Request for Proposals: Program for Research and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII), 69187-69191 [05-22543]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69187-69191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22543]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5173]


Request for Proposals: Program for Research and Training on 
Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union 
(Title VIII)

    Summary: The Department of State invites organizations with 
substantial and wide-reaching experience in administering research and 
training programs to serve as intermediaries conducting nationwide 
competitive programs for scholars, students and institutions pertaining 
to advanced research and language training on the countries of 
Southeast Europe and Eurasia. U.S.-based public and private nonprofit 
organizations and educational institutions may submit proposals to 
carry out Title VIII-funded programs that (1) support and sustain 
American expertise on the countries of Eurasia and Southeast Europe, 
(2) bring American expertise to the service of the U.S. Government, and 
(3) further U.S. foreign assistance goals. The grants will be awarded 
through an open, merit-based competition. The purpose of this request 
for proposals is to inform potential applicant organizations of 
programmatic, procedural and funding information for the fiscal year 
2006 Title VIII grants competition.
    We request that applicants read the entire Federal Register 
announcement before addressing inquiries to the Title VIII Program 
Office or submitting a proposal. This notice contains three parts. Part 
I addresses Shipment and Deadline for Proposals. Part II consists of a 
Statement of Purpose and Program Priorities. Part III provides Funding 
Information for the program.

    Authority: Grantmaking authority for the Program for Research 
and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the 
Former Soviet Union (Title VIII) is contained in the Soviet-Eastern 
European Research and Training Act of 1983 (22 U.S.C. 4501-4508, as 
amended) and is funded through the FREEDOM Support Act (FSA) of 1992 
and Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989.

Part I

    Shipping and Deadline for Proposals: Due to security procedures 
proposals must be sent via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (e.g., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or USPS 
Express Mail, etc.) or hand-delivered. Proposals may not be sent by 
regular U.S. Mail.
    Proposals must have a postmark or invoice dated by Wednesday, 
January 11, 2006 and must be received within seven (7) days after the 
deadline. Hand-delivered proposals must be submitted no later than 4 
p.m. on January 11, 2006. Faxed proposals will not be accepted at any 
time. Late applications will not be considered. It is the applicant's 
responsibility to ensure that proposals are delivered on time.
    Address proposals to: Susie Baker, Title VIII Program Officer, U.S. 
Department of State, INR/RES, Room 2251, 2201 C Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20520-6510.
    Applications Delivered by Hand: Hand-delivered proposals will be 
accepted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST daily, except Saturdays, Sundays 
and Federal holidays. Proposals must be brought to the State 
Department's 21st Street entrance, just north of the intersection with 
C Street, NW. Contact the Title VIII Program office at (202) 736-4572 
or (202) 647-0243 to arrange a delivery time.

Part II

    Program Information: In the Soviet-Eastern European Research and 
Training Act of 1983 (Title VIII), the Congress declared that 
independently verified factual knowledge about the countries of that 
area is ``of utmost importance for the national security of the United 
States, for the furtherance of our national interests in the conduct of 
foreign relations, and for the prudent management of our domestic 
affairs.'' Congress also declared that the development and maintenance 
of such knowledge and expertise ``depends upon the national capability 
for advanced research by highly trained and experienced specialists, 
available for service in and out of Government.''
    The Title VIII Program provides financial support for advanced 
research, graduate and language training and other related functions on 
the countries of the region. The program operates on a ``pass-through'' 
basis in that grantee organizations serve as intermediaries and conduct 
nationwide competitive programs to distribute grant funds to individual 
scholars, language students or universities. The program's goal is to 
support and sustain a cadre of U.S. experts by providing a full 
spectrum of financial assistance spanning the careers of scholars and 
students who have made, or are likely to make, a career commitment to 
the study of Southeast Europe and Eurasia. The Department of State's 
Title VIII Program Office brings this research and expertise to the 
service of the U.S. Government. The Title VIII Program also contributes 
to the overall objectives of the FREEDOM Support and SEED Acts through 
the Title VIII scholars' and students' participation in interactive 
educational and professional activities, volunteering, consulting, and 
other endeavors that further economic prosperity and mutual 
understanding in the region. The full purpose of the Title VIII Program 
and the eligibility requirements are set forth in Public Law 98-164, 97 
Stat. 1047-50, as amended.
    The following countries are eligible for funding under this request 
for proposals: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and 
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, 
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia and 
Montenegro, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Travel to 
certain countries may be subject to restrictions due to unforeseen 
world events, Congressional restrictions, U.S. embassy requirements, or 
general security concerns.
    The Act established an Advisory Committee to recommend grant 
policies

[[Page 69188]]

and recipients. The Deputy Secretary of State, after consultation with 
the Advisory Committee, approves policies and makes the final 
determination on awards. Once the proposal submission deadline has 
passed, Title VIII Program staff and the Title VIII Advisory Committee 
may not discuss any aspect of this competition with applicants until 
after the proposal review and approval process has been completed.
    Scope: The Title VIII legislation states that the program should 
develop a stable, long-term, national program of unclassified, advanced 
research and training on the countries of Eastern Europe and/or 
Eurasia. Applicants' proposals should outline programs that: (1) 
Support and sustain American expertise on the countries of Eurasia and 
Southeast Europe, (2) bring American expertise to the service of the 
U.S. Government, and (3) further U.S. foreign assistance goals.
    Eligibility: U.S.-based public and private non-profit organizations 
and educational institutions with substantial and wide-reaching 
expertise in administering advanced research and training programs and 
conducting nationwide competitive programs for scholars, students and 
institutions pertaining to advanced research and language training on 
the countries of Southeast Europe and Eurasia and related fields may 
apply. To demonstrate eligibility, applicant organizations should 
describe their experience and expertise in each of the following:
     Conducting national, open, merit-based competitions for 
the purpose of distributing grant funds for advanced research and 
language training at the graduate level and above;
     Peer review mechanisms;
     Recruiting individuals who are likely to make a career 
commitment to the study of Eastern Europe and/or Eurasia;
     Federal grants policy and management.
    NB: Individual scholars and students seeking Title VIII support 
should refer to the Title VIII Program Web site for funding 
opportunities: https://www.state.gov/s/inr/grants. Proposals from 
institutions or organizations to fund their own projects, i.e., 
projects that are not national in scope and/or do not involve open, 
merit-based recruitment of participants will not be considered.
    Guidelines: Programs proposed for this competition should be 
national in scope and may:
    (1) Award contracts or grants to U.S. institutions of higher 
education or nonprofit organizations in support of post-doctoral or 
equivalent-level research projects, to be cost-shared with partner 
institutions;
    (2) Offer graduate, post-doctoral and teaching fellowships for 
advanced training on the countries of Southeast Europe and Eurasia, and 
in related studies, including training in the languages of the region, 
to be cost-shared with partner institutions;
    (3) Provide fellowships and other support for American specialists 
enabling them to conduct advanced research on the countries of 
Southeast Europe and Eurasia, and in related studies;
    (4) Facilitate research collaboration among U.S. scholars, the U.S. 
Government, and private specialists on Southeast Europe and Eurasia 
studies;
    (5) Provide field-strengthening activities that stimulate 
interaction and sustained relationships among junior and senior 
scholars;
    (6) Provide advanced training and research in the countries of 
Southeast Europe and Eurasia by facilitating access for American 
specialists to research facilities and resources in those countries;
    (7) Facilitate the accessibility and dissemination of research 
findings, methods and data, and policy papers among U.S. Government 
agencies and the public;
    (8) Strengthen the national capability for advanced research or 
training on the countries of Southeast Europe and Eurasia;
    (9) Bring Title VIII scholarship to the service of the U.S. 
Government in ways not specified above.
    In addition to the above guidelines, support for specific 
activities will be guided by the following policies and priorities:
     Support for Transitions and U.S. Assistance Goals: Program 
activities are strongly encouraged that build expertise among U.S. 
specialists on the region, and also: (1) Promote fundamental goals of 
U.S. foreign assistance programs such as establishing functioning 
market economies and promoting democratic governance and civil 
societies, and (2) provide knowledge to both U.S. and foreign audiences 
related to current U.S. policy interests in the region, broadly 
defined. This includes, but is not limited to, such topics as 
resolution of ethnic, religious, and other conflict; terrorism; 
transition economics; access to information; youth and women's issues; 
human rights; and citizen participation in politics and civil society. 
For overseas research, applicants are asked to propose effective means 
through which individual grant recipients' work may complement 
assistance activities in the region. Applicants are strongly encouraged 
to propose programs where grants for overseas work include a service 
component such as lecturing at a university or participating in 
workshops with host government and parliamentary officials, 
nongovernmental organizations, and other relevant audiences on issues 
related to transitions in the region.
     Research Topics: The Title VIII Program supports research 
topics that strengthen the fields of Eurasian and East European Studies 
(and related fields), and address U.S. policy interests in the region, 
broadly defined. Historical or cultural research that promotes 
understanding of current events in the region is acceptable if an 
explicit connection is made to policy relevant issues, broadly defined. 
Technical research in fields such as mathematics is not eligible for 
funding under Title VIII.
     Regional Focus: Priority will be given to programs that 
focus on gaps in knowledge on Central Asia, the Caucasus, Ukraine and 
Belarus, and the Balkans, especially the former Yugoslavia. The greater 
Central Asia region is critical in the global war on terrorism, 
therefore also eligible are proposals that incorporate a focus on 
``Cross-Regional Issues'' and include specifically the countries of 
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and/or Uzbekistan, 
relative to their shared historical, ethnic, linguistic, political, 
economic, and cultural ties with such countries as Iraq, Iran, 
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Korea, China and Turkey.
     Balanced National Program: In making its recommendations, 
the Advisory Committee will seek to encourage a coherent, long-term and 
stable effort directed toward developing and maintaining a national 
capability on the countries of Southeast Europe and Eurasia. Program 
proposals can be for the conduct of any of the functions enumerated, 
but in making its recommendations, the Committee will concern itself 
particularly with the development of a balanced national effort that 
will ensure attention to all eligible countries, as well as to the 
broad spectrum of students, scholars and researchers in various sectors 
and career stages.
     Promoting Federal Service for Title VIII Grant Recipients: 
Although the Title VIII Program does not require a federal service 
commitment for individuals receiving funding, the Advisory Committee 
urges grantees to encourage individuals receiving Title VIII funding to 
pursue U.S. Government

[[Page 69189]]

career opportunities, internships, or short-term sabbaticals after 
completing their awards, and to otherwise bring their research to the 
service of the U.S. Government. Grant recipient organizations are 
encouraged to: (1) Identify individuals for funding who have an 
interest in pursuing careers in the U.S. Government; and (2) provide 
opportunities for individuals in disciplines with Eurasian and/or 
Southeast European studies concentrations to serve on a temporary basis 
as a policy or other expert in U.S. Embassies, U.S. Government agencies 
and/or with NGOs in the region; and (3) provide opportunities for 
students and researchers to submit and present their research in a 
variety of formats, including policy briefs, white papers and policy 
forums. Applications proposing more productive interaction among U.S. 
Government agencies, universities and non-government organizations 
(NGOs) in the U.S. and overseas are strongly encouraged.
     Publications: Funds awarded in this competition should not 
be used to subsidize journals, newsletters and other periodical 
publications.
     Conferences: Proposals to fund conferences will be 
considered for funding only if the conference is an interactive, field-
strengthening activity and if it is a component of a larger program 
with greater duration and scope. Conference panelists must be selected 
through an open, merit-based selection process. In addition, conference 
proposals will be assessed according to their relative contribution to 
the advancement of knowledge and to the professional development of 
cadres in the fields, and will be competed and evaluated against 
research, fellowship or other proposals for achieving the objectives of 
this grant competition.
     Language Support: The Advisory Committee encourages a 
focus on the non-Russian languages of Eurasia and the less-commonly-
taught languages of Southeast Europe. For Russian-language instruction 
and study, support may be provided only at the advanced level. 
Institutions seeking funding in order to offer language instruction are 
encouraged to apply to one or more of the national programs with 
appropriate peer review and selection mechanisms.
     Support for Non-Americans: The purpose of the program is 
to build and sustain U.S. expertise on the countries of Southeast 
Europe and Eurasia. Therefore, the Advisory Committee has determined 
that highest priority for support always should go to American 
specialists (i.e., U.S. citizens or permanent residents). Support for 
such activities as long-term research fellowships (i.e., nine months or 
longer), should be restricted solely to American scholars. Support for 
short-term activities also should be restricted to Americans, except in 
special instances where the participation of a non-American scholar has 
clear and demonstrable benefits to the U.S. scholarly community and/or 
the U.S. Government. In such special instances, the applicant will be 
required to notify the Title VIII Program office prior to the activity 
and justify the expenditure by clearly describing the expected benefit 
to the field(s) and/or the U.S. Government. Despite this restriction, 
collaborative projects are encouraged--where the non-American component 
is funded from other sources--and priority is given to institutions 
whose programs contain such an international component.
     Cost-sharing: (1) Title VIII legislation requires cost-
sharing for projects involving post-doctoral or equivalent-level 
research projects; and graduate, post-doctoral and teaching fellowships 
for advanced training or language studies for institutions or 
individuals. Cost sharing is strongly encouraged in all programs. (2) 
Research solely on, and/or travel to, the countries of ``greater 
Central Asia'' or Central and East Europe outside of Southeast Europe 
as outlined in this request for proposals, is not eligible for FSA or 
SEED funding. Proposals may include a plan to support research projects 
on, and travel to, countries eligible and ineligible for FSA or SEED 
funding, to address cross-border issues, regional or comparative 
studies, etc., in which case travel to ineligible countries would be 
cost-shared with funding from other sources. (3) All proposed cost 
sharing should be included in the budget request in a separate column, 
and explained in the budget notes. 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.
     Program Data Requirements: Organizations awarded grants 
will be required to provide data on program participants and activities 
in an electronically accessible format for the Title VIII Alumni 
Database. Requested information would include the following: Name; 
Institution; Address; Contact Information; Field(s) of Expertise; Type/
Title of Award; Location(s) of Research, Fellowship, or other Activity; 
Research Products/Titles; Service to the U.S. Government; Contribution 
to U.S. Assistance Goals; etc.
     Reporting and Funding Acknowledgement: Successful 
applicants will be required to submit quarterly financial and program 
reports, and will be expected to acknowledge the Department of State 
and the Title VIII Program in all Title VIII-supported research 
products, advertising, recruitment tools, announcements, and other 
related electronic or written communications.

Applications

    Application Format: Applicants must submit 15 copies of the 
proposal (a clearly marked original and 14 copies) in Times New Roman, 
12-point font. The ``Executive Summary,'' ``Proposal Narrative,'' 
``Budget Presentation'' and ``Resumes'' must be submitted on a PC-
formatted disk or CD. Proposals should include the following elements:
    TAB 1: SF424 ``Application for Federal Assistance'' and Cover 
Letter with primary point of contact for questions if different than 
``Authorized Representative.'' SF424 is online: (https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/sf424.pdf);
    TAB 2: Executive Summary (one page, single-spaced, see below);
    TAB 3: Proposal Narrative (not to exceed 20 double-spaced pages), 
and calendar or timeline of major program activities;
    TAB 4: Budget Presentation (Detailed Budget, Budget Notes, and 
Budget Summary--see below for explanation);
    TAB 5: Resumes (one page each for key professional staff);
    TAB 6: Letters of Support and/or Partnership; and
    TAB 7: Certifications of Compliance with Federal Regulations (see 
below).
    Applicants may append other information they consider essential, 
although bulky submissions are discouraged and run the risk of not 
being reviewed fully.
    Executive Summary: A one page, single-spaced summary to include: 
two separate dollar figures indicating the amount of funding requested 
for Eurasia and Southeast Europe, respectively; a list of each proposed 
program component in priority order; DUNS number; and any additional 
information the applicant wishes to provide.
    Budget: Because funds will be appropriated separately for Southeast 
Europe (SEED) and Eurasia (FSA) programs, proposals and budgets must 
delineate how the requested funds will be distributed by region, 
country (to the extent possible), and activity. Successful grant 
recipients will be required to report expenditures by region, country 
and activity. Applicants must provide the following Budget Presentation

[[Page 69190]]

(budget templates are available by request from the Title VIII Program 
Office).
    (1) Summary Budget, with one column each for the following: (1) 
DOS/Title VIII Costs; (2) Applicant Cost Sharing; (3) Third Party Cost 
Sharing, if applicable; and (4) Total Costs, with the following 
headings:

Southeast Europe (SEED)

    Program Costs.
    Administrative Costs.
    TOTAL Southeast Europe.

Eurasia (FSA)

    Program Costs.
    Administrative Costs.
    TOTAL Eurasia.

SEED + FSA Totals

    TOTAL Program Costs (SEED + FSA).
    TOTAL Administrative Costs (SEED + FSA).
    (Percentage Of Total Admin Costs To Total Requested Funding:%).
    TOTAL COSTS (SEED + FSA).
    (2) Detailed Line-Item Budget with one column each for the 
following: (1) DOS/Title VIII Costs; (2) Applicant Cost Sharing; (3) 
Third Party Cost Sharing, if applicable; and (4) Total Costs. The 
budget must include the headings ``Program Costs'' and ``Administrative 
Costs,'' and both administrative and program costs must be listed 
separately according to region (Eurasia or Southeast Europe). Sub-
budgets for each separate program component, phase, location or 
activity should be included to provide clarification. Administrative 
Costs include the following: ``Staff Requirements'' (each person/
position should be listed as a separate line item as follows: Annual 
salary/12 months x percentage of time x number of months devoted to 
program), ``Benefits,'' ``Direct Costs,'' and ``Indirect Costs.'' 
Indirect costs are limited to 10 percent of total direct program costs. 
The ``Total Amount Requested'' should be the sum of the amount 
requested for Eurasia activities plus the amount requested for 
Southeast Europe activities.
    (3) Budget Notes should clarify each line item, as necessary. 
Explain cost sharing with appropriate details and cross-references to 
the budget request.
    (4) For applicants requesting funds to supplement a program having 
other sources of funding, submit a current budget for the total program 
and an estimated future budget for it, showing how specific lines in 
the budget would be affected by the allocation of requested grant 
funds. Other funding sources and amounts should be identified.
    (5) Append the most recent audit report (the most recent U.S. 
Government audit report, if available) and the name, address, and point 
of contact of the audit agency.
    (6) Include a prioritized list of proposed programs if funding is 
being requested for more than one program or activity.
    All payments will be made to grant recipients through the U.S. 
Government's Payment Management System (PMS). Applicants should 
familiarize themselves with Department of State grant regulations 
contained in 22 CFR 145, ``Grants and Cooperative Agreements with 
Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit 
Organizations''; 22 CFR 137; OMB Circular A-110, ``Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions 
of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations''; 
and OMB Circular A-133, ``Audits of Institutions of Higher Learning and 
Other Non-Profit Institutions.'' Organizations can receive a DUNS 
number at no cost: call the toll-free DUNS Number request line at (866) 
705-5711 or apply online at https://www.dnb.com/us/duns_update/.
    Proposal Narrative: The Applicant must describe the proposed 
program(s), in no more than 20 double-spaced pages, including the 
benefits of these programs for the Southeast European and Eurasian 
fields, estimates of the types and amounts of anticipated awards, peer 
review procedures, recruitment plan for open, merit-based selection of 
participants with detailed information about advertising of program 
opportunities to eligible individuals and/or institutions, and 
anticipated selection committee participants. The narrative should 
address the applicant's plan to encourage policy relevant research, 
methods for dissemination of research products to academic and non-
academic audiences, and plans for bringing Title VIII to the service of 
the U.S. Government, where applicable.
    Applicants who have received previous grants from the Title VIII 
Program should provide the following detailed information: Names/
affiliations of individual and institutional award recipients and 
amounts and types of awards from the past year; and a summary of the 
applicant's past grants under the Title VIII Program specifying both 
past and anticipated applicant to award ratios.
    Proposals from national organizations involving language 
instruction programs should provide information on programs supported 
in the past year, including: Indications of progress achieved by Title 
VIII-funded students; criteria for evaluation, including levels of 
instruction, degrees of intensiveness, facilities, and methods for 
measuring language proficiency (including pre- and post-testing); 
instructors' qualifications; and budget information showing estimated 
costs per student.
    Certifications: Applicants must include three Certifications of 
Compliance with Federal Regulations:
    (a) Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements for 
Grantees Other Than Individuals https://foia.state.gov/forms/grants/ds2012.pdf;
    (b) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other 
Responsibility Matters for Lower Tier and Primary Covered Transactions 
https://foia.state.gov/forms/grants/ds2015.pdf;
    (c) New Restrictions on Lobbying https://foia.state.gov/forms/grants/ds2018.pdf.
    Review Process: The program office, a grant review panel and the 
Title VIII Advisory Committee will review all eligible proposals. 
Proposals also may be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Advisor or by 
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the 
discretion of the Department of State's Deputy Secretary. Final 
technical authority for grants resides with the Department of State's 
Grants Officers.
    Review Criteria: Technically eligible proposals will be 
competitively reviewed according to the following criteria:
    (1) Quality of the Program Idea: Proposals should be responsive to 
the guidelines provided in this request for proposals, and should 
exhibit originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the State 
Department's mission, the legislation supporting the Title VIII 
Program, and the FREEDOM Support and SEED Acts.
    (2) Program Plan: Program objectives should be stated clearly. 
Objectives should respond to priorities and address gaps in knowledge 
for particular fields and/or regions. A calendar or timeline of major 
program activities should be included. Responsibilities of partner 
organizations, if any, should be described clearly.
    (3) Institutional Capacity: Proposed personnel and selection 
committees should be adequate and appropriate to achieve the program's 
goals. The proposal should reflect the applicant's expertise and 
knowledge in managing federal grants and in conducting national 
competitive award programs of the type the applicant proposes on the 
countries of Southeast Europe and/or Eurasia. Past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants will be 
considered, including both the ability to handle technical grants 
management

[[Page 69191]]

details and provide a superior-quality program.
    (4) Cost-Effectiveness and Cost Sharing: Administrative costs in 
the proposal budget should be kept to a minimum. All other items should 
be necessary and appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost sharing, 
including in-kind assistance, through contributions from the applicant, 
partner organizations, as well as other private sector support. 
``Applicant Cost-Sharing'' and ``Third Party Cost Sharing'' should be 
included as separate columns in the budget request. Proposal budgets 
that do not provide cost sharing will be deemed less competitive in 
this category.
    (5) Evaluation, Monitoring, Database, Reporting: Proposals should 
include a plan to evaluate and monitor program successes and 
challenges. Methods for linking outcomes to program objectives are 
recommended. The proposal should address the applicant's willingness 
and ability to contribute to the alumni database.

Part III

    Available Funds: Funding for this program is subject to final 
Congressional action and the appropriation of FY 2006 funds. In Fiscal 
Year 2005, the program was funded at $4.6 million from the FREEDOM 
Support and SEED Acts, which funded grants to eight national 
organizations. The number of awards may vary each year, depending on 
the level of funding and the quality of the applications submitted.
    The Department legally cannot commit funds that may be appropriated 
in subsequent fiscal years. Thus multi-year projects cannot receive 
assured funding unless such funding is supplied out of a single year's 
appropriation. Grant agreements may permit the expenditure from a 
particular year's grant to be made up to three years after the grant's 
effective date.
    The terms and conditions published in this Request for Proposals 
are binding and may not be modified by any Department representative. 
Issuance of the Request for Proposals does not constitute an award 
commitment on the part of the U.S. Government. The Department reserves 
the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance 
with the needs of the program and the availability of funds.
    Further Information: For further information or to arrange a 
consultation, contact the Title VIII Program office at 
TitleVIII@state.gov.

Kenneth E. Roberts,
Executive Director, Advisory Committee for Studies of Eastern Europe 
and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 05-22543 Filed 11-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-32-P