Opportunity Information: Apply for 72039121RFA00001
The Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA) is a USAID competitive funding opportunity run by USAID Pakistan (Islamabad) to support an education-focused activity implemented through a cooperative agreement. In practical terms, this means USAID is looking for a partner to carry out a higher education systems strengthening program, with substantial involvement from USAID during implementation (which is typical for cooperative agreements). The opportunity is published as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on Grants.gov, and applicants are expected to rely on that official posting for the complete program description, required application components, and the selection criteria.
Eligibility is narrowly limited to U.S.-based higher education entities. Only U.S. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) such as universities and other qualifying U.S. colleges, as well as U.S. HEI associations or consortia, are permitted to apply. The listing also indicates eligible applicants as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reinforcing that the intended applicant pool is U.S. higher education organizations. USAID states it plans to make a single award to the applicant that best meets the objectives described in the NOFO, based on a merit review and subject to a risk assessment. That risk assessment typically considers an applicant's financial and managerial capacity, past performance, and compliance readiness.
The basic funding details presented in the source data include an award ceiling of $19,000,000 and an expectation of one award. The opportunity number is 72039121RFA00001, the activity category is Education, and the CFDA (now commonly referred to under Assistance Listing) is 98.001. The original closing date for applications is listed as April 16, 2021, and the posting (creation) date is March 8, 2021. Because the notice can be amended, applicants are told to check Grants.gov regularly to confirm they have the most current version and all attachments, and to treat the Grants.gov posting as the authoritative source.
The application process places heavy emphasis on administrative readiness and compliance. Applicants must submit all information required by the NOFO and meet the eligibility standards specified in Section C of the NOFO. USAID also highlights that it may not make an award unless the applicant has completed required registrations, including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and maintaining an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), as described in Section D. Since these registrations can take weeks, applicants are advised to start early. Technical issues with Grants.gov are directed to the Grants.gov Helpdesk by phone or email, while programmatic questions must be sent to the points of contact identified in the NOFO by the stated question deadline; USAID plans to share answers to timely questions with all potential applicants through an official amendment posted to Grants.gov.
Finally, USAID includes standard federal funding caveats: publishing the NOFO does not guarantee an award, does not commit the U.S. Government to fund proposal preparation costs, and does not reimburse applicants for any expenses incurred in developing or submitting an application. Applicants submit proposals at their own risk, and USAID disclaims responsibility for data or formatting errors that may occur through electronic transmission or conversion, which is another reason the agency stresses downloading the full notice and monitoring amendments closely.Apply for 72039121RFA00001
- The Pakistan USAID-Islamabad in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA)" 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 2021-03-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-04-16. (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 $19,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA) - FAQs
1) What is the Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA)?
HESSA is a USAID competitive funding opportunity run by USAID Pakistan (Islamabad) to support an education-focused activity. The opportunity is intended to fund a partner to implement a higher education systems strengthening program.
2) Which USAID office is managing this opportunity?
The opportunity is managed by USAID Pakistan, based in Islamabad.
3) What type of funding instrument will USAID use for HESSA?
USAID plans to implement HESSA through a cooperative agreement. In practical terms, this means USAID expects to have substantial involvement during implementation, which is typical for cooperative agreements.
4) Where is the official funding announcement posted?
The opportunity is published as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on Grants.gov. Applicants are expected to rely on the Grants.gov posting as the authoritative source for the full program description, required application components, and selection criteria.
5) What is the opportunity number for this NOFO?
The opportunity number is 72039121RFA00001.
6) What is the program area or activity category?
The activity category listed for this opportunity is Education.
7) What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA (now commonly referred to as an Assistance Listing) is 98.001.
8) How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The source information lists an award ceiling of $19,000,000.
9) How many awards does USAID expect to make?
USAID indicates it plans to make a single award, meaning it expects to select one implementing partner.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is narrowly limited to U.S.-based higher education entities. Only U.S. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), such as universities and other qualifying U.S. colleges, and U.S. HEI associations or consortia are permitted to apply.
11) Are non-U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
Based on the information provided, eligibility is limited to U.S.-based higher education entities, and the permitted applicant types are U.S. HEIs and U.S. HEI associations or consortia.
12) Are public or state-controlled institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. The listing indicates eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reinforcing that the intended applicant pool is U.S. higher education organizations.
13) How will USAID select the awardee?
USAID plans to select the applicant that best meets the objectives described in the NOFO, based on a merit review and subject to a risk assessment.
14) What does the risk assessment typically consider?
The risk assessment typically considers an applicant's financial and managerial capacity, past performance, and compliance readiness.
15) What is the application deadline?
The original closing date for applications is listed as April 16, 2021.
16) When was this opportunity posted?
The posting (creation) date is March 8, 2021.
17) Should applicants expect amendments or updates to the NOFO?
Yes. The notice can be amended, and applicants are told to check Grants.gov regularly to confirm they have the most current version and all attachments.
18) Which document should applicants treat as the authoritative source of requirements?
Applicants are instructed to treat the Grants.gov posting as the authoritative source and to rely on it for the complete program description, required application components, and selection criteria.
19) What is emphasized about administrative readiness and compliance?
The application process places heavy emphasis on administrative readiness and compliance. Applicants must submit all information required by the NOFO and meet the eligibility standards specified in Section C of the NOFO.
20) What registrations might be required before USAID will make an award?
USAID highlights that it may not make an award unless the applicant has completed required registrations, including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and maintaining an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), as described in Section D.
21) How long can required registrations take?
USAID notes these registrations can take weeks, so applicants are advised to start early.
22) Where should applicants go for technical issues with Grants.gov?
Technical issues with Grants.gov are directed to the Grants.gov Helpdesk by phone or email.
23) How should applicants submit programmatic questions about the opportunity?
Programmatic questions must be sent to the points of contact identified in the NOFO by the stated question deadline.
24) Will USAID share answers to questions with all applicants?
Yes. USAID plans to share answers to timely questions with all potential applicants through an official amendment posted to Grants.gov.
25) Does publishing the NOFO guarantee that an award will be made?
No. USAID states that publishing the NOFO does not guarantee an award.
26) Will USAID pay for proposal preparation costs?
No. USAID states it does not commit the U.S. Government to fund proposal preparation costs.
27) Will USAID reimburse costs incurred while developing or submitting an application?
No. USAID states it does not reimburse applicants for any expenses incurred in developing or submitting an application. Applicants submit proposals at their own risk.
28) What does USAID say about electronic submission errors?
USAID disclaims responsibility for data or formatting errors that may occur through electronic transmission or conversion. This is one reason the agency stresses downloading the full notice and monitoring amendments closely.
29) What is the best way to ensure you have the correct NOFO and attachments?
Download the full notice from Grants.gov and check Grants.gov regularly for amendments and updated attachments.
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