RFA #103425-03-23-2026-001 English for STEM Professionals Course

Request for Application (RFA)
Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Online Course Development and Delivery:
English for STEM Professionals
RFA #: FY26-103425-03-23-2026-001
Issued on: March 23, 2026
For: Development and delivery of an online, university-level Massive Open
Online Course (MOOC) on English for STEM Professionals
Estimated
Period of
Performance: August 31, 2026 - December 19, 2026
Application
Deadline: June 5, 2026
___________________________________________________________________
FHI 360 Brief Background:
FHI 360 is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes research, resources and relationships so that people
everywhere can access the opportunities they need to lead full, healthy lives. FHI 360 serves more than
50 countries around the world.
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Table of Contents
Background ................................................................................................................................................... 3
Purpose ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Description .................................................................................................................................................... 3
Course Development .................................................................................................................................... 5
Course Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Guidelines and Standards ......................................................................................................................... 7
Course Development Process ................................................................................................................... 7
Intellectual Property ................................................................................................................................. 7
Technical Requirements............................................................................................................................ 8
Course Design ........................................................................................................................................... 9
Course Delivery ......................................................................................................................................... 9
Period of Performance ................................................................................................................................ 10
Statement of Work (SOW) and Deliverables .............................................................................................. 10
Budget ......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Instructions to Applicants ........................................................................................................................... 12
Submission Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 12
Cost Application ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Eligibility .................................................................................................................................................. 13
Criteria/Qualifications for Evaluation ..................................................................................................... 14
Terms and Conditions ................................................................................................................................. 15
Attachments ................................................................................................................................................ 17
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Background
The Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department
of State with funding from the U.S. government and administered by FHI 360. OPEN is a program
of the U.S. Department of State's Office of English Language Programs in the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). OPEN leverages U.S. educational technology to engage
English language teachers, learners and professionals worldwide through free online courses and
learning materials. OPEN's virtual learning resources are developed in partnership with U.S.
institutions and experts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), educational
technology and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) topics that promote workforce development.
Access to these resources provides educational and economic opportunities to learners in their
home countries, enhancing local educational infrastructures, improving teaching capacities, and
building a variety of professional skills.
Note to Applicants
Thank you for your interest in working with the OPEN Program. Please read this RFA and
associated documents and templates carefully to ensure that you understand all application
requirements and submit any requests for clarification by April 3, 2026. You should also review
this best practices document with tips for responding to the RFA requirements. Applications that
do not respond to the specific requirements and submission instructions included in this RFA and
attachments will be disqualified. Please note that organizations must be based in the United
States to be eligible.
Purpose
OPEN offers a variety of online professional development opportunities to non-native English-
speaking teachers and other learners worldwide. FHI 360 is soliciting applications for an
accredited, U.S.-based university or academic institution with expertise and demonstrated
proficiency in TESOL to develop a five-module asynchronous MOOC on the topic of English for
STEM Professionals. Please see the OPEN website for more information about MOOCs. The
MOOC will be open for participation to an unlimited number of non-native English-speaking
participants around the world over a period of twelve weeks with unlimited open enrollment.
The selected applicant will provide facilitation and content support throughout the twelve weeks
the MOOC is open, and FHI 360 will provide technical support.
This project supports the goal and objectives of the OPEN Program to offer English for Specific
Purposes (ESP) courses for professionals, giving them the opportunity to engage in a distance-
learning program using the latest educational technology and providing them with direct access
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to U.S. ESP experts with whom they would not normally have the opportunity to interact. It also
supports the U.S. Department of State's public diplomacy goals by leveraging America's unique
convening power to bring together strategic partners to advance U.S. interests, embracing
educational technology as the method of communication. By showcasing American
achievements in STEM, this project will reinforce America's leadership role while building new
networks of relationships between U.S.-based experts and international participants. The project
exports American expertise in technology and fosters self-reliant growth for developing nations
through a workforce development opportunity for STEM professionals. This project contributes
to the U.S. economy and strengthens U.S. educational institutions through a competitively
awarded grant to a U.S.-based university or academic institution to develop and deliver content
that advances Administration priorities among rising leaders, students and foreign publics
worldwide. Further, this project supports mutual collaboration and resource sharing between
U.S.-based experts and participants that:
* Increases understanding of U.S. priorities and perspectives;
* Increases the impact that participants and alumni have on their home communities /
countries, thereby multiplying the effect of the program;
* Creates markets for American products and ideas;
* Strengthens engagement among participants, alumni, beneficiaries, and institutions;
and
* Strengthens personal, professional, and technical abilities and aptitudes of participants
and beneficiaries.
Description
English for STEM Professionals will be a five-module self-paced MOOC designed for a global
audience of English language learners and professionals who want to build the language skills
needed to understand, discuss, and communicate about contemporary science and technology.
Using accessible texts, videos, and guided practice tasks, the course will introduce STEM
professionals, aspiring professionals, and students pursuing STEM careers to key STEM concepts
and systems while developing core English grammar, vocabulary, and communication skills at a
B1 level.
The course will use examples from emerging and applied STEM fields, such as artificial
intelligence, biotechnology, quantum computing, space and aerospace technologies, and
advanced manufacturing to provide meaningful contexts for language practice. Participants will
practice describing processes and systems, explaining cause-and-effect relationships, comparing
technologies, making suggestions, and discussing future developments in STEM.
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Throughout the course, participants will also gain exposure to a range of STEM-related roles and
career pathways, helping them connect language learning to real-world applications in
education, research, and industry. The course will emphasize clear explanation, comprehension
of technical information, and participation in basic academic or professional discussions,
preparing participants to engage more confidently with STEM topics in English.
Course Development
Please note that FHI 360 will provide an orientation module for learners that will precede this
course's content modules. The orientation module introduces the OPEN Program, how to use the
Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), strategies for successful online learning, American
academic culture, and how to get support during the course. Applicants should not propose
developing orientation content.
Course Objectives
The selected applicant will be responsible for developing module objectives that support the
following overall course objectives. By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
* Use core STEM-related vocabulary to describe scientific and technological systems and
processes in clear, basic terms.
* Use comparative adjectives to explain differences between scientific or technological
concepts, such as different systems, tools, or approaches used in STEM.
* Use the present progressive and simple cause-and-effect language, including basic linking
words such as "because" and "so", to explain how scientific or technological systems
work.
* Use intensifiers and simple linking words such as "but" and "however" to describe the
impacts or effects of technologies or scientific developments in clear, basic terms.
* Use modal verbs of suggestion to talk about possible solutions or approaches in STEM
contexts, such as design choices or system improvements.
* Use modal verbs of future probability to talk about new technologies, innovation, and
collaboration in STEM fields, including areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology,
and quantum technologies.
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OPEN Learner Profile
PARTICIPANT
REQUIRED DESIGN APPROACHES
CHARACTERISTICS
Audience A global audience of STEM Basic pedagogical and andragogical strategies that
professionals, aspiring are effective for an asynchronous audience of adult
professionals, and university learners
students studying STEM fields
Language CEFR B1 Provide extension materials/activities for higher
Level May be higher or lower level participants
Language level is not verified Scaffold instruction to reach lower-level
by the OPEN Program participants
Educational May or may not have Do not assume prerequisite knowledge
Background advanced degrees Gauge participants' background knowledge and
Degrees may be in any field experience using diagnostic assessments
May not have formal training
in English for STEM
Technical Low bandwidth constraints The course should be designed for asynchronous
may limit the reliability and delivery; participants should not be required to log
Environment
frequency of Internet access in daily
for many participants Downloadable packets of course materials must be
Low resource constraints may provided
limit access to online tools or Per instructional design guidelines, video segments
applications should be short, and transcripts must be provided
Learning * Global audience with varied Outcomes should reflect an EFL focus and use
educational contexts and participants' experience as a springboard for
Environment
goals activities
* Significant work / family The combination of presentation
commitments may impact and required interaction (reviewing course
ability to devote time to instruction, reading course
coursework materials, participating in course activities, and
* Asynchronous completing productive activities) should not
exceed 5 hours per module (+/-3 hours of
presentation, +/-2 hours of activities)
While assignment due dates are expected,
participants cannot be required to be online on a
specific date or at a specific time
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Guidelines and Standards
Program-specific and ECA-approved guidelines and standards will be included as part of the
subaward and must be used throughout the period of performance to ensure that the course and
corresponding resources meet the requirements of the funder. These guidelines include:
Instructional Design and Online Learning (IDOL) Guidelines
Creative Commons Guidelines
Creative Commons Licensing Manual
MOOC Guidelines
OPEN Video Production Tips
It is strongly recommended that applicants review these guidelines prior to submitting an
application. Interested applicants can review examples of courses developed for the program
using these guidelines by visiting the Canvas Commons learning object repository and searching
for "Online Professional English Network."
Course Development Process
Upon award and following a kickoff call to review the scope of work, clarify roles and
responsibilities, and finalize the project timeline, FHI 360 will provide access to course
development tools including a Canvas course shell, a deliverables tracker and a file storage site.
After submission of a draft syllabus, FHI 360 will provide feedback to the grantee, at which point
the grantee can begin building out the first module. After reviewing the first module, FHI 360 will
provide detailed, guideline-based feedback and requests for changes to ensure that the content
and design of the module meet program expectations and the objectives of the project.
Remaining modules will be submitted and reviewed in a similar fashion. The grantee should
expect requests for modifications to be substantial and extensive throughout the course
development process, but particularly after submission of the first module. The feedback
provided by FHI 360 is intended to build the grantee's capacity to use program guidelines
effectively to develop a course that is usable and accessible to the program's unique audience.
Applicants should budget appropriately for robust communication throughout the development
process, and time to review and make the requested changes, in addition to time for initial
module development.
Intellectual Property
OPEN represents an investment in the next generation of open educational resources (OER) by
requiring that all new intellectual property, including all digital content, be openly licensed for
free use, adaptation, and improvement by others. OER are teaching, learning, and research
materials in any medium that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open
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license that permits their free use and re-purposing by others. "Educational materials" can be
but are not limited to the following: courses, course materials or modules, textbooks, handouts,
videos, assessments, multimedia applications, audio, games, lesson plans, curriculum maps,
teaching guides, training and certification materials, and any other explanatory materials used to
support access to knowledge.
All materials and resources built or revised with grant funds must be openly licensed and made
publicly available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (CC BY). The purpose of
the CC BY licensing requirement is to extend the reach of the Online Professional English
Network. CC BY licensing allows participants to retain, reuse, revise, remix and redistribute
course materials within their professional community. For more information about Creative
Commons licensing, please visit https://creativecommons.org/ and review the Creative
Commons Guidelines and Licensing Manual linked in the Guidelines and Standards section.
When possible and appropriate, the OPEN Program requests that course developers incorporate
English Teaching Forum content and/or American English social media, materials, graphics, or
videos created for the U.S. Department of State's Office of English Language Programs. Licensing
requirements and guidelines for these components may differ slightly from the CC BY licensing
referenced above. FHI 360's course development team will work with the selected institution to
clarify guidelines, correctly mark, and publish this content, if included.
Technical Requirements
The course will be developed using OPEN's Canvas platform, which is a self-hosted instance of
the open-source Canvas LMS, administered by FHI 360 with support from a technology services
provider. The selected applicant should be aware that some features available in a licensed
Canvas LMS may not be available in OPEN's Canvas LMS. Applicants must demonstrate flexibility
to work within the constraints of the self-hosted version of Canvas, which allows us to make
courses accessible worldwide. Course content must be fully downloadable, accessible to users
with limited bandwidth, universally adaptable and transferable between various platforms and
learning management systems, compliant with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and
accessible at all times to FHI 360 and the Department of State.
Short video clips can be used effectively to engage different learning modalities in an online
course, along with other types of content presentation. Please see the OPEN Video Production
Tips and consider the following video expectations:
Video will be dynamic and engaging, and will utilize modern design principles;
Adequate lighting will be used to highlight speakers and produce crisp images;
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Noise-reducing microphones will be used to eliminate background noise;
Presenters/speakers will model natural speech patterns and avoid monotone
delivery by using an animated style;
Presenters/speakers will appear on camera as much as possible (not just narrate a
presentation).
You can view a sample OPEN course video that demonstrates these expectations.
Course Design
The course design must be responsive to the requirements outlined in this RFA, including the
learner profile, and reflect basic pedagogical and andragogical strategies that are effective for an
asynchronous audience of adult learners, as well as account for specific characteristics of the
target audience.
OPEN Curriculum Design Component Requirements
Pre- and post-course Ungraded diagnostic and post-course assessments must be included
assessment and aligned to learning objectives.
American culture and Provide participants with relevant information about the American
values education system and highlight pertinent American Culture
resources available on the American English website.
Independent learning Course content and activities should encourage analysis, synthesis
strategies and critical and and evaluation of a variety of input.
creative thinking skills
Course Delivery
Over the twelve weeks of the MOOC, participants will be able to enroll and complete the five
content modules at their own pace. Allowing twelve weeks for participation also gives U.S.
embassies and posts the opportunity to organize cohorts with face-to-face or virtual support for
completing the MOOC, to achieve specific audience engagement and U.S. foreign policy
objectives.
The potential for a large number of participants, progressing through the modules at different
paces, naturally limits the opportunities for intense facilitation. However, OPEN has successfully
delivered over 100 MOOCs using this model:
* Steering participants to ask questions in a Content Support discussion board, where other
participants often jump in to answer questions, instead of through the Canvas inbox;
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* Using periodic announcements to motivate and engage participants to complete the
course;
* Engaging selectively with module discussions.
The suggested hours in the delivery budget template reflect our experience using this approach
and consistently achieving higher-than-average MOOC completion rates (10% - 40% of enrolled
learners, 50-80% of active learners). Applicants should propose several U.S. based experts to be
involved in facilitation of the MOOC to maximize the voices and experiences from which
international participants can benefit.
Monitoring and Evaluation
FHI 360 will measure progress toward the goals and objectives of this program by evaluating the
development of the curriculum against program guidelines and standards.
Period of Performance
The Estimated Period of Performance for the course development component of this project is
August 31 - December 19, 2026. Pending funding availability, we anticipate negotiating a
separate fixed price subcontract for pilot course delivery over a period of twelve weeks, starting
in January 2027, after the award for course development is signed. We anticipate pilot delivery
will occur between January 4 - March 29, 2027.
Statement of Work (SOW) and Deliverables
The course development agreement negotiated for this project will be issued as a standard cost-
reimbursable grant. A detailed scope including milestones and reporting requirements will be
provided in the subaward, including the following activities:
* Designate a Principal Investigator (PI) to be the main point-of-contact for the project,
monitor technical staff (curriculum developers, subject matter experts, instructors, etc.),
verify that deliverables are complete and submitted according to the agreed
upon schedule, submit required performance reporting in a timely manner, liaise with
contracts and grants management staff to ensure that financial reports are submitted in
a timely manner, and ensure that all work is completed according to the terms of
the grant;
* Participate in a project kickoff call and guidelines trainings;
* Develop a draft syllabus;
* Develop five modules of course content using the Canvas course shell provided by
FHI 360;
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