Federal Cooperative Agreement Award Summary

The Puerto Rico National Guard received a $3.16 million Cooperative Agreement award from the Department of the Army, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, to support the National Guard ChalleNGe Program (CFDA 12.404). This non-discretionary, Congressionally directed program delivers military-based training, supervised work experience, and comprehensive life skills development to at-risk youth aged 16-18 in Puerto Rico who are credit deficient or have discontinued secondary school attendance. The award funds the Puerto Rico Youth Challenge Academy to provide residential education, mentoring, community service opportunities, technical skills training, and assistance in obtaining high school diplomas or equivalency credentials designed to improve participants' academic achievements, employment potential, and overall life skills.

As a child entity within the National Guard Puerto Rico framework and operating through its G1-Education Section, the State Administrative Services Division administers this cooperative agreement and maintains responsibility for detailed cost documentation and program records for three years following award closeout. The funding represents an increase in federal obligations and appropriated funds for program expansion during the fiscal year 2026 performance period.