Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Partnerships for Learning (P4L) Thematic Youth Projects Initiative: Linking Individuals, Knowledge and Culture (LINC), 3965-3971 [05-1527]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 17 / Thursday, January 27, 2005 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 4977]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant
Proposals: Partnerships for Learning
(P4L) Thematic Youth Projects
Initiative: Linking Individuals,
Knowledge and Culture (LINC)
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/
PE/C/PY–05–24.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number: 00.000.
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: March 24,
2005.
Executive Summary: The Youth
Programs Division, Office of Citizen
Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs, announces an open
competition for projects under the P4L
Thematic Youth Projects Initiative.
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 implement projects for
youth in the United States and countries
with significant Muslim populations.
These projects will involve an academic
and cultural exploration of one of three
themes and will promote mutual
understanding through reciprocal
exchanges of three- to six-weeks each.
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: The Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the
Public Affairs Sections (PAS) of U.S.
missions overseas are supporting the
participation of youth in intensive,
substantive exchanges under the P4L
Thematic Youth Projects Initiative. This
initiative encompasses cultural and
civic exchanges as vehicles through
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which the successor generation can reengage in a dialogue for greater
understanding.
The Linking Individuals, Knowledge,
and Culture (LINC) program is designed
to foster mutual understanding between
youth participants (ages 15–17) from the
United States and from countries with
significant Muslim populations through
a three to six week reciprocal exchange
program that will enhance the
participants’ knowledge of their host
country’s history, culture, and system of
government. Projects will also be
designed to foster dialogue and joint
activities around one of three themes:
(1) Religion, community, education, and
political process; (2) governance,
accountability, and transparency in civil
society; or (3) conflict prevention and
management. Through these people-topeople exchanges, the Bureau seeks to
break down stereotypes that divide
peoples, promote good governance,
contribute to conflict prevention and
management, and build respect for
cultural expression and identity in a
world that is experiencing rapid
globalization.
The overarching goals of the P4L
Thematic Youth Projects Initiative are:
1. To develop a sense of civic
responsibility and commitment to
enhancing cultural bridges among
youth;
2. To promote mutual understanding
between the United States and the
people of other countries; and
3. To foster personal and institutional
ties between participants and partner
countries.
Each theme also has specific aims, as
outlined below. Applicants should
identify their own specific objectives
and measurable outcomes based on
these program goals and the project
specifications provided in this
solicitation.
ECA will accept proposals for either
multiple-country or single-country
projects. Applicants should present a
rationale for a multiple-country
application, and describe how
participants from the various countries
will interact with one another. Each
application will be judged
independently and proposals for a
particular country or region will be
compared only to proposals for the same
country or region. Proposals that target
countries/regions or themes not listed
below will be deemed technically
ineligible. No guarantee is made or
implied that grants will be awarded in
all themes and for all countries listed.
To qualify for these grants, a partner
country must have a significant Muslim
population (though the beneficiaries of
the grant are in no way limited to the
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Muslim population) and must be in the
following regions: The Middle East/
North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South
Asia, and Southeast Asia; the only
country in Europe/Eurasia that is
eligible is Turkey. Programs with
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq are
restricted to one-way exchange visits to
the United States. Organizations should
consider U.S. Department of State travel
advisories when selecting countries
with which they would like to work.
Grants will support the travel of
foreign students to the United States
and Americans to the overseas partner
countries. The minimum duration of
stay is three weeks, but longer stays (up
to six weeks) are possible under these
grants. During the exchanges, the
students will participate in activities
designed to teach them about
community life, citizen participation,
and the culture of the host country. The
program activities will introduce the
visitors to the community—its leaders
and institutions and the ways citizens
participate in local government and the
resolution of societal problems—and
will include educational excursions that
serve to enhance the visitors’’
understanding of the history, culture,
political institutions, ethnic diversity,
and environment of the region. ECA
requires participation in a community
service project. Participants should also
have opportunities to give presentations
on their countries and cultures in
community forums. Homestays will be
the norm, although participants may
spend a modest portion of their time as
a group in a hotel or dormitory setting.
Note: Delegations should have adults
travel with them. These adults may be
project staff, teachers, or chaperones.
Applicants must demonstrate their
capacity for conducting projects of this
nature, focusing on three areas of
competency: (1) Provision of programs
aimed at achieving the goals and themes
outlined in this document; (2) ageappropriate programming for the target
audience; and (3) experience in working
with the proposed partner country or
countries. U.S. applicant organizations
need to have the necessary capacity in
the partner country, with either its own
offices or a partner institution. The
requisite capacity overseas includes the
ability to recruit and select participants,
organize substantive exchange activities
for the American participants, provide
follow-on activities, and handle the
logistical and financial arrangements.
Themes: Applicants should select one
of these themes for its program offering.
Woven throughout the program
activities should be guidance and
training that help the youth participants
develop leadership skills including, for
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example, influential public speaking,
team-building, critical thinking, and
goal-setting, so that they are prepared to
take action with what they have learned.
(1) Religion, Community, Education,
and Political Process: ECA welcomes
projects that will promote
understanding of the role of religion and
education in shaping community and
political life in the United States and in
participating countries. Proposed
programs will promote greater
communication among religious groups,
students, and educators and will
increase the participants’ understanding
of how community members and
leaders interact in and influence society.
Programs should explore how religion
and education can encourage openness,
tolerance, respect, constructive
dialogue, public service, and other ways
to respect diversity while encouraging
different communities to work together.
(2) Governance, Accountability, and
Transparency in Civil Society: ECA
welcomes proposals that will explore
the issues of transparency, citizen
involvement, and effective management
in government and demonstrate how
this can benefit government leaders,
non-governmental entities, and
individual citizens and promote
economic wellbeing. Proposed programs
will promote a respect for governance
that is transparent and responsive to
citizens’ concerns and will increase
understanding of ways that citizens can
improve governance, fight corruption,
and ensure accountability.
Projects should demonstrate for youth
the principles of fair and transparent
governance and should promote
dialogue among youth on this theme.
Projects must be culturally sensitive and
address specific needs of the partner
country or countries. Individual projects
might have the young participants
explore ways that a country’s
government, media, and NGOs can
encourage and support the involvement
of its citizenry, increase citizen trust,
and expand the democratic process.
(3) Conflict Prevention and
Management: Projects for this theme
should educate youth about ways to
prevent, manage, and resolve conflict.
Proposed projects will help participants
explore effective approaches for
preventing and mitigating conflict
between and within communities and
will increase their understanding of the
values underlying different conflict
prevention and management techniques.
Proposals must demonstrate strong
expertise in the target country and local
community(ies) to address effectively
the sensitive and competing interests of
target populations. Applicants should
demonstrate their knowledge of the
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community or groups experiencing
conflict (ethnic, religious, border issues,
environmental vs. business disputes,
etc.) or that have the potential for
conflict, and proposal narratives should
outline specifically how the project will
introduce dialogue and a serious
exploration of conflict management
approaches.
Guidelines: Grant periods should
begin on or about July 1, 2005. The grant
period may be between 12 and 18
months in duration.
The responsibilities of the grant
recipient for each project will be:
(1) Recruitment and Selection
(a) Conduct an open, merit-based
competition for exchange participants.
The grantee organization and its
overseas partner(s) will recruit, screen,
and select the participants, in
consultation with the Public Affairs
Section (PAS) of American embassies or
other USG representative offices
overseas, with clearly identified criteria
for the selection and a formal process.
Students must be 15, 16, or 17 years of
age at the time of the exchange, and
should have at least one year of high
school remaining after the exchange.
(b) Develop plans for outreach and
recruitment of both students that will
generate a strong pool of qualified
candidates representing ethnic and
socio-economic groups and geographic
areas;
(c) Develop student application forms
and an interview protocol, in
consultation with ECA and our overseas
representatives;
(d) Administer an effective English
language screening process;
(e) Adult participants (such as teacher
or community leaders who work with
youth) may be selected to accompany
the students on the exchange. We
encourage the selection of adults who
can contribute to the project theme and
activities. We discourage allowing
parents of exchange students to travel
with them.
(f) Recommend the final participants
and alternates (No invitations may be
issued without ECA and/or PAS
clearance).
(2) Preparation
(a) Contact participants before the
program to provide them with program
information, pre-departure materials,
and to gather information about their
specific interests;
(b) Facilitate the visa process, working
with ECA and PAS;
(c) Conduct a pre-departure
orientation for participants, including
general and program-specific
information;
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(d) Make all round-trip international
(complying with the Fly America Act)
and domestic travel arrangements for
the participants.
(3) Exchange Activities
(a) Design, plan, and implement an
intensive and substantive three- to sixweek long program on the stated
themes. Exchange activities must
promote program goals. Activities may
be school- or community-based, as
appropriate to the project.
(b) Recruit the participation of
schools, volunteer and service
organizations, local businesses, and
local/state government agencies by
providing a clear, written statement of
program objectives, philosophy, and
procedures;
(c) Recruit, screen and select local
host families to offer homestays (lodging
and meals) to the participants during
their stay in the host community(ies)
and to make other housing arrangements
as needed;
(d) Orient host institutions, staff, and
families to the goals of the program and
to the cultures and sensitivities of the
visitors;
(e) Arrange appropriate community,
cultural, social, and civic activities, and
make provisions for religious
observance;
(f) Engage both foreign and U.S.
participants in at least one community
service activity (e.g., visit to a food
bank, a park clean-up) during their
exchanges. The program should provide
context for the participants—identifying
community needs, volunteerism,
charitable giving, etc.—and a debriefing
so that the service activity is not an
isolated event and helps participants see
how they would apply the experience at
home.
(g) Provide day-to-day monitoring of
the program, preventing and dealing
with any misunderstandings or
adjustment issues that may arise;
(h) Provide a closing session to
summarize the project activities,
prepare participants for their return
home, and to plan for the future.
(4) Follow-on Activities
(a) Conduct follow-on activities with
program alumni, such as seminars and
other gatherings and the provision of
materials, to reinforce values and skills
imparted during the exchange program
and to help them apply what they have
learned to serve their schools and
communities;
(b) Applicants may present creative
and effective ways to address the project
themes, for both program participants
and their peers, as a means to amplify
the program impact. Follow-on
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activities should be funded by both the
Bureau grant and other non-Bureau
sources.
(5) Work in consultation with ECA
and PAS in the implementation of the
program, provide timely reporting of
progress to ECA and PAS, and comply
with financial and program reporting
requirements;
(6) Manage all financial aspects of the
program, including stipend
disbursements to the participants and
management of sub-grant relationships
with partner organizations;
(7) Design and implement an
evaluation plan that assesses the impact
of the program (See section IV.3d.3).
Proposal Contents: In the 20 page,
one-sided, double-spaced narrative,
please describe the proposed project in
detail, including the themes, guidelines,
and responsibilities outlined above. We
recommend using the following outline
to organize your narrative. Refer to the
proposal review criteria in this
document for further guidance.
(1) Vision.
(a) Statement of the applicant’s
objectives as they relate to the
Department’s goals.
(b) Measurable outcomes.
(2) Country selection—Provide an
explanation for the selection of
countries for inclusion in this program.
(3) Program Activities—Describe the
recruitment, selection, orientation, and
exchanges (thematic and academic
elements, cultural activities, participant
monitoring, logistics). Include a sample
itinerary.
(4) Diversity—Describe how various
aspects of the program (selection,
exchange activities, etc.) will promote
an understanding of geographic, ethnic,
and socioeconomic diversity in the U.S.
and the partner countries.
(5) Follow-on Activities—Describe
programming provided for exchange
alumni.
(6) Multiplier effect—Describe how
the program design will ensure that the
effects of the exchange activities extend
to individuals beyond those who travel.
(7) Program Evaluation Plan—
Describe the design and methodology.
(8) Organization Capacity and
Program Management—Describe the
organization and program staffing
(identify individuals and their
responsibilities, both in the U.S. and
overseas), structure, and resources.
Indicate plan for working with ECA and
PAS.
(9) Work Plan/Time Frame.
Please include any attachments in Tab
E of your proposal. Limit the
attachments to those essential for
completing an understanding of the
proposal.
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Programs must comply with J–1 visa
regulations. Please refer to the
Solicitation Package for further
information.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.
Approximate Total Funding:
$1,150,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 5–
10.
Floor of Award Range: $50,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $250,000.
Anticipated Award Date: July 1, 2005.
Anticipated Project Completion Date:
12–18 months after start date, to be
specified by applicant based on project
plan.
Additional Information: Pending
successful implementation of the
projects and the availability of funds in
subsequent fiscal years, ECA reserves
the right to renew grants for up to two
additional fiscal years before openly
competing grants under this program
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, 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
Grants awarded to eligible
organizations with less than four years
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of experience in conducting
international exchange programs will be
limited to $60,000.
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 Youth Programs
Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, U.S.
Department of State, SA–44, 301 4th
Street, SW., Room 568, Washington, DC
20547, (202) 203–7502, Fax (202) 203–
7529, E-mail NowlinJR@state.gov to
request a Solicitation Package. Please
refer to the Program Title and the
Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/
C/PY–05–24) 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.
Please specify Bureau Program Officer
Carolyn Lantz and refer to the Funding
Opportunity Number 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 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 eight 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
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appropriate box of the SF–424 form that
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
Office of Citizen Exchanges of the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs is the official program sponsor of
the exchange program covered by this
RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau
will be the ‘‘Responsible Officer’’ for the
program under the terms of 22 CFR part
62, which covers the administration of
the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR
part 62, organizations receiving grants
under this RFGP will be third parties
‘‘cooperating with or assisting the
sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor’s
program.’’ The actions of grantee
program organizations shall be
‘‘imputed to the sponsor in evaluating
the sponsor’s compliance with’’ 22 CFR
part 62. Therefore, the Bureau expects
that any organization receiving a grant
under this competition will render all
assistance necessary to enable the
Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR
part 62 et seq.
The Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs places great emphasis
on the secure and proper administration
of Exchange Visitor (J visa) Programs
and adherence by grantee program
organizations and program participants
to all regulations governing the J visa
program status. Therefore, proposals
should explicitly state in writing that the
applicant is prepared to assist the
Bureau in meeting all requirements
governing the administration of
Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth
in 22 CFR part 62. If your organization
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has experience as a designated
Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the
applicant should discuss their record of
compliance with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.,
including the oversight of their
Responsible Officers and Alternate
Responsible Officers, screening and
selection of program participants,
provision of pre-arrival information and
orientation to participants, monitoring
of participants, proper maintenance and
security of forms, record-keeping,
reporting and other requirements.
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of
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 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.
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
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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 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
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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 longerterm 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.3e. Budget Guidelines. Please take
the following information into
consideration when preparing your
budget.
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a
comprehensive budget for the entire
program. Grant requests must not be less
than $50,000 nor greater than $250,000.
Eligible organizations with less than
four years of experience in conducting
international exchange programs will be
limited to a grant maximum of $60,000.
There are no specific country
allocations. The Bureau anticipates
awarding multiple grants; the exact
number of grants will be based on the
number and quality of the submitted
proposals. 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. Proposal budgets must include 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.
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Suggested program costs include, but
are not limited to, the following:
Æ Staff travel.
Æ Participant travel (international,
domestic, local ground transportation).
Æ Orientation.
Æ Cultural activities.
Æ Food and lodging.
Æ Follow-on activities.
Æ Evaluation.
Æ Stipends or allowances.
Æ Justifiable expenses directly related
to program activities.
Consultants may be used to provide
specialized expertise or to make
presentations. Honoraria should not
exceed $250 per day. Organizations are
encouraged to cost-share any rates that
exceed that amount.
Please note that there are no fees for
the J–1 visas that foreign participants
will use to enter the United States; there
may be visa fees for the U.S. travelers.
Applicants should budget for travel to
the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate
for visa interviews.
Exchange participants will be
enrolled in the Bureau’s Accident and
Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE).
Applicants need not include travel
insurance costs in their budgets.
While there is no rigid ratio of
administrative to program costs, the
Bureau urges applicants to keep
administrative costs as low and
reasonable as possible. Proposals should
show strong administrative cost sharing
contributions from the applicant, the incountry partner, and other sources.
Please refer to the PSI for allowable
costs and complete budget guidelines
and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times:
Application Deadline Date: Thursday,
March 24, 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
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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, one fully-tabbed copy,
and seven copies of the application with
Tabs A–E (for a total of 9 copies, bound
with large binder clips) should be sent
to: U.S. Department of State, SA–44,
Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY–05–24,
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.
With the submission of the proposal
package, please also submit the
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative,
and Budget sections of the proposal as
e-mail attachments in Microsoft Word
and/or Excel to the program officer at
LantzCS@state.gov. The Bureau will
provide these files electronically to the
Public Affairs Sections at the relevant
U.S. embassies for their review.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals
for technical eligibility. Proposals will
be deemed ineligible if they do not fully
adhere to the guidelines stated herein
and in the Solicitation Package. All
eligible proposals will be reviewed by
the program office, as well as the Public
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 17 / Thursday, January 27, 2005 / Notices
State’s Assistant Secretary for
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final
technical authority for grants resides
with the Bureau’s Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will
be competitively reviewed according to
the criteria stated below. These criteria
are not rank ordered and all carry equal
weight in the proposal evaluation:
1. Quality of the program idea:
Proposals should exhibit originality,
substance, precision, and relevance to
the Bureau’s mission. Proposals should
display an understanding of the goals of
the program. Exchange activities should
ensure efficient use of program
resources. Proposals will demonstrate a
commitment to excellence and
creativity in the implementation and
management of the program. Proposed
projects should receive positive
assessments by the U.S. Department of
State’s geographic area desk and
overseas officers of program need,
potential impact, and significance in the
partner countries.
2. Program planning: Objectives
should be reasonable, feasible, flexible,
and respond to the priorities outlined in
this announcement. Proposals should
clearly demonstrate how the institution
will meet the program’s objectives and
plan. A detailed agenda and relevant
work plan will demonstrate substantive
undertakings and logistical capacity.
The agenda and plan should adhere to
the program overview and guidelines
described above and will show the
timetable by which major tasks will be
completed. The substance of workshops
and exchange activities should be
described in detail and included as an
attachment. The responsibilities of
partner organizations will be clearly
delineated.
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 wrapup sessions, program meetings, resource
materials and follow-up activities).
4. Institutional capacity: Applicants
should demonstrate knowledge of each
country’s educational environment and
the capacity to recruit, select, and orient
U.S. and foreign exchange students.
Proposals should include (1) the
institution’s mission and date of
establishment; (2) detailed information
about proposed in-country partners; (3)
an outline of prior awards for work in
the region; and (4) descriptions of
experienced personnel who will
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implement the program. Institutional
resources should be adequate and
appropriate to achieve the project’s
goals. 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.
5. Project evaluation: Proposals
should include a plan and methodology
to evaluate the project’s successes and
challenges, both as the activities unfold
and at the end of the program. The
evaluation plan should show a clear
link between program objectives and
expected outcomes, and should include
a description of performance indicators
and measurement tools. Applicants
should provide draft questionnaires or
other techniques for use in surveying
participants to facilitate the
demonstration of results. Applicants
will indicate their willingness to submit
periodic progress reports in accordance
with the program office’s expectations.
6. Follow-on and sustainability:
Proposals should provide a strategy for
the use of alumni to work together to
further the impact of the program both
within the context of the grant (with
Bureau support) and after its completion
(without the Bureau’s financial
support).
7. Multiplier effect: The program
design should include efforts to expand
the impact of the exchanges beyond just
those who travel. Proposed programs
should strengthen long-term mutual
understanding, including maximum
sharing of information and the
establishment of long-term institutional
and individual linkages.
8. Cost-effectiveness/Cost sharing:
The overhead and administrative
components of the proposal, including
salaries and honoraria, should be kept
as low as possible. While lower ‘‘per
participant’’ figures will be more
competitive, the Bureau expects all
figures to be realistic. 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.
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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 Nonprofit Organizations.
Please reference the following Web
sites for additional information: https://
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants and
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:
(1) A final program and financial
report no more than 90 days after the
expiration of the award;
(2) Interim reports, as required in the
Bureau grant agreement.
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 17 / Thursday, January 27, 2005 / Notices
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.
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. The ECA
Program Officer must receive final
schedules for in-country and U.S.
activities at least three working days
prior to the official opening of the
activity.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this
announcement, contact: Carolyn Lantz,
Program Officer, Youth Programs
Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, U.S.
Department of State, SA–44, 301 4th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547,
(202) 203–7505, fax (202) 203–7529, email LantzCS@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau
concerning this RFGP should reference
the above title and number ECA/PE/C/
PY–05–24.
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.
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Dated: January 19, 2005.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 05–1527 Filed 1–26–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 4933]
Announcement of Meetings of the
International Telecommunication
Advisory Committee
SUMMARY: The International
Telecommunication Advisory
Committee will meet in February,
March, April, and May to prepare for
meetings of CITEL Permanent
Consultative Committee I (PCC I), CITEL
Permanent Executive Committee (COM/
CITEL) and ITU World
Telecommunication Development
Conference (WTDC) Regional
Preparatory Meetings. Members of the
public will be admitted to the extent
that seating is available, and may join in
the discussions, subject to the
instructions of the Chair.
The International Telecommunication
Advisory Committee (ITAC) will meet
on Wednesday, February 23, 2005, 2
p.m.–4 p.m., at a location in the
Washington, DC area to prepare for the
April meeting of CITEL Permanent
Consultative Committee I
(Telecommunication Standardization).
Other meetings will be held on March
9, March 23 and April 5. A detailed
agenda will be published on the e-mail
reflector pcci-citel@eblist.state.gov.
People desiring to attend the meeting
who are not on this list may request the
information from the Secretariat at
minardje@state.gov.
The International Telecommunication
Advisory Committee (ITAC) will meet
on Wednesday, April 27, Monday, May
9 and Wednesday, May 25, 2–4 p.m. at
a location in the Washington, DC area,
to prepare for meetings of CITEL’s
Permanent Executive Committee (COM/
CITEL)from June 1–3, 2005. A detailed
agenda will be published on the e-mail
reflector pcci-citel@eblist.state.gov and
pccii-citel@eblist.state.gov. People
desiring to attend the meeting who are
not on these lists may request the
information from the Secretariat at
minardje@state.gov.
The International Telecommunication
Advisory Committee (ITAC) will meet
on Thursday, February 10, March 3,
March 17 and March 31, from 10 a.m.–
12 p.m. All four meetings will be at the
Department of State, Room 2533A, 2201
C Street, Washington, DC. There will be
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no conference bridge. Entrance to the
Department of State is controlled;
people intending to attend a meeting at
the Department of State should send
their clearance data by fax to (202) 647–
7407 or e-mail to mccorklend@state.gov
not later than 24 hours before the
meeting. Please include the name of the
meeting, your name, social security
number, date of birth and organizational
affiliation. One of the following valid
photo identifications will be required
for admittance: U.S. driver’s license
with your picture on it, U.S. passport,
or U.S. Government identification.
Directions to the meeting location may
be obtained by calling the ITAC
Secretariat at 202 647–2592 or e-mail to
mccorklend@state.gov.
Dated: January 18, 2005.
Anne Jillson,
Foreign Affairs Officer, International
Communications and Information Policy,
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 05–1522 Filed 1–26–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–45–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of Intent To Rule on Request To
Release Airport Property Monroe
Regional Airport, Monroe, LA
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of request to release
airport property.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to rule and
invites public comment on the release of
land at Monroe Regional Airport under
the provisions of section 125 of the
Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment
Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR
21).
Comments must be received on
or before February 11, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this
application may be mailed or delivered
to the FAA at the following address: Mr.
Lacey D. Spriggs, Manager, Federal
Aviation Administration, Southwest
Region, Airports Division, Louisiana/
New Mexico Airports Development
Office, ASW–640, Forth Worth, Texas
76193–0640.
In addition, one copy of any
comments submitted to the FAA must
be mailed or delivered to Mayor James
E. Mayo at the following address: Office
of the Mayor, 400 Lee Joyner
Expressway, Monroe, LA 71202.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lacey P. Spriggs, Manager, Federal
Aviation Administration, LA/NM
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 17 (Thursday, January 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3965-3971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1527]
[[Page 3965]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 4977]
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for
Grant Proposals: Partnerships for Learning (P4L) Thematic Youth
Projects Initiative: Linking Individuals, Knowledge and Culture (LINC)
Announcement Type: New Grant.
Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-05-24.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: March 24, 2005.
Executive Summary: The Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen
Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, announces
an open competition for projects under the P4L Thematic Youth Projects
Initiative. 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 implement projects for youth in the
United States and countries with significant Muslim populations. These
projects will involve an academic and cultural exploration of one of
three themes and will promote mutual understanding through reciprocal
exchanges of three- to six-weeks each.
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: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and
the Public Affairs Sections (PAS) of U.S. missions overseas are
supporting the participation of youth in intensive, substantive
exchanges under the P4L Thematic Youth Projects Initiative. This
initiative encompasses cultural and civic exchanges as vehicles through
which the successor generation can re-engage in a dialogue for greater
understanding.
The Linking Individuals, Knowledge, and Culture (LINC) program is
designed to foster mutual understanding between youth participants
(ages 15-17) from the United States and from countries with significant
Muslim populations through a three to six week reciprocal exchange
program that will enhance the participants' knowledge of their host
country's history, culture, and system of government. Projects will
also be designed to foster dialogue and joint activities around one of
three themes: (1) Religion, community, education, and political
process; (2) governance, accountability, and transparency in civil
society; or (3) conflict prevention and management. Through these
people-to-people exchanges, the Bureau seeks to break down stereotypes
that divide peoples, promote good governance, contribute to conflict
prevention and management, and build respect for cultural expression
and identity in a world that is experiencing rapid globalization.
The overarching goals of the P4L Thematic Youth Projects Initiative
are:
1. To develop a sense of civic responsibility and commitment to
enhancing cultural bridges among youth;
2. To promote mutual understanding between the United States and
the people of other countries; and
3. To foster personal and institutional ties between participants
and partner countries.
Each theme also has specific aims, as outlined below. Applicants
should identify their own specific objectives and measurable outcomes
based on these program goals and the project specifications provided in
this solicitation.
ECA will accept proposals for either multiple-country or single-
country projects. Applicants should present a rationale for a multiple-
country application, and describe how participants from the various
countries will interact with one another. Each application will be
judged independently and proposals for a particular country or region
will be compared only to proposals for the same country or region.
Proposals that target countries/regions or themes not listed below will
be deemed technically ineligible. No guarantee is made or implied that
grants will be awarded in all themes and for all countries listed.
To qualify for these grants, a partner country must have a
significant Muslim population (though the beneficiaries of the grant
are in no way limited to the Muslim population) and must be in the
following regions: The Middle East/North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa,
South Asia, and Southeast Asia; the only country in Europe/Eurasia that
is eligible is Turkey. Programs with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq
are restricted to one-way exchange visits to the United States.
Organizations should consider U.S. Department of State travel
advisories when selecting countries with which they would like to work.
Grants will support the travel of foreign students to the United
States and Americans to the overseas partner countries. The minimum
duration of stay is three weeks, but longer stays (up to six weeks) are
possible under these grants. During the exchanges, the students will
participate in activities designed to teach them about community life,
citizen participation, and the culture of the host country. The program
activities will introduce the visitors to the community--its leaders
and institutions and the ways citizens participate in local government
and the resolution of societal problems--and will include educational
excursions that serve to enhance the visitors'' understanding of the
history, culture, political institutions, ethnic diversity, and
environment of the region. ECA requires participation in a community
service project. Participants should also have opportunities to give
presentations on their countries and cultures in community forums.
Homestays will be the norm, although participants may spend a modest
portion of their time as a group in a hotel or dormitory setting. Note:
Delegations should have adults travel with them. These adults may be
project staff, teachers, or chaperones. Applicants must demonstrate
their capacity for conducting projects of this nature, focusing on
three areas of competency: (1) Provision of programs aimed at achieving
the goals and themes outlined in this document; (2) age-appropriate
programming for the target audience; and (3) experience in working with
the proposed partner country or countries. U.S. applicant organizations
need to have the necessary capacity in the partner country, with either
its own offices or a partner institution. The requisite capacity
overseas includes the ability to recruit and select participants,
organize substantive exchange activities for the American participants,
provide follow-on activities, and handle the logistical and financial
arrangements.
Themes: Applicants should select one of these themes for its
program offering. Woven throughout the program activities should be
guidance and training that help the youth participants develop
leadership skills including, for
[[Page 3966]]
example, influential public speaking, team-building, critical thinking,
and goal-setting, so that they are prepared to take action with what
they have learned.
(1) Religion, Community, Education, and Political Process: ECA
welcomes projects that will promote understanding of the role of
religion and education in shaping community and political life in the
United States and in participating countries. Proposed programs will
promote greater communication among religious groups, students, and
educators and will increase the participants' understanding of how
community members and leaders interact in and influence society.
Programs should explore how religion and education can encourage
openness, tolerance, respect, constructive dialogue, public service,
and other ways to respect diversity while encouraging different
communities to work together.
(2) Governance, Accountability, and Transparency in Civil Society:
ECA welcomes proposals that will explore the issues of transparency,
citizen involvement, and effective management in government and
demonstrate how this can benefit government leaders, non-governmental
entities, and individual citizens and promote economic wellbeing.
Proposed programs will promote a respect for governance that is
transparent and responsive to citizens' concerns and will increase
understanding of ways that citizens can improve governance, fight
corruption, and ensure accountability.
Projects should demonstrate for youth the principles of fair and
transparent governance and should promote dialogue among youth on this
theme. Projects must be culturally sensitive and address specific needs
of the partner country or countries. Individual projects might have the
young participants explore ways that a country's government, media, and
NGOs can encourage and support the involvement of its citizenry,
increase citizen trust, and expand the democratic process.
(3) Conflict Prevention and Management: Projects for this theme
should educate youth about ways to prevent, manage, and resolve
conflict. Proposed projects will help participants explore effective
approaches for preventing and mitigating conflict between and within
communities and will increase their understanding of the values
underlying different conflict prevention and management techniques.
Proposals must demonstrate strong expertise in the target country
and local community(ies) to address effectively the sensitive and
competing interests of target populations. Applicants should
demonstrate their knowledge of the community or groups experiencing
conflict (ethnic, religious, border issues, environmental vs. business
disputes, etc.) or that have the potential for conflict, and proposal
narratives should outline specifically how the project will introduce
dialogue and a serious exploration of conflict management approaches.
Guidelines: Grant periods should begin on or about July 1, 2005.
The grant period may be between 12 and 18 months in duration.
The responsibilities of the grant recipient for each project will
be:
(1) Recruitment and Selection
(a) Conduct an open, merit-based competition for exchange
participants. The grantee organization and its overseas partner(s) will
recruit, screen, and select the participants, in consultation with the
Public Affairs Section (PAS) of American embassies or other USG
representative offices overseas, with clearly identified criteria for
the selection and a formal process. Students must be 15, 16, or 17
years of age at the time of the exchange, and should have at least one
year of high school remaining after the exchange.
(b) Develop plans for outreach and recruitment of both students
that will generate a strong pool of qualified candidates representing
ethnic and socio-economic groups and geographic areas;
(c) Develop student application forms and an interview protocol, in
consultation with ECA and our overseas representatives;
(d) Administer an effective English language screening process;
(e) Adult participants (such as teacher or community leaders who
work with youth) may be selected to accompany the students on the
exchange. We encourage the selection of adults who can contribute to
the project theme and activities. We discourage allowing parents of
exchange students to travel with them.
(f) Recommend the final participants and alternates (No invitations
may be issued without ECA and/or PAS clearance).
(2) Preparation
(a) Contact participants before the program to provide them with
program information, pre-departure materials, and to gather information
about their specific interests;
(b) Facilitate the visa process, working with ECA and PAS;
(c) Conduct a pre-departure orientation for participants, including
general and program-specific information;
(d) Make all round-trip international (complying with the Fly
America Act) and domestic travel arrangements for the participants.
(3) Exchange Activities
(a) Design, plan, and implement an intensive and substantive three-
to six-week long program on the stated themes. Exchange activities must
promote program goals. Activities may be school- or community-based, as
appropriate to the project.
(b) Recruit the participation of schools, volunteer and service
organizations, local businesses, and local/state government agencies by
providing a clear, written statement of program objectives, philosophy,
and procedures;
(c) Recruit, screen and select local host families to offer
homestays (lodging and meals) to the participants during their stay in
the host community(ies) and to make other housing arrangements as
needed;
(d) Orient host institutions, staff, and families to the goals of
the program and to the cultures and sensitivities of the visitors;
(e) Arrange appropriate community, cultural, social, and civic
activities, and make provisions for religious observance;
(f) Engage both foreign and U.S. participants in at least one
community service activity (e.g., visit to a food bank, a park clean-
up) during their exchanges. The program should provide context for the
participants--identifying community needs, volunteerism, charitable
giving, etc.--and a debriefing so that the service activity is not an
isolated event and helps participants see how they would apply the
experience at home.
(g) Provide day-to-day monitoring of the program, preventing and
dealing with any misunderstandings or adjustment issues that may arise;
(h) Provide a closing session to summarize the project activities,
prepare participants for their return home, and to plan for the future.
(4) Follow-on Activities
(a) Conduct follow-on activities with program alumni, such as
seminars and other gatherings and the provision of materials, to
reinforce values and skills imparted during the exchange program and to
help them apply what they have learned to serve their schools and
communities;
(b) Applicants may present creative and effective ways to address
the project themes, for both program participants and their peers, as a
means to amplify the program impact. Follow-on
[[Page 3967]]
activities should be funded by both the Bureau grant and other non-
Bureau sources.
(5) Work in consultation with ECA and PAS in the implementation of
the program, provide timely reporting of progress to ECA and PAS, and
comply with financial and program reporting requirements;
(6) Manage all financial aspects of the program, including stipend
disbursements to the participants and management of sub-grant
relationships with partner organizations;
(7) Design and implement an evaluation plan that assesses the
impact of the program (See section IV.3d.3).
Proposal Contents: In the 20 page, one-sided, double-spaced
narrative, please describe the proposed project in detail, including
the themes, guidelines, and responsibilities outlined above. We
recommend using the following outline to organize your narrative. Refer
to the proposal review criteria in this document for further guidance.
(1) Vision.
(a) Statement of the applicant's objectives as they relate to the
Department's goals.
(b) Measurable outcomes.
(2) Country selection--Provide an explanation for the selection of
countries for inclusion in this program.
(3) Program Activities--Describe the recruitment, selection,
orientation, and exchanges (thematic and academic elements, cultural
activities, participant monitoring, logistics). Include a sample
itinerary.
(4) Diversity--Describe how various aspects of the program
(selection, exchange activities, etc.) will promote an understanding of
geographic, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity in the U.S. and the
partner countries.
(5) Follow-on Activities--Describe programming provided for
exchange alumni.
(6) Multiplier effect--Describe how the program design will ensure
that the effects of the exchange activities extend to individuals
beyond those who travel.
(7) Program Evaluation Plan--Describe the design and methodology.
(8) Organization Capacity and Program Management--Describe the
organization and program staffing (identify individuals and their
responsibilities, both in the U.S. and overseas), structure, and
resources. Indicate plan for working with ECA and PAS.
(9) Work Plan/Time Frame.
Please include any attachments in Tab E of your proposal. Limit the
attachments to those essential for completing an understanding of the
proposal.
Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations. Please refer to the
Solicitation Package for further information.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.
Approximate Total Funding: $1,150,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: 5-10.
Floor of Award Range: $50,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $250,000.
Anticipated Award Date: July 1, 2005.
Anticipated Project Completion Date: 12-18 months after start date,
to be specified by applicant based on project plan.
Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of the
projects and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, ECA
reserves the right to renew grants for up to two additional fiscal
years before openly competing grants under this program 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, 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
Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less than four years
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be
limited to $60,000.
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 Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, U.S.
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Room 568, Washington,
DC 20547, (202) 203-7502, Fax (202) 203-7529, E-mail NowlinJR@state.gov
to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Program Title
and the Funding Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/C/PY-05-24) 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.
Please specify Bureau Program Officer Carolyn Lantz and refer to
the Funding Opportunity Number 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 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 eight 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
[[Page 3968]]
appropriate box of the SF-424 form that 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
Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange program covered
by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the ``Responsible
Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, which
covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, organizations receiving
grants under this RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or
assisting the sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The
actions of grantee program organizations shall be ``imputed to the
sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR part 62.
Therefore, the Bureau expects that any organization receiving a grant
under this competition will render all assistance necessary to enable
the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places great
emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J
visa) Programs and adherence by grantee program organizations and
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs
as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. If your organization has experience as
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.,
including the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants,
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants,
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms,
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of 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 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.
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 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
[[Page 3969]]
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.3e. Budget Guidelines. Please take the following information
into consideration when preparing your budget.
IV.3e.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the
entire program. Grant requests must not be less than $50,000 nor
greater than $250,000. Eligible organizations with less than four years
of experience in conducting international exchange programs will be
limited to a grant maximum of $60,000. There are no specific country
allocations. The Bureau anticipates awarding multiple grants; the exact
number of grants will be based on the number and quality of the
submitted proposals. 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. Proposal budgets must include 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.
Suggested program costs include, but are not limited to, the
following:
[cir] Staff travel.
[cir] Participant travel (international, domestic, local ground
transportation).
[cir] Orientation.
[cir] Cultural activities.
[cir] Food and lodging.
[cir] Follow-on activities.
[cir] Evaluation.
[cir] Stipends or allowances.
[cir] Justifiable expenses directly related to program activities.
Consultants may be used to provide specialized expertise or to make
presentations. Honoraria should not exceed $250 per day. Organizations
are encouraged to cost-share any rates that exceed that amount.
Please note that there are no fees for the J-1 visas that foreign
participants will use to enter the United States; there may be visa
fees for the U.S. travelers. Applicants should budget for travel to the
nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for visa interviews.
Exchange participants will be enrolled in the Bureau's Accident and
Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE). Applicants need not include
travel insurance costs in their budgets.
While there is no rigid ratio of administrative to program costs,
the Bureau urges applicants to keep administrative costs as low and
reasonable as possible. Proposals should show strong administrative
cost sharing contributions from the applicant, the in-country partner,
and other sources.
Please refer to the PSI for allowable costs and complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times: Application Deadline Date:
Thursday, March 24, 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, one fully-tabbed copy, and seven copies of the
application with Tabs A-E (for a total of 9 copies, bound with large
binder clips) should be sent to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44,
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-05-24,
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.
With the submission of the proposal package, please also submit the
Executive Summary, Proposal Narrative, and Budget sections of the
proposal as e-mail attachments in Microsoft Word and/or Excel to the
program officer at LantzCS@state.gov. The Bureau will provide these
files electronically to the Public Affairs Sections at the relevant
U.S. embassies for their review.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Review Process
The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility.
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public
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
[[Page 3970]]
State's Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final
technical authority for grants resides with the Bureau's Grants
Officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's
mission. Proposals should display an understanding of the goals of the
program. Exchange activities should ensure efficient use of program
resources. Proposals will demonstrate a commitment to excellence and
creativity in the implementation and management of the program.
Proposed projects should receive positive assessments by the U.S.
Department of State's geographic area desk and overseas officers of
program need, potential impact, and significance in the partner
countries.
2. Program planning: Objectives should be reasonable, feasible,
flexible, and respond to the priorities outlined in this announcement.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the
program's objectives and plan. A detailed agenda and relevant work plan
will demonstrate substantive undertakings and logistical capacity. The
agenda and plan should adhere to the program overview and guidelines
described above and will show the timetable by which major tasks will
be completed. The substance of workshops and exchange activities should
be described in detail and included as an attachment. The
responsibilities of partner organizations will be clearly delineated.
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: Applicants should demonstrate knowledge
of each country's educational environment and the capacity to recruit,
select, and orient U.S. and foreign exchange students. Proposals should
include (1) the institution's mission and date of establishment; (2)
detailed information about proposed in-country partners; (3) an outline
of prior awards for work in the region; and (4) descriptions of
experienced personnel who will implement the program. Institutional
resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the project's
goals. 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.
5. Project evaluation: Proposals should include a plan and
methodology to evaluate the project's successes and challenges, both as
the activities unfold and at the end of the program. The evaluation
plan should show a clear link between program objectives and expected
outcomes, and should include a description of performance indicators
and measurement tools. Applicants should provide draft questionnaires
or other techniques for use in surveying participants to facilitate the
demonstration of results. Applicants will indicate their willingness to
submit periodic progress reports in accordance with the program
office's expectations.
6. Follow-on and sustainability: Proposals should provide a
strategy for the use of alumni to work together to further the impact
of the program both within the context of the grant (with Bureau
support) and after its completion (without the Bureau's financial
support).
7. Multiplier effect: The program design should include efforts to
expand the impact of the exchanges beyond just those who travel.
Proposed programs should strengthen long-term mutual understanding,
including maximum sharing of information and the establishment of long-
term institutional and individual linkages.
8. Cost-effectiveness/Cost sharing: The overhead and administrative
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be
kept as low as possible. While lower ``per participant'' figures will
be more competitive, the Bureau expects all figures to be realistic.
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 and 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:
(1) A final program and financial report no more than 90 days after
the expiration of the award;
(2) Interim reports, as required in the Bureau grant agreement.
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
[[Page 3971]]
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.
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. The ECA Program Officer must receive final schedules for in-
country and U.S. activities at least three working days prior to the
official opening of the activity.
VII. Agency Contacts
For questions about this announcement, contact: Carolyn Lantz,
Program Officer, Youth Programs Division, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, U.S.
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547,
(202) 203-7505, fax (202) 203-7529, e-mail LantzCS@state.gov.
All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-05-24.
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: January 19, 2005.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 05-1527 Filed 1-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P