Project Constellation: Building a Constellation of Outer Space Partners at the UN

The U.S. Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna (UNVIE) is soliciting cooperative agreement applications to build international partnerships in civil and commercial space activities, with applications due September 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM Vienna time. One award of up to $5 million is anticipated; total available funding is $4.75 million to $5 million pending fund availability. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required.

Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions (both public and private), and for-profit organizations that have demonstrated previous experience designing and delivering international training, capacity building, workforce development, educational exchanges, or public diplomacy programming on U.S. civil and commercial space activities. All applicants must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier and maintain active SAM.gov registration.

The 24-month cooperative agreement begins October 1, 2026. Applicant must complete grant signing by September 31, 2026 and be capable of supporting the 2026 U.S. Space Forum on October 15–16. The project advances the objectives of Economic Support Funds by strengthening innovation ecosystems, promoting entrepreneurship and commercial engagement, building institutional and workforce capacity, and expanding economic opportunities through sustainable international partnerships.

Five required program components are a flagship annual U.S. Space Forum convening; a digital Project Constellation Partnership Platform for year-round engagement; strategic partnerships and commercial engagement activities; capacity building programming for emerging space economies; and strategic communications. The initiative targets Artemis Accord signatories and other emerging space nations that are UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) members.

Evaluation criteria are program quality and feasibility (30 points), organizational capacity (20 points), program planning and objectives (15 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (15 points), budget (10 points), and sustainability (10 points). Proposal narratives cannot exceed 15 pages. The opportunity is assigned to CFDA 19.017, Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs.