Funding Opportunity Description
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Human Resources, Office of Outreach, Fellowships, and Internships (HR/OFI) announces an open competition for a qualified organization to manage the candidate screening, panel review, and selection process for the 2027 Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program under a Cooperative Agreement. This specialized selection project serves as a crucial gateway to identify top-tier, merit-based graduate talent across the nation for entry into the Foreign Service.
Project Goal and Objectives
The project aims to establish a rigorous, objective, and standardized multi-phase selection infrastructure that identifies candidates with the technical expertise and leadership required to advance U.S. foreign policy and international development priorities.
Key objectives include:
Panel Formation & Honoraria Management: Onboard qualified selection panelists (tenured Foreign Service Officers, backstop coordinators, and Senior Foreign Service Nationals) by January 2027 and administer panelist honoraria ($500/day for eligible non-USG panelists).
Panel Training & Scoring Execution: Coordinate mandatory panelist training with HR/OFI and the Board of Examiners (BEX) in December 2026/January 2027, and facilitate secure electronic scoring to determine semi-finalists.
Finalist Assessment & Selection: Execute the final selection stage in February 2027 by conducting structured interviews, administering essay assessments, and calculating composite scores to select up to 10 Payne Fellows and alternates.
Onboarding Transition: Secure acceptance agreements, notify non-selected applicants within two working days, and transfer cohort records to HR/OFI to initiate medical and Top Secret security clearances by late February 2027.
The project aims to establish a rigorous, objective, and standardized multi-phase selection infrastructure that identifies candidates for the Foreign Service. Key objectives include: Panel Formation & Honoraria Management (onboard panelists by January 2027, administer $500/day honoraria), Panel Training & Scoring Execution (coordinate mandatory training in December 2026/January 2027, facilitate secure electronic scoring), Finalist Assessment & Selection (conduct structured interviews, administer essay assessments, calculate composite scores to select up to 10 Payne Fellows and alternates in February 2027), and Onboarding Transition (secure acceptance agreements, notify non-selected applicants within two working days, transfer cohort records to HR/OFI by late February 2027).
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"22""For profit organizations other than small businesses""12""Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education""20""Private institutions of higher education""06""Public and State controlled institutions of higher education""13""Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education""CA""Cooperative Agreement""ELT""Employment, Labor and Training""HR""DOS-HR""DOS-HR""Bureau of Human Resources""DOS""DOS""DOS""DOS""Department of State""DOS"{"id":355390,"fileName":"Budget Template FY26 with MTDC Calculation_Final (1).xlsx","mimeType":"application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet","createdDate":"Oct 27, 2026 08:05:54 PM EDT","fileLobSize":90437,"opportunityId":364155,"fileDescription":"Budget Template","synopsisAttFolderId":81479}{"id":355389,"fileName":"2026 Payne Selection NOFO.docx","mimeType":"application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document","createdDate":"Oct 27, 2026 08:05:41 PM EDT","fileLobSize":117984,"opportunityId":364155,"fileDescription":"Payne Selection NOFO","synopsisAttFolderId":81479}{"id":355375,"fileName":"Payne SOW Selection (1).docx","mimeType":"application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document","createdDate":"Oct 27, 2026 05:19:09 PM EDT","fileLobSize":46481,"opportunityId":364155,"fileDescription":"Payne Selection SOW","synopsisAttFolderId":81479}Most public work asks for the two below, and the solicitation documents are where it’s stated. One prequalification covers both — on this bid and the next.
A surety’s written statement that it expects to bond you up to a stated amount, subject to final underwriting. It’s what an agency asks to see before they take your bid seriously.
Source: Grants.gov (opportunity 364155), retrieved via the Grants.gov Search API. View the official posting, and always confirm requirements and deadlines with the issuing agency.