Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0017983
Apply for DFOP0017983
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 U.S. South Pacific Scholarship Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.011.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-29. (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 $925,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2026 U.S. South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity to select one organization to administer a small cohort scholarship program that brings up to eight students from eligible South Pacific countries to the United States for full academic degree study. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning ECA will expect substantial involvement during implementation, and the recipient will operate in close coordination with U.S. embassies (specifically the Public Affairs Sections) in the East Asia and Pacific region. The overall program budget is anticipated to be about $925,000, and ECA expects to make a single award.
The central purpose of the grant is not to fund a university directly to educate students, but to fund a capable administering organization to run the end-to-end scholarship and exchange process. The selected implementer would be responsible for designing and managing recruitment and outreach in partnership with U.S. embassies, organizing merit-based review panels, and supporting a competitive selection and nomination process. After nominees are identified, the recipient must handle student placement at appropriate U.S. institutions for degree programs, which typically involves matching academic interests and preparedness with institutional fit, admission timelines, and any program-specific requirements.
Beyond selection and placement, the award recipient is expected to provide the kinds of wraparound program services that make international degree programs succeed. That includes orientations (often pre-departure and/or upon arrival), enrichment programming during the students time in the United States, and structured pre-return activities that prepare participants to reintegrate and apply their learning at home. The grantee must also provide monitoring and ongoing participant support services throughout the scholarship period, which can include academic progress monitoring, wellness support referrals, troubleshooting administrative issues, and coordination with universities and relevant stakeholders.
A significant part of the scope is oversight, learning, and accountability. The administering organization must conduct ongoing monitoring and evaluation of program activities and outcomes, and it must maintain follow-up engagement with alumni after the degree program to support sustained ties and longer-term impact. In practice, that usually means maintaining alumni records, facilitating alumni networking, collecting outcome data, and coordinating with ECA and embassy partners on post-program engagement strategies consistent with the scholarship goals.
Eligible applicants include U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations that meet 501(c)(3) requirements, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain other eligible entities as allowed in the notice. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.011 and is categorized as a discretionary assistance award. The funding opportunity number is DFOP0017983, it was created on March 26, 2026, and the application deadline is May 29, 2026. The notice indicates that the list of eligible participating countries is provided in the Overview section of the full announcement, so applicants would need to consult the official posting to confirm country eligibility, any degree-level or field priorities, and the detailed requirements for budgeting, reporting, and compliance.
FAQs: FY 2026 U.S. South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP) - DFOP0017983
What is the FY 2026 U.S. South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP)?
The FY 2026 U.S. South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP) is a funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to select one organization to administer a small cohort scholarship program that brings up to eight students from eligible South Pacific countries to the United States for full academic degree study.
Who is offering and funding this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
How many awards does ECA expect to make?
ECA expects to make a single award (one organization will be selected).
What is the anticipated total budget for this program?
The overall program budget is anticipated to be about $925,000.
What type of award is this?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which means ECA expects substantial involvement during implementation and the recipient will operate in close coordination with ECA and other partners.
What does "cooperative agreement" mean in practice for the recipient?
It means the recipient should expect close coordination with ECA during implementation, including substantial involvement by ECA in program execution, along with coordination with U.S. embassies (specifically Public Affairs Sections) in the East Asia and Pacific region.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The central purpose is to fund a capable administering organization to run the end-to-end scholarship and exchange process. It is not intended to fund a university directly to educate students.
How many students may be supported under this scholarship program?
The program is described as bringing up to eight students from eligible South Pacific countries to the United States for full academic degree study.
Who are the student participants expected to be?
Students are expected to come from eligible South Pacific countries (the specific list is provided in the Overview section of the full announcement).
Where can applicants find the list of eligible participating countries?
The notice indicates that the list of eligible participating countries is provided in the Overview section of the full announcement, so applicants need to consult the official posting to confirm country eligibility.
What organization is ECA trying to fund: a university or an administrator?
ECA is trying to fund an administering organization that can manage the scholarship program from recruitment through alumni follow-up. The notice emphasizes that the grant is not intended to fund a university directly to educate students.
What are the core responsibilities of the selected implementing organization?
The selected implementer would be responsible for designing and managing recruitment and outreach (in partnership with U.S. embassies), organizing merit-based review panels, running a competitive selection and nomination process, handling student placement at U.S. institutions for degree programs, and providing ongoing participant support and monitoring throughout the scholarship period.
What role do U.S. embassies play in the program?
The recipient is expected to coordinate closely with U.S. embassies, specifically the Public Affairs Sections in the East Asia and Pacific region, including partnering on recruitment and outreach and coordinating on implementation.
What is expected for recruitment and outreach?
The administering organization is expected to design and manage recruitment and outreach in partnership with U.S. embassies.
How are students expected to be selected?
The program includes merit-based review panels and a competitive selection and nomination process managed by the administering organization in coordination with relevant partners.
What does "student placement" involve?
After nominees are identified, the recipient must handle placement at appropriate U.S. institutions for degree programs. This typically involves matching academic interests and preparedness with institutional fit, navigating admission timelines, and meeting any program-specific requirements.
What types of student support services are expected during the degree program?
The recipient is expected to provide wraparound services such as orientations (pre-departure and/or upon arrival), enrichment programming during the students' time in the United States, structured pre-return activities, and ongoing monitoring and support throughout the scholarship period.
What are "wraparound services" in the context of this program?
Wraparound services include orientations, enrichment programming, structured pre-return activities, and monitoring and participant support services like academic progress monitoring, wellness support referrals, troubleshooting administrative issues, and coordination with universities and stakeholders.
Are orientations required, and when do they occur?
The opportunity describes orientations as an expected element, often conducted pre-departure and/or upon arrival in the United States.
What is enrichment programming?
Enrichment programming refers to structured activities provided during the students' time in the United States to support the exchange experience alongside academic study.
What are structured pre-return activities?
Structured pre-return activities are designed to prepare participants to reintegrate and apply their learning when they return home after completing their degree program.
What does participant monitoring and ongoing support include?
The notice describes monitoring and support as including academic progress monitoring, wellness support referrals, troubleshooting administrative issues, and coordination with universities and relevant stakeholders throughout the scholarship period.
What are the monitoring and evaluation expectations for the grantee?
The administering organization must conduct ongoing monitoring and evaluation of program activities and outcomes as part of oversight, learning, and accountability.
Is alumni engagement required after students complete their degrees?
Yes. The recipient must maintain follow-up engagement with alumni after the degree program to support sustained ties and longer-term impact.
What does alumni follow-up typically include?
The notice explains that, in practice, alumni follow-up usually means maintaining alumni records, facilitating alumni networking, collecting outcome data, and coordinating with ECA and embassy partners on post-program engagement strategies consistent with the scholarship goals.
Who is eligible to apply for this funding opportunity?
Eligible applicants include U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations that meet 501(c)(3) requirements, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain other eligible entities as allowed in the notice.
Is this opportunity listed under a CFDA number?
Yes. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.011.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized as a discretionary assistance award.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DFOP0017983.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 26, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is May 29, 2026.
What details are not included in the summary and require consulting the full announcement?
The notice indicates applicants must consult the official posting to confirm the list of eligible participating countries, any degree-level or field priorities, and the detailed requirements for budgeting, reporting, and compliance.
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