledge of American culture and entrepreneurial spirit alongside language gains, equipping participants to more effectively engage with and operate within U.S.

professional environments. The bulk of activities will be delivered in person. Funded programs will run for no more than two years and will produce measurable gains in English proficiency across priority professional communities.

Please follow all instructions below.

B. ELIGIBILITY

1. Eligible Applicants

The following not-for-profit organizations are eligible to apply:

● Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations

● Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions

For-profit entities, even those that may fall into the categories listed above, are not eligible to apply for this NOFO. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. For more information on the difference between sub-contract and sub-recipient, please refer to 2

CFR 200.331.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but not required for this funding opportunity.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration in SAM.gov.

This opportunity will not support:

● Projects relating to partisan political activity;

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.331

● Charitable or development activities; including direct social services such as medical, psychological, and/or humanitarian support

● Construction projects;

● Projects that support specific religious activities;

● Fund-raising campaigns;

● Lobbying for specific legislation or programs

● Scientific research or surveys;

● Commercial projects;

● Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;

● Projects that duplicate existing projects or illegal activities.

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Project Background, Goals, and Objectives

As U.S. deepens its engagement with Uzbekistan, English proficiency has become a strategic asset for Uzbek professionals seeking to collaborate with U.S. counterparts, access U.S. markets, and participate in diplomatic and commercial opportunities. Demand for English proficiency is especially acute across priority sectors — including critical minerals, rare earths, energy security, high technology, business and trade, agriculture, media, and security — where the ability to communicate directly with U.S. counterparts in English is increasingly essential to professional advancement and bilateral cooperation.

Despite this demand, a persistent shortage of highly proficient English teachers limits learners' access to functional, sector-relevant English instruction. Many educators lack the language fluency necessary to bring students to a functional level of English, and learners across key professional communities have limited exposure to native English speakers or to American culture, values, and business practices. This gap constrains the ability of business and trade professionals, government officials, journalists, security personnel, agribusiness practitioners, and technology specialists to engage meaningfully with U.S. counterparts — and limits the broader potential of U.S. investment and cooperation in the region.

This program should pursue two overarching goals:

1. Strengthen English language teaching capacity by developing a cadre of highly proficient, professionally equipped English teachers capable of delivering sector-relevant instruction at the B2 level and above.

2. Increase English language proficiency and knowledge of American culture among students and emerging professionals in priority sectors, equipping them to engage directly and effectively with U.S.-linked professional environments, commercial frameworks, and diplomatic initiatives.

To achieve these goals, the program will:

• vet, and select qualified English language teachers at the secondary and post-secondary levels across priority sectors, in coordination with the U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy

Section (PDS), ensuring all participants demonstrate a clear need for English language development, a capacity to deliver sector-relevant instruction, and a commitment to co

• Train teachers on technical and professional English (English for Specific Purposes) relevant to critical minerals, energy, high technology, supply chain, business, agriculture, media, and security;

• Deliver direct, in-person English language instruction to students and emerging professionals, using communicative, context-rich methodologies that build functional proficiency;

• Increase access to quality English instruction through in-person programming, including workshops, intensive sessions, and embedded instruction models;

• Promote knowledge of American culture, , and entrepreneurial spirit, integrating cultural content into language instruction to equip participants to operate effectively within U.S.-linked professional environments.

The bulk of program activities will be delivered in person. Funded programs will run for no more than two years.

Project Audience(s):

Primary Audience: English Language Teachers

The primary beneficiaries of this program are English language teachers at the secondary and post-secondary levels who serve students and emerging professionals across priority sectors. Key characteristics include:

1. Professional Background: Active English language educators at secondary schools, universities, or vocational institutions; demonstrated potential for English language advancement; experience teaching or capacity to teach students in sectors such as business and trade, energy and critical minerals, high technology, agribusiness, media, or security.

2. Participation Format: In-person teacher training intensives, professional development workshops, and ongoing coaching and mentorship delivered over the program period of no more than two years.

3. Professional Responsibilities: Completing training requirements, applying new language skills and pedagogical techniques in their home institutions, and serving as sustained sources of high-quality English instruction for students and emerging professionals in their communities.

4. Support Needs: Access to qualified trainers and native English speakers; sector-relevant instructional materials; clear proficiency benchmarks and assessment tools; and logistical support to participate in in-person programming, particularly for educators based in secondary cities or rural areas.

Secondary Audience: Students and Emerging Professionals

Students and emerging professionals in priority sectors are the direct recipients of English language instruction delivered through this program. Key characteristics include:

1. Professional Background: Individuals working in or preparing to enter priority sectors such as business and trade, energy and critical minerals, government and diplomacy, security and law enforcement, media and journalism, agribusiness, and technology and IT

— with a demonstrated need for functional English proficiency to advance professionally and engage with U.S. partners.

2. Participation Format: Direct, in-person English language instruction contextualized to participants' professional environments, including sector-specific coursework, communicative practice, and cultural programming that promotes knowledge of

American values, culture, and entrepreneurial spirit.

3. Professional Responsibilities: Active participation in instruction, completion of proficiency assessments, and application of English language skills within their professional and academic contexts.

4. Support Needs: Access to in-person instruction from highly proficient teachers and native English speakers; sector-relevant English language materials; and clear proficiency pathways with measurable benchmarks.

Project Goal:

To strengthen English language teaching capacity and expand direct English language instruction across priority professional sectors.

Project Objectives:

• Objective 1: Teacher Training and Professional Development Participants who complete the professional upskilling program will demonstrate strengthened capacity to design and deliver sector-contextualized English instruction — as evidenced by self-reported increases in skills in applying communicative, learner-centered methodologies that address the functional language demands of students across priority sectors.

• Objective 2: Direct English Language Instruction Emerging professionals who complete the English language program will demonstrate increased knowledge of

American culture, values, and entrepreneurial practices and improved skills in sector-specific English communication — as evidenced by self-reported gains in their ability to apply functional language proficiency in real-world professional and academic contexts.

2. Substantial Involvement

Under this Cooperative Agreement, the U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) will maintain substantial involvement in all phases of the English Language Teaching and Learning

Program, extending beyond routine monitoring to ensure strategic alignment with U.S.

government and Trump Administration priorities, programmatic integrity, and maximum impact across teacher training and direct student instruction activities. This involvement includes close coordination with the recipient on participant recruitment and selection, curriculum and instructional design, ongoing program delivery, and adaptation of services to evolving participant needs and the distinct professional contexts of priority sectors including critical minerals, energy, high technology, business and trade, agriculture, media, and security.

RELO/PDS's active engagement is essential to ensuring that program activities remain responsive, compliant, and aligned with U.S. public diplomacy and America First economic engagement objectives throughout the program period.

RELO Tashkent Substantial Involvement:

RELO Tashkent will play a central role in the oversight and strategic direction of all English

Language Teaching and Learning Program activities across both program tracks — teacher professional development and direct student instruction. This includes but is not limited to:

• Provide overall programmatic guidance and strategic direction, including participant targeting, institutional and sectoral placement decisions, and alignment with U.S.

Department of State public diplomacy and America First economic engagement objectives across priority sectors including critical minerals, energy, high technology, business and trade, agriculture, media, and security.

• Participate in teacher and student participant recruitment and selection processes, including reviewing candidate qualifications, assessing sectoral relevance, and making final selection decisions in coordination with the implementing organization.

• Approve key personnel assigned to support program delivery, especially those involved in teacher training, direct instruction, participant orientation, and ongoing programmatic support.

• Monitor participant satisfaction and program performance through regular check-ins, site visits, and feedback mechanisms throughout the program period, ensuring that both teacher training and direct instruction activities are meeting program objectives.

• Review and approve all programmatic and financial reports submitted by the implementing organization, providing feedback for improvement and ensuring results-based management across both program tracks.

• Provide guidance on curriculum and instructional design, ensuring that program content reflects and advances American culture, values, and entrepreneurial spirit and remains clearly oriented toward strengthening participants' capacity to engage with U.S. partners and support American commercial and strategic priorities.

• Coordinate participant work assignments with local institutional partners, ensuring alignment between program instruction and the professional needs of participants across priority sectors.

• Support problem-solving efforts when implementation challenges arise, providing

Embassy resources, sector-specific guidance, and interagency support as appropriate.

• Conduct program evaluation including participant feedback, institutional partner input, and implementer performance assessment to inform future programming and ensure continuous improvement.

• Approve any significant changes to program implementation, including instructional modality adjustments, sectoral reallocation of program resources, personnel changes, or modifications to the scope of teacher training or direct instruction activities.

Recipient Responsibilities with Ongoing Guidance

Implement Specialized English Language Instruction activities according to approved frameworks, ensuring high-quality teacher training and direct student instruction across all priority sectors throughout the program period.

• Conduct outreach and recruitment for teacher training participants and students/emerging professional cohorts through appropriate channels — including educational institutions, sectoral professional networks, ministries, and industry associations — ensuring diverse and qualified participant pools across priority sectors including critical minerals, energy, high technology, business and trade, agriculture, media, and security.

• Manage selection processes in close consultation with RELO, including application review, initial screening, interview coordination, and eligibility verification for both teacher and student participant cohorts.

• Provide pre-program orientation for all participants — both teachers and students — covering program expectations, proficiency benchmarks, cultural programming objectives, and logistical requirements.

• Maintain responsive support systems with dedicated staff available to address participant questions, concerns, and logistical issues within 48 hours across both program tracks throughout the program period.

• Respond promptly to guidance and feedback from RELO, adapting program activities as needed to reflect participant needs, policy changes, or shifts in U.S. Embassy priorities, with a maximum turnaround time of one to two business days for all RELO queries.

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 applicant authorized signatures are provided where indicated on the various required forms.

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms

• SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance (Attachment 1) at grants.gov or Embassy website.

• SF-424A Budget Information for Non-Construction programs (Attachment 2) at grants.gov or Embassy website.

• SF-424B Assurances for Non-Construction programs (Attachment 3) at grants.gov or

Embassy website. (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. Proposal (12 pages maximum)

Applicants must submit a complete narrative proposal in the format of their choice. The proposal should contain sufficient information so that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do (Attachment 4). The proposal must include all the items below:

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

● Introduction to the Organization applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the State Department and/or U.S. government agencies as well as experience with and expertise in areas related to those described in the NOFO (Attachment 5)

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

● Program Methods, Design, Activities, and Deliverables: 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. Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.

● Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.

https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

● 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?

● Project Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees, if applicable.

Monitoring & Evaluation Plan: Proposals must include a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) (Attachments 6 and 6a) The M&E PMP should show how applicants intend to measure and demonstrate progress towards the project’s objectives and goals.

The key components to the PMP are as follows:

● Monitoring and Evaluation Narrative: In narrative form, applicants should describe how they intend to monitor and evaluate the activities of their award. In addition, the applicant should describe any M&E processes, including key personnel, management structure (where M&E fits into the overall program’s staff structure), technology, and as well provide a brief budget narrative explaining any line-item expenditures for M&E listed in the program’s budget.

This narrative is limited to two pages.

● Theory of Change Diagram: Applicants are expected to submit either a Theory of Change diagram or an If-Then Statement that illustrates how project activities will lead to intended outcomes.

● Monitoring and Evaluation Datasheet: The applicant must include their proposed activities and their expected outputs and outcomes as well as the goals and objectives as written in the NOFO. The datasheet’s purpose is to explicitly illustrate how a project’s activities lead to tangible results (such as increased beneficiary skills, knowledge, or attitudes) that ultimately address a PDS objective.

● The selected applicant’s M&E PMP is subject to review and approval before any award will be issued under this NOFO. The selected applicant may be asked to work with U.S. Department of State Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists to ensure the applicant’s M&E PMP achieves an expected level of expertise and meets PDS objectives.

● Expenses directly associated with monitoring and evaluation are considered allowable.

3. Budget Justification Narrative

● Detailed Budget - Applicants must submit a detailed line-item budget. Applicants are encouraged to utilize the template provided with the funding opportunity but are not required to do so (Attachment 7). Line-item expenditures should be listed in the greatest possible detail. The budget must identify the total amount of funding requested, with a breakdown of amounts to be spent in the following budget categories: personnel; fringe benefits; travel; equipment; supplies; consultants/contracts; other direct costs; and indirect costs. Personnel salaries should include the level of effort and the rate of pay, which should cover the percentage of time each staff member will dedicate to grant-based activities. If an organization is charging an indirect cost rate without a NICRA, it must apply it to the modified total budget costs (MTDC). Budgets shall be submitted in U.S.

dollars and final grant agreements will be conducted in U.S. dollars.

● Budget Justification Narrative – Applicants must submit a budget justification narrative to accompany the detailed line-item budget. The purpose of the budget justification narrative is to supplement the information provided in the detailed budget spreadsheet by justifying how the budget cost elements are necessary to implement project objectives and accomplish the project goals. The budget justification narrative is a tool to help

Embassy staff fully understand the budgetary needs of the applicant and is an opportunity to provide descriptive information about the requested costs beyond the constraints of the budget template. Together, the detailed budget spreadsheet, the budget justification narrative, and the SF-424A should provide a complete financial and qualitative description that supports the proposed project plan and should be directly relatable to the specific project components described in the applicant’s proposal.

Additional Budget Notes:

• Audit Requirements: Please note the audit requirements for Department of State awards in the Standard Terms and Conditions https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm and

2CFR200, Subpart F – Audit Requirements. The cost of the required audits may be charged either as an allowable direct cost to the award OR included in the organization’s established indirect costs in the award’s detailed budget.

• Visa Fees: Include all visa application and related fees in your budget as applicable. Please note DS-2019s for post-funded programs must be submitted directly by the award recipient. If you anticipate your program will include the DS-2019 visa processing, your organization must be a registered Designated Sponsoring

Organization. For more information go to: https://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/become-a-sponsor/

4. Attachments

● Key Personnel Resumes: A résumé, not to exceed one page in length, must be included for the proposed key staff persons, such as the Project Director and Finance Officer, as well as any speakers or trainers (if applicable). If an individual for this type of position has not been identified, the applicant may submit a 1-page position description, identifying the qualifications and skills required for that position, in lieu of a résumé.

● Letters of support from program partners: Letters of support should be included for sub-recipients or other partners. The letters must identify the type of relationship to be entered into (formal or informal), the roles and responsibilities of each partner in relation https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm%20and%202CFR200 https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm%20and%202CFR200 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx to the proposed project activities, and the expected result of the partnership. The individual letters cannot exceed 1 page in length.

● Indirect Costs: If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

(NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included in the application submission.

● Proof of Non-profit Status: Documentation to demonstrate the applicant’s non-profit status (e.g., U.S.-based organizations should submit a copy of their 501(c)(3) Internal

Revenue Service determination letter, and non-U.S. organizations should provide evidence of non-profit status issued by a government entity).

● Proof of Registration: A copy of the organization’s registration should be provided with the proposal application. U.S.-based organizations should submit a copy of their IRS determination letter. Uzbekistan-based organizations should submit a copy of their certificate of registration from the appropriate government organization.

Other items NOT required/requested with the application submission, but which may be requested if your application is approved to move forward in the review process include:

a. Copies of an organization or program audit within the last two (2) years

b. Copies of relevant human resources, financial, or procurement policies

c. Copies of other relevant organizational policies or documentation that would help the

Department determine your organization’s capacity to manage a federal grant award overseas

d. Documentation that demonstrates the recipients’ plan and/or policy to safeguard PII of participants and beneficiaries. It is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure protection of personally identifiable information (PII) and safeguard PII when collecting, maintaining, using and disseminating such information

e. Information to determine what financial controls and standard operating procedures an organization uses to procure goods and services, hire staff and track time and attendance, pay for grant-related travel, and identify other financial transactions that may be necessary to undertake the project activities

f. The Embassy reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial information regarding the proposal.

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

Approved proposal will later need to be submitted via Access Portal.

1. Submission Dates and Times

All application materials must be submitted by email to: RELOCentralAsia@state.gov and must include the Funding Opportunity Title and Funding Opportunity Number in the subject line of the email.

Submission Deadline: All applications must be received by August 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., Tashkent Time. This deadline is firm and is not a rolling deadline. If organizations fail to meet the deadline noted above their application will be considered ineligible and will not be considered for funding.

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

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

The 2 CFR 200 also requires subrecipients to 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.”

mailto:RELOCentralAsia@state.gov 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=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 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

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO NOT plan to do business with the

DoD should follow the below instructions:

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

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.

Please note: Any applicant with an exclusion in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR

180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.”

4. Submission Dates and Times

Submission Deadline: All applications must be received by August 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., Tashkent Time. For the purposes of determining if an award is submitted on time, PDS will utilize the timestamp provided by Grants.gov. This deadline is firm and is not a rolling deadline.

If organizations fail to meet the deadline noted above their application will be considered ineligible and will not be considered for funding.

Submission Method: Submitting all application materials directly to the following email address: RELOCentralAsia@state.gov. Applicants opting to submit applications via email to RELOCentralAsia@state.gov must include the Funding Opportunity Title and Funding

Opportunity Number in the subject line of the email.

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).

ii. Certification Regarding Compliance with Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination

Laws. If the place of performance or delivery of any award made under this NOFO will be within the United States, applicants are advised that they will be required to certify the following at the time of award:

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110

a. 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;

b. 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.

iii. 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:

a. 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);

b. 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).

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

iv. Prohibition of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). If your project involves the purchase or use of an UAS, see this link for requirements and information you must include in your application.

v. Pre-Award Costs: Pre-award costs are not allowable under this NOFO unless approved in advance by the Grants Officer and justified in the proposal.

vi. Construction: Any award made as a result of this NOFO will not allow for construction activities or costs.

vii. Direct Social Services: Costs that cover and provide direct social services, such as welfare, charity, health or economic relief, are unallowable. Medical assistance, such as costs to include medical professionals, including but not limited to doctors, nurses, and psychiatrists to participate in the project activities are not allowed.

https://www.state.gov/federal-assistance-policies-appeals/

6. Other Submission Requirements: Copyrights and Proprietary Information

If any of the information contained in your application is proprietary, please note in the footer of the appropriate pages that the information is Confidential – Proprietary. Applicants should also note what parts of the application, program, concept, etc. are covered by copyright(s), trademark(s), or any other intellectual property rights and provide copies of the relevant documentation to support these copyrights.

Applicants must acquire all required registrations and rights in the United States and

Uzbekistan. All intellectual property considerations and rights must be fully met in the

United States and Uzbekistan.

Any sub-recipient organization must also meet all the U.S. and Uzbekistan requirements described above.

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Review Criteria

Criteria: Each application submitted under this announcement will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the criteria enumerated below. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success.

● Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 25 points: The program idea should be innovative and well developed, with sufficient detail about how project activities will be carried out. The proposals should demonstrate originality and outline clear, achievable objectives that align directly with the priorities and requirements of the NOFO. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline, and the project scope is appropriate and clearly defined. Finally, the proposal aligns with the following:

o The project clearly demonstrates a direct contribution to current U.S. foreign policy priorities.

o The project will positively impact America’s reputation among foreign government partners.

o The project will positively impact American’s reputation among foreign publics.

o The proposal does not include any activities contrary to the following Executive

Orders:

▪ Executive Order 14173: "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring

Merit-Based Opportunity

▪ Executive Order 14287: “Protecting American Communities from

Criminal Aliens”

▪ Executive Order 14168: Defending Women from Gender Ideology

Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government

● Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 25 points:

o The project proposal demonstrates that the organization has sufficient expertise, skills, and human resources to implement the project, including internal controls https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/protecting-american-communities-from-criminal-aliens/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/protecting-american-communities-from-criminal-aliens/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/ in place to manage federal funds. If sub-awards are proposed, applicant demonstrates experience managing subawards.

o The organization demonstrates that it has a clear understanding of the underlying issue that the project will address.

o The organization demonstrates capacity for successful planning and responsible fiscal management. This includes a financial management system, a bank account, and if applicable, satisfactory audit findings.

o Applicants who have received grant funds previously have been compliant with applicable rules and regulations, including the Award Provisions and Standard

Terms and Conditions.

o Where partners are described, the applicant details each partner’s respective role and provides curriculum vitae (CVs) for persons responsible for the project and financial administration. Proposed personnel, institutional resources, and partners are adequate and appropriate.

● Project Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 20 points: The project plan is well developed, with sufficient detail about how activities will be carried out. The proposal specifies target audiences, participant recruitment, and geographic areas of implementation. The proposal outlines clear, achievable objectives. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. The project scope is appropriate and clearly defined.

● Budget – 10 points: The budget and narrative justification are sufficiently detailed. The budget demonstrates that the organization has devoted time to accurately determine expenses associated with the project instead of providing rough estimates. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The results and proposed outcomes justify the total cost of the project. Budget items are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.

● Monitoring and Evaluation - 10 points: The project proposal includes an M&E plan.

The applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals and objectives outlined in the proposal. The proposal includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured. Funded projects will have their plans finalized during the negotiation phase, and monitoring plans may be subject to periodic updates throughout the life of the project.

● Sustainability – 10 points: The project proposal describes clearly the approach that will be used to ensure maximum sustainability or advancement of project goals after the end of project activity.

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

a. Acknowledgement of receipt. Applicants will receive acknowledgment of receipt of their proposal.

b. Review. All submissions are screened for technical eligibility. If a submission is missing any required forms/documents listed above in Section D. Application

Contents and Format, it will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed by the grants review committee. A technical review panel will review eligible proposals based upon the criteria noted in this NOFO.

c. Follow up notification. Applicants will generally be notified within 120 days after the

NOFO deadline regarding the results of the review panel.

1. Risk Review

i. 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 project 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 2 CFR 200.206, the Department will consider any comments by the applicant, along with information available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov.

iii. High Risk Designation

Awardees that are deemed to be high risk based on the above risk factors will be held to special award conditions. At a minimum, the recipient and/or project designated as High

Risk will be required to submit monthly narrative reports and/or quarterly detailed financial reports. Recipients may also be required, upon request of the Grants Officer or Grants

Officer Representative, to provide electronic copies of receipts or other supporting documentation (e.g., timesheets, travel documents) for costs incurred. The Grants Officer may withhold 10% of the award amount until final reports have been reviewed and approved by the GO. The recipient may be required to pay all salaries supported by the grant via electronic funds transfer. Other special award conditions may also be included if deemed appropriate by the Grants Officer.

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 counter-signature. The recipient may only start incurring project expenses beginning on the start date shown on the 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.

Payment Method:

Recipients will be required to request payments by completing form SF-270—Request for

Advance or Reimbursement and submitting the form to the Grants Officer and Grants Officer

Representative.

Recipients may not draw down funds without the affirmative authorization of the Department of

State. In addition, recipients must submit, with each SF-270 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 required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include:

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part

200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following:

● Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2

CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 89 FR 30046 on April 22, 2024, particularly on:

o Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an impartial process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205), o Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with

Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free

Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O.

13864) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341), o Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR part 200.322), and o Terminating agreements pursuant to the U.S. Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, including, to the greatest extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR part 200.340).

For the avoidance of doubt, the Department has sole discretion over the determination that an award no longer effectuates program goals or agency priorities, and this provision permits awards to be terminated at the Department’s convenience, including when it determines that the award no longer advances the national interest.

● 2 CFR 25 - UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD

MANAGEMENT

● 2 CFR 170 - REPORTING SUBAWARD AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

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