Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0018610
The FY 2026 Arctic Exchange Program (AEP) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity designed to strengthen economic prosperity and cross-border collaboration in the Arctic, with a specific geographic focus on the United States (Alaska), Canada, and Greenland. The program is built around short-term, targeted exchange activities meant to deepen professional expertise, expand practical networks, and create durable partnerships that support economic development in the region. In addition to its economic goals, the AEP is explicitly framed as a strategic engagement tool: it aims to reinforce the United States as a preferred partner for Arctic economic initiatives, promote U.S. business interests, and reduce space for adversarial influence in a region of growing geopolitical and commercial importance.
The AEP will revolve around two main themes. The first is Arctic tourism development, which generally includes efforts to grow sustainable, high-quality tourism in ways that benefit local communities, improve visitor infrastructure and services, protect cultural and environmental assets, and create long-term economic value. The second theme is critical minerals supply chain resilience, which points to strengthening the reliability, security, and coordination of supply chains tied to strategically important minerals. While the announcement summary does not list specific minerals or project deliverables, the emphasis is clearly on practical collaboration, relationship-building, and knowledge exchange that can support more robust, less vulnerable supply chains connected to Arctic and sub-Arctic resource development and related industries.
Structurally, the program is expected to include three separate exchange activities, each with its own cohort of about eight to ten participants. One exchange activity will take place in each participating location (the United States/Alaska, Canada, and Greenland), assuming local conditions allow. The announcement notes that the scope and design of these activities may vary based on program needs, which suggests the implementer should be prepared to tailor agendas, site visits, speaker lineups, and partnership-building components to what is feasible and most impactful in each host setting. Across all three exchanges, the intended outcome is to improve participants professional capacity (skills, knowledge, and practical tools) and to create new connections that can translate into ongoing cooperation among institutions, businesses, communities, and other stakeholders working in Arctic tourism and critical minerals-related economic development.
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement, meaning the government typically expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, collaboration on program design elements, approvals, monitoring, and coordination). The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.415 and falls under the funding activity category labeled "Other." The agency plans to make one award, with an award ceiling of $750,000. The application deadline (original closing date) is July 9, 2026, and the opportunity was created on June 10, 2026. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, as well as other eligible entities as indicated in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Overall, the AEP is essentially an Arctic-focused professional exchange and partnership program with a clear economic development mission and an explicit strategic dimension. It supports small, curated cohorts moving through three country-based exchange activities, centered on building real working relationships and applied expertise in tourism growth and critical minerals supply chain resilience, with the broader intent of strengthening U.S. leadership and commercial alignment in Arctic economic development. For full requirements, selection criteria, and allowed or expected costs and program components, applicants are directed to consult the complete Notice of Funding Opportunity.Apply for DFOP0018610
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Arctic Exchange Program" 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 2026-06-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-09. (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 $750,000.00 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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FY 2026 Arctic Exchange Program (AEP) - FAQs
1) What is the FY 2026 Arctic Exchange Program (AEP)?
The Arctic Exchange Program (AEP) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity that supports short-term, targeted exchange activities focused on Arctic economic prosperity and cross-border collaboration.
2) What is the main purpose of the AEP?
The program is designed to deepen professional expertise, expand practical networks, and create durable partnerships that support economic development in the Arctic region.
3) Which geographic areas are the focus of this opportunity?
The AEP has a specific geographic focus on the United States (Alaska), Canada, and Greenland.
4) What are the two main program themes?
The AEP revolves around two themes: (1) Arctic tourism development and (2) critical minerals supply chain resilience.
5) What does "Arctic tourism development" mean in the context of this program?
Arctic tourism development generally includes efforts to grow sustainable, high-quality tourism that benefits local communities, improves visitor infrastructure and services, protects cultural and environmental assets, and creates long-term economic value.
6) What does "critical minerals supply chain resilience" mean in the context of this program?
It refers to strengthening the reliability, security, and coordination of supply chains tied to strategically important minerals, with an emphasis on practical collaboration, relationship-building, and knowledge exchange connected to Arctic and sub-Arctic resource development and related industries.
7) Does the summary list specific critical minerals or required deliverables?
No. The announcement summary does not list specific minerals or project deliverables, but it emphasizes practical collaboration and exchange activities that support stronger, less vulnerable supply chains.
8) How is the AEP structured?
The program is expected to include three separate exchange activities, each with its own cohort of about eight to ten participants.
9) Where will the exchange activities take place?
One exchange activity is expected to take place in each participating location: the United States (Alaska), Canada, and Greenland, assuming local conditions allow.
10) How many participants are expected per exchange activity?
Each exchange activity is expected to include a cohort of approximately eight to ten participants.
11) Will each exchange be identical in format and agenda?
Not necessarily. The announcement indicates the scope and design may vary based on program needs, suggesting agendas, site visits, speaker lineups, and partnership-building components may be tailored to each location and what is feasible and impactful there.
12) What outcomes is the program trying to achieve for participants?
Across all three exchanges, the intended outcomes include improved professional capacity (skills, knowledge, and practical tools) and new connections that can translate into ongoing cooperation among institutions, businesses, communities, and other stakeholders.
13) Is the AEP framed as an economic program only, or does it also have a strategic purpose?
It has both. In addition to economic goals, the AEP is explicitly framed as a strategic engagement tool intended to reinforce the United States as a preferred partner for Arctic economic initiatives, promote U.S. business interests, and reduce space for adversarial influence in a region of growing geopolitical and commercial importance.
14) What type of federal award is this?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement.
15) What does it mean that this will be a cooperative agreement?
The summary indicates the government typically expects substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaboration on program design elements, approvals, monitoring, and coordination.
16) How many awards does the agency plan to make?
The agency plans to make one award.
17) What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $750,000.
18) What is the application deadline?
The original closing date listed for applications is July 9, 2026.
19) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on June 10, 2026.
20) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.415.
21) What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is labeled "Other."
22) Who is the funding agency?
The funding agency is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
23) Who is eligible to apply based on the summary?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, as well as other eligible entities as indicated in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity.
24) Are there additional eligibility requirements beyond what is in the summary?
Possibly. The summary notes that other eligible entities may be indicated in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity, and applicants are directed to consult the complete Notice for full requirements.
25) Is this program mainly about travel and exchanges, or research and construction?
Based on the summary, it is a professional exchange and partnership program built around short-term, targeted exchange activities, not a construction or research program.
26) What kinds of organizations or stakeholders are the exchanges intended to connect?
The intended connections are meant to support ongoing cooperation among institutions, businesses, communities, and other stakeholders working in Arctic tourism and critical minerals-related economic development.
27) What should applicants review to understand required costs, selection criteria, and expected components?
Applicants are directed to consult the complete Notice of Funding Opportunity for full requirements, selection criteria, and allowed or expected costs and program components.
28) What is the overall "one sentence" description of the AEP?
It is an Arctic-focused professional exchange and partnership program using small, curated cohorts across three location-based exchanges to build applied expertise and working relationships in tourism development and critical minerals supply chain resilience, while supporting U.S. leadership and commercial alignment in Arctic economic development.
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