Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005170
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Conflict Stabilization Operations (CSO) released a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Statement of Interest and Capacity - 2018" (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0005170) on June 15, 2018, with an original closing date of July 15, 2018. Rather than soliciting proposals for a single, predefined project, this announcement is essentially a request for organizations to submit a Statement of Interest and Capacity that demonstrates they are prepared to support CSO missions around the world as needs emerge. The emphasis is on being able to respond to evolving conflict and stabilization challenges, with programming that is innovative, agile in fast-changing environments, and capable of producing meaningful impact.
This opportunity is open to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations that hold 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, excluding institutions of higher education. CSO is looking for implementers that can credibly show they have the operational readiness, technical expertise, and management systems to design and carry out programs in complex and potentially fragile contexts. While the specific program themes and countries are not spelled out in the notice, the framing makes clear the bureau anticipates deploying partners in support of a range of worldwide missions as they arise, which typically implies a need for flexible approaches, rapid mobilization, strong field operations, and the ability to coordinate with U.S. government stakeholders and other partners.
The notice lists an award ceiling of $5,000,000, indicating that if awards are eventually made under this umbrella, they could be substantial in size. At the time of posting, the expected number of awards is shown as zero, which reinforces that this is more of a capacity-gathering or partner-identification mechanism than a guarantee of immediate grant awards. The funding instrument type is labeled "Other," and the funding activity category is also listed as "Other," suggesting CSO may use nonstandard or specially tailored assistance arrangements depending on the mission needs that later emerge. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 19.121, which corresponds to Department of State assistance programming.
In practical terms, an organization responding to this solicitation would be expected to communicate what it can do, where it can work, how quickly it can ramp up, and what makes its approach effective in conflict stabilization settings. A strong submission would typically highlight relevant past performance in fragile or conflict-affected areas, the ability to deploy skilled personnel quickly, sound financial and compliance controls, monitoring and evaluation capacity, safeguarding and risk management practices, and the organizational systems needed to operate securely and responsibly in high-risk environments. Overall, the opportunity is positioned as a way for CSO to identify and maintain a bench of capable nonprofit implementers that can support stabilization priorities globally when new missions and funding needs arise.Apply for SFOP0005170
- The Department of State, Bureau of Conflict Stabilization Operations in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Statement of Interest and Capacity - 2018" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.121.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 15, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 2018. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Statement of Interest and Capacity - 2018."
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
It is offered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Conflict Stabilization Operations (CSO).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0005170.
When was the opportunity released?
The opportunity was released on June 15, 2018.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was July 15, 2018.
Is this a request for a full project proposal for a specific country or theme?
No. The announcement is not framed as a single, predefined project competition. Instead, it requests a Statement of Interest and Capacity showing an organization is prepared to support CSO missions worldwide as needs emerge.
What is CSO primarily asking organizations to submit?
CSO is asking for a Statement of Interest and Capacity that demonstrates readiness to design and implement programming in response to evolving conflict and stabilization needs.
What is the main purpose of collecting Statements of Interest and Capacity?
Based on the notice, the purpose is to identify and maintain a pool (or "bench") of capable nonprofit implementers that can support stabilization priorities globally when new missions and funding needs arise.
Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity is open to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations that have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
No. Institutions of higher education are excluded.
Does submitting a Statement of Interest and Capacity guarantee a grant award?
No. The notice indicates an expected number of awards of zero at the time of posting, which suggests this is a partner-identification or capacity-gathering mechanism rather than a guarantee of immediate funding.
What is the award ceiling listed in the notice?
The award ceiling is $5,000,000.
What does an award ceiling of $5,000,000 mean in this context?
If awards are eventually made under this umbrella, the notice suggests individual awards could be substantial, up to the stated ceiling.
How many awards does CSO expect to make?
At the time of posting, the expected number of awards is listed as zero.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is listed as "Other."
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is also listed as "Other."
What does it mean that the instrument type and activity category are both listed as "Other"?
It suggests CSO may use nonstandard or specially tailored assistance arrangements depending on mission needs that emerge later, rather than relying on a single conventional grant format for a predefined project.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.121, which corresponds to Department of State assistance programming.
Are specific countries or regions identified in the notice?
No. The notice does not spell out specific program themes or countries, and instead emphasizes readiness to support worldwide CSO missions as needs arise.
What kinds of operating environments does CSO seem to be targeting?
The notice points to complex, fragile, and potentially high-risk contexts where conflict stabilization work may need to be carried out under fast-changing conditions.
What qualities does CSO emphasize for potential implementers?
CSO emphasizes the ability to respond to evolving conflict and stabilization challenges with programming that is innovative, agile in fast-changing environments, and capable of producing meaningful impact.
What capabilities should an organization communicate in its submission?
Based on the notice, an organization would be expected to communicate what it can do, where it can work, how quickly it can ramp up, and what makes its approach effective in conflict stabilization settings.
What types of experience would strengthen a submission?
A strong submission would typically highlight relevant past performance in fragile or conflict-affected areas and credible experience designing and delivering stabilization programming.
What operational readiness factors does CSO appear to care about?
The notice suggests CSO is looking for partners that can rapidly mobilize, maintain strong field operations, and function effectively in high-risk environments.
What management systems and controls are implied as important?
The notice indicates that sound financial and compliance controls, as well as overall management systems to operate securely and responsibly, are important elements to demonstrate.
Is monitoring and evaluation capacity relevant for this opportunity?
Yes. The notice explicitly points to monitoring and evaluation capacity as a component of a strong submission.
Does the notice mention safeguarding or risk management?
Yes. The notice indicates that safeguarding and risk management practices are among the capabilities a strong submission would typically highlight.
Does CSO expect coordination with U.S. government stakeholders?
Yes. The notice implies that implementing partners should be able to coordinate with U.S. government stakeholders and other partners as missions arise.
What does "agile in fast-changing environments" imply for potential partners?
It implies the ability to adapt program design and operations as conflict dynamics change, mobilize quickly, and maintain effectiveness despite uncertainty and shifting conditions.
What does "meaningful impact" imply for proposed programming?
It implies that CSO is interested in programming that can demonstrate real-world results in stabilization contexts, supported by the capacity to monitor and evaluate performance.
Is this opportunity limited to organizations already working with CSO?
The notice does not state that it is limited to existing partners. It frames the opportunity as open to eligible U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding higher education institutions) that can demonstrate the required readiness and capacity.
What is the overall takeaway for applicants?
This announcement is best understood as a way to present your organization as a ready-to-deploy stabilization implementer for future CSO needs, rather than as a competition for a single defined project with immediate awards.
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