Open · DFOP0019227 · CFDA 19.502 · Discretionary

Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC)

Federal grant opportunity posted by Assistance Coordination, cataloged on Grants.gov.

$100K-$2M
Award range
Open
Status
50d
Days left
7
Expected awards

The verdict

Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) is an open discretionary opportunity from Assistance Coordination, offering $100,000 -- $2,000,000 across 7 expected awards. Applications close in 50 days.

$100K-$2M
award range
Open
50 days left
7
expected awards
19.502
CFDA program

Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement - Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) - is cataloged under number DFOP0019227 and tied to CFDA assistance listing 19.502, posted by Assistance Coordination. Grants.gov currently shows the opportunity as open, first posted on July 6, 2026 and last updated on August 4, 2026. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a grant.

Award economics. The award range on file is $100,000 -- $2,000,000. The agency has projected $10.0 million in total estimated funding for this announcement. It expects to issue 7 awards. If the agency funds the expected 7 awards from the $10.0 million estimated pool, the average award works out to roughly $1.4 million. Cost sharing is not required, so applicants do not need to commit matching funds to be competitive on this opportunity. Federal award ranges are often upper bounds; actual allocations reflect program appropriations, the strength of the applicant pool, and the evaluation committee's scoring.

Deadline and action path. Applications close on September 30, 2026 - roughly 50 days from today. Every Grants.gov submission requires an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID. Review the Eligibility section below carefully, federal eligibility categories (nonprofit, state or local government, tribal, individual, educational institution, small business) have distinct registration and reporting requirements. Pre-application outreach to the listed agency contact is permitted and often welcomed, it helps clarify scope and scoring priorities. Before acting on the deadline or award figures above, verify them directly on the official Grants.gov listing, amendments can change dates and amounts after this page was last refreshed.

Award Range

$100,000 -- $2,000,000

Close Date

September 30, 2026

Posted

July 6, 2026

Est. Total Funding

$10,000,000

Expected Awards

7

Instrument

Grant

Description

The Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program supports joint scientific research and innovation partnerships between the United States, Israel, and countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The program funds applied research projects that address shared regional challenges while advancing U.S. economic, technological, and strategic interests. MERC is designed to bring together researchers, technical experts, and institutions to work on projects that go beyond basic research and demonstrate clear potential for application, commercialization, and broader adoption. MERC prioritizes efforts that strengthen U.S. technological leadership, expand opportunities for U.S. businesses, promote the use of U.S. technologies, and build long-term partnerships in the region. The program places strong emphasis on collaboration. All projects must include organizations from Israel and at least one eligible MENA country or territory. MERC welcomes U.S. participation, particularly when it adds technical expertise, supports market expansion for U.S. companies, or helps connect research to markets. Projects should demonstrate a clear plan for using and scaling results and how the outcomes benefit priorities of the United States and the participating countries. Overall, MERC aims to strengthen regional cooperation by supporting high-quality scientific partnerships that produce tangible results. By connecting U.S., Israeli, and MENA organizations, the program helps build networks, promote innovation, and create opportunities for economic growth, peaceful and mutually beneficial collaboration, and long-term stability in the region.

Eligibility

Grants.gov lists this opportunity under eligibility category code 25. These codes correspond to applicant types (state/local government, tribal organization, nonprofit, educational institution, individual, small business, etc.) defined in Grants.gov's own eligibility reference. See the current Grants.gov eligibility categories or check the official listing below for this opportunity's exact eligibility statement.

Official Listing on Grants.gov

View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.

View on Grants.gov

Agency Contact

NEA-Grants@state.gov

Key Dates

Posted July 6, 2026
Close Date September 30, 2026
Last Updated August 4, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this grant opportunity?
This is a federal funding opportunity titled "Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC)", offered by Assistance Coordination. It is associated with CFDA program 19.502. The Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program supports joint scientific research and innovation partnerships between the United States, Israel, and countries across the Middle East and North Afr...
Is this opportunity still open?
Yes, this opportunity is currently open for applications. The closing date is September 30, 2026.
How much funding is available?
The award range for this opportunity is $100,000 -- $2,000,000. Total estimated funding: $10,000,000. Expected number of awards: 7.
How do I apply?
Applications for federal grant opportunities are typically submitted through Grants.gov. Visit the official listing at grants.gov for application instructions, required documents, and submission deadlines.

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from Grants.gov and SAM.gov and is for informational purposes only. Opportunity details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly on Grants.gov before applying. PlainGrants is not affiliated with any federal agency.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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Data sourced from the SAM.gov Assistance Listings and Grants.gov. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainGrants