US-Omani_Youth_Council_NOFO_.docx

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

U.S.-Oman Youth Council Program U.S. Embassy Muscat, Department of State Opportunity number: MUSCAT-PAS-2026-02 Application deadline: Aug 26, 2026

Contents

U.S. Department of State U.S. Embassy Muscat Notice of Funding Opportunity

A. Basic Information

1. Overview

Type of Funding

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement.

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

2. Executive Summary Priority Region: Oman Executive Summary The U.S. Embassy Muscat seeks an implementing partner to administer the U.S.-Omani Youth Council, a structured leadership and bilateral-engagement program for 10-15 university students from diverse academic disciplines and regions of Oman. The program will strengthen participants' understanding of the longstanding U.S.-Omani relationship and expose them to cooperation in diplomacy, trade, space, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and other shared priorities. It supports the United States’ Embassy's Freedom250 campaign and Oman Vision 2040 and by promoting youth leadership, civic participation, human capital development, innovation, and sustained people-to-people ties.

The recipient will conduct university outreach; manage an open application and interview process; select a cohort in coordination with the Embassy; organize seven monthly sessions and experiential visits from November 2026 through May 2027; arrange participant travel and program logistics; administer a competitive mini-grants component of up to three participant-led projects, not exceeding $1,500 each; deliver a capstone event; establish an alumni-engagement structure; and monitor and report program results. The Embassy will work closely with the recipient on participant selection, speakers, official visits, program content, public communications, and mini-grant approvals. Eligible applicants should demonstrate experience in youth engagement, university outreach, multi-location program delivery in Oman, financial management, and coordination with government, academic, private-sector, and civil-society partners.

B. Eligibility

1. Eligible Applicants The following U.S. and foreign organizations are eligible to apply:

· Not-for-profit organizations, including civil-society and non-governmental organizations

· Public and private educational institutions

· Public international organizations that are legally able to operate and implement activities in Oman

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing or matching is not required and will not be used as an evaluation factor.

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 D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

Applicants may submit only one proposal per organization. If an organization submits more than one proposal, all proposals from that organization may be deemed ineligible.

Applicants must be legally able to operate in Oman and should demonstrate relevant experience in youth leadership, higher-education outreach, domestic travel and event logistics, financial management, and program monitoring. Applicants must obtain all permissions and registrations required under Omani law before implementation.

C. Program Description

1. Goals and Objectives The United States and Oman share a longstanding relationship encompassing diplomacy, trade, education, innovation, and people-to-people engagement. Developing a new generation of Omani youth who understand and can engage with this relationship is important to sustaining and expanding bilateral cooperation. The U.S.-Omani Youth Council will give university students direct exposure to experts, institutions, and initiatives that shape the relationship and will help participants apply this knowledge within their academic fields, careers, and communities.

Program Goal Develop a motivated, knowledgeable, and connected cohort of young Omani leaders who understand the U.S.-Omani relationship and can contribute to sustained bilateral cooperation and community-level engagement.

Program Objectives

· Strengthen participant understanding of U.S.-Omani relations by connecting students directly with experts from government, industry, civil society, academia, and other sectors.

· Expose participants to cooperation between the United States and Oman in the areas of diplomacy, trade, space, artificial intelligence, innovation, entrepreneurship, and other bilateral priorities.

· Build leadership, networking, dialogue, and community-engagement skills among university students.

· Generate tangible youth-led outcomes through a competitive mini-grants component and establish a sustainable alumni network for future engagement.

Target Participants and Selection The program will serve 10-15 university students currently enrolled in Oman, from all academic disciplines. Participants should demonstrate an interest in U.S.-Omani relations, involvement in community, social, cultural, or civic initiatives, and the ability to attend all required sessions and travel within Oman.

· Conduct coordinated university outreach in Muscat, Sohar, Nizwa, Salalah, and other locations as appropriate, including campus information sessions and engagement with student-affairs offices, clubs, and relevant departments.

· Launch and manage an open online application process supported by digital outreach and Embassy-approved promotional materials.

· Screen applicants, shortlist approximately 25 candidates for interviews, and recommend a final cohort of 10-15 participants for Embassy concurrence.

· Seek a cohort representing varied universities, academic disciplines, regions, experiences, and perspectives, consistent with applicable law and program objectives.

Required Program Components

· Participant orientation, code of conduct, attendance expectations, safeguarding measures, and ongoing cohort communication.

· Seven mandatory monthly sessions, preferably in-person, combining expert dialogue, facilitated discussion, site visits, and experiential learning.

· Domestic travel and logistical support for participants, including transportation and, where necessary, lodging and meals for any activities outside Muscat.

· A participant mini-grants competition funding up to three projects at no more than $1,500 each. Projects must advance U.S.-Omani cooperation and produce a tangible community-level outcome.

· A final capstone event highlighting participant learning, mini-grant concepts or results, and opportunities for continued engagement.

· Creation of a Youth Council alumni network, including a communications channel, mentorship and leadership pathways for future cohorts, and a plan for at least one future alumni-led activity.

· Monitoring, evaluation, documentation, public-communications support, and required program and financial reporting.

Indicative Program Schedule (subject to change)

· September-October 2026: University outreach, application period, interviews, cohort selection, and program preparation.

· November 2026: Orientation and introduction to the U.S.-Omani relationship; anticipated launch with senior Embassy participation.

· December 2026: Space cooperation and STEM innovation; possible engagement with ETCO Space, Etlaq Spaceport, or other relevant partners.

· January 2027: Diplomatic cooperation; subject to operational availability and required approvals, a possible visit to a relevant site in Oman.

· February 2027: Artificial intelligence, technology, and innovation; possible engagement with Knowledge Oasis Muscat or other technology-sector partners.

· March 2027: Strategic dialogue and diplomacy; possible engagement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and U.S. Embassy representatives.

· April 2027: Business, entrepreneurship, and bilateral economic ties; possible engagement with the Oman American Business Council, Embassy economic officers, founders, and private-sector representatives.

· May 2027: Leadership and diplomacy capstone with senior U.S. and Omani representatives, subject to availability.

Applicants may incorporate complementary themes such as global health, entrepreneurship and social impact, digital media, misinformation, or public communication when these reinforce the program objectives. The Embassy may revise the sequence, topics, speakers, venues, or site visits based on operational requirements and partner availability.

Expected Results and Illustrative Indicators

· A competitive applicant pool generated through outreach across multiple universities and regions in Oman.

· A final cohort of 10-15 participants who complete the core program requirements.

· Seven high-quality sessions or experiential learning activities delivered and documented.

· Increased participant knowledge of U.S.-Omani relations, measured through pre- and post-program tools and session feedback.

· Up to three Embassy-approved youth-led mini-projects implemented with documented outputs and community reach.

· A functioning alumni network and clear pathways for alumni mentorship, future leadership roles, and continued Embassy engagement.

2. Substantial Involvement The U.S. Embassy Muscat will be substantially involved in the cooperative agreement. Embassy involvement is expected to include approving the recipient's work plan, recruitment and communications materials, selection procedures, final participant cohort, session themes, speakers, official visits, mini-grant selection and implementation plans, and capstone arrangements; facilitating or coordinating access to U.S. Government speakers and official sites when available; participating in program activities; reviewing branding and public communications; and monitoring program progress. The recipient will remain responsible for day-to-day administration, staffing, procurement, logistics, participant management, financial management, mini-grant administration, monitoring, and reporting.

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 pages are numbered

· All documents are formatted to fit 8 ½ x 11 paper, and

· All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required:

1. Mandatory application forms

· Proposal Narrative Form

· Proposal Budget Form

· SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance - organizations

· SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs

· SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs), if applicable

2. Summary Page (optional) Cover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

3. Proposal (12 pages maximum) The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.

· Proposal Summary: A concise overview of the proposed implementation approach, key activities, timeline, requested amount, and anticipated results.

· Introduction to the Applicant Organization: A description of the organization's mission, legal status, current operations, relevant experience in Oman, and capacity to manage U.S. Government funds and deliver youth, university, or multi-location programs. Include information on previous Department of State or other U.S. Government awards, if any.

· Program Rationale: A concise explanation of how the applicant understands the opportunity, target participants, implementation environment, and factors that will be critical to successful delivery.

· Project Goals, Objectives, and Results: Explain how the proposed approach will achieve the goal, objectives, required outputs, and outcomes described in this NOFO. Objectives and indicators should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound.

· Project Activities: Provide a detailed plan for university outreach, application management, interviews and selection, orientation, each monthly session, domestic travel and logistics, participant mini-grants competition, capstone event, alumni-network establishment, communications, and reporting.

· Project Methods and Design: Describe the delivery model, participant-engagement methods, coordination structure, safeguarding approach, contingency planning, mini-grant management mechanism, and how the applicant will maintain quality across multiple locations and partners. Include a logic model if useful.

· Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline: Provide a month-by-month work plan covering start-up, September-October 2026 outreach and selection, November 2026-May 2027 participant programming, mini-grant implementation, capstone activities, and closeout. Identify proposed locations and decision deadlines.

· Key Personnel: Provide names, titles, roles, relevant qualifications, and level of effort for the program manager, finance or grants personnel, logistics staff, facilitators, monitoring and evaluation personnel, and other key staff.

· Project Partners: Identify confirmed and prospective partners, the specific role of each, and the status of any required permissions. Do not imply that the Embassy has confirmed a speaker, official, venue, site visit, or partner unless written confirmation has been provided.

· Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: Include indicators, baselines, targets, data sources, collection methods, responsibilities, and timing. The plan should measure reach, participation, learning, satisfaction, mini-grant outputs and community impact, and alumni engagement while protecting participant information.

· Sustainability and Alumni Engagement: Explain how the applicant will establish a functioning alumni network and create practical pathways for continued communication, mentorship, alumni leadership, and future alumni-led activities after the initial program cycle.

4. Budget Justification Narrative After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section I. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

PS: The budget does not include the $4,500 reserved for participant mini-grants.

5. Attachments

· 1-page Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program

· Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner

· If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, include your latest NICRA as a PDF file.

· Official permission letters, if required for program activities.

· Proof of the applicant's legal registration and authorization to operate in Oman, or a clear plan and timeline for obtaining required authorization before implementation.

E. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

1. Address to Request Application Package Application forms and the complete application package will be available at https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/363314

2. Department of State Contacts Questions about this funding opportunity should be submitted to MuscatPASGrants@state.gov.

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

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.

Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO plan to do business with the DoD in addition to Department of State should follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Apply for an NCAGE code by following the instructions on the NSPA NATO website linked below:

NCAGE Homepage:

https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/sc/CageList.aspx NCAGE Code Request Tool (NCRT):

NCAGE Code Request Tool (nato.int)

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.

4. Submission Dates and Times Applications are due no later than August 26th, 2026.

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 20 U.S.C. 1011f and 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:

1) 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.

Additional restrictions: Award funds may not be used for construction, purchase of vehicles, alcoholic beverages, partisan political activity, participant fees, or international travel unless specifically approved in writing.

6. Other Submission Requirements Applicants must submit the complete application package by email to MuscatPASGrants@state.gov. Applications submitted through any other channel will not be accepted.

F. Application Review Information

1. Review Criteria Each application will be evaluated and rated based on the evaluation criteria outlined below.

· Quality and Feasibility of the Program Approach - 30 points: The proposal presents a clear, realistic, and detailed plan for outreach, participant selection, seven monthly sessions, travel and logistics, mini-grants, the capstone event, alumni engagement, and closeout. The timeline, staffing, partner coordination, risk mitigation, and contingency arrangements are credible and responsive to the required program design.

· Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants - 20 points: The applicant demonstrates relevant experience in youth engagement, university outreach, program delivery in Oman, multi-location events and travel, financial management, and coordination with government, academic, private-sector, and civil-society partners. The organization has appropriate internal controls, qualified personnel, and a record of responsible award or project management.

· Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives - 15 points: The proposed methods are likely to strengthen participant knowledge of U.S.-Omani relations, build leadership and networks, support meaningful dialogue, and generate tangible youth-led outcomes. The recruitment and selection approach is credible, and the proposal clearly links activities to measurable results.

· Budget - 10 points: The budget and justification are complete, reasonable, cost-effective, and aligned with the work plan.

· Monitoring and Evaluation Plan - 15 points: The applicant provides practical output and outcome indicators, baselines, targets, data sources, collection methods, and responsibilities. The plan credibly measures outreach, participation, attendance, learning, session quality, mini-grant results, community reach, and alumni engagement.

· Sustainability and Alumni Engagement - 10 points: The proposal establishes a realistic structure for continued alumni communication, mentorship, future leadership roles, and alumni-led engagement after the initial program cycle.

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 review committee will evaluate all eligible applications against the criteria above. The Embassy may request clarification, negotiate revisions, conduct a pre-award capacity assessment, or select an application other than the highest-scoring proposal when justified by programmatic or risk considerations and permitted by applicable rules.

4. Risk Review

i. Risk factors 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 requirements

f. Program-specific risk factors may include the applicant's ability to obtain required permissions, manage participant safety and domestic travel, coordinate activities across multiple locations, administer and document participant mini-grants, protect participant information, and adapt to changes in speaker or site availability.

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.

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:

· 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),

· 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),

· 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

· 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 INFORMATION

· 2 CFR 175 - AWARD TERM FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

· 2 CFR 182 - GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE)

· 2 CFR 183 - NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY

· 2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS

· U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

· Recipients must comply with all applicable Executive Orders A searchable list can be found in the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/

2. Reporting

Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify what reports are required and how often these reports must be submitted.

Foreign Assistance Data Review: As required by Congress, the Department of State must make progress in its efforts to improve tracking and reporting of foreign assistance data through the Foreign Assistance Data Review (FADR). The FADR requires tracking of foreign assistance activity data from budgeting, planning, and allocation through obligation and disbursement. Successful applicants will be required to report and draw down federal funding based on the appropriate FADR Data Elements, indicated within their award documentation. In cases of more than one FADR Data Element, typically program or sector and/or regions or country, the successful applicant will be required to maintain separate accounting records.

3. Branding and Marking The Department of State, its programs, and U.S. Government funding and assistance should be easily identifiable to the Department's global audiences.

Recipients of federal assistance awards must follow the branding guidance published at Guidance for Contracts and Grants - U.S. Department of State Brand System. Branding policy exceptions are outlined in the U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual 10 FAM 416, Policy Exceptions.

For more information, visit: https://brand.america.gov/

I. Other Information

Guidelines for Budget Justification

Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.

Travel: Estimate domestic travel and per diem costs for program staff, speakers or consultants, and 10-15 participants. The budget should account for anticipated outreach and program travel involving Muscat, Sohar, Nizwa, Salalah, Duqm, and other approved locations, including ground or air transportation, lodging, and meals when necessary. International travel is not anticipated and requires prior written approval.

Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $10,000 per unit.

Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $10,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.

Contractual: Describe goods and services the applicant plans to acquire from vendors, including venues, transportation, lodging, audiovisual support, printing, facilitation, or other program services. Also describe any proposed subawards and the applicant's process for competition, oversight, and compliance.

Participant Mini-Grants: The budget does not include the mini-grants. However, please describe the proposed compliant mechanism for disbursing or directly purchasing approved project costs, reviewing budgets, maintaining documentation, monitoring implementation, and recovering or reallocating unused funds.

Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.1.

Cost sharing is not required. Any voluntary cash or in-kind contributions should be clearly identified, verifiable, and not presented as confirmed unless documented.

Alcoholic Beverages: Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.

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