Opportunity Information: Apply for SNU700 FY20 PAS 01
The U.S. Embassy in Managua, through its Public Affairs Section (PAS) Small Grants Program, is offering funding for innovative projects that help empower Nicaraguans, with a clear emphasis on education and entrepreneurship. The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Nicaragua) under Funding Opportunity Number SNU700 FY20 PAS 01 and CFDA 19.040. Awards may be made as grants, cooperative agreements, or other funding instruments depending on the nature of the project and the level of involvement required from the U.S. government.
The program is open to both U.S. and Nicaraguan applicants, including individuals and legally registered non-profit and non-governmental organizations. Eligible organizational applicants include nonprofits with or without U.S. 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). For organizations, the embassy requires proof of active registrations in DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM.gov, and notes that these registrations must be kept current each year and do not require any fees. While applicant cost-sharing is encouraged as a sign of commitment and sustainability, it is not mandatory.
Funding is relatively small-scale but meaningful, with an award ceiling of $50,000 and an expectation of approximately 10 awards. Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis, with funding decisions planned in three rounds (February, May, and July 2020), and all awards depend on the availability of funds. The application window opened with a posting date of October 24, 2019, and the final deadline for submission was June 30, 2020. Late applications are not accepted.
The embassy is explicit about what it will not fund. Proposals are ineligible if they primarily support partisan political activity or religious activity. The program also excludes humanitarian or charitable assistance, scientific research, and general institutional development or stand-alone support for an organization. Practical cost restrictions also apply: construction and infrastructure projects, vehicle purchases, and projects where salaries are the main purpose of the grant are not allowable. International air travel is generally not permitted unless it is essential to the project goals. The program also discourages budgets where refreshments are the main element, and it will not fund activities that duplicate existing projects, signaling a preference for originality and added value.
Applications are judged using four main criteria. Reviewers focus on the quality of the program design, how well the project is likely to achieve its stated objectives, how the applicant will evaluate results (including measurement of outcomes), and whether the budget is reasonable and well-justified through a clear narrative. In practice, that means applicants need to show not only a compelling idea, but also a realistic implementation plan, concrete performance indicators, and a budget that matches the scope and avoids restricted cost categories.
To apply, applicants must submit a complete package by email to PASManagua@state.gov and put "Grant Application" in the subject line. The required package includes a proposal form, the appropriate federal assistance application form (SF-424 for organizations or SF-424i for individuals), and a detailed budget. The budget portion may include a budget narrative and, when applicable, SF-424A and SF-424B (particularly for organizations not registered in SAM.gov and that have not completed online representations and certifications since February 2, 2019). Additional required components include a key contact form and short CVs (no more than two pages each). If applicable, U.S. organizations and U.S. citizens engaged in lobbying activities must also submit the SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form. Files must be submitted in PDF, Word, Excel, or JPG formats, and the embassy cannot accept emails containing zipped attachments using WinZip or WinRAR extensions.
Finally, the announcement sets clear communication boundaries: the embassy does not provide pre-consultation for questions already addressed in the Annual Program Statement, and once an application is submitted, State Department staff will not discuss the competition with applicants until the review process is complete. This underscores the importance of carefully following the posted instructions and ensuring the initial submission is complete, compliant, and easy for reviewers to evaluate.Apply for SNU700 FY20 PAS 01
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Nicaragua in the community development, education, employment, labor and training, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Managua - Annual Program Statement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 24, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2020 Submit compete application package to PASManagua@state.gov only. It is required to submit the full application package. No application will be accepted after June 30, 2020.. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Individuals, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Embassy in Managua through the Public Affairs Section (PAS) Small Grants Program. It funds innovative projects that help empower Nicaraguans, with a clear emphasis on education and entrepreneurship.
Who is issuing the funding?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Nicaragua), through the U.S. Embassy in Managua.
What are the opportunity identifiers (Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SNU700 FY20 PAS 01, and the CFDA number is 19.040.
What types of funding instruments might be used?
Awards may be made as grants, cooperative agreements, or other funding instruments. The instrument depends on the nature of the project and the level of involvement required from the U.S. government.
Who is eligible to apply?
The program is open to both U.S. and Nicaraguan applicants, including individuals and legally registered non-profit and non-governmental organizations.
Are for-profit entities eligible?
The announcement describes eligibility for individuals and legally registered non-profit and non-governmental organizations. No additional eligibility for for-profit entities is stated in the provided information.
Do nonprofits need U.S. 501(c)(3) status to apply?
No. Nonprofits may apply with or without U.S. 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
No. The provided information states that eligible organizational applicants include nonprofits with or without U.S. 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
What registrations are required for organizational applicants?
Organizations must provide proof of active registrations in DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM.gov.
Do DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM.gov registrations need to be renewed?
Yes. The embassy notes that these registrations must be kept current each year.
Do DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM.gov registrations require payment or fees?
No. The embassy notes these registrations do not require any fees.
Is cost-sharing required?
No. Cost-sharing is encouraged as a sign of commitment and sustainability, but it is not mandatory.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is $50,000.
How many awards are expected?
Approximately 10 awards are expected.
Are awards guaranteed?
No. All awards depend on the availability of funds.
When did the application window open?
The posting date was October 24, 2019.
What was the final deadline to apply?
The final deadline for submission was June 30, 2020.
Are late applications accepted?
No. Late applications are not accepted.
How are proposals reviewed and when are funding decisions made?
Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis, with funding decisions planned in three rounds: February, May, and July 2020.
What types of projects does the program prioritize?
The program prioritizes innovative projects that help empower Nicaraguans, with a clear emphasis on education and entrepreneurship.
What activities are not eligible for funding?
Proposals are ineligible if they primarily support partisan political activity or religious activity. The program also excludes humanitarian or charitable assistance, scientific research, and general institutional development or stand-alone support for an organization.
Does the program fund construction or infrastructure?
No. Construction and infrastructure projects are not allowable.
Can grant funds be used to purchase vehicles?
No. Vehicle purchases are not allowable.
Can the grant primarily cover salaries?
No. Projects where salaries are the main purpose of the grant are not allowable.
Is international air travel allowed in the budget?
International air travel is generally not permitted unless it is essential to achieving the project goals.
Are budgets focused mainly on refreshments allowed?
The program discourages budgets where refreshments are the main element.
Can proposals replicate existing projects?
No. The embassy will not fund activities that duplicate existing projects, signaling a preference for originality and added value.
What are the main evaluation criteria for applications?
Applications are judged on: (1) the quality of the program design, (2) how likely the project is to achieve its stated objectives, (3) the evaluation plan and how results will be measured (including outcomes), and (4) whether the budget is reasonable and well-justified with a clear narrative.
What does the embassy expect in terms of measuring results?
Applicants are expected to explain how they will evaluate results, including measurement of outcomes, using concrete performance indicators.
Where and how do applicants submit an application?
Applicants must email a complete application package to PASManagua@state.gov and include "Grant Application" in the subject line.
What documents are required in the application package?
The required package includes: a proposal form, the appropriate federal assistance application form (SF-424 for organizations or SF-424i for individuals), and a detailed budget. Additional required components include a key contact form and short CVs (no more than two pages each).
Which SF-424 form should be used by organizations versus individuals?
Organizations should use SF-424. Individuals should use SF-424i.
What is required for the budget portion of the application?
A detailed budget is required. The budget portion may include a budget narrative and, when applicable, SF-424A and SF-424B.
When are SF-424A and SF-424B needed?
They may be required particularly for organizations not registered in SAM.gov and that have not completed online representations and certifications since February 2, 2019.
Are CVs required, and is there a length limit?
Yes. Short CVs are required and must be no more than two pages each.
When is the SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form required?
If applicable, U.S. organizations and U.S. citizens engaged in lobbying activities must submit the SF-LLL form.
What file formats are accepted for submission?
Files must be submitted in PDF, Word, Excel, or JPG formats.
Are zipped attachments allowed?
No. The embassy cannot accept emails containing zipped attachments using WinZip or WinRAR extensions.
Will the embassy answer questions or provide pre-consultation before applying?
The embassy does not provide pre-consultation for questions already addressed in the Annual Program Statement.
Can applicants discuss the competition with State Department staff after submitting an application?
No. Once an application is submitted, State Department staff will not discuss the competition with applicants until the review process is complete.
What is the practical takeaway for applicants preparing a submission?
Because communication is limited and late applications are not accepted, applicants should carefully follow the posted instructions and submit a complete, compliant package that clearly explains the implementation plan, performance indicators, and a well-justified budget that avoids restricted cost categories.
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