This is an unofficial guide based on student experiences. For the most authoritative, up-to-date information, see the official orientation website.
Bidding! It's one of the most exciting (and nerve-wracking) parts of orientation. Before you submit your list, read below for valuable resources and tips to get you started on your research.
One of the most exciting — and nerve-wracking — parts of orientation is researching and submitting bids for your first post. Before your bids are due, you will have orientation sessions covering this important process in detail as well as an opportunity to meet with your Career Development Officer (CDO) to discuss your bidding priorities and some time to research posts.
The orientation staff and your CDO will always have the most up-to-date information on bidding. However, because we know some of you may be eager to start thinking about your first assignments, we have included some resources below.
Note: Bidding is slightly different for generalists and specialists and can be confusing when discussing the process with your fellow orientation classmates. Reach out to your CDO for any questions you may have about the process for your position.
The Overseas Briefing Center, located at FSI, is open daily for self-directed research, but also has staff available to answer your questions on scheduled dates and times in the days leading up to the bid list due date. Orientation staff will provide more information, including details about how to sign-up for a dedicated slot, on Microsoft Teams.
OBC’s Post Info to Go (PITG) is available online for research from home.
For direct access via GoBrowser, go to https://fsipostinfotogo-usdos.msappproxy.net/PITG or navigate to the FSI Applications app and scroll down to Post Info to Go.
For external access (open to adult EFMs, even without access to GoBrowser), go to https://fsitraining.state.gov/pitg. You will receive an e-mail from DONOTREPLY@FSINet.gov with instructions to set up a password. Information may also be in course materials for requesting “account authorization”.
Some posts have tons of information on their intranet sites while others don’t have as much available. To get to a specific post’s site, go to https://usdos.SharePoint.com/sites/POSTNAME and change “POSTNAME” to the name of the post you want to research). For example, to research Riyadh, go to https://usdos.SharePoint.com/sites/riyadh.
If you are looking for general human resources, staffing, post contacts, and management notes for a prospective post, please refer to the Post Profile site on the intranet.
The Office of Overseas Schools publishes annual reports on schools at posts overseas and is staffed by regional education officers who can help give you deeper insight. The Global Community Liaison Office’s (GCLO) education and youth team is also a great resource and can be reached at GCLOAskEducation@state.gov.
The Overseas Briefing Center (OBC) created a medical clearance preview aid that incorporates MED's medical clearance guidelines for those conditions that are most commonly associated with post-specific (class 2) medical clearances. This tool may not be accessible on GoBrowser, so contact OBC to help you access and navigate the tool. If you have a child with special needs, you will want to contact the Office of Overseas Schools (OOS) early as available options will be an important consideration for the bidding process.
Even if a country has no restrictions on specific breeds, many airlines have suspended pet shipping due to COVID-19 and unfortunately will probably not return to their standard policies in the near future. The OBC has lots of information regarding bringing pets to post and often hosts regular webinars on this topic. You can e-mail OBC’s pet expert Maureen Johnston (directly through checking the GAL for her e-mail address or through the OBC's general inbox, FSIOBCInfoCenter@state.gov) for questions about pets that are not answered in the materials available through PITG or at the OBC.
A template for a shadow bid list may be provided in an e-mail from the Welcome Committee. This is only a template and does not reflect the actual number of vacancies available at each domestic post. You will be provided with the accurate number of vacancies when the actual bid list is released. This shadow bid list is to help set expectations. Please keep in mind you will be ranking all eight domestic posts: Washington, D.C.; Boston; New York; Miami; Houston; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Chicago.