Opportunity Information: Apply for OES OTI 14 002
Apply for OES OTI 14 002
- The Ocean and International Environmental Scientific in the business and commerce education employment, labor and training other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Network Partnership Support Services" 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 Apr 24, 2014 and posted on Apr 13, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 2014 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 $150,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Public International Organizations (PIOs)
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Opportunity Summary:
The Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Network Partnership Support Services opportunity is a U.S. Department of State funding announcement issued by the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), Office of Science and Technology Cooperation (STC). It offers up to USD 150,000 through a cooperative agreement to select a single implementer to provide hands-on operational support for the GIST Initiative Network (GIST Net). GIST Net is positioned as a public-private partnership that brings together the U.S. private sector, civil society, academia, international organizations, and the U.S. government, with the broader purpose of helping early-stage science and technology entrepreneurs, especially in emerging economies, develop viable companies that produce economic and social value.
At its core, the project is about running and strengthening an online entrepreneurship support platform. GIST Net is meant to give young innovators practical guidance as they build science and technology-based products and businesses. The platform is expected to deliver curated learning and venture-building content, provide access to credible experts and mentors, and encourage peer-to-peer engagement through social media style conversations. This fits within the larger GIST initiative, which focuses on developing entrepreneurial ecosystems internationally by pairing skills training, networking, and pathways to financing for promising innovators.
The implementer funded under this RFA would function as a secretariat for GIST Net, handling the day-to-day backbone work that keeps the partnership and platform operating smoothly. That includes managing partner relationships and routine partnership operations, coordinating and acquiring content contributed by partners, and performing basic web content tasks such as HTML formatting, data entry, and data extraction. A major deliverable is ongoing performance visibility: the awardee is expected to provide weekly metrics and analysis to the Steering Committee and the Secretariat, drawing from the GIST Net portal itself as well as external sources such as press coverage and broader media signals.
The announcement also makes clear that the technical foundation (an existing GIST Net portal) is already in place, and the implementer is expected to work within and improve that environment rather than build from scratch. Responsibilities include uploading and managing content, assessing and synthesizing beta testing feedback, and coordinating with the portal developer or provider to implement changes needed ahead of a global launch timed to coincide with the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), anticipated for the fourth quarter of 2014 (exact date to be determined). Beyond content and platform readiness, the implementer is expected to ensure the community can reliably access high-quality mentors and experts, stimulate and moderate peer-to-peer virtual conversations, and oversee the electronic matching process that connects mentors and entrepreneurs for one-on-one engagement.
Because the award is structured as a cooperative agreement, the State Department signals substantial involvement in execution rather than a hands-off grant. Applicants should anticipate frequent government participation, including substantive guidance, weekly check-ins by call or meeting, administrative access coordination for social media properties, recurring requests for analytics on website and social channels, and iterative reviews and approvals during planning and implementation. In practice, this means the implementer must be comfortable operating in a collaborative environment with regular federal oversight, fast turnaround on reporting, and tight alignment with the program office on decisions affecting content, partnerships, and communications.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate expert-level capability and a strong track record across several intersecting areas: innovation and entrepreneurship education, international entrepreneurship capacity building, managing public-private partnerships, website and digital content management, program management, and analysis of third-party messaging across social and traditional media. The opportunity emphasizes the need for creativity and relevance to OES goals, particularly building a worldwide community of science and technology entrepreneurs who can address local, regional, and global challenges while supporting economic growth.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed as discretionary funding with one expected award, total estimated funding of USD 150,000 (award ceiling USD 150,000; award floor USD 1), and no cost sharing or matching requirement. It is associated with CFDA 19.017 (Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs) and categorized under areas including business and commerce, education, employment and training, and science and technology, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship. Eligible applicants include various higher education institutions (public, state-controlled, and private), nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities other than institutions of higher education), public international organizations, and other eligible entities as further clarified in the full announcement. The posting dates indicate it was posted April 13, 2014, created April 24, 2014, with an application deadline of May 7, 2014, and an archive date of June 6, 2014. For access issues, the announcement directs applicants to the Grants.gov Contact Center.
FAQs: GIST Network Partnership Support Services (U.S. Department of State)
What is this funding opportunity called?
The opportunity is titled the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Network Partnership Support Services. It supports hands-on operational work for the GIST Initiative Network (GIST Net).
Which U.S. government agency is offering this award?
It is a U.S. Department of State funding announcement issued by the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), Office of Science and Technology Cooperation (STC).
What is the purpose of GIST Net?
GIST Net is positioned as a public-private partnership that brings together the U.S. private sector, civil society, academia, international organizations, and the U.S. government to help early-stage science and technology entrepreneurs, especially in emerging economies, develop viable companies that produce economic and social value.
What is the core focus of the project being funded?
The central focus is operating and strengthening an online entrepreneurship support platform that provides practical venture-building support for young innovators, including curated learning content, access to experts and mentors, and peer-to-peer engagement.
How much funding is available?
The announcement offers up to USD 150,000 in total estimated funding. The award ceiling is USD 150,000 and the award floor is USD 1.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The announcement indicates one expected award and selection of a single implementer.
What type of award instrument is used?
The funding is offered through a cooperative agreement, which means the U.S. Department of State anticipates substantial involvement in execution rather than a hands-off grant.
What does "substantial involvement" mean in this cooperative agreement?
Based on the announcement, applicants should anticipate frequent government participation, including substantive guidance, weekly check-ins by call or meeting, coordination related to administrative access for social media properties, recurring requests for analytics on website and social channels, and iterative reviews and approvals during planning and implementation.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is CFDA 19.017 and how is it related to this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 19.017, Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs.
What types of activities is the implementer expected to perform?
The implementer is expected to act as a secretariat for GIST Net and provide day-to-day operational support, including partnership operations, content coordination, basic web content tasks, performance reporting, community engagement support, and coordination with the portal developer/provider for improvements and readiness ahead of launch.
What does it mean to function as the "secretariat" for GIST Net?
In the context provided, it means providing the backbone support that keeps the partnership and platform operating smoothly, including managing partner relationships and routine partnership operations, coordinating partner-contributed content, and handling ongoing operational tasks tied to platform performance and communications.
What platform work is expected: building a new site or improving an existing one?
The technical foundation is already in place as an existing GIST Net portal. The implementer is expected to work within and improve that environment rather than build a new platform from scratch.
What are the basic web content tasks mentioned in the announcement?
Examples listed include HTML formatting, data entry, and data extraction, along with uploading and managing content within the existing portal.
What content responsibilities are included?
The implementer is expected to coordinate and acquire content contributed by partners, upload and manage that content in the portal, and support delivery of curated learning and venture-building materials.
What are the expectations for mentorship and expert access on the platform?
The implementer is expected to ensure the community can reliably access high-quality mentors and experts and to oversee the electronic matching process that connects mentors and entrepreneurs for one-on-one engagement.
What community engagement responsibilities are included?
The platform is expected to encourage peer-to-peer engagement through social-media-style conversations. The implementer is expected to stimulate and moderate these peer-to-peer virtual conversations.
What reporting and analytics are required?
A major deliverable is ongoing performance visibility. The awardee is expected to provide weekly metrics and analysis to the Steering Committee and the Secretariat, using data from the GIST Net portal and external sources such as press coverage and broader media signals.
How often are metrics and analysis expected to be provided?
Weekly metrics and analysis are explicitly expected.
Who receives the weekly metrics and analysis?
The weekly metrics and analysis are expected to be provided to the Steering Committee and the Secretariat.
What external information sources are mentioned for performance visibility?
The announcement mentions external sources such as press coverage and broader media signals, in addition to data drawn from the GIST Net portal itself.
Is there a specific launch milestone referenced?
Yes. The implementer is expected to coordinate improvements and readiness ahead of a global launch timed to coincide with the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), anticipated for the fourth quarter of 2014 (exact date to be determined).
What is the role of beta testing feedback in this project?
The implementer is expected to assess and synthesize beta testing feedback and coordinate with the portal developer/provider to implement changes needed prior to global launch.
What coordination is expected with the portal developer or provider?
The implementer is expected to coordinate with the portal developer/provider to implement changes and improvements identified through readiness needs and beta testing feedback.
What capabilities should applicants demonstrate?
Applicants are expected to demonstrate expert-level capability and a strong track record in innovation and entrepreneurship education, international entrepreneurship capacity building, managing public-private partnerships, website and digital content management, program management, and analysis of third-party messaging across social and traditional media.
What program goals does the opportunity emphasize?
The opportunity emphasizes creativity and relevance to OES goals, particularly building a worldwide community of science and technology entrepreneurs who can address local, regional, and global challenges while supporting economic growth.
What topic areas or categories is this opportunity associated with?
It is categorized under areas including business and commerce, education, employment and training, and science and technology, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship.
Who is eligible to apply (as stated in the summary provided)?
Eligible applicants include various higher education institutions (public, state-controlled, and private), nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities other than institutions of higher education), public international organizations, and other eligible entities as further clarified in the full announcement.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline listed is May 7, 2014.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it created?
The posting date is April 13, 2014, and the created date is April 24, 2014.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed is June 6, 2014.
What is the funding type?
The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding.
Where should applicants go if they have trouble accessing the application on Grants.gov?
For access issues, the announcement directs applicants to the Grants.gov Contact Center.
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