Promoting Civilizational Values

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor is soliciting proposals under solicitation number DFOP0019542 to strengthen the capacity of European countries and institutions to safeguard freedom of expression, political pluralism, and national self-government, aligning with the U.S. National Security Strategy’s focus on enhancing healthy nations in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe through political collaboration and cultural exchange. Proposals must demonstrate a clear understanding of the problem, well-defined SMART objectives, and a feasible, evidence-based approach to implementation over a 12- to 24-month period beginning September 30, 2026. Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive proposal package including mandatory forms such as the SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B, along with a 15-page narrative, a one-page cover and executive summary, a one-page project timeline, two-page biographical sketches for key personnel, a detailed budget with narrative justification, a logic model, and a monitoring and evaluation plan. All proposals must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov or MyGrants by August 21, 2026, and applicants must maintain an active Unique Entity Identifier through SAM.gov throughout the award lifecycle. Evaluation will be conducted on a trade-off basis, assessing the quality and feasibility of the program idea, organizational capacity, clarity of objectives, realism and alignment of the budget, strength of the monitoring and evaluation framework, and the potential for long-term sustainability. Proposals must comply with all applicable federal regulations including 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 182, and 2 CFR 183, as well as Department of State policies, including the Foreign Assistance Data Review and SAMS Domestic reporting standards. Budgets must account for allowable costs, with equipment purchases under $10,000 classified as supplies and those over $10,000 requiring detailed justification. Indirect costs may be claimed at a de minimis rate of 10% MTDC if no negotiated rate exists. Travel must comply with the Fly America Act, and U.S.-produced goods are preferred. Recipients must adhere to strict reporting requirements, submitting quarterly financial and performance reports via SAMS Domestic and PMS, and are subject to termination rights by the U.S. government. Subrecipients must be registered in SAM.gov and cleared for exclusions, and all activities must comply with Promoting Human Flour