U.S. Talent Program for the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada

The U.S. Department of State’s Embassy Ottawa is seeking nonprofit organizations and educational institutions to implement a program that connects U.S. citizen talent—including subject matter experts, artists, cultural professionals, and current or former American athletes and coaches—with Canadian audiences and institutions on issues of strategic importance to the United States. The program must address key priority areas such as U.S. prosperity and economic security, defense including NORAD modernization and Arctic deterrence, border security efforts against trafficking and smuggling, freedom of speech and transparency, and artificial intelligence initiatives focused on promoting American exports and countering foreign influence in emerging technologies. Activities may be delivered in-person, typically lasting two days to one week, or virtually as single-session events or part of an ongoing series, with proposals required to clearly outline plans for both modalities. The solicitation, designated PD-FY26-CANADA-NOFO-001, is open exclusively to eligible nonprofits and educational institutions, with for-profit entities excluded. Applicants must submit a comprehensive proposal not exceeding seven pages, supported by mandatory standardized forms including SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, the Applicant Organization Information Survey, and a detailed line-item budget using the provided templates, all submitted via Grants.gov or the U.S. Embassy Canada website. Awards are expected to range between $100,000 and $200,000, with a project performance period of 24 months or less. Eligible applicants must maintain an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov, and organizations may submit only one proposal; multiple submissions will disqualify all proposals from that entity. Proposals will be evaluated based on technical eligibility as a prerequisite, followed by a merit review weighted toward project planning and objective achievement (20 points), budget quality (10 points), and monitoring and evaluation design (10 points), with preference given to applicants with lower indirect cost rates in case of ties. Award recipients must adhere to strict federal compliance requirements including 2 CFR parts 200, 25, 170, 175, 182, and 183, as well as Department of State branding standards and Freedom 250 logo inclusion in all program materials. Financial reporting is required quarterly, due within 30 days of each reporting period, with final reports due 120 days after project close, all submitted electronically. Recipients must also submit an annual equipment inventory