YSEALI Summit 2026

The U.S. Department of State’s U.S. Mission to the Philippines is soliciting proposals to implement the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit 2026 in Manila, Philippines, with a focus on advancing U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific through a six-day regional security workshop. The program aims to bring together 100 participants from the 11 ASEAN nations, addressing critical regional issues such as maritime, cyber, and energy security to foster a free and open Indo-Pacific region for over one billion people. This initiative is part of the flagship YSEALI program, which has engaged nearly 8,000 individuals since its inception in 2016 through academic exchanges, workshops, and grants, with annual summits serving as a key mechanism to galvanize action around shared priorities. The selected recipient must deliver a compliant, results-driven program including two travel days, with performance activities centered in Manila and a total performance period of 12 to 15 months, beginning no earlier than September 1, 2026. Funding is structured as a cooperative agreement with a total direct cost ceiling of $123,405, covering personnel, fringe benefits, travel, supplies, contractual services, and other direct expenses, while indirect costs are subject to a maximum of 15% of modified total direct costs if no NICRA is provided. Proposals must be submitted by July 6, 2026, via email to grantsmanila@state.gov, adhering to strict formatting and length constraints, including a 20-page narrative limit and character-restricted sections for components such as the executive summary, problem statement, and key personnel descriptions. Applicants must include required attachments: resumes for key staff (one page each), letters of support from partners (one page each), proof of non-profit status, proof of registration, and a current NICRA if claiming indirect costs. The evaluation prioritizes technical merit, organizational capacity, and sustainability, with sustainability weighting specifically assigned five points in scoring and cost efficiency serving as a tie-breaker: proposals with equal merit are awarded preference to those with the lower indirect cost rate. Offers must be compliant with federal requirements including 2 CFR Part 200, disclose any felony convictions or unpaid federal taxes within the past 24 months, and ensure no use of funds for prohibited items such as alcoholic beverages, unmanned aircraft systems, or direct social services. All funded materials must be branded according to