[Federal Register: December 16, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 241)]
[Notices]
[Page 75368-75374]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16de04-103]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 4923]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs; U.S. Studies
Institute for South Asian Undergraduate Student Leaders
Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS 05-08-SA.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00-0000.
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: February 4, 2005.
Executive Summary: The Study of the U.S. Branch, Office of Academic
Exchange Programs, Bureau of
[[Page 75369]]
Educational and Cultural Affairs, announces an open competition for
public and private non-profit organizations to develop and implement
the U.S. Studies Institute for South Asian Undergraduate Student
Leaders. The Institute is intended to provide 21 highly motivated first
through third year undergraduate students from Bangladesh, India, and
Pakistan a six week academic seminar, including a domestic travel
component, that will give them a deeper understanding of U.S. history,
contemporary U.S. culture and society, and American politics and
policymaking. An important subsidiary objective of the Institute is to
help the participants develop their leadership and collective
problemsolving skills.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: Overall grantmaking 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 above is provided through legislation.
Purpose: The Bureau is seeking detailed proposals for a U.S.
Studies Institute for South Asian Undergraduate Student Leaders from
U.S. colleges, universities, consortia of colleges and universities,
and other not-for-profit academic organizations that have an
established reputation in one or more of the following fields:
Political science, international relations, law, history, sociology,
American studies, and/or other disciplines or sub-disciplines related
to the study of the United States.
The U.S. Studies Institute for South Asian Undergraduate Student
Leaders should provide 21 highly motivated first through third year
undergraduate students from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan with a
creative program that utilizes a variety of teaching techniques and
formats to expose participants to a range of perspectives on U.S.
history, contemporary U.S. culture and society, and American politics
and policymaking. The academic program should include attention to the
role and influence of principles and values such as democracy, the rule
of law, individual rights, freedom of expression, equality, diversity
and tolerance. Historical political, social and economic debates that
have shaped U.S. society and/or current issues may be examined. The
concepts of individual and civic responsibility, volunteerism and
community involvement should also be addressed, and hands-on activities
related to these areas should be included in the program. The grantee
institution should take into account that the participants may have
little or no prior knowledge of the U.S. and varying degrees of
experience in expressing their opinions in a classroom setting, and
should tailor the curriculum and classroom activities accordingly.
In addition to promoting a better understanding of the United
States, the institute emphasizes developing the participants'
leadership and collective problemsolving skills. In this context, the
program should include lectures as well as group discussions and
exercises focusing on such topics as the essential attributes of
leadership; ``teambuilding;'' effective communication and
problemsolving skills; and management skills for diverse organizational
settings. Activities of this kind should ideally be scheduled to take
place at least on a weekly basis, if not more frequently, during the
academic residency period, and should be integrated into the academic
program wherever possible.
The institutes must be serious academic programs and grantee
institutions will be expected to demonstrate sensitivity in explaining
the students' responsibility to take full advantage of the opportunity,
fully participate in all elements of the program and prepare for
discussions and activities in a serious way.
The program should be six weeks in length including a domestic
travel component of not more than ten (10) days, of which 3-4 days
should be spent in Washington, DC, at the end of the program. This
travel component should directly complement the academic residency
segment. It should include visits to cities and other sites of interest
in the region of the grantee institution.
The project director or one of the key program staff responsible
for the academic program must have an advanced degree in one of the
fields listed above (political science, international relations, law,
history, sociology, American studies, and/or other disciplines or sub-
disciplines related to the study of the United States). Programs must
conform with Bureau requirements and guidelines outlined in the
Solicitation Package. Bureau programs are subject to the availability
of funds.
The Institute for South Asian Undergraduate Student Leaders should
be organized through an integrated, balanced series of lectures and
seminar discussions that leave ample time for discussion and
interaction among students, lecturers and guest speakers. Reading and
writing assignments need to be adjusted to the participants'
familiarity with English. Grantee institutions need to recognize the
diverse characteristics and academic preparation of the students.
Experiential learning exercises, regional travel, and site visits are
important elements of the program. Institutes should also include
opportunities for participants to meet American citizens from a variety
of backgrounds, to interact with peers, and to speak to appropriate
student and civic groups about their experiences and life in their home
countries.
Applicants are encouraged to design thematically coherent programs
in ways that draw upon the particular strengths, faculty and resources
of their institutions as well as upon the expertise of nationally
recognized scholars and other experts throughout the United States.
Within the limits of their thematic focus and organizing framework,
institute programs should also be designed to:
1. Give participants a multi-dimensional view of U.S. society and
institutions that includes a broad and balanced range of perspectives.
Where possible, programs should therefore include the views not only of
scholars, cultural critics and public intellectuals, but also those of
other professionals such as government officials, journalists and
others who can substantively contribute to the topics at issue;
2. Ensure access to library and material resources that will enable
grantees to continue their research and studies upon returning to their
home institutions; and,
3. Bring an interdisciplinary or multi-disciplinary focus to bear
on the program content.
The grantee institution will also be expected to provide
participants post-program opportunities for further investigation and
research on the topics and issues examined and discussed during the
institute.
Participants: As specified in the Project Objectives, Goals and
Implementation (POGI) guidelines in the solicitation package, the
program should be designed for highly-motivated and exemplary first
through third year undergraduates from colleges, universities, and
teacher training institutions in India, Pakistan and
[[Page 75370]]
Bangladesh, who have demonstrated leadership through academic
achievements, community involvement, and extracurricular activities.
Their major fields will be varied, including the humanities, social
sciences, education, business, and other professional fields. Seven
participants will be selected from each country. All participants will
have good knowledge of English.
Please Note: While the participants will have good knowledge of
English, the level of comprehension and speaking ability may vary.
Therefore, the grantee institutions will be required to prepare
lectures and discussions that meet high academic standards while
using language appropriate for students for whom English is their
second or third language.
Efforts will be made to recruit participants from non-elite
backgrounds from both rural and urban sectors of the home country, and
who have had little or no prior study or travel experience in the
United States or elsewhere outside of their home country. All
participants will be required and committed to return to their home
countries to continue or commence their university studies in the fall
of 2005 following completion of their institute program; be willing and
able to fully participate in an intensive academic program, community
service, and active educational travel program. Participants and
grantee institutions must recognize that the primary purpose of the
program is to develop understanding of the U.S. in a structured
environment managed by the Department of State and the grantee
institution. Personal travel during or after the program is not a
benefit of participating in the institute. As participants will be
selected in large part on the basis of their demonstrated leadership
capacity, it is expected they will eventually utilize the experience
derived from the program in positions of responsibility in their home
countries.
The grantee institution will show sensitivity to the cultural
traditions and religious practices of the participating students, who
will represent a variety of Muslim and possibly Hindu or other
religious traditions. Special requirements and restrictions regarding
diet, daily worship, housing and medical care should be considered. The
Bureau will provide guidance and assistance, as needed.
Program Dates: Ideally, the program should be 44 days in length
(including participant arrival and departure days) and is anticipated
to begin late June or early July 2005.
Program Guidelines: While the conception and structure of the
institute program is the responsibility of the organizers, it is
critically important that proposals provide a full, detailed and
comprehensive narrative describing the objectives of the institute; the
title, scope and content of each session; and how each session relates
to the overall institute theme. A syllabus must be included that
indicates the subject matter for each lecture, panel discussion or
other activity (e.g., group exercises), confirms or provisionally
identifies proposed lecturers and session leaders, and clearly shows
how assigned readings will support each session. A calendar of all
program activities must also be included. Additionally, applicant
institutions should describe their plans for public and media outreach
in connection with the program.
Note: In a cooperative agreement, the Study of the U.S. Branch
is substantially involved in program activities above and beyond
routine grant monitoring. Branch activities and responsibilities for
this program are as follows: The Branch will participate in the
selection of participants, exercise oversight with one or more site
visits, debrief participants while they are in the U.S. and also
engage in follow-up communications with the participants upon their
return home. The Branch may require changes in the content of the
program as well as the activities proposed after the grant is
awarded. The recipient will be required to obtain review and
approval of significant agenda/syllabus changes in advance of their
implementation.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in
this program is listed under number I ``Note'' above.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY-05.
Approximate Total Funding: $250,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Approximate Average Award: $250,000.
Floor of Award Range: $225,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $250,000.
Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, March 15,
2005.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: October 30, 2005.
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
which 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 an amount up to $250,000 to support program and administrative
costs required to implement this exchange program. Therefore,
organizations with less than four years experience in conducting
international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition.
(b) Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the
following: The project director or one of the key program staff
responsible for the academic program must have an advanced degree in
one of the following fields: Political science, international
relations, law, history, sociology, literature, American studies, and/
or other disciplines or sub-disciplines related to the program themes.
Failure to meet this criterion will result in your proposal being
declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in
the review process.
IV. Application and Submission Information
Note: Please read the complete Federal Register announcement
before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. The Branch staff
will be available to consult with prospective applicant institutions
about program design and content up until the proposal submission
deadline. Once the RFGP deadline has passed, Bureau staff may not
discuss this competition with applicants until the proposal review
process has been completed.
[[Page 75371]]
IV.1 Contact Information To Request an Application Package
Please contact the Branch for the Study of the U.S., ECA/A/E/USS,
Room Number 252, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20547, telephone number (202) 619-4557 and fax number
(202) 619-6790, e-mail SchmidtRC@state.gov to request a Solicitation
Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS 05-
08-SA located at the top of this announcement when making your request.
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 Branch Chief Robert Schmidt and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS 05-08-SA 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
website at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm. Please
read all information before downloading.
IV.3. Content and Form of Submission
Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation
Package. The original and ten (10) copies of the application should be
sent per the instructions under IV.3e. ``Submission Dates and Times
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, 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.3d.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
part 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. 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.
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, 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.
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
[[Page 75372]]
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 is
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.)
Please note: Because the cooperative agreement prospectively to
be awarded under the terms of the present RFGP is likely to be of
less than one year's duration, prospective grantee institutions will
not be expected to be able to demonstrate significant specific
results in terms of participant behavior or institutional changes
during the agreement period. Applicant institutions' monitoring and
evaluation plans should, therefore, focus primarily on the first and
more particularly the second level of outcomes (learning). The
Branch will assume principal responsibility for developing
performance indicators and conducting post-institute evaluations to
measure changes in participant behavior as a result of the program,
and effect of the program on institutions, over time.
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 ECA/A/E/USS. The Branch considers
program management, staffing and coordination with the Department of
State essential elements of your program. Please be sure to give
sufficient attention to these elements in your proposal. Please refer
to the Technical Eligibility Requirements and the POGI in the
Solicitation package for specific guidelines
IV.3e. Budget
Please take the following information into consideration when
preparing your budget:
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. Awards may not exceed $250,000. 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.
Based on a group of 21 participants, the total Bureau-funded budget
(program and administrative) for this program should not exceed
$250,000, with Bureau-funded administrative costs as defined in the
budget details section of the solicitation package accounting for
$85,000 of this total amount.
Justifications for any costs above these amounts must be clearly
indicated in the proposal submission. Proposals should try to maximize
cost-sharing in all facets of the program and to stimulate U.S. private
sector, including foundation and corporate, support. Applicants must
submit a comprehensive budget for the entire program. The Bureau
reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in
accordance with the needs of the program, and availability of U.S.
government funding.
Please refer to the ``POGI'' in the Solicitation Package for
complete institute budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3e.2. Allowable Costs for the Program Include the Following:
(1) Institute staff salary and benefits.
(2) Honoraria for Guest speakers.
(3) Participant per diem.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: Friday, February 4, 2005.
Explanation of Deadlines: 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. 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.
Applications may not be submitted electronically at this time.
Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation
Package.
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 ten (10) copies of the application should be sent
to:
[[Page 75373]]
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/E/USS 05-08-SA, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM,
Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
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.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
Applicants are also requested to submit the ``Executive Summary''
and ``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal in text (.txt)
format on a PC-formatted disk.
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. 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. Overall Quality: Proposals should exhibit originality and
substance, consonant with the highest standards of American teaching
and scholarship, and be suitable for students with English as their
second or third language. Program elements should be tailored for
students with limited knowledge of the U.S. and with varying degrees of
experience in expressing their opinions. Lectures, panels, and other
interactive classroom activities, readings, community service, and site
visits, taken as a whole, should offer a balanced presentation of
issues, reflecting both the continuity of the American experience as
well as its inherent diversity and dynamism.
2. Program Planning and Administration: Proposals should
demonstrate careful planning. The organization and structure of the
institute should be clearly delineated and be fully responsive to all
program objectives. A program syllabus (noting specific sessions and
topical readings supporting each academic unit) should be included, as
should a calendar of activities. The travel component should not simply
be a tour, but should be an integral and substantive part of the
program, reinforcing and complementing the academic segment. Proposals
should provide evidence of continuous administrative and managerial
capacity as well as the means by which program activities and
logistical matters will be implemented.
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. Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel, including faculty
and administrative staff as well as outside presenters, should be fully
qualified to achieve the project's goals. Library and meeting
facilities, housing, meals, transportation and other logistical
arrangements should fully meet the needs of participants.
5. Institution's Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful exchange program activities,
indicating the experience that the organization and its professional
staff have had working with foreign students. The Bureau will consider
the past performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential
of new applicants.
6. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity.
``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. Applicant should highlight instances of diversity in
their proposal.
7. Evaluation and Follow-up: Proposals should include a plan to
evaluate the activity'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 link outcomes to original project
objectives is strongly recommended. Proposals should discuss provisions
for follow-up with returned grantees as a means of establishing longer-
term individual and institutional linkages.
8. 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.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1. 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/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.[.
[Page 75374]]
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus two copies of
the following reports:
Mandatory:
(1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the conclusion of the program;
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.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. Optional Program Data Requirements
Organizations awarded grants 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: Branch for the
Study of the U.S., ECA/A/E/USS, Room Number 252, ECA/A/E/USS 05-08-SA,
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC
20547, telephone number (202) 619-4562 and fax number (202) 619-6790,
e-mail SchmidtRC@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E/USS 05-08-SA.
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.
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: December 8, 2004.
Patricia S. Harrison,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. 04-27555 Filed 12-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P