Arts Education Partnership (AEP)

Overview

The purpose of this Program Solicitation is to select an organization (Cooperator) to administer the Arts Education Partnership (AEP), a national coalition of more than 250 partner and affiliate organizations representing the arts and education fields, as well as the government and private sectors. This award will be made as a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is a type of award reflecting a relationship between the federal government and an award recipient (known as a Cooperator) in which the federal government is effectively a partner in the funded project. In practice, this means that the federal government will be substantially involved in the project undertaken by the Cooperator. 

Program Description
The Arts Education Partnership (AEP) was established in 1995 by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the U.S. Department of Education (ED), the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) to disseminate information about current and emerging arts education policies, issues, and activities at the national, state, and local levels with the arts and education fields.  Funded annually through an interagency agreement between the NEA and ED, the AEP is a hub for individuals and organizations committed to making high-quality arts education accessible to all students nationwide by focusing on research and policy, advancing critical dialogue, and improving policy and practice. As the AEP enters its 30th year, the NEA seeks a Cooperator to build on the significant achievements of the AEP and its national coalition. In undertaking this work, the NEA encourages proposals in which the Cooperator partners with another national organization(s) that can help enhance and fulfill the mission of the AEP.

The purpose of this program solicitation is to select an organization (Cooperator) to administer the program as described below. In brief, the Cooperator will:

1. Administer the AEP and actively collaborate (as described in the detailed Cooperator and NEA Project Director responsibility sections below) with the NEA and ED to support the fulfillment of AEP's mission and the implementation of its goals, objectives, and activities.  
2. Provide operational support to the AEP, including a professionally staffed national office for the AEP. 
3. Select and supervise the AEP Director, who in turn will supervise the AEP staff, and manage implementation of the AEP’s strategic plan and the activities supported by federal investments in the cooperative agreement. 

This cooperative agreement requires a nonfederal cost share. The level of cost share/matching funds may be negotiated. These cost share/matching funds may be all cash or a combination of cash and in-kind contributions. Cost share/matching funds cannot include funds from any NEA or other federal sources, including federal funds sub awarded through State Arts Agencies and Regional Arts Organizations.

Any project costs beyond the Cooperative Agreement Award Amount above must be covered from sources other than the NEA.  The NEA expects the Cooperator to account for program income from goods and services generated through the AEP. 

Performance Period: This cooperative agreement will begin on or after October 1, 2025, and may extend for up to 12 months.

An organization may not receive more than one NEA award for the same costs/activities during the same or an overlapping period of performance. In addition, different recipients may not receive other federal funds for the same project costs during the same or an overlapping period of performance. 

The NEA may enter into subsequent cooperative agreements with the recipient selected as a result of the Program Solicitation.