Small Grants Program - US Embassy Montevideo | PD MVD NOFO FY2025 001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Small Grants Program run through the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo?

It is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo that supports projects aligned with the Embassy's strategic priorities in Uruguay. The program is structured so that one main organization is selected to administer a portfolio of smaller grants to local implementers.

Is this opportunity meant to fund one project run by the selected recipient?

No. The core purpose is to select a single primary organization to serve as the program administrator under a cooperative agreement. That organization is expected to run a subawards program and fund multiple smaller projects implemented by local subrecipients.

How many awards does the Embassy expect to make under this opportunity?

The Embassy anticipates making one award to a single primary administrator.

What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement, which is designed to be collaborative. The U.S. Embassy is expected to remain engaged in shaping priorities and oversight, while the recipient handles day-to-day administration and compliance.

What is the overall funding ceiling for the main award?

The award ceiling for the cooperative agreement is up to USD 160,000.

What is the expected size of individual subawards?

Subawards are generally expected to range from USD 2,500 to USD 50,000 per subaward, with final subaward sizes determined in consultation with the U.S. Embassy.

Who is the intended applicant: local project implementers or a grant administrator?

The intended applicant for this Notice of Funding Opportunity is an organization capable of administering a subawards program. The selected prime recipient will then solicit and fund local implementers through subawards.

What does the primary recipient (program administrator) need to do?

The primary recipient is expected to manage the full life cycle of the small-grants portfolio in close consultation with the U.S. Embassy. This includes promoting the subaward opportunity, receiving proposals, evaluating proposals, communicating with applicants, issuing subawards, managing payments, maintaining complete financial and program records, and conducting monitoring and evaluation to track progress and results.

What does it mean that the prime recipient is responsible for subrecipient performance and spending?

It means the prime recipient remains fully accountable for how subrecipients perform and how funds are used. The prime recipient must keep clear documentation showing how subawardees were selected, what monitoring occurred, and how each subrecipient complied with award terms and conditions.

What kinds of records must be maintained for subawards?

The program administrator must maintain complete financial and program records, including documentation of the selection process, monitoring activities, and evidence of subrecipient compliance with the terms and conditions of their awards. These records must be available to the Grants Officer if requested.

How involved is the U.S. Embassy during implementation?

Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, the relationship is meant to be collaborative. The Embassy is engaged in shaping priorities and oversight, while the recipient manages day-to-day administration and compliance.

What are the Embassy's priority areas for projects funded through subawards?

The Embassy highlights three broad priority areas: Economic Prosperity, Democracy and Leadership, and Security and Safety. Subawarded projects are expected to align with one or more of these areas.

What is included under the Economic Prosperity priority area?

Economic Prosperity priorities include supporting trade, U.S. investment, and economic growth; strengthening workforce training and skills in strategic sectors in ways that address underlying drivers of migration; and advancing technology development and capacity building, including STEM education and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, and robotics.

What is included under the Democracy and Leadership priority area?

Democracy and Leadership priorities include reinforcing free-market principles, promoting democratic values and civic participation, and supporting academic and professional excellence through exchanges or collaboration with U.S. institutions and experts.

What is included under the Security and Safety priority area?

Security and Safety priorities include strengthening local capacity to combat transnational criminal organizations, money laundering, and trafficking in persons; promoting justice, transparency, accountability, and freedom of expression; and improving cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure.

What does the Department of State emphasize about how proposals will be selected?

The Department of State emphasizes a merit-based selection process, with preference for proposals that can produce measurable outcomes and long-term benefits, rather than one-off events without lasting impact.

What kind of impact is the program looking for?

The notice indicates a preference for measurable outcomes and long-term benefits. Proposals should show how the subawards program will lead to trackable results and sustained impact aligned with shared U.S.-Uruguay objectives.

How should applicants demonstrate alignment with U.S. strategic interests?

Proposals are expected to demonstrate strong alignment with U.S. strategic interests and show that the applicant can responsibly administer U.S. government funds in a way that strengthens the bilateral relationship between the United States and Uruguay.

Who is eligible to apply to be the primary program administrator?

Eligibility is broadly open to organizations capable of administering a subawards program. The notice references registered Uruguayan non-profit organizations (including think tanks, civil society groups, NGOs, and cultural or educational associations), Uruguayan governmental entities, and public and non-profit educational institutions.

Are government entities eligible to apply?

Yes. The notice specifically references Uruguayan governmental entities among eligible applicants, as long as they are capable of administering a subawards program.

Are educational institutions eligible to apply?

Yes. The notice references public and non-profit educational institutions as eligible applicants, provided they can administer the required subawards program.

What does "discretionary" mean in this listing?

The opportunity is listed as discretionary, indicating it is a competitive funding opportunity where awards are made based on merit and alignment with program priorities, rather than a formula-based allocation.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 19.040.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is PD MVD NOFO FY2025 001.

Who is the posting agency for this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted by the U.S. Mission to Uruguay (U.S. Embassy in Montevideo).

When was the opportunity created and what is the closing date?

The notice was created on April 11, 2025, and the original closing date is May 18, 2025.

Does the main applicant set the final subaward sizes?

No. While subawards are generally expected to fall between USD 2,500 and USD 50,000, final subaward sizes are set in consultation with the U.S. Embassy.

What is meant by running a "subawards program"?

It means the prime recipient will solicit applications from potential subrecipients, review and select projects, issue subawards, manage payments, oversee implementation, and track results across multiple smaller grants aligned with Embassy priorities.

What kinds of applicant capabilities are implied by this notice?

The notice implies the applicant should be able to run a transparent and compliant competition and administer U.S. government funds, including proposal intake and evaluation, award issuance, financial management, documentation, and monitoring and evaluation for multiple subrecipients.

What role does monitoring and evaluation play in this program?

Monitoring and evaluation are required components of the administration of the portfolio. The primary recipient is expected to conduct monitoring and evaluation to track progress and results for the subawards program.