Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: FY2006 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, 3425-3430 [05-1229]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 14 (Monday, January 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3425-3430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1229]



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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4960]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: FY2006 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/S/U-06-01.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Application Deadline: March 18, 2005.
    Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Office of Global 
Educational Programs announce an open competition for the Hubert H. 
Humphrey Fellowship Program. 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 cooperate with the 
Bureau in the administration and implementation of the FY2006 Hubert H. 
Humphrey Fellowship Program. It is anticipated that the total grant 
award for all FY2006 program and administrative expenses will be 
approximately $9,000,000. Please indicate the number of participants 
that can be accommodated at this funding level, based on detailed 
calculations of program and administrative costs. For more information 
about calculating budget requests, see paragraph IV.3.e.1 of this 
document. Pending the availability of FY2006 funds, the grant should 
begin on October 1, 2005 and should expire on September 30, 2008.

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

    Overview: The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program was established 
in 1978. The goal of the Humphrey Program is to strengthen U.S. 
interaction with outstanding mid-career professionals from a wide range 
of countries with developmental needs while providing the Humphrey 
Fellows with opportunities to develop professional expertise and 
leadership skills for public service in their countries. The Humphrey 
program targets vital fields supporting development and improvement of 
the human condition while strengthening the public service sector. Each 
year this Program brings accomplished professionals from designated 
countries in Africa, the Western Hemisphere, Asia, Europe, Eurasia and 
the Middle East to the U.S. for a ten-month stay combining non-degree 
graduate study, professional development, and leadership training. 
Candidates for the Program are nominated by U.S. Embassies or 
binational Fulbright Commissions based on the candidates' professional 
backgrounds, academic qualifications and leadership potential. By 
providing these emerging leaders with opportunities to understand U.S. 
society and culture and to collaborate with senior level colleagues on 
cutting edge projects in the fields in which they work, the Program 
provides a basis for the ongoing cooperation of U.S. citizens with 
their professional counterparts in other countries.
    Fellowships are granted competitively to candidates who have a 
public service orientation, a commitment to their countries' 
development, and clear leadership potential. Candidates are recruited 
from both the public and the private sectors, including non-
governmental organizations, in the following areas:
     Economic development;
     Finance and banking;
     Agricultural development/agricultural economics;
     Natural resources and environmental management;
     Human resource management;
     Communications/journalism;
     Teaching of English as a foreign language;
     Education;
     Drug abuse education, treatment, and prevention;
     HIV/AIDS policy, prevention, and treatment;
     Public health policy and management;
     Public policy analysis and public administration;
     Law and human rights;
     Urban and regional planning;
     Nonproliferation studies;
     Technology policy and management.
    The Fellows typically range in age from late 20s to mid-50s; are 
mid-career professionals in leadership positions who have the required 
experience/skills, commitment to public service and potential for 
advancement in their professions; have a minimum of five years of 
professional experience; and have interests which relate to policy 
issues. Fluency in English is required, although to enable the Program 
to accommodate qualified mid-career professionals beyond traditional 
elite populations intensive English instruction is offered in the U.S. 
to selected fellows prior to the Humphrey program year for periods 
lasting from three weeks to nine months. The Humphrey Program is a U.S. 
Department of State Fulbright activity. Regulations regarding the 
overall policy of the program are provided by the Presidentially 
appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Final 
selection of nominated candidates is made by the Board.
    Fifteen universities are currently serving as Humphrey host 
institutions. These institutions are selected to host groups of Fellows 
through a competitive process coordinated by the grantee organization 
in consultation with the Bureau. They are: American University; Boston 
University; Cornell University; Emory University; Johns Hopkins 
University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Michigan State 
University; Pennsylvania State University; Rutgers University; Tulane 
University; University of California, Davis; University of Maryland, 
College Park; University of Minnesota; University of North Carolina, 
Chapel Hill; and University of Washington). Fellows are placed at one 
of these Humphrey host institutions in professional clusters of 
approximately ten to fifteen Fellows (e.g., thirteen Fellows in public 
health policy and management from thirteen different countries might be 
placed at the same host institution.) The grantee organization will 
initially be expected to establish sub-contractual arrangements with 
the current host campuses for one year. However, proposals should 
include a strategy for evaluating host campus performance over the 
course of the first year and a strategy for organizing and running a 
competition to obtain and review applications from a diverse range of 
institutions to serve as host campuses in appropriate fields of

[[Page 3426]]

study for the additional two academic years covered by the FY2006 
cooperative agreement.
    Should an applicant organization wish to work with other 
organizations in the administration and implementation of this program, 
the Bureau requires that a subcontract arrangement be developed.
    Programs and projects must conform with the Bureau requirements and 
guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package, which includes the 
Request for Grant Proposals (RFGP), the Project Objectives, Goals and 
Implementation (POGI) and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI). 
The Bureau will work cooperatively and closely with the recipient of 
this cooperative agreement award and will maintain a regular dialogue 
on administrative and program issues and questions as they arise over 
the duration of the award. Contingent upon satisfactory performance 
based on annual reviews, the Bureau intends to renew this award each 
year for at least four additional fiscal years, before openly competing 
it again.

Guidelines

Program Planning and Implementation
    Applicant organizations are requested to submit a narrative 
outlining a comprehensive strategy for the administration and program 
implementation of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program including 
the preparation of recruitment guidelines and the selection and 
placement of participants at host universities, monitoring the Fellows' 
academic and professional programs, and alumni support. In addition, 
applicant organizations should outline a plan for a range of 
enhancement activities that will reinforce one another and build on the 
core academic and professional program. These activities may include, 
but are not limited to, a fall programwide seminar, professional 
enhancement workshops, and an end-of-the-year programwide workshop. The 
comprehensive program strategy should reflect a vision for the Program 
as a whole, interpreting the goals of the Humphrey Program with 
creativity, as well as providing innovative ideas and recommendations 
for the Program. The strategy should include a description of how the 
various components of the Program will be integrated to build upon and 
reinforce one another. For example, if workshops or seminars are 
included in the program strategy, they should build on the campus-based 
academic and professional program in support of the Humphrey Program's 
goal of enabling its grantees to develop leadership skills in public 
service. If a programwide seminar is part of the overall strategy, we 
request that applicants propose a theme and identify by name potential 
speakers who will stimulate the Fellows to engage in discussions with 
the speakers and one another in ways that are consistent with the 
seminar's objectives and the Program's goals.
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs encourages 
partnership and collaboration between the Humphrey program and Federal 
Agencies. Applicants should outline a model for professionally engaging 
U.S. public servants, national experts, and other committed U.S. 
citizens with the Humphrey Program through participation in coursework, 
joint professional briefings, workshops, or seminars. The costs of this 
element of the program should be primarily borne by cooperating Federal 
agencies or other co-funders that recognize participation with Humphrey 
Fellows by their staffs as a significant opportunity to create closer 
collaboration with foreign counterparts on global issues with 
significant domestic impact. Applicants should describe how they will 
provide annual reports to the Bureau's program office as part of the 
formal reporting requirements on the cooperative agreement, to describe 
the benefits of the Humphrey Program to U.S. citizens. Additional 
guidance on reporting requirements may be found in section IV.3.d.3 of 
this document.
    Applicants should describe how they will provide periodic 
electronic data uploads of grantee information for the Bureau's 
participant database, and how they will ensure that these updates are 
accurate. Applicants may contact the Bureau for additional information 
on the technical requirements for the data updates. To ensure that the 
general public and potential applicants have access to accurate 
information about the Humphrey Program, please describe a strategy for 
maintaining a Humphrey Program website and for updating it periodically 
so that Fellows' achievements and statements; listings of eligible 
countries; Embassy and Fulbright Commission contacts; and host campuses 
are current and complete.
    Applicants must also be prepared to collaborate with the Bureau to 
create and maintain a Humphrey-specific section of the ECA alumni 
website and help promote this website to alumni as well as current 
participants. No grant funds should be used to create or maintain an 
additional alumni website separate from the Bureau's website.
    Alumni activities should address the following ECA alumni program 
goals: To foster U.S. diplomatic mission engagement with exchange 
alumni; to foster alumni implementation and teaching of the concepts 
they explored during their exchange programs; to provide training that 
will foster the abilities of alumni to implement or teach these 
concepts; to develop long-term evaluations of ECA programs. Alumni 
programming may include, but is not limited to, activities such as 
workshops allowing alumni to share their knowledge with the public, 
especially youth; activities fostering community service, or small 
grants competitions.
    Pending availability of funds, this grant should begin on October 
1, 2005 and will run through September 30, 2008 (the administrative 
portion of the grant will only cover October 1, 2005 through September 
30, 2006). This grant would include both the administrative and program 
portions of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program such as: the 
selection and placement of the 2006-2007 class of grantees and the 
monitoring of their programs; the administration of creative programs 
of follow-up support and coordination with Humphrey Fellowship Program 
alumni from all classes in coordination with the Bureau's comprehensive 
alumni outreach efforts; and the administration and implementation of 
enhancement activities for the 2006-2007 class such as workshops, 
seminars, or other activities to be proposed by the applicant 
organizations.
    A separate agreement with the current administering organization 
will cover administrative implementation of the program for academic 
year 2005-2006 Fellows (whose program costs will be covered in FY2005) 
until their departure in the late spring of 2006. For the FY2006 
cooperative agreement, which this announcement covers, the grantee 
organization will have responsibility for selection, placement, and 
program implementation for the 2006-2007 Fellows and for alumni 
programming. In FY2007 and subsequent years, if the grant is renewed, 
the grantee organization would additionally be responsible for 
monitoring the programs of the Fellows who will be in the U.S. in 
subsequent years (for example, the programs of 2006-2007 Fellows in 
FY2007). Please refer to the POGI for specific program and budget 
guidelines.
    In a cooperative agreement, ECA/A/S/U is substantially involved in 
program activities above and beyond routine grant monitoring. ECA/A/S/U 
activities and responsibilities for this program are as follows: ECA/A/
S/U will consult

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frequently with the grantee organization on details of program 
implementation as illustrated in the following list of items for which 
program office consultation and approval is required.
     Formulation of program policy;
     Program evaluation activities;
     Texts for publication;
     Co-funding initiatives;
     Candidate Review Committee members;
     Recommendations of the host campus selection committee;
     Alumni conference plans and other alumni support 
initiatives;
     Specific plans for enhancement activities for fellows such 
as workshops, seminars, and retreats including themes, agendas, and 
speakers;
     Country eligibility and nomination quotas;
     Consultation with regard to the assignment of recommended 
candidates to principal or alternate status;

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is listed under number I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2006.
    Approximate Total Funding: $9 million.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: Pending availability of funds, $9 
million.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, October 1, 
2005.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 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 each year for a period of not less 
than four additional fiscal years, before openly competing it again.

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, applicants must maintain written records to support all 
costs which are claimed as their 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 issuing one 
award, in an amount up to $9 million 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. 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 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.

IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Humphrey Fellowships and Institutional Linkages 
Branch, ECA/A/S/U, Room 349, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, telephone: (202) 205-8434, fax (202) 
401-1433, e-mail: johnsonML3@state.gov to request a Solicitation 
Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/S/U-06-01 
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 Bureau Program Officer Michelle Johnson and refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number, ECA/A/S/U-06-01 on all 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 https://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 seven 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 https://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.

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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 
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. Employees of the 
Grantee will be named Alternate Responsible Officers and will be 
responsible for issuing DS-2019 forms to participants in this program 
and performing all actions to comply with the Student and Exchange 
Visitor Information System (SEVIS). A copy of the complete regulations 
governing the administration of Exchange Visitor (J) programs is 
available at https://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.3.d.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.3.d.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.
    The Office of Global Educational Programs is placing renewed 
emphasis on quantitative and qualitative measures of achievement for 
each program. Program evaluations should assess the results anticipated 
by your program objectives, which in turn should respond to the 
Bureau's goals for this program. The following goals reflect the 
Bureau's priorities for this program:
    (1) To provide academic training, professional expertise, and 
improved understanding of the United States to program participants;
    (2) To provide opportunities for Fellows to interact with American 
professional counterparts and the U.S. public at the local level, which 
provides the basis for long-term cooperation between U.S. citizens and 
professionals throughout the developing world;
    (3) To provide leadership training to mid-career professionals from 
the developing world, equipping participants with skills to lead in 
public service when they return to their home countries.
    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, how and when you intend to measure these 
outcomes (performance indicators), and how these outcomes relate to the 
above goals. 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 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 influencing policy improvement, 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

[[Page 3429]]

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.)
    ECA/A/S/U and the Bureau's Office of Policy and Evaluation will 
work with the recipient of this cooperative agreement to develop 
appropriate evaluation goals and performance indicators.
    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.3.d.4. Describe your plans for staffing: Please provide a 
staffing plan which outlines the responsibilities of each staff person 
and explains which staff member will be accountable for each program 
responsibility. Wherever possible please streamline administrative 
processes.
IV.3e. Please Take the Following Information Into Consideration When 
Preparing Your Budget
    IV.3.e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
program. The budget should not exceed $9 million for program and 
administrative costs. There must be a summary budget as well as 
breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program budgets. 
Applicants should provide separate sub-budgets for each program 
component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.
    The summary and detailed administrative and program budgets should 
be accompanied by a narrative which provides a brief rationale for each 
line item including a methodology for estimating an appropriate average 
maintenance allowance levels and tuition costs for the 2006-2007 class 
of Fellows, the number that can be accommodated at the levels proposed. 
The total administrative costs funded by the Bureau must be reasonable 
and appropriate.
    IV.3.e.2. Allowable costs for the program and additional budget 
guidance are outlined in detail in the POGI document.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times
    Application Deadline Date: Friday, March 18, 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 seven copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/S/U-06-01, 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.

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 
assistance awards (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. Program Development and Management: Your proposed narrative 
should exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the 
Bureau's mission as well as the objectives of the Hubert H. Humphrey 
Fellowship Program. It should demonstrate how the distribution of 
administrative resources will ensure adequate attention to program 
administration.
    2. Multiplier effect/impact: The proposed administrative strategy 
should maximize the Humphrey Program's potential to encourage the 
establishment of long-term institutional and individual linkages.
    3. Support of Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials 
and follow-up activities).
    4. Institutional Capacity and Record: 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. Proposed personnel and institutional resources should be 
adequate and

[[Page 3430]]

appropriate to achieve the program's goals.
    5. Follow-on and Alumni Activities: Proposals should provide a plan 
for continued follow-on activity (both with and without Bureau support) 
ensuring that the Humphrey Fellowship year is not an isolated event. 
Activities should include tracking and maintaining updated lists of all 
alumni and facilitating follow-up activities for alumni.
    6. Project Evaluation: Proposals should include a plan and 
methodology to evaluate the Humphrey Program's degree of success in 
meeting program objectives, both as the activities unfold and at their 
conclusion. Draft survey questionnaires or other technique plus 
description of methodologies to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives are recommended. Successful applicants will be 
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is 
concluded, or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
    7. Cost-effectiveness and 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.

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:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants.
https://exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide ECA with a hard copy original plus one copy of the 
following reports:
    Quarterly financial reports; Annual program reports for the first 
and second year of the agreement; and 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 IV. Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3.d.3) 
above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Michelle Johnson, 
Office of Global Educational Programs, ECA/A/S/U, Room 349, U.S. 
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, 
telephone: 202-205-8434, fax 202-401-1433, JohnsonML3@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the title and number ECA/A/S/U-06-01. 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.
    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: January 17, 2005.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 05-1229 Filed 1-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P