EducationUSA AI/STEM and Sports Diplomacy Grant (FY2026-27)

EducationUSA AI/STEM and Sports Diplomacy Grant (FY2026-27) is sponsored by U.S. Embassy Tbilisi, Public Diplomacy Section (PDS). This funding opportunity supports strengthening U. S.

competitiveness, expanding American universities' international recruitment pipelines, and building lasting ties between Georgian talent and U. S.

## Proposal Solicitation for Cultural Heritage Preservation Projects ($25,000 – $250,000) **U.

S Department of State** **EUR/ U.S. Embassy Tbilisi, Public Diplomacy Section Notice of Funding Opportunity** **Funding Opportunity Title**EducationUSA AI/STEM and Sports Diplomacy **Funding Opportunity Number**PDS-DOS-GEO-FY26-004 **Announcement Type**Initial announcement **Deadline for Applications**August 10, 2026, 18:00 (Tbilisi time) **Assistance Listing Number**19.

023 **Length of performance period**12 months or less **Number of awards anticipated**1-2 awards **Award amounts**$25,000-$50,000 **Total available funding**$50,000 **Type of Funding**FY26 Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) **Anticipated projects start date**October 1, 2026 ### Funding Instrument Type: Grant **Project Performance Period**: Proposed projects should be completed in 12 months or less.

**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.

This funding opportunity supports the America First agenda by strengthening U.S. competitiveness, expanding American universities’ international recruitment pipelines and building lasting ties between Georgian talent and U.S. institutions through two complementary initiatives: the EducationUSA Sports Pathways Initiative and the EducationUSA AI and Innovation Hubs.

Both proposals under this funding opportunity have been approved for a combined total of $50,000, pending the availability of funds.

EducationUSA AI/STEM and Innovation Hubs ($25,000) The proposed “AI/STEM and Innovation Hubs” initiative will engage high school and university students, young entrepreneurs, computer programmers, startup founders, and emerging tech leaders in five Georgian cities — Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Akhaltsikhe, and Telavi through a coordinated series of AI and STEM-focused advising workshops, innovation talks, and university outreach activities led by advisers.

All sessions will be hosted at local American Spaces, leveraging these trusted venues to attract new audiences, expand community engagement, and reinforce America’s commitment to accessible, high-quality educational opportunities.

The project will highlight U.S. higher education opportunities in artificial intelligence, computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies, while promoting American innovation ecosystems, academic excellence, and responsible AI tools developed by U.S. companies.

Through targeted advising sessions at American Spaces, participants will receive guidance on identifying suitable U.S. colleges, universities, and community colleges; navigating admissions and financial aid opportunities; connecting with American institutions specializing in technology and innovation; and understanding pathways to academic and professional success in the United States.

The program will also include presentations from U.S.-educated Georgian alumni, virtual engagements with American universities, and hands-on demonstrations of American AI platforms and educational technologies.

This initiative directly advances America First priorities by strengthening U.S. competitiveness in collegiate athletics, enhancing American universities’ ability to recruit world-class international talent, and building lasting ties that make America stronger and more prosperous.

EducationUSA Sports Pathways Initiative ($25,000) The proposed “Sports Pathways Initiative” will connect Georgia’s top athletic talent with U.S. higher education opportunities through specialized advising on sports scholarships and athletic programs at American schools, colleges, and universities.

Led by experienced advisers, the program will conduct targeted outreach to local sports schools and athletic academies in five Georgian cities – Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Akhaltsikhe, and Telavi, focusing on sports where Georgia produces world-class talent: soccer, basketball, rugby, martial arts/MMA, judo, wrestling, and tennis.

Advising sessions can be hosted at American Spaces, creating a welcoming environment for young athletes, coaches, and families to learn about U.S. educational and athletic opportunities.

Advisers will provide guidance on identifying U.S. institutions with strong athletic programs, understanding NCAA and NAIA scholarship opportunities, navigating the dual demands of academics and athletics, and connecting with American coaches and admissions offices.

The program will feature virtual engagement sessions with U.S. university coaches and athletic directors, presentations from successful Georgian athletes with American college sports experience who will share their journeys with young Georgian talents, and workshops on application strategies tailored to student-athletes.

This initiative directly advances America First priorities by making the United States stronger, safer, and more prosperous through strategic educational diplomacy.

The following organizations are eligible to apply _:_ * EducationUSA advising centers operating in * Non-profit and non-governmental * Organizations without an established EducationUSA 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. #### Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing is not required. #### 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.

#### 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 * Projects that support specific religious activities; * Fund-raising campaigns; * Lobbying for specific legislation or programs * Scientific research or surveys; * Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; * Projects that duplicate existing projects; ## C.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION #### Project Background, Goals, and Objectives The United States has long benefited from educational exchanges and academic partnerships that attract talented students from around the world to American institutions of higher education.

In Georgia, interest in U.S. education remains strong, particularly among young people seeking opportunities in high-growth sectors such as technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and competitive athletics.

At the same time, Georgia faces increasing competition from foreign governments and educational systems seeking to attract the country’s most talented youth through scholarship programs, academic partnerships, and technology-focused initiatives.

Expanding access to accurate information about U.S. educational opportunities and strengthening connections between Georgian youth and American institutions directly supports U.S. foreign policy priorities by promoting enduring people-to-people ties, advancing American educational competitiveness, and reinforcing Georgia’s orientation towards American institutions and values.

This NOFO seeks to expand the U.S. Department’s reach beyond traditional audiences by engaging two strategically important populations: (1) talented student-athletes seeking educational and athletic opportunities in the United States, and (2) students, young innovators, entrepreneurs, and emerging technology leaders interested in artificial intelligence, STEM fields, and innovation.

Through programming delivered in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Akhaltsikhe, and Telavi, the project will leverage education advisers and American Spaces to increase awareness of U.S. higher education opportunities, strengthen connections with American institutions, and expand access to educational advising.

### Project Primary Audience Characteristics for Sports Pathways Initiative: * Students enrolled in secondary schools, sports schools, athletic academies, or * Participants in soccer, basketball, rugby, wrestling, judo, martial arts/MMA, tennis, and other competitive sports.

* Located in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Akhaltsikhe, Telavi, and surrounding ### Project Primary Audience Characteristics for STEM and Innovation-Focused Youth * High school students, university students, young professionals, entrepreneurs, startup founders, and technology enthusiasts. * Interested in AI, computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies.

* Located throughout Georgia, including underserved regions outside ### Project Goal and Objectives: Strengthen educational and professional U.S. influence in Georgia by increasing access to U.S. higher education opportunities for talented Georgian youth, particularly student-athletes, STEM students, innovators, and emerging technology leaders, while advancing U.S. competitiveness, educational leadership, and people-to-people partnerships.

Increase awareness and understanding of U.S. higher education opportunities among at least 500 participants across five Georgian cities through advising sessions, workshops, outreach activities, and information campaigns. Promote positive perceptions of American educational excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, and opportunity among participants, contributing to stronger long-term relationships between Georgia and the United States.

#### Substantial Involvement Substantial Involvement is not required. ## 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 * The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity * All documents are in English * All budgets are in S.

dollars * All applicant authorized signatures are provided where indicated on the various required * Documents are not in ZIP or RAR file or the size of the email exceeds The following documents are **required**: #### Mandatory application forms 1. SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) 2. SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) 3.

SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) #### SF424 forms do not open in any internet browsers (chrome, internet explorer…). Please make sure to download the forms on your device, open via Adobe and click ‘enable all features’. #### RAR and ZIP files will not be accepted.

If the size of the email exceeds 6MB, please make sure to send the required documents into separate emails. #### Proposal (10 pages maximum) The proposal should contain sufficient information so that anyone not familiar with it will 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 Organizations 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.

* **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 The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments 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).

* **Monitoring & Evaluation Plan:**Proposals must include a draft Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). The M&E PMP should show how applicants intend to measure and demonstrate progress towards the project’s objectives and goals. #### 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. 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.

**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. * Audit Requirements: Please note the audit requirements for Department of State awards in the Standard Terms and Conditions www.

state. gov 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.

* **Key Personnel Resumes**: A résumé, not to exceed one page in length, must be included for the proposed key staff persons, as well as any speakers or advisors (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 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.

Georgia-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: 1. Copies of an organization or program audit within the last two (2) years 2.

Copies of relevant human resources, financial, or procurement policies 3. 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 4. 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 5.

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 6. The Embassy reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial information regarding the proposal. ## E.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES #### Address to Request Application Package Application forms required above are available at embassy website, grants. gov, etc. #### Department of State Contacts If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: TbilisiGrants@state. gov and add program title in the subject line.

#### 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. 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 gov to obtain a UEI and complete the SAM. gov registration process.

SAM. gov registration must be renewed annually. 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.

” #### Submission Dates and Times **Submission Deadline:**All applications must be received by **August 10, 2026, 18:00 (Tbilisi 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. **Submission Method A**: Submitting all application materials directly to the following email address: TbilisiGrants@state.

gov. Applicants opting to submit applications via email to TbilisiGrants@state. gov**must** include the Funding Opportunity Title and Funding Opportunity Number in the subject line of the email. #### Funding Restrictions 1.

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). 2.

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: 1.

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; 2. 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.

* 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: * 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); * 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). * 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. 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.

Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manufactured or Assembled by American Security Drone Act-Covered Foreign Entities (a) _American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entity_ means an entity included on a list developed and maintained by the Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC) and published in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www. sam.

gov _FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system_ means an unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled by an American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entity.

_Unmanned aircraft_ means an aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the _Unmanned aircraft system_ means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system.

(b) Recipients of funding under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (including subawards and subcontracts issued by the recipient) will be prohibited from: 1. 1. delivering any FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system, which includes unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones) and associated elements 2.

Operating a FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system in the performance of the award; and * Using Federal funds for the purchase or operation of a FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system. c) _Exemptions, exceptions, and_ The prohibitions described above will not apply if the agency determines that an exemption, exception, or waiver applies and the award indicates that such a determination has been made.

[See sections 1823 through 1825 and 1832 of Public Law 118-31 ( 41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.) for statutory requirements pertaining to exemptions, exceptions, and waivers.]

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

* Direct Social Services: Costs that cover and provide direct social services, such as welfare, charity, health or economic relief, are 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. Applicants must acquire all required registrations and rights in the United States and Georgia.

All intellectual property considerations and rights must be fully met in the United States and Georgia. Any sub-recipient organization must also meet all the U.S. and Georgia requirements described above. ## F.

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 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: * The project clearly demonstrates a direct contribution to current S. foreign policy priorities.

* The project will positively impact America’s reputation among foreign government partners.

* The project will positively impact American’s reputation among foreign * 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: * 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. * The organization demonstrates that it has a clear understanding of the underlying issue that the project will address. * The organization demonstrates capacity for successful planning and responsible fiscal This includes a financial management system, a bank account, and if applicable, satisfactory audit findings.

* Applicants who have received grant funds previously have been compliant with applicable rules and regulations, including the Award Provisions and Standard Terms and Conditions.

* Where partners are described, the applicant details each partner’s respective role and provides curriculum vitae (CVs) for persons responsible for the project and financial 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 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 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.

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.

#### Review and Selection Process * Acknowledgement of Applicants will receive acknowledgment of receipt of their proposal. * 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. * Follow up Applicants will generally be notified within 120 days after the NOFO deadline regarding the results of the review panel.

Under the merit review as required by 2 CFR 206, prior to making a Federal Award the Department will review and consider the following risk factors: 1. 1. Financial stability 2.

Management systems and standards 3. History of performance 4. Audit reports and findings 5.

Ability to effectively implement project requirements Awardees that are deemed to be high risk based on the above risk factors will be held to special award conditions. At a minimum, the recipient and/or project designated as High Risk will be required to submit monthly narrative reports and/or quarterly detailed financial reports.

Recipients may also be required, upon request of the Grants Officer or Grants Officer Representative, to provide electronic copies of receipts or other supporting documentation (e.g., timesheets, travel documents) for costs incurred. The Grants Officer may withhold 10% of the award amount until final reports have been reviewed and approved by the GO.

The recipient may be required to pay all salaries supported by the grant via electronic funds transfer. Other special award conditions may also be included if deemed appropriate by the Grants Officer. 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.

Recipients will be required to request payments by completing form SF-270 – Request for Advance or Reimbursement and submitting the form to the Grants Officer and Grants Officer Representative. Recipients may not draw down funds without the affirmative authorization of the Department of State. In addition, recipients must submit, with each SF-270 payment request, a detailed explanation justifying the request.

## H. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION #### 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