Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for Grant Proposals: Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative: Summer Institute for Youth, 13653-13658 [E6-3835]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 51 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13653-13658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3835]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5344]


Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Request for 
Grant Proposals: Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative: 
Summer Institute for Youth

    Announcement Type: New Grant.
    Funding Opportunity Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-06-49.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 00.000.

DATES: Key Dates: Application Deadline: April 27, 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 Summer Institute for Youth, a 
project under the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative. 
Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions 
described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3), 
including accredited, post-secondary U.S. educational institutions, may 
submit proposals to provide a three-week U.S.-based institute in the 
summer of 2006 for up to 40 teenagers aged 16-19 from Europe, Eurasia, 
and the United States focused on civic education, leadership 
development, and community activism as a way to unite young adults 
across the Atlantic Ocean. Please note: Funding for this program will 
be provided from FREEDOM Support and SEED Act transfers. This program 
will be funded pending the successful transfer of funds to ECA.

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 is provided through the 
Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act (1989) and the FREEDOM 
Support Act (FSA) legislation of 1992.
    Overview: The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative 
aims to foster relationships among the younger generation of Europeans 
and Americans in order to advance the global freedom agenda, to serve 
as a basis to build strong links and awareness of shared values, and to 
enable youth to face together the challenges of global circumstances in 
the 21st Century. The initiative is named after the legendary American 
statesman and diplomat in honor of the inspiration his own life and 
career provides those who want to increase transatlantic cooperation.
    The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative: Summer 
Institute for Youth will enable teenagers (ages 16-19) to participate 
in an intensive, three-week exchange program in the United States that 
focuses on the global issues that European and American youth face on 
both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Participants will be engaged in a 
variety of activities such as training sessions, workshops, community 
and/or school-based programs, and cultural events. Participants will 
work together to prepare a joint project that presents and promotes the 
Institute's stated goals and objectives.
    Goals: The goals of the Transatlantic Fellows Program are (1) to 
develop a sense of civic responsibility and a commitment to 
transatlantic cooperation among youth; (2) to foster relationships 
among youth from different ethnic, religious, and national groups; (3) 
to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Europe/
Eurasia; and (4) to develop a cadre of youth leaders who will share 
their knowledge and skills with their peers through positive action.
    With the specific focus of this Institute, the following outcomes 
will indicate a successful project:
     Participants will work together to identify and overcome 
misunderstanding or lack of understanding among nations both during the 
Institute and after they return to their homes.
     Participants will develop critical thinking skills that 
will enable them to judge how effectively various media convey factual 
information to present accurate images of diverse cultures.
     Participants will demonstrate a better understanding of 
U.S.-Europe relations and issues.
     Participants will gain an understanding of the roles of 
the media and public perceptions in diplomacy.
    Theme: In today's terms, Benjamin Franklin could be called a 
transatlantic man, someone whose career, interests, studies and life 
took him back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean, bringing Americans 
and Europeans closer in understanding. His life offers inspiration to 
young citizens of today in the effort to bridge the Atlantic, even 300 
years later. As a diplomat and a printer, he leveraged the power of 
diplomacy and of the media to explore how Americans and Europeans see 
each other. This summer Institute will guide the participants to 
examine what Americans and Europeans need to know about each other to 
better communicate person to person, and to face the many challenges of 
the 21st Century together.
    The Institute will also explore how young people interact with 
media, both as consumers and producers of information, and how freedom 
of expression imposes both rights and responsibilities on citizens. 
Increasingly young people have come to rely upon mass communication--
the use of words, sounds, and images by a few to inform, educate, 
entertain and persuade the many--to learn about the world they inhabit. 
Mass media not only supplies factual information, it also expresses 
cultural preferences, promotes value systems, and fuels commerce 
through advertising and product placement. The program should provide 
the participants with a new perspective on their learning, networking, 
U.S.-Europe perceptions of each other, the communities they live in, 
and the broader media culture.
    Who: The participants will be up to 40 students ages 16-19 from 
Europe, Eurasia, and the United States. One or two students will come 
from each participating country, except for the United States, which 
will have up to ten representatives. We expect that eight participants 
will represent SEED countries and 12 will represent FSA countries (see 
POGI for lists). U.S. Embassies will screen and select the overseas 
participants from a pool of students with whom they have contact. All 
countries of Europe and Eurasia will be eligible to nominate 
participants; the State Department will be responsible for the final 
selection of participants and the countries they will represent. U.S. 
Embassies will arrange and pay for the Europeans' international travel 
to and from the United States (see details in the POGI). The grant 
recipient will be

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responsible for recruiting and selecting the U.S. participants. All 
students must be able to participate fully in English.
    The grant recipient should also arrange for highly qualified 
mentors at a ratio of six students to one mentor. Mentors may serve as 
trainers as appropriate. The delegation should have an adult accompany 
them on transatlantic flights, and adult staff should be available to 
support the participants during the course of the Institute.
    When: Applicants should propose a three-week U.S. institute that 
will take place between June and August 2006.
    Where: The Institute will take place on a U.S. university or 
college campus or at a similar venue. Ideally, the venue selected will 
be on or near a campus with a European Studies center. Students will be 
housed together at a dormitory on campus, as staying together will 
facilitate regional cooperation on the project and training. The Bureau 
strongly encourages weekend homestays or home hospitality to ensure 
that participants get a taste of typical American family life.
    A study trip should be planned to Philadelphia to visit key 
Benjamin Franklin commemorative sites and events. See the Benjamin 
Franklin Tercentenary Web site: https://www.benfranklin300.org The 
Institute may take place in one or two communities (including or in 
addition to the Philadelphia study trip) and should offer the 
participants exposure to the variety of American life.
    What: The program should focus primarily on the exploration of 
global issues through interactive activities, practical experiences, 
and other hands-on opportunities, through which the participants will 
learn more about democratic practices, volunteer service, conflict 
resolution, critical thinking, tolerance and respect for diversity, and 
youth leadership. All programming should include additional American 
participants wherever possible. Cultural and recreational activities 
will balance the schedule.

A. Training and Joint Project

    Before and during the Institute, students will gather information 
on Americans' views of Europeans and on Europeans' views of the United 
States about one or two areas of common or global interest, such as 
sustainable development, inter-ethnic cooperation, or world poverty. 
They will also identify and address stereotypes they hold of others. 
The students will gather information via the Internet and various forms 
of the media, through interviews with ordinary citizens and experts--
including academics and diplomats--and by other methods, such as 
designing and conducting a survey. Students will focus on attitudes of 
their contemporaries and those closely linked, such as teachers or 
family members.
    Training will focus on developing a critical reading of printed, 
broadcast, and electronic media. The students should increase their 
awareness of the levels of communication in news and popular media, to 
be able to judge the content and accuracy for themselves. The objective 
of this training is to enable them to gather the information needed to 
create the materials for the project described below. Training will 
cover communication skills, problem solving, and team building.
    Finally, students will design simple educational materials, an 
outreach campaign, a newsletter, or another type of project (for 
example, an Internet based project linking selected American and 
European schools/students with each other).

B. Community Service

    The participants will take part in at least one community service 
activity during the U.S. program to demonstrate American volunteerism. 
The program should provide context for the participants to undertake 
the service activity--identifying community needs, the nature of 
volunteerism, charitable giving, etc.--and a debriefing so that the 
service activity is not an isolated event and to help participants see 
how they could apply the experience at home.
    In addition to this community service, the participants reach out 
to American youth by presenting and testing the educational materials 
described above to young American audiences, such as students in summer 
school or in another organized summer activity. Upon their return home, 
European participants will develop, test, and present the materials 
with young audiences in their home countries.
    Applicant organizations must demonstrate their capacity for doing 
projects of this nature, focusing on three areas of competency: (1) 
Provision of programs that address the goals and themes outlined in 
this document; (2) age-appropriate programming for youth; and (3) 
previous experience in working in Europe and/or Eurasia. Applicant 
organizations should be able to help U.S. embassies support follow-on 
activities for the alumni of the U.S.-based Institute.
    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. The Bureau also reserves the right to renew this 
grant in future years contingent upon the successful performance of the 
grant recipient and the availability of funding.
    Guidelines: Pending the transfer and availability of funds, the 
grant will begin on or about June 5, 2006. The grant period will be 10 
to 12 months in duration, as appropriate.
    The grant recipient will be responsible for the following:
     Recruitment, screening, and selection of American 
participants.
     Designing and planning of activities in the United States 
that provide a substantive program that promotes transatlantic 
dialogue, critical thinking, democracy and tolerance, media analysis, 
leadership development, civic education, and community service. Some 
activities should be school and/or community-based, as feasible, and 
the projects will involve as much interaction with American peers, even 
beyond those directly participating in the Institute, as possible.
     Logistical arrangements, home-stay arrangements (as 
appropriate) and/or other accommodation, disbursement of stipends/per 
diem, local travel, and travel between sites.
     Follow-on activities in the participants' home countries 
designed to reinforce the ideas, values, and skills imparted during the 
U.S. program.
    Proposals must demonstrate how the stated objectives will be met. 
The proposal narrative should provide detailed information on the major 
program activities, and applicants should explain and justify their 
programmatic choices. Programs must comply with J-1 visa regulations 
for the International Visitor category. Please be sure to refer to the 
complete Solicitation Package--this RFGP, the Project Objectives, 
Goals, and Implementation (POGI), and the Proposal Submission 
Instructions (PSI)--for further information.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant Agreement.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2006.
    Approximate Total Funding: $171,750.
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Anticipated Award Date: June 5, 2006. (Pending the transfer of 
funds to ECA).
    Anticipated Project Completion Date: 10-12 months after start date, 
to be specified by applicant based on project plan.

III. Eligibility Information

    III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by public 
and private

[[Page 13655]]

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: (a.) Bureau grant guidelines 
require that organizations with less than four years experience in 
conducting international exchanges be limited to $60,000 in Bureau 
funding. ECA anticipates awarding a grant in an amount over $60,000 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 announcement before sending 
inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the RFGP deadline has 
passed, Bureau staff may not discuss this competition with 
applicants until the proposal review process has been completed.

    IV.1. Contact Information to Request an Application Package: Please 
contact the Youth Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY), Room 568, U.S. 
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, 
Telephone (202) 203-7505, Fax (202) 203-7529, E-mail: LantzCS@state.gov 
to request a Solicitation Package. Please refer to the Funding 
Opportunity Number (ECA/PE/C/PY-06-49) located at the top of this 
announcement when making your request.
    Alternatively, an electronic application package may be obtained 
from grants.gov. Please see section IV.3f for further information.
    The Solicitation Package contains the Proposal Submission 
Instruction (PSI) document, which consists of required application 
forms and standard guidelines for proposal preparation.
    It also contains the Project Objectives, Goals and Implementation 
(POGI) document, which provides specific information, award criteria, 
and budget instructions tailored to this competition.
    Please specify Bureau Program Officer Carolyn Lantz and refer to 
the Funding Opportunity Number located at the top of this announcement 
on all other inquiries and correspondence.
    IV.2. To Download a Solicitation Package Via Internet: The entire 
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from the Bureau's Web site at 
https://exchanges.state.gov/education/rfgps/menu.htm, or from the 
Grants.gov Web site at https://www.grants.gov.
    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 
submitted 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 form that is part of the formal 
application package.
    IV.3b. All proposals must contain an executive summary, proposal 
narrative and budget.
    Please Refer to the Solicitation Package. It contains the mandatory 
Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document and the Project 
Objectives, Goals and Implementation (POGI) document for additional 
formatting and technical requirements.
    IV.3c. You must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of 
application. If your organization is a private nonprofit which has not 
received a grant or cooperative agreement from ECA in the past three 
years, or if your organization received nonprofit status from the IRS 
within the past four years, you must submit the necessary documentation 
to verify nonprofit status as directed in the PSI document. Failure to 
do so will cause your proposal to be declared technically ineligible.
    IV.3d. Please take into consideration the following information 
when preparing your proposal narrative:
    IV.3d.1. Adherence to All Regulations Governing the J Visa: The 
Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs is the official program sponsor of the exchange program covered 
by this RFGP, and an employee of the Bureau will be the ``Responsible 
Officer'' for the program under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, which 
covers the administration of the Exchange Visitor Program (J visa 
program). Under the terms of 22 CFR part 62, organizations receiving 
grants under this RFGP will be third parties ``cooperating with or 
assisting the sponsor in the conduct of the sponsor's program.'' The 
actions of grantee program organizations shall be ``imputed to the 
sponsor in evaluating the sponsor's compliance with'' 22 CFR part 62. 
Therefore, the Bureau expects that any organization receiving a grant 
under this competition will render all assistance necessary to enable 
the Bureau to fully comply with 22 CFR part 62 et seq.
    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs places great 
emphasis on the secure and proper administration of Exchange Visitor (J 
visa) Programs and adherence by grantee program organizations and 
program participants to all regulations governing the J visa program 
status. Therefore, proposals should explicitly state in writing that 
the applicant is prepared to assist the Bureau in meeting all 
requirements governing the administration of Exchange Visitor Programs 
as set forth in 22 CFR part 62. If your organization has experience as 
a designated Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor, the applicant should 
discuss their record of compliance with 22 CFR part 62 et seq., 
including the oversight of their Responsible Officers and Alternate 
Responsible Officers, screening and selection of program participants, 
provision of pre-arrival information and orientation to participants, 
monitoring of participants, proper maintenance and security of forms, 
recordkeeping, reporting and other requirements.
    The Office of Citizen Exchanges of ECA will be responsible for 
issuing DS-

[[Page 13656]]

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 not fully enjoy freedom and democracy,'' the Bureau 
``shall take appropriate steps to provide opportunities for 
participation in such programs to human rights and democracy leaders of 
such countries.'' Public Law 106-113 requires that the governments of 
the countries described above do not have inappropriate influence in 
the selection process. Proposals should reflect advancement of these 
goals in their program contents, to the full extent deemed feasible.
    IV.3d.3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposals must include 
a plan to monitor and evaluate the project's success, both as the 
activities unfold and at the end of the program. The Bureau recommends 
that your proposal include a draft survey questionnaire or other 
technique plus a description of a methodology to use to link outcomes 
to original project objectives. The Bureau expects that the grantee 
will track participants or partners and be able to respond to key 
evaluation questions, including satisfaction with the program, learning 
as a result of the program, changes in behavior as a result of the 
program, and effects of the program on institutions (institutions in 
which participants work or partner institutions). The evaluation plan 
should include indicators that measure gains in mutual understanding as 
well as substantive knowledge.
    Successful monitoring and evaluation depend heavily on setting 
clear goals and outcomes at the outset of a program. Your evaluation 
plan should include a description of your project's objectives, your 
anticipated project outcomes, and how and when you intend to measure 
these outcomes (performance indicators). The more that outcomes are 
``smart'' (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and 
placed in a reasonable time frame), the easier it will be to conduct 
the evaluation. You should also show how your project objectives link 
to the goals of the program described in this RFGP.
    Your monitoring and evaluation plan should clearly distinguish 
between program outputs and outcomes. Outputs are products and services 
delivered, often stated as an amount. Output information is important 
to show the scope or size of project activities, but it cannot 
substitute for information about progress towards outcomes or the 
results achieved. Examples of outputs include the number of people 
trained or the number of seminars conducted. Outcomes, in contrast, 
represent specific results a project is intended to achieve and is 
usually measured as an extent of change. Findings on outputs and 
outcomes should both be reported, but the focus should be on outcomes.
    We encourage you to assess the following four levels of outcomes, 
as they relate to the program goals set out in the RFGP (listed here in 
increasing order of importance):
    1. Participant satisfaction with the program and exchange 
experience.
    2. Participant learning, such as increased knowledge, aptitude, 
skills, and changed understanding and attitude. Learning includes both 
substantive (subject-specific) learning and mutual understanding.
    3. Participant behavior, concrete actions to apply knowledge in 
work or community; greater participation and responsibility in civic 
organizations; interpretation and explanation of 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. Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the 
entire program. Awards may not exceed the amounts specified. 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.
    Please refer to the other documents in the Solicitation Package for 
complete budget guidelines and formatting instructions.
    IV.3f. Application Deadline and Methods of Submission: Application 
Deadline Date: April 24, 2006. Reference Number: ECA/PE/C/PY-06-49.
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 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.3f.1 Submitting Printed Applications: Applications must be 
shipped no later than the above deadline. Delivery services used by 
applicants must have in-place,

[[Page 13657]]

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''.

    The original, one fully-tabbed copy, and six copies of the 
application with Tabs A-E (for a total of 8 copies) should be sent to: 
U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Ref.: ECA/PE/C/PY-06-49, 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.
    Applicants must also submit the executive summary, proposal 
narrative, budget section, and any important appendices as e-mail 
attachments in Microsoft Word and Excel to the following e-mail 
address: LantzCS@state.gov. In the e-mail message subject line, include 
the name of the applicant organization and the partner country. The 
Bureau will transmit these files electronically to the Public Affairs 
Sections of the relevant U.S. Embassies for review.
    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 (http:/
/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) resides with the Bureau's Grants Officer.
Review Criteria
    Please see the review criteria in the accompanying Project 
Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) document.

VI. Award Administration Information

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

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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 workdays prior to 
the official opening of the activity.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For questions about this announcement, contact: Carolyn Lantz, 
Program Officer, Youth Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY), Room 568, U.S. 
Department of State, SA-44, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547, 
Telephone (202) 203-7505, Fax (202) 203-7529, E-mail: 
LantzCS@state.gov.
    All correspondence with the Bureau concerning this RFGP should 
reference the above title and number ECA/PE/C/PY-06-49.
    Please read the complete 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. E6-3835 Filed 3-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P