Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Fulbright Hays Group Projects Abroad Program Short Term Projects CFDA Number 84.021A | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Program, Short Term Projects (CFDA 84.021A). It is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Education.

2. What is the purpose of the Fulbright-Hays GPA Short-Term Projects program?

The purpose is to support structured overseas group experiences that strengthen modern foreign language learning and area studies in the United States. Funded projects are intended to build deeper expertise that participants can bring back into U.S. classrooms, programs, and educational organizations.

3. What kinds of activities does the short-term track fund?

The short-term track supports time-limited overseas projects such as seminars abroad, curriculum development initiatives that depend on direct engagement in-country, and organized group research, study, and similar academic field experiences.

4. How is CFDA 84.021A different from the long-term Fulbright-Hays GPA option?

CFDA 84.021A focuses on short-term group projects with clear academic goals and deliverables connected to language and area studies. The broader Fulbright-Hays GPA umbrella also includes a long-term project option (CFDA 84.021B) that is focused on advanced, intensive overseas language study for advanced language students.

5. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education (both public/state-controlled and private), State educational agencies (SEAs), private nonprofit educational organizations, and consortia made up of these types of entities.

6. Are consortia allowed to apply?

Yes. Consortia made up of eligible entities (such as institutions of higher education, SEAs, and private nonprofit educational organizations) are listed as eligible applicants.

7. Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity summary states that the grant does not require cost sharing or a matching contribution.

8. What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling listed for this competition is $125,000.

9. About how many awards were expected?

The Department expected to make about 12 awards under this notice.

10. How were applications required to be submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the Grants.gov Apply workflow. Applicants were expected to download the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit it through Grants.gov.

11. Could applicants submit by email instead of through Grants.gov?

No. The notice emphasizes that applications could not be submitted by emailing an electronic copy to the agency. Submissions had to go through the official Grants.gov portal.

12. How do applicants find the correct Grants.gov application package?

Applicants were instructed to search for the CFDA number without the letter suffix. In other words, search for 84.021 (not 84.021A or 84.021B) to locate the correct downloadable package.

13. When did the application package become available?

The synopsis states the application package became available on February 23, 2012.

14. What was the deadline to submit an application?

The deadline for transmittal of applications was April 23, 2012.

15. What does it mean that the listing was archived?

The synopsis indicates the listing was archived on May 23, 2012. Based on the provided information, this reflects the posting status of the opportunity listing after the competition timeline.

16. Where are the official rules and requirements for the competition found?

The controlling rules and requirements were published in the Federal Register. The synopsis repeatedly points applicants to the Federal Register notice for specifics such as eligibility nuances, pre-application and application requirements, required forms, submission instructions, performance measures, priorities, and authoritative contacts.

17. Why does the notice emphasize the Federal Register?

Because the Federal Register notice is described as the official, controlling source for the competition requirements and details. The synopsis is not presented as the authoritative document for all specifics.

18. What program areas does the grant aim to strengthen in the United States?

The program is intended to strengthen modern foreign language learning and area studies in the United States through structured overseas group experiences.

19. Who typically participates in a Group Projects Abroad project?

The synopsis describes group participants as typically teachers, students, and/or faculty who pursue a shared plan overseas tied to language and area studies.

20. What kinds of project outcomes are implied by the synopsis?

The synopsis emphasizes academic goals and deliverables connected to language and area studies, and it highlights bringing expertise back to improve training, research capacity, and curriculum development in U.S. educational settings.

21. Who should be contacted for Grants.gov technical or submission issues?

For technical access or submission issues, the notice lists a Grants.gov systems administrator contact: Julius Cotton (phone and email were provided in the notice).

22. Who should be contacted for programmatic questions about CFDA 84.021A?

For program questions about the GPA short-term projects competition (CFDA 84.021A), the notice lists the program manager: Loveen Bains (phone and email were provided in the notice).

23. What government office administers this competition?

The competition is run by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE).

24. What does "discretionary grant competition" mean in this context?

Based on the provided summary, it means the program is offered as a competitive grant opportunity administered by the Department (rather than an automatic or formula-based award), with an expected number of awards and an award ceiling.

25. Where can applicants access the referenced Federal Register and regulations online?

The synopsis states that the Federal Register and related regulations are available online through Government Publishing Office (GPO) resources referenced in the notice.