Funder: U.S. Mission to Kyrgyzstan
Due Dates: May 31, 2025 (Period 1) | July 15, 2025 (Period 2)
Funding Amounts: Up to $75,000 per award; minimum $25,000; project period 6–12 months; up to 3 awards expected.
Summary: Supports projects that strengthen U.S.–Kyrgyz commercial ties by fostering entrepreneurship, promoting U.S. business opportunities, and supporting local employment.
Key Information: Limited to one proposal per organization; only non-profit entities eligible; for-profit organizations are not eligible.
Description
The U.S. Embassy Bishkek Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) invites proposals for projects that foster greater commercial ties between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic. The program aims to promote economic growth, create market opportunities for U.S. businesses and investors, strengthen connections between U.S. and Kyrgyz businesses, encourage a more informed Kyrgyzstani consumer base for U.S. products, foster entrepreneurship skills and ecosystems, offer community-based employment and financial literacy programs to discourage outmigration, and promote intellectual property (IP) protections.
Projects should leverage U.S. expertise, partnerships, or resources and demonstrate clear benefits to both U.S. and Kyrgyz stakeholders. Activities may include business training, networking events, consumer education, entrepreneurship workshops, IP rights awareness, and community employment initiatives.
Due Dates
- Period 1 Application Deadline: May 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Bishkek time
- Period 2 Application Deadline: July 15, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Bishkek time
Applicants may submit for either period; all deadlines are firm.
Funding Amount
- Award Range: $25,000–$75,000 per project
- Project Duration: 6–12 months
- Number of Awards: Up to 3, depending on award sizes and available funding
- Funding Instrument: Grant or cooperative agreement (with possible substantial involvement from the Embassy)
- Cost Sharing: Not required
Eligibility
- Eligible Applicants:
- Non-profit organizations registered in the Kyrgyz Republic (including think tanks, civil society/non-governmental organizations, public and private educational institutions)
- U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and educational institutions, only if partnering with a Kyrgyz Republic-registered organization
- Ineligible Applicants:
- For-profit entities (even if otherwise qualified)
- Other Requirements:
- Only one proposal per organization; multiple submissions will render all ineligible
- All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and active registration in SAM.gov
- Sub-contracting is allowed, but only one non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient
- Not Supported:
- Partisan political activity, direct social services, construction, religious activities, fundraising, lobbying, scientific research, commercial projects, institutional development, duplicate or illegal activities
Application Process
- Submission Methods:
- Email: bishkekprojectproposals@state.gov (include Funding Opportunity Title and Number in subject)
- Grants.gov
- Required Documents:
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs)
- SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs, if applicable)
- Proposal (max 6 pages) including:
- Project summary, organizational background, problem statement, methods/activities, timeline, key personnel, partners, sustainability plan, and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) plan
- Detailed line-item budget and budget justification narrative (template provided)
- Key personnel resumes (1 page each) or position descriptions
- Letters of support from partners (if applicable)
- Proof of non-profit status and registration
- Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if claiming indirect costs)
- Attachments and Templates:
- Review Criteria:
- Program idea (innovation, feasibility)
- Organizational capacity and past performance
- Project planning and ability to achieve objectives
- Budget and justification
- Monitoring and evaluation plan
- Sustainability
- American leadership (use of U.S. expertise/resources)
Additional Information
- Project Start Date: Anticipated September–October 2025
- Reporting: Quarterly program and financial reports required; PMP datasheet must be updated with each report
- Indirect Costs: Organizations without a NICRA may request up to 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs
- Allowable Costs: Personnel, fringe benefits, travel, supplies, contractual, other direct, and indirect costs (see NOFO for details)
- Monitoring & Evaluation: Strong M&E plan required, including theory of change, indicators, and data collection methods. Standard indicators are provided in the Performance Monitoring Plan guidance.
External Links
Contact Information