Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS LONDON PD 2016 01
Apply for DOS LONDON PD 2016 01
- The DOS-GBR in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Promoting a Better Understanding of the United States through American Studies" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.011.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 29, 2016 and posted on Jan 29, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 01, 2016. (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 $40,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled Promoting a Better Understanding of the United States through American Studies is a U.S. Embassy London public diplomacy funding call for one organization to design and run a small-grants program that strengthens American Studies across the United Kingdom. The central purpose is to encourage projects that build a more accurate and positive understanding of the United States, using academic and cultural programming as the main vehicles. Rather than funding a single university project directly, the Embassy is looking for an experienced program implementer that can create the structure, outreach, selection process, oversight, and reporting needed to distribute and manage multiple smaller awards to UK-based institutions and partners.
The funded implementer is expected to set up a UK-wide small grants competition focused on American Studies-related activities such as faculty development and professional exchanges, curriculum development, student exchanges, speaker programs, film and other arts programming, and conferences. While individual funded projects must take place in the United Kingdom, the Embassy allows a U.S.-based component when it supports the UK activity (for example, a short exchange visit or collaboration element tied to the UK programming). The implementer is also meant to function as an ongoing hub of expertise and coordination for American Studies in the UK, serving as a primary point of contact and information source for relevant programs and stakeholders.
Operationally, the implementer would work closely with the Embassy public affairs staff on grant-making best practices and ensure the small grants program reflects Embassy priorities. The role includes designing the application and review process, promoting the opportunity widely across the UK, and offering information or coaching sessions to potential applicants so the process is accessible and competitive. The implementer must convene a review committee that reflects geographic diversity and includes higher education experts, lead a merit-based panel process, and then seek Embassy concurrence before final awards are made. The implementer must also choose appropriate funding mechanisms for each selected project, issue grants or make payments to recipients as needed, manage compliance and reporting requirements, and provide quarterly program updates to the Embassy that include budget information.
In terms of funding, the Embassy anticipates selecting a single implementer, with a total award of up to USD 90,000 (subject to availability of funds) to operate the overall small grants program. Within that program, the implementer would solicit and administer sub-awards ranging roughly from USD 250 up to USD 40,000 per project. The selection of sub-awardees (such as participating universities and partners) is expected to be based on factors including merit, feasibility of the proposed collaboration, likely impact on beneficiaries, and sustainability beyond the grant period.
The timeline laid out in the announcement is tightly staged. The main grant to the implementer is awarded in March 2016. From April through May 2016, the implementer develops the small grants program through consultation with the American Studies community and the Embassy. The program launches in June 2016, with a deadline for small-grant applications in August 2016. Applications are reviewed in September and October 2016, partnerships are notified, and projects begin. Implementation of the selected small-grant projects is expected to run from November 2016 through October 2017, with completion and a final report due in November 2017.
Application requirements emphasize submitting a complete package following the Public Diplomacy Grants Program Application form instructions. Cost-sharing is strongly recommended and can include allowable direct and indirect costs, but it must be documented with records that can support any claimed match and withstand audit scrutiny. The opportunity points applicants to the federal cost-sharing framework at 2 CFR 200.306 for guidance on matching requirements and documentation expectations. The application deadline for proposals to become the program implementer is March 1, 2016, and the Embassy notes it may adjust budgets, program configurations, or participant numbers depending on program needs and available funding.
Proposals are evaluated by the Embassy Public Diplomacy Grants Committee using several core criteria. Applicants are expected to provide a clear executive summary that defines the need, the location and scope of the program, and the target population. The proposal must then lay out strategic objectives and a program description that directly connect activities to the stated goals, explain how activities will be implemented, and describe how effectiveness will be measured. Reviewers will look closely at relevance, feasibility, realism of the timeline, and whether benefits are likely to last beyond the funding period. The budget is also a major factor, with an expectation that costs are reasonable, well-justified, and consistent with allowable cost principles, and that the narrative and budget align. Finally, proposals must include performance indicators along with a monitoring and evaluation plan that shows the applicant can track results and manage implementation responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the purpose of the “Promoting a Better Understanding of the United States through American Studies” grant opportunity?
The purpose is to strengthen American Studies across the United Kingdom by supporting academic and cultural projects that promote a more accurate and positive understanding of the United States. The U.S. Embassy London intends to do this by funding one organization to design and run a UK-wide small-grants program that will then make multiple smaller awards to UK-based institutions and partners.
2) Who is the U.S. Embassy London looking to fund through this call?
The Embassy anticipates selecting a single organization as the program implementer. This implementer is responsible for creating and managing the overall small-grants competition (including outreach, application design, review, oversight, compliance, and reporting) rather than running one standalone university project.
3) Is this funding meant for one project or multiple projects?
Multiple projects. The main grant is awarded to one implementer, and that implementer then solicits, selects, and administers multiple sub-awards (small grants) to UK-based institutions and partners for American Studies-related activities.
4) What is the total funding amount available for the program implementer?
The Embassy anticipates one award of up to USD 90,000 (subject to availability of funds) to operate the overall small-grants program.
5) What size are the sub-awards the implementer will distribute?
The implementer is expected to solicit and administer sub-awards ranging roughly from USD 250 up to USD 40,000 per project.
6) What kinds of activities can the small-grants program support?
The small-grants competition is expected to focus on American Studies-related activities such as:
- Faculty development and professional exchanges
- Curriculum development
- Student exchanges
- Speaker programs
- Film and other arts programming
- Conferences
7) Do funded projects have to take place in the United Kingdom?
Yes. Individual funded projects must take place in the United Kingdom.
8) Can a project include a U.S.-based component?
Yes, a U.S.-based component is allowed when it supports the UK activity (for example, a short exchange visit or collaboration element tied to the UK programming).
9) What is the implementer expected to build and manage?
The implementer is expected to create the full structure for a UK-wide small-grants competition and manage it end-to-end. This includes designing the application and review process, promoting the opportunity widely across the UK, providing information or coaching sessions for potential applicants, establishing oversight and reporting procedures, and administering the sub-awards through appropriate funding mechanisms.
10) What does it mean that the implementer should act as a “hub” for American Studies in the UK?
The implementer is expected to function as an ongoing point of expertise and coordination for American Studies in the UK, serving as a primary point of contact and information source for relevant programs and stakeholders.
11) How closely will the implementer work with the Embassy?
The implementer is expected to work closely with the Embassy public affairs staff on grant-making best practices and to ensure the small-grants program reflects Embassy priorities.
12) What are the expectations for outreach and applicant support?
The implementer is expected to promote the opportunity widely across the United Kingdom and offer information or coaching sessions to potential applicants so the process is accessible and competitive.
13) What are the expectations for the review and selection process for sub-awards?
The implementer must convene a review committee that reflects geographic diversity and includes higher education experts. The implementer leads a merit-based panel process and must seek Embassy concurrence before final awards are made.
14) What factors are expected to influence which sub-award projects get selected?
The selection of sub-awardees is expected to be based on factors including:
- Merit
- Feasibility of the proposed collaboration
- Likely impact on beneficiaries
- Sustainability beyond the grant period
15) What administrative and financial management responsibilities does the implementer have?
The implementer must choose appropriate funding mechanisms for each selected project, issue grants or make payments to recipients as needed, manage compliance and reporting requirements, and provide quarterly program updates to the Embassy that include budget information.
16) What reporting is required to the Embassy?
The implementer is expected to provide quarterly program updates to the Embassy, including budget information. The overall program also has a completion stage and a final report due in November 2017.
17) What is the timeline for the implementer award and the small-grants program?
The announcement lays out the following staged timeline:
- Main grant to implementer awarded: March 2016
- Program development (consultation with American Studies community and the Embassy): April to May 2016
- Small-grants program launch: June 2016
- Small-grant application deadline: August 2016
- Application review: September to October 2016
- Partnerships notified and projects begin: after review (Fall 2016)
- Implementation period for selected projects: November 2016 to October 2017
- Completion and final report due: November 2017
18) What is the deadline to apply to become the program implementer?
The application deadline for proposals to become the program implementer is March 1, 2016.
19) What application form or instructions must implementer applicants follow?
Applicants are instructed to submit a complete package following the Public Diplomacy Grants Program Application form instructions.
20) Is cost-sharing required?
Cost-sharing is strongly recommended. The opportunity indicates it can include allowable direct and indirect costs, but it must be documented with records that can support any claimed match and withstand audit scrutiny.
21) What guidance is referenced for cost-sharing and matching documentation?
The opportunity points applicants to the federal cost-sharing framework at 2 CFR 200.306 for guidance on matching requirements and documentation expectations.
22) Can the Embassy change the budget or program design after selection?
Yes. The Embassy notes it may adjust budgets, program configurations, or participant numbers depending on program needs and available funding.
23) Who evaluates implementer proposals?
Proposals are evaluated by the Embassy Public Diplomacy Grants Committee.
24) What are the key evaluation criteria for implementer proposals?
The announcement highlights several core criteria, including:
- A clear executive summary defining the need, location and scope, and target population
- Strategic objectives and a program description that connects activities to stated goals
- Implementation details and how effectiveness will be measured
- Relevance, feasibility, and a realistic timeline
- Likelihood that benefits will last beyond the funding period (sustainability)
- A reasonable, well-justified budget consistent with allowable cost principles, aligned with the narrative
- Performance indicators and a monitoring and evaluation plan demonstrating responsible management
25) What does the Embassy expect in the budget and budget narrative?
The budget is a major factor in review. The Embassy expects costs to be reasonable, well-justified, and consistent with allowable cost principles, and expects the budget and the narrative to align.
26) What monitoring and evaluation content is expected in an implementer proposal?
Proposals must include performance indicators along with a monitoring and evaluation plan showing the applicant can track results and manage implementation responsibly.
27) What is the overall goal of funding American Studies activities through this model?
The overall goal is to use academic and cultural programming to support projects that build a more accurate and positive understanding of the United States, while strengthening American Studies capacity and coordination across the UK through a structured small-grants program.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Education
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