[Federal Register: March 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 62)]
[Notices]
[Page 16400-16405]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31mr06-108]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 5358]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Africa Workforce Development
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/NEAAF-06-60.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: May 18, 2006.
Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State,
announces an open competition for grants to support programs promoting
``Africa Workforce Development'' through professional exchanges and
collaboration. In carrying out a proposed program, roughly equal
numbers of participants should travel between the U.S. and the focus
African country. U.S. public and private non-profit organizations
meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26
U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to develop and implement programs
of exchange, collaboration and training that involve participants from
Sub-Saharan Africa, including consultations, planning, and training
conducted both in Sub-Saharan Africa and in the United States. These
U.S. organizations should provide evidence of relevant expertise in
Sub-Saharan Africa. Up to two grants not exceeding $200,000 each may be
awarded.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: Overall grant-making authority for this program is
contained in the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961,
Public Law 87-256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act.
The purpose of the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United
States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the
United States and the people of other countries * * *; to strengthen
the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the
educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of
the people of the United States and other nations * * * and thus to
assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful
relations between the United States and the other countries of the
world.'' The funding authority for the program above is provided
through the Conference Report accompanying the FY-2006 Science, State,
Justice, Commerce Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 109-108) which earmarks
$400,000 to support Africa Workforce Development.
Purpose: The Bureau seeks proposals for exchange programs on
African Workforce Development. In pursuit of that goal, proposals
should also build a relevant professional partnership between the
applicant organization and its African colleagues. Also, in carrying
out the proposed program, roughly equal numbers of African and U.S.
participants should travel between the U.S. and the focus African
country and for roughly equal time periods. U.S.-African partnership is
emphasized as a mutually beneficial, direct and efficient method of
promoting this goal. Partnerships promote the interests and long-term
commitment of African and American participants going beyond U.S.
government financing. The Bureau encourages applicants to consider
carefully the choice of target countries. Applicants should research
the work of development agencies (such as USAID, UN agencies) on the
target themes, and select countries for which there has been limited
investment on the issue. Applicants are encouraged to contact the
Public Affairs Sections (PAS) in U.S. Embassies in Africa, and the
Office of Citizen Exchanges, to discuss proposed activities and their
relevance to mission priorities.
It is the Bureau's intention to allocate one grant for work with
South Africa and one grant for work in one of the following countries:
Angola, Ethiopia, Liberia, or Sierra Leone. Therefore, proposals should
focus on either South Africa or one of these four other countries, and
each proposal should clearly identify the single country with which it
would work. The Bureau offers the following programming ideas and
suggestions.
Africa Workforce Development: The purpose of this program is to
enhance Workforce Development efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa through
Citizen Exchanges. ECA has set the following broad goals for the
program this year:
To help foster a more productive and fully employed
workforce in Africa through collaboration between U.S. and African
workforce development specialists;
To develop professional and personal linkages between
African and U.S. host institutions and communities that will lead to
sustained collaboration in workforce development;
To promote mutual understanding between cultures and
societies in the U.S. and Africa.
The Office realizes that there are many different approaches to
workforce development, and it is open to a wide variety of program
plans. However, in order to be eligible for consideration, each
proposal must explain its methodology for assessing workforce
development needs and explain how its choice of needs to be addressed
in the proposed program is relevant to the focus country. In addition,
the Office recommends that each applicant consider addressing the
following objectives in its plan when they are relevant to the chosen
country:
Assist citizens in making the transition from academia to
the workforce;
Assist citizens in learning skills and attitudes which
make them more employable;
Guide citizens in seeking jobs and in carrying them out
satisfactorily;
Assist Africans in identifying workforce needs and
developing plans to ameliorate those needs;
Develop programs which are adaptable to local and
individual needs; and
Develop programs that will attract and maintain the
attention of citizens, encouraging their initiative and commitment.
South Africa poses a different challenge in workforce development
from other African countries. For example, a substantial effort is
already underway in entrepreneurial skills training. By contrast, an
area that is weaker is that of market analysis to identify new areas in
which to build businesses, especially in manufacturing and trade, and
how to guide the unemployed workforce into new businesses. Given the
favorable trade status that South Africa currently enjoys with the
U.S., it would be valuable to develop skills in identifying
opportunities for new businesses and in starting such new businesses
that would lead to new jobs.
[[Page 16401]]
Thus, proposals for South Africa should emphasize developing a
class of ``middle-men'' in relatively disadvantaged communities who can
identify export market potential, particularly building on the AGOA
market-opening opportunities, and guide the development of new
businesses for those opportunities. Of particular value would be plans
to promote the talents of those who can bridge government-supported
programs in skills development and small-scale entrepreneurship,
linking them into new sales opportunities overseas, in order to create
new jobs.
The commitment of African partners will be essential to long-term
program success, and applicants should consider the possibility of
selecting African partners through a competitive process to assess
their commitment and capability.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in this
program is listed under number I above.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2006.
Approximate Total Funding: $400,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 2.
Approximate Average Award: $200,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, September
22, 2006.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: June 2008.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public
and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described
in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: Proposals that clearly
demonstrate significant cost sharing--with 20% of the amount requested
from ECA as the preferred minimum--will be judged more competitive.
When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the
applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its
proposal and later included in an approved grant agreement. Cost
sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs. For
accountability, grantees must maintain written records to support all
costs that are claimed as cost sharing, as well as costs to be paid by
the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit. The basis
for determining the value of cash and in-kind contributions must be in
accordance with OMB Circular A-110, (Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost
Sharing and Matching. In the event the grantee does not provide the
minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget,
the Bureau's contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: a. Bureau policy stipulates
that grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be
limited to $60,000. Since this competition seeks grantees that will
conduct projects with Bureau support of approximately $200,000,
applicants with less than four years of international exchange
experience will not be eligible.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete announcement before sending
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.
IV.1 Contact Information to Request an Application Package: To
obtain an application package for this competition, please see IV.2
below. To get other information, contact one of the officers listed in
Section VII below near the end of this announcement.
IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's Web site at
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm or from the grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov. Please read all
l
information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all
instructions in the Solicitation Package. Failure to do so may lead to
the proposal being declared technically ineligible. The application
should be sent per the instructions under IV.3e. ``Submission Dates and
Times section'' below.
IV.3a. Applicants are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or
cooperative agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-
digit identification number, which uniquely identifies business
entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy, and there is no charge. To
obtain a DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-
866-705-5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application
package.
IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal
narrative and budget.
Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document for additional
formatting and technical requirements. Failure to adhere to all of
these requirements may lead to the proposal being declared technically
ineligible.
IV.3c. Applicants must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the
time of application. If the applicant is a private nonprofit
organization which has not received a grant or cooperative agreement
from ECA in the past three years, or if the applicant received
nonprofit status from the IRS within the past four years, it must
submit the necessary documentation to verify nonprofit status as
directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will cause the proposal
to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information
when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3d.1. Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa: The
Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange program covered
by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the ``Responsible
Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, which
covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, organizations receiving
grants under this RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or
assisting the sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The
actions of grantee program organizations shall be ``imputed to the
sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR part 62.
Therefore, the Bureau expects that any organization receiving a grant
under this competition will render all assistance necessary to enable
the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places great
emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J
visa) Programs and adherence by grantee program organizations and
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs
as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. If the applicant has experience as a
designated Exchange
[[Page 16402]]
Visitor Program Sponsor, the proposal should discuss their record of
compliance with 22 CFR part 62 et seq., including the oversight of
their Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers,
screening and selection of program participants, provision of pre-
arrival information and orientation to participants, monitoring of
participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, recordkeeping,
reporting and other requirements. Africans funded to any extent for
travel to the United States on this program must obtain J visas. The
Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for issuing DS-
2019 forms to apply for J visas.
A copy of the complete regulations governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor (J) programs is available at http://exchanges.state.gov
or from: United States Department of State, Office
of Exchange Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/ECD--SA-44, Room 734,
301 Fourth Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Telephone: (202) 401-
9810. FAX: (202) 401-9809.
IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines: Pursuant to
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life.
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass
differences including, but not limited to, ethnicity, race, gender,
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the advancement of this
principle both in program administration and in program content. Please
refer to the review criteria under the `Support for Diversity' section
for specific suggestions on incorporating diversity into your proposal.
Also, Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in carrying out programs of
educational and cultural exchange in countries whose people do not
fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau ``shall take
appropriate steps to provide opportunities for participation in such
programs to human rights and democracy leaders of such countries.''
Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of the countries
described above do not have inappropriate influence in the selection
process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these goals in their
program contents, to the fullest extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposals must contain
an evaluation plan that describes how the applicant organization
intends to gather and analyze data on the project's effectiveness in
achieving its outcomes. To be competitive, evaluation plans will
include the following five components:
a. A restatement of anticipated outcomes;
b. A list of data the applicant would collect in order to assess
progress toward each outcome;
c. A description of how the applicant would collect the information
(for example, through surveys);
d. A draft timeline for collecting data;
e. Draft questionnaires, surveys, focus group questions, or other
instruments with which the applicant would gather quantitative and
qualitative data. Proposals should indicate how each instrument would
provide information on progress toward each project outcome.
f. A statement of the methodology to be used in analyzing the data
and drawing conclusions.
Statement of Anticipated Outcomes: Proposals should indicate the
category of each outcome such as participant satisfaction, participant
learning, participant behavior, or institutional change. See examples
below.
Data to Be Collected: Each proposal should list the data that the
applicant would collect. Applicants may use quantitative data or
qualitative data to measure progress toward outcomes. Below are
examples of data that applicants might collect for each type of outcome
as well as sample survey questions that applicants might use to gather
this data:
Example 1:
Outcome: Participants are satisfied with the exchange experience.
Outcome type: Participant Satisfaction.
Data to be collected: Percentage of participants who express
satisfaction with the exchange experience based on an average of
several factors.
Sample question: On a scale of one to five (1 = very dissatisfied,
5 = very satisfied), please rate your satisfaction with (a) project
administration, (b) content, (c) variety of experiences, (d) relevance
to professional or educational development.
Example 2:
Outcome: Participants increase their abilities to analyze workforce
development needs in their home communities.
Outcome type: Participant Learning.
Data to be collected: Percent of participants who improved their
understanding of workforce development concepts and their ability to
design relevant projects.
Sample question: On a scale of one to four (1 = no or very limited
ability, 4 = substantial ability), please rate your ability in the
following areas: (a) Knowledge of workforce development concepts, (b)
methodology to analyze workforce needs, (c) design and management of
workforce development classes, (c) community outreach, (d) resource
management.
Example 3:
Outcome: Participants increase their participation and/or
responsibility in community or civil society.
Outcome type: Participant Behavior.
Data to be collected: Percent of participants who increase their
participation or level of responsibility.
Sample question: As a direct result of your participation in the
exchange, have you done or received any of the following in your
community (answer yes or no to each item): (a) Assumed a leadership
role or position in your community, (b) organized or initiated new
activities or projects in your community, (c) established a new
organization in your community.
Example 4:
Outcome: Increased collaboration and linkages.
Outcome type: Institutional changes.
Data to be collected: Percent of participants who establish or
continue professional collaboration.
Sample question: Have you established or continued any professional
collaboration that grew out of your exchange experience? (Answer yes or
no).
Methods and Timeline: Applicant organizations should plan to gather
data a minimum of three times during the project in order to assess
progress: (1) Before exchange activities, (2) mid-term in the program,
and (3) as a follow-up (approximately three-to-six months after
exchange activities are completed). The exact timing depends on the
nature of the project itself. Proposals should plan grant durations of
sufficient length to collect follow-up information.
Applicants should consider the timing of data collection for each
level of outcome. For example, grantees may measure participant
learning at the end of an activity since this is a shorter-term
outcome. Behavioral and institutional outcomes are longer-term, and it
might not be possible to assess them adequately until a follow-up
survey. Pre-program surveys should collect baseline data as
appropriate.
Draft data collection instruments: Proposals should include sample
surveys, lists of questions, or other instruments that the applicant
organization proposes to use. Applicants should include samples of
instruments they would use during each
[[Page 16403]]
evaluation activity (pre-program, post-program, and follow-up).
Evaluation plans should describe how the applicant will tabulate
data, where the data will be kept, and who will have access to such
data. Interim and final reports should provide summary data in tabular
and graphic form as well as tabulated raw data. ECA may ask for
immediate notice of information that indicates significant progress or
delay in achieving outcomes. All data collected, including survey
responses and contact information, must be maintained for a minimum of
three years and provided to the Bureau upon request.
IV.3e. Budget: Please take the following information into
consideration when preparing the proposal budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. That budget must include a summary budget as well as
breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets.
Applicants are encouraged to provide separate sub-budgets for each
program component, phase, location, or activity to provide
clarification, as such details demonstrate good planning and often help
proposal reviewers to understand financial planning.
IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following: (1)
Direct Program Expenses (including general program expenses, such as
orientation and program-related supplies, educational materials,
traveling campaigns, consultants, interpreters, and room rental; and
participant program expenses, such as domestic and international travel
and per diem).
(2) Administrative Expenses, including indirect costs (i.e.
salaries, telephone/fax, and other direct administrative costs).
(3) Travel costs for visa processing purposes: All foreign
participants coming to the United States with funding by any grant
agreement resulting from this competition must travel on J-1 visas.
Failure to secure a J-1 visa for the foreign participant will preclude
charging the participant's cost to the grant agreement. Participants
will apply for J-1 visas only after the Office of Citizen Exchanges and
the mission Public Affairs Section or consulate have approved their
participation in this program. The Office of Citizen Exchanges will
issue the necessary DS-2019 forms and deliver them to foreign program
visitors through the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section (PAS). All J
visas for African program visitors must be distributed by the PAS in
the target country, so proposals should include costs for potential
participants to travel to those Posts to pick up DS-2019 forms and for
visa interviews and processing.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
Application Deadline Date: Thursday, May 18, 2006.
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/NEAAF-06-60.
Methods of Submission: Applications may be submitted in one of two
ways:
(1) In hard-copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service (i.e., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S.
Postal Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
(2) Electronically through http://www.grants.gov.
Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
IV.3f.1. Submitting Printed Hard-Copy Applications:
Due to heightened security measures, hard-copy proposal submissions
must be sent via a nationally recognized overnight delivery service
(i.e., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. Postal
Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.) and be shipped no later than the
above deadline. The delivery services used by applicants must have in-
place, centralized shipping identification and tracking systems that
may be accessed via the Internet and delivery people who are
identifiable by commonly recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles.
Proposals shipped on or before the above deadline but received at ECA
more than seven days after the deadline will be ineligible for further
consideration under this competition. Proposals shipped after the
established deadlines are ineligible for consideration under this
competition. It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure that each
package is marked with a legible tracking number and to monitor/confirm
delivery to ECA via the Internet. ECA will not notify you upon receipt
of application. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above
will be considered. Important note: Please make sure to include one
extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it in an envelope
addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.
The original and ten copies of the application should be sent to:
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/NEAAF-06-60, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM,
Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
IV.3f.2. Submitting Electronic Applications: Applicants have the
option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov
(http://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available
at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the system. Please follow the
instructions available in the `Get Started' portion of the site (http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted
).
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.) of the closing date to
ensure that their entire applications have been uploaded to the
grants.gov site. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of
the application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
Applicants will receive a confirmation e-mail from grants.gov upon
the successful submission of an application. ECA will not notify you
separately upon receipt of electronic applications.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order
12372 does not apply to this program.
For hard-copy submissions, applicants must also submit the
``Executive Summary'' and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the
proposal in text (.txt) format on a PC-formatted disk. The Bureau will
provide these files electronically to the appropriate Public Affairs
Section(s) at the U.S. embassy and/or consulate for its (their) review.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process: The Bureau will review all proposals for
technical eligibility. Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do
not fully adhere to the guidelines stated herein and in the
Solicitation Package. All eligible proposals will be reviewed by the
program office, as well as the Public Affairs Section overseas, where
appropriate. Eligible proposals will be subject to compliance with
Federal and Bureau regulations and guidelines and forwarded to Bureau
grant panels for advisory review. Proposals may also be reviewed by the
Office of the Legal Adviser or by other Department elements. Final
funding decisions are at the discretion of the Department of State's
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final
technical authority for assistance
[[Page 16404]]
awards grants resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission.
2. Program planning: Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should
demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. Each
proposal must explain its methodology for assessing workforce
development needs and explain how its choice of needs to be addressed
in the proposed program is relevant to the focus country. Also, there
should be evidence that relevant work of other agencies (e.g., USAID
and UN agencies) has been considered. Agenda and plan should adhere to
the program overview and guidelines described above.
3. Ability to achieve program objectives: Objectives should be
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and
plan.
4. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed programs should strengthen
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual
linkages.
5. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials
and follow-up activities).
6. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program or
project's goals.
7. Institution's Record/Ability: The Bureau will consider the past
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new
applicants. To the extent possible, proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grants
Staff.
8. Post-grant Plan: Proposals should provide a plan for continued
follow-on activity (without Bureau support) ensuring that Bureau-
supported programs are not isolated events.
9. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of
the program. This plan should follow the guidance given above in
IV.3d.3.
10. Cost-effectiveness: The overhead and administrative components
of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be kept as
low as possible. All other items should be necessary and appropriate.
11. Cost-sharing: Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through
other private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions. Per III.2 above, proposals that clearly demonstrate
significant cost sharing--with 20% of the amount requested from ECA as
the preferred minimum--will be judged more competitive.
12. Value to U.S.-Partner Country Relations: Proposed projects
should receive positive assessments by the U.S. Department of State's
geographic area desk and overseas officers of program need, potential
impact, and significance in the partner country.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1a. Award Notices: Final awards cannot be made until funds have
been appropriated by Congress, allocated and committed through internal
Bureau procedures. Successful applicants will receive an Assistance
Award Document (AAD) from the Bureau's Grants Office. The AAD and the
original grant proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable)
shall be the only binding authorizing document between the recipient
and the U.S. Government. The AAD will be signed by an authorized Grants
Officer, and mailed to the recipient's responsible officer identified
in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this
competition.
VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Terms and
Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements include the
following:
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles
for Educational Institutions.''
OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian
Governments''.
OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and
Non-profit Organizations.
Please reference the following websites for additional information:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants http://exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.
.htm#articleI.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy
original plus two copies of the following reports:
1. A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the expiration of the award;
2. Quarterly program and financial reports.
Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports.
(Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3.d.3)
above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
All data collected, including survey responses and contact
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and
provided to the Bureau upon request.
All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact one of the
following: (a) James E. Ogul, Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/
NEA-AF, Room 216 U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: 202-453-8161, Fax: 202-453-8168, E-
mail address: ogulje@state.gov, or (b) Curtis E. Huff, Office of
Citizen Exchanges, same address, telephone 202-453-8159, E-mail
address: HuffCE@state.gov. All correspondence with the Bureau
concerning this RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/
PE/C/NEAAF-06-60.
Please read the complete announcement before sending inquiries or
submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff
may not discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal
review process has been completed.
[[Page 16405]]
VIII. Other Information
Notice: The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding
and may not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory
information provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language
will not be binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award
commitment on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right
to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the
needs of the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be
subject to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section
VI.3 above.
Dated: March 27, 2006.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E6-4744 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P