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 programmatic, financial, and administrative operations—excluding recruitment and candidate selection—for the 2027 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program. Authorized pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2719 and 22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq., this 32-month Cooperative Agreement (February 2027 – September 2029) aims to cultivate premier graduate talent for long-term careers as Foreign Service Officers in the U.S. Department of State.

Problem Statement:

Preparing top-tier foreign policy talent requires rigorous, continuous operational oversight across a complex two-year fellowship footprint. Without dedicated administrative management and strict fiscal oversight, Fellows face operational, financial, and logistical friction that can disrupt graduate study, delay clearance processing, and compromise timely commissioning. A specialized partner is essential to coordinate tuition disbursements, stipend management, summer internships (Capitol Hill and overseas diplomatic posts), housing, emergency medical coverage, and clearance tracking.

Key Objectives & Outcomes:

Financial & Academic Oversight: Execute a compliant tracking system to ensure 100% on-time disbursements for tuition ($55k/yr cap), living stipends ($33k/yr cap), and summer allowances ($11k/summer cap) under 2 CFR 200 guidelines, ensuring Fellows maintain a minimum 3.2 GPA.

Clearance & Onboarding Support: Guide 100% of the cohort through mandatory testing protocols (FSOT/FSOA) and Top Secret security, medical, and suitability clearance milestones prior to graduate program completion.

Internships & Mentorship: Manage Capitol Hill domestic internships, National Defense University seminars, overseas embassy placements, and structured Foreign Service mentorship.