FY 2026 U.S. Leadership in Education, Advanced Manufacturing, and Digital Skills (U.S. LEADS) Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DFOP0017930
- Agency
-
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $2,500,000
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
-
- Matt Sacco saccomj@state.gov (202) 975-3074
- 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 seeks a qualified applicant to implement the FY 2026 U.S. Leadership in Education, Advanced Manufacturing, and Digital Skills (U.S. LEADS) Program, a comprehensive international educational exchange initiative celebrating America's 250th anniversary. The program requires development and execution of a two-day Washington, D.C. summit followed by four two-week regional exchange programs designed to showcase U.S. leadership in manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and supply chain management to approximately 100 international higher education officials, commerce leaders, and policymakers from strategically important countries. Eligible applicants must be U.S. not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, civil society organizations, or accredited higher education institutions with a minimum of four years of demonstrated experience conducting international exchanges. The recipient must develop responsive programming tailored to U.S. vocational-technical education priorities and commercial diplomacy objectives, ensure compliance with J-1 visa requirements and DS-2019 form issuance, provide comprehensive health insurance coverage for all participants, and establish a performance monitoring plan aligned with the ECA's MODE Framework that measures outcomes in cross-cultural competence, civic engagement, and professional skill development. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by May 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with required documentation including SF-424 forms, executive summaries, detailed proposal narratives, budget forms, and performance monitoring plans.
One cooperative agreement worth approximately $2,500,000 will be awarded, with an anticipated award date of July 1, 2026, and a performance period of 18 to 36 months. The program encompasses a two-day summit scheduled between December 2026 and March 2027, immediately followed by four two-week regional exchange programs conducted across approximately four U.S. cities selected for their strong higher education-industry partnerships and manufacturing and technology sectors. Regional cohorts will consist of approximately 25 representatives from 3-4 countries per cohort, with country selection determined based on U.S. foreign policy priorities in consultation with ECA, U.S. embassies, and regional bureau input, ensuring programming locations and activities advance both educational exchange and commercial diplomacy objectives.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The United States Leadership in Education, Advanced Manufacturing, and Digital Skills (U.S. LEADS) Program celebrates America's 250th anniversary by showcasing U.S. leadership from the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Revolution, focusing on revitalizing manufacturing, advancing AI, and strengthening supply chains. This Freedom 250 initiative will spark collaboration between U.S. community colleges, international vocational leaders, and U.S. industry partners to address emerging labor market demands that advance U.S. interests and drive economic development. The program will launch with a summit in Washington, D.C. to highlight America's industrial heritage, current leadership in manufacturing and AI, and the role of U.S. community colleges in preparing the workforce of tomorrow.
The program will also include a U.S. exchange for approximately 100 higher education officials, commerce leaders, and policymakers from countries strategically important to U.S. industry. The group should be divided into four cohorts comprised of approximately 25 representatives from approximately 3-4 countries, determined based on U.S. foreign policy priorities in consultation with ECA, U.S. embassies, and regional bureau input. These two-week regional programs will take place in approximately four U.S. cities with strong higher education-industry partnerships. Through site visits, hands-on learning, and industry engagement, international participants will gain knowledge of U.S. best practices in manufacturing and technology training, enabling them to adopt similar approaches and establish partnerships that advantage U.S. companies. The summit should occur between December 2026 and March 2027 and be followed immediately by the in-person regional exchanges. The successful applicant will provide responsive and flexible programming with activities tailored to U.S. priorities for vocational-technical education and commercial diplomacy that will lead to measurable positive policy change. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Update #1 ·
The United States Leadership in Education, Advanced Manufacturing, and Digital Skills (U.S. LEADS) Program celebrates America's 250th anniversary by showcasing U.S. leadership from the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Revolution, focusing on revitalizing manufacturing, advancing AI, and strengthening supply chains. This Freedom 250 initiative will spark collaboration between U.S. community colleges, international vocational leaders, and U.S. industry partners to address emerging labor market demands that advance U.S. interests and drive economic development. The program will launch with a summit in Washington, D.C. to highlight America's industrial heritage, current leadership in manufacturing and AI, and the role of U.S. community colleges in preparing the workforce of tomorrow. The program will also include a U.S. exchange for approximately 100 higher education officials, commerce leaders, and policymakers from countries strategically important to U.S. industry. The group should be divided into four cohorts comprised of approximately 25 representatives from approximately 3-4 countries, determined based on U.S. foreign policy priorities in consultation with ECA, U.S. embassies, and regional bureau input. These two-week regional programs will take place in approximately four U.S. cities with strong higher education-industry partnerships. Through site visits, hands-on learning, and industry engagement, international participants will gain knowledge of U.S. best practices in manufacturing and technology training, enabling them to adopt similar approaches and establish partnerships that advantage U.S. companies. The summit should occur between December 2026 and March 2027 and be followed immediately by the in-person regional exchanges. The successful applicant will provide responsive and flexible programming with activities tailored to U.S. priorities for vocational-technical education and commercial diplomacy that will lead to measurable positive policy
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 NOFO_U.S. LEADS.pdf |
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