Pelosi NOFO - QA June 6.13.pdf

Questions and Answers – June 13

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

BUREAU OF GLOBAL TALENT MANAGEMENT

OFFICE OF TALENT ACQUISITION

Nancy Pelosi Fellowship Program

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DFOP0016559

Question #1: Would GTM confirm the official title of the project?

DOS Response: The official title of the program is the Nancy Pelosi Fellowship

Program.

Question #2: Would GTM confirm at what point the recipient would be expected to complete their support of the 2025-26 fellows’ cohort as it relates to their potential SIP opportunity in the summer of 2026? To what extent, if any, is the grant recipient responsible for any deliverables beginning with the second internship placement in summer 2026? Is there any expectation for professional development activities or payment for the second fellowship in year two?

DOS Response: The period of performance for the NOFO is 15 months and is expected to conclude following offboarding after the first internship placement and completion of end-phase activities indicated on page 11 of the NOFO, including preparation for the participant cohort to fulfill application criteria for a potential second internship rotation administered directly by the Department of State. The recipient will not be responsible activities for the second internship rotation administered by the Department of State outside of the period of performance.

Question #3: Would GTM confirm that the target audience for outreach and recruitment are undergraduates at the first-year (freshman) level, who would begin the first internship rotation between their freshman and sophomore years, then be eligible to apply for SIP while a sophomore and begin the second internship rotation between their sophomore and junior years? Can you clarify if only rising Sophomores are eligible for the program, or whether students at or above a rising Sophomore level, in particular rising Juniors, would be eligible for the program as well? Additionally, can you clarify whether there are age and/or credit hour completion requirements for applicants to the program? Can you clarify whether current community-college/associate degree students will be eligible?

DOS Response: Applicants are encouraged to refer to the Intern Applicant criteria indicated on page 7 of the NOFO. As outlined on page 9 of the NOFO, the recipient organization will be responsible for developing final application materials and detailed selection criteria in coordination with the Department of State.

Question #4: Would GTM want to consider specific bachelor degree-programs that would be most relevant to placement in national security think tanks, foundations, or non-education institutions focused on foreign affairs / global service in order to facilitate more direct matches of interests and skill sets between fellows and their placement organizations?

DOS Response: Applicants are encouraged to review the NOFO in its entirety to develop and design proposals.

Question #5: Would GTM confirm whether recruitment for this project is expected to be virtual through online/social media methods or should also include in-person outreach visits (independent of the DIR recruitment) that would require travel by staff of the recipient?

DOS Response: Applicants are encouraged to review the NOFO in its entirety, including portions related to outreach and recruitment on pages 8 – 9. As specified in the NOFO, the recipient organization will be expected to provide promotional materials to the Department’s Diplomats in Residence (DIR) network and may leverage Department recruitment networks.

Question #6: Would honorariums or stipends to the fellowship placement providers

(think tanks, foundations, or other non-education institutions) be allowable in the award budget? These funds would be intended to defray the staff time cost associated with hosting and supervising a fellow.

Question #7: Would honoraria or stipends to any current or former Senior Foreign Service members serving in a mentorship role for the fellows be allowable in the award budget?

Question #8: Is there a minimum/maximum number of Fellowship hours Fellows must complete in the first internship rotation?

Question #9: Can we include funds for each Fellow to attend local D.C. cultural events/tours?

DOS Response: Applicants are encouraged to review the NOFO in its entirety to

Question #10: Is there a sample monitoring indicator tracker?

DOS Response: Please see section C.4, page 19 of the amended PSI’s. Program applicants may provide their individually established monitoring and indicator trackers and logic model methods.

Question #11: Are there any page limits on any of the application materials, particularly the proposal narrative?

DOS Response: Please see page 11 of the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSIs) regarding proposal narrative submission length. Applicants are encouraged to review the PSI’s in their entirety for submission instructions.