Opportunity Information: Apply for POS PAS 1
Apply for POS PAS 1
- The U.S. Mission to Trinidad and Tobago in the agriculture business and commerce community development energy environment humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) law, justice and legal services natural resources regional development science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Port of Spain Embassy Fiscal Year 2014 Request for Proposals" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040 Public Diplomacy Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 2, 2013 and posted on Jul 2, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 1, 2013. (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 $10,000.00 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.
- Proposal must be a representative of a Trinidadian based organization, no individuals may receive grants. Grant period may not exceed 180 days. The Department encourages organizations that have not previously received international program funding from the U.S. Government to apply under this announcement. Applicants are not required to include funding from other donors. However, applications that include additional in kind and/or cash contributions from non U.S. Government sources will be more competitive, since cost sharing demonstrates a strong commitment to the planned activities and will be considered to show great cost effectiveness.
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain (U.S. Mission to Trinidad and Tobago) released a Fiscal Year 2014 Request for Proposals (Funding Opportunity Number: POS PAS 1) to support small, creative, and sustainable projects that include a clear U.S. component and contribute to societal and institutional growth in Trinidad and Tobago. The competition is discretionary and will be issued as grant awards under CFDA 19.040 (Public Diplomacy Programs). Projects are expected to align with one or more core priorities: creating a more open society, improving the rule of law, and strengthening mutual understanding between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. While the opportunity lists a wide range of potential activity areas (such as community development, law and justice, environment, energy, science and technology, business, and humanities/cultural affairs), proposals should ultimately tie their activities back to those three priority outcomes.
Eligibility is focused on organizations rather than individuals. Applicants must be representatives of Trinidadian-based organizations, and the Embassy specifically invites non-profits, NGOs, and social enterprises that are headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago. The announcement notes that the competition is open (not limited to a narrow applicant type), but it also clarifies that no grants will be made to individuals. The Embassy also encourages applications from organizations that have not previously received U.S. Government international program funding, signaling an interest in broadening participation and bringing new local partners into public diplomacy programming.
Funding is designed to be modest and distributed across multiple awards. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is US $10,000 per project, and the project period may not exceed 180 days. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not obligated to provide additional funding to be eligible. However, proposals that include cash and/or in-kind contributions from non-U.S. Government sources are described as more competitive because they demonstrate commitment and cost effectiveness, which can strengthen the overall case for impact and sustainability.
The Embassy provides straightforward application and formatting requirements. Concept papers/proposals must be submitted electronically to ircpos@state.gov by August 1, 2013 (the posted and creation date for the opportunity is July 2, 2013). The written proposal is limited to five double-spaced pages using 12-point Times New Roman with one-inch margins. Within that page limit, applicants must include a project summary, the proposed duration, clear objectives, evidence of organizational capacity, identification of key personnel, a record of previous grants received, and a detailed budget. Applicants are also directed to the U.S. Department of State standard grant Terms and Conditions, with a reference to the State procurement and assistance site (http://fa.statebuy.state.gov/) for additional details.
The funding restrictions are important for budgeting and project design. As a general rule, grant funds may not be used for salaries, for the purchase of equipment costing more than $500, or for refreshments. These limitations imply that the Embassy is looking for programmatic activities where funds primarily support direct project implementation costs (for example, materials, event-related costs that are allowable, outreach, locally appropriate programming expenses, and other non-prohibited line items) rather than staffing, major capital purchases, or hospitality.
Finally, the announcement includes standard U.S. Government disclaimers about selection and future funding. Only applicants whose proposals are selected for award will be contacted, so organizations should not expect individualized feedback or confirmation if they are not chosen. In addition, even if a project is funded, the Department of State does not commit to providing any additional or future funding tied to that award. Any renewal, extension, or increase in funding is entirely at the Department of State's discretion. For applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement, the listed point of contact for access problems is Alana Jacque, Cultural Affairs Assistant, at 1 (868) 822-5556.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is this funding opportunity?
This is a Fiscal Year 2014 Request for Proposals (Funding Opportunity Number: POS PAS 1) released by the U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain (U.S. Mission to Trinidad and Tobago). It supports small, creative, and sustainable projects with a clear U.S. component that contribute to societal and institutional growth in Trinidad and Tobago.
2. Which agency is offering the grant?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain (U.S. Mission to Trinidad and Tobago) under U.S. Department of State public diplomacy programming.
3. What is the CFDA number for this program?
Awards will be issued under CFDA 19.040 (Public Diplomacy Programs).
4. Is this a competitive grant or guaranteed funding?
This is a discretionary competition. Funding is not guaranteed, and awards are made only to proposals selected by the Embassy/Department of State.
5. What are the core priorities my project must align with?
Projects are expected to align with one or more of the following priorities:
- Creating a more open society
- Improving the rule of law
- Strengthening mutual understanding between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago
Even if a proposal is in a specific sector (for example, environment or business), it should clearly tie activities back to one or more of these priority outcomes.
6. What types of activities can be proposed?
The opportunity mentions a wide range of potential activity areas, including community development, law and justice, environment, energy, science and technology, business, and humanities/cultural affairs. Regardless of topic area, proposals should clearly support at least one of the three priority outcomes listed in the announcement.
7. What does it mean to include a "clear U.S. component"?
The announcement requires a clear U.S. component, meaning the project should visibly connect to the United States in a way that supports public diplomacy goals and strengthens mutual understanding between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.
8. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is focused on organizations rather than individuals. Applicants must be representatives of Trinidadian-based organizations. The Embassy specifically invites non-profits, NGOs, and social enterprises headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago.
9. Can individuals apply for funding?
No. The announcement explicitly states that no grants will be made to individuals.
10. Are only certain kinds of organizations allowed to apply?
The competition is described as open (not limited to a narrow applicant type), but applicants must be representatives of Trinidadian-based organizations, and the Embassy specifically invites non-profits, NGOs, and social enterprises headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago.
11. Are first-time U.S. Government grantees encouraged to apply?
Yes. The Embassy encourages applications from organizations that have not previously received U.S. Government international program funding.
12. How much funding can an organization request?
The award ceiling is US $10,000 per project.
13. How long can the project last?
The project period may not exceed 180 days.
14. How many awards will be made?
The announcement indicates funding is designed to be modest and distributed across multiple awards, but it does not provide a specific number of awards.
15. Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement to be eligible.
16. If cost-sharing is not required, should we include it anyway?
Including cash and/or in-kind contributions from non-U.S. Government sources can make a proposal more competitive because it demonstrates commitment and cost effectiveness and may strengthen the case for impact and sustainability.
17. What is the application deadline?
Concept papers/proposals must be submitted by August 1, 2013.
18. How do we submit the proposal?
Proposals must be submitted electronically by email to ircpos@state.gov.
19. What is the posted or creation date of the opportunity?
The posted/creation date listed is July 2, 2013.
20. What are the formatting requirements for the written proposal?
The written proposal is limited to five double-spaced pages and must use:
- 12-point Times New Roman font
- One-inch margins
- A maximum length of five double-spaced pages
21. What content must be included in the proposal?
Within the page limit, proposals must include:
- A project summary
- The proposed duration
- Clear objectives
- Evidence of organizational capacity
- Identification of key personnel
- A record of previous grants received
- A detailed budget
22. Where can we find the standard grant Terms and Conditions?
Applicants are directed to the U.S. Department of State standard grant Terms and Conditions and referenced to the State procurement and assistance site for additional details: http://fa.statebuy.state.gov/
23. What budget restrictions apply to this grant?
As a general rule, grant funds may not be used for:
- Salaries
- Purchase of equipment costing more than $500
- Refreshments
24. Can we buy equipment with grant funds?
Equipment purchases costing more than $500 are not allowable. The announcement does not prohibit all equipment purchases, but it sets a clear restriction for items over $500.
25. Can grant funds be used to pay staff salaries?
No. The announcement states that, as a general rule, grant funds may not be used for salaries.
26. Can grant funds be used for food or refreshments at events?
No. The announcement notes that, as a general rule, grant funds may not be used for refreshments.
27. What kinds of costs does the Embassy appear to prefer funding?
Based on the restrictions, the opportunity implies a preference for programmatic, direct implementation costs rather than staffing, major capital purchases, or hospitality. Proposals should be designed so funds primarily support allowable project activities and implementation expenses.
28. Will all applicants be contacted after submission?
No. The announcement states that only applicants whose proposals are selected for award will be contacted.
29. Will the Embassy provide feedback if our proposal is not selected?
The announcement indicates that only selected applicants will be contacted, which implies organizations should not expect individualized feedback or confirmation if they are not chosen.
30. Does receiving an award guarantee future or additional funding?
No. The Department of State does not commit to providing additional or future funding tied to any award. Any renewal, extension, or increase in funding is entirely at the Department of State's discretion.
31. Who do we contact if we cannot access the full announcement?
For access problems, the listed point of contact is Alana Jacque, Cultural Affairs Assistant, at 1 (868) 822-5556.
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