Grants for State Governments

The U.S. Embassy Port Louis Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations or individuals to submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) to carry out a program (or programs) to promote bilateral relationships between the U.S. and Mauritius and Seychelles. Please carefully read and follow all instructions below. The submission of the SOI is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a concise (1500 word) statement of interest designed to clearly communicate program ideas and objectives. This is not a full proposal. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit program ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before final funding decision are made. Two-round process: In Round 1, applicants submit a concise Statement of Interest (SOI) of no more than 1,500 words that describes the program ideas and their objectives. The Public Diplomacy Section will review SOIs and invite a limited group of applicants to continue in Round 2. In Round 2, applicants expand their ideas into full funding proposals for formal consideration. SOIs may be submitted for consideration through June 1, 2024. Please download the template found here and then submit your Statement of Interest to portlouis_pas@state.gov. Successful SOI applicants will be notified via email on or around June 15, 2024. Instructions on the requirements of a full application submission will be provided at that time and full proposals will be due by July 15, 2024. Additional Information at: https://mu.usembassy.gov/education-culture/grants-programs/rsoi-2024/

Grid Enhancement Grant Subaward Program Program Description The Grid Enhancement Grant Subaward program allocates funds for utility infrastructure investments in Arkansas. Leveraging federal funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this program aims to modernize and strengthen America’s power grid, particularly against natural disasters, while fostering economic development within the state. The funding will support projects delivering direct benefits to Arkansans by bolstering grid resilience, mitigating outages during disasters, and promoting investments in the state’s grid workforce. Program Objectives Funds provided through this subaward program are intended to achieve the following objectives: Increase the Reliability of the Arkansas Electric Grid Achieve Whole Community Impact Support the Development of the State’s Grid Workforce For further details on these objectives, refer to the state Program Narrative below. Eligible Entities Eligible applicants encompass Arkansas electric utilities such as investor-owned electric utilities, electric cooperatives, and municipal electric utilities. Additionally, electric grid operators, electricity storage operators, electricity generators, transmission owners or operators, distribution providers, and fuel suppliers are eligible. Timeline Application period opens: April 2, 2024. Deadline for proposal submission and SF-424 form: 5 PM CT, Friday, July 19, 2024. DFA encourages eligible entities to review the application, guidance, and FAQ document promptly. Questions should be directed to infrastructure@dfa.arkansas.gov by April 30, 2024. DFA will respond to broadly applicable questions by updating the FAQ document due to the program's competitive nature. For additional information or inquiries, please contact infrastructure@dfa.arkansas.gov.

USAID/DRCs vision for Kitumaini is a five-year long activity that will focus on service deliveryresults in five (5) health zones in Haut-Katanga, with possible expansion to other provinces asguided by Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC)/PEPFAR. This activity also intends tostrengthen the capacity of local sub-recipients to enhance their capabilities to receive assistanceawards from USAID through transition award(s). This service delivery and capacity buildingactivity will include all aspects of HIV epidemic control. Activities will take place in health zonesassigned to USAID/DRC. This service delivery activity will prioritize services that focus on prioritypopulations, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and key populations (KP). The recipient willcoordinate with other implementing partners to facilitate the transition of the existing KPprogram, Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) to Kitumaini.

The Supporting Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Screening and Intervention program helps reduce alcohol use during pregnancy and improves outcomes for children with FASD nationwide, especially in communities where theres a high rate of binge drinking during pregnancy. The program focuses on educating Primary Care Providers (PCPs) and increasing the use of screening, intervention, and referral processes for high-risk pregnancies. The programs goals include increasing PCPs knowledge of the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy as well as promoting recommended screenings, interventions, and referral approaches. In addition, PCPs who provide health care to children and adolescents will develop skills to identify and manage FASD, with a particular emphasis on fostering effective communication with families. Through recruitment, education, and technical assistance, the program aims to make lasting positive changes. Engaging a minimum of 80 practices over 5 years, the Supporting FASD Screening and Intervention program strives for widespread impact, particularly in communities that have high rates of binge drinking during pregnancy, including rural areas and medically underserved communities.

Multistate Conservation Grants are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 669h-2 and 16 U.S.C. 777m, providing funding for wildlife restoration and sport fish restoration projects and recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) projects that address regional or national priority needs of State fish and wildlife agencies and their partners that are beyond the scale, scope, and capabilities of a single State. The priority needs, also known as Strategic Priorities, are identified annually by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) with input from State fish and wildlife agencies and their partners. Recipients awarded Traditional Multistate Conservation Grants (T-MSCG) may use the funds for wildlife or sport fish projects involving research, restoration, conservation and management of wild birds, wild mammals, sport fish, and their habitats. These funds may also be used for projects providing for public use and benefit from these resources, including hunter safety and education, aquatic education, angler R3 projects and other purposes consistent with the enabling legislation. Recipients awarded under R3 Multistate Conservation Grants (R3-MSCG) can only use the funds for hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment projects that promote a national hunting and shooting sport recruitment program, including related communication and outreach activities.

This 5-year projects purpose is to continue collaboration with counterparts in China to reduce the threat of infectious disease transmission, in China, the U.S. and the world. This collaboration contributes to enhancing the technical collaboration, scientific exchange, and effective communication to promote health through trusted and robust partnerships between U.S. CDC and counterparts in China. The program has three broad goals: 1) strengthen public health systems and workforce capacity, 2) decrease the burden of TB, and 3) reduce influenza morbidity and mortality and enhance preparedness for pandemic threats. Activities may include joint investigations and monitoring of disease outbreaks, piloting innovative public health interventions, translating programmatic success to practice and policy, working in third countries to jointly respond to a public health emergency, and promoting rapid and transparent dissemination of public health data. This collaboration strives to leverage the expertise in China to share knowledge and evidence-based science for a bi-lateral exchange that mutually benefits the U.S. and China. By identifying governmental, non-governmental, multilateral, and private sector organizations in China, the partnership builds sustainable expertise and capacity in global health security and public health systems. Depending on funding availability and priorities, the specific infectious disease entities to be addressed can change over the period of performance.

This(NOFO) aims to innovate, implement, and evaluate approaches to One Health laboratory diagnostic network optimization and specimen transport in Liberia. This multi-component NOFO is designed to address the inter-dependence of a comprehensive, resource-mapped, accredited national and sub-national laboratory network, the physical transportation architecture required to transfer network commodities (namely human, animal, and environmental specimens) point-to-point, and the optimization of digital communication, information, and supply chain systems necessary to sustain the network itself.

The grant titled "Mechanistic and Hemodynamic Basis of Diffuse White Matter Disease in Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID)(R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" aims to fund research into the biological causes, progression, and effects of diffuse white matter disease, a common age-related brain condition linked to cognitive impairment and dementia, with the ultimate goal of reducing its impact on health.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is announcing the opportunity to apply to participate in the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development Model (referred to as AHEAD or the AHEAD Model), including availability of Cooperative Agreement funding of up to $12 million per award recipient. State Medicaid agencies, state public health agencies, and other state agencies may apply to participate in AHEAD on behalf of their states.The AHEAD Model is a voluntary, state-based alternative payment and service delivery model designed to curb health care cost growth, improve population health, and advance health equity by reducing disparities in health outcomes. The AHEAD Model will test a flexible framework that includes statewide or sub-state accountability targets for all-payer and Medicare fee-for-service cost growth, primary care investment, and equity and population health outcomes. The Model will include specific components to help each award recipient to achieve these goals, including an initial investment via the Cooperative Agreement award to support planning and implementation activities, Medicare fee-for-service and Medicaid hospital global budgets for participating hospitals, and a primary care program for participating primary care practices.The AHEAD Model will operate for 11 years (2024-2034). Applicants must select one of three Cohorts to participate in based on their stage of readiness to implement the Model. CMS will select, via a competitive process, up to eight award recipients. Up to $12 million in Cooperative Agreement award funding will be available to each selected award recipient over the course of up to six years. The Model will conclude for all Cohorts on December 31, 2034.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters has released a solicitation, titled Early Stage Innovations (ESI), as an appendix to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) umbrella NASA Research Announcement (NRA) titled "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2024 (SpaceTech REDDI 2024), on April 4, 2024. The ESI solicitation is available by opening the NSPIRES homepage at https://nspires.nasaprs.com/, selecting Open under "Solicitations," and searching "Early Stage Innovations (ESI24)" under Keywords. The Space Technology Research Grants (STRG) Program within STMD seeks proposals from accredited U.S. universities to develop unique, disruptive, or transformational space technologies that have the potential to lead to dramatic improvements at the system level performance, weight, cost, reliability, operational simplicity, or other figures of merit associated with spaceflight hardware or missions. The projected impact at the system level must be substantial and clearly identified. Only accredited U.S. universities are eligible to submit proposals. Teaming is permitted see solicitation for complete eligibility requirements as well as teaming restrictions. A Principal Investigator (see solicitation for restrictions) or Co-Investigator may participate in no more than two proposals in response to this solicitation. NASA encourages submission of ESI proposals on behalf of tenure-track or tenured faculty members at all U.S. universities and especially encourages proposals submitted on behalf of and/or that include as team members women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities. The solicitation exclusively seeks proposals that are responsive to one of the following two topics: Topic 1 Computational Materials Engineering for Lunar Metals Welding Topic 2 Passive Lunar Dust Control through Advanced Materials and Surface Engineering NASA anticipates addressing other topics in future ESI Appendix releases. The financial and programmatic support for ESI comes from the Space Technology Research Grants Program within the Space Technology Mission Directorate. Awards are planned to start in January 2025. NASA plans to make approximately 6 awards as a result of this ESI solicitation, subject to the receipt of meritorious proposals. The actual number of awards will depend on the quality of the proposals received; NASA reserves the right to make no awards under this solicitation. STMD is strongly committed to ensuring that proposal review is performed in an equitable and fair manner that reduces the impacts of any unconscious biases. To this end, this Appendix will employ a Dual-Anonymous Peer Review (DAPR) process to evaluate proposals. Using DAPR, not only are proposers not told the identities of the reviewers, but the identities of the proposers (personnel and organization names) will not be shared with the reviewers until after the technical review of all anonymized proposals has been completed. All proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES by an authorized organizational representative. Notices of Intent (strongly encouraged) are due by May 9, 2024, with proposals due on or before June 6, 2024, 5 pm Eastern. Detailed submission instructions and due dates are provided in the solicitation. Potential proposers and their proposing organizations are urged to familiarize themselves with the submission system, ensure they are registered in NSPIRES, and submit the required proposal materials well in advance of the deadline. All technical and programmatic comments and questions may be addressed by email to the Space Technology Research Grants Program Executive, at hq-esi-call@mail.nasa.gov. Responses to inquiries will be answered by email and may also be included in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents located on the NSPIRES page associated with the solicitation; anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will be preserved.

Funding Opportunity Title: Development and Deployment of Innovative Technologies for Concrete PavementsAnnouncement Type: This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity.Funding Opportunity Number: 693JJ324NF00013Total Amount Available: This NOFO will result in the distribution of up to $5 million. The actual amount available to be awarded under this notice will besubject to the availability of funds. This NOFO will result in the award of one cost reimbursement cooperative agreement withcost-sharing. Award Type: Cooperative AgreementAssistance Listing Number: 20.200, Highway Research Development Questions: Submit Questions by 3:00pm ET on 4/17/2024 to: Freida.Byrd@dot.gov and Hector.Santamaria@dot.gov Application Due Date: Applications Due by 3:00pm ET on 5/20/2024 via Grants.gov (see Section D). The Federal Highway Administrations (FHWA) Accelerated Implementation and Deployment of Pavement Technologies (AIDPT) Program was established more than a decade ago under the Moving Ahead for Progress in 21st Century Act (Pub. L. 112-141). Since that time, the program has continued under Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act (Pub. L. 114-94) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Pub. L. 117-58). The program encourages highway agencies to adopt and implement new technologies proven to save money, enhance safety, improve performance and quality, increase efficiency, reduce delay, and enhance road user satisfaction.The purpose of this funding opportunity and planned cooperative agreement (Agreement) is to stimulate, facilitate, and expedite the deployment and rapid adoption of new and innovative technologies relating to the design, specification, production, testing, control, construction, investigation, operation, and impacts of concrete pavements. The Agreement will support public agencies by helping to increase the knowledge related to concrete pavements and concrete materials. The proposed project is a cooperative effort between the FHWA and the Recipient to improve the quality and performance of concrete pavements. Products will include, but not be limited to, implementation plans, market analyses, training tools, case studies, reports and analyses, and supporting stakeholder engagement via conference presentations, webinars, workshops, peer exchanges, videos, and technical assistance to public agencies. To accomplish and deliver these products, it is anticipated the Recipient will leverage engaging subject matter experts and make products available and accessible to a wide-ranging audience. This effort will leverage the unique technology capabilities and facilities of the Recipient with FHWAs mission.The goals of this funding opportunity and planned Agreement are to promote the deployment and rapid adoption of new and innovative materials, design and construction procedures, specifications, practices, and methods by which the concrete pavement can realize improved pavement performance and extended pavement life while integrating sustainability.

The MassDEP Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant program offers grants of up to $10,000 to various entities, including for-profit and non-profit organizations, regional authorities, municipalities, and schools/colleges in Massachusetts. The program's core mission is to support short-term waste reduction projects across all counties within the state. This initiative directly aligns with a broader strategic goal of environmental protection by fostering sustainable practices and extending the lifespan of products, thereby diverting waste from landfills. The program's focus on reduction, reuse, and repair is a fundamental aspect of circular economy principles, which are critical to the foundation's theory of change in promoting a more sustainable Massachusetts. The program targets a diverse group of beneficiaries, including businesses, non-profits, governmental bodies, and educational institutions within Massachusetts. The primary impact goal is to significantly reduce waste generation and prolong product utility through donation, rescue, reuse, and repair activities. This aims to create a ripple effect, encouraging communities and organizations to adopt more environmentally responsible behaviors. By providing financial support for specific projects, MassDEP seeks to empower these entities to implement innovative solutions that contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable environment. The program prioritizes projects that directly contribute to waste reduction and product longevity. This includes initiatives such as purchasing inventory technology for operational efficiencies, developing programs for collecting and redistributing reusable items (clothing, electronics, home goods), implementing reusable transport packaging systems, converting to reusable food service ware, installing bulk dispensing systems, and establishing or expanding repair programs for furniture, appliances, electronics, and textiles. Additionally, the program supports the creation of food donation and distribution programs, community repair training, deconstruction initiatives, and the promotion of tool-lending libraries and community repair events. These diverse focuses ensure a comprehensive approach to waste reduction across various sectors and community needs. Expected outcomes include a measurable decrease in waste sent to landfills and an increase in the lifespan of various products through their reuse and repair. Projects are anticipated to result in enhanced operational efficiencies for participating organizations, greater accessibility to reusable goods for communities, and the establishment of new, or expansion of existing, waste reduction infrastructure. The program also aims to foster a culture of sustainability through education and community engagement, leading to long-term behavioral changes. Measurable results could include metrics on tons of waste diverted, number of items repaired or reused, and the reach of educational and training programs. Ultimately, these efforts contribute to MassDEP's strategic priority of promoting environmental stewardship and resource conservation across Massachusetts.

**A modification to this NOFO was made on April 4, 2024. There are no content changes to application or program requirements. The funding opportunity number was changed from HHS-2024-ACF-ACYF-CW-0056 to HHS-2024-ACF-ACYF-CT-0056. There were changes made in Section I, Statutory Authority; and Section II, Expected Number of Awards and Estimated Total Funding. In Section III, Eligibility was changed to exclude for-profit organizations and small businesses. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children are nearly 3 times more likely to enter foster care, compared to non-Native children. These four year grants are intended to generate evidence for how best to effectively implement child welfare practices and ongoing active efforts to maintain AI/AN families by funding state and tribal partnerships to jointly design and operate Indian child welfare best practice implementation demonstration sites. The evidence generated and lessons learned through this effort are intended to contribute to implementation efforts nationally to help maintain and preserve AI/AN families and allow their children to remain connected to their communities and cultures. The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity is to create and implement intergovernmental partnership models to improve implementation of child welfare best practices that are culturally appropriate for federally recognized AI/AN children to prevent maltreatment, removal from families and communities, and improve safety, permanency, and well-being. Recipients will serve as demonstration sites to design and implement projects to effectively implement culturally appropriate best practices in Indian child welfare, including measuring improvements in child welfare practice, Indian child welfare codes, legal and judicial processes, case monitoring, case planning, data collection, in-home family preservation services, infrastructure, and systems change. Partnerships must include the state Court Improvement Program, the state child welfare agency, and one or more tribal governments or tribal consortia including corresponding tribal court(s). The "Tribal government" partner(s) may be tribal child welfare agencies where appropriate under tribal law or custom.Effective culturally appropriate best practices for implementation require a high degree of collaboration between state and tribal courts and Indian child welfare agencies. Thus, both states and tribes must identify, build, and enhance necessary capacities. State/tribal collaborations will work together to craft solutions for longstanding challenges to providing effective best practices in Indian child welfare in ways that work best for their communities. This funding opportunity is intended to encourage state and tribal governments to work together to find creative, rational ways to meet the needs of AI/AN families with culturally appropriate best practices in Indian child welfare, with active efforts to retain or reunite Indian children with family as the gold standard for best Indian child welfare practice. The award also provides an important opportunity for states and tribes to build or strengthen relationships of trust by working together toward common family preservation goals. As part of the project, recipients may also consider the role of civil legal services in implementation efforts. Assessment of the success and/or need for legal representation to parties in Indian child welfare cases may be included in project work, as may provision of direct civil legal services, to the extent that such legal services are an identified part of a pilot or practice model to be tested.For purposes of this funding opportunity, "Tribal courts" are defined consistent with the Bureau of Indian Affairs regulations as "a court with jurisdiction over child custody proceedings and which is either a Court of Indian Offenses, a court established and operated under the code or custom of an Indian tribe, or any other administrative body of a tribe which is vested with authority over child custody proceedings.

The purpose of the Delta Health Systems Implementation Program (DSIP) is to improve healthcare delivery in rural areas by implementing projects that will improve the financial sustainability of hospitals and allow for increased access to care in rural communities. These projects focus on financial and operational improvement, quality improvement, telehealth, and workforce development in hospitals in the in the rural counties and parishes of the Delta region. This program supports HRSA's collaboration with the Delta Regional Authority.

This modification (000001) includes: -FOA includes the addition of Section IV.A.ii (Applicant Education Services) This FOA solicits proposals for RD associated with Scalable Concentrating Solar Collectors, Scalable Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (sCO2) and Scalable Concentrating Solar-thermal Receivers and Reactors. The three technologies will support the government-wide approach to the climate crisis by driving the innovation that can lead to the deployment of clean energy technologies, which are critical for climate protection.

Synopsis: NOFO # DD24-0051 solicits non-research, cooperative agreement applications to conduct population-based surveillance of congenital heart defects (CHD) to describe health outcomes including health equity, with the goal of identifying opportunities to improve the health of all people living with CHD. This project will involve a required component (A) and an optional component (B). The population included in this surveillance activity can be an entire state or a region within a state. Individuals with CHD should be identified through existing data sources including the jurisdiction birth defects surveillance system, electronic health records, administrative data (e.g., Medicaid/Medicare, hospital discharge), or other sources available to funding recipients. Background: Congenital heart defects (CHD) affect about 1% of all births in the United States, and are a leading cause of birth defect-associated infant mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs. Improvements in early detection and treatment of CHD and consequently in survival have resulted in many people, including those affected by a severe CHD, living into adolescence and adulthood. An estimated two million persons in the U.S. are living with a CHD, including over one million adults; about 12% of these affected adults have a severe CHD. Most current efforts to conduct population-based surveillance of CHD have focused on monitoring newborns. However, little data exist on the descriptive epidemiology of CHD beyond early childhood in the U.S. Despite the public health burden, the lack of population-based surveillance precludes reliable data on people with CHD, their survival, healthcare utilization, and characteristics associated with long-term outcomes. Through this surveillance activity, these data will be assessed, enabling and informing efforts to improve the health and well-being of people with CHD. Objectives: Component A objectives include: (1) assess survival, comorbidities, healthcare utilization during the period 2021-2023, and characteristics associated with long-term outcomes among people with CHD; (2) assess health equity among people with CHD; (3) examine state and national healthcare policies that have an impact on people with CHD; (4) examine COVID-19 and related data such as health care utilization during the pandemic among people with CHD; and (5) work with local/state partners to use site-specific CHD data. Component B objectives include: (1) develop and refine a machine learning algorithm for the surveillance data collected through Component A; and (2) apply this machine learning algorithm to data collected from all recipients funded through Component A.

The U.S. Embassy is unable to provide individual feedback on non-selected Statements of Interest. A public presentation with general feedback will be offered. The date and time will be announced on the Embassy Facebook. A. PROGRAM DECRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Cotonou Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from organizations interested in applying for funding for program proposals that strengthen ties between the peoples of the United States and Benin through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. PDS invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit SOI applications outlining program concepts that reflect this goal. Please carefully follow all instructions below. The submission of a SOI is the first step in a two-part process. Applicants must first submit a SOI, which is a concise, one-to-two-page concept note (in English) designed to clearly communicate a program idea and its objectives before the development of a full proposal application. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants the opportunity to submit program ideas for PDS to evaluate prior to requiring the development of full proposal applications. Upon review of eligible SOIs, PDS will invite selected applicants to expand their ideas into full proposal applications. Purpose: PDS Cotonou invites SOIs for programs that strengthen ties between the people of the United States and the people of Benin through cultural and exchange programming that highlights shared values and promotes bilateral cooperation. All programs must include an American cultural element, or a connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Examples of PDS-funded programs include, but are not limited to: Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs; Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs; Professional and academic exchanges and programs; Experiential learning activities (e.g. Model UN, Model Government). Priority Program Objectives and Audiences Project proposals submitted through this Annual Program Statement (APS) should address one of the following Priority Program Objectives: Vulnerable Groups Empowerment: Activities that address poverty and vulnerability in the communities and contribute to build resilience and social cohesion or/and promote the rights of members of marginalized groups including women and girls, religious and ethnic minority groups and other community at risk (e.g. Capacity building on countering Violent Extremist Organizations VEOs disinformation and recruitment). Target audiences include: youth and young adults active in their communities, religious leaders, community members in the North. (One to two awards anticipated, maximum $10,000 each). Investigative Journalism: Activities that link Beninese journalists to American journalists or media institutions, and/or empower community radios with best practices to handle an adversarial debate, and/or develop tools and skills to combat myths and disinformation and to verify information before sharing with the public in order to strengthen free press and journalism as an institution in Benin. Target audience: community radios, mid-career journalists. (One to two awards anticipated, maximum $15,000 each). U.S.-Benin Partnership: Activities featuring popular American and/or Beninese artists, musicians, cultural figures, and other influencers in order to promote a deeper understanding of the United States long support for improving trade and prosperity in Benin, as well as habits that lead to healthier and more prosperous lives (e.g. promoting U.S.-Benin trade with linkage to AGOA). Target audiences include: women entrepreneurs who specialize in handicrafts, youth and young adults who use social media or listen to radio as their primary source of information; and/or educated urban adults unaware of U.S. initiatives to support Benins development. (One to two awards anticipated, maximum $25,000 each). Skills for Success: Activities to promote STEM, learning American English, especially through soft skills (such as resume writing, digital communications, basic financial literacy, public speaking, entrepreneurial skills) and digital literacy, drawing on American and Beninese examples, in order to encourage successful participation in the global economy. Applicants are strongly encouraged to partner with English Clubs, American Spaces, or U.S. exchange program alumni to conduct these activities. Target audiences include: underemployed and unemployed youth who will soon complete or have completed formal education; female microentrepreneurs; and/or graduate/undergraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math with a strong interest in improving their English or pursuing graduate study in the United States. (One to three awards anticipated, $15,000 each). The following types of programs are not eligible for funding: Programs relating to partisan political activity; For-profit programs Charitable or development activities; Construction programs; Programs that support specific religious activities; Fund-raising campaigns; Lobbying for specific legislation or programs; Scientific research; Programs intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; or Programs that duplicate existing programs. Authorizing legislation, type and year of funding: The Statutory Authority for this program is the Smith-Mundt Act or the Fulbright-Hays Act. The source of funding is FY2024 Public Diplomacy or Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs funds, dependent on the type of program. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 6 to 12 months Number of awards anticipated: varies (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000 Total available funding: $145,000 (Anticipated and Subject to Availability of Funds) Type of Funding: Fiscal Year 2024 Public Diplomacy Funding and/or Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Funding Anticipated program start date: Varies Funding Instrument Type: Grant, Fixed Amount Award, Individual Award, or Cooperative Agreement. Cooperative agreements and some FAAs are different from grants in that PDS staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation (Substantial Involvement). Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. PDS may entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State. This notice is subject to availability of funds. C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION Other Eligibility Requirements Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.SAM.gov. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION The U.S. Embassy Cotonou Public Diplomacy Section will accept proposals through May 30, 2024. A grants committee including U.S. Embassy employees will review eligible applications in June 2024. All application materials must be submitted by email to CotonouPASGrants@state.gov All Statements of Interest SOI applications should ensure that the following requirements are met: Please follow all instructions below carefully. SOIs that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Content of Application Please ensure: . The SOI clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity . All documents are in English All budgets are in U.S. dollars All pages are numbered All documents are formatted to 8 x 11 paper, and . All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. The following document is required: Program Statement (not to exceed 2 pages in Microsoft Word) that includes: A table listing: Name of the organization; The target country/countries; The total amount of funding requested from PD Cotonou, total amount of cost-share (if any), and total program amount (PD funds + cost-share); and, Program length; A synopsis of the program, including a brief statement on how the program will have a demonstrated impact and engage relevant stakeholders, as well as the American element; A concise breakdown explicitly identifying the programs objectives and the activities and expected results that contribute to each objective; and, A brief description of the applicant(s) that demonstrates the applicant(s) expertise and capacity to implement the program and manage a U.S. government award. The deadline for submission of SOIs is May 30, 2024. An organization may submit no more than one SOI. E. APPLICATION REVIEW CRITERIA 1. Quality of Program Idea: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. The SOI should explain why the proposed program is needed. 2. Program Planning: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the objectives. A proposed timeline for the program activities should include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. 3. Ability to Achieve Objectives/Institutional Capacity: A demonstration of the organizations or individuals expertise and previous experience in administering programs. 4. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility: Clearly stated objectives for recruiting and fully including participants from historically underserved communities in program activities, and/or including perspectives from historically underserved communities in the United States. A Grants Review Committee will evaluate all eligible applications. SOI applicants will be notified of the decision to present a full submission within 30 days of each submission deadline. Instructions on the requirements of a full application submission will be provided at that time.

The Bridge Investment Program (BIP) seeks applications for Large Bridge Project grants, aimed at projects with total eligible costs greater than $100 million. The initiative supports bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, and protection projects that enhance the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of people and freight. The program is designed to improve the condition of bridges across the United States by addressing those in poor or fair condition that are at risk of deteriorating or do not meet current design standards. Grants are awarded competitively and are available to a wide range of applicants, including states, local governments, and tribal governments. For fiscal years 2023 to 2026, the program has up to $9.62 billion available, with specific deadlines for application submissions detailed by fiscal year.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing the potential availability of funding for the purpose of leveraging NRCS resources to encourage collaboration with partners in providing strategic conservation delivery assistance and/or provide tools or data that enhance the ability of the agency to support conservation activities. The overall intent of this solicitation is to solicit partnerships to help enhance the implementation of key conservation objectives and priorities outlined in this announcement. Proposals will be accepted from eligible entities for projects located in New Jersey. NRCS anticipates the total amount awarded under this announcement in Federal fiscal year 2024 will be up to $75,000.00 For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov. Key Dates Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 7th, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts. For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.

A. Program Need: The Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) is dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of historic buildings, structures, and features of the NPS and its partners. The HPTC executes this commitment by demonstrating outstanding leadership through field preservation schooling for basic hands-on craft skills development in masonry, carpentry, wood crafting, and architectural building identification, evaluation, and condition assessment techniques. The HPTC utilizes historic preservation projects as its main instrument for teaching preservation philosophy and progressive development of building crafts knowledge, exposure to the newest stabilization practices, techniques and applications, and enriching project management skills. This structure lends itself to accommodate on projects additional individuals looking to learn and practice new skills through hands-on projects. The HPTC is continuing to grow significantly across the NPS in scope and scale. Additional technical assistance on projects from skilled individuals will assist it in more responsively meeting the demand for project work at NPS sites across the country, and thus better accomplish the HPTC and overall NPS mission to preserve cultural resources for future generations to experience, learn from, and enjoy.B. Program Objectives: The program objective is to support and stimulate preservation trades and project work on NPS cultural resources through hosting pre-apprentice-style and pre-professional experiences for emerging professionals in the fields of facility management and cultural resource restoration and rehabilitation. Specifically, the program focuses on engaging existing students and graduates of trade schools focused on historic preservation skills and knowledge (such as those listed on The Campaign for Historic Trades website) or other facility relevant trades and fields (e.g. water/wastewater management, engineering, architecture, project management, etc.) and degree programs applicable to public land facility management who are looking for opportunities to apply their education to real-life projects. The program will promote greater public and private participation in historic preservation and facility programs and activities while simultaneously building resource stewardship ethics in its participants. An ancillary benefit and objective is to provide the National Park Service with trained individuals to help complete critical historic preservation and facility projects. The program will combine an intensive, immersive work atmosphere with tailored classroom and field-based curriculum to provide participants with any additionally necessary training related to the maintenance, restoration, and preservation of the infrastructure (buildings, bridges, monuments, memorials, culverts, etc.) found on public lands. The work completed will be on active NPS backlogged preventative maintenance and other projects alongside NPS maintenance and preservation professionals. Any curriculum provided by NPS will support this hands-on experience through reinforcement of the importance of trade skills, ethics of conservation and preservation on public lands.The program will strive to engage emerging student or recent graduations (2 years) historic trades and facility professionals from diverse backgrounds currently underrepresented in this field of work. The goal is to interest these skilled individuals in NPS career opportunities and thus diversify the NPS Facilities workforce.