Notice of Funding Opportunity | PAS SEC FY20 04

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS SEC FY20 04

This Notice of Funding Opportunity is issued by the U.S. Mission to Ecuador through the Public Affairs Sections (PAS) at the U.S. Embassy in Quito and the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil, using Public Diplomacy Grants Program funds. The core aim is to hire an organization or individual to organize and facilitate a structured strategic planning process for the Fulbright Commission in Ecuador, working closely with the Commission's Board of Directors (and, as needed, Commission staff) to produce a five-year Strategic Plan covering 2020-2025. The effort is meant to help the Fulbright Commission clarify its identity and direction by developing a vision, mission, and values, aligning its work with U.S. Mission goals, and strengthening institutional capacity in a way that supports broader objectives like democratic governance and international collaboration.

The funded project is essentially a consulting and facilitation assignment with concrete deliverables. The selected grantee is expected to design the strategic planning methodology, get it approved by PAS Quito, and then run the workshops and meetings required to gather input and build consensus among Board members and staff. A major deliverable is a drafted Strategic Plan for 2020-2025 that includes the underlying conceptual framework (how the plan is structured, definitions and components used, the planning process itself, and the final contents and deliverables), plus a practical implementation calendar with milestones so the Commission can track progress over time. The grantee must circulate a draft to the Board, receive comments and edits, and then produce a final version that reflects that feedback. Beyond the plan itself, the process is intended to help the Board and staff formalize governance and operations, including developing job descriptions for Board members and identifying skills gaps on the Board that could inform a recruitment strategy.

The opportunity lays out a fairly detailed scope of work. The grantee will first need to become familiar with the Fulbright Commission in Ecuador and how its Board operates, then propose a planning process that keeps the Board meaningfully engaged in decisions while selectively involving staff when appropriate. The grantee is responsible for preparing the materials needed to propose, communicate, and run the planning process; facilitating the strategic planning sessions in Quito; managing how ideas are collected and incorporated from all participants; and ensuring the final plan includes both strategic direction and operational tracking tools (a calendar and milestones). Although the initial plan references in-person sessions in Quito, the notice explicitly warns that COVID-19 may require flexibility and timeline adjustments.

The anticipated timeline, as presented, runs roughly from May through November. May is when the grantee would be selected and the first planning workshop(s) with the Board would begin. June is focused on drafting. A draft plan is presented in July, edits are received and incorporated in August, and the final plan is presented in September. October includes a follow-up survey with participants to assess the process and outcomes, and November is reserved for final reporting. The primary participants and audience for the work are the Fulbright Commission Board of Directors and staff members, with PAS and the U.S. Embassy providing assistance and oversight input.

Eligibility is broad but clearly excludes commercial applicants. PAS encourages submissions from U.S. and Ecuadorian registered not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and civil society/NGOs), individuals, non-profit or governmental educational institutions, and governmental institutions. For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible. The award ceiling is listed as $10,000. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a grant instrument, with CFDA number 19.040. The original closing date shown in the source data is 2020-04-30.

Application requirements are specific and compliance-driven. All materials must be in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and documents must be formatted for 8.5 x 11 paper. Microsoft Word files must be single-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman with at least 1-inch margins. Submissions must be emailed in .pdf or .doc format (not iCloud) to contactocultural@state.gov. The application package includes a summary coversheet (basic identifying and scheduling information) and a proposal of no more than three pages that clearly explains what the applicant will do and what the project will accomplish. The proposal must include: a program summary with objectives and anticipated impact; an introduction to the applicant with evidence of capacity (including prior U.S. Embassy or U.S. government grant history, if any); a problem statement; clear goals and measurable objectives tied to improving some aspect of the U.S.-Ecuador relationship; a description of activities; methods and design; a detailed schedule; key personnel and time allocations; and a monitoring and evaluation plan describing how progress and success will be measured. A notable requirement is a detailed press and social media plan describing how the implementer will publicize the activities and goals of the program, if applicable. Applicants should also include partners and sub-awardees where relevant, plus a budget and a narrative budget justification. Optional attachments include one-page CVs/resumes for key personnel, letters of support from partners, and any official permission letters required to conduct activities.

The notice also lists funding restrictions that limit what the grant can pay for. Funds cannot be used for infrastructure or construction, development projects, individual scholarships, personal development expenses, social travel or visits, gifts or prizes, alcohol, food and drink that are not directly related to the program outcome, venture capital, or any for-profit endeavors. In practice, this signals that the grant is meant to cover professional services and planning-related costs rather than equipment, broad community development work, or participant perks.

Proposals are reviewed by a grants panel using several evaluation criteria. Reviewers will look for a clear U.S. component, meaning the project should incorporate U.S. expertise, processes, or personnel rather than being purely local in approach. They will assess the applicant's organizational capacity and track record, including whether the applicant has credible expertise, sound financial management, and a bank account. The panel will score the quality and feasibility of the program design and timeline, the clarity and measurability of goals and objectives, and how well the project supports U.S. Embassy priorities and intended audiences. Budget realism and justification are important, as is a serious monitoring and evaluation plan that includes output and outcome indicators and milestones. Sustainability is also considered, meaning the results should continue to provide value after the grant ends, for example by leaving the Commission with a usable strategic framework, governance tools, and a tracking calendar.

For process questions about applying, the notice lists BurneoJI@state.gov as the contact. It also states that the U.S. government will not provide pre-consultation on questions already addressed in the program statement, and once an application is submitted, officials will not discuss the competition with applicants until the review is complete.

• The U.S. Mission to Ecuador in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Funding Opportunity" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-04-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-04-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for PAS SEC FY20 04

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