[Federal Register: November 22, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 225)]
[Notices]
[Page 67690-67696]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22no06-146]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 5618]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program for Undergraduate
Students
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-07-IYL.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
Dates: Key Dates: Application Deadline: January 12, 2007.
Executive Summary: The Branch for the Study of the United States,
Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, announces an open competition for the ``Iraqi Young
Leaders Exchange Program for Undergraduate Students,'' a series of six-
week thematic institutes to take place at four different host
institutions during the summers of 2007 and 2008. Accredited post-
secondary education institutions in the United States and public and
private non-profit organizations or consortia of organizations may
submit proposals to cooperate with the Bureau in the administration and
implementation of this program. Each institute should provide a group
of 15-20 highly motivated Iraqi undergraduate students with an
integrated and imaginatively designed academic program that includes
structured classroom instruction in one of the following four
[[Page 67691]]
themes: science and technology; media and journalism; entrepreneurship;
and public policy. Each institute should incorporate a leadership
component and integrate practical learning opportunities related to the
institute's theme. In addition, each institute will include an
educational travel program that will give participants a deeper
understanding of U.S. culture and society. All participants will be
expected to return to Iraq immediately following the conclusion of the
program. The awarding of the grant for this program is contingent upon
the availability of funds (prior year Economic Support Funds, which, at
the time of this publication, are pending transfer to ECA for
obligation).
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 legislation.
Purpose
In July 2006, President Bush announced the creation of the ``Iraqi
Young Leaders Exchange Program.'' The Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, Branch for the Study of the U.S., will administer
this program. Recently graduated high school seniors and undergraduates
completing the first and second years of university will participate in
intensive, thematic institutes, which will enhance their understanding
of the United States, while developing their leadership skills. The
Branch will sponsor a total of 150 Iraqi undergraduate student leaders
over a two-year period during the summers of 2007 and 2008. In each of
these years, the institutes for the ``Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange
Program for Undergraduate Students'' should provide 75 undergraduate
student leaders, aged 18-20, with an integrated and imaginatively
designed program through four institutes running concurrently at
different U.S. host institutions. The program will consist of an
academic component that includes leadership training and community
service, as well as an educational travel component in the United
States.
The principal objective of the institutes is to heighten the
participants' awareness of the history and evolution of U.S. society,
culture, values and institutions. All campus programs should include
cultural enrichment activities and should actively engage American
undergraduate or graduate student peers as mentors or escorts for the
Iraqi students.
In addition to promoting a better understanding of the United
States, an important objective of the institutes is to develop the
participants' leadership and collective problem-solving skills. In this
context, the academic program should include group discussions,
training and exercises that focus on such topics as the essential
attributes of leadership; teambuilding; effective communication; and
management skills for diverse organizational settings. There should
also be a community service component, whereby the students experience
firsthand how not-for-profit organizations and volunteerism play a key
role in American civil society.
Local site visits and educational travel to cities and other
destinations outside the immediate area of the host institutions should
provide opportunities to observe varied aspects of American life and
discuss issues raised in the academic program. The program should also
include opportunities for participants to meet American citizens from a
variety of backgrounds, to interact with their American peers, and to
speak to appropriate student and civic groups about their experiences
and life in Iraq. ECA plans to award a single grant for the recruitment
and administration of all institutes for the ``Iraqi Young Leaders
Exchange Program for Undergraduate Students.''
The Bureau is seeking detailed proposals for the institutes from
U.S. not-for-profit organizations that will administer the institutes
in collaboration with four different U.S. colleges, universities or
other not-for-profit academic organizations, who will act as program
host institutions. Applicant organizations may submit grant proposals
requesting funds not exceeding $2,312,500 to implement a total of eight
institutes between June and August 2007, and June and August 2008, or
one institute per host institution each summer. Applicant organizations
will be evaluated on the functionality of their partnerships with their
four selected host institutions. Selected host institutions must have
an established reputation in the field or discipline related to their
specific program theme (i.e., science and technology; media and
journalism; entrepreneurship; and public policy). Applicant
organizations are also encouraged to partner with host institutions
that together reflect the geographic diversity of the United States.
The grantee organization will be ECA's primary point of contact in
communicating with the four selected host institutions.
The grant recipient organization will recruit, screen, and nominate
the exchange participants, in consultation with, but without reliance
on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. The grantee organization should make
every effort to recruit a balanced pool of male and female participants
from across Iraq, who represent the ethnic, religious, and cultural
diversity of the Iraqi population. The grantee organization will
conduct a nation-wide recruitment campaign in Iraq that includes
special provisions for the recruitment of female participants and
participants from Southern Iraq. The grantee organization will prepare
the students for both the content and the logistics of the exchange,
and will be responsible for the entire cycle of each program to
include: management of travel documents; international and domestic
airline reservations for students; preparation and oversight of all
programmatic components in the U.S.; and the provision of follow on
activities and support for grantee alumni.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognizes that the
grantee organization will be conducting all Iraq-based activity in an
inherently challenging working environment. As such, applicant
organizations must provide a detailed plan for arranging all activities
in the U.S. and Iraq directly or in collaboration with partner
organizations, which must be identified in the proposal. This plan must
also demonstrate the capacity to ensure the participants' security
during all phases of Iraq-based activity.
The applicant should take into account that Iraqi student
participants may have little or no prior knowledge of the United States
and varying degrees of experience in expressing their opinions in a
classroom setting, therefore, component activities will be tailored
accordingly. Every effort should be made to encourage active student
participation in all aspects of a program.
[[Page 67692]]
Program Design
The ``Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program for Undergraduate
Students'' should consist of four intensive thematic academic programs,
to be implemented each summer during 2007 and 2008 for a total of eight
institutes, with approximately 75 participants per summer (i.e., 19 per
institute). The program should be organized through a carefully
integrated series of panel presentations, seminar discussions, debates,
individual and group activities, lectures and reading assignments, as
well as local site visits, regional educational travel, and
participation in community service activities. In addition to host-
college or university faculty and professionals from the region where
the institutes take place (e.g., in government, media, religious and
civic organizations), course presenters should include outstanding
scholars and other professional experts from throughout the United
States, as appropriate.
The institutes must not simply replicate existing or previous
lectures, workshops, or group activities designed for American
students. Rather, they should be a specially designed and well-
integrated seminar that creatively combines lectures, discussions,
readings, debates, local site visits and regional travel into a
coherent whole. The grantee organization will be required to select
four host institutions to develop a program that provides ample time
and opportunity for discussion and interaction among students,
lecturers and guest speakers, not simply standard lectures or broad
survey reading assignments. Reading and writing assignments should be
adjusted to the participants' knowledge of English.
Capacity of Administering Organization
U.S. applicant organizations or consortia must have the necessary
capacity in the United States and Iraq to implement the program through
either their own offices or partner institutions. Organizations may
demonstrate their direct expertise, or they may partner with other
organizations to best respond to the requirements outlined in the RFGP.
Organizations that opt to work in sub-grant arrangements should clearly
outline all duties and responsibilities of the partner organization,
ideally in the form of sub-grant agreements and accompanying budgets.
Organizations or consortia applying for this grant must demonstrate
their (or their partners') capacity for conducting projects of this
nature.
Program Administration
The grantee organization should designate a project director who
will oversee all Iraq and U.S. based activity, and serve as the primary
liaison with ECA on program and administrative matters. There should
also be an academic director at each host institution who will be
present throughout the program to ensure the continuity, coherence and
integration of all aspects of the academic program, including the
educational travel program. In addition to the academic director(s), an
administrative director or coordinator should be assigned at each host
institution to oversee all student support services, including
supervision of the program participants, budgetary, logistical, and
other administrative arrangements. For the purposes of this program, it
is important that the grantee organization also retain qualified U.S.
undergraduate or graduate students as peer mentors or escorts who
exhibit cultural sensitivity, an understanding of the program's
objectives, and a willingness to accompany the students throughout the
program sessions.
Iraq-based Activity
The grantee organization will demonstrate a capacity to work
effectively in Iraq and manage the following activities in consultation
with, but without reliance on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
(1) Recruit, screen, and nominate 75 Iraqi undergraduate student
leaders and an appropriate number of alternates for six-week programs
in the United States during summer 2007, with a second cycle of
recruitment for programs in the summer of 2008. Recruitment and
nomination will be coordinated in consultation with, but without
reliance upon the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Embassy in
Baghdad.
(2) Assist selected participants in submitting J-1 visa
applications via the electronic version of the application form (EVAF).
Process DS-2019 forms and U.S. visa applications with sufficient lead-
time to allow for visa interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad no
later than 100 days before the beginning of travel to the United
States.
(3) Provide orientations in a third country en route to the U.S.,
or in Washington, DC for all Iraqi undergraduate students chosen to
participate.
(4) Provide international roundtrip travel arrangements to
Washington, DC for participants.
(5) Create and manage an online communication portal for alumni to
continue dialogue and carry out action plans that promote program
objectives. The portal can also be used to track alumni addresses, and
should take every precaution to safeguard student security.
Participants
Participants in the ``Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program for
Undergraduate Students'' should be highly motivated and exemplary
recently graduated high school seniors and those completing the first
and second years at colleges, universities and teacher training
institutions from across Iraq, who display leadership through academic
achievement, community involvement, and extracurricular activities, and
who demonstrate the willingness and preparedness to participate in this
program. Their major fields of study will be varied, and will include
the sciences, social sciences, humanities, education and business. All
participants will have a good knowledge of English.
The grantee organization will recruit and recommend participants
for selection to the appropriate institute in accordance with the
applicant's qualifications and primary fields of interest. Confirmation
of final selection will be made by ECA's Branch for the Study of the
United States. Participants will be students aged 18-20 from across
Iraq, who represent the ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity of
the Iraqi population. Every effort should be made to select a balanced
mix of male and female participants. The grantee organization should
make a particular effort to recruit participants who are from non-elite
or underprivileged backgrounds, from both rural and urban areas, and
have had little or no prior experience in the United States or
elsewhere outside of their home country. Applicant organizations must
submit a detailed plan for conducting a nation-wide recruitment
campaign that includes special provisions for the recruitment of female
participants and participants from Southern Iraq.
Program Dates: The institutes, which should be a maximum of 44 days
in length (including participant arrival and departure days), should
begin in June 2007, with a similar cycle of programs in the summer of
2008.
Program Guidelines: It is essential that proposals provide a
detailed and comprehensive narrative describing how the partner
organizations and/or host institutions will achieve the objectives of
the program. For host institutions, this includes listing the title,
scope and content of each session, planned site visits, and how each
[[Page 67693]]
session relates to each institute's theme. A syllabus must be included
that indicates the subject matter for each lecture, panel discussion,
group presentation or other activity. The syllabus should also confirm
or provisionally identify proposed speakers, trainers, and session
leaders, and clearly show how assigned readings will advance the goals
of each session. A calendar of all program activities must be included
in the proposal, as well as a description of plans for public and media
outreach in connection with each institute. Overall, proposals will be
reviewed on the basis of their coherence, clarity, and attention to
detail.
Please note: In a cooperative agreement, the Branch for the
Study of the United States is substantially involved in program
activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. The Branch
will assume the following responsibilities for the institutes:
confirm the final selection of participants in consultation with the
U.S. Embassy in Baghdad; oversee the institutes through one or more
site visits; debrief participants in Washington, D.C. and consult on
the implementation of a four-day conclusion program in Washington,
DC at the end of the institutes; and engage in follow-on
communication with the participants after they return to their home
countries. The Branch may require changes in the content or scope of
activities of the institutes, either before or after the grant is
awarded. The recipient will be required to obtain approval of any
significant agenda/syllabus changes in advance of their
implementation.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Grant. ECA's level of involvement in
this program is listed under number I above.
Fiscal Year Funds: Prior year Economic Support Funds (ESF) which,
at the time of this publication, are pending transfer to ECA for
obligation.
Approximate Total Funding: $2,312,500.
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, March 1,
2007.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: August 2008.
Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is
ECA's intent to renew this grant for one additional fiscal year in
accordance with the original announcement.
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: There is no minimum or
maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau
encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and
funding in support of its programs.
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, you must maintain written records to support all costs
that are claimed as your contribution, 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 you do not provide the minimum
amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the approved budget, ECA's
contribution will be reduced in like proportion.
III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements:
(a) Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less
than four years experience in conducting international exchanges be
limited to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates awarding one
grant, in the amount not to exceed $2,312,500 to support program and
administrative costs required to implement this exchange program.
Therefore, applicant organizations with less than four years experience
in conducting international exchanges are ineligible under this
competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels
of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
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:
Please contact the Branch for the Study of the United States, ECA/
A/E/USS, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547; tel. (202) 453-8532; fax (202) 453-8533; e-mail:
WalshBM@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to
the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-07-IYL located at the top of
this announcement when making your request. Alternatively, an
electronic application package may be obtained from grants.gov. Please
see section IV.3f for further information.
The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission
Instruction (PSI) document, which consists of required application
forms, and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
Please specify Brendan M. Walsh and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-07-IYL located at the top of this
announcement on all other inquiries and correspondence.
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 information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission: Applicants must follow all
instructions in the Solicitation Package. The application should be
submitted per the instructions under IV.3f. ``Application Deadline and
Methods of Submission'' section below.
IV.3a. You 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 ``and the Project
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document'' for additional
formatting and technical requirements.
IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of
application.
If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not received
a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three years, or
if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS within the
past four years,
[[Page 67694]]
you must submit the necessary documentation to verify nonprofit status
as directed in the PSI document. Failure to do so will cause your
proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information
when preparing your proposal narrative:
IV.3.d.1. 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 the 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,
recordkeeping, reporting and other requirements. The grantee 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) 203-5029;
FAX: (202) 453-8640.
Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
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, socioeconomic
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 your 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,'' 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
full extent deemed feasible.
IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation
Proposals must include a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's
success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of the program.
The Bureau recommends that your proposal include a draft survey
questionnaire or other technique plus a description of a methodology to
use to link outcomes to original project objectives. The Bureau expects
that the grantee will track participants or partners and be able to
respond to key evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the
program, learning as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a
result of the program, and effects of the program on institutions
(institutions in which participants work or partner institutions). The
evaluation plan should include indicators that measure gains in mutual
understanding as well as substantive knowledge.
Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast,
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and are
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes,
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in
increasing order of importance):
1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange
experience.
2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude,
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic
organizations; interpretation and explanation of experiences and new
knowledge gained; continued contacts between participants, community
members, and others.
4. Institutional changes, such as increased collaboration and
partnerships, policy reforms, new programming, and organizational
improvements.
Please note: Consideration should be given to the appropriate
timing of data collection for each level of outcome. For example,
satisfaction is usually captured as a short-term outcome, whereas
behavior and institutional changes are normally considered longer-
term outcomes.
Overall, the quality of your monitoring and evaluation plan will be
judged on how well it (1) Specifies intended outcomes; (2) gives clear
descriptions of how each outcome will be measured; (3) identifies when
particular outcomes will be measured; and (4) provides a clear
description of the data collection strategies for each outcome (i.e.,
surveys, interviews, or focus groups). (Please note that evaluation
plans that deal only with the first level of outcomes [satisfaction]
will be deemed less competitive under the present evaluation criteria.)
Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. 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.3d.4. Describe your plans for overall program management,
staffing, and coordination with each host institution and the Branch
for the Study of the United States. The Branch considers these to be
essential elements of your program; please be sure to give sufficient
attention to them in your proposal. Please refer to the Technical
Eligibility Requirements and the POGI
[[Page 67695]]
in the Solicitation Package for specific guidelines.
IV.3e. Please take the following information into consideration
when preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. There must be a summary budget as well as breakdowns
reflecting both administrative and program budgets. Applicants may
provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase,
location, or activity to provide clarification.
IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
(1) Institute staff salary and benefits.
(2) Advertisement of program, recruitment, and selection of
participants.
(3) Participant housing and meals.
(4) Participant travel and per diem.
(5) Textbooks, educational materials and admissions fees.
(6) Honoraria for guest speakers .
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3F. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission:
Application Deadline Date: January 12, 2007.
Reference Number: EAC/A/E/USS-07-IYL.
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 Applications.
Applications must be shipped no later than the above deadline.
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. ECA will not
notify you upon receipt of application. 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.
Important note: When preparing your submission 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 (8) copies of the application should be sent to:
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/E/USS-07-IYL, 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).
Several of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process could
take several weeks. Therefore, applicants should check with appropriate
staff within their organizations immediately after reviewing this RFGP
to confirm or determine their registration status with Grants.gov. Once
registered, the amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you not wait until the application deadline to
begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
Direct all questions regarding Grants.gov registration and
submission to: Grants.gov Customer Support, Contact Center.
Phone: 800-518-4726.
Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 7AM-9PM Eastern Time.
E-mail: support@grants.gov.
Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.), Washington, DC time of
the closing date to ensure that their entire application has been
uploaded to the Grants.gov site. There are no exceptions to the above
deadline. 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
upon receipt of electronic applications.
It is the responsibility of all applicants submitting proposals via
the Grants.gov web portal to ensure that proposals have been received
by Grants.gov in their entirety, and ECA bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes.
IV.3f.3 Grant applicants may submit only one proposal for this
competition. However, partner institutions and sub-grantee
organizations are eligible for inclusion in multiple proposals provided
they meet the criteria for eligible applicants as outlined under
``Other Eligibility Requirements'' in section III.3.a. of this
announcement.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order
12372 does not apply to this program.
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 Diplomacy 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 cooperative agreements 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 Program Idea/Plan: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission. Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate
substantive undertakings and logistical capacity.
2. Ability to Achieve Overall Program Objectives: Objectives should
be reasonable, feasible, and flexible.
[[Page 67696]]
Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the
program's objectives and plan.
3. Support for Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant
features should be cited in both program administration (program venue,
study tour venue, and program evaluation) and program content
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, site visits, program meetings and
resource materials).
4. Evaluation and Follow-Up: Proposals should include a plan to
evaluate the institute's success, both as the activities unfold and at
the end of the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique
plus description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to each
institute's objectives is strongly recommended. Proposals should also
discuss provisions made for follow-up with returned grantees as a means
of establishing longer-term individual and institutional linkages.
5. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: 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. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other
private sector support as well as institutional direct funding
contributions.
6. Institutional Track Record/Ability: 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. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants. Proposed
personnel and institutional resources should be fully qualified to
achieve the institute's goals.
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 Web sites for additional
information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants http://exchanges.
.state.gov/[fxsp0]education/grantsdiv/
[fxsp0]terms.htm#articleI.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy
original plus one (1) copy of the final program and financial report no
more than 90 days after the expiration of the award.
Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports.
Please refer to Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3d.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.
VI.4. The organization awarded the grant will be required to
maintain specific data on program participants and activities in an
electronically accessible database format that can be shared with the
Bureau 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. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to
the official opening of the activity.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact: Brendan M. Walsh,
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, ECA/A/E/USS, Room 314, ECA/
A/E/USS-07-IYL, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547, tel. (202) 453-8536; fax (202) 453-8533, e-mail:
WalshBM@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ``Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange
Program for Undergraduate Students'' and number (ECA/A/E/USS-07-IYL).
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.
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: November 16, 2006.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E6-19803 Filed 11-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P