U.S.-D.R. Technology and Science Fair

1. Project Background, Goals, and Objectives

The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo seeks to increase Dominican engagement with U.S.-linked opportunities in technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging industries at a time when fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, engineering, cybersecurity, and digital innovation are reshaping the global economy and workforce. The Dominican Republic has a growing ecosystem of students, entrepreneurs, startups, and innovation-focused institutions interested in STEM and technology-related sectors. However, many young Dominicans and emerging professionals have limited direct exposure to U.S. companies, innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurial models, and private-sector leaders that can help them access international opportunities and envision future collaboration with U.S. partners.

This program seeks to address these challenges by creating a high-visibility public event that connects Dominican audiences with U.S. companies, entrepreneurs, innovators, and technology leaders through interactive and practical experiences. The U.S. Tech and Science Innovation Fair will showcase U.S. leadership in technology and innovation while creating opportunities for networking, mentorship, collaboration, and exposure to U.S.-linked educational and professional pathways. Activities may include corporate booths and demonstrations, panels on U.S. leadership in technology and semiconductors, entrepreneur and alumni storytelling sessions, networking opportunities, innovation showcases, and outreach related to exchange and professional development opportunities connected to the United States.

The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo has previously supported programming related to entrepreneurship, workforce development, innovation, higher education internationalization, exchange programs, and technology-focused outreach initiatives. Previous efforts have demonstrated that public-facing events that combine hands-on engagement, networking opportunities, mentorship, and direct interaction with U.S. experts and private-sector representatives are highly effective in increasing participant interest in U.S.-linked opportunities. Events that provide practical demonstrations, interactive exhibits, and opportunities for direct engagement consistently generate stronger audience participation and media visibility than traditional conference-style programming. Lessons learned from previous initiatives indicate that programming focused primarily on lectures or passive participation produces lower long-term engagement and fewer follow-on opportunities for participants.

The U.S. Embassy seeks proposals capable of implementing a large-scale, high-quality event that attracts broad public participation and generates measurable engagement with U.S. companies, innovation ecosystems, and exchange opportunities. Competitive proposals should demonstrate strong event management capacity, private-sector engagement experience, branding and communications expertise, and the ability to coordinate effectively with U.S. Embassy staff, private-sector stakeholders, and local partners.

Success will be measured through participant engagement, attendance numbers, media visibility, increased awareness of U.S. technology and innovation leadership, growth in exchange and professional opportunity inquiries, strengthened connections between Dominican and U.S. innovation ecosystems, and sustained follow-on engagement beyond the event itself.

Project Audience(s): 

1. Dominican University Students and Young Professionals: Undergraduate and graduate students, coding bootcamp participants, STEM students, gamers, makerspace users, and early-career professionals interested in science, technology, entrepreneurship, engineering, innovation, and emerging industries.

2. Entrepreneurs and Innovation Ecosystem Leaders: Startup founders, innovation hub participants, incubators and accelerators, small business owners, technology entrepreneurs, and individuals interested in entrepreneurship, digital innovation, and private-sector collaboration opportunities with U.S. companies and institutions.

3. Private-Sector and Industry Representatives: Dominican companies, chambers of commerce, technology associations, and representatives from industries related to technology, semiconductors, engineering, digital transformation, and innovation seeking networking and collaboration opportunities with U.S. companies and experts.

4. Academic and Institutional Stakeholders: University faculty, engineering and STEM departments, international offices, career services offices, and higher education leaders interested in strengthening connections with U.S. institutions, innovation ecosystems, and professional development opportunities.

5. U.S. Government Exchange Alumni and STEM Professionals: Alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs working in technology, entrepreneurship, science, engineering, and innovation-related sectors who can serve as mentors, speakers, and connectors between U.S. and Dominican innovation ecosystems.

Project Goal: Advance U.S. foreign policy priorities by positioning the United States as the leading and most accessible partner for Dominican youth, entrepreneurs, and innovation leaders in technology, science, entrepreneurship, and emerging industries, while strengthening commercial, educational, and people-to-people ties between the United States and the Dominican Republic.

Project Objectives: 

● Objective 1: Increase awareness of U.S. leadership in technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging industries by engaging at least 500 participants in interactive activities such as corporate demonstrations, innovation showcases, panel discussions, networking sessions, and technology exhibitions, resulting in increased participant awareness of U.S.-linked academic, professional, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

● Objective 2: Strengthen connections between Dominican audiences and U.S. private-sector and innovation ecosystem representatives by facilitating participation from at least three U.S. companies and one U.S. higher education institution through booths, panel discussions, mentorship activities, networking opportunities, or demonstrations, resulting in expanded opportunities for collaboration and follow-on engagement between Dominican and U.S. stakeholders.

2. Substantial Involvement 

This award will be administered as a fixed amount award.

● APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content of Application

Please ensure:

● The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity

● All documents are in English

● All budgets are in U.S. dollars

● All applicant authorized signatures are provided where indicated on the various, required forms.  

The following documents are required:  

1. Mandatory application forms

● SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) at grants.gov

● SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov

● SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov 

2. Proposal (15 pages maximum)

Applicants must submit a complete narrative proposal in a format of their choice. The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. The proposal must include all the items below:  

● Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed project, including project objectives and anticipated impact.

● Introduction to the Organization applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the State Department and/or U.S. government agencies as well as experience with and expertise in areas related to those described in the NOFO. 

● Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed

● Program Methods, Design, Activities, and Deliverables: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives. 

● Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.

● Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?  

● Project Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees (if applicable). 

● Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

● Monitoring & Evaluation Plan: Proposals must include a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) that explains how the applicant plans to track project performance and measure progress toward the project’s goals and objectives. The PMP should include “If-Then” statements to illustrate how the project activities will lead to the intended results, along with a short datasheet outlining proposed project activities and the indicators that will be used to measure success.  

3. Budget Justification Narrative

● Detailed Budget - Applicants must submit a detailed line-item budget. Line-item expenditures should be listed in the greatest possible detail. The budget must identify the total amount of funding requested, with a breakdown of amounts to be spent in the following budget categories: personnel; fringe benefits; travel; equipment; supplies; consultants/contracts; other direct costs; and indirect costs. See Annex Section I for a description of the types of costs that should be included in each category. Personnel salaries should include the level of effort and the rate of pay, which should cover the percentage of time each staff member will dedicate to grant-based activities. If an organization is charging an indirect cost rate without a NICRA, it must apply it to the modified total budget costs (MTDC), refer to 2CFR§200.1. Budgets shall be submitted in U.S. dollars and final grant agreements will be conducted in U.S. dollars. 

● Budget Justification Narrative – Applicants must submit a budget justification narrative to accompany the detailed line-item budget. The purpose of the budget justification narrative is to supplement the information provided in the detailed budget spreadsheet by justifying how the budget cost elements are necessary to implement project objectives and accomplish the project goals. The budget justification narrative is a tool to help Embassy staff fully understand the budgetary needs of the applicant and is an opportunity to provide descriptive information about the requested costs beyond the constraints of the budget template. Together, the detailed budget spreadsheet, the budget justification narrative, and the SF-424A should provide a complete financial and qualitative description that supports the proposed project plan and should be directly relatable to the specific project components described in the applicant’s proposal.

Additional Budget Notes: 

● Audit Requirements: Please note the audit requirements for Department of State awards in the Standard Terms and Conditions https://www.state.gov/m/a/ope/index.htm and 2CFR200, Subpart F – Audit Requirements. The cost of the required audits may be charged either as an allowable direct cost to the award OR included in the organization’s established indirect costs in the award’s detailed budget.

● Visa Fees: Include all visa application and related fees in your budget as applicable. Please note DS-2019s for post-funded programs must be submitted directly by the award recipient. If you anticipate your program will include the DS-2019 visa processing, your organization must be a registered Designated Sponsoring Organization. For more information go to: https://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/become-a-sponsor/

4. Attachments

● Key Personnel Resumes: A résumé, not to exceed one page in length, must be included for the proposed key staff persons, such as the Project Director and Finance Officer, as well as any speakers or trainers (if applicable). If an individual for this type of position has not been identified, the applicant may submit a 1-page position description, identifying the qualifications and skills required for that position, in lieu of a résumé.

● Letters of support from program partners: Letters of support should be included for sub-recipients or other partners. The letters must identify the type of relationship to be entered into (formal or informal), the roles and responsibilities of each partner in relation to the proposed project activities, and the expected result of the partnership. The individual letters cannot exceed 1 page in length.

● Indirect Costs: If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included in the application submission.  

● Proof of Non-profit Status: Documentation to demonstrate the applicant’s non-profit status (e.g., U.S.-based organizations should submit a copy of their 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Service determination letter, and non-U.S. organizations should provide evidence of non-profit status issued by a government entity). 

● Proof of Registration: A copy of the organization’s registration should be provided with the proposal application. U.S.-based organizations should submit a copy of their IRS determination letter. 

Other items NOT required/requested with the application submission, but which may be requested if your application is approved to move forward in the review process include:

a. Copies of an organization or program audit within the last two (2) years

b. Copies of relevant human resources, financial, or procurement policies

c. Copies of other relevant organizational policies or documentation that would help the Department determine your organization’s capacity to manage a federal grant award overseas

d. Documentation that demonstrates the recipients’ plan and/or policy to safeguard PII of participants and beneficiaries. It is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure protection of personally identifiable information (PII) and safeguard PII when collecting, maintaining, using and disseminating such information

e. Information to determine what financial controls and standard operating procedures an organization uses to procure goods and services, hire staff and track time and attendance, pay for grant-related travel, and identify other financial transactions that may be necessary to undertake the project activities 

f. The Embassy reserves the right to request any additional programmatic and/or financial information regarding the proposal.