Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAI RSOI 12 GR 002
Apply for NEAI RSOI 12 GR 002
- The Iraq Assistance Office in the business and commerce education employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Microsoft Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.016 Iraq Assistance Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 30, 2012 and posted on May 30, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 29, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $7,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $7,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Microsoft Initiative (Funding Opportunity Number NEAI RSOI 12 GR 002) was a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Iraq Office (NEA/I) funding opportunity released through the Iraq Assistance Office to support workforce-oriented education and training for Iraqi minority community women. Rather than being a full request for proposals at the outset, it began as a Request for Statements of Interest (SOIs). Organizations were asked to briefly describe project concepts, and only selected submitters would later be invited to develop and submit full proposals. In practice, this means the initial submission was intended to screen for strong, realistic ideas and capable implementers before the government invested time in a full competitive proposal process.
The core purpose of the initiative was to deliver a combined training pathway that links English language instruction with Microsoft computer certification. The program emphasis was on improving or establishing English skills specifically as a foundation for subsequent technical training, with the expectation that stronger English proficiency would help participants succeed in computer coursework and certification exams and ultimately improve employability. The training focus sat at the intersection of education and employment outcomes, aligning with the opportunitys listed activity categories of Business and Commerce, Education, and Employment/Labor/Training.
Funding was provided as discretionary assistance, using either a cooperative agreement or grant instrument. The total estimated funding available was listed as $7,000,000, with an award ceiling of $7,000,000 and an award floor of $500,000, indicating the government anticipated one or more sizable projects rather than small micro-awards. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowered barriers for applicants that might not have been able to contribute non-federal funds. Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity was open to a wide range of entity types, subject to any additional eligibility notes in the full text of the announcement.
Key dates show the opportunity was posted and created on May 30, 2012, with an original and current closing date of June 29, 2012, and an archive date of July 29, 2012. The CFDA listing tied the funding to 19.016, the Iraq Assistance Program, situating the project within broader U.S. assistance efforts in Iraq during that period.
For access issues or administrative questions, the point of contact was the Iraq Assist Grants Team. The announcement noted that applicants having trouble obtaining the full announcement electronically should reach out to that team via email. Overall, the opportunity sought implementers capable of designing and delivering an integrated English-and-IT certification training model tailored to Iraqi minority women, with the longer-term goal of strengthening skills relevant to the labor market and improving economic participation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is described as the Microsoft Initiative, under Funding Opportunity Number NEAI RSOI 12 GR 002.
Which U.S. government office released this opportunity?
It was released by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Iraq Office (NEA/I), through the Iraq Assistance Office.
Was this a full Request for Proposals (RFP) at the start?
No. It began as a Request for Statements of Interest (SOIs), meaning organizations first submitted brief project concepts. Only selected submitters would later be invited to develop and submit full proposals.
What was the purpose of starting with a Statement of Interest (SOI)?
The SOI stage was intended to screen for strong, realistic ideas and capable implementers before the government invested time in a full competitive proposal process.
Who was the intended beneficiary group?
The initiative was intended to support workforce-oriented education and training for Iraqi minority community women.
What was the core goal of the program?
The core purpose was to deliver a combined training pathway linking English language instruction with Microsoft computer certification to improve employability and workforce readiness.
How were English language instruction and computer certification connected in the program design?
The program emphasized improving or establishing English skills as a foundation for subsequent technical training, with the expectation that stronger English proficiency would help participants succeed in computer coursework and certification exams.
What types of activities did the opportunity align with?
The opportunity aligned with the listed activity categories of Business and Commerce, Education, and Employment/Labor/Training.
What type of funding instrument was expected?
Funding was described as discretionary assistance, using either a cooperative agreement or a grant instrument.
How much funding was available?
The total estimated funding available was listed as $7,000,000.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $7,000,000.
What was the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor was $500,000.
What does the award floor and ceiling suggest about the expected project size?
The floor of $500,000 and ceiling of $7,000,000 indicate the government anticipated one or more sizable projects rather than small micro-awards.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Why does it matter that no cost sharing or matching was required?
It lowered barriers for applicants that might not have been able to contribute non-federal funds.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was open to a wide range of entity types, subject to any additional eligibility notes in the full text of the announcement.
When was the opportunity posted and created?
It was posted and created on May 30, 2012.
What was the closing date for submissions?
The original and current closing date was June 29, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was July 29, 2012.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was tied to CFDA 19.016, the Iraq Assistance Program.
What broader program context did CFDA 19.016 indicate?
It situates the initiative within broader U.S. assistance efforts in Iraq during that period.
Who was the point of contact for access issues or administrative questions?
The point of contact was the Iraq Assist Grants Team.
What should an applicant do if they had trouble obtaining the full announcement electronically?
The announcement instructed applicants to reach out to the Iraq Assist Grants Team via email for assistance obtaining the full announcement.
At a high level, what kind of implementer was the government looking for?
The opportunity sought implementers capable of designing and delivering an integrated English-and-IT certification training model tailored to Iraqi minority women, with a longer-term goal of strengthening labor-market-relevant skills and improving economic participation.
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