FY 2026 Arctic Exchange Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DFOP0018610
- Agency
-
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $750,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Other
- Eligible applicants
-
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Points of contact
-
- Copeland Barnes barnescl@state.gov (771) 205-6717
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is soliciting applications for the FY 2026 Arctic Exchange Program, a single cooperative agreement of approximately $750,000 with an application deadline of July 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Eligible applicants are U.S. not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, think tanks, and civil society organizations. Applicants must demonstrate at least four years of experience conducting international exchanges, maintain active registration in SAM.gov with a valid UEI, and register with MyGrants. No cost share is required.
The program funds three targeted short-term exchange activities across Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, organized into three distinct cohorts of approximately 8 to 10 participants each. Total participation is anticipated at approximately 30 emerging or mid-level leaders, including approximately 20 international and 10 U.S. participants. The performance period is 30 months with an anticipated award date of September 25, 2026.
The program focuses on two overarching themes: Arctic tourism development and critical minerals supply chain resilience. Activities aim to build participants' professional capacity, create new partnership opportunities that advance economic prosperity, position the United States as a partner of choice in Arctic economic development initiatives, and counter adversarial influence in the region.
Recipients are responsible for designing and implementing all program activities, managing merit-based participant recruitment and selection, coordinating with U.S. missions and ECA on major decisions, arranging all travel and accommodation costs, enrolling participants in health insurance, developing mobile or web-based platforms for participant preparation and alumni engagement, and establishing partnerships with local Arctic organizations. Recipients must conduct comprehensive performance monitoring aligned with ECA's MODE Framework, submit annual performance progress reports and federal financial reports through MyGrants, and comply with all applicable federal regulations including anti-discrimination laws, trafficking in persons requirements, and J-visa regulations under 22 CFR 62.
The program falls under CFDA 19.415 (Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges).
Synopsis
3 versions
Update #3 · Latest ·
The Arctic Exchange Program (AEP) aims to advance economic prosperity in the United States (Alaska), Canada, and Greenland through short-term exchange activities focused on two overarching themes: Arctic tourism development and critical minerals supply chain resilience.
The AEP will consist of three targeted exchange activities with distinct cohorts of approximately eight to 10 participants each. One activity will take place in each participating country, subject to local conditions. The scope of these activities may vary based on program needs.
Across all three exchange activities, the AEP will build participants' professional capacity and create new partnership opportunities that advance economic prosperity in the United States, Canada, and Greenland. The program will position the United States as a partner of choice in Arctic economic development initiatives, promote U.S. business interests, and counter adversarial influence in this strategically important region.
Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Update #2 ·
The Arctic Exchange Program (AEP) aims to advance economic prosperity in the United States (Alaska), Canada, and Greenland through short-term exchange activities focused on two overarching themes: Arctic tourism development and critical minerals supply chain resilience. The AEP will consist of three targeted exchange activities with distinct cohorts of approximately eight to 10 participants each. One activity will take place in each participating country, subject to local conditions. The scope of these activities may vary based on program needs. Across all three exchange activities, the AEP will build participants' professional capacity and create new partnership opportunities that advance economic prosperity in the United States, Canada, and Greenland. The program will position the United States as a partner of choice in Arctic economic development initiatives, promote U.S. business interests, and counter adversarial influence in this strategically important region.
Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Update #1 ·
The Arctic Exchange Program (AEP) aims to advance economic prosperity in the United States (Alaska), Canada, and Greenland through short-term exchange activities focused on two overarching themes: Arctic tourism development and critical minerals supply chain resilience. The AEP will consist of three targeted exchange activities with distinct cohorts of approximately eight to 10 participants each. One activity will take place in each participating country, subject to local conditions. The scope of these activities may vary based on program needs. Across all three exchange activities, the AEP will build participants' professional capacity and create new partnership opportunities that advance economic prosperity in the United States, Canada, and Greenland. The program will position the United States as a partner of choice in Arctic economic development initiatives, promote U.S. business interests, and counter adversarial influence in this strategically important region. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025.pdf | ||
| performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025-4.docx | DOCX document | |
| FY 2026 Arctic Exchange Program NOFO.pdf |
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