U.S. Embassy Prague: American Center Travelling Outdoor Exhibit | PAS 004 FY2024

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS 004 FY2024

The U.S. Embassy in Prague, through its Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), is offering a cooperative agreement to support a travelling outdoor exhibition program that moves through towns and cities across the Czech Republic, with an emphasis on locations outside Prague. The main purpose is public outreach: the exhibits should help Czech audiences better understand the cultural, historic, and strategic ties between the United States and the Czech Republic, strengthen awareness of the bilateral partnership, and improve perceptions of the United States as a reliable strategic partner. The intended audiences include both adults and students nationwide.

The core of the project is a set of outdoor exhibit stands that the Embassy already owns and will lend to the selected grantee. The set includes eight double-sided stands, which together display 16 A0-sized panels. The exhibit is expected to rotate to a new host location roughly every 4 to 6 weeks, meaning the grantee must plan a repeating cycle of site coordination, installation, promotion, and takedown across multiple municipalities. While the Embassy will supply and help shape the exhibit content (themes, photos, artwork, and text), the implementing partner is responsible for execution and must work closely with PDS throughout. The Embassy retains approval authority over the final design and materials and will be substantially involved in theme selection, content choices, approvals, and coordination of locations, dates, and related events, which is why the award is structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a more hands-off grant.

The selected organization (or individual, where eligible) will be expected to manage the full operational workload. This includes graphic design, translation if needed, and printing of the A0 panels on durable, high-quality aluminum. The grantee must also handle transportation, installation, and ongoing monitoring of the exhibit stands while on display. The physical requirements are significant: each assembled stand is about 200 cm tall by 108 cm wide and weighs approximately 128 kg, with the heaviest single component around 30 kg, so applicants need realistic logistics, staffing, and equipment plans. In addition, the grantee must secure and manage municipal permits and coordinate with local authorities to use public spaces such as squares or parks. For each new location, the program should include a kickoff event, with responsibilities covering event setup (for example, microphone, speaker, lectern if needed), outreach and advertising such as media advisories, and modest refreshments. When the exhibit is not deployed, the grantee must store the stands and panels in a secure, covered storage location.

Funding is capped at USD 20,000 total, with one award expected. The project period can be up to 24 months, though a 12-month period is preferred, and the anticipated start date is February 2024 (subject to available funding). Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities, including state/county/city governments, public and private higher education institutions, and nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)). The activity category is arts-related under CFDA 19.040, funded through FY2024 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy funds.

Applications must be submitted in English, with budgets in U.S. dollars, and must follow strict formatting rules (page numbering; 8.5 x 11 format; Word documents single-spaced in 12-point Calibri with at least 1-inch margins). Required components include the federal forms (SF-424 or SF-424-I, SF-424A, and SF-424B when applicable), a summary cover sheet, and a project proposal of no more than six pages that clearly explains the need, goals, measurable objectives, activities, methods/design (a logic model where appropriate), timeline with dates/locations, staffing plan, partners/sub-awards, monitoring and evaluation approach, and sustainability beyond the grant period. Applicants must also submit a detailed budget justification narrative and attachments such as one-page CVs for key personnel, letters of support from partners, a NICRA document if indirect costs are requested under an approved rate, and any official permission letters required for planned activities. Submission is electronic via email to grantsprague@state.gov with the subject line "Travelling Exhibits Proposal." The stated deadline is January 10, 2024 (with the listing also showing an original closing date of January 11, 2024), so applicants should treat January 10 as the safe cutoff.

Proposals are scored by an Embassy review committee using defined criteria: quality and feasibility (20 points), organizational capacity and grants management capability (20), planning and likelihood of achieving objectives (15), monitoring and evaluation strength (15), budget realism and justification (10), sustainability (10), and support for equity and underserved communities (10). In selecting a project, the Embassy also considers geographic and demographic reach across the Czech Republic. Proposals that align with Embassy strategic goals and include an American speaker, artist, performer, author, or similar U.S. participant receive preference, reinforcing that this is meant to be both an educational exhibit program and a broader public diplomacy effort with visible community engagement in multiple regions.

• The U.S. Mission to the Czech Republic in the arts sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Prague: American Center Travelling Outdoor Exhibit" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-12-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-11. (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 $20,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for PAS 004 FY2024

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