NEA/AC Regional Annual Program Statement

The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs’ Office of Assistance Coordination within the U.S. Department of State is soliciting Statements of Interest for innovative foreign assistance programs designed to advance U.S. economic, security, and diplomatic interests across the Middle East and North Africa. This Annual Program Statement, identified by solicitation number DFOP0018712 and posted on July 23, 2026, invites organizations to propose projects that prioritize trade over traditional aid, leveraging U.S. assistance to catalyze private investment, promote American enterprise and infrastructure, and reduce partner reliance on adversarial powers such as China. Proposals must demonstrate how programs will serve as tools of statecraft by driving U.S. commercial outcomes, including securing foreign contracts, enabling adoption of U.S.-aligned technologies, and expanding exports. Projects must avoid humanitarian aid, academic research, and purely commercial ventures, aligning instead with the 2025 National Security Strategy and the Department’s 2026–2030 Agency Strategic Plan. Applications are limited to a three-page narrative and up to four one-page annexes, formatted in 12-point Times New Roman with one-inch margins, and must be submitted electronically via the MyGrants portal by September 30, 2026. All applicants must have an active Unique Entity Identifier in SAM.gov, and proposals are evaluated on two criteria: program quality, weighted at 50 points, and organizational capacity and past grant performance, weighted at 35 points, using a trade-off evaluation approach rather than lowest-price selection. Awards, expected to range from $250,000 to $30,000,000 per project, will have a performance period of 12 to 36 months, with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2026. Recipients must comply with 2 CFR Part 200, the Foreign Assistance Act, Leahy Law vetting requirements, prohibitions on funding UNRWA, and strict anti-trafficking and anti-discrimination certifications. Branding mandates require acknowledgment of U.S. Government support under Department of State guidelines, and quarterly financial and progress reports must be submitted through MyGrants. Compliance with Executive Orders and full disclosure of foreign funding are mandatory, and use of unmanned aerial systems requires detailed regulatory adherence. Proposals exceeding page limits or submitted late will not be reviewed.