TIP Office International Programs to Combat Human Trafficking Annual Program Statement

The U.S. Department of State, through the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons within the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, is offering the TIP Office International Programs to Combat Human Trafficking Annual Program Statement under opportunity number DFOP0018774 and Assistance Listing 19.019. The TIP Office leads U.S. global engagement to combat human trafficking and works with foreign governments, civil society organizations, and other entities using the three-part framework of prosecuting traffickers, protecting victims, and preventing trafficking. The Annual Program Statement supports bilateral, regional, and global programming outside the United States. The Western Hemisphere and East Asia and the Pacific Islands are preferred regions, although proposals may address any country or region or may be global when there is a clear connection to U.S. foreign policy goals. Projects should address human trafficking challenges and respond to priorities articulated in the National Security Strategy, executive orders, the FY 2026-2030 Department of State Agency Strategy, and country-specific recommendations in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report. Applicants must demonstrate how their interventions directly advance America First priorities. Priority areas include forced criminality in cyber scams or other illicit activities, forced labor that distorts supply chains, commercial exploitation of children, criminal organizations that profit from human trafficking, and programs responding to country-specific TIP Report recommendations while advancing prosecution, protection, and prevention. The TIP Office generally prioritizes projects where there is political will, where countries lack resources to address trafficking challenges, and where programming responds directly to identified country-specific priorities. Approximately $38.5 million is available, subject to funding availability, from FY 2026 International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement funding. Awards may range from $1,000,000 to $10,000,000, with multiple awards anticipated. Awards may be grants or cooperative agreements, and proposed projects should be completed within 60 months or less. The anticipated program start date is April 2027. Cost sharing, matching, and cost participation are not required, although applicants may voluntarily propose cost share without receiving an evaluation advantage. Programs relating to partisan political activity, charitable or development activities, specific religious activities, fundraising campaigns, U.S. legislative lobbying, organizational growth or institutional development, or duplication of existing programs are not eligible. Award funds also cannot be used for alcoholic beverages, and the announcement contains additional restrictions concerning UNRWA, mass-migration caravans toward the U.S. southwest border, certain unmanned aircraft systems, and other foreign assistance requirements. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations such as think tanks and civil society or nongovernmental organizations, public and private educational institutions, for-profit organizations, public international organizations, and U.S. government agencies. Current TIP Office grantees may apply, and applicants may form consortiums, provided a lead applicant is clearly identified and participating organizations designated as appropriate sub-grantees. For-profit applicants may undergo additional review and may not earn profit under Department of State assistance awards. Organizations must generally have a Unique Entity Identifier and active SAM.gov registration, and applicants should account for the stated four-to-eight-week registration timeline. Subrecipients must obtain a UEI before an award is processed or directed to them. Case-by-case exemptions may be available under applicable federal rules, with exemption requests due by email at least two weeks before the applicable deadline. Applications must be submitted electronically through MyGrants. Required application materials include the SF-424, SF-424A, and, when applicable, SF-424B; an optional summary page; a proposal of no more than seven pages; a separate budget justification narrative; one-page CVs or resumes for key personnel; letters of support from project sub-awardees describing their roles and responsibilities; and the latest NICRA when applicable. The proposal must address the proposal summary, applicant background, problem statement, goals and measurable objectives, project activities, methods and design, schedule and timeline, key personnel, sub-awardees, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. Documents must be in English, budgets must use U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and specified document formatting requirements must be followed. Questions about the grant application process may be sent to TIPGrants@state.gov. MyGrants customer support is available at 1-888-313-4567. Applications are evaluated on quality and feasibility of the program idea for 30 points, organizational capacity and record on previous grants for 20 points, program planning and ability to achieve objectives for 15 points, monitoring and evaluation for 15 points, budget for 10 points, and sustainability for 10 points. Technical screening first determines whether proposals meet procedural eligibility requirements, respond to program priorities, and include all required components. Applications passing technical review undergo formal content review by a panel of Department regional and subject matter experts. Panel recommendations are submitted to the Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons or the Senior Bureau Official. Final decisions are also influenced by alignment with Administration and Department priorities. Equivalent scores may be resolved through a tie-breaking preference for the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate. The Annual Program Statement lists September 30 and December 31 as application deadlines. Proposals received between June 19 and September 30 are prioritized and reviewed by December 31, while proposals received from October 1 through December 31, 2026 are scheduled for review by March 31, 2027. Additional reviews may occur if funding is available, and applicants receive responses on a rolling basis depending on final Department leadership approvals and available funds. Unsuccessful applicants are also notified on a rolling basis. The anticipated program start date is April 2027, and the maximum performance period is 60 months. Continuation grants beyond the initial budget period may be considered noncompetitively subject to funding availability, satisfactory program progress, and a Department determination that continued funding is in its best interest.

Directly connect the project to stated Administration priorities, country-specific TIP Report recommendations, and the prosecution, protection, and prevention framework. Provide a detailed and feasible implementation plan because program quality carries 30 points. Demonstrate organizational expertise, internal controls, financial management capacity, and subaward management experience where relevant. State measurable goals and objectives and provide output and outcome indicators with milestones. Submit a detailed, realistic budget tied to proposed activities and results. Explain sustainability beyond the award period. Verify all required components and technical requirements before submission because technically noncompliant or incomplete applications will not advance to content review.