Strategic commercial engagement for U.S.–AU Trade and Investment

The U.S. Mission to Ethiopia, under the Department of State, is soliciting proposals to advance U.S. commercial diplomacy in Africa through strategic engagement aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties between U.S. and African businesses. With the African Union representing nearly 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding $3 trillion, the initiative seeks to overcome persistent barriers such as limited awareness of U.S. business practices, underdeveloped commercial networks, and market access constraints that hinder bilateral economic growth. Proposals must focus on expanding U.S. commercial presence through activities like business matchmaking, U.S.-led commercial workshops, sector-specific engagements that promote U.S. market entry, and initiatives that remove obstacles to U.S. business operations. Projects are expected to generate measurable outcomes including new business linkages, memoranda of understanding, established commercial networks, and increased investment flows, with a clear emphasis on promoting innovation, technology transfer using U.S. solutions, and mutual economic benefits. Proposals must be submitted by June 8, 2026, via Grants.gov or email to addusaupdgrants@state.gov, and must include mandatory forms such as SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B, along with a narrative not exceeding 10 pages with strict character limits for each section. Applicants must hold a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov and comply with all federal regulations under 2 CFR 200, including requirements related to financial management, audit reporting, anti-trafficking, drug-free workplace, and prohibitions on funding UNRWA or using unmanned aircraft systems from FASC-listed manufacturers. Evaluation is based on five weighted factors: organizational capacity and past grant performance (25 points), project planning and feasibility (20 points), budget reasonableness (10 points), monitoring and evaluation rigor (10 points), and sustainability planning (5 points), with total scores determining award selection. Cost is not a primary criterion but serves as a tiebreaker, favoring applicants with lower indirect cost rates. Key personnel resumes and letters of support from partners are required attachments, and only one non-governmental, non-profit entity may serve as the prime recipient, with sub-award arrangements subject to strict compliance with federal rules. All deliverables must prominently display U.S. Department of State branding and comply with its official brand system. The project must be implemented within a 6- to 12-month period starting in October 2026,