FY 2024 Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program Organizational Components

Background
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to manage the FY 2024 Organizational Components of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program. The FLEX program advances the U.S. foreign policy goals of engaging youth populations and building civil society by providing in-person, academic-year exchanges, and building lasting ties between foreign and U.S. high school students and the communities that host them.

Grant Details
The FY 2024 Organizational Components cooperative agreement will fund the recruitment, selection, orientation, travel, liaison activities with natural parents, and alumni support. This award will also fund the placement and support of American participants abroad.

Eligibility Requirements
U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to: (1) recruit and select international students from designated countries (referred to herein as “inbound” participants) and American students (referred to herein as “FLEX Abroad” participants); (2) identify host families and schools, and provide programs and support to American participants in selected FLEX countries overseas; (3) provide orientations to all groups; (4) coordinate travel and logistics; (5) liaise with U.S. embassies and natural families; (6) provide advice and counseling for students and placement organizations (POs); (7) provide two Civic Education Workshops in the United States for the inbound students; and (8) provide follow-on alumni programs that promote civil society, leadership, and mutual understanding.

Period of Performance
Funding for the FLEX inbound program will support 2025-2026 academic year exchanges taking place between August 2025 and June 2026. Funding for FLEX Abroad will support academic year exchanges between July 2025 and June 2026.

Grant Value
$13,000,000 approximately