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

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) FY 2026 Sports Diplomacy On Demand Program Funding Opportunity Number: DFOP0017999

Application Deadline: May 26, 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 2026 Sports Diplomacy On Demand Program Funding Opportunity Number

DFOP0017999

Announcement Type New Cooperative Agreement Deadline for Applications May 26, 2026 11:59pm Eastern (Washington DC time) Assistance Listing Number 19.415 Length of Performance Period

24 to 36 months

Number of Awards Anticipated

One award

Award Amount Approximately $2,000,000 Total Available Funding $2,000,000, pending availability of funds Type of Funding FY26 Educational and Cultural Exchange

Programs (ECE) Funds Funding Instrument Type Cooperative Agreement Anticipated Award Date September 15, 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 two additional, consecutive fiscal years, before openly competing it again.

2. Executive Summary.

The Office of Sports Diplomacy, in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), announces an open competition for the FY 2026 Sports Diplomacy On Demand Program. U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to manage short-term sports exchange projects designed to support key sporting and cultural priorities of the Administration.

Sports Diplomacy On Demand (SD On Demand) is a new, flexible program that will allow the Department of State to quickly respond to Administration’s foreign policy priorities in sports. SD On Demand projects are designed for rapid implementation, enabling swift responses to emerging policies, geopolitical opportunities, and pressing foreign policy needs. The SD On Demand Program will advance U.S.

foreign policy through sports-focused programs that leverage the Decade of Sport in America, solidifying the FIFA World Cup 2026 legacy, building momentum toward the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, and beyond.

The recipient will implement a series of customized, short-term sports-based exchange projects for a variety of individuals that may include high-profile athletes, leaders in sports federations and ministries abroad, or non-elite athletes, coaches, and sports administrators. The program expects to support approximately 40 exchange projects for 120-140 participants, including approximately 40-50 foreign participants and 80-90 from the United States.

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 $2,000,000.

Therefore, organizations must demonstrate four years of experience in conducting international exchanges in your proposal to be eligible to apply under this competition.

c. All proposals must comply with the requirements stated in the NOFO 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

1. Authority.

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

The funding authority for the program above is provided through legislation

2. Purpose.

Sports diplomacy enhances cross-cultural understanding and opens new avenues of dialogue and collaboration between individuals and nations. Sports-based exchanges can lay the foundation of trust needed to build a more stable, secure, and prosperous world. Sports provide a platform to create opportunities for people to realize their potential to contribute fully to society. Sport is a universal language, transcending differences and is a low-cost, high-impact tool that has the power to teach important life skills such as leadership, teamwork, resilience, and communication. Sport is a diplomatic tool in hard-to-reach places and audiences.

SD On Demand will use sports to advance the Administration’s foreign policy goals and America First priorities on and off the field.

SD On Demand exchanges allow for a rapid response, flexible project design that seeks to build self-sustaining global, regional, and country-based networks of sport practitioners.

In submitting a proposal to implement SD On Demand, the applicant should clearly demonstrate their understanding of, and commitment to, the following guiding principles:

a. Flexible, rapid response program design, administration, implementation, and assessment that utilizes sport-based exchanges as a tool to advance U.S.

foreign policy;

b. High-quality media and communication strategy that leverages the narrative power of sports to promote exchanges;

c. Leadership, expertise, and strong networks with U.S.-based and international sport, sport for development, and exchange organizations;

d. Original and flexible program design that is balanced with consistently high-quality implementation; and

e. Cost-efficient program that maximizes participant numbers.

In addition to these guiding principles, the recipient will conduct programming that supports U.S. foreign policy priorities surrounding Freedom 250, the legacy of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, and the lead up to the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

3. Program Specific Guidelines.

Throughout the FY 2026 cooperative agreement, the award recipient will implement approximately 40 SD On Demand projects (inbound and outbounds) covering a wide range of sport topics aligned with Administration foreign policy priorities.

The cooperative agreement will support approximately 40-50 non-elite athletes, coaches and sports administrators, and leaders in sports federations and ministries abroad from all six geographic regions (East Asia and the Pacific; Europe and Eurasia; Near East and North Africa; South and Central Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; and Western Hemisphere) and approximately 80-90 American athletes and coaches.

ECA, in consultation with other Department offices and regional bureaus, will select the specific theme and sport of each exchange. Projects may include the following sports: flag football, mixed martial arts (MMA), tennis, and golf; or showcase sports that have an origin in the United States to highlight Freedom 250 (e.g., American football, baseball, modern MMA, skateboarding, softball, and volleyball). The goals and objectives for each specific SD On Demand project will be shared with the award recipient as projects are assigned.

Foreign participants will travel to the United States for approximately two to three-week sports-based exchange programs that may include activities such as professional meetings, workshops, conferences, mentorships, and sports clinics.

U.S. athletes and coaches will travel overseas for one-week programs to engage with non-elite youth athletes, local coaches, and influential community leaders. U.S.

athletes and coaches may also lead sports clinics, facilitate team-building activities, participate in media engagements, and meet with key contacts to advance U.S.

foreign policy objectives and promote American leadership and excellence in sport.

ECA and other offices within the U.S. Department of State will develop and approve each SD On Demand project. Multiple projects may run concurrently, and the award recipient must demonstrate capacity to manage several projects in different stages at once.

• Projects are sets of sports-based exchanges focused on specific, urgent, or emerging U.S. foreign policy priorities.

• Participants: Participants are those who travel under federal award funding from their home country to the project location. Foreign participants should be chosen through a merit-based, competitive process. Participants may also be recommended by participating U.S. missions. Unless otherwise requested, participants should be emerging sport leaders and sports professionals, with experience and current employment relevant to the project. All participants should be proficient in written and spoken English, have demonstrated leadership ability, and show professional commitment to the project’s goals.

• U.S. participants: U.S. participants should be athletes, coaches, and sports professionals with expertise in the project’s theme and sport. They should have significant engagement with foreign participants during the U.S.

exchange program.

• Organizational Capacity: Applicant organizations must show they can conduct international professional exchanges, support different types of exchange activities and topics, and provide leadership training for non-elites youth and rising professionals. Proposals should show the organization’s experience working in challenging environments, including in countries where the organization has not worked before, setting up tailored work placements, and adapting programs as needed. Proposals should clearly explain how the organization will staff and manage multiple SD Demand projects concurrently.

• Partner Organizations: Applicants should list programs, businesses, institutions, and individuals they would work with to implement projects and describe any past collaborations. Proposals may include a sample project theme and objective and suggest potential organizations or individuals who could serve as facilitators or interlocutors during the sample project.

Proposals must show the ability to develop strong, relevant programming in the United States. Since activities may take place in countries where the organization does not have a presence, proposals should show how they will find and work with local or regional partners quickly. Proposals should include a participant recruitment plan and list foreign partner organizations that have helped recruit participants for other programs.

• Projected Timeline: The exact dates for each exchange project will be set after ECA approves the project. Proposals should include a sample timeline, calendar, and outline for a hypothetical sports project.

4. Recipient Responsibilities.

The responsibilities of the recipient organization are as follows:

a. Project Design: After ECA approves a project, the award recipient will design project activities and submit a detailed outline to ECA’s Office of Sports Diplomacy. Each project will be unique and may require a different approach.

Projects should be flexible, collaborative, and may include one segment in the United States and one segment abroad, as appropriate.

b. Recruitment and Selection: The award recipient will work with State Department offices and, if needed, local partners to recruit and select qualified participants. The process should include:

a. A targeted recruitment campaign that supports a merit-based competition and meets project goals.

b. A secure online application system.

c. A transparent review process, developed with ECA, involving State

Department input and final ECA approval of participants.

d. English-language interviews for semi-finalists, as appropriate.

c. Promotional Materials: The award recipient will create promotional materials for the SD On Demand program and individual projects. ECA will approve all materials.

d. Orientation: The award recipient will provide pre-departure and/or arrival orientations, either in person or virtually, for all participants. Orientations should cover:

a. Travel and lodging details, including J-1 visa rules

b. Project goals and expectations

c. Program schedule and host community information

d. Cross-cultural guidance

e. Visa Support: The award recipient will prepare and issue DS-2019 forms for

J-1 visas and assist with the visa process for both foreign and U.S. participants, working with U.S. embassies and consulates as needed.

f. Logistics: The award recipient will arrange all travel, transportation, accommodations, and meals, following federal regulations and the Fly America Act.

g. Health Benefits: The award recipient will enroll all participants in ECA’s

Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) and provide health ID cards.

h. Participant Monitoring: The award recipient will monitor participant safety and well-being, maintain effective communication, and resolve issues promptly. Proposals should show how staffing will support participant safety and well-being.

i. Program Closing: The award recipient will hold a closing session at the end of each project.

j. Data Collection and Reporting: The award recipient will track all projects and participants, including budgets and participant numbers by country. This data will be included in regular reports to ECA and provided upon request.

The award recipient must securely maintain all personal information.

5. Goals and Objectives.

SD On Demand is designed to achieve the following goals:

1. Provide targeted support for urgent or emerging U.S. foreign policy priorities when existing sports diplomacy resources are not available;

2. Showcase American excellence and leadership in sports;

3. Facilitate meaningful sports experiences between American athletes and international communities;

4. Foster dialogue with government leaders and other contacts that may be difficult to reach with traditional diplomacy; and

5. Promote investment in the U.S. sports economy.

6. Program Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E).

Distinct from grants or cooperative agreement monitoring and participant monitoring, performance monitoring is designed to assess progress against a program’s goals and objectives. A performance monitoring framework is vital to tracking the direction, pace, and magnitude of change that result from ECA programs.

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

The proposal must include the MODE Framework objectives and indicators listed below (note that, because not all MODE objectives and indicators are relevant for a https://www.state.gov/eca-monitoring-evaluation-learning-and-innovation-meli-unit/ 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 E1.1.04: Percent of foreign participants with more favorable opinions of the United States Government (core indicator) E1.1.09: Percent of participants who traveled abroad for the first time because of their program (core indicator) E1.1.10: Percent of foreign participants who traveled to the United States for the first time during their program (core indicator) E1.1.11: Percent of American participants indicating a change in their understanding of their host country's culture and values E1.1.13: 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 foreign participants agreeing with statements in support of democratic values (core indicator)

• Objective 2: Increase the impact that participants and alumni have on their communities / countries E2.0.01: Percent of foreign participants that volunteer in their host communities E2.0.04: Number of hours that foreign participants spend volunteering in their host communities https://app.box.com/s/qjo8icwj46tc8h1i1qtg80zl7ibwgtua 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 E3.0.02: Percent of foreign participants who report increasing their network of Americans (core indicator) E3.0.07: Percent of participants who identify as a Department of State program participant (core indicator) o Objective 4: Strengthen personal, professional, and technical abilities and aptitudes of participants and beneficiaries E4.0.01: Percent of participants reporting increases in their job skills as a result of their program participation E4.0.03: Percent of participants reporting an increase in soft skills as a result of their program participation E4.0.05: Percent of participants who report an increase in technical skills as a result of their program participation E4.0.09: Percent of participants reporting an increase in language skills as a result of their program participation 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 E4.1.11: Number of American reciprocal exchange participants E4.1.16: Number of audience members attending cultural events

• Objective 8: Enhance the quality and effectiveness of ECA programs by leveraging the Bureau’s resources, policy, and stakeholder relationships E8.0.03: Response rate for participant surveys (core indicator)

Performance Monitoring Plans (PMPs) ECA recommends the use of a PMP to serve as the primary reference document for performance monitoring for this award. If used, the PMP is an important part of any proposal, as it outlines how the applicant plans to track progress towards the proposed program’s goals and objectives through indicators and corresponding data collection questions. A PMP document that includes all MODE Framework indicators is a part of this solicitation’s attachments. Specific instructions on how to modify the PMP to be responsive to this solicitation are included in that document;

there is also a support video available for more information on how to fill out the PMP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBHC1oLNZvI. While ECA recommends the applicant use the PMP format provided, this is not a requirement. If a PMP is not included in the proposal, applicants should provide similar information to that found in the suggested PMP format, in a presentation of your choice. Successful PMPs (or similar documentation) should include the following:

• Objectives. Programmatic objectives are statements of the condition(s) that state what the program is designed to achieve. Objectives are therefore bound by the resources and timeframe of the program and must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound (SMART). In addition to those outlined above, the applicant may propose other program objectives from the MODE Framework or other applicant-designed program-specific objectives.

• Indicators. Performance indicators are measures used to gauge progress toward programmatic objectives and sub-objectives. Indicators should be as specific as possible (following the SMART principles) and include any proposed disaggregations (meaning, breakdowns of the data by subgroups; the PMP lists the demographic questions required to obtain the information necessary to report the disaggregations). Each indicator should also include a target number to be achieved. A target is a planned level of result to be achieved within an explicit timeframe.

• If you do not use the PMP format provided, note that any performance monitoring reference document the applicant submits should include the information in the column headers (Indicator Name, Definition, Target, Survey Question, etc.) in the PMP attachment at a minimum.

• In addition to those indicators outlined in above, the applicant may propose additional custom, program-specific indicators in the PMP (ECA recommends the proposed PMPs include a minimum of one indicator for each custom programmatic objective).

• During the period of performance of the award, the ECA program office may further revise, add, or remove indicators. Therefore, the applicant’s PMP and data collection instruments should be flexible enough to incorporate those once established.

Award recipients are responsible for collecting indicator data only on participant outcomes during the period of performance of the award itself (see the PMP for guidelines as to when these data collection efforts should occur). ECA will measure outcomes of ECA participants at one, three, five, and 10 years after the exchange has ended to capture the long-term outcomes of ECA programming unless https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBHC1oLNZvI 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://app.box.com/s/pn6tavyg7sh064i502fzap49ox63y38a https://app.box.com/s/jjr98hmx6deorxj3lwgaxjrwdfec2r91 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jus4fRqOTcM. You can propose use of an alternate survey tool or use the MODE Survey Builder, but if you are utilizing the MODE Survey Builder, you must indicate such in your proposal.

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

7. Allowable Costs.

a. Travel. International and domestic airfare; passports; visas; transit costs;

ground transportation; travel allowance to cover incidentals; required vaccinations; and COVID related costs as necessary. Please note that all air travel must be in compliance with the Fly America Act. There is no charge for J-1 visas for participants in Bureau sponsored programs.

b. Lodging and Per Diem. For U.S.-based programming, the recipient should use the published Federal per diem rates for individual U.S. cities. Domestic per diem rates may be accessed at: http://www.gsa.gov/perdiem. ECA requests that recipient budget realistic costs that reflect the local economy and do not exceed Federal per diem rates. Foreign per diem rates can be accessed at:

https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=184&menu_id=78.

c. Interpreters and translation: When the recipient proposes to use interpreters, the following expenses should be included in the budget:

published Federal per diem rates (both "lodging" and "M&IE") and transportation costs per interpreter. Bureau funds cannot support interpreters who accompany delegations from their home country or travel internationally. Proposals may contain costs to purchase, develop and translate materials for participants.

d. Book and Cultural Allowances: Foreign participants are entitled to a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a book allowance of $50.

Interpreters should be reimbursed up to $150 for expenses when they escort https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jus4fRqOTcM http://www.gsa.gov/perdiem https://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=184&menu_id=78 participants to cultural events. U.S. program staff, trainers or participants are not eligible to receive these benefits.

e. Consultants: Consultants may be used to provide specialized expertise, develop content, or to make presentations. Honoraria rates should not exceed $250 per day and can be prorated for less than a full day. The recipient is encouraged to cost-share rates that would exceed that figure.

f. Room Rental: The rental of meeting space should not exceed $250 per day.

Any rates that exceed this amount should be cost-shared.

g. Materials: Award recipient should expect to submit a copy of all program materials to ECA, and ECA support should be acknowledged on all materials developed with its funding.

h. Equipment: The recipient may propose to use award funds to purchase and ship equipment, such as computers, printers, or sports equipment; these costs should be justified in the budget narrative. Costs for furniture are not allowed.

i. Working Meal: A maximum of one working meal may be authorized per project unless extenuating circumstances exist, in which case prior approval must be obtained from a DOS Grants Officer. Unless additional working meals are approved, the recipient agrees to reduce the participants’ per diem to cover the cost of any additional working meals. In addition, per capita costs may not exceed $45 excluding room rental. The number of invited guests shall not exceed participants by more than a factor of two-to-one.

j. Health Benefits: The Bureau offers the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) plan for participants in this program. There is no cost to the recipient organization if it opts to use the ASPE plan. If the recipient wishes to use a different plan, they must demonstrate that such alternate plan provides comparable or more comprehensive coverage. Coverage must begin when participants depart their home countries and not conclude until they return home. If you choose not to use ASPE, your proposal must include a copy of your chosen insurance policy and must include the cost of the insurance in the budget. The insurance you propose to use must meet the requirements of 22 CFR 62.14. Details of the ASPE policy can be provided by your primary point of contact in ECA. The premium is paid by ECA and should not be included in the proposal budget.

k. Wire Transfer Fees: When necessary, the recipient may include costs to transfer funds to partner organizations or individuals overseas. The recipient is urged to research applicable taxes that may be imposed on these transfers by host governments.

l. Sub-awards and Small Grants: Sub-awards may be used and activities must be included in an itemized budget. Approximately $50,000 in small grants to support participant action plans may be budgeted with each small grant being issued for approximately $1,000 to $2,500.

m. Reasonable Accommodations: Costs associated with supporting participants needing reasonable accommodations during exchange programming, recruitment, or follow-on.

n. Staff Salaries and Benefits: Costs necessary for the effective administration of the program may include salaries for recipient employees, fringe benefits, and other direct and indirect costs per detailed instructions in the Application Package.

8. Cost Share.

ECA encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs. When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an approved agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For accountability, you must maintain written records to support all costs which are claimed as your contribution, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit.

The basis for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s Guidance 2 CFR Parts 200 and 600, entitled the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. In the event you do not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's contribution may be reduced in like proportion.

9. 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.

10. Virtual Exchange Component.

When changing political, health, environmental, or other similar circumstances require a suspension or halt of in-person activities and where ECA determines that a virtual alternative is appropriate and viable, award recipients should demonstrate the ability and capacity to transition from in-person to virtual exchanges. Proposals should demonstrate the organization’s capacity to provide innovative options for virtual activities to substitute for in-person engagement for program participants.

Organizations should consider how they will implement virtual exchange activities, given the potential limits to internet access from participants in some locations and while continuing to advance foreign policy objectives and achieve lasting benefits for U.S. citizens and international participants.

In addition to planning for virtual exchange activities if in-person programming is prohibited, ECA welcomes innovative ideas on how organizations can leverage virtual programming technologies during or in addition to in-person programming.

ECA encourages organizations submitting proposals in response to this solicitation to suggest one or more virtual exchange components to complement the in-person exchange. The virtual exchange components could come before, during and/or after the physical exchange. The objective for the virtual exchange components is to augment the impact of the in-person exchange described in this solicitation. ECA encourages organizations to propose virtual exchange ideas that take advantage of ECA’s existing web and social networking platforms. Virtual exchange components would be coordinated with and approved by the ECA program office and U.S.

missions abroad on a project-by-project basis.

11. 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.

12. 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/

13. Substantial Involvement.

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

a. ECA and other offices within the U.S. Department of State will develop and approve each SD On Demand project for the recipient to implement.

b. If necessary, ECA will support the recipient in working with United States national sports federations to implement exchanges related to Freedom 250, FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.

c. Review and approve SD On Demand project proposals, recruitment materials, program timelines, and agendas.

d. Approve the final selection of all foreign and U.S. participants to ensure participants are positioned to advance project goals.

e. Approve decisions related to special circumstances or problems throughout the program, including assisting with participant emergencies as appropriate and ensuring program continuity.

f. Liaise with applicable regional bureaus, U.S. embassies and consulates, and other State Department offices as appropriate to ensure program activities support U.S. strategic interests.

g. Assess the program through regular communication, meetings, and debriefing sessions; and liaise with ECA’s MELI Unit and the award recipient to ensure measurable outcomes and continuous improvement in advancing U.S.

foreign policy priorities.

h. Provide oversight ensuring award closeout process completion.

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 $2,000,000. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.

2. Content of Application.

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

E. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

1. Address to Request Application Package.

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

2. Department of State Contacts For questions about this announcement, contact: Nalinee Cain, U.S. Department of State, Office of Sports Diplomacy, ECA/PE/C/SU, (771) 204-2492, CainNL@state.gov.

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

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

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

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

(SAM.gov).

Required Registrations All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration in SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. An applicant must maintain an active registration while it has a proposal under review by the https://www.grants.gov/

Department and must continue to keep the registration active for the entire duration of the period of performance of any Federal award that results from this

NOFO.

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

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

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

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

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to:

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration

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

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

4. Required Registration with MyGrants.

All ECA award recipient organizations and recipient contacts and signatories must be registered with the U.S. Department of State’s MyGrants system by accessing 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 and clicking the “create an account” link.

MyGrants is the U.S. Department of State’s grants management system and is supported by the Department’s Integrated Logistics Management System (ILMS).

Recipient organizations and recipient contacts and signatories that have previously used MyGrants as a U.S. Department of State award recipient do not need to register again. If the organization is not able to access the system, please contact the ILMS Help Desk for help in gaining access.

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

5. Submission Instructions.

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

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

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

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

Organization applicants can find complete instructions here:

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

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

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

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

Email: support@grants.gov

6. Submission Dates and Times.

Application Deadline Date.

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 (Eastern Standard Time).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. Funding Restrictions for this Announcement.

a. Funding Restrictions for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency

(UNRWA)

None of the funds awarded resulting from this Notice of Funding Opportunity may be made available for subawards, direct financial support, or otherwise used to provide any payment…