[Federal Register: March 25, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 58)]
[Notices]
[Page 15428-15433]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25mr04-123]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 4669]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Request for Grant
Proposals: U.S.-Russia Volunteer Initiative for Historical and Cultural
Preservation
SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites applicants to submit proposals for
programs that promote volunteerism and cooperation between the United
States and the Russian Federation. U.S.-based 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
conduct international volunteer programs for young professionals from
the United States and the Russian Federation to work on cultural and
historical preservation projects.
Important Note: This Request for Grant Proposals contains language
in the ``Shipment and Deadline for Proposals'' section that is
significantly different from that used in the past. Please pay
special attention to procedural changes as outlined below.
Announcement Title and Number: All correspondence with ECA
concerning this RFGP should reference the above title and number ECA/
PE/C/EUR-04-50.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/
PE/C/EUR, Room 224, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20547, Attention: U.S.-Russia Volunteer Initiative-
Historical/Cultural Preservation, telephone number: 202-619-5330, fax
number 202-619-435, or GeorgeMD@state.gov to request a Solicitation
Package. The Solicitation Package consists of the Request for Grant
Proposals (RFGP), the Proposal Submission Instructions, and ECA's
Diversity Statement. Please specify Bureau Program Officer Michael
George on all inquiries and correspondence.
Please read the complete Federal Register 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.
To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from ECA's Web site at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/RFGPs.
Please read all information before
downloading.
General Program Guidelines: In September 2003, President George W.
Bush and President Vladimir Putin highlighted the need for closer
cooperation between the U.S. and Russia in social and humanitarian
fields and for greater contact among young people of both countries. As
a result, the U.S. and Russian governments developed the U.S.-Russia
Volunteer Initiative (USRVI) to engage private individuals,
organizations, and businesses in both countries in cooperative
volunteer activities. The program seeks to encourage cooperation among
young professionals from the United States and Russia under the premise
that people-to-people contacts broaden awareness of shared interests
and common values between countries.
The principal objectives of the overall U.S.-Russia Volunteer
Initiative are:
To foster volunteerism in Russia and the United
States by encouraging collaboration on a range of issues of interest to
both societies;
To develop substantive and sustainable linkages
between Russian and U.S. non-governmental organizations, voluntary
service and professional associations, government entities, and the
business sector;
To promote understanding of different approaches
to problems common to both the United States and Russia; and
To eventually apply U.S. and Russian expertise
toward socioeconomic and democratic development in third countries.
The U.S. government will provide funding for pilot projects in
three themes of mutual U.S.-Russian interest and expertise: information
and communication technology, HIV/AIDS prevention, and historical/
cultural preservation. This Request for Grant Proposals (RFGP) covers
the historical/cultural preservation theme only.
ECA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will
oversee USRVI components. ECA will select the U.S. implementing
organization for the historical/cultural preservation theme, and USAID
will issue a separate solicitation for projects in the information and
communication technology and HIV/AIDS prevention themes (USAID's
program information and Request for Applications may be found at http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/AID/OM/MOS/postdate_1.html
). The Russian
government has identified the Russian Union of Youth as the primary
implementing organization for the USRVI in Russia. A bi-national
Steering Committee will coordinate activities between the Russian Union
of Youth and U.S. implementing organizations in all thematic areas.
Proposals should demonstrate a willingness to consult closely with the
designated program officer at ECA, the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at
the U.S. embassy in Moscow, and the USRVI Steering Committee. Proposals
must express a willingness to coordinate activities in Russia with the
Russian Union of Youth to the extent requested by ECA, PAS, and the
Steering Committee.
Volunteer Initiative for Historical/Cultural Preservation
ECA seeks proposals that would foster volunteerism and cooperation
between young professionals from the United States and Russia in the
field of historical and cultural preservation. Proposals should include
a two-way exchange that includes reciprocal volunteer experiences in
U.S. and Russian communities for mixed teams of U.S. and Russian
volunteers. Programs should focus on historic structures, districts, or
sites outside of major cities in the U.S. and Russia.
ECA funding available for USRVI historical and cultural
preservation programs is approximately $125,000. ECA anticipates
awarding one grant for this competition.
The goals of the U.S.-Russia Volunteer Initiative for Historical
and Cultural Preservation are:
(1) To foster volunteerism in Russia and the U.S. through
collaboration on
[[Page 15429]]
historical and cultural preservation projects in both countries;
(2) To develop professional and personal linkages between Russian
and U.S. volunteers, host institutions, and communities that will lead
to sustained interaction;
(3) To promote understanding of preservation policies and
techniques used in the United States and Russia; and
(4) To eventually contribute U.S. and Russian volunteer expertise
to historical and cultural preservation efforts in third countries.
Final grant awards will require formal acknowledgement of ECA
funding for the program in all materials. ECA will require successful
applicants to invite representatives of the U.S. embassy in Moscow or
U.S. consulates to participate in program sessions/site visits.
Selection of Participants
Volunteers must be young professionals (ages 18-30) who are
citizens of either the U.S. or Russia. Proposals should clearly
describe the participant recruitment and merit-based selection process.
Ideally, participants would have language skills that are sufficient
and appropriate for their volunteer placements. ECA, PAS/U.S. Embassy
Moscow, and the USRVP Steering Committee retain the right to review all
participant nominations and to accept or refuse participants
recommended by grantee institutions. For Russian participants, priority
for exchange components will be given to those who have not previously
traveled to the United States.
Successful applicants must agree to submit the names of proposed
Russian participants to ECA and PAS approximately eight weeks in
advance of the scheduled start of U.S.-based activities. Once
participants are approved, ECA will issue DS-2019 forms for
participants traveling to the U.S. and will forward these forms to PAS
for visa processing. ECA will enter all participant data into the SEVIS
system. Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. See the section
below on requirements for maintenance of and provision to ECA of data
on participants and program activities.
Suggested Program Designs
ECA supports exchanges and training programs that enhance linkages
and partnerships between the U.S. and other countries and that offer
practical information and experience to assist individuals and groups
with their professional responsibilities. Strong proposals usually have
the following characteristics:
An assessment of project needs that is relevant
to the target country or region (proposals that request resources for
an initial needs assessment may be deemed less competitive);
A clear, convincing plan showing how ECA-funded
activities will achieve results;
Schedules for each program activity;
A description of participant selection
processes;
Letters of support from local and U.S. partners
(proposals that illustrate an ability to arrange volunteer placements
with letters of support from prospective host institutions will receive
higher priority);
A timeline for the entire grant period;
An outline of relevant expertise in cultural and
historical preservation and regional knowledge;
An outline of relevant experience managing
exchange, internship, or volunteer programs for participants from/in
Russia or other countries in Eurasia or Eastern Europe;
Resumes of experienced staff who have
demonstrated a commitment to monitor projects and ensure
implementation;
A comprehensive evaluation plan to determine
whether program outcomes respond effectively to issues identified in
the needs assessment; and
A post-grant plan demonstrating the grantee
organization's commitment to maintaining contacts initiated through the
program. Applicants should discuss ways that U.S. and Russian
volunteers or host institutions could collaborate on projects in third
countries after the ECA-funded grant has concluded. (See Review
Criterion 6 below for more information on post-grant
activities.)
Proposals must focus on international volunteer exchanges between
the United States and Russia. ECA anticipates that the first exchanges
would begin in August 2004. Exchanges must provide an individualized
volunteer project that each participant can complete with local host
organizations in the U.S. and Russia. Volunteers may be placed
individually or in teams. Projects may cover a range of activities,
including historical documentation, building restoration,
archaeological site management, conservation and historical
preservation activities, and the preparation of interpretive materials
for the public. Programs should enable volunteers to contribute their
knowledge and skills to benefit their own and other communities.
Volunteers should also gain a better understanding of the host
country's architectural or cultural heritage from their experience.
Examples of appropriate projects include, but are not limited to:
Community outreach campaigns for conservation of
endangered sites or structures;
Information campaigns to increase public
interest in places of historic/cultural significance;
Development of interpretive exhibits on local
areas or monuments;
Community-based initiatives to harmonize
economic development with the historic character or cultural
significance of local districts or sites.
Participants should have networking and information sharing
opportunities throughout the grant period. ECA encourages applicants to
include training-of-trainer (TOT) workshops in their program plan.
These activities should help participants strengthen their professional
and volunteer skills, share their experiences with committed people,
and become active in a practical and valuable way in their home
countries.
ECA anticipates that each volunteer exchange will be between one
and three months in duration. Grantee organizations must describe the
method of covering meals, lodging, and incidental expenses for
volunteers in both the U.S. and Russia. ECA encourages applicants to
arrange homestays for volunteers; applicants who propose to do so
should describe the recruitment, selection, and volunteer matching
procedures for host families. Proposals should address language and
interpreting issues.
Programs should propose to work with a range of host institutions
where volunteer efforts are welcome and can make a difference. Such
institutions may include, but are not limited to, State historic
preservation offices, local historical organizations, cultural and
professional associations, government agencies, and volunteer
organizations. Proposals should include a plan to designate a local
facilitator or mentor for the duration of each placement. Host
organizations should include volunteers in as many different aspects of
the work and activities of the institution as possible. Volunteers
should be expected to work to the same professional standards as the
rest of the staff, and they should be afforded opportunities to meet
with other preservation professionals. Proposals should list the
responsibilities of the applicant, subcontractors, partner
organizations, and local host organizations.
Applicants may propose to work with partner organizations in Russia
in order to conduct volunteer programs for U.S.
[[Page 15430]]
participants. Such partnerships should assist Russian organizations'
institutional capacity and stability. Overseas partner organizations
must agree to work within the USRVI program framework involving ECA,
PAS, the Russian Union for Youth, and the USRVI Steering Committee
mentioned above.
Activities Ineligible for Support
The Office of Citizen Exchanges does not support proposals limited
to conferences or seminars (i.e., one to fourteen-day programs with
plenary sessions, main speakers, panels, and a passive audience). It
will support conferences only when they are a small part of a larger
project in duration that is receiving Bureau funding from this
competition. No funding is available exclusively to send U.S. citizens
to conferences or conference-type seminars overseas, nor is funding
available for bringing foreign nationals to conferences or to routine
professional association meetings in the United States. The Office of
Citizen Exchanges does not support academic research or fund faculty or
student fellowships.
Program Data Requirements
Successful applicants will be required to maintain specific data on
program participants and activities in an electronically accessible
database format that can be shared with ECA as required. As a minimum,
the data must include the following:
(1) Name, address, contact information and biographic sketch of all
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the grant or
who benefit from the grant funding but do not travel.
(2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take
place. The ECA Program Officer must receive final schedules for Russian
and U.S. activities at least three work days prior to the official
opening of the activity.
Evaluation
In order to assess and demonstrate the impact of this program, ECA
asks that all proposals include a comprehensive evaluation plan.
Proposals must clearly state program objectives that directly respond
to the goals included under ``General Program Guidelines'' above. Each
program objective should meet the following criteria:
Focus on a single purpose and a produce a single
result;
Be realistic;
Focus on the result of each activity, rather
than the activity itself;
Include some means of measuring success; and
State a timeframe for achieving results.
Evaluations must demonstrate whether the project has met its stated
objectives through comparison to baseline data or control groups
identified in the proposal's needs assessment. Evaluation plans may
collect quantitative and qualitative data on program results, and these
should include at least two means of data collection. Appropriate means
of data collection might include written evaluations, interviews,
surveys of persons impacted by participants or their work, audits of
participants' individual projects, or field observations. Evaluation
plans must describe how the applicant will tabulate qualitative data,
where the data will be kept, who will have access to such data, and how
it will be reported to ECA. If the proposal calls for an outside
evaluation, the proposal should include the above information as well
as a description of the evaluator's experience. An evaluation report
will be due at the end of the program that provides the following
information:
(1) A 2-3 page narrative description of the extent to which the
program met its objectives;
(2) Summary data in tabular and graphic form that demonstrates
these conclusions;
(3) Tabulated raw data for each performance indicator, which may
include demographic data for cross-referencing, where appropriate; and
(4) Examples of all data collection instruments used in the
evaluation.
Proposals should also include a plan for collecting feedback from
participants and stakeholders during the course of the program in order
to make mid-course corrections in program content and administration.
Proposals should describe how the applicant would apply this
information in conducting the program. This information will be
required in program interim reports.
Budget Guidelines
Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less than
four years experience in conducting international exchanges be limited
to $60,000 in Bureau funding. Since ECA anticipates awarding one grant
that exceeds this amount, organizations that cannot demonstrate at
least four years experience in conducting international exchanges are
ineligible to apply under this competition.
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire
program that includes a summary budget as well as breakdowns reflecting
both administrative and program budgets in the proposal. Applicants may
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase,
location, or activity to provide clarification. Please refer to the
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) for complete budget guidelines
and formatting instructions.
Allowable program costs include the following:
1. Travel: International and domestic airfare (per the ``Fly
America Act''), ground transportation, and visas for U.S. participants.
J-1 visas for ECA-supported participants from Russia to travel to the
U.S. are issued at no charge.
2. Per Diem: Organizations should not exceed the published Federal
per diem rates for individual U.S. cities. ECA strongly encourages
applicants to budget realistic amounts that reflect local costs. ECA
encourages applicants to arrange volunteer lodging in homestays rather
than hotels. Domestic per diem rates may be accessed at: http://policyworks.gov/org/main/mt/homepage/mtt/perdiem/perd04d.html.
Foreign
per diem rates can be accessed at: http://www.state.gov/m/a/als/prdm/.
3. Interpreters: ECA anticipates that participants will have
language skills appropriate for their placement. In cases when
applicants can justify the use of interpretation, ECA strongly
encourages the use of locally based interpreters. However, applicants
may ask ECA to assign U.S. Department of State interpreters for U.S.
components, which will decrease the amount of the award. When an
applicant proposes to use State Department interpreters, the following
expenses should be included in the budget: published Federal per diem
rates (both ``lodging'' and ``M&IE''); ``home-program-home''
transportation in the average amount of $400 per interpreter;
reimbursement for taxi fares; and cell phone usage at $10 per week. If
the applicant uses State Department interpreters, salary expenses will
be covered by ECA and should not be part of an applicant's proposed
budget. ECA funds cannot support interpreters who accompany delegations
from their home country or travel internationally.
4. Book and cultural allowance: Foreign participants are entitled
to a one-time cultural allowance of $150 per person, plus a book
allowance of $50. Interpreters should be reimbursed up to $150 for
expenses when they escort participants to cultural events. U.S. program
staff, trainers, or participants are not eligible to receive these
allowances.
5. Consultants: Consultants may provide specialized expertise or to
make
[[Page 15431]]
presentations. Daily honoraria may not exceed $250 per day.
6. Subcontractors: Subcontracting organizations may be used, in
which case the written agreement between the prospective grantee and
subcontractor should be included in the proposal. Subcontracts should
detail the division of responsibilities and proposed costs.
Subcontracts should be itemized in the budget.
7. Room rental: Room rental may not exceed $250 per day.
8. Materials development: Proposals may contain costs to purchase,
develop and translate materials for participants. ECA strongly
discourages the use of automatic translation software for the
preparation of training materials or any information distributed to the
group of participants or network of organizations. Costs for high-
quality translation of materials should be anticipated and included in
the budget. Grantee organizations should expect to submit a copy of all
program materials to ECA.
9. Equipment: Equipment costs must be kept to a minimum and must
have a clear connection to program activities. Costs for furniture are
not allowed.
10. Working meal: Only one working meal may be provided during the
program. Per capita costs may not exceed $5-8 for a lunch and $14-20
for a dinner, excluding room rental. The number of invited guests may
not exceed participants by more than a factor of two. For the purposes
of working meals, interpreters may be counted as participants.
11. Return travel allowance: A return travel allowance of $70 for
each Russian participant may be included in the budget. The allowance
may be used for incidental expenses incurred during international
travel.
12. Health Insurance: Foreign participants will be covered under
the terms of a Bureau-sponsored health insurance policy. ECA pays the
premium directly to the insurance company. Applicants are permitted to
include costs for travel insurance for U.S. participants in the budget.
13. Wire transfer fees: When necessary, applicants may include
costs to transfer funds to partner organizations overseas. Grantees are
urged to research applicable taxes that may be imposed by host
governments on these transfers.
14. In-country travel costs for visa processing purposes: Given the
new requirements associated with obtaining J-1 visas for Bureau-
supported participants, applicants should include costs for participant
and/or in-country partner travel and shipping to U.S. embassies or
consulates for visa processing purposes, such as interviews and
delivery/pick up of DS-2019 forms.
15. Administrative Costs: Costs necessary for the effective
administration of the program may include salaries for grantee
organization employees, benefits, and other direct and indirect costs
per detailed instructions in the Application Package. While there is no
rigid ratio of administrative to program costs, priority will be given
to proposals whose administrative costs are less than twenty-five (25)
percent of the total requested from ECA.
Cost Sharing Requirements
Since Bureau grant assistance constitutes only a portion of total
project funding, proposals should list and provide evidence of other
anticipated sources of financial and in-kind support. Applicants are
strongly encouraged to provide cost sharing to the fullest extent
possible. State Department Review Panels will consider cost sharing
seriously when evaluating all proposals.
Review Process
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to
the guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. The
program office and the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. embassy in
Moscow will review all eligible proposals. Eligible proposals will be
subject to compliance with Federal and ECA 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 grants resides with
ECA'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. Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Program Objectives:
Program objectives should be stated clearly and should respond to the
program goals outlined in this announcement. The proposal should
clearly describe how each activity would achieve the program
objectives. The narrative should provide details on the substance of
the program. Detailed, sample agendas should illustrate program content
and the pace of each component of the program. The proposal should also
include a timetable for completion of major tasks. The proposal should
clearly describe the roles and responsibilities of subcontractors and
proposed partner organizations in Russia and the United States.
Proposals should demonstrate a willingness to consult closely with the
designated program officer at ECA, the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at
the U.S. embassy in Moscow, and the USRVI Steering Committee.
2. Institutional Capacity: The proposal should reflect the
institution's expertise in the subject area, knowledge of the
conditions in the target region, and logistical ability to conduct a
two-way exchange program. The proposal should provide information about
the organization's past experience arranging international internships
or volunteer placements, as well as on prior awards received from the
U.S. government or the private sector in historical/cultural
preservation. The proposal should include descriptions of experienced
staff members who will implement the program and any other
institutional resources the applicant can offer for use in the proposed
program. 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 Grant Staff. ECA will consider the past
performance of prior grant recipients and the demonstrated potential of
new applicants. The proposal should also provide detailed information
about the capacity of partner institutions and the history of those
partnerships.
3. Cost Effectiveness and Cost Sharing: Overhead and administrative
costs in the proposal budget, including salaries, honoraria and
subcontracts for services, should be kept to a minimum. Priority will
be given to proposals whose administrative costs are less than twenty-
five (25) per cent of the total funds requested from ECA. Applicants
are strongly encouraged to cost share a portion of overhead and
administrative expenses. Cost-sharing, including contributions from the
applicant, the in-country partner, and other sources should be included
in the budget request. Proposal budgets that do not provide cost
sharing will be deemed less competitive in this category.
4. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of ECA's policy on diversity in both program administration
(selection of participants, program venues and program evaluation) and
program content (orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings,
resource
[[Page 15432]]
materials and follow-up activities). ECA encourages applicants to
structure cultural activities as meaningful discussions with Russian
participants about U.S. diversity rather than visits to landmarks.
Applicants should refer to ECA's Diversity, Freedom and Democracy
Guidelines in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).
5. Evaluation: Evaluation plans should focus on links between
project objectives and results. Proposals should include specific
information on means of data collection, data storage, how the
information will be presented to ECA, and draft data collection
instruments. See the ``Evaluation'' section (above) for more
information on the components of a competitive evaluation plan.
Successful applicants must submit interim reports after the conclusion
of each project component or on a quarterly basis, whichever is less
frequent. A final evaluation of the program will be required at the end
of the grant period.
6. Post-Grant Activities: Applicants should provide a plan to
conduct activities after the ECA-funded project has concluded in order
to ensure that Bureau-supported programs are not isolated events.
Proposals that describe how U.S. and Russian volunteers would
collaborate on historical preservation efforts in third countries after
the grant period will receive higher ratings in this criterion. Funds
for all post-grant activities must be in the form of contributions from
the applicant or sources outside of ECA. Costs for these activities
should not appear in the proposal budget, but should be outlined in the
narrative.
New OMB Requirement
An OMB policy directive published in the Federal Register on
Friday, June 27, 2003, requires that all organizations applying for
Federal grants or cooperative agreements must provide a Dun and
Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when
applying for all Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after
October 1, 2003. The complete OMB policy directive can be referenced at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg/062703_grant_identifier.pdf Please also visit the ECA Web site at http://exchanges.state.gov/.
/exchanges.state.gov/.
with this new directive.
Shipment and Deadline for Proposals
Important Note: The deadline for this competition is April 23, 2004.
In light of recent events and heightened security measures, 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. 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.
Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation
Package. The original and ten (10) copies of the proposal should be
sent to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/EUR-04-50, Program Management, ECA/EX/
PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal in text (.txt) format
on a PC-formatted disk. ECA will provide these files electronically to
the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. embassy in Moscow for its
review.
Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines
Pursuant to ECA'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 physical
challenges. 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 the total proposal. 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,'' ECA
``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 full extent deemed feasible.
Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is placing renewed
emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J
visa) Programs and adherence by grantees and sponsors to all
regulations governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should
demonstrate the applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing
the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR
62, including the oversight of 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,
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements. ECA will be
responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program.
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 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, Telephone: (202) 401-9810,
FAX: (202) 401-9809.
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
[[Page 15433]]
the world.'' The funding authority for the program above is provided
through legislation.
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information
provided by ECA that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment
on the part of the Government. ECA 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.
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures.
Dated: March 17, 2004.
Patricia S. Harrison,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. 04-6715 Filed 3-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P