Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS SAU 2606 PD
Apply for DOS SAU 2606 PD
- The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "MENA Freedom 250 NFL Flag Football Launch and Championship" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-31.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-14. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The MENA Freedom 250 NFL Flag Football Launch and Championship is a U.S. Department of State-funded sports diplomacy grant competition announced by the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia. It supports a 12-month program designed to launch and grow flag football across the Middle East and North Africa, building momentum toward the sport's debut at the LA28 Summer Games. The program is expected to conclude with a regional championship event in Riyadh in March 2027, positioned as the culminating showcase of the yearlong development and outreach effort.
At its core, the opportunity is meant to create an early-stage pipeline for developing MENA flag football athletes and organizing structures. The selected implementer would be responsible for helping participating countries run national-level outreach activities and youth-focused programming, which suggests an emphasis on broad participation, talent identification, and foundational coaching or player development. Beyond athletic competition, the initiative is explicitly framed as a vehicle for sports diplomacy: it aims to use the global appeal of the NFL and American sports culture as an "iconic" U.S. cultural export to strengthen U.S. influence in the region, support U.S. economic interests connected to sports and events, and reinforce U.S. leadership in sport governance and best practices.
Funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government expects substantial involvement in the program design and execution rather than a fully hands-off grant. The award ceiling is $150,000, and the opportunity anticipates making a single award, which raises the stakes for applicants to present a credible, regionally scalable plan with clear deliverables that fit within the one-year performance window. The funding opportunity number is DOS SAU 2606 PD, and it is listed under CFDA 19.040.
Eligibility is limited to organizations with demonstrated capacity to run international sports and exchange-style programming. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations (such as sports diplomacy implementers, cultural exchange organizations, and NGOs/civil society groups), public or private educational institutions that can support athletics or exchange programming, and public international organizations or governmental institutions with relevant experience in sports programming. For-profit entities cannot apply as prime recipients, but they can participate as in-kind partners under the recipient's award, which leaves room for collaborations with leagues, brands, event vendors, or training providers as supporting contributors rather than lead grantees.
Key administrative details include the posting date of August 31, 2026, and an application deadline of September 14, 2026. The funding agency is the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia, and the opportunity category is listed as "Other" under funding activity, reflecting its hybrid nature as an athletic development effort, public diplomacy initiative, and regional event program culminating in a championship in Riyadh.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the MENA Freedom 250 NFL Flag Football Launch and Championship grant opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State-funded sports diplomacy grant competition announced by the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia. It supports a 12-month program to launch and grow flag football across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), building momentum toward flag football's debut at the LA28 Summer Games.
Who is funding and announcing this grant competition?
The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and announced by the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia.
What is the purpose of the program?
The program is designed to expand flag football in the MENA region and create early-stage structures for athlete and program development. It also serves a sports diplomacy purpose by leveraging the global appeal of the NFL and American sports culture to strengthen U.S. influence in the region, support U.S. economic interests tied to sports and events, and reinforce U.S. leadership in sport governance and best practices.
How long is the performance period?
The program is expected to run for 12 months.
What is the expected culminating event?
The opportunity anticipates concluding with a regional championship event in Riyadh in March 2027, positioned as the culminating showcase of the yearlong development and outreach effort.
Where will the championship take place and when?
The regional championship is expected to be held in Riyadh in March 2027.
What kinds of activities are expected during the 12-month program?
The selected implementer would be responsible for supporting participating countries with national-level outreach activities and youth-focused programming. This suggests an emphasis on broad participation, talent identification, and foundational coaching or player development in support of a regional pipeline.
What does "early-stage pipeline" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the description, it refers to building the foundational athlete development and organizational structures needed to grow flag football in the region. This includes outreach, youth programming, and development-oriented activities that help identify and cultivate talent and establish organizing capacity.
Is this opportunity focused only on competition?
No. While a regional championship is expected as a capstone event, the initiative is also framed as sports diplomacy and development. The intent includes outreach, youth programming, and building sustainable structures that expand participation and improve organizing capacity.
What type of award is being offered?
Funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement indicates the U.S. government expects substantial involvement in program design and execution rather than providing a fully hands-off grant. Applicants should plan for meaningful coordination with the U.S. government during implementation.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is $150,000.
How many awards does the opportunity expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making a single award.
What does it imply that only one award is anticipated?
It means one implementer is expected to be selected to run the full 12-month program and deliver the regional effort culminating in the championship in Riyadh.
Who is eligible to apply as the prime recipient?
Eligibility is limited to organizations with demonstrated capacity to run international sports and exchange-style programming. Eligible applicants include:
- Not-for-profit organizations (including sports diplomacy implementers, cultural exchange organizations, and NGOs/civil society groups)
- Public or private educational institutions that can support athletics or exchange programming
- Public international organizations or governmental institutions with relevant experience in sports programming
Can for-profit companies apply as the main applicant?
No. For-profit entities cannot apply as prime recipients.
Can for-profit companies be involved in the project in any way?
Yes. For-profit entities may participate as in-kind partners under the recipient's award. This allows collaborations with leagues, brands, event vendors, or training providers as supporting contributors rather than lead grantees.
What types of organizations are specifically mentioned as eligible not-for-profits?
The opportunity references sports diplomacy implementers, cultural exchange organizations, and NGOs/civil society groups as examples of eligible not-for-profit applicants.
What is the posting date for this opportunity?
The posting date is August 31, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is September 14, 2026.
Which U.S. government entity is the funding agency?
The funding agency is the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DOS SAU 2606 PD.
What is the CFDA listing for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity category is listed as "Other" under funding activity, reflecting its hybrid nature as an athletic development effort, public diplomacy initiative, and regional event program.
How is this program connected to the LA28 Summer Games?
The program is intended to build momentum toward flag football's debut at the LA28 Summer Games by launching and growing the sport across the MENA region.
What are the main themes or goals beyond sport development?
The initiative is explicitly framed as sports diplomacy. It aims to use the global appeal of the NFL and American sports culture as a U.S. cultural export to strengthen U.S. influence in the region, support U.S. economic interests connected to sports and events, and reinforce U.S. leadership in sport governance and best practices.
What is expected of the selected implementer?
The selected implementer is expected to run the 12-month regional effort, help participating countries run national-level outreach activities and youth-focused programming, and deliver a culminating regional championship event in Riyadh in March 2027.
Does the opportunity indicate a focus on youth programming?
Yes. The description specifically notes youth-focused programming and national-level outreach activities.
Does the opportunity suggest what kinds of development activities may be included?
Yes. It suggests broad participation, talent identification, and foundational coaching or player development as part of the effort to build a pipeline and organizing structures.
What region does the program target?
The program targets the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
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