FY 2018 Teacher Exchange Program | ECA ECAAS 18 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ECA ECAAS 18 001

The FY 2018 Teacher Exchange Program grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number ECA ECAAS 18 001) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) competition to fund organizations that can run major teacher exchange activities tied to the Office of Global Educational Programs. The intent is to strengthen ECA's engagement with primary and secondary educators in the United States and overseas by supporting structured exchanges that bring domestic and international teachers into professional, cross-cultural learning experiences. The notice emphasizes alignment with the Fulbright-Hays Act and asks applicants not just to replicate existing approaches, but to bring a clear vision across all program components, with creativity, innovative ideas, and practical recommendations.

ECA expects to make up to three cooperative agreement awards to cover a combined total of four components of the Teacher Exchange Program during FY 2018. Because the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement (rather than a standard grant), ECA anticipates substantial federal involvement in oversight and coordination during implementation. While the announcement points applicants to additional component detail in the Funding Opportunity Description and the associated Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document, it is clear that awardees will be responsible for end-to-end delivery for whichever components they are assigned, and they must be ready to operate at national and international scale.

The scope of work is broad and covers both program operations and compliance-heavy administrative functions. Award recipients are expected to handle program planning and day-to-day management; recruit participants and arrange placements; provide orientation and preparation for both participants and host or mentor educators; design and deliver enrichment activities; monitor participants and provide ongoing support; manage budgets and fiscal controls; and conduct program monitoring and evaluation. The evaluation and reporting responsibilities include routine performance measurement as well as ad hoc program and financial reports when requested by ECA's Teacher Exchange Branch. The opportunity also highlights the importance of alumni programming and follow-on activities, signaling that ECA values sustained networks and continued engagement beyond the exchange period itself.

A notable operational requirement is transition planning. If ECA awards one or more components to an organization that is not the current administrator for that component, the new recipient and the current administrator are expected to collaborate closely to ensure continuity and a smooth handoff. Applicants therefore need to demonstrate the capacity to coordinate with existing implementers, manage knowledge transfer, and avoid disruption to recruitment cycles, placements, or participant support. Proposals are expected to include realistic schedules and timelines that show how the organization will communicate with ECA, overseas partners, applicants, and selected participants about recruitment windows, placements, travel, and cross-cultural and program information in a timely and organized way.

The program is also explicit about regulatory compliance. Because teacher exchanges frequently involve international participants coming to the United States, recipients must comply with applicable J-1 visa regulations, and with FFSB regulations as relevant (the announcement flags these as mandatory where applicable). In addition, ECA requires that teachers participating in exchanges in the United States and abroad be selected through open, merit-based competitions, which implies transparent selection criteria, documented review processes, and equal access in recruitment and consideration.

In terms of eligibility, ECA is open to a range of capable implementing organizations, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The listing also includes an "Others" category, indicating ECA may consider additional types of entities if they can meet the program needs and eligibility rules. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and falls under CFDA (now Assistance Listing) number 19.408.

Key administrative details in the source record include an original application deadline of 2017-06-22 and a total award ceiling listed at $10,450,000. The opportunity was created on 2017-04-25. Overall, the announcement is aimed at organizations that can demonstrate strong exchange-program infrastructure, recruitment reach, placement and participant-support capability, cross-cultural programming competence, rigorous fiscal and reporting systems, and the ability to work closely with ECA under a cooperative agreement structure while maintaining transparent, merit-based selection processes for educators.

• The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2018 Teacher Exchange Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.408.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-04-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-06-22. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,450,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for ECA ECAAS 18 001

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