Opportunity Information: Apply for NDRFP16 05
Apply for NDRFP16 05
- The U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Symposium on State Competitiveness" 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 May 1, 2015 and posted on May 1, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Symposium on State Competitiveness grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NDRFP16 05) was a U.S. Mission to India, U.S. Embassy New Delhi public diplomacy and education initiative designed to strengthen state-level economic policymaking in India by sharing practical, proven approaches to improving competitiveness. The core idea behind the program is that, much like in the United States where states differ widely in their regulatory environment and business climate, Indian states also vary significantly in how easy it is to start and grow a business, attract investment, and sustain broad-based economic growth. The Embassy sought to use a symposium format to surface best practices, highlight workable policy tools, and encourage dialogue that could lead to concrete improvements in the business environment and, importantly, deepen U.S.-India trade and commercial ties.
A defining feature of the opportunity was its regional focus on North India, with special attention to the states of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Haryana, including the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The symposium was intended to bring together stakeholders who influence or support state-level competitiveness, such as policymakers, subject-matter experts, academic and research institutions, and other relevant actors, to compare experiences and identify strategies that states can adapt to their own contexts. While the summary announcement does not list specific required session topics, the overall purpose points toward issues commonly tied to competitiveness, such as regulatory simplification, transparency and predictability in governance, investment facilitation, infrastructure and logistics, workforce and skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, and policy reforms that help firms enter markets and expand.
The award mechanism was a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government expected an active partnership role in shaping or overseeing aspects of the project rather than simply issuing a pass-through grant. The opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding under the Education activity category and carried CFDA number 19.040 (Public Diplomacy Programs). The Embassy anticipated making one award, with an estimated total funding level of $200,000. The award ceiling was $200,000 and the award floor was $150,000, indicating applicants were expected to propose a program scope and budget within that band. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants were not required to contribute non-federal funds to be eligible, though voluntary leverage or in-kind support is often viewed positively in competitive public diplomacy programs when it strengthens impact.
Eligibility was limited to organizations with an established institutional capacity to design and execute an event of this nature, specifically: private institutions of higher education; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; and U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education. This mix of eligible applicants reflects the Embassy s emphasis on credible conveners that can combine research, policy analysis, and professional programming with the ability to coordinate speakers, participants, logistics, and follow-on dissemination of outcomes.
In terms of timing, the opportunity was posted and created on May 1, 2015, with an original and current closing date of June 30, 2015, and it was archived on July 30, 2015. Interested applicants who needed help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact the Grant Applications Manager at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. Overall, the grant was structured to fund a single, high-visibility symposium that could transfer actionable lessons, encourage reform-oriented collaboration across northern states, and support a stronger environment for investment and trade engagement between India and the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Symposium on State Competitiveness (Funding Opportunity Number NDRFP16 05)
What is the Symposium on State Competitiveness grant opportunity?
The Symposium on State Competitiveness (Funding Opportunity Number NDRFP16 05) was a U.S. Mission to India, U.S. Embassy New Delhi public diplomacy and education initiative designed to strengthen state-level economic policymaking in India by sharing practical, proven approaches to improving competitiveness.
What was the main goal of the program?
The program aimed to surface best practices, highlight workable policy tools, and encourage dialogue that could lead to concrete improvements in the business environment in Indian states. A related objective was to deepen U.S.-India trade and commercial ties by promoting reforms and practices that support investment and broad-based economic growth.
Why did the Embassy focus on state-level competitiveness?
The core idea was that, similar to the United States where states differ widely in regulatory environments and business climates, Indian states also vary significantly in how easy it is to start and grow a business, attract investment, and sustain economic growth. The symposium format was intended to help compare experiences and share approaches that could be adapted across states.
What geographic region did the opportunity emphasize?
The opportunity had a regional focus on North India, with special attention to Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Haryana, including the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
Which states and territories were specifically included in the focus area?
The states specifically highlighted were Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh was also included.
What type of activity was expected to be funded?
The grant was structured to fund a single, high-visibility symposium intended to bring together stakeholders who influence or support state-level competitiveness and to share actionable lessons and strategies.
What kinds of participants or stakeholders was the symposium expected to bring together?
The symposium was intended to convene stakeholders who influence or support state-level competitiveness, including policymakers, subject-matter experts, academic and research institutions, and other relevant actors.
What topic areas were expected to be relevant for the symposium?
The summary does not list required session topics. However, the stated purpose indicates the symposium would likely address issues commonly tied to competitiveness such as regulatory simplification, transparency and predictability in governance, investment facilitation, infrastructure and logistics, workforce and skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, and policy reforms that help firms enter markets and expand.
What was the award mechanism for this opportunity?
The award mechanism was a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government expected to play an active partnership role in shaping or overseeing aspects of the project rather than simply providing pass-through funding.
What does it mean that the award was a cooperative agreement?
Based on the description provided, a cooperative agreement indicates an active partnership role for the U.S. government in the project. In practice, this means the Embassy anticipated being involved in key elements of implementation or oversight rather than leaving the project entirely to the recipient.
How was the opportunity categorized?
The opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding under the Education activity category.
What CFDA number was associated with this grant?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity was 19.040 (Public Diplomacy Programs).
How many awards did the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy anticipated making one award.
What was the total funding level anticipated for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding level was $200,000.
What was the minimum and maximum award amount?
The award floor was $150,000 and the award ceiling was $200,000. Applicants were expected to propose a program scope and budget within this range.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to contribute non-federal funds to be eligible.
Could an applicant still include voluntary leverage or in-kind support?
Yes. While not required, the opportunity description notes that voluntary leverage or in-kind support is often viewed positively in competitive public diplomacy programs when it strengthens impact.
Who was eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility was limited to organizations with established institutional capacity to design and execute an event of this nature, specifically: private institutions of higher education; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; and U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education.
Were individuals eligible to apply?
The eligibility section provided lists specific organization types (higher education institutions and U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits). Individuals are not mentioned as eligible applicants in the information provided.
Were non-U.S.-based organizations eligible to apply?
The eligibility list explicitly includes U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, and it does not state eligibility for non-U.S.-based nonprofits. Based on the information provided, eligibility is defined through the listed categories only.
What kind of capacity was the Embassy looking for in applicants?
The opportunity emphasized applicants with established institutional capacity to design and execute an event like a symposium, including the ability to coordinate speakers, participants, logistics, and follow-on dissemination of outcomes.
When was the opportunity posted and created?
The opportunity was posted and created on May 1, 2015.
What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date was June 30, 2015.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was archived on July 30, 2015, and the closing date listed was June 30, 2015.
Who was the sponsoring U.S. government entity?
The opportunity is described as a U.S. Mission to India, U.S. Embassy New Delhi public diplomacy and education initiative.
How could applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
Interested applicants who needed help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact the Grant Applications Manager at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.
What was the intended broader impact of the symposium?
The symposium was designed to transfer actionable lessons, encourage reform-oriented collaboration across northern states, improve the business environment, and support a stronger environment for investment and trade engagement between India and the United States.
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