2027 THOMAS R. PICKERING GRADUATE FOREIGN AFFAIRS FELLOWSHIP SELECTION PROCESS

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER:

BUREAU OF HUMAN RESOURCES

OFFICE OF OUTREACH, FELLOWSHIPS, AND INTERNSHIPS

SCOPE OF WORK

I. Program Goals, Objectives and Outcomes

Effective management of the Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Selection Process program is fundamental to its overall success. The Department is fully invested in this program and seeks to maintain a program of integrity and high quality. The goals and objectives of the program include, but are not limited to:

i. Program Goals

The overarching goals of the Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship are to:

· Develop new talent for the Department of State’s Foreign Service at the graduate level; individuals who are dedicated to pursuing Foreign Service careers, can effectively “respond to the complex challenges of modern diplomacy and international relations,”[footnoteRef:2] and can “provide the highest caliber of representation”[footnoteRef:3] for America’s interests abroad. [2: FSA 1980, 101(a)(3).] [3: FSA 1980, Sec. 101(b)(10).]

· Bring in top talent to fill critical skill needs for current and projected foreign policy priorities.

· Contribute to a Foreign Service that is “representative of the American people.”[footnoteRef:4] [4: Foreign Service Act of 1980, Section 101(a)(4).]

ii. Program Objectives

The objectives of the Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship are to:

· Attract and recruit highly talented and qualified candidates from across the United States to a Foreign Service career in the U.S. Department of State through a program of educational support and professional development.

· Provide candidates and fellows with information on the service elements, benefits, challenges, and requirements of a Foreign Service career.

· Provide candidates and fellows with information on the benefits and obligations of the fellowship and need to complete Foreign Service entry requirements including obtaining and maintaining required clearances (security, suitability and medical) and taking the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) and passing the Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA).

· Provide funding to assist fellows towards completing graduate degrees in academic disciplines representing the skill needs of the Department’s Foreign Service.

· Enhance fellows’ understanding of U.S. foreign policy and the work and lifestyle of the Foreign Service through a domestic internship in Washington D.C. and an overseas summer development experience at an embassy, consulate, or mission.

· Provide Fellows with one-on-one mentoring and professional development training to expose them to information that will help to prepare them to be successful Foreign Service Officers. To assist Fellows with career track selection, emphasis will be placed on the important contributions of all five career tracks to the Department’s mission.

· Administer the program in a strategic and efficient way that produces the intended results.

iii. Expected Results

Based on the goals and objectives of the program, expected results include, but are not limited to the following:

· Highlight the Department of State’s commitment to building a workforce that brings innovation and dedication to ensure Americans are safe, secure, and prosperous.

II. General Recipient Responsibilities

· Adhere to all HR/OFI guidance and procedures.

· The Recipient will need to be attentive and responsive to Pickering Fellows’ needs and those of the Department.

· The Recipient will need to demonstrate dedication and commitment in pursuing the goals of the programs as well as the ability to engage and work closely with HR/OFI in meeting all requirements.

· The Recipient must have sufficient staff with relevant qualification to administer the program and liaise with HR/OFI on all aspects of the programs.

· A senior level program manager with decision-making authority must be readily available and responsive to HR/OFI requests during the period of performance.

· The Recipient must submit to HR/OFI in draft, for review and final approval, a milestone schedule for the 2027 cohort. Key activities to be identified in the milestone schedule should include, but are not limited to:

· Opening and closing dates for Fellowship application

· Dates associated with the selection process (when applications are sent to panelists for review, date by which applications must be read and scores submitted, dates panelists meet, when selection interviews occur, when finalists are notified, etc.)

· The Recipient will be responsible for submitting required quarterly performance progress reports and financial reports.

· Recipient must develop an evaluation strategy to measure the impact and outcomes of the Pickering Fellowship Program Selection Process. Recipient must submit proposed evaluation strategy to HR/OFI for prior approval.

· Recipient will consent to meetings, as requested, with HR/OFI leadership participation to review status of the programs.

· Recipient agrees that HR/OFI has proprietary rights to all databases, surveys, statistics, and related information regarding cohorts under its management. If, during an open competition, this grant was awarded to another entity, the Recipient will be required to relinquish said information to HR/OFI.

III. Substantial Involvement

The Pickering Fellowship is administered via a cooperative agreement. HR/OFI, as the grantor, is substantially involved in the program activities above and beyond routine monitoring. HR/OFI activities and responsibilities for this program include but are not limited to, the following:

· Ensure that the Recipient complies with the stated program goals and objectives.

· Review and analyze the Recipient’s promotion of the Fellowship program goals.

· Monitor and evaluate Recipient’s delivery of the desired product.

· Review Recipient’s budget submissions to ensure they meet HR/OFI’s requirements for the program.

· Review Recipient reports of program activities, evaluating the effectiveness of the Recipient and its ability to favorably impact the programs.

· Review and approve annual milestone schedule and any programmatic date changes.

· Selection

· Provide selection criteria and review selection procedures prior to implementation.

· Provide criteria for selection of panel members; approve and designate selection panelists.

· Draft interview and essay questions in collaboration with Recipient.

· Final approval selection interview and essay questions.

· FSOA/FSOT

· Provide information to Fellows on the FSOA and FSOT requirements and assist them with scheduling.

· Collaborate with Recipient on verifying Fellows’ completion of FSOA and FSOT requirements.

IV. Program Description

The Pickering Fellowship provides outstanding candidates entering graduate school with funding to assist in the completion of a two-year master’s degree in an area relevant to the Foreign Service of the Department of State. Fellows complete a domestic internship at an office of the Department of State in Washington D.C. and an overseas summer experience at a U.S embassy, consulate or mission. In addition, Fellows receive mentoring from a Foreign Service Officer and professional development training during the program. Fellows who successfully complete the fellowship program and Foreign Service entry requirements receive appointments as Foreign Service Officers, in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy. Fellows are obligated to complete a minimum of five years of service as a Foreign Service Generalist. Fellows who do not successfully complete the fellowship program and the subsequent five-year service obligation may be subject to a reimbursement obligation.

This award will provide for the selection of 10 fellows and will cover approved program expenses for the program period. Recipient will be advised of the final number of fellows prior to the selection cycle.

Fellowship Applicant Criteria The Pickering Graduate Fellowship Program requirements include: 1) proof of US citizenship at time of application; 2) seeking admission to a two-year full time master’s degree program for the following academic year (fall entrance) in selected fields of study representing the needs of the Department including public policy, public administration, international relations, business administration, economics, history, political science, communications, foreign languages, management science, and organizational development/leadership (degrees must have an international component); 3) minimum 3.2 undergraduate grade point average or higher on a 4.0 scale; ; and 4) in addition to outstanding leadership and academic achievement, demonstration of financial need.

V. Projected Program Timeline

HR/OFI envisions the Pickering Fellowship Program timeline as follows:

· December 2026: Conduct program planning and develop program materials.

· January 2027: Application deadline

· January –February 2027: Selection review (eligibility and selection of finalists)

· February - March 2027: Pickering Selection (interview/written exercise) – 10 Fellows selected

VI. Program Specific Guidelines

The specific responsibilities of the Recipient are detailed below:

In consultation with HR/OFI, the Recipient will be responsible for the programmatic, financial, and administrative activities for the Pickering Fellowship. HR/OFI will work collaboratively with the Recipient in administering the program. The Recipient will be responsible for conducting the day-to-day activities associated with the management of the program and must consult with HR/OFI, which will have final approval in consultation with the Grants Officer, on all policy matters affecting the program.

A. Screening and Selection In collaboration with HR/OFI, Recipient will organize the screening and selection process. The Pickering Program final selection takes place in January through February 2027.

· Structure of Selection Committees: Committees consist of 12 panel members who will conduct interviews and six panel members who will review the essays. HR/OFI will select eight of the eighteen panelists (four for interviews and four for writing) and the Recipient will select ten panelists (eight for interview and two for writing). HR/OFI designated panelist will chair the panels. HR/OFI will provide the criteria for selection of panel members. Initial designations and renewals must be approved by HR/OFI. Panelists serve one-year terms, which are renewable. For budgeting purposes, estimated honorarium per panel member is $500 per day. Depending on the overall number of eligible applications, additional panels may be needed to review applications, conduct interviews, and review essays. Selection of additional panelists would be comparable to the practice outlined above.

· Candidate Selection Process: The candidate selection process for the graduate program is conducted once a year, typically in mid-November or early December, and is done in three phases. The first phase is the initial review conducted by the Recipient. The initial review screens candidates’ applications for adherence to eligibility criteria and completeness. Following the initial review, in the second phase, the Recipient forwards eligible applications to the selection committee members. After completing training conducted by HR/OFI in collaboration with the Department of State Board of Examiners, the selection committee scores candidate applications based on the rubric and identifies 90 semi-finalists. In the third and final phase, semi-finalists undergo interviews and a written exercise. The interview selection committee meets for 3.5-days, which includes a half-day mandatory training with the Board of Examiners, and candidate interviews. The writing panel meets for a two-day meeting – a mandatory training and 1.5 days of scoring finalists’ essays. Selection committee members make their final 10 Fellow selections, based on the scoring of the interview and the essay.

Recipient is responsible for the following tasks:

· Conducting initial screening of candidates’ applications for adherence to eligibility criteria and completeness.

· Submitting to HR/OFI, in a timely fashion, the names and biographies of proposed panel members. HR/OFI will provide the criteria for selection of panel members.

· Keeping HR/OFI informed of all instructions and information provided to panelists with regards to the selection process.

· Providing panelists with electronic access to applications and scoring sheets for selection of finalists. Copying and distributing hard copies of application packets if asked.

· Contacting all finalists prior to selection and brief them on selection process and fellowship benefits and obligations.

· Coordinating all administrative functions associated with the selection process, to include but not limited to:

· Processing honoraria for designated panelists. Honoraria may be provided only to: 1) those panelists who do not receive a full time U.S. Government salary, and 2) those with an active Reemployed Annuitant (REA) status appointment with the Department of State but who are not receiving compensation for their work as an REA while serving as a panelist. The daily estimated honorarium is $500 per day.

· Preparing a selection program and scheduling time for presentations regarding Fellowship obligations and clearances.

· With HR/OFI, preparing selection questions, for interviews and writing exercise.

· Preparing a user guide for each panelist.

· Distributing and with HR/OFI, explaining the agreement Fellows will sign upon accepting the Fellowship.

· Notifying in writing those finalists selected for the Fellowship, securing written acceptances from finalists and forwarding final list of Fellows to HR/OFI.

· Preparing lists of selected fellows, alternates, non-selected candidates with panelist scores for HR/OFI for review prior to notifying candidates.

· Notifying in writing those applicants not selected and alternates of their status within two working days of decision by selection committee.

· Notifying in writing HR/OFI Recruitment team of selected finalists and fellows.

· Preparing a list of non-selected candidates for HR/OFI.

B. Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) and Foreign Service Officer Assessment (FSOA)

· Ensure each Fellow is aware of their obligation with regard to passing the FSOT and FSOA. Fellows are required to pass the FSOT prior to final selection as a Fellow. Fellows are required to pass the FSOA prior to completing their graduate school program. In the event the Fellow is unsuccessful on their first attempt at the FSOA, the Fellow must attempt to take the FSOA every 180 days or as permitted by the Bureau of Examiners (BEX) until the completion of the graduate school program. If the Fellow fails to pass the FSOA by the time of graduation from their master’s degree program, they will be removed from the program and may be responsible for repaying the costs associated with the program.

C. Tracking

· Maintain institutional databases for recruitment.

· Perform other related tracking activities as needed by HR/OFI.

D. Monitoring The Recipient should monitor and report on performance indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, and time bound. Performance targets for each expected result should be established and details should be included on what sources of data will be used to document performance. Indicators should be relevant to the goals or objectives of the program.