NOFO_PAS-JAKARTA-FY26-04_Escape The Hack.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Escape the Hack: Countering Cyber Scams with an Immersive Experience for

Everyday Indonesians

U.S. Embassy Jakarta, Department of State

Opportunity number: PAS-JAKARTA-FY26-04

Application deadline: August 7, 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

https://gbc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/mcasapi/McasPoliciesEndPoint/v2?policy=NativeApps&redir=0&McasSrc=bookmark%3A%2F%2F_heading%3Dh.lawmyfnqgozg&McasId=0dddfa01-192c-43f9-97b8-aaac4900a4a8&McasHash=c7b9a464b334d1fbe45b025219eb02b3cae011a107940f425495ec3caf1fd0d2 https://gbc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/mcasapi/McasPoliciesEndPoint/v2?policy=NativeApps&redir=0&McasSrc=bookmark%3A%2F%2F_heading%3Dh.rgr6zo5vjd6g&McasId=88c2db52-52f1-4021-a475-d665a34acd65&McasHash=46da4f02156e35c78785a107c293914a38bc60a0677fc323bdb9fc791a278c86 https://gbc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/mcasapi/McasPoliciesEndPoint/v2?policy=NativeApps&redir=0&McasSrc=bookmark%3A%2F%2F_heading%3Dh.t8mx8zggz8ge&McasId=8f5ba870-a652-481b-adc2-928ee067d5ff&McasHash=b89e04d2eaa39431446560d2dd87516ff047d24d48c44ba281085220d7a6fa62 https://gbc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/mcasapi/McasPoliciesEndPoint/v2?policy=NativeApps&redir=0&McasSrc=bookmark%3A%2F%2F_heading%3Dh.sjjprf9wq7ry&McasId=8becf2f0-9054-4131-8dd8-d4b41e55e4ad&McasHash=3117c39a92deb15b0e924c514334c30a9acf7534dcfd9fb0976968c31184f5be https://gbc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/mcasapi/McasPoliciesEndPoint/v2?policy=NativeApps&redir=0&McasSrc=bookmark%3A%2F%2F_heading%3Dh.nye5z1mffxr9&McasId=fd4b2e78-6408-4915-84df-971174ea19d4&McasHash=12e05e8ca2abbe62444d4e6669d72a7f8a83d91d9fa2a5043f231352614376fc https://gbc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/mcasapi/McasPoliciesEndPoint/v2?policy=NativeApps&redir=0&McasSrc=bookmark%3A%2F%2F_heading%3Dh.38p96xyqjhg2&McasId=be9558d0-539d-44e8-8705-4c172d58df2b&McasHash=4fc36bfaad448ab50dfc7554445c84108a4ad78d29c3b93b0b4b5e61529cb9ca https://gbc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/mcasapi/McasPoliciesEndPoint/v2?policy=NativeApps&redir=0&McasSrc=bookmark%3A%2F%2F_heading%3Dh.mtzruaecwzli&McasId=333a62c5-e867-4b7d-b1cb-a484afb6ab39&McasHash=a4527927a5221f0ea82373da1996ddc2f4e49c614d692cc2b450fc7fc2103462 https://gbc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/mcasapi/McasPoliciesEndPoint/v2?policy=NativeApps&redir=0&McasSrc=bookmark%3A%2F%2F_heading%3Dh.ucwp9gkzhhdd&McasId=603f702f-3a5a-495f-8fe2-4b2e15291679&McasHash=ecb1d71b1b8cf76ee8e37c429ba15da0f5a3a9c07fcb4f08014097e2e0b45c16 https://gbc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/mcasapi/McasPoliciesEndPoint/v2?policy=NativeApps&redir=0&McasSrc=bookmark%3A%2F%2F_heading%3Dh.ly6s19dlijuf&McasId=f3d4514e-74bc-40c5-8006-84c8cbe824d2&McasHash=8a05234e2e4b4be06517619d00bb18af30bea02a333420c44d36731da63d8d31

U.S Department of State U.S. Embassy Indonesia Public Diplomacy Section

Notice of Funding Opportunity

A. BASIC INFORMATION

1. Overview

Funding Opportunity Title Escape the Hack: Countering Cyber Scams with an Immersive Experience for Everyday Indonesians

Funding Opportunity Number PAS-JAKARTA-FY26-04 Announcement Type Funding Opportunity – Initial Announcement Deadline for Applications August 7, 2026, 11:59 PM Western Indonesia Time Assistance Listing Number 19.040 Length of performance period 5 to 12 months Number of awards anticipated 1 award Award amounts $100,000 - $300,000 Total available funding $300,000 pending availability of funds Type of Funding FY 2026 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds Anticipated project start date October 2026

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 6 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. 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 U.S. Embassy Jakarta announces an open competition to implement a program to address a pressing issue to U.S. and Indonesian citizens: cyber scams. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, U.S. citizens lost over $12.5 billion to cybercrime in 2023 alone. The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta seeks to host a month-long interactive escape room with a scam-center scenario in a highly visible location in Jakarta, with possible expansion to Surabaya and a third city with the highest exposure to scam operations, to help increase public awareness and prevention against scam operations increasingly targeting Indonesians and U.S. citizens. This project will also promote American technological leadership and highlight longstanding U.S. - Indonesia law enforcement cooperation. Target audience will be 3,000 direct program participants, 10,000 as walk-by traffic, 250,000 through social media, 10 million through traditional news amplification. The opening weekend will feature expert speakers and panel discussions to train the public on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and law enforcement cooperation.

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, foundations

● Public and private educational institutions

● Individuals

● 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. Please see Section E.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding under this funding opportunity.

4. This opportunity will not support:

● Projects relating to partisan political activity;

● 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;

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

● 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;

● Illegal activities.

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Project Background, Goals, and Objectives

Indonesia faces a pervasive and evolving cybercrime threat, with online scams growing in number and sophistication – while U.S. families continue to lose their life’s savings to international cybercrime, totaling over $12 billions in financial losses in 2023 alone. Unlike scam compounds in mainland Southeast Asia, criminal scam operations in Indonesia are decentralized and embedded within transnational networks. Thousands of Indonesian nationals have worked in scam compounds in Cambodia, Burma, and Laos, and there is now concern crackdowns in other countries prompting a wave of experienced Indonesian scammers to return home to establish new operations in collaboration with Chinese and other scam groups.

To strengthen its efforts in combating scams, Indonesia established an Anti-Scam Center (IASC) in 2024 to respond to citizen complaints, block fraudulent transactions, and recover victim funds.

IASC data shows an average of 1,300 complaints per day. The IASC reports approximately $500 million in victim losses from November 2025 to March 2026, of which only $9.75 million has been recovered — a two percent recovery rate. To date, IDN law enforcement has not successfully recovered funds for U.S. victims. Officials state that victims’ delayed reporting (average of 24-48 hours) to the IASC and Indonesian National Police (INP) significantly contributes to law enforcement's inability to recover victim funds. Faster reporting directly correlates with higher asset recovery rates, as fraudulent transactions can be blocked before funds are transferred across multiple accounts or jurisdictions.

In addition to harming U.S. citizens, digital fraud hurts U.S. companies as cybercrimes increasingly rely on direct messaging, platform-specific targeting, and syndicate-level tactics, with social media platforms emerging as a major channel for phishing, malicious APK files, fake investment groups, video-call extortion, and account takeovers. Criminal scam groups also tailor tactics across platforms, using Facebook for marketplace, romance, and fake job scams;

Instagram for fake investments and impersonation, other platforms are used for donation scams, quick-wealth schemes, and deepfakes. Criminals support these schemes with technical infrastructure such as lookalike domains, fake sub-domains, shortened links, QR-code redirects, free SSL certificates, and resilient hosting to make fraudulent sites appear legitimate and harder to disrupt. Indonesia’s Cyber and Cryptography Agency (BSSN) assesses that AI will increasingly be used as a “double-edged sword” with perpetrators creating highly natural phishing, automated chatbot scams, voice cloning and deepfake videos to impersonate individuals.

The “Escape the Hack” escape room and launch event addresses these threats through a popular entertainment activity that provides an emotional triggering connection with victims. By educating Indonesian citizens on recognizing scams, the dangers of working in scam centers, and the importance of immediate reporting — the program targets one of the most actionable gaps in Indonesia’s current anti-scam framework. A more cyber-aware Indonesian public that reports scams promptly strengthens the law enforcement’s ability to block fraudulent transactions in real time, benefiting both Indonesian and U.S. victims. The launch event with expert speakers amplifies this message to the widest possible audience through workshops, media coverage, and social media, maximizing the program’s impact.

The “Escape the Hack” initiative advances U.S. strategic interests by building cyber resilience in Indonesia — ASEAN’s largest economy and most populous nation — making America safer and more prosperous. The program promotes the United States as a global leader in cybersecurity innovation and demonstrates American commitment to addressing shared security challenges through innovative, people-centered solutions.

Project Audience(s):

● Indonesians ages 18–35 who face the greatest risk of being targeted by cyber scams and recruited into scam centers.

● Law enforcement professionals who seek to educate the public.

● Indonesian government officials working in cybercrime and resilience to cyber-attacks who see the United States as a leader in cybersecurity.

Project Goal: Protect Americans and Indonesia from the devastating effects of cyber scams and scam centers by increasing public awareness through meaningful exchanges with experts and an unforgettable interactive teaching experience.

Project Objectives:

● Objective 1: Strengthen public awareness of cyber scams and scam center activity through a month-long educational and interactive escape room located in a popular public location (mall, park, etc.), in one to three key cities in Indonesia, resulting in over 3,000 every day Indonesians being trained on cyber scams detection and reporting.

● Objective 2: Nationalize the dialog on cybersecurity issues and scam centers through media attention.

● Objective 3: Increase professional skills of at least 30 law enforcement and cyber professionals by holding an opening ceremony with senior U.S. and Indonesian government participation, a day-long interactive workshop series on cybersecurity awareness and scam prevention, live demonstrations, and discussion panels, resulting in at least 85% of attendees demonstrating the ability to identify new scam tactics.

2. Substantial Involvement

U.S. Embassy Roles and Responsibilities:

o In partnership with implementer, the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta shall oversee and approve all major programmatic and design aspects of the escape room, launch event, workshop/conference, and messaging.

Recipient Roles and Responsibilities:

o Identify and contract with a leading escape room company or interactive installation/exhibit creator to build and host an immersive, themed escape room where participants solve cybersecurity-related puzzles to "escape" within 20-30 minutes. The escape room will be designed and built based on Embassy input, with content designed to identify and elucidate the gravest cybersecurity risks (phishing and spear phishing, weak passwords, social engineering, etc., malicious scam centers, etc.). The escape room is envisioned as a roughly 5 x 15 meter (75 m²) fully immersive, story-driven escape room experience, including thematic set design, narrative development, layout planning, and 3D visualization to ensure a cohesive and high-impact environment with in-room technology elements, including interactive computer screens, webcam integration, audio/visual playback systems, and lighting effects. Design thematic set elements for four distinct rooms include:

Room 1 – The Bedroom (ransomware/phishing scenario) Room 2 – The Digital World (cybersecurity hygiene education) Room 3 – The Scam Center (human trafficking/scam awareness) Room 4 – The Police Station (law enforcement/victim protections) o Secure venue and coordinate escape room management and logistics (equipment, supplies, setup, including permits, staffing) and ensure the following:

Event Operations

• Operate eight to ten sessions per day throughout the one-month event period. The final session frequency, duration, group size, and total participant targets to be finalized in coordination with U.S. Embassy Jakarta during the concept and design phase.

• The vendor shall propose a session schedule optimized for participant flow, safety, and experience quality.

Provide free admission to all participants Conduct venue setup and final technical checks at the start of each day Venue & Logistics

• Identify, secure, and manage a suitable venue in Jakarta, Indonesia (priority consideration given to high-traffic, high-visibility locations such as major shopping malls or other high-traffic public spaces) for a one-month pop-up installation

• Coordinate all logistics including equipment procurement, supplies, and setup

• Obtain all necessary permits and approvals for venue operation in Jakarta

• Manage a ticketing or registration mechanism for participants Staffing & Training

• Recruit and provide adequate staffing, including:

o Game Masters to facilitate sessions and guide participants o Support staff for operations, crowd management, and participant registration

• Train all staff in game facilitation, operations, and participant interaction and facilitation.

• Conduct daily staff debriefs throughout the event period

Testing & Quality Assurance

• Conduct full game testing prior to launch and finalize all materials, puzzles, and equipment

• Ensure all technology systems (screens, audio, webcam, lighting) function reliably across sessions o Hold a high-visibility launch event in Jakarta that convenes Indonesian government counterparts, law enforcement, civil society organizations, private sector technology companies, and members of the general public for discussion session — and promotes awareness of the “Escape the Hack” escape room initiative. The event will generate coverage in traditional media and online.

o Expand outreach nationwide by leveraging media amplification, social media content, and networks of government, civil society, and private sector partners to extend the program’s reach beyond Jakarta, fostering public engagement with cybersecurity awareness and connections with the United States, U.S. officials, and the U.S. government. Develop promotional materials and outreach including posters and social media content, launch and manage a promotional campaign prior to and during the event.

o Ensure all events are executed effectively, on schedule, and within budget.

Manage all financial aspects including budgeting, procurement, and financial reporting in compliance with U.S. government regulations, delivering a high-quality participant experience while advancing U.S. strategic communication goals around digital safety, scam prevention, and the importance of timely reporting to Indonesian law enforcement.

o Establish and implement a monitoring and evaluation plan.

o Ensure compliance with all applicable U.S. government grant regulations, branding requirements, and reporting deadlines.

o Coordinate closely with the U.S. Embassy through regular updates and consultations.

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 – organizations) at grants.gov or Embassy website.

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

● SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) 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 (6 pages maximum) Applicants must submit a complete narrative proposal in a format of their choice. The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. 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 or Individual 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. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to use the attached Applicant Organization Information Survey form to provide this information. If the applicant chooses not to use the attached form, all of the requested information from the form will still need to be addressed in the application package.

● 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 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 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.

● 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).

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

● Monitoring & Evaluation Plan: Proposals must include a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). The M&E plan 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. If the proposal is from a prior grantee, the proposal discusses how the grantee has adapted, improved or otherwise modified their approach based on learning from previous experience. 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. 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. See Annex Section I for a description of the types of costs that should be included in each category. 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), refer to 2CFR§200.1. 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:

● Awards to Individuals: Please note the following budget guidelines for the Individual Award:

ο Salary/Honoraria: Only the award recipient may receive salary/honoraria from this funding mechanism. The Recipient must be the primary point of contact and manage all programmatic activities.

ο Contractual Costs: Additional individuals working on the award are only permissible through contracted services, as long as the services are not related to the core programmatic activities. Expenses for services such as accounting, legal support, social media management, website designer, etc., are allowable.

ο Other Direct Costs: Expenses related to securing venues, managing logistics, catering, etc. are allowable.

● 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.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm%20and%202CFR200 https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm%20and%202CFR200

● 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 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. Indonesian-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 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx

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

1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms required above are available at Embassy website, grants.gov, MyGrants.

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

jakartapasgrants@state.gov.

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.

https://id.usembassy.gov/ mailto:JakartaPASgrants@state.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:

• 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 7, 2026, 11:59 PM Western Indonesia 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.

Submitting all application materials directly to the following email address:

jakartapasgrants@state.gov. Applicants must include the Funding Opportunity Title and Funding Opportunity Number in the subject line of the email.

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

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

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.

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:

a. 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.

b. Applicants seeking clarification on the reporting requirement are encouraged to review the Frequently Asked Questions resource developed by the U.S.

Department of Education.

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:

https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/topics/section-117-foreign-gift-and-contract-reporting/resources/frequently-asked-questions

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.

i. 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.

vi. 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.

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

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

ix. 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.

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 Indonesia. All intellectual property considerations and rights must be fully met in the United States and Indonesia.

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

Any sub-recipient organization must also meet all the U.S. and Indonesia 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 – 30 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 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 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/ 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 – 5 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.

https://gbc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/mcasapi/McasPoliciesEndPoint/v2?policy=NativeApps&redir=0&McasSrc=bookmark%3A%2F%2F_heading%3Dh.sjjprf9wq7ry&McasId=3f433cbb-7d70-424d-88f8-48c7415f9747&McasHash=c9cbd640174db5360912db073c2d842959612c4645381adaedc1243b7987eea5 https://gbc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/mcasapi/McasPoliciesEndPoint/v2?policy=NativeApps&redir=0&McasSrc=bookmark%3A%2F%2F_heading%3Dh.sjjprf9wq7ry&McasId=3f433cbb-7d70-424d-88f8-48c7415f9747&McasHash=c9cbd640174db5360912db073c2d842959612c4645381adaedc1243b7987eea5

c. Follow up notification. Applicants will generally be notified within 120 days after the NOFO deadline regarding the results of the review panel.

2. 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…