Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0017462
The grant opportunity titled "Advancing Strategic Space Partnerships in the Middle East" is a U.S. government-funded initiative designed to deepen space-sector ties between the United States and select countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The core idea is that many governments in the region are rapidly expanding their interest in space activities as part of broader economic diversification strategies and efforts to build national strength in science, technology, and innovation. Because these countries want credible partners with advanced space capabilities, the program is structured to position the United States as the preferred long-term partner by investing in people, institutions, and cross-border collaboration models that align with U.S. approaches to space governance and responsible technology.
At the heart of the opportunity is a capacity-building approach aimed at "a new generation of leaders" in target MENA countries. Rather than focusing only on hardware or short-term technical assistance, the initiative emphasizes developing durable human and institutional capabilities that help participants shape, navigate, and lead within the space domain. The opportunity calls for an implementing partner that can deliver training and engagement across several connected areas: space policy development and navigation, diplomatic and leadership skills for international space cooperation, technical know-how relevant to modern space ecosystems, and business engagement that connects public goals to private-sector growth. The intended outcome is practical, job-relevant competence that helps participants advance their national space sectors while forming working relationships with U.S. counterparts and U.S.-aligned systems.
A central theme of the program is reinforcing U.S. government values and norms in space. The description highlights responsible technological practices, transparency, innovation, and security as guiding principles. In practice, this signals that the program is meant to do more than share knowledge; it also aims to socialize partner-country stakeholders into governance and operational expectations that the U.S. views as essential for stable and safe growth in space activities. That framing is consistent with building trust-based cooperation and reducing friction around issues like technology protection, responsible conduct, and reliable partnership structures.
Another major objective is technological interoperability among space partners. Interoperability can include compatible standards, procedures, and systems that enable countries and organizations to collaborate more easily across missions, data sharing, communications, and related operational needs. By placing interoperability at the center, the program is explicitly linking policy and training outcomes to longer-term commercial and strategic benefits. The opportunity states that stronger interoperability can drive substantial commercial opportunities for U.S. private sector companies, suggesting that successful programming should help create conditions where U.S. firms are well-positioned to provide services, technology, training, partnerships, and market solutions within emerging or expanding MENA space markets.
From an implementation standpoint, the U.S. government is seeking a single awardee that can execute the full scope of the initiative. The opportunity is issued by the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and it is listed as a discretionary funding opportunity with an "Other" funding instrument type and "Other" activity category under CFDA 19.600. The program is structured as one award with an award ceiling of $2,250,000 and an expected number of awards of 1, indicating a competitive selection for a single lead implementer expected to manage the overall design, delivery, coordination, and reporting.
Eligibility is broad and described as unrestricted. The opportunity explicitly allows applications from not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations), public and private educational institutions, for-profit organizations, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. This wide eligibility pool suggests the government is prioritizing demonstrated capability and credible execution capacity over organizational type, and it opens the door to consortia or partnerships that combine policy expertise, technical training capacity, and private-sector engagement experience.
Key administrative details included in the source data are: Funding Opportunity Title: Advancing Strategic Space Partnerships in the Middle East; Funding Opportunity Number: DFOP0017462; Agency: Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs; Creation Date: 2025-07-23; and Original Closing Date: 2025-08-25. Applicants considering this opportunity would be expected to propose a program that can credibly build leadership and technical capacity, integrate policy and diplomacy components, engage business and industry stakeholders, and advance interoperable, responsible cooperation frameworks that strengthen U.S.-MENA space relationships over the long run.Apply for DFOP0017462
- The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Strategic Space Partnerships in the Middle East" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.600.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-07-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-08-25. (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 $2,250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled Advancing Strategic Space Partnerships in the Middle East.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The initiative is designed to deepen space-sector ties between the United States and select countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It focuses on strengthening long-term partnerships by investing in people, institutions, and cross-border collaboration models aligned with U.S. approaches to space governance and responsible technology.
Which U.S. government office is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0017462.
Is this a competitive grant or a guaranteed award?
This is a competitive, discretionary funding opportunity. The program anticipates selecting a single awardee to carry out the full scope of work.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The expected number of awards is 1, meaning one organization (or a lead organization) is expected to be selected.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is $2,250,000.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument type is listed as Other.
What activity category is associated with this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as Other.
What CFDA listing is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 19.600.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted. The opportunity explicitly allows applications from:
- Not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations)
- Public and private educational institutions
- For-profit organizations
- Public international organizations
- Governmental institutions
Does the opportunity allow for-profit organizations to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations are explicitly included in the eligible applicant types.
Are universities and educational institutions eligible?
Yes. Both public and private educational institutions are explicitly eligible to apply.
Are think tanks and NGOs eligible?
Yes. Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations, are explicitly eligible.
What region is this program focused on?
The program focuses on select countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
What kind of approach does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes a capacity-building approach focused on developing a new generation of leaders and strengthening durable human and institutional capabilities, rather than focusing only on hardware or short-term technical assistance.
Who are the intended participants or beneficiaries?
The program is aimed at building capacity for a new generation of leaders in target MENA countries, supporting practical and job-relevant competence in the space domain and strengthening working relationships with U.S. counterparts.
What kinds of activities or training are expected under this initiative?
The implementing partner is expected to deliver training and engagement across connected areas, including:
- Space policy development and navigation
- Diplomatic and leadership skills for international space cooperation
- Technical know-how relevant to modern space ecosystems
- Business engagement linking public goals to private-sector growth
What outcomes is the U.S. government looking for?
The intended outcomes include practical, job-relevant competence for participants, stronger U.S.-MENA working relationships in the space sector, and strengthened conditions for long-term cooperation aligned with U.S. systems and governance approaches.
What values or norms does the program aim to promote?
The program highlights U.S. government values and norms in space, including responsible technological practices, transparency, innovation, and security. The intent is to support stable and safe growth in space activities while reducing friction around trust, protection of technology, and reliable partnership structures.
What does "interoperability" mean in the context of this program?
Interoperability refers to compatible standards, procedures, and systems that enable smoother collaboration across missions and operations, including areas like data sharing and communications. The program places interoperability at the center to support sustained cooperation and practical collaboration among partners.
How does the program connect to commercial opportunities?
The opportunity states that stronger interoperability can drive substantial commercial opportunities for U.S. private sector companies. The program is designed to help create conditions where U.S. firms are well-positioned to provide services, technology, training, partnerships, and market solutions within emerging or expanding MENA space markets.
Is the U.S. government looking for one organization or multiple implementing partners?
The opportunity indicates the U.S. government is seeking a single awardee to execute the full scope of the initiative. This implies one lead implementer would manage overall design, delivery, coordination, and reporting.
What are the key dates listed for this funding opportunity?
Key administrative dates include a Creation Date of 2025-07-23 and an Original Closing Date of 2025-08-25.
When is the application deadline?
The original closing date listed is 2025-08-25.
What should an applicant propose to be responsive to the opportunity description?
Based on the opportunity description, applicants would be expected to propose a program that can credibly build leadership and technical capacity, integrate policy and diplomacy components, engage business and industry stakeholders, and advance interoperable and responsible cooperation frameworks that strengthen U.S.-MENA space relationships over the long run.
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