FY25 Fulbright Student NOFO.pdf

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2025 Fulbright Student Program Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement Funding Opportunity Number: SFOP0010354 Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) Number: 19.400 Deadline for Applications: Monday, July 8, 2024

Executive Summary:

The Office of Academic Exchange Programs (ECA/A/E), Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to assist in the administration of the FY 2025 Fulbright Student Program. The Fulbright Student Program is a major component of the worldwide Fulbright Program, which also includes the Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright Specialist Programs, as well as the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program and the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program.

For over 75 years, the Fulbright Student Program has offered awards for college and university graduates to engage in degree study, to teach, and to conduct research abroad and in the United States. The hallmark of the Fulbright Student Program is the selection of all participants through open and transparent merit-based competition. Tens of thousands of U.S. and foreign students have participated in these academic exchanges since the Fulbright Program's inception in 1946.

The Fulbright Student Program sends approximately 1,908 U.S. students and early career professionals abroad annually to conduct independent research, serve as teaching assistants and cultural resources in English classrooms, and pursue academic studies at overseas institutions. Reciprocally, the program brings approximately 2,150 foreign participants from approximately 160 countries to the United States for similar activities hosted primarily by U.S.

colleges and universities.

Responsibility for the management of the Fulbright Student Program is shared between the U.S.

Department of State in Washington, DC, 49 bilateral Fulbright commissions, approximately 100 U.S. embassies overseas, and private sector cooperating agencies in the United States. Overall policies and selection guidelines for the Fulbright Student Program are determined by the presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB).

(https://eca.state.gov/fulbright/about-fulbright/fulbright-foreign-scholarship-board-ffsb)

The organization(s) awarded a cooperative agreement under this competition will be responsible for placement, monitoring, organization of enrichment activities for program participants, disbursement of funds, and records management for the FY 2025 cohort of U.S.

students and foreign students as well as the program promotion and recruitment and selection of the FY 2026 cohort of U.S. and foreign students. This work will be supervised by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

U.S. public and private non-profit organizations or consortia of eligible organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to cooperate with ECA in one or more of the following:

1. The administration and implementation of the entire worldwide Fulbright Student Program or the entire Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

2. The administration and implementation of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program for one or more regions of the world.

• Organizations or consortia applying for the foreign student program in two or more world regions must also include a creative and detailed plan to administer enrichment seminars and programs for foreign students; short-term English language, pre-academic, and orientation programming for all foreign students;

and the worldwide Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program.

• For East Asia and the Pacific, proposals must include a comprehensive plan to provide support for the Fulbright Program with China should the program there restart.

• For Europe, proposals must include a comprehensive plan and budget to provide support for the program with Ukraine, as well as a comprehensive plan to provide support for the Fulbright Program with Russia should the program there restart.

It is anticipated that the total amount of funding available for all FY 2025 non-participant support costs to support the program components listed above will be approximately $20,000,000, pending the availability of funds and will involve management of approximately 4,058 new students.

To facilitate effective communication between ECA and the administering organization(s), preference will be given to award recipients with offices and Fulbright Program staff in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

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.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.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. The Fulbright Program also receives significant annual funding and other support from partner governments and private donors worldwide.

A.2. Purpose The U.S. Department of State will provide funding to the successful applicant organization(s) to assist in the administration of the worldwide Fulbright Student Program.

The Fulbright Program was created by the U.S. Congress at the end of World War II to provide the opportunity for future leaders to observe and better comprehend the political, economic, and cultural institutions and societies of other countries and people. In the intervening years, the Fulbright Program has evolved into the premier educational exchange program sponsored by the people of the United States through their federal government, and an important component of U.S. foreign affairs. These exchange experiences have helped established a strong foundation for international mutual understanding and peaceful interaction. The Fulbright Program, which now extends to more than 160 foreign countries and involves approximately 8,000 participants per year, has helped to form and inform thousands of the world's leaders in every academic and professional field.

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

Administration of the Fulbright Program is programmatically and administratively complex. It must accommodate a variety of circumstances in every geographic region of the world and be responsive to and supportive of many different constituencies in the United States and abroad, each with its own sets of goals and concerns. The integrity of the program requires maintenance of the highest and most consistent standards of academic and professional quality in the selection of candidates and the implementation of projects. While the Fulbright Program is active in many countries, it is important that it maintain a single worldwide identity. Overall policy guidelines and selection criteria for the Fulbright Program are determined by the presidentially appointed FFSB, while responsibility for conducting the program rests with the

ECA in the U.S. Department of State.

A.3. Program Specific Guidelines

ECA, as sponsor and manager of the Fulbright Student Program, plays a significant role in the planning and implementation of all program initiatives, publicity, promotion, and enrichment activities, as well as liaison with overseas field partners. ECA will work closely with the recipient organization(s) on participant selection procedures, development of selection panels, and stipend and benefit issues. Regular ongoing contact with ECA managers will be required throughout the program year. Through this NOFO, the Department seeks new ideas to develop effective responses to changing conditions in U.S. academia, to improve the outreach of the Fulbright Student Program in the United States and overseas, and to propose innovative program models for academic exchange.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program:

Approximately 2,000 U.S. citizens are awarded Fulbright Student awards each year through a merit-based, competitive process, to pursue individual research, assist in English language instruction, and complete degree study at universities and classrooms overseas.

Only one cooperative agreement will be awarded for all administrative services in support of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Under the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, graduating college seniors, recent graduates, developing artists and professionals or graduate students who are U.S. citizens are awarded scholarships each year through a competitive process to study, undertake research, or assist in the teaching of English at institutions in countries overseas. Students must hold a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, before the start of the individual grant. Award opportunities for U.S. students are determined overseas by binational Fulbright commissions and Public Diplomacy Sections (PDS) of U.S. embassies, in coordination with ECA in Washington, DC. The FFSB makes the final selection of all U.S. student nominees.

In FY 2025, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program expects to send abroad approximately new 1,948 U.S. students, developing professionals and artists, and Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETA), to study and conduct research.

Applicants should submit program proposals and budget projections for new FY 2025 students only. Renewal awards to U.S. students from the prior year will be managed by the recipients currently administering the program. If the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is awarded to an organization that does not currently administer the program, the new organization and the current administrator of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program will need to collaborate closely to ensure a successful transition.

In addition to “traditional” study/research awards, candidates for awards under the U.S.

student program may apply for Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships. Fulbright English Teaching Assistants teach English language and conversation classes in schools and universities abroad while simultaneously pursuing individual study and research.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program One or more cooperative agreements will be awarded for administration of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program. Fulbright Foreign Student candidates are nominated through open, merit-based competitions in each participating country, conducted by a binational Fulbright commission or, in the absence of a commission, by the PDS. Scholarship opportunities for foreign students are determined through consultations between commissions or PDS and ECA similar to the process for the U.S. student program nominees. As with the U.S. student program, the FFSB makes the final selection of all foreign student nominees.

Approximately 2,150 new foreign students will come to the United States to study, conduct research, and serve as foreign language teaching assistants in FY 2025. This total includes new foreign students in both the traditional foreign student program and the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program.

Applicants should submit program proposals and budget projections for new FY 2025 students only. Renewal awards to foreign students from prior years will be managed by the recipients currently administering the program. If the Fulbright Student Program is awarded to recipient(s) that does/do not currently administer the Fulbright Student Program, the new recipients(s) and the current recipients of the Fulbright Student Program will need to collaborate closely to ensure a successful transition.

In addition to the traditional foreign student program operating in more than 160 countries, the Fulbright Foreign Student Program also includes a special activity, the FLTA Program, that is competed and funded on a worldwide basis.

The FLTA program aims to strengthen foreign language instruction at U.S. educational institutions while providing early career teachers or teacher trainees of English as a Foreign Language the opportunity to refine their teaching skills, increase their English language proficiency, and broaden their knowledge of American society and culture. FLTAs are placed for an academic year at a U.S. college or university where they teach their native language and enroll in at least two courses in U.S. studies or teaching methodology. Languages taught by FLTA participants may include Arabic, Bangla, Chinese (Mandarin), Dari, Finnish, French, German, Hausa, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Kiswahili, Korean, Lao, Malay, Persian, Portuguese, Quechua, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Yoruba, Zulu, and/or other languages. In FY 2025, ECA intends to support approximately 350 FLTAs, pending availability of funds.

Fulbright Foreign Student Orientation and Enrichment Programs:

ECA funds a range of in-person and virtual activities designed to deepen the mutual understanding outcomes of the Fulbright Program. Pre-academic English language training and arrival orientations are designed to introduce foreign students to U.S. academic life. These programs strengthen the participants’ communication and classroom skills, allowing them to make the most of their Fulbright experience. Throughout the academic year, ECA offers a range of enrichment programming for Fulbright Foreign Students that enhances their engagement and understanding of U.S. culture and issues.

Program Management:

Management of the Fulbright Program is shared among ECA/A/E in the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC, bilateral Fulbright commissions in 49 countries, Public Diplomacy Sections of more than 100 U.S. embassies abroad, and private sector organizations in the United States. Overall policies and selection guidelines for the Fulbright Student Program are determined by the presidentially appointed FFSB.

Recipients must ensure full and proper identification of the Fulbright Student Program with the U.S. government and the U.S. Department of State in line with ECA branding guidelines.

All individual grant opportunities for participants are determined by ECA, binational Fulbright commissions, and U.S. embassies abroad; however, ECA/A/E welcomes proposals from applicant organizations proposing new exchange activities consistent with Fulbright principles that are relevant to changing circumstances in the global academic community.

The responsibilities of recipient(s) for the administration of the Fulbright Student Program are as follows:

For the U.S. Student Program:

The recipient is responsible for advertising the program and recruiting applicants in the United States for all available U.S. student opportunities. ECA seeks innovative recruitment approaches and creative strategies to attract U.S. students to parts of the world that have been underrepresented in the program, and to increase participation of U.S. students from underrepresented academic disciplines, professional fields, and institutions.

The recipient administering the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is responsible for managing a merit-based academic national screening process to recommend candidates for participation in the program. The integrity and independence of that review process is a hallmark of the Fulbright Program.

For the Foreign Student Program:

The recipient(s) administering the Fulbright Student Program is/are responsible for monitoring all foreign students during their program in the United States, including providing enrichment opportunities. The organization(s) will produce DS-2019s for all foreign students and their dependents.

A.4. Recipient Responsibilities

Additional information about the activities listed above and the roles and responsibilities of the award recipient(s) are outlined in the attached Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation

(POGI).

A.5. Substantial Involvement:

In a cooperative agreement, the Department is substantially involved in program activities above and beyond routine monitoring. These activities are also outlined in the attached POGI.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA’s level of involvement in this program is listed under Substantial Involvement in the POGI.

Fiscal Year Funds: 2025 Approximate Total Funding: $20,000,000, pending the availability of funds Approximate Number of Awards: Up to seven Minimum “Floor” of Award: $1,700,000, pending the availability of funds Maximum “Ceiling” of Award: $20,000,000, pending the availability of funds Anticipated Award Date: October 1, 2024, pending the availability of funds

Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2029

Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA's intent to renew this cooperative agreement for up to four additional, consecutive fiscal years, before openly competing it again.

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

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

C.1. Eligible Applicants U.S. public and private academic and cultural institutions, exchange-of-persons, and other not-for-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit applications for this competition. Applicants must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application. Please see the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for additional information.

C.2. Other Eligibility Requirements The following additional eligibility requirements apply to this NOFO announcement:

1.) Grants or Cooperative Agreements awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be limited to $130,000. ECA anticipates making one or more awards, in a total amount of $20,000,000 to non-participant support costs required to implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition.

2.) All proposals must comply with the requirements stated in the NOFO, POGI (if applicable), and the PSI; non-compliance will result in your proposal being declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review process.

3.) In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 & D.5. for more information.

4.) To facilitate effective communication between ECA and the recipient(s), preference will be given to award recipients with offices and Fulbright Program staff in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

5.) 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.

http://www.sam.gov/

The one proposal must cover one or both of the options below:

• The administration and implementation of the entire worldwide Fulbright Student Program or the entire Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

• The administration and implementation of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program for one or more regions of the world.

o Organizations or consortia applying for the foreign student program in two or more world regions must also include a creative and detailed plan to administer enrichment seminars and programs for foreign students;

short-term English language, pre-academic, and orientation programming for all foreign students; and the worldwide Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program.

o For East Asia and the Pacific, proposals must include a comprehensive plan to provide support for the Fulbright Program with China should the program there restart.

o For Europe, proposals must include a comprehensive plan and budget to provide support for the program with Ukraine, as well as a comprehensive plan to provide support for the Fulbright Program with Russia should the program there restart.

C.3. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

There is no minimum or maximum percentage of cost sharing required for this competition.

However, 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.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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

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

D.1. Solicitation Package Location The entire Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the ECA's website at https://eca.state.gov/organizational-funding or from the Grants.gov website at https://www.grants.gov.

D.2. Content and Form of Submission Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation Package, including the Proposal Submission Instruction (PSI) document, which consists of required application forms and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. The application should be submitted per the instructions under D.17. Application Deadline and Method of Submission section below.

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier Number All organizations are required to have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the U.S. Government. 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. Note: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required for federal assistance applications. A UEI is issued as part of the required SAM.gov registration below in section D.5.

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

D.4. Required Proposal Elements All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal narrative, budget, and budget narrative.

D.5. Required Registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) All organizations must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database in order to submit a proposal in response to an open competition on Grants.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. Failure to register in SAM.gov will render applicants ineligible to receive funding.

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 is completed on any issued award. Recipients must https://eca.state.gov/organizational-funding https://www.grants.gov/ 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://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html

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 number prior to registering in SAM.gov.

D.6. Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov (formerly, FAPIIS)

1.) 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);

2.) An applicant, at its option, may review and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered. Currently, federal agencies create integrity records in the integrity module of the Contractor Performance Assessment and Reporting System (CPARS) and these records are visible as responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov;

3.) The Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in §200.206 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

D.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 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.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html 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/.

Please take into consideration the following information when preparing your proposal narrative:

D.8. 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(s) 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

Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.

D.9. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) and Freedom and Democracy Guidelines Pursuant to ECA's authorizing legislation, “diversity” should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass differences including race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, religion, geographic location, education, income, socio-economic status, and other diversity dimensions, that may hinder inclusion. Proposals should demonstrate how diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility will enhance the program’s goals and objectives and the participants’ exchange experience.

Proposals should demonstrate how the program will further engage diverse and underserved communities. Programs must maintain a non-political character and should be balanced and https://afsitsm.servicenowservices.com/ilms/ http://j1visa.state.gov/ representative of the diversity of political, social and cultural life in the United States and abroad. Please refer to the “Support of DEIA” review criterion of this document for more information on how this will be reviewed as a part of any application. Please also refer to the “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility” section in the “Proposal Submission Instructions” document for specific suggestions on incorporating DEIA into the proposal.

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," ECA "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.

D.10. 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://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/mode-framework-eca-applicants-and

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 vi, and Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) (https://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/mode-framework-eca-applicants-and)

• 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.

https://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/mode-framework-eca-applicants-and https://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/mode-framework-eca-applicants-and https://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/mode-framework-eca-applicants-and https://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/mode-framework-eca-applicants-and

▪ E1.1.01: Percent of participants reporting that their program experience offered opportunities to engage with other cultures

▪ E1.1.04: Percent of 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

▪ E1.1.17: 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 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 o Sub-Objective 2.2: Foster participant’s 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)

• 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.

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

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

• Objective 6: Increase Capacity of ECA partner institutions to achieve program strategic goals o Sub-Objective 6.1: Increase capacity of implementing partners and educational institutions for the internationalization of programs.

▪ E6.1.02: Number of exchange participants from or hosted by Minority- Serving Institutions participating in ECA (both funded and private sector) exchanges (core indicator)

• 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. While ECA recommends the applicant use the PMP format provided, this is not a requirement. A training on how to complete a PMP is available here: https://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/mode-framework-eca-applicants-and . 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; see the ECA Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Innovation (MELI) Unit’s pages on the ECA website for more information:

https://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-evaluation-division/capacity-building). In addition to those outlined above, the applicant may propose other program objectives from the https://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/mode-framework-eca-applicants-and https://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/mode-framework-eca-applicants-and https://eca.state.gov/impact/eca-evaluation-division/capacity-building

MODE Framework, the Functional Bureau Strategy (https://eca.state.gov/about-bureau), 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, such as gender or country; 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.

o 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.

o 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).

o 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 NOFO and/or POGI. 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.

Award recipients will be required to submit an upload of the raw data (in CSV format) along with the MyGrants RPM reporting (see below). 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:

https://eca.state.gov/about-bureau https://eca.state.gov/about-bureau

• 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://eca.state.gov/files/bureau/eca_eval_division_survey_response_rates.pdf), 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.

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.

D.11. Virtual Exchange Component 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 components to complement the in-person exchange. The objective for the virtual exchange component(s) is to augment the impact of the in-person exchange described in this solicitation.

D.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.

D.13. Celebration of America’s Semiquincentennial ECA is excited to play a key role in making the Semiquincentennial – commonly known as “America250” – 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 America250. Any America250 focused activities or plans will be subject to ECA approval and direction, and changes may be requested by ECA. Use of any https://eca.state.gov/files/bureau/eca_eval_division_survey_response_rates.pdf https://eca.state.gov/comms-guidance

ECA-provided America250 brand elements will be subject to advance ECA approval and require adherence to Department of State and ECA guidelines for such branding.

D.14. Budget Format Applicants must submit SF-424A – “Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs” along with a comprehensive budget for the entire program. Pending the availability of FY 2025 funds, up to $20,000,000 in U.S. government funding will be available to support the administration of the worldwide Fulbright Student Program in FY 2025. Applicants should provide separate sub-budgets for non-participant support, and unit costs, for each program component, phase, or activity.

Note: In addition to the funding for non-participant support provided in response to this NOFO, an estimated total of $95,000,000 in participant support funds will be transferred to the award recipient(s) in approximately three installments per fiscal year to cover individual participant costs. Prior to the transfer of funds, the recipient must provide participant support summary budgets by region, by country and/or global program as well as financial reports reflecting all costs to date.

ECA reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase funding amounts pending the availability of funds, the needs of the program, and U.S. Department of State foreign policy priorities.

D.15.a. Allowable costs for the program include items such as:

1.) Staff salaries and benefits 2.) Staff travel and per diem

3.) Rent and facilities

4.) Furniture and equipment

5.) Meetings and conferences

6.) Communication costs

7.) Indirect costs

8.) OMB Guidance 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600 Subpart F Audit costs

9.) Other costs associated with the normal administration of exchange programs

D.16. 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, and brief biographical sketches of key personnel to the Grants Officer and GOR within 30 days of an award being issued. Additional information regarding key personnel requirements can be found in the State Department’s Standard Terms and Conditions, VI. Recipient Responsibility and Compliance with Federal Requirements (link to: https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/).

https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/

D.17. Application Deadline and Method of Submission Application Deadline Date: Monday, July 8, 2024 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.

D.18. Grants.gov Registration, Application Submission, and Receipt Procedures Eligible organizations should follow the instructions available in the ‘Get Started’ portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html).

D.19.a. 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/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

D.19.b. 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/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html

D.19.c. 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

D.19.d. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission 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.

https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html…