Official funding announcement — preliminary draft
Funder: Katherine Wright Grantor
Opportunity number: DFOP0019974
Official listed status: posted
Closing information: 2026-11-23 (official deadline clock time and time zone must be checked in NOFO)
Award disclosure: Official federal synopsis lists an award ceiling of 85,855; applicant-level applicability requires full-NOFO review.
Applicant categories in federal synopsis: Private institutions of higher education; Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Public and State controlled institutions of higher education; Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; For profit organizations other than small businesses
Federal synopsis
Background & Goal:The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Human Resources, Outreach, Fellowships, and Internships Division (HR/OFI) announces an open competition for an eligible organization to manage operational, logistical, and administrative functions for the candidate selection process of the 2027 Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program. Authorized under 22 U.S.C. 2719 and 22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq., this 3-to-6 month Cooperative Agreement (December 2026 – March 2027) aims to execute a rigorous, standardized, and merit-based evaluation cycle to identify 10 premier Pickering Fellows and qualified alternates dedicated to Foreign Service careers.Problem Statement:Identifying top diplomatic talent requires multi-stage candidate evaluation on a condensed timeline. Without dedicated administrative support, the Department risks operational delays, inconsistent scoring, and logistical bottlenecks. The Recipient must execute screening, maintain secure scoring platforms, manage Washington, D.C. panel interviews, and handle honoraria and travel logistics under strict federal standards to ensure high-caliber candidates are evaluated without delay.Key Objectives & Outcomes:Application Screening & Semi-Finalist Selection: Screen 100% of applications by January 2027 against eligibility criteria (U.S. citizenship, 3.2+ GPA, financial need, master’s program plans). Provide secure portal access to 18 selection panelists to score applicants and select 90 semi-finalists by February 2027.Panel Management & Evaluation: Coordinate D.C. final evaluations (3.5-day interview panel, 2-day essay panel), manage mandatory BEX-led panelist training, and disburse per diem-compliant panelist honoraria ($500/day).Final Selection & Data Transfer: Compile rank-ordered scores, issue selectee/alternate notifications …
Draft intake record. Eligibility, program terms, current amendments and applicant ceiling must be independently verified before publishing.