FY 2026 Tech Youth Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DFOP0018281
- Agency
-
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $1,100,000
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
-
- Sarah Shields shieldssd@state.gov
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is seeking to procure implementation services for the FY 2026 Tech Youth Program, a three-week, U.S.-based youth exchange designed to develop technical, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills in young innovators focused on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Eligible applicants include public and private higher education institutions and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with at least four years of experience conducting international exchanges. Key requirements include managing recruitment and selection of approximately 96 participants (72 international and 24 U.S. high school students), coordinating pre-exchange virtual activities, arranging homestays with American families, conducting criminal background checks for all staff and host families, facilitating job shadowing with U.S. companies, organizing a Washington, D.C. site visit, and implementing post-exchange capstone projects addressing real-world economic and business challenges. Applicants must comply with all federal requirements including SAM.gov and MyGrants registration, manage participant travel under the Fly America Act, and establish a comprehensive performance monitoring plan using the ECA MODE Framework with mandatory data collection on participant outcomes including cross-cultural competence, skill development, and attitude changes toward the United States. The application deadline is July 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with anticipated award notification on September 15, 2026.
The anticipated award amount is approximately $1,100,000 for a 15-month period of performance beginning in September 2026, with the three-week U.S.-based exchange conducted during summer 2027. Performance will include pre-exchange activities, the intensive summer exchange program, post-exchange alumni engagement, and implementation of capstone projects across a 15-month timeline. Primary performance activities will take place within the United States, with participant recruitment and selection coordinated through U.S. embassies in select countries worldwide, and program implementation centered on U.S.-based company partnerships, homestay placements, and educational institutions.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is pleased to announce an open competition for proposals to implement the FY 2026 Tech Youth program. Tech Youth is a new three-week, U.S.-based youth exchange that will equip young innovators with essential technical, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills to lead effectively and succeed in emerging industries. Participants will gain hands-on experience through job shadowing, site visits to U.S. companies, meetings with industry leaders, and intensive coursework and hands-on training. The program advances U.S. efforts to secure technological advantage over strategic competitors.
The program will support approximately 96 American and international participants from select countries worldwide (approximately 72 English-speaking international high school students and 24 U.S. high school students) in pre-exchange activities, the three-week U.S.-based exchange (to be conducted in summer 2027), post-exchange alumni engagement, and implementation of required capstone projects that address real-world economic and business challenges.
Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Update #1 ·
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is pleased to announce an open competition for proposals to implement the FY 2026 Tech Youth program. Tech Youth is a new three-week, U.S.-based youth exchange that will equip young innovators with essential technical, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills to lead effectively and succeed in emerging industries. Participants will gain hands-on experience through job shadowing, site visits to U.S. companies, meetings with industry leaders, and intensive coursework and hands-on training. The program advances U.S. efforts to secure technological advantage over strategic competitors. The program will support approximately 96 American and international participants from select countries worldwide (approximately 72 English-speaking international high school students and 24 U.S. high school students) in pre-exchange activities, the three-week U.S.-based exchange (to be conducted in summer 2027), post-exchange alumni engagement, and implementation of required capstone projects that address real-world economic and business challenges. 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 | |
| FY26 TechYouth NOFO.pdf |
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