2027 Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program – Selection
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Human Resources, Office of Outreach, Fellowships, and Internships, is seeking a qualified organization under a cooperative agreement to manage the candidate screening, panel review, and selection process for the 2027 Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program. This open competition, identified by solicitation number DFOP0019966, has a total funding ceiling of 85,855 dollars and a performance period of three to six months. The primary goal is to establish a rigorous, merit-based selection infrastructure to identify top-tier graduate talent for entry into the Foreign Service. Key responsibilities include onboarding and training selection panelists by January 2027, managing panelist honoraria, executing electronic scoring for semi-finalists, and conducting final interviews and essay assessments in February 2027 to select up to 10 fellows and alternates. The selected recipient must ensure a seamless onboarding transition by transmitting all cohort records to the government by late February 2027 to facilitate mandatory medical and Top Secret security clearances. Applications are open to U.S.-based non-profits, higher education institutions, and for-profit businesses, with a submission deadline of November 20, 2026. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale focusing on program planning, financial capacity, monitoring and evaluation, and institutional experience. Awardees must comply with State Department marking policies, OMB guidelines regarding debarment and suspension, and strict non-discrimination and anti-terrorism provisions. Payments will be administered via the HHS Payment Management System or SF-270 requests on a reimbursement or advance basis.
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Full Description
Funding Opportunity Description
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Human Resources, Office of Outreach, Fellowships, and Internships (HR/OFI) announces an open competition for a qualified organization to manage the candidate screening, panel review, and selection process for the 2027 Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program under a Cooperative Agreement. This specialized selection project serves as a crucial gateway to identify top-tier, merit-based graduate talent across the nation for entry into the Foreign Service.
Project Goal and Objectives
The project aims to establish a rigorous, objective, and standardized multi-phase selection infrastructure that identifies candidates with the technical expertise and leadership required to advance U.S. foreign policy and international development priorities.
Key objectives include:
Panel Formation & Honoraria Management: Onboard qualified selection panelists (tenured Foreign Service Officers, backstop coordinators, and Senior Foreign Service Nationals) by January 2027 and administer panelist honoraria ($500/day for eligible non-USG panelists).
Panel Training & Scoring Execution: Coordinate mandatory panelist training with HR/OFI and the Board of Examiners (BEX) in December 2026/January 2027, and facilitate secure electronic scoring to determine semi-finalists.
Finalist Assessment & Selection: Execute the final selection stage in February 2027 by conducting structured interviews, administering essay assessments, and calculating composite scores to select up to 10 Payne Fellows and alternates.
Onboarding Transition: Secure acceptance agreements, notify non-selected applicants within two working days, and transfer cohort records to HR/OFI to initiate medical and Top Secret security clearances by late February 2027.
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