Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005704
The FY 2019 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program Placement Components opportunity is a U.S. Department of State grant competition run by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges. It supports the operational, on-the-ground placement work that makes the YES program function inside the United States. The YES program is a long-running academic-year exchange that brings international high school students to the U.S. on scholarship to live with host families and attend U.S. high schools. The core purpose is both educational and diplomatic: it is meant to engage youth, strengthen civil society over the long term, and build lasting people-to-people ties between U.S. communities and the students home countries. By living in American communities for an extended period, students gain first-hand experience with U.S. society, while host families, schools, and local communities learn about other cultures, traditions, and everyday life in the participants home countries.
This specific competition focuses on the "placement components" of the YES program for the 2020-2021 academic year, meaning it funds organizations to handle major practical responsibilities associated with bringing students into U.S. communities and ensuring their safety and success throughout the exchange. Funded partners are expected to identify appropriate host schools, recruit and place students with host families, and carry out the vetting, selection, ongoing monitoring, and support processes that are required for high-quality youth exchanges. Monitoring is a key theme in the description, signaling that the work is not limited to initial placement; it includes continued oversight of student welfare, host family suitability, and school placement throughout the program cycle. A special program detail noted in the announcement is that Malaysian participants are placed for a single semester rather than the full academic year, so applicants would need the capacity to handle both academic-year and semester-length placements depending on the country cohort.
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant. In practice, that usually means ECA expects close coordination on program requirements, reporting, compliance, and performance expectations while the recipient organization executes day-to-day program operations. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding under CFDA number 19.415. The funding opportunity number is SFOP0005704, and it was posted on April 1, 2019, with an original application deadline of May 30, 2019.
Eligibility is broad but clearly centered on established U.S. organizations capable of running structured youth exchange placements at scale. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions), along with additional eligible categories referenced in the full notice. The summary text specifically emphasizes U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations meeting 501(c)(3) requirements as applicants that may propose to carry out host school identification, host family vetting and selection, and student placement and monitoring functions.
From a funding scale perspective, the notice lists an award ceiling of $9,300,581 and anticipates up to 15 awards. That combination suggests ECA expected to fund multiple organizations to cover different portions of the overall YES participant pool or different geographic/operational slices of the placement work, rather than relying on a single national implementer for all placements. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as support for the essential infrastructure of the YES exchange inside the United States: recruiting and managing host communities, ensuring proper placements in schools and families, and maintaining consistent oversight so students can complete a safe, meaningful academic experience that advances U.S. public diplomacy goals.Apply for SFOP0005704
- The Department of State, 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 2019 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program Placement Components" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 01, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 30, 2019. (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 $9,300,581.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FY 2019 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program Placement Components opportunity?
It is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity (a grant competition) run by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges. It supports the operational, on-the-ground placement work inside the United States that enables the YES program to function.
Which federal office is running this competition?
The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges.
What is the YES Program in general?
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program is a long-running academic-year exchange that brings international high school students to the United States on scholarship to live with host families and attend U.S. high schools.
What is the primary purpose of the YES Program?
The program is both educational and diplomatic. It is intended to engage youth, strengthen civil society over the long term, and build lasting people-to-people ties between U.S. communities and the students home countries.
What does this specific competition fund?
This competition focuses on the "placement components" for the 2020-2021 academic year. It funds organizations to carry out major practical responsibilities associated with bringing YES students into U.S. communities and supporting their safety and success throughout the exchange.
What are "placement components" in the context of this opportunity?
"Placement components" refers to the operational functions that place students into U.S. host communities, including identifying host schools, recruiting and placing students with host families, and conducting required vetting, selection, monitoring, and support processes.
What activities are funded partners expected to perform?
Funded partners are expected to identify appropriate host schools, recruit and place students with host families, and carry out the vetting, selection, ongoing monitoring, and support processes required for a high-quality youth exchange placement.
Is monitoring and ongoing support part of the expected work?
Yes. Monitoring is explicitly emphasized, and the work is not limited to initial placement. It includes continued oversight of student welfare, host family suitability, and school placement throughout the program cycle.
Does the opportunity include any special placement considerations by country?
Yes. The notice specifies that Malaysian participants are placed for a single semester rather than the full academic year, so applicants need capacity to support both academic-year and semester-length placements depending on the cohort.
What academic year does this placement work cover?
The placement components in this competition are for the 2020-2021 academic year.
What type of award is being offered (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial federal involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant. In practice, that usually means close coordination with ECA on program requirements, reporting, compliance, and performance expectations while the recipient carries out day-to-day operations.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 19.415.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is SFOP0005704.
When was the opportunity posted?
It was posted on April 1, 2019.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was May 30, 2019.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad but centered on established U.S. organizations capable of running structured youth exchange placements at scale. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions), along with additional eligible categories referenced in the full notice.
Does the summary emphasize any particular type of applicant?
Yes. The summary specifically emphasizes U.S. public and private nonprofit organizations meeting 501(c)(3) requirements as applicants that may propose to carry out host school identification, host family vetting and selection, and student placement and monitoring functions.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The notice lists an award ceiling of $9,300,581.
How many awards does ECA anticipate making?
The notice anticipates up to 15 awards.
What does "up to 15 awards" suggest about how the work might be distributed?
It suggests ECA expected to fund multiple organizations to cover different portions of the overall YES participant pool or different geographic or operational slices of the placement work, rather than relying on a single national implementer for all placements.
Is this considered discretionary funding?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
What is the overall focus of this funding opportunity?
It supports the essential U.S.-based infrastructure of the YES exchange, including recruiting and managing host communities, ensuring proper placements in schools and families, and maintaining consistent oversight so students can complete a safe, meaningful academic experience that advances U.S. public diplomacy goals.
How does the YES Program benefit U.S. communities?
By hosting students in American communities for an extended period, host families, schools, and local communities learn about other cultures, traditions, and everyday life in the participants home countries.
How does the YES Program benefit participating students?
Students gain first-hand experience with U.S. society by living with host families and attending U.S. high schools during their exchange period.
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