Notice of Funding Opportunity
Call for Proposals on Space
Turn your orbiting ideas into reality!
The U.S. Embassy in Uruguay, via the Alianza Cultural Uruguay – Estados Unidos, announces a new call for proposals funded by the U.S. Embassy Fund. The Alianza participates as a partner organization responsible for managing funding and monitoring the implementation of selected projects.
Close date: December 20, 2024 at 23:59 hours (Uruguay time)
Project minimum: $25,000 (U.S. dollars)
Project maximum: $50,000 (U.S. dollars)
Estimated start date of the project: March 2025
Estimated finish date of the project: July 2026
Program description
The Alianza announces the opening of the U.S. Embassy Fund for projects related to space topics. This announcement outlines the priorities for funding, strategic themes, and procedures for submitting applications. Please follow the detailed instructions below.
Purpose of the U.S. Embassy Fund
This funding program from the U.S. Embassy in Uruguay assists academic, cultural, educational, governmental, and non-profit organizations, as well as individuals, by providing new opportunities to generate civic engagement, share best practices, and promote and develop issues of public importance through the implementation of projects.
Topics for the Call for Proposals
Submitted proposals must primarily aim to work in at least one of the following areas mentioned below:
1. Summit or conference for the development of the space industry and collaboration with the U.S. space industry.
This initiative involves organizing a summit or conference that brings together key stakeholders from the space sector in Uruguay and the United States. The objective of this is:
Encourage the development of the space industry in Uruguay through the exchange of knowledge on space technology, fostering exchanges between leaders in the aerospace private sector and public policy makers related to this industry, both in Uruguay and the United States.
Facilitate collaboration with the U.S. space industry by promoting dialogues and exchanges that drive joint projects, investments, and technology transfer between both countries.
Explore opportunities for job creation and economic development around the value chain of the space industry (satellite launches, development of Earth observation technologies, telecommunications, etc.).
2. Speakers’ programs
This initiative proposes bringing U.S. experts in the space field to Uruguay to:
Conduct talks and workshops with local professionals, academic institutions, and the general public to increase knowledge and capacity in space technologies.
Provide technical and management training to local businesses and governments on how to develop a sustainable space industry, including topics on technological innovation, funding, and international regulations.
Promote space exploration and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) careers among students and young professionals, encouraging vocations related to space.
3. Academic Exchanges
This initiative aims to carry out academic exchanges as a key tool to:
Facilitate collaboration between universities and research centers in Uruguay and the United States on topics of space exploration, technological development, and specialized training.
Provide Uruguayan students, researchers, and professors with the opportunity to engage in academic exchanges and advanced studies with universities in the United States, NASA or specialized private centers.
Strengthen the technical capabilities of Uruguayan institutions through knowledge transfer and training in new technologies related to space engineering, materials science, astrophysics, among others.
4. Curriculum Development
This initiative aims to support educational institutions (either secondary or university-level) in Uruguay to:
Develop or update educational programs on space-related topics.
Establish training programs for the operation of space equipment and infrastructure, such as observatories, satellites, telecommunications systems, and exploration technologies.
5. Programs for media outlets and specialized journalists
This initiative combines the creation of media content about the space industry with specific training programs for journalists. Activities may include:
Training workshops for journalists on space topics, aimed at helping them better understand the technologies, science, and economic impact of the space sector. Journalists will acquire the necessary tools to accurately and engagingly cover space advancements in Uruguay and worldwide.
Creation of specialized content for media outlets, such as reports, documentaries, podcasts, and interviews with experts from both Uruguay and the United States, focusing on the achievements and challenges of the space industry.
Exchange programs for Uruguayan journalists, providing them the opportunity to visit U.S. space institutions (such as NASA or industry companies) to gain firsthand knowledge of recent innovations and developments in the field.
Production of collaborative content between local and U.S. media to educate and inform the public about technological advancements and opportunities offered by the space industry, as well as its impact on areas like education, the economy, and sustainability.
Promotion of interest in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) through media and social networks, highlighting space-related careers and projects, especially for young people.
Note: All projects submitted must include a U.S. element or a clear and explicit connection with experts, organizations, or institutions from the United States.
Priority region
The project's activities must be aimed at Uruguayan audiences/participants. Priority will be given to projects that are carried out in rural areas, marginalized, and underserved regions.
Examples of activities that WILL NOT be approved:
Scholarships for English language study.
Projects that are inherently political in nature or appear to support individual electoral campaigns or parties.
Scientific research projects.
Purchases of furniture, vehicles, construction, or building materials.
Local citizen exchange programs with countries other than the United States.
Programs or exchanges aimed at children under 13 years old.
Projects that support specific religious activities.
Selection process for proposals, fund allocation, and work methodology
A review panel, composed of members from the Embassy and the Alianza, will evaluate each application submitted under this call for proposals.
The Embassy reserves the right to award less or more funding than requested. In general, up to 20% of the total agreement amount will be withheld as a final payment to ensure the submission of final reports. All selected applicants must sign terms and conditions for the grant before starting their project.
The applicant organization will be the recipient of the funds. The Alianza will NOT make payments to suppliers for the selected projects.
The Alianza will coordinate the disbursement of funds, monitor compliance with the proposed activities and objectives, and receive the corresponding financial and performance reports. Payments will be made in U.S. dollars or their equivalent in local currency, upon receipt of the appropriate reports.
Terms and Conditions
Proposals may be subject to a request for additional information or changes to the proposal or budget as defined by the panel. All selected applicants must sign the terms and conditions (T&C) of the grant following final negotiations with the Alianza and the Embassy. These T&C will include the revised proposal and updated budget, in accordance with any clarifications and/or changes requested by the panel. The signed T&C by both parties (the Alianza and the recipient organizations) will mark the start of the grant and must include obtaining an official registration (UEI) or a valid justification for exemption.
No reimbursements will be made for expenses incurred before the signing of an agreement that includes the program specifications and the governing terms and conditions.
Applicants must review all terms and conditions and required certifications that will apply to the grant agreement to ensure they can comply with them. These include: 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, and Certifications and Assurances.
All activities related to this grant must display the logo specified by the Alianza on promotional materials. Additionally, the recipient organization must display the institutional banner of the Embassy and mention it in social media posts related to the funded project activities.
Reporting Requirements
All agreements awarded under this announcement will require digitized financial and narrative reports, with a frequency specified in the clauses of the signed agreement. The disbursement of funds will be linked to the submission of these mandatory reports and compliance with the agreed terms.
IMPORTANT:
When submitting the application, organizations must have a valid UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) provided by www.sam.gov.
To access an explanatory video on how to obtain a UEI, please visit here.
Registration as an entity in SAM.gov is not required, only the UEI number.
Registration is free.
Individuals do not need to obtain a UEI number to apply for this call for proposals.
For-profit and/or commercial entities are NOT eligible, and their applications will not be considered by the Agreement Review Committee.
Application Form
All applicants must complete the requested information in the following form:
Please ensure that:
The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this call for proposals.
The budget is expressed in U.S. dollars and is reasonable for the proposed activities.
The project's execution period must be between March 2025 and July 2026. (There is no minimum duration for the projects to be submitted.)
Any inquiries regarding this call for proposals should be directed to:
A virtual information session will be held to address any questions or inquiries regarding this call for proposals on Wednesday, November 27, at 2:00 p.m. (Uruguay time). To participate, you must register using this form.
Evaluation criteria
The selection criteria evaluate the quality, clarity, and impact of the projects in relation to the theme of the call and the priorities of the Embassy. Selection decisions are final and not subject to appeal, and the reasons for those decisions will not be shared.
The proposal must explain why the project is important, how it addresses a specific need, and how it seeks to tackle at least one of the themes of this call for proposals.
Applicants who are not selected may participate in future calls.
Note: Funds are limited, so only the highest-rated eligible proposals from each call will be selected.
Each application will be rated according to the evaluation criteria described below:
Fund reference number: SUY60024CA0009
