U.S. Department of State’s PRM Grant for Operating the Overseas Processing Entity in Istanbul

Organizations must also meet the following requirements in order to be considered as candidates to operate the OPE:

A. Be authorized by the Government of Turkey (GOT) to conduct activities relating to the welfare, protection, or maintenance of refugees in Turkey. This should be understood, when required by Turkish law, to include registration with or receipt of project approval from any relevant GOT ministry, agency or other official organ with jurisdiction over any activity to be conducted by the OPE.

B. Have evidence of effective coordination with U.S. Government agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations and International Organizations involved with the refugee admissions program.

C. Possess management capacity at the agency’s headquarters sufficient to oversee the operation of the OPE.

Failure to satisfy the above requirements will preclude any further consideration of a proposal.

Organizations must also meet the following requirements in order to be considered as candidates to operate the OPE:

A. Be authorized by the Government of Turkey (GOT) to conduct activities relating to the welfare, protection, or maintenance of refugees in Turkey. This should be understood, when required by Turkish law, to include registration with or receipt of project approval from any relevant GOT ministry, agency or other official organ with jurisdiction over any activity to be conducted by the OPE.

B. Have evidence of effective coordination with U.S. Government agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations and International Organizations involved with the refugee admissions program.

C. Possess management capacity at the agency’s headquarters sufficient to oversee the operation of the OPE.

Failure to satisfy the above requirements will preclude any further consideration of a proposal.

The purpose of the Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) is to assist the Bureau in preparing the necessary casework for persons eligible for interview by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and, for those approved, to provide assistance in completing the additional requirements for refugee admission under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. In addition, the OPE forwards the necessary data on all DHS-approved cases to the Refugee Processing Center (RPC) for distribution to Reception and Placement agencies according to procedures established by the Bureau.

The Bureau will enter into one Cooperative Agreement for the OPE in Istanbul, Turkey, for an initial period beginning October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2011, subject to the availability of funds. Through the Cooperative Agreement, the Bureau will provide full financial support to the selected organization, based on the proposal submitted in response to this request. This financial support may be renewable for up to two additional fiscal years based upon budget submissions on an annual basis, as long as there remains a need for the OPE and the organization operating the OPE provides satisfactory service, and subject to the availability of funds. At the end of three years, if the need to operate the OPE continues, the Bureau will re-compete the project, and the recipient of this award may participate in that process.

The organization selected to operate the OPE is expected to provide refugee processing services for all U.S. Refugee Admissions Program applicants in the designated location, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, beginning on October 1, 2010.

The organization selected to operate the OPE will be expected to relate equitably to all domestic resettlement agencies. This will include sharing relevant biographic and other background information with domestic resettlement agencies working in the Reception and Placement program (to facilitate their provision of required sponsorship assurances).

Program Objectives

The Bureau has established the following objectives for the organization serving as OPE in Istanbul:

A. To provide refugee processing services in support of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program using the Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System (WRAPS) and in accordance with procedures established by the Bureau, as needs arise.

B. To ensure that each potential refugee applicant is screened to determine if he/she is eligible for interview under the processing priorities established for his/her nationality.

C. To conduct pre-screening interviews and casework so as to capture all relevant information pertaining to the case, e.g. cross-referencing information, special medical needs, information about victims of torture, etc. To ensure that all necessary security name-checks are completed. To prepare the case file, including completion of all forms necessary for presentation of the case to USCIS for adjudication.

D. To enter all required information into WRAPS on a timely basis and to remain in close contact with the Refugee Processing Center (RPC), cooperating fully and at all times to ensure that the WRAPS system and related equipment remains functional and up to date.

E. For applicants approved by USCIS, to assist the refugees in completing all post-adjudication steps required for admission to the United States. This includes: coordinating with the Refugee Processing Center (RPC) to obtain sponsorship assurances from Reception and Placement agencies working under cooperative agreements with the Bureau; preparing travel packets; conducting cultural orientation training; and coordinating medical screening and travel arrangements.