PERFORMANCE MONITORING PLAN (PMP)

Last Updated: February 2025

Applicant Name: Example Organization
Fiscal Year and Program Title: FY## Example Program
Funding Opportunity #: SFOP000XXXX

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Instructions

The Monitoring Data for ECA (MODE) Framework provides standard indicators and corresponding survey questions to ensure consistent measures across all ECA programs. The Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) in this document includes ALL MODE objectives and indicators that were created to collect data from program participants.

While ECA recommends the applicant use the format provided, this is not a requirement. However, any performance monitoring reference document the applicant submits should include the information in the column headers (Indicator Name, Definition, Target, Survey Question, etc.) in the table below at a minimum.

To provide a PMP that will meet the solicitation review criteria, the applicant should take the following steps:

1. Fill out the Applicant Name, FY and Program Title and Funding Opportunity # fields highlighted above
2. Carefully review the solicitation document to identify the MODE indicators that were listed
3. Review the additional (those not listed in the solicitation document) MODE Framework indicators listed in the table below to determine if they are relevant (meaning the applicant proposes that data should be collected for those indicators as part of this program)
4. Those indicators that were NOT selected in steps 2 and 3 above can be deleted from the table below (to do this, click your mouse somewhere within the row you would like to delete, right-click, select “Delete Cells”, then “Delete Entire Row”. Repeat this process until the only MODE Framework indicators that remain are those identified during steps 1 and 2)
5. Applicants may also design custom objectives and/or indicators that are specific to the proposed program and the proposed MODE Framework indicators are insufficient to cover all aspects of the program. Applicants should limit the number of these custom indicators, bearing in mind collection and reporting capacity, and prioritize additional measures identified in the solicitation.

For all indicators in the PMP that remain after steps 2-5 above, insert the target into the appropriate column. A target specifies a feasible and appropriate level of an output or outcome that is hoped for, expected, or intended.

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Resources

More resources and guidance documents on the MODE Framework and PMP are available online (https://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/mode-framework-eca-applicants-and).

PMP-specific resources include:

• MODE Framework Indicator Book (https://app.box.com/s/9gvvxzxlm6bmvzqengqu8uad40yz2doe ):
• MODE Performance Indicator Reference Sheets (https://app.box.com/s/r6x4elenw9pnicdtjyqv6rbyoczhp62t )
• PMP Creation Webinar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBHC1oLNZvI )

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Definitions of PMP Columns

• Performance Indicator: An observable or measurable characteristic that indicates the extent to which a program objective is being achieved.
• Definition: Clarifies all terms necessary and provides details on how to calculate the data collected to measure the change expected.
• Disaggregation (“Disagg”): Lists how the data will be broken down into subgroups (such as: sex, age, state, country, etc.)
• Target: Specific, planned level of result to be achieved within an explicit timeframe
• Data Source and Required Survey Question: Specifies how the data will be obtained (such as a survey, observation, interview, etc.) and the mandatory question linked to the data source. Note that all MODE Framework survey questions are required (i.e. should be forced response); please see the Consent Language in the MODE Framework Indicator Book for an example of how to convey this to participants/survey respondents.
• When to Collect: Specifies when the indicator will be measured, for example: post-program, end of award, etc.
  • o A post-program collection should occur no later than 6 weeks after the participant has completed the program
  • o Award recipients are responsible for collecting indicator data on participant outputs and outcomes during the period of performance of the program itself.
  • Note: The Bureau will measure outcomes of ECA participants at one, three, five, and 10 years after the program has ended to capture the long-term impact of ECA programming unless otherwise specified in the solicitation for which you are applying. In this instance, the recipient will be responsible for coordinating with ECA on any alumni surveys to de-duplicate questions and minimize potential survey fatigue.

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Definitions of Key Terms

Each indicator in the table below includes a list of relevant terms in the indicator column. While terms vary across indicators, there are a few key terms that apply to a high number of indicators. Those terms are listed below to save space in the table:

• Participant or Exchange Visitor - A person who has directly participated in an ECA-facilitated program (either ECA-funded or BridgeUSA) and been exposed to at least 10 hours of content or otherwise meets the requirements for entry into the Alumni Contact Engagement System (ACES). Participants do not include audiences who may watch, listen to, or otherwise interact with ECA program participants.
  • Participants of American Spaces programming include any individual who attends a program conducted by an American Space, whether that program is located at an American Space or an outside location. Individuals who attend virtual (online) or blended (partially online, partially in-person) programs are also considered participants.
  • “Exchange Visitors” on ECA’s Office of Private Sector Exchange (ECA/EC) programs are considered program participants.
• Host community - A community that sponsors, supports, or provides services for exchange programs and/or their participants. Host communities and institutions do not necessarily directly participate in a program. Benefits to this group most often occur through interaction with the participants and/or alumni during or after the program. Host community members comprise two groups:
  • Host families who welcomed exchange visitors into their homes;
  • Host institutions or businesses who provided professional or academic experiences to exchange visitors.
• Virtual exchange - A sustained, multi-way interaction, that is 100% online, used to build networks and shared knowledge around policy priorities. For a program to be considered a virtual exchange, participants must engage with all content virtually. A series of virtual components can be considered an exchange if they are (1) originated as a unit with a collective start and end date and (2) are organized around a unifying theme. Examples of virtual elements include online skill-building workshops, virtual professional placements (internships), and virtual mentorships. A series of massive open online courses (MOOCs) would be considered an exchange if they are offered as a set (of say six classes) and are centered on a specific topic (for example, media literacy). Offering MOOCs as an online resource is not considered a virtual exchange program.
• Virtual element - Single, stand-alone components offered as either add-on enrichment to an in-person program or as general outreach by ECA. Examples of virtual elements include online skill-building workshops, virtual professional placements (internships), and virtual mentorships. Offering single MOOCs to the general public or virtual pre-departure orientation webinars are both considered virtual elements. Additionally, online spaces for participants to communicate (such as a program Facebook page) are considered virtual elements.

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Performance Monitoring Plan Table

Last Updated: February 2025

Performance Indicator: Demographic Questions

• Home Country (Demographic)

  • Used to identify subgroups for Country of Origin disaggregation. (Foreign participants only)
  • Disagg.: N/A; Target: N/A
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • What is your home country?
    • [Drop Down: List of program countries] – See Appendix C in the Indicator Book
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• Home State (Demographic)

  • Used to identify subgroups for Home State disaggregation. (American participants only)
  • Disagg.: N/A; Target: N/A
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • What is your home state?
    • [Drop Down: List of U.S. States] – See Appendix D in the Indicator Book
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• Age (Demographic)

  • Used to identify subgroups for Age disaggregation.
  • Disagg.: N/A; Target: N/A
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • What is your age? Fill in the blank ________
    • [Validate answer numeric, with accepted answers ranging from 15 to 100]
    • -- OR --
    • Are you between the ages of 15 and 35?
      • Yes
      • No
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• Sex (Demographic)

  • Used to identify subgroups for Sex disaggregation.
  • Disagg.: N/A; Target: N/A
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • Please select your biological sex classification:
      • Female
      • Male
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• Race (Demographic)

  • Used to identify subgroups for Race disaggregation. (American participants only)
  • Disagg.: N/A; Target: N/A
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • What is your race or ethnicity? Select all that apply.
      • American Indian or Alaskan Native
      • Asian
      • Black or African American
      • Hispanic or Latino
      • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
      • White
      • Some Other Race
      • I do not wish to respond
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• Participant Type (Demographic)

  • Used to identify the subgroup “Reciprocal” for Participant Type disaggregation. (American participants only)
  • Disagg.: N/A; Target: N/A
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • Did you participate in a reciprocal exchange?
    • A reciprocal participant is an American who travels to an exchange participant's home country to assist the participant with their individual project
      • Yes
      • No
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

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ECA Objective 1: Advance participant and beneficiary cross-cultural competence and global perspective

ECA Sub-Objective 1.1: Promote cultural exchanges and enhance understanding between participants and their host communities

• E1.1.01: Percent of participants reporting that their program experience offered opportunities to engage with other cultures (Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.)

  • Definition/Calculations:
    • To calculate percentage, numerator will be number of respondents who answered “yes” while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • Do you agree with the following statement?
      • My program offered opportunities for making cultural connections and sharing. For example: Conversations about each others’ countries, attending cultural events, etc.
    • Yes
    • No
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E1.1.04: Percent of participants with more favorable opinions of the United States Government (core indicator) (Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.)

  • Definition/Calculations:
    • To calculate percentage, numerator will be number of respondents who select “much more favorable” OR “somewhat more favorable” on the survey question. The denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • Did your views of the United States government change as a result of your program participation?
      • Yes
      • No
    • If YES:
      • How did your views of the United States government change? Are your views:
        • Much less favorable
        • Somewhat less favorable
        • Somewhat more favorable
        • Much more favorable
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E1.1.09: Percent of participants who traveled abroad for the first time because of their program (core indicator) (Abroad – A country outside of one’s home country; Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.)

  • Definition/Calculations:
    • To calculate percentage, numerator will be number of respondents who answered “no” to the first question while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • Before this exchange program, had you traveled outside of your home country?
      • Yes
      • No
    • If YES:
      • Why did you travel outside of your home country? Select all that apply.
        • Tourism
        • Visit friends/family
        • Participation in another U.S. Department of State exchange program (including U.S. Embassy-sponsored exchanges)
        • Participation in a non-U.S. Department of State exchange
        • Study
        • Work
        • Other: ______ [write-in]
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E1.1.10: Percent of foreign participants who traveled to the United States for the first time during their program (core indicator) (Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once per reporting year following their program completion.)

  • Definition/Calculations:
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents who reply “no” to the first question while denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • Before this exchange program, had you traveled to the United States?
      • Yes
      • No
    • If YES:
      • Why did you travel to the United States? Select all that apply.
        • Tourism
        • Visit friends/family
        • Participation in another U.S. Department of State exchange program (including U.S. Embassy-sponsored exchanges)
        • Participation in a non-U.S. Department of State exchange
        • Study
        • Work
        • Other: ______ [write-in]
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E1.1.11: Percent of American participants indicating a change in their understanding of their host country's culture and values

  • Host country - The country in which the participant traveled to for their exchange program.
  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Definition/Calculations:
    • Responses to each item should be scored in the following manner:
      • No Change – 1
      • Minimal Change – 2
      • Moderate Change – 3
      • Substantial Change – 4
    • The response scores for each item should be summed and divided by the number of items they responded to in order to give an average question score for each respondent.
    • To determine the percent value, the numerator is the number of respondents whose average question score is 2 or greater while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • How much did participation in the exchange program change your understanding or knowledge of the following topics?
      • Host country political system
      • Host country economy
      • Foreign affairs of my host country
      • Domestic affairs in my host country
      • Host country values and culture
      • Daily life in my host country
      • Freedom of speech and press in my host country
      • Voluntary community service in my host country
      • [Scale: No Change, Minimal Change, Moderate Change, Substantial Change]
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E1.1.12: Percent of foreign participants indicating a change in understanding of third-party countries’ cultures and values

  • Third-party country - A country that is not the participant/alumni’s home or host country. Generally, this refers to the home countries of fellow participants.
  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Definition/Calculations:
    • Responses to each item should be scored in the following manner:
      • No Change – 1
      • Minimal Change – 2
      • Moderate Change – 3
      • Substantial Change – 4
    • The response scores for each item should be summed and divided by the number of items they responded to in order to give an average question score for each respondent.
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents whose average question score is 2 or greater while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • Thinking about the participants you met from other countries (not your home country or the U.S.), how much did participation in the program change your understanding or knowledge of the following topics related to those countries?
      • Political system
      • Economy
      • Foreign affairs
      • Domestic affairs
      • Values and culture
      • Daily life
      • Freedom of speech and press
      • Voluntary community service
      • [Scale: No Change, Minimal Change, Moderate Change, Substantial Change]
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E1.1.13: Percent of foreign participants who are more likely to recommend the United States as a good place to study (core indicator)

  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Definition/Calculations:
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents who reply “much more likely” or “somewhat more likely” while denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • Compared to before your program participation, how likely are you now to recommend the United States as a good place to study?
      • Much more unlikely
      • Somewhat more unlikely
      • Somewhat more likely
      • Much more likely
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E1.1.16: Percent of virtual exchange (VE) participants who report VE as their only likely way to interact with citizens from other countries in the future

  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once per reporting year following their program completion.
  • Definition/Calculations:
    • To calculate percentage, numerator will be number of respondents who answered “yes” while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • This indicator counts participants involved in virtual exchange programs (see definition above) and WILL NOT count participants engaging with virtual program elements as part of a non-virtual program.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • In the future, are virtual exchanges likely to be your only way to interact with citizens from other countries?
      • Yes
      • No
      • I don’t know
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E1.1.17: Percent of foreign participants with more favorable opinions of the American people (core indicator)

  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Definition/Calculations:
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents who reply “much more favorable” OR “somewhat more favorable” while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • Did your views of the American people change as a result of your program participation?
      • Yes
      • No
    • If YES:
      • How did your views of the American people change? Are your views:
        • Much less favorable
        • Somewhat less favorable
        • Somewhat more favorable
        • Much more favorable
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E1.1.18: Percent of foreign participants indicating an increase in understanding of United States culture and values (core indicator)

  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Definition/Calculations:
    • Responses to each item should be scored in the following manner:
      • No Change – 1
      • Minimal Change – 2
      • Moderate Change – 3
      • Substantial Change – 4
    • The response scores for each item should be summed and divided by the number of items they responded to in order to give a total question score for each respondent.
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents whose total question score is 2 or greater while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
    • [Scale: No Change, Minimal Change, Moderate Change, Substantial Change]
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • How much did participation in the program change your understanding or knowledge of each of the following topics?
      • United States democracy
      • United States economy
      • Foreign affairs of the United States
      • Domestic affairs in the United States
      • United States values and culture
      • Daily life in the United States
      • Freedom of speech and press in the United States
      • Voluntary community service in the United States
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E1.1.19: Percent of participants agreeing with statements in support of democratic values (core indicator)

  • Democratic values - The ideas or beliefs that make a society fair, including: democratic decision-making, freedom of speech, and equality before the law.
  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Definition/Calculations:
    • Responses to each item should be scored in the following manner:
      • Strongly disagree – 1
      • Disagree – 2
      • Neither disagree nor agree – 3
      • Agree – 4
      • Strongly agree – 5
      • Don’t know/can’t ascertain – 0
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is the number of respondents whose average question score is greater than or equal to 4 on a 1-5 scale while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statements below?
      • Voting is important because real decisions are made in elections
      • Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of democracy
      • An independent media is important to the free flow of information
      • All citizens in a country should have equal rights and protections under the law, regardless of circumstances
      • The rule of law is fundamental to a functioning democracy
      • Individuals have the right to free speech and to voice opposition
      • Organizations have the right to free speech and to voice opposition
      • Democratic principles enhance the workplace. Supervisors should incorporate democratic principles into their management practices
      • [Scale: Strongly disagree, Disagree, Neither disagree nor agree, Agree, Strongly agree, Don’t know/can’t ascertain]
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

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ECA Objective 2: Increase the impact that participants and alumni have on their communities / countries

E2.0.01: Percent of foreign participants that volunteer in their host communities

• Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
• Definition/Calculations:
  • To calculate the percentage, the numerator will be the number of respondents who answered “yes” while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
• Disaggregation:
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Country of origin
• Target: To be completed by the applicant
• Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
  • Did you volunteer your time during your exchange?
    • Yes
    • No
    • My program did not offer the opportunity to volunteer
• When to Collect: Post-Program

E2.0.04: Number of hours that foreign participants spend volunteering in their host communities

• Volunteer - To offer one’s time or services to an organization or community effort for free. Volunteering does not include time spent working as part of a professional placement.
• Host community - See Definitions of Key Terms
• Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in a reporting year following their program completion.
• Definition/Calculations:
  • Participants will complete a survey question that will request the number of hours of time spent volunteering during their exchange program.
  • The total number of hours for all participants should be reported.
• Disaggregation:
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Country of origin
• Target: To be completed by the applicant
• Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
  • How many hours did you spend volunteering during your exchange program? (Please note that volunteer hours do not include time spent working as part of your professional placement.)
  • Fill in the blank: __________
  • [validate as numeric]
• When to Collect: Post-Program

ECA Sub-Objective 2.2: Foster participants’ belief that civic engagement benefits communities/countries

• E2.2.01: Percent of participants who have more confidence in their ability to have an impact in their home country (core indicator)
  • Home community - The community that the program participant originates from and will return to at the conclusion of the program.
  • Home country - The country in which the program participant resides prior to their program participation.
  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Calculation:
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents that responded “more confident” to the statement about their ability to make a difference in the ‘community where I live’ and/or ‘country where I live’ while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • As a result of your program participation, how has your confidence in each of the following changed?
      • I have the ability to make a difference in the community where I live
      • I have the ability to make a difference in the country where I live
      • I have the ability to make a difference in the global community
    • [Scale: I am less confident; No change in confidence, I am more confident]
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

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ECA Objective 3: Strengthen engagement among participants, alumni, beneficiaries, and institutions

E3.0.02: Percent of foreign participants who report increasing their network of Americans** (core indicator)

• Network - An interconnected or interrelated group or system. In the context of MODE, this refers to an interconnected or interrelated group intentionally convened, sustained, or otherwise facilitated through ECA programming.
• Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
• Calculations:
  • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents who reply “yes” to the first question item while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
• Disaggregation:
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Country of origin
• Target: To be completed by the applicant
• Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
  • Are you still in contact with any Americans you met during your program?
    • Yes
    • No
  • If YES:
    • Are the contacts you maintain with Americans personal, professional, or both?
      • Personal
      • Professional
      • Both personal and professional
• When to Collect: Post-Program

E3.0.04: Percent of foreign participants who report increasing their network of third country nationals

• Network- An interconnected or interrelated group or system intentionally convened, sustained, or otherwise facilitated through ECA programming.
• Third-country national - A third country stakeholder is defined as a person or institution who does not have the same nationality and is not from the country in which the exchange took place or from the country of a participant of the exchange.
• Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
• Calculations:
  • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents who reply “yes” to the first question item while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
• Disaggregation:
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Country of origin
• Target: To be completed by the applicant
• Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
  • Are you still in contact with any individual not from the U.S. and not from your own country that you met during your program?
    -Yes
    -No
  • If YES:
    • Are the contacts you maintain with these individuals personal, professional, or both?
      -Personal
      -Professional
      -Both personal and professional
• When to Collect: Post-Program

E3.0.07: Percent of participants who identify as a Department of State program participant** (core indicator)

• Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
• Calculations:
  • To calculate percentage, numerator will be number of participants who answered “yes” in response to the survey question. The denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
• Disaggregation:
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Country of origin
• Target: To be completed by the applicant
• Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
  • Do you consider yourself a participant of a U.S. Department of State program?
    • Yes
    • No
• When to Collect: Post-Program

ECA Sub-Objective 3.1: Alumni subscribe to platforms for resources and information-sharing

• E3.1.02: Percent of participants who learned about new resources

  • Resource – Information that is new and potentially useful to the participant. Can include information guidance that is either personal or professional. Does not include persons. Can be information provided during any portion of the program process (pre-program, during the program, or immediately post-program – such as a Congress or concluding event).
  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Calculations:
    • To calculate percentage, numerator will be number of respondents who select at least one of the survey question response options EXCEPT “None of the above” to the first question, while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • Through your program experience, did you learn about any of the following Department of State-managed resources? Select all that apply.
      • Small grants applications from the U.S. Government [Carry forward selection to next question]
      • Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) applications [Carry forward selection to next question]
      • Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund applications [ask of American alumni only] [Carry forward selection to next question]
      • Project Development toolkits [Carry forward selection to next question]
      • Supplies or equipment [Carry forward selection to next question]
      • Information on workshops/events hosted by the U.S. Embassy in your home country [ask of Foreign Alumni only] [Carry forward selection to next question]
      • Embassy network of experts and leaders [ask of Foreign Alumni only] [Carry forward selection to next question]
      • American Spaces (either American Centers, American Corners, or Bi-National Centers) [ask of Foreign Alumni only] [Carry forward selection to next question]
      • Career Connections [ask of American alumni only] [Carry forward selection to next question]
      • None
    • For each category the respondent selects, ask:
      • Was this the first time you heard about this resource?
        • Yes
        • No
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E3.1.05: Percent of participants who are connected to ECA through a U.S. Department of State-managed platform

  • Digital platform - A digital place, opportunity, or event for public discussion or interpersonal engagement intentionally convened, sustained, or otherwise facilitated through ECA programming.
  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Calculations:
    • To calculate percentage, numerator will be number of respondents who select “yes” to at least one of the survey question response options while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • Are you connected with the Department of State International Exchange Alumni Network on the following digital platforms?
      • Registered on the alumni.state.gov website (https://alumni.state.gov)
      • Follow @Exchangealumni on Twitter,
      • Connected with Alumni Affairs on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alumni-affairs-9b871b103)
    • [Scale: Yes/No/I don’t know]
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

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ECA Objective 4: Strengthen personal, professional, and technical abilities and aptitudes of participants and beneficiaries

• E4.0.01: Percent of participants reporting increases in their job skills as a result of their program participation

  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Calculations:
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents who reply “yes” while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported)
    • [NOTE: This question is also included in Indicators E4.0.03 and E4.0.05. If these are to be included in a survey, this question can be asked once, with up to two follow-up questions based on an affirmative response.]
    • Did you increase your personal and/or professional skills as a result of your participation in this program?
      • Yes
      • No
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E4.0.03: Percent of participants reporting an increase in soft skills as a result of their program participation

  • Soft skills - Qualities and behaviors an individual demonstrates to interact with others effectively. Examples include communication, listening, self-awareness, awareness of others, self-initiative, cognitive competence skills, self-confidence, resourcefulness/resilience, and decision-making and problem-solving skills.
  • Counting Frequency: Each participant should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Calculations:
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents who select at least one answer option except for “none of the above skills” in the second question while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported)
    • NOTE: Question 1 is also included in Indicator 4.0.01 and 4.0.05. If at least two of those questions are to be included in a survey, question 1 can be asked once, with up to two follow-up questions based on an affirmative response.
    • Did you increase your personal and/or professional skills as a result of your participation in this program?
      • Yes
      • No
    • If YES:
      • Please select the personal skills you increased. Select all that apply.
        • Leadership skills
        • Communication skills
        • Listening skills
        • Self-awareness
        • Self-initiative
        • Self-confidence
        • Resourcefulness
        • Decision-making skills
        • Problem-solving skills
        • Other: ______ [write-in]
        • None of the above skills
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E4.0.05: Percent of participants who report an increase in technical skills as a result of their program participation

  • Technical skills - Knowledge and ability to perform specific tasks. Examples of technical skills include project management, entrepreneurship, journalism, teaching instruction, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competence.
  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Calculations:
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents who select at least one answer option EXCEPT for “none of the above skills” in the second question while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • NOTE: Question 1 is also included in Indicator 4.0.01 and 4.0.03. If at least two of these questions are to be included in a survey, question 1 can be asked once, with up to two follow-up questions based on an affirmative response.
    • Did you increase your personal and/or professional skills as a result of your participation in this program?
      • Yes
      • No
    • If YES:
      • Please select the professional skills you increased. Select all that apply.
        • Project management skills
        • Business management skills
        • Entrepreneurship skills
        • Journalism skills
        • Teaching skills
        • Science competence
        • Technology competence
        • Engineering competence
        • Mathematics competence
        • Other: ______ [write-in]
        • None of the above skills
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E4.0.09: Percent of participants reporting an increase in language skills as a result of their program participation

  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Calculations:
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents who answered yes in question 1, while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported)
    1. Did you improve your language skills in a foreign language as a result of the program?
       • Yes
       • No
    2. If YES to question 1, ask questions 2 and 3:
       • Which of the following best described your ability to speak in that foreign language before your participation in the program?
         • No ability at all
         • Able to communicate only in a very limited capacity
         • Able to satisfy basic survival needs and minimum courtesy requirements
         • Able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements
         • Able to speak with sufficient grammatical accuracy and vocabulary to discuss relevant professional areas
         • Able to speak fluently and accurately in all situations
         • Proficiency equivalent to that of a native speaker
       • [Use display logic to show those choices with abilities greater than the selection in question 2.]
    3. Which of the following best describes your ability to speak in that foreign language after the program?
       • Able to communicate only in a very limited capacity
       • Able to satisfy basic survival needs and minimum courtesy requirements
       • Able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements
       • Able to speak with sufficient grammatical accuracy and vocabulary to discuss relevant professional areas
       • Able to speak fluently and accurately in all situations
       • Proficiency equivalent to that of a native speaker
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

• E4.0.14: Percent of participants reporting new digital skills/competencies gained from virtual exchange (VE) programming

  • Digital skill/competencies – Digital skills are defined as a range of abilities to use digital devices, communication applications, and networks to access and manage information, and to participate in a virtual program. Skills include: knowledge about various low and high-tech technologies (such as the internet, digital video, software programs, etc.), knowledge of how various technologies can be used to communicate with others, knowledge required by teachers for integrating technology into their classrooms, and/or creating content for various technologies.
  • Virtual Exchange - See Definitions of Key Terms
  • Virtual Elements - See Definitions of Key Terms
  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Calculations:
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents who respond “yes” to the question, while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported)
    • As a result of your participation in the program, did you gain new digital skills/competencies?
      • Yes
      • No
  • When to Collect: Post-Program
  • This indicator counts participants involved in virtual exchange programs (see definition above) and WILL NOT count participants ONLY engaging with virtual program elements.

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ECA Sub-Objective 4.1: Participants engage in language, academic, professional, and cultural programs

• E4.1.01: Total number of participants (core indicator)

  • Counting Frequency: Each participant should only be counted once per semi-annual reporting cycle following their program completion.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Annually

• E4.1.02: Total number of program cohorts (core indicator)

  • Program cohort - A group of participants hosted separately under a program umbrella and following a set course of activities and/or study. For instance:
    • IVLP is a program – each individual IVLP project conducted in a year would be considered a separate cohort.
    • PFP is a program – the two groups of participants PFP brings to the US each year are each considered separate cohorts.
    • Arts Envoy is a program- each group of artists that travels is considered a separate cohort. A band or group of musicians would be considered a cohort but each individual should be counted separately as a participant.
  • Counting Frequency: Each cohort should only be counted once per semi-annual reporting cycle following its completion.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Cohort type: inbound, outbound, virtual
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Annually

• E4.1.03: Number of ECA-supported international scholarships provided

  • Scholarships - Monetary assistance provided by ECA for students and/or professionals to attend college or university abroad.
  • Counting Frequency: All scholarships should be counted even if more than one scholarship goes to the same individual. Scholarships should be counted once per semi-annual reporting cycle during which they were awarded.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Amount: $0-5000; $5001- $10,000; $10,001+
    • Participant type: American, foreign
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Semi-Annually

• E4.1.04: Number of professional placements

  • Professional placement - A position placement a participant holds during their exchange program with a host institution for the purpose of professional development. These are most commonly internships, but can also include job shadowing, mentoring or a professional project as well.
  • Host institution - An institution that provides support to or benefits from the participation of program participants. Benefits to this group most often occur through interaction with the participants and/or alumni during or after the program.
  • Professional development - The act of learning and/or improving skills in order to better meet professional goals. Professional development activities can include formal coursework, attending conferences, and informal learning opportunities situated in practice; i.e. informal peer-to-peer interaction and learning, or opportunities through knowledge sharing.
  • Counting Frequency: Each placement should only be counted once the placement has been completed and only once per semi-annual reporting cycle. If a participant holds more than one placement during their exchange program, each placement should be counted.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Host type: family, business/professio nal organization, academic institution, government agency
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Semi-Annually

• E4.1.05: Number of participants in programs with a media literacy component

  • Media literacy component- An educational portion of a program that focuses on the ability to identify different types of media and the messages they are sending. It includes activities such as a training, a talk or seminar on media literacy or how to teach media literacy, training for journalism, connecting participants with media experts or providing resources for media literacy.
  • Counting Frequency: Each participant should only be counted once per semi-annual reporting cycle following their program completion.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Semi-Annually

• E4.1.06: Number of participants in programs with formal, dedicated language learning activities

  • Counting Frequency: Each participant should only be counted once per semi-annual reporting cycle following their program completion
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Semi-Annually

• E4.1.07: Number of instruction methodology trainings implemented

  • Training - An organized activity that is designed and implemented to build capacity and has specific learning objectives – expected knowledge, skills and/or competencies to be gained by participants. Trainings of any length with this purpose should be counted. Building trainings implemented capacity means that recipients of training gain increased knowledge, skills, and/or competencies. This indicator specifically measures “instruction methodology” related trainings. Instruction methodology trainings – Those trainings related to furthering skills in teaching.
  • Counting Frequency: Each training should only be counted once per semi-annual reporting cycle.
  • Disagg.: N/A
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Semi-Annually

• E4.1.08: Number of language teaching fellows enrolled

  • Fellowship - A program that allows students and recent graduates to work with an institution on a specific project to be completed during a set period of time. Fellowships are explicitly designed to produce academic research and/or increase professional development of the fellow.
  • Language teaching fellow - Through the English Language Fellow (EL Fellow) and Virtual Educator Programs, highly qualified U.S. educators in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) participate in 10-month-long fellowships at academic institutions throughout the world.
  • Counting Frequency: The number of fellows enrolled in the current reporting year should be counted. Fellows are considered enrolled if they have started their program. Fellows should only be counted once per semi-annual reporting cycle even if they participate in multiple fellowships concurrently.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Home state
    • Race
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Semi-Annually

• E4.1.11: Number of American reciprocal exchange participants

  • Reciprocal Exchange Participant - An American who travels to an exchange participant’s home country to assist the participant with their individual project.
  • Counting Frequency: Each participant should only be counted once per semi-annual reporting cycle following their program completion
  • Disaggregation:
    • Race by the applicant
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Annually

• E4.1.13: Number of fellows completing language teaching fellowships

  • Fellowship - A fellowship is a program that allows students and recent graduates to work with an institution on a specific project to be completed during the fellowship period. Fellowships are explicitly designed to produce academic research and/or increase professional development of the fellow.
  • Language teaching fellow - Through the English Language Fellow (EL Fellow) and Virtual Educator Programs, highly qualified U.S. educators in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) participate in 10-month-long fellowships at academic institutions throughout the world.
  • Counting Frequency: The number of fellows enrolled in the current reporting year should be counted. Fellows should only be counted once per semi-annual reporting cycle even if they participate in multiple fellowships concurrently
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Home state
    • Race
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Semi-Annually

• E4.1.14: Number of virtual exchange (VE) programs

  • Virtual Exchange - See Definitions of Key Terms
  • Program - The overarching umbrella under which all activities take place. Or alternatively, it is the official name that is listed in ACPD’s comprehensive annual report on public diplomacy and international broadcasting
  • Disagg.: N/A
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Annually

• E4.1.15: Number of participants in virtual exchange (VE) programs

  • Virtual Exchange - See Definitions of Key Terms
  • Virtual elements - See Definitions of Key Terms
  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion. Calculations: This indicator counts participants involved in virtual exchange programs (see definition above) and WILL NOT count participants engaging with virtual program elements. Each participant should only be counted once per semi-annual reporting cycle following their program completion
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Annually

• E4.1.16: Number of audience members attending cultural events

  • Audience member - A person who attends an event and is not a program participant.
  • Cultural events - Can include events such as concerts or movie screenings; these can be hosted in the United States or abroad but must be done in conjunction with an ECA program.
  • Counting Frequency: Audience members should be counted following each event.
  • Disagg.: N/A
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Administrative data from award recipients - not collected from the participant surveys
  • When to Collect: Following each event

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ECA Sub-Objective 4.2: Increase ability of participants to recognize and counter disinformation

• E4.2.01: Percent of participants that report increased ability to counter disinformation
  • Disinformation - False or misleading information that is spread deliberately to deceive. Disinformation can include authentic information or true facts that are used in the wrong context to make false connections, or it can be outright false information or propaganda.
  • Counting Frequency: Each respondent should only be counted once in the reporting year following their program completion.
  • Calculations:
    • To determine the percent value, numerator is number of respondents that replied “Increased” for at least one question item while the denominator will be the total number of question respondents. Divide the numerator by the denominator and then multiply by 100 for the percent value.
  • Disaggregation:
    • Sex
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Home state
    • Race
    • Participant type: American, foreign, reciprocal
  • Target: To be completed by the applicant
  • Data Source and Required* Survey Question: Survey (self-reported data)
    • How would you rate your ability to do each of the following now compared to before program participation? For each, please indicate if your ability increased, stayed the same, or decreased.
      • Validate information I see in the media
      • Identify accurate information
      • Think critically about information I see online
      • Evaluate everyday information I receive from multiple sources
      • Identify false information
      • [Scale: Decreased, Stayed the same, Increased]
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

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ECA Objective 8: Enhance the quality and effectiveness of ECA programs by leveraging the Bureau’s resources, policy, and stakeholder relationships

• E8.0.03: Response rate for participant surveys (core indicator)
  • Counting Frequency: Response rates will be calculated and reported semi-annually on surveys that closed (i.e. ceased allowing respondents to respond) in that six-month period, even if the survey opened in the previous six-month period. This may be a single survey or an aggregation, if more than one survey closed in that six-month period. Each survey invitation should be counted once, and each response (if received) should be counted once.
  • Calculations:
    • The response rate will be calculated by dividing the number of survey responses received by the number of survey invitations issued (sent by email or directly invited in some other way).
    • Note that “survey responses” will include cases in which any portion of a survey was returned (at least one piece of response data provided). It will not include cases where respondents opened the survey and opted out by selecting the option not to continue on the opening consent screen.
  • Disagg.: N/A
  • Target: 60%
  • Data Source and Required*: Survey Records
  • When to Collect: Post-Program

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U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) — Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

FY26 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES)

Funding Opportunity Number: DFOP0017979
Application Deadline: May 26, 2026

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A. Basic Information

1. Overview.

• Funding Opportunity Title: FY26 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES)
• Funding Opportunity Number: DFOP0017979
• Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement
• Deadline for Applications: May 26, 2026, 11:59pm Eastern (Washington DC time)
• Assistance Listing Number: 19.415

2. Length of Performance Period

• 15 months

3. Number of Awards Anticipated

• 1 award

4. Award Amount

• approximately $10,000,000

5. Total Available Funding

• $10,000,000, pending availability of funds

6. Type of Funding

• FY26 Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs (ECE) Funds

7. Funding Instrument Type

• Cooperative Agreement

8. Anticipated Award Date

• June 20, 2026

This notice is subject to availability of funding. Issuance of the NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the Government.

ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the program and the availability of funds.

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2. Executive Summary

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invite proposals for a cooperative agreement to implement the FY 2026 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) high school exchange program, hereafter referred to as the YES program.

Participants will be on program from approximately January to June 2027. The program requires the following elements:

• Manage overseas operations, recruit and select inbound participants, arrange travel, and oversee database and website management for all inbound participants, as well as coordinate the overall program.
• Manage host family and school placements for inbound foreign participants in the United States, organize “American Excellence” enhancement activities, and provide ongoing monitoring and support.

Although not required, applicants have the option to also propose a YES Abroad outbound component, recruiting, placing, and monitoring up to 30 American students who will attend high school and live with host families overseas.

The YES program advances U.S. interests by cultivating a network of young leaders who understand and support U.S. principles and priorities, with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, civic engagement, and leadership. The program equips American youth participants with language skills and cross-cultural competencies essential for success in international business, diplomacy, and security. By fostering connections among young people from the United States and key countries, the program supports the National Security Strategy’s focus on expanding alliances to secure American interests and counter adversarial influence.

Key Activities:

• Up to 270 foreign high school participants will study in the U.S. for an academic semester.
• All participants live with host families, attend high school, perform community service, and participate in American Excellence enhancement activities.

ECA expects to issue one award.

The attached POGI document outlines the activities, roles, and responsibilities that the YES Program recipient will carry out.

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B. Eligibility

1. Eligible Applicants.
   The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• U.S. Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
• U.S. Not-for-profit public and private educational institutions

Please see the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for additional information.

2. Cost Sharing.
   There is no minimum or maximum percentage of cost sharing required for this program.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements.

a. All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration in SAM.gov. Please see Section E. Submission Requirements and Deadlines for more information.

b. ECA’s Grant Guidelines require that organizations demonstrate at least four years of experience in conducting international exchanges to be eligible for awards exceeding $130,000 in ECA funding. As noted in Section A. Basic Information, ECA anticipates issuing one award, for approximately $10,000,000. Therefore, organizations must demonstrate four years of experience in conducting international exchanges in your proposal to be eligible to apply under this competition.

c. All proposals must comply with the requirements stated in the NOFO, Project Objectives, Goals, and Instructions (POGI) document, and the PSI; not doing so may result in your proposal being declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review process.

d. All proposals must contain a SF-424, executive summary, proposal narrative, budget (SF-424A), detailed line-item budget, and budget narrative.

e. Only one proposal will be considered by ECA from each applicant organization. In cases where more than one submission from an applicant appears in grants.gov, ECA will only consider the submission made closest in time to the NOFO deadline; that submission would constitute the one and only proposal ECA would review from that applicant.

Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal name, and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 and additional supporting documentation outlined in the PSI document.

f. Applicants who are current recipients of awards directly from ECA should make sure the application discusses one or more award that will be open with ECA at the start of the anticipated period of performance for this NOFO. Applicants who do not have current awards directly with ECA, please review the information in the PSI, section D, with additional information that must be provided in your application for it to be eligible.

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C. Program Description

The YES program will bring up to 270 high school participants from strategically important countries, selected on merit, to study in the United States for an academic semester. Given the condensed timeline for this program, the applicant can propose fewer participants, but should propose at least 130 inbound students.

Participants will live with volunteer U.S. host families, attend high school, perform community service, develop leadership skills, and take part in American Excellence enhancement activities. YES program proposals may include plans to select and program up to 30 American high school participants, based on merit, to study abroad in proposed countries for an academic semester.

Applicant organizations may partner with sub-award recipients on any part of the program. Because this cooperative agreement covers a broad scope and geographic area, ECA anticipates that applicants may propose multiple organizations as sub-award recipients. This approach is encouraged, if necessary, to strengthen the primary award recipient’s capacity. Each sub-award recipient must demonstrate significant previous experience in youth exchange in the region where it will implement the program. The applicant will, however, be fully responsible for the oversight of its sub-award recipients.

If using sub-awardees, your proposal must describe how you will provide mentoring, training, oversight, and additional monitoring for participants recruited and/or placed by sub-award recipients.

Proposals must identify anticipated sub-award recipients and include letters of commitment from these implementing partners. The recipient organization must provide sub-recipients with the relevant sections of the POGI and ensure they understand all requirements of the POGI, your organization’s expectations, J-1 visa regulations, and OMB Guidance 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600.

Further information on sub-awards is provided in the OMB Guidance 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600, entitled the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards referenced in section F.2.

Program administration must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local tax reporting and withholding regulations. Recipient organizations must demonstrate this compliance in both the proposal narrative and budget.

YES inbound participants must return to their home countries immediately after their exchange program ends. In addition, recipient(s) must assist and represent the U.S. Department of State in meeting all J-1 Secondary School Student visa requirements under eCFR :: 22 CFR Part 62 -- Exchange Visitor Program. If proposed, for the outbound program (YES Abroad), which is not subject to J-1 regulations, the recipient must uphold standards similar to J-1 regulations in order to ensure participant safety and well-being.

1. Authority.
   Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of the Act is "to enable the Government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries...; to strengthen the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United States and other nations...and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States and the other countries of the world." The funding authority for the program above is provided through legislation.

2. Purpose.
   YES advances America’s interests by building a network of young leaders who understand and support U.S. culture and America First priorities. The program forges lasting relationships between Americans and peers worldwide, develops leadership skills, and showcases the United States as a global leader in innovation, governance, and economic prosperity.

3. Program Specific Guidelines.
   YES supports key Administration priorities by emphasizing entrepreneurship and skill development to promote prosperity. The program highlights American excellence to young leaders around the world and builds pro-American networks. It incorporates U.S. history and government into coursework and activities for international participants, covering topics such as freedom of speech, federalism, entrepreneurship, innovation, and artificial intelligence. Additionally, participants will gain broader exposure to the U.S. business sector.

Program Timetable
Funding for the YES inbound cohort will support exchanges during the second semester of the 2026-2027 academic year, from January to June 2027. All inbound participants must enroll in accredited U.S. high schools and live with American host families. If proposed, funding for the YES Abroad cohort will support exchanges that begin no earlier than January 2027 and end in June 2027, with some variation in travel dates allowed based on host countries’ academic calendars. A notional timetable for inbound and outbound follows:

Date/Period Activity

• June 2026 Awards issued
• July–September 2026 Recruitment and selection
• October 2026
• October 2026- December 2027 Select finalists and alternates; Placement in host families and schools
• December 2026 Pre-departure orientations and preparation
• January 2027 Travel for inbound and outbound (if proposed) participants
• January 2027–June 2027 In-country program and ongoing monitoring
• May–June 2027 Participant return travel
• September 30, 2027 End of cooperative agreements

Countries and Recruitment Targets
Applicants should suggest up to 10 sending countries from those that previously participated in YES and propose the target number of participants per country. When choosing sending countries, applicants should consider the National Security Strategy, White House Executive Orders, participants’ ability to join a semester program from particular countries, and the feasibility of recruiting merit-based participants from those countries. ECA will make the final determination of participating countries.

Although not required, proposals may include up to 30 outbound participants and must demonstrate the ability to place and monitor abroad. Applicants may suggest up to five countries that previously participated in YES Abroad. When selecting countries, applicants should consider the criteria listed above and the security considerations at https://travel.state.gov. Should an outbound component be included, ECA will make the final determination of countries.

Note: ECA may adjust project configurations, budgets, and participant numbers based on program needs and available funds. ECA may also change or add participating countries if conditions shift or new priorities emerge.

ECA intends for YES participants and their natural families to incur minimal out-of-pocket costs. The recipient organization will provide participants with stipends for pocket money. The award recipient and sub-award recipient(s) must not charge participants or their families for application or program fees related to their application or participation.

4. Recipient Responsibilities.
   The attached POGI document outlines the activities, roles, and responsibilities that the YES Program recipient will carry out.

5. Goals and Objectives.
   YES advances Administration priorities by engaging high school-aged youth in exchange programs. By reaching participants at a formative age and shaping the next generation of leaders, these programs promote pro-American networks, showcase American excellence, strengthen U.S. global influence, and build strategic partnerships that support America’s long-term economic and national security interests.

Program Goals:

1. Advance U.S. Interests and Principles
   • Build a global network of young leaders who understand and support America First principles, priorities, and policies.
   • Strengthen linkages and lasting ties between the United States and participating countries.
2. Develop Leadership and Entrepreneurial Skills
   • Equip participants with leadership and entrepreneurship skills that foster future innovation, prosperity, and security.
   • Showcase American excellence in governance, business, and civic engagement.
3. Promote Cultural Exchange and Community Engagement
   • Facilitate meaningful cultural immersion experiences for international and American (if proposed) high school participants.
   • Encourage active participation in host communities through volunteer service, extracurricular activities, and cultural events.

Program Objectives:

• YES inbound participants will develop an appreciation for U.S. culture and gain a deeper understanding of foundational American principles, including freedom of speech, civic engagement, and excellence in innovation.
• YES and YES Abroad (if proposed) participants will develop an appreciation for their host cultures and broaden their perspectives and language abilities through direct engagement and exchange.
• YES and YES Abroad (if proposed) participants will actively share information about their home cultures with their hosts and local communities while building lasting relationships.
• YES Abroad (if proposed) participants will demonstrate and share U.S. ideals, including freedom of speech, civic engagement, and business principles, in their host communities.
• YES and YES Abroad (if proposed) participants will develop leadership skills that empower them, as alumni, to initiate development and community service activities in their home countries.

6. Program Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E).
   Distinct from grants or cooperative agreement monitoring and participant monitoring, performance monitoring is designed to assess progress against a program’s goals and objectives. A performance monitoring framework is vital to tracking the direction, pace, and magnitude of change that result from ECA programs.

ECA created the Monitoring Data for ECA (MODE) Framework to measure the performance of ECA programs. The MODE Framework provides standard indicators and corresponding survey questions to ensure consistent measures across all ECA programs. More resources and guidance documents on the MODE Framework are available online at: https://www.state.gov/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/.

The proposal must include the MODE Framework objectives and indicators listed below (note that, because not all MODE objectives and indicators are relevant for a program, the numbering below will not be sequential). In addition to the ECA-required objectives and indicators, applicants may also select additional MODE Framework indicators (see the Indicator Book on the MODE Framework website), or design custom objectives and indicators that are specific to the proposed program and this proposal.

Demographic Questions as outlined in the Indicator Book on page v and Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) (See the MODE Resource Guide - https://app.box.com/s/qjo8icwj46tc8h1i1qtg80zl7ibwgtua – found on our website https://www.state.gov/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/)

• Objective 1: Advance participant and beneficiary cross-cultural competence and global perspective
  • Sub-Objective 1.1: Promote cultural exchanges and enhance understanding between participants and their host communities
    • E1.1.01: Percent of participants reporting that their program experience offered opportunities to engage with other cultures
    • E1.1.04: Percent of foreign participants with more favorable opinions of the United States Government (core indicator)
    • E1.1.09: Percent of participants who traveled abroad for the first time because of their program (core indicator)
    • E1.1.10: Percent of foreign participants who traveled to the United States for the first time during their program (core indicator)
    • E1.1.11: Percent of American participants indicating a change in their understanding of their host country's culture and values
    • E1.1.12: Percent of foreign participants indicating a change in understanding of third-party countries’ cultures and values
    • E1.1.13: Percent of foreign participants who are more likely to recommend the United States as a good place to study
    • E1.1.16: Percent of virtual exchange (VE) participants who report VE as their only likely way to interact with citizens from other countries in the future
    • E1.1.17: Percent of foreign participants with more favorable opinions of the American people (core indicator)
    • E1.1.18: Percent of foreign participants indicating an increase in understanding of United States culture and values (core indicator)
    • E1.1.19: Percent of foreign participants agreeing with statements in support of democratic values (core indicator)
• Objective 2: Increase the impact that participants and alumni have on their communities / countries
  • E2.0.01: Percent of foreign participants that volunteer in their host communities
  • E2.0.04: Number of hours that foreign participants spend volunteering in their host communities
  • Sub-Objective 2.2: Foster participants’ belief that civic engagement benefits communities/countries
    • E2.2.01: Percent of participants who have more confidence in their ability to have an impact in their home country (core indicator)
• Objective 3: Strengthen engagement among participants, alumni, beneficiaries, and institutions
  • E3.0.02: Percent of foreign participants who report increasing their network of Americans (core indicator)
  • E3.0.04: Percent of foreign participants who report increasing their network of third country nationals
  • E3.0.07: Percent of participants who identify as a Department of State program participant (core indicator)
  • Sub-Objective 3.1: Alumni subscribe to platforms for resources and information-sharing
    • E3.1.02: Percent of participants who learned about new resources
    • E3.1.05: Percent of participants who are connected to ECA through a U.S. Department of State-managed platform
• Objective 4: Strengthen personal, professional, and technical abilities and aptitudes of participants and beneficiaries
  • E4.0.01: Percent of participants reporting increases in their job skills as a result of their program participation
  • E4.0.03: Percent of participants reporting an increase in soft skills as a result of their program participation
  • E4.0.05: Percent of participants who report an increase in technical skills as a result of their program participation
  • E4.0.09: Percent of participants reporting an increase in language skills as a result of their program participation
  • E4.0.14: Percent of participants reporting new digital skills/competencies gained from virtual exchange (VE) programming
  • Sub-Objective 4.1: Participants engage in language, academic, professional, and cultural exchange programs
    • E4.1.01: Total number of participants (core indicator)
    • E4.1.02: Total number of program cohorts (core indicator)
    • E4.1.03: Number of ECA-supported international scholarships provided
    • E4.1.04: Number of professional placements
    • E4.1.06: Number of participants in programs with formal, dedicated language learning activities
    • E4.1.07: Number of instruction methodology trainings implemented
    • E4.1.08: Number of language teaching fellows enrolled
    • E4.1.11: Number of American reciprocal exchange participants
    • E4.1.13: Number of fellows completing language teaching fellowships
    • E4.1.14: Number of virtual exchange (VE) programs
    • E4.1.15: Number of participants in virtual exchange (VE) programs
    • E4.1.16: Number of audience members attending cultural events
• Objective 8: Enhance the quality and effectiveness of ECA programs by leveraging the Bureau’s resources, policy, and stakeholder relationships
  • E8.0.03: Response rate for participant surveys (core indicator)

Performance Monitoring Plans (PMPs)
ECA recommends the use of a PMP to serve as the primary reference document for performance monitoring for this award. If used, the PMP is an important part of any proposal, as it outlines how the applicant plans to track progress towards the proposed program’s goals and objectives through indicators and corresponding data collection questions. A PMP document that includes all MODE Framework indicators is a part of this solicitation’s attachments. Specific instructions on how to modify the PMP to be responsive to this solicitation are included in that document; there is also a support video available for more information on how to fill out the PMP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBHC1oLNZvI. While ECA recommends the applicant use the PMP format provided, this is not a requirement. If a PMP is not included in the proposal, applicants should provide similar information to that found in the suggested PMP format, in a presentation of your choice. Successful PMPs (or similar documentation) should include the following:

• Objectives. Programmatic objectives are statements of the condition(s) that state what the program is designed to achieve. Objectives are therefore bound by the resources and timeframe of the program and must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound (SMART). In addition to those outlined above, the applicant may propose other program objectives from the MODE Framework or other applicant-designed program-specific objectives.
• Indicators. Performance indicators are measures used to gauge progress toward programmatic objectives and sub-objectives. Indicators should be as specific as possible (following the SMART principles) and include any proposed disaggregations (meaning, breakdowns of the data by subgroups; the PMP lists the demographic questions required to obtain the information necessary to report the disaggregations). Each indicator should also include a target number to be achieved. A target is a planned level of result to be achieved within an explicit timeframe.
• If you do not use the PMP format provided, note that any performance monitoring reference document the applicant submits should include the information in the column headers (Indicator Name, Definition, Target, Survey Question, etc.) in the PMP attachment at a minimum.
• In addition to those indicators outlined in above, the applicant may propose additional custom, program-specific indicators in the PMP (ECA recommends the proposed PMPs include a minimum of one indicator for each custom programmatic objective).
• During the period of performance of the award, the ECA program office may further revise, add, or remove indicators. Therefore, the applicant’s PMP and data collection instruments should be flexible enough to incorporate those once established.

Award recipients are responsible for collecting indicator data only on participant outcomes during the period of performance of the award itself (see the PMP for guidelines as to when these data collection efforts should occur). ECA will measure outcomes of ECA participants at one, three, five, and 10 years after the exchange has ended to capture the long-term outcomes of ECA programming unless otherwise specified in the solicitation. In this instance, the recipient will be responsible for coordinating with ECA on any alumni surveys to de-duplicate questions and minimize potential survey fatigue.

Regardless of the survey platform used, all MODE Framework survey questions outlined above are required (i.e., should be forced response); please see the Consent Language in the MODE Framework Indicator Book for more information on how to convey this to participants/survey respondents.

Program Performance M&E Narrative
Proposals should include information within the program narrative section(s) that outlines how the applicant intends to measure the indicators listed above. This will be separate from the PMP and should include but not be limited to:

• An overview of resources available to the applicant that outline the team structure and responsibilities surrounding performance monitoring.
• The mechanism(s) through which surveys and other data collection tools (if applicable) will be administered, including which platform will be used, and when and how surveys will be advertised to participants – detailing strategies to ensure adequate survey response rates (https://app.box.com/s/pn6tavyg7sh064i502fzap49ox63y38a), and to reduce selection and non-response bias.
• A brief explanation of data analysis and reporting procedures.
• An overview of a proposed learning plan and feedback loops to ensure that the Grant Officer (GO)/Grant Officer Representative (GOR) are informed on performance monitoring issues at regular intervals.

Nonmandatory Use of the Qualtrics MODE Survey Builder Data Collection System
ECA has created a guided tool (the MODE Survey Builder) within the Qualtrics survey platform for ECA implementing partners to generate surveys to facilitate the seamless collection and reporting of MODE Framework data. The MODE Survey Builder offers implementing partners a guided workflow that will generate a ready-to-send MODE survey, allows the addition of custom survey questions, and offers a standard report template for a quick overview of survey results that can be submitted in MyGrants (see section below) to fulfill RPM Reporting Requirements.

Use of the Qualtrics survey platform can be utilized at no cost to implementing partners. Additional information about the MODE Survey Builder can be found here:

• https://app.box.com/s/jjr98hmx6deorxj3lwgaxjrwdfec2r91
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jus4fRqOTcM

You can propose use of an alternate survey tool or use the MODE Survey Builder, but if you are utilizing the MODE Survey Builder, you must indicate such in your proposal.

MyGrants RPM Reporting Requirements
MyGrants is a database solution that serves as the official system of record for all U.S. Department of State and ECA awards. The Results Performance Monitoring (RPM) module within MyGrants is an extension module that enables users to report performance monitoring data in the same system where they currently manage federal assistance actions. As part of ECA’s efforts to streamline data collection and management, the recipient(s) of this award will be required to input performance reporting data outlined in this solicitation into the MyGrants RPM. The data stored in the MyGrants RPM will provide ECA with a bureau-wide, uniform M&E reporting tool that is already linked with other elements of the awards familiar to existing awardees.

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7. Allowable Costs

Allowable costs for the inbound program include:

• Program materials (including description of how they will be used).
• Orientations (pre-arrival, post-arrival, mid-program, re-entry) for participants and host families.
• Reasonable accommodations.
• Host family screening for participants (criminal background checks, interviews, home visits).
• Participant and host family monitoring (counseling, troubleshooting, moving participants as needed).
• Insurance costs, if not using ECA’s ASPE benefits plan.
• Salaries and benefits, travel, communications, equipment, and supplies.
• Support and monitoring of local staff, including support for home/community visits to 20% of participants.
• National or regional local coordinator trainings.
• Stipends and honoraria for non-salaried staff and volunteers.
• $100 average per participant emergency expense fund to be retained by the recipient for small emergency expenses (e.g., eyeglasses, dental problems not covered by health benefits, medical co-payments).
• $200 fixed-rate monthly allowance for 6 months.
• $300 average per participant incidentals allowance to be spent by host family for school-related expenses (e.g., yearbook, locker fees, school transportation fees, gym clothing or essential school clothing) for which receipts must be provided.
• Mandatory school fees not covered by incidental allowance
• $400 average per participant activities fund (all field trips, enhancement and leadership development activities, community service projects, etc. must be included in this amount; additional funding requests will not be accepted.)

Allowable Costs for the outbound YES Abroad program (if proposed):

• Mandatory school fees (including books, activity fees, or registration costs; in exceptional instances, school transportation and tuition may be allowable costs).
• Insurance costs, if not using ECA’s ASPE benefits plan.
• Salaries and benefits, domestic travel, communications, equipment, and supplies.
• $200 per month stipend for six months ($1,200 in total per student).
• Up to $600 per month host family stipend for six months ($3,600 in total per student).
• $2,400 average per student for language training for each outbound participant (based on an average cost of $30 per hour for 80 hours of language training per participant).
• $100 per student for orientation costs.
• $100 average per participant emergency expense fund to be retained by the recipient for small emergency expenses (e.g., eyeglasses, dental problems not covered by health benefits, medical co-payments).
• $400 average per participant activities fund (All field trips, enhancement and leadership development activities, and community service projects, must be included in this amount; additional funding requests will not be accepted.)

The budget should clearly distinguish participant costs from non-participant costs. If you propose a YES Abroad program, clearly delineate its costs.

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8. Cost Share

ECA encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs. When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s Guidance 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600, entitled the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. In the event you do not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's contribution may be reduced in like proportion.

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9. Program Information and History

The YES program, established in 2003, aims to strengthen relationships and foster collaboration between Americans and people from countries of strategic importance. The YES inbound program brings international high school students from strategically important countries to the United States each year, where they live with American host families and attend schools across the country. The reciprocal YES Abroad program, launched in 2009, sends American high school students to select YES countries to attend school and live with host families. Nearly 15,500 foreign students have participated in the YES program, and nearly 800 American students have participated in the YES Abroad program.

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10. Freedom and Democracy Guidelines

Public Law 104-319 provides that "in carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy," the Bureau "shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries." Public Law 106 - 113 requires that the governments of the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.

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11. Virtual Exchange Component

When changing political, health, environmental, or other similar circumstances require a suspension or halt of in-person activities and where ECA determines that a virtual alternative is appropriate and viable, award recipients should demonstrate the ability and capacity to transition from in-person to virtual exchanges.

Proposals should demonstrate the organization’s capacity to provide innovative options for virtual activities to substitute for in-person engagement for program participants. Organizations should consider how they will implement virtual exchange activities, given the potential limits to internet access from participants in some locations and while continuing to advance foreign policy objectives and achieve lasting benefits for U.S. citizens and international participants.

In addition to planning for virtual exchange activities if in-person programming is prohibited, ECA welcomes innovative ideas on how organizations can leverage virtual programming technologies during or in addition to in-person programming. ECA encourages organizations submitting proposals in response to this solicitation to suggest one or more virtual exchange components to complement the in-person exchange. The virtual exchange components could come before, during and/or after the physical exchange. The objective for the virtual exchange components is to augment the impact of the in-person exchange described in this solicitation. ECA encourages organizations to propose virtual exchange ideas that take advantage of ECA’s existing web and social networking platforms. Virtual exchange components would be coordinated with and approved by the ECA program office and U.S. missions abroad on a project-by-project basis.

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12. Communications Guidance for ECA Recipients

All ECA Recipients must adhere to the requirements in ECA’s Communications Guidance on the creation of program branding and attribution, websites, social media, and press.

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13. Celebration of America’s Semiquincentennial

ECA is excited to play a key role in making the Semiquincentennial – commonly known as “Freedom 250” – a truly global celebration. As the period of performance for this award is scheduled to cover part or all of calendar year (CY) 2026, the applicant may wish to consider ways the program can celebrate Freedom 250. Any Freedom 250 focused activities or plans will be subject to ECA approval and direction, and changes may be requested by ECA. Use of any ECA-provided Freedom 250 brand elements will be subject to advance ECA approval and require adherence to Department of State and ECA guidelines for such branding.

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14. Substantial Involvement

In a cooperative agreement, the Department is substantially involved in program activities above and beyond routine monitoring, as follows:

• Approval of event and orientation agendas.
• Approval of any request for early return and consultation for any challenging cases with participants.
• Approval of recruiting guidelines and program operational guidelines.
• Approval of public communications and materials about the program.
• Approval of American Excellence enhancement activities.

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D. Application Contents and Format

Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals.

Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation Package, including the PSI, which contains guidelines for proposal preparation.

1. Budget Format.
   Applicants must submit a budget (SF-424A), detailed line-item budget, and a budget narrative. See the PSI section III for more information on the budget requirements.

2. Content of Application.
   Please see the PSI for information about the application and formatting guidelines.

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E. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

1. Address to Request Application Package.
   The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Grants.gov website at https://www.grants.gov or from the ECA website at https://www.state.gov/eca-grant-opportunities/.

2. Department of State Contacts
   For questions about this announcement, contact: Katja David-Fox, Program Officer, U.S. Department of State, Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, David-FoxKO@state.gov and Marisa Mac Isaac, Program Officer, U.S. Department of State, Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, MacIsaacM@state.gov.

All correspondence with ECA concerning this solicitation should reference the title and funding opportunity number listed at the top of this solicitation. Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals.

Once the deadline has passed, ECA staff may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.

The terms and conditions published in this solicitation are binding and may not be modified by any ECA representative. Explanatory information provided by ECA that contradicts published language will not be binding.

3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

Required Registrations
All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration in SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. An applicant must maintain an active registration while it has a proposal under review by the Department and must continue to keep the registration active for the entire duration of the period of performance of any Federal award that results from this NOFO.

The 2 CFR 200 requires subrecipients to obtain a UEI. Please note the UEI for subrecipients is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a subrecipient.

Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI prior to registering in SAM.gov.

All federal award recipients must maintain a current registration in the SAM database. Recipients must maintain accurate and up-to-date information in www.SAM.gov until all program and financial activity and reporting are completed on any issued award. Recipients must review and update the information at least annually after the initial registration and more frequently if required information changes or another award is granted. There is no cost associated with registering or updating SAM.gov accounts.

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration

Exemptions
An exemption from the UEI and sam.gov registration requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis. See 2 CFR 25.110 for a full list of exemptions.

Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the NOFO providing justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.

4. Required Registration with MyGrants.
   All ECA award recipient organizations and recipient contacts and signatories must be registered with the U.S. Department of State’s MyGrants system by accessing https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com and clicking the “create an account” link. MyGrants is the U.S. Department of State’s grants management system and is supported by the Department’s Integrated Logistics Management System (ILMS). Recipient organizations and recipient contacts and signatories that have previously used MyGrants as a U.S. Department of State award recipient do not need to register again. If the organization is not able to access the system, please contact the ILMS Help Desk for help in gaining access.

Support for Recipient Organizations and recipient contacts and signatories is available 24 hours, 7 days a week (except federal holidays), and can be reached at 1-888-313-ILMS (4567) or through the ILMS Self Service Portal at https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms/.

5. Submission Instructions.

Method of Submission
Applications may only be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available at Grants.gov in the “Search Grants” portion of the system.

Grants.gov Registration, Application Submission, and Receipt Procedures
Eligible organizations should follow the instructions available in the ‘Get Started’ portion of the site (https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants.

How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov
Applicants should read instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required application submission deadlines. Applicants should check with appropriate staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this NOFO to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov. Organization applicants can find complete instructions here: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration

How to Submit an Application to ECA via Grants.gov
For access to complete instruction on how to apply for Notice of Funding Opportunities on Grants.gov, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/how-to-apply-for-grants

Grants.gov Support and Submission Issues
Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and submission issues to:

Grants.gov Customer Support
Contact Center Phone: 800 -518-4726
Business Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; closed on federal holidays.
Email: support@grants.gov

6. Submission Dates and Times.

Application Deadline Date.
May 26, 2026, 11:59pm Eastern (Washington DC time)

Applicants have until 11:59 p.m., Washington, DC time of the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above deadline. Applications uploaded to the site after the application deadline date and time will be automatically rejected by the Grants.gov system and will be found technically ineligible.

Therefore, we strongly recommend that you begin the submission process through Grants.gov well in advance of the application deadline.

Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant Grants.gov Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. Applicant AORs will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

When ECA successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgement of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Please also be mindful of any Grants.gov generated error messages that may appear during the application process as they may result in some documents not transmitting correctly.

Applicants using slow internet should be aware that transmission can take some time before Grants.gov receives your application. Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role. The Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

The Grants.gov website includes extensive information on all phases/aspects of the Grants.gov process, including an extensive section on frequently asked questions, located under the “Applicant FAQs” section of the website. ECA strongly recommends that all potential applicants review thoroughly the Grants.gov website, well in advance of submitting a proposal through the Grants.gov system. ECA will not notify you upon receipt of electronic applications.

PLEASE NOTE: ECA bears no responsibility for applicant timeliness of submission or data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes for proposals submitted via Grants.gov. Prior to submitting applications through Grants.gov, please ensure you meet all Grants.gov system and software requirements, including Adobe software compatibility. You can verify if your version of the Adobe software is compatible with Grants.gov, by visiting https://grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility

It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via the Grants.gov web portal (https://www.grants.gov) to ensure that proposals have been received by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.

7. Funding Restrictions for this Announcement.

a. Funding Restrictions for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
None of the funds awarded resulting from this Notice of Funding Opportunity may be made available for subawards, direct financial support, or otherwise used to provide any payment or transfer to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

b. Prohibition on Funding Activities that Encourage Mass-Migration Caravans towards the United States Southwest Border.
None of the funds awarded under this grant may be made available to encourage, mobilize, publicize, or manage mass-migration caravans towards the United States southwest border. Funds may not be made available for legal counseling on the United States asylum process; and/or for referrals to legal or representation in the United States.

Funds may only be used for cash cards for use in the country in which they are provided or to facilitate assisted voluntary returns and other purposes that do not encourage, mobilize, publicize, or manage mass migration caravans towards the United States southwest border. The provision of humanitarian assistance is permitted.

c. Palestinian Authority, West Bank, and Gaza Programming.
All awards made under this competition must be executed according to all relevant U.S. laws and policies regarding assistance to the Palestinian Authority, and to the West Bank and Gaza. Organizations must consult with relevant Public Affairs Offices before entering into any formal arrangements or agreements with Palestinian organizations or institutions.

Note: To assure that planning for the inclusion of the Palestinian Authority complies with requirements, please contact Katja David-Fox, David-FoxKO@state.gov for additional information.

d. Certification Regarding Compliance with Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws
If the place of performance or delivery of any award made under this NOFO will be within the United States, applicants are advised that they will be required to certify the following at the time of award:

i. Its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code and;
ii. It does not operate any programs promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws. A program promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion means a program whose purpose is to promote preferences based on race, color religion, sex, or national origins, such as in training or hiring.

e. Certification Regarding Compliance with 20 U.S.C. 1011f and Any Other Applicable Foreign Funding Disclosure Requirements for Institutions of Higher Education (IHE).
Applicants are advised that IHEs must certify the following at the time of award, and that this certification requirement must be included in any subaward agreements to IHEs:

• Its compliance in all respects with section 1011f of title 20, United States Code, and any other applicable foreign funding disclosure requirements is material for purposes of section 3729 of title 31, United States Code, and for receipt of appropriate Federal grant funds.

f. Certification of Trafficking in Persons Compliance and Compliance Plan
Applicants are advised that they will be required to certify the following at the time of award for awards where the estimated value of services to be performed outside the United States exceeds $500,000:

• To the best of the recipient’s knowledge, neither the recipient, nor any subrecipient, contractor, or subcontractor of the recipient or any agent of the recipient or of such a subrecipient, contractor, or subcontractor, is engaged in any of the activities described in 2 CFR 175(a);
• The recipient has implemented a Trafficking in Persons compliance plan to prevent activities described in 2 CFR 175(a) and is compliant with it; and compliance plan must be consistent with the requirements of 2 CFR 175(b)(4) and (5).
• That the recipient has procedures to prevent activities described in 2 CFR 175(a) and to monitor, detect, and terminate any subrecipient, contractor, subcontractor, or employee of the recipient engaging in them.

Recipients do not need to submit a copy of the plan. However, they must provide it to the Grants Officer upon request, and as appropriate, must post the useful and relevant contents of the plan or related materials on their website and at the workplace. Recipients must re-certify on an annual basis for the entire award period of performance.

g. Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manufactured or Assembled by American Security Drone Act-Covered Foreign Entities

(a) Definitions.

• American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entity means an entity included on a list developed and maintained by the Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC) and published in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov
• FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled by an American Security Drone Act-covered foreign entity.
• Unmanned aircraft means an aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft .
• Unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system.

(b) Prohibition.
Recipients of funding under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (including subawards and subcontracts issued by the recipient) will be prohibited from:

1. delivering any FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system, which includes unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones) and associated elements;
2. Operating a FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system in the performance of the award; and
3. Using Federal funds for the purchase or operation of a FASC-prohibited unmanned aircraft system .

c) Exemptions, exceptions, and waivers.
The prohibitions described above will not apply if the agency determines that an exemption, exception, or waiver applies and the award indicates that such a determination has been made. [See sections 1823 through 1825 and 1832 of Public Law 118-31 (41 U.S.C. 3901 note prec.) for statutory requirements pertaining to exemptions, exceptions, and waivers.].

8. Other Submission Requirements.

a. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.
b. All proposals must contain a SF-424, executive summary, proposal narrative, budget (SF-424A), detailed line-item budget, and budget narrative.
c. Key Personnel
ECA recommends that the applicant identify intended key personnel positions via an asterisk (*) or other marking in the proposal budget, budget narrative, or a separate appendix. If not provided in the application, recipients must submit the names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program to the Grants Officer and GOR within 30 days of an award being issued. Applicants should also identify what proportion of their time will be used in support of the program. Additional information regarding key personnel requirements can be found in the State Department’s Standard Terms and Conditions.
d. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

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F. Application Review Information

1. Review Process.
   ECA will check that all proposals meet the technical requirements in this solicitation. Proposals that do not meet the guidelines, including those under the eligibility section above or in the PSI, will be ineligible for further review.

All eligible proposals will be reviewed by the program office before being reviewed by an ECA grant panel. Applications may also be reviewed by Public Diplomacy sections overseas, State Department regional bureaus, or other State Department offices, as appropriate. All reviewers, including the ECA grant panels, will review any eligible proposals based on the criteria below.

Proposals recommended by an ECA grant panel will be reviewed for compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and guidelines and assessed for risk. Final funding decisions are made by the ECA’s Assistant Secretary. Only an ECA Grant Officer has the final authority to issue assistance awards.

2. Review Criteria.
   An ECA grants panel will competitively evaluate all technically eligible applications according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank ordered, and all carry equal weight in the proposal review.

a. Quality of the program idea and program planning: Proposals should be original, well-defined, and relevant to ECA's mission. Proposals should have a detailed agenda and work plan that demonstrates your institution's ability to carry out the program. The plan should follow the program guidelines described in this solicitation and should be likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.
b. Ability to achieve program aims and purpose: Proposals should clearly state the program’s aims and purpose and demonstrate how your institution will meet them.
c. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposals should strengthen long-term mutual understanding between countries, including sharing of information and creating long-term institutional and individual linkages.
d. Institutional Capacity and Institution’s Record/Ability: Proposals should include the necessary personnel and institutional resources to achieve the program results. The organization has expertise in exchange programs and the proposal demonstrates it has internal controls in place to manage federal funds. Proposals should demonstrate an institutional record of successful exchange programs and responsible fiscal management. ECA will consider the past performance of prior ECA recipients, including the timely submission of reports, and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
e. Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): Proposals should have a fully developed M&E plan that includes goals, objectives, and indicators. The plan should be feasible and aligned with the M&E section of this solicitation. Proposals should include a realistic learning plan that outlines how your organization plans to review, understand, and incorporate M&E data into programmatic decisions and practices. All submitted M&E plans will be reviewed to ensure the applicant has provided at least the required information outlined in the M&E section of this solicitation and demonstrated the applicant’s capacity to carry out the M&E plan.
f. Cost-effectiveness and Cost Share: Proposals should keep the overhead components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, as low as possible. All costs should be necessary and appropriate. Proposals may maximize cost share through other private or public sector support and institutional direct funding contributions.

3. Indirect Costs
   If two or more applications receive equivalent scores based on the evaluation criteria outlined in this NOFO, preference will be given to the applicant with the lower indirect cost rate, as consistent with Executive Order 14332, Section 4(b)(iii). This preference will only be applied as a tie-breaking mechanism and does not supersede the primary evaluation criteria.

4. Risk Review
   Under the merit review as required by 2 CFR 200.206, prior to making a Federal Award, the Department will review and consider the following risk factors:

• Financial stability
• Management systems and standards
• History of performance
• Audit reports and findings
• Ability to effectively implement requirements

5. Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov.
   The Federal awarding agency, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the U.S. government designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov (see 41 U.S.C. 2313).

An applicant can review and comment on any information in the responsibility/qualification records available at SAM.gov.

Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 CFR 200.206, the Department will consider any comments by the applicant, along with information available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov.

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G. Award Notices

Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal ECA procedures. The award or cooperative agreement will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer in ECA’s Grants Division and transmitted to the recipient’s responsible officer (as identified in the application) for review and countersignature. The recipient may only start incurring project expenses beginning on the start date shown on the fully signed award document.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding.

Unsuccessful applicants:
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this competition following the completion of the review process.

Payment Method:
Payments under this award will be made through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Payment Management System (PMS).

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H. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

1. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
   Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply.

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider proposals for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this NOFO in accordance with the following:

• Guidance for Grants and Agreements in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), as updated in the Federal Register’s 89 FR 30046 on April 22, 2024, particularly on:
  • Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an impartial process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205),
  • Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O. 13864) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341),
  • Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR part 200.322), and
  • Terminating agreements pursuant to the U.S. Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, including, to the greatest extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR part 200.340). For the avoidance of doubt, the Department has sole discretion over the determination that an award no longer effectuates program goals or agency priorities, and this provision permits awards to be terminated at the Department’s convenience, including when it determines that the award no longer advances the national interest.
• 2 CFR 25 - UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT
• 2 CFR 170 - REPORTING SUBAWARD AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION INFORMATION
• 2 CFR 175 - AWARD TERM FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
• 2 CFR 182 - GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE)
• 2 CFR 183 - NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY
• 2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS
• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS
• Recipients must comply with all applicable Executive Orders A searchable list can be found in the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/

2. Reporting.
   Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify what reports are required and how often these reports must be submitted. All reports must be submitted in a timely manner.

For planning purposes, applicants can expect to provide ECA with an electronic copy of the following required reports: a. Performance Progress Reports (PPRs) shall be required at a minimum annually and no more frequently than quarterly. Annual, quarterly, or semi-annual reports shall be due 30 days after the reporting period. All reports and supporting documentation must be uploaded by the recipient as a Post Award Activity under the corresponding record for this award in MyGrants. b. Federal Financial Reports (FFR SF-425/SF-425a) must be submitted through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Payment Management System (PMS). The electronic version of the FFR can be accessed at: https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/post-award-reporting-forms. Once a financial report has been approved by the Department, the recipient must upload the approved report to MyGrants, in the same manner specified for the programmatic reports. Failure to comply with these reporting requirements may jeopardize the recipient's eligibility for future awards. c. MODE data (see Program Performance Monitoring and Evaluation section) shall be required at a minimum annually and no more frequently than quarterly. MODE data reporting shall be due 30 days after the reporting period. The frequency of these reports will be determined by MELI and the Program Officer. Either a standard report template (if using the MODE Survey Builder) or aggregate data and the raw data file (if Recipient uses their own survey platform) must be uploaded by the Recipient as an RPM Performance Report under the corresponding record for this award in MyGrants. d. A final program and financial report no more than 120 days after the period of performance of the award ends or termination of the award. e. Program Data Requirements: Award recipients will be required to maintain specific data on program participants and activities in an electronically accessible database format that can be shared with ECA as required. At a minimum, the data must include the following:

• Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the agreement or who benefit from the award funding but do not travel.
• Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be received by the ECA Program Officer at least three workdays prior to the official opening of the activity.

Applicants should be aware of the post award reporting requirements reflected in 2 CFR 200 Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.

4. Branding and Marking
   The Department of State, its programs, and U.S. Government funding and assistance should be easily identifiable to the Department's global audiences.

Recipients of federal assistance awards must follow the branding guidance published at Guidance for Contracts and Grants - U.S. Department of State Brand System. Branding policy exceptions are outlined in the U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual 10 FAM 416, Policy Exceptions.

For more information, visit: https://brand.america.gov/

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I. Other Information

Adherence To All Regulations Governing the J Visa
ECA places critically important emphasis on the security and proper administration of the Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs and adherence by award recipients and sponsors to all regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing the administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 62, including the oversight of Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.

The award recipient will be responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.

A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://j1visa.state.gov or from:
Office of Private Sector Exchange Designation
U.S. Department of State
SA-5, Floor C2, Room C2L13
2200 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20522

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FY26_YES_-_POGI.pdf — PROJECT OBJECTIVES, GOALS, AND IMPLEMENTATION (POGI)

FY 2026 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES)
Funding Opportunity Number: DFOP0017979
Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division

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The POGI guidelines apply specifically to the NOFO solicitation

The POGI guidelines apply specifically to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) solicitation issued by the Office of Citizen Exchanges’ Youth Programs Division for the FY 2026 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. Proposals must conform to the solicitation, the guidelines in this document, and the standard Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI). Any application not adhering to these conditions may be deemed technically ineligible.

These guidelines are in addition to the requirements outlined in the solicitation and PSI. In the event of a discrepancy between documents, the solicitation takes precedence.

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I. Statement of Work

The YES program advances the Administration’s foreign policy and America First priorities by developing a network of young leaders who understand and support U.S. principles, and that focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation, civic engagement, and leadership. Up to 270 foreign high school participants will study in the United States. All inbound participants live with host families, attend high school, perform community service, and engage in leadership and American Excellence enhancement activities. Proposals may include up to 30 American outbound participants to study abroad. If proposed, American participants would also live with host families, attend high schools, perform community service, and engage in American Excellence enhancement activities.

ECA anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement for the program.

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II. General Program Requirements

The recipient must meet the following requirements throughout the period of performance.

1. Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Develop and enforce protocols to protect personally identifiable information (PII) of applicants, participants, alumni, host families, staff, and volunteers. Ensure staff handling PII take necessary trainings and comply with legal, regulatory, and Department of State privacy requirements. Take prompt action if you discover or suspect a breach of PII protocols, including conducting fact-finding to gather all relevant information. Cooperate with ECA’s Grants Office to escalate and address any data exposure.

2. Branding and Communications

Brand all materials as U.S. Department of State programs and follow ECA Communications Guidance in all official documents and promotional materials. Coordinate material development with ECA and obtain clearances before publication and distribution. Unless ECA grants a waiver, display the American flag and U.S. Department of State seal on all materials. The Bureau retains copyright and may distribute program-related materials. If permitted, coordinate information for program websites with the recipient and ECA.

3. Online Presence: Social Media (if permitted), Mobile Technologies, and Department of State Online Communities

Dedicate staff to coordinate and maintain program websites, market the program online, disseminate information to U.S. and foreign audiences, and provide a secure application and resource tool for participants. If permitted, develop and implement strategies to use mobile technologies and social media to promote the programs.

U.S. Department of State Web Resources
Support ECA promotional campaigns by providing updated information and materials. In consultation with ECA’s Program Office and in coordination with Alumni Affairs and Web and Social Media teams, develop and implement strategies to leverage mobile and online technologies, as well as the Department’s digital properties, such as the International Exchange Alumni website and social media platforms (if permitted), to promote the program, enhance in-person exchanges, and engage alumni.

Ensure all staff, program personnel, and volunteers associated with the YES program understand Department of State resources, including alumni.state.gov, and facilitate member registration on the website.

4. Financial Management

Manage fiscal data and accounting for award funding as required by federal law, including cost-sharing and any funds provided to approved sub-award recipients, as applicable.

5. U.S. Department of State Consultation

Work closely with the ECA program office to carry out all aspects of the program. During periods of heightened activity, anticipate daily communication to coordinate efforts and share information. Clearly delineate points of contact for various functions and establish appropriate chains of communication for any situation.

6. Information Management

Maintain a participant placement database which is accessible to ECA and the recipient (including subgrantees) for quick information uploads. Track applicants from recruitment through selection, placement, and transition to alumni status. Regularly update the database to ensure accurate reporting and share data in formats compatible with ECA databases. Allow staff to access records only on a need-to-know basis and restrict disclosure of sensitive PII to authorized individuals in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and Department of State policies. Update official records only when necessary and as part of staff’s official duties.

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III. Specific Responsibilities

• Recruit, select, orient, and arrange travel for YES inbound participants, and liaise with natural parents. Use a merit-based recruitment and selection process that includes English language testing.
• In coordination with ECA, prepare and implement guidelines for program operations, including handling participant issues, managing early returns, overseeing public communications, and facilitating information sharing.
• Plan American Excellence enhancement activities.
• Market the program, manage social media (if permitted), and maintain a database to track all applicants.
• Coordinate the overall program with ECA.
• Monitor and evaluate the program.
• Place participants with host families and enroll participants in schools.
• Monitor and ensure the participants’ health, safety and well-being.

1. Coordination with Embassies

Establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships between all overseas program representatives and the Office of Public Affairs/Public Affairs Section (OPA/PAS) at each U.S. embassy or consulate. Meet with OPA/PAS within 30 days of award. Promptly notify ECA of any embassy requests that impact budget or capacity and submit meeting summaries to the ECA program office as requested.

Facilitate U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy (PD) involvement in recruitment, selection, orientations, enhancement activities, alumni activities, and briefings, if possible or desired. Maintain an open, consultative relationship with U.S. Embassy PD contacts and the ECA program office, with at least monthly contact regarding recruitment, selection, security, travel, participant issues, invitations to events, and other relevant matters. Inform PD contacts and ECA of participant successes. If political conditions limit program activities in a country, make special provisions to continue program functions efficiently and cost-effectively.

2. Overseas Presence and Communications

The ongoing communications with natural parents and relations with foreign government officials require that your organization (or its sub-grantees) maintain a consistent presence in participating countries.

3. Issue DS-2019 Forms and Adhere to J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program Regulations

Designate an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) and a backup to ensure compliance with all relevant Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) requirements. Issue DS-2019 forms for international participants and alternates, as all international participants will travel on a U.S. government designation for the J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor program. Create and update inbound participants’ SEVIS status and maintain all SEVIS records. Submit placement reports and change of placement reports to ECA’s Youth Programs Division’s Responsible Officer. Provide assistance to ECA with SEVIS-related matters as requested.

4. Program and Promotional Materials

Design and develop materials to support all program components and inform program participants overseas and in the United States. Create application forms, participant, host family, and school administrator handbooks, operational guidelines, and pre-departure orientation materials. Develop additional materials as requested by ECA and update existing materials to address changing needs.

5. Medical Screening

Arrange in-country medical clearances to ensure participants are healthy and have the necessary immunizations for program participation before they leave their home countries. Review medical documents in the United States to confirm all requirements have been met. Identify and inform the ECA Program Office of any participant pre-existing physical or mental health conditions that may affect insurability and participant support in the United States. For any participants with disabilities, conduct a special review that includes ECA staff and a medical doctor, to confirm that applicants with disabilities are medically fit to travel and participate in the program.

6. Travel

Arrange roundtrip international airline tickets from participants’ home communities in all designated countries to their host communities and assist with passports and visas. Ensure travel is efficient, cost-effective, and compliant with the Fly America Act and all USG travel regulations. Select and train adult flight leaders to manage groups of teenage travelers, prioritizing staff or alumni who can also serve as trainers and facilitators at orientations or represent the YES program at events.

Develop detailed written travel procedures for inbound participants. Specify group flight scheduling, participant assignments, date-change processing, and itinerary distribution. Ensure travel includes domestic segments outside main capital cities and provide full roundtrip itineraries. Clearly explain domestic travel obligations and deadlines for submitting arrival airport codes. Describe participant support while en route, including airport staffing and emergency communication procedures.

Coordinate travel for participants unable to travel with escorted groups, including those repatriated early. Budget for escorted travel for approximately twelve early-returning participants when necessary for health, behavior, or security reasons. Coordinate all travel dates with ECA before finalizing arrangements with travel agencies or venues.

Participant Travel Documents
Obtain, and retain for three years, copies of the following documents for each program participant:

• Name/photo page of international passport.
• Visa page in passport.
• DS-2019 with stamp issued at U.S. port of entry (for YES inbound participants).

7. Participant Highlights

Provide timely reports of significant participant accomplishments demonstrating program impact.

8. Host Families

Recruit, screen, select, and secure host families before participants depart their home countries. Ensure all practices comply with Exchange Visitor Program regulations for secondary school students (22 CFR 62.25) at a minimum. Proposals detailing compliance and oversight of local coordinators will be more competitive. Contact the YES program office with questions about regulations.

9. Host Schools

Secure enrollment in accredited secondary educational institutions for the participants prior to departures from their home countries. Practices and procedures for placing YES participants in secondary schools must meet the Exchange Visitor Program regulations for the secondary school student category (22 CFR 62.25). Encourage school administrators to utilize participants as resources in the classroom and community. Discuss options for extracurricular activities that correlate with YES goals (e.g., Student Council, Junior Achievement, Future Business Leaders of America, community activities).

Due to cultural sensitivities, recipient must obtain ECA concurrence and approval from participants and natural parents before placing in religious schools. Recipient must request ECA concurrence to utilize award funds for private school tuition. Home schooling and long-term virtual schooling are not allowed; a school may, however, temporarily move to a virtual format to safeguard public health and safety during the period the participant is enrolled. Recipient must inform ECA if participants are placed in other non-traditional schools, such as charter or non-religious private schools.

10. Clustering

ECA encourages placements throughout the United States in a wide range of rural, urban, and suburban settings. Recipients that choose to cluster all or most of their participants will be deemed more competitive under the Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Program Aims and Purpose review criterion. A cluster is defined as a minimum of three ECA-funded exchange participants who live within reasonable proximity and can be brought together for activities that address common ECA-funded program themes (e.g., orientations and enhancement activities).

ECA-funded exchange participants are identified as those participating in YES, FLEX, or the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) programs. Applicants are expected to cluster a minimum of 60% of their placements. Multiple local coordinators may work together to form a cluster. Applicants must describe how local staff and volunteers will provide non-clustered exchange participants with the benefits of orientations and American Excellence enhancement activities.

11. Trainings/Orientations

Plan and conduct the following trainings and orientations, and include sample outlines in your proposal appendix:

• YES-specific Staff/Volunteer Training and Orientation: Train all employees, local coordinators, and volunteers on YES program goals, expectations, J-1 visa requirements, and cross-cultural issues. Describe your training and knowledge-review plan in your proposal and report on its implementation in semi-annual performance reports. ECA will include your local coordinator training data in annual compliance reporting.
• Host Family Orientation: Prior to the participants’ arrival, conduct an in-person YES-specific orientation for all screened and selected host families and provide them with the information and reference materials necessary to host and support a YES participant.
  • (Note: Previous interviews during the screening and selection process do not constitute this YES-specific orientation.)
  • The program office recommends that orientations for YES host families either be held separately from those for other host families or include a dedicated session, ensuring adequate attention to program-related and cross-cultural issues.
• Arrival Orientation for Participants: Your practices and procedures for the YES participant arrival orientation must meet the general J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program regulations and the Secondary School Student category-specific orientation requirements. Orientations should take place within one month of the participants’ arrival and address the recipient’s policies, procedures, and rules, as well as the recipient’s procedures for communicating with participants and for monitoring and supporting their exchange, with sensitivity to cultural issues specific to this exchange population. The orientations must ensure understanding of the goals, expectations, and requirements of the YES program as explained in this NOFO. ECA strongly recommends that participant orientations be conducted in person.
• Re-entry Training: Prepare participants to bring closure to their American exchange experiences and prepare them for re-entry to their home countries.

12. Participant Monitoring and Support

ECA employs Participant Monitoring Specialists who oversee the health and safety of all YES participants during their time in the United States. The recipient must work closely with ECA’s monitors on escalated cases and document these cases promptly. Ensure your participant monitoring practices and procedures comply with Exchange Visitor Program regulations for secondary school students (22 CFR 62.25). Follow additional guidance provided by ECA’s Youth Programs Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges.

Participant Monitoring Guidance

• Local Coordinators: Local coordinators play a vital role in supporting each YES participant. As representatives of the recipient living in the host community, they identify and vet host families, process host school enrollment, conduct orientations, and provide guidance and support to participants and host families throughout the program, as required by J-1 visa regulations. Ensure each YES participant has access to a local coordinator within 120 miles of their host family home, in accordance with J-1 visa regulations. Local coordinators must report all placement changes and participant support concerns to the recipient promptly, following Communications Guidance.
• Participant Progress: Local coordinators monitor participants’ academic progress, social adjustment, and involvement in activities such as community service. Track exemplary achievements and other program-related endeavors in monthly contact reports.
• Reporting Systems: Use reporting systems to distribute and collect monthly updates and reports that participants complete and submit themselves. Detail this system in your proposal. Use these monthly updates to identify and track issues. Promptly notify ECA of any problems, inconsistencies, or concerns identified from these updates.
• Participant Support: Local coordinators identify when participants need additional support from their natural parents, peers, or other recipient staff. They arrange counseling if needed, document the circumstances, and notify the recipient, to gain natural parent perspective or concurrence when necessary. The recipient also notifies ECA as needed.
• Participant Disciplinary Process: A three-step disciplinary and support process should be outlined in the event a participant requires counseling for behavioral or adjustment concerns. Examples of this include written warnings or letters of encouragement as a first step, a probation-level letter as the second, and an early return request as the third and final disciplinary consequence of continued support concerns. Proposals that include sample support letters and outline the disciplinary process will be more competitive.
• Early Returns: If a situation requires an early return, provide ECA with thorough documentation to ensure participants, host families, and natural families are informed and consulted. Promptly prepare a clear and concise Incident Report detailing the circumstances, actions taken, and communication between parties. Share the report with ECA. Only ECA’s Youth Programs Division may decide to terminate and repatriate a participant. Do not inform or imply to participants that their program will end or that they will be repatriated without explicit direction from the Youth Programs Division.
• Site Visits: Full-time permanent employees or official designees from the recipient’s headquarters must conduct site visits to 10 to 20% of YES participants in their host family and community environments, covering both clustered and non-clustered students. ECA Participant Monitoring Unit members will also conduct site visits, and the recipient organization or applicable sub-recipient(s) should plan to assist with scheduling these monitoring visits throughout the semester.
• Communication Guidance: Report to ECA any matters required by J-1 visa regulations, regardless of whether you are designated as a sponsor by the U.S. Department of State. Provide ECA’s Participant Monitoring Unit with reports on all situations affecting the health, safety, or well-being of YES participants. Enter complete, accurate, and up-to-date placement information into the YES web-based database, including any host family or local coordinator changes, within 48 hours of the change.

13. Communication with Natural Families

Communicate and liaise with participants’ natural families throughout the program. Inform families promptly of any problems that arise with the participant, including academic deficiencies, behavioral concerns, health and safety issues, transfers to a new host family or school, and any situations that may require early termination from the program. Provide on-program support for participants, staff, and volunteers when addressing issues with natural parents.

14. Participant Photo and Video Usage

Request and maintain documentation of permission from each participant and their natural family (if a minor) to take and reproduce photographic or video images in ECA-approved printed and electronic promotional materials.

15. American Excellence Enhancement Activities

Conduct American Excellence enhancement activities and leadership development programs throughout the exchange, disbursing funds in small increments during the semester, with a budget of $400 per participant. Do not use funds for large, packaged sightseeing trips. Include debrief sessions in all activities to help participants discuss and analyze their experiences.

Design American Excellence activities to deepen participants’ understanding of American culture, principles, and history. Expose participants to American excellence through briefings on government and the judicial system, freedom of speech, community programs, business and tech incubators, and sports activities.

Promptly share information from ECA about Department of State-initiated YES activities and any ad-hoc program-related events, such as online meetings or briefings, with all participants.

16. Community Service Activities

Require YES participants to complete at least 15 hours of community service during their program semester. Assist participants in finding community service opportunities and provide them and their host families with clear guidelines on standards, requirements, and expectations, including:

• The minimum number of hours and types of acceptable community service.
• The method you will use to monitor community service.
• The consequences for failing to meet this requirement.

17. Health Benefits Coverage

ECA offers the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) benefits plan at no cost to the recipient. If you choose a different plan, you must show it provides coverage equal to or better than ASPE and meets 22 CFR 62.14 requirements. Coverage must start when participants leave their home countries and end upon their return. If you do not use ASPE, include your health policy and its cost in your proposal. Inform participants and their families in writing of any coverage limitations. For ASPE details, visit: https://www.sevencorners.com/about/gov/usdos.

18. Participant Financial and Gift Incentives

Require participants to engage in program activities such as orientations, cluster meetings, community service, and cultural presentations. Do not request funds for monetary or material incentives for participation.

19. Performance Reporting

Report your organization’s successes and challenges in meeting program goals through two semi-annual reports and interim updates as requested. Submit semi-annual performance reports within 30 days of each reporting period, following guidelines from the YES program office and the award agreement. Describe your training and knowledge-review plan for J-1 visa requirements in your proposal and confirm its implementation in your reports. Submit a final program report within 120 days of the award’s expiration or termination.

Additional Recipient Responsibilities:

A. Recruitment and Selection of Inbound Participants
Develop an outreach plan that supports recruitment of a participant pool that broadly reflects the country. Recruit, screen, and select YES inbound finalists and alternates through an open, transparent, merit-based competition. Establish a standard recruitment and selection process for all countries and maintain applicant and participant statistics at each stage. Use uniform application forms across all countries, separating any country-specific requirements. Do not charge application fees.

Verify that all finalists meet age, academic, and English proficiency requirements for U.S. high school enrollment. Select finalists who are citizens or permanent residents of their respective countries; obtain ECA approval or guidance for non-citizens and permanent residents. If budget or security concerns limit recruitment, consult with the U.S. embassy to focus efforts on major population centers or specific regions. Develop contingency plans for recruitment in countries with challenging governments.

Criteria for YES Inbound Participants:

• Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the country where they apply.
• Applicants must be ages 15 to 18.5 at the program start date; each country may set specific age requirements based on local educational system restrictions.
• Applicants demonstrate maturity, good character, and scholastic aptitude.
• Applicants must demonstrate sufficient ability to speak and study in English and succeed in an American high school. The recipient must use English language testing resources, understand general levels required for U.S. high school admission, and establish minimum test scores for all selected participants.
• Give preference to applicants who have spent more than 50% of the last five years in the country of application.
• Give preference to applicants who have not previously studied in the United States.
• Require applicants to commit to cultural immersion in the United States through a home-stay experience.
• Select applicants who can meet cross-cultural challenges with maturity and an open mind.
• Require applicants to plan for sharing their U.S. experience with their home school and community upon return.

B. Support of Participants with Disabilities
Provide necessary support and accommodation for selected participants with disabilities. Participants with disabilities may receive reasonable accommodations for testing. Implement a review process carried out by a medical doctor to adequately assess the unique needs of each participant and confirm that applicants with disabilities are medically fit to travel and participate in the program. Ensure that interviews, orientations, and other pre- and post-program activities include reasonable accommodations.

C. Passports, Visa, and Other Travel Documentation
Assist all YES inbound participants in obtaining passports, U.S. visas, and any necessary transit visas in coordination with the respective U.S. embassies. Work with the U.S. embassy in each country to ensure timely processing of U.S. visas for all participants. Collect and process all participant data in the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and prepare DS-2019 forms for finalists and alternates. Maintain and update SEVIS records as required, including finalizing records when participants’ programs end or when they do not participate. Submit participant data to ECA in the Excel spreadsheet provided by ECA.

D. Pre-Departure Orientations
Provide uniform pre-departure orientation (PDO) programming to prepare participants for life in the United States. Ensure uniformity to reinforce participants’ identity as U.S. government exchange program recipients and to deliver essential information, policies, and procedures for their success. Cover topics such as living with a host family, American high school education, American Excellence enhancement activities, American culture and respecting cultural differences, participant safety and available resources, sexual harassment and resources, obeying rules, personal responsibility, realistic expectations, mental health, on-program participant support, budgeting, and community service.

Invite U.S. embassy personnel to PDOs with sufficient notice. If security concerns prevent your organization from conducting PDO sessions in a country, arrange for U.S. embassy staff to conduct the orientations, or hold them in a neighboring country, or—with ECA approval—in the United States after participants arrive. Provide orientations for natural parents before participants depart for the United States. Distribute domestic-specific materials before or during the PDO.

Specific Responsibilities for outbound YES Abroad Program, if proposed

A. U.S. Marketing
Develop and implement a comprehensive outreach and marketing plan for recruitment, including a program and application website and printed informational materials and handbooks. Conduct outreach at any time during the award period.

B. YES-Specific Staff/Volunteer Training and Orientation
Ensure all overseas implementing partner staff and volunteers who have regular contact with YES Abroad participants complete suitability screening and training. Design the training to equip them with methods and tools for monitoring, supporting, and counseling participants, host families, and school personnel, with sensitivity to cross-cultural issues. Ensure the training covers the goals, expectations, and requirements of the YES Abroad program. Develop proper reporting procedures and ensure staff and volunteers understand their roles in communicating participant and placement concerns.

C. Recruitment
Develop an extensive, nationwide, merit-based recruitment and selection process to attract strong U.S. applicants. Maintain statistics at all stages, including initial applications received, full applications with essays, and interviews conducted.

D. Selection
Select finalists and alternates from a broad pool of candidates. Use a fair and objective multi-stage process to evaluate applications and select participants.

Criteria for YES Abroad Students

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
• Applicants must be at least 15 years old and no older than 18.5 years as of the program start date. Specific countries may set a narrower age range based on local high school and Ministry of Education requirements.
• Applicants may not be immediate family members of U.S. Department of State employees or of award recipient employees whose official duties involve ECA Youth Programs Division-funded programs.
• Applicants should demonstrate maturity, good character, and scholastic aptitude.
• Applicants should commit to cultural immersion in a host culture through a home-stay experience.
• Applicants should express interest in learning the predominant language of the host culture.
• Applicants should demonstrate the ability to meet cross-cultural challenges with maturity and an open mind.
• Applicants can develop and articulate ideas and plans for sharing their overseas experiences in their U.S. home schools and communities.

E. Pre-Exchange Participant Resources
Develop and distribute language and cultural resource packets to finalists upon their acceptance into the program. Ensure the materials clearly outline the goals and requirements of the YES Abroad program.

F. Passports and Visas
Coordinate with finalists and alternates to obtain all required documents, such as passports and visas, and facilitate the process as much as possible.

G. Pre-Program Orientations
Provide pre-program orientations before participants depart. Brief host institutions, staff, families, and participants on the YES Abroad program’s purpose, foreign policy context, goals, expectations, rules, and practical information. Introduce personal and cultural adjustment issues and prepare participants to adapt to their host cultures. Train host country support staff to explain cultural differences Americans may face. Include a general overview of the host countries’ political, historical, educational, and cultural backgrounds, program objectives and themes, and practical details. Prepare participants to encounter varied interpretations of U.S. policy and history while abroad.

H. Participant Tax Liabilities
Assume full responsibility for complying with all applicable tax treaties and for withholding and reporting Federal, State, and local taxes for American YES Abroad participants.

I. School Enrollment
Identify and enroll participants in private or public high schools that primarily serve host country nationals and hold accreditation from the host country’s Ministry of Education. Include tuition, room, and board costs in dormitories in your budget if needed, with prior ECA approval. If the only suitable school requires dormitory living during the week, place participants in this setting and ensure the in-country partner identifies a suitable family to host them on weekends and holidays, providing a meaningful cultural family experience.

J. Host Family Placement and Orientation
Develop a plan to monitor participants’ safety and welfare that aligns, as closely as possible, with J-1 visa standards for international academic year participants in 22 CFR 62. This includes identifying and using appropriate methods to verify the integrity and suitability of each host family.

Include reasonable stipend payments to host families in your budget to cover actual food and hosting expenses. Obtain approval from the Public Affairs Section of the relevant U.S. embassy and from ECA for the city and neighborhood of all host family and dormitory housing arrangements. Provide a pre-arrival orientation for host families that covers program goals, policies, and cultural information to support adjustment and cross-cultural communication.

K. Placement Reports
Provide ECA with confirmation that embassies concur with the general school and housing placement strategy and location well in advance of the program and before engaging significantly with prospective host families and schools. Submit a detailed electronic placement report to ECA before YES Abroad participants depart. Include country placement maps, the names of all YES Abroad participants, their host country, host family names and addresses, host school names, and language of instruction.

L. Arrival Orientation, Including Safety and Security Briefing
Organize an in-country arrival orientation within one month of participants’ arrival. Address program policies, procedures, and rules, as well as your organization’s procedures for communicating with participants and for monitoring and supporting their exchange, with sensitivity to cultural issues unique to this exchange population and host country. Ensure participants understand the goals, expectations, and requirements of the YES Abroad Program as outlined in this document.

Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate well in advance of participants’ arrival to arrange for PD participation in the orientation and, if possible, a security briefing by the embassy’s Regional Security Officer or another U.S. embassy official. Inform participants of relevant local and country-specific information, including personal and general safety considerations and emergency services the embassy offers to American citizens. Ensure participants and their parents or legal guardians complete relevant consular forms and register in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program at https://step.state.gov/step/.

M. In-Country Language Program
Evaluate participants’ language needs in each country and provide language instruction to support their success in school, with host families, and in the community. Offer YES Abroad participants a minimum two-week intensive language program upon arrival. Continue language and cultural education courses as needed throughout the program. Request funding as necessary for tutors or instructors, meeting space, participant travel and lodging for language courses, language learning materials, online courses, and other resources.

N. American Excellence Enhancement Activities
Design, plan, and implement a substantive extracurricular American Excellence enhancement program for YES Abroad participants focused on leadership development, community service, and business and entrepreneurship. Engage participants in community service activities throughout the program. Arrange visits to U.S. businesses and, if possible, American Chambers of Commerce in the host country.

O. Participant -Support and Monitoring
Maintain at least monthly personal contact with YES Abroad participants and host families during the program. Ensure schools have contact information for the local organization representative and the program sponsor’s main office. Immediately report to ECA any situation affecting participant safety, health, or well-being, as well as any incident or allegation of sexual exploitation, harassment, or abuse. Promptly inform ECA of any serious problem or controversy that could bring notoriety to the Department or the program.

Provide ECA with a monthly summary of each participant’s adjustment, activities, and well-being. Develop a reporting system that includes: 1) a brief monthly summary of program activities, challenges, and accomplishments; 2) an objective assessment of each participant’s adjustment and progress; and 3) a monthly participant survey, which they must complete and submit themselves. Obtain ECA approval for the system and survey questions.

Ensure in-country representatives regularly monitor participants and provide adequate support and guidance. Representatives must maintain at least monthly contact with participants and host families, address concerns promptly, and keep ECA informed of significant issues. Maintain all records and data, including survey responses and contact information, for at least three years and provide them to ECA upon request.

P. End-of-Program Orientations
Prepare participants to conclude their exchange and re-enter their home communities. Provide information on YES Abroad program resources and opportunities and discuss plans for possible alumni projects.

Q. Insurance
Enroll YES Abroad participants in ECA’s ASPE health benefits plan or another comparable plan that meets required standards, including emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage, for the duration of the exchange.

R. Cell Phones
Provide YES Abroad participants with a cell phone and minutes for use in emergencies, if needed.

S. Stipends
Provide each YES Abroad participant with a monthly stipend of up to $200, based on the local cost of living, to cover pocket money, incidentals, and other expenses.

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IV. PROPOSAL CONTENTS

Applicants must submit a complete and thorough proposal that addresses the program’s objectives and requirements. Proposals should be clear, concise, and responsive to the criteria outlined in the solicitation and PSI.

Since there is no opportunity for applicants to meet with reviewing officials, the proposal should respond to the criteria set forth in the solicitation and other guidelines as clearly as possible.

NOTE: Proposals submitted through Grants.gov may only be submitted in the following formats:

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) - Prior to submitting applications through Grants.gov, please ensure you meet all Grants.gov system and software requirements, including Adobe software compatibility. You can verify if your version of Adobe software is compatible with Grants.gov, by visiting https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html
• ASCII Text
• Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG images)

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V. OTHER AWARD INFORMATION

Adherence To All Regulations Governing the J Visa
Proposals must demonstrate the applicant’s capacity to meet all requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor (J) Programs as outlined in 22 CFR 62. For more information, visit http://j1visa.state.gov.

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VI. APPLICATION SUBMISSION

The solicitation document specifies the deadline and method for proposal submission. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this deadline.