Opportunity Information: Apply for S PM070 13 GR 501
Apply for S PM070 13 GR 501
- The U.S. Mission to Panama in the community development education employment, labor and training income security and social services law, justice and legal services regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Reinforcing a democratic, secure, and prosperous Panama" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.700 General Department of State Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 21, 2013 and posted on Feb 6, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 10, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
- Public International Organizations Nongovernmental organizations located outside of the U.S.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Reinforcing a democratic, secure, and prosperous Panama" is a discretionary funding competition released by the U.S. Mission (Embassy) in Panama under Funding Opportunity Number S PM070 13 GR 501. Through this Request for Applications (RFA), the Embassy sought proposals for projects implemented in Panama that would reinforce core democratic and governance outcomes. The emphasis is on practical, on-the-ground activities that strengthen civil society and democratic participation, support the rule of law, bolster the effectiveness and integrity of government institutions, and expand constructive opportunities for vulnerable youth living in marginalized communities. In other words, the solicitation is positioned as a broad governance and community-resilience program that can fund multiple approaches, as long as they clearly contribute to a more stable, secure, and prosperous Panama.
Funding was projected at approximately $500,000 in total across the competition, with the Embassy expecting to make about three awards (and indicating it anticipated funding roughly three to five projects overall). Individual awards were expected to fall between an award floor of $50,000 and an award ceiling of $300,000, depending on project scope, feasibility, and the overall quality of proposals received. The Embassy indicated that awards could be made either as grants or as cooperative agreements, which signals that some projects might involve a higher level of programmatic engagement by the U.S. government during implementation (a common distinction when the funder anticipates closer collaboration, coordination, or oversight). Importantly for budgeting, the opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds, meaning applicants were not obligated to contribute a specified portion of project costs from non-federal sources.
The program areas associated with this opportunity reflect a mix of governance, social development, and youth-focused prevention pathways. The listed activity categories include community development, education, employment/labor and training, income security and social services, law/justice/legal services, and regional development. That combination suggests the Embassy was open to projects that address democratic strengthening both directly (such as transparency, accountability, civic engagement, access to justice, or institutional capacity-building) and indirectly (such as youth workforce readiness, community-based services, and protective factors that reduce vulnerability in high-risk neighborhoods). The solicitation’s language about "vulnerable youth in marginal communities" points to efforts that can realistically expand opportunity, reduce exposure to crime or exploitation, and strengthen community ties through training, mentorship, services, and locally grounded partnerships.
Eligibility was intentionally broad, covering both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, including U.S. and non-U.S. entities in relevant categories. Eligible applicants included nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, private and public/state-controlled institutions of higher education, small businesses, other for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and certain Native American tribal entities and organizations. The opportunity also explicitly referenced public international organizations and nongovernmental organizations located outside the United States, indicating that international and locally based implementers could compete, not only U.S.-headquartered organizations. As with most Embassy-administered RFAs, the practical expectation is that applicants demonstrate the organizational capacity to implement programs in Panama, manage funds responsibly, and measure results in a way that aligns activities to the Embassy’s governance and community outcomes.
Key administrative details show this was a time-bound 2013 competition: it was posted on February 6, 2013, with a closing date of March 10, 2013, and later archived on April 9, 2013. The CFDA number associated with the assistance is 19.700, which corresponds to general Department of State assistance. For applicants seeking the full announcement during the open period, the provided support channel was the Grants.gov Contact Center (1-800-518-4726), available around the clock except federal holidays, which is typical for federal grant submission platform support rather than programmatic questions.
Taken together, this opportunity can be summarized as a mid-sized Embassy grant competition aimed at funding a small portfolio of projects that improve democratic governance and social stability in Panama. It offers flexible implementation options across civil society strengthening, rule-of-law initiatives, institutional capacity-building, and targeted youth opportunity programs, with awards large enough to support meaningful pilots or localized interventions while still requiring clear plans, realistic budgets, and measurable outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Reinforcing a democratic, secure, and prosperous Panama."
Who released this funding opportunity?
It was released by the U.S. Mission (Embassy) in Panama.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is S PM070 13 GR 501.
What type of funding opportunity is this?
This is a discretionary funding competition issued as a Request for Applications (RFA).
Where must projects be implemented?
Projects are intended to be implemented in Panama.
What is the overall purpose of the program?
The purpose is to fund practical, on-the-ground activities that reinforce core democratic and governance outcomes in Panama, contributing to a more stable, secure, and prosperous country.
What kinds of outcomes is the Embassy trying to reinforce?
The solicitation emphasizes strengthening civil society and democratic participation, supporting the rule of law, bolstering the effectiveness and integrity of government institutions, and expanding constructive opportunities for vulnerable youth in marginalized communities.
Is the program focused only on governance, or can it support community and youth activities too?
It is positioned broadly as a governance and community-resilience program. It can support direct democratic strengthening efforts (like civic engagement or rule-of-law initiatives) and also indirect approaches (like youth opportunity pathways) as long as they clearly contribute to the stated governance and stability outcomes.
How much total funding was projected for the competition?
Total funding was projected at approximately $500,000 across the competition.
How many awards did the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy expected to make about three awards and indicated it anticipated funding roughly three to five projects overall.
What is the expected minimum and maximum award size?
The expected award floor was $50,000 and the award ceiling was $300,000, depending on project scope, feasibility, and proposal quality.
What factors influence the final award amount?
Award size was expected to vary based on project scope, feasibility, and the overall quality of proposals received.
What funding instruments could be used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards could be made either as grants or as cooperative agreements.
What does it mean that an award could be a cooperative agreement?
The opportunity notes that a cooperative agreement may involve a higher level of programmatic engagement by the U.S. government during implementation, reflecting closer collaboration, coordination, or oversight compared with a standard grant.
Is cost sharing or a matching contribution required?
No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds, meaning applicants were not obligated to contribute a specified portion of project costs from non-federal sources.
What program/activity areas were listed for this opportunity?
The listed categories include community development, education, employment/labor and training, income security and social services, law/justice/legal services, and regional development.
What kinds of projects might fit under the governance and democracy emphasis?
Based on the solicitation language, projects could include approaches that strengthen civil society and democratic participation, support rule-of-law outcomes, or improve the effectiveness and integrity of government institutions, as long as activities are practical and on-the-ground.
How does the opportunity describe the youth focus?
It highlights "vulnerable youth living in marginalized communities" and points toward efforts that expand constructive opportunities, reduce vulnerability (including exposure to crime or exploitation), and strengthen community ties through training, mentorship, services, and locally grounded partnerships.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, including U.S. and non-U.S. entities in the specified categories.
Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?
No. Eligible applicants included nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status.
Are universities and colleges eligible to apply?
Yes. Private and public/state-controlled institutions of higher education were listed as eligible.
Are businesses eligible to apply?
Yes. Small businesses and other for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) were included among eligible applicants.
Are non-U.S. organizations eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly referenced public international organizations and nongovernmental organizations located outside the United States, indicating that international and locally based implementers could compete.
Are Native American tribal entities included in eligibility?
Yes. Certain Native American tribal entities and organizations were listed as eligible applicants.
What organizational capabilities were implied as important for applicants?
The description suggests applicants should be able to implement programs in Panama, manage funds responsibly, and measure results in a way that links activities to the Embassy's governance and community outcomes.
When was the opportunity posted?
It was posted on February 6, 2013.
What was the application closing date?
The closing date was March 10, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
It was archived on April 9, 2013.
What is the CFDA number associated with this assistance?
The CFDA number is 19.700, which corresponds to general Department of State assistance.
Where could applicants get technical help related to the application platform?
During the open period, the provided support channel was the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726, available around the clock except federal holidays.
Is the Grants.gov Contact Center meant for programmatic questions about project fit?
The information provided describes the Contact Center as typical federal grant submission platform support, rather than a channel for programmatic questions.
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