FY 2026 Future Leaders Exchange Global (FLEX Global)

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Published: Apr 29, 2026

Updated: May 19, 2026

Source: grants_gov

About This Opportunity

Procurement notice from Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs (United States, education & training): FY 2026 Future Leaders. Submission deadline Jun 2026.

This is a grants contract in the education and training, culture and heritage and Youth sectors, with a focus on Secondary Education, Higher Education and Entrepreneurship. Located in United States, North America, this opportunity is open to firms and consortiums, with an estimated budget of USD 400,000 – USD 22.0 million. Proposals must be submitted before June 29, 2026.

Published through Grants.gov, a national government procurement portal. Public procurement tenders follow the country's national bidding regulations and may have specific eligibility and documentation requirements for grants in the education and training sector. Grant applications generally require a detailed project proposal, a clear results framework, and evidence of the applicant's capacity to deliver the proposed activities. Interested parties should review the full documentation on the original source before submitting their proposal.

Description

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invite proposals for cooperative agreements to implement the FY 2026 FLEX Global high school exchange program. Applicants may apply for one or both of the following program components:

· Administrative Component: Manages overseas operations, recruitment and selection of inbound and outbound participants, travel, host family recruitment and placement for outbound participants (e.g., American students studying abroad), database and website management for all inbound and outbound participants, alumni activities for all inbound and outbound participants, program-wide events, and overall program coordination.
· Placement Component: Manages host family and school placement of inbound foreign participants in the U.S., regional “American Excellence” enhancement type activities, and ongoing monitoring and support.

FLEX Global builds on the 34-year legacy of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program and the 24-year legacy of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, expanding participation beyond specific world regions. The program advances U.S. interests by cultivating a network of young leaders who understand and support U.S. culture and priorities, with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, civic engagement, and leadership.

Key Activities:
· Up to 1,200 foreign high school participants will study in the U.S. for an academic year.
· Up to 150 American high school participants will study abroad for an academic year. As noted above, this element of the program will be managed entirely through the Administrative Component. Organizations applying solely for the Placement Component should not include any costs related to this activity.
· All participants live with host families, attend high school, and engage in leadership and American Excellence enhancement activities.

ECA expects to issue one award for the Administrative Component and six to ten awards for the Placement Component. Eligible organizations may apply for one or both components but must submit a separate proposal for each component.

The POGI document outlines the activities, roles, and responsibilities of the FLEX Global Administrative Component and Placement Component recipients.

Please see the full announcement for additional information.

Agency: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

CFDA: 19.415

Eligible Applicants: Please see full announcement.

Applicant Types: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Private institutions of higher education; Public and State controlled institutions of higher education; Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Cost Sharing: No

More Info: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Organizational Funding Opportunities — https://www.state.gov/eca-grant-opportunities/

Contact: Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Email: schulzaj@state.gov

Data provenance

This notice is sourced from Grants.gov and was originally published on April 29, 2026. Last refreshed today. BidsFactory mirrors official procurement notices and links back to the source for full legal text.

About Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs has issued 28 procurement notices on BidsFactory, including 24 currently open and 0 awarded contracts. Activity concentrates in Education & Training, Information & Communication Technology, and Culture, Heritage & Tourism. All notices are published for United States. Notices are distributed via Grants.gov. Most recent publication: May 12, 2026.

Frequently asked questions about this tender

How can I submit a bid?

Visit Grants.gov to access the full notice, required documents, and submission instructions provided by the contracting authority.

When does this tender close?

The submission deadline is June 29, 2026. You have 41 days left to prepare and submit your proposal to the contracting authority.

Who is the contracting authority?

This notice was issued by Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in United States. The authority is responsible for evaluating bids, awarding the contract, and managing performance.

What type of contract is this?

This is a Grants contract in the Education & Training sector. The classification helps bidders match the opportunity to their qualifications and registered scope of supply.

What is the estimated budget?

The estimated contract value is $400,000 - $22,000,000. Bidders should ensure their proposals are consistent with this range and account for any local taxes and contract execution costs.

Where will the contract be performed?

The contract is for delivery in United States. Foreign bidders should review local registration, taxation, and any in-country presence requirements before submitting.