Simpler Grants.gov #DFOP0018610

State Department Seeks Proposals for FY 2026 Arctic Exchange Program

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is seeking proposals for the FY 2026 Arctic Exchange Program (AEP), a grant opportunity focused on international professional exchanges. - Government Buyer: - U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) - Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/GL - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are named, as this is a programmatic grant for services - Products/Services Requested: - Implementation of three short-term exchange activities for approximately 30 emerging and mid-level professionals (8-10 per cohort) - Focus areas: Arctic tourism development and critical minerals supply chain resilience - Locations: United States (Alaska), Canada, Greenland - Services include: participant recruitment and selection, orientation, professional development, travel and health benefits, virtual and in-person programming, performance monitoring, and alumni engagement - Performance monitoring and reporting on program outcomes using the MODE Framework (demographics, cross-cultural competence, skills, alumni engagement, etc.) - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Applicants must be U.S. not-for-profit organizations or educational institutions with at least four years of experience in international exchanges - Compliance with ECA grant guidelines, including detailed proposal, budget, and performance monitoring plan - Data collection and reporting on program outcomes at multiple intervals post-program - Registration in SAM.gov required - One anticipated award, approximately $750,000 in funding - Period of performance is 30 months, with possible renewal for two additional years

Description

The FY 2026 Arctic Exchange Program is a funding opportunity issued by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (DOS-ECA) aimed at advancing economic prosperity in the United States (Alaska), Canada, and Greenland. The program focuses on short-term exchange activities centered on Arctic tourism development and critical minerals supply chain resilience. It consists of three targeted exchange activities with cohorts of approximately eight to ten participants each, taking place in each participating country subject to local conditions. The program seeks to build participants' professional capacity, create new partnership opportunities, promote U.S. business interests, and counter adversarial influence in the Arctic region.

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