U.S.-ROK Alliance on Shipbuilding and Maritime Cooperation

The U.S. Embassy Seoul, through the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Department of State, has released the Notice of Funding Opportunity PD-SEOUL-FY25-09 for the program titled U.S.-ROK Alliance on Shipbuilding and Maritime Cooperation. This opportunity is supported with Fiscal Year 2025 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds. The program is designed to strengthen bilateral collaboration between the United States and the Republic of Korea in the shipbuilding and maritime sectors. The initiative is positioned to address strategic issues such as supply chain vulnerabilities, regulatory harmonization, market demand dynamics, and technological advancements, while simultaneously promoting bilateral investment and enhancing economic security. The total amount of funding available is $100,000, with one anticipated award expected. The award instrument will be a cooperative agreement, ensuring substantial involvement of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul in the program's implementation. The length of the performance period is expected to be 12 months, with the anticipated project start date in October 2025. The project period must conclude within a year, though continuation grants may be considered non-competitively based on progress, availability of funds, and alignment with Department of State interests. The program’s core activities include monthly meetings and lectures, research and analysis on maritime and shipbuilding challenges, an international conference in Korea, and a workshop in the United States. The effort will culminate in written reports that provide actionable recommendations to inform both U.S. and Korean policies. The Embassy will play an active role in guiding the project’s structure, reviewing participant selections, and ensuring consistency with U.S. public diplomacy objectives. Applicants must demonstrate prior experience with similar programs and include an American element or direct involvement with U.S. experts or institutions. Eligibility for this funding is restricted to organizations based in the Republic of Korea, including not-for-profit entities such as think tanks and NGOs, public and private educational institutions, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Organizations must also possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and maintain active registration in SAM.gov at the time of application. Cost sharing is not required, though voluntary cost share contributions may be considered positively in evaluations as a sign of institutional commitment. Applications must include the mandatory federal forms (SF-424 family), a detailed proposal of no more than ten pages, a budget justification, resumes of key personnel, and letters of support from partners. The proposal should clearly articulate project goals, activities, methods, monitoring and evaluation, sustainability, and a timeline. All documents must be submitted in English and denominated in U.S. dollars. Applications are due by Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (GMT+9). Materials must be submitted by email to SeoulPDGrants@state.gov. Applications will be evaluated on program feasibility, organizational capacity, clarity of goals and objectives, quality of planning, financial realism, monitoring and evaluation systems, and sustainability. A review committee will assess eligible applications, and risk assessments will also be conducted under 2 CFR 200.206. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by September 2025. Award administration will follow Department of State and federal regulations, with requirements for regular program and financial reporting. The award will also be subject to restrictions, including prohibitions on using funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) or for alcoholic beverages.