Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Middle East Partnership Initiative Study of the United States Institute for Undergraduate Student Leaders, 74411-74417 [E5-7390]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 240 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74411-74417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7390]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5244]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Middle East Partnership Initiative Study of the United 
States Institute for Undergraduate Student Leaders

    Announcement Type: New Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/A/E/USS-06-MEPI-4.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: January 31, 2006.

[[Page 74412]]

    Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of State (DoS), through the 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Office of the 
Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) invites proposal submissions 
for the design and implementation of a six-week Study of the United 
States (U.S.) Institute for undergraduate students from the Middle East 
and North Africa entitled: Middle East Partnership Initiative Study of 
the United States Institute for Undergraduate Student Leaders. The 
Bureau anticipates awarding two separate assistance awards to support 
two institutes for undergraduate student leaders. Prospective host 
institutions are limited to submitting only one proposal to conduct one 
of the two institutes.

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. Funding for these 
institutes is being provided by the Department of State's Middle East 
Partnership Initiative (MEPI). MEPI is the U.S. Government's primary 
policy and programmatic tool to implement democratic reform in the 
Middle East and North Africa. This project addresses the MEPI goals of 
fostering political reform, educational reform and women's empowerment 
in MEPI partner countries.
    Based on a group of 20-22 participants, the total DoS-funded budget 
(program and administrative) for each of the MEPI Study of the United 
States Institutes for Undergraduate Student Leaders will not exceed 
$418,000. Potential host institutions should attempt to maximize cost-
sharing in all facets of the program, and try to engage the U.S. 
private sector, including foundations and corporations, for support. 
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire program. 
The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal 
budgets in accordance with the needs of the program and availability of 
U.S. Government funding.

Purpose

    The two MEPI Study of the United States Institutes for 
Undergraduate Student Leaders should each provide a multinational group 
of 20 first and second year undergraduate student leaders from selected 
countries in the Middle East and North Africa with a uniquely designed 
program that focuses on leadership development. Both institutes will 
take place over the course of six weeks during the summer of 2006, and 
will consist of a challenging academic program, as well as educational 
travel to other regions of the United States to illustrate the various 
topics explored in class. With leadership training as its main 
objective, the Institute will provide the students with opportunities 
to examine the concept, history and manifestation of leadership in 
American society through classroom activities, site visits and regular 
community service projects. Under the direction of the MEPI Office, the 
students will also be invited to take part in an alumni conference and 
follow-on activities in their home countries after the conclusion of 
the program in the United States. Participants in the program will be 
nominated by U.S. embassies and consulates in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, 
Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya (if possible, depending on 
the feasibility of recruitment and travel), Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi 
Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the West Bank and 
Gaza, and Yemen. (Israeli participants will be Arab-Israeli only.) 
Participants will be selected by the ECA Study of the United States 
Branch in consultation with the Office of the Middle East Partnership 
Initiative.
    The Bureau is seeking detailed proposals for each of the two 
institutes from U.S. liberal arts colleges, universities, consortia of 
colleges and universities, and other not-for-profit academic 
organizations.
    Each MEPI Study of the United States Institute for Undergraduate 
Student Leaders should be designed as an intensive academic program 
with an educational travel component that is organized through a 
carefully integrated series of panel presentations, seminar 
discussions, debates, individual and group activities, lectures and 
reading assignments, as well as local site visits, regional educational 
travel, and participation in community activities. The Institute must 
not simply replicate existing or previous lectures, workshops, or group 
activities designed for American students. Rather, it should be a 
specially designed and well-integrated seminar that imaginatively 
combines lectures, discussions, readings, debates, local site visits 
and regional travel into a coherent whole.
    Within the framework of ``leadership,'' the academic program and 
educational travel component for the institutes should focus on the 
role and influence of democratic values in U.S. society, including the 
rule of law, individual rights, freedom of expression, equality, 
diversity and tolerance. Current political, social and economic issues 
and debates should be examined. Civic responsibility, volunteerism, 
team building, effective communication and problem-solving skills 
should also be addressed, and hands-on activities directly related to 
these ideas should be included in the institute agenda.
    Each Institute will begin with a two-day orientation in Washington, 
DC. Following the orientation, participants in the MEPI Study of the 
United States Institutes will spend approximately five weeks at the 
host institution in the academic residency program, approximately ten 
days on the educational travel component, and two to three days in 
Washington, DC at the conclusion of the Institute. The educational 
travel component should directly complement the academic residency 
program.
    Each Institute should provide the participants with continuous 
opportunities to meet and have substantial interaction with American 
citizens from a variety of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, 
particularly with those in their peer group. In addition, the institute 
participants should be afforded opportunities to speak to appropriate 
student and civic groups about the societies and cultures of their home 
countries.
    Applicants for the MEPI Study of the United States Institutes for 
Undergraduate Students Leaders should take into consideration that an 
alumni workshop for the institute participants will take place at a 
site in the Middle East or North Africa region within six-twelve months 
of the U.S.-based Institute. DoS will assume principal responsibility 
for organizing and hosting the alumni workshop in consultation with 
overseas embassies and the U.S. host institutions. While host 
institutions should not provide a detailed strategy for a follow-on 
workshop, they should

[[Page 74413]]

be prepared to assist in the planning and implementation of the 
workshop.
    Applicants are encouraged to design thematically coherent programs 
in ways that draw upon the particular strengths, faculty and resources 
of their institutions, as well as upon the nationally recognized 
expertise of scholars and other experts throughout the United States.
    All Study of the United States Institutes, regardless of their 
particular thematic focus, seek to give participants a multi-
dimensional view of U.S. society and institutions through a program 
that reflects a broad and balanced range of perspectives. In addition 
to interaction with scholars and practitioners in a variety of fields, 
participants should have opportunities for discussions with ordinary 
Americans (particularly those within their own age group) through 
activities such as weekend homestays or dinners with local families, 
community service, and civic organization meetings.
    Each Institute should designate an academic director who will be 
present throughout the program to ensure the continuity, coherence and 
integration of all aspects of the academic program, including the study 
tour. In addition to the academic director(s), an administrative 
director or coordinator should be assigned to oversee all student 
support services, including supervision of the program participants, 
budgetary, logistical, and other administrative arrangements. It is 
also important that the grantee institution retain highly qualified 
mentors and escorts who exhibit cultural sensitivity, an understanding 
of the program's objectives, and a willingness to engage with the 
participants throughout the program. This includes accompanying 
students to classroom sessions, residing with them in dormitories or 
other accommodations, escorting them during the educational travel 
component, etc.
    To fulfill the goals of this program, it is important that grantee 
institutions retain highly qualified mentors and escorts for the 
students. These mentors and escorts should exhibit cultural 
sensitivity, an understanding of the program's objectives, and a 
willingness to engage with the participants for the duration of the 
Institute. This includes accompanying the students to classroom 
sessions, residing with them in dormitories or other accommodations, 
escorting them during the educational travel component, etc.

Participants As specified in the Project Objectives, Goals and 
Implementation (POGI) guidelines in the solicitation package, 
participants in the MEPI Study of the United States Institutes should 
be highly motivated and exemplary first and second year undergraduate 
students selected from colleges, universities and teacher training 
institutions in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, 
Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the 
United Arab Emirates, the West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen who demonstrate 
leadership through academic work, community involvement, and 
extracurricular activities.

    Participants will be identified and nominated by U.S. embassies and 
consulates in the candidates' home countries, with final selection made 
by the Study of the United States Branch at ECA in consultation with 
representatives of the MEPI office. Every effort will be made to select 
a balanced mix of male and female participants, as well as students who 
represent a mix of religious and cultural backgrounds.

    Please note: The level of English among the students may vary. 
The host institutions will be required to prepare lectures and 
discussions that meet the highest academic standards while using 
language appropriate for students for whom English is their second 
or third language.

    U.S. embassies and consulates overseas will make a particular 
effort to recruit participants who have had little or no prior 
experience in the United States or elsewhere outside their home 
countries. They will also seek candidates who are from non-elite or 
underprivileged backgrounds and from both rural and urban areas. 
Nominees should be willing and able to fully participate in an 
intensive academic program that includes educational travel, and in 
community service activities. All participants will be selected largely 
on the basis of their demonstrated leadership capacity, and must return 
home at the conclusion of the Institute to continue their university 
studies in the fall of 2006.

    Please note: Special sensitivity will be required on the part of 
the host institution to the cultural traditions and religious 
practices of the institute participants who will represent a variety 
of Muslim and other religious traditions. Special requirements and 
restrictions regarding diet, daily worship, housing and medical care 
should be considered. The Bureau will provide guidance and 
assistance to the host institution, as needed.

Program Dates

    Each Institute should be a maximum of 47 days in length (including 
participant arrival and departure days). It is anticipated that the 
institutes for undergraduate student leaders will begin in early July 
2006.

Program Guidelines

    It is essential that proposals provide a full, detailed and 
comprehensive narrative describing the objectives of the Institute; the 
title, scope and content of each session; planned site visits; and how 
each session relates to the overall institute theme. A syllabus must be 
included that explains the subject matter for each panel discussion, 
group presentation, lecture or other activity. The syllabus should also 
confirm or provisionally identify proposed speakers and session 
leaders, and clearly show how assigned readings will advance the goals 
of each section. A calendar of all program activities must be included 
in the proposal, as well as a description of plans for public and media 
outreach in connection with the Institute.

    Please note: The Branch for the Study of the United States will 
assume the following responsibilities for the institutes: 
participation in the selection of participants; conducting a pre-
program orientation; oversight of the institutes through one or more 
site visits; debriefing participants in Washington, DC, at the 
conclusion of the Institute; engaging in follow-on communication 
with the participants after they return to their home countries. The 
Branch may require changes in the content or scope of activities of 
the Institute, either before or after the grant is awarded. The 
recipient will be required to obtain approval of significant agenda/
syllabus changes in advance of their implementation.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ECA's level of involvement in 
this program is listed under number I above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY-2006.
    Approximate Total Funding: $836,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 2.
    Approximate Average Award: $399,000.
    Floor of Award Range: $380,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $418,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Pending availability of funds, March 31, 
2006.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: September 30, 2007.
    Additional Information: Pending successful implementation of this 
program and the availability of funds in subsequent fiscal years, it is 
ECA's intent to renew this grant for two additional fiscal years, 
before openly competing it again.

[[Page 74414]]

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 Branch for the Study of the United States, ECA/
A/E/USS, Room 314, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20547; tel. (202) 453-8536; fax (202) 453-8533; e-
mail: caseysd@state.gov to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer 
to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/A/E/USS-06-MEPI-4.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document, which consists of required application 
forms and standard guidelines for proposal preparation. It also 
contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) 
document, which provides specific information, award criteria and 
budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Sheila Casey and refer to the Funding Opportunity 
Number ECA/A/E/USS-06-MEPI-4 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 ten (10) 
copies of the application should be sent per the instructions under 
IV.3f. ``Submission Dates and Times section'' below.
    IV.3a. You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the U.S. Government. This number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711. Please ensure that your DUNS number is included in the 
appropriate box of the SF-424 which is part of the formal application 
package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
PSI document, as well as the POGI document for additional formatting 
and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not 
received a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three 
years, or if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS 
within the past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation 
to verify nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to 
do so will cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
    IV.3d.1. Adherence To All Regulations Governing the J Visa: The 
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is placing renewed emphasis 
on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J visa) 
Programs and adherence by grantees and sponsors to all regulations 
governing the J visa. Therefore, proposals should demonstrate the 
applicant's capacity to meet all requirements governing the 
administration of the Exchange Visitor Programs as set forth in 22 CFR 
part 62, including the oversight of Responsible Officers and Alternate 
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, 
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, 
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, 
record-keeping, reporting and other requirements.
    The Bureau 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) 203-5029.
    FAX: (202) 453-8640.
    Please refer to Solicitation Package for further information.
    IV.3d.2. Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines: Pursuant to 
the Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the 
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life. 
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass 
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender, 
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and physical 
challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the 
advancement of this principle both in program administration and in 
program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the 'Support 
for Diversity' section for specific suggestions on incorporating 
diversity into your proposal. Public Law 104-319 provides that ``in 
carrying out programs of educational and cultural exchange in countries 
whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau 
``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for 
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of 
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of 
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in 
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these 
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.

[[Page 74415]]

    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 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.1. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. Awards may not exceed $418,000. There must be a summary 
budget as well as breakdowns reflecting both administrative and program 
budgets. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program 
component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.
    IV.3e.2. Allowable costs for the program include the following:
    (1) Institute staff salary and benefits.
    (2) Participant housing and meals.
    (3) Participant travel.
    (4) Textbooks and educational materials.
    (5) Speaker honoraria.
    Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget 
guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Submission Dates and Times:
    Application Deadline Date: January 31, 2006.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Due to heightened security measures, 
proposal submissions must be sent via a nationally recognized overnight 
delivery service (i.e., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or 
U.S. Postal Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.) and be shipped no 
later than the above deadline. The delivery services used by applicants 
must have in-place, centralized shipping identification and tracking 
systems that may be accessed via the Internet and delivery people who 
are identifiable by commonly recognized uniforms and delivery vehicles. 
Proposals shipped on or before the above deadline but received at ECA 
more than seven days after the deadline will be ineligible for further 
consideration under this competition. Proposals shipped after the 
established deadlines are ineligible for consideration under this 
competition. It is each applicant's responsibility to ensure that each 
package is marked with a legible tracking number and to monitor/confirm 
delivery to ECA via the Internet. ECA will not notify you upon receipt 
of application. Delivery of proposal packages may not be made via local 
courier service or in person for this competition. Faxed documents will 
not be accepted at any time. Only proposals submitted as stated above 
will be considered. Applications may not be submitted electronically at 
this time.
    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package.

    Important note: When preparing your submission please make sure 
to include one extra copy of the completed SF-424 form and place it 
in an envelope addressed to ``ECA/EX/PM''.

    The original and ten (10) copies of the application should be sent 
to: U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/A/E/USS-06-MEPI-4, Program Management, ECA/EX/PM, 
Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    Along with the Project Title, all applicants must enter the above 
Reference Number in Box 11 on the SF-424 contained in the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) of the solicitation document.
    IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 
12372 does not apply to this program.
    Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and 
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal in text (.txt) format 
on a PC-formatted disk. The Bureau will provide these files 
electronically to the appropriate Public

[[Page 74416]]

Affairs Section(s) at the U.S. embassy(ies) for its (their) review.
    Applicant institutions or organizations may submit only one (1) 
proposal to conduct one (1) MEPI Study of the United States Institute 
for Undergraduate Student Leaders.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility. 
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the 
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible 
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public 
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will 
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and 
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by 
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the 
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 
cooperative agreements resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
    Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank 
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
    1. Quality of Program Idea/Plan: Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission. Detailed agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate 
substantive undertakings and logistical capacity.
    2. Ability to Achieve Overall Program Objectives: Objectives should 
be reasonable, feasible, and flexible. Proposals should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    3. Support for Diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive 
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant 
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of 
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content 
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings and resource 
materials).
    4. Evaluation and Follow-Up: Proposals should include a plan to 
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at 
the end of the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique 
plus description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original 
project objectives is recommended.
    5. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative 
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be 
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and 
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing through other 
private sector support as well as institutional direct funding 
contributions.
    6. Institutional Track Record/Ability: Proposals should demonstrate 
an institutional record of successful exchange programs, including 
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting 
requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by Bureau Grants 
Staff. The Bureau will consider the past performance of prior 
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1a. Award Notices

    Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by 
Congress, allocated and committed through internal Bureau procedures. 
Successful applicants will receive an Assistance Award Document (AAD) 
from the Bureau's Grants Office. The AAD and the original grant 
proposal with subsequent modifications (if applicable) shall be the 
only binding authorizing document between the recipient and the U.S. 
Government. The AAD will be signed by an authorized Grants Officer, and 
mailed to the recipient's responsible officer identified in the 
application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review from the ECA program office coordinating this 
competition.
    VI.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements:
    Terms and Conditions for the Administration of ECA agreements 
include the following:
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles 
for Nonprofit Organizations.''
    Office of Management and Budget Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions.''
    OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian 
Governments''.
    OMB Circular No. A-110 (Revised), Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations.
    OMB Circular No. A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants-in-Aid to State and Local Governments.
    OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Government, and 
Non-profit Organizations
    Please reference the following Web sites for additional 
information: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants. https://
exchanges.state.gov/education/grantsdiv/terms.htm#articleI.
    VI.3. Reporting Requirements: You must provide ECA with a hard copy 
original plus one (1) copy of the final program and financial report no 
more than 90 days after the expiration of the award.
    Grantees will be required to provide reports analyzing their 
evaluation findings to the Bureau in their regular program reports. 
(Please refer to IV. Application and Submission Instructions (IV.3.d.3) 
above for Program Monitoring and Evaluation information.
    All data collected, including survey responses and contact 
information, must be maintained for a minimum of three years and 
provided to the Bureau upon request.
    All reports must be sent to the ECA Grants Officer and ECA Program 
Officer listed in the final assistance award document.
    VI.4. 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 academic major of all 
participants.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel for all 
participants, providing dates of travel and cities in which any 
exchange experiences take place. Final itineraries must be received by 
the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to the 
participants' arrival in the United States.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Sheila Casey, 
Branch for the Study of the United States, ECA/A/E/USS, Room 314, ECA/
A/E/USS-06-MEPI-4, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20547; tel. (202) 453-8536; fax (202) 453-8533, e-
mail: caseysd@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/A/E/USS-06-MEPI-4.

[[Page 74417]]

    Please read the complete Federal Register announcement before 
sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has 
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with applicants 
until the proposal review process has been completed.

VIII. Other Information

Notice

    The terms and conditions published in this RFGP are binding and may 
not be modified by any Bureau representative. Explanatory information 
provided by the Bureau that contradicts published language will not be 
binding. Issuance of the RFGP does not constitute an award commitment 
on the part of the Government. The Bureau reserves the right to reduce, 
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of 
the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject 
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements per section VI.3 
above.

    Dated: December 7, 2005.
Dina Habib Powell,
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. E5-7390 Filed 12-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P