Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Program on Free Expression, 13658-13665 [06-2561]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 51 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13658-13665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2561]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5343]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Youth Leadership Program on Free Expression

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-06-22.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.
    Key Dates: It is anticipated that the grant period would run 
approximately from Summer 2006 to Summer 2007, with two iterations of 
the U.S. project taking place in Fall 2006 and Spring 2007. Each U.S. 
project will be four weeks in length.
    Application Deadline: May 8, 2006.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs 
Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) 
announces an open competition for the Youth Leadership Program on Free 
Expression. 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 recruit and select youth and adult 
participants overseas and to provide the participants with two U.S.-
based exchange projects on the first amendment with a focus on free 
expression. The core of the Youth Leadership Program on Free Expression 
is a twelve-day International Free Expression Institute funded and 
provided by the Freedom Forum and the Close Up Foundation, with which 
the grantee organization must partner on this program.

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.

Program Information

    Overview: The Youth Leadership Program on Free Expression enables 
youth (aged 15-18 with at least one year of high school remaining 
following the program), and adult educators/community leaders to 
participate in an intensive, thematic, month-long multi-regional 
project in the United States that will educate highly motivated 
international students and adults about the value of first amendment 
ideals and the importance of a free press and free expression in the 
development of democracies throughout the world. The 50 participants 
will be recruited from 3-5 countries in at least three of the following 
world regions: Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, Middle 
East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, the Caucasus, and 
Southeast Asia. Participants will travel in two groups of 25 to allow 
for more personalized programming. Participants will be engaged in a 
variety of activities such as workshops, community and/or school-based 
programs, cultural activities, seminars and other activities designed 
to achieve the project's stated goals and objectives. Opportunities for 
participants to interact with American youth and adult educators and 
community leaders will be included as much as possible.
    The core of the Youth Leadership Program on Free Expression is the 
twelve-day International Free Expression Institute provided by the 
Freedom Forum and the Close Up Foundation, with which the grantee 
organization must partner on this program. This Institute is designed 
to teach the principles inherent in the first amendment of the U.S. 
Constitution, their values in society, and their application in a 
variety of settings. The Institute will take place in the Washington, 
DC area. Applicants must contact Tim Hair, the point person for the 
Institute, (phone: (703) 706-3491 or e-mail: hairt@closeup.org) for 
additional information.
    The goals of the Youth Leadership Program on Free Expression are:
    (1) To create a cadre of active and informed youth in emerging 
civil societies who are capable of making meaningful contributions to 
democratic processes. These young people will understand and embrace 
the value of first amendment ideals, will affect public debate and be 
civically engaged, and will be part of an international network of 
youth activists;
    (2) To foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, 
religious, and national groups; and
    (3) To promote mutual understanding between the United States and 
people of other countries.
    Applicants should identify their own specific objectives and 
measurable outcomes based on these program goals and the project 
specifications provided in this solicitation.

[[Page 13659]]

    Applicants must demonstrate their capacity for conducting programs 
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 youth; and (3) previous 
experience in working with the proposed countries.
    Applicants need to have the necessary capacity in the geographic 
areas from which participants will be recruited or a partner 
institution with the requisite capacity to recruit and select 
participants for the program and to provide post-exchange follow-on 
activities.
    Program Content: The Youth Leadership Program on Free Expression 
has two key components: (1) The twelve-day International Free 
Expression Institute in Washington, DC, provided and funded by the 
Freedom Forum and the Close Up Foundation followed by (2) a homestay 
and practicum in another locale to be organized by the grantee 
organization.
    A team of Freedom Forum and Close Up educational specialists will 
develop an experiential and interactive curriculum for content-based 
seminars and workshops upon which the International Free Expression 
Institute in Washington, DC will be based. Participants will have a 
variety of experiential learning components including seminars and 
workshops conducted by First Amendment scholars, interactive 
discussions with Washington press corps, Members of Congress and 
policy-makers and onsite visits to newsrooms, Capitol Hill and think 
tanks. The adults will have some separate sessions designed 
specifically for them as educators. Program activities may include 
overnight visits to Williamsburg or Philadelphia. The Close Up 
Foundation will provide administration, logistics, and curriculum 
development, and will be responsible for monitoring the students and 
organizing the ``DC as a classroom'' sessions during the Institute. The 
Mission Statement for the International Freedom Expression Institute 
provided by the Freedom Forum and the Close Up Foundation and 
descriptions of these organizations follow.
    ``The Freedom Forum's Diversity Institute is expanding its mission 
to educate current and future international leaders about the central 
role of free expression in a democratic society. The fundamentals of 
free expression are found in the First Amendment to the U.S. 
Constitution: freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and 
petition. These freedoms are not ``American'' rights; they are 
universal human rights as set forth in the Universal Declaration of 
Rights. They are not privileges granted by governments, but rather 
fundamental liberties founded on the inviolable dignity of the person. 
The Diversity Institute will teach the importance of free and diverse 
expression through a curriculum that encourages open and robust 
dialogue among people of many nationalities, cultures, races, religions 
and ethnicities.
    The curriculum will focus on the five freedoms as humanity's 
``first freedoms,'' the means by which people throughout the world seek 
to follow the dictates of conscience, speak out for justice, 
disseminate knowledge and organize for change. Through the lessons of 
history in the United States and other nations, the curriculum explores 
the advances and setbacks in the ongoing struggle to secure these basic 
rights.
    Special emphasis is placed on learning about the role of a free 
press in upholding all other freedoms by ensuring a marketplace of 
ideas free from government control. In emerging democracies throughout 
the world--as in the American experience--these five rights have been 
both the means for winning freedom and the essential framework for 
ordering freedom once freedom is won.
    Graduates of the program will understand that universal rights are 
accompanied by a universal duty to exercise those rights in ways that 
advance the cause of democratic freedom for all people.''

Program Partners

The Close Up Foundation

    The Close Up Foundation is the nation's largest nonprofit 
(501(c)(3)), nonpartisan citizenship education organization. Since its 
founding in 1970, Close Up has worked to promote responsible and 
informed participation in the democratic process through a variety of 
educational programs. Each year, more than 20,000 students, teachers, 
and other adults take part in Close Up's programs in Washington, DC. 
Since the inception of its Washington-based programs in 1971, the Close 
Up Foundation has welcomed nearly 650,000 students, educators, and 
other adults to the nation's capital. (https://www.closeup.org/).

The Freedom Forum

    The Freedom Forum is a non-partisan foundation dedicated to free 
press, free speech and free spirit. The Freedom Forum's Diversity 
Institute is a school with a mission to teach about diversity of 
thought, expression and free press. The Diversity Institute's 
International Free Expression Institute teaches current and future 
international leaders about the basics of free expression in a 
democratic society. (https://www.freedomforum.org/).
    The second component, designed by the grant applicant, will allow 
the participants to apply what they have learned in the Institute by 
visiting a community elsewhere in the United States, either as one 
large group or divided into sub-groups. The students should work with 
local youth in the practical implementation of the first amendment 
ideals and ethics by working with newspapers, radio, or television 
stations based in schools, or communities and oriented toward youth, 
such as First Amendment Schools (https://www.firstamendmentschools.org/
). The participants may also take part in youth activist groups. Other 
possibilities include the staging of a mock trial or a debate on an 
issue involving free speech or freedom of religion. This segment of the 
program should include homestays with local families. The Freedom Forum 
has offered to provide consultation on possible host communities based 
on its knowledge of schools with strong journalism programs.
    The program should be designed to capitalize on group learning 
opportunities, providing participants numerous occasions to share their 
experiences and learn more about each other's cultures, allowing them 
to gain a better appreciation of each other and enabling them to 
develop their teambuilding skills. The program should also provide 
ample opportunities for the participants to interact with their 
American peers. Participants are expected to apply their newfound 
knowledge and skills in developing a project plan for implementation 
upon their return home. At the end of the program, the participants 
should receive a certificate of completion.
Guidelines
    In pursuit of the goals outlined above, the program will include 
the following:
     Recruitment and selection of youth and adult educators/
community leaders from the appropriate geographic regions (see below). 
Facilitating their travel to the U.S.
     Designing and implementing a pre-departure orientation 
program. Participants will have a pre-program orientation that 
emphasizes the goals of the program and prepares them for the 
activities ahead. The orientation should include a general overview of 
the cultures and countries participating in

[[Page 13660]]

this program, and provide logistical and travel information. An arrival 
orientation should be conducted in partnership with Freedom Forum and 
Close Up representatives the day before the Institute begins as well as 
a review session the day following the Institute's conclusion. An 
online tool for communication such as a listserv, bulletin board, blog, 
or Web site can serve as a source of information and a venue for 
participants to interact with each other prior to, during, and after 
their exchange. Another possibility for communication is via the 
Department of State's Alumni Web site (https://alumni.state.gov/).
     Working in cooperation with the Freedom Forum and Close Up 
Foundation, designing and planning of activities that provide a 
substantive program on first amendment ideals with an emphasis on 
freedom of expression. Some activities should be school and/or 
community-based, as feasible, and the projects should involve as much 
interaction with American peers as possible. A community service 
element should also be included.
     Providing logistical arrangements, homestay arrangements 
(as appropriate) and/or other accommodation, provisions for religious 
observance, disbursement of stipends/per diem, local travel, and travel 
between sites.
     Facilitating substantive activities that are relevant to 
first amendment ideals while students are living with host families in 
U.S. communities.
     Designing and implementing a host family/host community 
orientation regarding cultural background of participants, program 
goals and other aspects related to the participants' homestay 
experience.
     Providing and/or supporting follow-on activities in the 
participants' geographic areas designed to reinforce the ideas, values 
and skills imparted during the U.S. exchange.
    Recruitment and Selection: The grant recipient will manage the 
recruitment and competitive merit-based selection of participants in 
consultation with the Public Affairs Sections (PAS) at the U.S. 
Embassies overseas. Organizers must strive for the broadest regional 
and ethnic diversity within each country. The Department of State 
reserves final approval of all selected delegations.
    Participants: Each of the two delegations will be composed of 25 
international participants--students (aged 15-18) and educators and/or 
community leaders who work with youth and who have a strong interest in 
learning more about the role of a free press in a democracy and the 
values and principles of free expression. Participants will be 
recruited from 3-5 countries (minimum of four students and one adult 
participant per country) in at least three of the following world 
regions: Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and 
North Africa, South and Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Southeast Asia. 
In the spirit of diversity, ECA wishes to allow applicant organizations 
to propose countries in which they have strong partners. Applicants may 
present the same mix of countries for each delegation or the mix may 
vary.
    Participants should have a strong demonstrated interest in free 
expression, such as journalism, communications, advocacy, debate, or 
civic participation. English proficiency for international participants 
is required. It is desirable that 2-3 participants attend the same 
school or live in the same community so that they can support each 
other upon return.
    The adult participants should not only escort the students to the 
U.S., but also serve as adult advocates, ensuring the students take 
back and apply their newfound knowledge and supporting them in 
implementing their project ideas when they return. They should 
participate in program activities together with the youth.
    U.S. Projects: The program will consist of two exchange delegations 
consisting of 25 participants each. The itineraries for the two 
exchange delegations may be identical or may vary. The International 
Free Expression Institute will be conducted in the Washington, DC metro 
area. The remainder of the program should take place in other sites in 
the United States that demonstrate its geographic diversity. The 
program should focus primarily on interactive activities, practical 
experiences, and other hands-on opportunities to learn about the 
fundamentals of a civil society as related to first amendment ideals. A 
community service element will expose participants to the important 
role volunteerism plays in American society. Cultural and recreational 
activities will balance the schedule. Participants should be provided 
opportunities to attend informal and formal gatherings that allow for 
student presentations about their countries and cultures to further the 
goal of promoting mutual understanding. Discussion groups or 
facilitated conversational exchanges with their American peers are 
encouraged.
    Post-exchange Follow-on Activities: Follow-on programming for 
alumni is essential. Applicants should present creative and effective 
ways to address the program theme, for both program participants and 
their peers, as a means to amplify the program impact. The U.S. program 
will offer training and suggested activities to help prepare the 
participants for follow-on activities upon their return home. This will 
include training in project planning, the development of action plans 
and presentations, and other mechanisms that will enable alumni to 
effectively share and model their newly acquired knowledge and skills 
with their peers, schools, and communities. Plans for the participants' 
projects to reach the broadest and widest audiences are highly 
encouraged. Alumni programming in the form of seminars, newsletters, 
and listservs (where feasible) serves to maximize and extend the 
benefit of the participants' program in the United States. Examples 
include establishing a school or community based newspaper; advocating 
for a youth column in an existing publication; conducting a conference; 
offering small alumni grants for relevant projects; or creating web 
blogs, podcasts, or Web sites for teen peers about what participants 
learned. A strategy for continued communication and collaboration among 
the participants should be incorporated into the program.
    Alumni tracking is crucial for the evaluation of the program and 
for the implementation of follow-on programs. All alumni contact 
information gathered by the grant recipients on behalf of Youth 
Leadership Programs must be made available to the Department of State.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2006.
    Approximate Total Funding: $300,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: One or two. The Bureau reserves the 
right to consider supporting one grant for the administration of both 
projects or two separate grants for each project based on the 
proposals' responsiveness to the solicitation.
    Approximate Average Award: One award at approximately $300,000 or 
two awards at approximately $150,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: Grant period runs from Summer 2006 to 
Summer or Fall 2007, with the two U.S. projects taking place in Fall 
2006 and Spring 2007. Grants should begin on or about July 31, 2006.
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: Summer 2007. Pending 
successful implementation of this program and the availability of funds 
in subsequent fiscal years, it is ECA's intent to renew this

[[Page 13661]]

grant for two additional fiscal years, before openly competing it 
again.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit 
organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code 
section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

    There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this 
competition. However, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide 
maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
    The Freedom Forum and Close Up Foundation will plan, implement, and 
cost share the participants' tuition for the twelve-day Institute. This 
includes all administrative and participant expenses related to the 
twelve-day Institute: Curriculum development, instructional materials, 
speakers' fees, ground transportation for site visits, and room and 
board while in Washington, DC. This cost-share is outside of the 
funding amount to be awarded to the grantee organization.
    When cost sharing is offered by the grantee organization, it is 
understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of 
cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal and later included in an 
approved grant agreement. Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable 
direct or indirect costs. For accountability, you must maintain written 
records to support all costs which are claimed as your contribution, as 
well as costs to be paid by the Federal Government. Such records are 
subject to audit. The basis for determining the value of cash and in-
kind contributions must be in accordance with OMB Circular A-110, 
(Revised), Subpart C.23--Cost Sharing and Matching. In the event you do 
not provide the minimum amount of cost sharing as stipulated in the 
approved budget, ECA's contribution will be reduced in like proportion.

III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements

    Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less than 
four years experience in conducting international exchanges be limited 
to $60,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates awarding one or two 
grants, in amounts that exceed this threshold to support program and 
administrative costs required to implement this exchange program. 
Therefore, organizations with less than four years experience in 
conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this 
competition. The Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels 
of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.

IV. Application and Submission Information

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

IV.1. Contact Information To Request an Application Package

    Please contact the Youth Programs Division of the Office of Citizen 
Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 301 
4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, phone: (202) 203-7517 and fax: 
(202) 203-7527, e-mail: PetersML@state.gov to request a Solicitation 
Package. Please refer to the Funding Opportunity Number ECA/PE/C/PY-06-
22 located at the top of this announcement when making your request and 
on all other inquiries and correspondence.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document that consists of required application forms, 
and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.

IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet

    The entire Solicitation Package includes the PSI and this RFGP, and 
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 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 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) 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
    The applicant should submit a complete proposal describing the 
program in a convincing and comprehensive manner. The proposal should 
respond to the criteria set forth in the solicitation and other 
guidelines as clearly as possible.
    The proposal should address succinctly, but completely, the 
elements described below and must follow all format requirements. The 
proposal should include the following items:

TAB A--SF-424 ``Application for Federal Assistance Cover Sheet''

TAB B--Executive Summary

    In one double-spaced page, provide the following information about 
the project:
    1. Name of applicant organization and participating institutions.
    2. Participants.
    3. Beginning and ending dates of the program.
    4. Nature of activity and venues.

TAB C--Narrative

    Within 20 double-spaced, single sided pages, provide a detailed 
description of the project addressing the areas listed below. In the 
narrative, applicants should not only describe major program activities 
but also explain and justify their programmatic choices.
1. Vision
    Describe the project objectives and the desired outcomes, i.e., the 
knowledge, skills, and/or attitudinal changes that the participants 
will acquire. Provide rationale for country and U.S. community 
selection.

[[Page 13662]]

2. Participating Organizations
    Identify any partner organizations for the program, their roles, 
and the applicant's reasons for including them.
3. Recruitment
    Describe how the applicant will advertise the program in targeted 
regions and coordinate the receipt of written applications.
4. Screening and Selection
    Describe in detail both the process and the criteria by which 
finalists will be selected. Members of the selection committee should 
be identified (at least by position). Provide a timetable and the 
specific procedures by which the applicant will notify candidates of 
their selection or non-selection.
5. Project Activities
    Describe in sufficient detail the major components of the two U.S. 
projects, including project planning, orientations, educational 
activities, cultural activities, meetings, site visits, community 
service, and the closing session. Provide a tentative schedule/
itinerary of the projects, supplying a more detailed outline of daily 
activities in an appendix.
6. Travel, Housing, and Other Logistics
    Detail how the applicant will arrange international travel (in 
compliance with the Fly America Act); domestic travel; homestay, 
dormitory or other housing arrangements; ground transportation; stipend 
disbursement; and any other relevant administrative matters.
7. Post-Exchange Follow-on Activities
    Describe a plan to provide follow-on activities to the U.S.-based 
projects, including both ECA-funded and privately funded activities.
8. Program Monitoring and Evaluation
    The progress of the grant should be monitored closely and ECA/PAS 
must be kept informed of activities. In the submitted proposal, 
applicants should include a plan describing how success in meeting the 
stated goals of the program will be measured and reported. ECA 
recommends that the proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or 
other technique.
9. Diversity
    Explain how the program managers will be pro-active in supporting 
diversity in participant selection and in program content, 
demonstrating how diversity can contribute to a vibrant civil society. 
Diversity should be defined broadly and should include geographic, 
urban/rural, ethnic, racial, socio-economic, and religious diversity.
10. Institutional Capacity and Project Management
    Outline the applicant organization's capacity for doing projects of 
this nature, focusing on three areas of competency: provision of 
educational and thematic programs, age-appropriate programming for 
youth, and work in the specific countries for which you are applying. 
Describe the program staffing (individuals and responsibilities), 
qualifications, structure, and resources.
11. Work Plan/Schedule
    Outline the phases of the project planning and implementation for 
the entire grant period.

TAB D--Budget Submission

    See section IV.3e.

TAB E

    Letters of endorsement from partner organizations and/or sub-
contractors. Applicants must include a copy of its Memo of 
Understanding (a draft is acceptable at this stage of the application) 
with the Close Up Foundation and the Freedom Forum that outlines the 
organizations' responsibilities and includes cost share contributions 
that will be made toward the program.
    Resumes of all program staff should be included in the submission. 
No one resume should exceed two pages. Attachments/appendices (please 
limit).

TAB F

    Copy of IRS notification of current tax-exempt status SF-424B, 
``Assurances-Nonconstruction Programs''. Other attachments, if 
applicable.
    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 62, which covers 
the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa program). 
Under the terms of 22 CFR 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 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 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 62. If your organization has experience as a 
designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR 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, recordkeeping, 
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) 203-5029, 
FAX: (202) 453-8640.
    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

[[Page 13663]]

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 program'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 program's objectives, your 
anticipated program 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 program 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 program 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 program 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. Please Take the Following Information Into Consideration When 
Preparing Your Budget
    IV.3e.1. Please submit a comprehensive line item budget, as stated 
in the Proposal Submission Instructions. The available funding may be 
used to support the program and administrative costs necessary to 
implement the program as described in this solicitation. An explanatory 
budget narrative must also be included. For clarification, applicants 
may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, 
location, or activity.
    IV.3e.2. Suggested program costs include, but are not limited to, 
the following:
     Staff travel.
     Application and educational materials.
     Participant travel (international, domestic, local ground 
transportation from/to airports and during non-Institute program period 
as necessary).
     Orientations.
     Cultural activities.
     Meeting costs.
     Post-exchange follow-on activities.
     Evaluation.
     Stipends or allowances.
     Other justifiable expenses directly related to supporting 
program activities.
    The Freedom Forum and Close Up Foundation will cost share the 
participants' tuition for the twelve-day Institute in Washington, DC. 
This includes curriculum development, instructional materials, 
speakers' fees, ground transportation for site visits, and room and 
board. Therefore, the budget should not include any expenses for these 
twelve days of programming.
    Significant cost sharing is expected and will enhance the proposal. 
Homestays are not allowed as a grant-funded or cost-share item. 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.
    Maximum limits on grant funding are as follows: Books and 
educational materials allowance--$100 per participant; Conference room 
rental costs--$250 per day per room; Consultant fees and honoraria--
$250/day; Cultural allowance--$150 per participant; Per diem-standard 
government rates; Working meals--one per project; Evaluation costs--2% 
to 5% of the grant. Organizations are encouraged to cost-share any 
rates that exceed these amounts.
    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.
    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.

[[Page 13664]]

Applicants should budget for applicants to 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 
these insurance costs in their budgets.
IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission
    Application Deadline Date: Monday, May 8, 2006.
    Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-06-22.
    Methods of Submission: Applications may be submitted in one of two 
ways:
    (1) In hard copy, via a nationally recognized overnight delivery 
service (i.e., DHL, Federal Express, UPS, Airborne Express, or U.S. 
Postal Service Express Overnight Mail, etc.), or
    (2) Electronically through https://www.grants.gov.
    Along with the Program 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.3f.1. Submitting Printed Applications. Applications must be 
shipped no later than the above deadline. 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. ECA will not notify you upon 
receipt of application. 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. 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.


    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''.


    Applicants must follow all instructions in the Solicitation 
Package.
    The original and eight copies of the application should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-06-22, Program Management, ECA/
EX/PM, Room 534, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547.
    IV.3f.2. Submitting Electronic Applications. Applicants have the 
option of submitting proposals electronically through Grants.gov 
(https://www.grants.gov). Complete solicitation packages are available 
at Grants.gov in the ``Find'' portion of the system. Please follow the 
instructions available in the ``Get Started'' portion of the site 
(https://www.grants.gov/GetStarted).
    Applicants have until midnight (12 a.m.) of the closing date to 
ensure that their entire applications have been uploaded to the 
grants.gov site. Applications uploaded to the site after midnight of 
the application deadline date will be automatically rejected by the 
grants.gov system, and will be technically ineligible.
    Applicants will receive a confirmation e-mail from grants.gov upon 
the successful submission of an application. ECA will not notify you 
upon receipt of electronic applications.
IV.3g. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Review Process

    The Bureau will review all proposals for technical eligibility. 
Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they do not fully adhere to the 
guidelines stated herein and in the Solicitation Package. All eligible 
proposals will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the Public 
Diplomacy section overseas, where appropriate. Eligible proposals will 
be subject to compliance with Federal and Bureau regulations and 
guidelines and forwarded to Bureau grant panels for advisory review. 
Proposals may also be reviewed by the Office of the Legal Adviser or by 
other Department elements. Final funding decisions are at the 
discretion of the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs. Final technical authority for 
assistance awards grants 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 the program idea: The proposed program should be well 
developed, responding to the design outlined in the solicitation, and 
demonstrating originality. It should be clearly and accurately written, 
substantive, and with sufficient detail. Proposals should exhibit 
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to the Bureau's 
mission.
    2. Program planning and ability to achieve program objectives: A 
detailed agenda and work plan should clearly demonstrate how project 
objectives will be achieved. The agenda and plan should adhere to the 
program overview and guidelines described above. The substance of 
workshops, seminars, presentations, school-based activities, and/or 
site visits should be described in detail. Objectives should be 
reasonable, feasible, and flexible. The proposal should clearly 
demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's objectives and 
plan.
    3. Support of diversity: The proposal should demonstrate the 
recipient's commitment to promoting the awareness and understanding of 
diversity in program content. Applicants should demonstrate readiness 
to accommodate participants with physical disabilities.
    4. Institutional capacity and track record: Proposed personnel and 
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve 
the program goals. The proposal should demonstrate an institutional 
record, including responsible fiscal management and full compliance 
with all reporting requirements for past Bureau grants as determined by 
the Bureau's Office of Contracts. The Bureau will consider the past 
performance of prior recipients and the demonstrated potential of new 
applicants.
    5. Cross-cultural sensitivity and area expertise: Applicants must 
demonstrate their understanding of the area in which they propose to 
work and should demonstrate sensitivity to participants' values, 
customs, and life experiences in all aspects of the program.
    6. Post-exchange follow-on activities: Proposals should provide a 
plan for Bureau- and grantee-supported follow-on activities that insure 
this exchange is not an isolated event.
    7. Project evaluation: The proposal should include a plan to 
evaluate the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at 
the end of the program. The proposal should include a draft survey 
questionnaire or other technique plus description of a methodology to 
use to link outcomes to original project objectives.

[[Page 13665]]

    8. Cost-effectiveness and cost sharing: The applicant should 
demonstrate efficient use of Bureau funds. 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. The proposal should maximize cost-sharing 
through other private sector support as well as institutional direct 
funding contributions, which demonstrates institutional and community 
commitment.

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

    Grantee organizations 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; and
    (2) Quarterly program and financial reports that should include how 
you are meeting the goals and objectives of the program and plans for 
next steps.
    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 biographic sketch of all 
persons who travel internationally on funds provided by the grant or 
who benefit from the grant funding but do not travel.
    (2) Itineraries of international and domestic travel, providing 
dates of travel and cities in which any exchange experiences take 
place. Final schedules for in-country and U.S. activities must be 
received by the ECA Program Officer at least three work days prior to 
the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Michele Peters, 
Program Officer, Office of Citizen Exchanges, ECA/PE/C/PY, Room 568, 
Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-06-22, U.S. Department of State, SA-44, 
301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, phone: (202) 203-7517 and 
fax: (202) 203-7527, e-mail: PetersML@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-06-22.
    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: March 10, 2006.
C. Miller Crouch,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 06-2561 Filed 3-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P