Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 306 13 000003
Apply for RFA 306 13 000003
- The Afghanistan USAID Kabul in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "STEP UP" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001 USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 9, 2013 and posted on Mar 18, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 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 $92,700,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $92,700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- 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:
STEP UP is a USAID-funded higher education initiative in Afghanistan designed to help a university system that is still recovering from years of conflict and institutional damage. The opportunity is framed around the problems identified in Afghanistan's National Higher Education Strategic Plan (NHESP 2010-2014), especially the gap between what universities currently provide and what the country needs to produce a workforce capable of supporting modern business, industry, and government. In practical terms, the program targets core weaknesses that limit educational quality and relevance, including outdated curricula, underqualified faculty, insufficient classrooms and laboratories, weak information technology capacity, and libraries that are under-resourced. It also highlights a structural governance issue: a centralized and inefficient ministry model that restricts public universities from effectively managing their academic programs and financial resources, which in turn slows down reforms and reduces institutional responsiveness.
The award is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, which typically means the funder expects substantial involvement during implementation (for example, ongoing coordination, approvals, or technical collaboration rather than a hands-off grant). USAID Kabul (Afghanistan) is the issuing agency, and the funding is categorized under Education. Only one award was expected, and the funding amount is fixed at an estimated total of $92,700,000, with the award ceiling and floor both listed as $92,700,000, signaling that the agency anticipated a single, large, comprehensive project rather than multiple smaller awards. The assistance listing (CFDA) reference provided is 98.001, USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition was open to any type of entity as long as it met any conditions described elsewhere in the full announcement. The opportunity also includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants would have needed to contribute a defined portion of project costs or in-kind resources, depending on the terms in the solicitation. Key timeline details show the notice was posted on March 18, 2013, originally closed on April 18, 2013, and later extended to a current closing date of July 15, 2013, with an archive date of August 14, 2013. For access issues or questions tied to the announcement, the listed point of contact was Agreement Officer Ousmane Faye at USAID (OFaye@usaid.gov, phone 0700 11 4739).
STEP UP (USAID Afghanistan) Grant Opportunity - FAQs
What is STEP UP?
STEP UP is a USAID-funded higher education initiative in Afghanistan. It is designed to support a university system that is still recovering from years of conflict and institutional damage, with a focus on improving educational quality and relevance.
What problems is the opportunity intended to address?
The opportunity is framed around challenges identified in Afghanistan's National Higher Education Strategic Plan (NHESP 2010-2014), especially the gap between what universities currently provide and what Afghanistan needs to produce a workforce capable of supporting modern business, industry, and government.
What weaknesses in universities does STEP UP specifically target?
Based on the opportunity description, STEP UP targets core weaknesses that limit quality and relevance, including:
- Outdated curricula
- Underqualified faculty
- Insufficient classrooms and laboratories
- Weak information technology capacity
- Under-resourced libraries
Does the opportunity mention any governance or structural challenges?
Yes. It highlights a governance issue in which a centralized and inefficient ministry model restricts public universities from effectively managing their academic programs and financial resources. This is described as slowing reforms and reducing institutional responsiveness.
What type of award is being offered?
The award is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What does "discretionary cooperative agreement" mean in practical terms?
As described in the opportunity summary, a cooperative agreement typically means the funder expects substantial involvement during implementation. Examples given include ongoing coordination, approvals, or technical collaboration, rather than a hands-off grant relationship.
Which agency is issuing this opportunity?
USAID Kabul (Afghanistan) is the issuing agency.
What program area or category is this funding under?
The funding is categorized under Education.
What is the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) reference provided is 98.001, USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
How many awards were expected?
Only one award was expected, indicating the agency anticipated a single project rather than multiple separate awards.
What is the total estimated funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount is $92,700,000.
What are the award ceiling and award floor?
Both the award ceiling and the award floor are listed as $92,700,000. This suggests the funding amount was fixed at that level for the expected single award.
Is eligibility restricted to certain types of organizations?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition was open to any type of entity, as long as it met any conditions described elsewhere in the full announcement.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants would have needed to contribute a defined portion of project costs or in-kind resources, depending on the terms in the solicitation.
When was the notice posted?
The notice was posted on March 18, 2013.
What was the original closing date, and was it extended?
The opportunity originally closed on April 18, 2013, and was later extended to a closing date of July 15, 2013.
What is the archive date for the opportunity?
The archive date is August 14, 2013.
Who is the point of contact for questions or access issues?
The listed point of contact is Agreement Officer Ousmane Faye at USAID.
How can the point of contact be reached?
Email: OFaye@usaid.gov
Phone: 0700 11 4739
What kinds of issues should be directed to the point of contact?
The contact information is provided for access issues or questions tied to the announcement.
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