ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Private nonprofit institution/organization. The ACYPL conducts two-way exchanges of young political leaders with many countries. The programs are generally for 2 weeks.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Individuals who participate in the program will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   American participant nominations are solicited annually from State legislative leaders, governors, political party officials, alumni, ACYPL members/trustees, and co-sponsors. Selection is made by a Delegate Selection Committee with Democratic and Republican co-chairs. Delegates must be under age 41 and generally include State and local elected officials as well as staff and party activists. The objective is political, geographic, ethnic/racial, and gender diversity that reflects the pluralistic nature of American society. Foreign delegates are selected by ACYPL partner organizations in conjunction with American Embassy officers.

Pre-application Coordination:   Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   The State Department solicits a proposal from ACYPL annually based on the level of appropriated funds available. A portion of the funding may be competed from one year to the next.

Award Procedure:   Funding decisions are at the discretion of the Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs and based on the advice of a panel of Bureau reviewers and various State offices. Final technical authority resides with the Grants Division.

Deadlines:   The deadline for submission of a proposal is established in the request for proposals or letter of solicitation.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Decisions are generally made within 3 months of the submission of proposals, subject to the availability and timing of funding.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   At the Bureau's discretion, in a given year ACYPL may be invited to submit a renewal proposal.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   ACYPL raises 50 percent of its operating budget from sources other than the government.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   The grant is generally awarded for a 12-month period.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Quarterly program and financial reports are required.

Audits:   All ECA grants are subject to OMB Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program- specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:   As prescribed by grant terms.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   19-0201-0-1-154.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $699,000; FY 02 est $734,000; and FY 03 est $734,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
One grant per year.

ACYPL has maintained bilateral exchanges over the course of its existence with 70 countries. A project involving young political leaders from the Palestinian Authority was implemented in 2001.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Guidelines for grants are distributed in conjunction with the request for proposals/letter of solicitation; OMB Circulars.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   American Council of Young Political Leaders, 1612 K Street, NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006. Telephone: (202) 857-0999.

Headquarters Office:  
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED*

Web Site Address:   http://exchanges.state.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

ACYPL conducts mainly bilateral delegation projects (e.g., US to Indonesia, Moroccans to the US), generally 2 weeks in length.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

The criteria for judging proposals include quality of the proposed activities and planning, track record, institutional capacity to take on additional work, cost- effectiveness and cost-sharing, attention to diversity goals, value to U.S. foreign policy objectives, and the quality of the evaluation plan.