Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPI 11 AW 036 MENA 080111
Apply for NEAPI 11 AW 036 MENA 080111
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative in the business and commerce community development education employment, labor and training information and statistics law, justice and legal services regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Organizational Interest and Capacity Questionnaire" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.221 Iran Assistance Program 19.500 Middle East Partnership Initiative 19.600 Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 18, 2011 and posted on Aug 1, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2011. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Organizational Interest and Capacity Questionnaire is a Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) initiative designed to build a pipeline of vetted organizations that could compete for future U.S. government funding in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Rather than funding a single, immediate project, this opportunity functions like a pre-qualification process. NEA plans to use a web-based questionnaire and accompanying Statements of Interest to identify a broad group of organizations as "pre-selected partners." If funding becomes available, those pre-selected partners may be invited to submit full proposals for specific future activities over a period of up to four years. Completing the questionnaire is therefore an entry point into a longer-term partnership pool, not a guarantee of an award.
Applicants are expected to provide detailed organizational information through the questionnaire, which is described as only one component of the overall submission package. NEA is seeking clear evidence of an organization's mission, core activities, technical and functional expertise, and on-the-ground experience in relevant countries. Just as important, the agency wants to understand an applicant's implementation approach and methodology, including how it works with local and regional stakeholders. The questionnaire also asks organizations to describe their track record collaborating with nongovernmental actors, government counterparts, and private sector partners across the MENA region, along with relevant accomplishments that demonstrate credibility and capacity. NEA emphasizes that submission alone does not ensure eligibility or selection for the partner pool; the questionnaire is meant to help the government assess both experience and readiness to deliver.
The focus areas NEA highlights span governance, rights, participation, and socio-economic development. Specifically, NEA is looking for organizations with experience and/or capacity to support legal systems that protect the rights of all individuals, civic cultures that promote democratic values and broad participation, and media institutions that serve the public interest. The agency also prioritizes work on legal and regulatory frameworks that enable participation, political processes and institutions that encourage effective engagement, and strengthening civil society organizations, particularly in effective advocacy. Beyond governance and civic participation, NEA also flags economic reform and workforce development, educational reform and service learning, local coalitions and partnerships, and alumni networks and activities as areas where implementing partners may be needed. In practice, this means NEA is casting a wide net for organizations that can support democratic governance and inclusive development through programs, partnerships, capacity building, and policy or institutional support.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted August 1, 2011, with an application deadline of September 30, 2011, and an archive date of October 30, 2011. The funding instrument types listed include both cooperative agreements and grants, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary. While the award floor is listed at $25,000 and the award ceiling at $5,000,000, those figures are best understood as potential ranges for future awards that could be competed among pre-selected partners, depending on what specific funding opportunities are released later and what funds Congress and the agency make available. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement indicated.
Eligibility is broad and includes for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (with the noted distinctions), and both public and private institutions of higher education. U.S.-based applicants must submit the Statement of Interest through Grants.gov, while foreign-based applicants may submit through Grants.gov or by email, following the instructions in the full announcement. For access issues with the announcement, the listed point of contact is Jessica Baker at Quality Support, Inc., contractor support, reachable by phone at 202-776-8524, with a reference to the NEA mailbox for additional assistance. The opportunity references CFDA numbers 19.221 (Iran Assistance Program), 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative), and 19.600 (Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs), which signals the broader funding streams and authorities under which later, specific awards may be made.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the Organizational Interest and Capacity Questionnaire?
The Organizational Interest and Capacity Questionnaire is a Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) initiative to build a pipeline of vetted organizations that may be able to compete for future U.S. government funding in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It functions as a pre-qualification process rather than a request to fund one immediate project.
2) Is this a grant for a specific project right now?
No. The questionnaire is not aimed at funding a single, immediate project. It is designed to identify a broad group of organizations that could be considered for future funding opportunities if and when they become available.
3) What does "pre-selected partner" mean in this opportunity?
NEA plans to use the web-based questionnaire and accompanying Statements of Interest to identify a group of organizations as "pre-selected partners." If future funding becomes available, those pre-selected partners may be invited to submit full proposals for specific activities.
4) Does completing the questionnaire guarantee an award?
No. Completing the questionnaire is an entry point into a longer-term partnership pool. Submission does not guarantee eligibility, selection into the pool, or an award.
5) How long could this partner pool be used for future opportunities?
NEA indicates that pre-selected partners may be invited to submit full proposals for specific future activities over a period of up to four years.
6) What are the main goals NEA is trying to achieve by collecting these submissions?
NEA is aiming to assess organizational experience and readiness to deliver. The questionnaire helps NEA understand an organization’s mission, expertise, regional experience, implementation approach, and ability to work effectively with relevant stakeholders across MENA.
7) What are the required components of the submission?
Applicants are expected to provide detailed organizational information through the questionnaire. The questionnaire is described as only one component of the overall submission package, and it is accompanied by a Statement of Interest.
8) What kind of organizational information does NEA want to see?
NEA is seeking clear evidence of an organization’s mission, core activities, technical and functional expertise, and on-the-ground experience in relevant countries. NEA also wants to understand implementation approach and methodology, including how the organization works with local and regional stakeholders.
9) What types of partnerships and collaboration experience are relevant?
The questionnaire asks organizations to describe their track record collaborating with nongovernmental actors, government counterparts, and private sector partners across the MENA region, including relevant accomplishments that demonstrate credibility and capacity.
10) What geographic region does this initiative focus on?
The initiative focuses on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
11) What program focus areas does NEA highlight for potential future work?
NEA highlights governance, rights, participation, and socio-economic development. The opportunity emphasizes experience and/or capacity to support legal systems protecting the rights of all individuals, civic cultures promoting democratic values and broad participation, and media institutions that serve the public interest.
12) What governance and civic participation topics are specifically mentioned?
NEA prioritizes legal and regulatory frameworks that enable participation, political processes and institutions that encourage effective engagement, and strengthening civil society organizations, particularly in effective advocacy.
13) Are economic and education-related activities included in the areas of interest?
Yes. NEA flags economic reform and workforce development, educational reform and service learning, local coalitions and partnerships, and alumni networks and activities as areas where implementing partners may be needed.
14) What types of funding instruments may be used for future awards?
The opportunity lists cooperative agreements and grants as the funding instrument types.
15) How is the opportunity categorized?
It is categorized as discretionary.
16) What are the listed award floor and award ceiling amounts?
The award floor is listed at $25,000 and the award ceiling at $5,000,000. These amounts are best understood as potential ranges for future awards that could be competed among pre-selected partners, depending on later funding opportunities and available funds.
17) Does this opportunity require cost sharing or matching?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is indicated.
18) Who is eligible to submit?
Eligibility is broad and includes for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (with noted distinctions), and both public and private institutions of higher education.
19) How do U.S.-based applicants submit?
U.S.-based applicants must submit the Statement of Interest through Grants.gov.
20) How do foreign-based applicants submit?
Foreign-based applicants may submit through Grants.gov or by email, following the instructions in the full announcement.
21) What are the key dates for this opportunity as posted?
The opportunity was posted August 1, 2011. The application deadline was September 30, 2011. The archive date was October 30, 2011.
22) What should applicants do if they cannot access the announcement?
For access issues with the announcement, the listed point of contact is Jessica Baker at Quality Support, Inc. (contractor support), reachable by phone at 202-776-8524. The opportunity also references the NEA mailbox for additional assistance.
23) What CFDA numbers are referenced, and what do they indicate?
The opportunity references CFDA numbers 19.221 (Iran Assistance Program), 19.500 (Middle East Partnership Initiative), and 19.600 (Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs). These references signal the broader funding streams and authorities under which later, specific awards may be made.
24) If an organization is pre-selected, will it automatically be invited to apply for every future activity?
NEA indicates that pre-selected partners may be invited to submit full proposals if funding becomes available. The language does not state that every pre-selected partner will be invited for every future activity.
25) What is NEA ultimately trying to assess through the questionnaire and Statement of Interest?
NEA is using these materials to assess both experience and readiness to deliver, including mission alignment, demonstrated expertise, on-the-ground experience, implementation methodology, and demonstrated ability to collaborate across nongovernmental, governmental, and private sector counterparts in MENA.
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