Opportunity Information: Apply for SOL 523 13 000003
Apply for SOL 523 13 000003
- The Mexico USAID Mexico City in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Workforce Development Program in Mexico" 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 Apr 18, 2013 and posted on Mar 20, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 30, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- This is a full and open competition, under which all potential applicants may apply, large or small commercial (for profit) firms and non profit organizations (including public or private universities) in partnerships or consortia. Please note that pursuant to 22 CFR 226.81, it is USAID policy not to award profit under assistance instruments. USAID will accept applications from U.S. or Non U.S. Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs). In support of the Agency s interest in fostering a larger assistance base and expanding the number and sustainability of development partners, USAID encourages applications from potential new partners. It is important to note that NGOs do not need to be registered Private Voluntary Organizations to submit an application. Potential for profit applicants should note that USAID policy prohibits the payment of fee/profit to the prime recipient under assistance instruments. Forgone profit does not qualify as cost sharing or leveraging. USAID especially encourages applications directly from local Mexican organizations. USAID encourages other non Mexican organizations to include a significant and substantive role for local Mexican organizations in the activity to take advantage of considerable local expertise and to strengthen activity sustainability. USAID also encourages the formation of partnerships or consortia and the leveraging of private sector resources to meet program objectives.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Workforce Development Program in Mexico (Funding Opportunity Number SOL 523 13 000003) was a USAID Mexico grant opportunity designed as a 36-month cooperative agreement focused on Mexico's northern border region. The activity, titled "Workforce Development (WFD) for Youth in Mexico: Strengthening Education to Employment Systems," centers on improving how young people move from education and training into real jobs by strengthening the overall systems that connect schools, training providers, and employers. Rather than funding isolated training courses, the program is framed as a systemic effort to help Mexican initiatives build more effective education-to-employment pathways that match labor market demand and help youth gain practical, transferable skills.
The program's overarching goal is to increase labor market skills acquisition among youth, ensure that upper-secondary and post-secondary education and training programs adapt to what employers actually need, and improve the portability of skills across education, training, and labor market systems. In practical terms, this implies work such as aligning curricula and credentialing with industry standards, strengthening partnerships between educational institutions and employers, improving the relevance of technical and vocational training, and supporting mechanisms that allow youth to carry recognized competencies from one institution or job context to another. The portability emphasis suggests a focus on credentials, certifications, competency frameworks, and articulation agreements that reduce friction when youth move between programs, regions, or employers.
USAID planned to make one award under a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, meaning USAID would likely expect substantial involvement in shaping and overseeing implementation compared to a more hands-off grant. The activity falls under the Employment, Labor and Training category and is tied to CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). The posted date for the opportunity was March 20, 2013, with an original and current closing date of April 30, 2013. The award size was set with an anticipated floor of $3,000,000 and a ceiling of $4,000,000, and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Eligibility was broad and described as full and open competition. USAID indicated that all potential applicants could apply, including large or small commercial (for-profit) firms and non-profit organizations, including public or private universities, and that applications could come from partnerships or consortia. USAID also stated it would accept applications from U.S. or non-U.S. non-governmental organizations. At the same time, USAID highlighted a key assistance rule: under USAID policy and 22 CFR 226.81, profit or fee is not paid to prime recipients under assistance instruments like cooperative agreements. For-profit entities could apply, but they would need to structure their participation accordingly since they cannot earn fee/profit as the prime recipient under this type of award, and forgone profit cannot be counted as cost share or leverage.
A strong theme in the eligibility and partnering guidance is local ownership and sustainability. USAID explicitly encouraged applications directly from local Mexican organizations and encouraged non-Mexican applicants to ensure local Mexican organizations play a significant and substantive role. This reflects USAID's broader interest in expanding and sustaining the development partner base and building capacity that remains after the award period. USAID also encouraged forming partnerships or consortia and leveraging private sector resources, signaling that strong engagement with employers and industry groups, and potentially co-investment or in-kind support from the private sector, would be viewed positively as a way to keep education-to-employment reforms grounded in actual labor market needs.
The opportunity was administered by USAID Mexico (Mexico City). For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Beatriz Chinchilla, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is the Workforce Development Program in Mexico, titled "Workforce Development (WFD) for Youth in Mexico: Strengthening Education to Employment Systems."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SOL 523 13 000003.
Who is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity was offered by USAID Mexico (administered from Mexico City).
What type of award is expected?
USAID planned to make one award using a cooperative agreement under a discretionary funding opportunity.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial involvement by USAID in shaping and overseeing implementation compared to a more hands-off grant arrangement.
How many awards were planned?
USAID planned to make one award.
What is the period of performance?
The activity was designed as a 36-month cooperative agreement.
What is the geographic focus of the activity?
The program focused on Mexico's northern border region.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program centers on improving how young people move from education and training into real jobs by strengthening the systems that connect schools, training providers, and employers.
Is this opportunity meant to fund stand-alone training courses?
No. The opportunity is framed as a systemic effort to strengthen education-to-employment pathways rather than funding isolated training courses.
What are the overarching goals of the program?
The overarching goals are to increase labor market skills acquisition among youth, help education and training programs adapt to employer needs, and improve the portability of skills across education, training, and labor market systems.
What does "education-to-employment systems" strengthening involve?
Based on the description, it can involve aligning curricula and credentialing with industry standards, strengthening partnerships between educational institutions and employers, improving the relevance of technical and vocational training, and supporting mechanisms that help youth carry recognized competencies across institutions and job contexts.
What does "portability of skills" mean in this opportunity?
The portability emphasis suggests a focus on credentials, certifications, competency frameworks, and articulation agreements that reduce friction when youth move between programs, regions, or employers.
What funding amount was anticipated?
The anticipated award floor was $3,000,000 and the ceiling was $4,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What is the assistance category and CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the Employment, Labor and Training category and is tied to CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
When was the opportunity posted?
The posted date was March 20, 2013.
What was the closing date?
The original and current closing date was April 30, 2013.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as full and open competition. USAID indicated that all potential applicants could apply, including large or small commercial (for-profit) firms and non-profit organizations, including public or private universities. Applications could also come from partnerships or consortia.
Could non-U.S. organizations apply?
Yes. USAID stated it would accept applications from U.S. or non-U.S. non-governmental organizations.
Are local Mexican organizations encouraged to apply?
Yes. USAID explicitly encouraged applications directly from local Mexican organizations.
If a non-Mexican organization applies, what did USAID emphasize about local participation?
USAID encouraged non-Mexican applicants to ensure local Mexican organizations play a significant and substantive role.
Are partnerships or consortia allowed or encouraged?
Yes. Applications could come from partnerships or consortia, and USAID encouraged forming partnerships or consortia.
Is private sector engagement relevant to this opportunity?
Yes. USAID encouraged leveraging private sector resources and signaled that strong engagement with employers and industry groups could be viewed positively to keep reforms grounded in labor market needs.
Can for-profit entities apply as the prime recipient?
For-profit entities could apply, but USAID highlighted that under its assistance rules (including 22 CFR 226.81), profit or fee is not paid to prime recipients under assistance instruments like cooperative agreements.
Can a for-profit prime count forgone profit as cost share or leverage?
No. The opportunity notes that forgone profit cannot be counted as cost share or leverage.
What is the point of contact listed for access issues related to the full announcement?
The listed point of contact was Beatriz Chinchilla, Acquisition and Assistance Specialist.
Where was the opportunity administered from?
The opportunity was administered by USAID Mexico in Mexico City.
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