Project Information

Bid Title

Request for Application (RFA) Grand Rapids Michigan Community Partner for Next Engineers Amendment 2

Issuing Agency

FHI 360

Location

District of Columbia

Published Date

Feb 25, 2026

Closing Date

Feb 27, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

RFA-2026-0113 _RFA_02

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Request for Application (RFA) Grand Rapids Michigan Community Partner for Next Engineers
RFA No.: RFA-2026-0113 _RFA_02

Issue date: 12 Jan, 2026
Closing date: 27 Feb, 2026

Solicitation file(s):
RFA-2026-0113 - Next Engineers Program -Grand Rapids.pdf (479 KB)
Attachment A - Grant Application.docx (29 KB)
Attachment B - Budget Template.xlsx (70 KB)
Attachment C - Budget Narrative Instructions.docx (33 KB)

Modification file(s):
RFA-2026-0113 Next Engineers Program Grand Rapids, Michigan_Mod 1.pdf (126 KB)
Amendment 2 - Next Engineers Q&A for Grand Rapids RFA.pdf (273 KB)

Attachment Preview

Request for Applications

Modification 2

RFA Title: RFA For Grand Rapids, Michigan Community Partner for Next Engineers

Solicitation Number: RFA-2026-0113

Date of Modification: February 24, 2026

Questions and Answers

FHI 360 is pleased to provide the following responses to questions raised during the

information session webinar for the RFA-2026-0113 solicitation for Grand Rapids, Michigan,

posted on January 13, 2026. Please note that some questions have been paraphrased for

clarity. FHI 360 would also like to thank all prospective Applicants who participated in the

webinar.

Technical Questions:

1. Do we need to have identified all of our middle school and high school partners by the

time the grant is submitted? Or can we have a few identified with others in progress?

FHI 360 Response: Applicants are not required to identify all middle school and high school

partners at the time of application submission. You are welcome to list a few if available, but

it is not a requirement.

2. What are ways other locations have engaged with parents? What level of engagement

is necessary?

FHI 360 Response: Parent engagement varies by program. For Engineering Discovery,

partners are expected to engage about 200 parents per year through activities such as inviting

parents to Discovery events, connecting with them at school functions (e.g., back-to-school

or career nights), or participating in community STEM events. Outreach can also include

sending information to parents through schools and sharing resources, such as the new

Career Pathways website. For the Engineering Academy, engagement begins during

recruitment by reaching out to parents of potential applicants. Once cohorts are formed,

parents should be invited to attend at least one Academy activity per year.

Amendment 2 – Grand Rapids, Michigan RFA Questions/Answers – February 18, 2025

3. Can we put GPA (or other) requirements on students to participate in the Engineering

Academy? That would help us ensure they have the academic proficiency to succeed in

Engineering.

FHI 360 Response: During our onboarding process, we work closely with each community

partner to discuss the Engineering Academy application and selection process in detail.

4. We are considering offering Engineering Academy session on Saturdays. Are GE

Aerospace volunteers open to Saturday volunteer opportunities?

FHI 360 Response: Most Academy sessions are held on Saturdays, so there should not be an

issue securing volunteers for weekend sessions. Advanced planning is important, including

establishing a schedule and ensuring volunteers know exactly what their role will be during

each session. It is also important to note that volunteers are not expected to attend every

Academy session. As you design the Academy experience, consider which sessions offer the

most meaningful opportunities for volunteer engagement and structure your volunteer

activities around those touchpoints.

5. Is Engineering Discovery limited to students in 8th and 9th grades as indicated in FAQ

question 5?

FHI 360 Response: Engineering Discovery is primarily intended for 8th and 9th grade students,

as outlined in the RFA. We also occasionally engage 7th graders, depending on partner needs

and outreach opportunities. If applicants would like to include 10th graders, they may

propose this in their application, and it will be reviewed during the application assessment

process.

Budget Questions:

1. The RFP limits indirect costs to 15% of total direct costs, so is it correct then that all direct

project costs listed in categories one through seven of the budget template (Attachment

B) are to be included in the calculation of project indirect costs (section eight of the

template)?

FHI 360 Response: Applicants should use their institution’s approved indirect cost rate,

ensuring it remains within the 15% cap on total direct costs as indicated in the RFA. FHI 360

will request supporting documentation that explains the basis of the approved rate during

the negotiations. Indirect costs must be calculated according to the institution’s established

methodology, and the final indirect amount should not exceed 15% of total direct costs,

including salaries, fringe, travel, and other direct cost categories. The indirect costs must be

within the budget ceiling.

Amendment 2 – Grand Rapids, Michigan RFA Questions/Answers – February 18, 2025

2. How much should we budget for Engineering Discovery materials? Not having access to

the curriculum makes it difficult to estimate. Same for the Engineering Academy

materials.

FHI 360 Response: For Engineering Discovery activities, applicants should budget a minimum

of $5 per student per event. For Engineering Academy sessions, the estimated cost is $6,000–

$8,000 per cohort per year.

3. The application content includes the “most recent audit”. What type of audit does that

refer to?

FHI 360 Response: This refers to the organization’s most recent financial Single Audit report,

which should be included with your application.

4. Is there expected travel to other sites, and should applicants budget for partner

gatherings or visits to other locations?

FHI 360 Response: For now, applicants should focus their budget on the activities they plan

to implement in Grand Rapids rather than budgeting for visits to other sites. FHI 360 will have

further discussions with the selected partner regarding opportunities to engage with partners

in other locations.

5. What transportation options have other partners used to help students get to Engineering

Academy sessions?

FHI 360 Response: Partners use a variety of approaches to support student transportation,

including shuttle services or paying for train tickets, taxis, or bus passes.

6. What levels of effort have other partners typically allocated for the Project Director role?

FHI 360 Response: The appropriate FTE level for a Project Director varies depending on how

each partner defines the role. While titles may be similar, partners may envision very

different responsibilities. In general, the Project Director serves as the primary point of

contact for overall award management, providing oversight, ensuring that all project

components are progressing appropriately, and serving as the escalation point when needed.

Day-to-day management is typically handled by the full-time Project Manager. Based on

experience across sites, partners usually allocate approximately 10–20% FTE for the Project

Director role, though the exact percentage may differ depending on how the partner

structures the position.

Amendment 2 – Grand Rapids, Michigan RFA Questions/Answers – February 18, 2025

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541330Engineering Services
• NAICS 541511Custom Computer Programming Services
• NAICS 541512Computer Systems Design Services

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