Moonshot: Artemis Edition

Funding Opportunity Title: Moonshot: Artemis Edition

Funding Opportunity Number: PAS-MOROCCO-FY26-02

Deadline for Applications: Monday July 13, 2026 at 23:59 GMT+1 

Assistance Listing Number: 19.040

Length of performance period: 12 to 18 months

Number of awards anticipated: 1 award

Total available funding: $200,000 pending availability of funds 

Type of Funding: FY26 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds 

Anticipated project start date: October 2026

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative agreement.

 Project Performance Period: Proposed projects should be completed in 18 months or less.

The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

A.  Executive Summary:

“Moonshot: Artemis Edition” is an 18-month nationwide public diplomacy initiative designed to promote American leadership in space exploration and the Artemis Program by engaging Moroccan youth in science, technology, and entrepreneurship. This initiative will leverage lessons from the Artemis program to help equip participants with practical ability and exposure to real-world applications in the emerging space economy.

Commercial diplomacy is a central component of “Moonshot: Artemis Edition”, which will introduce participants to the U.S. space industry and its global leadership. The program will highlight the role of leading American companies engaged in advancing space technologies, innovation, and supply chains. Participants will gain insights into how U.S. companies operate, collaborate internationally, and create opportunities across sectors, positioning the United States as the partner of choice in high-tech industries and trusted technology ecosystems.

B.  Goals and Objectives “Moonshot: Artemis Edition” is an 18-month public diplomacy initiative designed to build on prior Moonshot programming by advancing from inspiration to workforce alignment in the space and technology sectors. Anchored in the Artemis Program, the program will highlight U.S. leadership in space exploration while introducing Moroccan youth to practical applications of science, engineering, and entrepreneurship within the emerging lunar and commercial space economy. The initiative will also incorporate a strong commercial diplomacy component, showcasing how U.S. companies dr[B(1] [S(2] ive innovation, supply chains, and global partnerships.

 Program Goal

The overarching goal is to promote U.S. leadership in space exploration and innovation by increasing awareness of American technological excellence, strengthening connections to U.S. industries, and advancing U.S. economic and foreign policy interests in Morocco.

  

Program Objectives

 Applicants should design programs that achieve the following U.S.-focused objectives[MS3] :

• Increase awareness of U.S. leadership in space exploration, including NASA’s Artemis program and broader U.S. space ecosystem
• Promote understanding of U.S. innovation models, entrepreneurship practices, and technology development frameworks
• Highlight the role of U.S. private sector leaders in driving global space industry growth
• Encourage engagement with U.S. companies, technologies, and platforms as preferred partners[MS4] for future collaboration with their Moroccan counterparts in academia, industry, and government
• Reinforce U.S. leadership in trusted technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced engineering, and secure space systems

 

Performance Goals, Indicators, and Targets

Applicants must include a monitoring and evaluation plan. Expected performance indicators include:

• Reach: Number of participants engaged (target: 800–1000 direct participants; broader outreach audience)
• U.S. perception shift: At least 70% of participants report increased awareness of U.S. leadership in space and technology (pre/post surveys)
• Engagement with U.S. content: Number of activities featuring U.S. experts, companies, or technologies (target: majority of engagements)
• Outputs: At least 15–20 team projects aligned with U.S.-led innovation themes
• Engagement: Number of activities implemented (target: 5-8 events over 18 months)
• Press/social media content

 

Participant Eligibility

Program participants should primarily be Moroccan youth aged 15–35, including students, early-career professionals, entrepreneurs, and STEM practitioners. Applicants are encouraged to prioritize participants who have an interest in engaging with U.S. technologies, innovation models, and partnerships.

 

Budget Guidance

Applicants should budget for all program-related costs, including:

• Participant travel, accommodation, and per diem for in-person activities
• Venue rental, logistics, and materials for workshops and events
• Honoraria, travel, and expenses for U.S. and local speakers and trainers
• Equipment and supplies for hands-on activities
• Communications, outreach, and visibility materials highlighting U.S. leadership
• Monitoring and evaluation activities

 

Limitations and Regulations

All proposed activities must comply with U.S. government regulations and public diplomacy guidelines. Funds may not be used for construction, major equipment purchases not directly tied to program delivery, or activities that are purely academic or research-focused without a clear public diplomacy component.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate the capacity to manage an 18-month, multi-phase program and deliver measurable outcomes that advance U.S. leadership, visibility, and partnerships in space and technology.

C.  Substantial Involvement

The Public Affairs Office will be actively involved in the award implementation. U.S. Embassy staff will:

·      Provide standardized logos/branding guidelines for promotional materials.

·      Approve marketing materials and participate in promotional activities of the program, utilizing the U.S. Mission’s social media platforms and media contacts.

·      Approve proposed venues.

·      Approve participant and trainer recruitment and selection plans.

·      Assist in identifying and contacting alumni of U.S. government exchange programs, representatives of U.S. companies, and enlisting U.S. Mission personnel as potential speakers or trainers.

·       Review and approve proposed program speaker and trainer rosters and activity/workshop/site visit content and formats.

D.  Application Content and Format: Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

 

Content of Application

The following documents are required: 

1.  Mandatory application forms·       

SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations)

·       SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

2.  Proposal (10 pages maximum)The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. 

·       Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed project, including project objectives and anticipated impact.

·       Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the State Department and/or U.S. government agencies.

·       Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed

·       Project Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.

·       Project Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.

·       Project Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.

·       Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.

·       Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? 

·       Project Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.

·       Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?

·       Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.

 

3.   Budget Justification Narrative:

After filling out the SF-424A Budget, use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section I. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

 

4.    Attachments·      

1-page Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program

·       Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner

·       If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, include your latest NICRA as a PDF file. 

·      Official permission letters, if required for program activities.

E. Submission Requirements and deadlines:

1.    Address to Request Application Package Application forms required above are available at U.S. embassy website and grants.gov.

2.    Department of State Contacts If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: RabatGrants@state.gov

3.    Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)Required Registrations

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration in SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. An applicant must maintain an active registration while it has a proposal under review by the Department and must continue to keep the registration active for the entire duration of the period of performance of any Federal award that results from this NOFO.

The 2 CFR 200 requires subrecipients to obtain a UEI. Please note the UEI for subrecipients is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a subrecipient.

4.    Submission Dates and Times :

All proposals and application materials must be submitted by email to Rabatgrants@state.gov

Applications are due no later than Monday July 13, 2026 at 23:59 GMT+1

Address to Request Application Package 

Application forms required above are available under "Related documents" in Grants.gov and;

at: https://ma.usembassy.gov/education/funding-opportunities/  

Department of State Contacts 

If you have any questions about the grant application process or the NOFO, please contact: Rabatgrants@state.gov  

Please include "Moonshot Artemis" in the subject line.