Opportunity Information: Apply for ECA ECAPEC 14 003

  • The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2014 American Serbia and Montenegro Youth Leadership Exchange (A SMYLE) Program Host Family and School Placement and Monitoring" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415 Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs Citizen Exchanges.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Aug 19, 2013 and posted on Aug 19, 2013.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 11, 2013 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,020,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,020,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education.
  • Please see full announcement.
Apply for ECA ECAPEC 14 003

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Opportunity Summary:

The FY 2014 American Serbia and Montenegro Youth Leadership Exchange (A SMYLE) Program Host Family and School Placement and Monitoring opportunity is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges funding competition to support the U.S.-based infrastructure that makes a yearlong high school exchange possible for students from Serbia and Montenegro. The program goal is public diplomacy through people-to-people engagement: Serbian and Montenegrin students spend an academic year living in the United States, experiencing everyday American life through school, host families, and community activities, while also sharing their own cultures, traditions, and perspectives with the Americans they meet. The core purpose is to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Serbia and Montenegro by building relationships at the youth, family, school, and community levels.

This specific competition focuses on the operational component of the exchange in the United States rather than overseas recruitment or selection. The funded organization is expected to identify appropriate U.S. host schools, secure student placements, and manage the full host family process, including vetting, selection, orientation, and ongoing monitoring. In practical terms, that means building and maintaining a network of partner schools willing to enroll exchange students, ensuring placements meet program requirements, screening and preparing host families, and then providing continuous oversight and support throughout the academic year to safeguard student welfare and ensure a quality exchange experience. Monitoring responsibilities typically include regular check-ins with students and host families, troubleshooting placement issues, coordinating with schools, documenting compliance, and responding to any concerns that arise during the year.

Awards are issued as cooperative agreements, which generally signals a more active federal role compared to a standard grant. Under a cooperative agreement, ECA usually expects to be involved in key aspects of implementation and oversight, such as approvals, coordination on program policies, and review of progress and reporting. The announcement indicates ECA intends to make one or more awards structured as a base year plus one option year, with an estimated total funding amount of up to $1,020,000. The funding is designed to support roughly 134 A SMYLE students for the 2014-2015 academic year. The posted award ceiling and floor are both listed as $1,020,000 in the summary data, which suggests the agency anticipated funding at that level for the scope described, though the full announcement would typically clarify how costs are allocated and what is allowable.

Eligibility is aimed primarily at U.S.-based nonprofit organizations that hold 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code. The listing also includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education among eligible applicant types, though the announcement emphasizes nonprofit participation and refers applicants to the full notice for complete eligibility details and any additional conditions. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants are expected to contribute a defined portion of program costs through cash or allowable in-kind support; the exact percentage and what qualifies as match would be spelled out in the full announcement.

The competition rules include a strict limitation that each applicant may submit only one proposal. If an organization submits multiple proposals, all submissions from that applicant are deemed ineligible and removed from review, which makes internal coordination and a single, consolidated application essential. The opportunity is identified on Grants.gov as Funding Opportunity Number ECA-ECAPEC-14-003, under CFDA 19.415 (Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges). It was posted on August 19, 2013, with an application deadline of October 11, 2013, and an archive date of October 12, 2013. For technical access issues related to retrieving the full announcement, the notice directs applicants to the Grants.gov Contact Center (support@grants.gov, 1-800-518-4726).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the FY 2014 American Serbia and Montenegro Youth Leadership Exchange (A SMYLE) Program grant opportunity?

This is a U.S. Department of State funding competition (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges) to support the U.S.-based operational infrastructure that makes a yearlong high school exchange possible for students from Serbia and Montenegro.

2. What is the main goal of the A SMYLE Program?

The program goal is public diplomacy through people-to-people engagement. Serbian and Montenegrin students spend an academic year in the United States living with host families, attending U.S. schools, and participating in community activities, while also sharing their own cultures and perspectives. The core purpose is to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Serbia and Montenegro by building relationships at youth, family, school, and community levels.

3. What does this specific funding competition focus on?

This competition focuses on the operational component of the exchange inside the United States. It is not centered on overseas recruitment or selection of participants, but rather on host family and school placement, plus ongoing monitoring and support during the exchange year.

4. What are the primary responsibilities of the funded organization?

The funded organization is expected to:

  • Identify appropriate U.S. host schools and secure student placements.
  • Build and maintain a network of partner schools willing to enroll exchange students.
  • Manage the host family process, including vetting, selection, and orientation.
  • Provide continuous monitoring and support throughout the academic year.
  • Coordinate with schools, troubleshoot placement issues, document compliance, and respond to concerns that arise during the year.

5. What does "host family and school placement" mean in this program?

Host family and school placement refers to securing suitable U.S. schools willing to enroll exchange students and identifying, screening, selecting, and preparing U.S. host families who will provide a home environment for participating students during the academic year.

6. What does "monitoring" typically include for this opportunity?

Monitoring typically includes regular check-ins with students and host families, coordination with schools, troubleshooting any placement issues, documenting compliance with program requirements, and responding to student welfare or other concerns during the exchange year.

7. What type of award is this: grant or cooperative agreement?

Awards are issued as cooperative agreements. This generally indicates a more active federal role than a standard grant, with ECA typically involved in implementation and oversight activities such as approvals, coordination on program policies, and review of progress and reporting.

8. How many awards does ECA expect to make?

The announcement indicates ECA intends to make one or more awards.

9. What is the expected project period structure?

The award is structured as a base year plus one option year.

10. What is the estimated total funding amount available?

The estimated total funding amount is up to $1,020,000.

11. What are the award ceiling and floor?

The posted award ceiling and floor are both listed as $1,020,000 in the summary data. This suggests the agency anticipated funding at that level for the scope described, although the full announcement would typically clarify details such as cost allocation and allowability.

12. About how many students is the funding designed to support?

The funding is designed to support roughly 134 A SMYLE students for the 2014-2015 academic year.

13. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is aimed primarily at U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. The listing also includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education among eligible applicant types. Applicants are directed to the full notice for complete eligibility details and any additional conditions.

14. Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants are expected to contribute a defined portion of program costs through cash or allowable in-kind support. The exact percentage and what qualifies as match would be specified in the full announcement.

15. Can an organization submit more than one proposal?

No. Each applicant may submit only one proposal. If an organization submits multiple proposals, all submissions from that applicant are deemed ineligible and removed from review.

16. What is the Funding Opportunity Number on Grants.gov?

The Funding Opportunity Number is ECA-ECAPEC-14-003.

17. What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity is under CFDA 19.415 (Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs - Citizen Exchanges).

18. When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?

The opportunity was posted on August 19, 2013. The application deadline was October 11, 2013, and the archive date was October 12, 2013.

19. Where should applicants go for technical help accessing the full announcement?

For technical access issues related to retrieving the full announcement, applicants are directed to the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726.

20. Does this opportunity cover overseas recruitment or participant selection?

Based on the description provided, this competition focuses on U.S.-based operations (placements and monitoring) rather than overseas recruitment or selection.

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