FY 2019 U.S. Subject Matter Experts | DOSRUS 19 CA 003

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOSRUS 19 CA 003

The FY 2019 U.S. Subject Matter Experts grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DOSRUS 19 CA 003) is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Russia cooperative agreement run through the U.S. Embassy Moscow Public Affairs Section (PAS Moscow). The core purpose is to fund an organization that can provide end-to-end technical, administrative, and logistical support for a steady pipeline of American subject matter experts traveling to Russia to engage local audiences. These engagements can take many forms, including public lectures, short or multi-day workshops and seminars, participation in conferences or festivals, media appearances, and expert consulting. The larger public diplomacy aim is to expand dialogue and mutual understanding by presenting U.S. culture, society, and U.S. foreign policy perspectives on topics selected by the Embassy and its partners, while also creating practical opportunities for professional exchange with Russian institutions and communities.

The funded recipient is expected to operate as the Embassy's implementation partner, handling the practical mechanics that make frequent speaker programs possible. That includes recruiting and coordinating potential experts based on Embassy guidance, supporting the Embassy as it finalizes selections, and then managing the full set of travel and event arrangements. Typical responsibilities described in the notice include negotiating and paying honoraria and speaker fees; collecting and transmitting speaker bios and program information to the Embassy; purchasing international and in-country airline and ground transportation; advising experts on Russia-specific considerations like safety and weather; supporting the visa application process; arranging airport pickup and hotels in Moscow and other cities; and providing or procuring program materials such as books, CDs, DVDs, printed handouts, biographies, and event programs. The grantee may also be responsible for coordinating and paying for venues (hotels, conference spaces), interpretation, audio/visual needs, and other on-the-ground event logistics in Russia, often in coordination with Russian partner organizations and vendors.

A major feature of the opportunity is the emphasis on strong financial controls and the ability to run frequent, multi-stop travel programs without losing track of expenditures. The grantee must have internal procedures to advance, reimburse, and closely monitor individual speaker expenses; process vendor payments; and reimburse experts for program-related costs when applicable. The Embassy must approve program expenditures before funds are committed, meaning the grantee cannot promise support for a visit until the Embassy has approved the individual expert, the theme, and the projected costs. After each program, the grantee is expected to report remaining funds to PAS Moscow and provide program account records upon request. The agreement also requires basic monitoring and evaluation: the grantee must assess the impact of each speaker program using participant surveys, either traditional paper surveys administered during events or online surveys sent afterward, to capture perceptions of the program and attitudes toward the United States.

The opportunity spells out three main goals. First, it seeks to strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and Russia by creating direct engagement between American experts and target audiences, with the intent of increasing mutual understanding. Second, it aims to strengthen local partnerships and build longer-term, self-sustaining institutional relationships between U.S. and Russian individuals and organizations, including capacity-building for Russian cultural, educational, and civil society institutions. Third, it aims to showcase American values and the diversity of the United States through the experts selected and the professional knowledge they bring, highlighting American professionalism, innovation, civic values, and a wide range of viewpoints and backgrounds.

In terms of program scale, the Embassy anticipates a high tempo of activity. The funding is intended to support bringing roughly two to ten experts per month. Individual trips may range from about two days to two weeks, with some experts traveling to multiple cities (often two to three) and others staying in one location for deeper, intensive workshops. Costs are expected to vary widely depending on airfare, program length, in-country travel, interpretation, and other implementation needs, and the Embassy may adjust program length based on circumstances.

Because this is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, the U.S. government role is more hands-on. The Embassy and U.S. Consulates take the lead on identifying priority topics and the types of engagements desired, and they retain final decision-making authority over which American experts will be invited. They also help identify Russian partners and serve as an initial conduit to those organizations. The grantee, however, is expected to manage much of the practical coordination with Russian partners and service providers to secure venues and execute logistics, while the Embassy monitors activities as they occur and represents the U.S. government during the programming.

Funding is authorized under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (the Fulbright-Hays Act), which broadly supports cultural and educational exchanges to build mutual understanding and strengthen international ties. For FY 2019, the notice lists approximately $400,000 in total funding, with an anticipated two awards. The award range is stated as a floor of $200,000 and a ceiling of $400,000, with an anticipated award date of September 1, 2019, and an anticipated project completion date of September 30, 2020. The Embassy notes that, if implementation is successful and funds remain available, it intends to renew the cooperative agreement for up to two additional consecutive fiscal years before recompeting it, and it advises applicants that proposed budgets should reflect a potential two-year cycle.

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. Competitive proposals are expected to demonstrate three kinds of capacity: the ability to manage complex financial logistics for multi-faceted speaking programs in Russia; familiarity with the Russian operating environment and relevant institutions across major cities and regions (cultural, educational, and civil society); and familiarity with American professional, academic, cultural, and civil society networks that can support identifying high-quality, diverse experts. Key dates in the listing include a creation date of February 15, 2019, and an original closing date of June 3, 2019, with additional details referenced as available through the U.S. Embassy website.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Russia in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2019 U.S. Subject Matter Experts" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 15, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 03, 2019. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for DOSRUS 19 CA 003

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