Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 523 16 000001

  • The USAID-MEX in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Broad Mission Announcement (BMA) for USAID/Mexico Partnerships to Improve Citizen Security, Justice, Human Rights, Good Governance and Environmental Sustainability" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jan 12, 2016 and posted on Jan 12, 2016.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 29, 2016. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for RFA 523 16 000001

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Opportunity Summary:

The Broad Mission Announcement (BMA) titled "USAID/Mexico Partnerships to Improve Citizen Security, Justice, Human Rights, Good Governance and Environmental Sustainability" is a USAID/Mexico discretionary funding opportunity designed to bring in partners to jointly develop and test ideas that support key national priorities in Mexico. Rather than funding a single pre-defined project, this BMA is structured to invite a range of organizations and companies to work with USAID through co-creation and co-design, and potentially co-investment, to identify promising approaches that can strengthen citizen security, improve justice outcomes, advance human rights, promote better governance, and support environmental sustainability. The opportunity is explicitly linked to USAID/Mexico's Country Development Cooperation Strategy, meaning proposals are expected to align with and advance the Development Objectives USAID and the Government of Mexico have prioritized in that strategy.

A central feature of this announcement is its emphasis on research and development, including both basic and applied R and D. In practice, that signals USAID is interested in innovations, technologies, methods, and evidence-building activities that can be piloted, evaluated, and refined in real-world contexts. The BMA language also points to collaboration as a core expectation: applicants are not just submitting a finished plan for USAID to fund, but are being invited into a partnership-oriented process where USAID and selected partners work together to shape the final activity. The announcement references an addendum that would provide additional requirements or focus areas, and it frames the invitation broadly around "activities, innovations, and technologies" that contribute to the Development Objectives.

The award mechanism for this opportunity is a Cooperative Agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by USAID during implementation. Compared with a standard grant, a cooperative agreement generally involves more hands-on engagement from the agency, such as collaboration on technical direction, shared learning, and iterative adjustments based on results. The opportunity is categorized under "Other" for the funding activity area, suggesting it is intentionally cross-cutting and not confined to a single conventional sector label, which matches the multi-issue scope spanning security, justice, governance, rights, and environmental sustainability.

In terms of scale and competitiveness, the award ceiling is listed as USD 3,000,000, and USAID anticipated making about four awards. That combination suggests a moderate portfolio approach: a small number of selected partners, each potentially receiving meaningful resources, with room for different models or innovations to be supported in parallel. The funding is associated with CFDA 98.001, a general USAID assistance listing used for many foreign assistance activities, reinforcing that the BMA is a flexible umbrella for development-oriented collaboration rather than a narrowly defined procurement.

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with the specific details expected in the eligibility clarification text referenced in the notice. The wording of the description emphasizes that both organizations and companies are invited, which implies openness to nontraditional development partners, including private sector entities, research groups, technology firms, NGOs, consortia, and other capable institutions that can contribute innovation and applied learning relevant to Mexico's development priorities. The original and current closing date for submissions is February 29, 2016, and the opportunity was posted on January 12, 2016, indicating a defined submission window typical of an open call for concepts or applications under a broad announcement.

Overall, this BMA can be understood as a partnership and innovation-oriented call where USAID/Mexico is seeking collaborators to develop, test, and scale approaches that improve safety and rule of law, protect rights, strengthen governance, and support sustainable environmental outcomes. It is set up to encourage co-development and shared investment in solutions, with USAID playing an active role through cooperative agreements, and with multiple awards expected to support a small set of promising, strategy-aligned initiatives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is a USAID/Mexico Broad Mission Announcement (BMA) titled "USAID/Mexico Partnerships to Improve Citizen Security, Justice, Human Rights, Good Governance and Environmental Sustainability." It is a discretionary funding opportunity intended to bring in partners to jointly develop and test ideas that support key national priorities in Mexico.

What is a Broad Mission Announcement (BMA) in this context?

In this announcement, the BMA is structured to invite a range of organizations and companies to collaborate with USAID through co-creation and co-design (and potentially co-investment). Instead of funding a single, pre-defined project, the BMA is designed to support multiple, strategy-aligned ideas that can be developed, piloted, evaluated, and refined.

Is USAID funding one specific pre-designed project?

No. The announcement explicitly indicates it is not funding a single pre-defined project. It invites multiple partners to propose and co-develop a range of "activities, innovations, and technologies" that contribute to USAID/Mexico Development Objectives.

What issue areas does the BMA cover?

The scope is multi-issue and cross-cutting. It includes work intended to strengthen citizen security, improve justice outcomes, advance human rights, promote better governance, and support environmental sustainability in Mexico.

How should a proposal align with USAID priorities?

Proposals are expected to align with and advance the Development Objectives prioritized in USAID/Mexico's Country Development Cooperation Strategy, which reflects priorities agreed by USAID and the Government of Mexico.

What is the main approach USAID is looking for under this BMA?

The announcement emphasizes partnership and innovation. It signals interest in approaches that can be co-created with USAID and tested in real-world contexts, with learning and iteration based on evidence and results.

Does this BMA emphasize research and development (R&D)?

Yes. A central feature is an emphasis on research and development, including both basic and applied R&D. This suggests USAID is looking for innovations, technologies, methods, and evidence-building activities that can be piloted and evaluated.

What kinds of activities might fit under this announcement?

Based on the description, the BMA is framed broadly around "activities, innovations, and technologies" that contribute to the Development Objectives across security, justice, human rights, governance, and environmental sustainability. The emphasis on basic and applied R&D indicates interest in approaches that can be tested, measured, refined, and potentially scaled.

What is the award mechanism for this opportunity?

The award mechanism is a Cooperative Agreement.

What does a Cooperative Agreement imply about USAID's role?

A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement by USAID during implementation. Compared with a standard grant, it often involves more hands-on engagement from the agency, such as collaboration on technical direction, shared learning, and iterative adjustments based on results.

How many awards does USAID expect to make?

USAID anticipated making about four awards under this BMA.

What is the maximum funding amount per award?

The award ceiling is listed as USD 3,000,000.

What does the combination of an award ceiling and multiple awards suggest about the program?

With an award ceiling of USD 3,000,000 and approximately four anticipated awards, the announcement suggests a moderate portfolio approach: a small number of selected partners, each potentially receiving meaningful resources, with room to support different models or innovations in parallel.

What is the funding activity area for this opportunity?

The funding activity area is categorized as "Other," which suggests the opportunity is intentionally cross-cutting and not limited to a single traditional sector label.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with the specific details expected in the eligibility clarification text referenced in the notice. The description emphasizes that both organizations and companies are invited, implying openness to nontraditional partners such as private sector entities, research groups, technology firms, NGOs, consortia, and other capable institutions.

Are companies allowed to apply, or is it only for nonprofits?

The announcement states that both organizations and companies are invited, indicating that private sector entities may be considered alongside other types of applicants, subject to the eligibility clarification text referenced in the notice.

Is co-creation and co-design required?

The announcement strongly emphasizes co-creation and co-design as central expectations. Applicants are described as being invited into a partnership-oriented process where USAID and selected partners work together to shape the final activity, rather than submitting only a fixed, fully finalized plan.

Does the announcement mention co-investment?

Yes. The description notes potential co-investment, indicating USAID may be interested in approaches where partners also bring resources or share investment in solutions, depending on the final collaboratively designed activity.

Is there an addendum, and why does it matter?

The announcement references an addendum that would provide additional requirements or focus areas. This matters because it may contain important details that shape what USAID is specifically looking for under the broad umbrella of the BMA.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The funding is associated with CFDA 98.001.

What does CFDA 98.001 indicate?

CFDA 98.001 is described as a general USAID assistance listing used for many foreign assistance activities. In this context, it reinforces that the BMA functions as a flexible umbrella for development-oriented collaboration rather than a narrowly defined procurement.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on January 12, 2016.

What is the submission deadline?

The original and current closing date for submissions is February 29, 2016.

What does the submission timeline suggest about the call?

The posted date (January 12, 2016) and closing date (February 29, 2016) indicate a defined submission window typical of an open call for concepts or applications under a broad announcement.

What is the overall goal of the BMA?

The BMA is designed to identify and support promising, strategy-aligned initiatives in Mexico through partnership and innovation. It seeks collaborators to develop, test, and potentially scale approaches that improve safety and rule of law, protect rights, strengthen governance, and support sustainable environmental outcomes, with USAID playing an active role under cooperative agreements.

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