Higher Education Capacity Development (HECD) Program | 72026819RFA00001

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72026819RFA00001

The Higher Education Capacity Development (HECD) Program is a USAID Lebanon (USAID-Beirut) funding opportunity that plans to support an education-focused initiative through a cooperative agreement. The award is intended for a qualified organization (or organizations) capable of implementing the HECD Program in line with the objectives laid out in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The opportunity is listed under CFDA 98.001 and categorized as an education activity, with USAID emphasizing that the final selection will be driven by the published merit review criteria and an additional risk assessment.

A notable feature of this opportunity is its phased application process, which relies heavily on oral presentations rather than only written submissions at the outset. The process is structured in three steps. Phase 1 is an initial summary application, which functions as an early screening stage. Phase 2 invites up to three of the most competitive Phase 1 applicants to deliver an in-person oral presentation in Beirut, Lebanon, allowing USAID to assess the applicants approach, capabilities, and fit more dynamically. Phase 3 is reserved for the applicant that appears most successful after the oral presentation stage; that applicant is then asked to submit a full written technical application along with a business (cost) application, meaning the detailed program plan and the detailed budget/cost documentation come at the end rather than the beginning.

Eligibility for the award is unrestricted, meaning USAID is generally open to applications from any type of entity, assuming the applicant meets any conditions or clarifications described in the NOFO (particularly in the eligibility section referenced as Section C). USAID also makes clear that an applicant must submit all required information in the format and manner requested by the NOFO to remain eligible for consideration, and that simply submitting materials does not guarantee selection or an award.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is posted on Grants.gov and may be amended, so applicants are expected to monitor the posting for updates and ensure they are working from the most current version of the NOFO. USAID warns that it is not responsible for transmission or conversion errors when applicants download documents, and it directs technical issues related to Grants.gov registration or access to the Grants.gov Helpdesk (phone 1-800-518-4726; email support@grants.gov). In addition, USAID highlights that it generally cannot make an award unless the applicant has completed required registrations, including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier and maintaining an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). Because these registrations can take weeks, prospective applicants are encouraged to start early to avoid missing deadlines due to administrative processing time.

Key funding details included in the posting indicate an award ceiling of $10,000,000 and an expectation of one award. The opportunity number is 72026819RFA00001, and the original closing date listed is March 29, 2019 (with the creation date of March 1, 2019). Questions are to be sent to the official point(s) of contact identified in the NOFO (referenced as Section D), and USAID notes that timely questions will be answered via an amendment posted on Grants.gov so all potential applicants receive the same information. Finally, USAID explicitly states that publishing the NOFO does not commit the U.S. Government to make an award or to reimburse any costs incurred by applicants while preparing or submitting application materials; applicants bear all proposal preparation and submission costs and submit at their own risk.

• The Agency for International Development, Lebanon USAID-Beirut in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Higher Education Capacity Development (HECD) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 01, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 29, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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