A NOFO is the official announcement of a US federal grant opportunity, setting out the programme, who may apply, how and by what deadline. It is a standardised document of eight sections, and all its variants, RFA and APS among them, are forms of NOFO rather than alternatives to it.
- Sections
- 8 (A–H)
- Eligibility
- Section B, not C
- Summary
- Up to 500 words
- Minimum posting
- 60 days
A Notice of Funding Opportunity is not free-form. It is a document with a standardised structure set by federal rule. Knowing the structure, you find what you need in a minute instead of an hour.
Eight sections – but the contents moved
The letters A to H survived; what sits under them changed after the 2024 revision. Currently: A basic information, B eligibility, C program description, D application contents and format, E submission requirements and deadlines, F application review information, G award notices, H post-award requirements.
A practical trap: in the old structure eligibility sat in section C, and people still look there. It is now section B, right after basic information.
RFA and APS are NOFOs, not something else
A common misunderstanding. USAID's own rules put it plainly: the agency used two types of NOFO – Request for Applications and Annual Program Statement. So these are subtypes, not alternatives.
The difference lies elsewhere: an RFA announces a specific competition with a deadline, whereas an APS was published at least annually and could stay open or set a deadline no sooner than six months out.
Two numbers worth knowing
The executive summary is capped at 500 words. And a notice must stay posted for at least 60 calendar days – never fewer than 30 even in exceptional circumstances, which must be justified. A competition "closing in a week" is a reason to check whether you are looking at an outdated page.
Where to look in 2026
Notices are published on grants.gov. Since early 2026 the default search is the modernised simpler.grants.gov interface; full replacement of the legacy system is expected around 2027.
Programmes formerly run by USAID are now announced by State Department bureaus – and the USAID page on grants.gov returns an error. Search by subject and sector, not by agency name.
Frequently asked questions
How does an RFA differ from a NOFO?
Not in nature: an RFA is a type of NOFO. So is an APS. The difference between them lies elsewhere – an RFA announces a specific call with a deadline, while an APS was published at least once a year and could stay open for a long time.
Where should we look for USAID programmes now?
On grants.gov, but not under the agency name, because its page returns an error. The programmes are run by State Department bureaus, so search by topic, region and sector.
The call closes in a week. Is that normal?
Probably not. The rule requires an announcement to stay posted for at least 60 days, and a shorter period, no less than 30, has to be justified by exceptional circumstances. It is worth checking whether you are looking at an archived page.
Official materials
- Document · eCFR 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance) Section 200.204 and Appendix I: the mandatory content and structure of a NOFO
- Document · US Government Grants.gov The single portal for federal grant announcements
- Document · USAID OIG USAID Office of Inspector General The only official USAID resource still online with its documents
Sources
- 2 CFR 200.204 and Appendix I ecfr.gov · checked 27.07.2026
Data current as of 27.07.2026. Verify the terms with the donor’s official portal before applying.
Updated 27.07.2026 · Reviewed by: GetGrant editorial team
