Opportunity Information: Apply for OES OPP 12 001
Apply for OES OPP 12 001
- 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 "Building Opportunity Out of Science and Technology (BOOST)" 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 19, 2012 and posted on Mar 29, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 24, 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 $594,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $198,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- foreign not for profit organizations and research institutions
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Opportunity Summary:
The Building Opportunity Out of Science and Technology (BOOST) program is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity run by the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), specifically through its Office of Science and Technology Cooperation. The program is designed to expand the role of science, technology, and innovation in societies by investing in the next generation of researchers. At its core, BOOST funds projects that help early career scientists strengthen their ability to do innovative research, connect with international scientific networks, and apply their expertise to real-world challenges tied to sustainable development, better policymaking, and economic growth. The program targets young scientists ages 18 to 30, with an emphasis on training models that can be maintained locally after the grant ends rather than one-off workshops that disappear when funding runs out.
BOOST will make three awards using FY 2011 Economic Support Funds (ESF), with each grant capped at $198,000 and a total estimated funding pool of $594,000. The period of performance for each award is 18 months. Projects must be implemented in at least one of five eligible countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Tunisia, or Turkey. The solicitation also signals a preference for approaches that can reach national or regional scale, such as digital platforms, structured exchange programs, and university partnership models that expand participation beyond a single institution or city.
A key requirement is that proposed activities focus on professional development for early career scientists, particularly "soft skills" that often determine whether technical training translates into career progress and broader impact. While technical content can be included, the proposal needs to clearly prioritize skills like effective presentation, communication, partnership building, networking, and other competencies that help scientists collaborate, publish, secure funding, and engage with stakeholders. Applicants are expected to design programming that strengthens institution-level capacity, meaning local universities, research centers, or nonprofits should be better able to sustain and repeat the training after the grant ends. The opportunity also explicitly calls for attention to gender equality, aiming to strengthen participation and advancement for both women and men in science and technology fields.
The program is split into two focus areas, and the Department of State expects to fund at least one grant in each category. The first focus area, Professional Skills Development, supports initiatives that help young scientists become more competitive for knowledge-sector employment and more capable of conducting high-quality research that improves lives and supports evidence-based decision making. Example activities include building structured professional development programs, connecting young researchers to international mentors and peer networks, and strengthening both technical and non-technical competencies related to research success. Expected outcomes include better data collection and analysis, stronger scientific writing and publication readiness, improved grantsmanship, stronger oral presentation ability, and broader access to research resources and professional networks. These outcomes are intended to increase publication rates, raise researchers visibility within the scientific community, and deepen international scientific cooperation. Proposals that show a clear plan to institutionalize and sustain these activities are viewed more favorably.
The second focus area, Technology Commercialization, is aimed at bridging the gap between research results and market-ready products, services, or startups. Projects in this track build the capacity of individuals and institutions to identify commercially promising ideas and move them toward real-world application. Activities can include entrepreneurship and innovation training for young scientists, creation of processes for evaluating market potential, and building partnerships between universities and private sector companies. Expected results include new commercialization pathways, technology transfer or similar programs, and stronger institutional ability to assess the market value and applied potential of scientific research. In practice, this focus area is about helping research institutions and young scientists navigate commercialization fundamentals such as customer discovery, product development roadmaps, intellectual property basics, partnership models, and industry engagement.
In terms of who can apply, the opportunity is open to a range of organization types, including U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), private and public institutions of higher education, and certain other eligible entities as described in the full announcement. The eligibility information also notes that foreign not-for-profit organizations and research institutions may be eligible, which signals that local organizations in the target countries can potentially serve as applicants or key partners depending on the structure of the proposal and the rules in the solicitation. No cost sharing or matching is required.
Administratively, the funding opportunity number is OES OPP 12 001 and the CFDA listing is 19.017 (Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs). The opportunity was posted March 29, 2012, with an application deadline of May 24, 2012 at 5:00 pm EDT. The notice highlights a practical submission issue: the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) system was scheduled for maintenance from May 23 to May 29, 2012, which overlapped the deadline. Applicants were encouraged to complete CCR registration early to avoid delays, and if registration could not be finalized due to the maintenance window, the announcement provided an email submission workaround using margolisJJ@state.gov and PharrK@state.gov, while noting that email submission was not the preferred method.
Overall, BOOST is a capacity-building grant focused less on funding research projects directly and more on strengthening the people and institutions that produce research and translate it into societal benefit. Competitive applications would typically show a realistic plan for training and mentorship, clear methods for closing identified capacity gaps in the chosen country or countries, a credible strategy for sustainability at the institutional level, strong inclusion of women and men, and a design that can scale through networks, partnerships, or digital delivery rather than serving only a small cohort in one location.
BOOST Program Grant Opportunity: FAQs
What is the BOOST program?
The Building Opportunity Out of Science and Technology (BOOST) program is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity run by the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), through the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation. BOOST invests in the next generation of researchers by supporting projects that expand the role of science, technology, and innovation in society.
What is the main purpose of BOOST funding?
BOOST is designed to strengthen early career scientists by improving their ability to do innovative research, connect to international scientific networks, and apply expertise to real-world challenges tied to sustainable development, better policymaking, and economic growth. The emphasis is on professional development and institutional capacity-building rather than directly funding research projects.
Who is the program trying to benefit?
The target beneficiaries are early career scientists ages 18 to 30. Proposed activities should be centered on strengthening these young scientists professional capabilities and opportunities.
What types of projects does BOOST prefer to fund?
The solicitation emphasizes training models that can be maintained locally after the grant ends. Proposals are expected to avoid one-off workshops that disappear when funding runs out and instead build repeatable, sustainable programming that local institutions can continue to run.
How many awards will be made, and what is the funding amount?
BOOST plans to make three awards using FY 2011 Economic Support Funds (ESF). Each award is capped at $198,000, and the total estimated funding pool is $594,000.
What is the period of performance?
The period of performance for each award is 18 months.
In which countries must BOOST projects be implemented?
Projects must be implemented in at least one of the following eligible countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Tunisia, or Turkey.
Does BOOST encourage projects that can scale beyond a single city or institution?
Yes. The opportunity signals a preference for approaches that can reach national or regional scale, such as digital platforms, structured exchange programs, and university partnership models that expand participation beyond a single institution or city.
What are the required content priorities for proposed activities?
A key requirement is that proposed activities focus on professional development for early career scientists, particularly soft skills that often determine whether technical training leads to career progress and broader impact.
What soft skills are emphasized under BOOST?
BOOST highlights skills such as effective presentation, communication, partnership building, networking, and other competencies that help scientists collaborate, publish, secure funding, and engage with stakeholders.
Can technical training be included in a BOOST project?
Yes, technical content can be included, but proposals need to clearly prioritize professional development and soft skills as the main focus.
What does BOOST mean by building institution-level capacity?
Applicants are expected to design programming that strengthens the ability of local universities, research centers, or nonprofits to sustain and repeat the training after the grant ends. Proposals that include a clear plan to institutionalize activities are viewed more favorably.
Does BOOST address gender equality?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly calls for attention to gender equality, with the aim of strengthening participation and advancement for both women and men in science and technology fields.
What are the two BOOST focus areas?
BOOST is split into two focus areas: (1) Professional Skills Development and (2) Technology Commercialization. The Department of State expects to fund at least one grant in each category.
What kinds of activities fit under Focus Area 1: Professional Skills Development?
This focus area supports initiatives that help young scientists become more competitive for knowledge-sector employment and more capable of conducting high-quality research that improves lives and supports evidence-based decision making. Example activities include structured professional development programs, connections to international mentors and peer networks, and training that strengthens competencies related to research success.
What outcomes are expected under Professional Skills Development?
Expected outcomes include improved data collection and analysis, stronger scientific writing and publication readiness, improved grantsmanship, stronger oral presentation ability, and broader access to research resources and professional networks. These are intended to increase publication rates, raise researchers visibility within the scientific community, and deepen international scientific cooperation.
What kinds of activities fit under Focus Area 2: Technology Commercialization?
This focus area is intended to bridge the gap between research results and market-ready products, services, or startups. Activities can include entrepreneurship and innovation training for young scientists, creating processes to evaluate market potential, and building partnerships between universities and private sector companies.
What outcomes are expected under Technology Commercialization?
Expected results include new commercialization pathways, technology transfer or similar programs, and stronger institutional ability to assess the market value and applied potential of scientific research. In practical terms, this can include capacity around customer discovery, product development roadmaps, intellectual property basics, partnership models, and industry engagement.
Who is eligible to apply for the BOOST grant?
The opportunity is open to a range of organization types, including U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), private and public institutions of higher education, and certain other eligible entities as described in the full announcement.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
The eligibility information notes that foreign not-for-profit organizations and research institutions may be eligible, suggesting that local organizations in the target countries can potentially serve as applicants or key partners depending on the proposal structure and the solicitation rules.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states that no cost sharing or matching is required.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?
The funding opportunity number is OES OPP 12 001. The CFDA listing is 19.017 (Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs).
When was the opportunity posted and what was the application deadline?
The opportunity was posted on March 29, 2012. The application deadline was May 24, 2012 at 5:00 pm EDT.
Was there any special submission issue applicants needed to plan around?
Yes. The notice flagged that the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) system was scheduled for maintenance from May 23 to May 29, 2012, overlapping the deadline. Applicants were encouraged to complete CCR registration early to avoid delays.
If CCR registration could not be completed due to the maintenance window, was there an alternative submission method?
Yes. If registration could not be finalized due to the CCR maintenance window, the announcement provided an email submission workaround using margolisJJ@state.gov and PharrK@state.gov, while noting that email submission was not the preferred method.
Is BOOST meant to fund scientific research directly?
BOOST is described as a capacity-building program focused less on funding research projects directly and more on strengthening the people and institutions that produce research and translate it into societal benefit.
What would a competitive BOOST application generally emphasize?
Based on the solicitation description, competitive applications would typically include a realistic training and mentorship plan, clear methods for closing capacity gaps in the chosen eligible country or countries, a credible institutional sustainability strategy, strong inclusion of women and men, and a design that can scale through networks, partnerships, or digital delivery rather than serving only a small cohort in one location.
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