Opportunity Information: Apply for DRAFT RFA OAA 12 000004
Apply for DRAFT RFA OAA 12 000004
- The Agency for International Development in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USAID University Engagement through Higher Education Institutions" 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 Jan 13, 2012 and posted on Jan 12, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by The purpose of this Draft RFA is to disseminate information so that interested potential applicants become aware of this new program and provide input relative to the final RFA. A closing date will follow in the subsequent Final RFA.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Refer to SECTION III APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION of the Draft RFA
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Opportunity Summary:
The opportunity titled "USAID University Engagement through Higher Education Institutions" is a draft Request for Applications (RFA) released by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), specifically through the Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning (PPL) and its Office of Science and Technology (ST). The document is being shared to inform universities and other interested organizations about a planned new USAID program and to collect questions and feedback that can shape the final version of the RFA. A key point is that this draft is not an active call for proposals, and USAID is explicitly instructing organizations not to submit applications at this stage because they will not be reviewed or considered. The agency intends to issue a final RFA later, and that final version will include an official closing date and the instructions needed to apply.
This is described as a discretionary funding opportunity, and the expected award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which usually implies a more collaborative relationship with USAID during implementation than a standard grant. The program is categorized under the funding activity area of education, and it is associated with CFDA number 98.001, which covers USAID foreign assistance for overseas programs. USAID indicates it expects to make around 10 awards under the eventual final announcement. While the draft listing shows an award ceiling and award floor of 0, that should be read as a placeholder in the draft posting rather than a statement that awards will be zero dollars; the actual funding ranges would typically be clarified in the final RFA.
Another important feature is that cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants should anticipate having to contribute non-federal resources (cash and/or in-kind contributions) toward the total program cost. The specific expectations for cost share, such as percentage, allowable sources, and documentation standards, would normally be detailed in the final RFA and in the eligibility section referenced in the draft.
Eligibility is broadly framed around higher education institutions, with USAID inviting participation from both public and private universities as well as other interested parties. However, the posting notes that eligible applicant types should be confirmed by reading Section III (Applicant Eligibility Information) of the draft RFA, suggesting that eligibility may include additional conditions or specific categories beyond the general description. In practice, opportunities like this often encourage partnerships that leverage university expertise, research capacity, training programs, and international networks, though the precise program goals and required activities would be defined in the full draft and then finalized later.
USAID also explains that the final program competition will use a two-step application process. Step 1 will require an executive summary application, which serves as an initial screening stage to narrow the pool of applicants. Organizations that pass Step 1 would be invited to submit Step 2 full applications for comprehensive review. This structure is commonly used to reduce the burden on applicants and reviewers by ensuring that only the most promising concepts proceed to a full proposal.
Timeline-wise, the draft was posted in January 2012 and later archived in January 2013. Both the original and current closing date fields are essentially placeholders repeating the same message: the draft is for information-sharing and input, and the actual deadline will be provided in the final RFA. For technical issues accessing the announcement or for submitting questions and comments on the draft, USAID provides the contact email UERFA@usaid.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the "USAID University Engagement through Higher Education Institutions" opportunity?
It is a draft Request for Applications (RFA) released by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to share information about a planned new program and to collect questions and feedback that may shape the final RFA.
2. Is this an active funding opportunity I can apply to right now?
No. USAID states that this is a draft RFA and not an active call for proposals. USAID explicitly instructs organizations not to submit applications at this stage because they will not be reviewed or considered.
3. Why did USAID release a draft RFA?
USAID is sharing the draft to inform universities and other interested organizations about the planned program and to gather questions and feedback that can help improve or refine the final version of the RFA.
4. Who is issuing the draft RFA within USAID?
The draft was released by USAID through the Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning (PPL), specifically its Office of Science and Technology (ST).
5. What type of funding opportunity is this?
It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
6. What award instrument does USAID expect to use?
USAID indicates the expected award instrument is a cooperative agreement.
7. What does it mean that the award instrument is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically implies a more collaborative relationship with USAID during implementation than a standard grant. (The specific nature of USAID involvement for this program would be clarified in the final RFA.)
8. What is the funding activity area for this program?
The opportunity is categorized under the funding activity area of education.
9. What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 98.001, which covers USAID foreign assistance for overseas programs.
10. How many awards does USAID expect to make?
USAID indicates it expects to make around 10 awards under the eventual final announcement.
11. Does the draft indicate the award amount or funding range?
The draft listing shows an award ceiling and award floor of 0, but this is presented as a placeholder in the draft posting rather than an indication that awards will be zero dollars. The actual funding ranges would typically be clarified in the final RFA.
12. Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity indicates cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants should anticipate contributing non-federal resources (cash and/or in-kind) toward the total program cost.
13. Will the final RFA explain cost share requirements in more detail?
Yes. Specific expectations for cost share (such as percentage, allowable sources, and documentation standards) would normally be detailed in the final RFA and in the eligibility section referenced in the draft.
14. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly framed around higher education institutions, with USAID inviting participation from both public and private universities as well as other interested parties. However, applicants are instructed to confirm eligible applicant types by reviewing Section III (Applicant Eligibility Information) of the draft RFA.
15. Why does the posting say to check Section III for eligibility?
The posting suggests that eligibility may include additional conditions or specific categories beyond the general description, and that the definitive eligibility information is found in Section III of the draft RFA.
16. Does the opportunity encourage partnerships?
The information provided notes that opportunities like this often encourage partnerships that leverage university expertise, research capacity, training programs, and international networks. The precise program goals and required activities would be defined in the draft and then finalized later.
17. What is the application process expected to be?
USAID states the final program competition will use a two-step application process.
18. What happens in Step 1 of the two-step process?
Step 1 will require an executive summary application, which functions as an initial screening stage to narrow the pool of applicants.
19. What happens in Step 2 of the two-step process?
Organizations that pass Step 1 would be invited to submit Step 2 full applications for comprehensive review.
20. Why is USAID using a two-step application process?
This structure is commonly used to reduce burden on applicants and reviewers by ensuring that only the most promising concepts proceed to a full proposal.
21. What is the closing date or deadline to apply?
No official deadline is provided in the draft. The closing date fields are placeholders repeating that the draft is for information-sharing and input, and that the actual deadline will be provided in the final RFA.
22. When was the draft posted, and what does "archived" mean here?
The draft was posted in January 2012 and later archived in January 2013. The archive status reflects that the draft listing is not a live application window and that the posting is presented for informational purposes.
23. How can I submit questions or feedback on the draft RFA?
USAID provides an email address for questions and comments on the draft: UERFA@usaid.gov.
24. Who should I contact for technical issues accessing the announcement?
For technical issues accessing the announcement, USAID also directs inquiries to UERFA@usaid.gov.
25. What should interested organizations do right now?
Based on the draft notice, interested organizations should use the draft to understand the planned program, review eligibility details (including Section III of the draft RFA), and submit questions and feedback to USAID rather than submitting an application at this stage.
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