Iraq Civic Engagement Activity | 72026725RFA00001

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72026725RFA00001

The Iraq Civic Engagement Activity is a USAID Baghdad funding opportunity (NOFO 72026725RFA00001) seeking proposals for a cooperative agreement focused on community development and civic engagement in Iraq (CFDA 98.001). USAID plans to select the applicant that best matches the activity objectives using the NOFO merit review criteria, with the final decision also subject to a risk assessment. The opportunity is listed as unrestricted eligibility, meaning any qualified entity may apply rather than only a limited set of organization types.

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates that USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation (for example, close coordination on key decisions, monitoring, and technical direction compared to a more hands-off grant). The award ceiling is $30,000,000. The posting indicates an expected award(s) field but does not provide a number in the source data included, so applicants should rely on the NOFO and any amendments for the most current information on anticipated awards, period of performance, and any programmatic priorities or geographic focus areas inside Iraq.

The application process is explicitly structured as a two-phase selection. Applicants submit Phase One materials by the deadline, and only those specifically invited by the Agreement Officer will be asked to provide Phase Two documentation. In practical terms, this means applicants should concentrate on submitting exactly what is required for Phase One by the closing date, while being prepared to respond quickly if selected to advance. To be eligible, an applicant must submit all information required by the NOFO and meet the eligibility standards described in Section B of the NOFO.

Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov, and USAID notes that the notice may be amended. Applicants are expected to regularly check Grants.gov for updates, amendments, and any posted answers to questions. Questions must be sent to the point(s) of contact listed in Section A.4 of the NOFO by the stated questions deadline; USAID intends to share timely responses with all potential applicants through an amendment posted to Grants.gov, which is meant to keep the process consistent and fair for everyone.

On the compliance side, unless an exception under 2 CFR 25.110 applies, applicants must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and maintain an active registration in SAM.gov. Because UEI and SAM registration can take weeks, USAID strongly encourages organizations to start registration early to avoid missing the submission deadline. For technical issues related to Grants.gov registration or access, the notice directs applicants to the Grants.gov Support Center (1-800-518-4726, support@grants.gov), including support for applicants who need assistive technology.

Finally, the NOFO includes standard federal disclaimers: issuing the notice does not guarantee an award, does not commit the U.S. Government to fund any application, and does not reimburse any costs associated with preparing or submitting an application. Applicants bear all costs and submit at their own risk. Key dates from the source data provided include a creation date of 2024-12-05 and an original closing date of 2025-01-31, so applicants should confirm the active deadline and any changes by reviewing the current Grants.gov posting and the full NOFO package.

• The Iraq USAID-Baghdad in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Iraq Civic Engagement Activity" 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 2024-12-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-31. (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 $30,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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