Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS CRI GR001
Apply for DOS CRI GR001
- The U.S. Mission to Costa Rica in the energy environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Capacity Building for Central American Regional Energy Integration" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 00.000 Not Elsewhere Classified.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 10, 2010 and posted on Aug 10, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 3, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $195,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $195,000.00 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).
- Eligibility is limited to not for profit organizations subject to 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. tax code or comparable provisions in the home country of non U.S. applicants.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Capacity Building for Central American Regional Energy Integration" (Funding Opportunity Number: DOS CRI GR001) was offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Regional Environmental Hub for Central America and the Caribbean, which is based at the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica. The program was designed to strengthen regional electricity integration across Central America by helping countries align their national regulatory and legal systems with the existing regional electricity market framework developed under the Central America Energy Integration System (SIEPAC). In practical terms, the goal was to help make the regional power market function more smoothly and consistently across borders, while also encouraging policies that support clean energy and smart grid development.
The Hub anticipated awarding up to USD 195,000 in total funding, either as one grant or split among multiple grants, under a discretionary grant mechanism. The planned project period was 24 months, with activities taking place in SIEPAC member countries. The work was framed within the broader Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) and implemented as part of the State Department's Energy and Environmental Security Initiative (EESI). The overall focus was capacity building for electricity regulators and other relevant authorities, emphasizing the political will, institutional knowledge, and technical ability needed to modernize and harmonize national approaches so that the regional market could operate as intended.
Funded activities were expected to fall into four main areas. First was regulatory modernization and harmonization, meaning support to update, improve, and align national electricity regulations so they better match regional market rules and allow more efficient cross-border trade and coordination. Second was legislative modernization and harmonization, which focused on reviewing and improving laws (not just regulations) so that enabling legislation supports the regional integration model and reduces legal conflicts between national and regional systems. Third was effective public communications, recognizing that reforms often stall without clear public messaging, stakeholder engagement, and understandable explanations of why regional integration matters for reliability, cost, and sustainability. Fourth was the translation of regulations and laws, which underscores a practical need in a multi-country environment: making key legal and regulatory texts accessible across jurisdictions and to diverse stakeholders, thereby reducing misunderstandings and implementation gaps.
Eligibility was limited to nonprofit organizations, specifically those recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code or comparable nonprofit provisions for non-U.S. applicants. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed. The opportunity was posted on August 10, 2010, and closed on September 3, 2010, with an archive date of October 3, 2010. The listing indicated an expectation of one award. The responsible agency was the U.S. Mission to Costa Rica, and the point of contact was Timothy Lattimer, Regional Environmental Officer, at +506 2519 2392, for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement or needed assistance with the application materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Capacity Building for Central American Regional Energy Integration."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DOS CRI GR001.
Which U.S. government entity offered this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Regional Environmental Hub for Central America and the Caribbean, based at the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program was designed to strengthen regional electricity integration across Central America by helping countries align their national regulatory and legal systems with the existing regional electricity market framework developed under the Central America Energy Integration System (SIEPAC).
What practical outcomes was the program trying to achieve?
In practical terms, the goal was to help the regional power market function more smoothly and consistently across borders, while also encouraging policies that support clean energy and smart grid development.
What regional framework or market structure does the grant focus on?
The work centers on the regional electricity market framework developed under SIEPAC (Central America Energy Integration System).
Where were project activities expected to take place?
Activities were expected to take place in SIEPAC member countries across Central America.
How much funding was anticipated under this opportunity?
The Hub anticipated awarding up to USD 195,000 in total funding.
Was the funding expected to be awarded as one grant or multiple grants?
The funding could be awarded as one grant or split among multiple grants.
How many awards were expected?
The listing indicated an expectation of one award.
What type of funding mechanism was used?
The opportunity was offered under a discretionary grant mechanism.
What was the planned project period?
The planned project period was 24 months.
How does this project relate to other U.S. Department of State initiatives?
The work was framed within the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) and implemented as part of the State Department's Energy and Environmental Security Initiative (EESI).
Who was the intended audience or primary beneficiaries for capacity building?
The overall focus was capacity building for electricity regulators and other relevant authorities, emphasizing political will, institutional knowledge, and technical ability to modernize and harmonize national approaches so the regional market can operate as intended.
What were the main activity areas that funded projects were expected to cover?
Funded activities were expected to fall into four main areas: (1) regulatory modernization and harmonization, (2) legislative modernization and harmonization, (3) effective public communications, and (4) translation of regulations and laws.
What does "regulatory modernization and harmonization" mean in this opportunity?
It refers to support for updating, improving, and aligning national electricity regulations so they better match regional market rules and allow more efficient cross-border trade and coordination.
What does "legislative modernization and harmonization" mean in this opportunity?
It focuses on reviewing and improving laws (not just regulations) so enabling legislation supports the regional integration model and reduces legal conflicts between national and regional systems.
Why is public communications included as a funded activity area?
The opportunity notes that reforms often stall without clear public messaging, stakeholder engagement, and understandable explanations of why regional integration matters for reliability, cost, and sustainability.
What kinds of translation work were anticipated?
The grant highlighted translation of regulations and laws to make key legal and regulatory texts accessible across jurisdictions and to diverse stakeholders, reducing misunderstandings and implementation gaps in a multi-country environment.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to nonprofit organizations recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code, or comparable nonprofit provisions for non-U.S. applicants.
Were for-profit organizations eligible?
No. The information provided limits eligibility to nonprofit organizations under 501(c)(3) or comparable nonprofit status for non-U.S. applicants.
Could non-U.S. organizations apply?
Yes, non-U.S. applicants could be eligible if they have comparable nonprofit provisions to U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations.
Was cost-sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement was listed for this opportunity.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on August 10, 2010.
What was the application closing date?
The opportunity closed on September 3, 2010.
What was the archive date?
The archive date was October 3, 2010.
Which office or mission was listed as responsible for the opportunity?
The responsible agency was the U.S. Mission to Costa Rica.
Who was the point of contact for assistance, and what support were they offering?
The point of contact was Timothy Lattimer, Regional Environmental Officer. Applicants were directed to contact him if they had trouble accessing the full announcement or needed assistance with the application materials.
What is the contact phone number listed for the point of contact?
The phone number provided was +506 2519 2392.
What should an applicant do if they cannot access the full announcement?
The listing says applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement could contact the point of contact, Timothy Lattimer, for assistance.
Does the opportunity explicitly mention support for clean energy and smart grids?
Yes. The program description explicitly notes encouraging policies that support clean energy and smart grid development as part of improving regional market operation.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (DOS CRI GR001) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Smart Grid / Renewable Energy Pilot Projects Costa Rica Apply for DOS CRI GR002 Funding Number: DOS CRI GR002 Agency: U.S. Mission to Costa Rica Category: Energy Environment Funding Amount: $160,000 |
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