Operation and Management of the Edward M. Kennedy Center

The U.S. Department of State’s Embassy Dhaka is seeking a non-profit organization to manage and operate the Edward M. Kennedy Center for Public Service in Bangladesh, with the goal of advancing U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives through public diplomacy initiatives. The selected recipient will lead a comprehensive program that engages young Bangladeshi professionals and U.S. exchange alumni in STEM, education, technology, and cultural programming, while strengthening the American Spaces network and supporting U.S. commercial objectives through collaboration with the Foreign Commercial Service, Economic Section, and Foreign Agricultural Service. Key responsibilities include supervising local staff, providing EducationUSA advising, delivering workshops and events in areas such as videography and photography, maintaining technology infrastructure, and sustaining robust in-person and virtual participation aligned with the Embassy’s broader outreach goals. Only non-profit entities—including civil society organizations, think tanks, private educational institutions, and public international organizations—are eligible; for-profit entities and individuals are explicitly excluded, and sub-contracting is permitted only under strict conditions with clear delineation of roles. The contract period runs from September 30, 2026, to September 29, 2027, with a total estimated value ranging from $123,404.77 to $140,372.93, inclusive of indirect costs. Proposals must be submitted via email to dhakagrants@state.gov by June 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Bangladesh Standard Time and must include standardized federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B), a seven-page narrative with specific sections including a theory of change, monitoring and evaluation framework, and detailed budget justification, along with required attachments such as key personnel resumes and letters of support. Evaluation is merit-based across five weighted criteria: organizational capacity and past grant experience (25 points), project planning and feasibility (20 points), budget reasonableness (15 points), monitoring and evaluation rigor (10 points), and sustainability (5 points), for a total of 75 points. Awards will not be based on lowest price but on best-value trade-off, with a tie-breaker favoring the lower indirect cost rate. Compliance with U.S. Government branding guidelines, mandatory acknowledgment of federal funding, and strict reporting obligations—including quarterly financial and program reports, annual equipment inventories, and potential monthly reporting for high-risk recipients—are required. All