Deadline: 23 June 2019

The U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section in New Delhi is seeking Proposals for its grant program entitled “Smart Cities Collaboration Competition” to strengthen people-to-people ties between the U.S. and India through the exchange of information, experience, and expertise.

Goals

This project is expected to advance this goal by:

• Empowering India’s youth, entrepreneurial, and academic communities to address challenges in their city.
• Generating practical solutions toward making cities smarter by sharing U.S. best practices and expertise.
• Supporting and strengthening the U.S.-India Smart Cities partnership.

The objectives of this program is to organize, implement, and oversee the Smart Cities Competition amongst universities in Rajasthan in collaboration with U.S. universities.

About Program

NIO-PAS seeks proposals for a project entitled “Smart Cities Collaboration Competition”. Based on funding availability, the competition will be held amongst universities in Rajasthan in collaboration with U.S. universities.  Participating teams will develop technological solutions that will augment the U.S.-India Smart City partnership in the city of Ajmer.  Student teams will be asked to work on either one or more than one core infrastructure element that affects Ajmer:

• Water supply
• Electricity supply (focus on solar energy)
• Sanitation
• Efficient urban mobility and public transport
• Robust IT connectivity and digitalization
• Good governance, specially e-governance and citizen participation
• Health and education
• Safety and security of citizens, especially women and girls
• Sustainable development

Three student teams from three different universities within Rajasthan will partner with three teams from U.S. universities (from existing partnerships or newly created partnerships) across four phases of the competition including infrastructure element identification, an engineering competition phase, a business competition phase, and a marketing competition phase.  Each team will include a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 students from each stream (engineering, business, marketing/design).  For example:  Team A could have three engineering students, three business students, and three marketing/design students who will each work on their respective phases.

In Phase 1, Rajasthan university teams will identify the infrastructure challenge and are matched with a U.S. university team.  In Phase 2, engineering students from each team will develop technological solutions to address the selected challenge and compete in a competition pitch conference.  In Phase 3, business students from each team will develop business models for the winning technological solution, and compete in a business competition pitch conference.  And in Phase 4, marketing and design students from each team will develop marketing plans for the winning business model, and compete in a marketing competition pitch conference.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $65,000
• Award Ceiling: $65,000
• Award Floor: $60,000

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility is open to all non-profit, non-governmental organizations. Individuals are not eligible for an award under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via given website.

For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=315198