Advancing Strategic Space Partnerships in the Middle East

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, through the Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC), has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "Advancing Strategic Space Partnerships in the Middle East." This initiative is intended to engage and empower the next generation of space sector leaders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. With a focus on countries such as Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, and Oman, the grant aims to expand strategic cooperation with the United States by supporting capacity building, technical training, and diplomatic engagement related to space policy and commerce. The opportunity reflects broader U.S. foreign policy goals to foster innovation, science, and international cooperation in emerging space economies. The program seeks an experienced implementing partner to design and deliver interdisciplinary training that advances leadership in the space sector. This includes the development of educational modules focused on four pillars: space capacity building, leadership, diplomacy, and commerce. Modules must be tailored to the local needs of each country, be scalable for broader regional use, and support U.S. objectives such as the adoption of U.S. space technologies, alignment with American governance principles, and strengthening local institutions. The training should integrate both in-person and virtual delivery formats and engage a variety of stakeholders including government officials, private sector representatives, academic researchers, and civil society actors. A single award of up to $2,250,000 will be made under this announcement, contingent on funding availability. The project duration is expected to be two years. NEA/AC retains substantial involvement throughout the project, including collaboration on the problem statement, approval of deliverables, review of personnel changes, and co-development of training content. Applications that include activities such as political campaigning, social welfare projects, or medical research will be deemed ineligible. Additionally, costs like entertainment or U.S. government employee travel are not allowed. Eligible applicants include U.S. and non-U.S. nonprofit organizations, public and private higher education institutions, for-profit entities, and public international organizations. All applicants must have an active registration with SAM.gov and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Partnerships with local organizations in the MENA region are strongly encouraged. Matching funds are not required. Proposals must be submitted in English and include a full project narrative, logic model, theory of change, results monitoring plan, budget, and supporting documentation. Submissions must follow strict formatting rules and page limits. Applications must be submitted by August 25, 2025, at 4:00 PM EDT via the MyGrants portal. Applicants may submit questions regarding the NOFO by August 7, 2025, via NEA-Grants@state.gov. Responses to questions will be posted on Grants.gov by August 5. Award decisions will consider technical merit, alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities, geographic distribution, and organizational capacity. Evaluation will be based on clarity of objectives, project design, institutional experience, staff qualifications, and budget justification. Quarterly performance and financial reporting are required. Successful applicants must coordinate international travel with NEA/AC and adhere to branding and marking requirements using the standard U.S. flag. Sub-awardees receiving $25,000 or more must be reported in FSRS.gov, and UEIs are required for all sub-awardees. The grant is not offered on a rolling basis and does not recur annually. It is a one-time opportunity with strict compliance and post-award monitoring requirements tied to federal funding rules.

Use templates provided, strictly follow formatting and page limits, begin SAM.gov registration early to avoid delays.