Cultural Orientation Technical Assistance Program

The Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (hereinafter referred to as the "Bureau") welcomes the submission of proposals for the fiscal year 2009 Cultural Orientation (CO) Technical Assistance Program overseen by the Bureau. The deadline for submission of proposals is November 5, 2008. This program serves to complement the Reception and Placement Program, the purpose of which is to promote the effective resettlement of all persons who are admitted to the United States under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, including assisting refugees to achieve economic self-sufficiency through employment as quickly as possible. The goals of the CO Technical Assistance Program administered by the Bureau are: (1) to strengthen linkages between overseas cultural orientation programs and reception and placement activities; (2) to provide information and materials to overseas cultural orientation programs and to domestic refugee service providers; (3) to provide support and technical assistance to overseas cultural orientation programs on request; (4) with input from the Cultural Orientation Working Group and guidance from the Bureau, to provide feedback to overseas cultural orientation programs as needed; and (5) to provide other technical assistance requested by the Bureau, subject to availability of funds and adequate staffing levels to perform assigned tasks. The Bureau intends to award one Cooperative Agreement to a well-qualified non-profit organization with the required technical expertise in cultural orientation for an initial period beginning January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009 subject to the availability of funds. Through the Cooperative Agreement, the Bureau will provide full financial support to the selected organization, based on the proposal submitted in response to this request. This financial support may be renewable for up to two additional calendar years based upon annual budget submissions, as long as there remains a need for the program, and the organization operating the program provides satisfactory service, and subject to the availability of funds. At the end of three years, the Bureau will re-compete the program, and the recipient of this award may participate in that process.