U.S. Department of State, Bureau of PRM announces 2020 RSC MENA and RSC TuME Notice of Funding Opportunity

Deadline: 2 July 2019

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) has announced 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity for proposals for regional Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs) based in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in Amman, Jordan; and Turkey and the Middle East (TuME) in Istanbul, Turkey.

The purpose of Resettlement Support Centers (RSC)MENA and TuME are to assist the Bureau in preparing the necessary casework for persons in selected locations in the Middle East and North Africa, and Turkey and the Middle East, respectively, eligible for interview by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

The organization selected to operate each RSC is expected to:

Beginning on October 1, 2019, provide regional refugee processing services for all U.S. Refugee Admissions Program applicants regardless of nationality, religion, race, or ethnicity in:
- MENA: Middle East and North Africa, with the primary RSC office to be located in Amman, Jordan, with sub-offices in Cairo, Egypt and Baghdad, Iraq (U.S. Embassy Baghdad).
- TuME: Turkey and the Middle East,with the primary RSC office to be located in Istanbul, Turkey.
- MENA and TuME applicants may elect to include coverage of Beirut, Lebanon by circuit ride or by sub-office in their proposal. Depending on the strength of proposals received, Lebanon may be covered by either MENA or TuME in the final award.

Funding Information

The Bureau anticipates up to two awards with award amounts that will vary depending on the RSC location and number of refugee applicants. Funding amounts for individual awards in previous years have ranged from $7,000,000to $12,000,000 in TuME and $11,000,000 to $21,000,000 in MENA.
Proposed projectstart dates: October 1, 2019
Duration of Activity: An initial period beginning October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020, subject to the availability of funds.

Eligible Applicants

Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education;
Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education;
International Organizations.
Organizations must also be authorized to operate, or eligible for authorization, by the host governments to be considered for an award, in particular:
- MENA: Be authorized, or eligible for authorization, by the Governments of Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, and India to conduct activities in these countries relating to the processing of refugees for eventual resettlement. This should be understood, when required by each government’s law, to include registration with or receipt of project approval from any relevant country ministry, agency, or other official organ with jurisdiction over any activity to be conducted by the RSC.
- TuME: Be authorized, or eligible for authorization, by the Government of Turkey to conduct activities in the country relating to the processing of refugees for eventual resettlement. This should be understood, when required by thegovernment’s law, to include registration with or receipt of project approval from any relevant ministry, agency, or other official organ with jurisdiction over any activity to be conducted by the RSC.
- MENA or TuME: Be authorized, or eligible for authorization, by the Government of Lebanon to conduct activities in the country relating to the processing of refugees for eventual resettlement. This should be understood, when required by the government’s law, to include registration with or receipt of project approval from any relevant ministry, agency, or other official organ with jurisdiction over any activity to be conducted by the RSC.
Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not a requirement of an application in response to this funding announcement.