Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 386 11 000001
Apply for RFA 386 11 000001
- The India USAID New Delhi in the agriculture employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USAID/India s Economic Development of Tibetan Settlements (EDOTS)" 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 Feb 18, 2011 and posted on Feb 1, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 2, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) 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:
USAID/India's Economic Development of Tibetan Settlements (EDOTS) is a discretionary foreign assistance grant opportunity issued by the USAID Mission in New Delhi to strengthen the long-term economic sustainability of Tibetan exile settlements across India, Nepal, and Bhutan. The program is designed around a straightforward development hypothesis: if viable local livelihoods and career paths are available inside the settlements, more Tibetan youth will choose to stay rather than leave in search of work elsewhere. In turn, keeping young people rooted in these communities is expected to help sustain community cohesion and preserve Tibetan identity, along with cultural and linguistic traditions, across generations.
The opportunity is structured to pursue two linked results. First, it aims to support the development and expansion of organic agriculture within Tibetan settlements, recognizing agriculture as both a practical economic base and a sector where improvements in production, quality, and market access can translate into real income gains. While the announcement does not list detailed activities, the focus on "development of organic agriculture" typically implies support along the value chain, such as improving farm practices and certification readiness, strengthening producer organizations, upgrading post-harvest handling, connecting growers to buyers, and building market systems that can sustain premium pricing associated with organic products.
Second, EDOTS emphasizes workforce development for Tibetan youth who remain in the settlements. The intent is to build employable skills that translate into stable jobs or self-employment locally, complementing agricultural development by ensuring that young people have credible economic alternatives and pathways. This workforce component aligns with the program's broader goal of creating economic vibrancy in the settlements so they can function as living communities rather than places young people age out of and leave behind.
USAID anticipates making a single award under a Cooperative Agreement, which generally means the recipient should expect substantial involvement by USAID during implementation, including collaboration on program direction, oversight of performance, and coordination around results and learning. The award is fully scoped at a fixed total amount: an estimated total funding of $2,000,000 over a two-year period, with the award ceiling and floor both listed as $2,000,000, signaling that USAID intends one award at that specific amount rather than a range of possible award sizes. The funding activity categories attached to the opportunity are Agriculture and Employment, Labor and Training, reflecting the two-part program design. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants are expected to contribute resources (cash or allowable in-kind support) toward the total project effort, consistent with USAID rules described in the full announcement.
The application process is staged, with USAID first requesting concept papers and then inviting full applications from selected or competitive respondents. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entity types: public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including both those with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and certain Native American tribal organizations, including federally recognized tribal governments. This broad eligibility suggests USAID was open to technical implementers, academic partners, and market-oriented firms, provided they can demonstrate the capability to deliver measurable economic and workforce outcomes in the targeted settlement context.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number RFA 386 11 000001 and CFDA number 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). The opportunity was posted on February 1, 2011, with a closing date of March 2, 2011. USAID provided an additional information link through the Mission's business and grant opportunities page and listed a point of contact at USAID New Delhi for applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically: Sumit Dutta, Acquisition Assistance Specialist (phone +91 11 24198547), with an official email referenced in the notice.
FAQs: USAID/India Economic Development of Tibetan Settlements (EDOTS)
What is the EDOTS grant opportunity?
EDOTS (Economic Development of Tibetan Settlements) is a discretionary foreign assistance grant opportunity issued by the USAID Mission in New Delhi. Its purpose is to strengthen the long-term economic sustainability of Tibetan exile settlements across India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
What problem is EDOTS trying to address?
The program is built around the idea that if viable livelihoods and career paths exist within the settlements, more Tibetan youth will choose to stay rather than leave to find work elsewhere. By helping youth remain rooted in these communities, EDOTS is expected to support community cohesion and help preserve Tibetan identity and cultural and linguistic traditions across generations.
Where will EDOTS activities take place?
The opportunity targets Tibetan exile settlements located across India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
What are the main results EDOTS is designed to achieve?
EDOTS is structured around two linked results: (1) supporting the development and expansion of organic agriculture within Tibetan settlements, and (2) advancing workforce development for Tibetan youth who remain in the settlements.
What does the organic agriculture focus involve?
The notice highlights “development of organic agriculture” as a primary focus. While it does not list specific required activities, it indicates an emphasis on improving production, quality, and market access in ways that can translate into income gains for settlement communities.
Does the opportunity specify exact activities for organic agriculture?
No. The announcement does not provide a detailed activity list. It states the focus is on the development and expansion of organic agriculture and notes that gains typically come from improvements in production, quality, and market access.
What does the workforce development component focus on?
EDOTS emphasizes workforce development for Tibetan youth who remain in the settlements. The intent is to build employable skills that lead to stable jobs or self-employment locally, supporting economic vibrancy so settlements can remain living communities rather than places young people leave due to lack of opportunity.
How does workforce development connect to the overall EDOTS goal?
The workforce component is intended to complement agricultural development by ensuring youth have credible local economic pathways. Together, the two components aim to improve local livelihoods and encourage youth to stay in settlement communities.
What type of award will USAID make under EDOTS?
USAID anticipates making a single award under a Cooperative Agreement.
What does a Cooperative Agreement imply for project implementation?
The notice indicates that a Cooperative Agreement generally means substantial involvement by USAID during implementation. This can include collaboration on program direction, oversight of performance, and coordination around results and learning.
How many awards does USAID expect to make?
USAID anticipates making one (a single) award.
What is the total funding amount and period of performance?
The estimated total funding is $2,000,000 over a two-year period.
Is the award amount flexible or a fixed figure?
The notice lists both the award ceiling and the award floor as $2,000,000, signaling an intent to make one award at that specific amount rather than a range of award sizes.
What are the funding activity categories for EDOTS?
The funding activity categories attached to the opportunity are Agriculture and Employment, Labor and Training.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants are expected to contribute resources toward the total project effort, consistent with USAID rules described in the full announcement.
What is the application process for EDOTS?
The application process is staged. USAID first requests concept papers and then invites full applications from selected or competitive respondents.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include: public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and certain Native American tribal organizations, including federally recognized tribal governments.
Does the opportunity limit eligibility only to nonprofits?
No. The eligibility list explicitly includes nonprofits, for-profits (including small businesses), and higher education institutions, as well as certain Native American tribal organizations.
What is the funding opportunity number for EDOTS?
The funding opportunity number is RFA 386 11 000001.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 98.001, titled “USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.”
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on February 1, 2011, and the closing date was March 2, 2011.
Where can applicants find additional information?
USAID provided an additional information link through the USAID Mission (New Delhi) business and grant opportunities page.
Who is the point of contact for applicants who cannot access the full announcement electronically?
The notice lists Sumit Dutta, Acquisition Assistance Specialist at USAID New Delhi, as the point of contact for applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically.
How can the listed point of contact be reached?
The notice provides a phone number: +91 11 24198547, and references an official email address in the announcement.
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