Frequently Asked Questions: Letter of Intent – Open Source AI Model for Tutoring (EDU AI)
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We will continuously update this section as we receive questions about the Letter of Intent. You may submit questions using this form.
| Are teams based outside of the United States eligible to apply? | Yes, organizations outside the United States are eligible to apply. Please note that proposed models must be tested on U.S. K–12 student data, per the eligibility requirements. |
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| Is submitting the LOI a prerequisite for the RFP? | No. Participation in the LOI is strongly encouraged but not required; you may submit a full grant proposal in response to the RFP whether or not you submitted an LOI. That said, the LOI serves a practical purpose for applicants: it gives teams time to mobilize and form partnerships before the full RFP is released, and LOI responses may inform revisions to the RFP’s requirements and evaluation criteria. |
| Do we need to be “successful” at the LOI in order to apply for the RFP? | No. The LOI is not a competitive screening gate that admits or eliminates applicants. It is used by the Gates Foundation to gauge interest in the opportunity and gather input to refine the RFP, not to select finalists. Any eligible organization may submit a full proposal when the RFP is released, regardless of whether they submitted an LOI or what feedback (if any) they received. |
| Can the details of our LOI change between submission and the full RFP — for example, team composition or technical approach? | Yes. Applicants are explicitly permitted to revise or expand upon their LOI responses in any subsequent full proposal. The LOI is intended as an early signal of interest and capability, not a binding commitment. Teams are expected to continue developing their thinking, forming partnerships, and refining their technical approach between now and the RFP deadline, and the full proposal is the appropriate place to present your complete and updated plans. |