Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0018692
The FY 2026 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals and Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange (CBBSX) opportunity is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding competition for an organization to run major U.S.-Germany exchange programming during Academic Year 2027-2028. The award is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning ECA expects to be actively involved in shaping and overseeing the program implementation rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal federal engagement. The purpose of the opportunity is to strengthen long-term U.S.-German ties by creating sustained personal and institutional relationships that support shared prosperity and security, using structured educational, professional, and civic exchange experiences.
At the center of the opportunity is the CBYX for Young Professionals program, a year-long, reciprocal exchange that typically includes about 65 Americans and about 65 Germans, generally ages 18.5 to 24. The program design combines multiple components: academic study, professional placements, cultural immersion, and community-based living. American participants begin with roughly two months of in-country German language training, then spend a semester studying at a German university or a technical/professional school, followed by a practical work experience component. German participants follow a parallel structure in the United States, completing a semester at a U.S. university, college, technical, or professional school and then undertaking practical work experience. A defining feature for both cohorts is the host family stay throughout the program year, reinforcing daily cultural immersion and building local relationships that extend beyond the formal academic or workplace environment.
The opportunity also includes support for the outbound travel component of the Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange (CBBSX). This is a short-term, reciprocal professional exchange involving 10 U.S. Congressional staff and 10 German parliamentary staff who spend time engaging with each other’s legislative institutions and processes. Under this funding announcement, the selected U.S. recipient organization is responsible for travel and administrative support for the outbound U.S. delegation, specifically including coordination of round-trip airfare and associated logistics. This CBBSX component is positioned as complementary to the youth professional exchange, broadening the overall impact by linking emerging professionals with mid-career legislative staff networks.
From an applicant and award perspective, ECA anticipates making one award, with an award ceiling of $1,100,000. The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 19.415 and is categorized as discretionary funding. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), with an “Others” category also indicated in the eligibility field. The funding opportunity number is DFOP0018692. The application deadline is August 14, 2026, and the opportunity was created on June 16, 2026. Applicants are directed to consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity and the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (POGI) for the detailed requirements, selection criteria, allowable costs, compliance expectations, and the specific programmatic and administrative deliverables ECA will require.Apply for DFOP0018692
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals and Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange" 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 2026-06-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-14. (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 $1,100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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.
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FAQs: FY 2026 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals and Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange (CBBSX)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding competition to select an organization to run major U.S.-Germany exchange programming during Academic Year 2027-2028. It covers the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals program and the outbound travel support element of the Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange (CBBSX).
2) What is the purpose of the program funding?
The purpose is to strengthen long-term U.S.-German ties by building sustained personal and institutional relationships that support shared prosperity and security. The programs do this through structured educational, professional, and civic exchange experiences.
3) Who is the federal funder and what office is managing it?
The funder is the U.S. Department of State. The managing bureau is the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
4) What kind of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The award is offered as a cooperative agreement. That means ECA expects to be actively involved in shaping and overseeing program implementation, rather than providing funding with minimal federal engagement.
5) How many awards does ECA expect to make?
ECA anticipates making one award.
6) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $1,100,000.
7) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) is 19.415.
8) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DFOP0018692.
9) Is this discretionary or mandatory funding?
This opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
10) When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is August 14, 2026.
11) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on June 16, 2026.
12) What program years does this funding cover?
The selected organization would run programming during Academic Year 2027-2028.
13) What is the central program component funded under this opportunity?
At the center is the CBYX for Young Professionals program, described as a year-long, reciprocal exchange between the United States and Germany.
14) How many participants are typically involved in CBYX for Young Professionals?
The program typically includes about 65 Americans and about 65 Germans.
15) What is the typical age range for CBYX for Young Professionals participants?
Participants are generally ages 18.5 to 24.
16) What are the main components of the CBYX for Young Professionals program design?
The program design combines academic study, professional placements, cultural immersion, and community-based living.
17) What do American participants typically do in Germany?
American participants typically begin with roughly two months of in-country German language training, then spend a semester studying at a German university or a technical/professional school, followed by a practical work experience component.
18) What do German participants typically do in the United States?
German participants follow a parallel structure in the United States: a semester at a U.S. university, college, technical, or professional school, and then practical work experience.
19) Is there a host family requirement?
Yes. A defining feature for both cohorts is a host family stay throughout the program year. This is intended to reinforce daily cultural immersion and build local relationships beyond the formal academic or workplace setting.
20) What is the CBBSX component mentioned in the announcement?
The opportunity includes support for the outbound travel component of the Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange (CBBSX), a short-term, reciprocal professional exchange involving 10 U.S. Congressional staff and 10 German parliamentary staff focused on engagement with each other’s legislative institutions and processes.
21) What responsibilities does the recipient organization have for CBBSX under this announcement?
Under this funding announcement, the selected U.S. recipient organization is responsible for travel and administrative support for the outbound U.S. CBBSX delegation, including coordination of round-trip airfare and associated logistics.
22) How does CBBSX relate to CBYX in this opportunity?
CBBSX is positioned as complementary to the youth professional exchange. It broadens impact by connecting emerging professional networks (CBYX) with mid-career legislative staff networks (CBBSX).
23) Who is eligible to apply for this award?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The eligibility field also indicates an "Others" category.
24) Where should applicants look for detailed requirements and rules?
Applicants are directed to consult the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (POGI) for detailed requirements, selection criteria, allowable costs, compliance expectations, and the specific programmatic and administrative deliverables ECA will require.
25) What does ECA involvement typically mean in practice for this opportunity?
Because this is a cooperative agreement, ECA expects to be actively involved in shaping and overseeing program implementation. The detailed expectations and deliverables are described in the NOFO and POGI.
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