RFA #FY26-103425-08-31-2026-004 AI for Improving English Proficiency MOOC

Location:	District of Columbia
Posted:	Aug 31, 2026
Due:	Oct 23, 2026
Agency:	FHI 360
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Solicitation No:	103425-08-31-2026-004_RFA_02
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

RFA #FY26-103425-08-31-2026-004 AI for Improving English Proficiency MOOC
RFA No.: 103425-08-31-2026-004_RFA_02

Issue date: 27 Aug, 2026
Closing date: 23 Oct, 2026

Solicitation file(s):
1. FY26 OPEN RFA 103425-004 OPEN AI for English Proficiency MOOC RFA.pdf (484 KB)
2. FY26 OPEN RFA 103425-004 OPEN AI for English Proficiency Attachment A Submission Instructions.pdf (258 KB)
3. FY26 OPEN RFA 103425-004 AI for English Proficiency Attachment B Cover Sheet.pdf (475 KB)
4. FY26 OPEN RFA 103425-004 AI for English Proficiency Attachment C Budget.xlsx (85 KB)

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Request for Application (RFA)

Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Online Course Development and Delivery:

AI for Improving English Proficiency

RFA #:

Issued on:

For:

Estimated

Period of

Performance:

Application

Deadline:

FY26-103425-08-31-2026-004

August 31, 2026

Development and delivery of an online, university-level Massive Open

Online Course (MOOC) on AI for Improving English Proficiency

March 1, 2027 – September 10, 2027

October 23, 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.

Table of Contents

Background ................................................................................................................................................... 3

Purpose.......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Description .................................................................................................................................................... 4

Course Development.....................................................................................................................................4

Course Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 4

Guidelines and Standards..........................................................................................................................6

Course Development Process.................................................................................................................... 6

Intellectual Property..................................................................................................................................7

Technical Requirements............................................................................................................................7

Course Design ........................................................................................................................................... 8

Course Delivery ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Period of Performance .................................................................................................................................. 9

Statement of Work (SOW) and Deliverables................................................................................................ 9

Budget ......................................................................................................................................................... 10

Instructions to Applicants ........................................................................................................................... 11

Submission Requirements.......................................................................................................................11

Cost Application ..................................................................................................................................... 12

Eligibility ................................................................................................................................................ 12

Criteria/Qualifications for Evaluation.....................................................................................................13

Terms and Conditions ................................................................................................................................. 13

Attachments ................................................................................................................................................ 16

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) and other

topics for learners and professionals 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 September 11, 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 career readiness opportunities to non-native English-speaking

teachers and other learners worldwide. FHI 360 is soliciting applications for an accredited, U.S.-

based university, academic institution, or non-profit with expertise and demonstrated proficiency

in TESOL to develop a five-module asynchronous MOOC on the topic of AI for Improving

English Proficiency. 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 FY24 OPEN Program to offer online career

readiness opportunities to learners and professionals worldwide and creates markets for American

products and ideas. 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, academic institution,

or non-profit to develop and deliver content for rising leaders and professionals worldwide.

Further, this project supports 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;

• Strengthens engagement among participants, alumni, beneficiaries, and institutions; and

• Strengthens personal, professional, and technical abilities and aptitudes of participants and

beneficiaries.

Description

AI for Improving English Proficiency will be a five-module self-paced MOOC designed for a

global audience of English language learners and professionals who want to leverage generative

artificial intelligence (AI) with the explicit goal of improving their English proficiency levels.

Using accessible texts, videos, and guided practice tasks, the course will instruct participants on

the use of AI as an English language learning tool to supplement traditional language learning

methods. To maximize the efficacy of AI in English proficiency improvement, the course will

equip participants with best practices in Second Language Acquisition, Adult Learning Theory,

and Learning Sciences to enhance self-study and practice.

To guide participants’ English proficiency improvement journey, the course will introduce the

concept of language proficiency levels commonly used in the U.S. and around the world, so

participants can learn how to use generative AI to assess their English proficiency levels and set

realistic goals for improvement. Participants will learn methods for using generative AI to

practice and improve English language skills with special attention paid to prompting, evaluating

output critically. Participants will leave this course with an independent study plan filled with

AI-enabled practice tasks that lead them toward achieving their English proficiency goals.

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:

• Describe how generative AI works in simple terms, along with the ethical and privacy

considerations needed to use AI.

• Identify the possibilities and limitations of generative AI as an English language learning

tool.

• Develop effective prompts for self-directed English learning and practice.

• Evaluate AI generated output through a critical thinking framework.

• Use AI to practice and improve vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, speaking, listening,

reading and writing skills.

• Assess their English proficiency level and develop proficiency improvement goals.

• Create an independent study plan to achieve English proficiency goals.

OPEN Learner Profile

Audience

PARTICIPANT

CHARACTERISTICS

A global audience of adult

English language learner

professionals

REQUIRED DESIGN APPROACHES

Basic pedagogical and andragogical strategies that

are effective for an asynchronous audience of adult

learners

Language

Level

Educational

Background

● CEFR B1

● Provide extension materials/activities for higher

● May be higher or lower

level participants

● Language level is not verified ● Scaffold instruction to reach lower-level

by the OPEN Program

participants

● May or may not have

completed a degree

● Degrees may be in any field

● Do not assume prerequisite knowledge

● Gauge participants’ background knowledge and

experience using diagnostic assessments

Technical

Environment

● Low bandwidth constraints ● The course should be designed for asynchronous

may limit the reliability and

delivery; participants should not be required to log

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

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

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RFA #FY26-103425-08-31-2026-004 AI for Improving English Proficiency MOOC

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See also