FY 2027 FSP NOFO.pdf

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) FY 2027 Fulbright Specialist Program

Funding Opportunity Number: DFOP0018215 Application Deadline: June 29, 2026

A. Basic Information B. Eligibility C. Program Description D. Application Contents and Format E. Submission Requirements and Deadlines F. Application Review Information G. Award Notices H. Post-Award Requirements and Administration I. Other Information

A. Basic Information

1. Overview.

Funding Opportunity Title FY 2027 Fulbright Specialist Program Funding Opportunity Number

DFOP0018215

Announcement Type New Cooperative Agreement Deadline for Applications June 29, 2026 11:59pm Eastern (Washington

DC time) Assistance Listing Number 19.401 Length of Performance Period

56 months

Number of Awards Anticipated

1 award

Award Amount Award Amounts

Approximately $4,600,000

Total Available Funding $4,600,000, pending availability of funds Type of Funding FY 2027 Educational and Cultural Exchange

Programs (ECE) Funds Funding Instrument Type Cooperative Agreement Anticipated Award Date October 1, 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.

Pending satisfactory implementation of this program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA's intent to renew this award for four additional, consecutive fiscal years, before openly competing it again.

2. Executive Summary.

The Fulbright Specialist Program will select approximately 400 American academics and professionals to countries worldwide for two-to-six week programming in FY 2027. Fulbright Specialists share their expertise, build and strengthen professional networks, and gain international experience through projects that support U.S. foreign policy priorities and strengthen institutional ties in education, innovation, and trade.

Specialist projects are requested by U.S. embassies and Fulbright Commissions abroad, in coordination with foreign institutions such as universities, teacher-training centers, cultural institutions, and government ministries. Specialists may include attorneys, business leaders, economists, etc., and they develop curricula, design or deliver symposia, conduct needs assessments, and consult on faculty or workforce needs.

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 $4,600,000. 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.

C. Program Description

3. 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.

The Fulbright Specialist Program supports one-way exchanges of approximately 400 American academics and professionals to all world regions for periods ranging from two-to-six weeks. Fulbright Specialists share their expertise, build and strengthen networks, and gain international experiences through projects supporting U.S. foreign policy priorities that are requested by U.S. embassies and Fulbright commissions abroad, in coordination with foreign institutions. Some examples of receiving institutions include universities, teacher-training institutions, cultural institutions, and government ministries. Specialists are selected through an open, merit-based competition under the oversight of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB).

3. Program Specific Guidelines.

The Department of State will provide funding to the successful organization to assist in the administration of the Fulbright Specialist Program. The Fulbright Program was created by the U.S. Congress at the end of World War II to enhance mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. In the intervening years, the Fulbright Program evolved into the premier educational exchange program sponsored by the people of the United States through their federal government, and an important element in the foreign policy of the United States. The Fulbright Program, which now extends to more than 160 foreign countries and involves approximately 8,000 participants per year, has supported approximately 400,000 participants, many now leaders in their fields, in its 80-year history.

One hallmark of the Fulbright program is its binational character. The United States Government and foreign governments, educational institutions, and other public and private entities are all partners in this enterprise. In many countries of the world, financial contributions from governments and public/private sources match or exceed those of the United States government. Because of its binational nature, the profile of the Fulbright Program worldwide reflects a range of objectives and interests.

ECA, as sponsor and manager of the Fulbright Specialist Program, plays a significant role in the planning and implementation of all program initiatives, publicity, and promotion, and serves as a liaison with overseas posts and commissions. ECA will work closely with the award recipient on program promotion, project submission, participant selection and matching procedures, and disbursement of funds. ECA will oversee the selection and placement of all project proposals and set country project allocations. The award recipient should maintain ongoing contacts with ECA/A/E program managers throughout the year.

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), ECA seeks new ideas to effectively publicize the program internationally and in the United States, develop and manage the Fulbright Specialist register, and maintain an effective process of matching specialists to available projects. ECA encourages recipients to outline protocols for managing multiple funding models (traditional funding and fully-field-funded models), rapid response projects, discipline specific recruitment needs, and other Department of State initiatives.

Under the auspices of the FFSB, approximately 400 U.S. citizens are awarded Fulbright Specialist grants each fiscal year through a merit-based, competitive process. The program provides a short-term, “on-demand” (i.e., relatively quick turnaround time from project request to execution) Fulbright resource for countries overseas to build capacity in a variety of academic and professional fields. The program promotes long-term engagement between U.S. and foreign country higher education institutions or related entities through academic projects that align with U.S. government priorities as well as the needs of foreign countries.

Under the Fulbright Specialist Program, U.S. embassies and Fulbright Commissions may submit a predetermined number of project proposals to ECA each fiscal year.

This program operates on a rolling, year-round basis and includes the following components:

• Fulbright Specialist Project Development: U.S. embassies and Fulbright Commissions invite projects from foreign higher education institutions and other organizations aligned with embassy or commission priorities. Project proposals should include priority fields, institutions of interest, and/or anticipated audiences. Projects should aim to:

ο Create new academic programs or fields of study, ο Build institutional ties with U.S. academia, ο Strengthen new or developing universities, ο Provide rapid response to emerging needs, such as disasters or urgent

U.S. foreign policy priorities.

U.S. embassies and Fulbright Commissions submit these proposals to ECA for review and approval. Eligible institutions include foreign universities, non-degree-granting educational organizations, government agencies, teacher-training centers, cultural institutions, non-governmental organizations, and think tanks. Primary project activities may involve faculty or teacher training, curriculum development or materials development, faculty development consultations, needs assessments, and program evaluations. Specialists are also encouraged to give presentations and guest lectures as supplemental activities. Proposals from the field should clearly outline the specialist’s activities, objectives, expected impact, target audience, institution, and any cost-sharing arrangements.

• Fulbright Specialist Project Submission: U.S. embassies and Fulbright Commissions may submit foreign institution-designed projects online to ECA on a rolling basis until they reach the country’s annual project allocation.

Typically, foreign institution applicants can expect approximately six months from project submission to specialist deployment in country. However, for projects in ECA priority areas, embassies and commissions may request a rapid response, and ECA will direct the award recipient to expedite deployment under certain conditions. Embassies and Fulbright Commissions may schedule projects to start at any date within one year of the foreign institution’s proposal submission.

• Fulbright Specialist Register Development: The Fulbright Specialist Program maintains an online register of pre-screened, eligible scholars and professionals across many academic and professional fields. Scholars and professionals may apply at any time to join the register; they do not need to be nominated for a specific project. An independent academic panel representing a range of U.S. higher education institutions reviews each application, meeting virtually several times a year. Approved applicants join the Fulbright Specialist register for a three-year term and become eligible for project assignments as “candidates.” When a candidate is matched to a specific project, the program submits their name to the FFSB for final approval. The previous implementing partner is required to transfer online register information to award recipient as required.

• Requesting a Fulbright Specialist: U.S. embassies, Fulbright Commissions, and foreign institutions may request to match Fulbright Specialist candidates from the online register to their proposed projects. In academic fields with no pre-screened candidates, embassies, commissions, and foreign institutions may identify U.S. faculty and professionals who are not yet on the register and encourage them to apply. Specialist candidates may submit applications to the register at any time throughout the year.

Applicant organizations should demonstrate capacity and leadership in the fields of international exchange, which may include research and engagement with higher education communities both in the United States and abroad, as well as the ability to work with ECA to address current and emerging priority issues and topics of importance to the U.S. government. ECA seeks innovative approaches and creative strategies to attract Fulbright Specialist applicants, and to assist U.S. embassies and Fulbright Commissions with institution recruitment challenges overseas. ECA seeks an experienced implementer who can carry out a variety of different tasks simultaneously, including the recruitment of applicants, a merit-based review of candidates, successful collaboration with Fulbright Commissions and U.S.

embassies, demonstrated financial management and fiscal responsibility, experience in grant administration and exchange participant support, professional reporting and public communications strategies and delivery, and engagement with program alumni. Applicant organizations should have a record of administering high volume/short term international exchange programs, where some projects can have a short turnaround time due to the rapid response nature of the program.

4. Recipient Responsibilities.

The activities and the roles and responsibilities of the recipient for this program are outlined in the attached POGI document.

5. 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 o 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 E1.1.09: Percent of participants who traveled abroad for the first time because of their program (core indicator) https://www.state.gov/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/ https://www.state.gov/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/ https://app.box.com/s/qjo8icwj46tc8h1i1qtg80zl7ibwgtua

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

• Objective 2: Increase the impact that participants and alumni have on their communities / countries o 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 o E3.0.07: Percent of participants who identify as a Department of State program participant (core indicator)

• Objective 4: Strengthen personal, professional, and technical abilities and aptitudes of participants and beneficiaries o E4.0.01: Percent of participants reporting increases in their job skills as a result of their program participation o E4.0.03: Percent of participants reporting an increase in soft skills as a result of their program participation o E4.0.05: Percent of participants who report an increase in technical skills as a result of their program participation o 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) E4.1.04: Number of professional placements

• Objective 8: Enhance the quality and effectiveness of ECA programs by leveraging the Bureau’s resources, policy, and stakeholder relationships o 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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBHC1oLNZvI

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 and here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jus4fRqOTcM. You can propose use of an https://app.box.com/s/pn6tavyg7sh064i502fzap49ox63y38a https://app.box.com/s/jjr98hmx6deorxj3lwgaxjrwdfec2r91 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jus4fRqOTcM 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.

6. Allowable Costs.

Allowable costs for the program include the following:

Participant Costs:

1) Participant costs, which may include (but may not exceed the rates prescribed by federal travel regulations):

a. Round-trip international and domestic airfare

b. Visa fees

c. Ground transportation

d. Other transit costs

e. Housing accommodations, as necessary

f. Honorarium (approximately $200/day per participant)

g. Meals and incidentals additional costs associated with normal administration of the program, as necessary

h. Costs associated with ensuring reasonable accommodations for disabled participants or participants with medical conditions.

2) Additional costs associated with normal administration of exchange programs

3) Specialist project-related costs that are not listed above, but are as approved by ECA to ensure successful delivery of Fulbright Specialist projects (examples may include project-related additional baggage procurement of materials, etc.)

Non-Participant Costs:

1) Staff salaries, benefits, and support services for the program (fringe benefits should be stated separately from salary costs);

2) Space rental requirements, office rent, furniture, and equipment;

3) Communications, printing, and publishing, and office supplies used for the program;

4) Program-related staff travel (if required): round trip domestic and/or international airfare, visas, ground transportation, transit costs, and per diem (all per diem must not exceed the rate prescribed by federal government regulations); and

5) Other fees associated with the normal administration of exchange programs, including but not limited to, Recruitment; Application, Screening, and Selection; Program Funding Models; Matching Process; Post-Nomination Services; Special Projects; Program Planning and Reporting Management;

General Program Responsibilities; Outreach and Marketing; Fiscal Management; and Follow-on.

Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Virtual Exchange Component.

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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

https://www.state.gov/eca-grant-opportunities/ https://www.state.gov/eca-grant-opportunities/

12. Substantial Involvement.

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

a. Overseeing the selection and placement of participating specialists, in cooperation with Fulbright commissions and U.S. embassies, and subject to final selection by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board

(FFSB);

b. Approving significant changes to specialists’ proposed Fulbright projects in cooperation with Fulbright commissions and U.S. embassies for previously approved projects;

c. Providing guidance in unforeseen emergency or crisis situations and making final decisions on the operational status of country programs. This includes significant decisions such as: the evacuation and/or reassignment of participants from one country to another, the suspension of a country program, or the closure of a country program.

d. Approval of communication strategy before implementation and approval of any program materials disseminated to the public.

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.

Budget requests may not exceed $4,600,000. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification. ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase funding amounts pending availability of funds, the needs of the program, and U.S. Department of State foreign policy priorities.

2. Content of Application.

Please see the PSI for information about the application and formatting guidelines.

E. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

4. 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/.

5. Department of State Contacts For questions about this announcement, contact: Cecilia Kocinski-Mulder, U.S.

Department of State, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, ECA/A/E/MR, 202- 632-3237, Kocinski-MulderCP@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.

6. 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.

https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:Kocinski-MulderCP@state.gov

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.gov, 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.

7. 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.

http://www.sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110 https://mygrants.servicenowservices.com/

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/.

8. 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 https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms/ https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration

Contact Center Phone: 800 -518-4726 Business Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; closed on federal holidays.

Email: support@grants.gov

9. Submission Dates and Times.

Application Deadline Date.

Monday, June 29, 2026

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 mailto:support@grants.gov 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.

10. 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 Danielle Spitzer, 202-320-6036 or SpitzerDM@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:

mailto:SpitzerDM@state.gov

• 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 175.105(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

175.105(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/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-175 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-175 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-175 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…