Opportunity Information: Apply for 7200AA19R00011
The notice titled "Sources Sought Notice for USAID's Science & Technology Policy Fellowship program (STPF) 2019" (Funding Opportunity Number 7200AA19R00011) is a market research request issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), specifically the U.S. Global Development Lab. It is categorized as a discretionary opportunity tied to science and technology and other research and development activities (CFDA 98.001), but it is not a funding competition and it is not asking for full proposals, concept notes, abstracts, bids, or price quotations. The main point of the announcement is to help USAID understand what kinds of organizations exist in the marketplace and what capabilities they can bring if USAID later decides to pursue a formal procurement or award related to delivering the Science and Technology Policy Fellowship (STPF) program.
This posting is explicitly a Sources Sought Notice (SSN), meaning it is used under the Federal Acquisition Regulation as an information-gathering tool, not as a commitment to buy anything. USAID states clearly that responses are not offers and cannot be accepted to form a contract (referencing FAR 15.201(e)). In practical terms, this means the agency is testing the waters: it wants to gauge interest, identify qualified potential implementers, and collect capability statements that describe how an organization would be able to provide the services needed to run or support the STPF program. USAID also makes it clear that responding is voluntary, that there is no reimbursement for the effort or costs of preparing a response, and that the notice should not be interpreted as an obligation by the government to issue a future solicitation or make an award.
USAID indicates it is particularly interested in hearing from organizations that fall under NAICS 541611, which is generally associated with administrative management and general management consulting services. That NAICS code is a hint about the kind of work USAID associates with operating a fellowship program: program management, administrative coordination, recruitment and selection support, stakeholder engagement, onboarding and placement logistics, policy and technical support structures, monitoring and reporting, and other management services that help a fellowship function smoothly. While the notice text provided does not list detailed tasks, the emphasis on capabilities statements suggests USAID wants respondents to explain relevant past performance, staffing, systems, and approaches that would allow them to deliver a fellowship program that connects science and technology expertise with policy and development priorities.
The opportunity lists "Eligible Applicants: Unrestricted," which signals that USAID is not limiting responses to a narrow class of entities for the purposes of this market research. Because it is not a solicitation, fields like award ceiling and expected number of awards are essentially placeholders (the award ceiling is listed as 0, and expected awards is blank), reinforcing that this announcement is not offering money or promising awards at this stage. The notice was created on December 17, 2018, and the original closing date for responses was January 4, 2019, which sets the window during which interested organizations could submit their capability information for USAID to consider as part of its market research.
Overall, the takeaway is that USAID was exploring potential implementers for the 2019 Science and Technology Policy Fellowship program and was collecting information on who in the market could credibly run or support that program. Organizations interested in future work of this type would use a response to describe their qualifications and readiness, understanding that the SSN is only an early planning step and not yet an invitation to compete for an award.Apply for 7200AA19R00011
- The USAID in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sources Sought Notice for USAID’s Science & Technology Policy Fellowship program (STPF) 2019" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-12-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this notice?
This posting is a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) titled "Sources Sought Notice for USAID's Science & Technology Policy Fellowship program (STPF) 2019" (Funding Opportunity Number 7200AA19R00011). It is a market research request from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), specifically the U.S. Global Development Lab, to gather information about organizations and their capabilities.
2) Is this a grant or funding competition?
No. The notice is explicitly not a funding competition. It is not requesting full proposals, concept notes, abstracts, bids, or price quotations, and it does not represent an offer of funding.
3) What is the purpose of issuing a Sources Sought Notice (SSN)?
The purpose is to help USAID understand what kinds of organizations exist in the marketplace and what capabilities they can bring, in case USAID later decides to pursue a formal procurement or award related to delivering the Science and Technology Policy Fellowship (STPF) program.
4) Which USAID office is associated with this notice?
The notice is issued by USAID and specifically references the U.S. Global Development Lab.
5) What program is USAID researching the market for?
USAID is researching potential implementers or support providers for its Science and Technology Policy Fellowship (STPF) program for 2019.
6) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 7200AA19R00011.
7) What does it mean that this is "market research" and not a solicitation?
It means USAID is gathering information to support planning and decision-making. The agency is "testing the waters" to gauge interest, identify potentially qualified organizations, and understand available capabilities, without committing to issue a solicitation or make any award.
8) Does responding to this SSN create any obligation for USAID?
No. USAID states the notice should not be interpreted as an obligation by the government to issue a future solicitation or make an award.
9) Are responses considered offers that can be accepted to form a contract?
No. USAID states that responses are not offers and cannot be accepted by the government to form a contract, referencing FAR 15.201(e).
10) Is responding to the notice required?
No. Responding is voluntary.
11) Will USAID reimburse organizations for the cost of preparing a response?
No. USAID indicates there is no reimbursement for the effort or costs incurred in preparing a response.
12) What is USAID asking organizations to submit?
USAID is seeking capability statements. The notice emphasizes describing organizational capabilities, relevant experience, and readiness to provide services needed to run or support the STPF program.
13) What types of capabilities is USAID likely looking for?
The notice does not provide a detailed task list, but it signals interest in capabilities consistent with operating a fellowship program, such as program management, administrative coordination, recruitment and selection support, stakeholder engagement, onboarding and placement logistics, policy and technical support structures, monitoring, reporting, and other management services that help a fellowship function smoothly.
14) Is there a NAICS code associated with this notice?
Yes. USAID indicates particular interest in organizations under NAICS 541611, which is generally associated with administrative management and general management consulting services.
15) What does the NAICS code tell me about the kind of work USAID associates with STPF?
NAICS 541611 suggests USAID views the work as heavily focused on management and administration functions, which aligns with the operational needs of running or supporting a fellowship program.
16) Who is eligible to respond?
The opportunity lists "Eligible Applicants: Unrestricted," meaning USAID is not limiting responses to a narrow class of entities for this market research request.
17) What is the CFDA/assistance listing reference in the notice?
The notice is tied to CFDA 98.001, described as science and technology and other research and development activities.
18) Why does the posting show an award ceiling of 0?
Because this is not a funding opportunity or competition. The listed award ceiling of 0 (and the lack of an expected number of awards) reinforces that the notice is not offering money or promising awards at this stage.
19) What is the key takeaway for organizations interested in future work?
The key takeaway is that USAID was exploring potential implementers for the 2019 STPF program and collecting information on who could credibly run or support it. A response would position an organization as a potential future provider, but it does not guarantee a solicitation or award.
20) When was the notice created and when did it close?
The notice was created on December 17, 2018, and the original closing date for responses was January 4, 2019.
21) Does this notice request pricing or cost information?
No. USAID states it is not requesting bids or price quotations.
22) Should an organization submit a concept note or full technical proposal in response?
No. USAID explicitly states it is not asking for full proposals, concept notes, or abstracts as part of this Sources Sought Notice.
23) What is the practical value of responding if there is no immediate award?
Responding allows an organization to share its capability statement and be visible to USAID during early planning. The intent is to inform USAID's understanding of the market and identify organizations that may be capable if a future procurement or award is pursued.
24) Is USAID committing to purchase services by issuing this SSN?
No. An SSN is an information-gathering tool used under the Federal Acquisition Regulation and is not a commitment by the government to buy anything.
25) What kind of opportunity category is this listed under?
It is categorized as a discretionary opportunity tied to science and technology and other research and development activities, while still being a market research notice rather than a competitive funding or procurement action.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Previous opportunity: Request for Information (RFI) Rule of Law (ROL) USAID/Mexico
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for 7200AA19R00011
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (7200AA19R00011) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Long Range BAA Apply for N00014 19 S B001 Funding Number: N00014 19 S B001 Agency: Office of Naval Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Afghan Civil Society and Media Self Reliance Apply for BAA AFG CSM 2019 Funding Number: BAA AFG CSM 2019 Agency: Afghanistan USAID-Kabul Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Early Career Research Program Apply for DE FOA 0002019 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002019 Agency: Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| New Bioimaging Approaches for Bioenergy Apply for DE FOA 0002041 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002041 Agency: Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| USAID/Zambia Solar Technologies Training Apply for 72061119 STT Funding Number: 72061119 STT Agency: Zambia USAID-Lusaka Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $280,000 |
| DRAFT-Adaptive Signature Discovery University Research Alliance (ASD-URA) Apply for DRAFT HDTRA1 19 S 0002 ASD URA Funding Number: DRAFT HDTRA1 19 S 0002 ASD URA Agency: Defense Threat Reduction Agency Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DRAFT-Interaction of Ionizing Radiation with Matter University Research Alliance (IIRM-URA) Apply for DRAFT HDTRA1 19 S 0004 IIRM URA Funding Number: DRAFT HDTRA1 19 S 0004 IIRM URA Agency: Defense Threat Reduction Agency Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DRAFT-Materials Science in Extreme Environments University Research Alliance (MSEE-URA) Apply for DRAFT HDTRA1 19 S 0003 MSEE URA Funding Number: DRAFT HDTRA1 19 S 0003 MSEE URA Agency: Defense Threat Reduction Agency Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Broad Agency Announcement for Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa Apply for BAA AFR SD 2019 Funding Number: BAA AFR SD 2019 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Fiscal Year 2020 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) Apply for FOA AFRL AFOSR 2019 0001 Funding Number: FOA AFRL AFOSR 2019 0001 Agency: Air Force Office of Scientific Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| ONR, on behalf of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, for the Manufacturing Engineering Education Program Apply for N00014 19 S F006 Funding Number: N00014 19 S F006 Agency: Office of Naval Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) Apply for N00014 19 S F005 Funding Number: N00014 19 S F005 Agency: Office of Naval Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY19 Wireless Digital Train Line (WiDTL) for Passenger Trains - Phase II Apply for FR RRD 19 001 Funding Number: FR RRD 19 001 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Post-Doctoral Fellowships at NAWCWD, China Lake, CA Apply for N6893619R0020 Funding Number: N6893619R0020 Agency: NAVAIR Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (FY20 Air Force Submission) Apply for FOA AFRL AFOSR 2019 0002 Funding Number: FOA AFRL AFOSR 2019 0002 Agency: Air Force Office of Scientific Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $7,500,000 |
| Multi-Scale Program in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland to Assess Change in the Acid-Base Chemistry of Mountain Streams Apply for NPS 19 NERO 0004 Funding Number: NPS 19 NERO 0004 Agency: National Park Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $195,000 |
| Cooperative Watersheds Studies Program: Shenandoah Watershed Study (SWAS) and the Virginia Trout Stream Sensitivity Study (VTSSS) Apply for NPS 19 NERO 0006 Funding Number: NPS 19 NERO 0006 Agency: National Park Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Staff Research Program Apply for W911NF 15 R 0010 Funding Number: W911NF 15 R 0010 Agency: Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| National Cyber Security Awareness Apply for PD CSA 19 001 Funding Number: PD CSA 19 001 Agency: Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $549,996 |
| Fiscal Year 2020 Department of Defense Basic Research Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Apply for W911NF 19 S 0009 Funding Number: W911NF 19 S 0009 Agency: Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $660,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "7200AA19R00011", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.