Annual Program Statement (APS) – Public Diplomacy Grants Program: Advancing America First Priorities

The U.S. Mission to Ecuador under the Department of State is soliciting proposals through an Annual Program Statement (APS) titled PDS-ECUADOR-FY26-01 to advance America First priorities via public diplomacy initiatives. This funding opportunity is structured as a grant, not a procurement contract, and requires applicants to submit a comprehensive package including standard federal forms such as SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B, along with a narrative proposal limited to ten pages and an executive summary capped at 1,200 characters. The proposal must detail organizational capacity, project planning, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation methods, and sustainability strategies, with evaluation weighted toward organizational experience (25 points), project design (20 points), budget reasonableness (10 points), M&E rigor (10 points), and sustainability (5 points). The total estimated award value is $123,404.77, with costs assessed for allowability, allocability, and reasonableness under federal guidelines, and budget ties broken by lower indirect cost rates per Executive Order 14332. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov, hold a Unique Entity Identifier, and comply with 2 CFR 200, including financial management standards and audit requirements. Key personnel require CVs and are subject to Risk Analysis Management (RAM) vetting via the DS-4184 form, with all subawards requiring prior approval and prohibiting compensation to subrecipient staff serving in key roles. The project must avoid construction, direct social services, and unmanned aircraft systems without explicit authorization and must align with U.S. Government branding guidelines, including use of the Freedom 250 logo. Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov by August 6, 2026, with the RAM portal required for security vetting, and funding decisions to be communicated no later than September 30, 2026. High-risk recipients may face restricted payment terms, including a 10% hold, monthly narratives, and quarterly financial reporting. All performance activities must occur in Ecuador under the oversight of the U.S. Mission, with travel by U.S. citizens to high-risk regions requiring advance notification to the Embassy.