2027 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program Selection Grant

The summary for the 2027 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program Selection Grant grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Bureau of Human Resources, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

2027 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program Selection Grant: Background & Goal:The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Human Resources, Outreach, Fellowships, and Internships Division (HR/OFI) announces an open competition for an eligible organization to manage operational, logistical, and administrative functions for the candidate selection process of the 2027 Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program. Authorized under 22 U.S.C. 2719 and 22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq., this 3-to-6 month Cooperative Agreement (December 2026 – March 2027) aims to execute a rigorous, standardized, and merit-based evaluation cycle to identify 10 premier Pickering Fellows and qualified alternates dedicated to Foreign Service careers.Problem Statement:Identifying top diplomatic talent requires multi-stage candidate evaluation on a condensed timeline. Without dedicated administrative support, the Department risks operational delays, inconsistent scoring, and logistical bottlenecks. The Recipient must execute screening, maintain secure scoring platforms, manage Washington, D.C. panel interviews, and handle honoraria and travel logistics under strict federal standards to ensure high-caliber candidates are evaluated without delay.Key Objectives & Outcomes:Application Screening & Semi-Finalist Selection: Screen 100% of applications by January 2027 against eligibility criteria (U.S. citizenship, 3.2+ GPA, financial need, master’s program plans). Provide secure portal access to 18 selection panelists to score applicants and select 90 semi-finalists by February 2027.Panel Management & Evaluation: Coordinate D.C. final evaluations (3.5-day interview panel, 2-day essay panel), manage mandatory BEX-led panelist training, and disburse per diem-compliant panelist honoraria ($500/day).Final Selection & Data Transfer: Compile rank-ordered scores, issue selectee/alternate notifications within 2 working days of HR/OFI approval, and transfer complete selection data packages within 2 weeks of completion.