Opportunity Information: Apply for OES OPP 12 002
Apply for OES OPP 12 002
- The Ocean and International Environmental Scientific in the education employment, labor and training science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Careers of Women in Science" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.017 Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 1, 2012 and posted on Apr 30, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 2012 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $99,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $99,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
- foreign not for profit organizations, research institutions
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), Office of Science and Technology Cooperation, offered a competitive grant opportunity called Advancing Careers of Women in Science (Funding Opportunity Number OES OPP 12 002). The purpose of this FY 2012 initiative was to support a single project that helps early-career women scientists move forward professionally by providing structured professional development. While applicants could pair these activities with technical training, the core of the program needed to concentrate on "soft skills" that often shape career advancement in science, such as public speaking and oral presentations, leadership development, professional networking, and related career-building competencies. A key theme running through the announcement is sustainability: proposals were expected to build capacity at the institutional level so that local organizations could continue delivering and maintaining the training after the grant-funded period ended, strengthening womens participation and leadership in science, technology, and innovation over the long term.
The program was designed to work internationally and required applicants to focus their participant cohort in at least one of the following countries: Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, Turkey, or Vietnam. The participant group needed to be mostly female, with a minimum of 25 participants. In addition to in-person activities, the Department of State signaled a clear preference for approaches that expand reach beyond a single room or a single event. Stronger applications were those that could scale to a national or regional audience through digital platforms, structured exchange programs built on university partnerships, or other mechanisms that allow broader participation and follow-on engagement than just physically attending the workshop or training.
Applicants were expected to demonstrate real familiarity with the local scientific education and research landscape in the target country or countries, and to propose concrete, well-defined methods to close existing gaps and produce durable improvements. The RFA emphasized defined methodologies and activities rather than general statements of intent, and it required that results be documented, either through a formal report or a peer-reviewed manuscript. If a proposal focused on a particular scientific or technical discipline, it also needed to include discipline-matched mentorship (for example, participants in chemistry paired with mentors who are chemists). Preference was also given to projects that targeted technical fields where women are especially underrepresented, reinforcing the programs focus on equity in areas that historically have had lower participation by women.
The announcement also laid out expectations for who should deliver the training and how it should be integrated with other events. A majority of instructors and presenters were expected to be female scientists who could speak credibly about their own professional pathways, challenges, and strategies for success. If the activity was scheduled alongside a larger scientific meeting, the participants from that broader meeting needed to align with the proposed activitys scientific and technical focus, helping ensure the surrounding context and networking opportunities were relevant rather than generic.
Eligibility was limited to nonprofit and research and education entities with demonstrated capacity to run international science, technology, and innovation capacity-building programs. This included U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, foreign nonprofit organizations, and educational and research institutions (including public, state-controlled, and private institutions of higher education). A critical requirement was that applicants have significant experience working outside the United States on science and technology capacity-building efforts. The Department of State encouraged applicants to partner with other organizations to extend long-term impact and to leverage cost-sharing when available, although the opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching. Projects that connected U.S. institutions with local institutions overseas were strongly encouraged, and an on-the-ground partner was required in the country where the activity would take place.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, OES planned to make one award with FY 2012 Economic Support Funds (ESF), with a maximum budget of $99,000 and no minimum award floor specified. The period of performance was planned for 18 months. The opportunity was published on April 30, 2012, with an application deadline of June 25, 2012, and it cited the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as amended) as the funding authority. As is typical for federal grant competitions, award decisions were contingent on the availability of funds. The announcement also noted that additional funding might become available later to continue or expand the selected activities, and that strong applications not funded in this round could potentially be considered for future support if additional resources emerged.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Advancing Careers of Women in Science (OES OPP 12 002)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is called Advancing Careers of Women in Science, under Funding Opportunity Number OES OPP 12 002.
Which U.S. government office offered this opportunity?
It was offered by the U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), Office of Science and Technology Cooperation.
What was the main purpose of the program?
The purpose was to support a single project that helps early-career women scientists advance professionally by providing structured professional development, with an emphasis on career-building skills that often influence advancement in science.
What kinds of skills did the program prioritize?
The core focus needed to be on "soft skills" linked to career progression in science, including:
- Public speaking and oral presentations
- Leadership development
- Professional networking
- Related career-building competencies
Technical training could be included, but it could not replace the required emphasis on professional development and soft skills.
How many awards were planned?
OES planned to make one award under this funding opportunity.
What was the maximum award amount?
The maximum budget was $99,000.
Was there a minimum award size?
No minimum award floor was specified in the information provided.
What was the planned project period (period of performance)?
The planned period of performance was 18 months.
What was the funding source for this opportunity?
Funding was planned using FY 2012 Economic Support Funds (ESF).
What legal authority supported the funding?
The announcement cited the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as amended) as the funding authority.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?
The opportunity was published on April 30, 2012, and the application deadline was June 25, 2012.
Was the award guaranteed?
No. As with many federal competitions, award decisions were contingent on the availability of funds.
Could additional funding become available later?
Yes. The announcement noted that additional funding might become available later to continue or expand the selected activities. It also indicated that strong applications not funded in this round could potentially be considered for future support if additional resources emerged.
Which countries were eligible for participant focus?
The project needed to focus its participant cohort in at least one of the following countries:
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Egypt
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Vietnam
Did the program require an international focus?
Yes. The program was designed to work internationally, and applicants were expected to have significant experience working outside the United States on science and technology capacity-building efforts.
What was the required participant profile?
The participant cohort needed to be mostly female and include a minimum of 25 participants. The program was intended to support early-career women scientists.
Did the solicitation encourage projects that go beyond a single workshop?
Yes. The Department of State indicated a preference for approaches that expand reach beyond a single room or event, such as scaling to a national or regional audience through:
- Digital platforms
- Structured exchange programs based on university partnerships
- Other mechanisms that support broader participation and follow-on engagement
What does "sustainability" mean in the context of this grant?
Sustainability was a key theme. Proposals were expected to build institutional capacity so that local organizations could continue delivering and maintaining the training after the grant-funded period ends, strengthening women's participation and leadership in science, technology, and innovation over the long term.
What level of local knowledge were applicants expected to demonstrate?
Applicants were expected to show real familiarity with the local scientific education and research landscape in the target country or countries and propose concrete, well-defined methods to close identified gaps and produce durable improvements.
Were general or high-level plans acceptable?
The RFA emphasized defined methodologies and activities rather than broad statements of intent. Applicants were expected to describe specific methods and how they would be implemented.
Were deliverables or documentation of results required?
Yes. Results were required to be documented, either through a formal report or a peer-reviewed manuscript.
If a proposal focused on a specific technical discipline, were mentors required to match that discipline?
Yes. If the project focused on a particular scientific or technical discipline, it needed to include discipline-matched mentorship (for example, chemistry participants paired with mentors who are chemists).
Did the program prioritize certain technical fields?
Preference was given to projects targeting technical fields where women are especially underrepresented, reinforcing the program's focus on equity in areas with historically lower participation by women.
Who was expected to deliver the training?
A majority of instructors and presenters were expected to be female scientists who could credibly speak about their professional pathways, challenges, and strategies for success.
Could the training be scheduled alongside a larger scientific meeting?
Yes. If scheduled alongside a larger scientific meeting, the participants from that broader meeting needed to align with the proposed activity's scientific and technical focus so the surrounding context and networking opportunities were relevant.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to nonprofit and research and education entities with demonstrated capacity to run international science, technology, and innovation capacity-building programs, including:
- U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status
- Foreign nonprofit organizations
- Educational and research institutions (public, state-controlled, and private institutions of higher education)
Was prior international experience required?
Yes. A critical requirement was that applicants have significant experience working outside the United States on science and technology capacity-building efforts.
Were partnerships encouraged or required?
Partnerships were strongly encouraged to extend long-term impact, including connections between U.S. institutions and local institutions overseas. In addition, an on-the-ground partner was required in the country where the activity would take place.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing (matching) was encouraged when available to leverage resources, but it was not required.
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